tag:almedam2bmusic.com,2005:/blogs/a-new-year-moreA NEW YEAR & MORE2018-12-17T11:52:33-07:00Almeda Bradshawfalsetag:almedam2bmusic.com,2005:Post/40661482016-02-29T15:17:27-07:002022-09-12T09:31:35-06:00BACK IN THE SADDLE<p>My <strong>BACK IN THE SADDLE</strong> horse project started today. I haven't been doing horses seriously for a few years. In fact, I didn't hit any leather at all in 2015, a year totally consumed by producing an album and big family events like my daughter's wedding and my other daughter's premature baby girl. But 2016 feels wide open. No big music projects. No big family events. So, this is the year I declare<strong> "The Year of the Horse." </strong><br><br>In spite of that staunch proclamation sounding so certain, I'm actually very nervous about it. I'll tell you why. That is I'll try and tell you why because I've been trying to figure out how to explain it. You see, I have been experiencing an odd sensation the past year or so. It's this: every time I think about getting back on a horse, I get extremely emotional and I feel like bawling. And sometimes I do. It's weird. It's confusing. It's embarrassing. What's it all about?<br><br>I have loved horses and enjoyed their company all of my life. As a little girl, I rode a Yellowstone National Park dude horse. I rode my very own Black Jack, the first horse of my childhood dreams. I learned horsemanship through 4-H, and years later, I taught horsemanship as an adult 4-H leader coaching my own daughters and others in Western and English riding. I've ridden ranch horses working cattle. I've won buckles barrel racing and bending poles. I've raised AQHA performance horses, showing at halter and exercising colts. I've shown reined cow horse and was Montana's NRCHA High Point Non-pro Limited Champion in 2005. All in all, I've had a wonderfully memorable life with horses.<br><br>And now, after a few years being off, I'm getting back on. So why the tears? Well, I think it has to do with age. I admit. I'm no spring chick. And age translates into a couple of things. The first is, I am older and, I believe, I am wiser. In other words, "the older I get, the less I know."<br><br>Since my marriage to Merritt, I've been gifted with opportunities to rub elbows with some of the best horsemen and women in the industry, from local to international. I've learned from close neighbors like Ward Fenton, Scott & Stacy Grosskopf, and Edee Weigel to extended neighbors like Montanan trainers Travis Young and John Ensign.<br><br>Merritt's life-long friendship with Dr. Robert Miller, who developed imprint training in new-born foals, has opened doors to amazing levels of knowledge through Light Hands Horsemanship participants Eitan Beth-Halachmy of cowboy dressage. AQHA legend Jack Brainard. World-class mule man, Steve Edwards. Sport horse trainer, Lester Buckley. Natural horseman, Richard Winters. I've learned a lot. Mainly, I've learned how much I DON'T know about horses and the art of horsemanship.<br><br>And here's another saying: "Ignorance is bliss." Ah, yes. I thought I was fairly decent as a horsewoman until I met these world class people. That blissful ignorance quickly disappeared. To say I was knocked down a peg or two would be an understatement. Four, maybe five, would be more like it.<br><br>Paradoxically, I have never been an egotistical horse person. How many of those do we know? The ones who think they've really got it all down and can't be told anything? Because I didn't want others to view me that way, I would never call myself a "trainer." I'd say, "I ride, but I'm not a trainer." Now, I know that's an oxymoron. Anyone who really rides, verses "sit and steer," is a trainer. A horse is an intelligent animal in a constant state of being trained. And the rider, hopefully intelligent as well, is in a constant state of training the horse who is in a constant state of being trained by a rider who........you get what I mean. This was a revelation to me. A whole new level of responsibility as a rider. One that intimidates and, quite frankly, scares me.<br><br>Which brings me to the second consideration for my tears: age and the fear of getting hurt. Another blog topic I will leave for another day. For now, I think I'll just go brush on my pony and ponder the notion that I might have to call myself a trainer, after all.<br><br> </p>Almeda Bradshawtag:almedam2bmusic.com,2005:Post/35844052015-03-08T17:21:26-06:002023-12-10T10:59:41-07:00THE LONELY LITTLE "INDIE"<strong>DO I ANNOY YOU????</strong><br><br>If I do, I'm sorry....to some degree....but really, what is there to apologize for? Welcome to my world!!<br><br>I am an <strong>INDEPENDENT ARTIST</strong>. I do it <strong>ALL</strong>!! I create. I produce. I manage. I promote. I book gigs. I set goals. I evaluate my progress. I finance my business. <strong>I DO IT ALL!! </strong> I have no booking agent, no advertising agency, no record company. It's <strong>JUST ME</strong>. Everyday, I'm winding the music machine as I work to get paid to send my songs out among the competing airwaves into the ears of America with the <strong>HOPE</strong> that <strong>SOMEONE</strong> will <strong>LIKE</strong> what they <strong>HEAR</strong> and <strong>BUY</strong> my music.<br><br>This is the world of the lonely little "Indie."<br><br>A mentor friend of mine told me that no one is going to toot my horn for me, that I'm going to have to do it myself, and so run the risk of irritating some folks in the process. Is there really anything gracious about self-promotion?? I wonder.<br><br>I'm hitting it hard on Facebook promoting my <strong>indiegogo.com</strong> crowd funding campaign for my new album <strong>LOVERS, WIVES & MOTHERS: A WESTERN WOMAN'S VOICE</strong>. Listen folks, <strong>I HAVE TO</strong> because THAT'S how advertising works. REPETITION. And each day, someone NEW is going to see it. And, unfortunately, each day someone is going to see it AGAIN and it will grow OLD for them. I'm sorry that happens, but it's the way this business works.<br><br>But a benefit of REPETITION is this.....someone will finally respond after they've been bombarded enough times!! YEAH!! They will FINALLY do business with me!! THEN, they can feel good about ignoring the rest of my campaign!! Great idea! Or they will block me or unfriend me or unfollow me. Think ill of me. Curse me. Whatever.<br><br>But this is <strong>BUSINESS</strong>. And I want you to know that a crowd funding campaign is NOT free money. It's a FAIR EXCHANGE of MY products and services for YOUR currency. Good old economics. I hope you will take a look at my campaign and consider buying a cd or a coffee mug or a stay at our M2B Ranch B&B. Or book a house concert with me!! I hope you will <strong>DO</strong> <strong>BUSINESS</strong> with this <strong>Lonely Little "Indie."</strong><br><br> Almeda Bradshawtag:almedam2bmusic.com,2005:Post/35499892015-03-05T13:26:50-07:002022-08-24T10:55:27-06:00BLOURNAL???BLOG....a blend of two ordinary words....WEB and LOG.<br><br> In 1989, when Tim Berners-Lee invented the first world wide WEB, 20 years or so after the first internet connection was made, that little word, the one I mostly associate with a spider named Charlotte, took on a huge meaning that would span the globe with it's strands of electronic information and forever change how we communicate.<br><br>And LOG....not another for the fire, but an age-old written record some of us like to keep to remember events in our lives (especially necessary as we age) or who like to write a one-sided conversation as we attempt to make sense of life's cause and effects or for those of us who are simply compelled to put our minds on paper. I call my log a journal.<br><br>I like that word the best of the various words available to describe "an official record of events" - log, record, register, logbook, journal, diary, minutes, chronicle, day book, ledger, account, tally, etc. I like "journal" the best because my life is a journey. And sometimes my journey gets really busy, overflowing with both bothers and blessings. Sometimes it goes by in a blur. So I journal. I love the pre-dawn quiet time I take each morning to think about and record yesterday's memories. It's a beautiful way to un-blur events and put perspective on where my journey is taking me. So, I journal with pen and paper each day.<br><br>And once in a while, I blog my "blournal" on this website.<br><br><br><br><br><br> Almeda Bradshawtag:almedam2bmusic.com,2005:Post/35341122015-02-16T08:26:05-07:002022-03-23T05:27:50-06:00A NEW YEAR & MOREI could tell by the way 2014 was winding down with such harmony and grace, that 2015 was going to be a great year. And nearly two months into it, the melody of my life continues to be composed of one blessing after another. I live each day so thankful, and quite frankly, in awe that things go along as well as they do! Don't we all know how quickly life can go to hell in a hand basket? Yeah, well, we do live in a world full of strife, sickness and sad songs. But, fortunately, "Greater is He in me than he that is in the world." Amen to that.<br><br>This year, I have mapped out before me events of my own creation......a new album, a new website, a new attitude and a new level of fitness and wellness. I am <strong><em>so very grateful</em> </strong>for my God-given gifts of talent, strength, motivation and spirit that make pursuing my dreams and goals possible. <br><br>AND I'm <em><strong>so very excited</strong></em> to be a part of events this year created by others!! Like a grand baby due in June! And my daughter's wedding in July!<br><br><em><strong><span class="font_large">Yes, 2015 is going to be a great year!</span></strong></em>
<div class="captioned justify_left"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/161177/22f6ecc49ccd866267569fbb08950883e1fa3779/medium/linda-and-dan.jpg?1424099198" class="size_orig justify_left border_" /><p class="caption">Linda & Dan, July 18, 2015<br><br> </p></div>
<div class="captioned justify_left"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/161177/1e62965131335be90dad901fdc45e1fb8685451a/medium/new-grandbaby.jpg?1424099337" class="size_orig justify_left border_" /><p class="caption">Baby Walstad!</p></div>Almeda Bradshaw