Rub a dub dub

Remember those 80 degree days we had a while back? That spontaneous March thaw which has been chased away with more...chilly springlike weather? Well, we took advantage of the early summer weather to give the cremello mud child an honest to goodness bath.

Though the sun was hot, the water was cold. Poor Navarre was torn between delight at so many hands rubbing him at once, and horror at the cold water.

 I was delighted when I found Quicksilver shampoo at the tack shop last time I was there, and I've been saving it for months to use on Navarre when the weather got warm enough. What's so special about Quicksilver?

washing out a loooong winter coat

 I first used it on Quinn, the first horse I really loved--as a paint he had a big white splash on his neck that needed some serious soap before a show. Quicksilver was what my trainer used. It worked fabulously. Quinn's splash was always blindingly white when we were done with it.

 And best of all....Quicksilver is deep purple.

 So for a little while you have a lavender horse. That's pretty fun. I probably get more amusement out of that than I should.

 My Padawan took the time to really clean out his tail--which it has been needing. It's actually creamy instead of brown now! We've put Cowboy Magic in it to keep the dirt (and worse) from sticking. When you see pictures of him from now on, please be in awe of its long creamy clean beauty.

 He even got his face washed gently by the boys. (This made for five people buzzing around him, except for the cold water this was basically Navarre heaven)
  Maverick thought this was the most interesting thing that had happened all day so he stood near by the whole time keeping tabs on the goings on. He also has a thing for lead ropes...he's like a lab puppy sometimes.

Navarre's shiny cream lasted about as long as it took to get his halter off when we turned him out. He turned around and dropped for a roll in the blue stone. He loves rolling in the blue stone.

 He rolled for a good long time.

 He did both sides.

 Twice.

 And then he stuck his tongue out at me:

 And then he came to beg for treats. That is the face of a truly happy horse.

Meet Me in St. Louie (part 2)

We went to The City Museum. We stumbled on its existence by chance, and decided to go because there was a 7 story slide. The website says it's the place where your imagination runs wild...It is in the city...but I'm not sure where "museum" fits in...in fact the word that best characterizes the place is "weird."
This is a picture of the slide, standing at the bottom and looking up. Spiral staircase on the right, spiral slide on the left.

 The bottom floor--from which you access the slide--is caves. Concrete caverns with passages, overpasses and nooks and crannies to explore to your heart's content.
The "first floor" at which you enter is a strange assortment of water and prehistoric motifs--it's definitely the prettiest part of the building with all the walls and the big fish tank shaped like whales, dolphins, crocodiles or other creatures. There is also a treehouse of sorts--with tunnels sprouting from it:

me in a tunnel

Chrissy on a beam at the other end of the tunnel

 Chrissy and I found a slide that went down a story or two in the treehouse.

Oh yes...and there was a pteradactyl.

 The second floor had an aquarium, which we did not pay the extra $6 to get into. There was also a shoelace factory--or rather the machines from one, but we missed that.
I can't remember if the vault and the hamster wheel were on the second or third floor...but there was a "vault" and a hamster wheel and a hall of mirrors...

 We tried to run in the hamster wheel--we couldn't get it moving by ourselves, someone started it from the outside. We could barely keep it going. My respect for gerbils has gone up.
There was a skate park, and a room full of vintage circus/fair memorabilia, signs and games. There was a little train ride for little kids, and a room full of random pieces of architecture (from Chicago, according to the website, but there was no explanation given at the museum for why half a sphinx and a gargoyle and a floral motif shared a room). Oh yes, and then there was the room full of taxidermy animals...

this is not a taxidermy animal

the vault

skate park, Thor style

 Oh yes...and there is a vintage clothing store on the top? floor. Randomly.

 And a straight slide down from the floor below the clothing store down to the lobby and exit.

 And there was an entire outdoor section that was a little too high for me. We never saw the ferris wheel that is on top of the building according to the website, but that's ok...I never liked ferris wheels.

 So yes, the City Museum was a really really strange assortment of things to look at and climb on. It was fun. It would have been more fun if we were less tired and there were fewer people. It was a crowded Saturday night, and we got the feeling that the museum was the awesomest hangout for all the kids in St. Louis.

It would definitely be a fun place to take 8-15 year old--the arm bands they give you when you pay have a place for a phone number so staffers can call the parents of lost children, presumably. It only cost $10 to get in.

Good times.

Meet Me In St. Louie (part 1)

My friend and coworker, Chrissy, and I were sent to St. Louis for work this past weekend. The schedule worked out in such a way that we were able to squeeze in a few hours of site-seeing while we were there. I was really surprised at how many options there were!

First, our hotel, a Drury Inn on route 141, was amazing. Free hot breakfast and dinner for hotel guests. It was also walking distance from a Ruby Tuesday and a Starbucks (and several other stores and restaurants, but those were the only two that mattered to us). It was roughly 20 minutes from the airport, and downtown St. Louis. So if you have to rent a car anyway, might be worth it to stay in a hotel in the suburbs like we did.

So. Things to do in St. Louis? Well...

1. Did you know that Panera Bread was originally the St. Louis Bread Company? Well, now you do. Chrissy and I were looking for a place to eat lunch and stumbled on a building that looked for all the world like Panera. Inside, it looked exactly like Panera, but everything was still labeled St. Louis Bread Co--we were confused.

But the cashiers were extremely friendly and explained how the St. Louis Bread Co. had started just a few blocks from this location, and was so successful that it was purchased by a big east coast bread company. That company changed the name to Panera everywhere but St. Louis. Kinda made me wish I'd had visiting the birthplace of Panera on my bucket list.

2. After our lunch we headed for downtown to see the St. Louis Arch. The rain, which had held off till then, started basically as soon as we got within sight of the arch. We braved it anyway.

Parking wasn't bad, costwise. There is a parking garage right next to the little park which costs $6 for the day (wowzer) and it's a short pretty walk to the arch itself.

It's actually the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. We couldn't find it on the GPS or the map because we were looking for the St. Louis Arch. Whoops. Thankfully, Chrissy's dad knew where it was when Chrissy called to ask.

And yes...we went up. In the "tram" which is a slightly futuristic and tiny pod train. I, who cannot call myself tall, couldn't sit up straight in the pod. If you are claustrophobic, don't go. The doors are clear to help with that, though I think it only prevents the people who don't have claustrophobia from suddenly developing it. I couldn't look at the clear doors because I'm terrified of heights and watching stairs going up has always been the worst part of roller coasters.

There we are, squished in the pod.

And here, proof I was 630 feet above St. Louis, swaying in the winds.

And trying not to think about that fact.

Chrissy took pictures of the view through the narrow windows (I've never been more grateful for narrow windows). There really isn't much to see/do at the top, particularly on a rainy day, so we pretty much went down on the first available tram.

This is the door to the tram, going down.

We moved on to the museum--which is free--and enjoyed wandering around. It primarily covered the Lewis and Clark expedition, and had a timeline of events for the age of westward expansion. Plus this rather frightening depiction of cranes atop the arch finishing it.

They had several taxidermied animals hanging about, with no identifying plaques. I guess "horse" and "beaver" and "bull" and "bison" are all relatively self explanatory creatures...but I would have expected something talking about that animals role in western expansion. The only plaques with the animals read "Only Live Animals Can Grow Fur." That Missouri-speak for "don't touch."

booyah. no technical difficulties for the ponies.

3. Cavalia was in St. Louis while we were there--think Cirque du Solei with horses--unfortunately we couldn't get to any of their shows because timing was an issue. But if it's there, and you're there...you should go.

4. We drove past signs for a "statue park" and if we hadn't had somewhere to be we would have gone to see what exactly the statue park was.

5. We were told that the St. Louis Zoo is really a fun zoo--but again, we didn't have time or daylight to go (dreadfully inconvenient being there to work during the day).

6. We also saw signs for the science museum--the Star Trek exhibit was there, and since science museums are usually plenty of fun without the special exhibits, I really really wish we could have gone.

7. Did we go anywhere else? Why yes, we did. Tune in tomorrow.

Hunger Games (the movie)

Everyone is talking about it. The Hunger Games creamed its competition this weekend and became the third highest grossing opening weekend of all time (the other two are Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and The Dark Knight). With inflation, and the fact that records were made to be broken, this doesn't necessarily mean a whole lot. However, I think that it's pretty safe to say that its pretty dang respectable for a first in a series to do so well against finales and Batman (its hard to go against Batman, any day of the week.)

Since current events become old news so quickly, I figured I'd better get my two cents in about the movie before telling you about things you should do for fun in St. Louis (or about Navarre's bath, or my seedlings, or how not to reverse stencil wall art.)

But if you are only going to read one review, read this one (written by a missionary in Haiti), or possibly this one (although, its about the book, not the movie).

I really liked the movie. I can't say I enjoyed the movie--but, ironically, that made me like it more. I feel like the movie captured the book very well. I appreciated the fact that the filmmakers resisted any urge to make it a gore fest. The casting was excellent, the effects impeccable, even the sound and cinematography was perfect, in my opinion, for capturing the emotion and tension and feeling of the story. I also felt like the movie did a good job keeping with the message of the book--I felt like the critique of society carried over to the silver screen well. Who knows if anyone not already thinking about it will get the point completely...but the point is there. In fact, my only complaint is that it was too short. It clocks in at 142 minutes, and those minutes go really fast. So many of the characters--like Rue--go flying past and you feel like you have to say good bye right after saying hello. Relationships and character development was a little cramped for those who haven't read the books and don't already know the characters...And I wish that the movie could have ended where book 1 ended, instead of 10 pages early.

The filmmakers had a huge task, fitting the entire first book, plus preparation for the rest of the trilogy-turned-four-o-gy into one film, and I think they did a great job.

Catching Fire is set for release Nov 22, 2013. Mockingjay is slated to be released as two films.

We interupt our program...

I'm back home from St.Louis! It was a good trip, but I'm very glad to be back. Ordinarily you'd have Zare Caspian to read today, but since I spent the afternoon yesterday catching up with my man, watching the Hunger Games (wow) and sleeping...well...*cough* sorry guys.

Zare Caspian will return at the usual time next week! Plus, of course, pictures of St. Louis, plants, and horses.

Midas

Out and About

Zorro is holding down the fort while I'm in St. Louis for work. It was a reeeeaaallly long day today, but my co-worker and I managed to squeeze in a trip to the arch:

That's all for today, my friends, I'm pretty tired and have a busy weekend of work ahead of me!

Dusty meets a Girl

We took another friend out to the barn to meet Dusty. This time a little girl who is about 2 years old and already has a pair of cowgirl boots.

 She's actually the oldest of the kids I've invited to come ride Dusty (what can I say, I have young friends) and so far the only girl. She met Maverick first--and then Navarre. Her face lit up when she saw Dusty, the little one!

 She was absolutely delighted, and pitched in to help groom him and get him ready. Almost immediately she started asking if she could get on.

 Of course everyone had to get tacked up--including Dusty--so that took a little time. Then we tried to see if any of the helmets fit her--none did. So we went without. Dusty has never spooked in the years I've known him (waaay too much work to spook), and would never be out of my hands, and several walkers would be nearby at all times. The biggest danger would be Dusty trying to lay down and roll.

saying hello to Dusty for the first time

 She was very excited to get on, and proceeded to ride for almost an hour straight. That must be an eternity for a two year old! She caught on very quickly to the verbal commands for Dusty--since I was almost constantly coaxing and cajoling, she would join me "come on, Dusty, walk!" It was completely adorable. She's also extremely good with names, and could say "Navarre" "Midas" and "Maverick"--I was very impressed. My friend-her mom-confessed to teaching her architectural terms on the way over. *grin*

first moments on a horse

 We ranged with the Minstrel (on Midas) and my Padawan (on Navarre) though we took short cuts and pit stops for ol' Dusty, who was so-so on the whole "work" thing.

 The only hitch was when we got the point in the field where he was accustomed to drop and roll in our usual--riderless--walks he was extremely put out that I wouldn't let him. I had to hold his head up to keep him from dropping saddle and all--which he's done before, with the Ham on his back.  Eventually--probably at the 40 minute mark--we had our little friend dismount to give Dusty a break. She stretched her legs a little at the end of his lead rope--completely delighted still to be around horses.

 While I held on to his head and tried to keep him from tasting her beautiful straw colored hair (it was extremely tempting for him!)

 He declined to roll, however, after I brought him to his rolling spot. He stood and looked at us like we'd lost our marbles.

 So I gave him a back scratch while our little Friend made friends and tried to feed him the lead rope. I think he liked her.

Someday you'll ride a big horse, too.