Kori's Shawl/Scarf

Just beginning to pull yarns for a commissioned piece...a shawl/scarf...My customer wants vibrant, rainbow of colors, wide like 20 inches or so...

I don't know what I'm doing yet.  I just pulled everything that appealed to me and dumped it into a couple of totes.  I will know more when I start to make the warp.  I think I'll make two shawls...about 6 yards total and maybe 20 inches wide...about 350 threads...hmmm...I love beginnings...

And of course here are the boys this morning.  Django in the foreground, Ronan in the middle, and Dakota last.  This is totally their pecking order as well.

On a sadder note, my barn kitty, Mieux, went missing two days ago.  I have loved her for 14 years...and can't tell you how much I miss her little presence.  I walked all around the farm calling in case I could hear her hurt and needing me but nothing.  Nothing on the road, food still in her dish...Losing companions is such a painful process. 

xo

Django

Ahhhhh Django!  We had a lovely ride this morning.  My friend Sandy on Duke and me on Django.  No one to take photos however...It was cool, no bugs, and a wonderful way to start the day!  Sandy is taking lessons on Duke for the first time in her life at 60!  Brave woman.  And already out riding in the field.  And I love having someone to ride with as I get acquainted with Django.  Tomorrow after our ride another friend is coming out and we will work on the ground with things Django is not used to...things like tarps and umbrellas...and quietly introduce scary stuff and work on his confidence.  I am falling in love with this horse.  I am so comfortable being around him and he loves the attention...quite a difference from Ellie.

Speaking of Miss Ellie...Sandy and I went to a little horse show at SLU last Saturday and saw Miss Ellie jumping!  She is doing so well...not as b*tchy either.  Standing quietly...jumping quietly...I am soooo happy she has the right home.  And her new owner, Jerry, rides her almost every day to put some miles on her--something I couldn't do.

Hopefully this weather will hold and we can ride in the coolness of the mornings!  Meanwhile Happy Friday!
xo

My horses...

Django and Duke are getting along well.  Here is Django coming in from the field because he just realized that Duke was already in.  Didn't expect to see Gary and a scary wheelbarrow.  He is such a personality here.  And has a mind of his own for sure!  Like when we come back from riding in the field and I want to go left to work in the ring and he wants to go right to the barn...I'm trying to work on making it more interesting to work in the ring...working on patterns so there is something new and he doesn't know what to expect.

Duke is being a trooper about being a lesson horse again.  He is a little resistive...like moving away from the mounting block when  Sandy tries to mount up.  And I have him on MSM for his muscles.  And he stops trotting whenever he feels like it so it is hard for her to get a rhythm going so she can work on her posting.  But to give him credit, I don't think anyone ever really trained him.  He is just good-natured enough to follow the lead horse and rarely if ever gives anyone a problem.

I have not been weaving at all.  Not sure why.  But obviously I need a break so I'm not concerned.

I've been getting acupuncture once a week for over a month now.  I was concerned about some itching going on...too reminiscent of when I got sick.  And fatigue, always.  I'm going to continue for a while longer.  After the last treatment I had a meltdown.  Poor Gary...the front of his shirt was teary.  In any case my acupuncturist said she wasn't surprised.  The emotional component of healing or something.  And then the next day I slept for 12 hours straight!  Weird.

So  I am totally feeling like a work in progress!  But my sister, Faith, is coming tomorrow!  YAY!  I can't wait to see her!  Like a mini-vacation!

xo

Post Italy...

OK everything is now either before Italy or after Italy...I need to go back.  Seriously.  I felt so healthy over there.  Walking, eating, drinking wine, listening to Italian.  What more can you ask for?

I know...I missed the entire month of May...and maybe even most of April.  I've become fixated on the quickness of Facebook (or addicted, as Noah tells me).

But back to Potsdam.  We had three graduations...Alex from Clarkson with his Masters in Engineering, Victoria (Alex's significant other) from SUNY Potsdam with her Masters and Noah from Skidmore with his Bachelor degree.  Alex has a job down in Groton, CT starting when he passes his security clearance and Noah is still debating his options...I am beyond proud of them both!

Noah with Sofia

AND Django came to stay!  Here he is relaxing with Duke standing guard.  Such a life!  He is truly a treasure.  Curious, friendly, sweet...all this plus good looking!  So I found a friend, Sandy, to ride Duke while I ride Django.  Sandy is taking lessons with me as well though Duke would rather eat and chill.  She has never ridden before, is newly retired, and this is something she always wanted to try.  Sometimes the stars align!  I had my confidence shaken by Miss Ellie and I haven't ridden in 1 1/2 years so I needed someone to keep me company.  I'm getting my legs back, working on my hands, cues, stamina.  And getting to know this amazing horse.  He is responsive and lovely.  Plus now I have someone to ride out in the fields with.  And his original owner came and stayed for a couple of days and helped tremendously with the transition.  So all is well on the farm...

And my sister (Faith) is coming for a visit soon.  I can't wait!!  Oh and I turned 65 in May.  OK that's all the big doings around here.  I have not been weaving very much because the barn beckons and the weather is amazing after a very long winter...I'm waiting for my creative spirit to kick in...anytime now.  Meanwhile, I'm riding!

xo

We have a Date!!!

We have a tentative date, anyway...April 13!!!

This gives the weather

a chance to moderate somewhat,

the snow to melt,

the sun to dry the land.

I'm telling Duke tomorrow.  He is so quiet

and seems so lonely even though he

never got along with Miss Ellie.

Speaking of Miss Ellie...she is doing fine

over at a barn nearby and the owner/trainer

is going to buy her.  She actually seems happier

there probably because they are so at ease

with b*tchy mares.

And maybe because she has mare friends

and Duke isn't kicking her.

My Alex went down near Albany for a job interview

which went well and he is expecting to

get and accept this job.  My mechanical engineer...

Noah will be home tomorrow for a week

from Skidmore.  Hopefully when he

graduates this spring he will get a job fairly

close as well.  This letting go is a little

difficult.

Yes another reason to fall in love with this horse...

And I sold this scarf already!

Just have to weave off two more!

Enjoy the weekend!

xo

I'm always playing catch-up lately!

Sometimes I just don't know where to begin...Ellie is at a boarding stable here but a very good friend is going to take her to Rochester to another barn to see if she can sell her.  Apparently they do a good job of matching up horses and riders there...All going to happen middle March.

I have been looking for a gelding and found a sweetheart over near Burlington.  I think we are a good match but we are waiting for the owner to think so, too.  We went over twice.  Rode three times.  He is friendly, curious, sensitive, very easy on the eyes, sane, energetic but not like Ellie, kind...I really liked him.  So now we are waiting to hear.  I'm sure there are better riders out there who are interested in him but I'm hoping!! AND he loves to be groomed! What can I say? Especially since Ellie didn't like being handled at all.

Here is Django!  So handsome...I would post some video but Gary took them all sideways.  sigh.

 A barred owl showed up a couple of weeks ago by the bird feeder...absolutely leaving the birds alone but we watched him catch a couple of mice or voles!  I have never seen an owl in the wild!

 My youngest brother, Stephen, got married this past Saturday to Ellen.  The wedding was in Colorado and we couldn't go.  But I really like my new sister-in-law and maybe they will come east for a visit in the summer.

I've been weaving...working on towels, wove a chenille scarf for one of my returning customers, and now just warping up for a multi-colored, mixed warp, dress scarf.

The house is leaking, my car leaks, the hot water froze going to the washing machine, the furnace stopped sometime last night and the fix-it guy is right now replacing the motor...I think this place is self-destructing.  On a positive note my Mom's house is selling so I will have some $$ to take down the old barn!  Such an eyesore.  Plus I think it is dangerous.


A dear friend came to visit a couple of weeks ago bringing me some bare branches.  A touch of spring, now!

And we are going to Italy late March...for a week!  Alex and Victoria are moving back to the house to take care of all the critters (my heartfelt thanks to them!!).  I am actually more excited about this horse than Italy though I know that is hard for my family to believe!

So...still cold...still winter!
Stay warm!
xo