Another Foggy Morning

This morning I woke to a gloriously cool morning, though still a bit muggy. There was no surprise when I encountered dense fog when I headed to the car. The fog was beautiful and gave the earth an eerie feel, making me want to turn the car around and go back home.

The lack of sun didn't affect my morning glories, they were out in full force. Each day I have more blooms on the arch. It is a great way to greet the day!

I need to rearrange the morning glories, because soon I will not be able to make it down the steps to my car. Would that be such a bad thing? I could work from home? It has possibilities.

Unlike the morning glories this sunflower wasn't too thrilled at the lack of sun.

Orange Cucumber

Yesterday, after work, I took a peek at my garden to see how the vegetables were faring. And behold, I had tomatoes that were finally ripening up and cucumbers hanging on the vine and what looked like squash! Wait...I didn't plant any squash, so what was it doing there? I reached down and plucked from the vine an...ORANGE CUCUMBER! The color closely resembles goldenrod from the Crayola crayons box.

What could this be? Did I have a different variety of cucumber that I had forgotten about? Nope, looks like the bees cross-pollinated my cucumbers with my tomatoes. :) I had heard that I I would need to keep a 100 yards between cucumbers and watermelon, but I didn't think that I might have needed to use this guideline for my tomatoes. For now I will happily pluck goldenrod cucumbers off the vine.

I also retrieved one ear of corn that was ready and that the raccoon hadn't already enjoyed. He does tell me that the corn is sweet and delicious, just how I like it. It is nice to have a taste tester to make sure the food is ready.

I was trying to get fancy in my vegetable display. With this bounty I felt like a real farmer, too bad I didn't have any wheat to stick chew on and my overalls were in the laundry. But I was barefoot, I have the mosquito bites on my feet to prove it.

Kelly Ripa visits Lexington

It is all over the news here in Kentucky...Kelly Ripa was here in Lexington attending the USEF Pony Finals!


Yesterday morning on Regis and Kelly, she spoke with Ashton Kutcher on how wonderful and beautiful Kentucky was when she visited and what great people live here. What a great promotion for the state of Kentucky! And for Pony Finals!


Pony Finals has been a National Championship show for Hunter/Jumper ponys since 1967. The past several years it has been held at the Kentucky Horse Park. For a week the park is packed with ponys of varying colors and sizes, though all under 14.2, kids, parents, trainers and the occasional dog or two or three... It is just adorable to watch the little girls in pigtails flying around their hunter or jumper courses on their ponies!


Clubequestrian.com has some video footage from this year's Pony Finals. All I can say is "CUTE!"

Noo Shoos

Have you ever experienced love at first site? I have and it was with a wonderful pair of suede ballerina slippers that I found this weekend! They fit my foot like a kid glove. When I wear them I feel happy and buoyant, and feel I could conquer the world.


What is it about the perfect pair of shoes that can make a person fell alive? Whether they are 4 inch heels, flats, flip flops or sneakers, a new pair of shoes brings joy...at least to me. It all started at a very young age...


My mother has told this story about me and a pair of new shoes for as long as I can remember and to whom ever will listen. It seems that when I was just learning to talk and walk, my parents took me to get a good pair of shoes at the local Buster Brown's in South Point, Ohio. When I walked out of the store with my wonderful new shoes, I was fascinated by them. We walked along the sidewalk and everyone I met along the way I would stop, look at them, point at my shoes and in my sweetest voice say "Noo shoos!".

Mom says it was just adorable, I will have to take her word on it. To this day when I mention that I bought a pair of new shoes, whether it is a swanky pair of hears or everyday flip flops Mom will recite, "Noo Shoos". And me being the ham that I am, will repeat this time honored phrase. We have also used the phrase when my horse got two new pairs of aluminum shoes.

All this talk of new shoes has been yearning for another pair...hmmm, looks like shopping could be in my future.

Learning a new skill...

I am learning a new skill: Photoshop Elements. i just received my software in the mail after purchasing it on ebay. So far this is what I have done. Not too outstanding...yet. I hope to keep playing with my photos and see what I can do to enhance them.

For now here is my first attempt:

My new header was done with GIMP with the embossing effect.

Cozy, Foggy Morning

With all the rain we have been getting, throw in cool weather mornings and we get dense fog. For the past two mornings the world has looked like this when I had to work. There is something cozy about it. It says to me crawl back in bed, pull the comforter up and sleep awhile. If only...

I love my views out the back door, especially when the horses are at the fence.

The sunflowers add a bright spot to the early morning without sun!

Have they come and gone yet?

Boy, those storms yesterday sure were doozeys! The office shook and rattled with the pelting of rain. We got reports that Louisville was flooded and we were supposed to get similar amounts of rain. Luckily, we the weathermen missed their mark. I was concerned about a few low spots near the river along my road home. This was where getting off late from work pays off, the water had receded and there was no oncoming traffic when I needed to get in the opposite lane to pass high water.




The pasture in front of my house was now a "pond". Too bad it didn't come stocked with fish, I could of had a really good fish dinner. Willow enjoyed our temporary "pond", she is half-lab and that water-lovin side comes out even if there is only a drop of water on the ground.




The poor darlin' didn't understand when I wouldn't let her come in the house after her swim. If it had only been water, she could have stayed in the mud room/breakfast room. But since the "pond" was really a pasture it was marshy and muddy, so in turn, Willow was muddy. She went from being a yellow pup to a brown pup. At least she was happy.

Surprisingly Kody didn't take a dip. He normally heads for the water just as fast as Willow. I think the impending storm had him heading for the house instead of the "pond".



At least towards the west the sky was looking better. But it looks like we will be getting some more rain as the days go on. I think I will get my floaties ready!

A Stormy Tuesday

We just got a huge storm here at the Kentucky Horse Park!! The sky was dark and ominous, making work that much more exciting. A few of us stood at the window watching the storm blow in, because the best place to be in a storm in next to a second story window...or not.

The rain starting coming down in sheets, making it a great day to have stayed home in bed enjoying ice cream and t.v. Unfortunately I was still at work and there wasn't much chance of me heading home to enjoy the storm. That's okay, I got to enjoy it at the office. And it got real interesting quick.

The wind and rain were strong enough that water came in from the windows and links developed throughout the building. We were grabbing up trashcans to collect as much water as we could. Luckily, the leaks were small and everything was under control.

Now we are hearing reports of flooding in the area, so drives home tonight are going to be a little haphazard. I am just hoping my normal 10 minute commute doesn't end up being 45 minutes if I have to take the long way around. Keep your fingers crossed...

My Best Friend the Chestnut Gelding

Horses have always been a huge part of my life, and they still are but in a different fashion. I grew up horse crazy and my parents were wonderful enough to indulge in my obsession. It helped that they already had horses and could understand my plight.

I had horse everything, I doodled horse heads on my homework and wrote essays (paragraphs) about horses. Friends wanted to hang out with me and go ride our family horses. I was happy to indulge, because I would use any excuse hang out with the horses.

My friends rarely saw the squashed toes and smashed hands. (A story for another time, it has been 25 years and I can still feel the hoof on my hand.) I love my horses!

When I was around four I saw people jumping their horses over brightly colored sticks, immediately I turned to my mom and dad and said, "I want to do that." If horses weren't expensive enough I had to go and fall in love with one of the most expensive riding disciplines (disputed) of them all; Hunter/Jumpers. My parents got me into riding lessons where I was soon jumping over those brightly colored sticks, but at a much less lower height to my parents relief and my impatience. Soon I was showing and enjoying every minute of my new found love.

There comes a time when you outgrow the lovely pony you have been riding, my black mustang Midge, and need to a taller horse. After extensive looking we found Pi, a chestnut Arabian gelding with attitude. Oh how I loved him. He was a fairy tale. My very own Black Stallion, except he was a Chestnut Gelding...minor details. I rode him and I was in heaven and then he...dumped me.


The snot, was a trickster. Too smart for his own good. He thought it was funny to see me flip through the air! I am not kidding,. I saw him shaking his head and whinnying one time after I ungracefully, involuntarily dismounted! Though there were many times I decided he was not the horse for me, I hung in there. Mostly because my parents told me that Pi and I needed to figure each other out and that I was not getting a new horse.

After hours and hours of riding and ground work and playing we finally became best friends. He moved to California with the family, where we changed riding careers from Hunter/Jumpers to the more exciting and daredevil eventing. Pi and I loved to run fast and jump high, which the cross country phase of eventing satisfied.



Our move to California gave us more opportunities not only for showing but to also try fox hunting, which we both found we totally enjoyed. Pi was a frequent traveller and took everything in stride, but when we pulled up the the farm that we went fox hunting from he became my Chestnut Gelding (i.e. Black Stallion). He would hear the wild peacocks in the hills and his characteristic Arabian head would go up and the tail would wave in the wind. He would go from 14.2 hands to 17 hands in an instant. I never felt so proud as to watch my beautiful boy. (Hands are how horses' height is measured, 1 hand = 4 inches.)



We played, trail rode, showed, attempted barrel racing, rode in parades and kept taking lessons mostly learning more about dressage and how it wasn't as bad as we thought. Pi was good with other kids, letting them dress him up in funny outfits. He never turns down a treat. He even took a bite of my ham and cheese sandwich on summer afternoon during Pony Club camp. He actually liked it and came back for more. Together we understand each other.



Each of us has grown up and Pi is now retired in a wonderful pasture with friends. I run out to see him and hope to bring him home one day. For now he is happy and I am happy for him. Though I miss him terribly. He is my best friend and confidant.

I love you my Chestnut Gelding!

Happiness

Early this week I tried to plea with Apollo to bring the sun out from behind the clouds here in Kentucky. It seems he didn't hear my plea because we are still getting rain. Even though the Greek god didn't hear me, someone did! My sunflowers heard my cry for the golden orb in the sky, so they stuck their beautiful heads out as a way to entice the sun to shine. Thank you Sunflowers, you are bringing a smile to my face.


Only one has bloomed so far, it looks like some of the others are not far behind.

Sunflowers bring me joy and happiness. Everytime I see a sunflower either in a vase, a field or in a picture it just brightens my day. Their yellow petals are like a big sign pointing the way towards happiness. I love those kind of signs!

I saw this beauty when I got home last night after a tough day. Talking on the phone with my mother watching the drizzle outside, I looked towards the garden and this yellow friend was a shining beacon. My day transformed immediately. The crap that happened at work was forgotten.

Sunflowers = Happiness!!!

Little Ms Milkmaid, pt. 2: The Lick

I took the dogs to with me to go milking this past weekend. It wasn't their first time to see the cows. The introduction esd msfr a couple of weeks ago when I went wild blackberry picking. But everyone is still very much interested in each other. Kody likes to say "Hi" and after that he doesn't really mind them. He is used to large hoofed animals being that he has spent the last ten years running around with me and my horses. But Willow on the other hand is not too sure what to think.

From afar she thinks they are pretty cool but then they come right up to her face and she runs behind me and barks; mind you, she is a 100 lb dog. (Since I am not really a deterrent when the cows are really interested, I keep the fence between me and the interested bovine; at least for now. I still don't quite know how to read them).

This past weekend the milking had been done and the cows were all out in the front pasture. Kody, Willow and I went to check the water. The cows were on the other side of the pasture, so we stepped through the gate to adjust the water hose. All it took was one cow to see us. The next thing I knew I had four bovine headed our way. At first they were slow and ambling, but then one, Mickalyn, picked up her pace. She wasn't running because that would use too much energy and she is making milk, but she was no longer ambling!

Kody and Willow were excited about the approaching friends, so much so they wanted to greet Mickalyn. I had other plans.

Once we got on the other side of the fence the stragglers had picked up their pace and were coming. Mickalyn just barely got stopped before she put her nose down to greet Kody. Since her nose couldn't fit through the gate, Kody stuck his head through. They were cold wet nose to warm wet nose sniffing each other. It was very sweet, then the best thing happened. Mickalyn licked Kody with her long blue tongue!!! I don't know who was more surprised Kody, Willow or me! (Willow was watching her big bro with amazement and awe. She seemed to say, "What are you doing touching that...that...well, that?") Through all of this I was wishing that my camera was handy.

Kody must have understood what Mickalyn was saying because he began to "dance" and started "talking" to her in his "Let's be friends" howl. The whole time we were at the gate, Kody "talked" to the girls.

Juliann, Calf Tan and Begonia came to investigate after they saw that Mickalyn and Kody were hitting it off. They were interested in Willow. Willow wanted to be brave like her bro but she really didn't like when their big noses took up her whole vision. She would sniff then backpedaled to be behind me, then 2 seconds later go back to sniff them again. This went on until I was ready to head home, meaning the water tank was filled.

I can say that the cows, Kody and Willow have been introduced and for the most part are getting along. It will be nice when they don't pay attention to each other. And next time my camera will be at the ready, so tath I can catch any more signs of affection between Mickalyn and Kody. At least I have my memory of "The Lick".

Mickalyn and Kody's first introduction.

Those Little F*$%^ing B@s!@rd$

...is the affectionate name I have for the Japanese Beetles that are living on my plants. Normally I wouldn't be swearing over a small bug, but those "small" bugs do some major damage. The little suckers are eating the leaves off of morning glories, and devouring the rose petals from my roses! So I have declared war upon them!!!

If you drive by my house and see me in my office attire shaking the plant leaves or the plant itself, cupping my hand and then throwing the contents down on the ground after shaking it really hard, similar to rolling dice at the craps table, and then jumping up and down where I just threw the contents of my hand; you will know I was just going through my method of helping the Japanese beetles into another life. This method may not be the best way to eradicate the beetles but it sure makes me feel good! :)

I have used the insecticide, Sevin, with great results but the F*$%^ing B@s!@rd$ started in on my Basil and I can't use Sevin on that. So I continue to do my little dance. And if you happen to see me, just give a honk and a wave while shaking your head at my strange attempt to seek revenge on a shiny, green, rose petal eating, morning glory destroying bug! And if you have any better methods for moving them along please let me know.

Mouthwatering Blueberries!

I have a wee little blueberry bush that actually produced some blueberries this year! But it was just a few handfuls. It was enough to say I have blueberries but not enough to make a pie or jam.

The first picking of 15 were added to a blueberry muffin mix I already had. And boy, oh boy, did they make a difference. Even though the mix had real blueberries that you pour from a pre-packaged can they didn't give it that blueberry zest. You know, the spreading blueish-purplish color next the the berry. But my blueberries did. And when you bit into the muffin where a fresh blueberry was, the blueberry taste was stronger.

My next two handfuls, 25 berries, I couldn't decide what to do with. Not enough for more muffins, too many for a single dessert. I could add them to pancakes, or even better make blueberry syrup. Yum! That is what I did. I didn't create anything fancy, I just poured in some fabulous Aunt Jemima syrup into a saucepan, added the blueberries and started heating it up. Once it started boiling I started stirring. It didn't take long until my homegrown blueberries were breaking down and releasing their blueberry juices where they began to mingle with the syrup.

After it was done I poured it over my french toast. I tried to be frugal with the syrup, so that it would last, but I couldn't control myself and used all of the syrup. The blueberry syrup wasn't too sweet, and I could taste the fresh blueberries. It was mouth watering, not only was my mouth watering but so was Kody's and Willow's. And they don't even like fruit!

Next year, when my blueberry bush is bigger, I hope to have a few more recipes and ideas of how to use my blueberries. There are only a few more left on the bush and I think that I will eat them with no adornment. Just thinking about them is making my mouth water. Hmm, hmm, good!

Using Toothpicks to Keep the Eyes Open

Do you remember watching little kids fight the sleep that is trying to overtake them? Their little heads bob up and down, but then all of the sudden they start bouncing off the walls, and then get a bit whiney. Soon they are back to head bobbing and refusing to go to bed because, “I not sweepy, mommy.” Eventually they do fall asleep.

This is what I feel like, I am trying not to be whiney and if anyone said it was time to go to bed I would not disagree. My response would be, “Where’s the bed?” as I looked around for the most comfortable spot to lie down.

I am trying to be peppy and semi-funny, anything to keep my energy level up so that I don’t crash. I must be annoying my co-workers because I am almost annoying myself. Luckily, my co-workers will knock me upside the head if I get to annoying. It is great to have such true friends that watch out for you…at least I think they are looking out for me? Hmmmm…I will have to give that some more thought.

Anyway, I am trying not to fall asleep at my desk. I have the music cranked up, the fan on, and I am being ridiculously excited about trivial things.

So why am I so sleepy? Because it is RAINING, again!!!! I like to snuggle into my bed and listen to the pitter patter of the rain coming down, so my body is trying to fall back into that habit. Problem: I am at my desk at work not at home in my bed. So come’ on body stay awake for a couple more hours and then I will put you to bed!

Sunflowers please bring the Sun!

It is raining....again. Which is good for the grass, but I would really love for the grass to take a vacation. I can't catch up with the weed-eating. It seems that I have to weed-eat everyday.

"Wait, I do weed-eat every day!" she says as she bangs her forehead against the desk.

I weed-eat in front of the house, behind the house, in between the garden rows, around the horse trailer, the front walk, the back yard and the fence line. Normally, if I lived in town this would be a quick job, but because I live out in the country I have more green area (which I love) but my weed-eater doesn't. I have a really nice Black and Decker battery operated weed-eater that I bought when I had less grass. What I need now is a gas powered monster of a weed-eater or a man to weed-eat for me. :)

But since it is raining today I don't have to weed-eat! YEAH!!! The down side is the grass is passing me by in this race. Also, less sun means that my tomatoes will be that much slower in ripening. I have hordes of green tomatoes but no red ones. I even brought some in the house and set them on a window sill but they are as green as the Golly Green Giant. So frustrating.

So Apollo, Greek God of Sun, I offer up to you my beautiful Sun Flowers, once they get enough sun to bloom that is!!! I will happily keep weed-eating if I can have ripe tomatoes!


**Can you tell that I am conflicted about whether I want the sun out or not? So many pros and cons. But mostly I would love to see the sun.



They are starting to develop flower heads.

Getting closer!

Look the Sun!!

Just a little to the left...

Reminiscing...

Just looking through old photos I found this classic from a gathering at my grandmother, Meme's house in Kansas. Everyone in this photo has graduated college and three of them have children of their own. Wow how time flies!!




Those were some fun times!!

Wildflowers

My front flower bed is full of wildflowers, which consist of zinnias, morning glories, cosmos, and some other misc flowers. I love how it turned out and I think that I will have a wild flower bed each year. This one has taken minimal effort!

My four legged wildflowers!


She is a bit wild and crazy!

My Dahlias are Blooming

My dahlias have finally decided to show their glorious' heads!! This was the sight I was greeted with as I walked out of door this morning. I love the soft pink and yellow combination.





Have a fantastic weekend! The weatherman says that it is supposed to feel like fall for us here in Lexington!! Yipee!!

Everyone Needs a Little R & R

I just got done talking to my friend that is planning a wonderful vacation overseas; my mother is packing her bags and heading off for an Alaskan cruise with her friends; and a co-worker just took off for a couple of days to one of the casinos on the river. It seems everyone is going on vacation.

Since everyone is heading off for vacation I thought I would book my own travel plans. I planned a trip to the countryside of Italy; specifically San Paolo, Manerbio, Brescia, Lake Como and Milan.

One of the first days driving around in San Paolo, the little town I stayed in. It was quite charming. I even stopped to get some fruit from a Fruiteria.

Friends we made and a favorite restaurant we would go for lunch. (The "we" were team members, and we were over in Italy together for a horse competition.)

A farm house. I took this photo while driving and would never, ever recommend doing that. But when you have to get from Point A to Point B quickly, pulling over for a photo op isn't always possible.

The "we" again, Lauren and John, stopping one evening for our favorite food , GELATO!!!

Como, Italy - trying to find our way to the docks.

More Como, I could have spent so much more time there. As it was I only had a couple of hours and that was spent on the Lake.

This was a chalk drawing the artist was doing right in the square. It was beautiful and very detailed, not to mention large. My camera couldn't get it all in the frame.

Beautiful architecture.

Lake Como. It was beautiful!!!! One day when I become ridiculously wealthy I think I will buy a house on Lake Como. (When I say "ridiculously", I mean I will have to be able to own a small country. )

Beautiful, Gorgeous, Wish you were here!!

This is Milan. I had half a day to discover all of Milan's wonders, and it wasn't enough. I just skimmed the surface. But now I know where to start when I go back!

Castle Sforzesco in Milan. It was beautiful and old.

The inside courtyard of the Castle. To think that this was built without machines, but hands.

Two guards and their trusty steeds came walking out of the courtyard. I first heard the clip clop of the horses shod hooves, and being that I was taken in with my castle surroundings, I thought they were knights. I guess they are knights, just modern day knights/guards/cops.

The Piazza de Duomo which held this lovely cathedral.

An old statue. Because my tour was quick I didn't ever get to figure out who it was.

Ah, I am back now from my 15 minute Italian vacation. It was a whirlwind, but I don't think I have ever eaten so well! I miss the gelato already! Until next Italia, Ciao!!!

P.S. I took this trip last September, but since I have no vacation on the horizon planned I thought a vacation down memory lane would work. Boy, was it refreshing. Next month, Germany!