Pocket Perfect

To complement Jeff's new suits (and his several new ties I picked up at the thrift store for less than a $1 each!), I made him some pocket squares. I looked at buying them, but they were around $8-10 a piece for just a little scrap of silk. So, I hit a few fabric stores and bought 1/3 yard each of various satins and silky blends. With a carpenter's square, the zig-zag setting on my trusty sewing machine, and a few hours one afternoon, I whipped these up to coordinate with Jeff's wardrobe.

I still need one or two green tones and a few more shades of blue to work with all his ties, but it's a start (trying to find "manly" colors in the special occasion fabrics for weddings and proms is a bit difficult ;-).

Oops

I took a spill while riding this morning, but as the old adage goes, you have to get right back on the horse!

Flame spooked at the very scary neighbor lady engaged in the sinister task of hanging up laundry. I can't honestly blame him, since it was just shadowy movements behind a tall lattice fence and the weekly tornado siren test was blaring simultaneously. He spun and took off, and I had to bail out before he creamed me against a jump post. We all survived the incident, but I did manage to twist my ankle and maybe my knee, also. It wasn't enough to keep me from finishing the ride on a good note, however, so we faced his fears and worked for another 15 minutes.

I can never get really upset when a horse spooks, as I tend to be rather jumpy myself. Not while riding, mind you, but (rather more embarrassing) around the house with my own husband! I'm sure I can't count the number of times Jeff has startled me just by walking in the room. My hearing isn't bad, and I know he's home, so I can't figure out why I jump so badly. It's enough that my adrenalin starts pumping and I'm momentarily irritable as I try to register everything and calm my "fight or flight" response. I must have a little Arabian in me!

Jumping for Joy!

I suppose the post title should really something more like "the joy of jumping", but it doesn't quite have a same ring. I jumped Flame today for the first time, and he was a little champ! We've been having some really good rides lately and the regular workouts are great for both of us. We've been focusing on flatwork, mostly circles, transitions, a few ground poles and cavaletti, etc.; but Mary thought he was ready for a jump today.

We just did a little crossrail with a few trot poles in front, but he was straight and true. He's a big mover, and he was a big jumper, too. I'm excited to be working so quickly into new territory with him. Maybe we'll be ready soon to add a vertical jump after the crossrail, like in the picture!

Armstrong Auditorium dedication

We've been super busy lately, so I've neglected the blog. We had a great time at the dedication of Armstrong Auditorium in Edmond, OK over the Labor Day weekend. Here are a few photos of the event and the splendor!

Twelve magnificent columns


View from the balcony


In front of the swans in our Dedication ceremony "whites"
(please forgive the iPhone blurriness!)


Ezekiel Temple model


Red carpet and white formal-wear welcome for
Sir David Winn at the Swans in Flight unveiling

Let's suit up!

What a great blessing this week! Jeff has been needing some new suits, but with his tall, slim build it's always been difficult to find something that fits him. Our best best has been off the rack suit separates because we can get a jacket for his wide shoulders and long pants with a narrow waist. But we haven't been thrilled with the quality or selection available in this style.

After a few fruitless shopping expeditions, I happened to look at the JC Penney outlet store that we have locally. I wasn't expecting much, but I found three suits that look great on him and only require minimal alterations (outside of the mandatory pant hemming, of course). Best of all, they are great quality at outlet prices, and I had a 25% off coupon to boot! So for the price of one decent suit, I got three (and one is a three piece with the vest and all; he'll look so dapper ;-).

Picnic in the Park

Sunday was an enjoyable day spent with the combined Nashville and Knoxville brethren at Cumberland Mountain State Park in Crossville, TN. We had a potluck picnic with grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and all the delicious side dishes and desserts that Southern cooks are renowned for.

We were in charge to purchase and transport half the supplies, among them the buns. 176 buns riding in a warm car really make the vehicle smell like a bread truck!

After a filling lunch, there was much fellowship and ball-playing. The pavilion was perfectly located next to the baseball field, the basketball goal, and the tennis courts. It was a wonderful afternoon with good attitudes, great fun, and surprisingly tolerable weather. Can't wait to do it next year!

Just a sampling of the food

Serving at the drink station (courtesy of S. Bonnell)


Hitting it out of the park (courtesy of S. Bonnell)

My new boy

I'm now the almost, kind-of, part-time owner of a horse! Okay, it's just a half-lease, but it's a phenomenal deal and a great opportunity (hopefully for both him and me).

I've been riding hunter/jumper and dressage on and off since my teen years, as my budget and schedule would allow. I couldn't find a stable here in Alabama when we first moved, but through some connections I finally located a great instructor last year. She's actually one of the best with whom I've ever trained, so it's a real blessing. Just last week she offered me a half-lease on a lovely Arabian gelding at a great price. He needs a bit of work to really refine him, hence the good deal. I'm flattered that I'm to the point where she thinks it will be an asset to have me work him!

Here are a few photos of Flame. He's just over 15 hands, 9 years old, chestnut in color, and a real sweetie. And he's all mine in the mornings any day I want! The stable is only 15 minutes away, so I'll be riding three or four times a week. Hurray! (And thank you darling husband for supporting and encouraging my habit!)

Here's Flame grazing:

Checking out the camera:

After our workout and hose-down, waiting for his sugar cubes:

It keeps going, and going, and going...

Well, we only had to suffer the heat indoors for a few days last week. Somehow, miraculously, the air conditioner started working again sometime on Saturday. We were gone all day, and when we got home we noticed that it was quite comfortable upstairs. When it was still nice and cool and dehumidified the next day, we started to get excited. It's now four days later and still going strong. We're prepared for it to give out again soon, but it's a nice reprieve. We won't look a gift horse in the mouth (or the HVAC in the vent, as the case may be)!

In the heat of the night...

With daily highs in the triple digits for the past week (and heat indexes of 110 for three days running), our upstairs heat pump finally gave out. We have been limping it along for a year or so now, having refrigerant added several times and a hard start installed. But this afternoon it must have officially died. I quickly noticed the increased humidity even before the temperature started to climb inside.

But thankfully, since we have such a large house, we also have two independent HVAC units. We had the downstairs unit replaced just last year, so we can enjoy the efficient, cooling, dehumidified drafts while we wait for the upstairs replacement.

For fun (and comfort), we decided to "camp out" downstairs in the living room. Since it's more formal than the family room, it gets less use, so it's about time it pulled its weight; I just never thought it would be as a master bedroom!

Tea for You, Tea for Me, Four for Tea

On the last night of my sister-in-law and nieces' visit, Rebekah reminded me I had promised her a tea party. We had already planned on a family game of Pictionary after dinner, but it was decided that we had a few minutes to squeeze in the previously pledged entertainment. What began as a quick interlude turned into a real silver tea service, our best china and silverware, my "going to church" hats, and an affected attitude with stuffy accents! It looked like so much fun that even the older sisters asked to join in, which delighted Rebekah to no end (it's surely hard to be so much younger and never have your games or ideas or jokes enjoyed by older siblings)!

Unbeknownst to us, Jeff recorded a fair bit of our impromptu antics, so I'm posting some segments to my embarrassment and their relishment. (The first clip is mostly just serving activity, but the second one has our rather humorous exchanges.)

Not camera shy!

I didn't know toddlers could be such hams! Jessica is not quite two, but she definitely knows what a camera is for. The moment I aimed one at her, she scrunched up her face and gave a big, cheesy grin! She also decided that one of DaVinci's "puppy towels" for wiping paws, the occasional dog drool, etc, was her new blankie named "Button".

Horsin' Around

We have had a blast with the nieces. In addition to playing games, going to the pool, sewing crafts, and cooking, the one activity the girls had their hearts set on was horseback riding. I ride hunter/jumper and dressage, and I had mentioned to the nieces that my riding instructor might be willing to give the older girls a lesson. She very graciously accommodated and I took Julia (almost 12), Sharon (almost 10), and Rebekah (almost 6) to the stables with me bright and early Wednesday morning. They got to experience grooming, picking the hooves, tacking up, and basic ground principles in addition to walk/trot gaits in the sand arena and the open cross-country course.

Sharon and Julia on Skittles and Skip


Rebecca loving on Circles after the ride

Fun with Science

With my sister-in-law and four nieces from Wisconsin here to visit for two weeks, we have been having fun days full of arts and crafts, books, and outings. Today Uncle Jeff planned a trip to the hands-on science museum in Huntsville. We haven't been before, as without the excuse of kids, we would have been a bit out of place. I'm glad we had opportunity today; young and older alike had a great time learning and exploring the many exhibits!

Playing surgeon


Rocking and rolling


Bubbles


A hair-raising experience

Concert in the Park

Jeff and I enjoyed a bit of Americana Monday evening at the concert in the park put on by our city Parks and Rec dept. It was thankfully not as hot and humid as earlier in the day, so we were quite comfortable in our chairs on the lawn, overlooking the Tennessee River.

The stage


DaVinci came too

Happy Anniversary

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. ~Mignon McLaughlin



I know Jeff checks this blog from time to time, so happy ninth anniversary darling!

It's hard to believe it's been almost a decade of marriage. As an unknown author stated, "An anniversary is a time to celebrate the joys of today, the memories of yesterday, and the hopes of tomorrow". We have certainly had our joyous and memorable present and past, and the future is bright with hope, so I can wholeheartedly agree.