Parting shots

In keeping with Braymere blog tradition, the last post of the year is an all photo extravaganza. 2022 was filled with horses, dogs and people, and my pictures reflect that. Here are a few of my more memorable shots.

2022 model year in review

Every December, I write a post recapping my year in the model horse hobby. I talk about the things I made, the things I bought, the shows I attended and all the new and interesting things happened along the way... Well, this year was definitely interesting, but not a lot of it was new.

I didn't make a lot of tack, and I only added two models to my collection.

At least they were good ones!

I didn't enter any live shows, but I did attend my fourth BreyerWest and and my third in-person BreyerFest, both of which I enjoyed immensely.

Although I'm not sure anything could touch the giddy excitement of the first Corbett era BreyerWest, this came extremely close. After years of pandemic related isolation, it was so good to see so many of my friends all at the same time. I especially loved having everyone come out to meet Olive. From beginning to end, that was a fabulous week.

As far as BreyerFest goes, the third time was definitely the charm. I loved every minute of this year's event, from the moment I stepped off the plane in Chicago all the way to our Covid-free return home. Riding in the car with Tiffany, hanging out with Tara, tack shopping with Stephanie and Emily, judging the Best Customs Contest with Mindy and Lauren, room shopping with Angelo, riding with Fabian and taking over a restaurant with everyone... All of it was so fun and so good.

On a less positive note, despite my best efforts, this year's NaMoPaiMo was pretty lackluster. The month went smoothly enough, but fewer people participated, and the completion rate dropped to just over fifty percent. That felt like a sign, so expect an announcement regarding the future of NaMoPaiMo in the next week or so.

Also, I can not overstate how deeply traumatized I was by last April's basement flood. My hobby area was ground zero, and although none of my models were damaged, there were significant losses in regards to tack, dolls and props. Some of it will probably be repaired or replaced eventually, but truthfully, I don't expect to ever recover fully.

It's been a long year, a hard year but also - sometimes - a good year. Thank you to everyone who's walked through the highs and lows with me. Here's looking forward to a better and less dramatic 2023.

Happy Horsing Around results

This month has been very hectic, and because of that, I mostly forgot about the Happy Horsing Around December show.

I only uploaded a few photos, but three of those won their classes. This is Olivia's winning entry in Winter Trail Ride.

Hoka Hey won Santa Horse/Any Santa Scene,

and BFF was victorious in Snow Scene.

I really liked this month's class list and wish I had done more, but the good news is that I'll get another chance. This show series was originally set to end in 2022, but has been extended for another year. Thank you, Donna and Terry. Taking new photos for your shows is definitely on my to-do list for 2023!

Snow day, part two

I go to the barn every day, but there was so much snow on the ground this morning, I wasn't sure my car would make it out of the neighborhood. After we finished shoveling the driveway and sidewalk, Seth offered to drive me there in his bigger, heavier, more snow worthy vehicle.  Of course, I couldn't say yes fast enough.

I put Olive in the turnout and gave her a few minutes to attend to her business. Then I asked her to move out a little for the camera.

She was being a little lazy, so I told Seth to help me get her going.

Well, that's one way to do it.

I'm not sure he understands she's a horse not a dog, but they both seemed to be having fun so whatever.

I got a few good pictures...

and Olive got a butt rub.

Win/win.

This wasn't the day I'd planned, but thanks to Darcy, Emma, Piper, Olive and Seth, it was still a really good day. Here's hoping tomorrow will be a just as fun but also productive!

Snow day, part one

We were supposed to get a light dusting overnight. 

Instead, we woke up to almost a foot of heavy, wet spring snow.

Not gonna lie - I wasn't happy this development.

Sigh.

It warmed up a little, and Seth and I went outside to shovel the driveway and sidewalk.

The dogs went with us.

We made a big pile of snow and thought it would be fun to put each of the dogs on top of it.

Pipe's Peak.

Darcy spent exactly .02 seconds on top of Pipe's Peak.

She's old. This isn't her thing.

Emma is also old, so I was expecting the same from her.

But Emma is aging like fine wine.

She got on that pile of snow, and decided it was her pile of snow.

She liked the view.

She wasn't going anywhere.

"I live here now."

This could have gone on forever.

Eventually, we staged an intervention.

Sorry, Emma. The humans need to go inside. I hope you can forgive us, but we are cold.