Still Winter

Seems like everyone has stuff going on and so boring here.  Well I'm not that bored but sure no horsey stuff going on besides these cute boys :)

(Dixon will drink right out of the pail, head all the way in past his eyes)

Otherwise just more crochet and book folding and I took a quilting class last week and we made table runners.  I got mine all pieced together but not quilted and binded cause my sewing machine is at the doctors and I borrowed one to use for the day but he wanted it back.  They said there is one at the school I can use when I go on Thursday nights for craft night but I probly wont, hopefully wont be too long till I get mine back. 

(I didn't mean for it to be baby looking but it kinda turned out that way)

Also made this baby blanket for a shower, they are both big hunters, it went over well as they had steer heads already decorating her room, with flowers on them.  Different but that's ok.

Heard back from Rayne and she was pushy, which I knew but shes better and progressing nicely, I may go down this week if it warms up and see her.

And biggest news is I sold Easy.  Sad that is my cutting dreams for this year but I put the money in a gic for when Dixon goes.  Which I talked to him about taking him, he would prefer started and wants him in March or April next year.  Kinda excited. Anyways Easy sold to a gal doing high school rodeo, they also ranch and he said shes a good hand so that's good. I may have to keep track of her and go see him this at a show.  Will miss the silly bugger although makes my life freeer and have many plans for this summer already in place :)

More Ponies and Crafting

Seems all I do these days is crafts.  I been crocheting of course, cant show my last make till next week as its a gift, but I also made a shawl and a sweater and a baby blanket.  Since I signed up for a craft sale in May I want a few things made up that I can have there,  Also gonna make some unicorn purses, some baskets, scrubbies, dishcloths, scrunchies and face cleaners.  Also gonna have some wood stuff there too.  Not sure what as there is still a 4 foot drift in front of my wood shop so its out of use for now. 

But its been -20 or colder everyday (except 1) since the first of February so I turned out Pally and I had planned for Rayne to go to the trainer on Feb 6th for a couple months, get started and going good so when its nice (ish) here in April I can ride out on her.  Well it was -34 when we were supposed to load and so I wimped out and we decided he wasn't doing much anyways so wait till the next week.  A little warmer, only -21 and Rayne was so good, shes kinda a pleaser anyways which helps a lot.  but shes only been loaded once before when I went to pick her up.  So I asked Neil if he would help and I brought Jessie too.  we walked up tot he trailer, I had shavings down and she thought she would eat them silly girl.  I could get her front feet in without even asking but she wouldn't take those last two steps and she just stood there.  I tried bribing her with cookies which I don't normally do but it was cold!  Anyways swung my lead rope and she backed out but no biggie, just walked front feet in and stood again, not worried just hanging out.  I was cold, Neil was cold and I finally said to Neil you have any ideas I don't know what to do.  and kinda just gave up.  Well up she hopped in.  So lots of scratches and there was a hay bag there too and we tied her up and closed the door.  All in all was only 15 minutes, I was surprised at that felt much longer.  Got there and we put her in the indoor arena to run around and she was excited to run without snow and ice everywhere it was funny.  He said he does that a lot then they can check out everything and its not a scary new place when he takes them in there.  We visited a while then I headed home and got home before dark and turned out Jess.  Got an update the other day, they did say I can ask but I don't wanna bug them everyday, well I sorta do but trying not too.  He said she was pushy and tried to run him over which I knew she definitely did try that here too but he said shes coming along pretty good. 

(Dixon and Huck)

(Rayne and Jessie)

(George, Jax, Nita, Razz)

(Huck and Dixon)

Otherwise just feeding colts and trying to stay warm.  And started up paint class again, started with something fun Luigi :)

OOH My Aching Back

Well started on my log pillows, probly would be done except I run out of wool.  The pattern said one ball of natural but I was suspicious when it said 3 balls make a scarf, hmm and one will make a pillow?  Well I got about 12 inches and they want 17 to cover the pillow form so I will add more wool when I can find some.  The Fields in Hanna usually carries it but they were out from Christmas haven't restocked yet. 

(double crochet with single crochet edge, I really like this one)

(half double crochet in ecru and then the spirals from the end of the log, 

figured I should practice a pattern so I made a couple coasters)

(my logs, the reason I learned to crochet)

(this made me think of a bowl, so much so I wanna make bowls

 but I also found a cool basket that I might do too)

(not quite long enough :( )

I also have some baby yarn that I have no idea where it came from.  Neil says I won it in a poker game lol.  But I asked my mom and she thinks 2 balls will make a baby blanket so since a neighbor is having a baby in April I will make one for her. 

(its super soft, I wish I had enough for a blanket for me)

Started paint classes again, this time we get to pick a picture we wanna paint and she will help us through it while also working on a couple other projects like the parrot this week and we are also gonna do a self portrait.

(mines the third one,

 I love the palms

 I don't think mine would look like that but I need some kind of background)

And it sounds like I am gonna have a lot more time to crochet in the next few weeks and my chiro is pretty sure I injured a disc.  He kinda thought last time but now he says its healing way slower than a joint/muscle should so he thinks its a disc.  Which he said heal fine 98% of the time they just take a long time.  Not what I wanted to hear but I guess not much I can do about it except rest and heat and small easy activity. 

(my Chiro gave me this card for this guy he's really good at picking out your weak spots and strengthening them, 

I think I will call him but not for a while as I need to heal first)

I went swimming Monday and that felt really good, better if the hot tub was working but still nice to float with no weight on the spine.  They have renovated the pool and now its deep almost all over cause they built a toddler area (that noone was using while we were there).  I wish they woulda left 2 lanes shallo so we could walk still that was great back therapy.  We used water belts but they just are not the same.  Might have to actually swim when I can.

(its cold out but at least its pretty)

(view out the bedroom window, I love those bushes/trees)

Chiro and Horses and Crocheting

Well here is the offending item that put my back out

(yes that little bag of bows, was trying to put away Christmas)

Went to the chiropractor yesterday and he sees me walk in and looks at my back and says he still wants to be friends after this.  Well I knew it wasn't gonna be good lol.  He wasn't too bad, used his hammer on the backs of my knees and my lower back and a bit higher too then put the hips back in (that wasn't that fun)  Still sore but less intense pain its just sore muscles now that need to relax.  I go back tomorrow and I think maybe that's all for a while.  I only went 7 times last year that's gotta be a record thought i was doing pretty good.  Till this.  I also asked him about the weird clicking noises and he says on the outside of hips and I said mostly he said there is actually a name for them called clicking hip syndrome.  Its when the tendons slide over the hip back into place, especially loud on tight muscles.  Not much I can do about it either, and its not bad or good it just is.  But now I know.

The weather had warmed up beautifully here was +4 today and melting :)  Still was inside but its nice to know I could go out haha.  Saw the last of the ponies come running up this morning, not sure why they were behind but I like watching them.  Can always tell Razz even if shes just a shadow cause shes always loping in, everyone else walks or trots in.  Speaking of Razz I am in the 12 week challenge on Facebook again with her gotta get 30 rides, 40 hours horsemanship all within the next 12 weeks, starts Sunday, hope I'm up for that then.

(Razz coming in, I'm in the house then the new cows and behind them the winter horse pasture)

(I knew it was her :) )

(Rayne and Easy coming in slowly behind Razz)

I been crocheting to pass the time, its kinda fun learning new stuff and making way too many dishcloths lol but I only have cotton wool to practice with and not sure what else I can make with it.

(the single and double crochet ones)

(the patterned one from today with blue double crochet and ecru single crochet)

Winter, Sigh

Not much going on here now.  Its winter we had about 6 inches of snow and its still here 3 weeks later.  I'm about sick of it.  I really need to do something about being stuck here all winter.  I make plans every year and think it will be fine.  But its not.  I hate being stuck inside and I cant go outside when its that cold cause I can't breathe.

(but we have partridges and they don't seem to mind the cold. 

 Or the grain Neil spills)

Paint class has been fun, we got one more class and then its over, I think she is starting up again in January and I will go then as well.  Might as well as I am just starting to like my pictures.  Also been going to craft nights at the library and that is good too, nice to get out and see a different crowd.

(we did trees, mine is the right side and I hate the round trees, otherwise its cool)

(Ha I painted this on the table, looks better than any canvas I have painted)

(and the latest one, still working on it)

Otherwise horses are turned out and will be probly till February or March now cause its so miserable already and I can't see it changing a whole lot.  Which sucks.  I tried to find a boarding barn nearby I could ride but no where within an hour and a half.  I could haul but when the high is -15 I have no desire to its just work.

(yay out!  Pally, Rayne and Jax)

(George and Jess making a run for it)

(Nita Razz and Easy last out)

(kinda weird having 8 horses out there, almost overwhelming)

Cows are all weaned, we are feeding already even though its way to early, we are gonna have to buy more feed.  Calves are all sold and in their new homes, we did something different this year and sold them ahead of time and it seemed to work OK, was nice no need to order trucks they just showed up. Even though they were about 40 pounds heavier than we guessed at.   Bulls are home and being a pest, specially when the gate is left open and they wander around the yard.  We are looking at buying cows again and sales are on Saturdays so hopefully sometime soon we will have a bunch of new ones.

Me and Jess and Neil and George helpin the neighbor)

(our heifer calves)

(the steers)

Our local craft sale in on Friday and so I have a bunch of jams and bath items and a few sewing and wood projects as well.  I'm hoping to sell out but I doubt that's possible haha.  Oh well gave me something to work on, although I wish I could use my woodshop more but its too cold in there cause when I work I gotta have the door open.  Another item for my wish list.  I did get business cards and they are so cool!  I really love them haha and I got a car magnet cause it was super cheap at checkout. 

Riding and Riding

Well its fall. I should remember every year that October is always a busy month but somehow I seem to forget.  We are well into weaning  although I think we are the last this year.  We hauled cows home from the community pasture, I took Razz and she stumbled and fell into some brush part way into the ride and something must have got caught in the cinch/breastcollar area and it rubbed her.  I didn't notice and she come home with a pretty big sore spot. I felt pretty bad for her afterwards.  I kinda was unsure of taking her cause we been working on so much stuff and she really wasn't ready and now I worry I set back with her again.  Well I have all winter I guess.

(up early to be there by 8)

(we found cows)

(got them in mostly)

(Her favorite treat, yard grass)

(my breast collar fix after our stumble it broke. 

 I was surprised it held, guess those saddle strings had a use after all)

Then I helped the neighbors preg check her cows that was a good day, weather was so perfect and cows worked really well.  And we hauled home from the Stettler place and that worked pretty well too, except we hired a guy with a stock trailer to haul some calves and he charged just as much as a liner.  We sure won't be getting him again.  Might as well hire a liner and we won't haul any.

(someone was here and started a fire in one of the good buildings)

(the house up there, not too liveable anymore)

(so I stole a piece of the chimney flue think I may have a spot for it in the garden)

(the coal mine digger is pretty close to the road)

(they built this special giant culvert/tunnel 

so the coal trucks go over top and don't interrupt traffic)

I also had another paint night and we did greyscale paintings,  not sure I love mine but I did get the shapes and colors in, just the details are not right.  She wants me to do another one this week, so hopefully I will feel up to it tomorrow or Friday.

(she musta liked our day as she wanted to hang with me 

instead of the herd that run out to the pasture. 

 This pic reminds me that yes she is orange lol)

And Neil went to one neighbor yesterday and I went to another and both those worked well too, this warm weather is pretty nice.  Was 23*C yesterday.  I took Jess and we gathered and sorted off horseback it worked well.  Then after lunch I wasn't feeling very good and I think I have the flu.  Good thing we don't have to help anyone till Sunday, hope I feel better by then.