Bugger

I stopped riding Dressage in any formal capacity over two years ago.  While I like the discipline, I hate showing.  It seemed rather pointless to practice for perfection when I had no intention of showing it off to anyone.  So I rescued a gaited horse and hit the trails.  I still use dressage principles but it's not the same.

Now, in an effort to rehome a few horses, I'm back in the dressage saddle again.  I've been thrown into riding 3+ times a week, from zero O_o  Sufficient to say, my body hates me & certain muscle groups are barely on speaking terms. 


On the upside, I'm dealing with nice horses not hopeless cases.  The one horses is quite talented, but hadn't been ridden from early spring to December.  We're both out of practice, which isn't helpful when folks are interested in what she is capable of doing but want to see it first.  Saying she can do X, Y, Z doesn't mean much without proof.

All would be well & good if I could find the video from when she was showing, but it's missing.  So I tried to make a new sales video tonight but I utterly buggered the ride.  I don't even want to watch it to see what can be salvaged.  She knew I was nervous (remember that whole 'hating to show' thing?) and we spent more time vaulting sideways than going forward.  Yeah, maybe I'll post it for y'all to watch - could at least be amusing, 'though I'd be as embarrassed as hell!

Funny, I know I'll ride tomorrow (after a healthy application of Advil and Icy Hot) and she'll be fine.  I'm irked she unsettled me this afternoon when I know we've done better in the past few days.  Anyhow, I'm off to pamper my poor, sore muscles.  Maybe I'll post some of the less embarrassing clips later. 

Wednesday Video

Had to share this video, I love how he builds and fills out the music - fantastic!

This Week's Lessons

1.) A dog trapped in the bathroom sounds remarkably similar to someone trying to break down your door.  One is much funnier to find at 3 AM than the other.

2.) When you buy something, write down who's to get it when you die, it'll save time and drama later.

3.) Wills, Beneficiary information, and other legal documents should be reviewed about every five years for the same reason as #2. 

4.) The horse community, in general, is the antithesis of the gun community.  No amount of wishing will change that.

5.) Sometimes, referring a customer to your competitor is the best solution.  You no longer have to deal with them and they do.

Biscuits

This is my basic biscuit recipe.  I found it years ago in a cookbook and fixed it.  Simple to make, fast to bake and very easy to turn into cheesy-garlic biscuits.


2 C Flour
4 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1/4 C lard*
3/4 C whole milk**

Sift together dry ingredients.  Cut in lard with a pastry knife until it's crumbly then fold in the milk.  Use your hands to finish combining the dough but don't go overboard.  Pull off chunks and place on a baking pan.  Into the oven @ 450º F for 10 minutes (or golden brown).

Best served with hot bacon and fresh coffee.



* If you use Crisco or butter, you will be disappointed.  Try local grocery chains or mom & pop type stores, if they don't have lard, odds are they can tell you who does.  It seems to last forever in the fridge, so no worries about having it go to waste.

** Yes, whole milk.  I was raised on 2% but started buying whole milk in college because it lasted longer.  Now I'm hooked & can't go back.  Some of the recipes just don't turn out the same with 2% or (God forbid) skim.  Though I have been known - in an emergency - to used dried milk mixed with half & half  (roughly 7 parts re-hydrated milk to 1 part half & half) 

Welcome

Hello there! *waves*  Thank you all for visiting my little corner of the blog-o-sphere.  Many thanks to the Gun Blog Black List for my recent surge in readership.  If you direct your eyes to the right-hand side of the screen, you'll see I've corrected my previous non-linkage to their fine site (my apologies!)  Stick around, I'm sure more free ice cream will appear in the near future.  God knows the dogs are bound to do something post worthy!

It's Electric!

The most satisfying sounds ever:  *POP* *Rwaarrr* *skritter*

aka: the neighbor's cat getting ~2300 volts off the fence around the flower beds.   Guess it won't be leaving any more presents amongst the bushes!

Better than Squeakies

While they're not *technically* dog toys, I have it on good authority that those Angry Bird plushes are wildly popular with the four-legged crowd.  You'd think I'd given them a live squirrel!