Come thick Clouds

Horse show day is always fun.  We ride with a very supportive and funny group of people.  I know I will always be in good company at the shows, no matter how much I mess up.

Today was a special day.  Bella and I took High Point in our Division.  Before you act way too impressed, it was for this show only, not the season and it is for the walk/trot division. This division is mostly made up of young, flighty horses, or divas like Bella who still have a fear that the white poles on the ground are going to rear up and bite her face.  Yeah, she's special.

James was Reserve high point for his division and I am so proud of him.  He and Jake rocked their classes and Jake is so patient and kind.

But what made this day stand out?

As we were loading up the horses to leave, there were dark clouds and some low rumblings of thunder.  Not a problem, I thought, there is still lots of clear sky and there was no rain.

We load up.  Please understand that we use a half top trailer.  That means only eight feet is covered and it is a slate, open sides.  We load Bella in the front, because she has discovered how to lean her head over and unlatch the back gate.  Yes, there is a story there, but that is for another day.

We then load Jake in the back and start home.  We aren't all that far, less than ten miles.  There was more lightening now.  The wind was starting to gust. 

I had James watch the back, keeping an eye on the horses as we drove.  The wind kicked in and clouds were thick and flashing with lightening.   As we were about three miles from home, the sky opened and rain poured forth.  James watched with worry as the horses tossed their heads.  The lightening was constant.

Then the hail hit.  I had no where I could pull the trailer and shelter the horses.  I had to go forward.

The wind came cross ways and the horses were ducking and kicking.  The hail was starting to pelt and I had to slow down to ten miles per hour because I couldn't see the road.  Poor James was calling out to Jake from the truck, "Almost home, baby!"

We pull into our very flooded barn yard, in the fury of the storm.  I made James stay in the truck while I went around to unload Jake.  He had his large head tucked into a corner and was frozen in fear.  I was out of the truck for less than 30 seconds and I was as wet as if I had jumped into a pool.  I had to physically haul Jake sideways and then out of the back.  I pounded on the door of the truck to get James.  He ran out and took Jake into the safety of the barn.

I ran back around, my boots now filled with water.  I threw the last gate open and Bella launched from the trailer.  She staggered into the storm and we were both driven into the barn with hail.

I passed her off the James and grabbed the nearest riding helmet.  I had barn gates to shut.  The helmet pinged as the hail bounced off of it.  I got the doors shut as James fed the spooked horses.  Feed fixes everything.

I ran back around and dropped the trailer from the truck in record time.  James donned another helmet to run from the barn to the truck and we drove it into the garage.

I know tomorrow, I will have to wiped down all of the tack.  We were wise enough to put the saddle pads in the cab, so at least those aren't soaked.  I will have to go over every inch of Bella and Jake, check for injuries, even though we checked as we fed.  No telling what swelling may pop up over night.

It was a wild reaffirmation of the power and fury of nature.  Those that aren't familiar with a High Plains hail storm have no true idea of the force that the rain and hail can pound you with.

Jake, solid, steady Jake, was  so scared.  He has yet to spook, but this had him in a totally different state.

In the end, we are all safe and secure.  A bit battered around the edges, but proud of our day and proud of our teamwork in taking care of the horses that give us so much joy.

The Many Colors of Cat

So, big surprise, but my daughter loves color just as much as I do!

This is why I love going to yarn shops....  I mean, HELLO!  Look at that eye candy!

 

So, one of Cat's favorite things to color is her hair!

 

This is how she started, with some light highlights.

And yes, she baby sits, and loves it!

Then with school being out, we decided to have some fun.  She went red.

And Wowza, with her pale skin and blue eyes...yeah, I own a gun.

Then, red was boring, red was something that people are born with.  Red was easy.

So she went to PURPLE.

It was dark until she started summer swimming.  Then it started to turn more of a lavender.

Well, shucks.  Reds and purples are fun, but they fade quickly.

So we decided to try something different.

I didn't want to use a lightener all through her hair because of the damage it can do.  She has to be back to a "natural" hair color for school.  But the girl really wanted BLUE.  Yes, blue.

Compromise.  Dark brown with Turquoise tips that can be cut off for school.

Oh yes!

 

And how was your day?

 

 

 

Dye job

Who has two thumbs and loves dyeing yarn?
BAZINGA!

I tried a new technique, after seeing a gorgeous headband on a fellow rider at a horse show.  It was a slice of awesome and I loved it.

Ombre is the rage and I jumped on board.  It fits with my color fascination.  Why settle for one hue of a color when you can have range!

Step one: Break out the bare yarn from knit picks and make a headband!

Step Two: Soak in water and vinegar to help the color break!

Step Three: Boil some water and vinegar, once again, help that color strike quickly!

Step Four: Add dye.  I use a food coloring from the cake section at Hobby Lobby.  Cheap with a great selection of colors!

 

 Step Five: gently dip in headband, holding the center cord, so not all goes in.  Remember, the dye will travel.

 

 

Step Six: Gently remove headband in small seven minute increments.  In this case, I used the hinge on a cabinet to hold it up.

 

 

Step seven: Remove, rinse with wool wash, in my case cucumber melon!  And dry!

 

And how was your day?