June 26 was probably my fourth Starter Trials Horseshow at Waredaca. So far, I have not won a ribbon of any sort. Cathy is beginning to wonder what's with me. We got to the place, walked the XC course, watched some of the stadium course, then got ready for my dressage test.
Warm-up was great - left bend was almost perfect. However, once in the official ring to ride the test, the left bend was not as well as I had hoped. Got through the test, then got ready to warm up for stadium jumping. Jumping warm-up was good, too. I even remembered the course, so I went in; pushed Bella forward (because that's what Cathy told me to do) and used leg, leg and more leg. We went clean! Yay. After that we made our way to the XC course. Bella was so excited she was jigging almost all the way to the start box. I could not put her in the box until 10seconds to go. She won't stay in the box because she get's very excited. We charged out of the box at a canter! She really was feeling good. We went over the first jump with no problem, second jump was good; third, fourth, fifth and sixth jumps were clean. The seventh jump was a little uphill and we had a bit of a problem "going forward". Bella hit her hind feet on the jump, but we made it. We charged forward to the eighth jump and made that clean. Boy, I was exhausted!
On the way back to the trailer Bella got slower and slower. We almost didn't make it; she put out her all for the jumping and had little energy left.
I took my pinney back and looked at the preliminary scores; I was in fifth place! Woohoo! I might get a ribbon. In the end I was tied for fifth place, but since it was the first time I actually got a ribbon, I was very, very happy.
No falls, no poles knocked down, no circling at the XC jumps. For me, this was a fairly perfect show.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Countdown to Birthday and Horse Show
So, it's time for yet another birthday. Funny, it seems I just had one not too long ago, too. Cathy's birthday is today, so we are throwing a collective birthday BBQ on Saturday to celebrate. I believe she told me her daughter's birthday is the 25th; mine is the 24th. Lots of June babies.
I'm taking Friday off as a gift to myself. Who wants to be at work anyway on a Friday? I'll be going to COSTCO to get the burgers, hot dogs and buns and some things for the house. I'm also going to make a chocolate cake and a potato salad. This BBQ comes at a great time as I have to be out at the barn on Saturday to put my things in the trailer for a horse show on Sunday, pretty up Bella and her tack. No ride times have been posted, but probably won't see them until tomorrow.
Seeing as I am at the lower end of the difficulty level, I am thinking I won't be riding until later in the day. Let's hope that it won't be a too-early morning.
Knitting: I rushed to sew the fronts and back of my blue sweater together because I thought I had to pick up stitches to knit the button/buttonhole band. Well, found out after I put the pieces together, I have to knit 12 stitches in 1x1 rib, make a buttonhole every 3" or so, then continue until the piece is long enough to go around the front, back neck and the other front.
Still plugging away at my Penny Straker Aran sweater - last sleeve on the needles. I already put together the design for the fronts (i.e., copied all the different patterns and put them in the correct order), so I'll be ready to go when the sleeve is complete.
My Cranston coat is in progress, but only the lace and bobble part for the middle of the sweater (that goes around the waist). Slowly, but surely these items are getting finished.
Which reminds me, I have to get back to the jacket I was making that has leopard motif on it. Wonder when that will be....
I'm taking Friday off as a gift to myself. Who wants to be at work anyway on a Friday? I'll be going to COSTCO to get the burgers, hot dogs and buns and some things for the house. I'm also going to make a chocolate cake and a potato salad. This BBQ comes at a great time as I have to be out at the barn on Saturday to put my things in the trailer for a horse show on Sunday, pretty up Bella and her tack. No ride times have been posted, but probably won't see them until tomorrow.
Seeing as I am at the lower end of the difficulty level, I am thinking I won't be riding until later in the day. Let's hope that it won't be a too-early morning.
Knitting: I rushed to sew the fronts and back of my blue sweater together because I thought I had to pick up stitches to knit the button/buttonhole band. Well, found out after I put the pieces together, I have to knit 12 stitches in 1x1 rib, make a buttonhole every 3" or so, then continue until the piece is long enough to go around the front, back neck and the other front.
Still plugging away at my Penny Straker Aran sweater - last sleeve on the needles. I already put together the design for the fronts (i.e., copied all the different patterns and put them in the correct order), so I'll be ready to go when the sleeve is complete.
My Cranston coat is in progress, but only the lace and bobble part for the middle of the sweater (that goes around the waist). Slowly, but surely these items are getting finished.
Which reminds me, I have to get back to the jacket I was making that has leopard motif on it. Wonder when that will be....
Friday, June 17, 2011
Work Week is Over, However...
The work week will be over in 1 hour, 30 minutes, not that I'm counting. However, tomorrow I may have to take Dave's father to see his mother at the Rehab Center for only a short while, then take him home, then drive to Cathy's to go cross country schooling for my horse show next Sunday. It's going to be a long day tomorrow. Then, Sunday I have a riding lesson in the a.m., and possibly have to take Dave's father, again, to the rehab center.
The wheels are turning well regarding Dave's mother going home. They are interviewing caregivers, someone will be over during the weekend to assess the house and what needs to be done to make it wheelchair safe.
Went outside and ran today. Wasn't too bad; the weather was getting warmer as I ran (duh!); Now, I'm ready for a nap, but for some strange reason, my firm frowns upon one sleeping at her desk. For the life of me I can't figure that one out. A powernap is all I need to get through the day.
Lunch was a shrimp salad with a bit of dill in it. I should have put a little bit more, but I didn't want to take any chances and have it so overpowering that I couldn't eat it. Rest of lunch: watermelon, carrot, green papper, cucumber, and celery with hummus. Lunch's dessert: yogurt with apple and honey. Definitely need that power nap, now.
Hopefully, we will go out to dinner tonight. Not sure where, but it beats cooking.
The wheels are turning well regarding Dave's mother going home. They are interviewing caregivers, someone will be over during the weekend to assess the house and what needs to be done to make it wheelchair safe.
Went outside and ran today. Wasn't too bad; the weather was getting warmer as I ran (duh!); Now, I'm ready for a nap, but for some strange reason, my firm frowns upon one sleeping at her desk. For the life of me I can't figure that one out. A powernap is all I need to get through the day.
Lunch was a shrimp salad with a bit of dill in it. I should have put a little bit more, but I didn't want to take any chances and have it so overpowering that I couldn't eat it. Rest of lunch: watermelon, carrot, green papper, cucumber, and celery with hummus. Lunch's dessert: yogurt with apple and honey. Definitely need that power nap, now.
Hopefully, we will go out to dinner tonight. Not sure where, but it beats cooking.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Interesting Weather We're Having
For the past three days the high temps have been no more than 82-85; after last week's 95-100 temps, plus humidity, this is very delightful. I went running on Monday at lunch time and on the way back, a young man asked if I had a good run. I said, at my age, it's amazing I made it up the hill. He said, You're what? 35? I laughed at him and almost fell down because of the tears running out of my eyes because I couldn't see where I was going! Apparently, he needs glasses badly. I told him, No, I'm 62, and then I ran like hell. If he was being kind, it was very nice of him; if he was serious, he needs professional help.
I'm going to run outside today, as well, since our weather is sunny and only a high of 82.
The doctor has said that Dave's mother can go home, but she will need 24-hour care. Not sure exactly when she will go home, but Dave is working with the health-care provider to get things started.
My Penny Straker sleeve is coming along nicely; slowly, but nicely. The blue sweater has been blocked; now I have to sew the back to the fronts and sew the button band and the back band onto the sweater. If only I could get my rear end off the couch after dinner and do this, I would be so much further along.
Saturday I will take Dave's father to see his mother at the nursing home for a short visit, then I have to take him home, and then drive to Mt. Airy from Rockville to my riding instructor's farm for a Cross-Country Schooling lesson. One of the other riders is going with me, so that helps defray the costs of the trailering, etc.
Horse show is June 26, so have to get in some jumping to make sure I'm being safe and won't hurt myself. Then, Sunday a.m. is a dressage lesson. I better refresh myself on the test so I don't get eliminated because I forgot what to do.
Well, you can't read this, but there it is.
I'm going to run outside today, as well, since our weather is sunny and only a high of 82.
The doctor has said that Dave's mother can go home, but she will need 24-hour care. Not sure exactly when she will go home, but Dave is working with the health-care provider to get things started.
My Penny Straker sleeve is coming along nicely; slowly, but nicely. The blue sweater has been blocked; now I have to sew the back to the fronts and sew the button band and the back band onto the sweater. If only I could get my rear end off the couch after dinner and do this, I would be so much further along.
Saturday I will take Dave's father to see his mother at the nursing home for a short visit, then I have to take him home, and then drive to Mt. Airy from Rockville to my riding instructor's farm for a Cross-Country Schooling lesson. One of the other riders is going with me, so that helps defray the costs of the trailering, etc.
Horse show is June 26, so have to get in some jumping to make sure I'm being safe and won't hurt myself. Then, Sunday a.m. is a dressage lesson. I better refresh myself on the test so I don't get eliminated because I forgot what to do.
Well, you can't read this, but there it is.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
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