Day one went well!
Dinner was crispy tofu steaks with rice and veggies. I found the recipe on Pinterest. Instead of barbecue sauce, I used sweet Chili sauce. It was great!
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Stir Fry and Greens
Another night of greens on one side of the plate and stir fry on the other.
We used up the rest of the spring onions, yellow zucchini, broccoli, Swiss chard, kale, garlic scapes and basil. I finished the Shitakke mushrooms too.
The sauce was honey, Dijon and lemon, on the greens.
We had a Marco gf turkey burger with cheese on top. And yes, no bun!
One dinner of greens left of spinach and leaf lettuce. I am keeping the beets for a small batch of pickled beets!
Wonder what Saturday will bring at Lunar Rhythm Gardens!
We used up the rest of the spring onions, yellow zucchini, broccoli, Swiss chard, kale, garlic scapes and basil. I finished the Shitakke mushrooms too.
The sauce was honey, Dijon and lemon, on the greens.
We had a Marco gf turkey burger with cheese on top. And yes, no bun!
One dinner of greens left of spinach and leaf lettuce. I am keeping the beets for a small batch of pickled beets!
Wonder what Saturday will bring at Lunar Rhythm Gardens!
Flying Lead changes & Liberty
Flying Lead Changes
Rode Dancer this morning. MySister Joan came and joined me. I showed her some of his on-line games down in the obstacle field. Backed through the tire obstacle only using his mane and savy string. We stood on the pedestal and then showed Joan our flying lead changes. Dancer was a superstar! To the left he cued perfectly, but to the right it took three extra strides. Perhaps I will ask earlier tomorrow.
We finished by riding up the hill, down over the jumps, through the ditch and back up the hill. Dancer was quite excited, so I plan on breaking it down to slower stages in order to ride it freestyle!
Liberty
Alan and I popped out tonight to put cream on his nose. This gave me the chance to show Alan how wonderfully well we are doing the figure eight at Liberty. After a bit of warm up...Dancer was super at it!
Rode Dancer this morning. MySister Joan came and joined me. I showed her some of his on-line games down in the obstacle field. Backed through the tire obstacle only using his mane and savy string. We stood on the pedestal and then showed Joan our flying lead changes. Dancer was a superstar! To the left he cued perfectly, but to the right it took three extra strides. Perhaps I will ask earlier tomorrow.
We finished by riding up the hill, down over the jumps, through the ditch and back up the hill. Dancer was quite excited, so I plan on breaking it down to slower stages in order to ride it freestyle!
Liberty
Alan and I popped out tonight to put cream on his nose. This gave me the chance to show Alan how wonderfully well we are doing the figure eight at Liberty. After a bit of warm up...Dancer was super at it!
Sunday, July 3, 2016
Flying Lead Change Practice
Yesterday, Dancer and I had a lovely ride. We rode in the bridle with our new d-ring extra soft but with three links - the centre one is copper. Dancer seemed to like it and was quite responsive.
We warmed up out in the obstacle field then headed out for a trail ride. It was 23 degrees C so I hoped the bugs wouldn't be bad. Unfortunately the deer flies were out in full force. We quickly left the forest and headed back to the obstacle field.
Here we met up with two other riders. Dancer and I played with the gate, small log jumps and the pedestals. I set up the one jump to 2.5 feet and the other a touch higher. We began on the mound off soil, walked off, breaking into a canter, then down through a large ditch and up over the two jumps and back to the top of the hill, what fun! Dancer and I completed numerous versions of this and each time we stopped at the top, I am sure he was asking what's next.
I am practicing an exercise that leads into the flying lead change. First you ride, at a walk, a figure 8 stopping in the centre each time. Once stopped you ask your horse to take two steps with the hind away from the circle you completed and gently ask the head to come around, asking for the next circle in the other direction. Practice at each gait stopping in the centre each time. Once this is going smoothly for both you and the horse, you are ready for the next step...but yesterday I wasn't!
Today, I rode in a pull bridle on loan from my friend. It is a bit big, but with a few holes it will be perfect. We rode in it anyway.
I practiced the exercise leading to the flying lead change and voila we did it. As I came around almost to the centre of the figure 8 I asked for the two steps, which changed my position in the saddle - moving my hips, then I asked for the head bend and there we were, a perfect lead change. Thinking it was a fluke, I did it three times each side! Can't wait for tomorrow when we can do it again! Oh and we had some jumping fun in between for a bit of fun!
We warmed up out in the obstacle field then headed out for a trail ride. It was 23 degrees C so I hoped the bugs wouldn't be bad. Unfortunately the deer flies were out in full force. We quickly left the forest and headed back to the obstacle field.
Here we met up with two other riders. Dancer and I played with the gate, small log jumps and the pedestals. I set up the one jump to 2.5 feet and the other a touch higher. We began on the mound off soil, walked off, breaking into a canter, then down through a large ditch and up over the two jumps and back to the top of the hill, what fun! Dancer and I completed numerous versions of this and each time we stopped at the top, I am sure he was asking what's next.
I am practicing an exercise that leads into the flying lead change. First you ride, at a walk, a figure 8 stopping in the centre each time. Once stopped you ask your horse to take two steps with the hind away from the circle you completed and gently ask the head to come around, asking for the next circle in the other direction. Practice at each gait stopping in the centre each time. Once this is going smoothly for both you and the horse, you are ready for the next step...but yesterday I wasn't!
Today, I rode in a pull bridle on loan from my friend. It is a bit big, but with a few holes it will be perfect. We rode in it anyway.
I practiced the exercise leading to the flying lead change and voila we did it. As I came around almost to the centre of the figure 8 I asked for the two steps, which changed my position in the saddle - moving my hips, then I asked for the head bend and there we were, a perfect lead change. Thinking it was a fluke, I did it three times each side! Can't wait for tomorrow when we can do it again! Oh and we had some jumping fun in between for a bit of fun!
We Passed Level 3 Freestyle Parelli!
Dancer and I passed out Level 3 Freestyle Audition through Parelli!!
Yippee, We passed freestyle level 3 with a + in each category!
I rode Dancer through all the gaits, ten foot circles, turn on the forehand, turn on the hind, obstacles including a jump and gate all without a bridle! I am so pleased!
If you want to see it, here is my YouTube link:
Yippee, We passed freestyle level 3 with a + in each category!
I rode Dancer through all the gaits, ten foot circles, turn on the forehand, turn on the hind, obstacles including a jump and gate all without a bridle! I am so pleased!
If you want to see it, here is my YouTube link:
You tube video:
https://youtu.be/hGKnapy6Tok
Kohrabi - Shiitaki Stir Fry
Yummy Yummy!
Another successful meal using my 1/2 farm share!
Shitakke mushrooms (from Peterborough Market), garlic scapes, spring onions, Kohrabi plus their leaves, beet leaves all stir fried!
Kohlrabi - Shiitaki stir fry!
Delicious with gluten free turkey sausage and Dijon mustard!
Another successful meal using my 1/2 farm share!
Shitakke mushrooms (from Peterborough Market), garlic scapes, spring onions, Kohrabi plus their leaves, beet leaves all stir fried!
Kohlrabi - Shiitaki stir fry!
Finely dice 2 garlic scapes
And 2 spring onions
Very finely slice 8-10 beet leafed
Very finely slice 8-10 Khitai leaves
Peel and slice into sticks - 2 kohlrabi
Cut up about 2 cups Shiitaki mushrooms
Heat 2 tbsps olive oil (or one of oil, & 1 of butter) on med heat - cook garlic & onions til clear.
Add kohlrabi cook til tender.
Add mushrooms cook til tender.
Add greens put lid on for 5 minutes - stir and repeat til greens are cooked but still crispish!
Divide into two, too with meat of your choice, sliced basil leaves and serve!
You could use gluten free soya or gluten free tamari sauce - I didn't.
More Veggies and Shiitake Mushrooms!
Went to the Peterborough market a couple of months ago and saw huge clusters of Shitakke mushrooms. My dad is a mushroom connasure so I took pictures to send him. The Mushroom Man persuaded me to buy a cluster! We loved them. So, my mission yesterday was to get more shiitake mushrooms to compliment out 1/2 farm share from Lunar Rhythm Gardens.
Success, we purchased blue and yellow shiitakes.Went to the market to get shiitakes. I then picked up out 1/2 share from Lunar Rhythm Gardens and wow, what a load of veggies! Green onions, another kohlrabi, a bag of mixed lettuce, one of spinach, broccoli, mixed swiss chard, yellow zucchini, cucumber, head of red lettuce, beets and basil. Bought fresh eggs for the week too!
Had Maple Greens with Chicken: Swiss chard, and last weeks kale partially cooked with the garlicscapes, greens and balsamic vinegar, with a tad of maple syrup.
Tonight is a new version of Mango Curry (from my previous post - made successfully twice now) stir fry using the two kohlrabi, green onions, and broccoli.
After that, lots and lots of salad!
Maple Greens with chicken
Cook chicken first and set aside
Chicken
Dice two small chicken breasts
2 tbsp butter
3 spring onions dice
2 garlic scapes finely diced ( top of stem with in opened flower)
Melt butter add all other ingredients, cook til no longer pink.
Set aside, with liquid.
Greens
2 tbsp olive oil heat
And stir fry the greens:
Wash and slice finely (in strips) 4-6 cups mixed Swiss chard and
4 cups red kale
Add after greens begin to cook:
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp of Clancey's maple syrup
Salt and pepper
2 tbsp water
Then cover with a lid and simmer but be careful not to over cook, kind of like a semi limp salad.
Divide into two plates and add chicken ontop
Top with:
1/4 cup chopped basil mix in last (if you chop it early, seal in Saran to keep from oxidization)
I added all the juices, they could be reduced, but we were too hungry!
Tasted great, will make again!
Success, we purchased blue and yellow shiitakes.Went to the market to get shiitakes. I then picked up out 1/2 share from Lunar Rhythm Gardens and wow, what a load of veggies! Green onions, another kohlrabi, a bag of mixed lettuce, one of spinach, broccoli, mixed swiss chard, yellow zucchini, cucumber, head of red lettuce, beets and basil. Bought fresh eggs for the week too!
Had Maple Greens with Chicken: Swiss chard, and last weeks kale partially cooked with the garlicscapes, greens and balsamic vinegar, with a tad of maple syrup.
Tonight is a new version of Mango Curry (from my previous post - made successfully twice now) stir fry using the two kohlrabi, green onions, and broccoli.
After that, lots and lots of salad!
Maple Greens with chicken
Cook chicken first and set aside
Chicken
Dice two small chicken breasts
2 tbsp butter
3 spring onions dice
2 garlic scapes finely diced ( top of stem with in opened flower)
Melt butter add all other ingredients, cook til no longer pink.
Set aside, with liquid.
Greens
2 tbsp olive oil heat
And stir fry the greens:
Wash and slice finely (in strips) 4-6 cups mixed Swiss chard and
4 cups red kale
Add after greens begin to cook:
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp of Clancey's maple syrup
Salt and pepper
2 tbsp water
Then cover with a lid and simmer but be careful not to over cook, kind of like a semi limp salad.
Divide into two plates and add chicken ontop
Top with:
1/4 cup chopped basil mix in last (if you chop it early, seal in Saran to keep from oxidization)
I added all the juices, they could be reduced, but we were too hungry!
Tasted great, will make again!
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Finesse with Dancer!
Dancer and I had a terrific ride, playing with 'Finesse' for a future Parelli level. We warmed up for about ten minutes then worked on this new exercise. We rode in the arena, out of the sun, with windows open. First working on the figure eight at each gait. In the centre I asked him to stop, bring his hind end over two steps into the circle causing a bend for Thenew direction and Viola, we cantered ten foot circles on the correct lead each time. With a bit of practice this translates to a nice flying lead change, thanks to David Crowley from Calgary!
We closed all the windows and big door while I was still on Dancer. Headed out to the obstacle field! Boy do I love that field! Had a great gallop in the obstacle field. Jumped, rode through ditches and played on the enormous tire pedestals!
Now for lunch! I am trying to use all the veggies from our 1/2 farm share each week. Sunday I made he mango curry again, only this time I used tiny potatoes and chicken! Just as delicious as the last time. Andrew loved it so much he took the leftovers home!
Back to lunch I'm having a chicken Salad made from the 1/2 farm share of veggies from Lunar Rhythm Gardens. Wow the chocolate mint tastes great in the salad! I am going to cultivate some in a pot so we can haven't next year. Wonder what it tastes like in iced tea?
We closed all the windows and big door while I was still on Dancer. Headed out to the obstacle field! Boy do I love that field! Had a great gallop in the obstacle field. Jumped, rode through ditches and played on the enormous tire pedestals!
Now for lunch! I am trying to use all the veggies from our 1/2 farm share each week. Sunday I made he mango curry again, only this time I used tiny potatoes and chicken! Just as delicious as the last time. Andrew loved it so much he took the leftovers home!
Back to lunch I'm having a chicken Salad made from the 1/2 farm share of veggies from Lunar Rhythm Gardens. Wow the chocolate mint tastes great in the salad! I am going to cultivate some in a pot so we can haven't next year. Wonder what it tastes like in iced tea?
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Week one of our 1/2 Farm Share
We purchased a 1/2 farm share from Lunar Rythm Gardens, outside Janetville, this spring.
The box was filled with lots of interesting veggies!
Bok choy
Red leaf lettuce
Arugul
Scallions
Chives
Mint
Six potatoes (last years)
Kohlrabi
Radishes
Rhubarb
We had green salad for two twice.
Made 2 jugs of mint ice tea.
Rhubarb crisp
Potato salad
Mango curry stir fry
Green salad - makes two
Divide lettuce and arugula in half
Rip lettuce into two plates
Dice arugula finely and cover lettuce
Dice 1/4 of chivesAnd 1/4 mint leaves
3 radishes diced finely
Any other veggies from fridge dice and add
Use favourite dressing
Potato salad
Peel and cut 6 potatoes the size you want in your potato salad. Place in a pot, nestle three eggs into the potatoes, cover well with cold water. Bring to boil, then turn off heat, cover and leave to cool completely. Eggs and potatoes will be perfectly cooked.
Dice finely three small scallions and three radishes.
Dice up 1/4 of chives. (2tblsp heaping)
Once potatoes and eggs are cool, drain, take out eggs, peel and dice unit a bowl, add all other ingredients.
Use four measured tbsps lite mayo and salt and pepper. Mix well and refrigerate. We had eight single servings of potatoe salad from these ingredients
Ice tea
Make a pot of tea to medium strength.
Dice up a cup of fresh mint leaves and divide into two jugs. Pour hot tea (to your liking) ontop! I had to make three jugs of tea!
Rhubarb crisp
Five stalks rhubarb sliced (I had 2 cups strawberries as well)
In a lasagna pan sprinkle oats over bottom with 1 cup brown sugar - to cover.
Cover evenly with fruit.
In a pot measure 3 cups cold water with two heaping dinner spoons of cornstarch (trust me), and 1/2 cup sugar, cook til it thickens then spoon over the fruit.
In a bowl melt 1/4 cup butter (no more) add 1 cup combined of brown and white sugar and 1 cup of oats mix well and place over fruit.
Bake covered for 1/2 hour, uncovered for 15 minutes
Mango Curry Stirfry
1 pkg uncooked shrimp -remove all shells
Topping
Brown: 2 tbsp butter with tsp each curryand garlic powder
Add: 1/2 cup sliced almonds and brown
Remove from heat and set aside, cover with 1/4 of chives and 3 scallions finely diced
Rice, cooked place 1 cup into four separate bowls - I used brown basmati
Veggies: - stir fry and divide evenly over four bowls of rice
1 cup water with tamari sauce and 1 tbsp corn starch - use once veggies are cooked to make sauce while veggies are in the pan
2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup sliced mushrooms
3 cups or one bok choy slice
1 kohlrabi peeled and finely sliced,
1 cup frozen mango finely diced or one fresh
2 tbsp gf lite tamari sauce
1/2 jalapinos finely diced
Once cooked - sauce thickened - divide evenly over rice
Add shrimp to hot pan and quickly cook divide evenly over the four bowls - then divide the topping evenly placing on top.
We ate two immediately and had the other two, two days later for dinner
I was so pleased how all our meals turned out, we even ate all the veggies!
Pictures will eventually follow!
The box was filled with lots of interesting veggies!
Bok choy
Red leaf lettuce
Arugul
Scallions
Chives
Mint
Six potatoes (last years)
Kohlrabi
Radishes
Rhubarb
We had green salad for two twice.
Made 2 jugs of mint ice tea.
Rhubarb crisp
Potato salad
Mango curry stir fry
Green salad - makes two
Divide lettuce and arugula in half
Rip lettuce into two plates
Dice arugula finely and cover lettuce
Dice 1/4 of chivesAnd 1/4 mint leaves
3 radishes diced finely
Any other veggies from fridge dice and add
Use favourite dressing
Potato salad
Peel and cut 6 potatoes the size you want in your potato salad. Place in a pot, nestle three eggs into the potatoes, cover well with cold water. Bring to boil, then turn off heat, cover and leave to cool completely. Eggs and potatoes will be perfectly cooked.
Dice finely three small scallions and three radishes.
Dice up 1/4 of chives. (2tblsp heaping)
Once potatoes and eggs are cool, drain, take out eggs, peel and dice unit a bowl, add all other ingredients.
Use four measured tbsps lite mayo and salt and pepper. Mix well and refrigerate. We had eight single servings of potatoe salad from these ingredients
Ice tea
Make a pot of tea to medium strength.
Dice up a cup of fresh mint leaves and divide into two jugs. Pour hot tea (to your liking) ontop! I had to make three jugs of tea!
Rhubarb crisp
Five stalks rhubarb sliced (I had 2 cups strawberries as well)
In a lasagna pan sprinkle oats over bottom with 1 cup brown sugar - to cover.
Cover evenly with fruit.
In a pot measure 3 cups cold water with two heaping dinner spoons of cornstarch (trust me), and 1/2 cup sugar, cook til it thickens then spoon over the fruit.
In a bowl melt 1/4 cup butter (no more) add 1 cup combined of brown and white sugar and 1 cup of oats mix well and place over fruit.
Bake covered for 1/2 hour, uncovered for 15 minutes
Mango Curry Stirfry
1 pkg uncooked shrimp -remove all shells
Topping
Brown: 2 tbsp butter with tsp each curryand garlic powder
Add: 1/2 cup sliced almonds and brown
Remove from heat and set aside, cover with 1/4 of chives and 3 scallions finely diced
Rice, cooked place 1 cup into four separate bowls - I used brown basmati
Veggies: - stir fry and divide evenly over four bowls of rice
1 cup water with tamari sauce and 1 tbsp corn starch - use once veggies are cooked to make sauce while veggies are in the pan
2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup sliced mushrooms
3 cups or one bok choy slice
1 kohlrabi peeled and finely sliced,
1 cup frozen mango finely diced or one fresh
2 tbsp gf lite tamari sauce
1/2 jalapinos finely diced
Once cooked - sauce thickened - divide evenly over rice
Add shrimp to hot pan and quickly cook divide evenly over the four bowls - then divide the topping evenly placing on top.
We ate two immediately and had the other two, two days later for dinner
I was so pleased how all our meals turned out, we even ate all the veggies!
Pictures will eventually follow!
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Parelli Freestyle Audition - Level 3 Audition
Dancer and I completed our Level 3 Freestyle Audition on Friday May 13th, 2016! We had such a fun day. Freestyle is riding without a bridle. The audition includes correct mounting, walk, trot and canter. Canter halt, turn on the forehand, turn on the hind, circling, a jump, opening and closing a gate, pushing a ball, sideways over barrels and standing on a pedestal. Below is the iTunes link. Have to wait four to six weeks for results!
Youtube video:
https://youtu.be/hGKnapy6Tok
Parelli - On-line Level 3 Audition - Passed!
On-line level 3 Audition
Dancer and I passed out level 3 on-line audition on December 17, 2015. I am so pleased with our success!
1. Here is the youtube link -
2. Here is the final re-submission - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=x0XFsbb9YtE
Monday, April 20, 2015
An Exciting Year Off!
Yes this has been a whirl wind year. Our year off began with Andrew and Emily's wedding in Newfoundland. I was fortunate enough to have a long road trip with Andrew as he had to pick up the marriage license in Cornerbrook. All our meals were selected from the site You Gotta Eat Here! Amazing foods on our travels. One memorable moment was sharing the tiny cabin on the ferry. We were both so tired we Kaye's down on our miniature twin beds and were fast asleep instantly. I woke up and turned the tv off and the next thing I heard was the loudspeaker in my ear, 'one hour to shore, drivers wake up!' The trip was great. The wedding was beautiful!
We spent a week in Manatoulin Island at the camp. We canoed with Bob, Barb, Becky, Jean and the dog. Lovely time rug hooking, swimming and visiting.
In September we held a reception for Andrew and Emily. What a nice way to get family and friends together!
Next we were off on our Aussie Adventure. You will have to check out our blog for this. First we spent a week with Dad and Gillian in BC and at the end of the trip we spent a week with Lisa and Ian! We had such a marvellous time!
Christmas came and went quickly. Alan and I joined in with the Christmas songs with the choir.
January we were off to Belize. I will write more on this later. An amazing experience volunteering with the schools and churches.
As soon as we returned I began my university course from Queens, Family Studies Part Two, and I just finished two weeks ago!
I have been rug hooking throughout the time off and have completed two rugs and almost done the third. More details to follow and pictures!
Now I am sewing Lisa's wedding dress. After a slight glitch of not enough fabric, the dress is over half sewn and I am currently procrastinating and must get back at it! I hoe to have most of it seen by Friday! All I can say is it looks amazing so far! Glad Lisa is coming home from Calgary for a final fitting as FaceTime fitting was challenging with the bodice and a thank you to Canada post for getting the bodice back and forth successfully!
I am sewing in the church basement. Lots it tables, light and no kitties to help! A special thank you to Barbara and Jodi for helping with cutting out the dress. Barbara a special thanks for keeping my math and measurements on the straight and narrow!
More to come, the year isn't over yet and I have not even mentioned all the amazing success Dancer and I have had in dressage and in natural horsemanship.
I will put links and pictures in later... Off to work on the dress!
We spent a week in Manatoulin Island at the camp. We canoed with Bob, Barb, Becky, Jean and the dog. Lovely time rug hooking, swimming and visiting.
In September we held a reception for Andrew and Emily. What a nice way to get family and friends together!
Next we were off on our Aussie Adventure. You will have to check out our blog for this. First we spent a week with Dad and Gillian in BC and at the end of the trip we spent a week with Lisa and Ian! We had such a marvellous time!
Christmas came and went quickly. Alan and I joined in with the Christmas songs with the choir.
January we were off to Belize. I will write more on this later. An amazing experience volunteering with the schools and churches.
As soon as we returned I began my university course from Queens, Family Studies Part Two, and I just finished two weeks ago!
I have been rug hooking throughout the time off and have completed two rugs and almost done the third. More details to follow and pictures!
Now I am sewing Lisa's wedding dress. After a slight glitch of not enough fabric, the dress is over half sewn and I am currently procrastinating and must get back at it! I hoe to have most of it seen by Friday! All I can say is it looks amazing so far! Glad Lisa is coming home from Calgary for a final fitting as FaceTime fitting was challenging with the bodice and a thank you to Canada post for getting the bodice back and forth successfully!
I am sewing in the church basement. Lots it tables, light and no kitties to help! A special thank you to Barbara and Jodi for helping with cutting out the dress. Barbara a special thanks for keeping my math and measurements on the straight and narrow!
More to come, the year isn't over yet and I have not even mentioned all the amazing success Dancer and I have had in dressage and in natural horsemanship.
I will put links and pictures in later... Off to work on the dress!
Friday, April 18, 2014
Wool Dying
Wool ready to dye.
Wool is simmering with dyes.
Dying station.
Finished dying wool. Purple will be used for the pink rose rug and the blue will be used for the wedding rug.
Riding and Rug Hooking
Dancer is getting a rest at the moment. My curling career is over, but then again it never really got started. Yes I fell and don't remember a thing only I have six staples in my head. My vet says she can remove them to save a trip to the doctor! Yippee!
I have to wait to see the doctor before I ride. Still a bit off kilter,.Dancer and I are doing amazing things. He is coming down on the bit with one half halt and remains collected for 10 to 15 minutes before he forgets and needs another reminder! I have him being ridden twice a week, so he won't get out of shape!
As to my rug hooking, well the rose rug, that was given to me with finished roses, now has leaves! This rug called to me from my supplies and eventually I listened. I am using only pre cut fabric that is left over from other projects to make the leaves and buds. I began at night in our poorly lit tv room hooking the leaves. I decided to hook grey leaves with hints of green mauve and pink in them. After six weeks of hooking I looked at it in the daytime light. You can imagine my surprise when I saw such a variety of blues and other colours. I am so pleased with the leaves!
I dyed an antique black-purple background over an assortment of smaller fabrics. I was surprised here as well. Some came out nicely and some of the green turned a very interesting blue. I am saving the blue for Andrew and Emily's wedding rug.
Three more buds to go and some tiny leaves, the
Friday, August 16, 2013
Trailer Success at Last!
Trailer Success at Last!
The first two tries Dancer only put his front feet in, but on the third try he was in beside me. I am so pleased!
We practiced walking on and off a few times then had a grass break.
I brought carrots and other treats in the trailer to help extend our time in the trailer.
I asked Dancer to go on the trailer by just pointing in the trailer. In he went and then he turned around and looked at me as if to say, ok I'm in, give me a treat! I got in and waited for Wendy and the campers. Dancer was content to hang out.
We practiced over and over, Dancer getting on the trailer by himself, and just chilling inside.
Dancer enjoyed a great feed of grass as we watched the campers learn to load a horse.
The young campers were very impressive. Billy and Bailey were also patient with their charges as they played with the trailer, loading and unloading. They learned how to load on both a step up trailer and a ramp trailer. The girls certainly have learned a lot about handling horses naturally!
While we didn't ride today, I certainly played many Parelli games with the trailer. What a successful day.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Practice Makes Perfect!
Plenty of Practice
The last three days have been awesome! Dancer and I are practising all the lessons Melanie has set out for us.
Tuesday we practiced for over 1/2 an hour and that was plenty! We were exhausted from Monday's lesson. We played with our Parelli games outside, waiting for the pony camp to finish up for lunch. Then it was ten minutes of trotting like a 17 hand Hanoverian before Dancer started to become supple.
I was so pleased. His head came down and he was so smooth and responsive, riding was a dream. He enjoyed a bath following our practice and the camp girls came to help out. I needed a bath or shower as much as he did. We were both dripping g wet with sweat.
Dancer was so attentive in both his Parelli practice and the dressage practice. I found that he responds well to my hands low on his withers. The contact and the rut gum came naturally. We spent some time working the trot to canter transitions, back and forth, in both directions. I was particularly pleased that he didn't try to slide to the wall on the right circle. Much easier now that I am understanding half halts.
Wednesday was very interesting. We worked outside for twenty minutes. That didn't include the Parelli games we started with and his cool down at the end. Some of the challenges were the wind, the linesmen cutting down the trees on the side of the road, the footing is different, no walls and the heat of the sun! Dancer and I still managed to find suppleness with his lowered head. He was trotting beautifully in the figure eights.
Otherwise, I spent most of the day working on horsey bags for the campers. They were such fun. I was pleased that I had enough letters so they could put both their name and their horses on them. It was a great way to use up horse fabric!
My lesson had to be cancelled as Melanie was unwell. Dancer and I went on as though ah was there and had a terrific workout!
First I played on line with all the obstacles the campers were using. I was very impressed with their Parelli skills. We played with the zigzag poles, the backing up station and the serpentine pylons. The campers were having greater success getting their horses front feet in the tire than I did!
Next I gave each of the campers a wee ride on Dancer. Then I rode at a walk, to save energy for my lesson, and played with all the obstacles. It was a lot of fun watching the campers progress in their riding.
We took a snack break then Dancer and I went on as though we were having a lesson. I am so pleased to say that Dancer immediately came down on the bit beautifully at a walk trot and canter!
When I picked my reins up at the walk, I didn't have to ask for a nice horse walk, he was already eager! This is such an improvement over his pony walk!
We worked at a trot doing figure eights and circles trying to keep off the wall at a nice rhythmic pace. I hardly had to ask him to pick up the pace he kept up a nice working trot. I was very careful to keep the rhythm and suppleness as we changed direction. I had to constantly think about this because as soon as I lost any focus, so did he!
Part way through Dancer kept tripping up on his back feet. I was concerned and gave him a rest and that helped. Melanie told me that he would need frequent rests as this is hard work.
Keeping the dressage whip in my left hand certainly helped with steering. We worked for fifty minutes and then I cooled him off. What a drastic improvement! I am loving the lessons!
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Belly Buttons Away!
Belly Buttons Away!
We were ready, early for our lesson today.
Dancer and I played in the sand ring. He did an exceptional job on the circling game, the turn on the hind from 22 feet and the turn on the forehand from 22 feet. We practiced the porcupine game and also backing up using the head and then the chest. I was particularly pleased with the yo-yo game. Dancer has come to me in the field, head down ears up and he did that with the yo-yo game. This has been broken for a long time! Success! We walked from the pasture to the stable sideways down the fence, then back up for good measure.
Melanie's lesson was fantastic. We worked on the transitions from working trot to working walk and back. We also worked on his later suppleness and his other one too... Can't remember what it is called!
Dancer came down into the bit beautifully travelling to the right.
I had trouble turning on the circle to the right. Dancer wants to slip to the left every time I cross the arena. Since we are working in a circle a third of the arena in size we had this problem frequently. The solution is to keep your hands very low, right on the withers and do half halts with the outside hand and leg. We also kept the dressage whip in the left hand incase I had to use it on his shoulder. This worked perfectly at the trot!
Dancer is now trotting like a 17 hand Hanoverian, with much less effort!
We worked hard on his suppleness. I started to really feel it. To encourage it I am to squeeze my hands in the reins like a sponge.
We then worked on the figure eight. I am to keep the suppleness as I change and that is harder. Dancer and I eventually managed one well enough that Melanie was encouraging by saying good boy, good girl over and over!
Something interesting was occurring, Dancer no longer was popping into the trot. He found this easier than a working trot. Melanie explained that when I ask for a faster trot I am to suck my belly button in. This makes it harder for him to canter. It really worked!
Finally we worked on our transitions from trot to working canter back to trot... Oh and keeping the suppleness. That is when steering went out the window! Melanie had a solution for that...she moved over so I would run her over if I didn't get the steering right. Next thing I knew, I had put it all together and we were cantering three strides and trotting three, keeping the suppleness! I couldn't believe how beautiful it was! All I had to do to move to the trot was suck in my belly button and we had a beautiful trot! The transitions were so smooth!
Need to remember rhythm, suppleness and contact, my new mantra!
So much to remember all at once! Half halts (all three stages with outside hand leg and whip), squeeze intermittently as the inside leg goes forward, keep hands low and closed at all times and ultimately use your belly button!
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Sunday's Practice
Had a lovely practice today. We played some circling games then sideways games.
I was particularly pleased with the sideways game when I was facing Dancer.
Our dressage practice was a hard work out. Both Dancer and I were drenched by the time we were done. We practiced walk trot transitions, trot to canter transitions and worked on our rhythm and fluidity of the gaits. Oh and I can't forget steering using half halts, after half an hour of practice, Dancer was moving beautifully. I have so much to learn.
I am to keep asking him to move the ribs to also build his stifle muscles. They arecovered in sweat, even more than his whole body, which had sweat on it. Melanie says you want this in order to develop the muscle. We will be working on other muscles as we go.
I gave Dancer a bath to cool him off. Then I took him out to eat lots of grass
Things to remember from the last lesson:
1. At the canter sit on the hip on the outside of the circle
2. When giving pressure to move the rib cage, don't do it all the time, just do it occassionally to remind him to move it.
3. Do not ride on the rail. Bring him in about two feet. Remember to steer the horse using the outside leg and half halts.
4. Previous lesson, remember to keep moving the trot to a much faster trot. If he canters, work the canter before asking for thetrot again!
5. Remember to break up the ride with rests for both you and the horse giving a long rein.
Tomorrow noon is our next lesson!
Friday, August 9, 2013
Trailer Practice!
Trailer practice, means practice loading on and off a trailer.
Today we played with the trailer. Before I went away, he was willingly putting two feet into the trailer and moving forward bringing in one back leg. It has been over a month and we are at it again.
I spent a long time playing the circling game and showing him the opening of the trailer. He would sometimes put one or two feet. in.
It then tried leading him to the trailer and using the yo-yo game asked him to come in the trailer. Again, I was only getting two feet in.
I also tried trotting him to the trailer and asking him to come in verbally keeping a light hand on the rope. Again, Dancer only put two feet in.
One of the visitors to the barn came over and suggested I take a broom to him. I laughed and said no. I wanted him to like getting in the trailer.
Once I was on my own again I trotted him to the trailer. He stopped. I went in and kept asking him to come forward. He did, and he came fully in, all four feet. He relaxed for a few moments and I gave him a peppermint treat. Then I a asked him to back out. He did it quietly without rushing. I sent him to eat the grass as I was very satisfied.
Next time we I hope to get Dancer in the trailer sooner and for a longer length of time!
This is what Dancer would prefer to be doing!
Today we played with the trailer. Before I went away, he was willingly putting two feet into the trailer and moving forward bringing in one back leg. It has been over a month and we are at it again.
I spent a long time playing the circling game and showing him the opening of the trailer. He would sometimes put one or two feet. in.
It then tried leading him to the trailer and using the yo-yo game asked him to come in the trailer. Again, I was only getting two feet in.
I also tried trotting him to the trailer and asking him to come in verbally keeping a light hand on the rope. Again, Dancer only put two feet in.
One of the visitors to the barn came over and suggested I take a broom to him. I laughed and said no. I wanted him to like getting in the trailer.
Once I was on my own again I trotted him to the trailer. He stopped. I went in and kept asking him to come forward. He did, and he came fully in, all four feet. He relaxed for a few moments and I gave him a peppermint treat. Then I a asked him to back out. He did it quietly without rushing. I sent him to eat the grass as I was very satisfied.
Next time we I hope to get Dancer in the trailer sooner and for a longer length of time!
This is what Dancer would prefer to be doing!
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