When The Year Really Starts

The boys of winter?

New Year's never really seems to hold much meaning for me.  Okay, so I have to remember when I write the date that a year has passed (and I actually still write cheques, as well as keeping a couple of logs and journals for different things, so yes, I write the date often!). Otherwise, for the most part, one day blurs into the next this time of year. Get up, do horses, do more horses, hey, horses again, then a little break before I have to, yes, do horses once more.  I maybe sit down twice a day (not counting driving from one barn to the other), and hopefully eat a couple of times (though not necessarily sitting down!). Evenings are when I paint - not usually for long, but I've been doing a little bit most nights.

When the layups go back to the track, things finally slow down a little. It's that big trade-off, though -– horses leave, income plummets! It would be nice if people decided February was a good time to buy art or commission portraits, but it doesn't tend to work that way. I do have to take advantage of the time, though, and get caught up on, well, everything.  Painting, bookwork, farm maintenance, and so on.

The girls of winter!

We're almost at that time, now.  The layups will be going back very soon – the Woodbine backstretch opens mid-February.  I will be left with a very odd assortment this year.  I sent my one and only in-foal mare to another farm in November because I was supposed to be moving, and didn't want that stress on top of everything.  The move thing fell through (another story altogether!) and for now I have a stay of execution of sorts, but I'm not going to bring that mare back this close to her due date – the whole reason I sent her in November was so that she could be well-settled in her foaling environment.   I have last year's foal, now a yearling, and his mother, who is not in foal.  I have my "old" girl, Monster (officially sixteen!), and two off-track Thoroughbreds looking for new homes. Hopefully they will find homes soon, though that will leave things really sparse around here, until horses start coming back from the track, with one need or another.

Anyway...that's where things are at in my part of the world, right now! This means there should be more frequent updates around here.  I think one day on Facebook, I don't remember exactly where, but I committed to finishing one painting a month.  As the end of January is coming at me quickly right now, I guess I'd better make that happen! Stay tuned!

Happy New Year?

One of the WIPs spending time on the easel.

Pictures, No Paintings, Few Words

Stevie, home for a bit of r&r.

Please insert the usual excuses here.  In lieu of artwork and a lot of writing, here are a couple of recent pics which may one day be interpreted in oil! These are two of the parties who have contributed to my absence from the easel!  ;-)

Victor, recovering from chip surgery on his hocks.  Making cute faces at regular intervals.

Making New Friends

In a few weeks it will be time to wean Jubie's Baby Girl - hard to believe, isn't it? Only foals are tough for obvious reasons. They need a buddy to keep them company once Mom's taken away. Monster's weaning buddy was a track layup named Storybound. For Peaker, I borrowed a pony mare, and then the owners bought Maria from the mixed sale, so she had a friend her own age. As much as I would love to have another baby, I personally don't need another horse right now! When Gracie came back from the track, I had my answer. Gracie has been on small paddock turnout in the space beside Jubie and the baby since she came home, which I find works well for pre-introduction, but I'm always a little tense on that first day.


I needn't have been, this time! I threw hay out in the big paddock, and Jubie went right to it. Next I slipped Gracie in, expecting Jubie to quite quickly switch into protective momma mode. Uh....Jubie? Jubie didn't even lift her head from the hay! Baby Girl observed from a distance as Gracie scoped out the paddock, sniffing every pile, nibbling weeds. When Baby Girl started to run around, Gracie ran a bit....but nothing alarming. Within a couple of hours the two fillies were off on their own, while Jubie ignored them. It wasn't until Gracie tried to nibble on Jubie's hay pile that Jubie exploded!


I think Baby Girl was a little concerned about her mother's indifference. She kept coming back to nurse - more frequently than normal. It was rather sweet when the three of them started hanging together, and Baby Girl seemed to be looking for reassurance that Jubie did still love her!

And This, My Friends, is What We Call 'The Uglies'

If you listen to artists long enough, you're going to hear that term - "The Uglies." It's a stage most paintings go through - a necessary one, most of the time - and one we would just as soon no one saw. I really hadn't intended on showing the latest progress on this one, but hey, sometimes it's good to see more than just the finished work. If it turns out the way I want, you'll see it again. If not, then just don't ask!


In order to balance that piece of panel above masquerading as a painting, I'll post a couple more recent photos. I'd really like to show the whole series, or put together the gif, of what led to this one of Rupert and Leo. Leo was trying to entice Rupert to play, and Rupert kept raising his head just out of reach. He seemed to be making a point about Leo's size. Forgive me for saying that it seemed to go over Leo's head!

And now, Leo at a more serious moment. He doesn't have too many of those! He's such a handsome boy.

The next few days will be busy with horses leaving - mares going to Kentucky, layups heading back to work. After that, it will be time to dive into painting again. I have a show deadline for the end of the month - one for which I'd like to have some new pieces. Time to get cracking!