August 2025

August was a busy month, even if I don’t have a lot of pictures to prove it.

Sophia and I went shopping a couple of times to get her set up for her new place. She moved into a campus house with five students total—three seniors plus Sophia and her roommate (both sophomores). Sophia and I went out shopping a couple of times for kitchen basics like silverware, dishes, a pan, and utensils. I gave her some of my pots. Since the kitchen doesn’t have much storage, we bought a shelf to help organize things.

Her room is amazing—huge compared to her old dorm! Her roommate’s space is a smaller room off of Sophia’s, and the house has a living room too. The five of them will share one bathroom, but Sophia is thrilled not to be in a tiny dorm with communal bathrooms anymore.

 

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Sophia also went to a lesson at Phoebe’s. Her friend Gretchen drove her and her horse there—first time Gretchen drove a trailer without her mom there. Gretchen is taking her horse to Kentucky for college, and her mom wanted her to get practice. It worked out perfectly since she and Sophia are so comfortable together.

One afternoon while watering, I noticed something move in the planter…turns out there were baby bunnies living in there! We think there were three. We checked on them daily and even caught the mother hopping in to feed them. A couple of times Steve had to scoop them back in when they hopped out and couldn’t get back up. After about two weeks, they were gone—either grown enough to leave or moved by their mom.

A local theater also did a flashback series of all three extended Lord of the Rings movies. Each was over three hours long, and it was my first time seeing them. Steve and Sophia had already watched them before, but it was fun experiencing them together on the big screen.

I finished a knitting project

And all of our pets are doing great.

July 2025

This month really flew by without the opportunity to capture many pictures. We had a nice, quiet 4th of July and just hung out at home.

Steve went to a war game convention for a few days. We were really looking forward to a horse show—the Youth Equestrian Festival in VA. It was going to be the last Pony Club event that Sophia competed in, as most of her friends are graduating and going off to college. We were going down with her friend Gretchen and about 14 other riders. This was the first time the VA Horse Park was putting on a show like this, and it was very disorganized. They ended up canceling one week before we were supposed to head down due to a lack of registrations. The registration process was a mess and came out very late.

The barn planned an event every day we were supposed to be away to replace it. They went to Hershey Park one day. Sophia isn't an amusement park person, so she arranged a private lesson with Phoebe. We borrowed Gretchen's trailer one last time before she heads to Kentucky. Phoebe helped you and Wren learn flying changes. You both did an amazing job—he got several clean flying changes in. This is a third-level move. Once you start competing at third level, you can wear the double bridle that he seems to like so much better.

The next day, they arranged semi-private lessons with Phoebe—twice in one week! It was fun for you. They also planned a cross-country schooling event. Wren loves running through the fields and jumping. It was fun. You also helped coach a younger rider and gave her the confidence to jump successfully. It was neat to see how encouraging you were.

The last day they did a pairs jump class where you jumped the course with another rider, It was chaotic and fun. I think Wren likes jumping as it is easier for him than putting his muscles to work with all the refined dressage movements.

Sophia did a schooling show with Gretchen at the end of the month. She rode First Level Test 3 and got a 63.194 and Second Level, Test 1 and got a 61. 143. I don't have pictures of that event because I was at an 80th birthday party for my friend and mentor, Betty.

There was a big, joint graduation party for the eight seniors that graduated high school in June. It is going to be very different at the barn without all these girls. Sophia and Hannah made each girl a canvas print with their favorite horse on a black background. They came out amazing. Everyone loved them. 

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 The pets are all doing well. They love having Steve home keeping them company during the summer.  Our boys love us and love each other! 

June 2025

 June kept us busy and flew by in the blink of an eye. We started the month going to a Pony Club Jump Rally. You rode in the Jump Rally your very first year of Pony Club and since then went as a stable manager. But now that you have. a horse that likes to jump you went as a rider. This is the last Pony Club rally with many of your friends as several are going away to college in the fall. You and Wren had a blast. He jumped well and had two rounds (out of 4) without knocking any rails. You had some time faults on 3 of the courses but you aren't used to jumping and the timing is something that is hard to gauge. 

You got second place in the equiatation round at your level.

It poured on Saturday morning which made the rings very muddy. Parents did their best to get the water out of the rings. Wren wasn't thrilled with the mud hitting his belly but once he got jumping he had fun.

You went to the By Chance schooling show the following week and got your score for the 2-1 championship show in the fall. You needed two shows with two scores above 62 and you did it. You two are coming along nicely.

The following weekend we went to PVDA Summer Show all by ourselves. The barn took kids to a Youth Dressage Festival and you decided you didn't want to go back there again this year. Peggy was nice enough to let us borrow her trailer. Daddy did a great job trailering down and back. He didn't stay for the show. You and I hung out all weekend and had some quality time together. Phoebe was there with a couple of riders on Saturday and she coached you. You were hoping to get 2 scores of 60 or above on your 2nd level tests. They are needed for your Bronze Medal. You would love to start schooling 3rd level moves and move into the double bridle which seems to help him maintain his frame a little better. You did it... in just one show you got a 65 on Saturday and a 62.429 on Sunday. The ride Sunday looked amazing. So proud of you and how hard you are working. It was a HOT weekend! Glad we were able to get to the hotel on Saturday afternoon for a while to cool down.

You started your faculty student research project the day after the PVDA show. You will be living on campus for 4 weeks but likely coming home on the weekends. So far you are learning a lot and enjoying yourself. Thankfully your dorm has AC. It has been HOT.

I went to Connecticut to spend time with cousins. I stayed with Linda. It was so nice seeing family.

Daddy got a Gladiator teaching award. He was nominated by parents of one of this students. He works so hard it was nice to see him recognized at the awards ceremony

I didn't get many pictures of our pets this month. As a matter of fact I only caught Loki in the act of being naughty. 

May 2025

Things picked up for us in May. We started the month at a wedding celebration for Nick and Mari. It was a really fun gathering of family and friends at a restaurant. They did a great job planning the event. The food was incredible and vibe so fun. They had a band and also selected friends and family members give speeches. The speeches gave us all the opportunity of seeing Nick and Mari through different eyes. It was very fun to celebrate with them.

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The very next day I went to the annual Sheep and Wool festival which was so much fun. I was restrained in my purchases but still walked away with yarn for two big projects!

The following weekend we went to a recognized dressage show at Loch Moy. Wren wasn't haven't it. he was spooking at everything in the ring. He has had trouble in that ring before but this was bad. Overly dramatic! We won't be competing at Loch Moy again. Doesn't make sense to have him so tense in the show ring.

 

We also celebrated Mother's Day and my birthday. Sophia went shopping and put together a really useful basket of lotions and soaps. She knows me well. I love everything she picked out. We also packed up the majority of her dorm and got it into storage. She has to be fully out 24 hours after her last final so we did most of the packing on Sunday and Steve went back to move the rest of the stuff into storage with her on Wednesday.

Sophia had a wonderful semester. She got straight A's. She has an incredible work ethic and puts her heart and soul into everything she does. 

Sophia also did a schooling show at By Chance which went MUCH better. She got one of two required scores to compete in a championship show in November at the same barn. 

One of Sophia's trainers suggested a double bridle for Wren. You can use a double bridle in third level and above. She purchased one and has been working with him in it.

I don't have many pictures of the furry members of the family this month but they are all doing creat.