Playday or Bawling Hayday?

The competition is starting to get fierce! This Saturday the barn is having a playday and I am totally unprepared for any event generally ridden in a western saddle. I was a hunter for 4 years. Fast to me is an extended canter (no, not a hand gallop). Even in jumpers, which I did for 3 or so years, rarely do you ask your horse for a lot of speed. Yes, classes are based on time, but time is made by taking good routes and tight jumper turns. Oh, and not knocking a rail down or getting a refusal.

The events as I understand them are barrels, poles, keyhole, apple bobbing, musical stalls and possibly an egg and spoon race. I have known about this event for at least a month. Fast forward to yesterday evening. Panic attack. I. Don't. Know. This. Stuff. I'm no barrel racer but I'm guessing it'll take a bit longer than 5 days to train a horse to run a correct pattern.

Amanda, besides looking aghast at my lack of knowledge of the other half of our sport, volunteered to watch my pathetic attempt at western training and perhaps yell a few things here and there as she laughs under her breath. Panda is going to be the horse I ride in this play day as Marvel has been picked by a friend of mine to ride. Marvel has also been displaying some frisky acrobatics when asked to go quickly so he may not be my best bet anyway.

Panda is a 2 year old horse trapped in a 9 year old's body. I squeeze, he rolls his eyes and acts like he never felt anything. I pull left and his nose goes left (as the rest of his body travels in the straight line we were going in when I pulled left). I half-halt, he, wait, SO CONFUSED! These events are apparently based solely on turning and gaining speed in an efficient, if not fast, manner. Since he doesn't seem to know my leg from a fly on his butt I anticipated trouble with obtaining and then maintaining any legitimate speed. Being a Thoroughbred, I was reminded that they weren't built to gather speed quickly which is why they aren't the number one option for western sports (WHAT?! OTTBs can't do everything?!) Also, our arena is probably 30-40 yards wide and that seems to be a tight turn for him. Amanda was speaking Hungarian or something; "Rollback turns," "hand gallop," and "point him at that barrel and make him hug it as he turns around it" were all things she was saying. I must've been speaking a different dialect as I enthusiastically told her how my pony that can barely be coaxed into a trot or turned from his course can't do those things.

As most of you horse poor people know, you don't say no to a free "lesson" of any kind. And if you don't know that mantra you aren't really horse poor. So with a nervous giggle, off I went doing the things I was told. Our first exercise was hand gallop to canter transitions. Picking up the canter was a chore in itself as we had already trotted around quite briskly and Panda is a skinny fat kid with few muscles. After long last (and a really bruised behind) we were cantering. Now time for the gallop. I don't know why this makes me nervous. Perhaps because I've never really done it, perhaps because I'm on the back of an ex-racehorse who knows how to kick it in to high gear, or perhaps I was worried about what could possibly happen (my imagination is boundless in a mainly negative way). I never figured it out because next thing I know I was in a galloping seat and we were moving out! Well, I thought we were moving out. Apparently it was just a good paced canter because I heard yelling out of the corner of my ear about pushing him and letting him have his head. Exercise failed.

Next, barrels. That was actually fun. Walking up to a barrel and making Panda turn around it by kicking him with my outside leg and pulling his nose around seemed easy. Yet every time I approached the barrels I had to figure out which way we were turning and what rein and leg that corresponded with. I can't brush a horse and have a conversation at the same time so this was like rocket science to me. If my arm and leg on the same side of my body can't do something at the same time they get separation anxiety. It's totally not my fault you see! After mastering this at the walk we moved to the trot... and then abruptly got laughed at. We quickly decided that strategy, rather than skill, would be the only way we might be able to pull out a win. He turns right worse than left so if we take the first barrel on the right side we will have two left turns. Exercise not so much failed as deemed unhelpful for the time available.

Last was Panda's favorite, breaking out of the "start box." This was a faint line drawn by Amanda in an arena full of other lines. The ready, set, go she gave us was very nonstressful which contributed to our feeling of meager success. The first time poor Panda was scared straight (and fast!) by me cowboying up with kicks, kisses, and a crop and Amanda clapping, kissing and arm waving. Apparently the point was not lost on him because the second time around, as I reached back to tap him on the bottom with the crop, he lurched forward and sideways and we got up to speed a lot faster. The last time my ADD got the better of both of us. It went a little like, "Ready, set, go!" Kisses, kicks, "WOAH! He's doing it! He took off, what a good boy. Oh crap, there's the barrel, we were supposed to be going faster by now..." Nonetheless, as mentioned, the exercise was at least a slight success.

Panda was soaked in sweat and I wasn't looking too fancy myself but we learned things! And we went fast! It was a blast and I haven't even done the playday yet!! Now to make the competition even more fierce by adding prizes to the winner of the events. I've already threatened to tranquilize every horse on the property but mine if there's a dandy brush up for grabs. I have a feeling that this ecstasy will be short lived. Especially seeing as I take competition much too seriously and am a tack trunk full of nerves before events of any kind.

Just need to remember that playday = fun and being beat by a 7 year old is not something to be ashamed of.

Maybe he'll make it as a dressage pony?!
 

Halloween = Pumpkin Everything; No Exceptions.

I am a holiday nerd. I'm sure everyone has that one crazy aunt who, besides being a cat lady, also ends up being a holiday décor hoarder. Children run screaming from her house because of her legitimately frightening Halloween decorations. You have Thanksgiving leftovers for 3 weeks because of how all-out she goes. Her house can be seen in space during Christmas and neighbors call and complain from 3 miles away. Well, I'm worse. I may not have the benefit of 20 years of hoarding but what I lack in decorations (and cats), I make up for in holiday spirit.

While I'm not one to be creative and dress up for Halloween, traditions are a must. Pumpkin carving is a tradition that cannot be forgotten. Although I have, for the past 3 or so years, been carving pumpkins by myself with canine supervision (Uhoh, maybe the cats aren't that far away...), I've always found it to be more fun with friends. This year I have been blessed with a particularly fun-loving set of friends who accepted my idea with gusto!

Pumpkin prep-work

When alone with the puppies I generally light pumpkin scented candles, make pumpkin bread, get some sort of pumpkin drink and save the pumpkin seeds for roasting. Pumpkin overload! This afternoon I had to forego the inundation of pumpkin on my senses and cope with just carving 2 pumpkins.

Let's revisit the part where I mentioned that my friends were overly excited about this idea of pumpkin carving; they were happy with the change of routine and decided they had no better offers. I like to live obliviously in my fantasy holiday world and project my elation onto everyone nearby. I don't think most of the event attendees knew my deep seated love for holiday tradition but they were soon clued in.

The array of pumpkin carving tools I brought included knives, mini saws, 3 electronic mini saws, a stencil book, markers, pencils, hole punching equipment and a towel. There is no messing around with pumpkins. Get your game face on or suffer my holiday spirit fueled wrath.

The pumpkins we carved for each of the boys!

Needless to say, the pumpkins were carved. Amanda's boyfriend seemed to share a slightly less escalated (but better than most) love of carving and completed two pumpkins along with me. As I placed mine in front of the horses' stalls I began to wonder a few things; how long will these last with the flies, which horse will attempt to eat the pumpkin, how soon will they attempt the eating, and how scared will Cash be when he sees a huge orange possible horse killer sitting on a black plastic known horse killer (aka trash bag)?

Before anyone freaks out, horses can eat pumpkin. Can and will are two different things. I was also pleasantly surprised and a bit disappointed that as we walked Cash down the barn aisle he neither noticed nor cared about the new décor. I couldn't let that rest and proceeded to walk into the stall carrying his assigned pumpkin which provoked the response I was originally looking for (nervous pony backed in a corner). Again, please don't freak out. As much as I love torturing small ponies I do it for desensitization purposes rather than getting pure joy from watching them cower.

More finished products!

I hope my barn friends are ready for what is to come. They caught a small glimpse of my ecstatic holiday cheer but I'm not sure they've put two and two together to realize that if I could wrap the boys in Christmas lights I absolutely would. What they don't know won't hurt them right?!

How to Most Thoroughly Embarrass Your Ponies, a Halloween Thinktank

Halloween is just around the corner! I'm not a creative person by any means and I've never been a fan of dressing up. Halloween makes me excited because it is the kick-off of the holiday season! Bring on too many commercials about things I didn't know existed but now need, the extra ten pounds that comes with hot chocolate and sugar cookies, and endless versions of the same Christmas song. I'm ready. For all but the cold that is, but that's a different post for a different day.

This year I am slightly more excited about the actual holiday of Halloween because there are 6 animals under my care that are about to run crying home and have PTSD from the costumes I will dream up for them. There are endless possibilities (but a slightly more constrictive budget) for this holiday's festivities!

Jesse is having a jockey strapped to her back and is going as a racehorse. Hina is going as the grumpy big sister who stayed home at my house (she isn't going). Kiba is scary all by himself. If he goes he will not need to dress up.

Marvel is being pimped out to a friend of mine. She has decided to dress him as superman which is perfectly fitting. He's named after the comics and he's huge and super! He's probably not going to have to see a counselor after his makeover is complete. I mean come on, who doesn't want to be superman!!

Cash is probably not going to end up getting dressed up. He is going to be the Headless Horseman's mount except the headless horseman is not going to be astride because he is not comfortable on horseback, much less spooky pony-back. If I were going to dress him up he would HAVE to be a Pegasus. He's black and adorable which is close to black and majestic which is what a Pegasus is. Of course logistically I'm not sure there are any form of wings I could attach to him that would make him feel safe and secure. That might work in my benefit though because we'd certainly see a flying horse... BEST COSTUME AWARD GOES TO: Jeannette, and her flying black pony that cannot be stopped to detach the wings. That win would be short lived.

Panda. I am having an identity crisis with him. There is a horse in the barn better suited to be a unicorn but if they aren't going to do Unicorn then I totally want to do it! When I picture a unicorn though I don't picture a fat bellied, ribby, ewe-necked, dappled grey with a black mane and tail. I think of something all white, very "knight's steed"-esque with a purple iridescent mane and tail. Panda's tail has been many colors but the yellow it is now is the closest it has come to purple. Scratch unicorn. The idea I keep coming back to is Indian. I want to get some paint and put handprints and illegible stick figures depicting vicious battle on his sides. I want to put football/battle stripes under his eyes and teach him to rear so that everyone that comes and asks us what we are will get a good hearty rear and a gruff "Indian" from me. Now that I'm thinking about it, he needs to learn to neigh and rear at the same time.

Ok, all joking aside, I do want to paint him but then I don't have an Indian costume. I am left very unimpressed with the "Sexy Indian," "Flirty Indian," and "Mysterious Indian" costumes in stores that are all the same bikini idea with fringe in different places. My mom told me never to touch the feathers you find on the ground so that nixes my plans for a "build your own" Indian costume. Another speed bump I'm running in to is the whole riding idea. Indians rode bareback. Pictures don't do Panda's back justice. His spine is about 6 inches above where his meat and muscles start. It looks like someone pitched a tent of skin on top of his back. I'd be getting that wedgie out till next Halloween. Also, what paint is ok to use on a horse? What if it stains his fur? What if it's 30 degrees, how am I gonna get it off him?! Halloween is notoriously cold in these parts. I think it's God's way of making all those girls in lingerie suffer (which I am perfectly ok with).

I guess I need to go back to the drawing board. I don't really want to do jockey/race horse. Besides, Jesse is already being that. I could do sheep but Amanda has already thought of the logistics of that and it's a no go. We could be Gandalf/Shadowfax. I'd definitely be warm but I feel like a beard that long might get in the way. I'm no expert though. We could be ghosts... That wouldn't be terribly hard to do but it is so easy! Maybe I'll make him little cuffs (upside down bell boots?!) and a bow tie and he can be a Chip-N-Dales dancer. He IS handsome. :)

Halloween, here we come!!!

Pegasus, Unicorns, Dragons, and the Dressage Frame

So I've started taking lessons from the owner of the farm, Maggie, this past month. I am not used to not having lessons and I also need to have a less biased set of eyes on the boys so that I can be told exactly how it is. She has plenty of eventing experience and is very patient which are both things I need at this point in my riding career.

I'm not sure if I've expressed my love for jumping but if you aren't aware of it let me try to spell it out for you. I love jumping like Santa loves good little boys and girls. I love jumping like Harry Potter loves to get himself into mortal peril. I love jumping like boys doing no-shave-November love their beards. I love jumping like ET loves to phone home, like girls in the 80's loved big hair and mom jeans (those should never EVER come back by the way), like Miley Cyrus loves wearing granny panties in music videos, and like candy deprived little kids love to go trick-or-treating. It's legit.

I have a background of jumping, but that is only 1/3 of the skill I need to successfully make it through a 3 day event. Cross Country isn't so much a new skill to learn as more bravery and miles to acquire. I have never done it before but in essence the idea is the same as in the jumper ring with a few more hiccups along the way. Many of these hiccups are meant to try the horse or the horse and rider combo rather than just the rider.

Where I am lost beyond recognition, and where Maggie truly comes in, is this dressage thing. For those of you who don't know what dressage is, open up a new tab (do it now), go to Google, and type in "Grand Prix Dressage." Go ahead. Watch the whole 6 minute test. See how the horse prances and does movements I couldn't even attempt on my own without a horse in my wildest dreams? See how the rider is motionless? And how the horse's head and neck are beautifully muscled and arched? Yeah, that's what I have to learn how to do. Minus the prancing, the ballet moves, and anything else that makes you go "WOW!"

The main thing I have to learn is how to teach my horse to carry itself well. This includes a good head and neck carriage and a rounded back. I'm not sure if this is a battle I'm ready to begin to fight! For starters, I've never had a dressage lesson (granted, flatwork is all dressage and I've had plenty of flatwork lessons, but nothing more). Then, I'm riding horses that are green. Marvel barely knows how to get from point A to point B without tripping over his hooves and Panda is as unbalanced as a top losing momentum. Cash is on a whole different path so he isn't even a pawn in this game! So I don't know how to ask for this frame, I don't know what it feels like were I to catch a glimmer of it, and my horses don't know how to offer it to me. It's a bit like being up a creek without a paddle.

Maggie is eternally helpful and I know we will eventually get there. But when she watches me clumsily trot my way around the arena with hands too low and legs to wiggly I'm sure she probably feels more hopeless than I do! When I hear, "Half-halt and push him up under you!" I try my darndest, I really do, but when Panda gives me a quizzical response (or complete lack thereof) I have to turn to her and ask her if this book is fact or fiction! When we achieve even mild success, be sure, you will know. Until then... I could really use all the help I can get!

NOT a dressage frame.

Tips From the (Muddy) Red Carpet

Hipsters, Emo, Country, Rocker, Gangster, Fratty, Sorority Girl, Young Professional, Business Casual, Beach Bum. These are just a few of the styles we can all recognize in 2013. As with all public places, at the barn there are fashion do's and don'ts. Unlike other places, these have arisen out of necessity rather than out of a bored young lady's mind who is trying to make her name famous.

The first look I would like to bring to the table is "Rainy Day Chique." For the top we've got a nice, loose fitting t-shirt. The holes in the armpits and near the bottom middle of the front make this a useful and trendy pick. Humidity is terrible so ventilation is a must. You will notice Rainy Day Chique's jeans have pre-stained dirt streaks running up and down the thighs. No need to worry about a towel, a wash room, or staining the jeans yourself, these jeans have it all for you. A good slip and fall only blends right in with what these jeans already have to offer. Finally, footwear. This gorgeous outfit can be paired with not one, but two different shoe choices. The first is a classic ventilated pair of Crocs. Water might be able to go in but it can also flow right back out. If you've ever thought about a mud bath for your feet this is a choice that blends fashion and usefulness. The other great option is the Rain Boot. Not at all a small shoe, their tell-tale squeak when you walk is highly sought after.

The next look that needs some attention is "Carefree Sunny Day." This gorgeous look includes a brightly colored sports bra paired flawlessly with a paw-print stained tank. Not too loose, and not too tight, this tank is fantastic for showing off those awkward sweat marks that tend to develop after a good ride, stall cleaning, or 90+ degree day. If a ride is in the plans, a tan, stained pair of breeches can compliment the paw-prints that can be found on the tank. If chores are the name of the game some good shorts that show off the beautiful snow white skin of your legs is a must. Either way, be sure to pair both pant options with some grandmother panties so that the lines are quite obvious and visible. Shoes can be left to the wearer's choice. Pair this look with eau de deodorant/horse poo and you've got a finished look that can't be beaten.

Winter fashions should not be swept under the rug just because 7/8 of the year is hot. "Snug Bundles Aplicque" is a carefully planned outfit. Snug Bundles' top consists of many, MANY layers. So much so that with any stimulus, sweat instantly accumulates. The under layers aren't a huge concern other than the fact that you should always start with smallest first and work your way up. The jacket is characterized by being rain proof, thick, reflective, and particularly drab. Nothing says "don't look at me" like a poop brown or camo jacket. Pants are generally fleece lined and not at all warm enough. Shoes include any kind of boot paired with wool socks, preferably knitted by your great grandmother. The positives about cooler weather is accessorizing! Don't forget mittens/gloves that completely inhibit your ability to buckle things such as halters, bridles, and even girths and stall door latches. Ear warming headbands are a fancy invention that keep your head from freezing off. They also make you need a whole new "winter only" helmet because they enlarge your head by inches at a time.

There are many different varieties of each option. Barn fashion is characterized by the freedom to accessorize and adapt which is what so many up-and-coming barn fashionistas love. These looks are guaranteed to attract stares anywhere BUT the barn. Rest assured people are wondering things like, "Where can I get an outfit like that?" and "Who is she wearing? Those grass stains are so tastefully done!" So don't fret when the lady behind you in the grocery line can't look away. That's when you know you've hit it big.

Barefoot is not generally a good option for these styles.

Dream Horse... What's That?

I have officially moved out of the teenage horse obsessed little girl stage that I was once in. Don't get me wrong, I moved straight into the broke horse loving adult stage which is arguably more detrimental to many more aspects of my life, so all is not lost. Today I was missing the simpler times. A lot has changed in the last ten years and not all for the better.

As that little girl who was so horse obsessed I led my Grand Champions around the house like full sized horses, ANY horse would do. I wasn't picky when I asked my dad for a horse. The thing could've been 35 yrs old and dead cripple and I would've been screaming and shouting thanks at the top of my lungs. The teenage me obviously did want a rideable horse but even that girl was not going to be excruciatingly picky.

Color didn't matter, age didn't matter, and there was a time in my life when discipline didn't matter either. I browsed the internet looking at horses for sale. I found them everywhere; Saddlebreds in Tennessee, Thoroughbreds in Kentucky, Quarter Horses in Texas, Morgans in North Carolina, jumpers, reiners, ropers, saddle seat horses. I didn't have a price range because, at that point, even a free horse was out of my price range. I had just gained access to the internet so I definitely couldn't drive or work! I obviously hadn't worked out logistics like how to get that Thoroughbred from Kentucky to Texas or where I was going to keep this newly acquired horse or how I was going to ride it since the only piece of equipment I owned at that point was a foal halter given to me by my grandmother's boyfriend.

Now when you sit me down and talk about horses my whole demeanor has changed. I suppose I was operating under the idea "beggars can't be choosers" in my younger years and technically, that's still the mentality I need to have (seeing as I haven't yet started my first day at my million dollar per year job). A goal, a job, and quite a bit of knowledge have narrowed my options from ALL OF THEM, to a very small corner of the market.

Don't get me wrong, I love the boys and am expecting them to go far, but the prestige of an $800 horse is lost on most people, myself included sometimes. There's something about not coughing up a house payment or 10 that makes you wonder if your horse is going to be able to do the job. Please don't take this as me being snobby, I have never had the financial capability to even dream of spending a small fortune (or over $2k) on a four legged accident prone beast with a mind of its own. I sincerely love the idea of the "diamond in the rough" horse and I think there are plenty out there who are more athletic than their current owner gives them credit for.

Who's to say how much potential he has just by
looking at him?

More than the money aspect, my dream is to buy a horse with good breeding, fantastic conformation, preferably a cool breed or at least a fancy looking Thoroughbred and never again have to worry about the athletic capabilities of my horse. I also don't ever want to worry about lameness, colic, cuts, or other things of that nature. Then I realize that no matter how much you pay for a horse, those things are always going to be worries. A $50,000 horse doesn't know it's any different than a $500 horse and wouldn't care if you were to tell it. I've heard plenty of horror stories of a perfectly healthy horse bowing it's tendon within a month of purchase, or having to undergo colic surgery, or being out of commission due to a bad cut in the pasture. Or what about the horse that has no health problems but you just don't get along with it? No one has enough money to guarantee impeccable health, no one.

So I've decided there is no such thing as a dream horse, per se. There are dream circumstances and amazing horses but you can't blame the circumstances on the horse or the horse on the circumstances. Everyone will have that time in their lives (if you stay in the sport long enough) where the horse and the timing just match up perfectly and you ride the cloud of euphoria as far as it can take you and hope that you are lucky enough to find that again.

Until then a quick description of my dream horse might look something like this:
Short cannon bones, well proportioned all around with a bit longer legs, good hock angles, straight legs, medium length back, soft eye, refined bone structure in the face, well proportioned ears, Irish Sport Horse, mare, 3-4 yrs old, and either bay, black or grey (but not fleabitten grey) with some chrome and an extra cool face marking.
I think that I am dreaming of a horse that, right now, exceeds my capabilities. I haven't started to compete at events yet and I am not an Olympian by any stretch at this point in my life. I don't NEED a horse that will take me 4' easy. Not yet. I need to ride the roller coaster that is the boys and learn as much as I can.

...And save up a pretty penny for that dream horse in the sky!

Don't Let the Rain Get You Down

If you read my previous post entitled "Where to Start?!" you know how I feel about the weatherman. If you didn't I'll sum it up: he's a buzz killing liar. No matter what my feelings are, he has made a prediction for the next week that includes rain in 6 out of the 7 days. While I'm guessing we might get a good day or two if we're lucky, I've prepared a list of some things that need to be done at the barn that keep getting swept under the rug in favor of riding time. I bet we all have a few honey-dos that we might be able to capitalize on during a good rainy week!

1. Strip stalls - This is never fun. You're throwing yourself into ankle deep pony excrement. You might as well open a bottle of ammonia in your car in the summer with the windows up and let the gagging ensue. The best part is, the pony is frolicking in straight mud, and by frolicking I mean rolling. A lot. So you're doing all this work, only to have to do more work when you're done. Then, the next day, those stinkin' ponies will have pooed again! The nerve.

2. Clean Tack - I've got good intentions almost every day to clean tack. When I stop thinking it needs to be done, you know we've got problems. But good intentions never a bridle cleaned. So many things sound more appealing than cleaning tack though! Riding, talking, sitting in my camp chair letting flies poop on me, browsing for spurs on my EBay ap in that same camping chair, and heck, even cleaning stalls. This week I'll have so much time to browse EBay I'll know every piece of horse equipment on there and when the bidding ends. The weather will be cool and the time will be endless. (I'm sure there are other things that might magically be able to capture my attention and make me forget all about tack cleaning...)

3. Grooming - Time to use both curry combs, all three soft brushes, hoof lotion and oil, thrush buster, clippers, Cowboy Magic, and fly spray. And then after all that immobilize the horses in the middle of their stalls and insert a feeding tube, catheter and colostomy bag so they stay beautiful...

4. Practicing Braiding - The first step here will actually be to LEARN the braiding. But with a whole week (ahem, RIGHT Mr. Weatherman?) of rain surely I'll have some time to perfect my newly acquired skill!

5. Pulling Manes -  Right along side braiding, I'll need to do some mane pulling. Panda's mane is going Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on me. It used to lie all on one side but I'll show up and it's split right down the middle and the next day just the tip top is peeking over the wrong side. I did kind of a quick hack job when he first arrived to get him looking the part of new eventer in training anyway. It's got to be fixed!

Panda's mane. Mainly behaving today.

6. Organizing the Tack Trunk - The other day I was asked if someone could borrow my hoof pick. I wound up explaining where it was like this, "It's in the red tack trunk under my saddle. Not the off red trunk, but the other one. I'm pretty sure it's not in the black one. When you go in there it's probably under the 2 baby pads, next to the hoof polish. If it's not there, dig down about 2 more inches and it'll be in between the 6 broken pairs of bell boots and the dried out set of reins I'm terrified to use." Don't ask why I've got broken equipment. You never know... I may have a slight hoarder mentality.

7. Planning out the Next Few Months of Training - I need to take a quick peek into my 101 Exercises books and sit down with a piece of paper and pen (or an excel spread sheet) and figure out who needs what exercise the most. I need to figure out who I'm riding on what day. I really need to analyze how much time I truly have each day and what is a plausible amount of time to spend at the barn (all day is not an option at this point no matter how tempting it sounds). There are things at home that just need to get done. Like my mom always used to say, "The floor doesn't sweep itself!" Unfortunately that wasn't just a ploy to get me to do my chores, it's actually true.


That's a halfway decent list to start on. I'm sure each person can add a bit to this list but for now, those are my basics and also my must-dos. Hopefully with a little more time on my hands my house might get a little cleaning too!