Equi-Soccer

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this yet, but Harmony Horsemanship has been invited to demonstrate Equi-Soccer at the Midwest Horse Fair in April. Paulette has scheduled four big soccer practices at the Jefferson County Fairground between now and then in order step up our game. We travel to the fairgrounds because there is more space to play "inside." I say "inside" because it was still really, really cold! We just didn't have to navigate the snow.

Here is the team all tacked up:


I rode Zippy for most of practice. It was really fun! But sooooooo very cold. My little piggies were screaming for relief by the end of the four hour practice.

Brown Sugar Pound Cake

While my mom was in town last weekend we made the Brown Sugar Pound Cake from All Cakes Considered. Sadly, I didn't get a very good picture of it. This is the best I got:


It was very tasty. Super rich and yummy. It didn't even need a glaze, although we both agreed a cinnamon glaze would be perfect!

Baking with my dear mother makes for one uptight Bean. I am so used to doing things my way, I'm totally thrown for a loop when someone else is in the kitchen. For example, the sink area was still filled with dishes from dinner. I wanted to clean up before we started the cake. I said, "Let me get these out of the way first, I hate baking when the kitchen is a mess." She said, "Oh, I know!" And then she proceeded to take every single ingredient out of my cupboard, put them on the counter and fire up the mixer. I might have snapped and told her to please stop what she was doing until I finish the dishes. Ok, I did snap and say that to her. I felt bad for a minute, but realized that she didn't really care. She's used to my analtude and she's used to me speaking my mind. I don't think she'd have it any other way. I love that we can speak freely with each other. I'm so lucky to have such a great mom!

Strawberry Milk

Breakfast is the most difficult meal of the day for me. I know it's important, not only because every single weight-loss site/blog/guru will tell you so, but because when I have a good breakfast I'm not starving two hours later. However, I'm never sure what constitutes a "good" breakfast and I like variety in my meals. This is what makes it difficult. So I play around a lot.

This is what I came up with this morning:


Half of a cranberry-oat bagel, 1 T neufchatel cheese, a few slices of apple, an egg, and 1/6 an avocado. It was really, really yummy. It kind of reminded me of sushi. I think it was the cream cheese/avocado/apple crunch combo.

Of course my breakfast was accompanied by a strong cup of black coffee. You know strong and black... obviously not like my men. If I chose my beverages according to my men (man) I'd be drinking strawberry milk for the rest of my life!

Anyway, we'll see how long this breakfast tides me over. My lovely mother is coming to town this morning and staying for the night. We have lots of activities planned. I'm very excited!

Happy weekend!

Ride 'em Cowgirls!

I had a play-date with this little one and her momma on Saturday. She loves to explore new things and found this rocking horse at the neighborhood video store. Isn't she a sweet pea?


Speaking of sweet Ps...


That's right! That's me on Pixie! I got to sit on her and Paulette walked her around the indoor arena for a bit this afternoon.

However, that's probably the second biggest "Pixie" news of the day. The first? I made my last payment on her. She is officially mine. I am a horse owner!

Birthday Cake!

Many people asked about my birthday cake this year. Did I make it? What kind? Where is it? Are you sharing? Can I have a bite? Etc.

Well, historically, my birthday cakes have been made by this very special lady:


And this year was no different!

A delicious, rich cake with burnt butter frosting and caramel syrup was delivered to my house this past weekend by my dad who was on his way back from dropping my littlest brother off in Chicago.


My mom told me over the phone, "You better be careful when you eat that cake. You might pee your pants it's so good!" Now I know where I get my modesty from. Love you Mom!

Saddle Up!

At the barn this afternoon, I was greeted by a black horse in a big ol' saddle.


Miss Pixie had a long afternoon of training that involved getting used to the saddle and weight on top. Both Farmer Ted and Horse Whisperer Paulette got in the seat and took a stroll (a definite WALK) around the indoor arena. Pixie also met The Boss, a life size, weighted dummy that sits in the saddle. She walked, trotted and cantered with The Boss.


And she did a great job! Doesn't she look beautiful in that saddle? Head down, soft eyes, a true black beauty!

Size DOES matter!

Eight-inch versus 9-inch versus 10-inch....

Come on ladies, get your minds out of the gutter, I'm talking about cake pans!

So for years, I thought I had two 8-inch pans and two 9-inch pans. As it turns out, after several "9-inch" pan disasters and careful measuring, I realized that, in fact, have two 9-inch pans and two 10-inch pans!

A sample of each:


How embarrassing! All these years I've been cursing the 9-inch pans when they are really 10-inchers. It wasn't their fault they produced pancakes.

Now that I have this figured out, baking life should be much easier. Plus, Mr. Z got me two REAL 8-inch pans for my birthday. Now I have just about everything I need!