Ready for Hunting Season!

This is a project that I've had in the pipeline for about a year now. The main gist is that I wanted to have something for cold weather that could function both as a quarter sheet and as a big orange flag to hunters that we were not a deer. As rifle season starts in two days, I finished this just in time!

Kaylee made this herself! It's a purse made with my scrap pieces and is held together with rare earth magnets. It's pretty ingenious engineering, and modular to boot!

So materials list are:

2 yards of your fav fleece material. Every so often JoAnns (if you're US) has a sale on fleece. Go then.

3-4 packages of double fold bias tape quilt binding (A total of 9-12 yards)  NOTE:  9 yards was about 8 inches shy of what I needed. You may get more out of your binding if you don't make as big a hole.

1 foot of 3 inch wide velcro

sewing machine

thread

Here's my diagram. It's minimal cutting. Woo!

I folded my fabric in half such that it appeared when draped over a horse's backside it would be of a decent length to either side. Then I cut in along the fold but not all the way through. I made crescent cuts until I had opened up the middle of it so it would go around my body, while leaving the flat entrance.

Then, I put the quilt binding bias tape along the edge, pinned it in place and sewed it on. I didn't take many pictures of the sewing step. Sorry.

Sewing on the bias tape.

Once all the bias tape was sewn on, I separated my velcro pieces and pinned them in place on each of the fleece such that the flat sides where I cut could overlap and the velcro would attach to itself.  That's represented by the black and gray strip. Imagine the gray being on the underhalf of the fleece.

Ta-da! You're done! Unless you want to add a tail rope, which I might do at some point.

Looks pretty good if I do say so myself.

The attachment with the velcro

See? Velcro!

Draped over Gwyn's butt, nice and orange! No mistaking us for deer!

I still need to test it during a ride but I'm pretty sure it will fit me better than the one I bought. The goal is for it to go over my legs to keep me warm too. It could also fit under a saddle flap if I wanted.

I'm pretty proud of this! I winged it hardcore and there was some anxiety as I cut into the fleece. No going back!

All for less than $30!


My next project is a riding skirt that can also function as a quarter sheet. And once I perfect that I'm going to splurge on some nice waterproof outwear fabric and make it from that for rainy rides.

Our Newest Addition

Eric hasn't been worn down enough to let me get a pony for the girls to ride, so I satisfied myself with a Halloween addition. We introduced Bony Pony to the herd on Saturday, much to our amusement.  Saffron is NOT a fan and has Powered Up into Protect the Herd mode like a good donkey. Gwyn has decided it's just another thing that Mom throws at her and she should ignore it.

We also hung skeleton person, who has seen better days. It seems more halloween decoration acquiring is in my future :D 

Saffron on high alert

We also took a trip over to our neighbor's house. She has brand new baby chicks!

Both girls were thrilled!

And on Sunday a friend came over and Gwyn got lots of loving.

WEG 2018!!!! And a neat product recommendation

I'm super excited!  Cheri and I are hoping to represent Stonewall Sporthorses and bring Gwyn and Nyx to North Carolina to the Tryon International Equestrian Center where the World Equestrian Games are being held.  It's a year and a half away, but planning needs to start! Woo!

Fuzzy bum

Snacks while I clean so they stay out of my hair

THE BEST ANIMAL PRODUCT EVER!

It's a curry comb glove.  I've heard from people with movement limitations like arthritis and ED that this is a great product for them because they don't have to grip a brush.  Our cats LOVE it.  Gwyn LOVES it.  Saffron is tolerant but she's really unsure of any grooming if she's not haltered and tied. Work in progress :)

You order it to size but I would recommend going up a size if possible. I'm an 8 usually and I ordered as such and it's a touch too tight for my personal preferences. My hand feels claustrophobic in this glove.  

Kaylee helping me.

"Mom, the small human is out there unattended. You sure?"

The tiniest human got her first floor time in the barn and had fun discovering hay. :D 

Kaylee helping feed.

Gwyn is such a fantastic critter with these kids.

Bye Goober! I have to go to work!

Fuzzy nose after our groundwork last week.

We learned kisses!

We've done some car shuffling since I started my job. As the truck is a lease I was putting miles on it WAY TOO FAST. So we pulled insurance off the truck, I got Eric's car and he got a nice new Volt, a hybrid electric.  So now I get to play "What fits into a Chevy Sonice from the farm store when you already have 2 car seats?"

Answer?

Definitely two, could have done 3 bags of pine shavings, a 50lb bag of horse feed, two 40 lb bags of pine pellets and a 40 lb bag of Stall Dry.

Farm store car tetris COMPLETE!

I couldn't see out the back though....

Safety first!

Life on the Farm

Gwyn's nose was getting sunburnt, so we purchased some new stuff!

Hazel is really enjoying her swing in the evening! 

Kaylee is getting better at riding her bike.

Saffron is doing well.

We've got a chair on the front porch so this can be my view sometimes. I love it.

Saffron is the best donkey I could have hoped to get for free. She is gentle and tolerant and I'm so happy we have her.

Gwyn's new fly mask.

It even covers her snozz.

Sometimes dinosaurs need flowers.

We've also got this bike contraption for longer rides! I think this weekend we're going to try a family outing on the Polly Ann Trail. These two will be on the bike, and I'll wear Hazel and maybe even bring Gwyn along for a walk.

Movie Post and Picture Spam

This morning, after a couple of episodes of Octonauts, Kaylee and I headed out in the cool fall air to pull weeds in the arena. I brought Kaylee's sand toys with us along with her dump truck and she happily dug in the sand while I slowly pulled my garden cart around pulling out wannabe trees from the sand. 

I got over half the arena done! Plus took some cool videos (at least I think they're cool). It's really neat to see how Gwyn and Kaylee interact. Kaylee has learned to stand her ground and Gwyn is very careful around her but also very curious!

Going over the jumps

Investigating and playing with Kaylee's toys, plus a scolding.

Gwyn itches. We stop immediately if she tries to use anything other than nose....

The sand arena is a toddler's dream sandbox

Saffron isn't sure about the toddler digging in the dirt

Gwyn test out the knock-down-ability of the new standards

Saffron looking good!

*YAWN*

Selfie!

You can see Gwyn's snakebite scar really well.

Gwyn hung out with me while I pulled weeds. We had a nice mutual grooming session. She's shedding her summer coat and she'll be getting furry soon.