Finally something about Gracie..

So yesterday I met a fellow blogger..JP2..(you know who you are) and we had an e-mail conversation and I thought, Wow this is stuff I should be posting about Grace..so I'm going to reword a bit of it to make it more Blog friendly and maybe you can get a little bit of something from it as well..

As I've posted below Gracie has recently become a complete Asshat. (Picture Teenage girl not getting her way, scary I know I was one once a very long time ago) so here is a the low down.

Gracie is almost 3 (she's a May 2006 baby)... Right now she is just about out of control...We just moved to a new barn and she was doing great at the old barn working well in the round pen great ground work and manners...learning to lunge. When we first moved to the new barn we started working on some free lunging in the round pen and we where doing great she was moving off of hand commands turning when I asked and stoping on a dime when asked. Then the weather turned to CRAP. I hadn't been out in about a week when I went out and she broke BOTH side ties in the tack up area. SHE has NEVER done that. I guess I should go back a bit to when I first brought her home. She is a Chris Bickford baby...(don't know if you know of him or not but anyway) She had NO handling what so ever, no halter training, her feet had never been done and I started from scratch with her which is what I wanted....She has come so far she is now great with the farrier, she used to be great being tied and now we have back tracked to ground Zero.

She's in good health has a great barn with a nice run is getting too cozy with the other BBFF's pony (Star) and has turned into a complete ass in the span of two weeks. She actually kicked out at the Farrier on friday..she again has never behaved that way...not even on her first trim..She is a great horse and we are bonded (or so I think) She knows I'm her horse mom and she normally is very respectful..so I'm not sure what the hell is going on with her. Any advice from the been there done that's is always needed and welcome.

What will Gracie be when she grows up?

Gracie is going to be my.....don't know yet. She is bred for Saddle seat..but I would love to learn Dressage or Hunt seat...I know I have a long road with her and I adore her..she is a very giving and sensitive horse. But she is also a Fight or Flight minded horse...so I know I have alot of work but I think/hope in the long run she will be an amazingly beautiful mount if for nothing else that to drag to open shows and maybe a few Ay-rab shows..but that's a ways down the road. I'm thinking of trying some showmanship with her this spring-summer if I can get her over herself already, the sooner the better.

I hope to get out to the barn this weekend to start working with her. One of my New Years goals is to get to the barn at Least 3 times a week. More if possible and get her where she needs to be with her ground training....trailer her to a few shows if possible and learn as much as I can...I'll need all the help I can get so please throw your comments and suggestions my way as I will be scouring all of your blogs and looking for any tidbits that might work for us if they have worked for you!

To all of my new Blog friends and especially to my BBFF...May the New Year see all of your resolutions come to pass...May your goals be BIG ones....(let me know what your horsey goals are for the next year!) and may love find you happy and healthy! Big Kiss! To you and your equine partners!

I am off to Seattle tomorrow...so I'll see you guys on Sat!

Say What??

I've been scrapped....

I'm new to this blogging thing but what I take from my BBFF of http://mylifewithstar.blogspot.com/ (she's the dream girl that scrapped me) is that I have to reveal 10 random things about myself so here goes..

1. I'm deathly afraid of Sharks...not that I live near an ocean or ever plan on living near the ocean. But even the thought of putting my feet or the feet of my children in the ocean scares the bejezus out of me because I just know a lurking shark will think we are seals and gobble us up.

2. If I could be draped in Rhinestones and not be taken for a drag queen I would do it EVERY DAY.

3. I've been thinking more often than not lately that taking on a two year old filly was probably the dumbest thing I have ever done in my life...with the exception of getting married to my first husband.

4. I am a 135lb woman screaming to get out of a plus size body...but just haven't been able to commit to the challenge.

5. My absolute favorite movie of all time is "Legends of the Fall". I could watch this movie over and over again and it's not because of Brad Pitt...okay it is...but this is pre Brangalina.

6. When I was a little girl all I wanted to be was a Veterinarian, or a Marine Biologist..(this was before my fear of sharks took over my life)

7. When I was a VERY little girl I lived in Morocco...I was very blond and the natives would rub my head for good luck..I wonder if it ever helped any of them...My son is blond and I rub his head all the time hoping for some good luck...sometimes it works sometime not so much.

9. Okay here is a deep one...I don't know my real father. My parents divorced when I was very young...not that I don't know where he is these days. Not knowing him now is a choice I've made. He made the choice not to get to know me when I did need him.

10. My hubby and I decided in the summer of 2006 that we didn't want to have any kids together since I already had 2 and he had 1. Sept. 2007 hubby and I welcomed our LCG (littlest cowgirl)...she was a Shock...and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Okay I don't think anyone reads my blog so I really don't have anyone to pass this onto...so....there you go.

Snow Ride to the barn...

BBFF and Mr. BBFF (Best Barn Friends Forever) are going to be braving the roads to get shavings and beat pulp for the ponies..the barn is OUT. They are great people. I'll try and get some pics of Gracie in the snow if I can...Check back later! I am so excited to go see all the Snow ponies. It's been too long.

Publish Post

Epic snow fall....Random pics..

Since I have nothing to post regarding Gracie because of the weather I'll post some pics of the 2 FEET (I am not telling fish stories) of snow that we have. They say we haven't seen a storm like this n 40 years... We have so much snow that, I am not sh*tting you, snow mobiles were filling up a the gas station in town...check it out...
Okay I know this pic is far away but we were moving and I forgot to use the zoom...see the little thing in the inside gas pump...yes those are gas pumps...it's a friggin' snow mobile...is that legal. BBFF this was in G-Town up by Billy Bob's. Insane...

Okay here s a pic of my back porch..we have patio furniture somewhere under the snow...
Here is our chicken that lives in a Dog suit. She was skeered when the power went out and had this is where she landed....we are so getting a Rottweiler. Oh and Abby (the chickendog) is doing her yoda impersonation in ths pic..she is multi talented..all useless talents but talented none the less.

Happy Holidays!!!

I wanted to get a winter pic of Gracie but we now have a half inches of ice on top of 13 inches of snow...so My horsey friends will get the same pic as our non horsey Friends and family. Please be safe and have a very Merry Christmas...Blowing Great big kisses to all of my friends!

Best Seat in the house...

When the weather outside looks like this..

And then you measure just to see how much snow...

Inside our house the struggle for the best seat in the house begins...Abby has first dibbs on the seat...but then the rulers of the house scare her off..(see Elmo...I, I mean Emmie...loves this toy so worth the $$)

And the winner is..
The Be-otch of the house Amber our calico...She's just allowing Porter and Emmie to hang out but I think she was just about to open a can of whup A$$ when this pic was taken. Notice Emmie using Porter as a pillow...I'm just wondering when the weather will break...I still have shopping to do!

Staying young...Snow Bunny Style

The last three nights we have been midnight sledding with our Awesome neighbors! Schnapps does wonders for the cold..and makes you feel 8 again. Liquid courage is an amazing thing. I think I did bruise my tailbone though...those man made jumps are killers.

Last night we waxed up the sleds...plastic bags and I think a kiddie pool was discussed but was left in the garage. Our street turns into an 45degree ice rink...SWEEEET!!

As I write this we are still getting pounded with snow...I think we are close to a foot total now..and we are getting drifts now because the wind has picked up. It's a good thing that I adore spending time with my sweetie and our baby. I do still have some shopping to do but I'm not heading out in this mess. I'm afraid to drive in the snow and I have watched our neighbors struggle to get out and quite a few of them have slipped and fallen in the road. So if you are out and about please be careful!!!

Naughty Gingies...NSFW....You've been warned.

Okay so the the other day I made Gingerbread dough to make Gingie men...here is the recipe...super easy and really good


INGREDIENTS
1 (3.5 ounce) package cook and serve butterscotch pudding mix
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS
In a medium bowl, cream together the dry butterscotch pudding mix, butter, and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the egg. Combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, and cinnamon; stir into the pudding mixture. Cover, and chill dough until firm, about 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease baking sheets. On a floured board, roll dough out to about 1/8 inch thickness, and cut into man shapes using a cookie cutter. Place cookies 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until cookies are golden at the edges. Cool on wire racks.


Here is a pic of the dough before I rolled it out

Then we rolled them out and cut em' out!

Okay here comes the NSFW Gingies....my husband had a great time "Playing" with the dough...Gingieman "No I'm just happy to see you ", Gingiewoman "I don't understand why no one ever looks me in the eye?"

Gingies after their hot date at "The Oven"

Okay I know super imature but it's freakin' funny....Needless to say we have left the naughty gingies naked..not frosting yet. Like I said I warned you! Enjoy!

Grace the FREEAAK!!

Okay I guess it's back to basics for Gracie and I...she broke 2 side ties today..not just one but 2! Talk about awkward call to the Barn owners...She has never given me any trouble in the ties...she doesn't always like to stand still but hey she's a Arab...

http://www.saddleshop.com/sentinel/articles/ground_tie.htm

here we go back to basics again. I wonder how much I'll owe the Barn owner...ugh..She's been couped up because of the weather and I haven't be able to get out to see her/work her in a week. It makes me feel very inadequate and maybe like I've bitten off more than I can chew with getting a youngster. She is an amazing horse and has so much potential. I need to do some more research and spend more time educating myself....

Any suggestions are always welcome...

Feeling beaten by a side tie or two.

Queen of Multi-Tasking

So far today I have been in Training for work (from home) via net meeting, made dough for Gingerbread men (this is a cool recipe that doesn't need molassas but uses butterscotch pudding mix), made banana bread (it's to die for)

Banana Bread Recipe-

5 ripe Banana's (the riper the better!!)
4 eggs
1 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
3 1/2 cups flour
2 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1 cup chopped walnuts (I don't add these as my family are not fans of nuts even though my family is full of nuts of one sort or another)

Beat Bananas well then add other ingredients till mixed well. Grease and flour 2 large bread pans or 6 small loaf pans. Bake 1 hour @ 300 degrees...(I actually cook it for 1 hour 15 mins.)

This is my Grandma's recipe...and it's the best Banana Bread I have ever tasted..I actually get requests for it from my co-workers. Sometimes I even add Chocolate Chips to it and it's sooo good..the smell of my house right now is amazing!

I also called the barn to check on Gracie since I haven't been able to make it out due to the Arctic Blast! The Barn owner told me that they had a pipe burst in the barn yesterday...I wish I could have made it out to help them clean up. Luckily it was on the side of the barn that hasn't been opened up for ponies yet. I'm sure Grace is bored and missing me...(oh wait I think it's me that's bored and missing her) and with the way the weather has been I don't know when I'll be able to get out to see her. She needs her grain bags done and Mom needs some horse therapy....being couped up with 3 kids is fun for about a day...

Since I'm not able to get to the barn...

I'm sitting here watching the finale of the Biggest Loser while eating some cookies that were made by my ex-husband's wife that were meant for CJ's teacher, but there is no school tomorrow because there "might" be snow....thinking about the things that I'm going to do when I hit the barn next. And depending on the weather that may be a week or so from now so I'll have plenty of time to dream up all sorts of tortuous things for Gracie to do.

Things to do next time I'm at the barn..


1. Figure out how to get a bit in Gracies mouth. It's time.
2. Get some purty pictures for her new blog.
3. See my BBFF...haven't seen her in a week because of the nasty "Arctic Blast 2008"
4. Get caught up on all the barn gossip..

Okay so I guess I should introduce the players on this blog.

The STAR of the Blog - Light Affire aka Gracie




Lovable, gorgeous 2 1/2 year old National Show horse..registered half Arabian. She's BEAUTIFUL and she knows it.

Me-


Mom of 3, wife to my best friend, fur mom to 2 cats and a dog (I'm sure you'll hear about all of the above at some point)


STAR -BBFF to Grace


Long story but without Star I wouldn't have Gracie..someday when I have more time I'll post the story..it's really interesting.


And you'll hear allot about my BBFF Star's mom....but I won't post a pic until I get the okay from her...


Oh and I can't forget to add my husband..non horsey person who supports my love affair with a furry 1000 lb four legged creature..Thanks babe Oh and here is a pic of him...hubba hubba

So now you know.....I'll post more pics of fur babies and real babies..soon. I hope make comments stop by when you can and enjoy my fumbles...