Command Central

Did you know that I have my own personal driver? Kind of like Mr. Big does on Sex and the City. I called my driver yesterday morning and asked him if he would mind picking me up and taking me to my parents' place, about an hour and a half away. I was afraid to drive my unwinterized car on these inclement road conditions.

My driver hemmed and hawed but finally agreed he'd come pick me up. And guess what? He brought along my mom! How fun. They arrived on time, loaded my car (oops, I forgot to tip him.) It was so nice to sit back, relax, drink my homemade eggnog latte and let the expert handle the icy roads.

So now I am safe and sound at my parents' place. Home for the holidays. Before the next big storm hits today.

I have a new blogger command post for the next week set up in the guest room.

It is a really tiny guest room. My laptop couldn't pick up their wireless signal, so I had to plug-in. Interestingly, I have discovered that cable loads photos on blogger 10x faster than wireless! My laptop is on a file cabinet and I sit on a footstool. There are chinks and chaps hanging on top of my laptop.

Here is a closeup of everything that is about to fall on top of me as I type. The cream hat is my new snow hat. It comes down over my ears, which I love.

These antique ceramic mares are keeping an eye on me. They were a gift to my mom from a former co-worker. I already have dibs on the palomino.

Here is a photo of my mom and her sisters on a trail ride in Palm Springs.

Here is my mom's beloved Dusty. That is half of Paint Girl in the picture. She was riding Dusty when the photo was taken. I might have to steal that picture frame. It is trimmed in cowhide with tooled leather on the corners. The trophy is the little "Rodeo Princess in Training" award my mom earned at the Pony Cousins play day this past summer on our guest ranch trip.

Eeek! Who is that? Oh! That's me! The tour guide. Hanging underneath the mirror are all of the ribbons my mom won at our rodeo play day this summer. Took me forever to realize that shiny white rectangle on the mirror next to me is the reflection of my laptop screen in the mirror.

More books on a book shelf. The book Animals as Guides for the Soul by Susan Chernack McElroy is a great book if you are into that sort of animals as healers and communicators kind of thing. It is actually my book, which I loaned to my aunt after the tragic accident that took her Quarter Horse gelding George from her. The chapter titled " Grief, Guilt, and Atonement" is helpful for those going through the loss of a pet. Susan's story of Phaedra the llama had me grabbing Kleenex after Kleenex.

This is Solomon. Or at least an oil painting of a lion they named Solomon which my parents picked up at an antique store or garage sale. I have the ceramic mares on one side of the room and Solomon's got my back.

The antique desk that has been in my family ever since I can remember. Cute little cherub lamp on top with animal print shade (I just love animal print!) And an ancient clock, that actually works. Or maybe it's just one of those clocks they make to look old? Oops, nice bottle of Vitamin Water in that shot. No, this is not product endorsement! Although, I can't be without my vitamin water!

So, this is my new cozy, eclectic, cowgirl blogger home for a week. Unless we lose power because of the storm. Gotta run, my back is already hurting from sitting on the footstool. We're off to Starbucks, walk the dog in the snow, then head to the stable and check on Dusty's wound and give him a hand walking. My driver is warming up the car.