Truthful Tuesday

 

Today's confession is that I'm perplexed. I don't understand how it can be sweater weather, but there are still SO MANY bugs out! I got absolutely attacked by gnats again over the weekend, and tonight while I was riding Shiny I killed a mosquito on her! A MOSQUITO! In October! It's not right. So I'm back to bathing myself in Off anytime I'm outside. I smell delightful! Anyone else still getting eaten alive out there?

Thursday's Threads: Autumn Edition Part I

 

Outfit Day!! We'll be doing Autumn themes for the month of October and today is the first edition! Eros is our model today, so let's see what he has on:

Please excuse my shadow... I feel like Eros is an Autumn, Shiny is a summer and Al is a winter. If I wasn't so overwhelmed I'd be looking for a spring... 

Bridle: Joseph Sterling
Browband: Home made by me

This is one of my favorite silly browbands. I made it a couple of years ago, and I look forward to using it every October! I'm disappointed in myself for only making a horse and a cob though. I should have made two horse sized. Al will have something different for his Autumn week. 

Saddle: Butet
Saddle Pad: Ogilvy
Half Pad: Mattes

I love this fall themed ribbon! The old timey pick up truck and pumpkins! So cute!

Eros didn't wear any wraps today since we're just flatting these days. (My neighbor has been trying really hard to off us, so we're keeping things a little simple this week.) 

My turn! Here's what I wore for outfit day this week:

I'm not sure cow screams Autumn, but I wanted to wear them. And it's my outfit so I did. 

Helmet: One K Avance CCS with MIPS

Still loving my sparkly front shield on this helmet, almost a year later!

Sweater: Pink Rose

Snagged this cute zip up cardigan from Marshall's a few weeks ago for like $15 and it is perfect for fall. Plus it matches all my stuff. Win-win!

Belt: Lucky Brand

This was one of my retail therapy purchases earlier this week. It's a little hard to see from this photo, but the cords running horizontally are brown and green and the stitches holding them on are tan, so it's PERFECT. Had to have it! Should have bought a size smaller, I need to punch a hole. Funny how differently belts fit with breeches vs jeans.

Breeches: Tailored Sportsman

Over the last several months I've been stalking used tack stores, Facebook, and Poshmark for TS in the old fabric in my size. I snagged this pair from a second tack shop for under $100. Super deal, and they looked brand new!

Boots: Celeris UK

Sometimes blogger makes my photos really dark, and I find that a little annoying. Fortunately you all know how fab these boots truly are. My favorites!

And that's it for today. I'm already looking forward to next week's Thursday's Threads! Except, you should expect me to be dirty for that one as I have zero help for the next ten days. Oof. 

What's Up Wednesday

 

I imagine you're pretty well caught up on life at Winthrop Corner these days. Not a whole lot going on other than chores and occasionally getting to ride my horses. Last week was a little crazy since I only had help two days. I didn't get to ride all of the horses all of the days because I did have to do some work for my job and also the days are getting shorter fast! We also got rained out Sunday. It wasn't a hard rain, and if it had been warmer I probably would have ridden. But it wasn't so I didn't! 

Al particularly has had a lighter work regiment the past week because Bang and Clang next door seems to have a personal vendetta against him. I forget what day, but I think it was Friday or Saturday. Bang and Clang was suspiciously quiet all day and I was very much enjoying it. But mere moments after I got on Al, he comes out with a blue tarp that he needed to shake out, then drag behind him, and cover something with about as close to my ring as he could get. Then he just kept walking the tree line messing with branches. Needless to say, Al wasn't especially cool with that. We did a walk trot ride on a circle and called it a day. He's come a long way, but he still doesn't trust that guy. Which is fair because neither do I. Then yesterday, I decided to lunge Al with tack before my ride to see what I had, because he was quite riled up in turn out thanks again to Bang and Clang. Now, the dude had been in his garage making noise all day but he'd stayed in there which I can work with just fine. But as soon as I had Al working on the lunge? Out came the hedge trimmer. Guys. It's October. What could POSSIBLY need to hedge trimming? Apparently the entire perimeter of his yard. So we just lunged and called it a day. Of course when I got on the other two he was back in his garage. That guy. I may be committed soon because I really think the people around me are driving me insane. I like to reflect to see if I'm the problem, but in both scenarios of people who have triggered me this week, I just don't see that I am. Which I could be, of course. But I'm not seeing it. 

Eros has been a little spooky too, I think the change in sun angle gets to them a little. The shadows look different. And they aren't working especially hard so I imagine the energy levels are a little high too. But we're still plugging away. No intense work, just making sure all the buttons are still installed and trying to get them to keep their bellies up and engaged. We haven't jumped since I fell off a few weeks ago. Not because I'm worried about it, just because we haven't had consistent enough work. I'm sure we will again before winter arrives. But not right now. 

That's really about all that's happening here. Doing the things, and loving my horses. Wishing they would be just a touch neater in their stalls... Lol! 

Truthful Tuesday

 

I have many confessions today. Firstly, do you remember last week when I got some stressful news, and mentioned how I really need to find more help in case of the not favorable outcome? (But also because I'm not able to do all the things on my own anymore in general.) Well, the very next morning my current helper called out sick. So I wasn't allowed even a morning I was expecting to try and sit and process what's happening in my life. Which, that's how it goes with horses right? You have to do all the things no matter what life is throwing at you. 

I'm a problem solver by nature. So after feeding the horses quickly, I came back inside the house to do the work I had scheduled for that morning and also to put up an add for help here at the farm. Well. My current helper saw the ad. (And please note that I mentioned to her the day before that I need to get the hours filled in case of bad news. And also keep in mind that she is the one that only wants to work two days a week.) So she sees my ISO and COMES AT ME that she felt like it was a dig at her. You know, while I'm in the barn doing her job. And having a small menty b about my future in general. By all means, come at me with your feelings. 

Guys. I dunno. What is it with people just abusing me while I'm already struggling? I think this is a generational problem maybe? The twenty somethings seem to only want to do what they want when they want. Which like yes, don't we all? But as my dad taught me, everyone has to work. How else do you feed yourself and put a roof over your head? Meanwhile, not a ton of response to my iso. So I might have to find someplace to board for the winter I guess. I dunno. Lots to ponder there. So my confession for this section is that my stress level is high and my help is making it worse not better. Which seems counterproductive. (And also, would you all come at a boss like this? Am I way out of line here?)

My second confession is that I may or may not have resorted to retail therapy yesterday. And to add insult to injury my credit card thought it was fraud that I was spending not very much money at the outlet mall and declined me on a purchase. Thanks universe. How about you just let me find unhealthy ways to sooth my feelings?

So those are my confessions today. Anything you all need to get off your chest?

Thursday's Threads

 

Outfit Day! We almost didn't have one today. And it's half a repeat of last week. And our model is going out of turn. All of this because my worker called out sick today. I had some things for work I had to get done early, so I started chores late (fear not, I fed on time!) and then I had to drag the ring. So by the time I was free to start riding it was close to 4pm. So I only rode one today. And I picked Shiny. Here's what she was wearing today:

Yes, I didn't swap out our pads this week. They really aren't dirty, so one more inconsistent week it is for the brown pads!

Bridle: Joseph Sterling

Browband: Dark Jewel Designs

It took some begging to get her ears up for this photo. Thankfully, I swear this pony understands English because I explained to her that the sooner she takes a nice photo the sooner we get to our ride and then to dinner. Dinner got the ears up. 

Saddle: Butet
Saddle Pad: Ogilvy
Half Pad: Stephens

I'm still waiting on our new Mattes half pad. They take awhile. This one isn't bad though!

That's it for Shiny's outfit. She's not wearing boots for a flat day. So it's my turn! I made sure to wear something a little fun to make up for the repeat horse outfit. 

A little pink today! I love pink and green together. 

Helmet: One K Avance CCS Mips

My helmet isn't actually that dirty. That is Deep Woods Off dry formula. The gnats here are out of control! And I don't want to have to go back on the prednisone for gnat bites. 

Top: Annva

I have mixed feelings about this top. The material is softer than some of the other brands I wear, but it also makes the hay stick more. So that's annoying. I love the color though.

Belt: Tory Burch

Tory Burch makes a nice belt. I have a few and they have all held up really nicely for many years. 

Breeches: Tailored Sportsman

This is a great shade of pink! They match really nicely with the pink on my lime green boots too. So you'll probably see them again pretty soon because I haven't worn those boots in awhile. 

Boots: Celeris UK

The pink boots are still so fun! They're one of my older pairs, but I still love them. And they're in great shape too!

That's it for today. Some day I will have something fun for you guys again. Hopefully.

What's Up Wednesday

 

It's been busy around here. I've had several of my twice yearly appointments over the last few weeks, and true to 2026 form, I now have to go to MORE appointments. Annoying. There's a wee question on my mammogram that I need to get biopsied. I'm choosing to believe it's nothing until proven otherwise because that's how I stay sane (ish). That test won't be until the end of October so that's a long time to spiral. Hence why I'm choosing not to. I also need to get my carpal tunnel checked out. It's not been bad lately, but now that I'm back to do choring more days per week (and it's colder out), I'm having some troubles again. Not sure when that will be yet, they're supposed to call me. Of course, I have very few days that I have help to go to these appointments... so that's stressful. But I'll figure it out! Cause that's what we do, right?

Anyway, enough about me, let's talk about my seemingly semi-retired horses shall we? We were able to ride every day last week, but most of the rides were pretty short. The weekend was another story! We had a bit storm that thankfully was kind to my farm. It rained for three straight days pretty much. And the winds were pretty intense. To prepare and keep the barn in good shape, I cleaned and put the windows up for the stalls. 

I put the horses out both days, but Saturday it was kind of limited turnout. I put the boys out in the walkouts behind their respective stalls and let Shiny go in the ring. (She's the smartest, if she sensed a tree falling she'd get herself out of dodge. I'm not sure the boys would.) 

I knew they wouldn't want to be out too long as it was supposed to get more and more windy and the rain was supposed to get heavier as the day went on. So I didn't rotate anyone, and just got the chores done as fast as I could. They seemed happy to come in and I kept them stuffed with hay. For these three, that's all they need really. 

Sunday actually wound up being better than expected. It still rained all morning, but there was a break in the action in the afternoon so I was able to graze them all. 

I only snapped pics of Al though. He was being so brave! He dragged me over to the side yard to graze which was interesting because he's never EVER wanted to go over there. He saw the cars go by and was happy as a clam over there. Very proud of him. 

Monday it was raining AGAIN. The entire day. Which would have been a day off anyway, so no harm there. But Rita was pretty sad we didn't get our walk in. Not that sad, because she hates rain. But still disappointed I'm sure. 

Tuesday was annoying. I originally had a dr appointment scheduled for a couple weeks ago, but I had to reschedule because their phlebotomist quit the evening before I was supposed to get bloodwork and I wouldn't have been able to get it done in time for my appointment. When I rescheduled the appointment, I did not yet know that my worker would need to immediately cut her hours from five days to three. She's no longer working on Tuesdays. But I didn't want to reschedule my appointment again. So I got up, fed the horses, showered, gave them more hay, then went to my appointment. Chores got done after that. By the time I was done with all that it was almost 4pm. I opted to just ride Al since he's the one I don't want having a million days off in a row. (We were at three after Monday as it was.) Considering all the time off, we had an okay ride, but we did very much stay on a fairly small circle. The neighbor has been quite busy next door doing who knows what. Which is not terribly helpful after all those weather days.

Today I had my follow up mammogram in the morning, but thankfully DID have help in the barn. So when I got back I was able to just start riding and I got everyone done! Well... mostly anyway. Eros and Shiny had nice full rides. Despite Bang and Clang next door. I shit you not, he was climbing on a ladder and putting some kind of sealant or stain or something on the roof of his shed. RIGHT next to the ring. That was for Shiny's ride. I forget what he was doing for Eros' but it wasn't that bad. I saved Al for last in hopes he would be done with his list of things to do over there. But alas. It only got worse. I got on Al, and walked for a few minutes. When the neighbor decided that was the exact moment he needed to rake the tree line between us. Al had already told me before I even got on that he wasn't into it today. But I insisted and promised him if we had to just walk that's what we would do. So we walked for awhile, did some standing and staring while the raking was going on, and finally did a little trotting toward the end of the ride. It was a nice trot, forward and with proper contact. So who am I to argue with that? I didn't bother cantering because I had zero faith that Bang and Clang was done torturing us for the day. Sometimes you take the win and call it a day. I wasn't sad about it, and neither was Al.

So that's about the long and the short of it over here. Life keeps lifing! Thank goodness for horses!

Not much sunshine here lately, but we did get a sunset rainbow!

Truthful Tuesday

 

Heh... so I was distracted while filling up the hay bucket with water to soak Shiny's hay. And while I definitely made note of the time once it was filled (so I would know what time to remove the hay) I promptly forgot what it was. Thankfully, I had posted something in our work group chat right when the bucket was filled, so I was able to use that timestamp to know when to pull the hay out. And that's today's confession. Distracted bucket filling. Guilty.