More things that make me happy.

When I mentioned that my cats were on here as something that made me happy, my husband was quite upset that he wasn't first. I explained that they were in no particular order but I can see where he is coming from. I feel strange talking about my husband on my blog so I'm making this one include two things that make me happy for good measure.

1-My husband, oh my! My husband has brought more sci fi into my life than I could imagine. He is a bit of a nerd for it. He's currently in the Army but will be out around March. My husband is so much calmer about little things in life than I am and it helps me learn to be calm as well. He's helpful with the horses, and honestly, I can't believe anyone would agree to marry me knowing that I came with college debt, two horses, a cat, and not the most employable degree.

Now you may be wondering why I'm saying husband when I said earlier I was getting married in May. Well, we are married in the eloping sort of way right now and we're having an actual ceremony and reception for our families and friends (and so I can have an actual wedding because I am still female and want one).

2- My horses. I'm adding older photos of both of them, ones I haven't put on this blog yet. Which unfortunately means I have no more of Orion (Deek) to show you, but there are plenty of Thunder and Titan.
The one with her hind end way in the air is Shasta, my mom's appy.

Doing this spam of pictures makes me miss one particular horse I've never mentioned on this blog. My very first horse, Blue. He's still around and he lives at my parents house. I didn't want to risk trailering a 25-30 y.o. horse to Arizona from Michigan and I couldn't afford to move him. He's a great old horse. He's probably Morgan x Quarter Horse cross.
He's so filthy in this picture! I'll show more of him later.And the whole horse family back in Michigan. Clockwise from back left to about 9 o'clock: Shasta (bay with star), Titan (Bay with T blaze), Thunder (sorrel), and Blue (grey).

Identifying things that make me happy!

So, the first thing that made me happy (these are in no particular order by the way, just the order they come to mind) sort of just showed itself to me right after I published the list. My kitties! Banjo, the gray was cuddling with me and then he moved over and cuddle Ava. These are my shelter kitties and I love them so much!

In other news, that shed that blew over ( a few posts back ) is getting us $6000 from the insurance company. We're going to put it towards building a pole barn rather than putting that shed back up (it will just blow over again). I'm going to use the carport part of it without the walls as a shade for the horses when we build the 2nd pasture for them. It will be fenced on the sides with the support beams so they can't get themselves hurt somehow.

Caly's 101 Things in 1001 days

This was such a difficult thing to do! Coming up with 101 goals seems quite daunting until you set into it and realize that 2.75 years is a long time.

From the 101 Thing in 1001 Days site:

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.


I divided my list into several categories and will continue to edit this list as well as post about each goal as it is completed.

italics indicate a goal in progress
Strikeout indicates a goal that is completed. I will place the date next to the goal and link to the post in which I talk about that goal.
All other goals are incomplete.

On to my list!

Arts & Crafts & Business

1. Learn a new weave for dreamcatchers (crazy new pattern)
   
2. Knit or crochet a blanket
3. Make a new item and list it in Etsy or Artfire once a week for a two months (0/9)
4. Spend at least 30 minutes advertising Etsy and Artfire shops 3 days a week for a month (0/12)
5. Draw once a week for a month (0/4)
6. Knit a pair of gloves
7. Knit a pair of socks
8. Sew my own skirt
9. Try drop spindle spinning my own yarn
10. Take a photograph everyday for a month (0/30)
11. Crochet an amigurumi horse
12. Organize all my craft supplies and keep them that way for 3 months (0/90)

Personal Betterment & Career

13. Develop confidence in making phone calls
14. Get a full time job
15. Identify 100 things that make me happy (3/100)
16. Meditate every morning once a month (0/30)
17. Learn a new word once a month a use it! (1/33)
18. Spend 15-30 minutes a day learning and practicing Spanish for 3 months (0/90)
19. Spend 3 days a week working on Polish for 3 months (0/32)
20. Practice guitar 1 hour a day, 3 days a week, for 2 months (0/24)
21. Get rid of 25 things I don't need in my life (0/25)
22. Make a new friend
23. Take flower's to my grandma's grave
24. Stop chewing on my cuticles/fingers
25. Stop cracking my knuckles
26. Make and send a postcard to PostSecret
27. Do karaoke in a public place
28. Talk to 10 strangers (1/10) (1. Talked to a lady at Walmart about jeans)

Finances
29. Save $10-25 per paycheck depending on size (0/?)
30. Pay Credit Card down to $2000 or less, don't allow it to go above $3000 for remainder of 1001 days.
31. Put $10.01 in savings for each goal completed. (1/101)
32. Don't eat out for an entire month (0/30)

For Fun
33. Read the Chronicles of Narnia (3/7)
34. Go Skydiving
35. Get certified to scuba dive
36. Read War and Peace
37. Read 100 books from my goodreads list of to-reads (including Narnia and War and Peace) (3/100)
38. Travel to 3 states I've never been to before (0/3)
39. See a Broadway Musical (on or off Broadway)
40. Go rock climbing at Cochise Stronghold
41. Go to Mexico
42. Camp in the Grand Canyon
43. Participate in NaBloPoMo (1/28)
44. write a novel (with me, this will probably be a young adult novel)
45. Go to Canada
46. Learn to play 3 new songs on the guitar
47. Tour Kartchner Caverns
48. Go kayaking on Patagonia Lake
49. Take a Cruise!!
50. Go to Vegas
51. Be a SeaWorld Dolphin Trainer for a day.
52. Ride on a train
53. Try a Mudslide (what? I've never had one!)

Exercise & Health
54. Practice Yoga 30 minutes a day 3 times a week for 2 months (0/48)
55. Use my WiiFit to do body tests every morning for a month (0/30)
56. Maintain a food log everyday for a month (0/30)
57. Eat fish once a week for a month (0/4)
58. Go to the gym everyday for a month (0/30)
59. Work out everyday for a month (home or gym and not the same month as gym only) (0/30).
60. Reach 145lbs
61. Maintain 145 lbs or less for remainder of 1001 days
62. Do 10 push ups at once
63. Do 10 pull ups
64. Get a massage
65. Have a spa day once a month for a year (0/12)
66. Drink at least 4 glasses of water a day for 21 days (0/21)
67. Go jogging outdoors once a week for a month

Horses
68. Get Titan to run a consistent 1d to 2d time
69. Go out of state to a barrel race or rodeo
70. Ride in a Charmayne James clinic
71. Build an arena with good ground
72. Trail ride once a week for 3 months (0/12)
73. Saddle train Orion
74. Ride Orions
75. Get Orion to lead well and lunge well.
76. Save up for a barrel saddle that fits Titan (and get it!)
77. Ride everyday for a month (0/30)
78. Buy a truck so I can go to shows!

For Others (and my happiness)
79. Send out 101 cards/post cards (1/101)
80. Volunteer at least one day a week for 3 months (0/12).
81. Give one million grains of rice on FreeRice.com (57,180/1,000,000)
82. Visit Click-to-Give sites at least 4 days a week for a month (0/16)
83. Donate Blood
84. Knit or Crochet something for charity

House Renovations
85.Redecorate the master bathroom (new toilet, fix floor, tile floor, medicine cabinets etc)
86. Redecorate main bathroom
87. Redecorate kitchen
88. Create retaining wall and landscape front yard
89. Paint House Exterior
90. Add shutters to house windows
91. Add solar lighting to front yard and driveway
92. Paint other rooms of house
93. Replace or fix all fans in the house
94. Replace ugly mirror in living room
95. Replace front and back doors of house
96. Sew curtains for the windows (0/8)
97. New linoleum in laundry room

Ecofriendly Stuff

98. Unplug chargers when not in use for 3 months (0/90)
99. Recycle for 3 months (0/90)
100. No plastic bags for 3 months (0/90)
101. Go to the Farmer's Market for produce for two months



And there you have it! I'm working on the 100 things that make me happy and I have the first one, I will post about it later or tomorrow! I am starting today instead of Friday because I'm just so excited to do a couple of these things!
So my dates are:
January 8th 2009 until October 6th 2011

Those horseshoes I talked about

These are both available in my Artfire shop.

I'm going to post a list of 101 things to do in 1001 days tomorrow. It officially starts for me on the 9th, so I'm going to post about the 101 things and then post what ones I -plan- on tackling first.

You'll see me tomorrow!

A new year for change.

I hope everyone had a happy New Years and a great holiday!

Its 2009! YAY!

Here are some updates on my crafting. I have two horseshoe dreamcatchers made and I need to post them in the next day or two. I have also mostly finished a knitted scarflette for my Artfire shop. I just need to add a button! I'm currently also working on crocheted bags with leather pins. I have one crocheted bag done but need to add the leather pin. Luckily, I'm feeling much more ready to craft.

I am currently applying to grad school to get a teacher certification and teach high school. Once the application is all done, I'll have less to worry about. However, if I get into the program, it starts in May, which is also the time of my wedding. So, all I know is that it will be a busy year for me (hopefully).

2008 was an ok year, but it was tough. Good things were,
a)Graduating from college!
b)Moving from Michigan to Arizona

However, there were many things that were frustrating, like not having a truck and not being able to go to any barrel races at all.

2009 will be better, well, I'm going to make it better.
a)We're getting a truck! This will allow me to go to barrel races!
b)I'm getting married...guh!
c)If all goes as planned, I'll be going to grad school and actually investing in a career I LIKE!

Hopefully though, there will be a lot in store for my Etsy and Artfire shops. I tend to craft more when I'm busier, oddly enough. I guess I feel more inspired.

Pictures of the new items will come soon!

Product Review: The Walky-Dog

Ok, so I'm reviewing a product that I love. It gives me something to blog about right?

The Walky-Dog is an amazing tool. I love this thing! Essentially it is a shock absorber so your dog can run along next to you while you ride the bike. Its super easy to install to the bike and easy to hook the dog up to!
I have an Alaskan Malamute, and not only is she big, she LOVES to pull, go figure. I could never take her with me because her pulling was disruptive and down right dangerous if the leash was on my arm or in my hands. The Walky-Dog works wonders for this. She still pulls but her forward pulling actually helps pull the bike forward. It is easier for me to get up hills with her attached, and she gets some extra work out too!
When she does yank out to the side, three heavy-duty springs inside absorb a lot of the shock and, while I can feel it pull on the bike, it is not hard to continue riding. Its sort of like running into a small rock and having your bike tire slip around it.

The three springs inside can be removed and by removing a spring it lengthens the cord that is available to the dog. Big dogs that can pull harder and are also closer to the Walky-Dog get three springs and less leash. Smaller dogs, like my Sid (pitbull mix) get two springs, and even smaller dogs can get the one. Thus, giving them enough leash so the Walky-Dog isn't lifting up on the tracheas.

Positives-

• Keeps your dog at a safe distance from the bike for the most part
• Its adjustable to use on different sized dogs!
• It really does absorb the shock of the dog pulling
• Easy to install on the bike
• The arm comes off so you can unattach your dog from the bike but hang on to it for a temporary stop.
• No training necessary
  
• Dog can't accidentally detach and run around in the road
• It's light
• Doesn't get in the way
• It keeps my hands free!!
  

Negatives

• When I said "for the most part" about the safe distance, I had one instance where Dakota managed to almost get her paw run over by the back tire. But only when I was turning to the right (which is the side I have her on).
• When the dog pulls harder the seat on the bike can turn a little bit. My bike is obviously partially to blame for this but the fact that it attaches under the seat can cause this problem. Depending on your bike you may be able to attache it to a different bar. I can't because of the thickness of the bars on my bike and also, I can't attach it much lower as Dakota isn't a short dog! But, I'll play with it and hopefully fix this problem
• Its a little difficult to remove springs and put them back in.

Overall I think this product is worth getting if you want a way that you and your dog can exercise together.

An Amigurumi and some wreckage from high winds last night.

This was my hay storage shed, and because it only had three walls the wind was quite capable of picking up the staked in shed and flipping it over. Also, busting up the whole shed.

Secondly, I made this little amigurumi octopus. He'll be in my artfire shop soon. when its less gloomy out, I'll get better pics of him. I also made an owl that is already in my artfire, but I'll post pics of him later :).

In the meantime, I'm a little sickly. Its either my allergies or a cold.