Back in the Saddle Again (not literally!)

After falling off the blogging habit for way longer than ever intended, I'm going to make a concerted effort to jump back in after almost losing my entire hard drive of photos. I figure if I at least get them published on my blog, I more or less have my photo diary forever.

Our WAY over-due project was painting the outside of the house.  This was a huge project that we did have quoted out to professionals but everyone gave us ridiculously high numbers.  It wasn't like we COULDN'T do this ourselves, it was just going to be time consuming and required decent weather.

We started the last week of August when I took the week off work.  We started with scraping and caulking and covering up the windows on the south side of the house.  Having all the windows covered up creeped everyone out!  We decided to go a bit lighter - more of a beige color than a brown.

We also decided on black trim rather than the dark green that had been used previously.

This was my view one day as I tackled painting the dormers.  It was a long way down to that concrete!

As redneck as it looks, setting up the ladder in the back of my truck worked really well.  I KNEW it couldn't slide out.  And it was a shorter climb down.  I was literally laying down on the room to get up under that overhang/gutter.

The other side of the house was a bit easier if only because its the north side and was in the shade.  Next project will be to get a patio put in off that sliding glass door.

This front side wasn't quite as hard since you had a lower roof to reach the peak - though putting a ladder on the roof to reach that center point was a bit nerve-wracking.

 Finished! With our cool house numbers made from horse shoes by our neighbor.

This back door still needs to be painted.  I'm still debating on the color...either black or red.  Actually, the deck railing still needs painting as well but you can't tell so much in this picture!

I'm really happy with how it all turned out.  The roof color looks good and I like how the black trim around the windows makes them really pop.  You never think about how many window you have until you have to close them all when it's raining or when you have to trim them all out with paint!  Holy smokes!

Madison's Senior Prom 2015

Being homeschooled does change up things like formal graduations and school dances.  Madison has been fortunate to go to some of her friend's dances at public schools and was thrilled when a local boy invited her to go to his senior prom - the same prom where some of her friends would be!

I gave her a pretty tight budget for prom and she came through with flying colors by buying her dress on eBay and having me do her hair for her.

And she did her own makeup and nails.

Daddy couldn't have been prouder!

I was proud too but a bit of a nervous wreck having to be responsible for the hair-do!

Madison's best friend Kari came to our house to meet up with her date, George.  They looked good!

Mitch came too and was very nervous putting on that corsage - imagine when it's a ring on some lucky girl's finger!

I was happy to see him looking at her face and not her chest!

Luckily his momma was there to help with the corsage since Madison couldn't get it on quite right.

Two really sweet couples in front of my favorite sweet lilacs!

Madison and Kari - the belles of the ball!

Kari and George.

And lots of Madison and Mitch!

On the dock at Iaquinta's marina.

With Sammy Iaquinta and his girlfriend.

The group they went with.

Just the girls!

The day was pretty hot with clouds that rolled in and out making it hard to get good pictures when the sun poked out super bright.  Especially for Madison since she has a hard time with sun in her eyes.

My little Latvian Princess is getting all grown up...

Boys will be boys!

Uh...I thought they went to prom???

Apparently Mitchell got a bit hot with all the dancing Madison was making him do and lost his shirt in the process!

After they all went to a big party hosted by one of the families and had a great time with more dancing and socializing.  A good end to a great night for memories!

Snow Riding

When we brought Mata Hari home late fall of 2013, it was already getting too cold to ride outside, beside the fact that we were worried about her not respecting the very low fence around the outdoor arena being that she was VERY green.  So Madison only rode her in the indoor arena until the weather got better in the spring.  This winter they were ready to try a bit of an outdoor adventure so after the "big snow" started to melt a little, out we went!

Madison couldn't get over riding on the fresh snow and looking down it was just so WHITE - like riding in a cloud.

In this shot you can see how Mata Hari is shaved on her neck and chest so that she doesn't get so sweaty during training sessions.  This does make it a bit chilly so she normally has heavy blankets on with a neck cover.  But not for riding. Plus it was relatively warm at 40 degrees out.

They even did a little trotting and had a blast!  The snow had drifted so some spots were much deeper than others.  Mata Hari had to really pay attention and lift her feet up!

The Big Snow - February 2015

It was supposedly the third biggest snow storm for the area on record.  I remember one of the others - 1974.  I remember riding around the neighborhood with my dad on his snowmobile helping dig people out of their driveways where their cars were stuck and asking if they needed anything from the store that we could run get for them.  I was about 11 years old.

This storm lasted a full 24 hours.  It started early on Sunday morning.  By Sunday night - it was getting deep.

By the time it stopped and the sky turned blue, it was almost 18 inches deep.  That little nub sticking out of the snow is the top of our well pump. The cap is about 20 inches from the ground.

But it was a glorious morning after the snow with a brilliant sunny sky.

Alas, while Scott was plowing out his customers, I needed to dig out my truck where it was all but buried from the snow that had blown off the roof of the garage.

This gigantic pile of snow was in the back of the parking lot at work.  It looks kind of funny because the big front end loaders had started scooping it up to move it out of the parking lot because the mountain was taking up so many parking spots.  It was easily 20 ft high.

Back in the Saddle

Having two hip surgeries in one year does something to you...and adding in a young green horse doubles the trepidation.  I've been on Mata Hari a few times before but I actually think I'm ready to start riding her a little more.  Not jumping.  Oh God no!  Just some dressage.  She's such a level headed little mare and if I ride after Madison goes, she's tired and quiet!

We get along well - she likes me.

Although she's still Madison's girl.

Betsy Blue!

For the holidays I decided to put these little goofy nail covers on my nails - something I NEVER do let alone polish them.  They were fun!

So imagine my delight when I got this fabulous knitted hat in the mail from my friend Betsy that totally matched my nails and even the sweater I was wearing that day! (Please forgive the awful selfie!)