The exciting month of May

 The month started off with something I. personally look forward to every year, Maryland Sheep and Wool. It rained, as it often does, most of the weekend but that didn't stop me. Got some yarn, a purse which I waited all year for and a bed for Mr. Twinkletoes. 

CMy birthday and Mother's Day weekend was fun. I spent Mother's Day at the Pony Club Dressage Rally. We had to leave the house at 3:15 AM and didn't get home until 7:00 PM but I was happy to see Sophia ride Wren. They are doing well together.

Our Girl Scout troop finally got together. We went to Melting Pot and had a blast. 

I planted in the garden. I did the grow bags again because they worked so well last year and the held up through the winter.

But the biggest event of the month was Sophia's graduation from high school. Sophia and I started the day off with breakfast and then went to get our nails done. The most cherished moment was when her Dad presented her with the diploma. One of the benefits from working in the county, and the school Sophia has attended. Her friend Gretchen came to the ceremony. Nick did too. Then Mari, Nick's fianance and your cousin Angela joined us for dinner. Sophia graduated with all A's in her high school classes. She took 5 college classes and got A's and one B (in calculus.) She worked hard, dealt with all the craziness of not so well behaved students in high school and managed to hold down a part time job at the barn and ride five days a week. I am confident she will do anything she sets her mind to.

Her friend, Hannah, took some graduation pictures of Sophia in her cap and gown with Wren (in June.)

And as always, finishing up with our pets. 

April 2024

 April seems to have passed in a blink of the eye. I am not sure where the month went. The month had it's fair share of horse events. I will start at the beginning. There was an in-house show at the barn. Sophia rode First Level Test 2 and Test 3 and her musical. The judge liked the music and felt the choreography was interesting. This was the first time Sophia worked with a professional on her music. She just needs to get a score of 63 or higher to perform the First Level Musical Freestyle at a recognized show.

She did a show at the end of the month where she rode the First Level Test 3 twice in hopes of getting that 63 score. She got a 66 and a 65! She had great rides. This was a good way to start the show season. 

We found out how much Wren loves cross country. He is such a willing partner.

Sophia ended the month going to IEA Nationals at Tryon. She rode DSE as part of the team. Unfortunately she did not place in the top eight but she had a great ride. She has been working with Robin and Pheobe on a few things to improve her riding (looking up and keeping her hands higher.) She did both in this class. She said I did everything I came to do. She felt good about the rides. In IEA the horse draws factor into how you do. I am not sure if the result would have been different with a different horse but either way Sophia has grown so much as a rider as part of the IEA team over the past three years. Friendships were strengthened, memories made and laughs shared. They recognized her as a senior during the parade.

The team placed 4th in the Nation! 4th out of the top 12 teams in the US. They worked really hard and have a lot to be proud of. They also won the Team Spirit Award.

Sophia helped take care of the horses and even schooled Lucy on Sunday. 

   

The girls all got dressed up to go to the IEA benefit "prom" on Saturday night. Amazing how these girls clean up so quickly!

Sophia also committed to McDaniel. We attended an accepted students event on a Sunday and also a smaller gathering one evening. Can't believe she is going to be in college in the fall. She has grown up too quickly.

I do not have many pictures of our animals this month. I need to be better about that next month.