Finding My Place...

Stagnation is the state of being still, or not moving, like a sitting puddle of water where stagnation attracts mosquitoes. The root of stagnation is the Latin word for "standing water," stagnatum.

I feel like I've been fairly stagnant since October 2014, when my house underwent the first stage of decluttering. Boxes appeared, sorting began, my normal was in upheaval. Nothing has been the same since, and everything that kept me evened out came to a screeching halt.. No more crafting, no more creativity. Just being still.

Thankfully that is all about to change. There is now an official countdown to the day my life will become what I've dreamed of since I was a little girl - one in which I can look out my window and see my horses, my donkey, my mule....all in my own pastures. I do not know what that will feel like, but I can imagine it will be breathtaking every time I see it because I have longed for it. I imagine the inspiration this change of setting will bring to my life and I just smile.

Beyond that, I will have my special place to be me reestablished once again. This new place I am about to call home has a private little nook tucked away, perfect for sewing and crafting and creating and being me without interrupting the rest of the house. I can't wait to settle in to that space. That will make this new house my new home.

Through A New Lens

I finally purchased a new digital camera that I've been tinkering around with because, although my phone takes really nice digital pictures that I can edit decently, I have been saving up for something wonderful with which I can capture phenomenal moments in time. Not just for myself, but for others as well. I've always had a thing for taking pictures - and LOTS of them - I've just not always understood the science of it.

The last few days I've been taking random snapshots here and there, just to play around with some of the camera settings and get myself acclimated. This morning, even though it's beautiful outside, I have committed myself to studying this device and learning some proper technique. My goal is to capture some fantastic photos during our high school's homecoming festivities this week, including my daughter and her boyfriend embarking on their first homecoming dance together.

While I tuck away a few more dollars to perhaps put toward a digital photography class or two, I've decided to delve into whatever free online learning options are available to get totally familiar with my camera, as well as the fundamentals of digital photography...lighting for starters. I know so very little. But all of that is about to change. :)

"Let photography show you things in your everyday environment that you many never have known were there."

Greenville Creek
Greenville, Ohio
September 26, 2014

Reclaimed Pallet Stuffs

Here it is, the grand reveal. We've been working on this project as a family, which has been a blessing because it's the largest project I've taken on thus far. Aside from home maintenance projects, of course, but we're talking about fun crafting type projects here.

My husband has been collecting pallets for various projects I come up with and one day, bless his heart, he showed up after work with the frame of a shipping crate in the bed of the truck. Wow! I knew that would save us a huge amount of time in building our daughter's new custom tack box. She spent quite a bit of time designing her ideal tack box and, once we got going, we all realized the interior would really look nothing like her plans. And we're totally ok with that.

Here it is, with none of her tack in it yet. For the coronation ceremony, the first saddle to sit on the a saddle rack is my Grandma Cunningham's saddle, and the first saddle pad to go in is my Grandpa Cunningham's. (I love this picture, by the way!)

The goal of this project, besides building a much-needed new tack box, was to repurpose, recycle or reclaim as much as possible, either from things we collected or things we already had. Aside from the hardware and the plywood used to make the doors, we totally achieved our goal. 

Now, down to the nitty gritty. You know that the frame was a crate. We filled in all of the gaps with pallet wood, including the top and the floor. I made the brush shelf on the top left side all by myself and am so incredibly proud that it's level and functional because a woodworker I am not. That is the talent my husband has been gifted with and I am so thankful he is patient with me and our daughter when we do things like this together. The halter hangers are tuna cans and there are two on each side of the tack box. There are two additional hooks in the center of the brush shelf on the left for hanging girths and cinches. Also on the left side, I've installed two sets of eye hooks with bungee cords to hold saddle pads and whips.

On the right side, I installed that piece of draft horse pyrography I burned months ago and hadn't yet found a purpose for. Once I'd added a few knobs and some dowel rods that I found in the garage, it became quite functional for this project and saved us from needing to purchase additional hooks. There is a little, tiny corner shelf there, too, that is of scrap wood I found in my husband's tool bag.

As you can see, we off-set the saddle racks to make a small seat in the back corner. This provides her with a changing room, which is why there's also a mirror on the door directly in front of that space. We have a piece of scrap carpet that will be cut to fit here, too. In case you have difficulty envisioning this, allow me and the boys to demonstrate. :) There isn't always time to run to the restroom between show classes and some barn visitors aren't respectful of the need for privacy when exhibitors duck into stalls behind sheets or garment bags to try to change clothes. She thought, since the tack box is going to be the same size and hold the same amount of tack no matter what, she thought hey, why not?!

 And then the personal touches were added. Longears and music...

She's had these hooks for a few years, but wasn't using them. This is the perfect place for them right now.

Draft horse pyrography hooks to hang clothes, belts, bridles...you name it.

I really wanted to have actual horseshoes on the front but I could not get them mounted in a way I felt they would stay on through moving the tack box to and from the fairgrounds for the next 3 years. So I burned them onto the doors with her initials, as requested. Next up is a bit of shading, then the whole tack box will be sealed with a clear waterproofer and ready to go!

Oh, and because we made a space for her to change inside, we made sure to provide illumination so she can see what she's doing and look in the mirror to hopefully ward off any wardrobe malfunctions.

I love it when a plan comes together!

Flies, Fly Away (please?!?)

I don't know about any of you, but I am sick and tired of FLIES!!! They're bugging our poor donkeys and mules. Bugging them. Get it, get it?! So anyway, we've sprayed and poulticed and wrapped and let the critters roll to get the flies off 'em and then....

 

we put super schmexy socks on them. They were not exactly thrilled at first, then they figured out it sort of helped. The donkeys kept them on with no problem, but for some reason the mules couldn't keep more than two socks on for more than one night at a time. Me thinks they're a bit more rambunctious and frolicky outside than the donkeys!

While we kinda sorta got the legs taken care of, we're trying to keep fly masks on the lighter colored mule to keep those pesky buggers away from their eyes, too. Unfortunately they rub their faces, or in some cases help each other remove the fly masks, and tear off Velcro or rip apart seams. So I'm on mask repair duty to piece a few back together for the good of our longeared babies.

Today's poor, tattered soul was pretty rough around the edges. I cut off the long mesh around the one unbound ear hole and side first.

Then I reattached the Velcro straps so the mask would stay on securely again.

 

And finally, I bound up the jagged edges around the ear hole so the old boy who'll be sporting this fly mask can wear it in comfort once again.

That should just about do it for today. I've got some other horse garment repairs planned for tomorrow and hopefully a show vest in the works. We'll see how that plan pans out! 

40 and Faboooo

What a fantastic weekend! 4th of July morning, my dad and niece each set new personal records in Ansonia's 31st Annual Firecracker 5k while my cousin's daughter was crowned Ansonia's 2014 Miss Red, White & Blue just across the parking lot. Then I joined up with several friends from church to walk in the annual 4th of July parade and invite others to our upcoming Weird Animals VBS and outdoor movie events.

Then it was off to the Darke County Steam Threshers Annual Reunion at York Woods with my dear friend and her team of draft horses for three days of wheat threshing. This is the first year that she and I have spent so much time there together. These last few years one of us has been there when the other couldn't be, so this was an extra special year. We had a blast doing things we love to do and spending time with dear friends, but yesterday especially we met new folks and had new experiences.

Yesterday I also turned 40 years old. That's right...40!!! I love it. Everyone was encouraging me with "age is just a number" and "you're only as old as you feel" and "40 is the new 30" comments. I am 40. I feel 40. I embrace 40. I love it! I also love getting, "What?! You're 40??? No way!!!" I don't know how anyone couldn't see that age in me, especially when I'm having a horrid migraine day and I feel like every ounce of pain is wearing on every inch of my body, but I guess that's why it's called an invisible illness.

I loved all of the Facebook comments, private messages, texts, birthday cards, gifts, meals, cake, hugs, smiles and everything from everyone. The dinner at Texas Roadhouse with my husband, courtesy of my mom and dad... YUM! Then today I delved deep into the gift from my nephew.

First, I popped a few Quick Energy pills, then picked up the magnifying glass to read the "Over The Hill List Of Things To Do Today" whilst I cooled myself with my newly gifted hot flash fan and instantly set to task.

1. Twiddle my thumbs - DONE!
2. Find a friend older than I am - FAIL! The only ones around are the husband, fish and dogs, all younger.
3. Avoid stress. - DONE!
4. Teach my old dog a new trick. - I can't even teach my old dog an old trick. I told him to quit sniffing the young dog's backside and he did. Does that count?
5. Try to remember what I forgot to remember. - DONE! Wait. What was I doing?
6. Feed the pigeons. - If I feed them to the old dog, is that considered a new trick?
7. Rob a bank? - Oh, heavens no. I just checked my bank account instead.
8. Plan my plot. - I'll wait.

Then I learned the secret to looking younger....not being born so soon! Ohhhhhh, my sides split! But seriously, it's to get yourself one of those fine non-aging calendars with all the months and days, but no years. That nephew of mine cracks me up. I packed everything into the little Over The Hill satchel so I can carry it around with me for convenience. :)

As you can see, it was quite a wonderful birthday weekend. I admit that I missed celebrating a milestone birthday with my daughter, but she is currently in Nashville, TN attending the International Youth Conference (IYC) and I could not be more thrilled for her experience! I mean, we can eat cake together any time. Like for her 17th birthday in just 10 days!!!

Balancing Act

I've taken some time off to undergo a new medical treatment, then to let my body adjust to that treatment. The last two weeks have been sort of a whirlwind of emotions, from terror to alleviation to disappointment to contentment. And now, as we're wrapping up Migraine & Headache Awareness Month, I'm rapidly approaching my 40th birthday with a sense of relief that maybe, just maybe, my doctors are on the right path. There isn't a cure, but a long-term relief would be greatly welcomed by so many who live every day with chronic pain and the stigma attached to invisible illnesses.

Now that I'm beginning to get my balance back and find my groove yet again, I'm starting to ease back into my workout routine and hoping (if the weather holds out) to get a few mule and donkey rides in before the weekend. If not, I'll gladly accept any sort of peaceful time I can get with my long-eared loves!

I'm also trying to regain my work balance. Some of my freelance opportunities fell by the wayside a bit too long, so those doors have closed. That's often the nature of the freelance beast, so I'm not going to keep banging on those doors. Instead, I'm going to wait patiently for new doors to open up wide to new opportunities. In the meantime, I'll start tackling my to-do list.

• 3 horse blankets to mend
• 2 show vests to cut, sew and rhinestone
• 1 driving dress to alter
• 2 pyrography projects to complete
• 4 woodworking projects to start and finish
• 1 pallet saddle stand to complete
• 1 tack box to start and finish
• 3 paper projects to complete
• and of course, there is always jewelry to be made!

I'd say I have my work cut out for me, except some of those projects aren't even to the cutting stage! Looks like I need to get myself in gear and get to work. If I spent as much time doing it as I spent talking about it, I'd likely be able to get a lot more of it done, don't ya think?!

Sarah Ban Breathnach

Looks like it's time for me to start doing!!!

Happy Daddy Day

Why does it seem like Mother's Day gifts are so easy to come by, but Father's Day often leaves us wondering what to gift to those wonderful men in our lives? Be it a father, husband, brother, grandfather, uncle, family friend...whomever that very special man in your life is, how do you show appreciation on this special day?

There are many special earthly men in my life, but my dad, husband and brother take top billing. I really don't know what I'd do without any of them. Try as I may, I know that I never express how much they mean to me appropriately. I love them all, enjoy their company immensely, laugh when we spend time together and love that we all share a special bond. I count myself fortunate that they also enjoy their "boy time" without feeling awkward around each other.

This year has been quite a year of change for me and my husband and one of the new things that's been added to our time together is his crafting. Yep, I've found a craft that he enjoys quite a bit and actually had to purchase more supplies for him today. The knot master feels right at home making bracelets and keychains out of paracord and is currently watching video after video to learn new knots and embellishments. I love it!

Now the Father's Day gifts I worked on today needed Sharpie markers, a dab of paint and some burlap. Alright, there was more to them than that. I created my designs in Microsoft Publisher as I typically do, because I have wretched handwriting and don't think any freehanding I'd have done would look presentable. In fact, I ruined one canvas putting that theory to the test.

(Censored merely to protect the recipient before he is surprised with his gift on Father's Day)

I fell madly in love with these little two little 8"x6" burlap canvasses that I found at the local department store for under $5.00. They're the perfect size for this type of project, though bigger would work great for other ideas I'm kicking around now. I was really hoping I could transfer my words onto the burlap, but it didn't work with carbon paper or fabric tracing paper, so I measured letters and just went for it. I am very pleased with how both pieces turned out and am anxious to try more projects using burlap!

Happy (early) Father's Day to all and to all a good night!