Birthday Cat Tails

Monday was my birthday.  I sang to myself.  Okay...just kidding, but you surely recall that I sing to all of my horses.  Here, here and here.  So it really only seemed right that I would serenade myself...but I didn't.  I wanted to...but I didn't.  I mean I really wanted to, but I held strong.  Phew.

We did have a little party at the farm on Sunday with a few close friends...it was perfect.  And in true amazing man fashion, Mark cut some gorgeous cat tails from our marsh to decorate the porch.  They are lovely...and I had a great time playing with the images on my new Mac.  Check 'em out!

Hostas-a-plenty

One thing we are not deficient in is hostas.  We have PLENTY!  And this year they seemed to be in bloom overload.  Not only are they gorgeous, but they smell amazing.  Sort of like honeysuckle.  Just the right breeze brings the scent up to the house.  Nature's air freshener.

Pretty Purple

In a previous post I mentioned how nature fascinates me. The colors especially.  How gorgeous are these?  A lovely pop of color to welcome me home.  Makes the mortgage totally worth it.

Peek-a-boo

She sees you!

Framed

To say I am enjoying my new Mac is a complete understatement.  I still don't know why it's taken me so long to 'come to the other side'...but I think cost had a little bit to do with it.  Luckily I have a very generous man who was okay selling me (super duper uper buper cheap) his old Mac.  (which is still pretty darn new).

The new Mac came complete with Photoshop and I have been having a blast learning the program.  My first foray into Macdom was learning to frame my photos.  I hope my debut attempt refreshes you...something about this image made me say "ahhhhhhhhhhh" and want to run to get wool socks.

Interesting Dogwood Raspberries

Nature fascinates me.  The shapes, sizes and process of growth.  These funny little guys appeared on our Dogwood trees in the front yard.  They look like raspberries...funny little dogwood raspberries.  Neat!

Billy in a Bag

You remember Billy in a Box?  Well...Billy is impartial if nothing else.  Billy loves bags too. 

Better late than never

Several (and by several I mean a LONG time ago) weeks ago, I bought a Topsy Turvy.  What can I say...the advertising won me over.  I fell for it.  Hard. 

It sat in the box for several (see above parenthesis) weeks.  Then...by the luck of all that is farming and good, we had a friend donate a tomato plant to the farm.  It sat in my kitchen for several (you get the idea) weeks before I was able to get up the nerve to plant it in my new Topsy Turvy. 

I have been watering religiously...daily.  I swear Mom!  And my hard work has paid off.  We have tomatoes.  Just a few little guys, but we have tons of flowers which indicates (according to what everyone tells me) that more tomatoes are on their way.  (I sure hope the cantaloupe doesn't tip them off)

Knock Knock. Who's there? Cantaloupe. Cantaloupe who?

Can't elope tonight...I gotta work in the morning.  Ahahahhaah.  Okay...stupid.  But it's one of my favorite knock knock jokes.  Second only to the banana knock knock.  I'll save that one for another time. 

Back to my cantaloupe.  You may remember when we first thought we had watermelons.  Then I had to embarrassingly admit they were cantaloupes.  Woops.  Well...over this past weekend...I plucked our first cantaloupe off the vine. 

Hello my scrumptious little beauty.  What?  What's that in my hand?  Never you mind.  I promise this will be painless.

See...that wasn't so bad was it?

Huh?  What?  Oh  no...this won't hurt either.  Promise. 

Hate to tell him...his brother just came off the vine last night.  He's sitting on the counter now.  Shhhhhhh...

Dare I say?

It is OFFICIAL.  Now I just need to get on the stick and promote.  I don't think that will be difficult for me.  I love this work and am so excited to share the power of the horse with people in need. 

Check it out!

http://www.themeadowcreekfarm.com/

Whewhooooooooo!!!!!

See a pattern?

Mowing essentials...by Tree

My mowing attire is odd, but essential.

1. Straw hat to shield my face from the sun.  No premature aging for me...no way.
2. Cool protective eyewear that I stole (I mean borrowed) from Mark to keep my eyes safe from flying debris.
3. iPod Nano...to muffle the mower sound and keep me beebopping along. 
4. Halter top to discourage weird tan lines.  Even though I wear SPF 50, I still get tan. 
   
   
   
   
   
   

Billy-in-a-Box

Recently Mark bought a new laptop computer.  It came in a really cool box.  Billy thinks we bought the box for him...the computer was a detail that he was not concerned with.  He loves the cool head rests that came standard on this new box.  Worth every penny Mark paid for that expensive computer.  At least that's what Billy thinks. 

Another project...complete!

Last night I was able to finish up the installation of my new riding ring.  I love it!  So simple...so functional and so ready to have horses worked in it.  (Hmmmmm...maybe that's why they kept trying to steal my hammer.) 

Horses will enter here...by unhooking the spring gates. 

Humans can easily enter and exit here...via our zig zag gate.

I am so proud of this ring...we were able to use left over posts and the added materials (insulators, electric tape and spring gates) only cost us another $50.  Sweet!

Tree Hugger

CB is getting used to farm life.  She has recently learned that the birds that eat from my Suet Cakes on the porch 'eventually' fly into the tree and rest.  Hey...if the birds won't come to you, you must go to the birds.  Luckily for us (and the birds) she has yet to catch one.  Lucky for her, she's an excellent climber. 

I adore him.

I really, really, really do.  He's my Buddy.  My buddy.  Buddy Bud Bud Bud Buddy.  (sshhhhh...don't tell Mark)

Riding Ring...Goin' in

I plan to start my side business full tilt in September.  I built a website and am sitting with my finger on the button to launch it later this month.  It's work that I am very excited about and have been itching to do.  I plan to help children learn by using horses.  I will receive my certification in October for Equine Assisted learning. 

I also hope to teach basic horsemanship to new horse owners and people that have always wanted to learn about horses, but don't really want to spend gobs of money on private lessons or spend an hour in a class full of 8 year olds.  (not that there's anything wrong with 8 year olds perse)

Mark and I have been readying the farm for this new endeavor and began building a riding ring on Sunday.  This riding ring will serve many purposes.  Along with giving current boarders a place to safely work their horses it will give me a place where I can work with new students and clients privately and safely.  It's coming together nicely and phase one (sinking of the posts) is complete.  I am a great project manager. 

Mark dug the first hole.  He is a talented hole digger.

He is also a talented post air guitar player.  I'm so lucky to have him!

He even let me dig a few holes...I like digging holes.  Hole digging is something I like 'cause it's easy. 

All that is left to do is put up the insulators and electric tape.  Attach the charger.  Put up fence boards for the easy in and out.  Oh and MOW!  Those weeds are outta control!  Stay tuned!

Spotted Cheech?

Cheech is really a horse of a different color. (remember?  From Wizard of Oz?)  Well at least I think she is interested in changing colors.  I guess she read Cosmo and found out that polka dots are all the rage this year.  She has decided to add some to her wardrobe.  I kinda like 'em.

The End.