Happy second birthday, Rosa!

Yeah, I've been saying I have a 2-year old since January 1st, but today is her real birthday! Let's celebrate by showing the progress we've made!

We can load in a trailer--eventually!

It takes patience on my part, but so far, she has gotten in every time I've asked. She is not a bit afraid of the trailer, it's just a weird sensation for her to step up into it (and then down to get back out), so usually she stands there and sniffs it/stares at me while I coax her in. I've been extra sure to make it a super positive experience every time, so with more practice, she'll be loading and unloading like a champ.

She can be saddled!

I had to buy a smaller girth, but she has gotten used to the feel of a saddle for the most part now. She walks, jogs, and lopes on the longe line without bucking. Next: learning to drive!

I can also sit on her, but I am not ready to start riding her yet. She's still really small and she needs to master steering/stopping while driving first.

So happy second birthday, Rosa! I can't wait until you FINALLY COMPLETELY shed out!

In other news, I am so excited with my new Kathy's halter that I can't even. Here are pictures!

It has the clear crystals...I wanted blue, but I was willing to compromise for a better price. Also it isn't the Congress cut, but I only plan on doing breed shows every now and then and I like the classic cut better.

Dirty Sienna says "Oh no, I know what this means!"

I also got a new shirt for showmanship...can you tell I'm super excited about getting back into showing?

Read More

Throw Back Thursday

I love going through old photos; whether it makes you laugh or cry (or hide your head in shame because of how awkward you looked as a teenager), there's always something to be found.

These photos from when I got Chica make me do all of the above:

Laugh, because this is still something I do with Chica (blowing into her nostrils). 

Cry, because I know that I'll never have the connection I have with her with another horse.

And cringe, because seriously, who let me leave the house like this??

Ah, the simpler days, when I only cared about riding and spending as much time with my brand new horse as I possibly could :)

Read More

It's February? Whooooa, easy...

But seriously.

It's amazing how fast time goes when you're busy. I keep lamenting that I'm ready to be done with my classes/degree, but in only 3 months, I will be! Soon it will be time to get reacquainted with my old nemesis, job searching.

Nothing too exciting has happened these last few weeks. Fiona got to experience what it was like to be an only dog for about 2 weeks while my parents kept Romeo (it wasn't intentional; they were only supposed to keep him for a couple of days but I ended up stuck at home unexpectedly). Philip and I drove down finally to go get him and, in addition to the joy of getting my big boy back, we got to enjoy steaks with my family before me, Philip, and my 70 pound (possibly heavier since he had definitely put on some fat since I last saw him) lab piled into the front seat of my truck for a two hour drive. Romeo spent a good part of the trip either staring at Philip or partially lying on him... I think he's a keeper.

The weather cooperated that weekend and Philip finally got to ride Sienna. I jumped on her first to make sure she wasn't going to be a booger, then he got on and learned, first of all, how to steer and stop, and then secondly how to get her lazy rear in gear. It took quite a few tries for him to get a trot out of her, but he was a good sport. I think he realized, however, that horseback riding is not just sitting there and letting the horse do all the work (direct quote- "You make it look so easy!"), which is an important newbie lesson :)  I also demoed Chica's abilities, which she readily performed without complaint. I know I've said it before, but I sometimes forget just how good she is until I go from riding Sienna to riding her. Not to say anything negative about Sienna; she is just SO lazy.

Since returning, it is apparent that Romeo was totally and completely spoiled by his grandparents. For instance, one of his favorite things to do now:

I don't care if he sleeps on my bed, but before staying at my parents' house (and sleeping anywhere from in their bed, to with either of my siblings, to on their couch), he was usually quite content sleeping on his huge dog bed.

Fiona is happy to have her chew toy back:

She loves her Romeo.

A few more pictures... this one is especially important since I feel like it has been a while since I've posted one of him:

He might look disdainful, but really he was waiting for me to put more food in the dish behind him. Poor Ramses is on a diet right now, as according to the vet he was about 2-3 pounds overweight. But he is slimming down now- last time I weighed him, he was at a robust 12.8 pounds! About one more pound to go and he'll be good!

Meanwhile, Rosa still does not fit in a horse sized halter- although her butt has gone up again, so she still has some growing to do...

And finally, since I don't have any recent pictures of Sienna McMudball, the queen herself:

Such a good girl.

Read More

The highly anticipated picture...

I finally had time yesterday to get a picture of Chica's brand with my tattoo... so without further delay, I present this masterpiece to you:

My heart, and my foot, belong to Chica

Chica and I are going on 13 years this February- it feels like she has always been in my life, and it's hard to remember a time before her!

While trying to yoga myself into position to get that picture, there was something going on behind me... something far more sinister than I would have ever imagined...

*cue Jaws music*

It was Sienna, and she was playing with my hair. And also making me incredibly nervous as I stood behind Chica's back feet, balanced on one foot, bracing my other against her hip.

Meanwhile, in the other pasture, Rosa was wondering why I was holding a black box up in front of her face:

Sometimes she likes me

I was sick all last week and I'm still recovering, which is the reason for the glasses... as I was getting over my cold, my right eye decided it needed to catch it from me. It seems to be clearing up now, though, just in time for my last first day of school!

Read More

A brief reprieve during a surprisingly cold winter

One day last week, the weather decided to remember that we lived in Texas and warmed up for about a day. I took the opportunity to attempt a picture of my girls (by myself) (with no one else to help hold them) (or distract them into pricking their ears forward). This was about as good as it got:

Even Sienna is bored

Sienna is usually my super photogenic one, always pricking her ears and appearing bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. However, all she wanted to do was take advantage of me crouching in front of her, not holding the leadropes, and try to graze. A lot of yelling ensued. The timid Rosa surprisingly took it all in stride, although she didn't want to get any closer than necessary to the older girls. This may perhaps be because Sienna dove at her earlier with her teeth bared, thus necessitating a switching of her and Chica.

Perhaps one day, when it isn't rainy and/or cold, I'll be able to get a better group shot. For now, we can all look at this one and appreciate my valiant, if not foolish, solo attempt.

Read More

Winter 2013, in pictures

Guys. It's 2014.

Where did the year go? I can remember like it was last month my New Year's Eve party that welcomed in 2013... and now here it is, a year later.

I'd say this last year has been pretty productive- I started my Master's program, which I will be finishing in 4.5 months, for instance. And I've only made one B so far in all of my graduate classes- a great feat if you consider my undergraduate grades (please don't). I also acquired my third horse, which was possibly done during a moment of insanity. And, things on the job front may soon be moving and shaking.

I just started back to work after a wonderful week and a half break (another monumental feat in itself) that was busy and went by way too fast. For starters, I took a couple of days to stay home and get some things done before heading to my parents' house. On Christmas day, we went to my grandparents' house, and then the next day I drove back home. The next day, I went back to my grandparents' house. And then the NEXT day I drove back down to my parents' house to hang with Philip for a few days, who came to Houston for New Year's. Here is a pictorial representation of the last couple of weeks.

The weather warmed up and I was able to give my yearling (now 2 year old) a bath- possibly the most dramatic moment of my horse career. "WHAT IS THAT!? WATER IS TOUCHING ME!!! I'M MELTING/GOING TO CHARGE YOU TO MAKE YOU STOP!" We made it through, but it was rough going for a while there.

Pouting while drying off

Philip came to CS and we did fun and exciting things like visit Santa's Wonderland and go ice skating: 

This was after I asked Santa to step away so that we could get a picture of just the two of us...

Blake took this most flattering picture at my dad's side of the family's Christmas eve party, and yes, I am posting it for all to see:

Taken while pretending to take a picture of myself...

Megan and I Vogued it up on the way to Nan-nan and Gran'dad's house in our designer sunglasses:

Megan so fly.

Romeo and Fiona snuggled one night while I got ready for bed:

Apparently Fiona needed a sleep mask

And I grinned through the pain of getting a tattoo:

Maybe grimaced is the correct verb

 

In the peeling stage, you're welcome.

  It's a shout-out to Chica, my love, who has the same thing branded on her left hip:

We are coming up on our lucky number 13 anniversary!

For NYE, Philip and I party-hopped to three different parties around Houston/Richmond/Katy, which was incredibly exhausting and will not likely be repeated again anytime soon. But we had a great time, and I am looking forward to the new year! Hope it's a great one for you!

Read More

So close!

As of 1:10 this afternoon, my classes for this semester are officially over. Can I get a "HOORAH!!!!!!!"?

Yes. Yes I can.

Last three papers for the semester! Well, minus the final paper. #buzzkill

I have one final next week for my 17th century British poetry class, but otherwise, I am done! Which means I am that much closer to starting my final semester of this degree! Yeehaw! I will continue interning for Aurora Regency through the end of the year, and then next semester I start a new internship with Musa Publishing. I will be taking one less class than I am this semester, and I am super excited about that. Both classes are electives, but my elective class this semester was much harder than my other two major classes- so, we'll see what that means.

Meanwhile, I have the horses to keep me busy and the icy weather to make me question my choices in sports. Anyone want to build me a 3-stall barn off the back of my house? Preferably one with an indoor arena and round pen? We might have to move the house to make this possible.

Read More