tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30054225629016018592024-02-21T09:58:08.987-05:00Calm, Forward, StraightCalm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.comBlogger373125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-53156549867329164372020-01-06T22:00:00.000-05:002020-01-07T12:42:29.229-05:002020: Oh - the places you'll go...2019 saw the realization of a ten year plan come to fruition: buying my property, living on site in a travel trailer fondly known as the Shimmy Shack, creating the farmette and planning + building a house. That was the biggest, most complex goal I had ever set for myself. Sometimes it's still surprising when I look around. And then I take a glance at the to-do list lol.<br />
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The word "goal" comes with baggage. When goals aren't met within time frames, or life gets in the way, the disappointment/guilt/shame can be very counter-productive. Probably even worse for us type-A horsewomen. I'm going to follow the lead of several other bloggers and re-frame my "goals." How about intentions, objectives and targets? In the context of my profession (landscaping) I often aim higher than what may be achievable, in the belief that I'll end up further along than if I hadn't been ambitious. That's usually how it works out.<br />
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So - as far as 2020 goes, the plan is to piggyback on the momentum of the house project.<br />
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Finances:<br />
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As of Jan 1, I took over the family business, which amounts to assuming the billing and accounting responsibilities, as I've been running the day-to-day work for a while. Theoretically this means an increase in income - fingers crossed. I've set up a budget that should address 2/3 of my non-mortgage related debt this year, and wipe out the rest next year. If all goes well with that plan, the next step is making two extra mortgage payments (applied to principle) yearly to reduce the mortgage from 30 years to +/- 17. Financing an actual tractor <strike>for the farmette</strike> I mean the business would be my reward.<br />
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Health:<br />
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I'd like to continue to prioritize my health this year. I've lost twenty pounds since May 2019, with the idea of losing thirteen more by this coming May. To be able to continue to do my job well into the future I will have to remain fit. There has also been a lot of walking and a bit of running in the mix. Basically I've adopted healthier habits, and they seem to be sticking. For 2020 I'd like to use my health insurance to get up to date on screenings, and incorporate regular yoga + meditation components.<br />
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Farmette:<br />
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After recovering from two disastrous hurricanes in the last three years, a few things became clear. Mental health-wise if nothing else, everything on the farmette that is on ground level will have to be raised. Buildings, sheds and the garden. The garden component is already in process. The buildings + sheds are more complicated and will have to happen in phases.<br />
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For Val this means a long shallow ramp up to a raised run-in on pilings. I can't tell you how stressful it was to look out at Val's paddock during hurricane Dorian and watch 3 feet of surging flood water surround him while 100 mph+ winds were shredding everything. There was literally nothing I could do.<br />
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Because my hay barns have repeatedly been inundated, I now have half the storage I started with. Consequently there are (at least) twice as many trips off island to restock, which adds $3-$4 per bale to the price (a roughly 30% increase). If I can't address hay storage - having a horse will not be sustainable. This project will involve lots of money, materials and time, but as they say - hope is not a plan.<br />
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Val:<br />
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Last year Val experienced several (additional new) health concerns.<br />
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In the spring he developed "heaves/asthma/copd" which was most likely due to allergies; environmental and hay-dust related. Despite the grim prognosis the vet gave me, I have been able to control his symptoms well with daily allergy meds and Ester-C, so far. I'd like to build a hay steamer this spring with plans found online. Next, an extremely hot six-week spell last summer had all the horses in the area becoming anhidrotic. One A/C got us through that crisis. And then there were the never-ending abscesses resulting from an extremely wet winter...<br />
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Val turns 18 in a few weeks. Health issues are to be expected. Health issues that stem directly from circumstances beyond my control stress me out. I've just about got his feet back in order from the spate of abscesses, with judicious trimming and using Durasole. As of today, it's been almost nine weeks since the farrier's last visit - no word when he'll make it down next. I went ahead and did a full trim myself over the weekend, because Val can't wait that long - so I'm preparing to take over the trimming full time.<br />
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Hopefully in 2020 some (all) of the complications of horse-keeping here on the island will be resolved. Never fear though - Val is happy, relaxed and sassy as ever.<br />
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Fun:<br />
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Right before Christmas I went off island overnight for the first time in over five years to see Hamilton (!!!). This was possible because I finally found a reliable farmsitter. My employee took a trip to the Keys over the holidays as well. We decided to close up shop from Christmas through New Year's, which turned out to be a great idea. No time pressure made holiday activities much more relaxing and enjoyable. From this year forward, there will be mandatory vacation time. The boss said so. ;D<br />
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Pie in the sky:<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I'd like to find a groovy little vintage travel trailer (Shimmy Shack II?!), and fix it up to rent as an airbnb for people who wa</span>nt to bring their horses to ride on the beach. Still running the numbers - this will likely be a 2021 project.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">✵</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✵</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✵</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✵</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✵</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✵</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✵ </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">A few
readers have reminded me that I never completed the house building
series. Indeed. It has actually taken this whole year to furnish and
arrange everything. Most of my possessions came out of storage infested
with water bugs, their eggs and excrement. (a disgusting surprise - I
agree... possibly tmi, but there we are) Everything I wanted to keep and
bring into the house has had to be thoroughly and individually
disinfected and cleaned - a time-consuming process. I'm almost there,
and ready to document. Soon...</span>
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<br />Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-49368253225859441942020-01-02T13:13:00.001-05:002020-01-02T19:24:45.237-05:00Edgewood Farm - A Decade in Review<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3005422562901601859" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>It doesn't seem possible that ten years have passed since I found Val and bought my wonderful property.<br />
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While searching through photos to use for this retrospective post, I ended up reading the entire blog. Mostly because five years ago water spilled into the back of my previous laptop and sizzled it - including every picture I had taken for the previous five years. Yes - I thought I was backed up. No - I actually wasn't. Lesson learned. The local so-called computer whiz wasn't hitting on much when he attempted the retrieval process...<br />
tears were shed.<br />
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Luckily - most of the good stuff still existed here at Calm, Forward, Straight. Although the original dressage dream (oh how the universe must have laughed) has fizzled, as has my time for blogging - CFS did document this crazy journey - riding and retraining, and from horse to house.<br />
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Thanks to everyone who followed and supported us along the way. Checking in on fellow equestrian bloggers is a very enjoyable part of every day, and I am so thankful for the friends and mentors - virtual and actual - that have come into my life through blogging.<br />
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What does the future hold? As of yesterday - I have taken over the family business. Time will be an even more precious commodity from here on out. I'd like to say I'll resume riding and blogging regularly at some point, but the priorities are staying healthy so I can continue working, and paying off my debt. Val has an insurance policy with his name on it, and a spot at <a href="http://www.retiredhorses.com/">Paradigm Farms</a> if and when that time comes. And being lucky enough to bookend my days caring for my big 'ol knucklehead of a horse makes every bit of the last ten years worthwhile.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> ✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶ Val </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶ Farmette </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶ 2009 - 2019 </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✶</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-60379986263190292442019-12-24T13:21:00.004-05:002019-12-24T13:21:45.506-05:00Happiest of holidays from everyone at Edgewood Farm!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-35922462061177059012019-03-08T07:00:00.002-05:002019-03-08T07:00:40.127-05:00Celebrate!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-1548982826550033102019-03-04T22:21:00.000-05:002019-03-04T23:02:38.549-05:00Horse Before House Part 7 Nothing to it, but to do itI quickly realized only way to make the numbers work building my house, was to become the painting contractor. It was also apparent my builder didn't believe I was up to it, although I had experience - (re)painting the interior of a previous home. To his credit, he went forward with our contract despite his misgivings. Not to his credit, the scheduling was a nightmare, and it seemed like he and the sub-contractors took advantage of my not knowing the ropes. Many lessons learned. I ended up completing the job for less than half of the professional quote. It looks great now - fingers crossed it holds up over time.<br />
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There's this app called <a href="https://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/try-on-colors/colorsnap-mobile">ColorSnap</a> that will let you pick colors from an uploaded photo, then give you the corresponding (Sherwin Williams) paint color info. So my house colors were sourced from photos I took or found.<br />
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While I waited for the other contractors to finish their work, I measured walls and calculated paint quantities. Good paint is pricey, and it's better to have a little bit more rather than not quite enough, because I don't care whether it's mixed by a computer or not - another batch won't be exactly the same color. Luckily, there was a well-timed sale on paint at Lowe's. I thought I had (over)planned everything pretty thoroughly, but the siding guy pointed out that he was getting rid of his staging, and did I need to use it to paint the trim on an inaccessible side of the porch. So this happened...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEiEcOXbREzWoy3wA9O8r3WZZLp6d0IWvG31sPuuZ70MOu4D25PWMQu9MGT67BSq_zaC9vn9R9vcL81731DGz7z3DHYg_Q2SYSJ1ZiNiwSVQmG8D6Pg_Fg25NJxzHAZ-yXW2946_lNPg/s1600/walkboards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEiEcOXbREzWoy3wA9O8r3WZZLp6d0IWvG31sPuuZ70MOu4D25PWMQu9MGT67BSq_zaC9vn9R9vcL81731DGz7z3DHYg_Q2SYSJ1ZiNiwSVQmG8D6Pg_Fg25NJxzHAZ-yXW2946_lNPg/s640/walkboards.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skinny walk board 20 ft high. Without a doubt the most nerve-wracking thing I've ever done... (up to that point anyway)</td></tr>
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The siding guy kindly let me borrow his (rickety a$$) scaffolding to paint the front gable as well.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a close second to the walk board situation. The peak is around 38' up...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happily - I avoided this scenario :D</td></tr>
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Things got pretty hectic with regards to the scheduling around this point of the summer, because the project was running behind. Not due to me mind you, despite the fact that scheduling the exterior painting was completely weather dependent i.e. beyond my control. After a few sessions of painting one-handed while hanging on for dear life, I decided I'd use a lift to paint the back of the house, which had no conveniently placed porch roof.<br />
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Lowe's rented the equipment, and I figured my life, and/or avoiding breaking my neck was worth the money. As it turns out, once I overcame the learning curve - and oddly enough hooking, unhooking, raising and lowering the unit was harder than operating the thing - it was actually sort of fun - except a few days the wind was blowing. That rig was super wiggly in the wind. But better than fun - it allowed me to concentrate on applying paint rather than avoiding death.<br />
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Can I honestly say I was certain the rig wasn't going to freeze, and strand me way the heck up in the air in a tiny bucket needing to be rescued? Definitely not 100%. There was some deep breathing + mind over matter on the first day or two. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This baby got way up in the air when fully extended(!) It also steered with a joystick - like a flipping video game.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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While I painted the exterior, the sheet rock crew finished the interior walls to ready them for painting. I naïvely assumed painting the interior was going to be easier than the exterior hahaha... let's just say trim painting ain't my b*tch. Next post - the kitchen. (!!!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0t7H7Q0BBpxBgpvjnGwpEu9qd9p6OkZocagJU1cKHpCYbCXRhvv1C346pxSX3D48woHUtqXBFHs0VoT7ly5-hs-Ni40-KR3oSWvNrF8yqYreH0zPrbzrVN3GzsmWE4HYk2mUfklcnsQ/s1600/prep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1403" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0t7H7Q0BBpxBgpvjnGwpEu9qd9p6OkZocagJU1cKHpCYbCXRhvv1C346pxSX3D48woHUtqXBFHs0VoT7ly5-hs-Ni40-KR3oSWvNrF8yqYreH0zPrbzrVN3GzsmWE4HYk2mUfklcnsQ/s640/prep.jpg" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was SO. MUCH. DUST.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Various stages of floored and trimmed, or not</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting there ❤️</td></tr>
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<br />Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-13004436990869074862019-02-21T22:06:00.000-05:002019-02-22T06:23:18.183-05:00Horse Before House Part 6Measure twice, cut onceThe ridge beam led to rafters, and soon the walls were closed in. Once the rafters were in place and plywooded over, the roofers took all of two days, which was both amazing and frightening in equal measure. Inside knowledge: on the steeper parts of the roof, the roofers knelt on what turned out to be the foam pads from sofa cushions, which they referred to as their "cadillacs". <span style="font-size: small;">😆</span><span style="font-size: small;">😆</span><span style="font-size: small;">😆</span><br />
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The windows went in next - not without a few issues. I had hoped to incorporate an antique half moon window I'd been saving for years, but sadly at the last minute my builder decided he couldn't make it work. Another lesson in being flexible and picking your battles. I decided to use the window decoratively inside the house instead.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXTchGms5Kd-zMslv7ingJCN-OJvJv0eZjCqTyXr9iaZ90LGmf2GTco4AeVIAWCLV9Bw6H066uWiCk4Mg483ZmuGvdH4kIPiWbqX-CbTeHDfn0_h5UDzfPy8Yf0Z6Cp7Fmil6d9oZP20/s1600/fullsizeoutput_970.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1600" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXTchGms5Kd-zMslv7ingJCN-OJvJv0eZjCqTyXr9iaZ90LGmf2GTco4AeVIAWCLV9Bw6H066uWiCk4Mg483ZmuGvdH4kIPiWbqX-CbTeHDfn0_h5UDzfPy8Yf0Z6Cp7Fmil6d9oZP20/s320/fullsizeoutput_970.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Also - it's important to consider things like window height. Over and over I ran into specs in the plans that didn't make sense in the real world. There is a fire code that dictates size and height of bedroom windows, with regard to escaping, but where the porch roof meets the walls, i.e. where the bottom of the windows can start also has to be taken into consideration. <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span><br />
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When I checked out the window holes in my bedroom wall for the first time, I found that I would barely be able to see over the sills, much less reach the catch to open and close, or clean, without a ladder. I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't been living on the property, looking at the progress on a daily basis...<br />
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We ended up lowering the pitch of the porch roof from 6/12 to 4/12, (for every foot across the roof angles up so many inches), allowing the space for lowering the windows. I would have liked to do even a 3/12, but apparently in areas that get torrential rain like we do, you can't go lower than a 4/12 without risking leaking. Lowering the pitch would come in handy when it came time to paint too.<br />
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Above is one example of where I participated in modifying the plans to customize my home. Another change was the laundry facilities. In the plans, there was a pipsqueak of a closet with an apartment-sized stacked washer-dryer combo. Now - I had spent the last eight years carrying laundry to my dad's house every week, and therefore felt very deserving of a dedicated space for laundry. I suggested we convert a 10x10 block off of the porch, which runs around three sides of the house. This resulted in a spacious laundry + mudroom (!), with the added benefit of blocking the harshest summer afternoon sun, as well as much of the wind from the most used section of the porch.<br />
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Next post we'll tackle the painting. Enjoy yet more construction p*rn...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsGkOvFr18XQ_ZcHQOsBrwIl7AXHxHeBEIeG2oVrlEJ4Mpq-g-fu6iehebmODG_hIi9V74BMuqHouGM_N1_PbXLm37qHssare7_WBIsKpj40SYB9HNyXF0qQMVrsyQha3u8jrJH6hBMQ/s1600/rwsIII.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsGkOvFr18XQ_ZcHQOsBrwIl7AXHxHeBEIeG2oVrlEJ4Mpq-g-fu6iehebmODG_hIi9V74BMuqHouGM_N1_PbXLm37qHssare7_WBIsKpj40SYB9HNyXF0qQMVrsyQha3u8jrJH6hBMQ/s400/rwsIII.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When the half moon window was happening...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plywooding the roof + fireplace bump out</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tar papering</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roofers were here</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjxrPVNArjOlHt4mcZRrNxMI4yqLHjhVWPljfZU6T66sNK_vESb_47B9RLN2WosbJe4YUZFfJ_XluSCwhPonOtOL-UjWo-0a_IcuzoMF0TfA3-HCjpJcUpgsIpb_Q5OqjZz_o7J3kwhI/s1600/rwsVII.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjxrPVNArjOlHt4mcZRrNxMI4yqLHjhVWPljfZU6T66sNK_vESb_47B9RLN2WosbJe4YUZFfJ_XluSCwhPonOtOL-UjWo-0a_IcuzoMF0TfA3-HCjpJcUpgsIpb_Q5OqjZz_o7J3kwhI/s400/rwsVII.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soon there will be rails and steps</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steps!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Siding crew has been busy prepping...</td></tr>
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Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-84800243837200712392019-02-11T20:52:00.003-05:002019-02-11T21:00:42.734-05:00Horse Before House Part 5 Shopping + Topping<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At this point - about 90 days into construction - it seemed like a good time to line up what was going to go into the house - plumbing fixtures, lighting, doors, flooring. The kitchen and paint will get future posts all their own.<br />
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Although I was able to do a ton of research online, many items needed checking out in real life, so there were the prerequisite trips to Lowe's and Home Depot. They're located off island - a three hour round trip from here. I find box stores completely overwhelming at the best of times. Since an entire day would end up being sacrificed, those little jaunts required serious planning, multiple lists and all the documentation. Whatever did we do before smart phones?<br />
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Speaking of smart phones - I used mine to immediately text a recap of every meeting or phone conversation I had with my builder - hoping to avoid any he said-she said issues down the line. That proved to be a successful (although probably annoying <span style="font-size: x-small;">😇</span>) strategy lol...<br />
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Meanwhile back at the ranch, my framers achieved the ridge beam - aka "topping out." According to google:<br />
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"The practice of "topping out" a new building can be traced to the ancient Scandinavian religious rite of placing a tree atop a new building to appease the tree-dwelling spirits displaced in its construction. Long an important component of timber frame building, it migrated initially to England and Northern Europe, thence to the Americas. A tree or leafy branch is placed on the topmost wood or iron
beam, often with flags and streamers tied to it. A toast is usually
drunk and sometimes workers are treated to a meal."<br />
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The afternoon my framers nailed in the ridge beam, they graciously hung this handy flag for me. You can find just about anything on Amazon. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.calmforwardstraight.com/2018/01/i-hearby-declare-2018-year-of-unicorn.html">Year of the Unicorn!!!</a></td></tr>
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We celebrated with a shot or two of Patron, and I sent them home with fresh eggs. <br />
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<br />Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-89193455540562368042019-02-04T21:11:00.001-05:002019-02-05T20:30:42.256-05:00Horse Before House Part 4 Second floor + all the decisionsI anticipated the process of building a house would tax my ability + desire + patience for decision making, but the reality surpassed my wildest imaginings. I had also failed to envision the amount of push-back I would receive when my decisions didn't fit it with the ideas + schedules + budgets of others.<br />
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Not sure if this is par for the course with single-woman construction clients everywhere, or just here on my island - where unattached women are often cause for fear and suspicion. How can she live without a man - the horror! She cuts her own grass! Operates machinery! (And the ever popular - She might be after <i>my</i> man!!!) I've been challenging the world view of some of the less open-minded folks around here for a while lol. I wish I were kidding. <br />
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It started with how to site the house on the lot. My plan was to face the house into the property, at an angle. With covered porches, this would take advantage of passive solar. It would also square the house to the cardinal compass points. The winds that tend to be harshest in hurricanes and winter storms - NE, NW and SW - will hit the house at the corners rather than the walls directly. While I have yet to find research online to back this up (that isn't full of physics equations beyond my comprehension), after living on the property for eight years, through multiple storms, I believe this will mitigate the effect of wind somewhat.<br />
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As to the view - while it might be conventional to orient your house to the street - the thought of pointing the front porch at my neighbor's house, and the comings and goings of their parking area, didn't thrill me. I prefer to look out onto the garden, Val's paddock and the woods. It's amazing how much effort was expended explaining and justifying these choices - to the builder, the surveyors, the piling guy, etc... #becauseisaidso<br />
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One of the pitfalls of having to say grace over so many decisions in such a short time, even with months of research prior to building, is getting overwhelmed and saying whatever - f*ck it - I can't deal. Especially when you're not sharing the responsibility of the decision making with a partner.<br />
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Balance that with the stress of knowing that many choices are time sensitive and can't be taken back which = bad choices will surely cost $$$ in the future - let's just say there was a maximum amount of pressure. Most of the selections for building materials were based on long term value. Architectural shingles, premium windows, Smart Lap siding, Duration paint. I bought into the theory that quality materials on the front end will payoff in the long term. Fingers crossed. I'll dissect interior choices in a future post. Meanwhile enjoy more construction p*rn 😎<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting the porch roof and upstairs floor joists</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beginning of much ladder climbing - the only way to access the house for months</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Setting out 2x4s to mark the interior walls</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view! Itty bitty Val in the grazing pen...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down from the future stairway</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wrapping around!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upstairs walls - it's starting to get exciting 😍</td></tr>
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<br />Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-83753497905220112862019-01-26T21:48:00.000-05:002019-01-26T21:48:19.692-05:00 ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ 1.26.19 ❤️ ❤️ ❤️<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-63712396578274504582019-01-21T22:12:00.002-05:002019-02-04T21:36:27.959-05:00Horse Before House Part 3 Floors, Walls and RoomsOnce the pilings were banded, the pace picked up considerably. My framing
crew was a super group of guys - by far the most professional and
talented of all the trades who worked on the house. (it certainly helped that there wasn't much good surf when they were here)<br />
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Early on, right after the property was purchased, I met with a potential builder. He walked the lot with me, answering questions about siting the house, clearing the lot etc. I happened to mention the plan was to live in the Shimmy Shack during construction. He basically implied he wouldn't take a job when the client lived there. Once the project got going - because I lived on site - it was apparent when work started and stopped, who was there (or wasn't), and how far things progressed. I no longer wonder why in my landscaping business, I've run into so many off island clients over the years who seemed suspicious of local contractors... <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">✯</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯</span></div>
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There were a couple of comments asking for details - one was about costs outside of the mortgage. Here's that breakdown:<br />
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Plans - $1800 <br />
Surveying - $2000<br />
Lot clearing - $1200 (not including my labor)<br />
Stump pulling + grading - $2400 (not including my labor)<br />
Permits/inspections - $1000<br />
Water impact (county water) - $3000<br />
Running 350' water line - $300 (not including my labor) <br />
Electric pole - $200<br />
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The other question was about pilings and elevation. Two years ago hurricane Matthew brought flood waters of +/- 9'. My property is 7.5' above sea level. It had never flooded here since anyone could remember - one of the main reasons I bought the property. I raised the first floor 10' above the ground - so 17.5' above sea level. There are codes regarding elevation, as well as requirements from the bank, and better deals on insurance the higher up your first floor is. I wanted to be able to use the space under the house for parking and storage, and figured 10' would allow me to eventually close in a little shop once some time has passed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First floor pano</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the future kitchen (!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOeizD9iFStM0sZZsWau1IYGK1pAqaAKTDUmcsxS000oJ_yLF4IFTeln5jQY8vPM8uL0nfiy0RV96eS-k1BTI_h22_82J7bTYXtaUMbOON-wDLV0bYn9-opICSfibPEPR2URuhPXnmaE/s1600/wallsIV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOeizD9iFStM0sZZsWau1IYGK1pAqaAKTDUmcsxS000oJ_yLF4IFTeln5jQY8vPM8uL0nfiy0RV96eS-k1BTI_h22_82J7bTYXtaUMbOON-wDLV0bYn9-opICSfibPEPR2URuhPXnmaE/s400/wallsIV.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raising the walls</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's crazy - all that held those walls up for weeks were a few 2x4s...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and some wall jacks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laundry room with a view ❤️ </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqCaXSOuDwIw02KSo3wFaLtEC7xq0vNzC0_YRmA_F6V_pUB3-aB5AHhzdlld7ryPIQD1PXUXTRK9RYLLqfaULtWL4HMADJtgFXHHUsgmkGEF6tUIOSsUoloKnNzcFSTjqinNMkXvKmnI/s1600/wallsVII.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqCaXSOuDwIw02KSo3wFaLtEC7xq0vNzC0_YRmA_F6V_pUB3-aB5AHhzdlld7ryPIQD1PXUXTRK9RYLLqfaULtWL4HMADJtgFXHHUsgmkGEF6tUIOSsUoloKnNzcFSTjqinNMkXvKmnI/s400/wallsVII.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First floor walled in</td></tr>
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<br />Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-85959512655879735922019-01-14T20:25:00.003-05:002019-02-04T21:36:04.039-05:00Horse Before House Part 2 Next up - fine tuning the site and sinking the pilings:<br />
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From the very beginning of envisioning a house on my property, I had high hopes of preserving a sizable twin oak that would end up being pretty close to the front of the house.<br />
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The builder was sure we'd be able to keep it. The guy who pulled the stumps kindly avoided the root ball. The surveyor (theoretically) worked hard locating the footprint to save it, and the piling crew did a bunch of handwork to accommodate the roots. It looked like we were home free, pilings sunk and ready to start banding (insert record scratch here)...<br />
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*Let's take a pause. There a SO many incidental costs that pop up when you build a house, outside of having to do with the structure itself. SO many. I knew this would be a factor, but no one could give me a ball park figure. In my area, 10k would be a good number to start with <i>if</i> everything goes according to plan...<br />
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My property is located in a sensitive ecological zone. A plus is I'm bordered by land that which can't be developed so - minimal neighbors. A minus is the numerous extra regulations, one of which has to do with the setbacks - how close to your property lines you can site the dwelling.<br />
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I researched this way back in the beginning, while doing my homework. (we'll revisit this detail later on in the story) What I found was 50' from the front property line and 30' from the sides, which is huge, and majorly impacted where I sited my house, the clearing I did, and what kind of plan and footprint I could choose. There are also strict rules about percentage of acreage cleared, and coverage.<br />
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During one of the myriad meetings with the surveyors, I was informed that the setbacks were quite a bit smaller (30' and 12') than what I had thought. This meant I could for sure save the tree. I was overjoyed. They staked my footprint and generated the drawings and paperwork that <b><i>nothing could progress further without</i></b>. I mentioned my findings, but was assured that their numbers were good. Here is the start of several themes that persisted throughout my house building experience:<br />
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1. I seemed to be the only person researching anything, and<br />
2. to question professionals or not to question professionals...<br />
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On the
edge of your seat yet? I won't keep you waiting. The pilings had to be
moved after the county came to inspect the setbacks. (a gigantic error)
Fortunately - due to a symmetrical house plan - we were able to leapfrog just the back row of pilings to
the front row and be within regulations, although getting back on the
piling guy's schedule set us behind by 30 days. And fortunate for me, but not
the oak. Another theme that kept popping up - avoid getting attached - be flexible...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bye bye oak :(</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When the dumpster appears - you are officially in business!</td></tr>
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<br />Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-17940276477800521632019-01-12T20:48:00.002-05:002019-02-04T21:35:52.077-05:00Horse Before House Part 1If it hadn't been for Val, I would probably still be living in a
tiny, low-lying, overpriced rental cottage, waiting for the next storm
to come and flood me out again - <a href="https://www.calmforwardstraight.com/2010/09/calm-after-storm.html">frequently needing to negotiate several feet of seawater to get to my horse.</a><br />
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The
paddock and run-in I leased for Val, was put on the market just a few
months after we arrived. In the scramble to keep the only suitable
horse-keeping spot available, I made a <a href="https://www.calmforwardstraight.com/search?q=owner+finance">pie-in-the-sky offer</a> on the property (owner financed + no down payment) and suddenly was the owner of<a href="https://www.calmforwardstraight.com/2014/01/back-to-glass-half-full-land.html"> 2.7 acres on a tiny destination island in the Atlantic Ocean</a>.<br />
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Rent <i>and</i> mortgage being out of the question, next came the Shimmy Shack. <a href="https://www.calmforwardstraight.com/2011/07/in-arena-83-few-and-far-between-from.html">She
took her final journey to the farmette, providing me with a
semi-comfortable, somewhat watertight home for the last eight years.</a><br />
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Fast
forward to last January, and the house building journey began for real -
plan chosen, builder interviewed, contract written, construction loan
secured, site cleared. After some serious number crunching - I bit the
bullet, committing to be the painting contractor - which I can confirm, is much easier
in the theoretical phase of the house building project lol.<br />
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Doing
anything equestrian-related beyond caring for my horse, (much less
creating blog-worthy horse content) was simply out of the question in
2018. It feels like the year passed in the blink of an eye. I was pretty
good about documenting the process photographically, so hopefully the
pics will help me share my review of the Year of the Unicorn...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgIOOI8v6akd5rkNmiMUXQkSJTkSzGXLMh4Ae_8Vv_akcv7ZTzRWzVir3Jy-H2H_0662bozuXjqd1erb89kzp16T9muNSYrgGEZLWDFyg-uP9Y4Cvfa4Cuf38KLs99458nztyDUah15A/s1600/IMG_0587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="1600" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgIOOI8v6akd5rkNmiMUXQkSJTkSzGXLMh4Ae_8Vv_akcv7ZTzRWzVir3Jy-H2H_0662bozuXjqd1erb89kzp16T9muNSYrgGEZLWDFyg-uP9Y4Cvfa4Cuf38KLs99458nztyDUah15A/s640/IMG_0587.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-60161393686289480252018-12-24T08:57:00.002-05:002018-12-24T08:57:44.167-05:00✵✵✵ Mission Accomplished ✵✵✵<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2vhyphenhyphen2dq8KJgJ7nEJYR0G1cOR1qr8kH7T5oVItG11DBrSmNI6Y-zzqAVR516-1Mdk-zWoqgC2CxkuDnpFzR-ZSgJKUYgABWiIjkBb09sukX0FRa26kgkYmY53Vpd5EQ83ItspAzBc2eI/s1600/xmascard2018+copy-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="1600" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2vhyphenhyphen2dq8KJgJ7nEJYR0G1cOR1qr8kH7T5oVItG11DBrSmNI6Y-zzqAVR516-1Mdk-zWoqgC2CxkuDnpFzR-ZSgJKUYgABWiIjkBb09sukX0FRa26kgkYmY53Vpd5EQ83ItspAzBc2eI/s640/xmascard2018+copy-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-35748277820591193002018-01-30T20:00:00.004-05:002018-01-30T20:03:23.023-05:00Just another time when science is awesome!This would come in so handy right about now. Article printed in full with credits.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Horses can use symbols to talk to us</span><br />
By Virginia Morell<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_o4NlmVeKn3k7slp5Af0XQ_p3Th8Gwkamzn207aY8FqEE7aK3Y8wAowsnjlB4agxB0yMZKCpoj1dFc7dtfExCwjLuuUFMBxRDGQmOPkC_J-70z6bPuBE1_KHpUEaI_nhFgIfljvU6KQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-01-30+at+7.54.34+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_o4NlmVeKn3k7slp5Af0XQ_p3Th8Gwkamzn207aY8FqEE7aK3Y8wAowsnjlB4agxB0yMZKCpoj1dFc7dtfExCwjLuuUFMBxRDGQmOPkC_J-70z6bPuBE1_KHpUEaI_nhFgIfljvU6KQ/s640/Screen+Shot+2018-01-30+at+7.54.34+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Creative Commons </span> <br />
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<div class="article__body">
There will never be a horse like Mr. Ed, the talking equine TV
star. But scientists have discovered that the animals can learn to use
another human tool for communicating: pointing to symbols. They join a
short list of other species, including some primates, dolphins, and
pigeons, with this talent. Scientists taught 23 riding horses of various
breeds to look at a display board with three icons, representing
wearing or not wearing a blanket. Horses could choose between a “no
change” symbol or symbols for “blanket on” or “blanket off.” Previously,
their owners made this decision for them. Horses are adept at learning
and following signals people give them, and it took these equines an
average of 10 days to learn to approach and touch the board and to
understand the meaning of the symbols. All 23 horses learned the entire
task within 14 days. They were then tested in various weather conditions
to see whether they could use the board to tell their trainers about
their blanket preferences. The scientists report online in <a href="http://www.appliedanimalbehaviour.com/article/S0168-1591(16)30219-2/abstract"><cite>Applied Animal Behaviour Science</cite></a> that <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2016.07.014">the horses did not touch the symbols randomly</a>,
but made their choices based on the weather. If it was wet, cold, and
windy, they touched the "blanket on" icon; horses that were already
wearing a blanket nosed the “no change” image. But when the weather was
sunny, the animals touched the "blanket off" symbol; those that weren’t
blanketed pressed the “no change” icon. The study’s strong results show
that the horses understood the consequences of their choices, say the
scientists, who hope that other researchers will use their method to ask
horses more questions.<br />
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<div class="meta-line" style="margin-bottom: .5em;">
Posted in: <br />
<ul class="list-comma">
<li><a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/category/brain-behavior">Brain & Behavior</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/category/plants-animals">Plants & Animals</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="doi-line">
doi:10.1126/science.aah7335</div>
</div>
Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-25334960209761116402018-01-04T19:17:00.001-05:002018-01-05T13:39:44.166-05:00Year in review - Part Two All creatures great and small...<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Val got his own post. Here's what the rest of the critters got up to in 2017...</div>
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These girls lay blue eggs...</div>
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Chickens love pumpkin!</div>
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One day's egg harvest this summer.</div>
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Lost this girl to one of my neighbor's starving and neglected hunting dogs. She was torn wide open...</div>
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I caught the offender skulking around the farmette again the next day.</div>
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Another chicken killer. I caught and relocated five coons this summer...</div>
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This doe and her twin fawns were fixtures on the farmette...</div>
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Deer like pumpkin as much as the hens do!</div>
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This tree frog was the size of my fingernail.</div>
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Hiding in the corn plant.</div>
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I saved a dozen anoles from Val's water trough this summer...</div>
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I rescued this one from the Shimmy Shack.</div>
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Another save from the trough...</div>
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This rat snake was about to shed - embiggen to see her milky eye...</div>
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Super healthy Hatteras King snake - she was relocated to my property...</div>
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I found this shed snake skin IN THE SHIMMY SHACK!!!</div>
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Planted plenty of fennel this year, which attracted these colorful caterpillars...</div>
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which led to lots of Black Swallowtail butterflies! I watched them pupate and hatch out.</div>
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A Gulf Fritillary, which feeds on wild passionflower vines, and isn't supposed to be this far north...</div>
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❤️❤️❤️ The indoor crowd ❤️❤️❤️</div>
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<br />Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-10366077374874099092018-01-01T21:56:00.001-05:002018-01-01T22:27:05.831-05:00I hearby declare 2018 Year of the Unicorn!No one is gladder than I am to see the back side of 2017.<br />
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Besides the myriad global crises - enough to sink anyone's ship of optimism - I've been navigating the world of mortgages, appraisals, stacks of (virtual) paperwork and endless hoops to be jumped through, since February. I am ecstatic to announce that on December 8th, I closed on my mortgage / construction loan. (there simply aren't enough exclamation points) Pilings should be going in this month, and theoretically (all fingers and toes crossed) I will have an actual house to live in by the end of the summer.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOtHyuce9-egI0qvchmqozTqoZso0IoNGkds0GsRlkINYbYqTYMwFFbkZtfZqI0QRJvCK0xYnHnr6INg-yoM-XIYkLRCufKbNA2h4VN3QJDzWe2WLt7DsNSqW9qXF5tGPzgTXCsls2uc/s1600/IMG_4272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOtHyuce9-egI0qvchmqozTqoZso0IoNGkds0GsRlkINYbYqTYMwFFbkZtfZqI0QRJvCK0xYnHnr6INg-yoM-XIYkLRCufKbNA2h4VN3QJDzWe2WLt7DsNSqW9qXF5tGPzgTXCsls2uc/s320/IMG_4272.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJ5vL6_4hM4TMUg_ZxUVB9PF0Ctyg_cB4a2cEvow1ZikfyKidopCiQ6Ev4oDWDRMDW9Z0JuhyphenhyphenTSOf0U7oi3jhhSdwixfYDvTCjud5MLj8QIQR0sa5EGroH6V1sxc2ILAHoh9DKzbA_UM/s1600/IMG_4311_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJ5vL6_4hM4TMUg_ZxUVB9PF0Ctyg_cB4a2cEvow1ZikfyKidopCiQ6Ev4oDWDRMDW9Z0JuhyphenhyphenTSOf0U7oi3jhhSdwixfYDvTCjud5MLj8QIQR0sa5EGroH6V1sxc2ILAHoh9DKzbA_UM/s320/IMG_4311_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">During (yours truly operating the tree carrying tractor!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After - clearing for house and new road in</td></tr>
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While I am very fond of the Shimmy Shack - which made it possible to live on my land while preparing for the house building project - it is time for an upgrade. I'm ready to be doing something more than glorified camping. For example, as I write this - the thermostat (inside) has achieved a balmy 59 degrees. The refrigerator is on the porch. There are exactly seven minutes of hot water - only if I drain the tank, let it refill and hop in the shower immediately. 220 square feet. Not to mention hurricane season.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXlgrw8wYzhrt9FS9iWZguCsZbbUYPgGWIVbW7fwI7d673j3ta7qAvyywn1GLXw9Vx9oOsHrNnixrTXEwDA4MFjJdEFcJMtT09Gx6XnaXCtPkBDIgolELDUoANevQrzHnvVyWdXOIIwg/s1600/movingday7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXlgrw8wYzhrt9FS9iWZguCsZbbUYPgGWIVbW7fwI7d673j3ta7qAvyywn1GLXw9Vx9oOsHrNnixrTXEwDA4MFjJdEFcJMtT09Gx6XnaXCtPkBDIgolELDUoANevQrzHnvVyWdXOIIwg/s1600/movingday7.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shimmy Shack when she first moved in...</td></tr>
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With this major life change comes a major blog change. I'm assuming that every spare minute of my life will be accounted for in the coming year making this new house happen, transitioning the family business, running the farmette, plus caring for my aging father. There is literally no time or money for extracurricular horse activities. So - for 2018, I'm changing the focus of the blog to chronicle the house building. With a little bit of luck, once things settle down - I can put more focus back into riding. Adulting is hard.<br />
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Big announcement made - now on to the Year in Review, which I'll break into a few posts as it's basically everything that happened that I didn't post all year long lol...<br />
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Val:<br />
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Val came through 2017 a little whiter, a little less fit, but still an adorable rascal.<br />
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Highlights (for him, not me) include the time he escaped and went on a wild runabout. Uncharacteristically, I did not freak out. I followed his tracks - which led over to visit his girlfriend Honey Bee's house next door first, and then off down the trail to the beach. By the time I grabbed his halter and made sure he hadn't headed out to the road, he came galloping back off the trail. I stood in the middle of the path and he skidded to a stop, put his head down to be haltered, and meekly followed me back to his paddock.<br />
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Unfortunately, Val absolutely tore his feet to shreds during his escapade. His soles separated, curled up and away from his walls, and the walls broke off well up his foot. It was a disaster, and took several months to correct. I learned quite a bit about trimming from the incident - mostly what not to do...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSP5YAgc5i7yDCLyC3mkksGzfktyTB4WOlihX5vsjEgHgflBzwt3x-8aW_sTNssNPfT9VWVhNM3X_Lr-PLhhNaR3NLu2mFwURukZ_OVPj0O1f3PKr34VHmR5IL49kahe8EsBdW_djO-Q/s1600/IMG_3474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSP5YAgc5i7yDCLyC3mkksGzfktyTB4WOlihX5vsjEgHgflBzwt3x-8aW_sTNssNPfT9VWVhNM3X_Lr-PLhhNaR3NLu2mFwURukZ_OVPj0O1f3PKr34VHmR5IL49kahe8EsBdW_djO-Q/s320/IMG_3474.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His girlfriend Honey Bee</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FIAD_Kh9D2oVp6KSJou2y1P-X54q781e5Ft7_DN2PoSdoX_NqxjkOpNUmS5a0fr5IH8dDkudoeskmqvluuCRQj6Y0491oCdg2mqIV_Cz-g3LHCDeKZqqEp3CN77w29sa-Vukt7x0WBM/s1600/IMG_3004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1447" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FIAD_Kh9D2oVp6KSJou2y1P-X54q781e5Ft7_DN2PoSdoX_NqxjkOpNUmS5a0fr5IH8dDkudoeskmqvluuCRQj6Y0491oCdg2mqIV_Cz-g3LHCDeKZqqEp3CN77w29sa-Vukt7x0WBM/s320/IMG_3004.jpg" width="289" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the damage from the runabout</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-qRsdVWd_JN-5ZMhbezsLw-3UIHGaR_I4MLGkB3M48AWSF8n3YhyphenhyphenbpBS07TWU0GEag1JTumr75RPFvvfOXH6D26TtgvoE94Ji7yAySI3_2J9Uxti-blhEerSGfG4UCsO1UPdyWQVYWA/s1600/IMG_3005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1370" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-qRsdVWd_JN-5ZMhbezsLw-3UIHGaR_I4MLGkB3M48AWSF8n3YhyphenhyphenbpBS07TWU0GEag1JTumr75RPFvvfOXH6D26TtgvoE94Ji7yAySI3_2J9Uxti-blhEerSGfG4UCsO1UPdyWQVYWA/s320/IMG_3005.jpg" width="274" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Looks nice, but I took way too much toe off...<br />
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Overtracking</td></tr>
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A highlight for me was a blogger visit in May. Nicole (<a href="http://waitingforthejump.blogspot.com/">Wait for the Jump</a>) and her delightful husband Carlos spent the weekend here on the island. We had a lovely time.
Great meals, long beach walks, tons of horse talk, and best of all
quality time with Val. I hopped on to warm him up, and then Nicole took
him for a spin. He was a gentleman as usual.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLTNHtvk6vLv2wyDUnR98MeAfKSDZgGVaZEX6ROWIMorNpwA3o3BcItKW94k3wKFhyphenhyphenew1HegfpXAuHEL2QikArRSe-3i1zTttkp8q-05mJUMlYOytTUWX28k0mktmi_xQsqPrLZPrY9A/s1600/IMG_2048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLTNHtvk6vLv2wyDUnR98MeAfKSDZgGVaZEX6ROWIMorNpwA3o3BcItKW94k3wKFhyphenhyphenew1HegfpXAuHEL2QikArRSe-3i1zTttkp8q-05mJUMlYOytTUWX28k0mktmi_xQsqPrLZPrY9A/s320/IMG_2048.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GKzOzK_M7WV30n8UaOI8xAOkZuoRNGUBCYelpYX01oUvkBZ08WAWyGZ1Dba5O8hb1EFid_tIkmeLRLGDaGA4DVpT9ODIBxljtvdobAz5A4eiP-BrXYfNvM1ml6IOB6oNmluTvtn2K2o/s1600/IMG_2068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GKzOzK_M7WV30n8UaOI8xAOkZuoRNGUBCYelpYX01oUvkBZ08WAWyGZ1Dba5O8hb1EFid_tIkmeLRLGDaGA4DVpT9ODIBxljtvdobAz5A4eiP-BrXYfNvM1ml6IOB6oNmluTvtn2K2o/s320/IMG_2068.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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A not great-at-all thing that happened in 2017, was the discovery of another good sized melanoma on Val's upper lip, close to where the bit rests. We've been experimenting with the bitless bridle. I can't figure why I hadn't noticed this before, which leads me to believe it may be fast growing. This is in addition to melanomas on his anus and the underside of his dock. After consultation with the vet, I'm going the watchful waiting route for now. <br />
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One thing that hasn't changed in the nine (!) years I've had Val, is his cleverness and sense of humor. Every afternoon I spread some scratch for the chickens. Val generally expects to receive a handful of sunflower seeds - a toll to pass through the gate if you will - which I withheld this particular day due to cheeky behavior on the way to the grazing pen. He shook his head impatiently, stretched his neck out over the gate with his best treat face, then offered multiple smooches. When that didn't work he went through his entire trick repertoire one after the other in rapid fashion. I was rolling... I <span id="goog_1484717718"></span><span id="goog_1484717719"></span>love that horse. ❤️❤️❤️<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm50I3b-jpNVlGclTdZoRdnjnpgApVmIryeOvs-q8wd4Hd6Ur9aXR8F_q-KLCz7WRgtTK2umtoyBukz4sBcela_iYR4C44NofHt6om3dvfcwjxKVG8pHHVXWPc4fw1FNjacakH8RM_ryo/s1600/IMG_3255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm50I3b-jpNVlGclTdZoRdnjnpgApVmIryeOvs-q8wd4Hd6Ur9aXR8F_q-KLCz7WRgtTK2umtoyBukz4sBcela_iYR4C44NofHt6om3dvfcwjxKVG8pHHVXWPc4fw1FNjacakH8RM_ryo/s320/IMG_3255.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite view</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMLh10zeDUbM9VAtacauxkggaCuINvVvL5cV1mL23BUXWkR9QuW1X1sNVM1nL5u3S4wj-ZbfJeXZH4VfpvWKAiL9DzglGxOjFO7njGiW4uWAX0NZeFknC0l02rWK2ifwuOhe607nGUMY/s1600/IMG_3260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1258" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMLh10zeDUbM9VAtacauxkggaCuINvVvL5cV1mL23BUXWkR9QuW1X1sNVM1nL5u3S4wj-ZbfJeXZH4VfpvWKAiL9DzglGxOjFO7njGiW4uWAX0NZeFknC0l02rWK2ifwuOhe607nGUMY/s320/IMG_3260.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas card outtake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRLn3HgDUI9fDEhEpRwjYKZQsRZlF3tUZeGT7Mkjta634McgvyzN-fbG1bWnY3mQuEbSu_vsFaauirFfINIyd59yPdy_k6GhSgmJD0vOxqzDyFv40CKXk5ZbdMm4mlNPNOflFaSww55Y/s1600/IMG_1595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRLn3HgDUI9fDEhEpRwjYKZQsRZlF3tUZeGT7Mkjta634McgvyzN-fbG1bWnY3mQuEbSu_vsFaauirFfINIyd59yPdy_k6GhSgmJD0vOxqzDyFv40CKXk5ZbdMm4mlNPNOflFaSww55Y/s320/IMG_1595.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doing what he does best (besides eat)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7WX8GyBLqqE_GbyB84ah0hMsN6ChYrG3dLFRTtbx6OW16iSeXuUBQ0XzgnIXEjApwWKbFGyKqN_9ICttiZuV1KrIELC1hDHpm9oI7FWtY3urmN3pirLH-V-r1lWsN2FoTLj62GF3sc4/s1600/IMG_3508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="849" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7WX8GyBLqqE_GbyB84ah0hMsN6ChYrG3dLFRTtbx6OW16iSeXuUBQ0XzgnIXEjApwWKbFGyKqN_9ICttiZuV1KrIELC1hDHpm9oI7FWtY3urmN3pirLH-V-r1lWsN2FoTLj62GF3sc4/s320/IMG_3508.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Year of the Unicorn!!</td></tr>
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Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-14106407270997441622017-12-24T21:16:00.000-05:002017-12-24T21:16:33.830-05:00Season's Greetings!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-44596569732125956092017-06-25T22:54:00.000-04:002017-06-26T06:40:47.526-04:0010 Questions Blog Hop 1. What is your earliest, clearest horse memory?<br />
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To my horse crazy four or five year old eyes - he was the most beautiful, shining white steed I'd ever seen. In reality, Comet was a lame, sway-backed, elf-shoe-hoofed, randy old pony stallion, who my grandmother was deathly afraid would "jump on me" if she let me near him. Nonetheless, first chance I got, I climbed through that rusty barbed wire fence. Sweet success! Obviously the ass whoopin' that followed did nothing to curb my enthusiasm.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi708gVzNUTMa8KBb2yQb5i5H4pN5-Lkg9DJ-1vIAwleFA8gaMTsQLIVHp5dUlSgMp6i7Nr7hZg9rYhgNHOccMlfLG9-I3QG9a0b89c2CtnhLJaCvnIvDtJxyzcNvSxkESPqcHvmQYfmj0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-25+at+10.24.56+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="594" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi708gVzNUTMa8KBb2yQb5i5H4pN5-Lkg9DJ-1vIAwleFA8gaMTsQLIVHp5dUlSgMp6i7Nr7hZg9rYhgNHOccMlfLG9-I3QG9a0b89c2CtnhLJaCvnIvDtJxyzcNvSxkESPqcHvmQYfmj0/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-25+at+10.24.56+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Sadly no pics of Comet exist - borrowed this one from the interwebs</span></div>
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2. Describe the perfect summer day.<br />
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Probably one that happens somewhere else. 85 degrees with 90% humidity is what we have to look forward to until mid to late September. Autumn and winter are the preferable seasons here. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BD_DCVL1RVt41Oc_gywBlQKXwBmEjbimmG2vFkpAzU7AyphnK_u_QW4iuEuig31qQxvxPsz2SfSI736QIOEoXjL8u5OuMt7lkJqemNGOrHSnU4Ta2JF5-gkr7LseMtkdgUgeDJb_LLQ/s1600/image1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1524" data-original-width="1132" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BD_DCVL1RVt41Oc_gywBlQKXwBmEjbimmG2vFkpAzU7AyphnK_u_QW4iuEuig31qQxvxPsz2SfSI736QIOEoXjL8u5OuMt7lkJqemNGOrHSnU4Ta2JF5-gkr7LseMtkdgUgeDJb_LLQ/s320/image1.jpeg" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not all bad...</td></tr>
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3. Are you reading anything right now? Tell me about it!<br />
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Just finished Arundhati Roy's <i>The Ministry of Utmost Happiness</i> quickly followed by her earlier work <i>The God of Small Things, </i>which won the Booker prize. Roy's writing simply sparkles and the plot lines carry you away. <br />
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4. Do you follow a celebrity (horsey or not) that fascinates you?<br />
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I'm in awe of Charlotte DuJardin. Witnessing her gold medal winning rides in the London and Rio Olympics inspired me beyond words.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghOZNKF1t-tWtv8zqtwJUWOaVI20ThZJl6rnis-Cuj6sKztvqDTil_Pfrebxr_qPKD4E6cpuevhHoD7tpttzVvoXhrsFEpT5s88gDvbocRue7CuvngGK5yoNiJHQRoMtHGEOBWYb5Hh4/s1600/19397101_1294383384008444_8308472169208568317_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghOZNKF1t-tWtv8zqtwJUWOaVI20ThZJl6rnis-Cuj6sKztvqDTil_Pfrebxr_qPKD4E6cpuevhHoD7tpttzVvoXhrsFEpT5s88gDvbocRue7CuvngGK5yoNiJHQRoMtHGEOBWYb5Hh4/s320/19397101_1294383384008444_8308472169208568317_n.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apparently Charlotte and Valegro do jump once in a while</td></tr>
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5. What is your single largest horse dream or goal?<br />
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I'd really like to nail one tempis. That is basically a pipe dream until I can get off this godforsaken island for regular instruction ever again. In the meantime, I'm focusing on being the best horsewoman I can be. This has more to do with caring for my horse these days, than riding him, which makes me very sad, but is the wisest course until my house building project is completed, as I'm the only income earner. I take that back - the chickens are paying for themselves. Basically Val needs a job.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMIqWOVsbAZZ5sa5Ofqyqo099lNjXkzYgeEJzUpGSRfF26Y1Isji2YK1lEmK1SwvxBSWAKicFpeYcgORVO_9rA7SlH2jGeSR5VsS0vwZvi1UxhVz3Ztj66AfXvDWH_LLPIRL0c_UEvTc/s1600/IMG_2185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1486" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMIqWOVsbAZZ5sa5Ofqyqo099lNjXkzYgeEJzUpGSRfF26Y1Isji2YK1lEmK1SwvxBSWAKicFpeYcgORVO_9rA7SlH2jGeSR5VsS0vwZvi1UxhVz3Ztj66AfXvDWH_LLPIRL0c_UEvTc/s320/IMG_2185.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Besides being a hair model...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gCu6s69kqctz2r9_T3Be6-E1n94j2JKlk5XmMJ0AKYc__DCZpQMKUvkBFfKOR6BWqiFW_Bj9sXDPpU7Lt7_w4thKYb9tM_exuU1u2kWJu_whV1LUXoU9vN90P_KZ-4Kw9f2ZJo-Abfs/s1600/IMG_2126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gCu6s69kqctz2r9_T3Be6-E1n94j2JKlk5XmMJ0AKYc__DCZpQMKUvkBFfKOR6BWqiFW_Bj9sXDPpU7Lt7_w4thKYb9tM_exuU1u2kWJu_whV1LUXoU9vN90P_KZ-4Kw9f2ZJo-Abfs/s320/IMG_2126.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">or king of all naps</td></tr>
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6. If you were at Starbucks right now, what would you order?<br />
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Nothing. I've recently learned how to cold brew coffee and I'm never going back. <br />
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7. What is your biggest equine pet peeve?<br />
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People who treat horses like machines... like they are disposable. Like you can just trade them in on a newer model. They're living, breathing individuals, not a means to an end. It is a privilege to ride them.<br />
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8. With everything going on politically and in the media, do you follow it religiously? Tune it out? Something in between?<br />
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For mental health reasons, I've had to decrease my news intake drastically since last November. When I do catch up, it's through NPR and BBC.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03lLxEmoQpw451qv0vSMCgt43JAQel6oXVstVBgovw_9Obvj1FpdaVopgRfdfcQxftP7L77LL63atp7Q6LhkCq58G_AzRktI-2N9XLQylhneuKOcsB6pHsuFuFzpZaa0uHZ3s0TjQ0_8/s1600/image1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="618" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03lLxEmoQpw451qv0vSMCgt43JAQel6oXVstVBgovw_9Obvj1FpdaVopgRfdfcQxftP7L77LL63atp7Q6LhkCq58G_AzRktI-2N9XLQylhneuKOcsB6pHsuFuFzpZaa0uHZ3s0TjQ0_8/s320/image1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and occasionally Twitter</td></tr>
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9. If you had to show your horse to a song, what would you choose?<br />
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Should I ever get so lucky as to choreograph a freestyle, I'd probably chose jazz. Charlie Parker, Thelonius Monk, Bud Powell... either that or reggae. <br />
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10. What are you most looking forward to this summer?<br />
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I'm waiting for the day I sign a construction loan and get in line with my builder. Hopefully that will happen in the next few months. Rapidly realizing that building a house on my own in an area with sky high real estate values is a pie in the sky endeavor. Wish me luck!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_veSCo8mjZDihlVu7TRIwXtOq0Fbv-DJ_u59qRfMpeT2IJHlMKhh8YbCj3dFqfY0Ki3PKdxnX_PpJC_8PWZ12mxH5Yh4OqH5o3hxkI-Mx_Wd6QWFUYvjSZletXyeRsYNhA4mttipTss/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-25+at+10.36.52+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="776" data-original-width="1160" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_veSCo8mjZDihlVu7TRIwXtOq0Fbv-DJ_u59qRfMpeT2IJHlMKhh8YbCj3dFqfY0Ki3PKdxnX_PpJC_8PWZ12mxH5Yh4OqH5o3hxkI-Mx_Wd6QWFUYvjSZletXyeRsYNhA4mttipTss/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-25+at+10.36.52+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the house plan I've chosen - minus fancy deck rails and porch screens</td></tr>
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Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-76880873316445394162017-04-01T20:25:00.000-04:002017-04-01T20:25:55.905-04:00Super cool x a million!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span>Just when you thought he couldn't get any awesomer...</span></div>
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<span><a href="http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/cant-wait-valegro-aimed-new-career-616524">'We can't wait': Valegro aimed at new career - Horse & Hound </a> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NV93_fj3h1L3yQsSIlqyoenr8dfUW-yFBwx3Mea7dKh6eEj9xx0jKUSfYCYuOMBEf4VXGZRGxm4_azeSTuLO8X7NM0ZwGxZdrWJX1dLc6FN3PzCwJftTV71BzSvUqXITSOulYVbCxtw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-04-01+at+7.30.58+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NV93_fj3h1L3yQsSIlqyoenr8dfUW-yFBwx3Mea7dKh6eEj9xx0jKUSfYCYuOMBEf4VXGZRGxm4_azeSTuLO8X7NM0ZwGxZdrWJX1dLc6FN3PzCwJftTV71BzSvUqXITSOulYVbCxtw/s640/Screen+Shot+2017-04-01+at+7.30.58+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span> Photo from Horse and Hound </span></div>
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<span><span style="font-size: x-large;">😉</span></span></div>
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Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-43354605600386504672017-03-08T07:05:00.000-05:002017-03-08T07:05:57.803-05:00International Women's Day 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamADfngNrn8-bG1eUmM8YFMI4Gjz1XhtAcTSaFh7OfZDoox-f_rTaoL46_XQ-TYNlvXhVtAN2ershOMYgvMkPK0X9-32CbfkD0SuJFVM_eAcl2plaLhn2zEKVnd4s1c1oZvciiojCgEY/s1600/image1+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamADfngNrn8-bG1eUmM8YFMI4Gjz1XhtAcTSaFh7OfZDoox-f_rTaoL46_XQ-TYNlvXhVtAN2ershOMYgvMkPK0X9-32CbfkD0SuJFVM_eAcl2plaLhn2zEKVnd4s1c1oZvciiojCgEY/s640/image1+2.jpeg" width="464" /></a></div>
<br />Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-39200918167164552132017-01-26T20:04:00.000-05:002017-01-26T20:10:17.894-05:00💟 1.26.02 💟<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Youth is the gift of nature, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">but age is a work of art.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stanislaw Jerzy Lec</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">To celebrate his 15th birthday today, Val enjoyed an afternoon of pampering - massive currying + scratches, conditioning mane and tail for continued lushness, and a sweet pedicure, followed by his favorite treat - gingersnaps. I can confirm we are now officially into shedding season. Can't believe this will be our eighth year together. :D</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB63cCbmAXzFKnLruwB91Rw0Nwc6QYcz2EUGegLnglH4dkxMUeY8J-V3VcLDERfOcnPvwCgIMVBO4mv41VGa94jjPTdYbe9qwtM47kh1R7Mw8UmYQ_Tt-qe0bMHyIeOtK1d2DpPv0KLs0/s1600/1.26.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB63cCbmAXzFKnLruwB91Rw0Nwc6QYcz2EUGegLnglH4dkxMUeY8J-V3VcLDERfOcnPvwCgIMVBO4mv41VGa94jjPTdYbe9qwtM47kh1R7Mw8UmYQ_Tt-qe0bMHyIeOtK1d2DpPv0KLs0/s320/1.26.17.jpg" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love this guy</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </span></div>
<br />Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-32415380690677058542017-01-21T10:42:00.001-05:002017-01-21T10:42:16.827-05:001.20.17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmMBqmnIisMKq-DWq9RuhlidbwZJmNfBe2o7PFvLqVQ6ASDcLZNDu-w-kERWANZd7ZRv3wNvWonHo1tFU-AYnBYYWIluo-FlH1xnOhDHi0kYvvW1TwnpvF8SIvWDoWzd4DCd_2H_a8JU/s1600/trumpersticker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmMBqmnIisMKq-DWq9RuhlidbwZJmNfBe2o7PFvLqVQ6ASDcLZNDu-w-kERWANZd7ZRv3wNvWonHo1tFU-AYnBYYWIluo-FlH1xnOhDHi0kYvvW1TwnpvF8SIvWDoWzd4DCd_2H_a8JU/s640/trumpersticker.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-13987275209424861182016-12-25T18:53:00.000-05:002016-12-25T18:53:44.830-05:00On the twelfth day of Christmas...<br />
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♫♪♬ On the twelfth day of Christmas... ♫♪♬</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V5QPXhStb5I" width="640"></iframe>Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-27678887716750598912016-12-24T20:06:00.000-05:002016-12-25T18:53:59.591-05:00On the eleventh day of Christmas...<br />
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♫♪♬ On the eleventh day of Christmas... ♫♪♬</div>
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Calm, Forward, Straighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005422562901601859.post-71672988411425931992016-12-23T18:27:00.000-05:002016-12-23T18:27:02.114-05:00On the tenth day of Christmas...<br />
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♫♪♬ On the tenth day of Christmas... ♫♪♬<br />
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