I'm back!!

I have been a very bad bad blogger. It's been over a year since I wrote anything!

Where to begin?  

I think the best addition to my life has been Riley. I finally got my Bernese Mountain Dog. He was 10 weeks old when I got him. He is now coming up on his 6 month birthday. One word to describe him:  AWESOME!  I have never met a more laid back gentle puppy!  Today he got to meet his brother Ben from Maine. He is still worn out from their visit. It was so hard to tell them apart and you really had to look at them. So without further ado, meet Riley!

Riley and Ben ^^

Well that's all for tonight. I will do more updating tomorrow!!

Hope everyone has a great night 

PA Farm Show 2013 and of course more bows!

On Friday, my mom and I headed up to the PA Farm Show held in Harrisburg where the PA National Horse Show is also held. Neither of us had been in over 10 years so we where excited to go.  Of course it started raining as soon as we neared Harrisburg.  I think it rains every time I go there.  It was miserable waiting to park but once in the complex it was nice.  Everything is under cover.

We walked around and saw the dairy cows, chickens, some sheep and some of the exhibitioners.  I missed seeing the ladies from the Victorian Ladies aside.  There were there to do a part in the Equine Showcase.

The place is so large that we walked around for about 3 hours and didn't see everything.  I was getting tired.  There weren't a lot of places to sit and standing on concrete really gets to me.  I did finally find my bling western belt that I have been searching for for the past couple years.

We bought our tickets for the first part of the rodeo finals.  That was the first time I had been to one and a while and must say that it was a well put on show.  Some videos are to follow.
You can see the rest on my Youtube

On the esty store front.... I sold my first set of bows to a lady in Texas!  I'm so excited.  You can go to my Facebook Page www.facebook.com/AsidePride  to see my latest creations.

2012 Wrap up

Looking back over 2012 it seems to me that it flew by.  It was full of ups and downs, good times and bad.  I am ending 2012 with hope and a determination that 2013 will be so much better.

I know everyone makes resolutions to lose weight, quit smoking --- which I need to do both... but I want to work on my health and hopefully be able to make myself feel better and push through the pain of the Fibro.  I want to be able to ride my horse again without it wiping me out for a couple of days afterward.  I want to be able to show some next year and possibly next fall be out fox hunting. 

I am also letting go of my past and getting rid of the things that blocked my heart on the advice a shamanic healer.  I know it sounds crazy but I met with her last night and I never known anyone who saw me like she did... the good and the bad.  She knew things about me that only were in my head and never spoken to anyone else...  She also said I did have 3 horses in my lifetime that were my favorites.  Its true, over the 20 horses I have owned my three are Squeaky, Hailie and my all time favorite - Baylady.  But Kelli's horse Charlie was saying hi too... that was funny.

I am hoping I can be better off financially this year.  Taking my job with the government has been rough on me cause I took a massive pay cut to come here but I have the job security and benefits.  I wasn't guaranteed a job in the civil engineering world... Developers can't afford to build houses so I was running out of work.  I want to be able to build on the Etsy shop and really be able to market my hair bows.

The things I am thankful for is the 2 people who have came into my life and have become like sisters to me.  I don't have any family besides my mom and these two have made my life better with having someone to be able to talk to about life.  Thank you Kelli and Jess.

So with that I want to say goodbye to 2012 and ring in a happy and health 2013 and I hope everyone else does the same.  Please be safe tonight if you go out...

Etsy!!! I did it!

Well I just took the plunge last night and went into the retail world of Etsy...

I figured I have some things to sell and hopefully I can promote my business of making handmade hair bows for the pony riders in your life.  I also have some vintage equestrian things on there since it is all the fashion rage!

Anyway for the people who read this blog please stop by and check my store out!

Aside Pride Store

Hopefully I will be able to find some neat sidesaddle items to list on there as well and I am going to be selling some of the photos I have taken of the local fox hunt.

Here are the bows

Merry Christmas from the Barn

Well I ended up not being such a Grinch this year.  Our Christmas was very low key spending it with great friends.  Also we were blessed with a white Christmas eve and the snow lasted till morning.

Christmas morning started with breakfast of chip beef gravy, biscuits and sausage.  A Connors' tradition.

The goose is in memory of my Dad.  It was one of his decoy's.

Then down to feed the horses and we had a little fun decorating some of them.

Squeaky

Snip was not thrilled. 

And finally the barn mascot was ready to give out doggie gifts of kisses.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and is looking forward to the New Year!

'Tis the season to be.....

a Grinch... 

Well I figured I would write one last blog post because you do know that the world is going to end tomorrow, right?   I am not holding my breath on that one...

Its been forever since I have posted so lots to update on. 

Life in the horse world has been pretty non-existent.  I leave for work in the dark and I basically get home in the dark.  I only see her basically on weekends when I am trying to catch her.  My mare is the most stubborn horse alive.  The only way to catch her is when she wants attention.  Or my friend K goes out into the field.  She can walk right up to her.  That makes me mad to no end.  Its not like I make the old girl do anything horrible.  She will gets some hot beet pulp with her grain and usually we just walk around the ring while a young girl I help rides one of the ponies.  I'm not asking much.  Oh well, I guess.

Next thing on my list is my health.  It sucks...  I was just diagnosed with Fibromyalgia (not cool).  I have been having steady neck pain, headaches, joint pain, and no muscle strength since October.  It seemed like a fast onset.  But now looking at a lot of the symptoms together it all makes sense.  All my blood work and tests all came back normal.  I am perfectly healthy in that aspect.  Add together that I pretty much feel like shit everyday of my life, I have IBS, HS, psuedo tumor celebri and now Fibro.  Two things are listed on the disability list.  I am 30.  No one should have all this stupid shit wrong with them.

So that's why I am a Grinch!  The only thing I like about Christmas is getting and giving gifts.  I don't have any family to spend it with, so my mother and I become Jewish for the day and go watch a movie and then hit up the Chinese restaurant for Christmas dinner.

So what movie should I see???

2,000 views!

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has read my blog.  Your awesome. 

Update about Sandy.  We made it thru OK.  Just no electric and all horses are fine.  Just lost some tin and siding and a tree thru the fence.  Hope everyone else is doing OK.