moar funny pictures

SHAME ON ME!

Here is me and Radar in halter class...he is so handsome and you can tell the 20 pound weight loss has paid off!


I am so far behind...we got home from Perry, Georiga, our final show of the year on November 26th and we just collapsed...Cleo felt bad, Foxy had her extra mean wrinkles in place, and Radar didn't have an ounce of piss left in him to harass anyone...
Georgia was fun...Caitlin did awesome as usual; she got Radar's superior in youth halter geldings, won everything in speed events, and cleaned some clocks in youth showmanship, horsemanship and trail (once more) However Cleo and I did NOTHING! Beat by people who had no clue what a diagonal was (like the judges!) and so I just quit...why add to the competition's points when they are doing it all wrong and I get punished for it!
Next year we are staying closer to home. Paint shows within the state of Florida and focus on getting Crush out, me on Foxy, Caitlin on Cleo, and Radar's amateur superior in halter. Our next show is at Clarcona on January 21st...long ways off.
I had Jenn take over my web site...nothing I did was right so she has done an incredible job. I will continue to practice and learn on my own...I am just not a computer literate person!
On the studio front, I have almost completed the stack of Christmas orders of portrait models of the live horses...so much fun replicating people's beloved pets...

LOTS n LOTS of good news!

Here are Foxy & Cleo in their stalls in North Carolina...we should have brought Radar...halter horses werent that special!

I lost a total of 18 pounds so far!! What a great feeling! My clothes look much better and I am excited to wear my new showmanship outfit for the Jax show and the Georgia show!
We just got back from North Carolina and while I didnt do so hot, Caitlin got tons of points! She was also circuit champ in barrel racing of all things winning an expensive jacket embroidered with her's and Foxy's names...The drive was wonderful and the mountains were gorgeous...we had a wonderful time!

Tomorrow we have a show in Tampa...just doing the halter classes as two of my LEAST favorite judges are judging...so we will take Radar over, do a couple classes, and leave...I get to hang with Michelle and see what being on the Pinto Horse club board is all about...still not sure if I want to do that...



Here is a picture of Radar...what a gorgeous guy...this is him right out of the pasture...Caitlin clipped him, gave him a bath and kicked the competitions ASS!!


Here is a picture of my stupid broken foot...My entire leg swelled up and from the looks of my foot I could weigh 400 pounds...Today the swelling is much better, I am getting around without the crutches despite my massage therapist reprimanding me for doing so...she said I could sustain a stress fracture. Oh great news.
On the studio front, I have several sketches to post that I think will get the interest I had hoped for...easier to carry a sketch pad and a pencil tin than the entire studio with me...especially since now we are headed for Georgia, North Carolina, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas and possibly Colorado in the near future...

Back from South Carolina...what a TERRIFIC and successful show for Caitlin...nabbed a ton of points as follows:

won open pole- bending
youth pole-bending
showmanship: 1st, 2nd, 6th, 7th
youth geldings: 3 1sts and a gate
Open geldings: 3 2nds and a gate

And there I was, a lump of uselessness because all I could do was hobble about on crutches and whine to myself...I was NO help...
Radar was awesome...we are so excited about his presence in the show ring...3 out of 4 judges loved him!

We have decided to go to North Carolina for the 8 judge Dash For Cash show...let's see if we can finish out the year first in the nation in youth poles...

More later and pictures too...

I cannot believe the luck I am having...actually there is no such thing as luck...mine is just one crappy event after another...
Yesterday the plan was to go get weighed (restarted Transformations diet plan) and afterwards go eat a pancake breakfast at Steak N Shake...I lose 10 lbs so the pancakes tasted good even tho I couldnt even eat a full order (more good news!) Then we headed home to hitch the 2 horse and go after Radar, the new horse...My truck wouldnt come off the hitch of the 2 horse so I stood on the bumper to weigh it down and get it to drop...drop it did and FLUNG me high in the air like one of those pancakes and smashed me to the ground!! As soon as I landed I knew my ankle was injured...the pain was incredible...I screamed and held onto the truck tail gate, sobbing uncontrollably while Caitlin tried to get me to calm down...finally she got me to the ground and called Jimmy on the dispatch to come home...My ankle was swelled up like a basketball and it was turning a frightening shade of yellow....
Cut to the chase...they take me to the hospital where I get to learn I have a severe sprain...no riding, by crackee...I sob all the way home...let me ruin it for everyone...
Anyhow we get me loaded on pain pills, and hitch up the '05 gooseneck (brakes albeit brand new on the 2 horse are seized up!~) so we get to Carol's and she and Caitlin collect all of Radar's belongings while I sit like an invalid with Bob who just got done with cancer surgery (he has to show me the staples) and he keeps asking me why a 75 yr old woman is jumping off her truck..."Bob, when you feel better, I will have to kill you!"... I am not 75!!!! Not even close!
So anyhow we decide to still do the South Carolina show even tho Cleo will not go, and Caitlin will have to do EVERYTHING, including drive...I am just baggage.
Jimmy fixes the brakes on the 2 horse, helps Caitlin load the '07 Exiss, spends the evening teasing her and Preston (and me of course!) and we all decide we can do this, despite our menfolk giving us warning after warning...We will only need to be there for the Friday and Saturday classes, can head home early Sunday morning since there is no need now to hang around for my Sunday classes, and if my ankle feels better I will certainly try to show Radar in our one class, amateur geldings. No riding...Cleo is acting mad at me although I havent been to the barn, Caitlin tells me she is cranky...all that practicing...well, after this show my next will be the Florida Fall Classic in Jacksonville, so maybe I will crank on the judges there...Would be awesome to win another saddle!

Pictures of latest work...

ALMOST done done done...he needs some more dry time and some teeny touches...and his eyes...like to leave them till the last...
Done done done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Leaves on Monday!
LOOK WHAT I FOUND!!!!!!!!!!!! At the bottom of a box of stuff in the studio, this guy turned up! I had just starting painting him when Hurricane Charlie took out my studio...both ears were gone and his tail was broken off...I just repaired his ears and will resculpt them to perfection, reattached his swishing tail, and took off his damaged mane...he was going to be a blanket appaloosa but who knows now...he survived and he has to be extra special!




This is the donation to Bev's live show...I think I made it...not sure of the date but the company didnt send him to the right place so she had to ship him again...WE KNOW WHY!!!!!!!!! (losers)
Anyhow I think he turned out great despite the rush job...he is drying here so the pic is crappy...Thats the Bates Hotel back drop...

Wow the time is just sailing past...where did May go??? June? July? August was a dream...We leave Wednesday for South Carolina and I am working diligently to have all my completed work shipped out...Camera is full of pics, just have to get organized with boxes to ship out with, etc...
Charles brought the 2 horse trailer back today...what a sweet man! New brakes, new wheel bearings and he commented that this trailer is in brand new condition underneath...no evidence of it being a 17 yr old trailer! So we will use it Tuesday when we go pick up Radar...the place looks like a horse trailer sales yard but Caitlin can take the 2005 gooseneck as her own, we will share the '07 for the big shows, and the 2 horse will be here forever...
Carol told me Carmen had the trees trimmed yesterday around "our" house...I have to do the larger for sale sign for the St Cloud farm and put it up on Sunday, maybe mow the front pasture, and visit my step-mom...
Today is Jaimee's birthday...she would have been 20 years old if she had lived...hard to believe she was even ever here on earth. All we went thru seems so far away...Caitlin is taking me out to the cemetery after we go get a new angel for her headstone which got broken off...I'll get one for Grandma's headstone too...must have been a bad day for angels...

Updates coming shortly...off to the dentist f0r a repair!!!!!!!!!! UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is official, Radar is joining our team...he will go with us in 2 weeks to South Carolina and become our halter horse specialty...Caitlin is ecstatic...Try N Imprint This is his registered name, he has ONE halter point and now he better get ready as his points will do nothing but churn upward...we have South Carolina, Jacksonville, Tampa, and then Perry, Georgia...Bob and Carol are delighted as are we...I have never had a halter horse for the amateur classes, I won't know how to act~! Oh yes I will!!! He will be bringing home the points and I cannot wait to see how we fare against the big names...I hope this makes Bob's surgery and cancer treatment go easier, we gotta win this one for DADDY!!!

pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a front porch...I am so in love with this place...
The back of the house...those are Bob's cattle...he can keep them there as they are sweet...then I won't have to buy my own...The smaller building will be my studio...to the right of that is a HUGE barn...Yellow...ugh...I know...but it goes well with the change of location...so why not...
The view from the road...no neighbors...3500 acres of cattle next door, behind us in I-75...yeah, this is our next home...

The calls are coming in...and my price of half a mill isnt off at all on the farm...did an internet search this morning and total BARE ass property is selling for $200,000 and we are talking 40 miles away from Disney...and here I sit with the frickin' keys to Mickey's front gate...HA!
Jimmy is going to get his helicopter license, which means then a helicopter will follow...and what a perfect place than the Coleman place to set up a pad and landing field for him...really anxious for him to see this place...hell, I am really anxious to become the owner of the place...

More thunder rumblings so the guys are staying in...will finish three more horses this afternoon and get them bagged up for shipping out...May just work some showmanship in the barn so Cleo remembers what her job is...Carol and Bob are getting ready to put Radar in our name so we can show him at the next Paint show...they are nervous as hell but they are excited too about seeing their big boy baby start winning...and he will! Gotta get pics the next time I go over...Bob goes in for surgery this Wednesday and I will be around in case Carol needs a shoulder. I would be freaking out!

I did it! The farm is now for sale...I kinda walked around the fields today and listened to the hammer of the traffic outside the fences and remembered all the foals we raised, the horses we broke, the long gone sand filled round pen, the way the night looked during a hurricane and how everything was still standing after a storm...the way the music would echo during a party when we put the speakers out on the big wooden porch and let the sound dust us with magic...all gone, matured away as we grew up, our kids became adults themselves, the horses moved on to new homes, and us too...
When I got back to the Kissimmee farm, there were already two phone calls...one from a slick realtor and one call from the guy who lives on the adjoining farm, with all the deer models all ove the yard that he shoots at...He thinks he can get the land cheap...sorry...
Happily the lady loves the arab despite the bad pics...I am so happy...he looks like crap in the pic and he is gorgeous; I wish I could see how his first live show goes...
Raining down intensely...Caitlin has gone to help Preston move out of his house since his dad has kicked him out...bummer...never throw a child out...
Went to see "The Brave One" with Jodie Foster...loved it...Yeah gun toting may become a style...

Here is the "Pig in the Poke" I am working on...really stabbed me to have it called that but oh well...toughen up, sister, and close those books!!!!!!!!!!!



Saturday...three horses drying on the counter top...it is trying to rain and I just brought in the herd from their early morning grazing, which they adore...Foxy backs up into a corner after breakfast and just vegges out, she is so content...
Guess the St. Cloud farm will go up for sale today so I can buy the Coleman place...won't miss it I guess...gone are the herds of Brahma, the dozens of adorable Sand Hill crane chicks playing war games while mom watches intently for evil, but the cattle are gone, the cranes get mashed on the new cutesy named roads and my farm stands like a stubborn reminder of what Florida used to be, while million dollar mansions creep into existance in the brahma pasture. Where used to be wild native grasses growing, are thick green shrugs of carpet grass tossed down by Mexicans who work by the day...
I will get a ton of money for the place that cost us so little, because no one wanted to live that far out, down a desolate road, in the back of a cattle ranch, with no street lights or convenience stores to run to...Now it looks like a freak sitting in the middle of golf grassy neighborhoods, the stores loom every where and I want out...even of this place, where we have even more land but the crime and the "sprawl" run over onto our pastures...one more orange-lobbing trespasser and I will be toting a gun...
My camera is fading fast, cannot get any details on my work and I am just not ready to drop another $900 on a digital camera that is worth anything...
Here is me on Crush...I need to sell him too but I am sick of people and their promises...so I may just keep him and spare myself of all the nonsense...Put Cleo up for sale 'just to see' and do not care if anyone inquires about her or not...Can you tell I am having a bitchy day!???

Much work on the table today...and I still have to ride and work Cleo and Crush...no show this weekend so I may drag Jimmy up to Coleman to see the farm I want to buy...he has offered to put me and Caitlin in it (what are ya trying to do, get rid of me?) but I foresee him loving it as much as we do...
Must paint Bev's donation (all ready to go!) and do Mr. Turner's Chip's final detailing...this horse looks HOT! Also Emily's repair on the resin and start her Marabella portrait model...lots of busy so off I go...gotta gets pics of everything I am working on!

What a terrific weekend!!!!!!!!!! Me and Cleo beat another world champion; our third!!!!!!!! We rock~! We had so much fun in Ocala; the girls were incredible! I am so pleased with Cleo's progress and the work we have been steadily doing is steadily producing the results I want...over 20 points in one month...too good to be true!
Caitlin banded 17 horses and I got to spend a lot of time with Patti and Laurie...was very fun...

Well I am off to yet another weekend of horse showing...passion? I guess so...it just keeps me focused and working...Next weekend will be a NON show weekend but we will go over and watch the show...just not enough competition and the expense isnt worth it...(Pinto show in Tampa) Caitlin can band and make some money and I will just eye the judging...

Be back Saturday night!!

This week has been busy...all booked up now for Christmas orders, and I am working every day finishing up projects for shipping out before Halloween, even better than my usual Thanksgiving deadline!
Couldnt ride yesterday since we had a major lightening show...so I did yet more on sculptures...got the Turner horse finished all the way, and the Bev donation ready for it's final coat of Paint...progress, and I LOVE it!
Saturday we have a one day/two judge show in Ocala...finally Caitlin decided to go...clipped Foxy and has been preparing herself for it...I am so ready to show Cleo here in Florida since all I have done as of late is leave the state!
Sunday we will go to Bob and Carol's to see what we can do to ease their burdens; I dread the aging process...Bob will have major surgery in a couple weeks to remove a rib to get to the cancer. Caitlin is going to ride Radar, and we will see if it might be necessary to bring Radar back here...there is room for him and plenty of time for another horse. Crush is progressing so well, when Caitlin claims he is spooky and untrustworthy, why is so calm and gentle with me on his back?
I am thinking of buying a sports car...what for tho? My Ram is good to me but I crave one of those Crossfires...we'll see what happens after the first of the year. We need to start making plans for the sale of the other farm and then buying another one in another state...I am so sick of the crowds here...

Today is a memorial...it brings back horrific memories and sights...

Last night I painted...great stuff came down and I cannot wait to finish and photo it...
Didnt get to ride as it rained all day after the blacksmith left...Cleo looks wonderful and I cannot wait to show her and Foxy this weekend...

Yesterday was so fun; I did the western riding class and won it!! My first time ever doing that pattern class...it looks so hard but I think I am finally getting my frazzled old brain to be able to sort out which cone is where and put the horse in the right spot...Foxy seemed surprised to have me back in the saddle but that's okay...she and I have always been a good team...
Caitlin got to ride Nicco...he is an awesome horse and now I REALLY want to get him for her...She was so depressed when she saw how well behaved he is and realized this is her dream horse...pics forthcoming.
I got my last custom for the year...this one a TB gelding...the other is a white grade mare that just sparkles personality...feels so good to be booked up and working all the time. Bev's donation is almost done as well, things just are fitting so smoothly into place!
Here is a lovely picture of Cleo I found in Caitlin's myspace...I think I took this a while back and it shows what a truly pretty mare she is...

Plenty is getting done...painted for hours the other night. I am repairing Amy's lovely resin (it is perhaps better I am not keeping up with all the new releases as then I am not inspired to buy one~) Her daughter's lovely mare will look perfect on a Marabella, but more so I am inspired to recreate that mare's expressive eyes especially since Amy has described what a tremendous ride she has been for her daughter...this will be fun!

The saddest part of this week is the untimely death of Jree...we had so much fun in her presence and when she came here to stay for a weekend of judging, even Caitlin was transfixed by her personality...I remember the very first time I met Liz and Jree in person...I was at Breyerfest and looked out my window and saw the oddest and most unusually dressed people coming up the walk...Okay, whatever, I thought, and that was the last time I ever had a thought about how either of them looked...Jree was a graceful elegant sweetheart of a lady, her smile was infectious and I admired her free spirit of boas, terribly cool and elegant dresses, and her endless talent for art...I remember her petting Silver, and Silver snitched her boa and held on while Jree tugged it away from her laughing...
And now she is gone. I am feeling so misplaced. Why things like this happen... ?

Met Preston...he has gorgeous eyes and he is tall and thin, very good looking. I am glad Danny he is gone...too many unanswered questions with him...
We have a show tomorrow...sort of...just an excursion to Orlando for me to practice on Foxy, do some western riding and even some speed events, and for Caitlin to do poles and barrel practice...Not much of a show but a chance to hang out with Erika and Mo, see her parents, sell some show clothes, and get out of the studio...I guess Preston is coming too. Loki will accompany us as well making this kind of like a labor day weekend I didnt experience last weekend...NEXT weekend is a one day Paint show in Ocala...another DPHC foolishness...

Get to meet the new boyfriend today...good! He sounds wonderful~

I have a full day of studio planned. I have two horses to finish, two to start and some new ideas to toss into the mix...My awards connections are so ready for me to present them with the ideas...I just wish they were more selective as they just want 'anything' and that is not me...
I can be very very busy! I find I cannot paint up here tho, too 'clean' but I can check the paint in the terrific light...makes for lots of running around but such is life...

This weekend we are at Clarcona for a day of 'hanging out' with Erika and Mo, and her hilarious parents...get to meet "Boner" (Wishbone) who is Mo's cute Paint gelding that looks like Crush...We are taking Crush and Foxy and I will be riding both...Caitlin just wants to meet with clients and sell the show clothes we no longer wear...fine with me...

Here is a pic of the War Chant I have GOT to finish...he is so hot and I have two buyers for him so this one needs to be out there winning at the shows...I want to send him off with a cool name...
(think think think)

I did it...all the apprehension and fear of going totally alone on this was unfounded...I showed and won and handled everything with damn little aggravation...okay I did crap out my elbow at that rest area outside Valdosta but that was a freak accident...I shot backwards when I thought the sewage tank was gonna blow out at me and fell...the freakin' plumbing was in my hands!!!!!!! Whatever little varmint I hit took out the pipes and all the gray water was running all over the pavement...I was so grossed out as I couldnt just toss the pipes...probably had his greasy little splatter all over it...
Felt bad he was dead but it was him or me and $100,000 rig and trailer, and a $50,000 horse at stake...couldnt swerve in time, couldnt slam on the brakes and send Cleo into a wall...so little critter, thank you for donating your shuffley little life for me and mine...so ya got me back by sending me backwards at warp speed when I thought a weekend's worth of shit was coming at me...My whole shoulder hurts, my elbow is hamburger, and my pride is damaged...no one laughed as at 3:00 in the morning, who the hell was there to see me removing the carnage and hoping it wouldnt shit-shower on me!!!
As for the show...I hope Kit realizes she is a total no one...her smarmy look on her face as I showed to her didnt faze me...I did everything perfect in that showmanship class and I hope it made her feel all warm and juicy to hand off the placings to people who ran like they had 3 legs, rolled their shoulders like their bras were falling off, because the NEXT day under FOUR judges who do not bring their animosities and personal vendettas to their jobs, I got TWO SECONDS a 3rd and a 4th under them...Kit, your time is coming and I will be thrilled when APHA says hits the bricks, bitch...No one likes you, and I was happy to hear the comments in the office coming from EVERYONE as you will not make anyone's favorite lists, except of course for your ex-clients you place so well...
Anyhow the show was so small (gee it had to be because of the judges, ya think???) but I did get hired by Sue to work the horse expo in November and I did meet some super nice people...and that is what it is all about...I had more than 6 people tell me they were shocked I didnt place better. That makes me feel good since I work so hard to be competitive against people who have trainers, coaches, really expensive horses and have super model looks...I am just an average old lady so when I can get that kind of attention, it makes me try harder...Pics coming later...gotta go ride...

Now I am sick from hanging around those freakin' airports for far too long...nauseated as heck but I will still ride today as I have my goals all laid out like clean undies!!
I clipped Cleo yesterday and I will never stop admiring what awesome horses we have...she was so good...will start riding Crush every day when I get back from Conyers, Georgia and start his habitual exercises like I did with Foxy...worked great on her and Crush is just as good as she is...
Here is a pic of an awesome horse from the Nebraska show...Not sure who did it but I love the pattern, and that is a Carol Williams' Matriarch.

Nebraska Live show

Oh man was this show FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!! Carra did an amazing job and her creativity was awesome...her pirate theme is beyond comparison and she has a wonderful vision for this show! I loved it and would like to nominate it to member show of the year!
Pictures coming!

I meant to mention how Caitlin did at 4-H regionals in Memphis...it was an amazing show...I felt useless, as after ten years of 4-H and basically 17 yrs of being a horse kid, she didnt need me for much more than recording 143 kids' scores when they were also in her class...I seriously consider dumping my amateur card and getting a judging card...I can do this job and I would probably excel at it...

Anyhow Caitlin's results were:
Showmanship...FIRST
Western Riding....FIRST
Horsemanship...Fourth
Trail...Ninth
Western Pleasure...Honorable Mention (her tail fell out!!)

Anyhow she ended up (after a near melt down over the tail fiasco, which has NEVER happened to either of us ever before!!) HIGH POINT WESTERN RIDER which completely made her week, despite some terrible news from home that didnt concern the horses...
I watched almost ALL the trail patterns and the first place horse missed half of an obstacle and Foxy clunked ONE pole so that was kinda confusing...I wondered a LOT about some of the judging...but after all these years of showing we are completely used to the judges' mind and are so satisfied with her final 4-H show...there were 146 kids in that trail class, close to that in showmanship, and was just the topping on the cake as she departed 8 long years of 4-H showing...

Well getting ready to head to Nebraska and judging for a one day show...will spend more time in an airport than anything...
Rode Cleo again today huntseat and she was awesome...Next week's show under 8 judges shall tell me how we are doing...
Here's a pic of a resin by Jamie Coughlin I did a major custom and paint job on...Wish I could remember his name and who owns him...he looks awesome in this set-up from the NAN show.

Today has been great despite some changes in the future plans...I will be going it alone to some out of state shows since Caitlin can't miss some of these college classes...should be interesting...
Cleo continues to exceed my expectations as we practice daily for these classes. I just hope my sick and broken back will hold up...today I shortened my stirrups even more on my english saddle so let's see if that helps any...
Here is a pic of Crush; he is my next project. I am anxious to get on him and start working on his style...he seems more stock seat than english but once I get him going I can plan on getting Cleo into driving. THAT will be fun!!

Getting ready for the fall shows...

Looking forward to showing my ASS this fall...and that might mean Cleo if she thinks her tricks in the show ring are going un-noticed... news flash!
Anyhow I am also back to work in earnest on my Christmas catalog...last year it just never left the ground...too much to do and no heart in it...now without the other farm income, I can earnestly see where this is much needed...

Cleo and Foxy on the road to Memphis!

Here we were in gorgeous Gainesville, Georgia for a one day show...on our way to Memphis for the last ever 4-H Southern Regionals...done with 4-H after this one...