Gonna be a rock star, baby!

Little Girls

I love this picture.  This was in 2006 - a lifetime ago.  Equestrian Girl's very first horse show.  It was a schooling show in a VERY fancy barn.  I remember dressing very warm thinking it would be freezing just because it was a VERY cold winter day.  I didn't know fancy barns were HEATED!

Equestrian Girl is the one on the far right. Their "team" color was to wear white turtlenecks.  She came home with 2 second place ribbons!

Spring Fever

Equestrian Girl wants to go to public school next year.  Motocross Boy thinks he does too.  I think they have spring fever and just need to get out of the house more.

Spring and Horses

In the spring, first you brush off all the mud and loose hair leaving piles around their hooves.

Although a good bit ends up stuck to your shirt.  Shedding horses and fleece shirts don't go together.

New Boots

Stanley got his hooves trimmed and Equestrian Girl got new practice boots!

Unfortunately, new boots are really stiff and prevent you from putting your heels down properly!

Barn kitties

True Love

A Day at the Barn

First you groom the horse up pretty.  At this time of the year, a lot of that has to do with getting the mud off.

After you mount up you walk around some to loosen his muscles and stretch out.  Especially if he had been in the stall for a long time.

Then you line up like you are seriously going to jump those poles just to give your mom a heart attack.

Then you go trotting up even closer and stop dead so mom freaks out even more.

And then you go home.  Because mom can't breath any more and needs help.

The Seamstress

Back in September Equestrian Girl started sewing lessons.  Stella asked her what she wanted to sew and I said "Pajama pants" and Equestrian Girl said, "A show shirt".  They went with the more challenging project of the show shirt.  It was a slow go.  After learning how to trace a pattern onto pellon, cutting out all the appliques, learning how to put them on, sewing the pieces all together, at long last she has a finished project!  Or almost.  The cuffs are still at Stella's to be embroidered but it's essentially done!

Way to go Equestrian Girl!! I'm very proud of you for sticking this out and doing such a great job!!!

The End of an Era

My little Skidoo lives alone now.  She's missing her mate, Scott's big 800.  The big 800 was sold a few weeks ago.  We just aren't getting up north to ride like we used to so we put them up for sale.  These sleds took us many miles with kids strapped in front and behind us.  I remember Equestrian Girl being strapped behind me and falling asleep on a long ride, her little head just bobbing along on my shoulder.  We had fun on these sleds...farewell.

Siblings

Equestrian Girl and Motocross Boy.  Never a dull moment.

Ice Racing

Motocross Boy can't race on dirt in the winter so....you add studs to your tires and race on the ice!

Close up of the studded tires.

His bike ready for the ice.

Taking a turn on the frozen tundra of the lake.

Banging gears on the straight-away.

Makes me  cold just thinking about it....but this was more than a month ago.  The lake is on it's way to melting soon.  Yeah!!!

A Sunny Day

The day I took this picture it started out bitter cold - 14 degrees.  But as soon as the sun came out it warmed up fast and by the time we were done riding around noon, the worst of the ice had melted and it was closing in on 32 degrees.  Stanley was quite happy to head out to his pasture.  It won't be long now and the snow will all be melted and we'll have mud season in full swing.

Before and After

Stanley with his grown out mane from being roached all summer.  A rather zebra looking mohawk look.

A little neater, trimmed down look.

The Mighty Hunter

The kitty I use for a handwarmer on cold days decided work came first yesterday - she bailed on me to hunt a mouse.