A Horsey Classroom

Lisa's school uses the Class program in their building. Part of Class means that each classroom has its own theme and decorates accordingly. (Lisa's has a 1940s spy theme with the idea that the kids use investigation to learn. It's pretty cool!)

I've been helping her in her classroom the past couple of days as she prepares for the coming school year, and I enjoy peeking in classrooms as I walk around the building. I discovered yesterday that a few doors down from her one of the teachers has a horse-themed room!

The 5th grade teachers all decided to use transportation as their theme, so one class uses airplanes, another trains, etc.

Since horses have been used for transportation for thousands of years, this horse-loving teacher melded her horseyness together with her teaching career!

When Lisa mentioned that I was horsey, too, the other teacher invited me in to check out her room and take photos.

It was fun walking around and seeing what she had. She mentioned that she had some Breyers but that she did not want to bring them into her classroom - apparently one year she had a student who would steal things and she did not want to lose any models.

 Her husband made her a teaching stand that looks like barn wood and can be rolled around the classroom as needed.

Were I still teaching, I might've used some of the ideas I have gotten from the different themes and decor at Lisa's school in my own classroom. Especially this one!

My Mini Horsey Girl

Curt and his family returned to the 4H Fair in the evening on Thursday to ride the rides which were not open until 4:00. Between spending the morning there with Craig and me, and then returning in the evening, Mila spent a lot of time at the fair.

I asked her what her favorite thing of all was from the long day, and she did not even have to think about it. "Ponies!" she cried, jumping up and down in place.

For Mila, it doesn't seem to matter if they are live or not. If it's a horse shaped object, she's a happy girl.

Just like her Grammy.

Friends Helping Friends - Transporting Chinas to Shows

I broke two Hagen Renakers on the way home from the last show I attended. They were packed well, so I have no clue what happened. Frustrated, I began wondering if perhaps I ought to stop showing chinas, or if I should be rethinking my packing and coming up with a better way to protect them.

As I thought about different ways to carry my chinas back and forth, L. LaRose came to mind. She has an outstanding china collection and collects blue ribbons and championships by the handful. I knew she used flat, underbed-style tubs to transport her collection, and wondered if she might take a picture of one to give me some ideas. So I messaged her on Facebook and asked.

Well, not only was she agreeable to that, she sent me extensive directions and tips on how to make my own tubs that would better protect my chinas!

My other hobby is sewing, so I had the tools on hand needed for the job - scissors, a rotary cutter, and a quilting ruler.

Instead of foam, L. told me that she preferred a type of soft poly-cotton batting that is used to make crib bumpers for babies to line the tubs. I found that online and had it sent for same-day pickup at my local JoAnn's.

The first tubs that I bought proved to be too unwieldy at 60" long, so I returned them and bought these much smaller ones. They will hold less, but will be much more maneuverable for transporting to and from the car and into show halls.

Using the rotary cutter, I cut the batting so that it would line the bottoms of the tubs but also line the sides as well.

 Since I have two upcoming shows next month, I pulled out my tub of pony pouches and placed them in my new china carriers to give me an idea as to whether or not I had enough tubs to take what I wanted to show. I was right, the second set of tubs only holds a few pieces, but I am okay with that. The most important part is getting my chinas there and back without breakage.

When I had finished, I sent L. a message thanking her for her help. She responded quickly.

That last line in her response is one of the reasons I love this hobby. My experience is that it is a friendly hobby, even when we are competing against one another at shows. L. LaRose didn't mind helping someone who might be competition at future shows. Instead, she reached out to help. That, to me, is our hobby at its finest.

Thanks, L.! 

4H Horse and Pony - A Closer (and Nostalgic) Look

I so enjoyed walking through the old horse and pony barn at the 4H Fair yesterday, especially when I discovered that it was due to be demolished as soon as the fair ended. While it certainly needs updating, there are many memories of happy times in that place, and so it was nice to get a final chance to see a place from my childhood that meant a lot to me.

After some looking, I was able to find my former stall, or at least close to it.

A big change since I was a 4Her is that they have removed the hay and straw mow from above the stalls. We used to shinny up there and hang out, listening unseen to the comments people made about our horses and feeling very proud at the compliments. Every kid should have the opportunity to spend time in a hay mow!

 Tack stored in an empty stall.

 The cards the 4Hers fill out are still the same! 

This made me smile - I had a cob named Pokey! I don't remember bringing him to the fair, but my sister may have.

 I love how the kids decorate their stalls - that would be so much fun.

Lisa pointed out this next poster, and it made us both smile.

 I had a half-Arab, Indabab's Image, which I nicknamed Indy before I had Abby!

Upgrading the fairgrounds has been going on for several years. The arena where the horse shows take place has been moved to a nicer, more open location and is much bigger than the arena I showed in.

The rabbit and poultry barn is an example of some of the new construction. I am interested in seeing what the horse and pony barn looks like next year.

Tippecanoe County 4H Fair

One of the local "summer wind ups" is the Tippecanoe County 4H Fair. Running for an entire week, and complete with livestock, projects, displays, carnival rides, and a queen contest, there is a lot to see and do. Yesterday, our local family went to see the sights (sans Curt who had to work) and we had so much fun!

 Ian and Mila in the goat barn.

A young girl lets us pet her project horse. (I was in 4H Horse and Pony as a kid, and it was such a thrill when people wanted to pet your horse or paid you a compliment about it!)

 When I was in 4H, the horse show took place on Wednesday. Now it spans Monday through Thursday with a different focus each day. Thursday's was the English show.

Raven goes to my school and was in my Lego Robotics club. I hoped to talk to her, but only saw her horse and not her.

 My old stall is one of these, if I remember right. I am glad we went to the fair as this barn is due to be demolished and a new one built for next year's fair. I was glad to see the Horse and Pony barn one last time - I spent many happy hours here!

 Aside from a sign (like Raven's) we didn't decorate our stalls. I wish we had as it looks like fun!

 The rabbits and poultry (chickens, turkeys, ducks, and pigeons) were in a new, airy barn.

 These girls were lying in the hay with their cattle - oh, the memories!!

Lukas held up very well, finding his thumb when he needed it. Luckily the day was not nearly as hot and humid as it has been recently which made for a much better fair experience.

 We ate lunch in the Cattlemans'/Pork Producers' tent. My hamburger was an inch thick!

After visiting the animals, we went to the exhibit halls to see the other projects the 4H kids had done.

My student, Emma, won grand champion with her cake decorating and is moving on to the Indiana State Fair! I had to laugh to see the unicorn on her cake - that girl wore a unicorn on her shirt to school every single day!

 Erik, who just graduated from high school, is also going to the state fair with his cake.

 He's also a ten year 4Her, and so his photo was displayed in the exhibit hall.

 Another former student, Lacie, made an aquarium cake and won a blue award.

And Aly, Emma's twin, won a blue for her muffin.

I also had kids in sewing, photography, and electricity, but I could not find their exhibits even though Craig and Lisa both helped me look.

Such a fun day, filled with family, fun, and a nice dose of nostalgia for me.

Dear Corinne

Written in response to a query from my granddaughter asking how her "twin horse" was doing. Corinne was born as I was trailering Abby home from Indiana Horse Rescue in 2012, and so I dubbed her Abby's "twin," a moniker Corinne wears with pride.

Dear Corinne,

Mom texted me and said that you were asking how your twin horse was doing. I am delighted to let you see for yourself (although I sure wish you were here in person to do so!)

I visit her nearly every day and give her a variety of treats. Although Abby likes peppermints the very best, she also enjoys carrots, apples, and pears.

She is always sad when she has eaten her quota for the day, and often puts her nose through the gate, hoping for more.

But just as people can get tummy aches when they eat too many sweets, so can horses, and I won't let her have too many. Tummy aches in horses (called "colic") can be a very, very bad thing for them. Even worse than in people!

 It's been very hot in Indiana, so Tim and I keep her trough full of fresh water.

Remember Tim? He owns the barn and other horses, and last year when you stayed with Boompa and me during Hurricane Irma, he let you ride Diablo.

The school where Aunt Lisa teaches is just down the road from the barn, and so she comes out, too, and makes sure Abby is doing well.

Her favorite horse, though, is Hokey, and he really likes her, too. He is so happy in this picture!

She gives good neck rubs, something Hokey is very fond of. 

Abby says to tell you "hi," and that she hopes to see you again very soon.

And so do I!

Love, 

Grammy

The Culprit?

When I got Abby from Indiana Horse Rescue in 2012, she had a pretty blonde mane. It was a typical Appaloosa mane in that it was short, but it was pretty and it was THERE.

About a year later, it had disappeared. Since Tim's pastures are so large and well maintained, I knew she was not rubbing it off as she put her head under the fence to get at grass on the other side. I figured one of the other horses was nibbling it. (Although why she is targeted and no one else is is a mystery.)

The whole herd came up yesterday to say hello, and so I decided to take a selfie. I wasn't very successful in getting them all into the frame, but I did notice this when I looked at the photos.

 Diablo sure was interested in my hair.

 And she is Abby's best friend so they spend a lot of time together. 

Goodness! My girl barely has a forelock left! 

I really think, though, that it is actually Hokey who nibbles her mane. I have seen them mutually groom each other and he has gone for Abby's mane while doing so. But Diablo certainly is a suspect.

While I would love for her to have her pretty mane intact, in the grand scheme of things it isn't important. She is in a  good place, healthy, and happy. Who could ask for more?

Grammy's Girl!

Mila came rushing into the house the other day with something clutched in her hands to show me.

 "Look, Grammy!" she cried in excitement. "I have horsies!"

Mila could not wait to show my the two little model horses Curt's boss, a horsewoman herself, had given her.

I had thought that my granddaughter, Trinity (aka "Horseyreader "on social media) was going to be our only grandchild with an affinity for horses, but recently I have begun to rethink that.

After all, at the Delphi Canal Days, Mila rode the ponies not just once...

... but twice! (And I think she would've ridden a third time except the rest of the family was ready to move on.)

My fingers are crossed that perhaps I have a mini-Horseyreader on my hands.

And I'll do my best to encourage those budding horse-loving feelings.