I thought it would be fun to do a year-end review of the horsey aspects of my life. So much has happened, though, that I ended up splitting the year into halves. Here's January through June of 2018. Enjoy!
January, 2018
2018 began with tough weather - low, low temperatures and heavy snows.
All that snow covered the access lanes to the barns, and because I have some mobility issues, for a while I was checking on Abby by doing "drive-bys." Since Tim checks the horses daily, I knew she was okay, but I missed getting to visit and share peppermints with her.
January brought me my most wanted model horse - the woodgrain Semi-Rearing Mustang. I found it on eBay for a reasonable price and won the bidding. Such a thrill!
When you are staying indoors due to weather, it's a good time to sort closets, and I went through my hobby closet. These are old photo show records - look at those dates. 1971!
February, 2018
What a dreary month! Temps warmed and all that snow melted, which meant lots and lots of flooding.
Roads were underwater everywhere - this school bus got into trouble trying to cross a flooded road right by Tim's driveway.
It was nice to see bare ground again (and to be able to get down the lanes)
but standing water was everywhere and the horses (Snickerdoodle, Abby, and Sultanna) were very muddy.
Susan Benesama Young pointed me in the direction of a very unusual piece for my collection on eBay in February - an Irish Dresden Circus Pony. The tack is made of fabric and lace and is very, very fragile.
March, 2018
To celebrate my upcoming retirement from teaching, I decided to throw myself a pony party, an all-vintage Breyer model horse fun show. I spent a lot of time in March prepping for it.
I found these unusual and very beautiful bridle rosettes on eBay. They are a nice addition to my collection of circus ponies.
On a non-horsey note, four of my former students, Nick, John, Noah, and Jacob (the four boys on the right) were state champions for the Indiana Quiz Bowl and were invited to Nationals. Way to go, guys!
April, 2018
Spring at last! But spring means tornado season in Indiana, and one went right by the school where I teach.
Hitting a beautiful farm that raises black angus cows, it took the roof off the barn and left bits and pieces of it in the surrounding fields.
Spring is also shedding season for the horses, as you can tell from Abby's back.
I acquired a gold charm Running Foal
and two unusual circus ponies. They're plastic and about an inch and a half tall. Cake toppers, maybe?
My student teacher gave me a beautiful painting of a horse by a local painter as a thank you gift for mentoring her.
May, 2018
My last month in the classroom was very bittersweet. I didn't really want to retire, but my health issues were making it more and more difficult to teach. I knew I was no longer at the top of my game and that the kids deserved better. So I retired.
The Tippecanoe School Corporation Retiring Teachers, 2018. I am in the middle row, second from right.
A bunch of former students, with the approval and aid from my principal, threw a surprise party for me during the school day, bringing so many loved people back for a visit. I could not believe it; it was so good to see them. This party will always be one of the highlights of my teaching career.
May also brought a trip up to Shipshewana for the spring Stone model horse show.
Fan girl moment here - that's Peter Stone talking to Liz Cory behind me.
I got a new curio cabinet as the one in the living room was getting so crowded, you could not see everything.
Into it went my three new Chevals from South Africa. They no longer make them; I asked at just the right time and got three, including this lovely Gypsy Vanner.
And in an odd coincidence, I had a South African student in my class this year, and one of his interests was making balloon animals. He made me a horse in orange (my favorite color) as an end of the year gift!
My family held a retirement party for me Memorial Day weekend, and all our kids and grandchildren were there.
Trinity, our oldest granddaughter and horse lover from Aurora, Colorado, visited Abby with me.
Ian and Pony Pal Mila visited the big barn at Prophetstown.
My sister, Leslie, and me with Ryder, one of the Standardbreds at the farm at Prophetstown.
June, 2018
Teresa Rogers kindly picked up these three Metlox circus horses from the late Karen Grimm's collection for me at Clinky Mania. They now reside in my new curio.
After such a rough winter, it was so nice to see all the greenery in the pastures again!
Happy Trails, my retirement pony party was a blast.
Allison Pareis, Pat Reed, me, Yvonne Rott, Jamie Rott, Steff Bodamer, Michelle Evans, and Liz Cory were all in attendance.
Two rings were set up in my kitchen; one ring loaded while the other was being judged.
Despite being just a small fun show, the competition was fierce!
We also played some games, including a Breyer trivia game.
Check back tomorrow for the horsey events of July through December!
