For Cara's eyes only

Sorry, Cara. I really tried to do this in an email, but it's so much easier to refer to pictures when they're right there mixed in with the text...

Fran might be right about the saddle tipping you back a bit. It certianly looks that way in this picture. Remind me and we'll try something different with the padding tomorrow. This picture is also a really good illustration of what I'm talking about when I say you need to put your shoulders back and bend your elbows. Your elbows are better here but you're still trying to hold her head down. It's better to keep a straight line from your elbow to the bit.

Both of you look more relaxed here. We might want to try putting your stirrups up a hole, though. Your heels are down, but this is pretty long.

Again, nice and relaxed.

I think this is the best picture of the group. Your shoulders are back and you look really nice. Allison's head is way up (of course) but she's stepping up nicely under herself.

Also nice. You look a bit stiffer here, but still fine.

This was the very first canter attempt. Weee!

See how your feet have come out in front of you? You're much less balanced here than at the trot.

Straight arms, feet out in front, rounded shoulders.

More of the same. I know she's really, really hard to sit at the canter, but you need to keep your shoulders back and your feet under you. I promise it will help.

Enough picking at you. For all that, it was still a good ride!

Back to school

Today is the first day of the new school year. Ryan is in fourth grade. James is in second grade.I made the boys pose on the front porch for the obligatory first day picture. Ryan made some smart comments about that. I didn't think they were all that funny but James giggled.

Doesn't every child bring a giant zucchini with him on the first day of school?

Come on, Mama. Put down the camera and let's go!

August 2009

And again

This happens all the time:Of course, everyone in this family wants to blame their lost shoes on Maggie. I don't know why. Does this look like a shoe thief?

This one's going to the dog bed for safekeeping.

And this one belongs in the bedroom...

August 2009

This!

Zucchini art

It's official--2009 is the Year of the Zucchini. We've made zucchini bread, zucchini lasagna, zucchini muffins, zucchini souffle and chocolate zucchini cake. Still, we have a never ending supply of zucchinis.

Today, Ryan tried his hand as zucchini carving.P.S. We've also discovered that baby rats are big fans of raw, shredded zucchini!

The Spice Girls

Meet the Spice Girls. This is Basil,

Cinnamon

and Sage.

They are four and one half weeks old. Cinnamon and Sage are full sisters. Basil has the same dad (Ted) but a different Mama.

Ever since the first time we babysat the Beutel rats, Ryan and James have been pining for a pair of rats to call their own. For a long time I thought they were too young, but they did so well with Bella and Alice last month that Seth and I decided it was time.

So how did we end up with three?

The boys and I drove out to the rat breeder's house last week. He had three litters of baby rats to choose from, but as far as Ryan was concerned there was only one acceptable rat and that was Cinnamon. He chose her right away and never wavered.

James was not as definite. He had to pick up each baby rat and hold it. Once he'd held them all he had to go back and do it again. This took a lot of time. While I was waiting for his decision, I kept picking up this sweet little grey rat. She cuddled into my hands and although I tried to talk James into choosing her, he was not interested. Eventually he settled on Basil and I decided that I would take the grey rat for myself. She was just too cute to leave behind.

Seth gave me a hard time about coming home with an extra, but it's turned out to be a good decision. Three rats = three times the fun!

August 2009

Cinnamon

As of last Friday, there are three new little Buxtons living in our basement. Adorable as they are, the new arrivals are not the subject of today's post. Instead I'm thinking back to 1983 when the first Cinnamon came into my life. That Cinnamon was a chestnut pony mare, about 13.2 hands tall, who belonged to Tom Sawyer Day Camp. One of my classmates had leased her for the winter, but she was a timid rider and it wasn't long before she decided Cinnamon was unmanageable. I was a lot braver so she became my project.

And what a wonderful project she was! She was being boarded at Eaton Canyon Riding Club which was just down the road from my parents' house. I rode her several times a week and her previous bad behavior all but disappeared with more frequent exercise.

My best friend Sarah rode her, too!

Even Erin and her friend Lisa shared in the fun. I really like this picture because Cinnamon's forelock and Erin's bangs look almost identical!

Snickers may hold the "Best Pony Ever" title, but Cinnamon is the one I most wish I could own now. She was such a nice pony. All these years later and I still miss her.

1983.

Cara and Rasko at Doggie Swim

"Come on Rasko, get in the pool!" "Maybe...!"

"Not really what I had in mind, but you're still a good dog."

August 2009.

Ryan and Maggie at Doggie Swim

"Come on Maggie, you can do it!""We'll swim together to the edge."

"I will help you."

"Hey, you're getting me wet!"

"You're such a good dog."

"I love you!"

August 2009

More zucchinis

Every morning James goes outside and picks a new zucchini. They are getting bigger and bigger.

Please send all good zucchini recipes our way!

August 2009.