Ok I’m back

Its been a really long time since I have written on here.  Thanks so much to my model horse fans who are still sending me order requests even though I haven’t updated anything.  I am still doing orders, but I have slowed down a little at the moment.  Our farm has gone through a LOT of changes, we are not even at the same address anymore.  Since most of the personal info on this site has changed and I have a facebook page now for that kind of stuff, I think I will change the focus to just my artwork.  Give me a few days to get reorganized here.

Ok, here’s some updates finally

Hi, Sorry again for being so out of touch lately. I’m home right now cause the news of the week is they think I’ve developed a seizure disorder and they won’t let me drive for a few days. I’ve had four of these little episodes where I see blind spots and my hands go numb and I get all confused. I thought it was just migranes without a headache, but apparently the dr thinks they are seizures. I don’t know where that came from, no one in my family has ever had seizures, I find myself wondering when the last time I fell off a horse and hit my head was, I’ve had a few concussions growing up, don’t know if that would cause anything. Anyways I go for an MRI later today. My boss is just soooo thrilled that I am not really sick but I am not allowed to come to work. But it gives me a chance to finally put up the pictures I promised you all.

Maggie on Christmas eve- she’s getting so big

Baking Christmas cookies

“Father Mike” giving a speech on paganism at World Religion Day

Mardi Gra!  Maggie had so many bead she could hardly stand up!

My appologies

I am very sorry I haven’t posted in so long.  I have been so busy with work and I never get a chance to sit at the computer at home anymore.  I really meant to post some Christmas pictures, but that involves kicking Mike off the StarTrek game.  And its not like things haven’t been happening either, lets see, Mike absolutely spoiled me for Christmas; the foundered pony seems to be improving per the farrier; Bob the rooster was killed by the dogs, very sad, we got a new rooster but its not the same, funny how you get attached to the little things; my dad got laid off after 30 some years with CSC, we are trying to talk him into officially retiring and coming to live near us, but I am not sure thats really realistic for them at the moment; Mike gave a speech at world religeon day, I was very very proud of him.  Ok thats a basic summary, I will try to get some pics up in a day or two.

Making a Christmas list

Guess its time to start thinking about Christmas.  A couple people have asked me what Maggie wants, and I keep forgetting what I’ve told people, so I just thought I would put some ideas here.

The big thing is I am trying to get some money together to get her twin bed.  She will need sheets and stuff for it.

She likes anything to do with ponies.  I’m going to try to get her that talking My Little Pony.

She always askes me to put puppies on TV.  Maybe a 101 Dalmations video?  The live action one .

A toy vacume cleaner.

Some bedtime story books.

size 2T (or some 4Ts fit) cloths, pants, pajamas, socks, barrettes for her hair, she loves necklaces.

a bike helmet, for starting to learn to ride the horses too.

a little tricycle.

If anyone wants to get her something specific let me know, so we don’t get her the same thing.  Thanks!

Rhiannon’s been sold

She went to a very nice lady in Texas who has other drafts.  Still working on finding a home for Baccus, then I can pamper my two elderly arabs.

Its an antique!

We got my “new” piano yesterday.  The ladies in the church who gave it to me told me it was old and didn’t hold tune, but it was pretty like an antique.  We got it home and yes its got that old piano sound, but I’ve definitely heard worse, and a couple things about it caught my eye, so I did some looking.  Well I found it and here it is.  http://www.vintagepianoshop.com/detail.cfm?id=63

I emailed them and asked how to ID it, and they pretty much confirmed it.  Here’s what they say:

Cindy,
Thank you for your inquiry.  Let me start by saying that Concord built
exceptional pianos!  We have restored several antique Concord upright and
grand pianos, and they are consistently some of the most well built pianos
we see come through our shop.  Concord pianos were built by the famous
George P. Bent Piano Company, and they built high quality, expensive pianos
from 1900-1929, going out of business with the Great Depression.  We have
seen some vintage catalogs showing these pianos selling for as much as
several hundred dollars at the turn of the century area…the cost of a
small house!  It has been our experience that these pianos were usually made
of beautiful woodgrain. These pianos are truly stunning after restoration.
Restored, these pianos are superior to most new similarly priced new pianos
in playability.

If you look at the soundboard in your piano, you will see that the grain in
the wood is very close together.  When that tree was growing 200 years ago,
America’s forests were very dense and trees had to struggle to grow.  As a
result, the wood rings are very close together due to slower growth.  This
wood with tight rings is more resonate and has much better tone quality than
new pianos.  Unfortunately, most of this quality wood is gone forever.  New
pianos with green wood do not have the same sound because they are not as
deep and resonate in tone quality.  As these pianos are destroyed, this
wonderful wood is lost forever.  Luckily, people are beginning to realize
the quality of these vintage instruments and they are investing in their
restoration and preservation for future generations to enjoy.

I can’t afford to have it completely restored, they quoted around $6,000, but its still neat to have a piece like this, maybe someday, its still not much more than buying a good new piano, and then Maggie would have something really nice.

Birthdays

Happy Birthday Mike and Adrianne!  Oh and did I mention I became an Aunt this weekend?  Mike’s sister Meghan had her baby boy Kyle on Saturday night, 6lbs 7oz, I think thats right about what Maggie was too if I remember right (bad mom of me to forget).  Congratulations!  Send pictures!

calling all decorators?

Well I have been offered a free piano.  Really cool, but those of you who have seen my tiny little house know, where would I put it?  Only place I can think of is if Mike got a different computer desk and we put it where the arm chair is.   Don’t want to put it in Gil’s room cause of the dust, can’t put it where the blue couch is cause the AC would drip on it.  Maybe in our bedroom but it would block the only window.  Any suggestions?  I would hate to say no.

the music calls…

I might have a shot at being the new church pianist.  I’m not really that good a pianist, but if I can pull it off it would be some extra money and that would be a big help.  I’m gonna start stoping by the church after work to practice, I have a month to get back in form and see if I can make it work.

Maggie’s birthday’s coming

Maggie’s birthday is next Tuesday.  We don’t need a huge party, but I’d like to do something.  Sharon suggested go-carts, or maybe a petting zoo.  NO Chucky Cheese.  Any ideas?

Also, anyone know whats going on with United Health and Willis Knighton?  I just switched to United so it would let us keep WK doctors, now whats this on the news about them droping WK?  Could have picked something cheaper if I wanted to switch doctors.  I didn’t get any letters because I haven’t used the new insurance yet.