Thistleblooms Rambles

[Beekissed]

I bet there were a whole slew of women who hated every minute of it, just like there are now! I know more women who hate work than those who don't, especially in the younger generations.

It just comes down to what you value in life and what you are willing to do~cheerfully, day in and day out~to get it. I love work but reared three sons who do not and will do most things to avoid it. Got a DIL who thinks a few Veggie Straws and a handful of pepperoni slices constitutes a meal for a child....every meal, several days hand running. It's a different world out there.

 

[thistlebloom]

I fabricated my sidepull with my blingy headstall today. I cannabalized one of Luke's old bridles. Took the crown piece off, which had cheekpieces that came up from the bit about a third of the way. I used the crown piece for the nose band. I attached it to the new headstalls cheekpieces with Chicago screws. It was a little tricky, the bulk of noseband and 2 nickel rings made it a tight squeeze to screw back together. I didn't want to cut the crown piece in case I would like to put that old bridle back together, for whatever unknown reason. I was able to use the existing holes for the screws in the noseband, I just overlapped and lined them up.

Drilled new holes for the Chicago screw fittings (don't have a leather punch) and will have to turn the breadboard over to the other side so dh doesn't notice the hole I put on the one side. Oops .
Then I had to shave down the leather around the new fitting holes so I could get all that leather to screw together. Messed with it for 2 hours, yikes. Probably made six trips out to Syringa to try it on and check measurements. (Yes dear I actually measured!) Every time I came out she walked up to me. I think she was trying to figure out what was wrong with me- put the bridle on, fiddle around, take it off and walk away. She was practically scratching her head, lol.

I don't like the clunky way the noseband sticks out after the place it's attached, but it will do for now.

Just need to hang the reins. Oh and clean all the old parts, they're dirty

 

[Beekissed]

Thistle, that is really beautiful!!! And a great pic up against that red barn! Do you ride bitless? If I ever were to get a horse again, I do believe I'd be going bitless....I've read and seen so many good things about it.

 

[farmerjan]

I knew you could do it......Looks good.

 

[thistlebloom]

Thistle, that is really beautiful!!! And a great pic up against that red barn! Do you ride bitless? If I ever were to get a horse again, I do believe I'd be going bitless....I've read and seen so many good things about it.

Yes, I started Syringa out in a sidepull. I don't have an issue with using bits for horses, but she is so soft and responsive with just the sidepull that I see no reason to change.

Bitting is for higher education and more "feel" although I would say that most riders don't use them right, and don't even know the purpose for all the different styles of bits.
A horse can be mishandled just as easily in a bitless setup.

I tried riding Luke in a bitless bridle, but he had so many issues from his past that he just handled better in a dog bone snaffle.

 

[Mike CHS]

I'll echo the others. That is some beautiful work.

 

[Baymule]

Thistle, your side pull looks nice. You done good!

My Mom was the kind who loved her luxuries, abhorred dirt, didn't like kids, and never wore a pair of blue jeans in her life. She said she didn't know WHERE I came from!

I don't want to go live off grid. I could if I had to, but i do like electricity. Washer/dryer, refrigerator, stove, freezers, hot water, running water....... notice how my list is appliances? LOL

 

[Beekissed]

I don't desire to live off grid either but it's nice knowing I could if I had to do it again. It's not as tough as it sounds if you have routines and good methods for doing the every day stuff. Hot showers and laundry facilities are the most desirable luxuries when off grid.

 

[Bruce]

My Mom was the kind who loved her luxuries, abhorred dirt, didn't like kids, and never wore a pair of blue jeans in her life.

My maternal grandmother never wore anything but a dress until she was in her 80's. Then she occasionally wore a pantsuit. If my maternal grandfather ever owned a pair of jeans I never saw them. My paternal grandmother NEVER owned anything but dresses (and she was a farm wife). They were all born in the 1890's.

 

[Beekissed]

My maternal grandmother never wore anything but a dress until she was in her 80's. Then she occasionally wore a pantsuit. If my maternal grandfather ever owned a pair of jeans I never saw them. My paternal grandmother NEVER owned anything but dresses (and she was a farm wife). They were all born in the 1890's.

I was just talking about that yesterday, Bruce. My grandma never wore anything but dresses until her 80s also, then she moved out of the farmhouse and gave it to her youngest son. She moved into a trailer on the land, started wearing knit pantsuits and cut off all her hair and put a perm in it. I remember crying the day my mother cut her long, beautiful hair...seeing it fall to the carport floor was like the end of an era. She used to wear all that hair in a long braid that was wound around a bun on top of her head...I always thought it looked like a hair do a queen would wear.

All that work she did over the years was done with a dress and apron on, never any pants. Same with my maternal grandmother...all dresses, no pants, hard work. I can't even imagine that!!! No bug spray back then either, so all the bities could fly up there and chaw a gal up!