The Everything Update (Knitting, Stitching, Horse. . . )

 I can't believe it's been over a month since I posted anything here.  Then again, I'm juggling so many balls right now (work, riding, gardening, chickens, grandkids, kids, summer in general) that it's not surprising I haven't sat down long enough to write a blog post.

Did I knit?  Yes.  A little.  I finished sock #1 of the Trickle socks.  Sock #2 is started, no picture of that, but I am through the cuff and the first (of 5) repeat in the leg chart.

Did I sew?  No, but I did purchase fabric for a new grandbaby quilt, and will be starting that in the next few weeks now that we know grandbaby #5 is going to be a BOY!  He is due in November, right about the start of firearm deer season, so of course DH has all ready given this one the nickname of Buck.  I'm going to go with that as his official name at this little place here.

Did I stitch?  Only enough to get all the beading finished on my Early Morning Santa.  All that's left to do is cut him out, glue on a loop for hanging and a back of felt and I have a new ornament for my Christmas tree.

Did I ride?  YES!! Oh yes!  Most weeks 3x, and even 4x on the week before DH and I were gone with K3 and Toad on a beach vacation. Things are coming along nicely with Camaro.  The canter departs are developing, although unfortunately he's decided that he now likes canter so much that trot is just a means to get to canter.  *sigh*  There goes our nice balanced, supple trot.  We're back to working on not bracing through the shoulders at trot again, using lots of bends and walk/trot and trot/walk transitions. But, overall, it's progress, especially since we're cantering OUTSIDE!

Camaro is getting some nice muscling in his hindquarters

As a side note, he kept his shoes on this go-round, finishing his six week farrier cycle with no issues. His bell boots are looking a little rough (might have to get another pair before winter), but the shoes stayed put.

 

Did I read? Yep!  Books I read since June's knitting and reading update are:

• Two Thousand Minnows by Sandra Leigh. This book.  So gut wrenching in places, but so good.
• Beautiful Day by Elin Hildebrand.  A good summer read.  I couldn't quite relate to the characters and location (being much different from my personal demographic), but the basic story line fits just about everyone.
• A Cup of Holiday Fear by Ellie Alexander.  Another Bakeshop Mystery, another quickie read.  Working my way through the series a few books each year.
• The Book Woman's Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson.  A sequel to a book I very much enjoyed, I had trouble with this one at times, almost feeling like there were too many womens'/diversification issues being packed into one story.  Overall, it was good, I just feel like I was being intermittently bombarded with 21st century ideals in a story set in the early 1950's rural America.