Grandma's visit!

Having looked forward to my mum coming over to visit us, it was a bit of a disappointment to begin with because Indiana came down with a very nasty bout of gastroenteritis literally two days before grandma'sa arrival. Poor little girl was so sick and it took over a week for her to start feeling herself again. In the meantime it was a little disappointing for everyone - especially Grandma.

We ended up not doing everything we had planned but still had some fun outings!

First off, Indiana's birthday:

Tucking into a sandwich made by Grandma (obviously if I had made it, it wouldn't have been good enough...)

Playing at the park with Grandma:

Unfortunately, Indiana developed a cold, followed by bronchitis after having just recovered from her gastroenteritis, which she then thoughtfully passed onto Grandma. So it was really rather unlucky.

Still, we had a lovely time and were sorry to see Grandma go, especially indiana of course. Hopefully she'll be back soon!

Little Chef

Today Indiana and I decided to bake some cookies.

It started off quite well with the softening of the butter:

Next we add the sugar:

beating the eggs and vanilla essence:

Just a little taste:

eggs meet butter:

I did the next bit on my own because Indiana bogged off - didn't want her photo taken...

Still didn't want her photo taken:

Putting the dough in the fridge:

Indiana then went for a short nap, after which the dough was ready to roll out:

it looks so yummy:

Cutting shapes on her own:

Now for some heart-shaped ones:

Sampling the finished product:

Then we iced some to take to the nanny the next day:

Might have a go at some muffins next time... ;-)

First Canadian riding experience ;-)

I rode for the first time in over 6 months today!!!! It was brilliant because I was amongst horsey people and felt totally normal!!! I feel like I've made lots of friends already - human and horse) and now I really can't wait for Oxbow to arrive!

I arrived and as it's half term there were quite a few people around, so Josée, the YO introduced me to everyone. We then went and got her QH x Paint mare in from the field. She wasn't as huge as I remember (must have been standing in a dip when I saw her the first time  ) but she was quite a bit wider than Oxbow with a big bum. 

She's just 4 years old, been nicely broken in (Western) but Josée insisted I rode in an English saddle. So she produced something which looked rather archaic and uncomfortable (and turned out to be both  ) and she jumped on her mare first and then let me get on board. 
We had a bit of a laugh because she couldn't get her leg high enough to put her foot in the stirrup to mount so I gave her a leg up. Then when it was my turn to mount, I thought I'd have the same problem but I got on from the ground, no leg-ups or mounting block required and there were lots of "ooos" and "aaaahs" and people commenting on how supple I was. Haha, if only they knew  
By this time there was quite a gathering in the indoor school. Everyone wanted to watch the English girl ride, well... English  

The mare is trained Western but I got some nice trot work out of her and a tiny bit of lateral work. I asked Josée if she'd done any shoulder - in and she hadn't so I gave it a go on the mare, who didn't understand what I wanted to start with but soon got the right idea. 

Then a chap called Claud, who has four horses on livery (one for him, one for his wife and one each for his daughters), who had been watching all the time I was riding and asking lots and lots of questions, asked if I'd like to ride his horse. 
It was really sweet of him to offer and he really needed have - after all I am a complete stranger! Anyway, he got his horse - a lovely sorrel colour - called Texas (and yes, Rochelle I did think of you ) and he spent about 10 minutes explaining the different parts of the saddle/girth/bridle and then I hopped on board. 
Texas is a small reining horse and at just 4 years old, he really knows his stuff and was very responsive to my leg and politely refrained from complaining when I got the canter aids wrong (he just struck off on the wrong leg). He's a QH and has a very very comfortable canter. 
Claud is an English teacher so he asked if we might speak in English, which we did and he explained to me that he has tried to bring his girls up in a bilingual home and he speaks to them in English which is really commendable since English isn't his mother tongue. 

I have added a couple of photos. The quality is really bad as I found out afterwards that a certain little person must have got hold of my camera and changed all the settings so the photos are 2m pixels and not 12.5m  

Oh and don't have a go at me about the lack of hat - I forgot mine (yes, slap on the wrist for me  ) and the YO told me that no one wears one here so I was not to worry about it. I hasten to add that I have never ridden Oxbow without wearing my hat and don't intend to either.

My "English" ride:




Texas:



One of the boarders - I find leopard appaloosas so striking:




After we'd finished riding and had sorted the horses out we all went upstairs to the Club House and had a hot chocolate (apparently this is mandatory. The YO puts the kettle on and has the drinks ready for her boarders when they come upstairs). I was really grateful for this, because despite wearing two t shirts, a thick wooly jumper, my lovely warm Musto jacket and two pairs of socks, I was freezing. Both my feet went totally numb and it was really hard to walk and I took my boots off and wrapped my feet in my coat to get them warm again   
(It was -13°C with a wind chill factor of about -18°C by the way    ).
I put the heating on the car full blast and had a boiling cup of tea when I got home and it still took me ages to "thaw" out so I hope I won't get sick. I've never been so cold before, but it was worth every second  

The boarders today plus the YO are keen to learn about English riding and I have promised Claud that once Oxbow is here and settled I'll give him a lesson!

We went for a walk this afternoon, by the reservoir/lake which is about 500 metres from our appartment.
It has been frozen since late December but today was the first time we went to see what it was like. Indiana and I walked on the lake, mainly because Indiana shot off and I had to run after her!

Here are some photos! It's impossible to tell where the grass stops and the lake begins...

Snowy Days!

It has been snowing quite a lot recently. Unfortunately though, Indiana has been quite poorly. What started off as a cold, then turned to bronchitis and finally to 'flu and an ear infection. Luckily though she has antibiotics which have made her feel a lot better. So we've finally been able to get out and have some fun!!

On Saturday night it snowed and by morning we had a foot of snow, literally:

The appartments opposite ours:

The snow piled up at the end of the carpark:

The pickup (sometimes it's a tractor) who came to dig us out that morning:

Yay!! Finally I get to play outside!!

It's too deep! I'm stuck!!!! 

Daddy I wanna help dig the car out!!

After a snowball fight.....!

And one for the album:

Lots going on!

I haven't updated my blog for a few days, so apologies to any followers who might have become a bit frustrated.

We have lots going on at the moment so it's hard to know where to begin!

Some of you already know that I was invited to a job interview yesterday. It was a pretty surreal experience and one which, if the outcome is unsuccessful, I am more than happy to repeat!
I have never ever laughed so much during a job interview and it felt extremely positive. So. We'll see. It's a job teaching English at the local college/university, by the way.

So, as a result of this interview we have now found a new nanny for Indiana. She's a very nice lady, all the children she looks after are aged between 18 to 24 months so the same age as Indiana, more or less.
Indiana had a trial morning today and it went really really well. She apparently played beautifully with the other children, never once gave a thought to her parents (good sign!) and when I went to pick her up she was pleased to see me but she also seemed thrilled to have spent time with other toddlers. I felt so happy for her that I was almost tearful. It's what she needs and has so desperately been seeking over the last few weeks.

One of the mums who sends her child to this nanny has horses, so Carole (the nanny) is going to make sure that we meet up - perhaps that will be a possibility to create a riding buddy friendship!

I have also been busy baking. Since baking the turkey and the blueberry pies, I've now started experimenting with cookies!

Chocolate chip and walnut:

My reliable guinea-pig/official taster:

I'm going to bake some white chocolate chip and cranberry ones next!

On one of our exploratory trips of the area, we visited a village called Kingsey Falls. It has a small waterfall - if you can call it that. Anyway, here's a father-daughter photo:

That's all for now, and to all those who continue to visit my blog regularly: thanks for reading!