A is for Apple and That's Good Enough for Meeeeeee

Okay, apparently the cold has gone to my brain and made me a little silly. I do eat more cookies than apples, just so you know.

But yes, that is an apple. Last fall - October, I believe - my good friends Elizabeth McCrindle and Sheona Hamilton-Grant and I were interacting on Google Plus and decided on a little challenge for ourselves - to paint or draw an apple. I can't remember why, I just remember we set a deadline for November 1. When that date passed and none of us had produced anything, we said December 1. Well, that date also came and went, and since then we have mostly just joked about the state of our models. I had to replace mine in order to do this painting, but I was determined I was going to do it! So here it is, 5 x 7 oil on Raymar cotton canvas panel. In true equine artist fashion, the apple itself is reasonably painted, while the background falls shamefully short! Oh well, at least I did it!

Okay, Sheona, Elizabeth....you're up!

Comes and Goes....

I'm sure it could be applied to me, but I was thinking that of Winter this year. We get a few days of unseasonably nice weather, then a few days of unseasonably not-so-nice weather (rain in January, not really a fan, sorry!), then a few days of deep freeze. I don't think I can remember a winter where the ponies have had to deal with bad footing in the paddocks for this long, poor things!

Gracie is heading into her final week of hand walking, yay! She has been remarkably good, though I've been doing my best to keep her happy. She has a pen outside next to Monster's paddock so that she isn't stuck in the barn, the deal being, as long as she's *good* she can be there. You'd think she understood that, because, for the most part, she's complied. I have to admit I quite enjoy our walks (other than those deviations from 'good' where she demonstrates her athleticism, not the best experience when one is on the end of a shank) and I'm hoping to continue them in some form even once she moves on to small paddock turnout.


I have been making painfully slow progress in the studio on a small painting I started last fall, and making plans for new ones to start. My working title for this one is "Guardian Angels," featuring one of Woodbine's amazing pony and outrider teams. Love how the pony is resting so quietly, but in the blink of an eye he can be off to catch a runaway or a loose horse.

My title today can't help to bring to mind one of my favourite Dan Fogelberg songs, if you'd like a musical interlude!

Happy New Year! (four days in!)

Well, we welcomed in the New Year in our typical fashion around here - as January 1 is also the official birthday of all Thoroughbreds in this hemisphere, my New Year's Eve ritual is to be out at the barn at midnight to wish everyone a happy birthday, and to feed carrots to those who will eat them. ;-) My three little boys are now yearlings, and not so little! I'm quite happy with all of them; they're growing up nicely and are even rather well-behaved! I had to laugh at the photo above of Sheldon - he looks as if he did a bit too much partying!


I had hoped to complete one last painting in 2011, but it ended up being the first one finished in 2012. This 11 x 14 oil on Raphael linen panel is of Jubie and her filly, Polly (who is now two, and in training....how time flies!). I'm also happy to report that the painting is sold, which is a wonderful way to start off the new year on the studio side of things. Here's to a great 2012 for everyone.

All I Want For Christmas is You

I guess I didn't announce this on my blog, but this summer, I adopted Gracie, the chestnut filly who has figured rather prominently in my work since she was born. When the decision was made by her owners not to pursue a racing career and they wanted to find her a new home, I couldn't help but step up. :-) I have to admit I had always hoped she'd be mine - I've never had a connection with a horse quite like this (sorry, Monster! hehe).

A month ago, Gracie got sick. She had a very high temperature and mild colic symptoms - something was obviously not right. I had the vet come out to examine her, and he found no obvious cause for the symptoms, so he oiled her and I continued to treat her fever and watch her closely. Two days later I called the emergency vet out to check her again, and she was oiled again, but still no alarming findings on examination. The next evening I was calling again, this time knowing we would be going for a trailer ride. She wasn't eating, was becoming dehydrated, and needed hospitalization.

Off we went to Guelph and OVCTH's new isolation unit. Examination still gave no explanation for the ongoing intermittent colic symptoms, but bloodwork confirmed the dehydration and she was put on fluids and would be observed overnight, and more tests done in the morning.


I'll spare you the blow-by-blow account of her stay at OVCTH - suffice to say that eleven days later, I was able to bring my girl back home. Despite all the tests and procedures, there was never a final diagnosis - only that lovely, vague one of "enteritis." Enough to drive you crazy, but I'm grateful she's back in my barn and eating and behaving like her old self. Grateful as well for the team at OVCTH - the techs, interns, residents, clinicians, surgeons, pathologists and barn staff - and for the support of Worley Equine Services.

Needless to say I had a fairly substantial vet bill - but I guess some things you can't put a price on. Thank goodness for a healthy emergency fund, that's all I'm going to say about that! If you're looking to buy a painting, call me! ;-)

Off to walk my girl before the festivities begin. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and/or happy holiday season, and best wishes for 2012! I hope you are all as blessed as I am.

I'm Back and It's Time to Celebrate

Okay, so I've been seriously MIA of late. Rather than make apologies and offer up excuses, I'm going to make up for it by having a December Celebration. Until December 18th, I'm going to give 25% off the paintings found on my Thirty Horses, Thirty Days blog, and on my Red Willow Gallery blog. In the next few days I'll also introduce a similar celebration for 10% off reproductions and other items in my Etsy store - stay tuned! I will be adding other work to the Red Willow Gallery blog, so be sure to check back.

I hope you've all be keeping well. Whatever you celebrate this time of year, I hope it's happy!

Ah Peaker, We Knew You When....

Well, it seemed a long time coming, but our girl Miss Peaks (Clever Peaks, aka Peaker!) broke her maiden last night at Woodbine. It was her first start of the year, and she was very keen to get back to business. She is the first UnStable homebred to win - hopefully her younger brothers will soon follow in her footsteps !



We always marvel, looking at Peaker and her weanling friend Maria, side by side now on the shed at the track, how they've both grown to be such tall girls. We also always found it remarkable that Maria got to the races and won her first race as a two-year old, as she was the one with problems requiring surgery as a yearling! Just goes to show you, you never know how things will work out!

Peaker and Maria, BFFs!

So Where *does* the time go?

I'm ridiculously far behind on this blog, with no valid excuse. Yes I've been busy, but what else is new? In the past month I've been to Saratoga for our annual foray, painted a new oil for the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony's fundraiser, gone to said ceremony/fundraiser, and am now painting in preparation for the CTHS yearling sales this coming weekend.


The foals, as you can see, are tormenting their mothers - well, the two chestnut boys definitely are, while Sheldon remains more laid back (with a healthy respect for Twine!). Weaning time is very near! Today they get their vaccination boosters, so that will delay their weaning for a week or two.


I still intend to do separate posts addressing the visit to Saratoga, and the Hall of Fame painting. Naturally there will also be something more about the yearling sales. Fall is a busy time, with the Schomberg Village Street Gallery also coming up, September 17 and 18, and the FASM Milton Studio Tour, October 1&2. If you are in either area, maybe we'll see you out!