Remaining Weekend Fun!

Saturday and Sunday were as busy as the rest of the weekend, but it was nice and relaxing for the most part.

Saturday J, TJ and I showed. We didn't place, but that's okay. It was pretty windy and raining for part of the time with a severe thunderstorm warning in the area. Rich had the tournament draw for baseball so we went to the show in the morning, he left and then came back with Shannon. Alyssa and Ashley went to get their nails done so they met us at the show after that. Alyssa walked around on Tee for a bit before I went to warm up. Tee and Spike were both great in practice, but when we got in the ring, we got a little nervous. Mom took some pictures and Ashley video taped it. Alyssa got to "show" in a stick horse class and got her own ribbon which was pretty cool. Sunday we were going to show, but after looking at the showbill there was really only one class, maybe two that would have been worth going for so we decided not to go.

I was being lazy

J and Spike

Alyssa and Ginger with her ribbon

Instead of showing, we hung out with kids in the morning and then went to an Akron Aeros game in the afternoon. We had awesome seats right behind home plate, about a third of the way up. It was also Orbit's (the mascot) birthday so there were other mascots from around town there. The Lake County Captain was there (A ball here), the AA mascot for softball (Wheeler), the areana football mascot, the hockey mascot, the Cavs mascot and a few others. It was really great for Alyssa and she managed to get her picture with everyone but the Cavs mascot. Once the game ended we came home and Rich made chicken nachos for dinner and we hung out the rest of the night.

Alyssa dancing with Wheeler (Softball mascot)

Alyssa and I with Orbit

The kids left this morning for home and while we would love for them to be home more we understand. Alyssa tried to take me with her. She really had a great time playing games with the boys, helping in the barn etc. She can't wait to come back and told Grandpa that he needs to take some vacation time!



And today I have been banished to the house, I am still feeling some of the effects from the amiodarone and I got pretty red over the weekend. But its raining so what do I care? Off to work on J's quilt after a little blog reading and catching up with all my blog friends!

Work and Quilts

Its really cold here, about 20 degrees below normal. It was 52 today when I came home from work. It really stinks having to work, I don't have near enough time to do quilting, but that's okay. The money is nice. I actually kinda like where I am temping at now. I used to work there so I know alot of people. The first day (last Monday) was like "I heard you were back" "How are you?" By the end of the day I was like could everyone please stop talking about me! Now I'm old news! But the guys I am working for are great and there have been several hints dropped about if the girl I am temping for doesn't come back its mine and they would like to see me get back into that company. Plus, they leave me alone! My best friend, Krissi (HI!!), works there too and we have been walking at lunch as much as we can. We walked two miles today! WOOHOO!

Its really cold here for this time of year, 20 degrees below normal. So needless to say between that and all the rain, we haven't gotten much done. The first horseshows of the year are this weekend, but we are no where near ready! We have ridden twice in two weeks, not enough to show three days this weekend. So we are just going to go watch on Saturday and Monday.

T has a baseball game in Vermillion on Saturday. Its right by the lake, you can see the lake. I may be staying home. Its at 6:30 and its going to be cold. He has a game tonight, but J and I didn't go because it was only 52 today. Yeah, I'm a wuss!

But I have gotten some sewing done tonight. I am making J a pinwheel quilt and I have about half the squares together. Here's the pile waiting to be cut in half:

And here is my block 4 for the quilt-a-long. I had to do something other than sew little squares together, it was getting to me!

And lastly a picture of my favorite quilt that I have made so far. I just love the color combination. Its also really warm and cozy. I backed it in flannel, and its great on a winter's night. Rich wants me to make a "summer quilt" for our bed since this one gets so hot!

J has decided he is going to make a terarrium, and put frogs in it. I am sure that will go over well with his father. But he already said he could have one so too bad. I think Rich thinks he was talking about just plants. But J will take any animal he can get. He is outside right now trying to catch frogs and was trying to talk me into going to the store to get some things for it tonight. I am all comfy in my pjs. I'm not going anywhere!

I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day Weekend! Remember our Veterans!

Just Pictures!

Mom's chicken wall hanging!

Mom's chicken wall hanging with the really cool chicken fabric backing!

Mom's new knitting bag! (Its reversible too!)

J with Mom's chickens!

My new rose bush! THANKS MOM!

Pink Toes!

They say it all!

This is the hole in the side of our yard. Pretty big. We have a broken field tile and are trying to figure out how much it is broke. Rich thinks at least two tiles, maybe three. Its also 8 inch pipe so we think its a main one. We fixed the one in the backyard yesterday. Now I know how to fix a field tile, pretty exciting. That one was only a small pipe. We are not sure how exactly we are going to fix the one in the big hole.

Its been sunny and 70's for the last several days. Tomorrow it is supposed to rain. I have been spending quite a bit of time outside reading. I love to sit in the sun and read. I also cleaned out the flower beds and prepared the side bed for the dirt guy to come bring me some dirt. Our neighbor takes our manure so he is giving me some dirt for my side bed. It connects to the one at the back of the house, but it slopes down about 3 inches in the process so we are going to level it up a bit and then I am going to put in a butterfly garden. It will take me a few years to get it full and growing good since I can only buy a few plants at a time since I don't have a job...




This is the quilt that I am currently working on. I haven't gotten much done since Sunday. Its been too nice. I was originally going to donate it to Project Linus, but Rich thinks I should keep this one and donate a different one. He likes this one and likes the colors in it. He says its too much work to give away. I have to make two more rows and then the hard part will be done. It actually goes pretty fast and I can make one row in about 20 minutes. I love the sock monkey fabric and may keep it even though no one here is still young enough to be into sock monkeys.

We have been riding almost every night, J is getting over his fears of being hurt, TJ is coming along good with his horse, and mine is just as stubborn as always. We had issues again tonight about not wanting to go forward, but we did. We didn't lope because he started kicking out and trying to buck which still scares me at this point. Last year it wouldn't have phased me, but after only 12 weeks, I still want to be careful and not be thrown. I don't think my dr. would be too happy!

Rich has had baseball practice almost every night or been working on the baseball fields. Our first game is in two weeks at New London. We have never been there before nor played a team from there. This should be interesting since we don't know what to expect. Our games will be on Mondays and Thurdays so they shouldn't interfer with too many horse shows, unless there is a Saturday game, but I think we only have one of those scheduled.

My local library started a book club, The Jane Austen Book Club, which I happily joined! There were 9 of us at the first meeting which I think is pretty good for our little library out here in the middle of nowhere. We are reading Sense and Sensibility this month and then next month we are going to read a members choice. We decided to mix it up so that it wouldn't get old or boring. Plus that way we could all share our favorite books. Right now I am reading "The Girls" by Lori Larsens. Its a fiction book about twins conjoined at the head. I have several other books here waiting to be read and actually read three books this past weekend.

And lastly, today I walked 3 miles. Very exciting to be able to do so. I saw a blimp when I was out walking but didn't have my camera with me and it was too far away for my cell phone. I didn't know DirectTV had a blimp but that is what it said. It was beautiful out and I was so glad to get outside and walk!!

I'm off to sew and have some yummy ice cream for dessert!

Busy Weekend!

This weekend was pretty busy for us. J, TJ & I went down to Equine Affair on Friday. We left here about 10:00 and got there about 12:00 or so. By the time we parked and got into the event it was about 12:30. We were hungry (of course with 2 growing boys, when aren't they hungry?) so we went and got something to eat. Then we went to see Stacy Goodall and Julie Goodnight. They were great. I really enjoyed their clinics on body position of you and the horse and cues. Then we walked around the merchant buildings, and then saw Bob Avila's clinic again, body position, cues and control. After this we decided to head up closer to my BIL's so we could eat and hang out somewhere till they got home. We had Red Lobster and went to the mall. Then we went over to Russ and Sue's and pretty much crashed. It had been a long day and Saturday was just as long!




We got up at about 7:00 so we could all shower and leave by 8:00. From Russ's we went to OSU Animal Science Building where my wonderful group of Hippology kids competed in the State Horse Bowl competition. Our juniors made it to the 5th round and according to my calculations made the top 15. The seniors made it to the 4th round and again according to my calculations made it to the top 25. We were eliminated around 2:30 and left by 3:15 to head home. We got home about 5:30 and just kinda hung out for the rest of the night. I admit, I feel asleep for about 2 hours around 6:00. I was pretty tired after all that!
The junior team




Yesterday was spent cleaning and doing laundry. The boys did some work outside. It actually snowed in the afternoon so we all came in to spend time together hanging out watching TV. The tribe was on and they won!! Yeah!!





T and Rich went to the Lynard Skynard and Hank Jr. concert on Friday night. They had a good time, but they said they enjoyed Skynard better than Hank. THe concert started at 7:00 and Rich called me at 11:30, they were just leaving Cleveland. T loves Skynard and had a really good time. That was his first real concert so it was exciting for him. They ran into two other couples that we know from our small town. Pretty funny! Usually you don't see anyone you know at concerts.





Thursday night J and TJ rode their horses. Their uncle was home so he was helping them out. J rode his pony without a lounge line, which was good and TJ got on his gelding for the first time. Normally TJ rides my horse, but we gave him a horse last year and he is breaking it with our help. That was pretty exciting. He stayed on and the horse only jumped straight up once. Pretty good if you ask me! Here's some pictures of J and TJ on their pony/horse.


And Kris at Quilted Simple tagged me for the 4x4 meme so here are my responses.

4 jobs I've had:
- Insurance
- Teacher
- Insurance
- Step-mom (most important!)

4 shows I regularly watch:
- College Football
- Baseball
I would have to say that is it. I don't usually watch TV, I usually read

4 places I've been:
- Rochester, MN
- Dallas, Houston and Spring Texas
- New York, New York
- Washington DC
- Orlando
Ok, thats five but that is ALL I have ever been too!

4 foods I like:
- Pizza
- Chicken
- Salad
- Steak

I tag anyone who hasn't been tagged that reads my blog!

Hope everyone had a great weekend and has a great week!!

6 days of SUN!!!

Its been sunny for the last 6 days! Maybe spring has arrived. I certainly hope so!! Its been so nice that we have spent a lot of time outside, just playing and sitting on the patio reading. I haven't really gotten anything done this week. But its been nice. The boys are home on Spring Break so Monday was cleaning stalls etc, Tuesday I took the boys to the mall to get cleats and the we came home to play outside. Yesterday, they pretty much played outside. Today they are at their moms till 3 and I am sure we will be outside if the rain doesn't come. It was supposed to rain Tuesday night, and it did - but just a little! It was also supposed to rain all day yesterday and today, but I am looking at beautiful sunshine!! I have flowers coming up in my flower beds and am enjoying the weather!

Also I was able to ride my horse! VERY EXCITING! I am "not allowed to ride unless someone else rides first" (direct quote from Rich) but I am able to ride. So that is wonderful to me! Last night I rode J's horse instead because I wanted to show him something, and the T wanted to try to ride. This is a kid who will go behind a race horse, but will not get up on top of one. He did very well, and only had a few moments where it didn't go well. But if he wants to learn to ride we have to start at the beginning since he hasn't been on a horse in over 3 years!

Tomorrow J, TJ and I are going to Equine Affair. Hopefully we will get to see some great clinics and seminars. I am still debating if I want to spend the extra money to see the Pfizer Fantasia. I think it would be neat, but it will cost about $50.00 so I am not sure I want to do that. But then I think what am I going to do with them till 9:30 when my BIL gets home. We are going to spend the night at my BIL's so that we can go to Equine Affair and then the State Horsebowl competition on Saturday. I wasn't sure we would be able to go to Equine Affair after Horsebowl, not sure I would feel up to it. But this way works out much better!

I am off to enjoy the sunshine now! Its quiet here!

Meandering

Rich bought me a new sewing machine for Christmas (rather than fix my old one!) and it came with a quilting foot, walking foot and about 5 other feet. Its computerized which makes it nice (my old one wasn't!) So I'm so excited. I tried meandering quilting on two blocks for chickens last night. It was great and sew easy!! I love it. I have never done this before and my sister loves it, kept telling me to try it so I finally had something that was ready to quilt. I am going to use it on EVERYTHING! I love the way it looks and I love how easy it is to do. Of course, I showed Rich and he was like totally indifferent "Great honey" I believe were his words, with little excitement. Now J on the other had thought it totally rocked!

Here's some pictures, the left block is the one I did first:

Today, it is supposed to rain but its not yet. I also don't get how the high can be 39 and its 42 right now. It does feel warmer than 42 though, since I just went out to do chores. If it doesn't rain I may clean out my rock garden and see where that takes me. And I am definately finishing up 2 of my 3 chickens today!

In other news: T's rec league basketball team lost last night (Again!). They are so bad. But they did win one game. It happened to be a game that the coach wasn't at and the assistant coach and Rich were coaching. Hmmm....maybe that says something about the coach.

Last night J and I had a 4-H meeting. He decided in school to do a speech on rabbit health so we worked on refining it when his homework was done. He did a great job and I'm proud of him for taking the initiative, most of the kids don't. We decided on our theme for our stalls at fair this year. I have a lot of good ideas that I am going to have to jot down. The other 3 advisors and I decided on high points for the horse show and I get to ring master the first half of the day. I prefer that since I can't be in the ring when my kids are and the first half is all English and Walk-Trot.

They have both filled out the paperwork for next years schedules at school, I can't believe they are both going to be in Jr. High. They are both taking advanced math and T is taking advanced english. Both are also taking choir and J is taking band too. He's really good at music, now if I could just get him to practice!

Otherwise, There is nothing new. The drs say I can ride by May 1st, but I am hoping sooner if it ever gets nice. Its supposed to snow tomorrow. Hopefully it won't. I am meeting my friend Krissi for lunch so that will be wonderful! I haven't seen her in forever. She was at the 4-H meeting last night, but I really didn't get to talk to her. I can't wait! Ok, I'm off to make chickens!