Homesewn Kitchen Curtain

We are down to the final details in the kitchen (crown molding is last on the list!) and yesterday we had a nasty rainy day so Bill's Mom came over to help me sew up my kitchen curtain. I am so happy with how it came out!

My Mom and I had picked out this fabric last week, but she had a lot going on and wasn't able to help me sew. I was going to wing it on my own but Bill's Mom volunteered to "get me started." She was invaluable. It's a curtain sewn right. She was so careful of the pattern, making sure the plaid lined up right, if I had done it, it would have been messy... she had me pressing and pinning and measuring! It may be a little silly to have such a small valance, but it came out just the way I wanted it! It covers up the fact that the microwave and stove don't align, and doesn't block too much view. I am so proud of it, what a great rainy day project! Beth had the great idea to make valances to match for the dining room windows, but that's a project for another day!

Fall Grazers

After the foxhunt our little herd was locked down by the house for a few days until all the gates got closed and checked. When I finally got them put back out to pasture they were so happy! It was a beautiful afternoon and Wes was napping, so I followed them up to the field.

They made a b-line for the apple trees and went tree to tree gathering up all the dropped apples they had "missed" during their days down here. It was pretty fun to stand in the afternoon sun watching them. They are all so pretty, and in little moments like this one it's so much easier to remember how blessed I really am!

"Num, Num... We love apples!" I did watch Poke run smack into a downed limb... a reminder how how blind he is, but blessed again he was not hurt!

Foxhunting Beau

In keeping with the New England tradition, the Houston's hosted a fox hunt yesterday. This local hunt group rides out of the farm a few times a year, but only once before have I ridden with them. Some of you might remember that I pulled Poke out of retirement to hunt a number of years ago. That was a cub hunt and Olivia and I rode hilltop division... yesterday was a formal hunt and a bit different:

It was a beautiful fall day, and the hunt group arrived bright and early. I hadn't mentioned to Beau what was up, and he was happy to go along until we tried to get down the driveway... "humm" he said. "Something seems odd..." The trailers parked up at the big barn were his first tip off, and he snorted himself right up and got pretty jazzed as I explained "A' hunting we will go!"
There was a smaller group and they wanted to ride in one field. "Gulp" I said. Was I o.k. with canter/gallop they asked...? "Sure" I replied. And we were off!

The time I hunted Poke we were on a lovely trail ride with the distant braying of hounds and the call of the horn. Yesterday, well yesterday was a blur. We were catering/galloping about 90% of the time. Other than that we were waiting for the hounds to get scent. It was cool to be in the first field and be able to see the hounds working the track (don't worry, these hounds are trained to a drag... they follow a prelaid trail of fox urine, and the "catch" is a huge pile of dog treats!) but it was certainly the most intense riding I've ever done!

I tried to keep tucked into the back of the group, worried that I might have trouble, but Beau was awesome! I gaped all the larger fences, but did hop a few of the smaller ones. He was game for everything, and did so well catering/galloping in the group. He seemed to know right what to do, and even though we came back thru the yard and passed the pastures he came/went by the other horses willingly and was a champ! I was so happy with him! There are no real good pictures of me, since I was "hiding" in the back most of the time.

I'm working up the courage to do it again since Beau was such a super star... but it was a stretch for me! Most of you know I like the controlled feeling I get in the Dressage arena, and this was about as far as you can get; I actually almost cried walking him home. After doing the ride I experienced quite an emotional "rush." It was a great reminder for me though, that it's not him; it's me! Beau can do anything! (ok, not for a few days as he "recovers and gets the shoe he threw put back on!)

Seriously, Folks

This is what I have to deal with:

See the red tin plane by Wes' right hand. Well, after watching me put a few things behind the gate to be taken upstairs later, Wes decided he should have been allowed to play with that plane first. So, he proceeded to shake the gate loose, then used it as a ramp to get to the toy. I watched, camera in hand (and dog bed on the floor behind him in case I was too slow) Sigh. It's gonna be a long ride!

ps. please excuse the poorly fastened prefold diaper. He likes the boy short look!

Standing Solo

Just this past week Wes has started to stand on his own. It's just 4 or 5 seconds at a time, but he is letting go of things and balancing before he sits down, and will stand by himself if you get him balanced real good before you let go. He is very proud of himself, and you can see the wheels turning; sometimes he ever tries to move a foot! It won't be long now before he is walking!!

Happy Birthday Bill

Today was Bill's birthday. He turned 41 tonight, and of course we had to celebrate! He had his usual birthday dinner: steak and mashed potatoes with angel food cake for dessert.

He got a new weed whip from his Mom and Dad and the kids and I gave him some embroidered shirts and hats for work. He seemed pretty happy, especially since he had given himself the day off! He did some little odds and ends in the kitchen and helped Olivia with a project... so still a productive day- but he didn't have to do any shoeing (which is a good thing as we are still recovering from our busy weekend!)
I feel so lucky to have this guy; he makes me laugh every day and is such a great Dad...

Happy Birthday Honey!

IEA Show

Earlier this fall Olivia joined a local equestrian team. They ride with the Interscholastic Equestrian Association. The team rides out of a barn nearby and she has been having a great time taking lessons and meeting the other girls.

Our team co-hosted this show, so it was a "jump in with both feet" type introduction to the IEA world! We had to bring 10 horses for the other teams to ride, it made for an interesting experience. We brought Nic and 2 Lucky Clover horses and the remained came from others in the team or the team farm. Hauling the horses meant we had to get up at 3am to be there in time to set up etc.
Bill and I, Grandma Houston and Westley went to be extra hands and Olivia's (and the other York kids') cheering section. It was a long day, but we had so much fun! The team did great- we got 2nd overall for the day (I think there were 6 other tams there) and Olivia got 4th in her class! We were so proud! In the IEA you draw horses and ride mounts from the host team (in this case ourselves!) so you have to hop on and go with a horse you don't know. It is great for testing your horsemanship and riding abilities! Olivia just rode on the flat, but there are jumping classes too!

She pulled one of "our" horses ( a pony actually) Liam. She has ridden him a few times in her lessons, so that was lucky... but she was the last class of the day and he was a tad naughty and got pretty quick in the cater. I had my heart in my throat for a second or two, but she did so well and pulled it all together. She has improved so quickly with this program. I really think it helps to ride all sorts of horses. She is so amazing, we are so proud of her and all the other girls on the team too!

Go York Equestrian!