Candyland Photo Show results

Its been a couple weeks since I received my results for Heather Malone's Candyland Photo Show. After so much time, they seem kind of irrelevant, but I enjoyed reading Anne's Candyland recap. Maybe someone will enjoy this one, too.

The Candyland Photo Show was the online version of Heather's wildly successful Candyland Live. Like its predecessor, this show's was all-workmanship in the halter divisions and all theme classes in the performance ring. I did really well at Candyland Live, and my strategy for this show was the same. Using a whole slew of performance horses, I entered every class and tried to make each entry count.

The first class was "Happy Trails." Theordore placed second place with his very happy arena trail entry, and Olivia was fourth.

"Barnstorming" was next. I entered two humorous barn scenes. Rat Bait's was good enough for second.  Jennibray placed fourth.

I bought this Pennywise doll specifically for this show. He made his first appearance in class number three, "Send in the Clowns." This entry placed first.

The fourth class was "Something Wicked This Way Comes." I had ideas, but didn't have the time or energy to make them happen. I entered a snail photo that sort of worked, but not really. This was my one shutout of the day. That's okay, I came back strong with a first and third in "Might As Well Jump."

"Do the Conga" was next. My Stoner herd won this one.

On to "Red Carpet!" Nejmet was third with her Arabian costume entry, and got Cookie got fourth.

Pennywise came back for his second appearance in "Cosplay Away." Once again, he was a winner. As a bonus, Snickers picked up third place honors.

I didn't have any great ideas for "Rocket League," so I used Jenni's broken doll picture. Good enough for fifth.

Class ten was "Family Portrait." I used one of my photos from last year's Shelter & Share Photo Challenge. It placed fifth.

I love ponies, so I should have done something amazing for "Pony Club." Instead, I used a photo of a live show entry. Somehow it placed second! Beep's Burger King photo was fifth.

Schutzengel was fourth in "Sparkle Motion,"

Navah Joe was first in "Rainbow Brite"...

And Dun Up Purdy was second in "Country Club."

The last class was "Animal Farm." I won this one with my George Orwell inspired entry.

All in all, I placed in fourteen of fifteen classes, with five firsts, four seconds, three thirds, three fourths and three fifths. It was a really good effort, but not a good strategy. Because all my placings were spread out among so many models, none had enough points to champ.

Anne Field's wonderful Mocha Latte picked up the division title (and Best In Show honors). Congratulations, Anne and Mocha!

The Red Pony

If you're a horse girl of a certain age, chances are you were traumatized by this book sometime during your childhood.

My older sister clued me in, so I had it better than most. Still, this is one book that should never, ever be judged by its cover. This makes it the perfect centerpiece for the "Can't Judge a Book By Its Cover" class at the Daneille Feldman's Why the Chicken Crossed the Road Photo Show.

Using a Google image search, I found the most innocuous looking edition of this book...

and shrunk it down to 1:9 scale. Actually, it's a little bigger than that, but I wanted to make sure the title would be visible in my photo.

I could have put the book on a bookcase, but where's the fun in that? Instead, I used leftover scraps of basswood to make a Little Free Library. I don't have the proper tools for this - just a straight edge and an X-acto knife - so it's a little wonky on close inspection.

Despite that, it's pretty cute and big enough to hold a whole bunch of tiny books.

The caption reads: The unsuspecting Barn Rat is delighted to find a pony book in her neighborhood Little Free Library. 

I prefer the full body shot, but this crop better shows off the book's title. 

I've been in a hobby slump for the last little bit, but this was a fun project. Maybe tomorrow I'll have an idea for another photo.

DNA day

Today is Mother's Day and also my twenty fourth anniversary. My family asked if there was anything I wanted, and I said I'd like a DNA kit for Piper.

I got that plus a DNA kit for Emma...

and one for Darcy.

Tomorrow I will swab their mouths and mail the samples. Today I'm speculating about the results. This is Darcy at two years old. She is forty five pounds and has a double coat. She is extremely smart and trainable, incredibly barky and has the best natural recall of any dog I've ever owned. Also, she has an underbite.

I am strongly convinced she is a Finnish Spitz mix. I'd guess the other half is some kind of herding dog, but I don't know for sure.

Emma is about thirty eight pounds, shy and not at all barky. Her coat gets thicker and whiter every year.

My best guess is that she's a Shetland Sheepdog mix, heavy on the mix. 

Piper is seventeen pounds with a thin wispy coat and slightly bug eyes. All her body parts are long - long neck, long back, long legs. She's moderately barky and a fast learner.

The shelter listed her as an American Eskimo mix, and I think that's accurate. However, she could also be part Samoyed, part Pomeranian, part long haired Chihuahua or ???

So... What do you think? I'd love to hear everyone's guesses as to the girls' genetic backgrounds. And who knows, maybe I'll even find a prize for whoever's guess is the closest!

Birthday postscript

It's a crime to let perfectly good cake go to waste so I was determined to find someone who would eat Scarlett's rejected birthday cake. In the past, this would have been a job for Lucy. Since she's no longer available, Thunder was pressed into service.

Unlike Scarlett, he dove right in.

Thoughtful chewing.

Hmmm.

What have you fed me?!

Sorry, Thunder.

I guess next year I'll bake cookies instead!

HBD Scarlett

My friend, Mary Jo, and her husband, Ed, are celebrating their thirty sixth anniversary this week with a trip to Arizona. Ryan is watching their cats.

I am taking care of Scarlett. 

Mostly this means I've been riding her...

and providing daily proof of life photos.

Today, however, I had an additional task. It's Scarlett's sixteenth birthday, and she needed a special treat. I stopped at the grocery store on my way to the barn and bought a piece of carrot cake.

I set a place for her on the picnic table...

and led her over.

She was not impressed.

I tried to hand feed her a smaller piece.

She knocked it out of my hand and ate grass.

I let Piper clean up her leavings and then we went for a walk. 

Scarlett is not a fan of carrot cake, but she does like the new spring grass.

Happy birthday, sweet Scarlett. Here's looking forward to another sixteen good years!

Field of awesome

I know I sound like a broken record with the "Anne Field is awesome" thing, but really, she is. She is awesome and organized and scary efficient. If you don't believe me, here's the proof: Just four days after the conclusion of her very successful Field of Dolls Online Show, I already have my prizes in hand.

And these prizes are amazing. This grouping is - I think - door prizes, plus maybe some championship prizes.

Since miniatures are hard to photograph in a group setting, here's a better look at some of the items. I think all of these except the dice were donated by Hannah Clark. They're all fabulous, but I am especially charmed by the keys, solo cups, balloon dog and mittens!

Here are my individual class prizes.

The minis were awarded in the regular performance classes. The cocktails are the equivalent of a blue first place ribbon. Pink drinks are second, dice are third, cake is fourth, succulents are fifth and books are sixth.

The ribbons represent placings in the Specialty/Scene division. 

As the Overall Champion shower, I also received a Horsiemama Haversack from Lynn Isenbarger, a fancy lavender rosette and a gift certificate for a custom doll.

This was an awesome show, and Anne Field is an awesome show holder. Thank you, Anne, for everything!