More Sunshine...

Winding the warp onto the back beam after separating

it into inch sections and dropping those

sections into the raddle which is taped

onto my loom.  

 16 ends (threads) per inch...

8 1/2 yards of warp...enough for 3 shawls woven...

All wound on the back and ready to take the

threads out of the raddle...

and let them hang down from the lease sticks...

Threaded through the heddles in the order I need,

 sleyed through the reed for the

density and width that I want, and

tied on ready to go...

Weaving the first shawl!

This is unrelated to weaving but just had to say

Ellie is doing so well with our trainer.

He comes and the only hard time she gives him right now

is when I have her loose in the arena and he

wants her to stop eating and turn to face him.

She gets a little pissed off that she can't eat

so she runs and hollers.  Then you can see

her think and she will turn and trot over to him.

Sometimes she will slow down and then

start running again like she wasn't sure but soon

enough she gives in and he puts her halter on

and scratches her forehead and lets her rest

near him.  She has gained some weight and

is much more affectionate and relaxed. 

I think she is happy that she is not doing things

that she isn't yet ready for like jumping.

Soon we will be riding.  Soon...

xo

Life Lessons...

OK...I know I've been among the missing lately.  I know I'm supposed to be head-over-heels in love with my new mare, Ellie.  I know I'm supposed to be loving every minute of every day.  I know I'm supposed to be making the most out of what I have...blah, blah, blah.

First of all, we have been giving Ellie too much grain especially since she is living a life of leisure.  So she became quite a basket case and I haven't even ridden her yet.  Also she doesn't know any ground work (re: manners).  So we hired a trainer after much stressing and fussing and lose of sleep on my part.  He is wonderful but doesn't want me to film him.  He has been out here twice and Ellie is beginning to respect our space, lunge properly, lead properly, set her hindquarters, and give to pressure.  She is still not comfortable around his flag which consists of an old car antenna with a crinkly flag attached to one end.  He hits the ground next to her with it and she is at the point where she just shivers but doesn't move her feet.  He can then touch her all over with it pretty much...again sometimes she flinches but she can tolerate it.  She now lowers her head to put her halter on.  She stands quietly for him.  She is easy to catch in the field.  So we are making progress.  He is almost at the point where he will have us work with her.

Brings me to the second point.  I think I am still very reactive to losing my Dommie.  Ellie isn't him.  I haven't been riding because I don't think (and the trainer agrees) she is ready.  Spring is flying by and I have been somewhat depressed by all these events happening in our lives.  I'm supposed to roll with the punches but sometimes...everything just sucks.

Did I mention that she has gone into heat twice in three weeks?  And Duke thinks he is a stud so we have to separate them?

Stud Muffin

Ellie in her stall

OK enough complaining...Noah is home from Australia and I love having my boys here.  My sister Faith is coming Monday afternoon for a few days!!!!  I really am happy about her visit.  This is the sister who went across the country on a train with me!  It is always so much fun to have her here.  We can make triangle scarves, go to St. Lawrence U bookstore which has fabulous coffee as well as fun stuff to buy, walk downtown, cook amazing meals, stay up late talking and sharing a bottle of wine.

Had my 6-month checkup with my oncologist who said that if it were him he wouldn't have any more CT scans because I have already had way too much radiation.   So that's that.  And I can keep the port in for another couple of years.

Life Lesson:  when stressed...take a nap.
xo