Worn to Bits!

Indy Blooms was so much fun and I am worn to bits! I am heading to church and then I plan to take a nice long nap this afternoon. Here's one of the hundreds of photos I took this weekend but I will begin posting blog entries MAYBE later this afternoon or (more likely) tomorrow. (I broke a crown and have a dental appointment to get it repaired at  8:00 tomorrow morning so most likely no earlier than noon.)

Steff Bodamer meeting Abby.

I'll be back to daily blogging no later than tomorrow, so stay 'tooned. I have a lot to share!

"Christmas" is Coming!

Mystery solved! Yesterday morning I got a text from Shannon Call who pointed out that I had misidentified the model that was puzzling me. We had a good discussion and I learned a lot. As we wrapped up chatting, I suggested that she stitch together our conversation and be a guest author for the blog. Shannon agreed and you can look for what she has to say to be published most likely either Saturday or Sunday. Thanks, Shannon!

I've got a busy day ahead of me today. I still need to vacuum and put the freshly washed sheets back on the bed. I need to finish the hems on the three pony pads for that last order, but other than that, all the sewing is done.

Two Hamilton-sized Traditional haversacks.

Three Welsh Pony - sized ones. (With that turned neck, she requires a special size. I had to make up a special pattern for her.)

We've had some rain overnight but are not expecting any more today.

I am hoping that, by the time Liz, Steff, and Ellen are here, things have dried up enough that we are not walking through mud to get to the herd. (All horse photos by Barn Buddy Kelsey who will also be with us.)

Last year when we visited the horses the night before Indy Blooms, Two Socks was only a couple of weeks old. No doubt they will be surprised at how big she has gotten.

And no doubt, too, that, with last night's rains, Abby will have availed herself of the refreshed mud spa and be a muddy mess. If I have time, I'll run out before everyone arrives and groom her. (Kelsey, I'll do Dolly, too, if I can!) 

Of course, I'll need to shower and change after that, so I'll have to save time to get cleaned up myself. 

Time will tell, but in the meantime, I feel like I am a kid waiting for Christmas to come!

Safe travels, ladies!

Playing Hooky

Ever have a day when all your plans go out the window? And it's not because you are sick, or that something pops up; it's because you chose not to do those plans? 

That was me yesterday. It was a beautiful day and I decided I would go antiquing.

Because it was so lovely outside, I treated myself to a long drive and went antiquing out of town. I drove across the path of one of those tornados from earlier this spring and was startled and a bit dismayed to discover that its path took it either directly through or very close to the cemetery in which Craig's folks are buried. There was a lot of damage and clean up was still ongoing. We are going to go check their graves ASAP.

I had some success as I hunted for HSOs like this nice Beswick Drafter. (Left behind but I may go back and get it after Indy Blooms.)

A Hagen Renaker mini in excellent shape and at a good price, but I left it for someone else since I already have it.

A shelf of Breyers and Hartlands. (I nabbed the Lady Phase.)

A Breyer Boxer that sadly someone had scratched patterns on. (The sides were a mess!)

China models that were paired to sell.

More chinas and a Hartland. That cat was really nice - if I go back to get the Beswick, I may bring the cat home, too.

The Lady Phase came home with me and to my surprise, was not listed in Identify Your Breyer. She also has a tail variation that is not listed there, either. 

I am sure she is a Breyer, but I am puzzled as to why she is not listed. I did find her on eBay but the listing had no information about her.

I'll do some research on her next week. In the meantime, I have haversacks to make, sheets to wash, vacuuming to do, and more as I prepare for Liz, Steff, and Ellen's arrival tomorrow.

Drive safely, ladies!

Indy Blooms Prep

The day after tomorrow, the pony party begins! Liz Cory, Steff Bodamer, and Ellen Vogel, all friends via Great Lakes Congress, are spending the weekend here. Along with Barn Buddy Kelsey, we are all heading to Indy Blooms on Saturday.

Although I did well last year, I chose not to show this year. I'm just going to hang out with my friends, help them as needed, and enjoy myself.

Just as we did last year, Friday afternoon we are going out to the barn to see the horses and Tim's horse drawn vehicle collection. (Liz, Jamie Rott, Steff, Shannon Call, and Barn Buddy Kelsey.)

There is no selling allowed at the show so I can't bring and set up Horsiemama's Mercantile, but I can deliver haversacks that folks ordered before the show. Today's plan is to make the last four of those haversacks and pack them for delivery.

I have had four orders to complete, three of which were quite large

but they will be completed today unless my hands go numb again and I have to wait to get the feeling back in them.

The other day my right hand went more than numb, it was actually paralyzed and I could not move it for a while. Absolutely no ability to bend my fingers or anything. (Not gonna lie, that scared me. Big time.)

If that does happen, I have until Saturday to complete the last few haversacks and since there are only four, I am confident that I can get them done.

Of course, then there's the cleaning, putting clean sheets on the bed, getting some groceries, and such, but I just cleaned Monday so if worse came to worst, the house is in good shape already and would not take much to prepare. (Craig and I clean together, so he will step in if for some reason I am unable. What a guy!)

I haven't gone to a show since last fall; I am so looking forward to Indy Blooms!

Spring is Here!

It's spring and the rains have stopped and the pastures and paddocks are drying up. Abby can still find that very last puddle or soupy spot to roll in, but soon that will be all dried up, too. I'm glad - I don't care much for mud. (Ice, either, for that matter.)

The horses are on pasture now, so when I go out to visit my girl, she's no longer across several acres of mud and pasture at the hayrack. Visits are much easier.

Well, in a manner of speaking. I may not have to walk out to her, but now everyone wants to visit with me and it can be tough to give Abby the attention she wants.

Two Socks just had her first birthday. She's huge! That's her investigating my hair.  That boldness she exhibited at birth is still there and she is turning out to be a really nice little mare.

She even sasses her mama and tells her to back off at times.

(Meanwhile, Abby is still trying to get some attention from me. LOL)

Look at how big Two Socks is - Sultanna is a big boned mare and it looks like Two Socks is as well. (That's Two Socks on the left.)

Ever seen a horse stick its neck out and shake? I happened to catch Abby just as she did so.

Talk about an unflattering pose! Despite having 24/7 access to hay and pasture, I think she needs some weight. I may have her teeth checked to make sure there isn't a problem.

Hokey, like Abby and Dolly, is getting older. He and Abby are in their 20s and I think Dolly is, too. I am glad that we had a very mild winter with little snow and ice or temperatures below zero. They have barns that they can go in and out by choice, but their aging and care is more and more on my mind.

Having said that, I know that Tim is also aware of the older equines in the herd and mindful of how they are doing when the weather is rough. He is an excellent barn owner and works to keep them all healthy.

My plan this week is to help Abby finish shedding with a couple of deep groomings (which she will love.) Kelsey and I have a bit of a pony party weekend - Indy Blooms is this weekend and some GLC friends will be staying with me. Kelsey and I are taking everyone to the barn for a horse visit and then going to dinner Friday night. We'll be at the show all day and then probably go to dinner Saturday night. Should be fun.

Meanwhile, I'm hoping the last of the mud will dry up so that Abby doesn't undo my grooming!

Another Phony Pony!

 Thanks to Diana Dubbeld, I have another phony pony in my collection!

Knowing my love of circus ponies, she alerted me to a Shiken, Kelvin, or Bradley that was listed on eBay.

At only $16, I didn't even think - I bought the pony then and there. 

Shiken, Kelvin, and Bradley made a variety of these, including one that is a copy of Hagen Renaker's early Head Up Circus Pony, even in the same color of black and white. I started calling these Phony Ponies as a result.

Shiken put their name on the labels. My new piece's label simply says "Bone China Japan" so I am reasonably sure it was not made by Shiken.

Kelvins have long, straight plumes and a different eye, plus the name is on the label - doubtful that this is a Kelvin.

That leaves the possibility of a Bradley or an unknown company. The eyes are similar as is the harness but the labels don't match.

The piece above is in a reference book of mine, paired with my new piece, but there is a blank spot where the company should be listed. Apparently the author could not figure it out either.

But I'm not too worried about tracking down the company. They make me happy regardless.

They are fun to play around with and since they are inexpensive, I don't worry too much about possibly breaking them. (I'm still careful, of course.)

Can you spot the real Hagen Renaker in this group of Head Up Ponies? (Hint: Check out the hooves.)

I've even taken some of my phony ponies to shows. With that many (I don't know any more; I really should count how many phonies I have now) there are opportunities for scenes and other fun.

I did well with this entry about the Phony Pony Circus at a GLC show a few years ago.

Thanks so much, Diana, for sending me that link. I love these cute knock offs, and am so glad to add another to my collection!

Kids' Clothes/Adults' Clothes

Every time Pony Pal Mila zips by in another dress like this one, I think, "Why don't they make dresses like that for adults? Don't they know we love horses, too?" (Albeit that's a unicorn on her dress. But still!))

I do have one horse dress that I got online from Kerrits and it is so comfy I've ended up wearing it around the house and outdoors in the summer, before bedtime, and any time I just want to relax. 

And it's the only horsey dress I have - I really would rather not wear the same clothes day after day, even if they are horsey and comfy.

They make a lot of horsey children's clothes and Mila seems to prefer horsey/unicorny designs over others.

 I guess I'll have to remain with horsey tee shirts and the like.  And...

My live show shoes, shown here with Mila's unicorn shoes.

And Lukie's favorite crocs.  I actually have two pairs of my live show shoes. 

The dress I have matches these nicely, but I discovered that there was a bit of a modesty problem with the dress while showing - I had to be careful bending over tables and such! Whoops! 

Note to self - when I find another adult horsey dress, check the modesty/showability factor first!

Misty Update

Rescuing the Beebe Ranch continues to move forward. Half the money has been raised to buy the land, and David Landsberger, a philanthropist on the island has offered to match donations of up to $100,000.00. The Museum of Chincoteague Island (source of my information) writes that the original ranch was about 100 acres and as time went on, bits and pieces were sold off. What is now threatened by a developer is the very last ten acres.

The asking price for what is left of the ranch is $6325,000 with half of that amount already having been raised due to donations from around the world, local fundraisers, and more. The campaign began on February 24 (2023) and $325,000 is in the coffers at this point. Incredible!

Current donations are part of that matching program by Landsberger as I write, so donating now will make your donation double.

A direct quotation from TMoCI's April, 2023 Newsletter:

"If you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation to Save the Beebe Ranch, donations can be made through the Museum of Chincoteague Island website, GoFundMe or by mailing a check payable to the Museum of Chincoteague Island (noting the donation is for the Beebe Ranch) to PO Box 352 Chincoteague Island, VA, 23336. For further information, please feel free to call the museum directly at 757-336-6117.

Cindy Faith
Executive Director"

Breyer has also stepped up to support the purchase of the Beebe Ranch. An auction of Misty and Stormy in gold pinto has been posted for a couple of days now. 

Photos from Breyer Model Horses.

As I write Saturday morning, there are 36 bids with the high bidder at $8000.00 Bidding ends today, April 22, at 1:00 PM EDT.

We are halfway to what is needed to save Misty's ranch - we can do this!

Resource for information: The Museum of Chincoteague April, 2023 Newsletter, 7125 Maddox Ave., Chincoteague Island, VA

The Jar

Earlier this month, Jennifer Buxton wrote a blog post about a cherished hoof pick from her childhood and how it represented her hopes to have a horse of her own some day.

"That reminds me of my jar," I mused. "I should pull it out and look at it."

I knew exactly where it was, even after all these years.

On my bedside table, full of cash from my 1974 (!) trip to Europe that "some day" I'll distribute to the Cowpokes and the Pony Pals.

It's an old Ball canning jar, but like Jennifer's hoof pick, what it represents are my hopes and dreams to have a horse.

The cash that originally was in it was money I earned babysitting. Along with the money was a note, "Dear Thief, this is money for my horse. Please do not steal it. Thanks. Lynn"

Yeah, right, like someone robbing your home would leave a jar of cash alone! But a horse crazy eleven year old whose heart is full of dream wasn't taking any chances on protecting her money!

No thief ever entered our home and when I got Amy, my Dad paid for her and I used the accumulated money to buy her saddle.

I remember running my hands all over it, feeling that soft leather and smelling the leather - still one of my favorite scents. 

I remember thinking, "My dreams have come true!" and the happiness in knowing that I helped make them happen by working for them. Such a feeling!

So much so that the saddle is in the barn at Tim's and the jar remains on my bedside table, just as it did when I was a kid. More childhood memories are in it beside the European money.

A show bill from a long ago horse show. (I carried the flag in the pre-show parade around the grounds - a big thrill at the time.)

A joke in our family about meaningful possessions and things gets said about the glass jar. "That's going to the nursing home with me!"

And it will. (Hopefully a long time in the future! Hah!)