Weekly Update

Seems I don't have much to post here lately. We are in down-time. After the last barrel race, I turned the horses out and decided that I was going to take the month of November completely off. Of the horses, Moon is really the only one that needs some complete down-time.... but I was feeling rather tired and burned out myself...so I gave myself permission to just not ride for almost a whole month.

Since I am going to be rodeoing in Arizona this winter, this month is really the only time I have to just put the ponies on the back burner, get caught up on other stuff and Yes...Veg out a little bit. The first of December I will have to get back to it to have horses ready.

At first, I felt a little guilty because the weather is still quite beautiful here. Technically I felt like I should be working horses before 'winter' sets in...But once I put everything into perspective...I have just been able to focus on using my time to do a multitude of other things...ya know...all of those things that get put on the back burner because of the horses. 

My hubby was home for a couple of weeks and we busted butt to get all of the fall yard work done, I cleaned and re-organized my shed, and my garage and we finally got started on organizing his shop.

And after many years of wanting too, but never seeming to find the time to just set down and get started...

I started sewing again!

Anybody that sews or does any kind of crafting knows that sometimes the toughest part is just getting started. While cleaning out my garage, I unpacked all of the fabric I have carted around with me these last few years, had to wash it all and then get organized. My poor hubby lived with piles of fabric all over the living room floor for weeks until I finally got the urge to start sewing. 

It was not going so well at first. I had bought a brand new machine several years ago and never really used it. I had hell figuring it all out again...and seemed to be working with some jinxed fabric...

When I finally got pissed off, ditched that fabric and started a new project and didn't have any more problems, I realized it was really only the thread I had been using that was the problem. It was old and had gotten dusty. It kept binding up my machine.

I've been sewing like mad every since...

 Four western shirts, finished, except for needing to order the colored pearl buttons I want for them.

A few years ago (like 5 or 6 years LOL) I bought this fabric my mom really liked to make her some pillow cases...

 Those are finally done and I will be able to give them to her at Thanksgiving. 

I also finished up a fuzzy blanket that I started for Megan, way back when. 

And whipped out a couple pairs of flannel pj bottoms...more material I had bought eons ago and never did. 

So I have made a heck of a dent in my existing fabrics and finished up all of the projects that I had on my mind when I packed it all away so long ago. Yay!! Now that I have everything organized again and can leave my stuff set up, I can just work on a project a little here and a little there...and I have a lot more ideas for more western shirts. I should have a whole new wardrobe for next year's rodeo season....at a fraction of the cost it would take to go out and buy it. Yesssss!!! Some new jeans, new soles on the bottoms of my boots and I am s.e.t. (LOL)

I suppose I do feel a little guilty about not having Gunner riding better before hauling him back to SD, but not horribly so. He's gentle, saddles, bridles, ponies and can be ridden at a walk and trot. Whenever it's time to go on with him...he'll remember all of that solid groundwork. 

Turning horses out has given me an opportunity to see how the herd dynamic works and I am having second thoughts about taking the big blue roan horse home. I call Rip, my benevolent dictator...and he is the ONLY horse Moon cannot put the run on. Rip rules the herd with a no-nonsense, not-putting-up-with-your bullshit attitude. He is not a bully...in fact when Moon gets after anyone else, they actually run to Rip for protection. Rip cocks his head at Moon and that is the end of his non-sense. And that is ALL Rip ever has to do...cock his head or pin an ear and everyone around straightens right up and acts like gentlemen. The most I have EVER seen him do is lift a hind leg. He never kicks at anyone or charges at them. He is the boss and he is also security. I think he will have to stay to keep the herd dynamics in balance. 

So it's just Gunner and Beretta that are going home for the winter. Meg and I will be hauling them back this week. Timing worked out that we get to go home for Thanksgiving and spend it with the family. 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!!!


PS...I am sorry to the people who really hate the word verification...But my email is getting swamped with Spam and I am tired of it. I am putting word verification back on the comment section.