Monday 13 August 2012

and just about caught up :

It has been hot and wet, and jungly this summer.
Very low light levels, but high humidity, and everything is growing tall, including my children.
The ponies have been working hard - first a two day mini-olympics . Captain's jumping is improving (although as he finally starts to muscle up and become fitter he is also getting a little stronger, and prone to put an exuberant buck in at times!). It has taken him a long time to mature, both physically and mentally, and he finally seems ready to go up a level in his training.
But he is always kind and generous, and willing to try new things. Here the fey - daughter and he are learning cushion polo. As you can see, Captain is completely unfased by having cushions thrown around him!

We camped out under the stars, with a fire and a beautiful view of the sun setting as the moon rose over Kestor.

And after a gloriously hot day of competitions, ending in a water fight tournament, they came home, tired and grubby and bedecked in ribbons.

The weather changed for Pony Club Camp, and was, as always , a combination of monsoon downpours and high winds. However, even flooded tents didn't manage to spoil the fun!

And now, back home again at the tail end of summer, we left the ponies to sleep in the long grass, and traipsed across the moors to go whortling. This year has the best crop of whortleberries I have seen in a long time, and we brought them home by the basketful. Enough for jam! That is rare indeed.

And the yummiest treat of all - served with homemade shortbread and thick cream.
Sadly the Wolf- boy ate ten times as many whortleberries as anyone else and paid the price - a night of being ill.


I had an exhibition, over and gone now, but a good one :) It just remains for me to offer up these two paintings for sale. I am deeply attached to the Wolf Boy painting, for obvious reasons, but Captain needs a new saddle, and the car is due for MOT, so everything is for sale. The Wolf Boy is listed in my Etsy shop, HERE



This one too, 'In Her Dreams' - will also be for sale once I have had it scanned professionally.



And this one also, 'In The Company of Owls' another favourite of mine :)


7 comments:

Kath said...

lots of lovely news and pics, I enjoyed it all.

Tammie Lee said...

lovely to have glimpses into your summer. it all looks grand. we have huckleberries... yum. i think if you eat too many of any berry it might have an effect!

Freyalyn said...

Goodness, how busy! What lovely photographs - I do envy you your life. (Are we still up for the swap?)

Gail H. Ragsdale said...

Wow! You have been busy! Lots of great photos of ponies and kids but I loved hearing about your exhibition. Great work!

Danielle Barlow said...

Thankyou - it is endlessly busy, but it's a good life!

Freyalyn - definately still up for swap. Have a pile set aside for you :)

Dartford Warbler said...

You and your children must have had a wonderful summer with the ponies. Lovely photos and they brought back happy memories. When the children grow up (as mine have), go away and leave you with the ponies it is even harder work, but like you, I wouldn`t swap this kind of life!

Good luck with selling your paintings.

LeeAnn at Mrs Black's said...

What lovely paintings! I used to visit Chagford when we lived in Devon, love it.

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