Placemats

I want to post the pictures of my second quilt project. I made four placemats from my own pattern. The fabric is some that my friend, Pat Borders, gave to me before Christmas. While it's not fabric I would have chosen it worked great for what I needed it for which was to practice making a quilt from start (coming up with a design) to finish (hand stitching the binding). I mis-calculated a few things and mis-cut a few things but I managed to get it done and it was great practice for my bed quilt. I hope to be posting pictures of that soon. I just have to finish hand stitching the binding and it is going faster than I expected. Yeah. I plan to start on another baby quilt today.

It has finally gotten hot. The garden has needed watering already. Hard to believe that 2 weeks ago we were still complaining about the cold and the rain.

Jolie is going great. With just a few weeks work, I feel that she is almost where we left off last fall.

Lost 2 more pounds

Well I got a surprise when I got on the scale this morning. 130 I got on the scale twice to make sure. It will probably be higher tomorrow but hopefully not. Now I just have to keep it up. I was really hungry last night a couple of hours after dinner but I didn't succumb and by bed time I wasn't hungry anymore. I did 45 minutes again on the treadmill yesterday and rode Jolie for about 40 minutes. She was very good. It is important though that I don't get too excited about it and start thinking we might do well at the shows this spring. Invariably that happens and I start trying to force it to go well and then it doesn't. You can't force things with her, she just tenses up and tunes you out.

I finished the cap I was crocheting. Ky doesn't like it. I was planning to give it to her but she thinks it looks weird. She had the same reaction to the neck warmer I made. So I guess I will either keep it for myself or give it to someone else that will be more appreciative for Christmas. I like them because they are a little different than they usual knitted scarf and hat. A friend's mother knits plain ole scarfs and gave one to Ky at Christmas time and she likes that. I personally thought it was -- well not ugly, just plain. I like the neck warmer idea because I find it hard to keep a scarf wrapped around my neck especially when working outside with the horses. I'll probably give away the one I just made because it is pink and green. I have already bought some blue/black/white yarn to make me one.

I pretty much finished up organizing my records yesterday. I guess I need to do Lawrence's though they are pretty much the same. I then need to figure out where to get our wills and powers of attorney notarized.

Watership Down

I just finished reading Watership Down today. I had never read it before and didn't have any thing else to read at the time so started it just before the New Year. Pretty good book. I was very glad that nothing bad happened to the bunnies. I'm sure there is lots of symbolism in the book but I have never been much good in figuring what books mean. I started reading one of the books I got from the library on funeral planning. The symbolism in it is more obvious.

Because I was near the end of Watership Down, it was easy to do 40 minutes on the treadmill today. I read while I walk. I don't think funeral planning will keep me interested enough to make walking enjoyable so I will start a new book tomorrow.

I was also able to ride today. Jolie (my horse) acted like it had been 2 years instead of 2 weeks since she had been ridden but we did finally end up with some good work. I attempt to do Dressage and have been working on canter transitions and sitting trot. Both are finally getting better and, in fact, I am starting to prefer the sitting trot. I still bounce a lot though.

I finished the neckwarmer I was crocheting for my daughter, she thinks it looked funny when I tried it on so maybe it will be for me instead. Started on a cap to go with it. I'll try and get a picture up tomorrow.