Crafting- It's a Messy Business

I spent this afternoon afternoon with two children under the age of 7. And we all lived to tell the tale. To say this was a novelty for me is a gross understatement... I haven't spent that much collective one on one time with a small child since... 1998. Approximately. That is a long time ago. Like, in '98 Justin Beiber was 4 years old.

In '98 I was sixteen, Will Smith was singing "get jiggy with it", I was figuring out what "get jiggy with it" meant and Bill Clinton was paying the price for having gotten jiggy with it ("I did not have sexual relations with that woman").

Anyways, the point is that small children scare the bageezus out of me. They are so little. And honest. And insightful. And fragile. I am used to trying to keep a 1200 pound animal from killing itself. Easy. Keeping a determined 5-year-old from using scissors to cut open a tube of glitter paste will perched on a white slip covered chair... Now there is a challenge. We crafted. It was epic. Shockingly, I had fun.

SPF 60 of little help...

So it turns out that the SPF 60 sunscreen I have on my bathroom counter is of little help... That is, when you forget to apply it before heading out to spend all of this gloriously sunning BC summer day at the Maple Ridge Country Fair! Oops! And ouch!

Back to Blogging:)

I'm back! I miss writing. I miss using this blog as a forum to explore, vent, give voice to and sort through my ever active (horse crazed) mind. I miss having a journal, the chronicle of my adventures and misadventures. Last night I looked back over my old posts and was so happy to have that record and sad to have missed the time that I did. When I quit blogging I started up a private (not even invited members) blog with every intention of online journaling. I think I managed a total of three posts before loosing momentum and finally even the address. It just didnt work for me because on some level I felt like I was talking to myself, which oddly enough lacked the cathartic quality of public blogging. So I am going to start back up right here at Adventures of a Horse Crazed Mind because this is where I want to write. It is like slipping on an old pair of jeans. It just feels right.

As much as I've always enjoyed and valued the feedback and community that comes with blogging I've decided to go "comment free". The reason for this is simple... I'm completely self absorbed and want to hear nothing but my own voice. *guileless smile* No, not really. It just feels right.

I cant wait to get caught up! I have so much to share!

To start...

My Oh-La-Hola- The sweetest filly E.V.E.R.

Every time I do something new with Hola I am just blown-away by just what a good good girl she is... from her first bath, first fly spray, first blower-vac (my buddy J was using the blower on his 4H steer and I figured, `why not`!) to her first time being tied and hauled, she has been just as good as gold. I have hauled her out a few times, walked her down the road and ponied her at a new arena. Every time I do something new with her I marvel at her calm, sweet and sensible disposition. She looks at the world with curious wonderment. Hola doesnt step back from the unknown. She steps in to it.

I just love my Hola girl.

Shedding Out and Growing Up

Shedding Out and Growing Up...

Sleep Like a Baby

One thing I've discovered about my baby...



She sleeps "like a baby"...

Hola- My Sweet

Hola, my sweet little filly, is finally home. To stay. For good. *deep contented sigh*

I hope for a long and beautiful friendship with this little horse. I hope to be blessed with time and good health. I hope... for so many things but more than anything I am so grateful for being able to have yet another dream come true. Thank you to EVERYONE who helped make it possible. Especially Mom and DB.

If I am given one day or twenty years I will count myself lucky.

Hola, my sweet, has stole my heart.

Hola is CRAZY about her grain!!

(the girls dont know what to think of the new addition!)

(I dont have my laptop so will have to wait to download some good pictures but my cell photos will have to due for now.)

Drawring....

That "Drawring" is suppose to be "Drawing" (like making pictures out of pencil on paper) but for some reason, when I think of getting back to drawing, I hear the word "drawring" in my head. I just thought you'll would like to know that.

Over the past year or so I haven't been blogging much as I've been working with my Momma (she hates being called that... didnt like "mommy" either... it was always "Mom" pronounced "Mum"... for long time I called her "Mare" but she hated that as much as Momma) But back to drawring. Which is pronounced "drawer-ring", not "draw ring" like "draw reins". I have been working with my Mom doing interior design and assisting her in her kitchen and bath design business. My Mother Dearest (another thing I often call her) is a very talented designer and while I've been following her around at work for as long as I can remember I never wanted to take it up as a profession. Then I decided I like making my own money. So I gave it a shot. (this making my own money is new to me as I've been supported by a very generous boyfriend for over ten years and for a while the novelty of spending my own money was really fun and exciting but I've now come full circle and realized that spending his money is infinitely better. Just kidding. (not really), no really. I dont know.) I LOVE working with my Mom. She is freakin' awesome. She hates when I use the work "freaking" so I used it there just to bug her because that's what I do best. I compliment her and find a way to irritate her at the same time. It's an art I mastered long ago. I think she loves me for it. *pauses here to think on it*... I am sure she loves me for it... *makes doubtful face*

Anyways, the long and the short of it (this is another expression that DB and I get made fun of for frequently using as we like to tell long and detailed stories and then right before we finally come to our conclusion we say "so the long and the short of it is...") that while I love working with my Mom, and I really enjoy our clients and while the work can be a lot of fun I really don't want to be a designer. The number one reason- I want my profession to be one where 2+2=4 (design is subjective, 2+2= whatever the client thinks) and I want my work day to end at some point. A project is "on" 24/7, from the day it starts till the day it finishes and sometimes not even then as problems can come up weeks, months and even years later. I'm a worry wort by nature. A nervous type. My Mom hasn't gone on a vacation in 20 years without being stressed about leaving behind some client or another. Last year, when we were in Europe, a problem came up in an order and she had to spend hours and hours on the computer (a fortune in Internet time) and had many sleepless nights worrying and working until that problem was solved. And even once it was solved she was holding her breath that nothing else would come up. I dont think I have the constitution to deal with this type of work.

I know that EVERY job comes with its own stresses, positives and negatives. The design business is a great profession for those with the right attitude. I am going to keep working with my Mom as an assistant. I really enjoy keeping her business organized. It is a constant challenge. Just kidding! Not really. Really. I dont know.

So what about drawring (is that getting annoying yet?!? :) I am thinking I might start try to finish a couple large pieces of art. Graphite on paper drawings of a western theme. If I can get ten finished I will have prints made and try my hand at selling them. I'm trying to ignore the voice in my head that keeps telling me that there is no market, no money, no chance I'll ever actually make enough money to buy a new pair of boots let alone pay bills. But then I realized that I'm pretty damn good at ignoring the voice in my head that tells me not to buy/eat that chocolate bar, and the one that tells me I need to get out for a walk, and the one that tells me I should clean my house etc. etc. etc.... If I can ignore those voices of reason, why cant I also ignore the one that tells me I cant become an artist? Why the hell not? Right? I think. I dont know.

Hola! Sweet Hola.

Look who arrived this evening!! Hola! (Hello!) Sweet Hola girl!

She isnt officially home yet, but she is within reach... She's being layed over just across the border (in the US) until her health certificate arrives (it didnt come when it was suppose to) and then I can take her across and she'll be come Canadian, eh!

It has been ten months since I saw Hola last. At that time she was just a few days old. I expected her to change some. But she hasnt. She has grown up a lot, no doubt, but she retained that sweet sweet energy and lovely calm disposition. It took all of about a minute for me to fall in love with her all over again.

Shhh! I know what you are thinking... Shhh! Shh! Dont say it! Dont say it... I refuse to even think about that "s" word right. I cant possibly even think about that right now. Let me live in the bubble where I get to keep her forever and ever okay? Just for a little while longer.

Heaven help me.

Heeelllllooooooo!

Heeelllloooo!!! Hello hello!

Late this afternoon I hope to hear a "hello" in return (proverbially speaking) from a certain someone...

... Someone Who is currently traveling Westward to meet me...

*hint* I might hear that hello in a different language!

Sorry...

I'm really not trying to leave you guys hanging... my DB's brother passed away yesterday so I just havent had time to finish writing the next post in that series. It was just about finished before everything happened so I should get it up within the next day or two.

Hola, a YEARLING!

That'd be my wee little Hola on the right (red), a yearling already! Where has the time gone! I am tickled pink with the way this filly is turning out... *deep sigh*... Why is she for sale again? Oh right... responsibility, budget, desire to travel... blah blah blah... The pyramids aren't going anywhere right? I can get another job... I dont have to tell DB...

*taps fingers on desk as she plots*

The Derby Reining Style!

This isnt new but I had to share...




I love the discipline of reining but I sure wish it all looked like that much FUN!!

Ride Like a Man

Between the weather and the madness of the holiday season I haven't been able to ride much this past month. I am hoping that this week I can get back in the saddle and spend some quality time getting Ella (and me) back in to shape. Over the couple months I am going to be working on cleaning up and fine tuning the basics of the foundation we worked so hard to establish last year. Ella has a great stop, she guides well, she is light in the face, I can move her shoulder and hips around, and her transitions are smooth. She has buttons. The problem is Ella has a habit of dogging it, or rather, I've created an environment where she lacks motivation, enthusiasm and try. Picture a child being asked to clean his room- he protests a little but eventually sloughs down the hall, dragging his feet, his hands hanging limply at his sides, a pout on his face and murmured "I dont want to" on his lips. That's Ella right now when I ask her to roll back, bored and uninterested. I think the reason for this is two fold. First, because I haven't given her a job. More than ever I believe a horse needs a job they understand to be happy. A happy horse will do what we ask with try, heart and enthusiasm. Secondly, because I don't ride her like a man.

No offense ladies, but we nag. We say "Don't do that!" ... and when they don't stop we get annoyed and it becomes "I saaaaid DON'T do that!" ... and of course that doesnt work so we go, *yank jerk* "OMG will you stop f-in flippin' flappin' doing that for finangians sake!!" (or something like that). And then finally, after getting more and more frustrated we go *smack* .... and they are like "Ooooh! Why didnt you just say so?".... To make matters worse the next task becomes a fight because we're still pissed off and royally annoyed about what they were doing before. It's a vicious cycle.

Men (okay not all men but hypothetical "men") dont do that. They say... nothing... they just go *slap slap* and merrily on their way. I haven't resolved to slap my horse more. I've just resolved to not bitch and nag. I'm only going to ask once. Then I'm going to make it happen. And then I'm going to calmly and happily move on to the next task like nothing happened. I'm going to ride like a man. Not the type of man who gets mad or mean or overly aggressive. I'm talking about the proverbial man's man, the quiet soft spoken horseman that quietly and unassumingly gets the job done with a firm but kind hand... that dark haired, cool, confident man that knows how to handle horses and woman in kind... the type that will grab a naughty woman hard by the shoulders and crush her to his chest, who kisses her hungrily... his course stubble rough against her velvet lips... he knows what to do... slips a hand behind her neck, knots her hair in to his fist and twists, thrusting her backwards to expose the pale skin of a long and delicate neck. He nips her, gently at first, teeth skimming her collar bone... then harder as he works his way up to the curls behind her ear. His hot breath licks flames beneath her skin. Her flush rises. In to her ear his voice growls his demand, so deep and husky with want...

*cough*

...


I dont know what just happened.

Sorry.

My Bob's Saddle For Sale- SOLD

This is the forth Bob's Custom saddle I've owned. I've been forced to sell every one of my beloved Bob's for reasons that had nothing to do with these lovely saddles. The first, a Bob Avila, I sold as I didn't have a horse and had decided I was "getting out of horses for good!" (that lasted all of like three months). I loved that saddle. The second I bought was a Randy Paul in a light oak. Beautiful. I sold because my old horse had a bulging shoulder and needed a treeless to accommodate. The third, my favorite, the love of my life, the one that got away. I sold that one for funds to go to Europe. I miss it every day. Then there is this current beauty... *deep sigh*

I loved this saddle from the moment I saw it. I had dreams of riding off in to the sunset in that big ol' plush seat. This is the first 17" saddle I've had and man, it's like a freakin' Cadillac... I'd love to say that this saddle and I have spent some quality time together but the sad sad sad fact is that we've only had one single solitary ride. One! Uno! I brought it home from the store, tried it on Ella, realized that it didnt have a chance in hell of fitting her ridiculously wide, round, flat and gigantor frame (Who let me buy a halter bred horse anyways?) and just about cried. I tried it on Marm (who is a 15HH stock horse type) and of course it fit... I got on Marm and took it for a tour around the paddock. OMG... I could just park myself in that saddle and go to sleep Lazy Boy style. I just haaaaad to keep it. I justified it by saying that I would just hang on to it for when Abby came home (she isnt freak-of-nature wide like Ella). So I put it away in it's bag and took it home where it has stayed since... since... March 29th 2011.

Now, I would still LOVE to keep this saddle. But I've decided to trade out this thing you put on a horse for something that you put a horse in *wink*

The only flaw on this saddle is a cut in the leather of the pommel. This cosmetic flaw made this saddle go from a $3000+ item to something I could afford. The saddle was also used in a few demos by the tack store that I bought it from so has a little wear (like where the buckles touch leather) but otherwise it is mint. The skirt is a slightly lighter color than the upper (I love that look) and it has the cut aways in the skirt for a close contact feel.

It is a Full QH Bars, a plush smooth padded seat and comes with matching back cinch. This is a 17" cutting saddle on a cutting tree but I planned on using it for everything from penning to reining, cowhorse and trails.

I would like to get it sold asap so have it priced at $1995 firm (us funds)

I *heart* Bob's Custom Saddles

I am trying to show you the cut away skirt in this picture (not my recycle bin:)

(sorry for the weird angle on this shot... was trying to hold the tape and take photo at the same time:)

(see cut in leather above)

(that white line by the Bob's stamp is not a scratch... maybe a hair or something on the lens)

A Case of the Jiggles

I watched this video and thought, "Wow! Looks like someone has a serious case of the jiggles!" Then I heard this small voice inside say, "... Pot... Kettle...Black... Seriously."

Spring is around the corner. Looks like Ella and I have our work cut out for us! Oh, and yes, her name is Ella. Ella Blue to be exact. The decision was finally taken out of my hands by L.. It was necessary. I was totally out of control. As L. and Ella have a very special relationship I felt she should do the honors (and that way I couldnt take this one back.) L. picked the name Ella Blue. I love it. It works. And best of all, I cant change it. *wipes brow* Thank Heaven!