Snowshoe day 2

Aahhhhhh.....vacation! The day started gloriously with a huge breakfast. Mom and justin got their ski equipment and lift tickets. I was worried I would get bored but Andrew and hour of reading and an hour of watching German Antiques Road Show we took a hour long walk with the dogs. Roxy slept through the walk and was still in the same spot when we got home :)

Thank goodness we found a grassy spot for Roxy to do her business! 

We walked to the top of the village which looked like this :

We got a good cup of coffee from Starbucks. Let me tell you when you are used to espresso in the morning regular coffee does nothing to wake you up! I can drink 10 cups and still not feel that zing that I do from my cup of coffee. Mom and Justin skies for 4-5 hours and we're back after we got done with our walk with the dogs! 

Justin then took a nap and mom and I walked back up. Had to get my 10,000 steps in! 

After a yummy dinner of spaghetti we taught mom and dad how to play Bang! 

Tomorrow another fun filled day of dog walking and skiing 

Snowshoe day 1

We packed up the dogs and the car to the rim and headed down to Snowshoe early afternoon Thursday. We found out that the nearest grocery store was 1/2 hour away so we just packed everything. Cooper was a doll and slept peacefully the whole trip on a bed on the very top of the stuff! 

We had a good drive up and ate dinner at Cracker Barrel. After that we let the worries of work and life melt away as we drove up the mountain - the laughing started and we had a great drive. I don't think we have taken a family trip since before we got married and I realize now how much I have missed it. 

I decided this year that even if we just get away for the weekend to not let a longer drive or more expensive weekend scare me away from getting out and seeing and experiencing things! It's hard with our schedules and the farm to take a week so the 3 day weekend will be our new vacation :) 

When we got to the condo we were all pleasantly surprised. It was mega upgraded from the pictures and is very nice and comfy! The dogs went on a potty walk before their dinner- Roxy luckily finding some grass within the snow to do her business. 

When we got back in Justin dug out their Nintendo 64 and the 007 game. I was taught quickly how to play and then got my butt beat. So I promptly gave it over to Dad :)

After a glass of wine we were all ready to hit the sack. Justin and mom will get up early to get their rentals while I cook breakfast. I will NOT be skiing this trip! Books, relaxation, and dog walking will be my weekend! 

Home update

We have had a busy winter with home improvements. The basement is getting finished and we are almost done! Estimated date is end of next week...eeek! 

Before ceiling and floors...

looking good bathroom....

Outside projects have included porch swings around the fire pit.

Th next few things we have are making this mud mess better....

2016 will bring lots of home changes...for the better! BRING IT ON!

Snowy weekend

After this snow weekend I have come to the conclusion that snow days are much more fun when you are a kid.

This was just snow from the first night.

Also the first show of the season was snowed out - boo! This weekend is calling for almost 60 degree weather- couldn't that have been switched??!?!?!?!?!?! back to the snow day..

Petrie's view...she was not happy all weekend

As I knew the weather was coming my appointments for Friday got pushed back and Mom and I met for a late ride Thursday- at that point still optimistic the show could happen Sunday.... Then we went to bed and woke up Friday and realized that it was one of those few times in NC where it actually snows as much as it said it was.

Both bundled up and rolling in the snow!

The boys were double blanketed with blankets and sheets on top because Thursday night was supposed to start with freezing rain and then snow- so voila just take off the top layer in the morning and they are dry....well until the sheet freezes!!! It was literally frozen along with all snaps. So after I got them all unclothed of their frozen clothes my hands were frozen. They happily munched on the hay and stayed in their run in for the remainder of the day.

Mom I love snow- quit worrying!

 I was already getting cabin fever by mid afternoon Friday.  I was not fun to live with this snow day- sorry hun...
But we made the best of it - I made soup and cookies and we watched Oliver and Co and some episodes of Outlander.

SOOOUUUPPP

The next day I decided to put the horses in their stalls. The right stall still floods but I thought hey its all frozen now.  They very much enjoyed the dry and warm on their feet and happily munched hay all night. Well that made a bit more work on my part lugging warm water buckets 3 times a day and also giving them soaked alfalfa in the evenings.  I fell many times but thankfully didn't hurt myself.

Roxy thought that going outside to potty in that weather was a joke so we had a few accidents to clean up but all in all she slept through the storm.

I made Justin take me outside Saturday just to get out of the house.  We went to Target....$200 later...does this happen to anyone else? I literally just go to get out of the house and this happens.


Sunday the roads were clear minus our driveway but we slid out and made it to Charlotte to do some IKEA shopping.  We spent a while in there trying to plan out our basement kitchen and bathroom. We walked out of the store with *gasp* nothing! We ended up finding a piece at world market that we love and can't wait to show you the final product!

For now stay warm- looks like this next week is going to be awesome weather wise!

2016

This is hopefully one of many blog posts this year! I really fell off last year and don't even have a blog long enough to justify printing into a book! Whoops!

2016 has lots of exciting prospects. Rea and I have a full show season scheduled.  The basement should be done before summer! The business did great turning a rather large profit so only upwards in 2016 for that!

All bubbled wrapped and ready for our first Combined Test in December.

The holidays were very busy and I was so packed and filled with Grinch feelings that I didn't even put up a tree this year.  I did start using my sewing machine to make some holiday pillows which I hope to continue for every season- just call me Martha Stewert!

Our wonderful cards from all friends and family.

First Project ever with the new sewing machine!

Now that the holidays are over I took a whole week off to catch up with the business and take some time for myself. I am in a much better spot now and am looking forward to a fun-filled year!

Rea update- the one eyed wonder mare!

For those that read the blog you probably already know that Rea lost her eye in July.  We tried everything (as seen in previous post) and it just wasn't meant to be. During our wonderful trip to Germany it was evident she was very uncomfortable and I spoke with Dr. Jornigan and we decided that the best thing for her would be to remove the eye.

During recovery hay was the best medicine! She has a catheter that goes directly under the eye to deposit medicine. This was the week before she lost her eye. 

I had a breakdown I'm not going to lie. I had just bought this horse and it seemed that our career was over. Now I realize I was not being fair to her.  I hadn't even given her a chance to show me what she can do!! When I got home I got another jolt when I saw her for the first time without the eye.  But then things started looking up!  I rode her at Gale's for the first time and she was SUPER. No spook no nothing! Since then we haven't looked back! She did her first jump at home like it was nothing new and we have gone to our first jumping show and cross country school.

First Jumper show October 2015

 Then just in early December she did her first CT.  Due to jumping the wrong course- actually doing the 2'3" division course instead of the 2" division course after a mishap with the secretary we would have won our division! Her dressage score was a 29 and our test comments made me sooo happy!

Already jumping so much better- double clear doing 2'3" December 2015

 She is an absolute doll and now that we have found a wonderful dressage trainer that has told us we can reach the stars we have set pretty big goals!

Goals for 2016:
Go to two Horse Trials - 18" or 2'
Go to at least 4 schooling CT ending at 2'6" by next winter- be ready to move up to Beg novice HT in  early 2016.
Go to our first recognized dressage show- debut at Training.
Complete a first level dressage schooling show- score above 60%
Be ready to get our first scores toward our bronze medal in 2017.


I think these are all very attainable and will allow us to move up consistently in all 3 phases without risk of panic or *gasp* injury.

These will all lead to our lifetime goals which are ones I never thought I would do....
Lifetime goals:
Get my bronze medal- 2 different scores above 60% at a recognized show at First, Second, and Third level
Do a recognized Novice HT.

Leaving Paris and onto Germany

The last day in Paris was a short half day. We had our normal leisurely breakfast and then split up to explore the city a bit more. We tried to go to a few museums but they were all closed. I guess I am destined to go back to Paris because I have now been their twice and not made it to Musee d'Orsay.  The train ride was so much fun.  I love traveling by train and Terri had never been on one (that fast). It was a bullet train we hit 308 km/hr at one point! It was great to be able to see the scenery. We got in late and expected to take the S-Bahn to Winnenden where Leonie would pick us up.  But she surprised us!!! I was so happy to see her- we had only been apart a few days but in the month she stayed with us we became inseparable.  We crammed all 4 of us and our luggage into her tiny Ford fiesta (we should have gotten a picture!) Then settled in and got a nice long sleep. That next morning we went to go have second breakfast with Opa.  The first breakfast was AMAZING so much food! And Leonie prepared it all! Then we packed up and took a walk to Oma's grave to say hi and give her new roses.

Of course I found a cute calf on the way!

Doesn't he look so great?

That night we headed down to Stuttgart for Dinner and a bit of shopping we were a bit rushed but had a great Swabian meal at a restaurant sitting outside.