More Craft Room Planning

So since I did the plan on Sunday stills, i got more info.  Some from you guys :) and I have these 2 books which are great, for heights and spacing and what to do with all the started projects.  And unstarted ones,  I think I have enough to never buy anymore (but I will)

So the new plans have cupboards above all the counters except where the sewing machine ans pressing/planning spot is.  Extra lights over that spot and lights under cupboards specially by the scrap booking station.  Desk tops are 18 inches wide and 32 inches high with 35 inches high where ironing and the sewing machine inset into a desk (probly not the set up I have now as its not made for my machine and it just wont work (I've tried) but I have found plans to make a desk into an inset sewing machine holder at 27" high)  Wall lights by window seat and bookcases on each side.  Window seat is 12-15 inches wide and probly 17 inches high.  I also marked all the registers and plug ins and the modem plug on the plans so I know where they are.  Probly wont put any curtains on the window but its still an option later on.  Id like to remove closet doors but not sure hubby will like that.

I have been trying to work on some smaller started projects I have and get them out of the way.  Smaller ones work better for now as I am putting them away every night so they don't get coffee stains on them.  One day I will find a way to leave them out safely.  I actually finished one that was on my resolution list (yay) but that still leaves lots more to go.

( seed package from resolution list :)  

I see when I started it last it wasn't centered, 

probly why I quit but it all fit so I guess it'll work)

(Love this Eeyore bookmark)

(just started this magnet one, see my horsey floss holder)

(and a while ago was gonna make shirts for all the babies 

oops no ones gotten one yet,

 although I did make a few blankets and give them away)

I have many many horsey cross stitches I have collected over the years, some I have done but many not finished yet.  I can only work on them for a little bit at a time cause my thumb gets sore from holding the needle, trying to work my way up so it doesn't but still only can get about an hour in at once.  I have a whole bunch of cross stitches that are done that I need to do something with but that's a whole nother story.

(so many but I love them all)

I have lots of wood projects going on but I have a hard time doing that in the winter, my shop can be heated but its not insulated so it still is cold unless by the stove.  And if I wanna cut or sand too much I prefer the door open or doing it outside so I wait till warmer weather.  But I do plan on building a window seat in the dining area this spring as soon as the snow goes, no need to bring wetness inside.

Ponies, Winter Plans, Renovations and Ramblings

So this summer I kinda had a goal to sell some ponies and to get to more cutting shows, well things change.  Although I did sell Jazz and Magic, still have a couple more to go.  I am now down to 6 and really think about 4 is where I should be for being able to use them all.  I really only need 2 maybe 3 to ride, I would think 2 unless one gets hurt or something then I need a third I would hate to not be able to ride cause I have no ponies.  So I am thinking sell Bailey and Kali, although that leaves me with Jessie and Razz and Belle and Disco, which doesn't seem quite right cause I hardly ride Disco although I could even though she's old and hardly (if ever) been rode outside.  And then Jessie, its not working out like I planned, not sure what to do with her, she is a super nice horse, was never my favorite, but that don't mean anything but we just can't seem to get it together.  I still gotta decide about her, if I put her in more training or maybe sell her and get a horse I can go win on.  I have 2 neighbors who are interested in Bailey, the one I am sure she will love her if I can every get her over here to try her.  and the other wants a back up ranch horse but wants her able to one hand...hence the bit change.  I think both would do good with her and at least she would get used more than she is here.

I'm trying to decide if I should just turn out Jessie for the winter or board her and keep taking lessons and going to winter shows....of course this depends on me keeping her or not.  I would like to board for a while cause I want to get a bit on Bailey but I want to do it when I have a chance to ride her lots of days in a row with it, so I think if I board I can ride pretty well every day and get her used to it, I doubt it will be an  issue but she does get a little pushy with the snaffle and I wanna get her soft again in it before moving up to something else.  I also wanna get a 2 rein on Razz and since she has had the whole summer off I need to do something with her.  But the ground in the arena I been boarding at isn't that great and so its a hard choice.  I kinda wanna just leave ponies turned out all winter but I am afraid I will go crazy if I don't do something all winter.

I also wanna do some renovations to our house (if I can get my hubby on board) but I also want someone to come look at what I am planning and tell me if its doable or I am just crazy.  It seems to work in my mind but sometimes its not practical, lol.  I really want to move the bathroom in the spare bedroom and also put the washer and dryer in there, then can expand our kitchen to where the bathroom was and expand the bedroom to where the laundry room was.  That will mean we won't have a spare room anymore, but we could either put a room in the basement (there is lots of space down there) or build  separate building like a mini cabin with a bedroom and bathroom in it.  I guess if I do that it would keep me occupied most of winter and I shouldn't be bored,  I will certainly need some help with some of it cause I am not a plumber, have done a bunch of stuff but certainly not gonna be building cupboards either.  And a couple walls will need to come down and I wanna make sure they are not important.  I am also thinking we have a half wall by one kitchen counter and thinking making it  into a breakfast bar would be cool.  So many ideas going around in my mind, I should draw some up and see if it will work how I envision it.

Summer Plans

The other day it was halfway warm out and I got busy cleaning out my tack room in preparation for use again.  Right now I am using my white trailer as a tack room cause there was so much snow in front of my tack room, it is melting but now there is a lot of water still sitting around.

I started to put all the stuff I probly won't use this summer in the rubber maids and hanging in the back, and the stuff I will use up front where I can get at it.  I for sure put away all my driving stuff and the foal stuff since there is none of that going on this year.

My plans this summer, showing Jessie, of course.  But around that I want to get Jazz started, either by me or by someone else ( I would prefer someone else but I am so picky about who handles my horses I am having a hard time finding someone).  I want to get a couple months on her and then probly turn her out and maybe ride her more in the winter.  And I want to get something done with Magic.  I am thinking I will keep her in with Bailey in the corral and hopefully get somewhere, I am not as worried about riding her as much as I am about getting her able to be haltered and leading and picking up her feet without a fight, after that we will see what I can do.  Oh speaking of her, I got a pic of her leg that was so horribly rubbed, it is almost better, 2 of the holes are healed and one is still on its way, its a little swollen, but she is putting weight on it normally so that is always good.

I also plan on riding Razz and maybe Bailey for cow work this summer, I haven't used Bailey much in the last couple years, but this year I would like to cause I have to sell some horses and she is probly on the list.  I would like to get down to 4 or 5 around here, that means selling 4 or 5.  I know for sure George and Jessie and Razz will stay, but after that I am not sure.  I should also ride Kali, but for early spring she will get turned out cause I can't keep everyone in and I don't want too many horses that it seems like work rather than fun.

(The wind blew the bulls empty mineral tub through the fence 

and Bailey was tipping it over, it was sure entertaining to watch, 

I love a curious horse, and she is one!)

Other than horses, I really want to finish my basement room I been putting off for a couple years, and the deck needs to get done, hopefully before we brand in early June.  And I want to get my garden in, and I think that will be enough to keep me busy.  Course I will probly find more stuff to do as summer goes along.

New Years Resolutions

I know I was not gonna plan anything anymore, but its really hard for me, I like plans and lists and so therefore I am gonna make a list of things I want to get done over the year.

First off, the Horse Goals:

1. I want to sell some horses and get down to a reasonable amount that I can actually ride them and not feel like I am ignoring them. I think my horses like to be handled and ridden and I know for sure Bailey wants to go all the time and so does Kali, so I want to be able to have a normal amount.

2. I also want to get Jazz started and get a  nice decent couple months riding on her, inside and out and so if I sell her I know she will have a good chance at a good life.  Same with Disco, I want to get some riding on her and hopefully find someone who will ride her.

3.  I want to do lots of trail riding, I have a used to be neighbor that invited me to ride with him down by Dorothy and I will definitely take him up on that.  And me and Char had planned to go riding in the mountains last summer so I want to make sure we do that this year.  I also have a lot of opportunity to do lots of riding with cows and I want to do that as well.

4.  I want to cut.  I don't have a horse right now that I can cut on but at our last lesson on Saturday, Doug said he could find me a decent horse in the $10,000 range so that I can learn on them and then move up to the expensive horses.  Well I am not in a hurry and so will be pretty careful about what I look at and get help.

Then onto the regular goals:

1.  I want to get fit.  I am not so worried about losing weight so much as getting more fit.  I am working out hopefully 4 times a week and the rest will be full of riding and other stuff.  I am gonna try to eat healthier but it will be really hard cause I love sugar, but I will try.

2.  I want to finish the basement.  I still have to put up the shelves (that are not made yet) and finish the cupboards and varathane or stain it all. 

3.  I want to do some woodwork this winter.  I have been not doing much of it cause I was too busy riding and last winter my shed was snowed in, but hopefully it wont be so cold this winter and I can get some done.

4.  I want to get back to doing some more cross stitch.  I used to do lots but now I am too busy or just a little lazy and haven't done it in a while and I have enough patterns to do everyday for the rest of my life so I best get started.

I left them pretty open so that if all goes wrong they have lots of room to change them and if it don't all go the way I want that's okay, there's always next year.

And Again

Well this morning I got a call from Doug and he wants me to take Kali home cause he doesn't think she will turn out.  He figures she is very cowy, just not athletic enough to be competitive.  So I will go pick her up next week and decide from there what I will do with her.  He figures I should buy either a good 2 year old and train it up or an older horse and just go cutting.  Either way will be expensive I guess I gotta decide how much I am willing to spend to cut now.

I am kinda sad about this, but yet glad that he says so now with 6 weeks rather than waiting forever and just still not turning out.  I may just keep her till spring and ride her and then sell her as a well broke Dual Pep daughter.  Her bloodlines should be worth quite a it although it woulda been better is she woulda done something, but I am hoping I may get what I paid out of her.  Or I sell Razz to Doug as a start on buying a broke horse.  So many decisions to make.

I don't know how much I can spend but a broke horse probly isn't in my budget for this year, might just have to ride what I have and sell a couple and then we will see next year.  Or save all the money that woulda gone into training and more and build my arena.  (which will take more than this years earnings too)  but wont be as fun if I don't have a good horse to ride in the arena.

In other news, I am almost done my Christmas shopping, might go tomorrow or Wednesday somewhere with Linda and spending Christmas Eve with Neils family and Christmas Day with my family.  And we were planning on going to the movies with an old friend and her kids this week, but her oldest broke his thumb snowboarding so not sure if that will happen this week either.

Since I told Char this morning, we looked at this gelding, and she found this mare (Look down to Justa Indian Maiden).  Both outta my price range but still kinda fun to look even if I have no intention of buying right now.  It is still nice to know what is out there.  I will be pretty pciky this time around so it might take a while to find what I like to ride and will be right for me.

Done Planning

Well I haven't posted in a few days cause I been thinking and all I can come up with is I am not gonna plan anything anymore cause it just never works so I am just gonna do what happens that day and enjoy it.  I now have all my ponies home (except Kali) and so its busier here at home but I am kinda enjoying staying home and getting stuff done here, but I am gonna have to figure something out cause I can't imagine 3 months without riding.  If there wasn't any ice under the snow I probly could ride out, but I don't wanna slip, and I know Razz is pretty careful but she worries a lot about slipping, so probly not gonna happen for a while. 

I have gotten a lot of stuff ready for Christmas however, I got most of my gifts wrapped, there are a few I am still working on but they should be done no problem in time.  I have to go one more day to town to get a few more things and some stocking stuffers but otherwise all done there too.

While looking back in pics I was looking at all the ones with Razz in the snaffle and she looks unhappy in every single one.  When I see pics of her in the hackmore she is so much more cheerful.  I wish I knew what was going on, but for now we are gonna keep hackmore on her till I do.  I wonder if she would like a curb bit better too, I may have to try one day (but not saying when, ha ha)

Not even sure what we are doing for Christmas, my Mom is having Christmas Day at her house and an Aunt is having Christmas Eve, but if we are feeding cows I can't see how we can get to both (we usually stay over and head home early Christmas cause we had big meal Christmas Eve) So we might get up early and go Christmas morning or who knows.  I am kinda OK if we stay home too.  I see my family quite often so its not as big a deal to me to get there.  And then of course Neil's family wants to plan something too.  (And all I wanna do is ride)

I am now friends with the Silver Sage Arena is Brooks on Face book, so I now know when they are open all the time, so I might have to head down that way to do some riding.  They used to have a ladies riding night, wonder if that's still on.  I know they do rough stock one night and barrel jackpots every other Sunday, but I am happy to just go down and ride a couple horses.  Course it would just be so much easier if I just had my own arena, but even though I asked for it for Christmas, my gift is under the tree in a gold box and it just looks way to small to be an arena :( 

When I brought the horses home, I got Neil to help me and he led Razz and I took Shasta and Disco.  I opened the gate and when I turned around they were in front of me and I was walking behind them with their lead ropes, was sure odd, kinda like driving them.  I made them stop and wait till I was better organized.  Those 2 sure are attached to each other.  When we put them out they sure all have different ideas, Razz headed straight for the water, Disco started eating and Shasta wanted to wander around and check the place out.  No arguing from any of the other horses either, they were just excited to have friends.  Although Bailey kept looking at me as I left like I forgot to give them thier treats.

Summer Plans

I have had a number of plans I wanted to get done this summer.  First off was my yard.  I have planned many many projects for my yard, not sure how many will get done this summer, but eventually I want them all done.

Kinda hard to see in the photo unless you make it way bigger, but I have a list of 9 items to get done.
1) Change the brick cement block patio to a raised wooden one
2) Put in fireplace with brick around it
3) Pound posts and put up rail fencing--the posts are in already
4) Paint north wall of greenhouse and make a new roof and east wall
5) Arbour gate by the garden
6) Plant trees, I have planned on ordering 40-50  hoping half live
7) Change the lilac hedge into an evergreen hedge, probly white pine
8) Make pathways out of flat rocks level with the grass
9) Paint Garden shed and rebuild doors and inside shelves

Then the Garden Plan  I only have 5 plans for it, but they may take longer than the yard.

1) Remove old cold frame
2) Dig out strawberries, edge and replant in raised bed
3) Mow around garden plot and build bench to put in there
4) Plant more trees--some from the yard plan
5) Lay paving stones as a pathway to garden plot.

These are my great plans for the summer in between the time I am not riding my ponies and doing all the other things that need to be done on the ranch, like checking cows, haying, mowing, gardening, housework, and making jams.  Should be a busy summer if it ever gets here!