Boing! Boing! Boing!

Right now I feel like I am bouncing from one thing to another. I finished up the haversack orders and did some much needed house cleaning with Craig. When that was done, I started pulling models off the shelves that I am thinking of taking to the Clover City Show in June.

I prefer to bring 30 or fewer models, and I'm up to 20 already so I may need to do some paring down. Still, figuring out your show string is a fun task and I am enjoying myself.

Lisa had to run out of town as soon as school let out and we had Nash and Molly come stay overnight.

We love to have them come over - they are very personable and always make us laugh.

They have lots of FOMO, so you do need to be prepared to have a companion wherever you go, and I mean EVERYWHERE! (Yep, that's the bathroom Molly is entering.)

Lis got back to town Sunday morning. In the hustle of packing up leashes, bowls, and other doggie things, we realized we were late for Church. Lisa had to take the dogs home and would not be able to be there before the service was over, but Craig and I had time. We hopped into the car and headed off... 

... only for me to realize halfway there that in my rush, I'd forgotten to change my slippers for my sandals! Oh, well! My feet were VERY comfy at Church that day! Haha!

Summer is ratcheting up here in Indiana. There is a hay field at the edge of our neighborhood, and as we passed it on our way to Church, I noticed that it had had its first cutting of the season.

A flock of Canadian Geese that had wintered on our lake has been summering in the field and they took advantage of the insects and other edible things stirred up when the hay was cut.

But geese aren't the only water fowl that have joined our neighborhood for the summer. We have another family of aquatic birds living nearby.

A group of Mallards!

Part of Pepper's guide dog training was to not bark at or chase other animals, and she doesn't, but she sure was interested in this pair early this morning. She tagged along behind them until they went to the neighbor's yard. (She's also trained to stay in our yard.)

One of them even flew up to our neighbor's roof! Seeing a duck on the top of a roof is more than a bit unexpected!

Like I said, I feel like I am bouncing all over with things to do. And when I need a break, it's good to sit down with my new favorite flavor of ice cream, one my family suggested I try.

I am a Vanilla Coke girl through and through, but this Dr. Pepper Float really does taste like a Dr. Pepper Float. It is now  Lynn's Official Ice Cream of Summer, 2023!!

"Have a Nice Summer, Miss I! (And Horses!)

Lisa's last day of school was Thursday. It was a busy day, and Pepper and I came into her classroom for students to read to her. (As a reward for meeting personal reading goals, students can earn a "Pepper Pass"  and read to Pepper.)

Which essentially means petting and playing with Pepper while they tell me about their own pets.

Many kids make cards for their teacher or bring a small gift on the last day, and Lisa's students were generous as well as thoughtful.

One student brought two carrots for her to give to Abby and the herd. Two would not go very far among five horses but I could easily add in a few more.

And then I caught sight of the carrots. I don't think I've ever seen a carrot (let alone two) that big!

A fork next to them demonstrates that!

But this student wasn't stopping at two Jack and the Beanstalk sized carrots - a bag of peppermints was also heading out to the barn with those carrots! The horses are going to be thrilled!

Lisa has said all year long how sweet this class is and that was evident in this (and other) gifts that she received from them. No doubt she wished that she could have another year with them. But we will remember them and their thoughtfulness when Abby and her friends snarf down their unexpected goodies.

(Anybody have a good recipe for carrot cake?)

Changing Focus

Wondering what happened to my 18th century sewing? And why I'm not sharing what I am making for this year's Feast of the Hunters' Moon in October?

That's because I haven't made a thing since I went to Kalamazoo in mid March!

I came home from Michigan planning to take a bit of a sewing break, but the haversack orders began pouring in - show season was ramping up. I have been stitching ever since trying to finish them.

I wasn't too worried at first. There was plenty of time to get things made for the Feast. But suddenly two months had slid by and I realized that I had not started a single men's Voyageur shirt or lady's chemise! It was time to shift the focus of my sewing to historical garments.

I worked hard all week and hit my goal of completing all haversack orders by the end of Saturday.

All the custom orders are done, wrapped, and in the mail.

I am taking the Mercantile to Clover City Live in June and have cut out some haversacks to add to my sales stock (in case I have time to sew them), but the focus won't be solely on haversacks like it's been for the past two months.

I've enjoyed concentrating on sewing for models, but I am looking forward to switching to working on some period clothing. And Mountain Mama Jessica is coming out attend the Feast and help me - she chose the fabrics and patterns for her period clothing at Christmas and I'll need to sew those for her. 

Yep, it's time for me to get busy!

Mother's Day, 2023

Mother's Day was quiet but happy. I talked with my favorite people and had my favorite food on the grill - hot dogs!

Craig got me a long-needed laptop and the family called, sent cards, and made me fill very loved.

There were several things for Jolis Chevaux so I could make new beeswax ornaments. 

Lisa and I did some shopping for new pillows for the living room, getting hot dogs (YUM!) while we were at Sam's Club

and I was gifted a car wash, too!

There were flowers and cards as well, but best of all was chatting with my kids and their families. 

I am blessed.

Teaching a BreyerFest Workshop

I was thrilled when Breyer posted its virtual line-up of seminars for BreyerFest 2023. I could finally talk about mine! Seeing the description of my workshop and the photo of Lisa and me was the culmination of months of planning, preparing, and in the end, filming.

I wanted to share the news with my hobby friends, but Breyer asks all presenters to wait until they have posted their list of workshops before we share the news. It was difficult at times, but I've been keeping quiet since last October.

I did need help with filming. Craig, Lisa, Curt, and Vanessa could not help me for various reasons, so I did have to tell one person that I was teaching a workshop - Barn Buddy Kelsey. She is as trustworthy as they come and she, too, has been keeping quiet. 

Kelsey came over one Saturday and spent three hours filming as I taught and sewed. She also set up my new ring light for me. (Thank you, Kelsey!)

Not only was Pepper wanting to hang around with us as we worked, but Nash did, too. More than once they snuck into my sewing room and suddenly appeared on camera!

By the time we finished, there was nearly an hour of raw video - way too long for a workshop. I went through and cut a lot of extraneous material out and got it down to a half an hour and then sent it on to Jessica.

She LOVES to make videos and set them to music, but as she got into this project, there were some unexpected incompatibility issues. She ended up spending hours editing, with her husband Andrew stepping in occasionally to help or give her a break.  (Thank you both!)

The last thing to do to complete this project was to take some photos for Breyer to use to advertise the workshop. Lisa dropped by before school early one morning to help model two of the aprons I'd made for the workshop while Craig took the shots.

I sent several to Breyer and they selected this one.

This is the second virtual workshop I've done for Breyer. For BreyerFest 2022, Breyer asked me to teach in person at Kentucky Horse Park, but Breyer would've had to rent sewing machines for everyone in the workshop plus ironing boards, too. It just wasn't feasible. 

And since I am a classroom teacher (albeit retired) either virtual or live teaching are fine with me. I've done both. 

This project and volunteering for Breyer was "sew" much fun. I can't show anything else, but I do hope you will take some time to watch it during BreyerFest. And if you decide to make a show apron and need help. you know where to find me! 

 

Rightsizing: Oops!

 Second Post of the Day

Oops, I forgot to add something that was inside the box. Honestly, I did. 

And I have to admit, it may be a unicorn, but it is kinda cute, too!

 

Rightsizing: Inside the Box

 I had a suspicion that this would happen:

I understood; what horsey girl doesn't get excited when a box arrives?  

Just take a look at the happiness on Pony Pal Mila's face.

 

Candyman, one of Jennifer's carpet herd pieces. This is Mila's first saddle.  She loved it and the ribbon around his neck. Mila may change his name to Butterscotch.

Duchess, also with a neck ribbon, and a bucket chock full of goodies. (I think some halters and pots of flowers.)

A beribboned Johar - things that make Pony Pal Mila's eyes sparkle!

But Jennifer's generosity did not stop there. There were some dogs to be companions to Mila's horses and unicorns! (Sorry, no pics of those.)

A mailbox, trophies, even a doll rider! There's more, but I did not get photos of everything in the bag. (I may go out to Mila's home this weekend and take some more.)

Such an excited, lucky girl!

Now I want to get out my things and set up a pony palace, too!

Jennifer Buxton, you are wonderful and have made Pony Pal Mila (and her Grandmammy) very happy. I am still smiling!

Rightsizing: "One Big Pony Palace"

This is the model that I found at an antique shop.

This is the friend who wanted the model that I found at an antique shop.

This is the box of goodies that was sent by the friend who wanted the model that I found at the antique shop.

This is the girl who received the box of goodies that was sent by the friend who wanted the model that I found at an antique shop.

This is the text that was sent by the parents to the grammy of  the girl who received the box of goodies that was sent by the friend who wanted the model that I found at an antique shop.

This is the song that describes the pony palace that was mentioned in the text that was sent by the parents to the grammy of the girl who received the box of goodies that was sent by the friend who wanted the model that I found at an antique shop. (Go to 1:37 and sub in the name "Jennifer" for "Santa Claus.")

This is the box that has been opened by the girl that the song which describes the pony palace that was mentioned in the text that was sent by the parents to the grammy of the girl who received the box of goodies that was sent by the friend who wanted the model that I found at an antique shop...

and will be shown tomorrow.

Stay 'tooned!

 

It Isn't

Well. 

Despite all the health issues my body has been throwing at me, this one was unexpected.

Despite the fact that my sister Leslie is a breast cancer survivor, this was not even on my radar. 

I did not anticipate the phone calls and appointments, or the trepidation at finding myself sitting in a room full of pink, listening to soothing pan pipe music as I waited to speak to the oncologist about what my mammogram and other tests had shown.

Earlier in May, during a routine exam, I about came off the table when my doctor touched my side under my arm. She frowned, touched me there again, with the same result. No lump, no bump, no pucker or pain when I moved. But touch that spot... ow, ow, ow, OW!

She asked me when I'd first noticed that that spot hurt, and I responded never, that I had been completely unaware that it was painful. Nothing hurt, but when I touched that place myself, I got the same reaction. OUCH.

The good news? The oncologist doesn't think it's cancer. The bad news? The oncologist doesn't know what is there causing that unexpected pain. She advised me to not touch it, do monthly self exams, to remain in contact with my doctor and let her know if things change, and to continue to have my annual mammograms.

I left happy at the initial diagnosis, but uncomfortable because  there is still a big unknown - what is there and causing me to hurt? I'm grateful that things are okay at this point in time, but I am going to follow those directions.

All the more sobering because my brother is having cancer surgery later this week. He and Leslie have had cancer, and I had half my pancreas and my spleen removed in 2019 due to a precancerous mass. (Another very unexpected surprise.)

I'm grateful that, like my pancreatic cancer scare, we caught whatever this is early. And most definitely, now that I am aware of it, I will monitor that spot.

 

Abby the Etchie

 I was scrolling through some recent photos of Abby when I came across a few that clearly were taken when the horses were hoping for treats and I was snapping fast. Partial head pictures are the result of those with blurs and unclear photos due to motion. 

Usually I smile and delete those, but these two caught my eye. Do you see what I see?

An etchie!

Etchies are an art form within the model horse hobby. Using craft tools, the paint on a model is gently scraped off with tiny strokes to mimic horse hair.

There are some good pictures and information on how to etch in this tutorial found on StormyStrikesChannel.

I have never etched a model horse, but I do have an etched Stablemate that I received in a model horse gift exchange. 

I struggled to get a photo of those tiny marks, but this is the best I could do. Still, you can see the tiny marks that represent hair well enough to get an idea of what an etchie is.

Kind of looks like Abby to me!