Filly Finale…Finally

It has taken me a while to get this post together (considering that camp ended 9 days ago) as we’ve been busy and I haven’t had the time or energy to go through all the pictures and the video from Maisie’s final day at horseback riding camp and their riding Showcase.  Maisie and all the girls had so much fun and their instructor Mary said that she was a bit surprised but extremely pleased at how good the girls were with listening, paying attention, following directions, behaving and their attention span, so it was a great week all around.  I guess that this was a very young group for the stable’s camp and they arranged for a “special” shorter-day camp for just our group.  Our girls had all the same time with the horses and same amount of time riding but though they did some, they had less of the horsemanship classes and barn chores.  The shortened day worked out really well for the girls and especially Maisie who after camp still had her three-hours of gymnastics practice. 

Each day, because our girls were the little ones, they got to have their riding lesson first while it was still relatively cool.  After riding they went on to little classes where they learned about horses, breeds, training, feeding, keeping, grooming and other such horse related information.  They also did barn chores each day, watering, feeding, sweeping…but according to Maisie, “nothing gross like having to clean up poop!”  Each day when Lisa, Kathy and I arrived to pick the girls up they were finishing up their lunches and completing their crafts.  They were always filthy, sweaty, tired and completely excited and elated to have been with the horses and at the stables.  

Maisie, Friday morning with her horse du jour, Gritz.

Maisie & Kim feeding Gritz some carrots.

For their final day Maisie and friends stayed later than usual and enjoyed a pizza lunch with the big girls.  Then there was some free playtime before getting ready for the Showcase so the girls had fun running around the arena.

Maisie practiced jumping sans a horse.  First the low jump.

Jumping a bit higher.

Jumping with friends.

A bit of running around.

She just never stopped.

Like the Energizer Bunny Maisie kept going and going.

Finally it was time to groom Gritz for the riding Showcase.

Giving Gritz some love.

Briana & Maisie ready to ride. 

Sassy little girls.  I can’t get over how grown up they are looking and also how filthy our Princess girls were but they loved it.

Ready to lead Gritz to the arena.

Ready to ride.

The girls showing what they learned.  (Unless you are related to one of the girls and really, really want to waste 8 minutes of your life to see them ride or you’re totally desperate for something to help put you to sleep, I’d advise skipping the video.  It’s here for Maisie to look back on someday.)

Lining up to receive their ribbons.

It was really sweet of Miss. Andrea, the Admin at Maisie’s school and the person who hooked us up with the stable, to come and watch the girls at their Showcase.

Maisie, Briana, Chani & Maya.  Sweaty, filthy, happy little girls celebrating all that they learned and accomplished during their week of camp.  It was a wonderful week and introduction to horseback riding for the girls and they all are asking to do it again next summer.

Green with…

Candy!

This morning Maisie was a real star being super patient and cooperative as we shopped at a couple of local farmer’s markets.  So, when we stopped in at Fresh Market to pick up our few last items and she asked for a Fun Dip I just had to say yes.  On and off for hours between additional errands, projects, pool and play time Maisie enjoyed her treat.

Cooking without cooking

I haven’t been doing much cooking lately as it is hot here in Georgia and if you’ve been reading the blog lately you know that we have been busy-busy so I haven’t had time to cook…and who’d want to turn on the stove anyhow with our heat.  With the heat I haven’t wanted heavy food, we’ve been eating salads like my Oriental Chicken Salad but what I’ve really been craving is some healthy fruity goodness.  I’ve enjoyed sipping on more than a few Watermelon Frosty and Mango Lassi drinks but I’ve been wanting something a bit more savory.  Unfortunately even to “get out of cooking” I’m not a big going-out-to-eat gal and I still have to get dinner on the table each night so when I happened upon a recipe for Mango Gazpacho I was all over it and you should be too as this is healthy-summer-deliciousness in a bowl and best of all, super fast and no cooking!!!

Quick, click on over to Cook Lisa Cook and make this no-cook healthy Mango Gazpacho tonight, you’ll thank me!!

If you’re a mango lover like me, also check out my Mango Thai Chicken and Mango Lassi recipes.

Maisie, Taylor and ???

We’re having yet another super busy day with no time to really stop.  And wouldn’t you know it, I had yet another nail in one of my tires, the second in about a month so getting that fixed had to be squeezed in.  I need to figure out where the heck I’m driving that I get so many nails and screws in my tires, it’s not like I’m going to construction sites but I swear that it’s every month or two I’m having something removed from one of my tires.  Okay, enough complaining.

Here are three little cuties after gymnastics practice today, Taylor, Maisie and Taylor’s yet to be named Chihuahua puppy, too cute!  What I’d really like to do tonight is stop, sit down, relax and sip on a watermelon frosty but too much to do as I’ve been out running around all day so it’s unlikely to happen.  Hopefully tomorrow will be a little less hectic and I’ll be able to get a few more things accomplished and some relaxation too.

Right back atcha and even more

Maisie:  “Mama, I love you as much as the multiverse.”

Celebrating with ribbons & cupcakes

We have been busy, busy, busy and I haven’t had the time to go though all my pictures from Maisie’s final day at horseback riding camp or even uploaded the video to check it out.  I did have time though to pick out this sweet picture of Maisie, Briana, Chani and Maya after they completed their Showcase last Friday. At the Showcase the girls demonstrated the skills that they learned throughout the week then they each received a ribbon and celebrated with cupcakes.  Four happy, sweaty and high from riding and sugar little cutie-patooties!

I haven’t had time to cook lately either but I have posted some wonderful recipes over on Cook Lisa Cook so if you have some time to cook or are looking for something new, different and delicious, hop on over and check out my recipes.  Mango Lassi, Stir-Fried Asparagus with Water Chestnuts, Ginger & Cashews, Curried Roast Chicken Pieces with Spicy Sweet Potato & Carrots, Grilled Corn & Bacon Pudding, Oriental Chicken Salad, Potato Salad with Bacon, Coffee Crusted Steak, Home Style Chicken Curry and my latest Watermelon Frosty.

Enjoy!

Watermelon Frosty

Because today was a hot day, a long day, it’s late and I was telling someone about this recipe, I thought that I would share with everyone a delicious summer drink which I have become addicted to and can’t stop making, drinking or thinking about.  Though I drink it sans alcohol it could always be made into a more “adult” drink.

Check out Cook Lisa Cook for the Watermelon Frosty recipe.  Go, make one and enjoy! 

A bit better

Antibiotics are helping and Maisie wants to be out and enjoying life but she’s still not 100%. Though she’s trying it’s been a rough day.  Maybe tomorrow will be better…

Poor little Miao Miao

This morning at urgent care.

Now she sleeps. 

It hurts to swallow and she’s running a fever.  Hopefully the ibuprofen and antibiotics will help and tomorrow she’ll be feeling better.

Maisie & Gritz

Just a quickie post today of Maisie with her horse du jour* on her final day of horseback riding camp.

Maisie and Gritz.

Maisie and Kim feeding Gritz some carrots.

Maisie and all the girls had an absolutely fabulous week at horseback riding camp and they’re all talking about going back again next summer.  I took a lot of pictures and hopefully the video I took came out so I’ll be able to post it but that’ll have to wait for another day as we have a busy night so I have to walk away from the computer and get things done.  Hopefully over the weekend I’ll get all the pictures posted from Maisie’s final day.

*Maisie started the week with Sneaky and rode him Monday and Tuesday but because he developed a sore from his bridle she rode Charlie on Wednesday.  Charlie was a bit temperamental so on Thursday they had Maisie ride Gritz who was wonderful so she rode him again today for her lesson and for the showcase.

Sad day Friday

That’s what Maisie has dubbed tomorrow.  When I asked her why, she told me that it was the last day of horseback riding camp and that she was sad that it would be an entire year until she could go back and ride again.  She did not ask to attend another week this summer nor did she mention continuing to ride though the year.  It was just a statement that made it clear that she really enjoyed the week and is looking forward to doing it again next summer.

I knew that Maisie would enjoy horseback riding camp so way back in April when Maisie and I first visited the stables I made it known that horseback riding was a one-week-long summertime activity.  I explained to Maisie that the stable was an hour away and with three days of gymnastics practice each week, swimming lessons, school and of course her gymnastics meets on weekends, horseback riding just wasn’t something that we would be able to do during the school year.  Maisie understood that it just was, what it was.  I am thankful though that way back then I did that with her because she enjoyed her week and now that it’s over there’s no trauma or drama that it will be a year until she’s able to return.

Even though Maisie’s sad that tomorrow is the final day she’s excited because she can’t wait to ride in the showcase tomorrow afternoon and show off what she’s learned this week.  I’m thrilled that she enjoyed the week so very much and next summer if possible and if she wants, she’ll ride again. 

Piccies from the weekend

Another busy, long, high mileage, tush is tired from being in the car day but Maisie and friends had an awesome time at horseback riding camp so it was 100% worth it.  I’m busy trying to get a few things accomplished around the house tonight as I haven’t been home during the days lately so today just a quick post with a couple of images from the weekend.

Maisie has been talking about press-on nails for weeks so when I was in Justice picking up cute zebra shorts and a pink sequined top I spied some press-on nails that had colored gems on them and I *had* to get them for my little girly girl.

Saturday morning Eammon was a good sport and helped Maisie put on her new nails.

Maisie was one very happy girl with her jeweled nails…even if they did keep falling off and needed to be re-applied 8,000 times Saturday alone.

Sunday we headed down to Buford Hwy to have brunch at a new-to-us restaurant where Maisie was a Dan Dan noodle sucking girl.

Tomorrow it’s another busy day of horseback riding camp and gymnastics practice and huge house rattling thunder and disco-ball lightening storms have awoken and are keeping Maisie up so it should be interesting to see how she fares.  Between Maisie not sleeping and the stinking storms messing up my DVR’ing of SYTYCD, I’m not a happy camper  :-(   but I guess the garden needs the rain…oh well.

Something to make your tummy happy, check out the recipes I’ve recently added over on Cook Lisa Cook:  Mango Lassi, Stir-Fried Asparagus with Water Chestnuts, Ginger & Cashews, Curried Roast Chicken Pieces with Spicy Sweet Potato & Carrots, Grilled Corn & Bacon Pudding, Oriental Chicken Salad, Potato Salad with Bacon, Coffee Crusted Steak and Home Style Chicken Curry

Enjoy!!

A long for me and fun for her day

Okay I had some fun too hanging with Lisa & Kathy but overall it was a long day.  Here’s how our long day played out. 

Maisie tonight at the restaurant, straight from gymnastics practice.

This morning Maisie was tired but once I whispered “horseback riding camp” into her ear she was up and out of bed within seconds.  She quickly got herself dressed in her t-shirt and jeans and then asked for steak and pizza for breakfast.  I figured what-the-heck, it’s protein and bread with cheese so I cut up the leftover steak from last night’s dinner and heated up a slice a pizza and she gobbled it all down.  We headed out to pick up Maya and then once at the stables she met up with Briana & Chani where they enjoyed another fabulous day at camp where the big thing today was learning to gallop. 

After camp we dropped Maya at her house and came home so that Maisie could change and eat a snack and then we headed out to pick up her teammate Alyssa.  I dropped the two girls at the gym where Maisie had a good practice.  While she was at the gym I got petrol, went to the post office, ran an errand and then was home for an hour getting a few thing done in the house.  Three hours after dropping Maisie off I picked her up and seeing that it was already close to 7PM and I hadn’t prepared any dinner and Maisie was craving and asking for seaweed salad, noodles, spring rolls and more steak (not sure what’s up with that but I’m happy that she’s wanting protein) we decided to go out to our favorite Chinese/Japanese/Sushi/Hibachi restaurant for dinner.  So we swung back by the house to pick up Eammon and headed out to eat.  We enjoyed our dinner and then we returned home where Maisie immediately got washed up and into bed as it was well past her bedtime and tomorrow is another early, long and fun day as she’ll be back at the stables with her friends and riding her Arabian Sneaky.

Oh and holy cannoli in case anyone other than myself is interested, I tracked my route and times today and I put 159 miles on the car and spent 4 hours and 39 minutes driving.  I’m tired but so thankful that I’m driving a Prius. 

One other stat, this is my 75th day in a row posting to the blog.  Pretty amazing for me but it’s been fun.

Though I didn’t have time to cook today I have been cooking a lot lately and posting over on Cook Lisa Cook so if you’re looking for some new and interesting recipes head on over and see what I’ve been cooking. 

Some recently added recipes on Cook Lisa Cook:  Mango Lassi, Stir-Fried Asparagus with Water Chestnuts, Ginger & Cashews, Curried Roast Chicken Pieces with Spicy Sweet Potato & Carrots, Grilled Corn & Bacon Pudding, Oriental Chicken Salad, Potato Salad with Bacon, Coffee Crusted Steak and Home Style Chicken Curry.

Horseback Riding Camp!!!

Maisie has been looking forward to attending horseback riding camp for months and months and today the day was finally here, her first day of camp, woohoo!!!! 

Look at those excited little girls!  Chani, Maya, Maisie & Briana.

Maisie grooming her horse Sneaky under the instruction of Madi.

Trying to wrangle all the gear.  

Learning to saddle the horse.

Excited to be geared up and ready to ride. 

Being patient.

Getting ready to mount Sneaky for the first time.

First foot in. 

She’s up.

And mounted.

Getting a feel for being on the horse.

Enjoying the ride.  (Photo by Lisa F) 

Working on balance. 

Lisa, Kathy and I watched as the girls got their horses groomed and saddled and then for part of their riding lesson but once we saw that the girls were comfortable and doing great we headed off to relax, chat and sip some coffee.  While we were away the girls finished their riding lesson, did some work around the barn, watered the horses, learned about different breeds and markings, had a snack and did some arts & crafts.  We returned and the girls ate their lunch, finished their crafts and then their first day at camp was over.  Maisie and all the little girls had a wonderful day and they’re all looking forward to tomorrow and the opportunity to ride their horses again and learn new and exciting things.

Exciting things too over on Cook Lisa Cook.  I have joined a Secret Recipe Club and today was my first time posting.  How it works is, each month you are assigned a different participating food blogger and without telling them, you make one of their recipes of your choosing.  Then on a specified date everyone who is participating that month posts their recreation or version of the recipe they made.  I thought, what a great way to find some new food bloggers and try out some different recipes while also forcing encouraging me to post more to my own cooking blog, so I signed up.  So I’m hoping that this will be an additional kick in the tush motivator to help me post more often to my cooking blog.

My first recipe with the Secret Recipe Club, Home Style Chicken Curry.  Another wonderfully delicious meal so head on over to Cook Lisa Cook and check out the recipe.

More Recently added recipes on Cook Lisa Cook:  Mango Lassi, Stir-Fried Asparagus with Water Chestnuts, Ginger & Cashews, Curried Roast Chicken Pieces with Spicy Sweet Potato & Carrots, Grilled Corn & Bacon Pudding, Oriental Chicken Salad, Potato Salad with Bacon and Coffee Crusted Steak.

Enjoy!!

Celebrating Katie’s 5th Birthday

Yesterday Maisie attended Katie’s 5th birthday party at Catch Air.  The facility has numerous inflatable bouncies which immediately had Maisie less than thrilled.  The noise of the fans which power the inflatables still triggers some anxiety for Maisie but after a short while she found some equipment that she enjoyed. 

Trying to climb slippery metal poles with socks on isn’t easy.

Slippery poles and socks didn’t stop Maisie from reaching the top.

Maisie on the one inflatable that she decided to enjoy.

Maisie absolutely adored the child-sized exercise equipment and spent most of her time “working out.”A little cardio on a pint-sized Air Walker.

I remember from years ago an infomercial for a contraption like this Happy Rider.

On the Twister working those obliques.

The Rower took a good amount of effort.

Some good old-fashioned work on the Weight Bench.  

More cardio on the Happy Bike.

Finally a little run on the Tread Mill.

It took a while but Maisie finally got the hang of this hand pedaled cart.

Maisie & Bri  (photo by Lisa F)

Maisie, Bri & Chani (photo by Lisa F) 

After all the fun playtime all the children gathered together before heading into their party room for cake.

Birthday girl Katie.

Briana

Chani

My little Princess Maisie.

Maisie has had a busy two weeks, first with Team Gymnastics Camp and then without even a day off, a week of VBS.  So, after all the exercise and play at the it’s no wonder that Maisie fell fast asleep on the drive home.  Until I looked at the pictures, I guess I didn’t realize just how much activity she had done.

Another new recipe in my attempt to post more over on Cook Lisa Cook.       Coffee Crusted Steak served with Potato Salad with Bacon.  Something about this coffee crusted steak intrigued me in part because the original recipe used hazelnut coffee and it just seemed interesting.  I debated with myself on using flavored coffee and almost wimped out but in the end I used a chocolate coffee and the steak was awesome!!  Thing about this steak is that when you serve it, no one will really be able to tell that the coating is coffee but I guarantee that they’ll love the flavor.  I hope that you’ll give this recipe a try and let me know what you think.

More Recently added recipes on Cook Lisa Cook:  Mango Lassi, Stir-Fried Asparagus with Water Chestnuts, Ginger & Cashews, Curried Roast Chicken Pieces with Spicy Sweet Potato & Carrots, Grilled Corn & Bacon Pudding, Oriental Chicken Salad and Potato Salad with Bacon.

Enjoy!

Wish this was me

Maisie completely crashed out on our way home from her friend Katie’s birthday party.  I on the other hand struggled to stay awake and wished that I had someone to drive me to and from parties so that I could party and nap…especially the nap part.  Instead, I’ll make this a quick post as I’m heading to bed very early tonight.