Woolybuns

Oh, My Aching Legs

I decided not to go to spinning guild today.  I started riding lessons on Thursday.  All we did was walk, to get a sense of where I am in ability (yeah, rank beginner).  The horse I will be riding for lessons for a while is Maggie, a pretty, feminine Morab who has served as a lesson horse for a long time.  Which is to say, she instantly pegged me as rank beginner.  No need to pay attention to me.  Which means I had to muscle her around.  Which is to say, beat up my own muscles.   We worked on getting reacquainted with leg aides by walking through cones, over cavalettis, and on the rail, changing directions through out.  I discovered that my ankle (silly minor jolt last fall) is only good for normal walking.  In stirrups, it is stiff, ouchy, and uncooperative.  I will be discussing that with the chiropractor next visit.  Lucy is my instructor.  She is also CC's trainer, though Lucy's daughter Kim will actually be the one to start riding CC.  Lucy had a bad riding accident some years ago and has some lingering issues so starting a young horse is not in her best interest.  So far, things are going well at the new barn, although I wasn't happy to find they'd pulled her mane without asking me.  The atmosphere is calm and peaceful, very welcoming.  CC won't be getting a lot of pasture time because there isn't any and the  grass paddocks only stay grass if they are not constantly grazed.  Each horse will get some grass time several times a week, but none of them get long turn out.  That works out well for CC in this training phase because it helps her see training time as a good thing (not that she's convinced yet, if you go by the expression on her face).  While I prefer lots of pasture time for a horse, it's getting harder to find a stable that can offer that.  This barn does offer outstanding footing in the riding arena and round pen, immediate access to trails, access to the town riding arenas (just a 10 minute walk through the woods, I'm told), and trailering to other trails, (and shows if I want to do that).  All of that reduces the need for pasture time.  If the people continue to be reliably nice and reasonable, both CC and I will be happy here for a long time.

One of the other residents at the barn is Christmas, who thinks stall doors are much too tall.

WIP Me Wednesday 4-8-09

  Done!  Peppermint Lace Rib socks are on my feet.  And the tootsies are loving it.

And sock one of Ribby Blues is also done.  Goal: cast on sock 2 and get leg done.

Montana Tunic is about 2 rows longer so no photo.  Goal: continue. 

 

Ooooo... Ahhhhh... Mmmmm...

What are sounds heard at spinning guild?  Nutmeg Spinners is a big guild, with membership well over 100.  Yesterday, with Abby Franquemont the speaker, people showed up with all sorts of special, so there was much ooohing and ahhhing.  No camnesia for me, but what a craptastic load of photos I took.  I think three might be in focus.  Sheesh.  At least it's digital and not wasted film.  One of the in focus enough shots is a close up of Abby's shawl. Look at all that bead work!  Oooooo... 

Lots of familiar faces there, including  Indigo Di with her pretty socks in progress, and a very pretty scarf  or  shawl, depending on how she wore it. 

Then there was Terry's shawl, a 6 month knit for her, an impossibility for me (so far... I'm working on lace skills).  Lots of beads in that beauty, too, but my camera skills... 

This is one of my favorite photos from yesterday, clearly not because it's a good shot, but because of the sheer pride of accomplishment on Kathy's face.  Well deserved.  It's a beautiful shawl, knit well, worn well. 

What got me going Mmmmm, though, is what Deirdre brought to me.  My new yarn for luxury socks.  I only got a small run done to test out the blend. It's a three ply of lusciousness, put up in a 4 ounce skein of about 480 yards.  The first skein will hit the dye pot hopefully tonight, after I get back from Second Sunday guild.   This is definitely a weekend to enjoy!

Something Else That Makes Me Smile

Gale's Dream.  I voted.  You can too, but you have to do that by 11 pm ESTtoday (Friday), Apr. 3.  If you vote and let her know, you get entered in her contest for some goatly fiber and a skein of yarn.  And maybe help out Heifer International, since that's Gale's dream. 

Things That Make Me Smile

 A nest full of babies getting their first taste of the world outside the nest box, even if they won't hold still long enough to get a clear photo.   And even when all 6 of them turn out to be bucks.

 Two and a half week old pointed white buck full of curiosity.

A good friend who knits and chats you through a tough day, then in the bathroom of the bookstore gives you a simple, cute new (to me) up do to the hair, and then takes you sports bra shopping.

New pink gym bag to carry the kick ass sparring equipment I'm now ready for at tae kwon do.  

The 100th Anniversary T-Shirt available at CTSW.

Setting a schedule for riding lessons to start next week (weather permitting). 

Getting back on track with the lace.

A weekend full of spinning guild: Nutmeg Spinners on Saturday, Second Sunday Fiber Artisans on Sunday (yes, I know that day is not the second Sunday of the month, but this month's second Sunday is Easter).

A secret project.

Thursday Thoughts

There was supposed to be a WIP Wednesday here yesterday but frankly, my progress this past week really was just a big April Fool's joke on myself, so we'll just kind of skip right over that, k? 

I woke up this morning just mired in sadness.  I opened my email to find a link and invitation to Pandora radio so decided to check it out because I could use a good diversion.  I chose Dan Fogelberg as my experiment and the first song that played was Same Old Lang Syne, which closed the deal.  I just dissolved.  I didn't turn it off, though, just let Pandora keep playing similar song after similar song.  Sometimes you just have to give in to it.  Let it out so it doesn't take over.  While the music played and tears flowed, I made and drank a cuppa, then wandered over to Facebook.  I have plans to get together with a friend later today and just wanted to fill some time.  And there on Facebook was Clara Parkes.  In all her brilliance. Go ahead.  If you haven't already read it, go now.  I mean it.  I'll wait.

I read and reacted, horrified at the thought.  Oh, the thoughts railing through my mind: why?  gross!  ewwww!  I almost couldn't finish reading, I was so disgusted.  I ran back to Facebook to read other people's comments.  And realized I'd been duped.  Right. Good.  And I laughed.  Quite out loud.  And long.  Thanks, Clara.  I needed that.