Ridin' and Stitchin'!?

Freestate Awards Banquet

2009-01-10T22:52:00.004-05:00

Well, we've just gotten back from my awards banquet...and BOY did I have a GREAT TIME!!! I don't think I've been this excited about anything in a while. Benjamin and I ended up getting a 3rd in Beginner Equitation, a 4th in Pleasure, and a GOLD MEDAL for the medal's class I did in September. On top of all that the girls had a blast dancing and running around the dance floor like two little nuts.

Here are just a few pics, of the festivities!

This one is of me and other medal winners...I'm on the right in the red.

And this one is of me almost taking out my youngest, while I was "attempting" to do the Electric Slide.

First Finish of 2009

2009-01-09T22:20:00.002-05:00

Well, I was able to polish a piece tonight while I was watchin' TV. Take a look!! Actually, I'm "hoping" to make it a two-fer. I've got a piece by Little House Needleworks, called the Needlebook that I've got just about finished. The only thing that I have to do is to run a blanket stitch around the edge add a button and I'm done with that one. But, we'll see how things go with that one.

In any case, here's Flying Monkeys by Glory Bee.

The Freestate Gazette

2009-01-04T19:17:00.000-05:00

Make a Smilebox greeting

ABSOLUTELY USELESS!!!!

2009-01-04T16:52:00.002-05:00

Ok, I just need to share this with everyone because this just has me SOOOO pissed off.

For Christmas we got my youngest a new "big girl" bike. Well, her first attempt went pretty much as planned, we ran along side her while she tried peddling. So, we got her a pair of training wheels...why we didn't buy them when we bought the bike I couldn't tell you. But, in any case we have them now. So, I ask my DH to put them on this afternoon so I could take the girls out for a ride. Well, because the STUPID football games were on he was in a rush and didn't put them on correctly. So, my poor little girl had nothing but issues trying to just peddle her bike. And after I finally got her home after having to replace the training wheel twice the only thing he could say was "I'll look at it later." Which has just sent my blood pressure OVER THE LIMIT!!! Right now, all I can say it that I will be HAPPY when football season is OVER!!! Honestly, I should take the training wheels and throw them through the TV!!!

ARGH!!!!!!

This and That

2008-12-27T22:40:00.002-05:00

Well, I've decided to turn my Teacher's piece into a wall hanging. I went out the other day and bought the fabric, now I just need to get it cut and sewn together. Which didn't happen today : ) I was down at the farm having some away from home/me time!!! And let me just say it was WONDERFUL!!! I groomed Snikkers up and down..now she doesn't look like a unloved horse anymore. Then I walked around the farm taking pictures of everyone...I'll add those in later. Let's see then I got Benjamin out cleaned him up some...he didn't really need much because I've had him blanketed the last couple of weeks. And in taking with a friend of mine, I got roped (not really) into taking a lesson. Which to tell you the truth I needed!! My trainer kicked my ASS!! It's been hours and my knees are still bothering me, Lord knows what tomorrow morning is going to be like : )

After I got home, had a shower, and ate dinner (provided by McKayla) I was able to sit down and do a little finishing work on my LittleHouse Needlebook. Everything came together quite nicely, all I have to do is the blanket stitching around the edges. Do a little cording and a button and I'll be finished.

Creative BLOCK!!!

2008-12-13T21:18:00.003-05:00

Well, I think I've finally finished my Christmas shopping today...at least the family should be done. I do know that I need to find 2 Teacher gifts. Tonight, while I was looking for a new project to start, I found an old finished Lizzie Kate piece that I'd done a year ago. Now, I just need to think of a way to finish it. I had thought about trying a no sew cube, which looks pretty easy. But, I would feel more comfortable having some directions in front of me. My biggest worry is messing up my stitching trying to get things put together : )

Worse comes to worse, I'll be making a run up to the Stitching Post to find something.

So much goin' on...

2008-11-30T19:51:00.003-05:00

Well, it has been a very busy couple of months!! Let's see what have I been doin'..honestly, its been more crazy at work then at home. So, much so that I've really thought about finding another job. But, after talking with my boss I've decided to give it another 6 months and then re-evaluate. If things settle down, I'll more then likely stay, but if not....then I'm walkin'.

And you know the biggest thing that has been keeping me sane, is my riding and stitching!! THANK GOD FOR HOBBIES!!! With all that was going on and in my effort of have some "me" time. I decided to branch out and take up quilting. Its been something that I've always wanted to try. Then about a month and a half ago, I was talking with one of the ladies at Church about wanting to learn. Then low and behold she got me hooked up with a really nice quilting shop just around the corner from my house. How cool is that.....well actually its DANGEROUS!! : )

I've attached a picture of my very first quilt....please go easy on me with the comments : ) I will say that overall, I had a good time putting everything together. But, you know its funny I was TOTALLY terrified of my rotating cutter at first. And it wasn't the cutter itself; though it will definitely remove a finger if you're not careful. It was more messing up on cutting the fabric, and true its just fabric and I could always buy more. But, after you've already spent a small fortune the last thing you want to do is go and buy more. Well, once I got over that getting everything assembled was pretty therapeutic. I'm not quite to the level of it being second nature, but I'm coming along.

In any case here is my debut of my Yellow Brick Road...and before anyone says anything yes I know its not all yellow ; ) This quilt was meant to be what they call a "scrappy" quilt.

My FINAL show of the season!!!

2008-10-22T10:56:00.005-04:00

Well, I had my last show of the season last weekend and overall we didn't do overly well. But, we did get a first place in Sr. Combined Trail which was pretty big. Especially, since we had to back through an L shape on the ground. Not to mention, that he doesn't back up very well. That is still a work in progress : )

We'll see come January how we did for the season as a whole....hopefully it'll be good!! I'm keeping my fingers crossed. If anything I know I'm at least getting something for winning the medals class back in September.

For now, I'm hoping to get in some trail riding before it gets to cold. But, we'll see how the schedule plays out : )

CRAZY Week!!!

2008-10-03T21:43:00.004-04:00

Well, after an EXTREMELY crazy week. I can honestly say that I was at least able to get something pretty big things accomplished. The biggest thing was that I had a MAJOR server go weird on me and I was able to bring it back to life. SUPER HUGE for me!! It meant a lot of late nights and stressful days. It was so bad that I haven't been down to see my ponies at all this week. But, I was able to volunteer in Krista's classroom and have lunch with her today. Which just lit that little girl up, which in turn made my day a little less stressful. You know there are times when I wish I was a teacher instead of a Systems Administrator!! The money would be as good, but at least I would have a fulfilling day!! Anyway, that rant could go on for hours if I get started ; )

Then the other thing was that I was able to FINISH my Enchanted Alphabet by LnL!!!!! I've slowly been widdling away at it until tonight I was FINALLY able to get it done!? I just totally excited about it!!! Once, I find my camera I'll get some pictures posted.

Well, Good Night for now!!!

More Pics.....

2008-09-22T20:11:00.002-04:00

Here are some more pictures.......

Freestate Horse Show - 20Sep08

2008-09-22T20:03:00.003-04:00

Well, I did it!! I actually won my FIRST medals class!! I was sooooo thrilled with the boy that I pretty much floated home from the show. Actually, I'm still floating : )

This whole horse showing thing, has just been THE BEST thing I've done in awhile. And what's more important is that I'm actually having FUN with it. Before I was just one big huge ball of nerves, now I'm relaxed and just flat enjoying myself.

So, here's to Mr. Benjamin!!! You the MAN!!!

And just to let everyone know, I'm on the left and my friend Tina and her horse Spec are on the right.

Hospital Adventures...

2008-09-11T19:49:00.003-04:00

Well, Carol B. and I decided to stop by AAMC and visit with Ms. Beth for awhile. And we had a MARVELOUS time...though I will admit that I didn't get that much stitching done. Mainly, because we were also watching PS, I Love You. But, it didn't really matter we still had fun : )

Doin' Homework......

2008-09-10T17:45:00.002-04:00

Well, I was able to finally get some pictures loaded onto the page. While, McKayla and Krista were doing there homework. Which can I just say is ready to make me NUTS!!!!!

Anyway, back to the pictures. They're not much but at least it jazzs the page up a bit.

Gettin' it together.....

2008-09-09T20:24:00.002-04:00

Well, I’m slowly starting to get into the whole "blogging" thing. I think I'm having way too much fun adding gadgets and things, then anything else. I'm still trying to figure out how to add "blinkies", but that will come....hopefully one of my friends will give me a nudge : )

Today, I decided that I was going to take a "mental health" day because I just couldn't face my office today. I had worked over the weekend, and I just couldn’t do it today. So, after I got the young'uns off to school, I parked my butt on the couch and started stitchin’ on my Enchanted Alphabet by Lavender and Lace. I’ve been working on this piece for awhile I am TRYING to get it completed by Christmas. Which I really think, if I can get myself in a groove with it, I can get it done. After stitching through the movie Miami Vice I had had enough of stitching. For some reason, I just lost my interest..again.

Well, about that time my husband Keith started telling me about a new cache that had just been released today. For those who don't know what Geocaching is, it’s basically where you go out to various locations and find things that people have hidden. "Normally", it’s a lot of fun but today it was just flat frustrating. Let me set the scene for you, just so you can get the feel. The first cache that we tried for was located in a new business park on the side of a hill. And when I say hill, I mean it was a hill with about a 45 degree slope. Well, just to make things interesting when we got out of the car, it started to sprinkle. Which really wasn’t that big of a deal, but after I fell on my butt going down the hill my enthusiasm started to….dwindle. It started going down further, after about 30 minutes searching all around ground zero or at least what we thought was ground zero. Anyway, I had started back up the hill when I looked up and saw someone watching us. Well, THANKFULLY, it turned out to be another Geocacher; MammaDuck.

I thought surely the 3 of us could find this ever lovin’ thing….WRONG!! We searched for another 30-ish minutes to only come up empty handed. As we wondered back up to the parking lot, we started talking about this and that when MammaDuck asked if we wanted to go and try for a few others around the corner. I said sure, because I didn’t want the day to be a total wash. So, off we went to Arundel Mills and cache #2. Well, within two minutes we had SUCCESS!! Which, did a lot to turn around my mood. Now, I know what you all are thinking…”why??” The best I can say is that Geocaching is a lot like working a puzzle. Once, you start you just have finish : ) If any of you are curious, about the whole Geocaching thing you can go to: www.geocaching.com You will be surprised by what you find. I know I was the first time!!

Ok, I’m going to go and find my usb cable so I can start downloading some pictures!!!