The New Year started off with a new horse! In January a horse in Pennsylvania that Holly Bernhard found for Diane back in April 2011 happened to come back on the market and we were able to scoop him up and ship him here to Texas. Our friend Marvin Gordy would say ‘Are there no horses left in Texas?’, but growing up in Pennsylvania, Diane had something very particular in mind that in the end had to be imported. My Boy Malloy, Malloy for short, is a wonderful addition to the family. He and Diane’s older horse Casanova Rags, fondly known as Cass, occupy much of Diane’s free time. Cass was in full retirement at our friends, The Metz’s property down in Sargent, but after his pasture mate Shandy moved to North Carolina, he came back home to Blue Ribbon Meadows. He’s now in semi-retirement as a few of Diane’s advanced students ride him when home from school as does our adopted child (more on that later) Sam Port. He throws in a buck now and then to let them know he’s still feels young!
In March, The Metz’s went to Hawaii for Spring Break, except their oldest son Cole whose school was on a different schedule. We took the week off and played parents in Memorial. Jesse declared Cole a delight as he was respectful and socially polite. Cooper had fun playing with their 3 large labrador retrievers and Maine Coon cat. We made time to go to the rodeo and Rice University where Jesse was named a Centennial Ambassador Alumnus, which meant getting an exclusive interview with a sociology major in the coffee shop. Later that month, we attended the Independence Foxhounds Hunt Ball. Ball gowns, Texas tuxedos, and a good time was had by all!
In April, Diane’s Mom came for a visit. We had fun going to movies and to watch our favorite farrier Kevin Tegg play in a polo match at HBT Ranch.
In May we went to the 10th Anniversary party of our dear friends Kelley & J Everett in Beaumont. They are quite the adventuresome couple with travels all over the world. We can only aspire! May also brought the graduations of two of Diane’s longtime students, Canon Metz & Emily Hunt. In the fall Canon started at the Asheville School and Emily at Colorado University Boulder. It has left a big hole in Diane’s teaching schedule, but she keeps busy judging horse shows and helping out at Blue Ribbon Meadows when needed. Also in that month, Jesse & Cooper participated in the Good Doggy Manners course at Rover Oaks. Proud to say both graduated!
June marked the milestone of Diane’s 40th Birthday. When given the choice of a party or a luxury vacation, she chose the latter. We went to Cancun Mexico for a long weekend at Secrets Marona Beach – Trip Advisor’s #1 rated resort for the area. It was everything promised and more! The highlight was a private cabana on the beach where Jesse kept the waiter busy bringing every concoction the bartender could make.
July 4th brought big news to the Katy area – the opening of Rudy’s Country Store and BBQ. Jesse was there when it opened, and quite a few times since. It is hard to overstate the importance of breakfast tacos to the well-lived life, so Rudy’s is a welcome addition.
August included a trip to Delaware. Not the coolest climate for a summer vacation, but anywhere is better than Houston in August. We dropped by NYC to watch the play “Harvey” featuring Jim Parsons of “The Big Bang Theory”, and Hoboken to get a fandant cake from Carlos Bakery of “Cake Boss”. It’s only reality tv if you go visit them and eat their wares in person. Many thanks to our #1 House Sitter Marian Taylor who makes all these vacations worry free by staying with Cooper.
Jesse came back to a new assignment as the acting Support manager at BMC, which made Cooper “the assistant to the manager “. Fourteen consecutive years in the organization working with Support managers was good preparation to learn just how different it is when you are in the position. Cooper’s role didn’t change much though – still in charge of laying in the closet, looking up when I stand up, and barking like crazy when someone knocks on the door, no matter how important the conference call. Cooper sometimes works weekends too, always behind running the TPS reports.
November brought the Richardson Austin contingent to town for the annual Thanksgiving Day Feast. Nothing short of a holiday miracle, Diane managed to feed all 11 people. They keep coming back, so food must not be too bad! Jesse made what has become a rare business trip to California the week after. He enjoyed the chance to see friends from his old stomping grounds, but mostly he loved training a new manager to take over the position he’d been covering for the last few months. It has been quite a challenge to manage so many teams!
The new year has many goals. One of which is for all the hard work & training Diane, along with the ever helpful Dev Branham have put into Malloy to pay off with some successful Hunter/Jumper Shows. Diane first started taking lessons with Dev when he chose the horse business fresh from a TCU degree. He teaches her in a weekly lesson and has been very patient with the self-preservation concerns of a middle aged rider. Diane has recommited to yoga and continues to seek Zen. Jesse has discovered jigsaw puzzles, which is a welcome respite from critical thought, and Cooper enjoys trying new cuisine and riding around looking at Christmas lights.
Pictured, from left to right: Malloy, Jesse, Diane, Cooper, and Cass. Tropical weather for Christmas, again.
Corgi Ranch, TX 