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.

April 2025

The month of April came and went without my fanfare or excitement. It was a pretty low key month. Sophia came home from college mid month because she wasn't feeling well. The stomach bug got the best of her. Being put on a clear liquid diet for 48 hours was easier done at home, that and sleeping in her own bed was just what the doctor ordered. 

We went to see a barn friend perform as Ariel in The Little Mermaid. A whole bunch of the barn family had dinner and then went to the play. The barn family is so much fun and very supportive of each other. 

I did a little gardening and took advantage of the full bloom of the azalea bushes to take the yearly "May 1st" picture marking Sophia's half birthday. The azaleas popped into full color the last week of April and they were spectacular. The picture of Sophia isn't the greatest. I am not sure what happened with the lighting. 

 

Sophia and I went to the tent sale at Dover and didn't find much in the way of bargains but it was nice to spend time with her. That evening we all went to see the Maryland Orchestra perform How to Train Your Dragon. It was an amazing performance.

  

Our pets even had a low key month. This first picture shows all of them on the couch with Steve. 

March 2025

 Sophia took a class at college which taught the history of China through food. She had a couple of projects that required simple cooking. This meant she came home a couple of weekends to do her homework. Loved having her home. 

March started off the competition season for Sophia. She did a recognized jumper show for the first time. Sophia has been more focused on dressage but Wren is so versatile and seems to enjoy jumping. He does better jumper higher jumps, probably because he is so tall and is a big mover. They did two rounds at .8 (approx 2'7"). They got a 7th place (our of 18 riders) in the speed round. They also had a clear round at .9 (2'11") and one rail down in the jump off earning 8th place out of 19 riders. It was an exciting day. So glad to see Sophia trying new things with Wren. 

Sophia also went to the Pony Club Dressage Rally. The horse management part was difficult especially with her and her friend G being judged at C2 standards. They are picky!  The riding was fun. Wren was a little "extra" during the first test. He spooked at the letters in the ring, acting as if he never saw a dressage letter before. Sophia did Level 1 Test 3 and Level 2 Test 1. She also rode an amazing pas de deux with her friend G. They were incredible. Sophia got high score in her division. 

Tracey was in town for her birthday. I joined her, Gianna and Angie for dinner. It was nice to see them. 

Our pets are all doing well. 

Until next month.

February Blog

 February came and went in a blink of an eye. It was a cold one! 

We got a little snow this month. I will take it!  I love the snow and wish we got even more.

While we didn't do anything really special we got to see Sophia more than usual. One of her classes in college is a class using food to learn about the history in China. It is called something like Rice, Ramen and LoMien. She has had to make a couple of dishes for homework. She doesn't have access to a kitchen at school so she had to come home twice this month. No complaints here!

We went to a Chinese New Year party at one of her barn family's home. I didn't get any pictures that day.

The barn had their annual Pony Club Banquet. They had 7 seniors recognized this year. Sophia gave a speech for one of the seniors, she also got a beautiful jacket, a blanket and plaque. It is so nice to see all the riders clean up for this event. Sophia had a blast hanging with her friends. 

Sophia was invited by TWO teachers to do a faculty/student research project. Both her computer science and math professors invited her. She selected the computer science one because he reached out about two weeks before the math teacher. She will spend 4 weeks this summer at school, room and board included, doing research. This is an incredible opportunity, especially for a freshman!

I did more knitting. I finished a lace wrap that was a huge accomplishment. There were times I didn't think I would ever finish it. Between the rough start trying to understand the pattern to the big knot of yarn in the middle and then the never ending bind off. But it is done. 

Our pets are doing wonderfully. I love how they all love each other. Mr. Twinkletoes really loves sitting with me when I knit.

 

 

That is all to report this month. Hoping next month is a bit more exciting.