The New Jersey State Botanical Gardens and Skylands Manor (AKA one of my top ten favorite places on Earth) So, even though travel week didn't really happen as planned, we did spend lots of time out in the yard with these two which means not a second was wasted!
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Spoiler Alert- this week just didn't really happen, much anyway. Tuesday we were all kind of spent after 8 hours in the truck the day before so our big "travel" was to my parents so the kids could swim. Wednesday we traveled back in time (ah ha, see how I did that?!) when I did a whole slew of tie dying! This is only 1/2 of it- most was for my mom and cousin. My favorite piece of all was this fly bonnet that I snagged for 2 bucks at a local tack sale! I had high hope for it's cotton content and color fastness and they were both exceeded! I was so excited that I could not wait to try it on her! I was smart though and washed it first. It still *might* dye her head if she sweats while wearing it. That's a risk I'm willing to take though LOL Thursday was a "travel" around the yard sort of day. I moved some rock walls, made some rock walls, edged the front perennial bed, watered the grass we're trying to grow and just generally cleaned up the place.
Friday, today, we're actually going to leave the property and zip over the the Botanical Gardens! Well, since camps all over the place are closed for the summer, including the wonderful on my daughter usually goes to for a week ro so, we're doing theme weeks here instead. We've declared this week to be "Travel Week" and started it off with a bang at 6:50 Monday morning. Yesterday I drove 4 hours up to Springfield Vermont, turned and burned and headed for home. It was a fun little adventure with my daughter who served as navigator on the trip north. We were picking up my cousin's son for a summer visit. That was our first goal. Our second goal (correction MY second goal) was to procure some Maple Sugar Candies. It was pretty much a necessity but not an easy one as many of the small shops are still closed up there. I knew cutting across Rt. 9 through Wilmington would get the job done. Unfortunately, there were wires down and we had to take the craziest detour down (and up and down and UP!) this podunk nothing dirt road that was little wider than a compact car. It was AWESOME! These pics were the good sections- the one's where I wasn't afraid I was going to stuff my husbands truck into a ditch or an old barn!
We were home again by 6:15 at which point I poured myself a healthy glass of whiskey and sat on the couch!
Where will "Travel Week" take us this Tuesday? Probably just to the food store . . . Posted this guy once already but somehow lost the post . . . oh well! He's Pandemic Pony #22 if my calculations are correct and he's been listed to eBay to find a new home.
In between the end of the year school craziness of "Wave Parades," which are both super fun and a little sad:
There hasn't been much time in between the end of the year activities, certainly not enough to finish an actual model, but I've managed to chip away at a few little projects here and there . . . I painted a lobster! This went along with some art project the kid was working on at the time. He was fun to mess with! Somehow not as much fun as this late night and long term project. I call it the Farm Animals and Flower afghan. It's still a work in progress but it's super fun! More pictures to come later as things actually begin to get finished!
Have a great weekend everyone! Meet "Samuel" our new puppy! This is what happens when you're drinking White Claw hard seltzers at night and fill out an online application for a dog. The next thing you know they've checked your references and you're spending your Saturday driving 2 hours away to pick him up from the Rescue Road Trip truck!
As you can see, Sammy and Nora are already fast friends, running like nutjobs around the yard and wearing each other out! He came home 4 days ago but you'd think he'd been here for months! I'm sure you'll be seeing WAY more pictures of this little guy in the future. I can't wait to get his doggy DNA profile back! So, I've always wanted to do my mini Backbeat Thunder in something flashy. He was bay for awhile and then when I decided to offer him for sale I figured he'd be more marketable in a typical draft horse color. Well, he hasn't sold yet and I've decided to kick him up a notch. Presenting, the Sugarbush draft horse (or whatever wacky cross you want to call him!):
Guin's got a case of the Mondays . . . but really, she goes down for a nap every day between 12:30 and about 2:00. Always in the sun and always sprawled between 2 stall doors. It makes me nervous when Big Mare's in the stall. I can't imagine she's clear Guin if she decided to try and jump out. I made both girls work today. Just a few minute trotting and walking over 2 poles. Nighthawk had to be dramatic at the beginning and canter herself into a sweat over flies and bees. I don't like them either but she was REALLY overreacting! Luckily, she pulled herself together and performed nicely and she's an ever so slightly smarter and more mature horse because of it (that's what I have to tell myself anyway!) I put her fly sheet on and then I got some pretty dramatic pictures of her afterwards. After that, she rolled! So, it was a good day! I've been real busy in the studio lately, too, with all this nice weather we've had. There are a bunch of models most of the way prepped, 3-4 primed and I've finished and listed I think 2-3 more between eBay and MH$P. Here's the handsome show quality (in my opinion) hackney pony and the fun, simple custom 5 Gaiter. Clearly I'm on another black and white tobiano kick these days! Although there is a Smart Chic Olena in my future that wants to be some sort of appy dilute . . .
Yesterday was Brownstone Guinivere's 22nd birthday! We celebrated the day with a freshly bedded stall for her to wake up in and carrot peels in her breakfast. Then we mostly left her the heck alone all day while we went for a hike. Before dinner she got to go out on Grassland for 25 minutes with big mare before coming back in for more carroty grain . . . so it was kind of her perfect day. Guin has lived with me since she was 4- so 18 years now. I can't believe it! She's gone from the pony I never wanted to one I wouldn't trade for the world. She was the best friend that Cruise could have even wished for . . .
She put up with Eugene- so kudos for that because that was a challenge on a day to day basis!
Here's to 18 years together, Guiny!
May we have many, many more to look forward to together! This Clydesdale foal has just been listed to eBay. She's a simple custom but still a cutie pie in her bay roan tobiano patterned finish! This hackney was also recently completed and listed online. I've always liked this mold but I so infrequently get one as a body model to paint. He's so grand and handsome looking!
Yesterday was gorgeous and the girls have worked their way up to 30 minutes grazing so it was a perfect opportunity for some photos! |
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February 2023
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