We're not there yet

I haven't been to a live show in more than a year, and I miss it so much.

Online photo shows have helped fill in the gaps, at least as far as competition goes. 

Still, there's so much more to live showing than model horses and ribbons.

I miss traveling to shows - the long and short drives, through beautiful mountains and endless cornfields. I miss airplanes and hotels.

I miss big group pre and post-show restaurant meals, where everyone is squashed together because we've added too many extra chairs to the table.

I miss the bonus events that come with destination shows - the shopping, hiking, riding, museums, barn tours... all of it!

More than anything, I miss my friends and fellow hobbyists. Truly, I can not wait until we can safely get back to live showing.

But let me tell you: We're not there yet. 

We're getting there.

I am cautiously optimistic that fall shows could be a thing.

But right now, it's still not safe. 

Unfortunately, shows have started happening again. This weekend there was a big two day show in Florida, and despite a lengthy Covid protocol on the website, photos posted publically on Facebook revealed few masks and little to no social distancing. This isn't surprising. As my friend, Sarah Townsend, says: There’s no way a model horse show will ever be safe. Not really. They’re too long and require too much movement back and forth. People are going to stick their pen in their mouth and pull tags out of pockets. They’re going to forget rules and eat while walking. Someone will start crying and someone else will hug them. They’re going to bend over to load a performance entry and bump butts with the person behind them. It's just impossible.

No social distancing at the 2019 Jennifer Show

I want to show as much as anyone, but unless and until the CDC says that kind of gathering is safe, and show holders require all entrants to be vaccinated, I will be staying home. For all of our sakes, I hope you will consider doing the same. 

Last minute photos

Friday was the last day to enter Heather Malone's Candyland Photo Show.

The performance class list was very interpretive, and I struggled with ideas for some of the classes. Still, I was determined. While I'm not in love with all of my entries, I did manage to achieve my goal of entering every one of the fifteen classes.

"Red Carpet"

Here's one I actually do love. This is "Do the Conga."

There are larger and more impressive congas to be be sure, but I couldn't be more pleased with this entry. It's a conga, but also an actual performance scene, and all my old ISHes look so beautiful together. I'm really glad this picture exists. Thank you, Heather, for another fun and inspiring show!

Pupdate

This morning we woke up to several inches of new fallen snow. That means one thing: Snow dog photos!

This was Piper's first snow dog photo shoot, and she did not disappoint.

Such a pretty girl!

In addition to the solo shots, she also posed nicely with Darcy...

and Emma.

Emma has a high prey drive and a tendency to go from play to aggression at a moment's notice. It's hard for me to watch Piper engage her in play, but so far they're doing okay.

Better than okay, really.

Piper is little but she can hold her own just fine.

Chomp!

"That was fun. Let's do it again!"

And again and again!

Darcy's playing days are mostly behind her.

"Please make it stop, Mom."

Fortunately, Piper has found the way to Darcy's heart.

It involves borking.

Lots and lots...

and lots of borking.

Pretty soon they were taking turns.

It was a Spitz symphony.

I don't know how we got so lucky.

This little dog was made for us!

Whew

 No one can say I didn't try.

I tried.

And I tried.

And I tried.

But in the end, I was not able to get that Myrtle resin prepped in time for Heather Bullach's painting workshop.

She looks okay from a distance, but there are still so many pinholes. 

Yesterday I decided it was time to choose a Plan B. I went down to the basement and made a selection.

It's Bill Kevin.

In addition to prepping, I had to fix a leg. I worked on him all night and was right back at this morning.

It took all day, but I got it done.

Let the learning begin!

I'll write more about the class itself later. Right now I want to pet my dogs and watch tv and not prep anything ever again.

Dog dolls

Piper was extremely anxious when she arrived at our house. She spent the first two days following me wherever I went. She didn't lay down. She barely even sat.

As she became more comfortable, she started napping. A little at first, then a lot. 

Once she'd caught up on her sleep, Hyper Piper made an appearance.

There was carnage.

This is not unprecedented. Back in the day, Baby Abbie chewed up a friend's brand new Sue Rowe saddle.

More recently, a young Darcy turned a Breyer doll into a quadruple amputee.

Abbie's violation was expensive, but - with an assist from Anne Field - Darcy helped make a pretty fun doll.

Anne has kindly offered to clean up Piper's mess as well, but first I have a few pictures to take...

Who knew a multi-piece doll could be so fun? You get a pass this time, Piper. Now don't do that again.