Holy COOOOLD Batman!!

It is even colder than yesterday and sounds like it's going to get worse before it gets better! Ick.
Today our high is.... are you ready for it? -28 celcius. And to be honest, I don't think we're even going to make that, it's currently staying pretty steady at -30. Any breeze at all and we'll be well into the -40's. Yuck, yuck & double yuck!

Tonight will be extra fun with a low of -38.

Y'know what's interesting about this cold weather? (here comes the science nerd in me) If you take a container of boiling hot water outside and throw it into the air, it will instantly crystallize and turn into snow. Neat eh?

On another note, poor Brigit was pretty stiff & slow moving yesterday morning when I went out to check on her. I think her age really shows in this weather. So I took pity on her and asked the barn owner if she could stay inside at night until this weather warmed up a bit. Into the heated barn she went. I figured Rain was hairy & young enough that she'd be ok. Tonight I might bring them both in, it'll make me feel less guilty as I sit on the couch, wrapped up in a nice warm blanket! lol

I did make it to the fabric store yesterday and they had some really good sales on, so I've got a few more projects to work on. Some nice lavendar polo's for Rain, a fleece cover for the wee saddle, a wee saddle pad and maybe another vest? That should keep me busy for at least the rest of the week... probably longer.

I just don't feel ready....

After my upbeat post a few days ago about how much I have going on, today I'm feeling like I have TOO MUCH going on.

I entered in this big dressage show this weekend and I just don't feel ready. I haven't had enough time to practice the tests or just plain ride, period. I'm still going but I hope I can get time to ride in the next few days.

I rode last night and had a so/so ride. Brigit is still being really difficult although she feels a ton better suppleness & movement wise. The wind was blowing really hard which I think caused a bunch of her agitation. I hope that's all.

I think I'm going to need a reader for my tests too. I've been trying my hardest to memorize the other 2 tests I need to ride (3 total) and for the life of me I just can't remember past a certain point. I've got the first one no problem and the 2nd is coming but I can't see remembering the 3rd and not getting all three mixed up! lol THAT would be embarrassing!

To my fellow bloggers.....

I really really have been reading your posts lately but blogger will only let me post on certain people's blogs! I wish they would hurry up and fix whatever issue they are having.

Anita I'm so glad to hear you and your family are ok after yet another earthquake!

Robin I'm so sorry about you and Owen. I hope they can fix the both of you so you can keep on your sidesaddle quest!

I think I've been able to comment on everyone else's blogs but if not, I may be forced to add comments after my posts lol.

Oh no! Not a postal strike!

Yup, they're talking about a possible postal strike here in Canada as early as today. For the most part a lot of people won't be hugely affected. But for those that are trying to get horse show entries mailed in or are expecting items in the mail..... it will be a bit trickier!

I'm trying to enter in two shows at the moment and it's frustrating because they don't want faxed or scanned/emailed entries, I think they will change that in light of the strike though.

A little secret I've been keeping.... I've ordered a new habit! Actually TWO of them! I decided I didn't like my navy habit, it just doesn't fit quite right so it's time for an upgrade. I'm also getting a tweed habit. I just love how they look and hopefully it'll stay a bit cleaner than the navy! They are supposed to be done in a few weeks time so hopefully the strike will be over before it's time to pop them in the mail.

What a pain!

What the HAIL!!!!

Well I'm glad that I haven't gotten too overzealous with planting yet because we had a pretty good hail storm this evening. There are piles of hail in the ditches and by the gutters of the house. :( Those pretty tulips I posted pictures of in my last post? Shredded to smithereens. I'm glad we got to enjoy them for a week anyways. The rest of my tulips are immature enough that their buds didn't get ruined. Some of the trees are missing leaves and luckily my peony's are sheltered enough they didn't get hit.

This is the un-fun part of gardening in Alberta. The weather can be so unpredictable. Our average "last day of frost" is May 23, I think I'm going to wait until June 1 at least to put my more tender stuff out.

And just in case of frost or more hail, I bought some heavy duty clear plastic to make a "lean-to" against the fence. The frost I can deal with but seeing your entire garden hailed out is so disheartening.

We usually don't get hail storms until August here. Today we had a really good thunderstorm that brought in the hail. 2 years ago we had such a bad storm there was tornados spotted and a huge portion of the Alberta farmer's had their crops absolutely smashed into the ground.

I hope this isn't a bad sign of how our summer is going to be!!

Now that I've had a good positive post for the day....

It's time for a top notch WHINE. My shoulders are absolutely KILLING me. I think it's from trying out the new saddle this past week. I should have been wearing proper boots & attire and waited until the leaping head was bent correctly. That will teach me.
I think I was compensating by hunching my shoulders and having a bit of a tug-o-war with my mare did't help either. They were sore the next day and have been progressively sore-er since.

I attended a riding clinic on the weekend and he worked on getting me to sit taller, open my shoulders and not get into a tug-of-war. We had lovely, easy rides and everything felt great....except for my shoulders afterwards!! Just not sure why they are so darned sore!

I think it's time to go for a massage or perhaps try some accupuncture. My shoulders are in absolute knots and very sore. Last night I took a muscle relaxant and slept on a heat pack. I feel a little better than I did yesterday except I feel like I slept on a heat pack lol.

The things we put ourselves through for riding! (But I sure wouldn't give it up!)