Goodbye July

I've been kind of absent lately, and in the last couple days, multiple friends have reached out to see if I'm okay. I appreciate the concern, and in fact, I am perhaps more okayish than okay, which might be as good as it gets at this particular moment in time.

That said, I'm still tired, and I don't have a lot to say about anything. I do, however, have a few pictures. Here's a look back at the good, the bad and the weird of July.

Tired

Last week, my barn buddy, Diana, rode past me and asked how I was doing.

Typically in that situation, I say I'm fine - it's a casual encounter and that's what people expect to hear - but on that day, I really was not fine at all. Poor Diana got an earful.

At some point, I realized I'd been talking too long. I wiped my tears away and said apologetically, "Sorry, it's been a tough year."

"No, Jennifer," she said kindly. "It's been a lot longer than that."

She's right. I feel like my life has been one long series of crises dating back to April 2023. To be sure, there have been a lot of good moments - and a few great ones - in that time, but also, there have been so many crises. The crisis management is unending, and I am tired.

I am just so, so, so tired.

Usually, I can write my way through things, but this week, I've completely run out of energy. I thought a giveaway might jumpstart my enthusiasm - it usually does - but not this time.

Did I mention how tired I am?

In any event, I did manage to pick a winner for this month's BreyerFest loot giveaway. Congratulations, Shannon Hayden. I hope you are feeling much better now!

As for me, I will be okay. One of last week's most pressing crises appears to be resolved, I'm going out to dinner with friends tonight and tomorrow maybe I'll think of something I want to write about.

July giveaway

Because everyone deserves BreyerFest loot, this month's free giveaway is a BreyerFest 2025 package donated by my awesome friend, Angelo Žunić.

The main attraction is this year's celebration horse, Tight Lines.

He comes with a cute Cheers to 75 Years! blanket.

There's also an event program.

In addition to the usual schedules...

and special run offerings, 

this thirty seven page magazine also includes a whole host of great hobby photos...

and advertisements.

A wristband and selection of stickers round out the package.

Although I would prefer that those who attended BreyerFest pass this one by, that's not something I'm going to police. Entry is simple: Every comment left on this blog will equal one raffle entry. Old post, new post, multiple posts, it just doesn't matter. If you're posting anonymously, be sure to include your name. I will choose a winner on July 25. 

My BreyerFest loot

I didn't go to BreyerFest, but some of my (now former) Breyers did.

They were for sale in Fabian and Angelo's room, and blessedly all but one of them found new homes.

I'm not really looking for new horses at this stage, but that doesn't mean I am immune to the excitement of BreyerFest room shopping. I asked Angelo to take some of the proceeds and buy me a few little somethings. Boy, did they deliver! 

In no particular order, here is most of my BreyerFest 2025 loot, starting with this awesome 1:9 scale version of the famous figurine from The Black Stallion movie. This was printed by Heather Jackson-Lain and was my favorite price, free.

Next up is this gorgeous cat resin. I won her unpainted self at Rocky Mountain Spring Fling, way back in 2018. I gave her to Lauren Hoeffer the next year at the Jennifer Show, and now she's come back to me via Angelo and BreyerFest.

I love everything about her. Thank you, Lauren!

I also got another cat,

a kitten,

a dog,

some Dappledown Soiree swag,

a model model horse,

a goat,

not one...

but two squirrels and the cutest little ferret I have ever seen.

It's the perfect BreyerFest haul for me at this particular moment in time.

Thank you, Angelo. I love everything!