Friday, July 11, 2008

Awards, Tags and The Loss of Momentum...

While I was gone, two wonderful bloggers, Nuzzling Muzzles and Train Wreck passed the Arte y Pico Award to me. THANK YOU ladies.
I think this award has made its rounds, so I will simply say THANK YOU and proudly display it on my blog.

In the same vein-I received the print that Train Wreck awarded me(and the gift card) and I can tell you all...the photo of that print does not do justice to the wonderful talent this lady has. I cannot wait to get this print somewhere to get it matted and framed so that I can put it on the wall.
****EDITED TO ADD****
I will be hanging this print in the perfect spot-right beside my computer desk!!!
I promise I will get it matted and framed ASAP and get a picture of it hanging on the wall for the blog-these things have a way of taking time in this area though-so hopefully sometime this month(??).

I bought a new set of tools so that I can finally get some of my other stuff hung up too...
Meet another one of my addictions--Tools. I love power tools. This set not only has the drill I needed to hang my pictures on the cement wall, it has a cordless circular saw, a flashlight AND the sawsall that I need to finish repairing the trim on the house. YAY!! Its sad...I am so easily pleased!

20Meter did a fun post about Spurs...do you use them and if you do what do you use them for? Well, I have spurs...
An ancient pair that I have had for 20+ years. I have some beautiful new turquoise ostrich straps for them, that my brother made me...I just haven't got them put on.
I have went through several cycles with my spurs. I never wore them. Then I wore them all of the time and then I never wore them. Now, I use them occasionally, often times I just use one. I know that sounds strange, but I only use them if I have a horse that is being really difficult about moving off my leg and usually they are only difficult on one side. As soon as they learn to move off of pressure-I lose the spurs. I used to run barrels with them, but don't anymore. After watching a video of myself whopping my horse in the belly with them, I decided that all I was doing was knocking the air out of my horse and making it more difficult for him to run.
Moon does not tolerate spurs-AT ALL. I made the mistake of using them on him several years ago and he promptly cow-kicked my foot-repeatedly-while I was mounted. He always has had his quirks.

Well, summer has hit us full force and it has killed my momentum. This has not been a nice year. Yes, we got rain-lots of it. The country needed it so desperately. But along with it has come tons of flies, mosquitoes, humidity and now hordes of grasshoppers.
The horses are miserable. In spite of having fans in the barn, releasing fly predators on the manure pile, hanging fly traps-EVERYWHERE, fly masks, fly sheets and regular sprays-they are miserable. During this time period-there is no riding. If you get up early enough or wait until the sun is setting to beat the flies-the mosquitoes eat you alive. OFF doesn't even seem to slow them down.
I'm ready for some Fall weather.

10 comments:

Trailboss said...

Amen to fall weather. My vacation is next week and we are supposed to have a couple of days in the 80's with lower humidity. I am hoping to get in a couple of rides then but only then. It is just too danged hot!

20 meter circle of life said...

Ohh your final line cracked me up. Just this morning I was thinking how much I love a big snuggy sweater!!

Andrea said...

I am with ya on wanting some cooler weather! It's crazy hot here too. Love your spurs!!

Carroll Farm said...

I agree whole heartedly and I like the heat. The humidity here plus the 110 is killing me. The bugs here are outrageous! So far, I am praying that the bug guy comes soon. The rain here yesterday just made it worse. I haven't used spurs yet, but one of my horses is slowly convincing me too try them. :)

Anonymous said...

May i suggest that you try a fly block called "rayban"? We get it at the feed store and it does wonders to control flies. We have a dry, hot summer and the flies can be terrible. We put the block with the salt block and my QH loves it. It is like a salt block only it looks like black tar. The horses injest it and somehow it keeps the eggs from developing.
Happy Trails!

BrownEyed Cowgirl said...

Thanks SMR-I will look for that product. The fly predators are supposed to do that-but they don't seem to be working. Of course I know the neighbors don't do anything for fly treatment and I suppose we get a lot of theirs.

LOL-CF-it's monsoon season in AZ isn't it? Sure wasn't my favorite time of year down there. Hot and muggy=miserable weather to do anything. Of course you guys are about 20 degrees hotter than us...

Anonymous said...

Those spurs make me sing: "I've got spurs that jingle jangle jingle" I just have tiny prince edwards because my horse is a uhm, how do I put this nicely, a spaz.

Pony Girl said...

Isn't it typical....we can't wait for summer to get here....and now that it is, we complain about how hot it is and that we can't wait for fall? Hee! I am always ready for the next season!
The only thing I love about summer is that as a teacher, I have it off, so I am enjoying my freedom!

Mrs. Mom said...

Ahh yes.. skeeters... We have mega sized ones here. You know- the ones that will carry off a small child if you do not have said child roped off to an adult. We have seen them carry on a conversation, debating whether to eat now, or cart said child off to the woods for later...

Just count your blessings, that you do not have the heat and humidity like we do here, in the southland! ;) Heat index was up over 103* the other day. (Actual temp was in the 90's, and the humidity was 70 some odd percent too... ugh...)

Train Wreck said...

Aww how sweet! I am glad you liked your prize(s)! I always worry when I send them off if it will be what people are expecting! Thank you!
Also I love your new toys! Looks like you will be putting it to use!
I look forward to seeing your new "framed" piece!