Spring came....and then left.

Apparently last week was the only bit of spring we'll get to see.  It snowed 3" last night and is going to be 9°F on Wednesday evening this week!

It's the middle of March.  Somebody needs to update mother nature.  She obviously thinks it's still January.

>:-(

No horsey time this weekend.  I stuck to inside projects.  The stainless chimney we had installed a year and a half ago is finally getting a "hearth" around the base where it passes through the floor in the sun room.  Up until now, there's just been a hole where the square brick chimney used to be.

Hole in the floor, looking down into the basement

2x4 framing that will support the plywood

Plywood that will support the Cement Board and ultimately the tiles

This is as far as I got on Saturday.  Once I can go get the cement board, I'll be able to put the rest of the base together and then pick out the tiles that we want to use to create the "hearth" around the chimney. 

I started weight lifting back in December (used to lift in my 20's) and happened to take some photos  last January, after a month and a half of lifting.  Well, I took another set of photos last night after 3 1/2 months of lifting 3 days a week and I think I see some progress happening!  I'm definitely feeling stronger. :)  My goal is to be able to bench press 90-100 lbs, 2 sets of 10 reps.  Right now I'm comfortable with 60lbs at those reps, although I did try 80lbs the other day and was able to squeak out 5 reps.  Got a ways to go, but it's fun, so I don't mind!





January 2015



March 2015

Building muscle is crazy fun!

So now it's Monday again and we're faced with another *entire* week before the next weekend. :-/  Hopefully the weather will cooperate and I'll get some horse time.  I think this is the longest stretch I've ever gone without riding Daatje, 11 weeks and counting.  I just have no interest in risking her slipping on the trail or getting hit by a car on the snow bank encumbered roads.  So, we wait.  I lift.  She eats.  Spring will come.  Eventually.  It has to.

 

Oooh, ooh.....my Region 8 Omnibus finally showed up!  Time to start picking out which dressage show's we'll attend this season.  I'm thinking anything earlier than June will be too soon!!! :o

 





The harness fits!

I absolutely love the way this new Camptown Harness fits Daatje.  It's so nice to have something that actually works for her!

I took her out for a line yesterday, first time wearing the closed bridle in a long time.  Nothing phased her, which is amazing as this was also the first time she's been off the property since January 1st!

The styling on this breastcollar takes the weight off the neck strap and puts it back on the saddle.  Very neat!
 

Helloooo down there.

One of these is not like the others!

I'm so looking forward to getting her to pull weight again.  We have to wait until the snow shrinks some more though!  It's still really deep and the temps are just not warming up like they should this time of year.

Happy Birthday Daatje!

Saturday, 2/28/2015, marked Daatje's 14th birthday.  So hard to believe we've been together for 14 years!  Where has the time gone.  I can remember the warm August day that I brought her home.  The subsequent work in hand....taking her to open shows, showing in the horse colts and fillies classes.

Getting her started on the lunge, in the lines and eventually under saddle....

Her first outing under saddle at the Greater Manchester Horse Show, walk/trot pleasure, May of 2005 (she was only 4!)

 

Our championship at the NEFHC Classic, Walk Trot the following year.

Our first Dressage show as a 5 year old.

Taking dressage lessons from one of the best in the area, the 2006-2007 winter we spent at Rosebrook Farm in Georgetown, MA.

 

Discovering Foxhunting in 2008!

After 7 years of focusing on foxhunting, we re-discovered Dressage in 2014.

 

 

And this year........pursuing work in harness. :)  How fitting that her new harness would arrive the day before her birthday!  It's just gorgeous!  I cannot wait to try it on her and get her out and working in it.  Perhaps this coming weekend it will be warm enough!

 

We have to wait for this crap to melt though, before we can do any serious work.  This winter has been a pisser!

Daatje snoozing in the sun, the morning of her birthday