Last night I went with my daughter to Cavalia. What a wonderful show filled with beautiful horses, acrobats, incredible horse stunts, dressage and fun. It will be a night to remember for years to come.  I think most people were wishing to be able to take photos, but no we were not allowed.  If Cavalia comes to your area of the world, it is truly a show not to miss. A horse lovers evening.

The snow came and covered us all with up to 20 inches of snow. Then the ice rain came and encased all the trees and shrubs, weighing them down. Broken trees and branches fell all over the town and country side, knocking out power for days. We were without power for up to 5 days, luckly we have the woodstove and gas for cooking and water. BUT it is so nice to back with power again! 
During the down time I was able to do a drawing in the candle light with pastels. It reminds me of relaxing warmer days. Can't wait for those to come! 

Last night I went to the barn and tucked our horses in for the night. The snow had already started to fall the day before, and was covering the fields.  All the horses coming in for the evening were wearing their snowy high heels. Little Jupiter was happy with his alfalfa, munching it down like a pony does, with not a care except for the food in front of him.

Over the night the snows came again and this morning we woke to 14 inches of white powder! The winter storm is still emptying her belly onto us until tomorrow. So I am at home with the cozy fire crackling away, watching the kids play with the dogs outside. I am drawing custom graphics for some pet memorial orders today.  Tomorrow I will be engraving the images into stone. Let it snow, let it snow, let is now…

Working in the studio today, organizing the shelves and melting the beeswax. Once the shipping is completed I will be able to create.

In Washington State the weather during the winter months can be and usually is, well grey.  A good 4 months of grey weather, rain and cold breezes. We all wonder why do we live here, and then it happens. The sun comes out.  Since I live in Olympia, the South Puget Sound shimmers under the Snow capped Olympic Mountains; Mt Rainier stands up proud for all to see her with her skirt of Cascade Mountains. The eagles fly over, and the blue herons are quietly catching their dinner. 
It is on days like these that make you want to go for a trail ride. That is just what my daughter and I did this last Sunday. We went to a special place on the waterfront where I grew up as a child, Mud Bay.  We took her 13h welsh pony, Jupiter and my 17h TB, Marvin. They do look funny travelling in my Baron Brenderup horse Trailer.  One tall bottom, and then deep in the back you can see little fluffy ears. 
We had a picnic, and then walked along the waterfront with our horses and our two labradoodles, Couscous and Crumpet.  The ducks were gathered in the inlets and the tide was in. The view is across the bay up to the Black hills. I did take my camera and got several lovely photos.
I will be using the photos to create some pastel drawings of our day. It will be nice to use the pastels again.
Until the next sunny day.

With the New Year comes the reflection on the past, and the hopeful dreams of the future.  

This week I have been reworking my equine art website, fluffing it up and making it tidy. With that there has been a new twitter account created and I already have 46 followers, Thank You!  There are new ideas in the works, of encaustic paintings in large scale. I am working on the sketches at the moment and scribbling on anything I can find, napkins, torn envelopes when a vision comes to me.

I’ve started riding again and taking dressage lessons once a week on my off the track 17H TB, Marvelous Marvin. He doesn’t know that much, but has amazing talent and a wonderful work ethic. This year, one of my goals is to show in some schooling shows. This has brought so much happiness to my life.

 I am now the secretary for my daughter’s pony club. Baywood Pony Club, here in Olympia. AND I get the sinking feeling I am being groomed for DC………. It is so fun to take my sketch pad and scribble scenes of the ponies and their girls.