CCA Models

I participated in Breyer's Collectors Club Appreciation event a few weeks ago, and got the random glossed model that I was hoping for.

Isn't he gorgeous in gloss?

And he does not have the flaws that the regular run I received a while back does. 

I also ordered the regular run palomino on this mold.

It has a little overspray in its mane but otherwise the flaws are minimal.

You have to order a certain amount of models to get the glossed freebie, and while many of the models I'd preselected were either out of stock or not part of the CCA event,

I did get the Icelandic and Checkers. Those will most likely be Christmas gifts for pony pals (despite the fact that there is no unicorn horn) or donations to live shows.

I also got the Trakhener in the lovely chestnut color.

A vintage mold, Breyer has updated his tail and he has lovely shading.

Sadly, though, he has a chunk that was carved out of a hoof and then painted over at the factory.

And, his off hind leg does not stand flat on the ground. (I am seeing more and more Breyers with uneven hooves like that.) 

Overall, though, I am quite happy with the models I received. 

A Bump Before BreyerFest

With BreyerFest fast approaching, this time of year is always busy in the model horse world. Like everyone else, I am busy, too, except... 

I hit a bump in the road. Not even four weeks after being sick with COVID, I was positive again! 

Last week I had some very mild symptoms and took a home test as a precaution. That was positive, so I called my doctor and she had me come in for one at her office. Same results - positive.

This has really brought home to me what being at high risk means.  And, had I not already been staying home from BreyerFest, I would've changed plans and not gone. Luckily, my symptoms were very mild and only lasted 24 hours so I have been able to keep busy as I isolate at home.

My BreyerFest tickets arrived and, like everyone else, I am loving that ticket book - it's beautiful! I am pleased with the two selections that I got (my first two picks!) but I still want the Rotating Draft Surprise.

Having to isolate at home while feeling healthy and well has allowed me to get some things done that I have been putting off.

Such as contacting Sue Kern and scheduling some repair work for a couple of broken models.

Horsiemama's Haversacks has had steady business for months now...

... and isolating at home gives me more time than usual to sew. 

Preparing for FAMulous and sewing for Jolis Chevaux (those racks of finished 18th century clothing) has kept me busy while I've been home, too.

I miss Abby, but Tim and Barn Buddy Kelsey are wonderful about keeping an eye on her. Tim just trimmed her hooves for me and sent me this photo.

I will isolate a few days past the CDC's recommended time just to be safe, and I should be able to be out and about again early next week.

In the meantime, I have a busy day ahead of me today at the sewing machine and then sorting ribbons for FAMulous.

 

Meet Lorie Black & Pampered Pony Pockets

Yesterday, a HUGE bag of pony pockets arrived from Lorie Black of Pampered Pony Pockets. They are a donation to FAMulous and Lorie was very generous in what she sent.

I invited Lorie to share a little bit about her sewing business here on Horsiemama.

She sews six different sizes, and each one has a clear plastic pocket for a show tag

and a larger plastic pocket for documentation cards, hang tags, etc.

Lorie has been protecting people's model horse investments since 2008. Inventory changes often, so she recommends that you check her eBay store frequently. (You can also go to pamperedponypockets.com.)

Lorie's pockets are deluxe with padding, fleece lining, and usually a horsey themed outer fabric. The flap has hook and loop closures.

She offers a 10% discount for orders over $50 and says to scan the QR code on the business card to be taken straight to her store.

So, how did Lorie get started?  Back in 2008, a friend who owned a tack shop contacted her when customers asked if they knew someone who could make them. She made those ladies their pockets, and they took them to a live show where other hobbyists saw them and asked where they could get them. The business took off from there, and now Lorie has an industrial machine upon which she sews every single one -  she is a one-gal operation!

Thanks again, Lorie, for your generous donation to The FAMulous Collectibility Show and for sharing about your pony pockets. 

FAMulous Raffle Donations

It was fun listening to the Mares in Black podcast yesterday - Heather and Jackie are really nice ladies to chat with. They also made us feel relaxed and as though it was simply a group of friends talking rather than an interview with an audience who would be listening in later. Thanks, ladies!

As I said yesterday, FAMulous is fast approaching and my focus this week is to get a couple of things ready and off the to-do list. I've started with raffle donations and we have some good ones! 

Some time ago, Cristine Holt sent me four large boxes of model horse things to use for donations or to keep. I kept a traditional parade saddle set and a western saddle set, but have been donating the other items, like these Arabian bridles, to shows in Cristine's name.

Most of what Cristine sent me is from before 2003 or so. (Actually, I think that may be a traditional saddle. Oops!)

Does anyone know who this tack maker is?  The craftsmanship is lovely.

I can only imagine the difficulty of making a saddle for a Stablemate.

Makes my hands hurt just thinking about it.

 

And look at that tiny headstall - can you imagine the work that went into skiving the leather lace?

Cristine also donated this western doll.

In 2020, with fingers crossed, I bought a case of Stablemates hoping to get the chase piece Indian pony in a blue/gold dapple.

Luck was with me - she was the very first piece I opened! 

That left me with a bunch of models I did not really want (although I kept a woodgrain Clydesdale, a charcoal Fighting Stallion, and a pinto Indian Pony) so I have been donating those to shows, too.

I have more donations to photograph later today so that Allison can start putting them on our show's web site. Also on my list for this week is to sort the ribbons, make the show curtains for the photo booth, and work on judges' gifts.

It's going to be a fun week! 

(Donations are welcome! Email me at horsiemama8@gmail.com.)

Mares in Black Podcast has Dropped!

It's dropped! Come take a listen. And thanks, Heather and Jackie - it was fun chatting with you!

https://mares-in-black.simplecast.com/episodes/mares-in-black-bonus-episode-allison-pareis-and-lynn-isenbarger

The FAMulous Collectibility Show

The Mares in Black podcast that Allison and I are on has not yet dropped (except to patreon listeners.) I am checking several times a day and will put a notice here when it is available.

In the meantime, thinking about that made me check the calendar and good night!! The FAMulous Collectibility Show is only six weeks away! Suddenly I feel the need to go through tubs and double check to make sure all is ready.

We have a stellar slate of judges: Kelly Weimer, Liz Cory, Liz LaRose, Jamie Rott, and Steff Bodamer. They are some of the top judges in the hobby! 

In the podcast we talk about a prank Allison pulled on Liz when she posted Liz's bio. 

See that tee shirt Liz is holding? It's not actually a Purdue tee - Liz is an Iowa alumnus and it's actually an Iowa tee. She was at my home for Happy Trails and Purdue and Iowa were playing each other in football that day so Liz and I bantered throughout the show as to which team would win. Using her media skills, Allison changed the tee's logo from Iowa to Purdue on the FAMulous web site.

Allison makes medallions and other prizes for our show and I order the ribbons. 

We are upgrading our photo booth, too. Action Stan will still be there, of course,

but I am working on show drapes using a customized FAMulous fabric.

I am super excited about this fabric and have several ideas as to how to use it for other things as well.

We are accepting raffle donations - if you'd like to donate something, contact me at horsiemama8@gmail.com. (And thank you!)

Six weeks?? Yikes! Tick! Tick! Tick! Tick!

Marguerite Henry - a New Biography

About a year ago, Wall Street Journal columnist and author Lettie Teague contacted The Misty of Chincoteague Foundation and shared that she had an idea for a biography about Marguerite Henry. She asked to talk to the board about it.

We listened and liked what she had to say, and then provided some support for her as she traveled and researched. (To read about my involvement with the MCF, go here.)

Fast forward a year, and the project has moved forward and now has a publisher with a release scheduled for 2024.

Dr. Rebecca Giusti, who serves on the Board of Directors for The Misty of Chincoteague Foundation, responded to the news that the book was, indeed, going to be published. This is the full text of her response:

The Misty of Chincoteague Foundation Board is eagerly anticipating the new biography on the life of award- winning author and mentor, Marguerite Henry.

Marguerite Henry was a tenacious and thorough researcher, a great writer and a visionary. She was determined to carve out her own life and body of work and do it her way.

Part of her brilliance was reaching out to artist Wesley Dennis. With her words and his vivid illustrations, readers are transported across countries and oceans and in many cases, history is burst into colorful and vivid life. Her works are actually crossroads that appeal to a huge audience; potential and current artists, writers, travelers, explorers, historians and animal lovers. Distant places such as Meknes, Morocco, Siena, Italy, and Vienna, Austria become tangible and real to young readers.  With her book, Misty of Chincoteague, she put Chincoteague and Assateague Islands on the map and they now draw huge crowds and tourism during Pony Penning and year-round. Vermont and the Grand Canyon are now viewed within the context of the American-bred Morgan horse and an unforgettable donkey, Brighty who helped solve a murder.

Many of the characters in her books are young and are role models to all her read her works. They must often overcome challenges, demonstrate sound work ethic, and all have compassion to those around them, especially animals that are vulnerable to the whims of humans. 

After the Storm of 1962 that decimated the herd of wild Assateague ponies, Marguerite Henry toured with Misty and Stormy to raise money to help replenish the herd.

Her book, Dear Readers and Riders, was a brilliant stroke.  Through this work, her mentorship and guidance transcend her death and offers practical and no-nonsense advice to the younger generation while simultaneously igniting passion for imagination and the concept of no limits.

But who is this woman who accomplished so much in her lifetime? 

In the current times, we often discuss women of Ms. Henry's generation and their accomplishments against the backdrop of a male-dominated environment. One would not hear that from Ms. Henry. What seemed to matter to her was what you accomplished as a human being. You are not defined by the times. You define the times you are in. And she did, with strength, dedication and for the sheer joy of living and creating. 

While we can glean something of the author through her own works, we are so excited to hear about Marguerite's amazing life and drive in a book dedicated to her!

Here is the press release from Trafalgar Square Books:

For Immediate Release

Biography of Marguerite Henry, Beloved Author of Horse Books, to Come from Trafalgar Square Books

Trafalgar Square Books (www.HorseandRiderBooks.com) is thrilled to announce a deal with Wall Street Journal columnist Lettie Teague to write a biography of Marguerite Henry, beloved author of 59 books, including the famed Misty of Chincoteague; King of the Wind; and Justin Morgan Had a Horse. Teague is the winner of three James Beard Awards for her writing and the author of three books. She is also a horse lover—her first horseback ride took place around the same time as the first time she read a Marguerite Henry book, at the age of nine.  

“Lettie Teague’s skilled writing, extensive journalistic experience, and personal connection to both horses and the books Marguerite Henry wrote about them make her the ideal individual to take on this exciting and challenging project,” says TSB Managing Editor Rebecca Didier. “The preliminary research she has already done in the existing archives and the contacts she has made promise to yield a rich and wonderful telling of the life of a massively influential writer and truly remarkable woman.”

An accurate and entertaining chronicle of Marguerite Henry’s evolution as a writer (she published her first story at age eleven), extensive travels (she visited many of the places she wrote about in her books, including Siena, Italy; Vienna, Austria; Reno, Nevada; Lexington, Kentucky; and of course, the island of Chincoteague in Virginia), and grand friendship with illustrator Wesley Dennis, whose artwork graced the pages of 15 Henry books, will require cooperation from the important groups who continue to work today to preserve the Henry legacy. TSB is grateful to the University of Minnesota, which houses the Henry archives, for working with Teague. In addition, TSB and Teague are excited to have the blessing of The Misty of Chincoteague Foundation, a group of educators, professionals, business people, artists, and children of all ages, which works “to promote literacy, writing, and conservation of places that allow the imagination to soar unfettered.” 

“The Misty of Chincoteague Foundation Board is eagerly anticipating the new biography on the life of award-winning author and mentor, Marguerite Henry,” says Board Director Rebecca Giusti. “Henry was a tenacious and thorough researcher, a great writer, and a visionary. She was determined to carve out her own life and body of work and do it her way…. While we can glean something of the author through her own works, we are so excited to hear about Marguerite Henry's amazing life and drive in a book dedicated to her!”

The biography of Marguerite Henry is scheduled for release in 2024.

For more information about this book or author Lettie Teague, contact Martha Cook (mcook@trafalgarbooks.com). 

End of Press Release

I love Marguerite Henry and her books, and have been delighted to serve on the board of MCF, the foundation that Marguerite herself started. Being a small part of the production of a biography that honors her life and legacy is a real thrill.

45th Anniversary Celebration: Dinner & Cake!

(Second post of the day.)

Iowa City is one of my favorite places to visit, and whenever we do, we go to dinner at the Iowa River Power Restaurant.

Situated on the banks of the Iowa River, it's an old power plant that has been repurposed into a restaurant with beautiful views of the Iowa River. (You can bet that this girl who grew up on the Wabash is happy when she is on a river again.)

Our kids threw us an anniversary dinner party there and the restaurant gave us a quiet corner with lovely views of the river. Family members mixed and mingled when seated. (Susie, Trinity, Craig, JC, Julie, Mila, and Kate.)

Lukie, Todd, Cole, Emily, Sarah, and Lisa.

Ian, Titan, Cambria, Jessica, Andrew, Vanessa, and Curt. (Our Florida family, isolating due to COVID and unable to join us, was missed terribly!)

We have eaten out most anniversaries, but I've never had this happen to my plate before!

Neither had Craig! (We think they used fry sauce for the writing.)

The wait staff brought out a lovely cake with a large candle/sparkler on top.

And afterward, Craig and I had to duck through the family tunnel. (Our family is pretty partial to doing these tunnels.)

The wait staff was outstanding, and they even took  time to take our photograph afterward.

The cake came home with us for serving (Lisa made cupcakes for the littles) and Craig and I cut and served it wedding-style. 

Look at Craig's face when I hand him his piece of cake - it's very clear what he is thinking. And... it happened.

Such a lovely evening together! And a big thanks to our family for organizing it for us.