Friday, July 13, 2018

A little sewing with friends

My friend Lily's mom (my Explorer's leader) noticed that the AHG catalog now has 18" doll uniforms.  I have wanted doll uniforms for my girls, and mom and I had talked about it, but we had not actually done anything, but purchase a small amount of blue and red fabric at one point.  Lily's mom bought all of the fabric as well as miniature flags to use as patches.  The moms talked about it with each other and set a day for us to sew.   I have had more experience than Lily, so I could have managed this on my own, but it was more fun to sew with a friend. 
Lily and I sewed one doll khaki skirt.  My mom sewed and embroidered both vests, and Lily's mom sewed us each a pair of khaki pants.   Nanea and Lily's doll, who she named Addy, model the uniforms. 
I know they will have a ton of camping adventures with all of their camping gear.  Now they can also do the more formal side of AHG.  

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

SOPD, long post, but it's totally worth it!

A month ago before my parents went to Haiti my mom found a miniature horse for sale online.  We talked to dad, and it was not easy to convince him but eventually between his love for me, and his love for horses, he caved!
We called on that horse, and actually a few other miniature horses, and nothing seemed to be working out.  Dad said, "wait until after Haiti," and we could look again.  I was very disappointed.  But then later the next day at a homeschool race, I found out that a friend's sister had a miniature horse that she wanted to sell.  Mom made some phone calls and we made arrangements to go and meet the horse.  On June 10th mom drove me to Albemarle to meet the horse.  I could barely wait for the thirty minute ride, I was so excited.
When we arrived I saw her, and I knew it was love at first sight!

Even though she was still shedding her reddish winter coat and needed a groom, she was beautiful to me.  I also loved that she was super sweet.  She didn't have the temperament I had been warned that many mini horses have of biting and kicking.  She is very gentle, but still has a little spunk, kind of like me!  I had brought my helmet, and I still weigh well under 90 pounds so the owner tacked her and I got to go for a ride!



I rode her around the field, and even a little on some trails behind their field.  She was easy to ride, even out of practice, so there were a few times that she was more interested in stopping to try to eat some grass.  Riding her is so much fun, and she's such a petite little thing, I loved how it felt like we were connected.
It was neat that our friends happened to have a saddle that fit her and fit me!
Our friends had named her Bitsy, because she was so small.  We liked that name, but I have renamed her.  Introducing Sweet Opal Pixie Dot Ray.  



Mom also fell in love with her right away too.  Right away we started to figure out exactly what we would need to be able to have a horse. Even though nothing would happen until after my parents got back from their mission trip, it wasn't going to be easy to "make" and save the money that we needed to start out with a horse, plus the horse money, but mom had some ideas of things that we could sell, and also that we would need to stop spending money on things that we don't need, or that were wasteful.
We actually decided to try to sell Felicity and Josephina.  They are still listed for sale, so if you are interested, email my mom through blogger or leave a comment.





Yesterday dad went with mom and I to visit Opal for the second time.  I'm planning to call her Opal by the way.  She has finished shedding her winter coat and we spent some time brushing and using the curry comb on her as well.


  You can see her coloring a little better.  She's half Appaloosa.  I always wanted an Appaloosa horse!  Looking at her she is mostly blue roan, with black and white hairs.  But her Appaloosa patterning is very apparent around her head and hind quarters.  Her reddish brown mane flips part way down to the other side, and under her forelock is a large star and strip of white!  You can see the white and reddish brown on her tale as well.  I absolutely love her coloring, she has black, white, red and tan hairs all at once!  That's why I named her Opal.  All of those colors together give her a shimmery appearance and her coat has lots of variance just like a real opal!
In less than two weeks we will pick Opal up and bring her home!  I am having a hard time waiting again.  In the mean time, dad is preparing our back yard and a stable for her.  Mom and I went shopping today and bought some things that we will need.  We still need to get a few more items and then there are some items that I want.
The saddle that I was riding won't come with her, but her harness, bit and bridle will.  Mom and I think that I am going to get a bareback saddle.  I have already picked it out and if everything works, we will order it soon.
So, the seller said that last spring Opal was around a stud, and she may have bred! This wouldn't be her first time being a mother. It's hard to know for sure without a vet testing her, but her shape has changed some from when she first went to their home. She has gotten rounder. Time will tell, we aren't planning to have her vet checked yet, but it's possible she's pregnant! If she is, the stud was a full Appaloosa miniature horse, and she would foal in the spring.  If that happens, the chances are high that the foal will look similar, or have more spots!  I will post more as I have updates!

Monday, July 9, 2018

Meet Strawberry and Kryptonite


Today my mom and I found an American Girl calf (Caroline's collection) and goat (Josephina's collection).  I named the calf Strawberry and the goat Kryptonite.  They now live at the stables with the other farm animals.  They belong to Jacob, but Tia helps to take care of them.  Here, Kanani is bringing them out to introduce them to the other animals.  
My mom saw them at a consignment shop where we already had credit, so they didn't take away from the money I'm saving.  We were there dropping off some consignment items and when we browsed through the store they were hiding behind a Paradise Horses black and white paint horse with Western and English saddles.  At first I was very interested in the horse but I decided I have enough doll horses for now, and would rather have a real horse...


Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Galaxy comes home!

Galaxy is well enough to come home.  It was rough at first.  She needed some serious work to make her a healthy horse, but with a little TLC she's whole again! 
Now that Galaxy is here, the three horse stable is "full".  Lyric is a part of Melody's imagination, so it makes perfect sense that he lives over the stable...
The hay storage is up there too because we all know that when left unattended that horses can eat until they make themselves sick, and we don't want that.  Goaty found her way all the way up to the hay though, she's such a funny little climber!

Monday, July 2, 2018

Galaxy update

I posted yesterday that Galaxy spent some time in the Animal Hospital.  She had some injuries and needed TLC and care.  She got it today, and is doing much better!  She should be ready for some photos tomorrow.  Kanani has been by her side taking care of her.

Sunday, July 1, 2018

Summer activities have begun and 18" doll UNICORN!!!!!

Two weeks ago I went to Cornerstone Kids Summer Day camp for the first time.  It was so fun!  I went because World Changers was also hosted at my church, and my entire family was working on missions.  I'm not 6th grade yet, so I couldn't participate. 
The first day that I went was actually Tuesday.  We had a splash day with water slides, sprinklers, and water play.  I played lemonade stand with some friends. 
The second day we had kitchen science.  I made a spider out of pretzels and cookies.  I ate the entire spider!  Yum!  We played a tag "spider" game.  We also made chalk/finger paint and bouncy balls.  I colored my ball red.
The third day I went to camp was spirit day.  I wore my camp shirt, and in Camp Plus we made bracelets with loom bands and played with LEGOs. 
Every day I had time to play outside, and inside with friends.  One of my best friends, Morgan, was also at camp and it was a lot of fun to see her every day.
After camp I went to my grand parents for the next week while my parents were doing mission work in Haiti. 
But before camp on the last day was the coolest surprise!  Mom took me to Goodwill and I found some 18" doll horses!  A black one that I named Galaxy and a white one I named Lyric!  We also got a green and purple jeep, which I am planning to resell to raise money for something special I want to buy!
Galaxy was in rough shape, she's a My Life As horse, and was clearly loved and played with.  She came with a red halter and leg warmers.  No reigns or saddle.  My mom worked for a long time detangling the mane and tail.  She's been groomed, but needs a little more time at the Animal Hospital before she can come to live at the stables.  She is being adopted by Kanani. 



Lyric the white one is different from all of my other horses.  He is not poseable, or covered with soft velvet.  He is an Our Generation 20" Camarillo horse.  He was absolutely perfect to be transformed into a unicorn. 
We used foil, Sculpy oven dry clay, paint, glitter and hot glue, and this is what we came up with.   
Now that we made his horn and groomed him, he's magnificent!  His full name is Lyrical Laif.  He's Meldoy's special friend.  He comes to her when she's creatively dreaming and they go to have adventures in her imagination. She has a special call for him too!  It's hard for me to describe it, it sounds like a hummingbird.  
He came with an English saddle, but no reigns.  We took the saddle off because WHO RIDES A UNICORN WITH A SADDLE???
We will be making some reigns for Melody to guide him with.  
Now that my mom is back, our summer is getting back to normal.  Along with the jeep, I am selling my Pleasant Company Felicity and Pleasant Company Josephina to add to my special purchase funds.  I will miss them, but I didn't play with them as much as I do the others.  
Stay tuned for more adventures with me and the American Girl Dolls!