What a Christmas............

Well my Christmas wasn't to good. Woke up this morning and found out that we have to replace the 12v battery on our RV. Can't run the furnace cause it is drawing to much power. I am hoping that the parts store in town will be open today and we can get a new battery, but with this being Christmas, I doubt they will be open. So, now we are bundled up and cold. 

Hubby loved his few presents I did get him. But for some reason I feel he is blaming me for the battery problem. So this morning I have been looking online for houses that are for sale. Found 2 of them, but the price is just out of our range and I don't think Green Tree would allow us to take on a second mortgage. But it never hurts to ask. So I guess I will be asking them this week. The only thing they can say is "NO!" 

That would be my luck. Plus I have been trying to get it set up for auto pay with them for nearly a year now and the darn website keeps saying that I don't qualify. So every 3 months, I get a call from them and we set up the e-check thing. I keep telling them that their web site says that we don't qualify for auto pay, but they say we do. Confusing. I think as soon as we get that house in Pampa paid off, I am going to sell it for cheap, cheap, cheap. We were going to remodel it, but with Daniel's hellish hours, there is no way we can get it done. Getting a contractor to come do it is going to cost us an arm and a leg. For just the electrical (wiring etc) it is going to cost us $1500.00, For the drywall and insulation: $4,000.00. The total cost to fix up the house is going to cost us close to $10,000.00. That also includes all the plumbing. When we bought the house we thought it was ready to move into. We didn't know that we would have to practically rebuild the damn thing. I just hope that when we do sell it, that someone will buy it and be ready to rebuild. 

Well until laters

Merry Christmas!!

Yup, Merry Christmas everyone. I hope that 2014 was a better year for you than it was for me. Some of 2014 was good, but as we know that it did have it's bad days/months. I hope you also got many presents that contained model horses(would love to see them). I won't be getting any this year cause my 2 presents was our water heater and our furnace. Plus I am expecting 2 years of payments on models from Nicky Petrie. She said she would mail them off after Christmas. Hey that is fine with me. The hubby is none to happy, he will accuse me of spending high dollar amounts for them when I have been making payments. The man just don't get it. 

He thinks that I don't need anymore models, EVER. But yet he demands more and more tools. He has 9 drills, 12 saws(both manual and electronic), 9 grease guns, and numerous amounts of sockets and wrenches. But yet he wants more and more. I figure that with all those tools, he has spent more than $6,000.00 in one year. Some of them are NOT cheap. The most expensive tool he owns is his large crescent wrench. $500.00 that he bought earlier this year. And he bitches about me buying a $200.00 model. He says that the horses don't produce work. They just sit there and look stupid. There have been plenty of times where I wanted to take that $500.00 wrench and use it up against his head. But then I think that my models won't be stolen anytime soon where as some of his tools have gone missing after a few days(some of the employees here). I have to laugh. 

Anyway, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Time to go out and get his presents. 

Getting back into photo showing

After a year of horrid photo shows and having young ones tell me that my photo's are NOT up to today standards(which they are), I have decided to renew my membership fee's to IPABRA. Hey $3.00 a year is great. So I have to judge a few shows. At least I won't have some young UNEDUCATED kid screaming down my throat cause her photo was not champion. I have tried to explain to them that I have been in this hobby much longer than they have and have MUCH more knowledge then they do. I guess they think different. 

 The above photo has some serious faults. First off, the fence is seriously OUT OF SCALE. And the grass is to out of scale. The photo looks to be taken at an angle. The lighting is good, no harsh shadows etc. The tack could use some updating, but i'm guessing this is a "Novice" showers photo. 
Yes some showers don't put a whole lot of effort into getting good photos and then bash those who do put some serious time and effort into getting a good photo. 
Here is the photo that was recently "Bashed" for being a bad photo

I know that the back drop could be better, but the horse IS in focus and shows the detail quite well. But yet this photo was DQ'd.
I have like I said, tried to keep from letting my temper show through, but sometimes it is best that I did.
 

What is wrong with me?

Why is it that I can NOT get into the Christmas spirit? Is it cause it came up to fast or is it cause all the stores started to early? I know that there are some commercials that make me click the mute button cause they are out right irritating. Like the Cadillac commercial. Irritating music and they just love to repeat the darn thing back to back. *rolls eyes*.

Plus after the new year, I am going to renew my sub to IPABRA group and start online photo showing. The groups on Facebook are just not getting me the points that I need. So, Starting next month I can start a new and hopefully stay away from Facebook more. Plus I have to keep working on my new web site. It has lots of pages and I was trying to find out with my current account with Yahoo, just how many pages I was allowed. The pages are mostly sub pages and sub pages to the sub pages. I guess when I am done, and go to publish it, we will find out which pages get cut. LOL


 

Common sense when driving in fog

I know a lot of people drive in the fog and use common sense, but for one driver, common sense is NOT in his brain. I won't sugar coat what I am about to say about what happened in the picture I am posting. So if you don't want to read what I have to say, stop reading this.

 What your seeing in this photo is a wreck that happened yesterday(12/5/2014). See, I was(and still am)expecting a package from Tn. I had been tracking it and so I called the office(where my husband works) to see if the package had arrived. Well the secretary told me that there had been a wreck involving the FedEx van. I went crazy. I was trying to find out all the information about the wreck using every venue I could think of. I called my husband and told him what had happened. He told me not to believe the secretaries cause they have a tendency to tell little white lies. Well as you can see this was no lie. I did find out that my package was safe. I called the 800 # for FedEx and the gentleman was very helpful. He told me that the package was in a different truck. Talk about relief. Anyway, the photo above shows the horrors that happened. Reports stated that the cattle hauler was doing speeds of excessive greater than 75mph. Plus is was very foggy. The driver claimed he didn't see the FedEx van and decided to go to the left(maybe to pass someone). Well as you can see that the driver of the van didn't have a chance. Yes he was killed upon impact. Dee King transport is one of the most shittiest companies around here. Their drivers have no common sense and they speed. I have had several of their drivers pass me in a no passing zone when there are on coming traffic. 
Plus they are rude when talking on the cb. I hope the family of the FedEx driver sues the living daylights out of Dee King. They deserve it too. Plus the driver for Dee King needs to be fired for this. He had absolutely no right driving that fast in that kind of weather. I bet he was high on drugs. Seems that is all Dee King likes to hire. Druggies and Illegals without a CDL's. 
 

Racism...........it is has been around

Recently over on Facebook, a friend of mine was asked in private message to remover his post about the Ferguson rioting. I don't know what all was said, but from the post that my friend posted, this person found the post a threat type to my friend. I seen the post and his post no different than any other post that has been posted about the riots. Here is his post:
 "I was asked as a personal favor to please delete my post pertaining to MY feelings on the Ferguson shooting… So if you've noticed that it's no longer available, that would be why"

I personally think that the personal favor was more in the line of the person's own feelings on the Ferguson shootings. I think that the person was offended and didn't want to let it be known. 

My feelings over the rioting? It is just like the Rodney King beating, the people used the verdict as an excuse to go out and act like total jackass's. Burning business's down was their way of showing the world what fucking dumb asses they were. Those who owned those business's were the true victims. 

Now I can't say wither or not the cop was guilty or not cause I really didn't fallow the whole mess, but I can tell you one thing, They sensationalize a supposed UN-armed black kid who got shot/killed by a white cop. What about sensationalizing the shooting of an supposed UN-armed white kid, or even a Mexican? The media wont cause then they would be accused for being racist. Sorry, but reporting that is NOT racist. 

I am so sick and tired of our so called president protecting those black kids as well. If anyone is a racist, it is him. With both Travon Martin and Michael Brown, He just HAD to say something really nice about them...........why? cause they were black. We damn sure don't see him saying something nice about the white kids who are UN-armed and still get killed by either black or white cops. That happens EVERY FUCKING DAY!!!

In my opinion for both cases, both boys were guilty of the crimes they did. Both were thugs and really deserved what they got, eternity in hell. 

rant over

Another off the wall posting

Ok, Now I know there are pitbull lovers out there that may read this. I am sorry that this blog offends you in any way. The opinions expressed in this blog are MY opinions that won't be changed. You can write all the hate against me all you want, but I won't change.

Recently in Amarillo, a Pit was euthanized by request of his owner cause of his aggressive behavior. Yes the pit had gotten out of his yard a few times and attacked people. I say good for the owners for seeing the dogs true nature. Yes it is the pits true nature to be aggressive. Actually all breeds are aggressive. It is in their DNA. 

When you raise any breed of dog to be a sweet, loving dog, your suppressing that instinct. BUT, there are times when even the most loving dog goes AWOL and the aggressiveness arises. I know that pits get a bad rap cause of this, but sometimes even the loving-est pit will turn. Yes I know that German Shepherds are aggressive too, But I watch my GSD very closely when there are people around. I keep her on a short leash. Could she attack and kill a person? Yes she could. Even if it isn't provoked by a person, she could kill or injure a person.

As for my poms that I own. I personally don't think they would hurt a fly. Yes when there are children around, I tell the children NOT to get in their faces(specially with my 8 yr old pom) I also tell the parents that I will NOT be held responsible if THEIR child gets hurt. They too have to watch the child. 

Now here is my true opinion on the pitbull. It isn't the breed itself that I truly hate, it is the looks and the true nature of the breed. The pit's head is outright UGLY. There is no beauty to it. Will I own a ugly dog like that? no. Specially when I know the dogs true nature.

I don't care who says what about the Pitbull, I won't ever own one and I don't like to be around them. My nephew(one of several)had brought a pit to my mother-in-laws house when my son was still alive and she was very, VERY aggressive towards my son. I told my nephew to remove the dog. He didn't. He said that the dog had every right to be in the house(meanwhile the dog is almost attacking my 2 year old). When I left the house, I was on the phone to the local sheriff explaining the details. Because the dog was showing extreme aggression towards my son, My nephew had to remove the pit from the property. So see, even though your pit maybe loving at home, don't trust them when you visit a relative.
 

Sims3..........love it!!!

Yea I know it is not model horse related, but I just can't help myself. Yes I love the Sims3 game. I mean, you get to control what your sim does and doesn't do. Plus building houses...........oh now there I have fun. Here is a few of the houses i have built.

 As you can see, I do like to build. Coloration though does go wild sometimes

 As you can see I was just green with envy. The inside is awesome though. I will get photo's of it. Will post more later. It is late and I need to get some sleep

Sims4................

I know I normally keep my blogs to my tack and models. With an occasional non-horse related topic. Well this one is non-horse related. 
I recently bought the Sims4 game. I thought "How cool, I will have more clothing options to play with" well....................I would have if the damn game would load. You see, before I even get to the loading page, my game stops working. Yup you reading that correctly............IT FREAKING STOPS!!!
I was totally dumb founded by this and went on a quest to see what kind of solutions there was to this. Well, I found several and tried them. NONE of them worked. I am going to pack the darn disks up(yes it has 2 cd-roms) and send them to EA games with a letter explaining what the heck is going on. Heck I even UN-installed then re-installed the darn game like 5 times(causing my internet usage to go in the red). I've watched video's on YouTube of people playing their Sims4 game and it just pisses me off that I had to get one that was totally messed up.

Even Daniel says that it was a rip off. Yes he don't mind me playing the Sims. So I guess I will just stick to my ever so faithful Sims3 with about 4 expansion packs. I have contacted EA via their live chat, but I didn't feel like waiting a freaking hour just to talk. 

I want and I mean WANT to talk to the person behind the programing. That dude would get a piece of my mind. I would say here, but I am trying really hard lately to minimize the usage of foul language. It don't do a bit of good to say it. Just makes other people think your a horrid person. 

I don't mind using damn or shit, but the word "Fuck" lately has been every other word in my sentences and it was brought to my attention. So, I am toning it down. 

Well, with that said.........Oh if you plan on buying the Sims4 game, Don't!!! it will only cause you some serious headaches trying to get it to work.  

Another eye twitch costume............For a customer.

Good afternoon. Well I am back to the eye twitch work. This time though it is for a friend. She ordered a SM sized costume. If you think I don't enjoy the work, I do enjoy it. It is just my feet that hate it. LOL
Anyway, here are the beginning photo's. I am just waiting for what color she wants the hardware(bits,stirrups, etc). 

Here is the coloration of the costume. IF it looks like it is off on the color, the color is purple and pink. I done have the approval for this material. She liked it.

Here is the butt drape and side drapes waiting to be garnished with either gold or silver(still waiting)

Here are the colors for the tassels. Yes it will be 2 tier tasseled. Believe me, doing tiny, tiny tassels is no walk in the park. The purple is also the base color for the bridle and breast collar.

Here is the saddle drying. I use card stock for all my saddles. I have yet to see a saddle cast in resin in SM size that suits my style. 

Here is the saddle after it has dried and I have covered it with material. It will be decorated as well.

Here are 2 braided parts for the bridle. They too are waiting for hardware color selection.

Here is the breast collar. Thankfully I will be able to work on it, but won't be able to attach the tassels..............again, hardware color reflects on the beading too. 
Hopefully I will be able to update my web site for my models and publish one for my tack.
 

High Country Live Model horse show

As many of you know, I did go to the High Country Live model horse show in Calhan, Colorado on the 13th of this month. Yes I did take photo's. Not as many as I wanted, but enough to make everyone drool.

My horses did well enough for me, but a few I was hoping would have gotten better placings. But it is up to the judge and we all know that once their minds are made and they have pinned the classes, there is no way of changing it. 
  

I did have fun though. Met several Facebook friends and met some that are not on Facebook. Rita Tupa and I had so much fun together. That was her second(yes you read right) live show ever. I was like "you have GOT to be kidding me". Her horses stomped butt. I am happy for her though.  Got to meet Jim West(aka Kilt Man). He is so funny. Also met Fabian, and his dad. I was an instant hit with both of them. I do wished I had taken my Paint model "Fabian's Quest" though. I couldn't find him or I would have taken him. I am pretty sure I know which box he is in too. Darn it!!!

Anyway, here are some of the photo's I taken.

As you can see, I got most of everyone's tables full of their models. Remember when I said I met Jim West? I have proof. LOL

That is his daughter next to him, she too is a really nice person. I know they got a kick out of me cause of my ways. 

If your wondering about my Arabian costumes, they didn't fair to well. Here is a picture of them AFTER the class was judged.

 Why my black/gold set came in 4th is beyond me. You can see in the background which costume beat mine. IMO, I think all shows should split that class between Hollywood style costume and then Native costume. Then both styles of costume won't have to compete against each other. Why? cause it seems to me that every Hollywood style seems to get beat down by a Native costume. IMO it is NOT fair. At least though they did place. 

Here is a better photo of the winning costume

My etched models by Ashley Marconi did well too. 

I did notice that in the CM Appaloosa class there were 2 CKK models. They didn't place at all. I felt sorry for the owner and for Cassandra Knipp. Why? Cause those 2 models were very nicely done. But I guess the judge saw different.

Here are some more "Table" shots

Now isn't those some nice models? Oh the Saddlebred entry isn't mine. I did have an entry, but he placed low due to the rider leaning back. I am going to have to work with her again. LOL

Now here is my moment when I let everyone know that it made my day!!

Blown Away really blew away the competition. Got first in OF Stone TWH/ASB class, and Reserve Champion in Breed Division. Yes I was happy as all hell.

Oh also, I finally got to see Breyer's new foal...................FOALZILLA!!!!

Yes the foal is THAT big. I wonder now if Breyer is going to make some parents to go with it? LOL that would be a hoot.

Well, that's it for now.
 

 

NAN & Breyerfest 2014 come and gone

Yup another year has come and gone for NAN and Breyerfest. Yet again, I had to stay home. I know there are several people who like me either can't go or don't have the funds. Thankfully I was able to save some of the photos of auction pieces for BF(short for Breyerfest). I give credit to who took the photo's and I am NOT using them to make any money. I am just showing the models that I personally like(but will never own). I know I could customize OF models to look like the OOAK's with differences.

Now this TWH is sweet. I personally can do this pattern in Pastels. Or even in Oils. I will have to see if I can find a "Body" in that mold. If not, I will just buy an OF one and customize it.

Now this one is captivating. I love the coloration. The cheetah markings make it that more desirable cause I love the big cat Cheetahs. They have always been my favorite of the big cats Plus I love this mold. I think I may just have Karen Dietrich cm one for me.

Totilas in palomino? Oh yea!!! I know I can get one customized. I will have to get a few bodies. I have a few ideas of what colors for this mold

Another desirable model, Yea, I love Arabians and this girl is delish. The only downside to this girl is her mane. Easy to customize, but a real brat if you are just going to repaint cause you HAVE to get up under the mane. It is NOT molded to the neck. 

 The Ruffian mold is getting pretty popular among the "Specials". I adore this mold and have several that are cm'd. I do have almost all the OF's. There are like 2 or 3 that I don't have but need to pursue to add to my ever growing conga. .

Model TWH vs Real TWH..............oh the debate is heated

Let me tell you right off that I absolutely LOVE Breyer's TWH model. Yes that model is in the "Big Lick" rack, but I don't rightfully care. I see beauty of the motion. NOT the abuse that several people claim it represents. I thought that this hobby judged models based on conformation,structure and breed representation? Not the position in which it is in. For those who don't know what a "Big Lick" look like, here is a model.

 This model is original finish and from some hobbiest claim, it represents the "Soreing" that goes on in the real world. 
Yes I know that soreing goes on, but why claim that this beauty represents it? I don't see sores on the ankles or chains. So now, some of those are saying that if they see this beauty of a model in the show ring, they would DQ it. Why do that when you are intimidating people to destroy their models? I personally love the mold and I won't be afraid to show it in either Halter or Performance. It is a MODEL HORSE!!! Not a living breathing animal. Geesh

Another "Eye Twitch" costume in progress

Good morning!! Well the 4th of July was well for us and we were able to get out of town. Very relaxing. Anyway. I am currently working on another "Eye Twitch" costume. Yea, I know, I know. I am so killing my eye site. Hey can't help it, I love doing those tiny costumes. I only have 2 photo's of it, but will have more as I continue to work on it.

 As you can see, I do have a lot of it done. Still have to attach the girth which the owner can use sticky wax to make it stay put. Have to add tassels to the drapes. If your wondering if there will be any gold tassels.....................NOPE!!! I don't really like to work with gold thread cause it don't like to cooperate with me. I have learned that lesson quite well. Yes this costume will be for sale upon completion. Don't worry, I will post photo's of it when I am done.

I am so secretive. *evil laugh*

While working on both Anita's and Allison's costumes, I was secretly working on another costume. Yea I know, I am so evil. Heck people didn't even know about until I said something about it. LOL! I only let 1 clue out..............the cinch. I had some guess right off that it was another costume, but they just couldn't guess the color. Now that was great. Here is photo's from start to finish. Oh yes it is for sale.

 Here is the cinch, the only clue I gave when I started the costume. Yup, it is adjustable. Here it wasn't quite finished. I added another "Secure" around the buckles strap so it wouldn't fall off. I did smooth out the nubbies on the buckles though.

 Here is a not so great photo of the bridle in the first stages. Have you figured out the colors? LOL yea, you guessed it! Black/gold. 

 Here is the saddle. I used the saddle from Rio Rondo(I have several of them) and covered it in 2 layers of black material. 1 layer of material, you can see the saddle's coloration. I enjoy working with this saddle form cause it is easy to alter. 

 Here is the stirrups. Yes they are covered, but it so works with the costume. and yes they too are adjustable. If your wondering about the tiny clothes pin, Yes I do use them to hold parts together as they dry. They are also good for holding thread as I braid them for bridles, breast collars etc. They save my sanity.

 And here is the drape before I attached the tassels and cinch. This one in particular was the second drape I made. the first one just wasn't looking like I wanted. So I scraped it and did another one. This one was so so much better. Everything was measured out perfectly.

 Here is the head drape. As you can see, it too is adjustable on both sides. It really complements the bridle.

These 2 photo's show the drape after I attached it. Yes I did make this bridle a double cause I wanted 2 reins. Plus if you search on google, you will see that a lot of real horse owners are using a double bridle. Oh if your wondering, yes the nose band is adjustable. I didn't adjust it for the photo's. So that is why it is far down the nose.

 Now if your wondering about the tassel placement, here is a homemade template that I use. I have several of them for different costumes. In fact, I have so many different styles, I don't think I will ever have time to finish them all. At least not in this life time. 

Here you see the tassels after I have attached them to the drape. OMG!! I realized that I absolutely HATE working with gold thread. Making the tassel part wasn't so bad, it is getting it to accept the glue is what is a real brat. 3 hours of drying time. UGH!!!

 Here is the drape with all tassels attached. Total drying time: 35.5 hours. In those hours, I was working on 2 other costumes(Anita's and Allison's) It looks pretty good if I do say so myself.

 And here is what the costume looks like after I have attached the saddle/stirrups and the cinch. SWEET!!! Yes the stirrups are adjustable.

AND NOW THE COSTUME IN IT'S ENTIRETY!!!

  As you can see from these photo's, it is an awesome costume. Now isn't it an awesome one??
I will be buying more "Other" color Arabians to see what colors this costume will look good on. Plus if it don't sell BEFORE September 14th, I will be taking it to High Country Live to show it and to Model Horse Expo. in October.