When the doctor told my husband that his ankle replacement surgery would require him to be off his feet, non-weight-bearing for the better part of six weeks, I felt for him. How would this active, independent cowboy adjust? Little did I know that my life was about to take a turn that has left me with much adjustment too.

Roxanne and The General

Eldon has always been the main caretaker for our on-property horses, while I put on my Adrienne Vittadini suit and head off to work. It’s been an arrangement that works beautifully for us. Now, however, instead of blowing my hair and applying makeup first thing in the morning, I can be found in the stable feeding, watering, fly-spraying and cleaning up after our horses. Lovely! I am also now in charge of pool cleaning and plant watering. Thankfully, our daughters have taken on the grocery shopping to alleviate that task from my ever-growing list.

I’ve tried not to let all this get in the way of my workout routine – although I must say that caring for three horses morning and night is a workout in itself! I typically enjoyed getting my exercise in after the work day, but now have had to wake up even earlier to get in my two-mile run in the morning. (Still can’t get myself to use a treadmill – I’ve got to be outdoors!)

Eldon’s doing better each day and for that I am grateful. It will be a while longer, though, until he is able to fully resume the horse & house chores that he does so well. Until then, hand me that shovel … I’ve got work to do!

Until next time,

Roxanne Housley
Vice President of Sales & Marketing

I had a chance to catch up with an old friend, Barbara Dooley from Athens, Georgia, on her recent Canyon Ranch visit. Barbara has been coming to the Ranch since the 80s, which is when I first met her. She started by bringing small groups of friends – and over the years the size of her groups grew as word-of- mouth spread. (These were the days before social media, when you picked up the phone, called your girlfriend and said, “I just had the most fabulous trip and next year you’re coming with me. Period.”)

Barbara is one of the most charismatic women I know and I can’t imagine anyone saying “no” to her – whether she’s reaching out for a fundraising cause or coming to Canyon Ranch. One year, Barbara couldn’t make the trip, so her husband Vince escorted the ladies and they had a ball! Barbara has now turned the group lead over to her daughter Deanna Cook, and Deanna brought her daughter this trip, so we hosted three generations of Dooley women! This generational “relinquishing of the reins” is not uncommon when it comes to groups.

Another wonderful friend, Sara Martineau, will be here later this month with her husband and some of their Dallas friends. Sara is active in Crystal Charity Ball and has helped raise a substantial amount of money for that very worthwhile organization. Sara is a long-time Ranch loyalist and has also brought her children and their spouses too. Sara most definitely embraces a healthy lifestyle and, believe me, it shows!

What a privilege it has been to get to know women like Barbara and Sara during their trips to the Ranch.

Until next time,

Roxanne Housley
Vice President of Sales & Marketing

I’ve been a fan of hard-bound books my whole life – the massive cover, the smell of the pages, the excitement and adventure contained inside. Nothing beats the feel of a great book in your hands when snuggled in bed or curled up by a fire. Even school textbooks had a certain authority to them.

Fast forward to the 21^st century where technology rules the world and time is the great equalizer – when business travel consumes the majority of your life and taking luggage on a plane costs almost as much as the fare itself. When I travel, I tend to stuff my carry-on with at least one or two books, a laptop, bottled water, snacks and all the assorted items you’d expect a woman to have. I’ve been a road warrior for 25 years and the extra weight, particularly on my right shoulder, has gotten downright uncomfortable.

My husband evidently heard me complaining, because on Valentine’s Day he surprised me with a Kindle – one of those great techno-items you use to download and read books. Now, I can carry dozens of books and the weight of my bag never changes! I just finished reading Cutting for Stone and the last of the Stieg Laarson trilogy, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest. I love my new, lightweight, self-contained library in a box. Roses for Valentine’s Day just became very passé.

Until next time,

Roxanne Housley
Vice President of Sales & Marketing

Baking has always been one of my passions I developed early on from my grandmother, who never used a measuring tool or recipe. I passed on this loving tradition to my own daughters, by always having something sweet in the oven – cookies, pies, crisps tarts – when they arrived home from school or on the weekends. It’s no wonder their friends always wanted to come to our house!

Of course, the key is always moderation. Baking is one thing – resisting is another! That’s why our family rule is, “You bake, you take.” Baked goods never stayed in the house for long. They became welcome “gifts” at school, work or friends’ homes. That way I could satisfy my love of baking, but not over-satisfy my sweet tooth. It’s a great adage to keep in mind when trying to maintain a weight-conscious environment – and a reminder that you don’t have to give up the things you love in order to stay healthy. And sharing is always appreciated.

Until next time,

Roxanne Housley
VP of Sales & Marketing

In most companies, it’s good to be “in the loop,” but for me at Canyon Ranch, it’s equally important to be “on the loop” …. the two-mile loop, that is. Working at a fitness resort, we get to take advantage of many of the health & wellness offerings. The one I use the most is a two-mile loop trail that weaves around the perimeter of the Tucson property, affectionately called “The Loop.”

Most days in the year, when the weather is beautiful and delightful, I take off walking on the loop after a long day. It provides solace, exercise, beauty of nature and time for reflection. Other times, I enjoy walking it with a colleague – discussing work activities or just gabbing about the latest restaurant we’ve tried or movie we’ve seen, what our kids are up to, etc. It makes the time pass so much more quickly – even when you go around the loop twice like I do!

So find the “loop” in your neighborhood – literally or figuratively – something you enjoy doing alone or with a friend that gets you outdoors, breathing fresh air and engaged in activity.

Until next time,

Roxanne Housley