Still Winter

Seems like everyone has stuff going on and so boring here.  Well I'm not that bored but sure no horsey stuff going on besides these cute boys :)

(Dixon will drink right out of the pail, head all the way in past his eyes)

Otherwise just more crochet and book folding and I took a quilting class last week and we made table runners.  I got mine all pieced together but not quilted and binded cause my sewing machine is at the doctors and I borrowed one to use for the day but he wanted it back.  They said there is one at the school I can use when I go on Thursday nights for craft night but I probly wont, hopefully wont be too long till I get mine back. 

(I didn't mean for it to be baby looking but it kinda turned out that way)

Also made this baby blanket for a shower, they are both big hunters, it went over well as they had steer heads already decorating her room, with flowers on them.  Different but that's ok.

Heard back from Rayne and she was pushy, which I knew but shes better and progressing nicely, I may go down this week if it warms up and see her.

And biggest news is I sold Easy.  Sad that is my cutting dreams for this year but I put the money in a gic for when Dixon goes.  Which I talked to him about taking him, he would prefer started and wants him in March or April next year.  Kinda excited. Anyways Easy sold to a gal doing high school rodeo, they also ranch and he said shes a good hand so that's good. I may have to keep track of her and go see him this at a show.  Will miss the silly bugger although makes my life freeer and have many plans for this summer already in place :)

More Ponies and Crafting

Seems all I do these days is crafts.  I been crocheting of course, cant show my last make till next week as its a gift, but I also made a shawl and a sweater and a baby blanket.  Since I signed up for a craft sale in May I want a few things made up that I can have there,  Also gonna make some unicorn purses, some baskets, scrubbies, dishcloths, scrunchies and face cleaners.  Also gonna have some wood stuff there too.  Not sure what as there is still a 4 foot drift in front of my wood shop so its out of use for now. 

But its been -20 or colder everyday (except 1) since the first of February so I turned out Pally and I had planned for Rayne to go to the trainer on Feb 6th for a couple months, get started and going good so when its nice (ish) here in April I can ride out on her.  Well it was -34 when we were supposed to load and so I wimped out and we decided he wasn't doing much anyways so wait till the next week.  A little warmer, only -21 and Rayne was so good, shes kinda a pleaser anyways which helps a lot.  but shes only been loaded once before when I went to pick her up.  So I asked Neil if he would help and I brought Jessie too.  we walked up tot he trailer, I had shavings down and she thought she would eat them silly girl.  I could get her front feet in without even asking but she wouldn't take those last two steps and she just stood there.  I tried bribing her with cookies which I don't normally do but it was cold!  Anyways swung my lead rope and she backed out but no biggie, just walked front feet in and stood again, not worried just hanging out.  I was cold, Neil was cold and I finally said to Neil you have any ideas I don't know what to do.  and kinda just gave up.  Well up she hopped in.  So lots of scratches and there was a hay bag there too and we tied her up and closed the door.  All in all was only 15 minutes, I was surprised at that felt much longer.  Got there and we put her in the indoor arena to run around and she was excited to run without snow and ice everywhere it was funny.  He said he does that a lot then they can check out everything and its not a scary new place when he takes them in there.  We visited a while then I headed home and got home before dark and turned out Jess.  Got an update the other day, they did say I can ask but I don't wanna bug them everyday, well I sorta do but trying not too.  He said she was pushy and tried to run him over which I knew she definitely did try that here too but he said shes coming along pretty good. 

(Dixon and Huck)

(Rayne and Jessie)

(George, Jax, Nita, Razz)

(Huck and Dixon)

Otherwise just feeding colts and trying to stay warm.  And started up paint class again, started with something fun Luigi :)

Horse Goals

Well I beat last years blogger record ;)  Haha not that is was hard but I'm glad to be back anyways.  Well big changes here. Today Easy went to Doug's, he's gonna leg him up and sell him.  I will be sad but I think its best in the long run.

And Pally came along as company and she's staying in for a few days or months lol I am gonna ride her and probly sell her as well.

I got to use my new trailer it pulls so nice!  I got it last October after selling mine in June cause it just wasn't what I wanted and this one is almost exactly what I was looking for except its steel not aluminum but I will use it for a few years and see, it was a steal so I couldn't resist.  No pun intended.

And I got Rayne booked in for 2 months to get started, she will probly be for sale but I'm in no hurry for her to sell, I really prefer they are nice and broke before I sell so it may be another year but she's so big already and she's 3 how do they get so old so fast???

Looking into a beginner ranch roping clinic, I will take Jess cause that's one of my goals this year is to learn to rope and shes my best candidate cause shes done it before.  Not a lot but she did get roped off at a branding and could care less unless you slapped the rope on your leg but that's dealwithable.
Also going to take Jess to BC and we are gonna do some of the rocky trails cause she will have shoes all summer, I'm pretty excited about this.

My boys are growing, Huck is becoming quite bossy and I had to get after him the other day, he wouldn't let Dixon in all day to eat so I locked Huck out and in the morning they were best friends again.  Huck is really good at joining up and Dixon is really good at disengaging the hindquarters, partially cause he wants to keep and eye on me but whatever I will take it haha.  Haven't actually "done" anything with them lately cause of my back but I do have to go in there everyday to feed them so spend a little time just visiting and being friends, its working Dixon comes up to me now, Huck always did.

Got goals for Jax as well, gonna get him pulling a cart and want to go on a group drive with him.  And Razz, shes probly gonna have an easy year but I'm sure she will get used here and there :)  And Nita.  Haven't decided what I am doing with her yet, I will probly end up selling her turns out I can only ride so many and looks like about 4 is more than I need so that means 5 to sell but not yet if I get 2 sold I'm happy with that for this year.

Wow 2019

Where has the year gone, I cant believe my last post was a year ago!  And so much happened last year too.  Lets see if I can make a short summery.

Horses.  Didn't sell any, had 2 new ones born, Dixon out of Jess and Watson out of Nita. Unfortunately Watson died at a month old from I don't know what.  That was sad, I was really excited for my Hezgonnabefamous horse.  But I still got my cutter to be and since I had no one to wean him with ended up with another colt, ranch bred, a 3/4 brother to a colt I raised in 2010, Jamaica.  He is such a nice horse, so confident and comfortable in himself its just odd but I love it.  He will be a good fit in around here too, since my other 2 ranch horses are 13 and 14 now, I dunno how that happened.

(Dixon the day after he was born)

(Watson, a couple days old)

(Huck, the day he was halter broke, 

after he was caught he acted like it was old hat and the kids loved him)

Rode very little, 10 maybe 12 times this year because of my back and my knee.  Not impressed with that but I am working my way back up this year.

Making some decisions on what to do with Easy, was planning on showing this summer but with my back the way it is I'm not sure I can and talked to my trainer today and he asked if I wanted to sell him, I never even thought of it but it would kinda make sense and he said he could probly sell him for what I paid without anyone even trying hom.  tempting, I really like him but since I cant haul him alone or ride out on him if I cant cut he would be an arena horse and I do not need that, I can ride any of my other horses in an arena if i wanted.  So now to decide what to do.  It would be nice to save that for Dixon's training but it would be nice to show and get some experience doing that too.  Of course if I do get better there will always be more horses for sale. 

Crochet-- Well since I didn't do much horse stuff this year I did a lot of crochet.  I am really enjoying it and even getting a few orders in, that's great, I can pay for my hobby :)

(Neil's blanket)

Travel--We headed to Mazatlan in March for a relatives wedding that was so cool, I had a great time, trying to talk Neil into going again this year but its not happened yet, he wants Vegas, Id rather a beach but if that's the only option i will take it.

(from our balcony)

Painting-- I have continued with paint class am really enjoying it, and I made a good picture finally!  not a decent one but its actually good, and weirdly it was a spur of the moment picture to do.

(the red truck)

More Horses--Got a chance to go photo wild horses with a friend, that was really cool they were quite calm and stuck around a long time, kinda boring no play going on but that's OK it was still pretty cool.  Id like to go again in the spring time maybe.

(they got spooked and run in a big circle and were coming towards us)

Have a lot of plans for this year too, so excited for it to get going, said as I sit in bed with a sore back, ugh.  But Chiro tomorrow and hopefully onwards and upwards from there.

OOH My Aching Back

Well started on my log pillows, probly would be done except I run out of wool.  The pattern said one ball of natural but I was suspicious when it said 3 balls make a scarf, hmm and one will make a pillow?  Well I got about 12 inches and they want 17 to cover the pillow form so I will add more wool when I can find some.  The Fields in Hanna usually carries it but they were out from Christmas haven't restocked yet. 

(double crochet with single crochet edge, I really like this one)

(half double crochet in ecru and then the spirals from the end of the log, 

figured I should practice a pattern so I made a couple coasters)

(my logs, the reason I learned to crochet)

(this made me think of a bowl, so much so I wanna make bowls

 but I also found a cool basket that I might do too)

(not quite long enough :( )

I also have some baby yarn that I have no idea where it came from.  Neil says I won it in a poker game lol.  But I asked my mom and she thinks 2 balls will make a baby blanket so since a neighbor is having a baby in April I will make one for her. 

(its super soft, I wish I had enough for a blanket for me)

Started paint classes again, this time we get to pick a picture we wanna paint and she will help us through it while also working on a couple other projects like the parrot this week and we are also gonna do a self portrait.

(mines the third one,

 I love the palms

 I don't think mine would look like that but I need some kind of background)

And it sounds like I am gonna have a lot more time to crochet in the next few weeks and my chiro is pretty sure I injured a disc.  He kinda thought last time but now he says its healing way slower than a joint/muscle should so he thinks its a disc.  Which he said heal fine 98% of the time they just take a long time.  Not what I wanted to hear but I guess not much I can do about it except rest and heat and small easy activity. 

(my Chiro gave me this card for this guy he's really good at picking out your weak spots and strengthening them, 

I think I will call him but not for a while as I need to heal first)

I went swimming Monday and that felt really good, better if the hot tub was working but still nice to float with no weight on the spine.  They have renovated the pool and now its deep almost all over cause they built a toddler area (that noone was using while we were there).  I wish they woulda left 2 lanes shallo so we could walk still that was great back therapy.  We used water belts but they just are not the same.  Might have to actually swim when I can.

(its cold out but at least its pretty)

(view out the bedroom window, I love those bushes/trees)

Chiro and Horses and Crocheting

Well here is the offending item that put my back out

(yes that little bag of bows, was trying to put away Christmas)

Went to the chiropractor yesterday and he sees me walk in and looks at my back and says he still wants to be friends after this.  Well I knew it wasn't gonna be good lol.  He wasn't too bad, used his hammer on the backs of my knees and my lower back and a bit higher too then put the hips back in (that wasn't that fun)  Still sore but less intense pain its just sore muscles now that need to relax.  I go back tomorrow and I think maybe that's all for a while.  I only went 7 times last year that's gotta be a record thought i was doing pretty good.  Till this.  I also asked him about the weird clicking noises and he says on the outside of hips and I said mostly he said there is actually a name for them called clicking hip syndrome.  Its when the tendons slide over the hip back into place, especially loud on tight muscles.  Not much I can do about it either, and its not bad or good it just is.  But now I know.

The weather had warmed up beautifully here was +4 today and melting :)  Still was inside but its nice to know I could go out haha.  Saw the last of the ponies come running up this morning, not sure why they were behind but I like watching them.  Can always tell Razz even if shes just a shadow cause shes always loping in, everyone else walks or trots in.  Speaking of Razz I am in the 12 week challenge on Facebook again with her gotta get 30 rides, 40 hours horsemanship all within the next 12 weeks, starts Sunday, hope I'm up for that then.

(Razz coming in, I'm in the house then the new cows and behind them the winter horse pasture)

(I knew it was her :) )

(Rayne and Easy coming in slowly behind Razz)

I been crocheting to pass the time, its kinda fun learning new stuff and making way too many dishcloths lol but I only have cotton wool to practice with and not sure what else I can make with it.

(the single and double crochet ones)

(the patterned one from today with blue double crochet and ecru single crochet)

Happy New Year

Seems like a lot of people have had a bad 2017, not sure mine was bad, it wasn't great and it didn't go the way I planned but I cant say I hated it and I guess that's all one can hope for.  Many things have changed and I have changed and therefore I am hoping more stuff I want to get done this year does and it will be awesome!

1.  First off 2 new foals how can that not be so fun!  I plan of halter breaking them early of course since its during branding season it may not go as smooth as planned but it will happen eventually.

2.  Cutting.  I have plans to start riding Easy as soon as I can. I kinked my back on Friday so I'm out for week or 2 and still working on finding a place.  Then come April he will go be boarded at the trainers and then if I can't ride at least they will keep him in shape for showing.

3.  Finishing projects at home, I have a huge work in progress list, both of crafts, woodworking and building items I want to get done.  I have made out a list/timeline and gave myself goals for when they are done I think it will work knowing exactly what I need to do.

4.  And of course my other horses, I have goals for pretty much everyone, all listed out, I wont bore you with them here but it starts with getting Rayne started and taking more clinics with Razz to have her calmer and relaxed in groups.  And taking Jax on a group ride/drive.  And probly leasing Pally out after branding season, I have a few places asking about her and so we will see, not like I won't have enough others around lol.  Only one who doesn't have a goal list is Jessie which is weird for the first time ever for her.  Still debating on Nita, whether to breed her back or ride her we will see how the foal is and how she is.

5. Enjoy every moment. So even now as I am laying in bed writing this up I have taught myself to crochet.  So far just a single crochet in a dishcloth but I want to make some log pillows for my window seat so I need to practice.  Times a wasting gotta do something.

CO Scare

Yesterday as I was testing out my dehydrator making apples and pears, I had a box of pears I got from a preschool fundraiser and wanted to make some jam but there was a lot and so I also canned some.  The vanilla pear jam soooo good! 

But since all burners and plugs were used (not quite but it seemed like it) I cooked us burritos in the oven, nothing I haven't done before.  But before lunch was over the fire alarm went off.  Well the microwave above he stove quit so that meant I had so exhaust fan either and I figured that's what it was.  Well turns out no.  It sounded weird so we listed and she was saying carbon monoxide warning.  Not good.  Well I guess you are supposed to turn off all gas powered appliances and let it cool and then test again.  Well lunch was almost done and the canning was done so off went the stove and oven and we opened the doors even though it was -22*C outside and we turned off the furnace.  The alarms went off and never went again so we guess it was good this time.  I turned back on the furnace and left the doors open a bit to circulate some air.

Then off to google I went to see what I could find.  Turns out all gas ovens vent into the house they say it is a safe level.  I noticed last couple times the fire alarm went off it was when the oven was above 400, below that it never bothered.  I think its a mix of the oven needing cleaning and no exhaust fan and Neil was in town and he said something to the electric guy and he said they go off a lot when its this cold out.  Makes sense we are not going in and out very much and its pretty sealed up inside.  So I guess as soon as it gets a bit warmer so I can leave the door/window open I will clean the oven, the second sounds nice.  And we have a new microwave with exhaust fan that I bought of a buy/sell group and we should put that in before I do much more cooking.  I was thinking I haven't had a microwave in a month I didn't need it.  But I guess I need the fan.  And I want popcorn lol.

Merry Christmas

We spent the 23rd in Medicine Hat at a funeral for a good friend,  She will be missed.  Cancer sucks.  But she is in a better place now and we will all see her again one day.  While we ere there we finished up our Christmas shopping and then had supper and headed home. 

Sunday we were on our way to Olds after Neil finished chores.  But first our neighbors come and we had coffee and Baileys with them, must have Baileys in all coffee at Christmas time ;)  Then the waterers were frozen so it actually worked well cause they were thawed by the time the neighbors left.  So we packed the truck and off we went.

(Jaret modeling his snowman glasses)

(Tristan modelling Santa glasses)

(Neil and his farmer shirts he loves)

(the sign I made for Jaret)

(Heidi so excited for her new camera)

(Tristan got a Denny's cup, best gift ever for him lol)

(my mom with her anchor socks, she LOVES anchors)

(Neil looking at a gift)

(my Aunt Shirley studying her gift)

(my mom and her knitting bowl)

(Neil with more presents)

(Heidi opening a birthday gift from my aunt, its an unfinished scarf lol)

Was a good day , we opened presents and ate and got stockings and visited and lots of laughing occurred.  I had most of my shopping done early and I really liked that it saved a lot of stress except what shoulda been easy was hard, t-shirts for a teenager, well last place we stopped at had the best ones and they were cheap!  We shoulda gone there first. 

(Cheyanne was pooped)

(Rupert not a fan of the noise)

(me and Neil by the tree)

(aunty Shirley)

(Tristan and Jaret)

(Tristan and Heidi and Jaret)

(my mom and Clint and Cheyenne)

(haha me in my model pose by the tree)

All in all a good day, I took a lot of pics, will share a few here.  Then on the way home we stopped to take pics at the John Deere and Case dealerships who always decorate some farm equipment its pretty cool. 

And then got home at 11 and it was -33*C brrr.  Good thing it warmed up a bit today lol -16*C but still too cold to go for a ride even if it was the first Christmas in my life I coulda.