No Line Farm

Wild Pony

2012-01-28T18:40:00.000-08:00

Here is my little wild pony. He's awoken from his nap under the pine trees and is heading out across the driveway to dig for grass or to munch on his very own private round bale of hay. It is fun to see what he does all day and where he goes. I was surprised to see him sleep under these pines but he does quite often. I need a sign that says "SLOW: Watch for pony". :)

People get a kick out of him just roaming around the farm and are surprised he doesn't run away.

Route Two

2012-01-28T18:21:00.000-08:00

Today I did route 2 which takes me up into the forest and through farm country. Above is a line of round bales buried under snow. Isn't it interesting how the snow is blowing off the top? It flowed like smoke.

This is the farm the bales belong to. I liked how the low late afternoon sun highlighted the whiteness of this barn.

Help Honey

2012-01-26T16:46:00.000-08:00

Saving one horse won't change the world, but surely, the world will change for that one horse. (and their people!)

Honey's predicament came to us via a friend of Honey's people and fellow Blabber. As one who as a young girl knew of a crippled colt we called Bucky and had my heart tore out when his people shipped him to slaughter despite us kids begging for his life this story brings it all back. They didn't give him or us a chance, throwing him over the top of the truck that was loaded with other horses this kill buyer had picked up.

I believe in second chances and these people are trying to do just that. As one who has a crippled filly herself, my beloved Bonnie, I know how adaptable and tough horses can be and as long as my Bonnie is happy and healthy she has a forever home. Just because she isn't perfect doesn't mean she should just be thrown away like yesterday's trash.

God bless these folks. I anxiously await more news as I will help where I can.

Update

2012-01-16T13:06:00.000-08:00

I am back on the forest mail route again as the sub transferred to a different route and I am the one who is most qualified to carry it. So here we go again. I don't mind so much but I don't really like it in the winter because it can be miles between houses and spotty at best cell service. I ended up doing a 360 spin out on one sharp turn due to ice. End up in a ditch there it could be awhile.

I finally hung my bird feeder that my penpal made me for Christmas. It is a suet feeder attached to a board with farm decals on it. I hung it on one of the pines at the side of the house. That is Bonnie in the background :).

2012-01-12T15:31:00.000-08:00

Big baby Bonnie. This mare I have just started out ground driving. She is 4 yrs. old but has a stifle problem. She's my "cow" horse, running anything bovine that happens into her pasture along the fence line like a team penner. I always worry she'll slip or trip and hurt herself and sometimes she does but so far so good.

I almost had her put down because even at 4 months I had to help her up some days because she couldn't get her back end under herself to push herself up. She is now well over 16hh, the tallest horse I have (argh!!) and she has three years of growing to go!

But because of the constant care she had for her first six months of life (daily injections, cleanings of pressure sores etc.) she is a pocket pony. If the right person comes along I'd consider parting with her but until then she's got a forever home here.

Today is free listing day on eBay so I put up some models. Surprisingly, one has a bid already.

2012-01-11T10:02:00.000-08:00

My official "Lickfest" picture :). And yes, that is Quanita's Brave!

Happy Double Rainbow Day!!

2012-01-08T05:39:00.000-08:00

What does it mean???

Have a great day!!

Peek-A-Boo

2012-01-06T16:48:00.000-08:00

I see you! Bawk!!

Bevy of Bouncers

2012-01-05T15:32:00.000-08:00

Yes, you see right, four "Bouncers", one original (bay) and three SRs (Apple Jack, sorrel). These are all slated to go to new homes. When I saw someone was having a hard time finding these I remembered seeing all these (plus another Apple Jack but he had a scuff on his good side!) before Christmas at a local pet food store. I mentioned it and shortly after I had PMs to pick them up. So after work on Tuesday I went and got them :). They are all waiting to go to their new homes.

Always happy to help a fella' hobbiest.

Top Five Regrets

2012-01-04T18:01:00.000-08:00

Aw, here is my sweet kitty :). Look at those sweet pink kitty toes!

I saw this on another blog and thought I'd post it. Has nothing to do with anything model or farm or job related but I want to save it to remind myself...

Top Five Regrets of The Dying
By Bronnie Ware on November 30, 2011

For many years I worked in palliative care.
My patients were those who had gone home to die.
Some incredibly special times were shared.
I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.

People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal.

Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance.
Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.
When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.
It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.
This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.
By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.
We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.
It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.
When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.
Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.

2012-01-01T14:54:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year. This is what we woke up to this fine day. Few inches of snow and howling winds to blow it around. I took this photo from my kitchen window. It is downright cold since we have been spoiled with 30's most of last month.

Didn't do a lot. Web browsing, drew a picture to make thank-you notes from for customers on route who gave me Christmas gifts. A real lazy day...

Horsey New Year!!

2011-12-31T16:18:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all my online friends. Here is to a happy, healthy and horsey 2012!

Three Christmas Bays

2011-12-25T17:59:00.000-08:00

Above is Mr. Chubbs on my Christmas gift...a toaster :). Bay #1.

Went to see "War Horse". Won't discuss it and ruin it for others. Go see it. Bay #2.

Green Bay against Bears tonight. Bay #3.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T08:56:00.000-08:00

From our home to your's, Merry Christmas everyone!

Whole Lotta' Bull

2011-12-22T15:55:00.000-08:00

I am beat. I spent over an hour putting cattle back where they belong. The cattle are husband's project and since he does little to help with the horses I don't do more than I have to with the cows. But it seems every time those stinking things get out I am home...alone.

This is one reason I have dogs. Cattle dogs. Two of them. Each has their own job. Above is the header, the other is the heeler. They work together for the most part. Thank God.

Three calves, a steer, a heifer and a young bull were out and the calves, being silly kinked tailed naughty babies, took off in the wrong direction and ended up on the highway. Thankfully we got them back in but in the meantime I had called hubby, exasperated and he came home. He discovered the creek is now froze over so the cows are able to walk on water and hop over the fence.

Nice.

So that is fixed.

Speaking of ice, yesterday I got an eyeful. I was filling the cattle tank and the young bull was on the other side of the pond. Cattle are not smart and this sucker decided to take the short cut and jumped onto the the ice! I thought oh no, he'll break his pelvis (I have seen this elsewhere) but instead his momentum flipped him on his butt and as he sat straight up he slid across that pond until he hit the end and flipped over! Talk about hilarious!!! He got to his feet, shook himself off and continued on his merry way as though nothing happened.

Here is a photo of him. The dogs and I took a walk on Halloween and he followed us at a distance. He is an odd bull.

Today I bought two tickets to the cinema for Christmas day. Yes, I have turned into one of "those". You know, the folks who go to the movies on Christmas. I always thought that was odd but now, why not? What am I going to see? WAR HORSE! Yes! And my 20 yr. old son said he'd come along. :D

The Haffies Arrived

2011-12-20T12:13:00.000-08:00

My new Haffies arrived today and they are very cute. One is a hair darker than the other but otherwise very little difference. I took a photo of one with my little stuffed snowman a customer on mail route gave me yesterday :).

Three is a Charm

2011-12-17T16:43:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe my luck. Today I came across my THIRD glossy GG Valentine and Heartbreaker set! I snagged it. I know there are people who cannot find them so it floors me that there they are sitting on the shelf for me to buy, all since mid-October. Kid at the checkout says "That is kind of expensive for a horse" and I told him no, this is a bargain! I feel a bit guilty buying them all up and thinking of reselling for a little profit. Rarely happens to me! One set I will keep for myself though.

So tomorrow once it is daylight I will decide which stays.

New Haflinger

2011-12-16T15:27:00.000-08:00

I just ordered two of these girls. I really like her and I like this color too. I may remake one though. We will see. Can't wait to get her. I think she looks nicer than the other pony made Haflinger.

I looked through all the new 2012 models (so far) and the only other one I may want is the red roan Bouncer. Actually I need a body to cm like my friend's pony. I am glad none really grab me. I sure do like the paint job on the MOW but not a fan of the mold. Bummer.

Chickaloos

2011-12-09T17:33:00.000-08:00

Zucker

Dummkopf

Actually Dummkopf needs a better name. When he was a small lad he was just the silliest bird and very independent. I would call all the chicks and he'd be nowhere to be found and then suddenly come running from wherever he was hiding. But now he's turned out to be my favorite rooster of the chickaloos so now he needs a real name since he'll be staying.

Zucker is my favorite hen. She is as sweet as her name implies and smart too.

Anyway, my chickies are all grown up...sob.

************************************************

Sadly with this cold weather I have been burning through my German DVDs. I wish I could find a supply of German language DVDs to buy/rent that would play on my player. Gads, they are so fun to watch and listen to. Just never know what to expect out of them and I like looking at the sets etc. Funny how it seems everyone has the same wallpaper that my pen pal has, LOL. Just listening to it is great. I have to watch with subtitles but I get lost in them. My butt has fallen asleep :).

Full Moon

2011-12-08T17:45:00.000-08:00

Always proceeds a weather change.

Will it be for the better? Or worse? Saturday will tell...

Lost

2011-12-06T17:34:00.000-08:00

Well now what? This doesn't look like home.

Well, maybe it is over the next hill. Shall we keep going?

Wait, here comes someone. It is a mail carrier. They know addresses. Let's ask her.

I'm not going to ask, you ask!

Hey lady, do you know where we live? I think we are lost.

Unfortunately I don't recognize these horses at all so they must have come from further south than my route takes me. Don't worry, someone was actually watching them. I stopped and asked a Mennonite man who happened to be outside and he said they went back to get halters and ropes. These horses were very friendly, coming right up to the car to see me so they should have been easy to catch if they knew their people. But they did look a little befuddled and didn't know where to go, LOL.

See? We get to see all sorts of things on a mail route :).

Guess What, Turkey Butt!

2011-12-05T18:25:00.000-08:00

Well, first a horse on mail route :).

THEN the turkey butt! LOL! Yeehaw!

Ain't mail route fun???

Secret Santa, Revealed!

2011-12-04T17:26:00.000-08:00

Secret Santa was very good to me! I now have the latest addition to my beautiful Quarter Horse Gelding conga. I RE-fell in love with this mold at Breyerfest in 2009 when the birthday surprise was one of three (plus a couple unexpected surprise colors) colors and that was it. I had to have more. I am also a fan of the mold customized, owning four. They make the coolest old fashioned (my time) bulldog Quarter Horses!

So yes, to see Chubbs had me giddy as a school girl in love :).

Thank you Laura!!

Comet Has Arrived!!

2011-12-03T16:54:00.000-08:00

Comet has arrived! Santa has arrived! I am being mocked by a box with "fragile" in red on the side, ha ha. That is ok. I want to try and video opening it and it is too dark in the house now. So tomorrow or even Christmas will be fine since I don't get anything to open on Christmas day. Anticipation is half the fun!!!

How exciting!

"Do you know that way to San Jose?" That is where it is from! I love San Jose!!

Pamplemousse Arrives!

2011-11-29T15:32:00.000-08:00

Pamplemousse finally arrived today after a seven week wait from when the check was cashed. He is in great shape, none of the dust or hairs or lint others were complaining about! I am so relieved. He is the lighter version with nice dappling. Now to come up with a name for him.

It feels so good to finally add him to my herd!

2011-11-27T05:56:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the last day of my 9 day mail run. It will happily pay my vet bill, my credit card is paid off, working on buying a camcorder from someone as an Xmas gift to myself, Christmas shopping is done and now I just need to wrap and ship. So all is good.

Today is the last day of the gun deer season and tonight my 9 day deer camp group will leave. Thank goodness. It will take me two weeks to clean up the mess left behind. Amazing how four guys cannot seem to do ANYTHING but make a mess.

I am debating on getting myself a portable DVD player. My television is so old it won't take a hookup and I have several DVDs, some that I have had for YEARS that I have never seen. I don't know why I buy them if I know I cannot watch them. Well, I could if I go sit in my son's room but I just do not take the time to do so. I see at Walmart they are $60. Tempting. Plus I would have a place to see my movies I make with the camcorder. I can probably do it on the desktop but I hate sitting up there so editing etc. will be quite enough thank you. And as much as I love my netbook (live on it!) it doesn't take CDs or DVDs. So, just thinking...

My Boyfriend

2011-11-23T17:16:00.000-08:00

This is my Mennonite "boyfriend" working a horse. He works Standardbreds up and down the back roads here. This horse is a pacer and is on a four wheeled cart. My "boyfriend" oftentimes puts the horses on a sulky. There is just not much "hotter" than a handsome man driving a fiery horse who is all over the road and as I pass him in my car he smiles real big with one hand on the lines, waving with the other.

Sigh...

This is the best shot I have ever gotten of him through my car window, LOL. I keep trying.

Book Ends

2011-11-19T17:20:00.000-08:00

For fun I thought I would post the wooden horse head book ends I found at the thrift store. I don't know which to send to my penpal. I personally love the two that look like Saddlebreds. :)

Saturday

2011-11-19T16:53:00.001-08:00

Eagle I saw on the way to work

I heard from my fall swap person, she is just a little behind which is fine. I wasn't too worried about it but am glad to hear anyway.

I got my SS gift model in the mail and he is perfect. I am so excited. I hope my "victim" likes him. It is a mold she collects and she doesn't have this one.

I am hoping the snowstorm stops so I can take advantage of a good sale at the new bookstore tomorrow. Then some snacks and I am done. Just wrap and then decorate the box big time (I always put a horse on the box with holiday gear on) and mail it out. I don't know if I should mail it right away or wait until closer to Christmas. As a mail carrier I'd say now. As a giftee I'd say closer to Christmas :).

A Catch Up

2011-11-16T18:47:00.000-08:00

Amish buggy horse in a garage.

No real model horse news. I am still waiting for my Pamplemousse. I have kind of lost enthusiasm over the whole deal, seeing everyone else's and feeling late to the party.

I did buy a model though off of MH$P for my Secret Santa. SS is the most fun swap there is.

I participated in the fall swap but haven't gotten my horse yet. My person never contacted me about the one I sent her. I finally searched the thread and think she was disappointed in it. Still, would have been nice to at least know she got it without having to search a forum. But that is how it goes sometimes.

I am trying to get my Christmas stuff done right now as I'll be working a lot the next month and a half (next 9 days matter of fact to start) and the longer I work handling Christmas mail, mainly the catalogs and junk mail, the crabbier and more bah humbug I get! LOL. So get it done while I am in a good mood.

My SS is just about done, just a couple small items to get to round it out and waiting on the model. Then I have my penpal I swap with. She is getting a pair of old wooden horse head bookends. I found five of these at the thrift store, all different but too cool. I told her about them and she said she'd love a pair so I will choose two for her and clean them up. I also got her a really cute birdfeeder made of a vintage coffee pot, a squirrel corn cob feeder, an adorable dog paw stocking I'll stuff with treats for her dog, etc. We do five items, at least one handmade. I have to make her's yet.

I'll do my Christmas cards on Thanksgiving. Mail them out the next day. We don't do a lot for Christmas here so I'll basically be done.

Loss of a Horse

2011-10-21T13:38:00.000-07:00

It is a lovely day after all the crazy wind we had the past week. Sun is shining, air is calm. It is a good last day for a good old mare.

I had my mare Fanny put down today. In the past two weeks she has lost weight and just looks not herself. She hasn't visited the hay the past two days, preferring to pick at what is left of the grass. My husband is bringing a machine home from work so we can bury her properly. We are blessed with a lot of land to do so and this is what I would like though I offered to have her picked up. No, we'd bury the old girl he said.

Fanny has been blind for the past six years and she lived up to her name big time, always into trouble, always testing every fence. But she was a good horse with a strong personality. I am going to miss her.

She is in the pasture with her grand daughter who doesn't understand why the old crabby lady is laying down. I cried this morning as I talked to my best friend, a penpal I never met. I know it is the right thing to do. There is no way she would have made it though another winter and I wanted her to go while she still was enjoying life a bit.

RIP Fanny.

Pictured above at age 5.

Lassie Came Home

2011-09-28T13:28:00.000-07:00

Here finally is the Lassie model I picked up for a dollar. Isn't she just the coolest? She needs a new paint job, I don't think this one was ever finished in the first place. Excuse the dirt. She was in a pole shed that is opened up twice a year for a yard sale and I haven't taken the time to clean her up.

Chicken Update and a Dog Model

2011-09-23T17:54:00.000-07:00

The chickaloos are growing fast. They look like miniature chickens now and the roosters are getting "roostery". Here is Dummkopf and Norman playing cock fight. The little one on the left is Dummkopf because he is always in trouble and always off on his own or crying because he was left behind. But he is a friendly sort like his papa and comes around looking for attention.

His sister Zucker is my favorite. She is pure white with pink legs and she too will come looking for me and prance around my legs when I bring out the snacks. I have been treating them with goodies to teach them that when I call they get something good. They learned real quick.

Today I went to some thrift sales and came across a really cool plastic model of Lassie the collie and not Breyers! It is too late to get a photo of her today but I will try and remember to get one tomorrow.

Rainbow Revisited

2011-09-08T11:19:00.000-07:00

Good news, I got the deco Rainbow this time. Thank goodness although I will admit my enthusiasm for this mold has plummeted. Actually as it is my enthusiasm for the hobby is on hiatus right now. I have listed some for sale and have turned my attention back to yard sales, refinishing furniture and making art. With no live shows to fuel me before next Spring I just am feeling the hobby "blahs".

I still have Pamplemousse coming. I look at his brothers on my shelf and think he'll make a nice addition. I was thinking of packing them all up and putting them away but I think I'll wait until after he comes.

Quanita in his lovely halter graces my nightstand. He is just too gorgeous to pack away and may end up being the only model out in the bedroom soon. He just makes me so happy!

At a thrift store I found a dark chestnut Western Pony with snap on saddle and a Hartland Lone Ranger riding him. I bought them to put in my Etsy shop as I don't need another Western Pony in this color. But that has been my only model purchase since June.

I am in the Halloween SM swap though and this morning came up with my idea! I hope she likes it :D.

MIA

2011-08-14T18:06:00.000-07:00

A flower on the East Bluff

Eye level with the Turkey Vultures.

Unbelievable vistas!

Last week I had the privilege of going camping with my sister and her family at Devils Lake State Park. I had never been there before and it is quite the place. It has been years since I have been camping so that in itself was fun. Then add to it the beauty of the place, the awesome trails. OMG. I thought I was going to die. 1/4 mile straight up the side of the hill on stone steps put in by the CCC back in the 30's. Then a mile walk along the top to various outcrops with views that were so unbelievable I still don't believe them. Then guess what? You have to climb back down!

We did two of these trails. First one, the toughest, took us 4 hours. The second 2 1/2 hours. I am so glad I have the weekend home before I have to work on Monday. My legs are sore. I guess I am not working hard enough at the fitness center! Of course lugging my almost 50 yr. old fat butt straight up billy goat style isn't something one does everyday! Gads, I am not in the shape I think I am getting in. Wake up call! Especially when one sees a 70 yr. old woman scale it and she says she does it three times a week! Holy cow!

Anyway, I am recovering from this past week. I wish I could have stayed longer. Sitting in camp at night, listening to someone across the way singing good old songs to a guitar in one direction, in the other a guy strumming Stairway to Heaven...

Yah, I can see me staying there a little longer...

Redneckville

2011-07-31T17:55:00.000-07:00

As I went to town today I passed a local farm that is one of those that has a little bit of everything...pigs, goats, llamas, horses, Scottish Highland cattle, geese, ducks, etc. and most of the time the goats and pigs are just loose wandering all over. When I go by I always look for the horses.

Well this time I saw this...

Yes, you are correct in seeing a house that is slowly being reclaimed by the earth. So big deal right? Well look a little closer...like in the doorway. Do you see it? Feel free to click the photo for a better look.

Yes, I had to go to the next road and swing around and go back. I then got out of the car and took this shot...

Saturday

2011-07-30T16:58:00.000-07:00

I tried to get a photo of Silver but the sun is just too bright. So here is a teaser for you. I love this boy! Now to dig out my SS tack :).

And while I was out there trying to get a shot the chicklets came along. I called them "here chickie chickie" and Mom popped up her head and made her bawkity bawk bawk noise and all the chickaloos popped their heads up too. How cute is that??

DAH ASB

2011-07-29T18:23:00.000-07:00

I got my DAH Saddlebred from Peter Stone today! OMG, he is gorgeous! I am so happy I ordered this dude to look like my old rescue Saddlebred! Lovely!

Aschenbrödel

2011-07-26T09:55:00.000-07:00

Meet Aschenbrödel, or better known in the model horse circles as Cinderella. I recently purchased some German fairy tale books and this was one of the stories. So finally, after all these years, this girl has her very own name...sorta' :).

A Snow Leopard Surprise!

2011-07-21T17:17:00.000-07:00

Quanita's Brave got a surprise today in the mail! He was so surprised and pleased! His long distance friend, Snow Leopard, owned by Braymere sent Quanita's Brave a beautiful new halter! He couldn't wait to put it on and ran up to me saying "take my picture!" I finally convinced him he needed to get back a bit because all I was able to photograph was his nostrils, LOL.

All horses are the same, be it real or plastic, with their nose in the camera! As you can see he finally settled down and posed like the fantastic fellow he is. Look at that gleam in his eye! He is so happy! I even heard him say something about looking for some ladies. You put the prance back in his step, LOL!

Thank you so much for the awesome surprise! Quanita's Brave will proudly wear his gift to all the shows he goes to. And maybe some day he and Snow Leopard will meet at a show and can get their picture taken together!

Breyerfest Blues

2011-07-15T17:32:00.000-07:00

A picture of a shed out Curly horse on a mail route I do, for those of you who don't follow my thread on Blab. Isn't she adorable?

All this Breyerfest stuff is overwhelming. I still only want the Hansel and Gretel. I couldn't find anyone to do a pick up for me. I am really bummed about that.

Farm Technology Days

2011-07-14T18:31:00.000-07:00

This is where I spent my day! Farm Tech. days is huge, 600 vendors, everything farm you can think of. It takes more than one day to get through if you want to see it all. I'll share the horse end of it here.

BTW, all pix are clickable so you can see them better...

A local favorite, the "Pyramid" hitch done by the Meyer farm of Loyal, WI. This is 10, yes TEN big Belgians hooked up in a pyramid. Four on the wheel, then three, two and the lead horse is Mike.

Here they come around the corner. Watching these horses (and teamsters) make corners, swing them around, back them up is amazing! Mike will be galloping to get around fast enough to turn the whole shebang!

Then there is the other local favorite, the Milk BUDS (not Duds, ha ha) sponsored by the milk board, an 8 pony hitch. These little turds can really move and they are a bit sassy!

Here is the main reason I chose to go today. John Lyons was there. Each day Fleet Farm brought in a different very well known horse trainer. John Lyons is my favorite though and it was such a pleasure to see him again. Here he is with a mustang. The horse he brought was a nice buckskin mare named Grace. But when wanting to demonstrate how he works two horses in the round pen at once (Grace lines up on the other horse's left side) he needed another horse to demonstrate with so this fellow owned by Tracy Porter's husband was a volunteer. But because he didn't know the cue to approach John had to first train him to do that, lol. It was fun to watch.

Here is John during the morning demo showing an Amish man how to feel where the horse is turning and moving from. He got that horse "shrunk" down to 11" or so. Meanwhile this Amish man really was attentive and watched and listened with a keen eye. And hey ladies...he hasn't a beard which means he is still SINGLE!

Fluff Butts

2011-07-13T15:40:00.000-07:00

Little brave Aracauna colored chickie.

Little white fluff butt, two yellow fluff butts and one black fluff butt.

I'm a big chickie says the little black one.

I still haven't gotten these guys out in the open yet but tonight she had the brood under her body so I waited in the window to get the opportunity for a couple of shots. I am working on it though. I counted six babies.

A Teeny Wasp

2011-07-13T15:19:00.000-07:00

A teeny tiny bee or wasp.

Today is one of the very few nice days we have had this summer. I worked in the garden, cut down some of the jungle around electric fences, worked in the house without pouring buckets. This tiny little fellow was on my Oswego Tea plant in my garden. It is just starting to bloom and he was originally on a flower but none of the photos turned out. This was the best one.

Chicklets

2011-07-12T18:37:00.000-07:00

I got off a shot of the chicklets before my batteries died again. Can you see their fuzzy butts? We have an Aracauna colored one (please be a hen!), yellow ones, white ones, one black one and maybe another brown one. I couldn't really see them all. So here is hoping they all make it. I can use a boost in my chicken population.

Percy Is A Papa!

2011-07-11T17:19:00.000-07:00

Yup, I have been watching my white hen for awhile now as she has seperated herself off from the rest of the group. Sure enough today when I got on my bike I heard the tell-tale cluck of a mama hen to her chicklets. They went into the tall grass, several multicolored fuzzy butts and her. I tried to get a photo but my camera batteries were dead and I am out! Argh!

Hopefully tomorrow I can get some batteries and find them to get some photos. I love chickies!

Wandertag

2011-07-10T17:42:00.000-07:00

Today was my German Klub's Wandertag :). Hotter than blazes but we had a nice pavilion to scoot under, lots of great (GREAT) food, one woman's hubby makes a version of really dark German beer (very interesting and good, she gave me a bottle to bring home) and they brought in a polka musician who was a hoot, tons of fun! We played silly German songs, sang, danced, ate, drank, laughed. I signed up to work the Oktoberfest. I said geez, do I need a dirndl? Oh goodness :).

I have made friends with Joy, Jo and oh goodness, another woman who's name escapes me at the moment :(. Anyway, turns out Joy is teaching beginning German on Saturdays. Anyone can come, be it fluent speakers or not, to learn, listen and keep up with the language. I am a beginner and plan on going Saturday. I'll bring my information on the full immersion camp I am tempted to attend (turns out I now may have to work so we will see), my fairytale books in German that I am attempting (ha ha) to read with a dictionery. I also want to hand make a birthday card for my pen pal so I need to be sure I wrote it properly, not that Heike would care. She would just be happy I am trying :).

It is funny how all this is coming together at this point. I think it is meant to be...

Baby Goes to the Cat Show

2011-07-09T14:58:00.000-07:00

Oh boy, I am so excited! I am going to my first cat show and Mom says there will be all kinds of cats there!

After Mom paid her fee to get in (plastic kitties get in free!) I gazed across the silent auction table...Me-OW! Who is that?

Turns out she was already taken but said I could have my picture taken with her to remember her by...le sigh...

I mean, look at my pad.
Who can resist?

It wasn't too long and MY class came up! Yes, Mom entered me! I am so glad she didn't tell me beforehand so I would get nervous!

The judge, Delores Kennedy, is from Louisville Ky and had the nicest soft voice and explained to everyone what positives each kitty had. First she went over this Bengal.

Then she tested him for alertness and playfulness. Oh boy, will I appear playful enough?

Then my turn came!

"Oh! Look at THIS kitty!!" the judge exclaimed!

WIN!

Swoon!

2011-07-08T15:19:00.000-07:00

OMG, what a horse. Can you just imagine riding him??? Who is having more fun, the horse, the rider, the dog or the camera person???

Photos From Route Today

2011-07-06T16:09:00.001-07:00

A lone cow
The four amigos who meet me at their mailbox, sometimes with toys. Too funny!

Another bear sighting. I saw a big boar yesterday but of course didn't have my camera, could have gotten some fantastic shots off! Grrr. But this fellow will do I guess.

Squeaky Nirvana

2011-07-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

I listen to a lot of Wisconsin Public Radio and the other day they were discussing how we are the only state that relishes cheese curds. To me that sounds simply preposterous!! What is life without cheese curds, be them fresh from the cheese factory as above or breaded and deep fried, ooey gooey goodness??

Is it true? Are those outside our sacred state cheese curd free?

And just a note on these that I bought tonight. They were as fresh as they can get and the squeak goes straight to the brain!! Oh yay....

The Making of a Prize Winning Unicorn

2011-07-04T05:58:00.000-07:00

1. Get a black glossy Unicorn in an eBay body box. Go over it good, OMG, it is in mint condition!

2. Wait for appropriate show then pray you can actually find him.

3. Now you have to name him! Hmm, ok, PBS show on about Gaylord Nelson who was a fighter for the environment. Unicorns? Purify water with their horns! Voila, name problem solved! Gaylord!

4. Take him outdoors and hang him in trees, in planters, bury him in the herb garden, dunk him in the birdbath, get a brilliant idea while checking the oil on your car...dipstick? Uni horn? Oh yah! Snap many many photos from many many angles.

5. Realize you read the classlist wrong but then think oh WHO CARES and enter him anyway.

6. Wake up the next day to see he won 5th place and isn't LAST! Whoot!

There you have it! Show quality unicorn!

********

Ok, here is the judge's critique (I love critiques, esp. ones with big words!)

"Clever! Well positioned, good clarity. A wee bit short of apparant plausiblity as it isn't clear how Gaylord is keeping from toppling into the engine. Good idea, good photo though."

APPARANT PLAUSIBILITY? I didn't see anything in the rules stating that there was to be any. :)

A Different Kind of Pony

2011-07-03T19:37:00.000-07:00

Today was the picnic and car show (and model show...er, display). Above are some of my favorite photos from it. There is nothing like the lines of older cars, back when what they looked like on the outside was just as important as how they ran. Nowadays cars are built to live in. These cars were meant to be DRIVEN.

The purple and orange Mustang was by far my favorite though there were others that hit it close. And the humor of the dog statue couldn't be resisted.

My friend's new to her Mustang (see the symbol) is really nice. A convertable, leather interior. Me-OW! And I am not even a Ford girl.

They had some motorcyles there too, a Harley that looked like the ultimate pimped out couch! Man, I could see crusing on that baby.

Gaylord Arrives

2011-07-02T19:53:00.000-07:00

I broke down and entered the dipstick photo of Gaylord in the model show. There are a lot better entries but oh, what the heck, right?

Fonzi and Banner are packed and ready for their debut tomorrow at the picnic. I hope I am not the only entry. Well, I know I won't be because my friend is putting in a red, white and blue horse she has. I'll take photos. I need to do my write up yet, how I painted this horse during the period of shock right after the Twin Towers came down. Painting Star Spangled Banner was my way of coping with stress, shock and grief. He is still an absolute favorite of mine.

Gaylord the Unicorn

2011-07-01T17:48:00.000-07:00

Gaylord says take time to smell the flowers.

Gaylord getting a drink and purifying the bird bath.

Gaylord checking the oil level on my car, Black Beauty. I knew that horn was useful for something ;).

I let my dyslexia get the better of me when I went out to shoot pix for the upcoming Blab fantasy show. I don't know why I didn't study it more because I knew I was finding it confusing. Oh well, so I'll put them here instead :).

The show is for fantasy horses, animals, non-fantasy horses and animals in FANTASY scenes! I somewhere got fantasy critter in a realistic scene. That is what I get for not following my first instinct of being confused and studying it closer. Oh well :(.

Sneak Peek

2011-06-30T17:22:00.000-07:00

Here is a sneak peek at my entry in a patriotic display being held during a 4th of July picnic and car show. A couple of collectors are putting it on. What we do is bring a historical and/or patriotic scene or entry and display them. Then the public votes on which they like the best. It goes from 10 am to 2 pm. I have never done something where the public votes so it will be fun and an opportunity to educate people on the hobby.

My girlfriend's son and husband just got her a 2000 Mustang for an early retirement gift. It will be in the auto show and then us hot mamas are going to take it for a spin, LOL.

Do you recognize the rider? His head is too big for a hat so he won't have one. He likes to say "ehhhhh" and he has workable thumbs ;).

Hot Bird in the Country

2011-06-30T16:26:00.000-07:00

Do you see him? He's in the tree on the upper left. Look at the size of him in comparison to the cattle in the lower right.

Yes, there he is. I used my zoom as much as I could and my camera lens kept fogging up due to the high humidity and heat we are having. Only in Wisconsin, from October to Florida in a matter of two days.

This is as close as I can get with my little camera. If you look close you can see even the eagle is panting due to the heat. And lucky us, it is to be worse tomorrow with a heat index of 115 degrees F. God help us...

Stop It!

2011-06-30T07:07:00.000-07:00

OMG, people are starting to post about last minute roomate needs for Breyerfest. Quit tempting me people!

I even checked out a round trip flight...less than $500.

No no no! Darnit!

Resins and New Horse Ball

2011-06-29T18:22:00.000-07:00

The Hale boys have arrived. So now to clean them up. One has a wonky eye so will need to rebuild it. I'll take a closer look in the good light tomorrow. I have permission to redo them in any way I would like so I will be adding a tail and mane/forelock to at least one to make him look like my horses.

Speaking of, I bought my ponies a ball. My ball crazy dogs wrecked the cheap one I had so I am trying to keep them off this one. Here is the horse's first look at it. On the left is my now gelded stallion, Ajax. He still is the first to check everything out. See his long mane? It hangs off his neck. All my horses are like that. Anyway, here he is with his weanling son and girlfriend. Needless to say the horses most interested in the ball is the weanling stud colt and his yearling full sister, Blitz.

So after everyone checked it out, the UPS man came with my resins so I gave the ball a good kick, sending it flying which in return sent the horses flying. They weren't really scared, just being silly. And as you can see Ty the dog thinks he needs to go after it too.

Arguement with a Plastic Horse

2011-06-28T18:24:00.000-07:00

This is "Molly", a (I think) Bullyland mule I bought at the local Mennonite sewing shop. I thought she was cute so snatched her up with intentions of painting her. That day has finally come. I debated on what to do with her but settled on a blue roan sabino like I saw at the WI Donkey and Mule show several years ago. She is a lot heavier than that TWH cross but oh well, pretend she's a Clydesdale cross, LOL.

So today she is pink and black, blocking in colors. I figured I'd start with her first to loosen up my painting muscles before tackling "Air" the ASB.

BTW, I have decided on "Air's" color too. He kept telling me roan. I told him no, ASB's don't come in roan anymore. Nope, he insists. I asked him how about a nice flaxen chestnut. No he replied, roan! I said how about a lovely deep bay. No, I want to be a roan! Ugh. I told him enough, maybe I'll make you pinto again and then left him.

Well, lo and behold what do I see today but Leslie's post about a red roan ASB mare she saw this past weekend! Yes, she took photos etc. of her and she is an older mare just like my ASB! I knew this is what he'll be and I will have some reference photos to go along with him. :D So how cool is that?

Goes to show, it doesn't pay to argue with a model horse...

Edit: My Hales were in Oak Creek (near Illinois) this morning so they hopefully WILL be here tomorrow. I am really excited, my first SM resins!

Eagle Family

2011-06-27T16:33:00.000-07:00

Parent Bald Eagles

Juvenile Bald Eagle being chased by a songbird.

Yesterday one of our cows had a breech calf that didn't make it. We let the calf alone with mama so she could realize the calf was gone. Today she still is standing by her but meanwhile this calf caught the eye of someone else, a family of Bald Eagles. They are patiently biding their time, knowing that the calf is dead even if mama cow doesn't completely accept it.

So maybe the next couple days I will have some photo opts. And the little calf will live through the eagles who grace our skies.

On the model horse front I got notice today that my Hale should arrive on Wednesday! Yay!

Sold

2011-06-26T19:29:00.000-07:00

What a surprise but I sold this painting on Etsy :D. I did it a few years ago with just a pallet knife. A lot of fun, a bit of texture. I am glad it finally found its home. I can only hang so many of my own paintings!

3-Gaiter, Ready, Set

2011-06-26T09:29:00.000-07:00

At first I thought I'd ask about this tail. It is my Hartland 3-gaiter's tail and it is just a little ugly. In the real ASB world the tails were shaved like this but a lot shorter. The dock on this horse is way too long, up too high and then too much hair at the end of the "tuft", more like a lion. I don't even know if they shave the tail on 3-gaiters anymore. I think they do the manes yet. But then there is country pleasure which I hear replaced "park" which is what my ASB was shown. He was three gaited but a bit too fiesty for a pleasure horse so he was stuck in park classes. I read somewhere they were phased out. I don't know and if anyone else knows let me know. I googled it but all I get is a lot of people's opinions, not any set in stone fact.

Anyway, I am about done messing with this fellow. He is in his last priming stage and then decide what to paint him. Last night I debated cutting his tail off and hairing him with mohair but I am lazy so forget that. I'd have to order the mohair too. Cost me more than the model is worth, LOL.

Silver in Plastic

2011-06-26T09:10:00.000-07:00

Well, I went and did it.

I ordered this horse ^^^^

On this body, through the Stone Company Design a Horse option.

Now to wait until October for him...

The real horse used to be my horse, barn name Silver. He's been gone for 21 years now.

More Horses from Mail Route

2011-06-25T18:40:00.000-07:00

A pony owned by English (non-Amish). Isn't she cute? Look at those eyes.

Amish kids working in a field.

Two Amish draft horses, matched pair!

More Amish horses. These two noticed two horses just turned out to pasture across the way and were putting on quite a show. Of course I couldn't get the camera out fast enough.

These are all seperate Amish farms.

I stayed up until 10 pm watching the Stone webcast last night. Three hours was just a bit too much so I disconnected before it was finished. I saw some horses I liked but they were all too much money for my blood. I am wanting a DAH ASB to look like my rescue Saddlebred. And he's only $100.

I've been invited to set up a display of a theme at a 4th of July picnic. Two gals are putting it together. The idea is to display the models in historical costume etc. and then there will be an award for the most patriotic display. Sounds like fun but I am such a dunce when it comes to such things.

Tomorrow I will discuss my Hartland 3-gaiter. :)

Latest Project & Percy and his Chicks

2011-06-23T16:10:00.000-07:00

Percy and his women head for the cedar tree.

Hartland 3 Gaiter primed so I can see where I need to sand

The "boy".

This is my project. I am being a little impatient with him. He is a woodcut so has a lot of lumps and bumps and there is no way I am taking the time to straighten them out. Meanwhile his horrible seams, tippy-ness, top heavy motion is making me crazy!

This fellow once was one of my showstring. This would have been back in the late 70's, early 80's. I painted him to a very unrealistic blood bay pinto and his name was "In The Air Tonight". He's sat in a box for many many many years. Why I dragged him out is beyond me but there he is and now he's getting a new paint job.

I have no clue what I am going to paint him to though. I hate that, LOL.

Call 911!!

2011-06-22T05:37:00.000-07:00

Photo from Equine Art Creations of the new Breton resin, Hale. I let temptation get the better of me and purchased him. I will be making him after my own horses.

Why is this a surprise? Because first of all I don't "do" resins. I have two resins here now I haven't painted, one being quite old already! I have two other painted by artist resins. I am "not" going there!

Secondly, I do not collect minis! I am a Trad. girl through and through. I wish someone would come take all my minis out of my house. Outta' here with them! So WHAT am I doing buying a RESIN SM sized horse????

It is a sickness I tell you.

More Horses from Mail Route

2011-06-21T19:25:00.000-07:00

Note this poor fellow has lost his ears. These horses and the cremello below are all owned by a horse dealer/trader.

These two ponies are owned by a Mennonite family. They also have a bay standardbred as a buggy horse. I took pictures of him but he isn't on this photo card.

Doe, A Deer

2011-06-21T18:52:00.000-07:00

This pretty lady posed so nicely for me as I passed her on mail route. Chances are there is a fawn lying in the hayfield there too. I waited a bit but the mama didn't move and baby of course was most likely sound asleep. Such a pretty sight, the red of the deer's summer coat against the greens and shadows of the vegitation and woods.

I did get to what I call Kolachy fest, lol. OMG, I need to be kept away from such doings. Kolachys...yummy! Esp. the prune ones. They are my favorite! Anyway, it was a fun day looking at all the art (I bought cards and a painting with "Give us this day our daily bread" in Czech...I am not religious but I liked the ethnic look and colors), picked up geneology information, watched the programs and of course ate!

I have tried in the past to dig up information of my past but kept running into a dead end during/after the war. My great grandmother never heard from her family again after the war so it is not known if they were killed or relocated and perhaps lost her address or ?? It is sad to know small towns around Bohemia were completely razed to non-existance, inhabitants killed there or hauled off to the camps to eventually be murdered or die. I wish I could go see these places. I need to win the lotto.

NAN Musings

2011-06-17T06:37:00.000-07:00

Last night I primed a Sunny WG model. Nothing else, just primed her. I can see a few spots that need sanding but basically she is going to be just a simple repaint. To what I cannot tell you as I don't know yet.

Then this morning I compared my two Partly Cloudy WGs and the "loser" had her mane and tail chopped off. I have an idea of what I am going to do with her but she will require more work like redoing the mane and tail, some resculpting.

I also primed an old repainted woodcut 3-gaiter Hartland Saddlebred. Gads, he is homely. I am going to put a wire in two of his hooves and make him a stand. He's so "top heavy" that he needs a little uplifting. Again, just a repaint and maybe sell him.

I decided to see where the nearest NAN show was to me now. Wisconsin and MN used to be the hub of model shows but no more. This is how it breaks down for me...

GLC No Frills- 286 miles
Meows and Minis-323 miles (though I don't show minis)
Midwest Model Mania- 333 miles
Rough Riders-372 miles

So for the fun of it I decided to punch up a flight from Eau Claire to Fargo. $420 with a stop in Chicago. Um, wrong direction :).

So let's try Minneapolis to Fargo...

$372 plus the ride from EC to MN as I would take the transport.

Still too much. Sheesh.

Anyone going? I'd drive but don't want to put the miles on my car. Let's split a rental.

Phooey!!!

Oh well, one can dream.

I suppose it would cost the same to HOST a NAN by the time one is finished. Eliminate the traveling anyway ;).

Edit: Nope, cheaper to fly, pay entry, motel than to host one's own show. Cost of hall, $30 minimum for cards, probably a membership fee to NAN in there somewhere, cost of judges, advertising etc. Oh well, I never go to NAN anyway so I don't even know why I am bothering thinking about it, LOL.

TH UPC Dilemma

2011-06-16T10:40:00.000-07:00

My lovely friend Diane sent me her Thunderstorm UPC and card, saving me the $30-45 and headache of trying to find one to purchase. Thank you Diane!!

Meanwhile I bought a Sunny at dealer cost and a Partly Cloudy on ebay.

So now this is my dilemma. Do I send for one right away? Do I wait in hopes of more decos being sent out? Or wait and see if someone who got two decos (or doesn't like theirs) would TRADE for the UPCs?

Would anyone even do that?

Half the fun of these types of things is the anticipation and I admit I would love to send it in to see what I get. If I got another matte though then I'd be doomed to never get the deco I really want! I don't know if I could bear the disappointment.

I have decided though, to make it a tad bit easier on my emotions, that if I did get another matte I would name her Lady Gag Me (apologies to those who like Lady GaGa) and I would dig up some harness and fashion a sort of "honey wagon" for them to pull. At least for some giggles and perhaps a show or two. Then I would most likely etch one at least into something I liked better.

So I don't know, what would you do?

Czech-Slovak Festival

2011-06-16T09:36:00.000-07:00

A horse on my mail route.

Tomorrow starts the Czech-Slovak Festival in Phillips, WI. I have wanted to go for several years, thought it would be fun to enter the kolachy contest (my Mom made the best!) but always missed it as it comes so early in the summer.

Well, maybe not this time. I am hoping to go on Saturday.

So, what has this to do with horses? Nothing!

Bear Part Deux

2011-06-11T07:48:00.000-07:00

I was surprised to find the little fellow in the tree in the morning. I had to work so thought oh well, if he was still there Saturday I'll have to call the DNR in. I came home, he was still there but that is because I have two dogs that reminded him once in awhile that he is an invader.

So I put the dogs in the house and sat by the window to see what would happen. It took awhile but he came down then ran back up, came down, ran up, testing the escape hatch waters.

Husband came home, scaring him back up again. So we started over.

40 minutes later down he comes, up he goes, around the tree, back up, back down etc. 1/2 hour later he was finally on the ground totally and took off across the back pasture.

Thank goodness.

Bear

2011-06-09T14:27:00.000-07:00

This little fellow is sleeping in the Elm tree in my backyard, waiting for dark so he can leave.

Things That Go Moo In The Night

2011-05-31T04:48:00.000-07:00

Being in Wisconsin (America's Dairyland) our world can revolve around cows. So when I see something fun I can do with model cows I have a pension for doing it. Here are my two examples from last weekend...

I am sure most of you have seen the story of the German girl whos parents wouldn't allow her a horse so she taught her cow Luna to be ridden and jump. Instantly I thought of my Breyerfest cow and promptly created a mini scene with her. Believe me when I say model saddles are not meant to fit cows. I had to break down and buy a Breyer saddle just for the occasion. So now my Luna has her own. She actually got a ribbon for this, a fourth I think, LOL.

Then there is my brindle cow I "ordered" last year. She arrived just in time for the show and was really quite a hit. Her color is a little bit darker than the real cow but I still love her! If you want a fun cow (or horse) for yourself check out World of Model Horses. Her website, background photos etc. are worth the visit alone!

I also took my Maverick who always does well and I always have several people who want to steal him. And a C.O.W.S. black angus which I forgot to put on the table. Like a typical black angus, she escaped the fence and missed her class.

Misery Loves Company

2011-05-29T05:22:00.001-07:00

This sums it up.

I took my "Rainbow" to a live show yesterday. I entered her in light breed (nothing), SR (nothing) and as you can see above, Fantasy (I mean, she is a rainbow, right?). As you can see, the pile of poo got first!

Yes, that is how popular she is! As I cried my way back to the table that no one loves my Princess Beatrice (yes, that is her name...plain, a little homely yet of royal blood) the judge tried to sooth me with a complimentary "Judges Choice" sticker but I know she didn't mean it.

How do I know? Because during lunch we had a pow wow circle on how disappointed we all were...yes, every one of us got the matte Pintaloosa who sent for one in the room! I was the only brave one to bring mine though.

I will have to admit though, the jokes, comments, snide remarks made about this horse were hilarious! We really did have so much fun making jokes of her after we finished crying. Everything from she needs her documentation just like our president to ideas of what do we do with it NOW? Two are slated as prizes for 4H kids. Mine, I don't know yet. I put on her lovely princess hat and she sits on my shelf overlooking her kingdom.

Yes, misery loves company. Being with the old friends and finding out my viseral reaction to this model was not just mine makes me feel not so alone. I was scolded on a forum for my initial reaction and not that I care what anyone else thought, peg me a whiner, lump with the the ones who constantly complain even though I usually keep my opinion to myself over most things. Whatever! After the high anticipation, the first time ever doing a TH with the goal of getting the rainbow, after seeing the first ones come in that WERE rainbows then finding this at my doorstep, yah, I think I am allowed a whole lot of disappointment.

And it is good to know I am not alone! Group hug guys and gals! I love you all!!

Earth Day Colt

2011-05-06T17:40:00.000-07:00

Earth Day colt is doing well. He is very curious and friendly just like his full brother Jack. If he turns out to be like Jack in personality I will be the luckiest person in the world.

SM Swap, My SM

2011-04-26T04:39:00.000-07:00

OMG, I came home from work last night to find this in my mailbox! My Spring SM swap!! Isn't he adorable? Cantering through his field of Easter eggs? I love him! He is soooo cute! There was also a cute bunny card and a giant chocolate bunny with him.

Thank you Kate! He is adorable! How funny that we swapped Easter themed SM. This is hilarious with the easter grass for grass :D. Love it!

End of an Era

2011-04-24T15:28:00.000-07:00

This was my Earth Day gift from my mare. Pouring rain, 36 degrees, 30 mph winds and the poor fellow couldn't get up due to the slippery ground. So I got them into the shed, dried him off and made sure he was up and eating during the night. He is a little slow on take-off (not unusual for draft foals) but is getting stronger by the day. Today's sunshine and warmth definitely helped!

He is the last one for me...the end of a 19 year breeding program. The end of a dream since I first learned of Cream Drafts in the 6th grade (age 11-12, I am now going on 50.) I just don't have it in me anymore to battle an unsupportive husband so this is it.

I am having a hard day. It is a year ago today my dad passed away. It has been a year of ends and mourning for me be it with my family or my horses and dreams.

PEEP Poneh!!!

2011-04-13T09:11:00.000-07:00

Kate has gotten my half of the SM swap so now I feel I can post a photo of it. It is the rearing Arabian stallion flocked in yellow. The eyes, nostrils, hooves are just colored like the eyes of a PEEP. Yes, it is a PEEP poneh! And see? He came with his own Easter pod!

Latest News

2011-04-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

Sunday we had a bit of a storm. This is what our road looked like afterward. This morning they are fixing it.

IPABRA Auction

2011-04-09T04:46:00.000-07:00

Here is hoping I won the IPABRA auction I bid on...a sire and dam for NEALA!! Standardbreds are so hard to find in this hobby and this pair has a lot of model breeding which is why I bid on it. It is easy to slap a real horse pedigree onto a model and use it. That is what I do quite often when I can't find something. So it is satisfying to know there are some model bred horses out there available.

As of midnight I was highest bidder but we still have time stamp bids to go through this morning so I can't say I got it quite yet. A couple weeks ago I pulled out my old binder of horse pedigrees. These were all done before the internet so are old. I even have a slew of really nicely printed breeding certificates I used to mail out. Now I suppose they are relics and everything has gone to PDF or doc neither of which I know how to use. I am falling behind!

Makes Me Wonder

2011-04-07T06:19:00.000-07:00

Ms. Odda :)

I will never be a BNA. I will never be on the top of the model horse game. I will never be a name in this hobby that folks will remember after I am gone. But I am ok with that.

I also won't be spending money on model horses, tack and accessories etc. that costs as much or more than tack etc. for my real horses. Admire it, yes, buy it, no.

I don't have any sort of trade fodder like the more well known of our hobby has to barter deals with and get pushed to the top of the lists of those who have something to barter.

That is just how it is. Sometimes it frustrates me when I inquire about a model or accessory to be told the list is long, books are closed etc. yet when someone who has something to tempt that same artist suddenly it is a deal. My cash is as good as the next guys but...

But...

I am not complaining, just observing. Maybe I am just a little "blue" today. I am not a pushy or very outgoing person and so get overlooked and even a little stepped on. That is my own fault. I was raised that one is patient, waits their turn. But I am also learning that being patient can get me forgotten.

This may be a hobby but it can be catty and cutthroat in some regards. I prefer to ignore that part of it because I want to have FUN, not drama. But once in awhile I observe it several times in a short amount of time and it makes me wonder.

Monday

2011-04-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

Since I don't like to do a post w/o a photo you get this one. This has been my project in my down time, folding paper cranes. I then are taking them with me to drop off at stores, gas stations etc. just to remind people to remember Japan. I am making a bunch of nice ones out of real origami paper to take to the next live show. Donation to Japan relief, take a crane. I am enjoying learning to fold them. I made some elephants too and want to learn more folds. I haven't done origami in YEARS and then only simple stuff.

I am back after being home for my little brother's wedding. It was wonderful.

It is snowing today. Ok, time to knock it off.

My Weather Girls arrived on Friday and I really like them. I clipped the UPCs out (after I threw the boxes away in my frenzy to get trash out for this week! Talk about panic!!! How could I be so forgetful? I can just see chasing the garbage truck down, LOL) and THEN went to Blab to see the latest news on the Rainbow. None yet beyond maybe variations (True? Not? I hear rumors of glossy WG too?) and speculation which is all fun if a bit out there. I don't plan on buying multiple WGs to get another variation so I should just send these out and get it over with. I am not good at anticipation.

Got a PM that my Kandinsky arrived but is flawed. What would you do? I paid a lot of money for it and it has an eartip rub and a spot of paint missing by the mane. Otherwise she says it looks fantastic. I am not a big NAN shower but for $200+ would you send it back? Or not? Ugh. I am not super fussy but if it is that flawed :(. Why can't it just be good the first time? I've never been disappointed with a Conn. and maybe the reciever has super sharp eyes and is very fussy which is great! Maybe it is something I can overlook. We'll see.

I have boxed up my Spring Swap and warned my swapee it is on its way...well, tomorrow or Wed. I hope she likes it! My photo of it from the live show turned out pretty good so I'll post it once she gets it.

Calves are coming fast and furious now. Finally got a bull calf. And sorry to say he is marked goofy and cute. I haven't gotten pictures of any of the new ones yet. Weather has been so ishy.

Who Is Tired of Winter?

2011-03-22T11:48:00.000-07:00

Ok, I am officially tired of winter. We are being dumped on again, rain, sleet, stinging snow and tonight they are predicting 7-12 inches. It is better than the ice south of us are getting. At least snow we can walk in. I worry about the animals but they seem to be doing ok.

In an hour I have to head to town (a 30 minute drive on a good day) to get my oil changed on my car. She is overdue and since I'll be putting 1000 miles on her between now and Monday it needs to get done.

I went out this morning to flip a bale ring so the horses could get at the hay in the center. Then hiked to where my geldings are stationed (they aren't allowed with the girls according to my ex-stud) and checked on them. Poor Jackie's ears were covered in snow. I wish I had my camera but the way the snow was pelting down it was probably better to not have it. He had a big snow star on his forehead too. It looked strange because he hasn't one white hair on his whole body.

No Weather Girls yet. Tomorrow or Thursday I suspect.

Update on the calf. Her mother has no milk so she is an official bottle baby though still with the herd. She is doing well though. This morning I saw her race past the rest, tail kinked. They are so cute when babies. Not so much when they get older.

Live Show Report

2011-03-19T16:54:00.000-07:00

Today's show was a lot of fun. I mainly go to visit and shop and if I remember, show a few horses. I ran into an old dear hobby friend that I haven't seen in several years. Turns out she is getting out of the hobby due to being legally blind now. We discussed other hobby friends we haven't seen in awhile or who are showing advancing age. It just seems so weird that MY group of model friends are getting old (including myself!) and are dying, going blind, cannot walk etc. It just seems so unbelieveable, these fun folks I shared so many good times with are slowly disappearing. Makes me wonder if anyone will even remember any of us. We are the group that brought the hobby into the public arena, created the RRHs now known as customs, started the live and photo shows. And now we are fading off into the sunset.

I bought two of her babies from her. One is the Shetland Pony above, Golden Lass. This custom is by Chris Lapp or as she is known now, Chris Cook. And this model is over 20 years old! She is a beauty, a fantastic piece of our history and I am very happy to have aquired her. She is a treasure to me!

I bought another, a Saddlebred. I have him packed up but will share a photo when he is brought out again. He was originally a doorstop that is repainted.

Then there is the other side of the hobby, the kids I mentored and gave models from my collection for them to start with. They are in college and needing money so are selling their horses. I bought back this horse, a Zippo I etched but because the chestnut color stained the plastic I gave him to the girls to show novice or repaint or whatever they wanted to do with him. Well, lo and behold there he was with this lovely tack set that the gal made, all for sale for $35.00. So I bought him back and now have a western tack set too! I think he looks really good in this set and I am glad to get him back.

I also showed my SM swap horse. He got a third, LOL.

Spring SM Exchange

2011-03-17T19:52:00.000-07:00

Brother and sister

After some sweat, tears, doubts, cussing and glued fingers I think my idea is coming to fruition for the Spring Stablemate exchange. I am hoping to get it done tomorrow so I can take it to the model show on Saturday just for fun! Enter it in the CM by owner class, LOL.

Tonight my creation and I went shopping for accessories and came home with a POD for him to travel in, LOL. Oh , this is so FUN!!

I so wish I could share pix with you all but I don't know if my partner reads my blog and I want to it be a surprise for the most part. I am dropping little hints here and there but I think it will still be a surprise.

Calves

2011-03-16T09:29:00.000-07:00

As you can see, the bathtub calf is doing things on her own. Still keeping an eye on her but so far so good. She looks so small next to her mother but she was a big calf.

This is calf number two, born the following day. I don't know if it is a him or her but it already looks bigger than the bathtub calf. Big difference between things going right and things needing a bit of help. I believe the first one's birth was a bit more difficult too as her eyes were pretty bloodshot.

Since I was out there I visited with Ruth awhile. She's the only one that can be petted due to being a bottle baby. She is a sweetheart and loves to be loved up.

First 2011 Calf

2011-03-13T06:54:00.000-07:00

Meet "Tuffy". This is our first calf of the year. Well, husband's as they are his project. Other than when asked I don't mess with them all that much. Anyway, Tuffy spent the night in my bathtub. So I took a pic of her. She's going back out to mom Connie this AM. I hope she makes it.

Meanwhile one of da big mama's had a calf this morning. And so it starts...

Where is SPRING????

Edit: "He" is a she so I fixed it. Next time I need to take a peek first, LOL!

Prepped, Primed, Ready to Paint

2011-03-12T06:06:00.000-08:00

My SM swap horse is ready to paint. Today is a trip to Michaels to get some stuff for him and his "assessories".

Sorry no pic. I'm being super lazy. Just imagine a rearing SM primed white. Can you see him now?

"Think Green" Spring SM Swap

2011-03-10T05:19:00.001-08:00

I have my partner, actually have the mold she collects (!) considering I steer clear of SM whenever possible as they just seem to breed. So today I'll get it prepped and primed. I have an idea of what I want to do, it is just a matter of finding things to pull it off.

This pic doesn't reflect anything having to do with the swap but I don't like pictureless post and it is springish :D.

2011-02-27T17:09:00.000-08:00

This was my best award from the show on Saturday. Champion OF Halter foal :). It was a fun show, as always.

I bought quite a few things. A mint Cupid and Arrow set for $12. Two PSQ/body models, a Cody Ranch horse and a Gem Twist for $1.00 each. A few SM diorama set-ups for $13 and a HA Arthus resin (nekkid) for $85. No pix as I haven't unpacked them yet.

Neala didn't place. I didn't figure she would but what the heck, try anyway. My Duke did pretty good, got second in performance.

Ready

2011-02-25T17:17:00.000-08:00

I am packed and ready to go. I am going to take Neala to show in CM. I don't hold out a lot of hope for her because she will be in a generic "CM Mare" class but hey, it'll be fun showing my own CM.

Wish us luck! Full report afterwards!

Hold Onto Your Cellulose Acetate!

2011-02-24T07:14:00.000-08:00

Weez goin' to a show!

I got word it is ok to just show up so good. I am making out my list now as to who to bring. How can one resist fun classes like "Can't Get a Signal" in performance (trail) or "It's SO Boring!" for a solid colored horse in halter? To me this is apart of the hobby too. Having fun! There certainly is a place for NAN but all NAN all the time for me gets boring. Too rigid, too serious. Let's have FUN!
And better yet, Holly from Blab is going! So I'll get to meet another Blabber. I don't know who else of my friends are going. I could ask but I'd rather it be a surprise.

Above is a shot of the "show hall" from 2010.

Sparkly Fabric and Horsey

2011-02-24T04:53:00.000-08:00

On a whim I bought this guy. Includes all the fabric you see him on in case I want to make him a costume. Don't know if I'll ever do that. Maybe I can package it up and give it to someone who will. Anyway, I just sorta' liked the snotty look of the horse. He isn't finished, needs work. We'll see once he gets here.

I also bought a PSQ POA. I'm going to remake and paint him. I already kinda' know what I want to do with him.

Yearling

2011-02-23T15:18:00.000-08:00

Yearling filly, Blitzy

That is all.

C-Dragon 2011

2011-02-23T06:52:00.000-08:00

I was debating on whether to go or not this year. Finally got the showbill (they are a bit s-l-o-w in updating anything) yesterday and it looks really fun. I love fun shows. It was a lot of fun last year and I said I'd go again. Weather has been wonky this year but it is looking clear for Superior for Saturday. Last year I stayed overnight but I think I'll drive it if I go. Will miss seeing the beach etc. unless we get out early enough. Last year I did a bit of hiking, photography etc. There would be no time this. I'd have to leave here no later than 6am which is fine.

It is also affordable. Not a NAN so not $60 to enter only to get laughed out of my classes! Only $16 here.

So, do I go? Or not?

Back To Winter

2011-02-21T11:48:00.000-08:00

Frosted ladies.
My 'shoes
Tex the dog going for a snowmobile ride.

The horse pasture

Jack

Winter has arrived with a vengence again. 12" of snow with another 3-4 inches expected. Winds are howling and snow is drifting. I grabbed my snowshoes and took a trip around the farm. This snow is perfect for this type of snow. It can be knee to thigh deep on me if I go through but the 'shoes had me floating right over the top of it. I love my 'shoes.

I took all the pix today on my rounds.

Foggy Mountain Breakdown

2011-02-17T12:07:00.000-08:00

I sure am glad I am not working today! It has been like this ALL day. At least yesterday the sun burned the fog off by the time I left the office to deliver mail.

Somewhere in this first picture is a herd of 5 draft horses.

Here is Jackie, waiting for me to come flip the bale ring so he could pick the center out. He spent most the day picking through this round bale of straw I put out to give them something to do. You know, there may be a wayward oat or two.

Kandinsky

2011-02-17T05:07:00.001-08:00

Thanks to Katie on the Blab, look who is joining my herd!!! OMG I am SOOOO EXCITED!! Finally, a POA I can get my grubby hands on, LOL. That darn matte Toby broke my heart but this guy will make up for it. I already have a glossy Toby so Toby minus shiny is less of a Toby, right? Ok, so if a Toby came up and I could swing it I might buy it. For the right price of course.

So meet my new feller. He/she needs a name. You are looking at a tie model in the most expensive model in my collection right here. She is my most expensive Breyer.

Oh, but isn't she so cuuute???