Dining chair want

Wow, Overstock. Those of us who may never be able to afford Eames (or want something close til we can!) thank you. Sincerely.

$142 for TWO. Such a deal.

Check this out

Googling “decluttering” or “home organization” yields a mind-boggling number of results with very few novel concepts.

A comment on a post on Apartment Therapy had a link to a post on Zen Habits which led me to click on the author’s bio which listed his other blog.

Follow me? 😉

mnmlist is blowing my mind.

When you aren’t up to your eyeballs with OMGWTFSTUFF!!!!!!! you don’t need to organize. When you learn to honestly assess your needs vs. wants and be happy with enough you can quit the Googling about things you don’t need – like decluttering and organizing your home.

May seem like a big fat DUH … but if that’s your response you’re probably not thinking deeply enough.

Weekend Update: clearing the head and the teen’s room

THANKFULLY no before pics were taken but instead of cleaning the floors and buying flowers, per The Cure, the kid’s room got gutted.

Apparently we won’t be following directions – entirely 😉

You may recognize more than a few things in the discard pile (like my precious and done silver vanity). But onwards and upwards!

The huge TV, vanity, desk chair and SIX bags of trash went. The computer armoire and top bunk are slated to go. All that will be left is a twin bed, a dresser, bookshelf and W I D E open space that’ll be her own personal music studio.

Taking the top bunk off = breathing room

We need to paint next weekend – but lots of trim and picture rails means a lot less to paint! We’ve settled on an ultra modern color palette. Can’t wait to see it all come together.

Next weekend we’ll finish her room and start ours. By the end of January our house will be much, much improved!

Circling Back

Remember why I started this blog? Redoing my apartment, inspired by he book Apartment Therapy.

I have signed up to do the “January Cure” in our house. Three people, 1 big dog, a dirt accumulating passion, and a house that’s roughly 1,000 sq. ft. …. three years of living there means it’s time to re-evaluate, clean, organize and prepare for the next 3 years.

Assignment #1 was making a project list. There are only 3 really troublesome areas (both bedrooms and paperwork), but here’s the grand damage…

Sun Porch

·         Better storage

·         Wash windows

·         New rug

Living Room

·         Better lighting

·         Repair couch

·         Clean gray couch

·         Mantle decoration

·         Paint side table

·         Hook up DVD player (get a Blu-ray?)

Dining Room

·         Repaint chairs

·         Deep clean b/w rug from Haley’s room and put under table

·         Clean and reorganize built-in

·         Replace overhead light

·         Thin out picture rail – rethink photos

Kitchen

·         Repair ceiling over sink

·         Paint

·         Storage corner (tool boxes, files, dog food)

·         Aluminum behind stove

Our Bedroom

·         DECLUTTER

·         New dresser

·         Reading lights

·         Artwork

Haley’s Room

·         DECLUTTER

·         Paint walls

·         Break up bunk bed

·         Paint dresser

·         New bed linens

 

Happy Chloe

Just a quick couple of pics of Chloe. She’ll be ready for her first show in June and I think she’ll do just fine 😀

Sometimes you just need to ride through

The Child’s summer job is to be my groom. Today was her first training day.

She has to retrieve horses for me…

She needs to groom them and get them tacked up…

She needs to cool them out (and hack Magic!)

Then she feeds them a bucket and puts them away.

I’d say she and Magic got along famously 😀

Of course she won’t be riding Chloe but she’ll be doing all the rest. Chloe is getting quite good about being groomed.

You can see your reflection in her coat! 😉

I didn’t lunge her at all today. She had some moments of short circuiting but you can see and feel her trying her heart out. She’s got some “bad tapes” to erase but she has moments of lovely relaxation… She seems to appreciate being given room to breathe.

I just need to ride through the hysterical moments and pretend they’re not happening…

[youtube:www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg9EN9N-RT0&feature=youtube_gdata_player]

The more I do that, the more she just melts into a coppery puddle of sweetness…

[youtube:www.youtube.com/watch?v=34dRa9UeEkM&feature=youtube_gdata_player]

What a difference a day makes

Yesterday I did not have anyone to record Chloe being the biggest drama llama ever. She ran herself around on the lunge line for close to an hour, screaming her head off. We did end lovely and relaxed but drenched with sweat.

I hoped today she’d come around to her senses a little quicker – and she sure did!

It’s hard not to be a drama llama! Someone has to be on alert! (I am the one on alert, Chloe – you just chill!)

Snuggles make everything better. Perhaps it’s ok to not be zombie patrolling all the time.

Relaxed and straight – SUCCESS!

Chloe learned right away that it’s much nicer to just relax and stretch and get lots of “Good Girl!!” I have no worries about this one… in a few more rides we can actually work on real dressage work. Once we have this chillaxing thing down-pat 😀

And then FINALLY I got my Magic out – and of course he was lovely and sensible and just the coolest horse EVER.

Forward and into the contact – can’t ask for much more from a baby!

And, more importantly, Magic is officially a family horse. He did not disappoint!

The 6’2″ Husband looks right at home on the 15.2h horse.

Clearly, Magic was not too concerned about The Husband’s less than centered seat 😉 We’ll work on that another day.

Chloe-go-round

I’m sick but we needed to be productive and little Missy needed out of her stall

I caught her enjoying being groomed just a little.

Her head is just stunning…

Not bad considering it’s a new and scary indoor…

A little better with side reins, but she was always listening to me. Even with moments of giraffe-racecar she always whoa’ed when asked. The couple “bucks” were simply laughable. I look forward to those under saddle 😉

Proof she wasn’t actually riled up! I think she was just trying to impress me with her brilliance 😉

Sorry Fi and Magic… mommy is sick. Carrots will have to do for today.

Acclimating Chloe

Yesterday Chloe got a fair glimpse of what life is going to look like in her immediate future. 

1.  Emily really likes to groom horses and cares not if red-headed mares think they don’t like it. My desire to have SHINY PONIES far outweighs grouchy faces and threats.

half a mare was curried off

2.  Emily is lazy therefore prefers to ride out silliness rather than have to lug a lunge line to the arena.

(after all – they are sooo heavy 😉 )

all rides end like this no matter how they start

3.  Much of life out of the stall/pasture involves standing around while I yell at people ( 😉 ), take pictures, and do a variety of non-productive non-training-ish things. Patience and chillaxing are virtues and skills.

Magic had his first full ride under someone else – Jess!

4.  We always end on a good note under saddle, on the ground and afterwards with a bucket.

nom nom nom

Chloe is really incredibly sweet. She’s definitely a mare – but she’ll soon learn that she can be a ladylike mare.

The other two got baths and played with Jess and Maggie… my trusty sidekicks.

Magic’s first bath was just about as exciting as every other new thing. *Zzzzzzzzz* 😀

Life cereal is clearly the greatest treat in the world according to Fiona

Bridal Chatter

Chloe has arrived. After 7 hours in the trailer she walked out like she was home.

She is beautiful – so feminine and all Thoroughbred.

I’ll let her settle tonight. We’ll see what were working with tomorrow.

Ah… the ole quarantine stall pic 😉

Two weeks

The state of affairs summed up in one picture:

Thank you Kitty, Hoyt, Scott and Molly… I owe you all forever…

Ride #7 – Cavaletti!

After two very serious (not really) dressage-y rides I thought it would be fun to give Magic a peek at the other skill we need to be working on – jumping 😀

Thursdays are now, officially, Wife and Pony Day according to The Husband. (Have I told you how excellent he is?) Since his pony time involves leaping and cavorting with Fiona I thought introducing baby cavaletti was a good idea.

At first approach The Dark Horse thought, “OHMYGODITWANTSTOKILLME!!” Enter Auntie Fiona… The Husband and The Pony escorting him safely over the horse-eating pole. The second attempt involved us tripping and almost falling to our deaths (or so he thought 😉 ) The third attempt involved jumping really big!! Every attempt after looked pretty much like this…

He works for pats

And then we trotted… that was not as pretty, but that was probably more due to our lack of turning ability and our poorly placed cavaletti.

[youtube:youtube.com/watch?v=M0te-IF-o9g]

Then we took a break to watch The Husband and The Pony and their shenanigans.

[youtube:youtube.com/watch?v=uzGjC4sT8LM]

Then it was time for some cantering…

And after seeing that leg of mine I ran straight to the weights… Oy.

[youtube:youtube.com/watch?v=Wp8ycA9zscw]
[youtube:youtube.com/watch?v=m-XWYmizUFg]

There is much hope for the right lead – and DAMNNNNNNN he’s got a nice stride! No wonder he was a little rocket at the track!

Well then!

Ride #6 didn’t start so well. The young man was full of ‘tude. He thought jerking the reins was fun and he was wildly distracted – by his neighbor pony girlfriend, Taylor, and his favorite pasture playmate, Serengeti (who was schooling lovely PSG.)

It probably didn’t help that today was the first time anyone has carried a whip on him since the t-r-a-c-k. (I think I’ll spell it out from now on – just for fun.)

After a few too many “No! I want to go THERE!” moments, he got a tap *ahem*. Well then! That woke him up and put him back focused on me! Also – he was a freight train. 😛

Our ride started off less than stellar but improved rather quickly – so quickly that I thought what the hell – LET’S CANTER!

Got the left lead within 5 strides. First attempt to the right was cross-firing, second attempt was correct in about 8 strides. Wow. And he actually has a three-beated canter!

[youtube:youtube.com/watch?v=zxFUjtSqVvM]

Yeah… once we can reliably turn to the right we’ll be ready for the big time! 😀

Funny observation by Molly… if he were perfect every ride you’d get bored and sell him.

Doesn’t it suck when people know you SO WELL??? 😛

Ride #5

This is just a quick pic of a reward snack… Ride #5 included CANTERING DOWN THE LANE! Calmly. Wonderfully. Like we do it every day.

*sigh*

He’s awesome.

Weekend Update

To say this weekend was busy would be an understatement.

Friday night was date night. Just me, my husband, two friends and four thousand rowdy hockey fans. We hoped our beloved San Francisco Bulls would stay alive in the playoffs in their inaugural season… but it didn’t happen. We still had fun – and GO BULLS next year!

Next weekend I am running in my first ever race. It’s a 5k but I’m not smart and starting off with just a plain 5k – I’m going a trails challenge. Why? I have NO IDEA. I blame Janette 😉

So I got up bright and early for my long run. I intended to run four miles. I was positive that Lake Merced was 4 miles around, on the dot, if I didn’t take the short-cut bridge. Whoopsie – it was almost 5.

I survived. Barely.

The Husband picked me up and we headed out to breakfast.

Ok – that really looks good despite all the animal inconvenience.

Then we met Ronda and Richard for a double-date at the driving range. We are a funsome foursome, for sure!

After lunch I took The Husband back home so he could watch MOAR HOCKEYS and nap before his graveyard shift – then I headed to the barn with Jess. It’s so great – she has a great interest in learning the training part of riding and wanted to be my shadow at the barn. She’s the very best kind of sponge and I get to raise a mini-me that will allow me to take a weekend off with my family and know that my horses are under her loving guidance 😀

Magic continued to blow me away.

After that full day it’s really no surprise I was out cold by 9p 😉

Sunday was a slightly later start. I stopped in Vacaville and took my hand-me-down Tony Slatter dressage saddle (it’s brown!) to a saddle maker to be restuffed and repaired. I had decided I only wanted to put $300 into it – otherwise I’d just buy a used Wintec. The lovely man talked some sense into me. Spend $600 for a used Wintec that has 10 years in it – or put $600 into a saddle that’s got 30 years left in it. Ok – fine. I will be the proud owner of a totally rebuilt and classic BROWN saddle in 6-8 weeks. (The thought of a brown saddle on my sable brown gelding – or chestnut mare – is totally swoonable!)

After picking up Haley I went back to the barn. Molly was aghast – she said Magic’s #4 ride looked more like #45. I think I agree!

[youtube:www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH5WUD5X5uc]

We are actually doing straight lines! And circles! And even some leg-yielding at the walk! Oh – and STANDING QUIETLY!!

I am convinced he’s pretty much a super-genius super-athlete!! 😀

Then Jess got on – and he was totally unfazed by a change in rider. I schooled the Pones some and we all went out for a ride around the roads at the barn. You can see – he’s one of those totally crazy OTTBs – totally unsafe at any speed 😉

Who’s more laid back? The OTTB or the Paint? I think it’s a toss-up!
(I know it was NOT the pony I was on! 😉 )

Yes – I am 100% positive this horse – a winning race horse – is going to be the poster child for life after the track.

Also – my life is goooooooood.

Pinch me

I must be dreaming. The Husband asked to go to the barn. ASKED. Well, The Pony is pretty much his favorite pet but he wanted to spend time with me – and the ponies. (SQUEEEEEEE!!!)

ANY WAY… he wanted to be sure I could get on Magic today and I felt like I still needed the option to have someone there to lunge me. He’s good that way…

Magic is pretty much the greatest green Off The Track Thoroughbred EVER. I’m not sure I’ve ever ridden a horse that so desperately wants me to be happy! He tries.

So, after a 5 minute twirl around on the lunge line I just got on and went. And it went wellllll.

Please keep in mind this was his second ride…

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J0CAg_s4Uk&feature=youtu.be”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J0CAg_s4Uk&feature=youtu.be%5D

So steering still needs some work – but “round” will not be a problem for him at all!  Also, at the walk to the right I thought he felt more like a drunken sailor but at the trot he was already listening to my inside leg and staying on the rail.

I was a good baby!!

And while I was riding, The Husband and The Pony were enjoying each other’s company.

OMG they are adorable

So after a successful ride in the outdoor arena without a lunge line or a lead, we headed out for a walk on the roads. He was perfect. We walked on the buckle and were all smiles… We were having so much fun that we got super brave and we decided to do a bit of work on the grass jumping court!

The picture of relaxation – OUTSIDE!

The REAL subject of the photographer’s eye 😉

(zoom in to see Magic being amazing)

And then the BEST part of the afternoon…. SCOTT JUMPED FIONA!!!

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWVw-lSKX5o&feature=youtu.be%5D

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Sweet freedom

Magic is one happy little camper. He’s been released from quarantine and is a happy resident of the boys’ pasture.

Bodie doing what Bodie loves to do: bite butts. Hopefully Magic will kick him in the face!

After a week of rain, this sun and wind is drying up the mud in short order!

I was a little worried that Magic would hate me. I stuck him in a terrible stall and made him work, after all. My fears were unwarranted – as soon as he heard me call him he knickered and trotted right up to me. I am going to assume that’s because he loooooooves me and not just because he’s a darling, social little horse. 😉

Just to reinforce that I do, indeed, love him to bits and I’m not just a big meanie who locked him in a cave – I just took him out for grooming and a bucket.

I brought Fiona out for the same and whilst admiring my gorgeous equine family it hit me…

I like big butts, and I cannot lie.

Seriously – look at those asses!

Wide Load 1 and Wide Load 2

Dat ass! It’s made for flying over fences – high and fast!

I’m sure it’s some subliminal compensation for my own fatassitude. At Kitty’s suggestion I am founding Feed the Sandbags International where big bottomed creatures of all species can gather… and EAT! 😀

I could stare at this horse all day long.
(even if he does knock my phone in the dirt)

Can you tell that my barn life is very good right now? Thanks to my amazing family, my home life is even better! They have been SAINTS about not having dinner on the table and me being good for almost nothing other than offsetting some of the horse expense with a paycheck and creating laundry. So. Much. Laundry.

As good as things are, they are going to get even better… When The Husband lovingly put his foot down and told me that I was only “allowed” to ride for myself and follow my passion all kinds of good karma came rushing my way. Mostly in the form of HORSES!

In about 10 days, the equine family will grow to THREE! Eeeek! OMG! and YAY!! Anyone looking for a nice little dressage mare should look me up… I’ll have a beaut for sale shortly!

The new girl.

And again… because I really can’t do it too much… THANK YOU to The Husband and to The Child for loving me and supporting me and allowing me to do this thing that makes me so incredibly happy. Without you two, I am nothing.

Settling in to his new life

Poor little Magic’s life of leisure is officially over. He’s a working man again. I think he’ll be super happy about this when he gets out of quarantine and back into a pasture (hopefully today!) – but right now he’s got a head of steam brewing by the time I get out there to work him. Even though he’s got an abundance of energy he tries his heart out and he wants to make me happy. He figured out fast that a happy Emily means LOTS of scratchies and he’s one itchy guy!

Silly Thoroughbreds 😀

I think he looks smashing as a dressage horse.

On Friday he learned to lunge and last night he learned about side reins. He was pretty tired at this point but you can see that the kid has mad potential!

Molly got some vid of our ride on Sunday and I’ll try to post that later tonight…

Magic and Fiona… fast friends

When two very well-mannered horses meet for the first time and get to play, it’s a joy to behold! And these two PLAYED. They’ll be spending a lot of time together – I’m sure glad they enjoyed each other’s company. It’s a blessing to have two such well socialized horses.

Magic learned right off the bat that Fiona may be small, but she’s competitive. Clearly, she took the fancy racehorse to task and let him know that it takes some serious effort to out-run her 😉

(and AAACCCKKKK! even the big camera was foiled by the blasted fog and rain!)

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Single pics….

It’s Magic!

It’s official. I am now in the business of re-careering ex racehorses.

I have had the honor and the pleasure to ride just about every breed of horse under the sun – from freebies to six figure horses – and can appreciate what they all bring to the table. But there are two breeds that own my heart: Trakehners and Thoroughbreds. The Thoroughbreds take top honors.

While they may have a reputation of being crazy or too hot, they generally are not. They are finely tuned athletes that are more likely to run themselves into the ground for you than need to be pushed along. (Of course there are lazeballs exceptions!) The problem with many is that they are not allowed a transition time between the race track and their next career. Take a very young horse that is very fit and trained mostly to gallop hard – and expect them to have any semblance of sanity in an arena and you’re guaranteed to be disappointed.

Have I mentioned that I have the best friends in the world? Well, I do!

Due to an introduction by one of my most favorite horsey girls I have found a partner who shares my love of the ex racehorses and also wants to help transition them into second careers. She has the connections to get the horses and the lush pasture with a lovely socializing herd that will allow the horses to just chill, learn to be a horse, get all the meds out of their systems and generally learn to just be loved and get fat. Kitty and I are kindred spirits and I will be forever grateful to Molly for introducing us.

That Ol’blackmagic is our first joint venture.

Kitty tucked him away in a pasture with two lovely mares for 2 years and now he’s ready to go back to work, a fat and happy 6 year old. He has an exceptional temperament – sweet and sane – and I’m positive he’s going to make a lovely little event horse (check out the massive hip on him!) He was retired a winner and the fat little monkey he is now will be fit and ready to compete again, soon!

Sorry for the crappy pics – yet again I was too excited and distracted to bring out the big camera. D’oh!

OH HAI! Magic is finally here!

7 hours in the trailer and grass is the first thing on his mind. What a wild child 😉

Why run and buck when there’s grass?

This is the biggest reaction I got from him in our very scary indoor arena.

Meeting the very cute pony in the arena mirror

After a little walk and a lot of grass he promptly fell asleep in the cross ties.

And with a quick bang of the tail he’s officially a sporthorse!

A stall that’s not on the track… As you can see, he’s quite upset. (not!)