Such Winter as We Have, We Do Enjoy It
Dec. 17th, 2014 10:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dancinghorseThe icon was made a while ago, but that's Pooka today, snugged up in his blankie and no little bit affronted because it's COLD. And intermittently WET. And there is MUD. The rest are in rain sheets because of said mud, and because when I saw how the forecast had changed, I ran out at midnight with a flashlight and a helpful dog and threw sheets on the crew.
Good thing, too. Temp dropped into the horse-hell zone (40F and raining) in the small hours of the morning. Would have been a miserable night for them without their raincoats.
We are in the frantic zone ourself, prepping for Camp Lipizzan this weekend plus arrival of family plus Solstice festivities plus buckets of work. And of course, because I Am Insane (and the hay fund is empty), I'm winding up a Kickstarter campaign this weekend. It ends at 9 p.m. MST on Sunday, which is Solstice night. Because reasons. We have one short novel funded and are closing in on the second. My goal (and quite a few backers' dream) is three novellas or a nice-sized novel. Horses, desert, magic. Tucson. Bonus dragon. (That's why we want the third part, people!)
I am actually working on it, trying to get a sample into coherent enough form to post before the campaign ends. There have been Obstacles. Had to get grain Monday, nearby feed store was out, went on to the big city and decided to do some Camp stocking-up on the way home. And lo, there was a Christmas tree lot at Home Despot, so I snagged a nice Douglas fir on sale (oh, the lovely fragrance!). Made it home late, fed hungry horses, went splat.
Only to discover in the morning that my wallet was missing. While juggling tree and purse, I had dropped the essential equipment. Thank goodness for my sister and a frantic text message begging her to call for me (because I have no access to phone relay at the moment because the FCC is being an ass and there is only one system left, which will not give me access until I jump through assorted hoops for which there is no time this week)(we will not discuss here the saga of how healthcare.gov shut me out, but thanks to twitter and a wonderful navigator from NC, I was able, via epic saga, to renew my coverage), and sure enough, the cashier had retrieved the goods.
It only took me an hour of waiting for Home Despot to extricate the thing from its safe. Person delegated to retrieve it apparently went on her lunch break and left me to wait. Luckily one of the customer-service reps finally took pity on me and did the honors.
I had a lesson in the afternoon. Was exhausted, but decided to tough it out. I'm glad I did. Ephiny was lovely, we discovered that she will sync her breathing with mine and that is Most useful on spooky days, and I got rid of quite a bit of tension. Though I sleepwalked through the chores afterward.
And that was just the past two days. I'm lolling about now with a stack of mss. to work on and the last of the cleaning glaring me in the face. And two dogs and assorted cats sending off powerful sleep rays, while the rain closes in again after a brief, actually sunny break. I have one more day to do what prep I'm going to do, then we hit the flat gallop and careen into the new year.
Good thing, too. Temp dropped into the horse-hell zone (40F and raining) in the small hours of the morning. Would have been a miserable night for them without their raincoats.
We are in the frantic zone ourself, prepping for Camp Lipizzan this weekend plus arrival of family plus Solstice festivities plus buckets of work. And of course, because I Am Insane (and the hay fund is empty), I'm winding up a Kickstarter campaign this weekend. It ends at 9 p.m. MST on Sunday, which is Solstice night. Because reasons. We have one short novel funded and are closing in on the second. My goal (and quite a few backers' dream) is three novellas or a nice-sized novel. Horses, desert, magic. Tucson. Bonus dragon. (That's why we want the third part, people!)
I am actually working on it, trying to get a sample into coherent enough form to post before the campaign ends. There have been Obstacles. Had to get grain Monday, nearby feed store was out, went on to the big city and decided to do some Camp stocking-up on the way home. And lo, there was a Christmas tree lot at Home Despot, so I snagged a nice Douglas fir on sale (oh, the lovely fragrance!). Made it home late, fed hungry horses, went splat.
Only to discover in the morning that my wallet was missing. While juggling tree and purse, I had dropped the essential equipment. Thank goodness for my sister and a frantic text message begging her to call for me (because I have no access to phone relay at the moment because the FCC is being an ass and there is only one system left, which will not give me access until I jump through assorted hoops for which there is no time this week)(we will not discuss here the saga of how healthcare.gov shut me out, but thanks to twitter and a wonderful navigator from NC, I was able, via epic saga, to renew my coverage), and sure enough, the cashier had retrieved the goods.
It only took me an hour of waiting for Home Despot to extricate the thing from its safe. Person delegated to retrieve it apparently went on her lunch break and left me to wait. Luckily one of the customer-service reps finally took pity on me and did the honors.
I had a lesson in the afternoon. Was exhausted, but decided to tough it out. I'm glad I did. Ephiny was lovely, we discovered that she will sync her breathing with mine and that is Most useful on spooky days, and I got rid of quite a bit of tension. Though I sleepwalked through the chores afterward.
And that was just the past two days. I'm lolling about now with a stack of mss. to work on and the last of the cleaning glaring me in the face. And two dogs and assorted cats sending off powerful sleep rays, while the rain closes in again after a brief, actually sunny break. I have one more day to do what prep I'm going to do, then we hit the flat gallop and careen into the new year.
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no subject
Date: 2014-12-17 07:09 pm (UTC)My cats are also horrified by the cold, and very determinedly hunting laps.
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Date: 2014-12-17 11:44 pm (UTC)I have fired 2014. It has two weeks to get its crap together and go.
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Date: 2014-12-18 11:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-12-17 08:11 pm (UTC)We promise not to be demanding this weekend, in fact any way we can help . . .
no subject
Date: 2014-12-17 11:46 pm (UTC)Bring your mud boots and your wooly jumper. It's only supposed to be in the 50s (30s at night), and we've had a mort of rain. Sherwood weather! :)
no subject
Date: 2014-12-18 12:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-12-18 01:13 am (UTC)Horses all have shelter, lovely new hay, and their dinner. They seem content.
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Date: 2014-12-18 01:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-12-18 01:18 am (UTC)It really is the weather I would order for the various guests. Cool for you, warm for my brother and sister from New England, who are flying in tomorrow. (You'll meet them at the Solstice do.)
no subject
Date: 2014-12-18 01:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-12-17 08:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-12-17 11:47 pm (UTC)We're glad of the rain. Always need it, and the past few winters have been horribly dry. These are nice, solid winter rains. I hope they continue (with nice breaks for warm and sun).
no subject
Date: 2014-12-18 02:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-12-18 08:59 am (UTC)<dives back into deadline>