If you stop blogging and then start again

I could make a gazillion excuses, but I won't.  I will just say that working full time, going to school full time, and fixing up a POS piece of property with two kids and a hubby and a horse and 4 dogs is cause for being busy.

However, I now find myself unemployed, on a break from school, and a bunch a time on my hands.  It is the end of a year, and we all like to set goals, reflect and think that next year will be very different.  I am hoping for different, and for a little better.

I hope that any and all who happen to read this had a joyful and peaceful Christmas and holiday season. Even with financial constraints, we had a wonderful time with family and friends and played some great games, watched some wonderful movies and ate WAY to much!   I still have a gazillion projects to do, but we got a big one off of the list.....

We have central heat in the house now.  We have heat in every room thanks to McGyver and it is very very nice.

I start classes again on Monday and I cannot wait.  Fall quarter was amazing and I ended up with straight A's!  I worked very hard for them, but I was thrilled when I got my grades!  I made a pretty fabulous Apple Cake this morning and will probably post the recipe soon.  We have some big plans this next year for our "farm" and I will probably talk about those here in the next couple of days as well.


We leave for Maui in 3 weeks, and my oldest is turning 21.  2011 is going to be starting out pretty fabulous!  Happy New Year!!

Catching up with life

So it has been awhile.. and I disappeared completely. I wish I could say it was all accidental, but it was a bit intentional. I started a new position within my company which has kept me too busy, and we have been doing a little of this and a little of that around the property.

I haven't had much to say on the riding front except that now.. I am taking lessons with someone new, we have been going across the street for trail lessons now for about two months and I love it, the horse loves it and it is less expensive than my other trainer and friend, trail really has helped to improve my riding and my dressage work actually.

We are working on the property this summer, although the weather will have to cooperate before we can do much more.

I have tons of pictures to upload, but I will try and post a few here and a few in the coming weeks.

The big news... I am going back to school! Full time.. To be a nurse.. something I have always wanted to finish! I start my nursing assistant courses this evening, and I will be going to school in the fall and only working part time.. and not at my current place of employment. My last day is August 6th and I cannot wait! I will have 4 weeks of time off to get ready for this new adventure!

This is my new trailer, and I love it... I went to the show with this.. and we won:

and did lots of this at the show:

Beau.. the real star of the show:

He won his Dressage training 2, and we won Ladies Hunter Pleasure.. and we won the Amigo Binson High Point award for the show for adult amateur!  That was pretty cool!








That was in May.. and we have just been chillin with Trail since then and working on the house.. I hope to do at least two trail rides in July and two in August and two in September before the weather and school engulfs my life!

This is a very very scary transition, as we have been used to two good incomes, and me working part time will put a bit of a cramp on our lifestyle.  This blog is where I will probably document the good the bad, and the ugly.

catch up

I have tons of pictures I want to share, but with a new position at work and some other things going on this week.. I am just SLAMMED.

The update:

Beau is HOME! Whoo Hoo! Last Saturday I was a bit nervous as he was having a hard time settling down, but by Sunday afternoon it was much better.

I don't think having him alone is a long term solution, he will have to have a friend sooner than later.

I have ridden him twice at home and once was last night.. it was interesting.. and went okay.. but it will be a couple of weeks I think until he settles down.

I have a new position at work, so I am a bit swamped.. and I will have to write and catch up later... Happy week..

Mack and Bella Cuddle

Mack and Bella Cuddle, originally uploaded by mysticfish.

These two are so in love with each other.. they are.. well.. peas and carrots.. Jenny and Forrest..

Barn and Arena.. almost functional

I am four days away from putting my horse in my own trailer and bringing him home. It is the realization of a dream that started 4 years ago. I cannot believe it is actually happening!

This last weekend we worked very hard to take the barn/arena from this:


To this:


and it would not have been at all possible without the help of my sisters Significant Other.. who operated a full size loader/Backhoe most of Saturday doing all kinds of moving and clearing and leveling!!!!


Here are the highlights:

On Friday Afternoon.. I got this delivered:



And this Tongue and Groove



When this showed up on Saturday:


and he did lots of work all day, moving dirt and wood piles and debris and clearing up a spot for me to put Beau outside.. and here is where he gets to go outside:


of course our supervisor was there making sure that we did things right:


and I got really excited when he starting in the arena:



I just wanted to drive that thing!

We purchased hardware for the gate yesterday, and hinges and latches for the stall door. This week I am on the hunt for a few things for the tack room... Next weekend is all about fencing, tack room ceilings and finishing things up.. including about three pickup loads of wood chips for the aisle.. stay tuned.. I am almost functional....

Finish work will not be totally done until it is drier and warmer...but even so.. I am pleased with what we have accomplished so far...

Another funny note.. the gal that used to own the place came by.. and THAT is a topic for another post.

Arena Fencing begins

X6YJM 106, originally uploaded by mysticfish.

This was taken early Sunday.. pay no attention to the messed up date feature on the picture.. My youngest had used this camera for school and I did not change the settings as I should have.

This is our Temporary Arena Sides going in. The sand and Alder sawdust was put in and leveled out on Sunday... I will do a post on the whole weekend today that will be full of pictures of all of the work. Beau will be home in 4 days from now.. I cannot WAIT!

Arena Progress

Arena, originally uploaded by mysticfish.

This is going to be our main focus this weekend.. I have Tounge and Groove scheduled for delivery today and 24 Cubic yards of Sand being delivered at 3:00 PM today as well. The tractor is coming tomorrow to smooth out the sand and the aisle.. and on Sunday a Gate will go in and Rails will go up.

The following week will be spent getting the little things done and Beau will come home Next Friday night. I am so excited! I can't wait to take pictures of the functional arena.. not finished.. as that will not happen for a few months.. we have to wait for a little drier and warmer weather to make that happen..

Allison Collage

Allison Collage, originally uploaded by mysticfish.

This is that little supervisor again, baby photos to where she is today.. Wow.. how they change so quickly.. the baby ones are from last spring.. I can't believe how big she is now and how much she has changed.. I sent this to her mom and a bunch of other photos that I had messed with.. She loved them! This little girl is just the joy of my life! I am leaving in a few minutes to pick this little spitfire up. She has now learned to "pet" her pony Butterscotch.. he is the toy pony that whinny's and turns his head and even eats carrots... as soon as we can get her to sit on him, I will try and get some pictures.. because there is NO doubt in my mind that she will have a REAL pony very soon.....

Paco at Regatta

Paco at Regatta, originally uploaded by mysticfish.

My son is so bummed right now as he should be getting ready for Spring Rowing season.. but with the broken wrist, we are not sure if he can row again this year... I am keeping my fingers crossed that he will be able to, but I am not sure yet.. this was at his first real regatta last year on the lake that we lived across the street from...

Beau and a friend

Beau and a friend, originally uploaded by mysticfish.

These are a few more photos of my boy that I have messed with in Picnik. The other horse in the pictures is Chris, another Morgan who is a fabulous horse. I connected today with Beau's Sires owners and it was absolutely wonderful to see a picture of Beau's Daddy... HE IS GORGEOUS! Beau looks so much like his dad, I can't believe it! I can't wait to see more pictures of Caisse, and to find the other members of Beau's family. His Dam passed away in 2005, but I am hoping to connect with her owners and try and see a picture of his mom. He has one full sister, and I would love to connect with them as well. I hope you enjoy the pictures, I am hoping to get some more pics this weekend, and the weather is supposed to cooperate with us for more barn progress. I have not fixed the netbook yet, but should have that problem fixed soon as well.

Beach Trip

Picnik collage, originally uploaded by mysticfish.

It is coming up on my birthday again.. this will be a milestone birthday for me this month.. and last year I got to take a fabulous trip to the beach with one of my best friends. She flew out from Minnesota and we drove to the coast and spent the weekend laughing, playing blackjack, getting spa treatments, drinking, eating and taking pictures. We took the long way home.. and when I did this collage, I could not help thinking back to that fabulous trip and wishing to repeat it this year. I don't think a weekend trip will happen, however.... I was just informed that I may be able to clinic with someone that weekend.. and take my portable pony out for a spin.. since he will be coming home on February 12th!!! yipppeee.

Moments with Beau at a Show

Moments with Beau at a Show, originally uploaded by mysticfish.

I am getting excited about this year and riding and showing and going to clinics.. and I am having tooo much fun making Photo Collages so here is one of some past moments with my Beau at Key Classic which is coming up in May... it is our First A circuit show this year, and I am really excited to take him... I can't wait to compete this year and I am so ready to do our few classes that we love!

More Photo Editing

This is a photo I added a bunch of effects to.

Below is a photo I removed almost all the effects from and did a sepia with just a tiny bit of color. Which one do you like best?

Bassets are adorable

Picnik collage, originally uploaded by mysticfish.

I just made this collage of Hurley... He has been such a fantastic addition to our family. I am so happy we are able to have him!

Wordless Wednesday

Linking this post to Wordless Wednesday.

I love me a half day at work

Today I only have to work a half day. 

I love this.. it gives me extra time to work on the barn. 

My plan today is to get gravel and mats and gates.

Tomorrow is the arena rails

Sunday is the finishing touches on the stall.

That means.. Next weekend is footing and fencing and Beau HOME!

I am far from being done, but the basics will be there.. and then I will gain an hour a day to do work around this place and get caught up on some other areas..

Also.. I will take some pictures of the industrial stuff my Hubby brought home...

Shelving, work tables, desk, chairs, and more shelving and cabinets..

Most are for his shop.. but some are for the garage.. and He did his own version of a garage sale..

He got all the cabinets, and the tables (which are HUGE) and other items for 150.00.. and he told me that just one of the work tables can run in the thousands of dollars.. Whooo hooo!

So he is off to the dump right now, and I am going to get ready to head out to get me some gravel after swinging by the barn to see Beau and clean his stall... Only a week or so more to have to make that drive.. soon I will be posting about our rides and less about my mucking of the stall.

4 months, 3 wrecks on the corner

We officially moved into our house about 4 months ago.. as of last night, we have witnessed 3 car wrecks outside of our house.

We live on a country road... 35mph type of road. Where our house sits there is a corner. This intersection is two 35mph roads that people travel well over the speed limit on. When we had the snow day in December.. We had two wrecks that day in our ditch.. one actually went onto our lawn and was sideways.. We had two families in the house that day while they waited for tow trucks.

Last night we had a third family in the house, but this time it was a little more serious.

I was doing the dishes and Paxton heard the wreck. My DH and child looked out the window and saw a jeep flipped up on it's side on the far side of the intersection right across from our side yard. They went out to call 911 and to see if everyone was okay.

When Paco came back in, he said that there was a woman and a child that needed to come in and sit down while they waited for the fire department and police.

I put the dogs away and they came in. This poor family. Their child had just gotten out of the hospital, they were actually on their way home from the hospital, and they get hit. The driver of the other car was outside, and my DH had asked them to just take a seat until the aid car and police got there.. the driver was attempting to move his car and leave. He appeared very "high" on something.

The fire department arrived and the mom and child went out to get looked at. They were pretty shaken up.

When the police arrived, it was a little crazy outside of our house..and the driver of the car that caused the accident left in the police car.

I was amazed at how quickly it was all dealt with though.. about an hour from the time the wreck happened until the tow truck drivers had the street cleaned up.

A bit of excitement at the corner again.

We joke about this corner and our property.. people typically will just pull over and park in our driveway, they will do u turns at this corner quite frequently, police will hang out there, and people will just ride their quads, dirtbikes, lawnmowers and such around this intersection.. it is just a little weird.

The county sheriff had come by last weekend and stopped to chat with us. I had told him.. The police are ALWAYS welcome to come and sit in our driveway, or use our property to set up a speed trap on this road...

There is a large equine facility across the street, we have dogs and kids, and this road is notorious in the last four months for speeders and wrecks.. I didn't even mention the wreck a couple of weekends ago right outside our shop on the other end of the property... so really.. 4 wrecks in 4 months..

I really hope this is not the trend... one wreck a month.

One more full day of work, and a half day and then it is on to more barn progress... and I also have to do a post about what MacGyver brought home last night.. It involved a 24 foot moving truck to get it all home...

Bath Time

To Body Clip or Not? That is the question for some. Most people I have talked to that do not show or ride much in the winter do not clip. I would prefer not to, but since we ride most days.. and because schooling shows for me start in the beginning of March, I usually end up clipping.

Beau grew an enormous amount of hair this winter.. and he was sweating pretty good after just moderate riding, so the decision to body clip him or trace clip him was discussed a couple of weeks ago. Last year I did a trace, and we ended up body clipping him before our first big Morgan show anyway, so I decided to body clip him. This year, with all the barn work however, I knew I would not have time... so I hired the former trainer to clip him.. and it is taking longer than I would like, but it is getting done.

Before clipping however, He had to have a bath. So here are some pictures of my disgusting pony before and during his bath.






And into the washrack



I think he has a little "mule look" in this photo..lol


T is bathing him.. and I am taking pictures.. I normally bathe him myself..




And this is his favorite spot to be scratched or rubbed or shampoood...


I have pictures of him half clipped.. but my netbook that I use for getting my pictures off of my camera is toasted right now.. we have a nasty problem that I have not been able to fix.. and it is a 150.00 netbook that I most likely will not pay to be fixed.. so I have to save up a few weeks to get a new laptop.. grrrrr.

I will take more pics of him as he is finished being body clipped.. I have to say.. that when he is clipped.. I am in LOVE with his color.. and I kind of wish it would stay. It reminds me of Gruella.. He actually looks like a big baby deer when he is all clipped up...

Supervisor

house 536, originally uploaded by mysticfish.

Here is a nice picture of the Supervisor

Helpers

house 544, originally uploaded by mysticfish.

Just thought I would share the kind of help we get each weekend.. These are the "supervisors" helping Papa out.

Supplies

Since I am getting close to bringing the Beau Monster home.. I am starting to make my list of items that I need to have at home for my barn and arena.

For me.. I have to decide what I need to have and what is on my wish list for later. There are those things you can't do without, and things that would be nice to have, but would not fall into the HAVE to HAVE category.

What I feel I need:

Corner Feeder (this is for supplements and grain)
Water Bucket
Cross Ties (for the aisle, so I can get him ready)
Stall Mats
Bedding (I use pellets)
Hay (I would like to have 3 months of Hay to start with)
Triple Crown (2 bags at least to get me started)
Muck Bucket
Stall Picker
Plastic Shovel
2 Garbage cans (the metal kind with lids)
Tack Room Door
Arena Footing (I am starting with Sand and Sawdust)
Mounting Block
Hose
Hot Tape and Energizer for temporary paddocks and Arena
Two Gates for the arena

Did I forget anything???

Here is my wishlist:

Mirrors for the arena
Dressage letters
Cones
Trot Poles
Beadboard for my tackroom
Chairs, lamps, counter and cabinets for the tack room
second stall completed...
Wash rack and mats completed
Matted and concreted aisle
Concrete in the feed room with sliding doors on the feed room
Compost bin for manure
Yard Cart
Trailer for my lawnmower to move poo around
an Arena Drag/Harrow
Tractor (a large one..)
Hot water tank
Gravel all the way around the outside of the arena
Paddocks finished and fenced
Pastures fenced
Trees cut up and moved out of the pastures
a new job that allows me to work from home
winning the lottery!

I think that covers it for now.. I could keep going, but the last one really sums it up.

More Barn Progress

Another post with pictures..

After the wall went up, it was time to "clean up the barn and the arena" so that we could get ready for the next phase.

The next phase involves MacGyver building a door, installing the hardware, getting washed rock and mats, installing the corner feeders and latches.  It also involves putting up rails in the arena, getting the first load of footing delivered and coordinating with a tractor to move it all around.  But before that all can happen next weekend..(Wishful thinking possibly).. the debris, vehicles, scrap wood, garbage and large rocks had to be removed.. So.. Saturday afternoon this began:



This is just ONE of the big piles of crappy wood and scraps that we had to remove..



And another Pile...



So I decided to take a load out with the "farm truck".. and my husband had a better idea...




This last one says it all......


We finally got it to work correctly, and ended up with:


I really really need a burn permit now.

Here you can see we are getting there.. a few more piles.. and to move my Red Truck.. and soon it will be clear..


Only 28 more wheelbarrow loads and I ended up with my arena looking like:




And my aisle looking like:


so it is close now..

He did some welding yesterday while I did the heavy lifting.. and I almost have a stall door. He stopped to get lumber today.. and so this week.. the stall will be finished.. and this weekend we will be getting T&G for the Arena.. once the rails are up.. I will drag the arena with my lawn tractor and home made drag, and then the last bits are the Footing and the Tack Room details.. so.. Crossing my fingers.. but He just might be home within those two weeks!

I am linking this post up to Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage.. because.. well.. This place is starting to show some transformation!

This is why I feel a little older today

Last night we celebrated my oldest son's 20th birthday.. 20 years.. It can't be.. it just can't have passed that quickly. I love this kid.. I love his girlfriend. They are wonderful to each other.

Happy Birthday Cody!

Weekend Updates

I know that I can sometimes neglect this blog.. I assure you, it is only because life and projects and broken wrists and birthdays get in the way.

I have several update posts.. but I want to start with last weekend's pictures and updates.

Typically, my sister and the baby come over every weekend to supervise.. this was true the weekend that Paco broke the wrist.  They came over on Sunday, and this is what we had accomplished...

Lights in the tack room and the front of the stall.

so..


This photo is the concrete footing that MacGyver put in for the stall front.












This is the footing before we cut it off.. he used a pressure treated 4X4X8 in the ground to keep it from rotting out, set in concrete and then he used regular wood joined with dowels and glue so that I could have the "look" I wanted.




This is him working on all new wiring and electric for my tack room.
I ended up with two new outlets one on each side and a light switch.. He put them all in the wall like a regular house so that none are sticking out. Yeah!!!



I apologize for the blurriness in some of the photos.. I believe it is time to take the camera in for a good cleaning. This is the frame of the front of the stall.



Here is the pile of Tongue and Groove that My lovely husband surprised me with. This will be for the side walls and eventually we will redo the back wall with this as well. We will also have the T&G on the front of the stall for a finished look.



A Better picture of the framing and wall coming together.



This is where I started to get really excited.. I can totally see it coming together now!



Here is the wall up!



The plywood is going to be on the horse side.. it is easier to replace if he decides to ruin it!



And let there be light!!!

This is where we finished up Saturday afternoon. We then moved on to clearing up the arena... and I am still pretty sore from all of that work we did from Saturday afternoon to yesterday.

We also had a birthday dinner to attend last night for my oldest son and our good friends daughter, and I still had regular chores to do.. Luckily this week.. I have a half day on Friday, so I can do even more and get that much closer to the pony being home!