Interesting Morning

This morning I noticed the cows were acting funny out in the pasture. They were all grouped up and then would run. I got the binoculars out to see what was going on. I could see a large gray something in the pasture with them. I threw on the carharts, grabbed a gun and out I went. I shut the electric fence off and started walking out to the cows. Ava thought that she should join me and was headed out to the pasture too. As I got closer I could see what the cows were messing with. It was a coyote!!! As Ava got close to it, it took off like a shot and she was right on his heels. Of course he was headed for the woods on the other side of our property and she was gonna stop chasing him no matter how much I yelled. I fired the gun up in the air because she is afraid of gun shots, but that didn't slow her down. I was headed to the truck to go look for her and I saw her coming back. I think she chased him to the edge of our property and came back. I checked her over to make sure she didn't tangle with him, but she didn't have a scratch. Thank God for that because she is due for her rabies shot right now.

The horse vet is scheduled to come today to give shots and pull Coggins for all of my horses. Of course the weather has to be crappy and cold today. I'm hoping that there won't be any problems for them getting down the drive, since it rained last night. It doesn't look like it should be bad, but who knows. DH did a ton of work on the drive trying to get the water to shed off to the side instead of pooling in the drive.

Tomorrow I start a series of classes at the LQS on the new sewing machine I bought last month. DH has several pairs of pants that need to be hemmed, so hopefully I will learn how to do that on this machine. I've got a couple days of basic machine use and then a couple of days of embroidery training. I'm looking forward to it because I have the software to do some cool embroidery stuff, but I don't know how to use it. These class are one day a week, so its gonna be a month before I learn how to do everything, but it will be worth the wait.

Home Again

I made it home from Portland, OR/Vancouver, WA very late Sunday night. It was a great week out there. I learned alot at the classes I took and I got to spend some much needed time with my sister. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to go out there. The flights were a bit rough, however. There must be something about Portland because my flight in was rough and my flight out was rough. The airport is right at the western edge of the Columbia River Gorge, so I think it gets alot of wind. The whole flight to Minneapolis had alot of turbulence. I saw the radar once we got to MN and it showed some serious storms. We were flying at 37,000 feet, but we still had the rough air. We were late taking off out of MN due to an international flight that arrived late. They had to use our gate area, so we couldn't get on the plane until after they cleared out. Once we got to Detroit we couldn't get off the plane because the jet-way wasn't working. We stood waiting on the plane for 20 minutes before they got it fixed. All in all it wasn't bad, but I just felt like venting. Anyway, I had a great time with my sister and the area is so beautiful. I thought we had pretty country areas here, it is absolutely stunning there. The picture here is of the Columbia River Gorge.

I went back to work yesterday, but I was a bit late because of getting home so late the night before. I didn't get home until midnight, so I needed a little extra sleep. The time zone change also has kicked my butt. I stayed home sick today because I wasn't feeling good. I did work from home for about 5 hours today. I have a property report that is due, so it was good to be able to get it done in the peace and quiet. Things haven't changed at work. I'm really considering starting to look for a new job. It is a hostile work environment right now due to one person in particular. The bad thing is no one will do anything about it. We can complain to our supervisor, but he won't take it any further. Its rather unfortunate.

The beginning of April two of my horses are headed for training. A girl down the road does a really good job of training, so we are sending two to her for a couple of months. Scott wants to be able to ride Melody (since she is his) and I want to show this year. I'm hoping that Maggie will make it as a show horse, but I'm not sure. We're going to give her 30 days to see if she has it in her otherwise she will come home and be my trail horse. I'm hoping to be able to show this year, since that is my plan and dream. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Visiting my Sis

I made it to Portland, Oregon today. The flight from Minneapolis to here was a little rough. It was raining here and the clouds were very turbulent. It was like riding the roller coasters at Cedar Point. I didn't enjoy the landing at all.

My sis picked me up and we had some very yummy mexican food. Then we went to her house and I got to meet the new boys (dogs). They are both very nice pups. We went to a park and let them run. It is very funny to see a doberman play with a boston terrier. They are quite a pair.

It is only 6:30pm here and I'm ready to hit the sheets. It has been a very long day and I'm still on Michigan time. I was up at 4:30 this morning to do chores and get my butt in gear for the drive to the airport. We didn't get home from the retirement ball until midnight, so it was short sleep time for me. Tomorrow my class starts at 8am so I think I can get some sleep and be rested before having to exercise my brain.

Not Quite Finished

Well, since I'm not sure when I'm gonna get the shirt done I thought I would post a picture of it. I'm working on the cuffs right now, but they are gonna be a stinker to get on. Of course the pattern instructions aren't making sense either. I'm taking a break and looking at the shirt I bought to see how they were done. It usually helps me to look at one that is completed to understand how the construction went. When I get the cuffs on and the bottom hemmed I will put some crystals on the collar & cuffs. I'm trying to decide what design to use and how many to use. I guess it will all depend on how it looks when finished.

I went to the salon today to have them do my hair for me for tonight's shindig. The girl was running 20 minutes late, so it took a bit longer than expected. She didn't do quite as good a job as my normal lady does. I think I can do some stuff to it to make it look better.

My sister asked me to get her some herbed salt before I go see her because they don't have it out there. I ended up buying her 3 packages, so she won't run out for awhile. Its kind of funny how some food items are regional.

Friday the 13th

I took the day off because this weekend is so jammed packed with activities. Today DH & I went to the Stallion Expo at the MSU Pavillion. Today was definitely a good day to go because it wasn't super busy like it is on the weekend. I enjoyed walking around and seeing what the vendors had on sale. I need a halter to show in, but the cheapest one I found was $200. I should've bought the one I wanted at a tack sale last month. It was used and only $40. Oh well, lesson learned. Anyway, I bought some more fabric to make another show shirt. I also got some swarvoski crystals to decorate my shirts with. I was going to get some Ultrasuede to make my own chaps, but decided against it because it was $42/yard. As soon as I get the shirt I'm currently working on done I will post a picture. I only have to make the cuffs and hem the bottom and it will be done.

Tomorrow is Night O'Knights, yeah!! It is a retirement celebration for soldiers that belong to our local brigade. We go every year and have a great time. I bought a BC/BG Max Azaria dress last year that I only got to wear once, so I'm going to wear that to the shindig. I'm 100% positive no one will have the same dress. Last year there was three of us with the same dress :( We always get our pictures taken as well. It is the only time that we get dressed up and they have a professional photographer there.

Sunday I fly to Portland, Oregon for a training class. I will be able to visit my sister while I'm there. She lives about 10 miles away from where my class is being held. We are both super excited because we haven't seen each other since she moved last labor day weekend. I hope to get some pics while there.

Sewing Construction

I have finally started the sewing process for my western show shirt. I got everything cut out last week, but didn't have the chance to start sewing until today. I got the zipper in and the shoulder seams sewn together. I have forgotten how much work it is to construct clothes. I worked on it for 2 hours and that is all the farther I got. I am so happy with what I have done so far. I had to do a little happy dance over my progress and how it looks.

This past weekend I didn't get much done. I did work on finishing the Bargello quilt that I started at a class at the LQS. I'm almost done. I have one piece of the thin border left to put on and then the wide border and binding. At least it will be one more project done.

This coming weekend is going to busy. I took friday off work so that I can go to the Stallion Expo. Saturday we have a big military retirement ball to go to and Sunday I fly to Oregon for a training class. My class next week happens to be in the town next to where must sister just moved to this past year. I haven't seen her since she left on Labor Day weekend. We are both very excited that I am able to get out there for a week.

My in-laws are out in VA visiting their daughter and grandkids. I'm hoping that they have a nice time and enjoy the nice weather. It seems to be getting cold here again. At least the rain has stopped for now. This weekend was horrible. The drive back to the horses/cows is still a mess. Hopefully things will dry up soon.

When I get the shirt done I will post a picture. I'm hoping to get it done before friday because if it turns out nice then I may buy some more fabric and another pattern at the Stallion Expo.

Whew! Glad that's over

The auditors were here the beginning of the week. They worked Monday through Wednesday looking at our files. We didn't do bad, but there was few items that were of concern, but it wasn't something that we did wrong in our office. Our headquarters had made some mistakes or didn't enter some required information. It was good to have an audit because it made us think about what we are doing as an agency and how we can make the process better within our state. They have moved on to another state, so we are done for now.

I'm getting ready to start cutting some fabric to make a western show shirt. I've been trying to get it done for awhile, but things have kept coming up. I want to get it done before the Stallion Expo comes in two weeks, because if this is something I can do I'm going to get another pattern and some more fabric.

I think I've convinced one of my friends to show with me this year. Her horses have been idle for a couple of years now and she would like to get back to doing speed events. I'm hoping that we can make it work because I think it will be alot of fun. I have several other friends that are showing this year and they really want me to go as well. That is my goal and I'm working towards doing it.

I had planned on doing some riding tonight because the weather is so wonderful, but DH is working overtime, so it is hard for me to leave the dogs for an extending period of time. They were locked up all day, so I don't want to lock them up anymore. I can leave them out, but they tend to find trouble if I'm gone for too long. I'm just going to spend some time with the horses and get them brushed out, since they have started the shedding process.

Don't forget that the time changes this weekend. Spring ahead!!