In my world of working for a non-profit, there is an annual cycle to fund-raising. In September and October (or "Primacy" as we call it) we raise almost half of our entire annual Community Campaign. What is half? A mere $7 - 8 million. In eight weeks. And, lets not forget, this year our offices were closed for 15 days in September. So as you might imagine, its a tad busy and crazy around the office. Tempers flare, nerves are frazzled and much coffee is consumed.
As last year, I was again graced to be one of two lead staff persons working on our annual Phonings Week. Only this year I was working with someone who actually behaves in a professional manner and doesn't make me want to quit at the end of every day. I actually really like the person I collaborated with and it was amazing! Phonings Nights were last week (Oct 18-21) and were a HUGE success. We had over 300 volunteers over the 4 nights and raised over $750,000. There is so much work that goes into these four nights--all told its only 12 hours of people making phone calls to donors, but we work for weeks to get everything pulled together. And then at the end of the week, we're absolutely exhausted. The only time last week I wasn't working on Phonings was when I was sleeping. And that's God's honest truth.
But Phonings Week is sort of the traditional last hurrah of Primacy, so the end of this maddening time of year is about to come to and end. And maybe I'll ride my horse again. And go to the gym. And cook a real meal. All important things since I plan to ride a Combined test New Years weekend, and I bought a beautiful dress for Hunter's wedding thats about 1/2 a size too small, but I'm sure the gym will fix that... and I can't remember the last time I made real food (as in... no portions were previously frozen).
When my life gets back to non-Primacy insanity, I will have more updates!
An adult amateur rider's thoughts on work, life, diet, exercise, and of course, the horses she loves.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Well I Didn't See THAT Coming
I was at the barn last night, getting Alfie tacked up. One of the teen-aged girls walks up to the grooming stall where I was and pronounces to her young gelding "Why can't you be perfect like Alfie, huh?"
Seriously. She said it. My hand to God! I about fell over I was so shocked.
I looked at her and laughing said "Alfie, don't let your head get too big buddy. I think she's teasing." But this dear, sweet child insists she is not joking and proceeds to tell me how she's never seen Alfie act up, be naughty or do anything but stand quietly and perform his job obediently.
I look at my horse. And sure enough... he's standing there quietly, almost asleep. I lunge him in side reins and he's good as gold, stretching like a good boy. I ride him and he's listening to me, despite all the activity going on around him. When I finish my ride, I bring him into the barn and we are once again met by our new best friend, who professes again that she wishes her horse was more like Alfie.
My horse... who I see as quirky and difficult, with baggage enough for a barn full of horses. A horse who a mere year ago wouldn't cross-tie, and who two years before was fighting with veterinary staff at Auburn... while he was sedated. A horse who typically would spook at just about everything, including his own shadow, and couldn't stand still to save his life... he was described by someone who is not me as PERFECT?!?!
I don't know why I'm so surprised. Alfie is perfect, after all.
Seriously. She said it. My hand to God! I about fell over I was so shocked.
I looked at her and laughing said "Alfie, don't let your head get too big buddy. I think she's teasing." But this dear, sweet child insists she is not joking and proceeds to tell me how she's never seen Alfie act up, be naughty or do anything but stand quietly and perform his job obediently.
I look at my horse. And sure enough... he's standing there quietly, almost asleep. I lunge him in side reins and he's good as gold, stretching like a good boy. I ride him and he's listening to me, despite all the activity going on around him. When I finish my ride, I bring him into the barn and we are once again met by our new best friend, who professes again that she wishes her horse was more like Alfie.
My horse... who I see as quirky and difficult, with baggage enough for a barn full of horses. A horse who a mere year ago wouldn't cross-tie, and who two years before was fighting with veterinary staff at Auburn... while he was sedated. A horse who typically would spook at just about everything, including his own shadow, and couldn't stand still to save his life... he was described by someone who is not me as PERFECT?!?!
I don't know why I'm so surprised. Alfie is perfect, after all.
my darling, mud-covered pony
Dontcha think?
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
September Already?!
What happened to my summer? My grand plans? My vacation? Wait... I didn't even HAVE a vacation!!
Despite some ups and downs over the summer (some seriously down downs, I might add), I am embracing September and the coming autumn. I had the opportunity to interview for two positions in the development office of my alma mater, but, alas, I was not The Chosen One for either position. Darn close, but not close enough. However, I am taking that as a sign that there is a bigger and better plan for me, and I have decided to embrace my current position like never before. I'm powering on through a busy and cramped (because of all the holidays we're closed for) campaign season in September and October and taking on some projects that are new to me, but have so far struck the right balance of interesting and challenging. I'm not giving up my search, per se, because I know that something perfect is out there for me... but for now I am going to get the most from my current job as I can, and expand my knowledge and experience.
I also moved Alfie to a wonderful, amazing new barn at the beginning of the month. Its closer to home, and has the right amenities: huge, lush pastures, in which the horses are turned out for about 18 hrs a day (!!); a small cross country schooling field; a galloping track to practice pace; and miles and miles of trails. Oh, and a fabulous staff and group of boarders! Its been about three weeks since we moved and Alfie is a completely different horse. He has taken everything about the move in stride. He's calm and focused whether he's in the cross ties or working in the ring. I should have made this move sooner, but the timing and the cash-flow weren't quite right before. But I think its just perfect! My younger sister, who is a hunter rider, has ridden Alfie a couple times since the move and she was suprised how calm he is. Even when schooling in the ring one night, with the lights casting shadows everywhere, Alfie was perfect. I don't know what it is about the facility, but its having an amazing, positive affect on my boy!
Now I'm hoping we can keep shoes on him long enough to get going and maybe, you know, do some eventing or something. I have my first lesson since June scheduled for Friday (those really down downs? that was the shoes and not getting to ride. For more than TWO MONTHS) and I am hoping Alfie is as good as he has been.
In other horsey news, I volunteered for two days (September 9 & 10) at the American Eventing Championships at Bouckaert Farm. It was amazing. The facility. The volunteers. The organizers. The riders and their horses! I had the chance to meet a couple of "on line friends" for the first time, and they're even more cool than I expected. I scribed for a dressage judge one day and learned a ton (thank you, Elizabeth Kane, for making my first time as a scribe a positive one! I was terrified!). The second day I learned all about bit-checking and stuck my finger in the mouths of about 25 horses. And had to ask Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton to very kindly, please, sir, I know you'll be on the US team at WEG's, leave my warm-up ring thank you. The coolest thing was seeing Jimmy Wofford though. I wizzed by on a golf cart as he came out of the show office and i just GAWKED! But of course he's there! He's Jimmy! I wish I had run into him again later... I was told that he's very approachable and will talk to you for hours if he isnt busy.
On the "healthy eating" side of things, my husband is down... like eleventy-million pounds. I'm really proud of him. He's going to the gym at least 4 days a week, and sometimes gets up at 4:30am to go before we leave for work. Sometimes. On my personal front, I weighed in at 164.4 lbs On Monday! Only a pound shy of my low from two summers ago, so that will be an easy benchmark to hit. Then I will have to really bust my butt to hit my goal weight (145-ish, but I won't cry if I am within 3 pounds of that). My REAL goal is to get my behind in those a-freaking-mazing FITS breeches I bought two summers ago when I was around 160. I really needed to be a little smaller than I was at the time to truly fit in them, but the Large size was about 4 inches too long in the inseam, so I bought a Medium and squeeeeeeazed into them. Once. I plan on making them my show breeches, so I'd better drop some poundage!
I've been alternating between the elliptical machine and running on the treadmill at the gym, depending on my mood. The last time I ran, I did two 15-minute sets with a two minute walking break between. That felt really good. I also do some leg and abs exercises after cardio, though I should probably do more with weights. I did find two 10-minute workouts On Demand this week that I really like, so I may add those to the routine regularly.
Despite some ups and downs over the summer (some seriously down downs, I might add), I am embracing September and the coming autumn. I had the opportunity to interview for two positions in the development office of my alma mater, but, alas, I was not The Chosen One for either position. Darn close, but not close enough. However, I am taking that as a sign that there is a bigger and better plan for me, and I have decided to embrace my current position like never before. I'm powering on through a busy and cramped (because of all the holidays we're closed for) campaign season in September and October and taking on some projects that are new to me, but have so far struck the right balance of interesting and challenging. I'm not giving up my search, per se, because I know that something perfect is out there for me... but for now I am going to get the most from my current job as I can, and expand my knowledge and experience.
I also moved Alfie to a wonderful, amazing new barn at the beginning of the month. Its closer to home, and has the right amenities: huge, lush pastures, in which the horses are turned out for about 18 hrs a day (!!); a small cross country schooling field; a galloping track to practice pace; and miles and miles of trails. Oh, and a fabulous staff and group of boarders! Its been about three weeks since we moved and Alfie is a completely different horse. He has taken everything about the move in stride. He's calm and focused whether he's in the cross ties or working in the ring. I should have made this move sooner, but the timing and the cash-flow weren't quite right before. But I think its just perfect! My younger sister, who is a hunter rider, has ridden Alfie a couple times since the move and she was suprised how calm he is. Even when schooling in the ring one night, with the lights casting shadows everywhere, Alfie was perfect. I don't know what it is about the facility, but its having an amazing, positive affect on my boy!
Now I'm hoping we can keep shoes on him long enough to get going and maybe, you know, do some eventing or something. I have my first lesson since June scheduled for Friday (those really down downs? that was the shoes and not getting to ride. For more than TWO MONTHS) and I am hoping Alfie is as good as he has been.
In other horsey news, I volunteered for two days (September 9 & 10) at the American Eventing Championships at Bouckaert Farm. It was amazing. The facility. The volunteers. The organizers. The riders and their horses! I had the chance to meet a couple of "on line friends" for the first time, and they're even more cool than I expected. I scribed for a dressage judge one day and learned a ton (thank you, Elizabeth Kane, for making my first time as a scribe a positive one! I was terrified!). The second day I learned all about bit-checking and stuck my finger in the mouths of about 25 horses. And had to ask Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton to very kindly, please, sir, I know you'll be on the US team at WEG's, leave my warm-up ring thank you. The coolest thing was seeing Jimmy Wofford though. I wizzed by on a golf cart as he came out of the show office and i just GAWKED! But of course he's there! He's Jimmy! I wish I had run into him again later... I was told that he's very approachable and will talk to you for hours if he isnt busy.
On the "healthy eating" side of things, my husband is down... like eleventy-million pounds. I'm really proud of him. He's going to the gym at least 4 days a week, and sometimes gets up at 4:30am to go before we leave for work. Sometimes. On my personal front, I weighed in at 164.4 lbs On Monday! Only a pound shy of my low from two summers ago, so that will be an easy benchmark to hit. Then I will have to really bust my butt to hit my goal weight (145-ish, but I won't cry if I am within 3 pounds of that). My REAL goal is to get my behind in those a-freaking-mazing FITS breeches I bought two summers ago when I was around 160. I really needed to be a little smaller than I was at the time to truly fit in them, but the Large size was about 4 inches too long in the inseam, so I bought a Medium and squeeeeeeazed into them. Once. I plan on making them my show breeches, so I'd better drop some poundage!
I've been alternating between the elliptical machine and running on the treadmill at the gym, depending on my mood. The last time I ran, I did two 15-minute sets with a two minute walking break between. That felt really good. I also do some leg and abs exercises after cardio, though I should probably do more with weights. I did find two 10-minute workouts On Demand this week that I really like, so I may add those to the routine regularly.
Monday, August 9, 2010
One Thing Leads to Another...
A couple months ago, my husband and I learned that his younger brother was shopping for engagement rings; my brother-in-law was apparently smitten with his girlfriend and knew she was the one, as often happens throughout history. Needless to say we were very excited for him... but then a stark realization punched us in the gut. We're going to have to get back into wedding shape! Especially my husband, who will likely be in the wedding. Yikes!
I have in previous posts mentioned my "fatty saga" and professed my intention to get back into a better routine at the gym and start actively logging my Weight Watchers points again. So a couple of weeks ago I threw my hands up and said "TODAY IS THE DAY!", and with the possibility of a family wedding coming up, now was as good a time as any. I am proud to say that in the first two weeks back on Weight Watchers I've lost six pounds. Heck yes! The biggest motivator ever is watching that number on the scale go down week by week. I think the key to making a healthy-eating plan work (b/c "diet" is a four-letter word) is just planning ahead. Menu planning, packing your lunch the night before, even keeping a stash of good-for-you snacks in the office... ALL forms of planning ahead. All good things to do. And it makes sticking to your plan so much easier. Ask the high-fiber granola bars and 100 calorie bags of microwave popcorn in my desk!
Sidebar: I noticed with my re-entry into WW that they FINALLY added "grooming a horse" to the list of Activities. And let me tell you, cleaning a horse before you even ride is absolutely a cardiovascular, muscle-toning workout. Ask any horse owner. No... go ahead, I'll wait right here. Yeah. Its WORK. Especially when its muddy out in their pastures... getting all that mud off is about an extra 10 minutes of working out. And THEN you get to ride and really get sweaty. But I digress...
Then last weekend my brother-in-law popped the question to his girlfriend, now finacee. And my husband is also now super motivated to get back to fighting... I mean wedding weight. I'm really proud of him. He has had... well, lets just say that he has taken issue in the past with other people telling him what he should do, and eat and not eat and all those kinds of fun things that everyone loves to hear. In the nine years that I have known him, I have learned that I can only lead by example when it comes to exercising and eating healthier, and cannot nag or even mildly suggest that he do something. It backfires. And I can't blame him one bit; after living the better part of my life being made to feel badly about myself and my choices, I'd be pissed off hearing it again, too. So that he decided all on his own to make healthy, positive changes made me very, very happy for him.
And then he got this wild notion about going to the gym this weekend. Wha-wha-WHAT?!
OK, you know what? Fine. Lets go. I haven't even been to the gym in like 6 months, and thats just terrible considering we pay the gym every month. So instead of going out and doing something fun on Saturday night, we went to the gym! I kid... I kid... We did go to the gym, and I guess--while it wasn't exactly fun--it wasn't terrible. I thought for sure I'd be completely wiped out after 15 minutes of brisk walking on the treadmill, but I did better than that...
Nearly 8 months ago my friend Lynda fell off of her young, green horse, Rasta, when he spooked at some kids driving around in a golf-cart (waving a UGA flag... clearly they were not smart enough to know thats a bad idea near a horse). In the fall, Lynda broke two vertibrae in her neck, and by miracle was not paralyzed. She wore a halo for 6 long months, but never lost spirt, as her doctors promised her she would be back to her normal activities within a year. Good thing for Lynda, who is a very active runner, and rider. You can't keep a goo woman down! Last week, Lynda was given the green-light to begin running again. Only about a month before, she sat on her horse again for the first time since her fall. She's an amazing woman.
So I decided right there standing on that treadmill, if Lynda can run, there is no reason I shouldn't be running either. Even though I'm not a runner. At. All. But when I got the the gym on Saturday, I decided to work some running into my session. One minute turned into two. Then a couple of minutes of walking... then another couple of running. And wouldnt you know it, I did about 25 minutes of 2 run/2 walk, and it felt really good. I think I pushed myself just enough that it was hard, but I didnt over-do it.
Lather, rinse, repeat on Sunday evening. :)
Of course today, as I write this, my body is only functioning from the waist up, despite my best efforts to stretch before and after my workouts. But I'm really proud of myself, and of my husband, for getting back to the gym.
Strike that... also having trouble lifting my right arm up above my head, since I pulled Alfie's mane yesterday (without a fight mind you! That is h-u-g-e HUGE for him!). But thats another story.
So... brother-in-law goes ring shopping... I start back on Weight Watchers... Brother-in-law gets engaged, we both start going back to the gym... my friend makes a miraculous recovery, and I become a runner. Things happen for a reason... I think its up to us to recognize that reason and respond to it.
I have in previous posts mentioned my "fatty saga" and professed my intention to get back into a better routine at the gym and start actively logging my Weight Watchers points again. So a couple of weeks ago I threw my hands up and said "TODAY IS THE DAY!", and with the possibility of a family wedding coming up, now was as good a time as any. I am proud to say that in the first two weeks back on Weight Watchers I've lost six pounds. Heck yes! The biggest motivator ever is watching that number on the scale go down week by week. I think the key to making a healthy-eating plan work (b/c "diet" is a four-letter word) is just planning ahead. Menu planning, packing your lunch the night before, even keeping a stash of good-for-you snacks in the office... ALL forms of planning ahead. All good things to do. And it makes sticking to your plan so much easier. Ask the high-fiber granola bars and 100 calorie bags of microwave popcorn in my desk!
Sidebar: I noticed with my re-entry into WW that they FINALLY added "grooming a horse" to the list of Activities. And let me tell you, cleaning a horse before you even ride is absolutely a cardiovascular, muscle-toning workout. Ask any horse owner. No... go ahead, I'll wait right here. Yeah. Its WORK. Especially when its muddy out in their pastures... getting all that mud off is about an extra 10 minutes of working out. And THEN you get to ride and really get sweaty. But I digress...
Then last weekend my brother-in-law popped the question to his girlfriend, now finacee. And my husband is also now super motivated to get back to fighting... I mean wedding weight. I'm really proud of him. He has had... well, lets just say that he has taken issue in the past with other people telling him what he should do, and eat and not eat and all those kinds of fun things that everyone loves to hear. In the nine years that I have known him, I have learned that I can only lead by example when it comes to exercising and eating healthier, and cannot nag or even mildly suggest that he do something. It backfires. And I can't blame him one bit; after living the better part of my life being made to feel badly about myself and my choices, I'd be pissed off hearing it again, too. So that he decided all on his own to make healthy, positive changes made me very, very happy for him.
And then he got this wild notion about going to the gym this weekend. Wha-wha-WHAT?!
OK, you know what? Fine. Lets go. I haven't even been to the gym in like 6 months, and thats just terrible considering we pay the gym every month. So instead of going out and doing something fun on Saturday night, we went to the gym! I kid... I kid... We did go to the gym, and I guess--while it wasn't exactly fun--it wasn't terrible. I thought for sure I'd be completely wiped out after 15 minutes of brisk walking on the treadmill, but I did better than that...
Nearly 8 months ago my friend Lynda fell off of her young, green horse, Rasta, when he spooked at some kids driving around in a golf-cart (waving a UGA flag... clearly they were not smart enough to know thats a bad idea near a horse). In the fall, Lynda broke two vertibrae in her neck, and by miracle was not paralyzed. She wore a halo for 6 long months, but never lost spirt, as her doctors promised her she would be back to her normal activities within a year. Good thing for Lynda, who is a very active runner, and rider. You can't keep a goo woman down! Last week, Lynda was given the green-light to begin running again. Only about a month before, she sat on her horse again for the first time since her fall. She's an amazing woman.
So I decided right there standing on that treadmill, if Lynda can run, there is no reason I shouldn't be running either. Even though I'm not a runner. At. All. But when I got the the gym on Saturday, I decided to work some running into my session. One minute turned into two. Then a couple of minutes of walking... then another couple of running. And wouldnt you know it, I did about 25 minutes of 2 run/2 walk, and it felt really good. I think I pushed myself just enough that it was hard, but I didnt over-do it.
Lather, rinse, repeat on Sunday evening. :)
Of course today, as I write this, my body is only functioning from the waist up, despite my best efforts to stretch before and after my workouts. But I'm really proud of myself, and of my husband, for getting back to the gym.
Strike that... also having trouble lifting my right arm up above my head, since I pulled Alfie's mane yesterday (without a fight mind you! That is h-u-g-e HUGE for him!). But thats another story.
So... brother-in-law goes ring shopping... I start back on Weight Watchers... Brother-in-law gets engaged, we both start going back to the gym... my friend makes a miraculous recovery, and I become a runner. Things happen for a reason... I think its up to us to recognize that reason and respond to it.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The Gravity of Time & Place
This is no ordinary tree. He lives on the President's Lawn, at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and he bears scars that reach back to... oh, well let's see... I think I saw one from the 50's, though I did not give the tree a thorough examination. I have done a little research, yet found nothing about this tree as it relates to Georgia Tech history and lore, but it appears that over the decades, students have carved in their initials, their major, and the year they "got out" into the tree. I guess you have to be pretty ballsy to sneak onto the President's Lawn to do such a thing, but since Tech's graduating seniors are both heavy on time (thanks to T-Week) and brains, I'm sure its not as elaborate a scheme as I imagine it to be.
I, however, did not have to scheme or use my brain to get onto the President's Lawn...merely well connected. I was invited. Ok, not that well connected. Will and I recently attended the Family Appreciation Day for his department on campus, and the function was held on the Lawn. And that's where and how I came across The Tree.
As an alumna -- and the wife of an alumnus/employee -- of the Institute I was just drawn to The Tree, and thought about how it must hold a special place in the hearts of those who left their marks upon it. At least 50 years worth of graduating classes are represented there, I'd think. And though I'm sure that, legally, defacing the Institute's property is a crime, seeing things like "MSH - ME - 76" made me incredibly proud to have spent five of the best years of my life on that campus and to hold a degree from one of the toughest colleges in the United States. Everyone who ever has graduated from college is proud of their accomplishment, but unless you went to Tech and Got Out, you have no idea just how proud a Tech graduate is to be a part of that elite group.
The timeliness of my discovery of The Tree could not have been more appropriate, either. And if certain things come to pass, I do believe I will have to re-visit that Tree, and give prayers of thanks.
Monday, July 12, 2010
My Belief System
I believe in true love. I believe that the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man. And I believe that ice cream can make just about any thing or situation better.
I do not believe in boxed cake mixes. At all. Not brownie or cookie mixes either, but mostly cake. And making cake from scratch can be intimidating the first time, but the end result is worth it, not to mention your friends will think you are a genius. And, you'll be able to pronounce all the ingredients in your cake. Can't say that with boxed mixes, can ya?
With pictures, making a batch of cake batter took me about 20 minutes. So strap on your aprons, folks! Let's break it down!!
First, you need an excuse. Like... "I want cake!" or, in my case, this adorable baby was celebrating her first birthday. And seeing as she's pretty much awesome, I couldn't turn her down.
"The Hardware" as Alton Brown calls it...
Liquid measure, mixing bowl (for the dry ingredients), two bowls for the batter (one for the base, one for whipping egg whites), a rubber spatula, dry measure cups and measuring spoons. And whatever baking vessle you desire. I had a muffin tin.
Then you have the players themselves... butter, sugar, eggs, cake flour, milk, vanilla, baking powder and cream of tartar. Have everything at room temp. This helps everyone get to be really good friends!
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I personally like to beat the room temperature butter all by itself to get it going...
Add your egg YOLKS one at a time, and beat after each addition....
Then add your sifted or whisked flour & baking powder (which you combined in that mxing bowl)...
and alternate that with your milk and vanilla.
Scrape everything down, and give it another good mix. Just a few seconds is fine. If you beat too much once the flour is added, you risk a tough cake.
Time to move on over to that other bowl and whip the egg WHITES!
He was pretty impressed.
I do not believe in boxed cake mixes. At all. Not brownie or cookie mixes either, but mostly cake. And making cake from scratch can be intimidating the first time, but the end result is worth it, not to mention your friends will think you are a genius. And, you'll be able to pronounce all the ingredients in your cake. Can't say that with boxed mixes, can ya?
With pictures, making a batch of cake batter took me about 20 minutes. So strap on your aprons, folks! Let's break it down!!
First, you need an excuse. Like... "I want cake!" or, in my case, this adorable baby was celebrating her first birthday. And seeing as she's pretty much awesome, I couldn't turn her down.
And her daddy there is an executive chef at a fancy restuarant, so I had to show off my mad skilz!
Next you need a recipe. My standby is the 1-2-3-4 Yellow Cake in "The Joy of Cooking" (a note... the recipes in TJC are laid out in a sort of odd way... read the whole recipe through very carefully... twice).
"The Hardware" as Alton Brown calls it...
Liquid measure, mixing bowl (for the dry ingredients), two bowls for the batter (one for the base, one for whipping egg whites), a rubber spatula, dry measure cups and measuring spoons. And whatever baking vessle you desire. I had a muffin tin.Then you have the players themselves... butter, sugar, eggs, cake flour, milk, vanilla, baking powder and cream of tartar. Have everything at room temp. This helps everyone get to be really good friends!
.jpg)
I personally like to beat the room temperature butter all by itself to get it going...
Then I add the sugar and cream for a good three minutes. It should be noticably fluffier when you're ready to proceed... b/c the sugar has punched holes in the fat (butter) which means theres a lot of air now incorporated in there.
Add your egg YOLKS one at a time, and beat after each addition....
Then add your sifted or whisked flour & baking powder (which you combined in that mxing bowl)...
and alternate that with your milk and vanilla.
Scrape everything down, and give it another good mix. Just a few seconds is fine. If you beat too much once the flour is added, you risk a tough cake.
So now you're half way there! You've got the cake batter base! Hurray!
Time to move on over to that other bowl and whip the egg WHITES!
I beat mine a tad to get them frothy, then add the cream of tartar. Then once the whites are starting to get some air into them and are opaque, I crank the mixer on high and slowly stream in the sugar. There is no picture of that step... it was hard to capture what with only two hands and all...
Like these. Glossy and lovely!
I realized too late I did not add the pictures of folding those lovely glossy egg whites into the batter base.... but you really can't screw it up. Dump about a third of the whites into the base, and mix gently. No fancy schmancy folding. Just be gentle. Then lather, rinse and repeat until you've got everything encorporated.
But please note that TJC asks for stiff but not dry peaks....
Like these. Glossy and lovely!
I realized too late I did not add the pictures of folding those lovely glossy egg whites into the batter base.... but you really can't screw it up. Dump about a third of the whites into the base, and mix gently. No fancy schmancy folding. Just be gentle. Then lather, rinse and repeat until you've got everything encorporated.
TA DA!!!!!! Cake batter from scratch!
Then get the cutest cupcake liners you can find (!!)
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And line your tins... and fill! I used approximately 1/4 cup of batter for each cupcake, though I probably could have used a little more. Using that measurement this recipe made exactly two and a half dozen cupcakes (baked in several batches since, remarkably, I only have one tin).
Bake until golden brown and delisious! (18 minutes-ish)
Then get the cutest cupcake liners you can find (!!)
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And line your tins... and fill! I used approximately 1/4 cup of batter for each cupcake, though I probably could have used a little more. Using that measurement this recipe made exactly two and a half dozen cupcakes (baked in several batches since, remarkably, I only have one tin).
Bake until golden brown and delisious! (18 minutes-ish)
And when they're cool enough to frost, slather on the good stuff! I made strawberry buttercream (yes, from scratch) and piped it on fancy-schmancy. Remember: I was trying to impress my brother-in-law the chef.
He was pretty impressed.
p.s. every single picture in this post was taken with my new HTC Evo phone, in my kitchen with its two windows. Not a pixle was retouched by photo-editing software. This cell phone is the bomb. Amen.
Friday, July 2, 2010
For William
I love that you love animals, whether they're ours or in need of a home...
I love that you love your nieces ...
And that you love your nephews, too...
I love it when you're silly...
And when you're serious and thoughtful...
But mostly, I love that you love me.
Happy Anniversary, honey.
But mostly, I love that you love me.
Happy Anniversary, honey.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
My thoughts, exactly
"I could now be sure nothing else bad would ever happen to him, as his life at the track had been very tough for him. I kept him safe to the very end, and I would like to think I made his life better. I was someone who understood him, loved him, treasured him. With all his idiosyncrasies. I wouldn’t have traded him for the world..."
(from eventer Jennifer Simmons, reflecting on her special horse. Interview with 3 Days 3 Ways blog. I could not have put it any better.)
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
I've been Thinking...
I mentioned in my last post I’d tell you about an interesting book I read recently… and I’ll do that and more in this post. I’ve had a lot of occasions to “stop and think” recently, and I figured I’d share them with you (all six of you! HI!!!).
So first… the book. Well, two books. My mother-in-law gave them to me (and I think everyone else in the family) for Christmas. I had heard of both, but seemed not quite the type of books I’d pick up for myself (I read a lot of historical fiction, and neither of the books were in this genre). Having received them as a gift, though, I gladly read the first few pages of each before making a final decision. As it turns out, I really liked both and thought they were interesting… and—key word of the day—thought-provoking.
I can hear you asking “Well what the hell books were they?!” If you’re Meg or Rebecca, you know already, I’m sure. But for everyone’s sake… the books were Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingslover, and In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto by Michael Pollan. Both are absolutely worth reading, and if you want to borrow my copies, let me know!
Both books offer thoughtful insight to the way we eat; one focusing on eating locally and the reasons we should value a “locavore” diet, and the other concentrates on the importance of eating real food, not the pre-packaged garbage we all reach for (I’m as guilty as anyone) that have ingredient lists we can’t even come close to pronouncing correctly. I was fascinated by both… and a little terrified as well. But I realized that I can do a lot better than some people can in controlling what and how I eat because I have a garden in which to produce my own food supply. Which is why I went a little crazy this spring and planted radish, green beans, spinach and lettuce while I wait for squash, zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant and peppers.
Shortly after finishing both books, I discovered that a small, local restaurant group is hosting a weekly farmers’ market--dairy and meat included-- and I was really excited about that prospect. I might actually go and see what I can find. I have plenty of my own veggies, but there isn’t anything I can do about eggs, chicken or steak… and let me tell you something about super fresh, local beef. Get some! There was a place called Stripling’s (now The Saltlick) where my husband and I would stop every time we came home from a visit to Apalach or to my in-laws’. It’s a glorified convenience store, but they have a butcher counter at the back full of the most amazing cuts of beef and pork and country sausage. We never left with enough, its so damn good. Wanna know why? Because the people that owned the store also own and raise the cattle and hogs and do the butchering themselves. Its that family’s name on the line, so you better believe they are producing quality meats.
Excuse me while I plan my next trip to the beach just so I can get some Saltlick rib eyes…
So what I’m sayin’ is… read those two books, even if only snippets, and think about where your food comes from. I know I have been thinking a lot more about mine.
Allrighty, so book reports out of the way… moving on to a trip I just returned from. For Christmas, Will gave me a travel guide to Boston… meaning, “Hey, I want to take you to Boston but its way too cold there in the winter, so let’s wait a while.” It was a long wait, but worth it. We had a fantastic time, and it was much, much too short a trip.
If you’ve never been to Boston, GO! It is an amazing city that’s easy to get around on foot or riding the T (don’t ask me about driving in MA… it was awful, and in the words of another southern belle, as God as my witness, I will never do it again). its kind of like… Charleston meets Manhattan; oozing with history and charm, but with the hustle and bustle of all things urban. I had been to Boston twice while I was in college, and just loved it from the start even though I did absolutely no sight-seeing. It just gave off a great vibe, and I don’t think I could have appreciated the history of the city 10 years ago, anyway.
This trip was a lot different than those I took in college. Immediately after checking in to our hotel, we set off walking around the city… Faneuil Hall & Quincy Market, then over to the North End (like Little Italy) and then as we came off a side street, we stumbled upon this statue of Paul Revere in a little courtyard.
So first… the book. Well, two books. My mother-in-law gave them to me (and I think everyone else in the family) for Christmas. I had heard of both, but seemed not quite the type of books I’d pick up for myself (I read a lot of historical fiction, and neither of the books were in this genre). Having received them as a gift, though, I gladly read the first few pages of each before making a final decision. As it turns out, I really liked both and thought they were interesting… and—key word of the day—thought-provoking.
I can hear you asking “Well what the hell books were they?!” If you’re Meg or Rebecca, you know already, I’m sure. But for everyone’s sake… the books were Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingslover, and In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto by Michael Pollan. Both are absolutely worth reading, and if you want to borrow my copies, let me know!
Both books offer thoughtful insight to the way we eat; one focusing on eating locally and the reasons we should value a “locavore” diet, and the other concentrates on the importance of eating real food, not the pre-packaged garbage we all reach for (I’m as guilty as anyone) that have ingredient lists we can’t even come close to pronouncing correctly. I was fascinated by both… and a little terrified as well. But I realized that I can do a lot better than some people can in controlling what and how I eat because I have a garden in which to produce my own food supply. Which is why I went a little crazy this spring and planted radish, green beans, spinach and lettuce while I wait for squash, zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant and peppers.
Shortly after finishing both books, I discovered that a small, local restaurant group is hosting a weekly farmers’ market--dairy and meat included-- and I was really excited about that prospect. I might actually go and see what I can find. I have plenty of my own veggies, but there isn’t anything I can do about eggs, chicken or steak… and let me tell you something about super fresh, local beef. Get some! There was a place called Stripling’s (now The Saltlick) where my husband and I would stop every time we came home from a visit to Apalach or to my in-laws’. It’s a glorified convenience store, but they have a butcher counter at the back full of the most amazing cuts of beef and pork and country sausage. We never left with enough, its so damn good. Wanna know why? Because the people that owned the store also own and raise the cattle and hogs and do the butchering themselves. Its that family’s name on the line, so you better believe they are producing quality meats.
Excuse me while I plan my next trip to the beach just so I can get some Saltlick rib eyes…
So what I’m sayin’ is… read those two books, even if only snippets, and think about where your food comes from. I know I have been thinking a lot more about mine.
Allrighty, so book reports out of the way… moving on to a trip I just returned from. For Christmas, Will gave me a travel guide to Boston… meaning, “Hey, I want to take you to Boston but its way too cold there in the winter, so let’s wait a while.” It was a long wait, but worth it. We had a fantastic time, and it was much, much too short a trip.
If you’ve never been to Boston, GO! It is an amazing city that’s easy to get around on foot or riding the T (don’t ask me about driving in MA… it was awful, and in the words of another southern belle, as God as my witness, I will never do it again). its kind of like… Charleston meets Manhattan; oozing with history and charm, but with the hustle and bustle of all things urban. I had been to Boston twice while I was in college, and just loved it from the start even though I did absolutely no sight-seeing. It just gave off a great vibe, and I don’t think I could have appreciated the history of the city 10 years ago, anyway.
This trip was a lot different than those I took in college. Immediately after checking in to our hotel, we set off walking around the city… Faneuil Hall & Quincy Market, then over to the North End (like Little Italy) and then as we came off a side street, we stumbled upon this statue of Paul Revere in a little courtyard.
And that’s the biggest reason I love Boston. Stumbling, almost literally, into history. “P. Rev’s” statue is part of the Freedom Trail that goes all over Boston, linking one historic site with another (it’s a walking trail literally either painted red on the street, or paved with bricks on the sidewalks, which is pretty neat), so we followed it about a block to the Old North Church, which is actually still an active Episcopal Church --“Christ Church” is the actual parish name--that holds mass every Sunday.
As we walked inside Old North Church, I was absolutely overcome with emotion. My eyes welled up a little, and I got a big lump in my throat. I just couldn’t help myself. That church is an icon of United States history, and every American child knows why it is important. Standing there, below the church tower where the lanterns were hung to signal the approach of the British, I felt so much joy, pride, and reverence for the colonists who stood their ground and fought to become a free and independent nation. “Awe” is not an appropriate enough word to describe how I felt.
The entire trip was a history lesson… from Old North Church, to Gloucester and the Fisherman’s Monument, to Concord and the Minuteman Park, and each new little peek into the past gave me reason to pause and be grateful.
One final thing to think about… and this is something serious, but not in the same vein as American Revolutionary History or why pre-packaged, processed foods are killing us, but it struck me as so wildly odd that its been bugging me for over a month.
I have two dogs. Hank and Gus. And a pony, Alfie. And I cannot even begin to tell you how much stress they cause me… and its not because they are naughty (though they certainly can be), but simply because I worry about them and wonder if I’m doing the right thing for them by feeding X or not letting them have Z. I feel a horrible sense of guilt if Hank and Gus get short-changed on their walks, or if Alfie is out in the rain, even with his turnout sheet on (and for crying out loud, he is a horse Amanda). But I just can’t help myself… for now, they are my kids, and even if I have children of my own, I still think I’d worry about my animals the way I do now. I’d just worry about the human baby a LOT more. Hello grey hair!
About a month ago a co-worker and I were discussing our dogs, I said something I thought was rather innocuous like “We get up every day at 6:15 to take the dogs on a walk, and then again when we get home from work”. So when she looked at me with her eyes bugged out and an expression that could only be disbelief, I was taken aback. “Wow,” my co-worker said, “Mine only go out in the back yard for a couple of minutes a couple times a day. You must be really committed to your dogs.”
*insert sound of screeching tires*
Wait…. WHAT??!?! You don’t walk your dogs? Isnt that something that dog owners just… you know… do? I mean, I know every dog is different, and for the little dropkick dog breeds, running around the back yard for a couple minutes might be enough for them. But this girl I was talking to had Beagle mixes. TWO of them. Don’t tell me they don’t get walked… that’s practically doggie torture for a Beagle not to be able to go out and smell the world.
What is it, actually, that makes me “a committed dog owner” just by walking my dogs twice a day? I obviously love and care about my dogs, but I see walking them—or getting them some other type of exercise—to be just as essential as feeding them, not as some above and beyond step. Shouldn’t a dog owner make sure their dog gets exercise? More over… what the hell does your house LOOK LIKE if your dog isn’t getting exercise? What does your DOG look like? A watermelon?
I didn’t even know how to respond to my co-worker. I work in an interesting place where, I think, unfortunately, a lot of the women my age see dogs as some sort of a stepping stone to having children. Which just does not make sense to me at all. Dog does not equal baby. Another female co-worker of mine recently adopted a coonhound. I was shocked at her and her husband’s decision to have a coonie as a first dog (neither had ever owned a dog, not even as a kid, and coonies are not the easiest dogs). I chatted with her about it to kind of pick her brain, and she seemed very sure of her decision. I gave her some tips on dealing with these lovely stubborn dogs, and wished her luck. Two weeks later she was complaining about how bad it sucked that the dog whined and cried outside their bedroom door all night. NO kidding! And you think a baby is going to be easier?
I just don’t get that mentality. It’s a dog… a living, breathing being that relies on you for all its needs, including companionship. Its not an accessory or a precursor to an infant. Don’t dress it up. Don’t put it in a baby sling. Treat it like a dog, people. Walk it. On a leash. Down the block and back. Feed it dog chow, not that leftover sushi or other frou-frou food you “think” he likes.
And now if you’ll excuse me… Gus just came in to let me know its time for his evening walk. I’d b more than happy to oblige, GusGus… especially since your bother just came into the office and ripped one.
(next installment, I promise a tutorial on how to properly prune your tomato plants... bet you didnt know you had to do that, did you Meg? I'll also fill everyone in on the garden's progress, my wonderful, fantastic, A-Freaking-Mazing pony and how I still have not yet set foot in the gym.)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Seeing the Light
After a loooong winter off, and a lot of waivering and waffling. And fretting and indecisiveness and basically hiding my head in the sand... I scheduled a lesson with a local trainer. I chose to have a lesson with her because, while she is relatively new to the world of eventing, she is an accomplished adult ammy hunter/jumper rider, and is a "student of the sport" of eventing. She had some very respectable scores at USEA recognized horse trials at BN, and her other students do well. I also had a glimpse into her teaching style at a clinic she hosted at her farm last year when she took me aside when Alfie was having a "TB Moment" and acting up a little. And I liked what she said and how she handled us.
Well the lesson was fantastic. And while we spent a lot of time just walking (I'd say about 60 of the 90 minutes of my ride), we accomplished so, SO much. Alfie's issue with the big scary corner melted away. He ceased cow-kicking when I pushed him towards the corner. He understood that "Yes, I want you to be over there, and no, I won't let that terrible, pony-eating chair/pole/cinderblock/random object hurt you". This new instructor gave me a handful of incredibly useful tools to put in my tool chest to deal with Alfie when he does have his little fits. She also gave me some stretches to do with Alfie before each ride since he is very, very stiff and inflexible. My new accessories shall be a dressage whip and/or little round nubby ball spurs each time I ride. My leg is soooo weak from lack of riding all winter that I can barely push Alfie over, so instructor suggested the new "accessories" to pursuede my noble steed OOOVEERRRRR to where he needs to be. I am master & commander... so, listen up, Alfie!
We also discussed Alfie's overall situation... his feed, his turn out, his history. And my goals. Short term and long term (very... very long term). And I can't really recall having those discussions with a trainer in my "previous life" before my very first lesson with them. I'm so thrilled. Really... so incredibly happy with the way my lesson went and the confidence I gained from it. I will make progress this summer. I will.
In a slightly different, but still related to light, topic... my garden is just chugging along. Spring is such an amazing time of year for me. I love my garden. I love starting it each spring, even if I whine a bit about moving all that dirt every year. I love watching the plants grow--or this year sprout, since I started several things from seed. I admit that I have been giving all the little seedlings a pep talk just about every night. Now, I don't know if it helps or not... but they are looking good! I was thrilled to see a total of 5 green bean seedlings pushing up out of the ground just the other day. I have never, ever grown them before so I'm a little wary (wouldn't you be if the seed packet suggested you "inoculate" your plants?) but encouraged since they seem to be doing just fine at the moment.
I purchased ... well, too much really, but SO CHEAP! About 45 cents a plant from a small, local nursery... Tomatoes (better boy), zucchini, yellow squash (straight neck), egg plant, and I think 4 different kinds of peppers. 3 bell pepper varieties (yellow,orange and an exotic-looking purple!) and banana peppers. 24 plants in all, and I spent less than $12 at the little nursery. They didn't have any unusual varieties of veggies, but I think thats the least we've spent on plants in a long time. I still have to find one of my favorite tomatoes... a variety of grape tomato that looks almost like a cross between a Roma and a grape tomato, they're so big. Its called "Juliet" and its the most delicious little thing. Sweet and a little tangy. I oven-dried some last year and thought I had gone to heaven. We've bought a Juliet for the past three years, so I'll be picking one up soon.
When the plants go in... thats when I know its summer.
Oh, and Lilly Shar Pei is doing GREAT in her new home. Its been... three weeks already I think, and I get an almost daily report from her mom since she works just across the hall from me. Lilly's hair is growing back on her neck where her skin infection was most severe, and she's had all her shots now and tested negative for heartworms. I am without words to express just how happy and grateful I am that Meryl and her husband opened their hearts and home to this little dog. She's a little gem, worthy of a fabulous home.
Don't ask about my gym plans.. since there aren't really any. But happy to report I hover right around 168. I really need to get off my fat behind. That lesson (all 90 minutes of it) really showed me how completely and utterly out of shape I am... and I mostly rode at a walk! Pathetic!
Not much else to report on here... Hank and Gus had their annual today and check out very well overall. Hank was a little... onery... when blood was drawn for his heartworm test, but he tends to get pissy at the vet (he hasn't been the same since his very bad GI issue last summer... when the vet had to... uhm... have a feel in there to make sure everything seemed ok). Gus got different meds for his ear infection that I have been battling on and off for about 3 months. Hopefully the stuff he got today will kick it to the curb!
And that is all... for now. More on gardening, walking your dogs (dammit!) and a really great book next time.
Well the lesson was fantastic. And while we spent a lot of time just walking (I'd say about 60 of the 90 minutes of my ride), we accomplished so, SO much. Alfie's issue with the big scary corner melted away. He ceased cow-kicking when I pushed him towards the corner. He understood that "Yes, I want you to be over there, and no, I won't let that terrible, pony-eating chair/pole/cinderblock/random object hurt you". This new instructor gave me a handful of incredibly useful tools to put in my tool chest to deal with Alfie when he does have his little fits. She also gave me some stretches to do with Alfie before each ride since he is very, very stiff and inflexible. My new accessories shall be a dressage whip and/or little round nubby ball spurs each time I ride. My leg is soooo weak from lack of riding all winter that I can barely push Alfie over, so instructor suggested the new "accessories" to pursuede my noble steed OOOVEERRRRR to where he needs to be. I am master & commander... so, listen up, Alfie!
We also discussed Alfie's overall situation... his feed, his turn out, his history. And my goals. Short term and long term (very... very long term). And I can't really recall having those discussions with a trainer in my "previous life" before my very first lesson with them. I'm so thrilled. Really... so incredibly happy with the way my lesson went and the confidence I gained from it. I will make progress this summer. I will.
In a slightly different, but still related to light, topic... my garden is just chugging along. Spring is such an amazing time of year for me. I love my garden. I love starting it each spring, even if I whine a bit about moving all that dirt every year. I love watching the plants grow--or this year sprout, since I started several things from seed. I admit that I have been giving all the little seedlings a pep talk just about every night. Now, I don't know if it helps or not... but they are looking good! I was thrilled to see a total of 5 green bean seedlings pushing up out of the ground just the other day. I have never, ever grown them before so I'm a little wary (wouldn't you be if the seed packet suggested you "inoculate" your plants?) but encouraged since they seem to be doing just fine at the moment.
I purchased ... well, too much really, but SO CHEAP! About 45 cents a plant from a small, local nursery... Tomatoes (better boy), zucchini, yellow squash (straight neck), egg plant, and I think 4 different kinds of peppers. 3 bell pepper varieties (yellow,orange and an exotic-looking purple!) and banana peppers. 24 plants in all, and I spent less than $12 at the little nursery. They didn't have any unusual varieties of veggies, but I think thats the least we've spent on plants in a long time. I still have to find one of my favorite tomatoes... a variety of grape tomato that looks almost like a cross between a Roma and a grape tomato, they're so big. Its called "Juliet" and its the most delicious little thing. Sweet and a little tangy. I oven-dried some last year and thought I had gone to heaven. We've bought a Juliet for the past three years, so I'll be picking one up soon.
When the plants go in... thats when I know its summer.
Oh, and Lilly Shar Pei is doing GREAT in her new home. Its been... three weeks already I think, and I get an almost daily report from her mom since she works just across the hall from me. Lilly's hair is growing back on her neck where her skin infection was most severe, and she's had all her shots now and tested negative for heartworms. I am without words to express just how happy and grateful I am that Meryl and her husband opened their hearts and home to this little dog. She's a little gem, worthy of a fabulous home.
Don't ask about my gym plans.. since there aren't really any. But happy to report I hover right around 168. I really need to get off my fat behind. That lesson (all 90 minutes of it) really showed me how completely and utterly out of shape I am... and I mostly rode at a walk! Pathetic!
Not much else to report on here... Hank and Gus had their annual today and check out very well overall. Hank was a little... onery... when blood was drawn for his heartworm test, but he tends to get pissy at the vet (he hasn't been the same since his very bad GI issue last summer... when the vet had to... uhm... have a feel in there to make sure everything seemed ok). Gus got different meds for his ear infection that I have been battling on and off for about 3 months. Hopefully the stuff he got today will kick it to the curb!
And that is all... for now. More on gardening, walking your dogs (dammit!) and a really great book next time.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
What I do with My Days Off
Without a whole lot of explanation, I am lucky to work for a non-profit organization that is closed for many holidays during the year. Many of my friends hate me because every time they turn around, I have yet another day off. Some years it amounts to maybe 7 or 8 days stretched out over the entire year.... some years it feels like we have too many days off!
But to be fair, having those holidays off means I have a lot of catching up to do when I get back to my office, and often when I have several days off in succession, I barely come up for a gasp of air once our building is open after the holiday. Its a trade off, to be sure. But one I gladly make.
So, as if turns out I had Tuesday and Wednesday off last week, and was also off yesterday and today. You want to know what the heck I did with all that time, don't you? Well.... truth be told I did not stay home and eat bon-bons on my couch. I've been busy!
I'm sure you'll all remember "Sharpie"....
Well, I am glad to say that our little friend found a home! I took her to my vet on Wednesday, and aside from a skin infection she's in generally good health. My vet guesses her to be about 8 months old, and he absolutely loved her personality. Very happy, curious and sweet little dog.
After speaking to a co-worker about "Sharpie", she and her husband came over on Saturday to meet her. They fell in love, and took her home. I am happy to say that "Lilly" is now loving her new home, and even got to go out on the boat with her new mom and dad. YAY LILLY!!!
Speaking of Saturday... we had some dirt delivered for the yard and garden that morning...
A lot of dirt.
In fact... it was 18 cubic yards of dirt.
That's a lot of freaking dirt. Just look at that pile! And there's still some in the truck that the driver has to dump out yet. It was going to be a long Easter weekend.
We needed to fill some holes and depressions that were worsened by the extremely wet winter we had here in Georgia, and of course we needed to prep the vegetable garden for this summer. So we (of course my darling husband helped) filled the wheel barrow, pushed the wheel barrow, dumped the wheel barrow (lather, rinse, repeat!) many times. Until we got to the really big ditch/hole/depression in the yard. Then we hooked the dumper to the riding mower and moved mountains of dirt that way!
Then it was on to tilling and filling the garden.
Yes. We have a garden. And why the heck not when you have an acre of property? I think its a nice small garden... but when I tell people its about 12 ft x 25 ft they gasp and say cute, endearing suburban things like "WOW! You must live out in the country!" or "You take care of that yourself?"
Just to clarify....I do not live "way out in the country"... there is a Starbucks about two miles from my mailbox. And yeah, my husband and I take care of that big, scary garden all by ourselves, no day laborers required. Seriously, can people not figure out how tomatoes work? And that they can be grown in the actual ground in a yard? I digress...
The goal of the dirt mountain moving is to get the beds from looking like this, after a long winter of neglect...
sadly, those are weeds. lots. of. weeds.
To this, with some raking and pulling of weeds....
To THIS! Once the tilling, filling and planting is done.
Currently however, there are no plants. This picture is from last summer. Nevertheless, earth was added and tilled and the beds look great, but no plants yet. We tend to wait until the last week of April, to be sure there is zero chance of frost killing our precious plant progeny (say it three times fast!).
I did manage to get some seeds planted though, for late spring/early summer veggies. This morning I planted two kinds of beans (a French pole bean, and some sort of bush bean) along with carrots, radishes, spinach and a mixed lettuce. I have never grown green beans before, so this should be an adventure. And radishes are new for me, too, but only take 25 days to harvest which was appealing to me. If you want kids to get involved with gardening... radishes and lettuce are your best bet. Super fast-growing so kids stay interested!
Growing lettuce from seed has to be one of my favorite things about having a garden... almost as soon as it's germinated you can eat it. I can literally pick my lunch in the morning, fresh from my own garden... only taking as many leaves of lettuce as I need. The rest is all there waiting for me out in the fresh air when I get home... and not smelly and wilty in the veggie bin of the fridge.
In another couple of weeks we will plant zucchini and yellow squash, peppers and possibly eggplant or a couple other things. The peppers need all summer to grow, and squash start and finish rather early. Once the squash wrap up their season, we'll plant tomatoes. I am counting the days....
Easter Sunday I baked and cooked for the family (husband, sister, and our parents). Beef tenderloin, fanned potatoes, rosemary butter roles and grilled asparagus. Carrot cake for dessert. It was an outstanding meal!
I rode my pony... Alfie was happy enough to see me, but was no so excited to work once we got out to the ring. We worked on his listening skills, which are horribly lacking. Lots of circles, figure 8's, changes of direction, etc. so he was on his toes and paying attention to me and not the pile of poles on the ground outside the ring that week after week after week are the scariest things ever. But Alfie's been off all winter, and with more consistent work I know he'll improve. He's shedding like a mammoth, and is in need of a spa day after a winter outside. And oh... that scraggly mane...
I also (no... not done yet...) worked on some printable materials for an equestrian organization I am volunteering my time to. Its a grass roots organization that takes the donations it receives and passes it along to organizers who run Classic Format Events in the form of grants. Even though I have yet to compete in a USEA recognized event, I dream of someday running a classic... its what I fell in love with when I went to watch the Foxhall Cup about 8 years ago. I'm no where near ready to compete in one now, so I support the organization that helps these events financially so that they will still be around for me and Alfie when we are ready.
The documents I've produced are pretty snazzy, if I do say so myself, but its been tougher to get done than I initially thought it would be. Many revisions later, we seem to be happy with the "flyer", the donation form and a few other pieces I made. The goal is to make sure they are all identifiably "ours"... fonts, colors, logos are all cohesive throughout the materials. More are in the works, too. Even though that feels like a part time job unto itself, I am glad to lend my support in the best way I know how.
So that's what I've done with my time off. And walk the dogs a mile each morning. And made my husband dinner on the days I was off. And started the arduous task of swapping out winter clothes for summer... there is never room for it all in the Wee House. I would have liked to play "Lady Of Leisure"... and once in a while I do on my days off... but not this go 'round. And I find, strangely, that I have really enjoyed this time off more so than days when I lounge around in my pj's until 1 o'clock in the afternoon. I've accomplished a lot, and it feels good!
Monday, March 29, 2010
A Friendly Visit
Thursday last was a gorgeous day here in Atlanta, and I was therefore more than happy to take the boys on a walk while Will fiddled with the latch on the Jeep’s tailgate. Hank, Gus and I went about a mile—to the end of the street and back—and when we rounded the corner to walk up the driveway, the three of us were met with a unusual surprise
A Sharpei.
I am absolutely a dog lover… animal-in-general lover… but a stray or loose dog in my yard isn’t my favorite. Mostly because Hank and Gus can’t help themselves and just go a little nutty. So I let the boys bark and bay and scare the dog off. Will came to the end of the driveway, and explained that the dog had been roaming around the yard since I had left for my walk, but wouldn’t come near him. Hm.
Well, I went to bed and thought nothing else of the dog, except hoping it found its way home. Of course I had no idea that she (and it is a she) would “move in”.
We were both able to leave work a little early on Friday, and when we arrived home, “Sharpie” was in our yard. Again. But interestingly she had run out of the bushes. Upon further inspection, she had actually made herself a little nest. Well, now this is a problem. Clearly she has some intention of staying. And Will and I are both suckers for a sad animal.
After we took the boys on their afternoon walk (which, by the way, was incredibly exacerbating and hilarious at once since Hank was having a full blown hissy fit that he had to wear his Gentle Leader.. . and he was wearing it because he saw Sharpie and lost his little doggie mind) we set up a little shelter for Sharpie near our storage shed; opened up one of our dog crates, put a couple old doggie blankets in there, and set out Tupperware containers of food and water. We also covered the crate with a tarp since rain was in the forecast. If Sharpie was going to stay, she might as well eat and be comfortable. Later that night we checked the crate… no Sharpie… but no food either.
Saturday dawned, and Sharpie was in her nest part of the morning, but spent most of the day roaming up and down our road… always going in one direction. Once she came around and was sniffing at the screened porch door, but for the most part she lays down in her little nest in the bushes. We gave her breakfast, though she ran off when she saw us approach. By the time I left for the barn she was wandering the street again, looking slightly dazed. I tossed her some treats and told her to go sit in the crate we outfitted for her. She has yet to take the advice.
Sunday morning our little friend was still around. By mid-afternoon we were worried some thunderstorms would get nasty, and Will tried to lure her with lots and lots of treats into the general vicinity of the crate… but it was a no-go. I watched this all unfold from the kitchen window (where I was making a kick-ass lemon pound cake)… she would only get within about 15 feet of Will and then back away… and even bark at him! But I watched her closely… and got a good look at her.
She’s not skin and bone, but she’s skinny and needs regular meals. She moves quite stiffly, and I think its possible she’s been shot with a pellet gun or something a few times, as evidenced by some small dark spots in her coat. We wondered about her eyesight the previous few days… and Will said it looks like one eye is possibly infected.
Ultimately Sharpie retreated to her nest in the bushes, and sat out the rain. Thankfully the storm did not turn severe… but she as breaking my heart just curled up in a ball, just feet from my house.
This morning I didn’t see her anywhere, not that I looked too hard for her. But sure enough she’s outside my window now… lounging in her pile of leaves. Will put a call in to animal control, and I certainly have mixed feelings about that. I want someone to take her somewhere where she will be dry and warm and safe from the cars that creep right up to her butt when she’s wandering around in the street. But then again… I don’t know what her fate will be once AC has her. I know they can’t all be saved. And she might be suffering so badly now that it might be in her best interest to be put down. I just wish she’d let us near her! Silly doggie! I’d take her to my vet to get a once over and go from there.
I did that with a cat once a few years back. We have had a LOT of animals just show up at our house… which is just bizarre. We’ve had two kittens (one now is named Rosie and lives with my sister and her family in Tampa, the other was reunited with its family), a Racing Pigeon (Franklin, who lives up the road a ways) and the cat Julia Gulia. Julia Gulia was a sweet girl, and was ballsy enough to come right up to our front porch and ask to be let in. She played in the vegetable garden while we worked… an absolute doll. I took her to my vet since she was so friendly, but we learned she was an older girl, and probably in kidney failure. We gave her some fluids, some B Complex and some stinky food to see how she would hold up over the weekend. Monday morning she would not budge from underneath my car… and I knew it wasn’t a good sign. I scooped her up and put her in the back of the car and brought her to my vet to be put down.
I don’t know why I cried so much that day… for a cat that didn’t belong to me… that had only been around for a week or so. And I don’t really even like cats so much because I’m horribly allergic to them. But Julia was somehow special, and I cared about her. And ultimately, I cared for her, by giving her the peace that she needed and deserved. For some cosmic reason, Julia chose our house in her final days
As for Sharpie… I just don’t know. AC says they won’t come by looking for a stray if a person is not at home/on premises. I’ll be home the next two days since my office is closed, but not all day. I don’t want her to get chased away and then not feel safe enough to return. That might be worse than the situation she is currently in. Someone suggested trying to sedate her with something in her food, but I’d have to get something from my vet… or a bunch of Benadryl. And then what would I do with her?
Oh little girl… I wish you’d tell us your story and let us help you. The longer you stay, the more I get to liking you, and the more I want to help.
***update while typing***
AC officer showed up, and off my little friend ran! AC officer asked how long she'd been around, her temperament, etc. Then asked if I'd be around for a few more hours. I told him I needed to go to the grocery store, but I'd be back afterwards. Sure enough when I got home, Sharpie was in her spot.
***NEW UPDATE***
Tuesday night, through the miracle of Bacon, we managed to get a collar and leash on Sharpie, and she is a completely different dog... she is sweet and loving and wants to be with you wherever you go. A complete 180 if I have ever seen one!
We moved the crate we had set up for her to a spot closer to the house, and she slept there for the night. This morning (Wednesday the 31st)she was all wags and wiggles when I went to bring her breakfast and take her out to potty ... which she did NOT do in her crate!! Good girl!
We also got an appointment at our vet, where she was given a once over. Dr. Z. believes her to be less than a year old since her teeth are nice and white. She weighs 30 lbs on the nose, and made friends with everyone in the office. No one believed me that she wouldn't come near us for days.
Bacon is indeed a conduit for miracles.
Sharpie's main issues are a skin infection, which was scraped for mange, etc and turned up negative, and an eye infection, which stems from an inverted eyelid, which it seems is common in Shar-pe'i's. But we have ointment to help her eye, and two weeks (!! is she staying that long?) worth of antibiotics for her skin. We didn't opt for a heartworm test at this time, since we are in contact with a Shar-pei rescue group and hope that they can help with her bigger veterinary bills.
Sharpie and The Boys were formally introduced today, and it was surprisingly a non-issue. Seeing as Hank was shaking with rage when he saw her yesterday, today was a huge improvement!
I'm not sure what we'll do with Sharpie over the next few days... I was lucky enough to have a few days off work to wrangle the situation. As sweet as this little dog is, she can't stay. Wee House is already too wee. So the race is on to find her a home or a foster! If you have ANY leads, please let me know!
A big, huge special THANK YOU! to Dr. Z and the staff at Shallowford Animal Hospital. Dr Z has been our family vet for over 20 years, and I even worked there several times. They are outstanding people and compassionate doctors, and never bat an eye when I bring a stray in for a once over.
A Sharpei.
I am absolutely a dog lover… animal-in-general lover… but a stray or loose dog in my yard isn’t my favorite. Mostly because Hank and Gus can’t help themselves and just go a little nutty. So I let the boys bark and bay and scare the dog off. Will came to the end of the driveway, and explained that the dog had been roaming around the yard since I had left for my walk, but wouldn’t come near him. Hm.
Well, I went to bed and thought nothing else of the dog, except hoping it found its way home. Of course I had no idea that she (and it is a she) would “move in”.
We were both able to leave work a little early on Friday, and when we arrived home, “Sharpie” was in our yard. Again. But interestingly she had run out of the bushes. Upon further inspection, she had actually made herself a little nest. Well, now this is a problem. Clearly she has some intention of staying. And Will and I are both suckers for a sad animal.
After we took the boys on their afternoon walk (which, by the way, was incredibly exacerbating and hilarious at once since Hank was having a full blown hissy fit that he had to wear his Gentle Leader.. . and he was wearing it because he saw Sharpie and lost his little doggie mind) we set up a little shelter for Sharpie near our storage shed; opened up one of our dog crates, put a couple old doggie blankets in there, and set out Tupperware containers of food and water. We also covered the crate with a tarp since rain was in the forecast. If Sharpie was going to stay, she might as well eat and be comfortable. Later that night we checked the crate… no Sharpie… but no food either.
Saturday dawned, and Sharpie was in her nest part of the morning, but spent most of the day roaming up and down our road… always going in one direction. Once she came around and was sniffing at the screened porch door, but for the most part she lays down in her little nest in the bushes. We gave her breakfast, though she ran off when she saw us approach. By the time I left for the barn she was wandering the street again, looking slightly dazed. I tossed her some treats and told her to go sit in the crate we outfitted for her. She has yet to take the advice.
Sunday morning our little friend was still around. By mid-afternoon we were worried some thunderstorms would get nasty, and Will tried to lure her with lots and lots of treats into the general vicinity of the crate… but it was a no-go. I watched this all unfold from the kitchen window (where I was making a kick-ass lemon pound cake)… she would only get within about 15 feet of Will and then back away… and even bark at him! But I watched her closely… and got a good look at her.
She’s not skin and bone, but she’s skinny and needs regular meals. She moves quite stiffly, and I think its possible she’s been shot with a pellet gun or something a few times, as evidenced by some small dark spots in her coat. We wondered about her eyesight the previous few days… and Will said it looks like one eye is possibly infected.
Ultimately Sharpie retreated to her nest in the bushes, and sat out the rain. Thankfully the storm did not turn severe… but she as breaking my heart just curled up in a ball, just feet from my house.
This morning I didn’t see her anywhere, not that I looked too hard for her. But sure enough she’s outside my window now… lounging in her pile of leaves. Will put a call in to animal control, and I certainly have mixed feelings about that. I want someone to take her somewhere where she will be dry and warm and safe from the cars that creep right up to her butt when she’s wandering around in the street. But then again… I don’t know what her fate will be once AC has her. I know they can’t all be saved. And she might be suffering so badly now that it might be in her best interest to be put down. I just wish she’d let us near her! Silly doggie! I’d take her to my vet to get a once over and go from there.
I did that with a cat once a few years back. We have had a LOT of animals just show up at our house… which is just bizarre. We’ve had two kittens (one now is named Rosie and lives with my sister and her family in Tampa, the other was reunited with its family), a Racing Pigeon (Franklin, who lives up the road a ways) and the cat Julia Gulia. Julia Gulia was a sweet girl, and was ballsy enough to come right up to our front porch and ask to be let in. She played in the vegetable garden while we worked… an absolute doll. I took her to my vet since she was so friendly, but we learned she was an older girl, and probably in kidney failure. We gave her some fluids, some B Complex and some stinky food to see how she would hold up over the weekend. Monday morning she would not budge from underneath my car… and I knew it wasn’t a good sign. I scooped her up and put her in the back of the car and brought her to my vet to be put down.
I don’t know why I cried so much that day… for a cat that didn’t belong to me… that had only been around for a week or so. And I don’t really even like cats so much because I’m horribly allergic to them. But Julia was somehow special, and I cared about her. And ultimately, I cared for her, by giving her the peace that she needed and deserved. For some cosmic reason, Julia chose our house in her final days
As for Sharpie… I just don’t know. AC says they won’t come by looking for a stray if a person is not at home/on premises. I’ll be home the next two days since my office is closed, but not all day. I don’t want her to get chased away and then not feel safe enough to return. That might be worse than the situation she is currently in. Someone suggested trying to sedate her with something in her food, but I’d have to get something from my vet… or a bunch of Benadryl. And then what would I do with her?
Oh little girl… I wish you’d tell us your story and let us help you. The longer you stay, the more I get to liking you, and the more I want to help.
***update while typing***
AC officer showed up, and off my little friend ran! AC officer asked how long she'd been around, her temperament, etc. Then asked if I'd be around for a few more hours. I told him I needed to go to the grocery store, but I'd be back afterwards. Sure enough when I got home, Sharpie was in her spot.
***NEW UPDATE***
Tuesday night, through the miracle of Bacon, we managed to get a collar and leash on Sharpie, and she is a completely different dog... she is sweet and loving and wants to be with you wherever you go. A complete 180 if I have ever seen one!
We moved the crate we had set up for her to a spot closer to the house, and she slept there for the night. This morning (Wednesday the 31st)she was all wags and wiggles when I went to bring her breakfast and take her out to potty ... which she did NOT do in her crate!! Good girl!
We also got an appointment at our vet, where she was given a once over. Dr. Z. believes her to be less than a year old since her teeth are nice and white. She weighs 30 lbs on the nose, and made friends with everyone in the office. No one believed me that she wouldn't come near us for days.
Bacon is indeed a conduit for miracles.
Sharpie's main issues are a skin infection, which was scraped for mange, etc and turned up negative, and an eye infection, which stems from an inverted eyelid, which it seems is common in Shar-pe'i's. But we have ointment to help her eye, and two weeks (!! is she staying that long?) worth of antibiotics for her skin. We didn't opt for a heartworm test at this time, since we are in contact with a Shar-pei rescue group and hope that they can help with her bigger veterinary bills.
Sharpie and The Boys were formally introduced today, and it was surprisingly a non-issue. Seeing as Hank was shaking with rage when he saw her yesterday, today was a huge improvement!
I'm not sure what we'll do with Sharpie over the next few days... I was lucky enough to have a few days off work to wrangle the situation. As sweet as this little dog is, she can't stay. Wee House is already too wee. So the race is on to find her a home or a foster! If you have ANY leads, please let me know!
A big, huge special THANK YOU! to Dr. Z and the staff at Shallowford Animal Hospital. Dr Z has been our family vet for over 20 years, and I even worked there several times. They are outstanding people and compassionate doctors, and never bat an eye when I bring a stray in for a once over.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
On Love
I did something really bad this week. Well, actually, since it was something that I forgot about two weeks ago, technically I did something really bad then and only realized it this week. Also bad.
I forgot Stupid Anniversary. It was March 10th and I completely forgot. But so did my husband. And considering we don’t mark the occasion in any special way I guess is not such a huge deal, but I felt terrible when the realization hit me yesterday.
I should explain some of this shouldn’t I?
My husband, Will, decided to join the Marine Corps Reserves so that he could get tuition assistance through the GI Bill. He also wanted to serve our country, as so many males in his family had done before him. When we graduated in 2001, Will was still serving in the Reserves.
Then Stop Loss was enacted, just before his commitment would end. At the beginning of 2003 Will got the word that his unit would be deploying to Iraq. This weighed heavily on us both. At the time we were only dating, but we both knew marriage was part of our long-term plan together. But… what would happen in our time apart? And what if something terrible happened while he was deployed?
About a month before deployment someone at Drill—a sergeant if I am remembering this right—suggested to everyone that if they had a serious girlfriend, now was the time to tie the knot. Will mentioned this to me… and we just sort of looked at one another wondering if we should do it. We weighed the pros and cons… and we decided to get married before he deployed.
It wasn’t fancy… in fact it was nearly comical… Will had reported for duty on March 9th, and the next day we went to the courthouse in downtown Marietta, GA and the judge married us. We were just wearing jeans… poor Will’s had been marked with a nice muddy paw print by our dear Cassie the Wonder Dog. Will’s buddy Marty insisted on being there as a witness, and we could hear him giggling at the back of the room. Then as soon as the papers were signed, Will went back to Base and that was it.
And Stupid Anniversary was born.
I will never forget the day Will left. Thinking about it now… seven years later… makes me cry. My heart truly ached that day… no words can really explain what that feels like. You just know when it happens that that feeling is heartache. That that is what love is—fear, pride, joy, anxiety, worry, faith and hope—mangled up into one gigantic and overwhelming emotion. All focused on someone other than yourself.
Feeling all of those emotions—either on their own or in any combination—and knowing that for the foreseeable future I’d be struggling to keep myself functioning in a “normal” way despite them is likely what made that week in my life a complete whirlwind. And I struggle every year to remember just when the hell Stupid Anniversary is.
You’d think I’d put it on a calendar or tattoo the date across my forehead to remember. But I never do. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because, as I said before, it’s not an occasion we formally celebrate; our wedding (read: real) anniversary is July 3rd and that’s when we go out to dinner and that sort of thing. Maybe I don’t mark it down because when I think about it, I can’t help but relive the moment when Will got on a bus at the Drill Center heading for the airport… and I had to say goodbye not knowing when exactly I’d see him next, and beating back the thought that it was entirely possible I might never get the chance again.
Here would be a good time to mention that the three paragraphs above explain why, to this day, I have severe anxiety about my husband going anywhere that I’m not going. It doesn’t help that Will is an Emergency Manager in real life… which means when a parking garage collapses he’s on scene coordinating different resources. Or when there’s severe weather, he’s the guy that has to drive in that weather to get to his office to open the emergency operations center. Granted he isn’t a first responder… if he was I’d probably be heavily medicated and under the influence of who-knows-what. But that doesn’t mean his firefighter friends don’t ask him to come along with them on the engine, or call him to check out some massive apartment fire. God help me…
Anyway, I guess my point is… well, I don’t really have one. I forgot Stupid Anniversary, and I feel kind of horrible about it. I suppose that sums it up. It is a day that changed our lives dramatically, and really shouldn't be forgotten about.
But, Will, I love you. I’m lucky (most days) to have married you… twice. And I’d do it again and again and again…
I forgot Stupid Anniversary. It was March 10th and I completely forgot. But so did my husband. And considering we don’t mark the occasion in any special way I guess is not such a huge deal, but I felt terrible when the realization hit me yesterday.
I should explain some of this shouldn’t I?
My husband, Will, decided to join the Marine Corps Reserves so that he could get tuition assistance through the GI Bill. He also wanted to serve our country, as so many males in his family had done before him. When we graduated in 2001, Will was still serving in the Reserves.
Then Stop Loss was enacted, just before his commitment would end. At the beginning of 2003 Will got the word that his unit would be deploying to Iraq. This weighed heavily on us both. At the time we were only dating, but we both knew marriage was part of our long-term plan together. But… what would happen in our time apart? And what if something terrible happened while he was deployed?
About a month before deployment someone at Drill—a sergeant if I am remembering this right—suggested to everyone that if they had a serious girlfriend, now was the time to tie the knot. Will mentioned this to me… and we just sort of looked at one another wondering if we should do it. We weighed the pros and cons… and we decided to get married before he deployed.
It wasn’t fancy… in fact it was nearly comical… Will had reported for duty on March 9th, and the next day we went to the courthouse in downtown Marietta, GA and the judge married us. We were just wearing jeans… poor Will’s had been marked with a nice muddy paw print by our dear Cassie the Wonder Dog. Will’s buddy Marty insisted on being there as a witness, and we could hear him giggling at the back of the room. Then as soon as the papers were signed, Will went back to Base and that was it.
And Stupid Anniversary was born.
I will never forget the day Will left. Thinking about it now… seven years later… makes me cry. My heart truly ached that day… no words can really explain what that feels like. You just know when it happens that that feeling is heartache. That that is what love is—fear, pride, joy, anxiety, worry, faith and hope—mangled up into one gigantic and overwhelming emotion. All focused on someone other than yourself.
Feeling all of those emotions—either on their own or in any combination—and knowing that for the foreseeable future I’d be struggling to keep myself functioning in a “normal” way despite them is likely what made that week in my life a complete whirlwind. And I struggle every year to remember just when the hell Stupid Anniversary is.
You’d think I’d put it on a calendar or tattoo the date across my forehead to remember. But I never do. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because, as I said before, it’s not an occasion we formally celebrate; our wedding (read: real) anniversary is July 3rd and that’s when we go out to dinner and that sort of thing. Maybe I don’t mark it down because when I think about it, I can’t help but relive the moment when Will got on a bus at the Drill Center heading for the airport… and I had to say goodbye not knowing when exactly I’d see him next, and beating back the thought that it was entirely possible I might never get the chance again.
Here would be a good time to mention that the three paragraphs above explain why, to this day, I have severe anxiety about my husband going anywhere that I’m not going. It doesn’t help that Will is an Emergency Manager in real life… which means when a parking garage collapses he’s on scene coordinating different resources. Or when there’s severe weather, he’s the guy that has to drive in that weather to get to his office to open the emergency operations center. Granted he isn’t a first responder… if he was I’d probably be heavily medicated and under the influence of who-knows-what. But that doesn’t mean his firefighter friends don’t ask him to come along with them on the engine, or call him to check out some massive apartment fire. God help me…
Anyway, I guess my point is… well, I don’t really have one. I forgot Stupid Anniversary, and I feel kind of horrible about it. I suppose that sums it up. It is a day that changed our lives dramatically, and really shouldn't be forgotten about.
But, Will, I love you. I’m lucky (most days) to have married you… twice. And I’d do it again and again and again…
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
What's it All About, Alfie?
On March 1st, Alfie officially turned 8 years old. I unfortunately wasn’t able to make it to the barn that day, so I made sure to bring him carrots when I went to ride the day before, and I also made sure he had his fair share of Bob’s Soft Peppermints (his favorite treat!). And I finally found and bought the bit I want for him (no small feat!). While we as animal-lovers like to think that our furry friends know it’s a special day, for them their birthdays come and go with as much fanfare as an average Wednesday. Just another day to eat grain and hay and chase friends in the pasture.
But March 1, 2010 was more than just another day for Alfie. For the first time in years—if not in his entire life—Alfie was deeply loved by His Person on his birthday even if he was oblivious to that fact. I thought about him all day, and hoped that he was getting lots of pats and scratches from his barn manager, and hoped that maybe she read him the note I left on the dry-erase board. I felt horribly guilty I wasn’t there to hug Alfie and groom him and fuss all over him on his special day. Silly? Yes… but I’ve been known to make birthday cakes for my dogs. No lie.
Alfie has a storied life for one so young, and my heart aches for the cruelty he has known in that time. Out of Given Terms, by Chester House, someone somewhere had grand plans for Alfie at one point. He sold at Keenland for $85,000 in 2002 and broke his maiden at Churchill Downs in November, 2004 (a $47,000 race). He won his first the following February at the Fair Grounds, but sadly by January of '06 he was entered in low-end claiming races with a price of $5,000 on his head. At some point he ended up in the wrong hands and was beaten and treated like trash. Thankfully someone intervened, bought Alfie from the trainer/owner who clearly didn’t give a damn about him, and he found his way to Georgia hours after his final race at Philadelphia Park.
I’m officially starting a new chapter in Alfie’s life this month. We’ve had the entire winter off, and its now time to get up and move! I’ve already got plans in the works to build up his fitness (and mine!) so we can start with lessons again, and I have my calendar marked up with dates of schooling shows and clinics through the spring and summer. We’re starting fresh and by the end of this month I hope to have a 3-, 6- and 12-month plan for our training. My hope is that for his 9th birthday Alfie will be feeling the wind in his face, cantering across a Beginner Novice course.
But even if we don’t get that far in 12 months, Alfie will still be loved and adored for the boy he is.
So ...Many Happy Returns of the Day, Alfie! I love you.
But March 1, 2010 was more than just another day for Alfie. For the first time in years—if not in his entire life—Alfie was deeply loved by His Person on his birthday even if he was oblivious to that fact. I thought about him all day, and hoped that he was getting lots of pats and scratches from his barn manager, and hoped that maybe she read him the note I left on the dry-erase board. I felt horribly guilty I wasn’t there to hug Alfie and groom him and fuss all over him on his special day. Silly? Yes… but I’ve been known to make birthday cakes for my dogs. No lie.
Alfie has a storied life for one so young, and my heart aches for the cruelty he has known in that time. Out of Given Terms, by Chester House, someone somewhere had grand plans for Alfie at one point. He sold at Keenland for $85,000 in 2002 and broke his maiden at Churchill Downs in November, 2004 (a $47,000 race). He won his first the following February at the Fair Grounds, but sadly by January of '06 he was entered in low-end claiming races with a price of $5,000 on his head. At some point he ended up in the wrong hands and was beaten and treated like trash. Thankfully someone intervened, bought Alfie from the trainer/owner who clearly didn’t give a damn about him, and he found his way to Georgia hours after his final race at Philadelphia Park.
I’m officially starting a new chapter in Alfie’s life this month. We’ve had the entire winter off, and its now time to get up and move! I’ve already got plans in the works to build up his fitness (and mine!) so we can start with lessons again, and I have my calendar marked up with dates of schooling shows and clinics through the spring and summer. We’re starting fresh and by the end of this month I hope to have a 3-, 6- and 12-month plan for our training. My hope is that for his 9th birthday Alfie will be feeling the wind in his face, cantering across a Beginner Novice course.
But even if we don’t get that far in 12 months, Alfie will still be loved and adored for the boy he is.
So ...Many Happy Returns of the Day, Alfie! I love you.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Exposed!
As a horseperson, I like to ready “horsey” things. Some books, yes, but I really enjoy getting my monthly Practical Horseman magazine, and I tend to read it cover to cover. One of my favorite columns is Jim Wofford’s “Cross Country Clinic.” Its always educational, and usually witty. Right up my alley. A few months ago he shared a story about a woman he taught in a clinic who—Jim made clear—was too large for her horse, quickly tired, and eventually had an unplanned dismount. Oh! The letters that were written to PH afterwards! Were people really taking Wofford to heart? Did they think he was calling them fat ladies? Sheesh… get a life folks!
In January of this year, PH published an article about eventer Becky Holder, and her success with a commitment to better eating and fitness. I could relate to both Jim’s point-- that riders (like the one he wrote about) shouldn’t put undue weight on their horses, and to Becky’s point of view… that fitness isn’t about a size, its about being healthy and strong for ourselves and our equine partners. So I wrote to PH, and shared my thoughts with them about these two articles…. And thought nothing more of it.
Until yesterday, when I flipped through my newest PH that had just arrived in the mail and saw my name in big bold letters in the “Your Turn” section of the magazine. CRAP! What have I done!?!? Now the entire equestrian world knows I am a fat, fat pig! I thought that information was just between me and the three of you who actually read this blog!
I paced around and panicked a few minutes… then franticly texted a couple members of the ME Team. They actually thought it was cool. Cool? COOL?!?! Are you kidding? Well.. now wait… let's stop and think about this a minute. Maybe it is cool. Afterall, I started this blog to share my story and my life. Why am I complaining about it appearing in a magazine where I’m a faceless nobody? Shouldn’t the appearance of my letter in a nationally published magazine be even more motivation for me to carry on with and stick to my goals?
Yeah, it should be. So see it for yourself here. Click on the blue “inside” button. I’m “Amanda F Smith, Georgia”. Its not anything you haven’t seen here, really, but it is kinda cool to see it somewhere... you know... real.
Now… here’s another issue… with my recent... *ahem* notoriety... do I really and truly go public with the blog? I’ve shared with a few friends that I have this wacky little project going on. But do I let everyone know? I’m not sure…
Weight Loss Update
One of the things I love about WW online (remember, that’s Weight Watchers) is all the little tools it gives you. Oodles and oodles of food items you can search for to make tracking your Points easy, a Points calculator, and even a recipe builder (!!). But I particularly like this cart:
Yup, that’s where I’ve been. The purple line is where I want to go. Where the chart dead-ends is where I am now. 171.2lbs. Periodically you get a little colored star that denotes different milestones (first 10 pounds lost, additional 5 pounds lost, etc) to keep you motivated. It is worth mentioning that this chart represents the entire length of time I have been on WW, about a year and a half. The steep bit at the beginning of the chart looks scary, but was really only a loss of about 2 pounds per week, which is good and healthy.
Hopefully I'll continue a downward trend, and not so many more "uphill" sections will show up on the chart!
Alfie Update
It was absolutely, drop dead, unbelievably gorgeous here in Georgia this weekend, so I took the time to visit and ride my horse twice! Saturday and Sunday the temps were in the mid- to upper-60’s and the sun just beckoned one to be outside. And that’s where I was!
Alfie was a little more relaxed and focused than usual, and I was very pleased about that. Considering he’s (a) still fairly green and (b) really done nothing but eat and poop all winter, he was good as gold. I couldn’t have asked for more. His birthday is March 1st, so look for a little post all about the little guy next week!
In January of this year, PH published an article about eventer Becky Holder, and her success with a commitment to better eating and fitness. I could relate to both Jim’s point-- that riders (like the one he wrote about) shouldn’t put undue weight on their horses, and to Becky’s point of view… that fitness isn’t about a size, its about being healthy and strong for ourselves and our equine partners. So I wrote to PH, and shared my thoughts with them about these two articles…. And thought nothing more of it.
Until yesterday, when I flipped through my newest PH that had just arrived in the mail and saw my name in big bold letters in the “Your Turn” section of the magazine. CRAP! What have I done!?!? Now the entire equestrian world knows I am a fat, fat pig! I thought that information was just between me and the three of you who actually read this blog!
I paced around and panicked a few minutes… then franticly texted a couple members of the ME Team. They actually thought it was cool. Cool? COOL?!?! Are you kidding? Well.. now wait… let's stop and think about this a minute. Maybe it is cool. Afterall, I started this blog to share my story and my life. Why am I complaining about it appearing in a magazine where I’m a faceless nobody? Shouldn’t the appearance of my letter in a nationally published magazine be even more motivation for me to carry on with and stick to my goals?
Yeah, it should be. So see it for yourself here. Click on the blue “inside” button. I’m “Amanda F Smith, Georgia”. Its not anything you haven’t seen here, really, but it is kinda cool to see it somewhere... you know... real.
Now… here’s another issue… with my recent... *ahem* notoriety... do I really and truly go public with the blog? I’ve shared with a few friends that I have this wacky little project going on. But do I let everyone know? I’m not sure…
Weight Loss Update
One of the things I love about WW online (remember, that’s Weight Watchers) is all the little tools it gives you. Oodles and oodles of food items you can search for to make tracking your Points easy, a Points calculator, and even a recipe builder (!!). But I particularly like this cart:
Yup, that’s where I’ve been. The purple line is where I want to go. Where the chart dead-ends is where I am now. 171.2lbs. Periodically you get a little colored star that denotes different milestones (first 10 pounds lost, additional 5 pounds lost, etc) to keep you motivated. It is worth mentioning that this chart represents the entire length of time I have been on WW, about a year and a half. The steep bit at the beginning of the chart looks scary, but was really only a loss of about 2 pounds per week, which is good and healthy.
Hopefully I'll continue a downward trend, and not so many more "uphill" sections will show up on the chart!
Alfie Update
It was absolutely, drop dead, unbelievably gorgeous here in Georgia this weekend, so I took the time to visit and ride my horse twice! Saturday and Sunday the temps were in the mid- to upper-60’s and the sun just beckoned one to be outside. And that’s where I was!
Alfie was a little more relaxed and focused than usual, and I was very pleased about that. Considering he’s (a) still fairly green and (b) really done nothing but eat and poop all winter, he was good as gold. I couldn’t have asked for more. His birthday is March 1st, so look for a little post all about the little guy next week!
Monday, February 15, 2010
So, About this Diet and Exercise Thing…
Let’s talk honestly here for a minute. Painful as that may be, its important. We all have flaws and faults and things we want to change. That’s completely ok. Like the saying goes… “the first step is admitting you have a problem.” In recognizing that there’s an issue, there is room for improvement. If you refuse to acknowledge your own issues, you can’t very well move on, can you? In order to make this easier on the rest of you (all three of the rest of you!) I’ll go first. Lord, save me from embarrassment…
The Dreaded Truth
On August 1st, 2008 I weighed a whopping (here’s the embarrassing part) 190 lbs. I’m only 5’5”, so that’s pretty freaking gross. I had been aware of this problem for some time, and I knew I needed to do something about it, but for whatever reason, I wasn’t moved to change anything. But one afternoon, as I was getting ready to leave my office, I thought “You know what? This is just bullshit. I’m fat. I shouldn’t be fat. I don’t want to be fat.” And before I logged off my computer I went to Weight Watchers On-line and signed up.
By October of that year, I was down to about 165lbs. My husband and I had also joined a gym that summer, so between the Gym and Weigh Watchers (WW from here on out) I had lost about 25 pounds of flubby and mushy in a few months. My fitness was greatly improved. I was ecstatic. I was getting lots of compliments from friends and co-workers, and I was so motivated to keep it going. My goal weight was 140, and I knew I could do it. I was already half way there!
Then I got a crappy cold. Then my birthday. Then Thanksgiving. Then Christmas… and New Years… and before you know it Easter, which means Cadbury Eggs. And then summer, which is Ice Cream season, and before you know it you’re right back at Halloween again, which should be called “Eat for Three Months Straight Eve.” Its not widely popular as an official holiday yet, but I’m working on it.
*sigh*
I currently weigh 171.8 lbs. Considering that I have gone a whole YEAR without keeping track of my WW points, and really slacking off at the Gym (I was going 3-4 times a week), I haven’t done too badly with keeping my weight off. But I know I can do better. And I will do better. The best way to do that, for me, is to jump on the wagon again.
What I Did
First and foremost, at the beginning of 2010 I re-committed myself (feel free to laugh at that phrase all you want) to reaching my original goal weight. I started keeping track of my WW points again as a way to be accountable to myself for myself. At the first of the year, I actually weighed a few pounds more than I do now… so I’ve already lost some weight. I also decided to start this blog… its another way to be accountable, in a way, but I also feel like writing down what I’ve been doing and where I am on my journey will be another form of positive reinforcement that I can share with someone else (again… all three of you!).
Second, I started with workout baby-steps. This may be laziness on my part, and y’all can think that if you want. But let me tell you something… I typically can’t bring myself to leave the house once I get home in the winter time. Its already dark when I get there… add the cold to that and I’m not feeling motivated to do much of anything but sit on the couch in my jammies. This winter has been incredibly and unusually cold and damp, so I have not yet been back to my gym in many moons.
I did start doing 30 minutes of cardio on my mini stair-stepper once a week for the past couple of weeks while I watch TV. I don’t think its as good as a treadmill or an elliptical machine, but its something, and knowing me during winter is the reason I bought it. I also occasionally supplement my stair-stepping with the On Demand workout routines my cable company offers.
A moment of praise for “Fitness TV”… I love it. L.O.V.E. IT. And while I don’t visit Fitness TV as much as I should, when I do, I am always so impressed with the volume and variety of workouts available any time I want to use them. From 4 week “make over” workout regimens, to 15 minute “build a better butt” quickies, from Pilates to kickbox cardio, they have it all.
When I opt for one of these On Demand workouts, I usually do more than one. I’ll browse through the (never ending) menu of options, and find a couple that target the area(s) I want to target and are short… about 20 minutes or less. This tactic is two-fold; Mentally, I feel like its easier to handle and less daunting to complete two smaller workouts than one big one, and also I can do two totally different things in less than an hour—like cardio and Pilates. Or Legs and core strength.
Next Steps
Getting myself back to the gym is going to be a big hurdle, and I’m not really sure why. It shouldn’t be. Its as easy as hopping in the car and driving three miles down the road. Maybe it’s the misconception that everyone at the gym is watching you. Maybe its guilt or shame I’m feeling about all the months that I have been paying my membership, but haven’t been going.
I also want to be able to actually ride Alfie more often. I can be as “gym fit” as I want to be, but that doesn’t translate into “riding fit”… and vice versa. I could be fit enough to run five miles a day, but that doesn’t mean I have the core stability and the right kind of strength to ride for 30 minutes.
I’ve considered starting the workouts that are in the book “The Rider’s Fitness Program”… but part of me is a little intimidated. It’s a 6 week schedule with three different workouts each week. Each workout is only 6 or 7 different exercises… but looking at the pictures of the exercises and machines and equipment in the book, I get the heebie-jeebies. The weight machines at the gym kind of intimidate me anyway… even the simple ones. But add to that different moves and attaching certain handles to the cables… and I feel like I’m in over my head.
Maybe that is my problem. Maybe I’m trying to do too much. But what is a good balanced approach to all of these things? Ah HA! That’s why the blog is here… I don’t have an answer now, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out by trial and error eventually. You now see where baby steps come in handy for me.
Final Thoughts
We all want to be fit and healthy. We all want to look fantastic in our breeches. But we aren’t all blessed with that long, lithe body the models in the Dover catalog have, so we have to work hard in able to look half that good.
But when it comes down to it, what motivated me was Alfie. Why should I expect him to cart my over-weight ass around when I wasn’t doing anything about it? He could safely carry me around, sure, but was it fair? Especially when I knew I should weigh less? Not really. He’s been used to feather-weight jockeys riding him… and here I come at twice that weight. With me at a healthier weight, Alfie would be able to do his job more easily, and quite possibly better. I would also be able to do my job better, as a rider, too. The advantage to losing weight was beneficial to me and Alfie as a team. If I want Alfie to eat the right things and stay fit, why shouldn’t I want that for myself?
Bottom line… you have to be properly motivated. You lose the weight and get fit because you’ll be able to do more with your kids, or you’ll be able to run that half marathon, or because you want to just look good. But its YOUR DECISION. Do it because you want to, and for the reasons that are right for you. Don’t do it because someone else tells you to do so over and over again. Its your life, and your call. It will mean so much more to you when you reach your goal than it would if you were merely trying to please others. Period.
The Dreaded Truth
On August 1st, 2008 I weighed a whopping (here’s the embarrassing part) 190 lbs. I’m only 5’5”, so that’s pretty freaking gross. I had been aware of this problem for some time, and I knew I needed to do something about it, but for whatever reason, I wasn’t moved to change anything. But one afternoon, as I was getting ready to leave my office, I thought “You know what? This is just bullshit. I’m fat. I shouldn’t be fat. I don’t want to be fat.” And before I logged off my computer I went to Weight Watchers On-line and signed up.
By October of that year, I was down to about 165lbs. My husband and I had also joined a gym that summer, so between the Gym and Weigh Watchers (WW from here on out) I had lost about 25 pounds of flubby and mushy in a few months. My fitness was greatly improved. I was ecstatic. I was getting lots of compliments from friends and co-workers, and I was so motivated to keep it going. My goal weight was 140, and I knew I could do it. I was already half way there!
Then I got a crappy cold. Then my birthday. Then Thanksgiving. Then Christmas… and New Years… and before you know it Easter, which means Cadbury Eggs. And then summer, which is Ice Cream season, and before you know it you’re right back at Halloween again, which should be called “Eat for Three Months Straight Eve.” Its not widely popular as an official holiday yet, but I’m working on it.
*sigh*
I currently weigh 171.8 lbs. Considering that I have gone a whole YEAR without keeping track of my WW points, and really slacking off at the Gym (I was going 3-4 times a week), I haven’t done too badly with keeping my weight off. But I know I can do better. And I will do better. The best way to do that, for me, is to jump on the wagon again.
What I Did
First and foremost, at the beginning of 2010 I re-committed myself (feel free to laugh at that phrase all you want) to reaching my original goal weight. I started keeping track of my WW points again as a way to be accountable to myself for myself. At the first of the year, I actually weighed a few pounds more than I do now… so I’ve already lost some weight. I also decided to start this blog… its another way to be accountable, in a way, but I also feel like writing down what I’ve been doing and where I am on my journey will be another form of positive reinforcement that I can share with someone else (again… all three of you!).
Second, I started with workout baby-steps. This may be laziness on my part, and y’all can think that if you want. But let me tell you something… I typically can’t bring myself to leave the house once I get home in the winter time. Its already dark when I get there… add the cold to that and I’m not feeling motivated to do much of anything but sit on the couch in my jammies. This winter has been incredibly and unusually cold and damp, so I have not yet been back to my gym in many moons.
I did start doing 30 minutes of cardio on my mini stair-stepper once a week for the past couple of weeks while I watch TV. I don’t think its as good as a treadmill or an elliptical machine, but its something, and knowing me during winter is the reason I bought it. I also occasionally supplement my stair-stepping with the On Demand workout routines my cable company offers.
A moment of praise for “Fitness TV”… I love it. L.O.V.E. IT. And while I don’t visit Fitness TV as much as I should, when I do, I am always so impressed with the volume and variety of workouts available any time I want to use them. From 4 week “make over” workout regimens, to 15 minute “build a better butt” quickies, from Pilates to kickbox cardio, they have it all.
When I opt for one of these On Demand workouts, I usually do more than one. I’ll browse through the (never ending) menu of options, and find a couple that target the area(s) I want to target and are short… about 20 minutes or less. This tactic is two-fold; Mentally, I feel like its easier to handle and less daunting to complete two smaller workouts than one big one, and also I can do two totally different things in less than an hour—like cardio and Pilates. Or Legs and core strength.
Next Steps
Getting myself back to the gym is going to be a big hurdle, and I’m not really sure why. It shouldn’t be. Its as easy as hopping in the car and driving three miles down the road. Maybe it’s the misconception that everyone at the gym is watching you. Maybe its guilt or shame I’m feeling about all the months that I have been paying my membership, but haven’t been going.
I also want to be able to actually ride Alfie more often. I can be as “gym fit” as I want to be, but that doesn’t translate into “riding fit”… and vice versa. I could be fit enough to run five miles a day, but that doesn’t mean I have the core stability and the right kind of strength to ride for 30 minutes.
I’ve considered starting the workouts that are in the book “The Rider’s Fitness Program”… but part of me is a little intimidated. It’s a 6 week schedule with three different workouts each week. Each workout is only 6 or 7 different exercises… but looking at the pictures of the exercises and machines and equipment in the book, I get the heebie-jeebies. The weight machines at the gym kind of intimidate me anyway… even the simple ones. But add to that different moves and attaching certain handles to the cables… and I feel like I’m in over my head.
Three workouts a week, plus riding 3 or 4 days a week, plus needing to get 3 or 4 days of cardio in per week… When am I going to have time to even do all of that? I work a full time job! And it takes me an hour to get there and an hour to get home! And what about making dinner for myself and Dear Husband? And walking the hounds? And cleaning the house and doing laundry and… sleeping? Its overwhelming!!!
Maybe that is my problem. Maybe I’m trying to do too much. But what is a good balanced approach to all of these things? Ah HA! That’s why the blog is here… I don’t have an answer now, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out by trial and error eventually. You now see where baby steps come in handy for me.
Final Thoughts
We all want to be fit and healthy. We all want to look fantastic in our breeches. But we aren’t all blessed with that long, lithe body the models in the Dover catalog have, so we have to work hard in able to look half that good.
But when it comes down to it, what motivated me was Alfie. Why should I expect him to cart my over-weight ass around when I wasn’t doing anything about it? He could safely carry me around, sure, but was it fair? Especially when I knew I should weigh less? Not really. He’s been used to feather-weight jockeys riding him… and here I come at twice that weight. With me at a healthier weight, Alfie would be able to do his job more easily, and quite possibly better. I would also be able to do my job better, as a rider, too. The advantage to losing weight was beneficial to me and Alfie as a team. If I want Alfie to eat the right things and stay fit, why shouldn’t I want that for myself?
Bottom line… you have to be properly motivated. You lose the weight and get fit because you’ll be able to do more with your kids, or you’ll be able to run that half marathon, or because you want to just look good. But its YOUR DECISION. Do it because you want to, and for the reasons that are right for you. Don’t do it because someone else tells you to do so over and over again. Its your life, and your call. It will mean so much more to you when you reach your goal than it would if you were merely trying to please others. Period.
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