tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044440140883473812024-02-07T21:41:49.626-08:00The Green Couch MiscellanyShane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-1164088455736066662011-12-31T15:44:00.000-08:002011-12-31T15:47:30.917-08:00all the loose ends...I’m just going to skip over the part where I apologize for not writing in over two months; we’re past that, right?<br /><br />I went to bed last night with a plan for today—ride Caesar, go for a run, work on my three current (as of this week!) jewelry projects, then read and lounge before going out for a late dinner with Mike at our favorite restaurant. However, as often is the case, my plans went awry. This time because of a decidedly entertaining novel, Skippy Dies; oh it’s so fun—adolescence, education, string theory, zombies, Ritalin… (thanks for the tip, Abby!).<br /><br />After spending almost 3 hours reading, I realized that I would either not be able to ride or not be able to run and make jewelry. I opted to run and work on my pieces seeing as how I have neglected both this week. [But why do I feel so much guilt when I don’t ride? Now that Caesar’s back in the land of the sound (thank you, thank you, God), I feel ridiculous for skipping any planned rides.] But I gave myself a break and went with plan B.<br /><br />Mike had run just an hour or so before I left, and he came back chirping about how lovely the weather was. But somehow those sunny skies became gray and the wind picked up when I decided to run. Hmmph. Anyway, I ran through the very lovely neighborhood north of where we live. About halfway into my run, I experienced Déjà vu. I passed a woman out walking her dog and talking on her cell phone. I overheard her saying something like “we got to the gallery early but the artist did not show up until…”. It struck me as rather funny as just a few weeks ago while running in almost exactly the same spot I overheard a different woman saying to her walking companion “my daughter will have an opening at the (garbled word) gallery next week”. Apparently there’s a lot of art happening within a 3-mile radius of our apartment.<br /><br />Now perhaps the woman I saw today is from an entirely different neighborhood. But her Barbour jacket and fancy non-athletic sneakers make me think otherwise. Plus there was something about her general demeanor, as if she felt one with the neighborhood, comfortable in this space. Whereas I surely looked like the outsider I am—pocked running pants, tattered gray t-shirt with ichthamol and thrush buster stains. And don’t forget my ‘uh, running is HARD! So hard I have to make this ugly face” face…<br /><br />I had to wonder— is that all it would take to have a little more art in my life? If Mike and I could be suddenly transported into a stately manse in Guilford would I speak of gallery openings and museum parties while walking a fancy foreign pooch?<br /><br />But now my run is over. It has been accomplished. And I feel like a new person. I always do after a good run or a good ride. Life really is simple that way. The guilt of slumming it up this morning and reading for a few hours instead of riding has passed (well, for the most part). And now that I am back to my senses I realize what it will take for me to have a little more art in my life—I must stop typing and trek down to the basement and continue working on my jewelry.<br /><br />As disjointed as this post may be, it’s got something to say about my plans (hopes! May my hopes become plans that become actuality!) for the New Year: more riding, more running, more reading and more art (well art jewelry :) Here’s wishing a lovely New Year to you and yours!Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-44160175015156201732011-10-11T19:46:00.000-07:002011-10-11T19:52:53.042-07:00Well, that was painless...Ahem, ahem, ahem, I seem to have some cobwebs and dust to clean up. My blog's been hiding in the attic for 5 months. Yep, 5 whole months of 30-31 days each. That's a lot of days. Pretty much half a year. Looks like I'll be dusting it off for a bit before I really get back. You see, I just somehow lost May and then, catching up on May in June as well as covering June seemed daunting. Then July came with many adventures. But you get the point. I procrastinated, then got scared, then felt guilty, then felt liberated, then felt guilty again (before reminding myself I had been LIBERATED from my blog...wait, why do I do this?). And there you have it. Five months of nil. Nothing. And you know me, I like to chat and share. So, I am going to try to bring this jessie back. I have tons of updates, many of which are now irrelevant. After a few months of ups and downs and lots of worries, it seems that Caesar is in very good place to move forward with riding. Let's hope so. More on that front and many more to come. Also, after 2.5 years of bumming off Mike's laptop, I got my very own new computer. Tiny and cute and hopefully it will encourage me to write more soon. I hope soon does not mean March 2012 :)Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-31686942369784175032011-05-09T18:10:00.000-07:002011-05-09T19:57:38.491-07:00a poemI'm coming off two long weeks of intense studio time. Many might think that my time spent pouring over my jewelry projects is an an aesthetic pursuit at best . And I might have agreed with those folks a year ago. My dear friend Anna, a hobby artist by night, says that pursuing art makes us human, and I finally understand what's she's meant all these years. I have become immersed in this new task, and I have found a new side of my self in the work. I think my hands were always waiting for these new found metal smithing skills and my mind was brimming with design ideas without me knowing. Though the long nights and loss of sleep were hard, I am so proud of the work I completed. My studio pal, Beth, always says when someone completes a piece "how satisfying!" with this sort of honey in her voice, and she means it--crafting metal vessels you can hold in your hand, wear around your neck, display on a shelf is so, so very satisfying. It's bringing me back to roots I've wanted to get back to for so long. I am after all the daughter of a custom woodworker, and I wiled away many hours in the dusty garage watching my father turn cherry wood into tables, walnut into cabinets. <br /><br />In any case, as I am emerging from the cocoon of (what seemed like) constant hand crafting I am feeling a rather rare bout of sentimentality. And when this happens, I tend to go to my poetry anthologies and have a few good teary eyed reads (ahem, tease me not, I embrace these times). I found this poem and had to share:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Riding Out At Evening</span> <br /> <br />At dusk, every thing blurs and softens..<br />from here out over the long valley,<br />the fields and hills roll up<br />the first slight sheets of evening,<br />as, over the next hour,<br />heavier, darker ones will follow. <br /><br />Quieted roads, predictable deer<br />browsing in a neighbor’s field, another’s<br />herd of heifers, the kitchen lights<br />starting in many windows. On horseback<br />I take it in, neither visitor<br />nor intruder, but kin passing , closer<br />and closer to night, its cold streams<br />rising in the sugarbush and hollow. <br /><br />Half-aloud, I say to the horse,<br />or myself, or whoever, let fire not come<br />to this house, nor that barn,<br />nor lightning strike that cattle.<br />Let dogs not gain the gravid doe, let the lights<br />of the rooms convey what they seem to. <br /><br />And who is to say it is useless<br />or foolish to ride out in the falling light<br />alone, wishing, or praying,<br />for particular good to particular beings<br />on one small road in a huge world?<br />The horse bears me along, like grace,<br /> <br />making me better than what I am,<br />and what I think or say or see<br />is whole in these moments, is neither<br />small nor broken. For up, out of<br />the inscrutable earth, have come my body<br />and the separate body of the mare:<br />flawed and aching and wronged. Who then<br />is better made to say be well, be glad, <br /><br />or who to long that we, as one,<br />might course over the entire valley.<br />over all valleys, as a bird in a great embrace<br />of flight, who presses against her breast,<br />in grief and tenderness,<br />the whole weeping body of the world?<br /><br />-Linda McCarriston<br /><br /><br />There's much heft to this poem to be worked through, but for now I will just say that I love the line "The horse bears me along, like grace,/making me better than what I am", and I feel it's so true for me. More on that another day. Good night ;)Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-12056111205484417862011-04-22T16:10:00.000-07:002011-04-22T17:41:05.349-07:00The post in which I try to catch up on the past four weeks...Where to begin? While I can not fully agree with Mr. Eliot that April is the cruelest month, I can say it's been quite a bear--fierce with some cuddly overtones. Project Embroidery!!! as I will hereby call it consumed the final few weeks of March and the first 8 days of April. My lovely friend, Pam, who is an exceptional fiber artist and generous teacher (remember those quilting lessons back in the summer? Well, I do, and that was all Pam.) agreed to collaborate with me on a weekly embroidery project way back in February. The original goal was to teach kids simple embroidery skills and to make an item (or items) that could be auctioned off at our school's annual silent auction in April. By April 7, we had made 6 large wall hangings encompassing the work of 110 kids and about 10 adults. There were several very long days and nights toward the end, but it was worth it! The experience was awesome for both us and the kids, and the pieces are/were/always will be AMAZING! And they were the biggest hit at the gala raking in almost $900 total. Here are some photos of the project and the wall piece I nabbed. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLKv_-KB-6XCNrq4nSRHeusi5-r1j68aAxbpk6NPTQhICtw_-UmGuZ6M1AxwVGMQZbIHmYAvwuzlzpjnWRSEJzl0JlqUGvorzjnR1qkqoI9BtV8VRtsPlUlvy4BWf2XxDxLMlNDow81Q/s1600/Tyson.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLKv_-KB-6XCNrq4nSRHeusi5-r1j68aAxbpk6NPTQhICtw_-UmGuZ6M1AxwVGMQZbIHmYAvwuzlzpjnWRSEJzl0JlqUGvorzjnR1qkqoI9BtV8VRtsPlUlvy4BWf2XxDxLMlNDow81Q/s320/Tyson.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598563410572820658" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBFCn0pDmSo3GDVblvywIVBUfXfXowpf6P3X1-uAvPAFPxudXGwaugV4vyf1uxjnNP4ddkp07om7Zru09sfZWkQPZ7e-RmCyhHCD0-hJFFpyjg3MqJjyhrXygOYWGXvKdHk1MQ2xEVl4/s1600/Tess.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBFCn0pDmSo3GDVblvywIVBUfXfXowpf6P3X1-uAvPAFPxudXGwaugV4vyf1uxjnNP4ddkp07om7Zru09sfZWkQPZ7e-RmCyhHCD0-hJFFpyjg3MqJjyhrXygOYWGXvKdHk1MQ2xEVl4/s320/Tess.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598563413405517618" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-gm9p3CXVjew2upNIQsc6aTu805Of0Zcvu5XE2zsPCwcqBE7EYJXEzYAk-Os4inR92gkN2KNGYCIUFtOlk9sfGYWM4rxGuuNv6pm-IZOvglzDVd0dtbjYJXxFRdgR1EF6PO9CyZ57as/s1600/100_2131.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-gm9p3CXVjew2upNIQsc6aTu805Of0Zcvu5XE2zsPCwcqBE7EYJXEzYAk-Os4inR92gkN2KNGYCIUFtOlk9sfGYWM4rxGuuNv6pm-IZOvglzDVd0dtbjYJXxFRdgR1EF6PO9CyZ57as/s320/100_2131.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598565994505332338" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmhthrK7Cw0icSs4zUEWWRf1MD3ThtfPNKEY7lpZBFcGJ7KKnjljfPxzPFP4MkqfNSH-C3P3_7qTatpJfgKFSNDn0h7t3LvnCVwKlrFT9LVAW0Q3exDWT5YDQ2tCWnOGZmnmb9F5IvVM/s1600/100_2151.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmhthrK7Cw0icSs4zUEWWRf1MD3ThtfPNKEY7lpZBFcGJ7KKnjljfPxzPFP4MkqfNSH-C3P3_7qTatpJfgKFSNDn0h7t3LvnCVwKlrFT9LVAW0Q3exDWT5YDQ2tCWnOGZmnmb9F5IvVM/s320/100_2151.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598565999852700402" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqnX7zbKyDzBNgkWKrk1yxIUu3zC4Yv7-ng9CqywiQBYCsSL7WmMLGvUQvPCSbHa114tCbKOHB8bj7ccsOAWjfEFkpyhaq0dpEqRBHVqZJfpIl3g6aR3tg4-Hhn_65B4DQSBVyjUys2w/s1600/100_2235.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqnX7zbKyDzBNgkWKrk1yxIUu3zC4Yv7-ng9CqywiQBYCsSL7WmMLGvUQvPCSbHa114tCbKOHB8bj7ccsOAWjfEFkpyhaq0dpEqRBHVqZJfpIl3g6aR3tg4-Hhn_65B4DQSBVyjUys2w/s320/100_2235.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598566004339952962" /></a><br /><br />Just to illustrate how enthralled I became with the embroidery project, here's me jump judging at Morven Park...yep, while stitching on the binding of one of the pieces :) <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSGIcDTVmmswroJJ6zWDwJ6w594aPD5t5Lf6mBg2B6xvQftebInMqZ4TjbGC_vh0k8djmOp7odWIDF_uGPunHb-scvlaJP11xJWJO1n0bv4jTpz2t6zBh6YRviNMvY6bWGUiFApTKEv0/s1600/100_2174.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSGIcDTVmmswroJJ6zWDwJ6w594aPD5t5Lf6mBg2B6xvQftebInMqZ4TjbGC_vh0k8djmOp7odWIDF_uGPunHb-scvlaJP11xJWJO1n0bv4jTpz2t6zBh6YRviNMvY6bWGUiFApTKEv0/s320/100_2174.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598567124235656562" /></a><br /><br />I can't thank Pam enough for leading this project with me, and I am so excited to continue working together (hint- embroidery might be making an appearance in my final jewelry project).<br /><br />As for jewelry (duh-dum), my class will be ending in less than two weeks, and I have no idea how I am going to finish everything. My second project, a pollinator locket for lack of a better name, was seconds away from being completed when the tubing for the swivel hinge snapped as I was setting the rivet. I know that sounds like gibberish to you, but it basically means I have to remake part of the piece with the looming threat that it could fall apart in a worse way. Oh goody. EEK! And it was so close to being finished! I only have photos of the component parts as they were a few weeks ago, but here you go:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20uXeIaSU0CowpOB1Ip5b2Zg09GPwkzP3oubQdMkaYmUB7NywVmsBf1-NQODe2wxNNe7m54satviUkiuVZ5fJtNN0f3jUad87nyVlYIKTCwsY5sqzoUAN2c2hIeCQl-ZRYDTpgMEH3m0/s1600/100_2167.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20uXeIaSU0CowpOB1Ip5b2Zg09GPwkzP3oubQdMkaYmUB7NywVmsBf1-NQODe2wxNNe7m54satviUkiuVZ5fJtNN0f3jUad87nyVlYIKTCwsY5sqzoUAN2c2hIeCQl-ZRYDTpgMEH3m0/s320/100_2167.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598570100355664738" /></a><br /><br /><br />I'll begin my final piece, a reliquary, this weekend; here's to better jewelry luck this time!<br /><br />I put my class work on hold for a few days to make the following pieces for the aforementioned auction held by my school; they were very well received and I was sad to part with them. That's success in my book :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyU7V_DHDvQCNnCT9U3HYb7vXFiXV5IhTa7YzFySuBhXHX-rtpgf4jgDvewIcZZkKOPYWLaBvt6AKOVT3zqBgDokzllx7gW5JU4xLacOiIsGnWA28VU9W8PWXKSqF_MBRLQzWX7lBxhKY/s1600/000_0021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyU7V_DHDvQCNnCT9U3HYb7vXFiXV5IhTa7YzFySuBhXHX-rtpgf4jgDvewIcZZkKOPYWLaBvt6AKOVT3zqBgDokzllx7gW5JU4xLacOiIsGnWA28VU9W8PWXKSqF_MBRLQzWX7lBxhKY/s320/000_0021.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598568412214963250" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />Pollinators take the stage again, this time as rivets.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJ0FGH4mF8VyAattXOPgvhrvCXwTd9pDUUfYA0S8H1z-r3NdVSF2iroSkA9Zkhwda5Ol6bkBO-CbyCsM0ppHh008fdd7XFlkQDsfo4vM1ZhQNYuJPLiTSCOjlI1UK8eOLUus1vLCWoVU/s1600/000_0028.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJ0FGH4mF8VyAattXOPgvhrvCXwTd9pDUUfYA0S8H1z-r3NdVSF2iroSkA9Zkhwda5Ol6bkBO-CbyCsM0ppHh008fdd7XFlkQDsfo4vM1ZhQNYuJPLiTSCOjlI1UK8eOLUus1vLCWoVU/s320/000_0028.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598568410525927410" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />My second attempt at a cut-out piece: GSB are the initials of our school, and the leaf is our mascot of sorts :)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeS_tG7226_fcL5GlbxnlsxwAJK_pT2OhB2DPtoVMFcXUMtTNTEZSYoys2ZhkfyaMOb9iXEvKdqYkQF4nLsZkaVWjXgwXR8fjNvGzwBtr3wTHpnCG4hQwUjkWDAGt_VrRdVTvSIA2XC0M/s1600/000_0032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeS_tG7226_fcL5GlbxnlsxwAJK_pT2OhB2DPtoVMFcXUMtTNTEZSYoys2ZhkfyaMOb9iXEvKdqYkQF4nLsZkaVWjXgwXR8fjNvGzwBtr3wTHpnCG4hQwUjkWDAGt_VrRdVTvSIA2XC0M/s320/000_0032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598568414406423650" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Terrible photo but all I have! These earrings are domed circles made of a marriage of metals.</span><br /><br />On the horse front, Caesar has been going very well (very soundly!) for almost three weeks now. We have had several good flat sessions and a much better than expected jump lesson in the past two weeks, and I am feeling pretty hopeful about where we are. Unlike the past few times when he was lame, I feel like we came back strong and refreshed, and I did not loose a ton of knowledge or feel for the ride. Yea! Today we had a lovely little bareback hack followed by some nice flatwork in the ring (despite the sleet. Sleet in late April! Maybe it is the cruelest...). <br /><br />I also had the chance to ride Megan's horse, Wyatt; while we often ride together we rarely ride each other's horses, and it had been over a year since I had sat on Wyatt. I have watched his progress quite closely so it was awesome to sit on him and see how far he has come. For reference, Wyatt is Perch/TB cross just coming 6. He was bred to be a field hunter, and he definitely shines on the xc course, but he has the build of a large fancy warmblood and the movement to match. Megan has worked tremendously hard to bring the big guy around, and it shows! Today, he reminded me of a Baroque horse in the making. His walk is so big that he literally swings your hips inches forward with every step. It was a treat to ride him, but it was work. I commend anyone who rides large sport horses especially young, green and large sport horses; it takes a lot of strength and correct timing of the aides to say the least! Hopefully Megan and I will be out schooling xc soon, and I will get some photos!<br /><br />Here's hoping the rain ends soon, and we can get out on the trails. Caesar seems so pleased to be back in work, and I know we would both enjoy some trotting on the trails. In other news, Mike and I are enjoying our spring break with a little traveling (Ithaca and the Fingerlakes) and lots of reading. It looks like the reading will continue to be the pastime of choice as the rain continues, but that's not such a bad thing! Enjoy your weekend wherever you are!Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-88153484158529151242011-04-14T11:38:00.001-07:002011-04-14T20:05:58.334-07:00Alright alreadyI have developed a seriously bad habit of making lists of things to blog about every two weeks or so then letting the lists get so long that I find myself too exhausted or too intimidated to write an all encomposing blog post when the time arises (which is usually around 11:30 at night on a weekday when I should be in bed:). Added to that is my desire to included photos of my current jewelry projects, and seeing as how I rarely upload photos from my camera to our laptop, this task is not so easy to achieve. So it's time for the roadblocks to be torn down. I have time for a very brief update, and that's whay I'll write!<br /><br />I am ecstatic to report that Caesar is sound AND doing marvelously well. We have been back in the saddle for 10 days and each of our rides has been very good, much better than I could have expected. We took the first few rides very easy and light with only a bit of trot and lots of walking, but still he felt very stretchy and super happy to be going again. He has already put on a some weight since being back under saddle confirming that when he is out of work, he drops the pounds (wish that were the case for me!) As Margot put it, he is a bit of a worrier when he is unsound, and indeed, he does seem to be in very good spirits these days! Our trot work is going very well, and Margot has been really helping me adjust my position and be more effective, especially in the weak leg (ahem, especially, especially that left leg) department. I love seeing the progress I can make when I correct my body. Canter transitions are still an issue, but we had some very good ones Monday. Yesterday was a challenge because we had to ride in the indoor (which I am somewhat afraid of, apparently) and with an audience. ouch. But such is the life of sporting with horses. I've been doing lots of thinking as well as some journaling about sports psychology, specifically my tendancy to be chicken s*** about doing things that make me anxious (like transitioning to the canter; the canter I love, it's getting from trot to canter that I fail at). More on that later.<br /><br />The embroidery project my friend Pam and I had been working on with the kids finished up last week with a bang. We completed six small quilts that became wall hangings that were auctioned off at our school's annual silent auction. The pieces brought in almost $900 and were a huge hit! Success! I even nabbed (okay, fought for) one that I just adore. I will post pictures...eventually!<br /><br />That's all for now! See, I can write a short(er) post afterall!Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-56398611136903649872011-03-16T17:45:00.001-07:002011-03-19T20:25:02.152-07:00Poetry in injuryThe title is a not so indirect reference to the fact that little Caesar is still lame. Three weeks as of Thursday. It's hard work having a lame, shoeless horse--soaking, medicating (he has a bruise on his sole), wrapping, and, well, pampering are a far cry away from actually riding said horse; it's my favorite thing to do--ride Caesar, and without it, I feel a little aimless. And, apparently, a little stressed; I do a good job during the day of not ruminating over the issue, but at night, it gets the best of me. Almost every day over the past three weeks, I have woken up with significant jaw pain clearly from clenching my teeth (an old, awful habit). Yikes. Yes, I have a mouth guard. Yes, I know I should use it. Okay, okay. <br /><br />But I'm aware enough to know that my horse soundness woes are nothing compared to the tragedies unfolding across the globe, and I don't want to sound ungrateful. I want, rather, to see the poetry in injury. A parent of one of my student's asked me the other day "Are you getting to ride more now that the weather is better?" "Well, I would, but my horse has a bruised sole." She chuckled and apologized and said "that's so poetic." Indeed a horse with a bruised soul would be quite poetic, but perhaps a bruised sole has some poetry as well. While I haven't been able to ride, I have been able to spend lots of time just hanging out with Caesar. And for as cranky and ear-pinning crabby as he can be, he actually relishes in the attention. He quickly became a pro with the whole medicating/soaking/wrapping routine and seemed to rather like the extra attention. He's come to enjoy being groomed and scratched and massaged without having to do any work (understandably so!). Maybe his soul was a bit bruised and what he really wanted was some more time with me just hanging out. Maybe, just maybe (it could happen!) :) I taught him a little trick whereby he gives me a hug by stretching his neck around my mid section. It's pretty darn cute. When I turned him out on Monday, he hugged me expecting a treat. When I offered nothing, he hugged me for a second time, and when I again offered nothing (I was treatless!) he resorted to bowing and tapping his hoof as if to say, "How about this? How do you like this?" Ha! I am a big fan of this horse's personality.<br /><br />The good news is that he appears to be on the mend. He got his shoe back on on Monday and with it a heavy duty leather pad to protect his sole. He was much sounder after that but still a little off. He was a bit better today so I thought going for a little walk would not hurt. We only walked for about 20 minutes, but it was so great! And while Caesar's first few strides were a little iffy, he seemed almost 100% sound at the walk! I'll take that for now and hope tomorrow he is even better!<br /><br />I completed my first project for class last week, and I was pleased with the results. The beaks were well received in the critique and I got some good feedback on some finishing touches that will really tidy up the pieces. Here they are:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTO_TEEoEOg6XiURMpdiylO2_LtE-3aKRTXH0QqSmL-j4qDTaos23Dgg8XYf0o97UVRCH5OYxTAossf9-MLdXHiqZSDUh4mbiFBZJrTXoawB2gbulh_aqBA5jXktXPAFQh3D2yXpX3l8M/s1600/100_2096.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTO_TEEoEOg6XiURMpdiylO2_LtE-3aKRTXH0QqSmL-j4qDTaos23Dgg8XYf0o97UVRCH5OYxTAossf9-MLdXHiqZSDUh4mbiFBZJrTXoawB2gbulh_aqBA5jXktXPAFQh3D2yXpX3l8M/s320/100_2096.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585992165195719874" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEC02Ya3zja6r9AKgGek_b1s8d-ly3qweQF7GirlMsvwpjvTfNI-m6ovL8b2QElukMrSN6sCRwd0TcupxKQ5Dr6OeE8xeHCIYqWHCEh9futjdUVqShR6votm4ZDq9YtR0RbL77Aw7rEw/s1600/100_2099.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEC02Ya3zja6r9AKgGek_b1s8d-ly3qweQF7GirlMsvwpjvTfNI-m6ovL8b2QElukMrSN6sCRwd0TcupxKQ5Dr6OeE8xeHCIYqWHCEh9futjdUVqShR6votm4ZDq9YtR0RbL77Aw7rEw/s320/100_2099.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585992175610465346" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIjjZ5aEGLVlEcenkXu7tMIPWObZ371ug7xmdiWy6_EqHzmCK9zxFtlUAnu_5fjok-HV1Ych5Eq43NJgTaxox2CPtlrUDV3RpEfu9knG-qJZGuxG02xf9saKoi2LyYm43NKq0gcpjy3n0/s1600/100_2098.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIjjZ5aEGLVlEcenkXu7tMIPWObZ371ug7xmdiWy6_EqHzmCK9zxFtlUAnu_5fjok-HV1Ych5Eq43NJgTaxox2CPtlrUDV3RpEfu9knG-qJZGuxG02xf9saKoi2LyYm43NKq0gcpjy3n0/s320/100_2098.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585992169069879314" /></a><br /><br />In the above photos, the beaks look a bit out of context; eventually I will display them in such a way that will help complete the design (possibly mounting them on "legs" or framing them in a box...); here's a quick mock-up Mike did. Pretty funny!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHRQ1jjkpn88F4NzFK5tMtjj5SA2VvK-wUb6AnXMkCvsYled8_7vWHKZMsJe2S7Nv8r0Y_4r-Kf_t72Z3l-5PgL3IchnuRta4XL_rVJEdsuuGN2N_f_nr_WI88J3ExhOEaYLINk9Xa6g/s1600/100_2104.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHRQ1jjkpn88F4NzFK5tMtjj5SA2VvK-wUb6AnXMkCvsYled8_7vWHKZMsJe2S7Nv8r0Y_4r-Kf_t72Z3l-5PgL3IchnuRta4XL_rVJEdsuuGN2N_f_nr_WI88J3ExhOEaYLINk9Xa6g/s320/100_2104.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585997232352273666" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRL4-dHu7FuZh8l2v78-h7m2FTgF5nmwpb0gIdHCNOpb6Gq-ZFMxFVz4t1Hv7WhrPQsDGZguXp3m-rnJn4FaZ8QeoEQLwjn6OvXVhF294yfLs5qqdVGI8Ubxo1Ndd7nfxEpHRNICpV8o/s1600/100_2110.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRL4-dHu7FuZh8l2v78-h7m2FTgF5nmwpb0gIdHCNOpb6Gq-ZFMxFVz4t1Hv7WhrPQsDGZguXp3m-rnJn4FaZ8QeoEQLwjn6OvXVhF294yfLs5qqdVGI8Ubxo1Ndd7nfxEpHRNICpV8o/s320/100_2110.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585997240391138178" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6kZm36HEpMGoPatgS90F04BxtYgwHmwMUPUgqZBGQ9-kyjcpZltfsb-6y4JE6fno2Tyb21DvvpmSwyZlmqyPjBkVmIP__8ve1_EZm0trjVdGOzTICpNVdMTc84ZL7392pgQxuQvCfp0/s1600/100_2114.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6kZm36HEpMGoPatgS90F04BxtYgwHmwMUPUgqZBGQ9-kyjcpZltfsb-6y4JE6fno2Tyb21DvvpmSwyZlmqyPjBkVmIP__8ve1_EZm0trjVdGOzTICpNVdMTc84ZL7392pgQxuQvCfp0/s320/100_2114.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585997244011673490" /></a><br /><br />Do you think I should name them?<br /><br />My current project is a locket of sorts that will hold a diorama; I was very pleased with the design concept I developed, and I can only hope I can at least partially realize it! Stay tuned to find out more!<br /><br />I also made a little get well gift for my dear friend, Abby, who is recuperating from a pretty severe fall off of her horse; in true Abby form she is doing so with style and grace so I thought a little piece of jewelry might help. I'll post it next week after she sees it, but I am hoping to make several other pieces like it. Simple and sweet and something many I hope folks, especially horse lovers, will like.<br /><br />I am turning 29 this weekend; how did that happen? 29? Really? I discovered an odd food stain on my shirt today and asked myself " How do I have a food stain that does not match any of the food I ate today?" Ewww. Yet, somehow I think I always knew I would be grappling with questions like this even as I approached my 30th year. Some things never change! Mike and I will be going to Middleburg and Leesburg Saturday (my favorites!) and jump judging at the first steeplechase race of the season on Sunday with a family dinner in between. I am sure I've garner a few more food stains :)<br /><br />Enjoy yourself wherever you are and thanks for reading!Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-64137427260034989342011-02-27T17:16:00.000-08:002011-02-27T17:33:22.972-08:00I misplaced FebruaryOver a month has passed seemingly unbeknownst to the blogger in me. I got busy with class and reading a slew of books and never had anything too intriguing to share. Hmmph. Such is life. Especially life in February, which for the past seven years that I’ve lived in Maryland has been one of my least favorite months. Sure, we are always guaranteed at least a snow day or two (or 8!) but the schedule gets complicated, the weather is bitter, and I’m generally just tired of winter by this point. This year is no different. We got some early hints of spring this year which was fantastic. Then the snow returned last week for one last blanket of white. But I believe it’s all over now. Temps are creeping toward 60 and there’s lots of rain in the forecast, a sure sign of spring I’d say.<br /><br />Over the past five weeks, Caesar and I have had some really nice jumping sessions as well as some good rides on the flat. However, he’s lame at the moment; hopefully it’s just an abscess or bruise. Only time will tell. I sure hate when he’s off, but I am doing a good job of occupying my mind so as not to worry about him. I have my fingers crossed that he’ll be significantly better tomorrow morning.<br /><br />My spiculum project for jewelry class is well under way. I submitted 7 samples of both spiculums and anticlastic forming last week; here’s a shot of three of them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ANkboU7PKFdZ2Kls-cx6WTBnxCvSuwSuZp2vVMoFTFp1uUz0sgtfx92RXLvLSk80nB5TmYiW_qeZ8o6KTo7nwHupWUA6oJRn3T53-noyZ1BZGyLRsLM1dSXttSEA9Xer0khcwxIzaRI/s1600/0209011445.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ANkboU7PKFdZ2Kls-cx6WTBnxCvSuwSuZp2vVMoFTFp1uUz0sgtfx92RXLvLSk80nB5TmYiW_qeZ8o6KTo7nwHupWUA6oJRn3T53-noyZ1BZGyLRsLM1dSXttSEA9Xer0khcwxIzaRI/s320/0209011445.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578545588578921362" /></a><br /><br />These are the prototypes for my beaks, which will be my final project (due in nine days!). Each beak will be made of a patterned sheet. Here’s the first (and hopefully most difficult) sheet.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg83v1TxzNzIiWVcagJj8C4x4jgpOz-rIgLEqRaBaGJje3uzZ1Q9Kwh9mECwNxW8ass1RfpEsLIjrPYkWs2PIzfTn_SCcU2CRqLr4sNNg0s73ZmyUP0PIWuAfZvFaWjaebagE_PvnDSq8/s1600/0227011852.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg83v1TxzNzIiWVcagJj8C4x4jgpOz-rIgLEqRaBaGJje3uzZ1Q9Kwh9mECwNxW8ass1RfpEsLIjrPYkWs2PIzfTn_SCcU2CRqLr4sNNg0s73ZmyUP0PIWuAfZvFaWjaebagE_PvnDSq8/s320/0227011852.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578545242639573346" /></a><br /><br />I used a technique called marriage of metals whereby you “marry” metals by soldering them together. I have done a bit of this before, but this time around, I had many more challenges. The difficulties I encountered were largely due to the size of the piece and the fact that after I soldered a seam, I would have to paint it with a chemical to prevent that seam from flowing when I soldered a different seem. YIKES! The end result is quite nice; after 10 hours, it should be! <br /><br />I also am teaching myself to do some simple (emphasis on simple) felting that will become part of the final project. Stay tuned!<br /><br />Mike and I attended the American Craft Council winter show yesterday at the convention center. I have heard of the ACCs for a few years, but this was my first experience. It was, in a word, overwhelming; hundreds of vendors with wildly unique and often loud art for sale. I was astounded by the amount of bling—gold, diamonds, sapphires and other precious stones abounded. This made for some lovely window shopping, but the prices were jaw dropping at times. I was so impressed by the work of most of the artists, but I can’t fathom working with such expensive and delicate (other than the diamonds) materials. I wasn’t sure if I would walk out with any wares, but in typical craft show fashion, I splurged ;) I bought a ring made a Philadelphia artist Janine DeCresenzo. Her mechanical designs were beautiful and refreshingly creative. She sets stones and artifacts in small bezels to which she solders on small screws. The bezels can then be screwed into ring bands or pendants—neat! Here are some photos of the ring.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztMzDuETd1BoWveeejM0q1hGYFInODYCs0fieLK8GeyaD9gkYauBxjj7qlvhSx7Yujl5hWqqETpPWaO8UzjUwMRIZpURnYgZxMAxQqkkJl1EFaD7YxTuD8YHWez2Y_DiRh2ddHTRHtJU/s1600/0227011854.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztMzDuETd1BoWveeejM0q1hGYFInODYCs0fieLK8GeyaD9gkYauBxjj7qlvhSx7Yujl5hWqqETpPWaO8UzjUwMRIZpURnYgZxMAxQqkkJl1EFaD7YxTuD8YHWez2Y_DiRh2ddHTRHtJU/s320/0227011854.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578545319969732706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qlW1OeK7D2vnpnOfqL6ihractqtdSUY6YHwcaIf7ROMGnBFLNu-mamHNBzekUgdkRyFmsThO8wow0TyWZYXlVeUxcpIwfHyaef5zVyZA4vZKHFoXkwYlju4sku0rOEsEwfbSzVK-akI/s1600/0227011852a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qlW1OeK7D2vnpnOfqL6ihractqtdSUY6YHwcaIf7ROMGnBFLNu-mamHNBzekUgdkRyFmsThO8wow0TyWZYXlVeUxcpIwfHyaef5zVyZA4vZKHFoXkwYlju4sku0rOEsEwfbSzVK-akI/s320/0227011852a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578545247938918770" /></a><br /><br />That’s all for now. Have a great first week of March (did I say that I love March!).Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-51650576789434940932011-01-27T17:37:00.000-08:002011-01-27T18:12:44.716-08:00And it begins...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhde9UgnGEBREURkd9-6_pG5FfNVgpNxUSfHws7-BvqyrL6HUcnTKjRTsqLT3C8FlYeeuOR2DjJEvc5SWNybI8PdQoMDqWCZ7ZOSAAY0vxJ6Cg3uPjmbqUjyI7NKWWj3yQcuB5ERf4o6MY/s1600/100_2008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhde9UgnGEBREURkd9-6_pG5FfNVgpNxUSfHws7-BvqyrL6HUcnTKjRTsqLT3C8FlYeeuOR2DjJEvc5SWNybI8PdQoMDqWCZ7ZOSAAY0vxJ6Cg3uPjmbqUjyI7NKWWj3yQcuB5ERf4o6MY/s320/100_2008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567049169951199298" /></a><br /><br />So this winter, weather in the mid-Atlantic (or at least our little corner) has been quite unpredictable. At least on the part of the local meteorologists. The forecast would call for 3-4 inches of snow, and we would get nothing, no rain, no hail, no flakes. This scenario has happened at least four times with the highest accumulation being little more than a sneeze. But this week, things changed. Yesterday morning, a wintry mix turned into a few inches followed by 6 more inches of snow last night. After last year's blizzard (times two!), it's hard to remember what a typical amount of snowfall in Baltimore looks like. I guess this is it--main roads are fine but sides roads are slushy at best. Sidewalks are a little treacherous, but passable, and more than a few people are walking around in completely inappropriate snow gear (were those grocery bags on his feet?). We were gifted with a day off of school, and I was decently productive. I got some work accomplished and made it out to the barn for a lovely hack in the snow. While the snow in the city quickly changes from picturesque to gross, the surrounding areas stay white and pristine for far longer. The farm where I board is beautiful in any weather, but the snow just makes it supreme.<br /><br />Here are some photos that we took:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiG8jFtFSx9nK9zZw03a60W7afVVKlFK_hqp0G-b0FBEbfXA6Zr6FTH2i4-ObTydUjDTY0VAZKNBgjxC5rv-DmoTOgEzHg5xI4BWt4W67yf9C3SY9Cd1UisVIKMMN3BRtcb8yQ0zhsxA/s1600/100_1995.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiG8jFtFSx9nK9zZw03a60W7afVVKlFK_hqp0G-b0FBEbfXA6Zr6FTH2i4-ObTydUjDTY0VAZKNBgjxC5rv-DmoTOgEzHg5xI4BWt4W67yf9C3SY9Cd1UisVIKMMN3BRtcb8yQ0zhsxA/s320/100_1995.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567049145725372258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfwbUhI2MBEs38lhZEiQHGozvZNNx3igg44cjfubNA86sictIRtclzAw50zquXhrMPXdO_z9AHHsHtbdFp0_3wE7hxVoTeTeede-LuaVCB5HpaqlDkjCO6eO410vHFDut1Ai_n4Lerxk/s1600/100_2000.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfwbUhI2MBEs38lhZEiQHGozvZNNx3igg44cjfubNA86sictIRtclzAw50zquXhrMPXdO_z9AHHsHtbdFp0_3wE7hxVoTeTeede-LuaVCB5HpaqlDkjCO6eO410vHFDut1Ai_n4Lerxk/s320/100_2000.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567049163696176146" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3tvD_0ci92d_eH88kuG7ZY94Bh6SizUrE4_qkSe1LFcbVyvjRtT7JdlV5nEviDvJKmkRIz_mb5AYTrTXUT3KeaiM2Kv4-Zz7MW_a908eh6qodPXpnuzMmd9roqzKWOH-GENySvMIjIM/s1600/100_1997.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3tvD_0ci92d_eH88kuG7ZY94Bh6SizUrE4_qkSe1LFcbVyvjRtT7JdlV5nEviDvJKmkRIz_mb5AYTrTXUT3KeaiM2Kv4-Zz7MW_a908eh6qodPXpnuzMmd9roqzKWOH-GENySvMIjIM/s320/100_1997.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567049149487756610" /></a><br /><br /><br />For class this week, I had to make a few models of some of my ideas; since our project is a series of conical, tube like structures, clay worked best. I have a few ideas competing at the moment (fox hunting images! wedding dresses! root veggies!), but I think I have my heart set on a series of bird beaks. Once I've worked through some more sketches, I'll post those, but for now here are some pics of the models:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9moQ5D8kDd6a44G4-hcz172f-uyvg1VA4tG_P57FaGW5G5aTFtmcWUJyN-NZaDW5JvRjEFZSZ44V2KEetKBeshc7Ot5MVC3hboW7EryQGRtH2ZrfTru0H0EbmecAdDtaYH5Uu0SSxIk/s1600/100_1940.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9moQ5D8kDd6a44G4-hcz172f-uyvg1VA4tG_P57FaGW5G5aTFtmcWUJyN-NZaDW5JvRjEFZSZ44V2KEetKBeshc7Ot5MVC3hboW7EryQGRtH2ZrfTru0H0EbmecAdDtaYH5Uu0SSxIk/s320/100_1940.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567049619790599122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lljYYX8k4zwcbf4sVAhVj5J_DygmKB7y_8kw9-rHs0ZM1hRHhnMcxbqGcL-G7rnp3LBOWyt2kxqxpogWHNCmMJCx00WVcWch7llsKX1KmsNOrdv3SOyOF8NLcl0mvW8yp9DK89nRw4s/s1600/100_1941.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lljYYX8k4zwcbf4sVAhVj5J_DygmKB7y_8kw9-rHs0ZM1hRHhnMcxbqGcL-G7rnp3LBOWyt2kxqxpogWHNCmMJCx00WVcWch7llsKX1KmsNOrdv3SOyOF8NLcl0mvW8yp9DK89nRw4s/s320/100_1941.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567049626396043906" /></a><br /><br />And just for fun:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NDYOcvY5V4E5bWCuduf3nn3J7pptTyz1z4M2XUWY9y-w4OWpsUFkTHhfAtyWKes9mXxkSljENlU4_SPYnHEVWlAftaAdC5mkD47Bmvq-WDBxAdfDJd45jXCL-amC5GYSnh-vOjCk3EM/s1600/100_1951.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NDYOcvY5V4E5bWCuduf3nn3J7pptTyz1z4M2XUWY9y-w4OWpsUFkTHhfAtyWKes9mXxkSljENlU4_SPYnHEVWlAftaAdC5mkD47Bmvq-WDBxAdfDJd45jXCL-amC5GYSnh-vOjCk3EM/s320/100_1951.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567049150658085058" /></a><br /><br />I had the opportunity to audit a clinic with Jimmy Wofford yesterday (yep, I braved the weather just to audit!), and it was fabulous! It's impossible to not learn something when listening and watching the great JW. It was extra special coming on the heels of Jimmy's announcement to seek the US Team Chef position. It was fun to watch Cherie and Abby as they participated (very impressively), and I even picked up a few tips that I applied yesterday in my ride. Check for a great training day despite the weather!<br /><br />Here's a photo of Jimmy teaching (with a rapt audience:)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMYB1gxGjkNyY7L7WzTlB-UWPn9IxfyGtyekIpF1oY7n3k9W2E6ybWpUfAgyhmgouenpFOkNbiHqW6ERiUvK1XPgjA9oR4gvf4CGPDxv8aMZsabDQNlwVFmUrQm9uRDf1riLlvk2-bus/s1600/100_1990.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMYB1gxGjkNyY7L7WzTlB-UWPn9IxfyGtyekIpF1oY7n3k9W2E6ybWpUfAgyhmgouenpFOkNbiHqW6ERiUvK1XPgjA9oR4gvf4CGPDxv8aMZsabDQNlwVFmUrQm9uRDf1riLlvk2-bus/s320/100_1990.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567049630924524594" /></a><br /><br />And suddenly another weekend is upon us. How did that happen? Hoping to get in some gymnastics this weekend as well as some good reading time! Have a great weekend!Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-17513775202619336952011-01-20T18:13:00.000-08:002011-01-20T19:17:40.265-08:00Hound Deer...then and nowTwo posts in two days--wow! I'm on a roll! Really I just wanted to share a quick video and a much awaited photo (awaited by me that is:)!<br /><br />I rode Caesar for a quick 35 minutes bareback at the walk and trot tonight. Mike accompanied me and got a short video clip on his ipod. I usually freeze when I know I am on film so the sneak-attack approach worked. The video doesn't catch us at our best, but it's decent. (sorry for the strange format; can't figure out how to remove the window)<br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ifycwp5ndk4?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen></iframe><br /><br />I clearly need to sit back and deeper as well as move my hips more freely. Also, Caesar's trot is a little short and stuck so asking for a more forward trot will help (and a following hip will help me do that). It's good to get some video and analyze it. Must do that more often!<br /><br />As for the much awaited photo... I contacted the photographer at Charles Town last week and requested 3 of Caesar's win pics. This is something I have been meaning to do for a while, so I was quite excited to receive them in the mail. Caesar had a whopping 56 starts, 9 wins, and a dozen second and third place finishes. He was a working class race horse if there ever was one, so it's only fitting that I get some photographic evidence of his wins. I was surprised to see he was so stout. Despite being narrow, he's got a sporty build. Apparently he's been that way for a while!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALExIAZ5-ARAiMtCFf3K8ipWf-OsuF0xylKKhVXJ5mfCjsV4-5f-t0YtCvW7qw2PGWM6VEM7IWL-tTZARvFiMYxJyZDKAxWKzqRqIPyhbfulEgvNRKmRPDbU4k4LnzBbx6QgPBBfL8cw/s1600/Caesar+win+pic+April+13+2002.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALExIAZ5-ARAiMtCFf3K8ipWf-OsuF0xylKKhVXJ5mfCjsV4-5f-t0YtCvW7qw2PGWM6VEM7IWL-tTZARvFiMYxJyZDKAxWKzqRqIPyhbfulEgvNRKmRPDbU4k4LnzBbx6QgPBBfL8cw/s320/Caesar+win+pic+April+13+2002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564465412962619170" border="0"></a><br /><br />I just started reading The Lord of Misrule which won last year's National Book Award. It's a novel about a bottom-level racetrack in West Virginia. So far it's quite good though I know I will be grimacing soon at some of the scenes.<br /><br />I wish everyone a great weekend!Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-58641942016651778072011-01-19T16:04:00.001-08:002011-01-19T16:29:44.846-08:00The first postof the New Year is a bit tardy. But would you expect anything less? I like to live life belatedly afterall :)<br /><br />The new year has been moving right along--school is good if a bit absent lately (holiday plus snow day equals forgetting my day job!). I've switched back to my old farrier for Caesar's feet, and he seems to be going pretty well. I am hopeful that this will be a more sound year than last. We did a gymnastics clinic in early January, but since then we've been lying low, working mostly on flat work. I feel a bit stuck, but 2 good lessons in the past week are adding some insight. This is as we know the season of feeling stuck. I think Caesar just wants to take a good walk outside. I know I do! We finally got around to clipping him (thanks to Shannon for the use of her clippers!), and it looks decent for the first try! I admit to being the handler; Mike was far more trustworthy with the clippers!<br /><br />MICA class started last night. It's officially titled Perfecting Basic Skills, but the syllabus looks to be more about perfecting some skills and learning some new ones (hello, etching and bezel stone setting, I have been waiting for you!). I am excited for our first project--forming spiculums and anticlastic shapes. What's that you say? Yea, I just learned what they are too :) Think sheet metal curved inward, outward, in all directions within the same piece. Should be cool! I am thinking I might do a series of bird beaks or play with a foxhunting theme. hmmm...<br /><br />That's all the writing for now, but I'll include some fun pics:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRP0bFgQkvMHu6d-CHztbg9frsOjJmTHX_o2f4Dc_3rPhaIP5tTK4yjkrAfRfsNBHO2N8XI1ZsZHrPDAcEBblQAKwBLdLvS8FYlX1QoS8UMSfyd7x2uv3Rtz6ArgpQNdpzh_Ok6JEVAY/s1600/100_1846.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRP0bFgQkvMHu6d-CHztbg9frsOjJmTHX_o2f4Dc_3rPhaIP5tTK4yjkrAfRfsNBHO2N8XI1ZsZHrPDAcEBblQAKwBLdLvS8FYlX1QoS8UMSfyd7x2uv3Rtz6ArgpQNdpzh_Ok6JEVAY/s320/100_1846.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564054447827234162" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />A shot of the jumps the boarders created for our trainer. They look great and ride well!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzoJaIkdKdQWDajj4zNj_rAPczsc8wxDJW6K2AImzeUbfQLLFX71jgKkaK1fJMU4mCjWHe0PUe519jMurmosvso_pOywDnbFNjMCGjmPe60kcQEVLmw3nM0vlXbWxNfFDUKzkBRQ-nRs/s1600/100_1831.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzoJaIkdKdQWDajj4zNj_rAPczsc8wxDJW6K2AImzeUbfQLLFX71jgKkaK1fJMU4mCjWHe0PUe519jMurmosvso_pOywDnbFNjMCGjmPe60kcQEVLmw3nM0vlXbWxNfFDUKzkBRQ-nRs/s320/100_1831.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564054445292721922" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />A close up of the artistry :)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvXU0ds2FEV4pAKJ_FJ8Fea84gNmODyrcBOIETKVGaPKEvKyyGJo8hwwIj49Lo7riNR2Nva2lIWvUQzo-V8H4TX2vgKBQD5I_GUAO7txL-veyD9wrnX3lZMzJVQIiaxDfsEb0zA9I7zA/s1600/Caesar+clip+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvXU0ds2FEV4pAKJ_FJ8Fea84gNmODyrcBOIETKVGaPKEvKyyGJo8hwwIj49Lo7riNR2Nva2lIWvUQzo-V8H4TX2vgKBQD5I_GUAO7txL-veyD9wrnX3lZMzJVQIiaxDfsEb0zA9I7zA/s320/Caesar+clip+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564057268530976690" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Caesar's new clip and new bareback pad (both compliments of my awesome husband!)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilD7r-2bytQrr-iW5jUiWwYDFwzKsQ71sKvbVbG9NVOXP_MDTxJj-pT-HHRpoJLnHPYjTHwwj5P00Gsk5mNu64Jg_nDwwJjh0N0Mn-hhLmAt318FmFe4UKl1ZbE8HCO_SXUJ3cE9N2bNU/s1600/caesar+boots.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilD7r-2bytQrr-iW5jUiWwYDFwzKsQ71sKvbVbG9NVOXP_MDTxJj-pT-HHRpoJLnHPYjTHwwj5P00Gsk5mNu64Jg_nDwwJjh0N0Mn-hhLmAt318FmFe4UKl1ZbE8HCO_SXUJ3cE9N2bNU/s320/caesar+boots.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564057280232874450" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">I am certain Caesar has always wanted to be a dressage queen so I caved and bought him boots!</span>Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-87762584099563095872010-12-23T19:05:00.001-08:002010-12-23T20:29:15.219-08:00#51 (or, Lots of Cool Photos!)Apparently this is my 51st blog post so I thought I would go all Dave Matthews and title it as such. Just can't resist the subtitle though; had to pull you in somehow! I have several bits and pieces to write about, but most can be expressed best through pictures, so here goes!<br /><br />I finally finally finally finished my final jewelry project--a hollow form barn. The piece ended up taking somewhere between 35 and 40 hours, but it was worth it. I love the piece! Absolutely love it! And I don't usually feel that way about my pieces. There were several big hurdles toward the end (ahem, my adorable little rooster weather vane broke off in the eleventh hour!), but I pulled it all together by the time the studio closed Sunday evening. Here are some photos:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-exIplO5A8fAoeuoN9W0tgxe0H3Kva56R8aXP5p2t640sedGuSgs93y6Wlu-g1e87OK8kPnSmRhXoS2fKSJvhcx1Xr7JbMaXbSJE64Q75quMAGWKdTituHH5WYwblSPI47U8M7u3PjJw/s1600/100_1798.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-exIplO5A8fAoeuoN9W0tgxe0H3Kva56R8aXP5p2t640sedGuSgs93y6Wlu-g1e87OK8kPnSmRhXoS2fKSJvhcx1Xr7JbMaXbSJE64Q75quMAGWKdTituHH5WYwblSPI47U8M7u3PjJw/s320/100_1798.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554094972223928626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5RWXr_t5XkrV8dsAfElWWkh-k9yqkFfo3eyqpdLgaFj78q-3hlgv6-WXrMtZ0DYwY9xSxoRZhrBPShYHMWmTFzjeS0oarGiSbTZ4u_I5BIbPPAq1LiGTvsVFvesh-o_ZwEfASC7hbj1k/s1600/100_1800.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5RWXr_t5XkrV8dsAfElWWkh-k9yqkFfo3eyqpdLgaFj78q-3hlgv6-WXrMtZ0DYwY9xSxoRZhrBPShYHMWmTFzjeS0oarGiSbTZ4u_I5BIbPPAq1LiGTvsVFvesh-o_ZwEfASC7hbj1k/s320/100_1800.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554094960617159058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpvV6gLYQ0FXYmr82SKAxQTqp90CKkrrpiSVJxq6D9BwQrQbKyHfIdfwoMX4kV3iN9-E8VoEPsrPSL3B7Me4EumxvkQ1LZr9lAPs8DQSrbaXDUoEdTwiJU13VGm0IFD9PvGVtXWmU2Qw/s1600/100_1801.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpvV6gLYQ0FXYmr82SKAxQTqp90CKkrrpiSVJxq6D9BwQrQbKyHfIdfwoMX4kV3iN9-E8VoEPsrPSL3B7Me4EumxvkQ1LZr9lAPs8DQSrbaXDUoEdTwiJU13VGm0IFD9PvGVtXWmU2Qw/s320/100_1801.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554094955022202450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXlOOt5mNP3zuc7FCu96C7xdMFY97DHx7z9MtkPL1EftMTIk2ITke5yKIs-0E_kl8dVA66YEKASFEBZKRH0XCujMmjiUV5TZkdx83WfDO2MAc6o11K02lolHbDwDIMq9z58RMfKtQXOA/s1600/100_1802.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXlOOt5mNP3zuc7FCu96C7xdMFY97DHx7z9MtkPL1EftMTIk2ITke5yKIs-0E_kl8dVA66YEKASFEBZKRH0XCujMmjiUV5TZkdx83WfDO2MAc6o11K02lolHbDwDIMq9z58RMfKtQXOA/s320/100_1802.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554094533996587970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmHcpi6qWqWWtQsyvEimlguN_8rWu1-C_slq2UQxt-0-g_xtUf6R3HffzwqcDC8Mbg3xYkIJnQHNx5uz9lrDDZ8ioDNhgAl4jQvOwXeflgplTVOQv6aljyGDoYJTD59uwLizTWtJWJtk/s1600/100_1803.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmHcpi6qWqWWtQsyvEimlguN_8rWu1-C_slq2UQxt-0-g_xtUf6R3HffzwqcDC8Mbg3xYkIJnQHNx5uz9lrDDZ8ioDNhgAl4jQvOwXeflgplTVOQv6aljyGDoYJTD59uwLizTWtJWJtk/s320/100_1803.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554094530491183122" /></a><br /><br /><br />The back has a selection from a poem I love by Marge Piercy (<a href="http://www.poemhunter.com/best-poems/marge-piercy/to-be-of-use/">To Be of Use</a>); it says "The work of the world is common as mud. Botched, it smears the hands, crumbles to dust. But the thing worth doing well done has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident." Very fitting for both the piece and how I feel about my life and work :) <br /><br />I was able to squeeze in two Christmas gifts-earrings for my sister (sorry, forgot to photograph them before sending off the package) and a mustache necklace for my sister-in-law. I did a brush finish on the front and printed the back with a floral pattern. I then used liver of sulfur to give it an oxidized finish. It's a fun piece that I hope she'll enjoy: <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwiCkxICYtzg4JbNs9ZqxfUAL6gbdqS2uLttkH7JNSZH0CJtjXz4k5A_pQHnYRz3h5UGOUjl96WK_11_F9YglJKZ9lFD5nHecWv54BKbkjw55tadzZ9JXWkwKwtYlnnRFLbB_GF5F5qk8/s1600/100_1809.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwiCkxICYtzg4JbNs9ZqxfUAL6gbdqS2uLttkH7JNSZH0CJtjXz4k5A_pQHnYRz3h5UGOUjl96WK_11_F9YglJKZ9lFD5nHecWv54BKbkjw55tadzZ9JXWkwKwtYlnnRFLbB_GF5F5qk8/s320/100_1809.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554094975747153986" /></a><br />My dear friend, Linn, commissioned me to create four pieces for Christmas gifts. She is meeting three of her best buds for a concert on New Year's Eve and wanted a music-inspired piece to commemorate the event (they are avid concert goers). I came up with a small guitar cut-out that I made in the "window style" I perfected this summer. Each one is a bit different, and I patterned the metal. The backs are all stamped with the date of New Year's. Here they are:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxa8aaCiBFQ8hmSdFEF6LxZLCHd0LwYyWq_tw3eqbYws-dGjW12AaRDBFAxWVxLT4eI-KgWHhx28zWy5fhMtrI5M6iWO3FPkD0JSyIiUtTg3859iVPg15q4Lf2GOHROcL9PhksvHjCnA/s1600/100_1785.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxa8aaCiBFQ8hmSdFEF6LxZLCHd0LwYyWq_tw3eqbYws-dGjW12AaRDBFAxWVxLT4eI-KgWHhx28zWy5fhMtrI5M6iWO3FPkD0JSyIiUtTg3859iVPg15q4Lf2GOHROcL9PhksvHjCnA/s320/100_1785.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554096592435915874" /></a><br /><br />She was pleased with them (yea!), and she got me the most amazing gift-- a portrait of Caesar and Topo! I teared up when I opened it! This is definitely one of the most special gifts I have ever received! Linn is very supportive of my "new ventures" in life (i.e. working less and riding and making jewelry more), and it means a lot to me that she respects and even admires my choices so the painting was all the more meaningful. The artist is a friend of hers and has painted horses for years; she asked her to put Topo into the painting, and I think it's just awesome! Thanks, Linn!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhft4WQKGaWsEL8KSu4nq8JRS66zwxCbgACZlskBHdvwfaoT2n2_xpMdoXeLX2Sxsezk6_D4HZXhHEAX_ksui9AosO3cBea-zgcfE6cAW3KZSASWQCT613sRo4Baik6tTu2Bciy3YlJ8f4/s1600/100_1804.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhft4WQKGaWsEL8KSu4nq8JRS66zwxCbgACZlskBHdvwfaoT2n2_xpMdoXeLX2Sxsezk6_D4HZXhHEAX_ksui9AosO3cBea-zgcfE6cAW3KZSASWQCT613sRo4Baik6tTu2Bciy3YlJ8f4/s320/100_1804.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554094529225256226" /></a><br /><br />In farm news, the boarders at my barn got together to build jumps as a gift to our barn owner/trainer. It's been a pretty tough year for her with both of her horses having significant (career ending) injuries; she's been horse shopping for months, and just this week found "the one", a Holsteiner/TB eventer that she brought home today. We presented her with the jumps this evening, and she was so happy! I am glad she has a horse with which to jump them! Good things! April, Shannon, Megan and I set up a course with them and did some jumping. I was bareback so I didn't do as much, but we did jump our first skinny panel! Caesar stopped twice (mostly my fault), but I stayed pretty solid in my seat despite being bareback which I was pleased with. We went on to jump it pretty well; lots to work on but a good start!<br /><br />Here's a photo of the jumps in progress (Shannon and Mike are quite the artists!): Photos of all of them to come soon.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHZq_dWwjIKJYmxdH-YhBwEl4lqB1F3BZea5JSyAoTplIqYE94Ss1QqQwyZJzuO1JLrc9UqdQ1jqSi7E6vgFMKWZ3fT1rYEQ5E2XbTEU0N62eyg6wn9KRQFCshaDC7PGN009ACUkUK1g/s1600/100_1763.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHZq_dWwjIKJYmxdH-YhBwEl4lqB1F3BZea5JSyAoTplIqYE94Ss1QqQwyZJzuO1JLrc9UqdQ1jqSi7E6vgFMKWZ3fT1rYEQ5E2XbTEU0N62eyg6wn9KRQFCshaDC7PGN009ACUkUK1g/s320/100_1763.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554094527993114242" /></a><br /><br /><br />Tomorrow will be dedicated to wrapping presents and cleaning house (hopefully with a hack on Caesar thrown in). I can't believe it's already Christmas (you too?), but it always comes so soon. We'll be spending the day with Mike's family and surely enjoying some really great food. Next week, we are off to Shenandoah, VA, with our good friends, Attia and Phil; just two nights, but two nights that are much needed and deserved :)<br /><br />Happy Holidays to you and yours!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwbrkakWVwDf2_gQvC-lH-9wAaLOJ7v_aGlwEG62CDFqWTmU4aapeCSq8tSoocLeSw8BUcLKVljUdx8ixBoFqwTbMBv5RcMjvpyHGAr7r0KEV_jL5jMu0JplySbYUGIwNiew-pGmA8q4/s1600/100_1792.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwbrkakWVwDf2_gQvC-lH-9wAaLOJ7v_aGlwEG62CDFqWTmU4aapeCSq8tSoocLeSw8BUcLKVljUdx8ixBoFqwTbMBv5RcMjvpyHGAr7r0KEV_jL5jMu0JplySbYUGIwNiew-pGmA8q4/s320/100_1792.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554094523496340786" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Mike and a newly outfitted (and slightly indignant) Topo say "Merry Christmas"</span>Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-80469485125152173512010-12-19T19:52:00.000-08:002010-12-19T20:12:03.254-08:00What's a Christmas-gram?In the words of Buddy the elf: "I WANT ONE!" I do realize that this is the second time I have mentioned a Will Ferrell movie in my little blog, and while I would not consider myself a huge fan, I do like many of his movies. And Elf, well, I enjoy Elf very much! This is likely due to the fact that in my first two years of teaching, my two mentors/best buds, Kate and Beth, made it a ritual to watch and quote the film several times during the holiday season. It helped me appreciate the movie all the more.<br /><br />Tonight Mike and I are addressing holiday cards and wrapping gifts so some time with Buddy the elf seemed perfectly appropriate. I'm sort of ambivalent about the holidays. I love celebrating for the usual reasons--cookies, gift-giving (and, ahem, receiving), Christmas music, sparkling lights... But it also causes me a bit of anxiety. I tend to start thinking/worrying about what gifts to give around mid-November, but wait until, oh, Decemeber 10, to actually begin any shopping. Then I spend the week leading up to Christmas procrastinating the gift wrapping (I loathe wrapping). Enter Mike, who is quite a good gift wrapper :) This year is no different, but I might be a day ahead which isn't so bad!<br /><br />Today was my last day in the jewelry studio, and it was quite productive. My final project is FINALLY done. I had a few melt-downs this week and ended up having to put an additional 8 or so hours into the piece in order to complete it. Alas, it is really awesome, if I do say so myself :) I finished four pieces that a friend commissioned and was able to sneak in two gifts for family members (though I had hoped to do a few more, I am glad I got these in). Photos are in order, but the photo-storing computer is on the fritz at the moment, so that will have to wait till another day. <br /><br />Riding has been pretty low key lately due to the freakishly frigid temperatures. I am one who will ride outside in almost any conditions but there have been several days lately where the ground was too frozen and the wind was too wicked to do any sort of hacking. Alas, bareback in the indoor is as good as it gets, but we are still having fun! The boarders at my barn got together to make several jumps as a gift to our barn owner/trainer. They look fabulous (I can't take credit for much!), and those deserve photos too!<br /><br />Happy holidays to anyone who might be reading, and I promise photos soon!Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-83553215632120061872010-12-03T18:19:00.000-08:002010-12-03T20:07:23.064-08:00Bareback blissDecember has descended and with it came a severe drop in temperature. Around mid-day Wednesday, the temp in the the Baltimore area dropped from 62 to, oh, about 40 (which means the temperature at the farm, also known as the Carrollmuda Triangle dropped to 35). YIKES! The ponies fared well, but it's definitely time for those heavy weight blankets to be pulled out. Caesar is still sporting his au naturel blanket as I haven't made a move to purchase clippers or hire someone to do it. That probably served him well this week, but he needs to get some of that fur removed! For a Thoroughbred who spent several years racing and then several more as a stall boarded horse, he has fully acclimated to winter outside 24/7 (or at least his coat has)! Seriously, he is so fuzzy that when I look down at his neck while riding, he seems like a different horse (a not so narrow horse, ahem :)<br /><br />This week was very busy and loooong, and it was made longer by the fact that I only rode on Wednesday and Friday. I hate it when that happens. Alas, those rides were quite good. I had initially planned for last week to be week 2 of a relaxed two-week schedule (read: bareback and hacking only), but then I had the opportunity to work with my friend Cherie (awesomeness once again!) and to do a clinic with Sally Cousins (fun and confidence building!). So on Saturday and Sunday, I just did some walking and bareback dressage. Caesar was a champ. My rides this week were not only few and far between but they were brief: 35 minutes on Wednesday and 30 minutes tonight. But...they...were...awesome :) And I have a few theories for why. <br />-Riding bareback really helps me achieve a better position and better control/use of my seat and leg aides<br />-I spent about 10 minutes just letting Caesar walk at a slow pace on a long rein, asking only that he stay straight and focused. With the weather so cold, any horse can benefit from slow walking to warm up. <br />-Then I gathered up the reins a bit to achieve some light contact and asked for a forward, in front of my leg walk (which we have been working on a lot in the past two weeks). <br />-After 5 minutes of this, I asked for some suppleness and even more connection and, bam, I got it. He was moving around all nice and forward and round like a dressage pony. A bit more walking like this and then onto the trot. While there were still ugly moments (um, my down transition from the canter bareback is still a bit bumpy which leads to loss of connection to say the least), the ride(s) was fantastic! <br />-I focused on relaxing my overactive right leg and engaging my lazy left leg more (thanks for the tip, <a href="http://golightlysporthorses.blogspot.com/2010/11/communication.html">Cherie</a>) which seemed to help achieve more symmetry in both the walk and trot. I also focused on using my core to elongate my legs and stretch through my heels (a visual image that worked well). Each time I did this, I really felt Caesar's back stretch up.<br /><br />While I don't prefer to ride for such a short time and I really don't prefer to ride in the indoor (though I am SO grateful to have access to one), these two rides this week were phenomenal! A year ago at this time, my riding was an absolute disaster. I am not exaggerating. I could barely get Caesar to walk around the indoor straight and forward. And the trot was a continual banking in or falling out. It was terrible. From November to January I lived in rider anguish thinking there was no hope. ICK! So of course when fall hit, I got a bit nervous. Even though I have made so much progress this year, I still feared (and, honestly, still do) that we would be sucked into the vacuum of bad riding this winter. The streak of bad riding probably had little to do with it being winter, but being stuck in the indoor from November to March surely did not help. Flash forward to tonight when I would have been happy with straight and forward (leaps beyond last year), and what do I get? Caesar was forward, straight, balanced, rhythmic and supple for most of the ride. And that felt like a million bucks :) <br /><br />So, check plus for good rides this week! I have a jump lesson on Sunday so I'll actually pull out a saddle for tomorrow's ride. But the days of bareback riding will continue. In fact, I've put this Thinline bareback pad on my Christmas list: <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAR7XKeRas8U8TvpaVALLeZ_P6cLX0AQH-drjrdVN6bZGHnMAdUnbVJS9DkhtKMf1ZNJEjanAmERrUvN96AvKj8pBDnUSurxRchVmymc5BhEt7nXCH5qi8dGK_1evpTabQdJoZ4McPfA/s1600/bareback+pad.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAR7XKeRas8U8TvpaVALLeZ_P6cLX0AQH-drjrdVN6bZGHnMAdUnbVJS9DkhtKMf1ZNJEjanAmERrUvN96AvKj8pBDnUSurxRchVmymc5BhEt7nXCH5qi8dGK_1evpTabQdJoZ4McPfA/s320/bareback+pad.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546660577173870530" /></a><br /><br />I've been borrowing a friend's bareback pad for over a year, and I feel both Caesar and I deserve an upgrade :)<br /><br />In jewelry news, my final project, a hollow form barn, is in the works. Hope to get some pictures up soon. I am hoping to get some Christmas gifts fashioned soon as well as a few commissioned pieces completed for my dear friend, Linn. It will be a busy few weeks in the studio! <br /><br />Have a great weekend and thanks for reading!Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-69313415655788713382010-11-17T18:26:00.000-08:002010-11-17T18:50:16.028-08:00November notesNovember is very nearly over, how did that happen? No, really, where did it go? I swear it was just November 1. We’ve been fortunate to have some really nice weather over the past few weeks in central Maryland. That means more time riding and less time working inside (I’ve been neglecting the jewelry work a bit). At this point in the year, I seriously covet my outdoor riding time. With sunset around 4:45, opportunities to ride on the trails, galloping paths, fields, and outdoor ring are quickly waning. So you can bet I’ve been maximizing that outdoor time. Caesar and I have put in a few bareback trail rides (fun and confidence building!) and a good bit of conditioning work. <br /><br />We went to our first clinic last Sunday with event rider/trainer Mogie Bearden Muller. I was a wee bit worried that I might not be ready for a clinic, but since it was billed for riders at 2’3” and up, I thought “Why not?” The day was quite a success for Caesar and me. We worked on some single fences as well as a bank down into water. Mogie worked with me on my position, especially that wandering, wimpy left leg and on maintaining Caesar’s pace into fences. When he gets quick 5 strides before an xc fence, I tend to either pull an extreme half halt (read: fierce halt) or just let him go. She helped me first establish a better consistency of canter in the approach (use those half halts then!) and think about using other means to help him maintain his pace into the line—shoulders back, using more leg and knees, hands up, etc.<br /> <br />We had our last event of the season on Sunday, the short course at Loch Moy (where we had a much improved ride compared to our outing in September). Megan and Wyatt also had a great day, and we celebrated with a bottle of wine (a great idea at the time, though we were a bit tipsy when unloading the horses back home)!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1ySjxj38stxvV0ipI65ePhj0XPChl1h2yGaVJctD54Z_9iBLNuVK0OCZRyroH3jGdzJ08DYK4oXBJcuoyk9O3IrR6z5mI7i7QacV_1_sPSoCdB1XMTj_u0UOEhxeFCTRtHALIu_U7qg/s1600/100_1662.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1ySjxj38stxvV0ipI65ePhj0XPChl1h2yGaVJctD54Z_9iBLNuVK0OCZRyroH3jGdzJ08DYK4oXBJcuoyk9O3IrR6z5mI7i7QacV_1_sPSoCdB1XMTj_u0UOEhxeFCTRtHALIu_U7qg/s320/100_1662.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540713675257277586" /></a><br /><br /><br />I have not been much of an avid jeweler this past week (show prep and work overflow, oh my!), but I was able to put in a few good hours today. That’s a good thing, considering my break put me a good bit behind! My wire project is due on Tuesday (eek!), and while I’ll have to put in the equivalent of an all-nighter this weekend, I’m more excited about the piece than I was before ( I had lost some interest which is inevitable when forging and soldering, blech). The piece will be a barn of sorts with little farm animals. Here’s a sneak peak of some of the components:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCq0Fan2zT0Pq1AaM-xrf5CX9X0ivYpclqcI3tZLEQdP2BDQ3LKGfF6BrW5bdd357VKYC-zUtgoVxxtcJW_2qikJEi4Hur2pP4jCU2F80gTopX6Rwk9uGam4iSoFnP3gbnx-mHnUUF0I/s1600/100_1669.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCq0Fan2zT0Pq1AaM-xrf5CX9X0ivYpclqcI3tZLEQdP2BDQ3LKGfF6BrW5bdd357VKYC-zUtgoVxxtcJW_2qikJEi4Hur2pP4jCU2F80gTopX6Rwk9uGam4iSoFnP3gbnx-mHnUUF0I/s320/100_1669.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540713629994025122" /></a><br /><br /><br />And finally, here are a few photos of my mid-term piece that I finished at the end of October; it’s medal of honor dedicated to my grandmother, the consummate gardener: <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwoI8CRNlh7yptUw-VuWJzu_BdQiX8MHgCS1n25F0hCx2QDRJ5vaMB_EsJ5rxzjIL1774HF1iorF-BjwdMTtPUAHOsP9fWkVYEt7SUan4V-Qk_xP5Ny7N1zfNIacYlI0JOvn5lqWl3d6c/s1600/100_1664.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwoI8CRNlh7yptUw-VuWJzu_BdQiX8MHgCS1n25F0hCx2QDRJ5vaMB_EsJ5rxzjIL1774HF1iorF-BjwdMTtPUAHOsP9fWkVYEt7SUan4V-Qk_xP5Ny7N1zfNIacYlI0JOvn5lqWl3d6c/s320/100_1664.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540713665664666098" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi808ZjlYJ-Q9Ky1StLfmU1nNJPkGom2mFsw65FnFBLKsKamInFfOrHDjLZHzGK01r7yV5fqoazJ5TKdok4ASDDxsjQjkbfmFHiCo98u_zLa_ojtUPdAGKWiCE_zOrXIox8IQSw1zDezpI/s1600/100_1665.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi808ZjlYJ-Q9Ky1StLfmU1nNJPkGom2mFsw65FnFBLKsKamInFfOrHDjLZHzGK01r7yV5fqoazJ5TKdok4ASDDxsjQjkbfmFHiCo98u_zLa_ojtUPdAGKWiCE_zOrXIox8IQSw1zDezpI/s320/100_1665.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540713654960970754" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">I used a colored pencils (with a base of gesso) to "paint" the copper veggies!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0iSE_VC7H0LM8ilD2mkdg80g3XBH2JyQvhD4hwHPIgZa89cpFHM5BpDI3hJAUct9P3heoMN_Uf8yp-ZRASxtMbowIyPL9ikCs440x_G-zk9euYlHJRfKu26bkjyhX8TuJunSWqry3Sc/s1600/100_1666.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0iSE_VC7H0LM8ilD2mkdg80g3XBH2JyQvhD4hwHPIgZa89cpFHM5BpDI3hJAUct9P3heoMN_Uf8yp-ZRASxtMbowIyPL9ikCs440x_G-zk9euYlHJRfKu26bkjyhX8TuJunSWqry3Sc/s320/100_1666.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540713638669828978" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The quote says "Green fingers are the extension of a verdant heart"; I used embroidery thread to stitch around the perimeter of the flower.</span>Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-49531084950382120292010-10-31T14:10:00.000-07:002010-11-01T06:32:47.285-07:00Two posts a month isn't so bad...But it's not good either. And I am just barely getting the second in before the deadline! Life has been busy the past few weeks, very busy, but a good busy, the kind that makes you eager for the next week (even if you are a little tired from the previous).<br /><br />In early October, my students created mini greenhouses for micro greens, and last week, we harvested them. It's a really easy task--plant seeds in recycled plastic containers (with holes, like those for berries) and after two weeks, the sprouts are ready to be harvested. Trendy sprouts (a staple for fancy farm to table restaurants this year) are oft referred to as micro greens, but they are one in the same. We planted radish, carrot, lettuce, sugar snap peas, turnips, and beets, and we used ours as a garnish for a tomato mozzarella salad. It was a great experience for the kids, and they enjoyed the flavor of the raw greens; there's something to be said about growing your own food! It makes it all the more delectable.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuANigsfudx8iwmKewafwk-04dV_RrYi3GcYJn6Hqt7zDC1nAgcE38Av1DS8A85DRsW6EzD9KOZJMMTd3g-G_EQ_tvdNqr-k9dNo4FlMUx9-cJNt-M6nsvKm5ujY4gFgjxN2Zeb6zuFCY/s1600/100_1497.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuANigsfudx8iwmKewafwk-04dV_RrYi3GcYJn6Hqt7zDC1nAgcE38Av1DS8A85DRsW6EzD9KOZJMMTd3g-G_EQ_tvdNqr-k9dNo4FlMUx9-cJNt-M6nsvKm5ujY4gFgjxN2Zeb6zuFCY/s320/100_1497.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534329429397772722" border="0"></a><br /><br />The micro green harvest coincided with a visit from a writer and researcher from Johns Hopkins Public Health School Magazine. They wanted to feature our cooking program in a slide show to promote a piece on the obesity landscape. I'm eager to see the final product--photographing and interviewing first and second grade "chefs" proved comical and chaotic at times. But then, that's all teaching :) My dear friend and first roomie in Baltimore, Attia (who is a PhD student in nutrition at JHSPH) came to take part as well; it was wonderful to have her company and support, especially since we started this teaching journey together as hopeful TFA corps members back in 2004. I don't think either of us knew exactly where we would be career-wise six years later, but I am so glad we are still in Baltimore together :)<br /><br />Last Sunday, Megan and I took the ponies to Loch Moy to school their amazing competition course. It really is a treat both to compete and school at the facility, and the weather was perfect! Both Wyatt and Caesar were very well behaved and obedient on course. Caesar was controllable and correct to the fences, and I think a lot of that had to do with my improved position; when I am correct, he's so much easier to ride. The week prior I had spent some dedicated time working on my two point at the trot on the galloping path as well as working on pace. Clearly, it paid off! That means I must continue that work and get my legs stronger!<br /><br />Here are a few photos (I'll post a short video clip soon, no luck with that application today???)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Y9czpDrQBhHlgMGbK4DH_jsKXqKGDcysWx_Q_34AWqySfJxHAHNucExaEWz1t12iXmpwYWokZs4VxhG8ryFZrT_B8KffYpbthyphenhyphenXioiYP_M-6yiYRp-HQO-kt7qIevqnCqSk9nzSf49g/s1600/100_1510.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Y9czpDrQBhHlgMGbK4DH_jsKXqKGDcysWx_Q_34AWqySfJxHAHNucExaEWz1t12iXmpwYWokZs4VxhG8ryFZrT_B8KffYpbthyphenhyphenXioiYP_M-6yiYRp-HQO-kt7qIevqnCqSk9nzSf49g/s320/100_1510.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534326094438975442" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvjYBsVBG-LeS_HsoMY6P2egiWAs5xpWFXLH53vW-IWsgVhGBwuvRMip6_-tV1vGv8I7hJtMTXxD1BdlrATamDMutS-o9tl8M6xyQNGVb-G51ccQYLB-fvwYy8DM-bzViV2pEc7bdUJM/s1600/SDC10788.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvjYBsVBG-LeS_HsoMY6P2egiWAs5xpWFXLH53vW-IWsgVhGBwuvRMip6_-tV1vGv8I7hJtMTXxD1BdlrATamDMutS-o9tl8M6xyQNGVb-G51ccQYLB-fvwYy8DM-bzViV2pEc7bdUJM/s320/SDC10788.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534326704071776914" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXYSGtiKf19a-ss0x2zrAppOPV2K2iVlt-bltaXlpDClmFiL3E62_hb6SROw3wrnXZH4vIoo_UFListUD-nNSirHrtKn248Dn8LcpjScEu_aiX6fwzp5V0CeIbPhjMbRqtX6ozvFSe34/s1600/100_1511.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXYSGtiKf19a-ss0x2zrAppOPV2K2iVlt-bltaXlpDClmFiL3E62_hb6SROw3wrnXZH4vIoo_UFListUD-nNSirHrtKn248Dn8LcpjScEu_aiX6fwzp5V0CeIbPhjMbRqtX6ozvFSe34/s320/100_1511.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534326582534062994" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEsXci6az6JHHoQbI9J467Z9PY3C04Zcnfvn_t-ZIT-qcTCb0XN4Es4yQeLk1pIDt_DkmTgoebSicZFQbNfD1C_J9SGEFJEV1RSq51jkt2d0saEoZh35_ZIdsEBiA2OJSM4-VfYewtm4/s1600/100_1512.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEsXci6az6JHHoQbI9J467Z9PY3C04Zcnfvn_t-ZIT-qcTCb0XN4Es4yQeLk1pIDt_DkmTgoebSicZFQbNfD1C_J9SGEFJEV1RSq51jkt2d0saEoZh35_ZIdsEBiA2OJSM4-VfYewtm4/s320/100_1512.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534326098095111314" border="0"></a><br /><br />That's all for now, but I have jewelry updates and photos to share soon--there's not enough time in the day!Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-4697368826844475192010-10-06T16:06:00.000-07:002010-10-06T17:30:28.120-07:00What's that smell?Last week was a stinker. Between boiling vinegar for pickling, riding more than once in the pouring rain (fun while it lasts, terrible on the drive home), and over using paste wax in the jewelry studio, it was quite the smelly week. In cooking class, we made our first foray into the world of canning; we kept it simple (and avoided any threat of botulism) by making pickles. I was quite impressed with the results, and the kids were perhaps even more pleased. Success! It's so funny what they like--who would think the smell of simmering vinegar would be appetizing to children?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFncimdbuze7mmYHI437BzuLPX07nOEsyuQfC6K5QZTIIDF6CN1NL-GMgn99dPszS042wC73nbG1NdhHNuOkNGq10w9CeVkPZiVReT6HoZ5pptnu7d7S28oVZeCUAWQMEBad50s6Aij8/s1600/1001001337.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFncimdbuze7mmYHI437BzuLPX07nOEsyuQfC6K5QZTIIDF6CN1NL-GMgn99dPszS042wC73nbG1NdhHNuOkNGq10w9CeVkPZiVReT6HoZ5pptnu7d7S28oVZeCUAWQMEBad50s6Aij8/s320/1001001337.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525094106032612322" /></a><br /> <span style="font-style:italic;">Quavel shows off the pickles!</span><br /><br />Caesar and I had a few great dressage workouts last week but a dousy of a jump session on Wednesday (creeping left leg strikes again). I made some important corrections on Friday, and today I improved on that a bit more to have a much better lesson. Basically, I have to use those legs and ride the jumps, not just assume he'll do the work (yep, still working on that). We'll be schooling at An Otherwise Perfect Farm on Saturday to prepare for a horse trial next week, our first since June! I am trying to get excited, but in all honesty, I am feeling more than a little nervous. Eesh!<br /><br />Jewelry class is kicking my butt; I love love love it, but the assignments are quite challenging and the work is even more time-consuming than I had imagined. The design element of the course is perhaps my weak point. I have no problem generating ideas, it's the act of honing those ideas into sketches that are feasible. I'm getting better with practice, but I expect this will always be a challenge for me. On the upswing, my skills are improving, and I am learning how to perfect basic techniques. Our first piece had pretty tight parameters: make a pierced (read: sawed) piece out of one piece of sheet metal (no layering, too bad!) that expresses an element of your identity. An identity assignment! Cringe, I always hate those! But it gave me a chance to work on something horsey; here's the final result:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYdxU8-1hTqypKMPmux3X4sCeY-QArGArtDE3qpK7g4NKDDtaLydQ1OkEx0kIap8L7BW2szMbFz8zxcmSf02kiaFbQt_AWgcqTztu5tXDDJ_CRdd1SyhfrD_o1t4Xmz7aKzBv7sMUqQuA/s1600/100_1423.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYdxU8-1hTqypKMPmux3X4sCeY-QArGArtDE3qpK7g4NKDDtaLydQ1OkEx0kIap8L7BW2szMbFz8zxcmSf02kiaFbQt_AWgcqTztu5tXDDJ_CRdd1SyhfrD_o1t4Xmz7aKzBv7sMUqQuA/s320/100_1423.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525093388705777426" /></a><br /><br />I included a little hound and deer in the lower left hand corner as an homage to Caesar (ahem, Hound Deer); the piece is a bit big for me, but it actually looks decent on. A conversation starter at least!<br /><br />I am working on lots of tiny cut-outs for a garden themed piece at the moment. I have decided that what I really love is creating tiny vestiges of domesticity. I have a slew of ideas for simple pendants and earrings; time will tell if I have the capacity (well, the time really) to complete a handful of them along with my big assignments. In any case, I am really loving the studio time; I would have never fancied myself a metal smith, but I couldn't be more pleased with this new hobby! Hopefully there will be more photos to come soon :)Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-38699411131489653542010-09-25T15:17:00.000-07:002010-09-25T16:09:22.394-07:00Dust off that blog!I've been blatantly absent from the blog roll for a while (though I am checking others' blogs with ridiculous regularity :), and today's the day to put an end to it. Of course, the problem with abandoning your blog is that every time you think to sit down and write, there's just too much to say. This has happened at least twice a week over the past 5 weeks. As if I didn't already have to worry about writing too much. It's sort of like that phone call you keep meaning to make to a dear friend (ahem, I have several of those lined up as well). Or maybe it's more like a dirty laundry pile...<br /><br />In any case, I thought I would just post some photos with captions to attempt to recap some of the more interesting moments of the past month+. School is back in session, and I'm teaching cooking twice a week (busy!) as well as first grade math (fun!). Caesar is doing very well, and we have been having fun jumping and making big progress in dressage (more on that later). My MICA course is in full swing, and I've got a few very cool projects on tap. Central MD is looking and feeling a bit more like fall, and that makes me a happy camper. Here's hoping for a fabulous fall!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc88sDanNy_ClqXyn8K49GhH6FMJgJS8owA-4LGThwP9Pb1YlhhGCGXU1Wt7GiSm8XPCFe8ua9YDoGXl9RelLB5vw_e9rNdlyeSBZPwga0BGfqbdWE6KcUQ0sM23EPymRYI4jXou0grDk/s1600/100_1318.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc88sDanNy_ClqXyn8K49GhH6FMJgJS8owA-4LGThwP9Pb1YlhhGCGXU1Wt7GiSm8XPCFe8ua9YDoGXl9RelLB5vw_e9rNdlyeSBZPwga0BGfqbdWE6KcUQ0sM23EPymRYI4jXou0grDk/s320/100_1318.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520981610871390834" /></a><br /> <span style="font-style:italic;"> My classroom post-move (YIKES!)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6h0vQZzY-EEu_KPzQMRKJhWkyWfdiw1ewmuFnKV7BpL8hd_3p3WW7meHdCNhPDUZp0Oz9fjzp8slLrRDGXpXkoFqOuT3Q5biRMoge8U0xxvUcxUjlz5JI7ZIykkle0DJhZkgjWXBlKfU/s1600/100_1322.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6h0vQZzY-EEu_KPzQMRKJhWkyWfdiw1ewmuFnKV7BpL8hd_3p3WW7meHdCNhPDUZp0Oz9fjzp8slLrRDGXpXkoFqOuT3Q5biRMoge8U0xxvUcxUjlz5JI7ZIykkle0DJhZkgjWXBlKfU/s320/100_1322.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520981618832048514" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">After the first day of sorting and rearranging</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbRv2oH6T6KrVI2QJVlU-496SJ9L3EtIPNRQihzMS691HW4O5rK0xVM8v6pKNDu4YpyzWzl0OM7D3c9pavWaq4EeLz26Ldxovzei4SLFUwWJMOkE1j-qvOT0jGsiveEgXpn2QvCrtdpw/s1600/100_1334.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbRv2oH6T6KrVI2QJVlU-496SJ9L3EtIPNRQihzMS691HW4O5rK0xVM8v6pKNDu4YpyzWzl0OM7D3c9pavWaq4EeLz26Ldxovzei4SLFUwWJMOkE1j-qvOT0jGsiveEgXpn2QvCrtdpw/s320/100_1334.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520981624082795154" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Getting better</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23tYq_qpZLjwAO5A6VRU9QEYWdmdRyMjgXZoIJNnjQfF423F3Nw8LN0zLSTn8ez2T2I1hB6gWXbYSeW5O_4FDIbXfcT8zXnOl5f531lIqUuDQMWRRfBrEnF9ZEaXw76D97nwhhjXZ0oo/s1600/100_1360.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23tYq_qpZLjwAO5A6VRU9QEYWdmdRyMjgXZoIJNnjQfF423F3Nw8LN0zLSTn8ez2T2I1hB6gWXbYSeW5O_4FDIbXfcT8zXnOl5f531lIqUuDQMWRRfBrEnF9ZEaXw76D97nwhhjXZ0oo/s320/100_1360.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520981631920442786" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Ta-Da (well almost)! The tiny, er, cozy math area with tables in foreground.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzw7-3Plk40SFf4vzmI8bKHXnC4he0T0PHuyWpO8t3ZRgrJCODWYkG7D5o5K1ejzPo5P2r_e4_zaCRSrrUVrwbjwtT7bhhr9EUQvJAx7Jsf0tqaebrgl4pxK6-2wxYJ6Qwj4XU9rWUUFY/s1600/100_1361.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzw7-3Plk40SFf4vzmI8bKHXnC4he0T0PHuyWpO8t3ZRgrJCODWYkG7D5o5K1ejzPo5P2r_e4_zaCRSrrUVrwbjwtT7bhhr9EUQvJAx7Jsf0tqaebrgl4pxK6-2wxYJ6Qwj4XU9rWUUFY/s320/100_1361.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520984077341845458" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Cooking cart looking cute.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqJDv97dlhK556ko0-DPDUCF-t74Qz2kqaVNZ7R7rmyUHOQikmJiNyG-9Mv1Sn_IKIV0EbjKY7luvPTLFo8BL1zfTQbsY_s5rMK252CiSggbp9bMnnoXGA3RC5IJV11xRbfV9ER3fUWQ/s1600/100_1365.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqJDv97dlhK556ko0-DPDUCF-t74Qz2kqaVNZ7R7rmyUHOQikmJiNyG-9Mv1Sn_IKIV0EbjKY7luvPTLFo8BL1zfTQbsY_s5rMK252CiSggbp9bMnnoXGA3RC5IJV11xRbfV9ER3fUWQ/s320/100_1365.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520983018228333058" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Caesar suffered a nasty case of the scratches on his muzzle and had to suffer through several application of desitin (leaving me smelling like a diaper table). He's looking like quite the coke addict in this shot :) </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8rR7mI0u8pweF4eKW80Eo3z4wLzMEa847yd4kG8Rxffz1luyKETceyB7mtgHLHrK7EsN4BnMR09cT-z-2nCmbCoDXKXE3Sz5VQcddcsN_s4PGAql2dKj1M1W51tiopOQkNyqZC0h4pc/s1600/100_1391.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8rR7mI0u8pweF4eKW80Eo3z4wLzMEa847yd4kG8Rxffz1luyKETceyB7mtgHLHrK7EsN4BnMR09cT-z-2nCmbCoDXKXE3Sz5VQcddcsN_s4PGAql2dKj1M1W51tiopOQkNyqZC0h4pc/s320/100_1391.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520987495365756530" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Megan on Wyatt at the Loch Moy short course where we competed two weeks ago. We had a great time and plan to attend another in November.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRv_NCVQ7iGsZz37OGnzRlXj_0nJGoqya44BvGPgC79gCd3nWC-gYDv6O22aczsxSdzxBNIz83RPP8FUvsThO-zjrYKGaBrIjXKInkVdX8a0PrDO6Tb2jqJbe4M8R6CshyphenhyphenTPpqsk08zNE/s1600/100_1404.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRv_NCVQ7iGsZz37OGnzRlXj_0nJGoqya44BvGPgC79gCd3nWC-gYDv6O22aczsxSdzxBNIz83RPP8FUvsThO-zjrYKGaBrIjXKInkVdX8a0PrDO6Tb2jqJbe4M8R6CshyphenhyphenTPpqsk08zNE/s320/100_1404.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520982988804917042" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The farm underwent a major tree-lift this week. That meant many scary machines and even scarier noises during tack-up time. Caesar was sensible for the most part!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMz-dFZdZSxuI8hhcFHLQ6lzSLnePLZT6uGHTC8XklD1aRMX9CykxMHvddKflFTiIO-k1huC9YXs5JykvLfHoEqnvk6nShxcDi5j9rETul3DuPW7L8eQqBh4oX9_U0SDgUegZnK7WCrv8/s1600/100_1407.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMz-dFZdZSxuI8hhcFHLQ6lzSLnePLZT6uGHTC8XklD1aRMX9CykxMHvddKflFTiIO-k1huC9YXs5JykvLfHoEqnvk6nShxcDi5j9rETul3DuPW7L8eQqBh4oX9_U0SDgUegZnK7WCrv8/s320/100_1407.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520982976458848418" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Last night, Mike ran a cross country race that happened to take place on a combined steeplechase/eventing cross country course. He even got a horsey ribbon for his second place finish! Very cool!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmmGjdrZdoiO-S-aH4CwmuU16udkf-uf5QIAElVPTZ7BtvmsJ3jNL8VizMq_A4NMOdoI5dp7Tj4jlhxrhDREZ7fgk5Nlknynizz-nn3SSCn16cWK3o5bhPslySW3Tzy4sX3f_3dyS7N4/s1600/duck.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmmGjdrZdoiO-S-aH4CwmuU16udkf-uf5QIAElVPTZ7BtvmsJ3jNL8VizMq_A4NMOdoI5dp7Tj4jlhxrhDREZ7fgk5Nlknynizz-nn3SSCn16cWK3o5bhPslySW3Tzy4sX3f_3dyS7N4/s320/duck.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520989741260297554" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Finally, remember that <a href="http://greencouchmiscellany.blogspot.com/2010/07/ducklings-are-all-rage.html">duck</a> I saw being walked in Hampden (of course you don't). Well, it's a teenager now, and it's still being paraded around the neighborhood! Maybe an inside duck isn't such a bad idea?</span>Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-65163328567190728512010-08-19T17:23:00.000-07:002010-08-19T19:31:25.639-07:00Watch and LearnToday I audited the Jimmy Wofford gymnastic clinic at An Otherwise Perfect Farm. I have never audited a clinic although I've wanted to on several occasions; the great Mr. Wofford has held a few clinics in the area earlier this summer, but I was unfortunately unable to make those. I would have loved to stay the whole day (especially since Cherie was to ride in the Training/Prelim class later in the day!), but I could only sneak in a couple of hours. I left the house with time to spare, and I was feeling pretty good about my promptness until 2 miles from the farm I encountered this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrJJzZmQjLi2rTo8e9xMArzShNSCfXnYiWotvTeBNdtD_KFh_KikLwC7OLbNINHaSEal_xapdF-3DaoqVSgepV8o3sJ2bXS-XmId0A1z7XE_dpup1uBioBFUtiu5M6aVyiEpljZtbDhs/s1600/100_1328.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrJJzZmQjLi2rTo8e9xMArzShNSCfXnYiWotvTeBNdtD_KFh_KikLwC7OLbNINHaSEal_xapdF-3DaoqVSgepV8o3sJ2bXS-XmId0A1z7XE_dpup1uBioBFUtiu5M6aVyiEpljZtbDhs/s320/100_1328.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507311631898648290" /></a><br /><br />Yep, that's a massive tow truck attempting to haul a huge rig that is loaded with a bulldozer (the bobcat that was pulling it had obviously gone kerplunk). I arrived just as the tow truck and county police arrived and subsequently blocked my left turn (the only way I knew to access the farm). ARG! ARG! ARG! I was the first car in what ended up being a line of 20 or more cars. And I was so hopeful they would let me, maybe just me, make that left turn. Finally after 45 minutes and after a third attempt to hook up the rig failed, they moved the police car and opened the road to traffic. FINALLY! <br /><br />Don't you hate it when that sort of thing happens? I was all ready to give myself props for being early. Nope :)<br /><br />Alas, I was still able to spend almost two hours watching Jimmy execute the beginner novice level session of the clinic. The majority of the participating pairs where experienced riders on green (often very green) horses. Therefore it was amazing to see the progress that the riders were able to make with their horses under Jimmy's instruction. Just as I had heard, he is full of ah-ha phrases (training mantras that make you say "Ah-ha, that makes so much sense sense!"), and I am ever in need of more ah-ha phrases. I scribbled furiously in my journal to record some of his conversations word for word; at times, it was like he was talking to me, as if my green-rider habitats were written on the brim of hat. In the middle of the clinic, Jimmy's jump crew of 1 had to leave to tack up her horse for the next session. I quickly stepped forward to offer my help, and I am glad I did. Remember I said these were green horses; that meant that on average every other horse took down poles and/or a few standards as he careened through the exercises. So as we reassembled the jumps, Jimmy shared some wise tid-bits. What a great opportunity! I left with 6 pages of notes, and an even greater respect for Mr. Wofford. I really hope to have the opportunity to ride with him in a clinic in the future, but in the meantime, I am have plenty to work on from what I saw today!<br /><br />In other horsey news, my good friend <a href="http://sandpiperdiary.blogspot.com/">Abby</a> (who is a fantastic writer and rider:) has a great new blog called <a href="http://www.historicalhorse.com/">Historical Horse</a>; readers submit photos from their personal history with horses, and Abby posts their memories along with her own absorbing commentary. It's such a fabulous idea that has clearly struck a chord with many of her readers (some of whom have submitted multiple photos/stories). I love that I have this new blog to read daily, and I am excited to see where Abby takes it! Check it out!Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-62935841238552466342010-08-18T15:58:00.000-07:002010-08-18T16:50:56.788-07:00Humble pie and my new haircutCaesar and I did our first 2'6" stadium course at a little local show on Saturday. While I can't say that it was a complete success or that I left unscathed, I can say that all is well that ends well. And the show ended well enough for us, it was the middle that was a bit hairy. (I am posting videos <span style="font-weight:bold;">not</span> because I feel like they are evidence of my best riding; however embarrassing they might be, I include them to keep myself humble. I am only going to get better if I face the facts and sometimes facing them out loud helps :)<br /><br />Caesar was anything but his forward, eager-to-leap self on Saturday; he was drowsy and disinterested, and I felt like I was riding a hunter horse in our 2'3" class. Other than the lack of impulsion (and my aversion to put my leg on and ask for more go), the class was fine. That same lack of go prevailed in our 2'6" class, and at fence three Caesar stopped, and I toppled off. Yep. Right onto the rails. It was actually a pretty casual tumble as you will see below. I hopped back up and proceeded to put up the rails I knocked down, all three of them! Then I asked, loudly, "Can I go again?" Ha! I remember thinking, well, that wasn't so bad. Eesh.<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yjxNDb9WYyo?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yjxNDb9WYyo?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Make sure you watch the entire clip, even after Mike drops the camera; it's pretty funny! I give you permission to laugh :)<br /><br />I was indeed able to give the course a second try, and it went much more smoothly. Caesar was still a little stuck, but I put my leg on better and thought "jump it!" rather than "are you going to jump it?" Of course the stop at the end makes it clear that I wasn't riding my entire course with assertiveness. I think my mind was already out of the ring. BOO, Shane, BOO! <br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/17Ud0nzgENc?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/17Ud0nzgENc?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I've analyzed it and talked with Becky, Cherie, and my trainer, and the consensus is that I wasn't riding assertively; I didn't put my leg on and when Caesar acted sluggish, I didn't use a crack of my whip to remind him to go forward. Bad Shane. This is nothing new; I chided myself for this same lack of assertiveness back in <a href="http://greencouchmiscellany.blogspot.com/2010/06/eliminated.html">June</a>. This time I think I was more aware of his sluggishness and even of what I needed to do, but I just didn't make a definite decision to take control. I was worried about why he wasn't forward instead of asking him to go forward; I came to the big realization that I worry about the distances in between the fences and leave Caesar to handle the actual fences. It's almost like I stop thinking before the jump! Perhaps I somehow associate thinking about the jump with worrying about it?<br /><br />For a bit of redemption, I jumped Caesar on Sunday at home. I first got him connected and listening to my aides (thank you, Cherie!) and then I went over a small vertical before proceeding to a short course. When I caught myself zoning out or mentally asking Caesar if he would jump, I thought, and said, JUMP! Oh, and I put my leg on! My how that worked!<br /><br />The good news is that it was an educational fall and that the fact that I was jumping 2'6" actually never caused me much worry. The challenge now is not to just keep working hard but to work definitively. Ride like I mean it!<br /><br />This post is already too long (as I promised my blogger self that I would post less...maybe I should write in code?), but I must report on my haircut! I got a whopping 10 inches of my hair lopped off! I was very anxious as I have always been a long-hair gal, but I am really liking it. So much easier! <br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OcGMEO1CLNeRVyEBRRRDl3VRO4DtnTWyqADlySKdVqOtp3JRUh0TY1VBkudaGe0c9t272PtwOp3t1epGmM3c0bSabQVZjouV0dw7IrdeEJ2FMEWnIrLyuxP19871plLb4pP73BpToto/s1600/100_1305.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OcGMEO1CLNeRVyEBRRRDl3VRO4DtnTWyqADlySKdVqOtp3JRUh0TY1VBkudaGe0c9t272PtwOp3t1epGmM3c0bSabQVZjouV0dw7IrdeEJ2FMEWnIrLyuxP19871plLb4pP73BpToto/s320/100_1305.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506900318910091202" /></a>Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-13440519579759080022010-08-09T18:01:00.000-07:002010-08-09T19:35:22.340-07:00Short posts are impossible...(disclaimer: I promise I tried to make this post brief; it's just so hard!)<br /><br />That last week and half has been busy and fun—a trip up to NY and RI, and excellent lessons in dressage and quilting. Mike and I had a grand time at our friend’s wedding followed by a relaxing (but equally active) jaunt on quaint Block Island. I will write another post on the trip with photos soon. For now I’ll give a update of the past few days, which have been busy and rewarding.<br /><br />Saturday was part two of my school’s big move; 20 or so volunteers showed up to lend their backs and patience as we moved the remaining 4 classrooms from our old building to our new home. We are only moving about 100 feet to another building on our school’s shared campus, but it turns out a move within close proximity is just as taxing as one across town, if only because you assume it will be easier! The new building is still undergoing renovations, but it looks amazing. A former convent, the building has spectacular floor to ceiling windows and lovely stained glass remnants. My shared kitchen/art room has a whopping 8 windows and is painted a delectable apple red (in hopes to stimulate appetites). Despite the burdens of moving and resettling, I think our homey, hippy-dippy school will be much more suited to the old convent, a space that feels like a great big hug :)<br /><br />Yesterday, I met Nina, Abby, Jen, and Jen’s hubby, Brian, for brunch at one of our fave restaurants—Woodberry Kitchen. WK did not disappoint as we enjoyed both sweet and savory delights (beignets and blackberries, spelt crepes, basil-lime lattes…oh my). As this blog is an indication, I am ever trying to improve my riding, especially my dressage. I have come a long way in two years, but I am only beginning to understand the basics of this most admirable (and mysterious!) sport. It seems to me that much of dressage is the learning and relearning of a few basics tenants; you have to know the basics to practice dressage but you have to practice the basics in order to know them. A bit of a conundrum. I’m developing a far better seat and leg through specific exercises and concentrated time spent riding sans stirrups, but my hands are still a bit messy. I am happy to say that <a href="http://golightlysporthorses.blogspot.com/">Cherie</a> of Golightly Sporthorses imparted some essential wisdom yesterday that really helped me grasp the concept of connection through the reins. I have had several folks model connection by the basic trick of grabbing the reins and mimicking the horses’s mouth, allowing me to feel the “feel” that I should achieve. But each time I am left a bit dumbfounded as I grasp the theory but I can’t apply the action. When Cherie first began to use the metaphor I thought, “oh, no, I never get this!”, but she did something no one else has done. She showed me what the reins should and should not look like when that connection is achieved, i.e. no loosening and snapping of the reins repeatedly to achieve connection but rather a constant (and taxing) following of the reins with the horse’s mouth. Again, I know my trainer refers to this constantly, and I thought I got it. Clearly, I was missing a big piece. For the next hour I worked on just following Caesar’s mouth and maintaining that contact no matter what. In a short time, he was in a nice frame and I understood what that “feel” should feel like (reins in my palms, please!). Another big breakthrough came in achieving straightness through forwardness (again, duh). I often struggle with Caesar banking in or falling out as we track around the ring. I get frustrated and try to fix the straightness without thinking about the forward motion. Eventually we are stuck at standstill with his head in the air and my hands at my chest. Cherie shared the analogy of a bicycle: when you are traveling very slowly on a bike it will start to wobble, and if you try to fix that wobbling with your hands, you end up wobbling more. Instead if you push forward and get going, the straightness fixes itself for the most part! Alas, it worked with Caesar too! I love moments like this, when something that was fuzzy (though you might not have realized it was fuzzy) suddenly becomes a little more clear. I know there is far more clarity to achieve, but I feel I am off to a good start with a better understand of connection. Now the trick is just employing these basic breakthroughs every time I ride (which I did a decent job of today)!<br /><br />So, thanks, Cherie! Can’t wait to ride with you again!<br /><br />Today was my final quilting lesson of the summer, and boy, did we get a lot completed! I finished putting together three more squares and then stitched all the squares together. I was feeling quite accomplished until I realized the actual quilting was yet to begin (what I had been working on is only considered the piecing)! The hard part is actually attaching the now finished front to the batting and backing through either hand sewing or machine sewing. This next step is my homework for the next two weeks. Pam supplied me with a cool how-to book to help with the binding. It was such a treat to work in her studio and learn the basics. I am now even more in awe of what she and other quilters do. I ordered some fun fabrics from etsy, and I am already planning my next piece (perhaps I will just become a piece-quilter and pay someone else to do the quilting and binding ;)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKJjFabRz8i_ftu13zuXO0m1KiSscQ6ggslIzaTSLrvRGiLZU83ufymlqstbNkXI9gIvypqgF3W2bOE_aamXlgdiHGrNoaO5lueCTfe0B9gipxnJIREnsUyKMvvPydZM3kxd_BhV-b54/s1600/100_1295.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKJjFabRz8i_ftu13zuXO0m1KiSscQ6ggslIzaTSLrvRGiLZU83ufymlqstbNkXI9gIvypqgF3W2bOE_aamXlgdiHGrNoaO5lueCTfe0B9gipxnJIREnsUyKMvvPydZM3kxd_BhV-b54/s320/100_1295.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503583218068042034" /></a><br /><br />All three of my jewelry pieces were accepted into the exhibit of continuing studies’ student work at MICA. Yea! Here’s a photo of the display:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8oHPjR7VLKcVrBIttcHRh_AjQidRKiJcXdL0QFo5vuGVRepGXejNmwiSOByt0xzUcV3OSh7Q0JPRDs1N766uWTY5XgCXZaVhIFATfRQHIcMZvsIKYJKu762rPjHBPGyzqKxCiISWIEF4/s1600/100_1291.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8oHPjR7VLKcVrBIttcHRh_AjQidRKiJcXdL0QFo5vuGVRepGXejNmwiSOByt0xzUcV3OSh7Q0JPRDs1N766uWTY5XgCXZaVhIFATfRQHIcMZvsIKYJKu762rPjHBPGyzqKxCiISWIEF4/s320/100_1291.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503583211867671570" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFsI3TCSqVuQXUN5knhDgeQdgCyy7mIUPcj0LfPFr_BfZTb2o2kNAEE6v2kXCty5OtNOLunaMJprLRhsYfMFXil6wUb45iqt0eWvVnt2GAfhFkPq5kvibOauN2RcgGgM_9IkaOV69XT8/s1600/100_1290.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFsI3TCSqVuQXUN5knhDgeQdgCyy7mIUPcj0LfPFr_BfZTb2o2kNAEE6v2kXCty5OtNOLunaMJprLRhsYfMFXil6wUb45iqt0eWvVnt2GAfhFkPq5kvibOauN2RcgGgM_9IkaOV69XT8/s320/100_1290.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503583191995626242" /></a><br /><br />Tomorrow I am taking the leap and getting my hair lopped off! I’ll be donating it so even if I don’t like the short do, I can know I did it for a good cause! Photos are sure to come!Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-9792588704067298282010-07-28T20:44:00.001-07:002010-07-29T13:38:11.978-07:00What a great day!Yesterday. was a good day. A very good day. I accomplished some big firsts for me--learned some basic quilting skills and began a small quilt, and I jumped almost the entire beginner novice course at Loch Moy! Whoo-hoo! I am proud with a capital P :) And, I got my camera back (which Mike and I somehow misplaced at Loch Moy) which means I snapped some photos of my recent jewelry photos (see below).<br /><br />My school's community is rich with artistic talent; in every grade, we have at least one parent who is an artist and/or musician. That means our halls our lavishly decorated, our silent auction is full of lovely artwork, and our students have the opportunity to learn from these working artists-parents who moonlight as after school instructors. Really, it's a great gift. One of these parents, Pam, is exceptionally talented fiber artist. She creates pieces that are whimsical and delicate, and I am a big fan. She has been kind enough to invite me into her home studio to learn the basics of quilting. It's been a goal of mine to improve my sewing and learn to quilt for, oh, about 2 years. I thought I would surely have the time this year with my more relaxed schedule. No, no. So I was delighted when Pam agreed to teach me about quilting this summer. Today I learned the basics of selecting appropriate pieces of fabric and the steps of the piecing together the smaller swatches to create squares. We are working on a log cabin quilt, and I successfully made 3 quilt squares! So cool! Hopefully we will have a finished piece at the end of our third meeting next week.<br /><br />And in other things art, my time in the jewelry studio came to a close this weekend (at least until September when classes resume); it was with much resignation and the clawing of fingernails that I left! Ha! Really, I wish I could have just a few mores hours! I designed a neat piece for my artist friend, Jaclyn, but I was barely able to start it. Bummer, but I did finish the lingering pieces on my to-do list. I am very happy with how my dress piece turned out (title "primp"). I will be submitting three pieces to the art jewelry show that MICA is hosting. I am hoping that at least one of my pieces will be selected. We'll see!<br /><br />Here are some photos of the work I submitted and two commissioned pieces:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-pN2frJ6YyQplsvh1xj2v0fX-nCbFzRsVfw6RT5LRyuD4eg2RAQ0TwFe0OWe5UZUJV4X8OgM0BYoWFI0BMdaVJx15tvlG-dVehqQ6k_DEL-qyyCFUfEt3nMZ682HFsZynXQSRpuvnC0/s1600/100_1115.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-pN2frJ6YyQplsvh1xj2v0fX-nCbFzRsVfw6RT5LRyuD4eg2RAQ0TwFe0OWe5UZUJV4X8OgM0BYoWFI0BMdaVJx15tvlG-dVehqQ6k_DEL-qyyCFUfEt3nMZ682HFsZynXQSRpuvnC0/s320/100_1115.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499426949115453650" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">My final piece "Primp" made of copper, brass, plexi glass, paper, and semi-precious stones</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDPdKtaKg4LUJSiXBdNOst8OZv84fJmmVbvBh-GYKLlaj1j3GDXGtaaOJCYnCTTauqSBAqzDMZP7Z2YG5VHN73ITvEfLX8ncAw2hULBwlLUgvs7STsY2qGs9wy3ux-8u89hjrqZiMwlA/s1600/100_1118.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDPdKtaKg4LUJSiXBdNOst8OZv84fJmmVbvBh-GYKLlaj1j3GDXGtaaOJCYnCTTauqSBAqzDMZP7Z2YG5VHN73ITvEfLX8ncAw2hULBwlLUgvs7STsY2qGs9wy3ux-8u89hjrqZiMwlA/s320/100_1118.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499426943416237378" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Close-up of "primp"</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHA_rp9Lueh4TcZvYvAsdiZDk7EL7JOSJ3dvbBzoOpmvfqIt9dzK2QXcLjPXgEnjSPug9j9E84qjy6QQwgtndpe64KAA36aredzf_9YQLAr82pN20WKluTJ8Sox17H8yP8IbTXEFCg-0/s1600/100_1121.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHA_rp9Lueh4TcZvYvAsdiZDk7EL7JOSJ3dvbBzoOpmvfqIt9dzK2QXcLjPXgEnjSPug9j9E84qjy6QQwgtndpe64KAA36aredzf_9YQLAr82pN20WKluTJ8Sox17H8yP8IbTXEFCg-0/s320/100_1121.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499426935907240146" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The back of "primp" with it's dainty little secrets :) I am loving adding details to the backs of my pieces!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAZY781XCGi97KWyqiiOEUaGmeC1-QqyLFE7Aq0Ih4A50zGdtY7xCSxQzjkOb-e5PQuZeUM9z5GL9yKWLiN5nMXoDq5wGVwles9uDN7Gtfi0FZoA8nKyAb2xyVzoITMdFufvVofV2XmI/s1600/100_1127.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAZY781XCGi97KWyqiiOEUaGmeC1-QqyLFE7Aq0Ih4A50zGdtY7xCSxQzjkOb-e5PQuZeUM9z5GL9yKWLiN5nMXoDq5wGVwles9uDN7Gtfi0FZoA8nKyAb2xyVzoITMdFufvVofV2XmI/s320/100_1127.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499425916174287298" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"sprout" made of brass, copper, mesh wire, and paper</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6gsR-Cc7XrV0mGWCVhto_O7k0ffqOjiJpyuJiVWqJhqM1kynYY0bZ0GqNH-IdHUsC5S_roUBbPmYFmHM05OEsDK_kPACHhdwzeTNEZJ9_TwtzBcXxa28sz8PeJHmezuX-eAUlsS9hyQ/s1600/100_1131.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6gsR-Cc7XrV0mGWCVhto_O7k0ffqOjiJpyuJiVWqJhqM1kynYY0bZ0GqNH-IdHUsC5S_roUBbPmYFmHM05OEsDK_kPACHhdwzeTNEZJ9_TwtzBcXxa28sz8PeJHmezuX-eAUlsS9hyQ/s320/100_1131.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499425909354718274" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The front of "bloom" made of brass, copper, silver, and paper</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8voiSggL6D8kHBgfZ8nswhNW4qSuu5XyM5ccbDRbAqWvroNeV_VEhfHj3l4iudvZynK0zHwfSkjg8WHFwj89vEfaxuurYItWLh26PS0Q5Sd0bCBrgbPQnp9dhLWOovN5wvHL6DIMxhos/s1600/100_1134.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8voiSggL6D8kHBgfZ8nswhNW4qSuu5XyM5ccbDRbAqWvroNeV_VEhfHj3l4iudvZynK0zHwfSkjg8WHFwj89vEfaxuurYItWLh26PS0Q5Sd0bCBrgbPQnp9dhLWOovN5wvHL6DIMxhos/s320/100_1134.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499425908341773922" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The back of "bloom", again with a nice detail</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_GcHiKJ72G3dDIOXr0jhXfwgptEohpzbyx9QlUcz-G5s7M6auEaPDT7KtSDj_7xmNc24WNWWD2329CPFu0G8aRT7_vOlOuq7EoRsMLl1-OXm5T0kjzm_kiRxWFCwh_x-gRfjE1nT48Q/s1600/100_1139.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_GcHiKJ72G3dDIOXr0jhXfwgptEohpzbyx9QlUcz-G5s7M6auEaPDT7KtSDj_7xmNc24WNWWD2329CPFu0G8aRT7_vOlOuq7EoRsMLl1-OXm5T0kjzm_kiRxWFCwh_x-gRfjE1nT48Q/s320/100_1139.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499425892709890706" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Another frame piece, this one commissioned by Maria</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbTawDsmJcL-fUC_44pys_uKAHT2Gldy1Gh0X1bGKZJJWY3XEWU5ecy-H5FaOYZV6UPrnR83PsRET-8nYiOMD6gbS9dsYVF8brKtjGXZ6zOLvXTkJT5-5nHN-CHBy-8MKPISv6qEMZXY/s1600/100_1140.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbTawDsmJcL-fUC_44pys_uKAHT2Gldy1Gh0X1bGKZJJWY3XEWU5ecy-H5FaOYZV6UPrnR83PsRET-8nYiOMD6gbS9dsYVF8brKtjGXZ6zOLvXTkJT5-5nHN-CHBy-8MKPISv6qEMZXY/s320/100_1140.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499425888197626866" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">And, finally, earrings for Megan, who has become a repeat customer :)</span><br /><br />And finally, to cross country! My friend April and I took our ponies to Loch Moy today; their competition course is open this week for schooling. I actually had intended to work more on cantering longer sets and get more comfortable with achieving rhythm on the course. The smallest of the jumps on course (beginner novice) were still quite large for me so I had only planned on jumping a few of them. Well, we ended up jumping almost the entire course with a few novice jumps thrown in! I admit I was nervous at first (and even nearly launched myself off over the second jump), but after a bit, we really got into a groove. Caesar was a rock star, eager to jump anything and helping me achieve that aforementioned rhythm in between fences. I think he was happy that I was doing less and letting him do his job! Plus, he likes jumping bigger fences! So, I am very happy with the xc school; it's not only the hardest course we have done, but I feel I put in one of my best rides. What a good feeling!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLBLCHezAHc1KzxjTsIB43HCRy0Dew0c_vRkictTF6Cruhe2sBogxONkGzc2v9KTo8MpOjZ_ceeypJJVSo2KHlYk5T6Rp_QxIUc7eCE3i6oD2CYLoEtGwb0xcCF8b8oSoEI3niFBc6XQ/s1600/100_1114.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLBLCHezAHc1KzxjTsIB43HCRy0Dew0c_vRkictTF6Cruhe2sBogxONkGzc2v9KTo8MpOjZ_ceeypJJVSo2KHlYk5T6Rp_QxIUc7eCE3i6oD2CYLoEtGwb0xcCF8b8oSoEI3niFBc6XQ/s320/100_1114.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499426958572293314" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">April with Caesar and Gracie and my pal, Linn, with her pups in the foreground (thanks for being our ground person, Linn!)</span><br /><br />Tomorrow, Mike and I are headed up to New York for the wedding of my dear friend, Beth. On Sunday we will continue on to Block Island, Rhode Island, for a mini-vacation. Should be fun! I'm sure I will have photos to post!Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-88539702881363166712010-07-18T18:36:00.001-07:002010-07-18T19:38:18.174-07:00Updates!This past week has been busy but the best kind of busy, with just enough to do each day to stay engaged and motivated. I often find it hard to find my rhythm in the summer--one week I am traveling, the next week I am working, and then the next I have little to do. I know that is a bit of a luxury, but I need goals and activities to stay motivated! My MICA class has really helped with that as I have been working 3-5 hours in the studio several days a week. It looks like I will have a few more days to work than expected--hooray!<br /><br />Caesar and I had 3 fabulous bareback dressage rides this week. I think doing my flatwork sans saddle might be just the thing we need right now. I get so tangled up in my saddle and don't really sink in and find my seat. But when riding bareback, I have to find and utilize my seat or Caesar runs away or stops. Ha. I also find I do better lateral work bareback. This week we achieved some really good canter sets. Cantering bareback has never been the problem, it's the up and down transitions where I clamp my legs and throw my body forward and bounce up and down. Yikes! But we improved by leaps and bounds this week! Still room to grow for sure, but we are on our way. And we jumped a few crossrails bareback, another one of my summer goals! I do think that my lower leg is getting more stable. My jump lesson on Friday went very well; we jumped a simple gymnastic--a vertical with a placing pole before and after to a cross rail on a figure 8. By the end of the lesson, the vertical was up to 3 feet! Whooo-hooo! Caesar wasn't alarmed in the least, trotted to it like it was 2 feet, but I think he was happy to show off his skills. <br /><br />Yesterday, Mike and I volunteered at the Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy. It was a great event, and we were assigned some of the more difficult jumps on course so we got to see some very good (and very lucky) riding. Many of the BN jumps still scare me, but I am planning on heading out to school the course this weekend; hopefully, I'll be brave! I got to meet <a href="http://golightlysporthorses.blogspot.com/">Cherie</a> of Golightly Sporthorses, whose blog I avidly follow. How cool to meet a fellow blogger! She and her horse are quite the pair--fancy and talented, and they breezed through our training elements with ease. And Cherie didn't think I was a lunatic for approaching her blindly (hot dog and smoothie in tow); it will now be even more fun reading about their continued successes this season!<br /><br />I'll be doing field work with my school staff this week; we'll be in Annapolis tomorrow and then Dorchester County at the end of the week. I'll post about my adventures when I return.<br /><br />Unfortunately, it seems we've misplaced our camera :((( Big boo. So I don't know when I'll get to post photos of my most recent work. Maybe the gadget will turn up after all.Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-71550377674038713512010-07-13T18:21:00.000-07:002010-07-13T18:58:02.776-07:00Jewelry update (with photos)!My jewelry class is winding down, and I am scrambling to finish my final projects as well as several other pieces on my "must do" list. EEEEK! I will miss having access to the wonderful facilities that MICA offers. What a great studio! I am planning on taking a class in the fall, but I will go all of August without my beloved studio time. Bummer! But the good news is that my dad is sending me a few his old tools that will allow me to keep working in the interim.<br /><br />I started my final project for class today. I walked in with absolutely no idea what I would be doing, and I looked around to see that all my classmates had their sketches prepared (having been absent last week, I didn't know about this bit of homework). But after a little bit of brainstorming, I came up with an idea I love: a feminine outfit mounted on a "mirror". Hard to explain, but I made a little skirt and shirt with plexi and paper, and I will be mounting that (as well as a petite necklace) on a mirror of brass with a copper frame. I think it will be super sweet, though not the most wearable piece. Here are some of the component parts:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZ6EX3rn-RE7hYxmLIsiJvTlDZZb095ai1vGRqdBsTttXoyD6btWklP4AypofDNlgj2JL913n4NMdGCDWvFgr32ifkHwP7AzrPUIZE_AOM8VxDlZJ5smSsWp4A8CF8LVGUuTgMF3P1z0/s1600/100_1102.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZ6EX3rn-RE7hYxmLIsiJvTlDZZb095ai1vGRqdBsTttXoyD6btWklP4AypofDNlgj2JL913n4NMdGCDWvFgr32ifkHwP7AzrPUIZE_AOM8VxDlZJ5smSsWp4A8CF8LVGUuTgMF3P1z0/s320/100_1102.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493570975086740162" /></a><br /><br />I also created a little owl with plexi, paper, and copper. Again, the piece is in progress:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGRSjCF0yTkhdbI9Ld7HBLl1XB81JV2ujapG7IUJ9N47mIpJy_FEAKPWaUp-A1VQNEqJ-TDjZbQqCwRXW_lOec6-Rqp4MAKgdwyCuwsWCNt-QJNFtTqj7wyN3QsfAgMhz0qNNTCZ7UAA/s1600/100_1105.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGRSjCF0yTkhdbI9Ld7HBLl1XB81JV2ujapG7IUJ9N47mIpJy_FEAKPWaUp-A1VQNEqJ-TDjZbQqCwRXW_lOec6-Rqp4MAKgdwyCuwsWCNt-QJNFtTqj7wyN3QsfAgMhz0qNNTCZ7UAA/s320/100_1105.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493570986401302738" /></a><br /><br />As for finished pieces, I made the second in my series (ha :) of framed pieces, this one commissioned by my dear pal, Megan:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCtGZlpIrM3V3J5rd_Uv__PJH5APebJEfPFDs8t1PNwZifvDpE5nU4xRYlCBdkPWJXz1lb1QMmXc4zMI_9OOW7oolsJdfw19NTSPTBuZ4xWpTdJnRSrS-wJKfoh5RNOSjtqbuIdza9ys/s1600/100_1107.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCtGZlpIrM3V3J5rd_Uv__PJH5APebJEfPFDs8t1PNwZifvDpE5nU4xRYlCBdkPWJXz1lb1QMmXc4zMI_9OOW7oolsJdfw19NTSPTBuZ4xWpTdJnRSrS-wJKfoh5RNOSjtqbuIdza9ys/s320/100_1107.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493570995385736882" /></a><br /><br />I am working on a third for another friend, and I will post photos soon.<br /><br />I also made a little wedding shower gift for my friend, Beth. She's getting married on July 31, so I thought a piece incorporating the date would be fitting:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPYNAqm-QfREpE-kgmSzh2GyskI8MSnujZk226qG4ci37fcUXfYXRkN83JzRJQSeSTUe-uDvAh5pdT3VMkPppOCNa1czCWcwoYigKusDRPo_3VNWpHlNrhEXTRAjGSKkIhK1JhJrvU1w/s1600/100_1094.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPYNAqm-QfREpE-kgmSzh2GyskI8MSnujZk226qG4ci37fcUXfYXRkN83JzRJQSeSTUe-uDvAh5pdT3VMkPppOCNa1czCWcwoYigKusDRPo_3VNWpHlNrhEXTRAjGSKkIhK1JhJrvU1w/s320/100_1094.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493570999112107170" /></a><br /><br />I continue to be delighted by how much I am enjoying the time I get to spend crafting jewelry. I tend to be the kind of person who can get easily interested in myriad things, but it's rare that I find a hobby that I can really pour myself into (other than riding horses, of course :). I hope I can turn this little hobby into something more lasting and, perhaps, profitable. We'll see!Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-54725220062221922952010-07-12T18:35:00.000-07:002010-07-12T18:44:45.018-07:00Ducklings are all the rage...Tonight, after eating at Holy Frijoles (yum), Mike and I took a stroll around Hampden. While crossing 36th Street, we saw a woman walking her-get this-DUCKLING! Yep! She was walking a <span style="font-style:italic;">baby duck</span>! And it wasn't in a harness or on a leash, it was just walking right beside her, heeling when she came to a stop, waddling rapidly when her pace quickened, quacking now and then. Talk about ridiculous! She even took the duckling into a liquor store. I don't think I want to know how that ended...<br /><br />Hoping I'll see the pair again soon so that I can snap a photo. But believe me, this really happened!Shane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204444014088347381.post-2639365612799267002010-07-05T20:26:00.000-07:002010-07-06T18:44:52.016-07:00The news from Mississippi<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2SBXAEesSAgMJ5B3q90Afh7LU7OnF_mlMf5VXzRM0PHi3VM6JdcwB6aBtBAMnqPFKxEk2cZ5c56SQoIwDYQ_CHU7dRSAurY1VbD5L0zgw-p8u8Bm9aosDQ_hNB9oOq6x3bSsxp30hYU/s1600/100_1048.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2SBXAEesSAgMJ5B3q90Afh7LU7OnF_mlMf5VXzRM0PHi3VM6JdcwB6aBtBAMnqPFKxEk2cZ5c56SQoIwDYQ_CHU7dRSAurY1VbD5L0zgw-p8u8Bm9aosDQ_hNB9oOq6x3bSsxp30hYU/s320/100_1048.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490972076376146690" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Humongous walking stick!</span><br /><br />Last Wednesday, my parents, Mike, and I made the 16 hour haul from Baltimore to central Mississippi. I have made the trip a few times before, and it wasn't one I was looking forward to. In general, I don't do well with long car rides, especially over 10 hours. But this trip went remarkably well. With four drivers to share the task and 4 books on tape by Mr. Sedaris, the hours whiled away. It's always interesting to me how I can feel when I have entered the south (somewhere just north of the TN/VA border). The road signs change, the vehicle sizes expand, and the bumper stickers are, well, louder (or maybe that's just because I disagree with most of them). Still, there is something so nice about coming home to a place where family, land, and tradition are so very central. <br /><br />Mike and I drove down to the Mississippi Gulf Coast for a reunion with my best friend's from college--Anna, Eden, and Chaeli (Alli couldn't make it :( Last summer, Anna accepted a post as assistant minister at a church in Long Beach and with her job came a big, lovely home-- a perfect place for a perfect reunion. We reminisced, walked on the beach (the oil is just reaching the MS coast, but clean-up crews were already out in droves), went antiquing, and ate...a lot. We also became acquainted with Anna's enormous Great Dane, Belle. Just a year old, she still romps around like a puppy, and leaps long-legged onto the furniture. She's an absolute doll, but she's just so huge! We also had a chance to visit with Ashok and Neha, two other friends from college who are expecting their first child in January. It's still so strange to me to see everyone growing up--marriages, new homes, babies, big dogs...<br /><br />I didn't expect to be able to accomplish much of my homework for my jewelry course while in MS, maybe some sketches at best. But it turns out that my dad has several of the essential tools I need (a soldering torch, a small drill, fine files), and, being that he does custom wood-work, he had ample space for me to use as my "studio". I made matching earrings for my pals as well as a new mixed media piece.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFvhrC6qLfiA1fLywSpOOWqMZAXTs5Nvky6FHJ0-vbmeIhisUBRlWc6Ckw4IWngpYnQk5zWUSnYKl4WeM5arbgZaiHJmls2v7sw_jJpncE0rYOyIQ99SrtuGw8azP3gz9Qia5vgdCiMg/s1600/100_1067.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFvhrC6qLfiA1fLywSpOOWqMZAXTs5Nvky6FHJ0-vbmeIhisUBRlWc6Ckw4IWngpYnQk5zWUSnYKl4WeM5arbgZaiHJmls2v7sw_jJpncE0rYOyIQ99SrtuGw8azP3gz9Qia5vgdCiMg/s320/100_1067.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490970936138433362" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">My studio away from studio!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnk0N6wl__uQkSKBZ73LCXSgomJGmQTcobZDhQlfOprzSD1V5apcUN8dLQwww4tr7stAlSVz1nHDc7R2yrhhvE8Qcb9E04VkVD6UkWKR420lEkhKuoO7FpinVRg6r71OzIZc3i_y0_PE4/s1600/100_0996.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnk0N6wl__uQkSKBZ73LCXSgomJGmQTcobZDhQlfOprzSD1V5apcUN8dLQwww4tr7stAlSVz1nHDc7R2yrhhvE8Qcb9E04VkVD6UkWKR420lEkhKuoO7FpinVRg6r71OzIZc3i_y0_PE4/s320/100_0996.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490969791543058594" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Earrings of hammered brass, silver, and sandstone</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFXSYUqgfO-3JY3J0X63PM-RFGjGqVM5011s_ic0vE-XuVY-v5u-rvfOB9Da0XWpgXOxM7ILuSqv-7otzkbLoRFWs-o1oc8oOOUPaJF_y7YWZoBTM50VfKoTopkgPsbrCztsKIsRkuV4/s1600/100_1076.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFXSYUqgfO-3JY3J0X63PM-RFGjGqVM5011s_ic0vE-XuVY-v5u-rvfOB9Da0XWpgXOxM7ILuSqv-7otzkbLoRFWs-o1oc8oOOUPaJF_y7YWZoBTM50VfKoTopkgPsbrCztsKIsRkuV4/s320/100_1076.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490970933587498658" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Mixed media: brass, copper, paper, gold</span><br /><br />I made several mistakes and I am still developing my craftsmanship, but I do love this piece--Japanese decorative paper sandwiched between copper and brass. I am planning on completing a series of similar pieces. Also in the works is a pendant in the shape of a dress made from plexi-glass; plexi is not a medium I would choose to work with, but it's a requirement for class. Now that I've experimented with it a bit, I have to say that the material is growing on me.<br /><br />We also got to hang out with my sister and her family. Her kids are just adorable. The youngest, Jude, is 3, and quite the conversationalist. They have recently adopted a few goats, and Jude likes to talk about them. He's convinced that a snake is terrorizing one of the goats; who knows where he got this idea, but his conviction is enough to rally concern from others. Cute kid.<br /><br />Other than jewelry-making and some exercising, we are just enjoying being in the woods and reading. It's such a change of pace when we visit Mississippi, one that I gladly embrace.<br /><br />PS: watch Gasland-very good, very importantShane, like a boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327605463712623972noreply@blogger.com3