Cabin Crush

Hubby and I have been on a cabin hunt for several years. He loves the farm but pined for a secluded cabin in the woods down a long and winding dirt road in the middle of nowhere, a place for him.  We diverged.  I didn't want to be isolated, alone, miles from anything and if he found it an hour or two away I might never see him again! But finally we compromised and voila and found the perfect spot, we now own an adorable quaint cabin only three miles from the farm!

It has all the character and charm that we wanted and it needs very little work, a new shower and some exterior maintenance.  And I can't wait to decorate.  Here is the view from the back as you come up the driveway.

 We have a nice winter view facing east:

 The main room is the living room. I have a lot of furniture to recover. It's comfortable and cozy.

Looking into the bathroom on the main floor:

 I love the kitchen!

A view of the large fireplace:

 The bedroom is also cozy!

 We have a nice studio too, heated and cooled:

 And a shed for tools:

We love the cabin!  Can't wait for winter now!

Saddle Lockers

For the person who has everything or for ultra organized barn owner, rider or trainer on the go, Saddle Lockers has produced a stylish but functional way to organize all that tack.  And you can order one in everyone's favorite Baker Plaid.

The ever-popular and classic 5/A Baker® Plaid adorns the front of this gorgeous mobile tack trunk! The International Tack Trunk is the most efficient and popular option for those who show frequently and own multiple horses. Its generous size allows you to transport your tack and equipment with ease. The Baker® Plaid International SaddleLocker helps keep all of your tack organized and safe, taking away the distraction of searching for items and enabling horse and rider to perform at their very best. The premier functional tack trunk for the equestrian professional!

 For more information you can go here.  TGIF!

O So Foxy Needlepoint

I came across new needlepoint recently, a set of four foxes, one for each season, that I must add to my needlepoint stash. I have no idea where they should go, possibly pillows but take a look:

This is winter. Each one comes with a guide which selects the threads for you.  Love it when you add some texture like velvet.  This is so cute. 

 This is fall:

 Summer:

 Spring:

I have always loved this from Birds of a Feather but have never been able to figure out where it would go. It is very large.

 And lastly the fox rug that I stitched and now proudly adorns my guest bathroom.

Enjoy your Thursday. Stay warm! 

J Crew for the Holidays

Christmas planning for me is coming much earlier than usual as I am having my last surgery in early December and will be one-armed for much of the month.  So I have been anxiously awaiting the J Crew rollout for the holiday, although I have been told there is a second one coming in a few more weeks.  As a loyal J Crew shopper for many years I've been disappointed lately in the slouchy look that seems to be the rage. I will never like it. But I am loving some of the new pieces and these are sure to sell out quickly. Here are some of my picks. 

This dress is one of my favorites.  It comes in black too.

 

Add this to the dress above:

 These are adorable:

 I love the skirt but definitely not with the sweater.  A cute black turtleneck, tights, flats....

Vest is a winner. Wish it were black and red though, not navy.

These are great for the holidays with my black leopard loafers.

Shop till you drop!

New Needlepoint Rugs

On the cusp of winter, now's the time to find those projects to work on while hubby watches football.  A needlepoint rug is just the thing to take you through to spring, maybe for a year, or two, or three.  I am loving these from Elizabeth Turner.  She designs these and sells them out of M's Canvas House in Lexington, KY but any needlepoint store can order these for you.  And remember, you can change the colors, the background, even the stripe on this rug below can be changed. And that center is just asking for a monogram.  I finished a similar rug in 2012, added a monogram and you can see it here.  It was so worth the time and effort, an heirloom for sure.  And I love it.

This one is so chic and fun. It comes in several colors but this is my favorite.

A fun, whimsical one.  I love rabbits.

Pretty isn't it?   Screams bedroom to me.

Enjoy your Tuesday!

Alfie's "A Game" Weekend

Alfie pulled out his "A Game" this weekend as we ended our abbreviated horse show season on a very high note. Blair rode Alfie to a big win in the Hunter Derby.  He was stellar (and so was she). 

Blair rode for Hollins (here in Virginia) as an undergrad and incidentally the top two finishers in the Derby were Hollins riders.  The horse on the left is ridden by a local professional and he's one of the most well behaved stallions I have ever seen. Reminds me of a horse named Shine that I used to show against. It was a happy night.

 Below is the young rider who won the Zelda perpetual trophy that we sponsored. The horse is owned by Hollins University.  They have one of the best riding programs out there and always do well here in Virginia where the competition is always stiff. Cute horse, good rider.

Not to let his star fade in any way, Alfie came through for his owner too on Sunday and we brought home a tri-color in the Adults.  Here we are getting a second place in the under saddle class.  He'll finish in second place for the year in the Adults.  He was superb, probably one of his best horse shows ever.  Cannot wait to start again in 2015.

Here are a few more pictures from our weekend.  It was such a nice way to end a season that did not start well.  All's well that end's well, right?

 Sarah and Blair mapping our their plan for the Hunter Derby.  Whatever they decided, it worked!

 

The scene on Saturday night from the ingate:

 Everybody is getting ready for the Derby.  I love seeing horses braided wearing their monogrammed wool coolers.

Even Ron had a great time.  Enjoy your Monday.