Thursday, July 26, 2012

It's A Beautiful Morning

...and now I have the Young Rascals echoing through my head. Hope they go away soon. I can't believe that the sun is shining after so many gloomy days. We had sun last Thursday also. I headed off to a horse show after my grooming stint and although I had remembered to put sunscreen on my face, forgot to apply any to my neck and got a slight sunburn on one side.

This was the first time I actually got to witness any drama at a horse show. One of the participants won a couple of blue ribbons but exited the ring in tears. Now I happen to know that she is leaving for college soon so I'm thinking she's crying because this may be the last time she shows the horse for awhile or maybe she's going to sell it or something. Oh heck no - turns out she got yelled at by her trainer for wasting time canoodling with her boyfriend when she was supposed to be getting the horse ready. So much for my theory.

Found a house I liked last night online so have contacted our real estate agent about setting up a viewing. It seems perfect in every way so I'm sure there must be something wrong with it. I vacillate between resigning that we'll never move and should just fix up the house we're in and then getting excited over an MLS listing. Earlier in the day I had been researching landscaping companies because we need a new retaining wall and I am curious how much it would cost to replace our graveled area with paving stones.

Time to head for the barn. Hope my real estate agent sends an email for me to read by the time I get home.

Monday, July 16, 2012

I Like It

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Long Sleeved Summer

With apologies to the rest of the nation, Anchorage is having the coldest July on record

Friday, July 13, 2012

Friday the 13th

Happy Birthday to me. I was awakened by a telephone call from my BFF this morning with the opening, "Welcome to old age." We both turned 60 this year. Medicare is right around the corner. Aggravates me no end that its mandatory when I already have perfectly good health insurance. Of course that may all come to a screeching halt when certain legislation goes into effect.

We're not planning any special activities. I've got some bananas in the freezer as I want to try a banana ice cream recipe that I found on-line. I'm taking a batch of these to the barn today:



I purchased them from Becky on etsy, who is not limited to horses but said they are her most popular.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85770685/equestrian-lover-cookies

I bought a book entitled, "Still Riding at 80" that I'm going to read for inspiration one of these days. Right now I'm in the middle of reading a fantasy series. Also have an exercise book that one of the ladies at the barn claims changed her life. I managed to get through half of the exercises. They're only supposed to take 15 minutes but I have to read and re-read each exercise, execute it, then start again with the next one. I'm such a quitter.

Saw Bart chasing something across the yard this morning that turned out to be a baby blue jay. The adult birds were raising a racket. Fortunately, my husband was able to chase Bart off before he did any harm. (Note to self: Must work on obedience training and have both dogs master the "Come" command)

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Riding Report

At last Monday's lesson I finally succeeded at the sitting trot without stirrups. I managed to stay seated without bouncing; I'm sure much to the mare's relief. I'm going to have to try it bareback next.

My trainer has been trying to get me to canter for some time now. When I first started riding two years ago I wondered when I'd be allowed to canter but it was a case of you must learn to walk before you can run. Now that I can walk (and trot!) I don't really even care if I ever master a canter. I'm sure I'll get it eventually.

Last night's group lesson was a lot of fun. We practiced making the horses circle without reins. I could get a right circle but when I tried for the left the horse kept going straight, I don't understand why shouting, "Left, left, dammit!" didn't work.

And here's what will be happening soon on the Winston front:

Friday, July 6, 2012

Misbehavin'



We really don't encourage him to stand on the TV trays. He accesses on his own from the recliner.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Pictures