BOO & More

My mornings currently have a new routine that's been added in. I am one of the stewards for BOO, the Breyer Online Open Show. And stewarding is in full swing right now.

BOO is held on the PonyBytes platform just as Breyer Boot Camp is, so I am familiar with the format of the show as well as the formatting that entrants need to use to enter their models. (And which stewards are responsible for checking to be sure is correct.) 

I look over new entries every morning, and I am one week into the process with one more week to go before the galleries close and stewarding finishes up.

Entries close today at noon EDT, so if you haven't entered but want to, head over the Breyer and enter! It's a fun, well run show and the stewards and other staff are happy to help if you have questions or are unsure about how to proceed.

Speaking of Breyer, Barn Buddy Kelsey and I finally had schedules that matched and I got my BreyerFest models! I also got to spend some time chatting with her - she is such a nice lady and a good friend.

We met where she works and thank goodness she sent me a map with the employee parking lot circled - the Lafayette Cargill plant is enormous! (See those train cars of grain on the tracks waiting to offload?) And as I sat in the employee parking lot waiting to meet up with her, semi truck after semi truck rolled up and into a long line of trucks to deliver even more grain.

Kelsey is a scientist who examines and then grades (or even rejects) the grain for quality, among other things. Sadly, she had a meeting to attend and we didn't get to chat very long, but we are hoping to meet for lunch soon. My BreyerFest models are not yet opened - hopefully later  today.

One last bit of Breyer news (there hasn't been much lately, aside from BOO.)

There is a Classic/Freedom test run Andalusian stallion available. You can enter to be drawn for it, and the cost is $800 if you win. Not many Andalusians have been in Breyer's line-up for a while, and most likely that is because Breyer has termed the mold as "delicate."

Collectors Club members have until September 15 at 11/59 PM to enter for it if interested.

Don't forget the September Give Away - this month its a blackened beeswax ornament! To enter, comment on any blog post posted September 12 through Sunday evening, September 15, 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

I'll try to get a second blog entry posted later this morning. Stay 'tooned!

The BreyerFest 2024 Quagga

It's never good when a box arrives looking like this.

And with only that odd, honeycombed paper wrapped around the model, I was worried that the contents might be damaged. 

Fortunately, my Quagga was okay.

When this mold first came out as a Zebra, I passed it over.

But then the candy striped Christmas Zebras came out and I was all in - I have all four and love them.

I don't have Coal, the black one, but I'm fine with that. (Photo by Breyer.) 

What I'd really like, and did try to get at the time, was the BreyerFest 2015 Caves of Lascaux. (Photo from Identify Your Breyer.)

Having missed him and regretted it, I tried to get the Quagga this year but did not.

Fortunately, there were some available in the Second Chance Sale and I snagged one before they all sold out.

Those white stripes are such a brilliant white that I wondered about them being chalky. Look at their color compared to the white on his legs. But how would Breyer do that? Regardless, I like the effect.

I'm still waiting on the Indian Pony from the Second Chance Sale. Somehow, it got hung up in shipping but it is on its way at last. And I still need to get together with Barn Buddy Kelsey to pick up the BreyerFest models that Liz gave her at Marilou's show. It's not Kesley's fault that our schedules have not aligned; it's mine. 

I don't mind waiting, and besides, that gives me something to look forward to - new models and chatting with Kelsey. It's gonna be fun!

The Indy Blooms Swap Meet

It didn't take too much in the way of car Jenga to get everything to the Indy Blooms swap meet yesterday.

Rather than bringing my haversacks in tubs, I tried something new this time and had them already sorted into baskets by size and ready to set out on the table when I arrived. 

The Stablemate and Curios had to go into the trunk along with some sales models and my wagon.

It was a huge time saver when I unpacked the car to have things already sorted and ready to just set onto the table.

But despite having done a practice set up at home, I discovered that I did not have enough table space for everything I'd brought. 

The tea towels and the show aprons had no room on the table so I set a tub in the wagon

and those on top of it. It worked! I sold several towels and show aprons while there.

I haven't done inventory yet, but I'll do that as soon as I can - gotta get ready for Midwest Mini Mayhem next weekend!

Seeing friends at a model horse gathering is always the best part for me. Marilou Mol (right) is a long time hobby friend.

She's also a retired principal and we have had some good conversations about teaching and students in addition to model horses.

Dear friend Michelle Evans was there, too. She has been in the hobby since its earliest days and was kind enough to watch my table so I could take a break and walk around the floor a little. 

I appreciate that she did - because I was selling, I really did not get to walk around as much as I'd like. 

Surprisingly, the foot traffic was light and most people buying from me were vendors themselves. That is too bad because the variety of items for sale was really good and the venue was well lit and open. Chelsea and Robin do an excellent job of planning and organizing. 

Despite fewer buyers than anticipated, my things sold well and it was definitely worth the time and gas to participate. If I can, I plan to go back next year.

Barn Buddy Kelsey got held up back in Lafayette and didn't arrive until 7:30. Although the hours for the swap meet went until 8:00, most people were packing up early and she didn't get to see much. She helped me load my car and then we went to dinner together. 

Her suggestion to eat at Parky's Smokehouse was a good one. The food was outstanding and almost everything is made in house from scratch. (Local Son Curt is a huge BBQ lover and I am going to see if he'd like to join Craig and me for lunch or dinner there.)

But there was something else about Parky's that Kelsey and I got a kick out of, even though it startled both of us the first time that it rolled by.

Robot delivery to help the wait staff keep up with serving the customers! With a smiley face on its screen!

That was animated and even blinked!

There were several of them rolling around and she and I found it very amusing to watch them heading out into the dining room to bring folks their food.

It was a little after 10:00 when I finally got home, happily greeted at the door by Pepper and Tammo, and then wading through them to hug Craig. 

Craig was doubly glad to see me come home - Lisa's dogs spend the day with us on Fridays and while all four dogs are friendly, happy, and well behaved,

still, four big dogs take up a lot of space and need a lot of "backyard time." I love this picture of them taken just before I left for Indy Blooms - I'd run upstairs to grab something, and naturally the pack followed me. Nashie is licking his chops because he thinks I might have have some food to share. (Actually, they are all thinking that!)

Anyway! The Indy Blooms Swap Meet was a fun event and I enjoyed seeing long time friends and meeting lots of new ones. Now it's time to shift gears and get ready for Midwest Mini Mayhem, just a week from today!

Stay 'tooned!

Barn Buddy Kelsey's Sheepish Side

Last week was the Indiana State Fair. As usual, Barn Buddy Kelsey attended. But she wasn't there as spectator, she was there as an exhibitor!

Her family lives in southern Indiana and raises North Country Cheviots, a breed that originated in Scotland. (All photos are from Kelsey.)

Aren't they pretty? Kelsey goes home when it's fair week and helps her parents and brothers get the sheep ready for the fair. She then heads to Indianapolis and helps out while they are at the fairgrounds. 

She told me that to show a sheep, you hold a hand under their jaw and one over their neck behind the ears while you walk them around the show ring.

Sheep are spooky and more accident prone than horses. She called this yearling ram naughty,

but the judge didn't seem to mind that display of spirit. The Kramers won Grand Champion North Country Cheviot Ram! (Those are her brothers with the judge and ram.)

Congratulations, Kelsey and Kramer family!

BreyerFest: And the FOMO Begins

Here I am surrounded by some of those who I love the most, and I am feeling left out. Hard to believe, right?

But yesterday I left a big box and two white envelopes on the porch for Barn Buddy Kelsey to come and get and that has triggered the blues.

Inside the box was a mummified, bubble wrapped, packing peanutted Beswick Drafter that is being delivered to Jennifer Buxton at BreyerFest. 

The white envelopes were my BreyerFest tickets. Kelsey was kind enough to agree to deliver my box and pick up my models for me this year since I cannot go.

I'm very grateful for Kelsey's help, don't get me wrong. But with the Beswick and the tickets now out of my hands, the reality has hit that I'm attending BreyerFest virtually this year and not in person. I won't be seeing my friends, I won't be wandering the Clarion, and I won't be attending seminars and strolling through the barns of the Kentucky Horse Park.

By the same token, I will be watching the live feed, participating in the virtual seminars, and staying cool and comfortable at home.

I have access to my own "horse park" where I can walk around and see the sights and pet the beautiful horses.

And Craig and I will go out to eat at Bob Evans as that is where he and I went to eat when we went to BreyerFest in person.

Finally, I will look forward to Kelsey's return and seeing what she brought home to me!

Don't worry about me - I'll be okay.

The Big Orange Bash

I didn't go to The Big Orange Bash in Tennessee last Saturday, but Barn Buddy Kelsey did! In fact, she was one of the judges for the show. Thoughtful as ever, Kelsey sent me some photos as the day progressed.

I'm at Clover Classic today, showing and selling haversacks while my sister helps me, so I thought I'd post these so you would get a little live show experience yourselves.

I don't see a single person I recognize.

but there sure are some gorgeous horses. And that's a cool ring identifier in the photo above!

I do recognize the Clydesdale - it was owned by a GLC member so I have seen that piece in person before.

Ok, for some reason, this picture gave me FOMO - I really wanted to be at the show chatting with friends, and having fun!

Gorgeous ribbons for gorgeous horses.

The rosettes are eye catching.

And they also change - is the coloring dependent upon division?

Thanks for letting me share your pics, Kelsey! And I'll see you at Clover Classic today!

 

FOMO is Real

FOMO is real. It is especially real for this big guy. I've never known such a nosy, in your business, kind of dog.

If you are doing something (and that includes napping), Nash will be right there with you. And when he visits us, he checks out the entire house and then the front and back yard until he is assured that all is well. He follows you around all day to be sure things remain that way.

I've laughed at Nash's desire to be included in everything happening around here many times. Well, yesterday, he would have laughed at ME. I had my own case of FOMO for the Collectors Club Appreciation Event.

I waffled back and forth all morning - was I going to participate or not? 

I wouldn't mind having a glossed Peptoboonsmal or MorganQuest Native Sun, and I'd be okay with a glossy Aidah HP, but I absolutely do not care for Sjeord and would sell or trade it if I got one. Hmmmm... Should I or shouldn't I?

Barn Buddy Kelsey and I texted for a while, chatting about who we might want and whether or not we'd participate. As the start time for the event approached, I was still waffling. Would I or wouldn't I?

I glanced at the clock and yikes! The event had started! Being late to the party was all the prompt I needed to run upstairs and open my computer. (Thanks, FOMO.) After all, I was just going to check things, not buy anything, yet. Right?

Yeah, right. Ten minutes later...

I texted Kelsey to see what she'd decided to do, and she'd ordered as well. I discovered that, like me, she has a soft spot for Breyer's cake and ice cream models and had ordered Neapolitan, too! (I have them all, including Black Forest from BreyerFest 22.)

My luck has been very good recently with Breyer's gambler's choices or drawings. I'm hoping that trend will continue and that I will not get Sjeord.

No doubt Mr. FOMO will help me open the box when it arrives.