Naughty Dog Chronicles: Small Steps, Big Thoughts

Before I painted!

We gave Rowan’s house a fresh coat of paint this week. It’s funny how something so simple can make a place feel new again. He watched the whole process like a foreman on break, ears flicking, tail relaxed, just happy to be part of whatever is happening. I had to shoo him away though when he thought his nose would make a good paint brush! There’s something grounding about caring for the spaces that care for us in return.

After!

We also took a trip up to Whitefish and stopped at what seems to be the only dedicated tack shop in Montana. Let’s just say… it left me thinking. Seeing the lack of options made something in my brain start quietly whirring again. Maybe it’s time to consider a tack shop of my own. Something with heart. Quality. Character. Something that doesn’t feel like you walked into a warehouse or a time capsule from 1997. Something organized with up to date products not just Western but English riders too. Just a thought for now, but sometimes those thoughts have roots.

Then I went to Vegas to visit my sister. It was her birthday and we had a blast. We ended up on a side-by-side tour that took us through open desert and big empty landscapes that make you breathe different, we saw some wild horses too! We finished the day at Pioneer Saloon, dusty and smiling. It was good to feel that kind of freedom. The kind that shakes something loose in you. I thought I would be scared, I am kind of a whimp, but I loved driving, figuring out the best path to run over the rocks, going "fast" (I think I went maybe 20-25mph on average but on a flat stretch i got up to 45mph!) I definitely think we need something liek that at home, Cody can drive and I'll ride Rowan!

Side By Side!

The side by side tour guide was amazing, he told us stories along the way, found us the wild horses, brought us to a little extra spot of a run down cabin tucked far back into the mountain and overall just gave us a great experience. Their helmets have oxygen that pumps into them so you aren't breathing in dust the entire time you are driving which honestly was so amazing. I highly recommend them and if you are ever in the Vegas area and want something a little off the beaten path of gambling and the strip and want the full Nevada experience contact them here!

Back home, I’ve been working quietly on my pet care business. I love the animals and I love my clients, but I’m learning how to make the business run in a way that doesn’t require me to be everywhere at once. Systems, support, sustainability. The kind of adjustments that allow me to build a life, not just a schedule. Plus, then I'll have some time to explore the tack shop idea....

So, the theme lately seems to be this: tending. Tending the barn. Tending Rowan. Tending my businesses. Tending myself.

Some seasons are about growth you can see. This one feels like the kind that happens underground. Slow. Necessary. Real. But I feel like I can breath a little deeper and I am really proud of myself.

How are you tending to yourself and your life??