Wonderful Weekend

How lovely it has been having fine weather! I have had two rides on my gorgeous Zanny. Two quite different rides because yesterday we rode in the jumps paddock, and I was a bit anxious (no, we didn't jump), and then today it was Zanny who was in a bit of a spin. I tied her up to get her ready and almost decided to pack it in right then because she was rather loopy. I'm pleased to say I mounted up, and we did have a successful ride in the arena. Spring grass, Tara being a twit and Spurwing Plovers screaming with indignation (I threatened their ground nests by daring to enter their territory), seemed to be the causes of the issues Zanny was having. 

Today Johnny and I headed out to the farm to pick up some feed for the girls and look who I had cuddles with:

Aria and Fergie are looking so cute with their mega fluffy winter coats. They have fuzzy manes and tails. Aria was actually the most friendly today. What sweet, sweet wee ladies they are! When Zanny moves back home I will get to see them every week again, which will be wonderful. I'd love to do some handling work with them if I can. Aria is partly mine, so why not?

I am now officially a year older, and I had a fabulous birthday week. 

 Now I'm older I am baking more. Yummy banana and chocolate chip muffins.

 I got this beautiful cake stand from my very dear friend. It looks very pretty with my muffins on it.

 Mr Mouse approved of my new birthday book. I've been inspired to get out into the garden this weekend. I cleaned up the raspberry patch and came across a simply massive spider which made me actually feel a little nauseous. I love spiders, but I prefer the big ones to be behind glass. Johnny bravely gently evicted the spider so I could carry on working, but I'm sure it has headed home by now.

 Over the holidays I arranged my pretty china on my two amazing new Johnny creations. It is fun to move things around and add new items. I need some more stands for plates so they can be seen.

 The Crafty Neighbour lent me some china to add to the display, and she has fun fiddling with the arrangement too.

 I got this dear wee set (not quite a trio but put together as one) for my birthday from myself. It is my favourite primrose pattern.

 My "Marguerite" pattern chintz plates look sweet together with this coffee pot.

 This dear wee set has been borrowed and looks just perfect.

 I found these two plates at the Riccarton Market for about $10 each. Bargains!

 More muffins! Mmmm blueberry packed goodies. I picked the blueberries down the road in summer.

I'm watching a story about orangutans on TV at the moment. They are wonderful, beautiful creatures. I'm unlikely to meet one first hand, although I did see the ones in Melbourne Zoo, who did not have the air of peace of the ones I can see at the sanctuary. I am disgusted at the greed of humanity, and the destruction of the rainforest so that palm oil can be produced. Palm oil is in so many foods, but I'm going to make an effort to minimize my consumption so that in a tiny, tiny way, I can limit the demand. I'm pleased to be working on my own baking because then I can avoid nasty palm oil which features strongly in the biscuit lane at the supermarket. 

I hope you have a good week. I've got a very busy one coming up, so wish me luck!

Greetings, I'm still alive

Yes, I am still in blogland, but have had a couple of busy weeks with visitors and school stuff going on. Last weekend was great as we had Mum and Dad to stay. My precious cousin came for lunch on Sunday, which we all loved. We've got the Education Review Office coming to school next week, which has sent everyone into a frenzy of worry. It is just routine having them to visit, but no one likes the thought of letting the side down.

Sad to say, we didn't get to visit the horses at the weekend due to the horrible weather. It looks like my darling Zanny will go into retirement from motherhood and will now be my fulltime riding horse. That is really great news for both of us because I will be able to focus on my riding, and she will get to do some interesting things with me, hopefully. I worked on cantering last time I rode. She has a rather jerky canter so I will need to practise lots to look remotely elegant. We will be working out her living arrangements soon. She is enjoying her time at our lovely friend's house in a big paddock. We have to decide who will be Tara's next handsome man friend. She is a career broodmare, but I would like to do some groundwork training with her to add some fun into her life. She is a sweetie and loves cuddles and brushes.

My spring garden is looking so pretty, and I need to get a trailer of lovely rotted horse poo so that I can prepare my vege patch. I have leeks, ancient beetroot, rainbow chard, silverbeet and celery planted. I didn't get any garlic in midyear. I wonder if I am too late?

Johnny is asleep on the couch and I feel like curling up under a snuggly quilt myself. Not long until the weekend, but it is times like these that I wish I could work part-time.

Tired

Sorry, I am super tired this weekend and haven't done anything about taking photos. I did manage a ride on Saturday, between showers, and had a bit of fun with Zanny. She decided that Princess, the miniature pony, was a big, bad monster, and we had a bit of drama and snorting over her. I think the wind didn't help. Never mind. I did get some nice trotting in before it turned to custard. Horses who haven't been living around miniatures find them very scary because they don't know what they are. Funny! Pigs and alpacas are in the same category.

The week at school was very good, but I'm worn out already. Mr Mouse decided that sleep-ins were totally unnecessary for his mother, and he made sure I knew it. Never mind, I love seeing his furry wee face, his flicking squirrel tail and his joy over playing with my hair ties. He is always excited when I finally respond to his efforts to disturb me in the morning.

We went to a play at the Court Theatre. It was about PE teachers, and was full of un-PC fun and laughs. I don't go out to the theatre very often, so it was a real treat. Unfortunately the ballet Swan Lake was on the same evening, so I didn't get to go to that, which I would have loved.

It is my birthday soon. Hmm. What would I like to get for my birthday? Johnny knows I want a saddle for Mrs Zanny, but that's a bit of a tricky one. I need a new watch, but I've been looking for ages and haven't found one I like yet, so Johnny isn't likely to find one easily. Most of them have metal straps, but my skin can be very angry unless I clad it in precious metals. I'd love some more floral chintz china for my lovely shelves. Well, any pretty china makes me happy. I love Carltonware too. I'd like to own the Dexter tv programmes on DVD. Or the first series of Call the Midwife. I'd like to get Mr Mouse a kitten. Preferably a cuddly homebody type. A Birman or Ragdoll would probably suit. Mr Mouse is half Birman, and he is happy being inside most of the time and prefers having a friend with him when he plays in the garden. Perfect. I'd worry if I had a wanderer. I think time would be the best thing to get for a birthday. I'd love some time in the sun with Zanny and Tara. Time to go out to the farm to visit each and every horse and to spoil Aria, Fergie and Ben with carrots and cuddles. Time in the garden with masses of pansies and violas to plant. Time in my craft room sewing or scrapbooking. Not feeling like time is strictly limited because I'm so tired.

Back in the saddle again

Today was the big day! I had Zanny shod yesterday and today I mounted up for the first time in about nine months. She was really happy about it too. 

I wore my back protector to give me confidence but Zanny was good as gold. She was a little anxious for a start because she hasn't been in the arena where she is staying before. I just let her walk around on a long rein until we both settled. Then we practised our stopping and starting, lining up with the dressage letters on the arena. 

Zanny didn't feel scary at all, and I was amazed how I adjusted so quickly to being up high again. I found that difficult previously, if I had a short break in my riding, We worked on our trot. She needs to go steadily as she tends to get quite fast if allowed to. I need to work on riding on the correct diagonal, sitting upright, and using my body to steady her.

We only had a short ride because I saw how her muscles quivered when she had to stand on three legs for a prolonged time while the farrier worked on her hooves yesterday. We are both so out of condition (and Zanny is the only one with a good excuse for that). Riding gives me some motivation to work on that. My back only pinged once, and when Johnny pointed out that I was hunching forward (the fetal position is my go-to position when unbalanced), I sat up tall and no more back pain! Considering how temperamental my back has been of late, I was very surprised. Riding is very good therapy!

These are the first pictures I have of myself riding Zanny, and I am really pleased to have them. I think we look great together.

Sun at last!

Today the sun came out and it was so warm that we had doors open to the outside world for the first time in ages. It was wonderful! 

I am excited to unveil one of our new bookcases. Isn't Johnny clever? He made two of these from scratch, and we painted this one with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White. The paint texture is soft and warm looking. It was easy to apply, and doesn't smell nasty like regular paint can do. We need to get another can to do the other one as we were assured this paint goes a very long way, so only got one can initially. Hmm. Not on MDF and pine. 

 I bought this pretty little butter dish a few days ago to add to my collection of floral chintz items. It is so sweet and has lovely proportions.

 I'll be arranging all sorts of things on the new shelves. Hopefully they stay put and don't go flying if the earth decides to throw us another good shake. Johnny is securing the shelves firmly to the wall. As you can see in this picture, he has added his special "earthquake" shelf trims so sliding objects should stop before dropping off. Maybe he can sell the patent to the people further up the country. We really are the shaky isles.

 I did a bit of work in the back garden today. Mainly pruning roses. I managed to come out without any prickles and scratches. There isn't a lot of action in the vege garden.

 The leeks are starting to fatten up.

 I like to have some greens growing all year around.

 My loyal helpers were there supervising, as always.

 My hellebores are so pretty this year.

 This is a self-sown one which popped up next to the bigger white clump. I'll have to remember to move it to give it some space. Pretty, isn't it?

 I love the smell of daphne.

 Fairy Blush is gorgeous at the time of year too.

 Mr Mouse was very excited to find his catnip among the other herbs. I'm sure he was encouraging it to sprout vigorously as the weather warms up.

Other bright news:

• Zanny and Tara are looking well and are full of beans! Both girls can buck like rodeo broncos when they get excited. They must be happy to be free of their bossy, toothy foals at last. 
• I finished all three of my Portrait Blouses so now I can wear cherries, cowboys on horseback or little biplanes whenever I like. 
• Call the Midwife is on again. I couldn't be happier!

A note

Just a little note to say "hello." We've been both very busy, and also very relaxed over the past few days. I have evidence of yesterday's rose pruning efforts as both of my index fingers have ouchy prickles in them right on the tips. When I start digging at them they seem to vanish deeper and deeper. It was worth it because I love pruning my roses, most of the time. I did say some very unpleasant things to one big rose branch that whopped me around the side of my face as I cut it.

We have been doing a bit of socialising every day, mostly with The Crafty Neighbours. Today we went to Rangiora to Femme De Brocante to pick up some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and met up with my dear friend and Teacher Assistant for afternoon tea. Tomorrow I've got to pay Zanny and Tara a social call, which will also involve afternoon tea and plenty of cat love. I'm thrilled about that, of course. We also have a morning tea social call tomorrow. I'm keen to do some more on the garden, but Johnny has made me some gorgeous bookcases/shelves which require painting (hence the Chalk Paint), so I'm keen to get onto that too. Photos to come.

I saw some little lambs today! Spring is on the way. Well, September is officially spring, but I like to pretend that August is springtime as well. I have some plans in the gardens to make things prettier. I sort of tried to have box hedging around all of the garden beds at the front, but the hedging will obscure my view of my favourite garden treasures like my miniature daffodils, wee primulas and other special things. I am keeping the box hedges along the two sides but am taking it all out around the main beds and transplanting it to other areas in the garden. It is unusual here to have cottage gardens with recently built houses, but I love a glorious mass of flowers, with self-sown surprises popping up here and there. I do love a bit of structure as well, so have added in some standard weeping pears and Portuguese laurels. I thought the box hedges would be good too, but they are patchy and take away the excitement of seeing smaller plants along the front of my garden beds. I am loving having a green-waste bin to take away my weeds and prunings. I just can't keep up with composting everything I pull up or chop down.

I promise some photos next time! I'm excited to share my new shelves as Johnny has done a lovely job.

Chilly Start

Why are we stuck inside? It is the first weekend of the school holidays! We should be playing in the garden. 

 Time for a nap by the warm fire...

 ...with a good friend.

Sigh. So cold and windy. Put another piece of wood on the fire please.

 Bubble, bubble, bubble. Soup weather.