Magic in the Air...

I made this little blurb for Seaspear on Picasa :)
The tagline is temporary - I just made it up on the spot.

Seaspear is not my "Nano novel" - but I'm still honoring National Novel Writing Month and pounding out words every chance I can get.

A blessing on you real Nano folks!
And of course, everyone else too.  :)

Love, Ellyn

Tagged Once More

Thanks Lily Litten! :)

How this works:

You share 7 likes, 8 hates, and 1 love. I seriously don't understand the random numbers.  

I like pirates

I like apple orchards

I like Crooked Still

I like awesome dreams

I like sledding

I like waking up early

I like Jawbreakers and Shockers! (candy)

I hate sweating

I hate human trafficking

I hate anorexia

I hate Satan

I hate being stressed!

I hate filth and clutter

I hate blobby pens

I hate bananas :)

I love.......

Jesus!

( I know it said only one, but I'll go on to say - 

Special people!

Laughing!

Horses! 

And I tag...

Margaret Rowena

Nela

Gwyn

And anyone else who really wants to do it :)

Love, 

Ellyn

Pirate Love

I finally saw The Curse of the Black Pearl! Ah, Pirates.  Love them.  If there was an all-good aspect of being a pirate, I'd totally be a pirate.  But then...pirates wouldn't be pirates, would they? ;)  

Lt. Gillette: This ship cannot be crewed by two men.  You'll never make it out of the bay!

Jack: Son, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow.  Savvy?

"I practice three hours a day...so that when I meet a pirate...I can kill it!"

Will: You...cheated!

Jack *nods*: Pirate.

---

This has definitely got me psyched for Seaspear! I love my characters right now....I changed the pirate captain's name from Shiloh to Chambers, and his first mate is now Valenci (val-ench'-ee).  I can't wait to actually begin writing, but I've got a science report and the Corday project both on the line.  For any of you who are writing ship stories, I found a terrific book called Ships and Seamen of the American Revolution.  It has tactics, terms, and diagrams.  I was enjoying it at the library, and the librarian asked me if I was doing homework.  I said, "No..." ;)

Also, I take the PSAT test tomorrow, so your prayers would greatly be appreciated! To put it in two words, I'm terrified. 

Hint on what's coming up: I plan to do a series on the Parelli seven games.  Stick around! 

Also, how do you like my new design?

Love always,

 Ellyn 

The Corday Project

I had a new story idea yesterday when I was watching a history video.  It won't be a novel - just a historical fiction short story :)  I call it, "The Corday Project."  (Not the real title, of course.)  I'm hoping it doesn't die.

So, I present to you....


A fanatical pressman who lusts for blood....

And his murderer.

These are real people.  

That's all you get! 

Adieu, mon ami.  *wink wink*

P.S. This is my 100th post! 

The Amazing Day Part 2 (Saddled Again)

This here was before JoinUp - but it was not really relevant to the subject of Part 1.  So anyway, here are some...er....semi-adorable photos of us.  Unfortunately, we're not all there at once because...well, Gorgeous George can't hold the camera.

I also forgot to say that if you're interested in trying JoinUp, check out From My Hands to Yours and Shy Boy from your local library - both by Monty Roberts.  The former is the instructional book, while the latter is a story about how Monty trained a mustang with JoinUp.

Oh, and no, Shelby and I are not fighting - I just didn't want Indy to lash out at Jake again :)

---

So.  On to Part 2 of The Amazing Day.  Shelby persuaded us to ride up to where I work at Health Directed Riding.  I had gone up early that week to ask if we could use Sue's (fake name) arena.  My stable has an arena too, but it doesn't close and there's a board that sticks out so that if Indy got too near to the rail at one point I could hurt myself really badly.

So we went to Sue's.  NO major mishaps! We didn't go faster than a walk, but Boo did not try to run at all and Indy only spooked once at a squirrel.  ("SQUIRREL!!...I HATE squirrels..." - Up)  Sue had two little girls riding that day, so her barn was warm and cozy and there was hot chocolate in the feed room.  First we did barrels and discovered that Boo must have had some sort of barrel racing career at some point.  He whipped around those things like there was no tomorrow.  Indy is not so good at barrels and I'm not either, so we just did them a few times and then rode around the rail.  Boo was getting super excited and bucked again, so we walked around for a bit and decided it was time for a break.  

We took off the horses' reins and went in for hot chocolate.  After that, we rode around some more and set up the jumps.  (FUN!) Sadly, I don't have any pictures because bringing my mom's expensive Canon to Sue's on horseback would not be a very smart thing to do.  But anyway, Indy jumped - pretty well, considering that the pole was just on the ground.  Jake jumped - as always.  And Boo - Whisper was just going to walk him over the pole, but he took off at a canter and leaped over that pole as pretty as you please.  It was Whisper's first time jumping, too.  She said she just sat there like a sack of potatoes, but it was to die for.  

So we all had to try jumping Boo.  Shelby went over and then it was my turn.  At first, I was not taking control and Boo was sidestepping and gave a little mini-buck.  But I got him turned around and we headed at a slow canter for the "jump".  I was not ready when the "jump" loomed up in front of me because I had been holding Boo back and I was not really in sync with his canter, but I managed to somehow fall into the jumping position and went over.  I felt like I was going to land on my nose, but I went over.  And ya know what? It was so fun! It was awesome! We were all super happy.  :)

After that we hung out in the barn with the horses and three of those caramel apple lollipops...but soon, we had to saddle up and head for home.  

That ended the real part one of the Amazing Day, but I didn't have room for it in the last post.  So anyway, Shelby got picked up and Whisper and I attempted to write a snippet with our Hearts Unbroken characters.  But we were too tired and didn't have enough time.

After Whisper got dropped off at the stable where I was going for a hayride with my youth group, I headed for the bonfire.  

I'll do a post on why I love my church some other time.  But for now I'll just say that I love my youth group because its very brotherly/sisterly.  For the most part, everyone talks to and teases everyone.  There's nothing odd about a boy opening a door for a girl or anything like that. 

I sat with my friends Demetria, Pheona, and Alex, and we had a lot of spirited discussion about fashion, books, the whole shebang...these are my "girly" friends.  The ones I talk about Pride and Predjudice and cute sweaters and skinny vs. boot cut jeans with.  We even talked about blogging and attempted to explain it to a clueless male standing nearby.  (I'm teasing.) 

The hayride itself was loads of fun.  If it had gone all night, it would have ended too soon.  Everyone was throwing hay and stuffing it into hoods and jackets...there was hardly ever a moment when someone was not being pulled or pushed off the haywagon.  My friend Pheona and I were invincible :)   

Right at the end, Alex realized she had lost her phone and a whole bunch of us went tearing back down the path with her to look for it.  Someone called it, so everything was okay.  (Phew) But by that time, the wagon had already gotten to the stable yard.  Guess what? There was NO hay left on that wagon except from where the adults had been sitting.  

After that, it was back to the fire for more....spirited discussion.  :)

Then my dad came to cart me back home, and....The Amazing Day was over.  

Naturally, the next day after church I had a case of the blues, not to mention a sore shoulder and neck.  

I wonder why? We got to my stable at about 10:45 and got back to my house around 4:30.  That's six hours at the barn, and at least four of those were spent riding.  And then the whole pushing/pulling hayride thing.  

Thanks for reading!

Love, Ellyn

   

  

     

The Amazing Day Part 1 (JoinUp)

Saturday will go down in history as one of the best days in my life.  Or at least in my fifteenth year.  :)
My friend Whisper came over and she rented Boo for the day.  At first, things were not so fun...because of his personality and his lack of exercise, Boo was behaving like a spitfire, bucking with Whisper aboard.

Whisper wanted to try riding Indy, so we switched horses.  I rode Boo back and forth along his non-panic zone of the pasture.  I know it probably wasn't the best thing for Boo's discipline.  But it helped him calm down.  His back was really hollow and tense when I mounted, but as I walked him along the fence and back, I felt it gradually round.  His canter is really nice.

But meanwhile, Whisper could not get Indy to ride away from me.  I think it was because he's used to me, she wasn't wearing spurs, and he doesn't like to leave his equine pals.  But anyway, then my friend Shelby showed up and saddled up her trusty mount Jake.  Whisper and I switched our not-so-trusty mounts again and we were all staying in the safe area of the pasture, but then Jake bucked.  Jake is rotund and I've never, ever seen him buck before.  We all were kind of shocked, but kept on milling around in pointless little circles, wondering what to do.  Then Shelby brushed by Indy on Jake and Indy bucked.  He's only bucked twice with me on him, and he never bucks when Jake's close to him.  Curiouser and curiouser!

It was drizzling by this time...the day was gloomy and cold.  We took off our saddles and decided to try out the JoinUp technique by Monty Roberts on the horses.  I've been doing this with Indy with good results!
Boo, the one who had started all our trouble, was up first.

JoinUp is a technique where you show the horse who is the leader of your "herd" - you - and then invite them to join up with your herd.  We were doing a rather clumsy version of JoinUp, which I felt kind of guilty about.  But it worked! I'll just try to keep learning more about it for next time.  What you do first is keep your horse moving, chasing him in a hostile position with arms spread out and your eyes wide and on his eyes.  There are more specific movements, but I don't know those yet.  *humiliated face*

Here's Whisper and Boo on the move.

Watching Boo go was fun.  Shelby and I stood with Jake off in the corner watching him buck and gallop in circles.

Whisper - exhausted.  She is waiting for Boo to join up with her, and questioning my wisdom at making her run so much in riding boots.  :D  This is the second main step of JoinUp.  When you see your horse making certain signs - sniffing the ground, pricking an ear toward you, and licking his lips - you stop, standing at a 45 degree angle to your horse.  Lower your arms to your sides, bow your head (which Whisper is not doing), and wait.  

It took Boo about three or four tries to JoinUp with Whisper.  When Whisper stopped, Boo would stop and watch her.  When he turned his attention away from her - to our tack in the corner, the other horses, whatev., Whisper started chasing him again.

I don't have a picture of the actual JoinUp, but it was really cool.  I kept whispering (unnecessarily) "Wait...wait...wait...." and Whisper just stood there while Boo turned and slowly walked over to nudge her shoulder.  *squeals* It was a Great Moment!!

After that, we tried it with Jake, but something went wrong along the lines of communication.  I feel bad - Jake did not understand.  We thought the signals were not good enough for him or he is too domestic or something...but Shelby and Jake made up and so they won't feel left out, here's an adorable picture.  :D

Next, Indy and I were called to the limelight.  I was hoping he'd choose to join up with me right away so I wouldn't have to go through the whole process with him again, but it was not so.  He went to visit Boo and the pile of tack in the corner.  He needed to choose me.  I got running.  Unfortunately, Boo wanted to come with.

The above photo is how most of the session went - me going crazy (check out the hair) and Indy just kind of standing there.  Finally, he began to move.  

  

But we had just too many distractions in the pen with us.  Like you know, hay....

...And Whisper holding the camera.  He didn't want to follow her commands while she was on his back, but here, well...that was different.  

This photo makes me laugh.  You can see the disgust on Indy's face.  And I'm dying over there - extremely out of breath! :)

Indy needed as many tries as Boo.  Each time I stopped and turned to let him Join Up, he either started eating or went straight to his pals in the corner.  Finally, I added one more step to my "come and join up with me" pose.  I dropped the reins I was using to make him move away.  That did it.  I could tell by the "stand still" look on Whisper's face.  I waited until I felt Indy's muzzle touch my shoulder and then I turned around and rewarded him with a rub on the forehead and many hugs :)

That was the beginning to our amazing day.  Part 2 will come soon :)  

    

  

 

Tag Part 2

Nela's questions...


1. If your writing a book what would be the title, plot, and characters? 


Oh goodness.  I'll just pick one and try to keep this short.  
Title: Seaspear
Characters: Ren (pro.), Grailyn, Merriam, Cyrus are just a few
Plot: Two words: Magic.  Spear.  
Ha ha ha....


2. What animal would you prefer to be for a day?


Horse - I'd love to gallop and buck and rear! :) Yeah, I guess you wouldn't want to ride me :)

3. Did you ever have a baking disaster? (like the cake didn't turn out right, or the cookies were too thin, etc) If you did, what happened? 


You know what, I don't think I have! Except once I cracked a bad egg (a fertilized one) and I couldn't look at eggs for a week.  :(


Oh, and also, I just remembered when my friend and I were about 12 or so, we were going to make oatmeal chocolate chip cookies but we decided we didn't want the oatmeal, so we left it out.  :P 'Nuff said.  

4. Whose you favorite Christian singer?


Britt Nicole!!

5. Tell about your favorite birthday celebration that you've personally experienced.


On my 13th b-day, I had my one and only friend party! It was great and loud and noisy.  :) My favorite celebration of someone else's would probably be those of my friend Whisper, Pheona, and Alex.  (fake names)



6. What is something you've done that you never thought you'd do?


Become loud and crazy! I used to be deathly shy....but when we switched homeschool co-ops when I was 11, I was determined to make a new impression.  Now I can walk into a room of people I don't know at all and have a fabulous time instead of hiding in the corner ^_^



7. If you could add any person to Mount Rushmore, who would you add and why?


Robert E. Lee.  I did a report on him a few years ago and he is now one of my heroes! Even though he fought for the South, that's really only a first impression.  People in the North often treated slaves worse than those in the South.  Lee's men adored him and he treated them like a father.  Besides, he had an awesome gray horse named Traveller ;)



8. If money were no obstacle, what would be the perfect birthday gift to receive?


A horse trailer or a barn.  But a laptop would work too.  :)






Lily Litten's Q's.....

1. If you could marry any male book character, who would it be?

Mr. Darcy, hands down! (from the Keira version :D)

2.  What book character is the closest to your personality?

Oh...*fidgets* Ahh...*bites nails*...

I'm thinking....

Harry from The Blue Sword.  She's really tall, reads too many fantasy books, and...there's  a few more similarities, but you'd have to read the book.

Also (I know everyone says this) but Elizabeth Bennet.  I'm always laughing but I make judgments way too fast.

3. What is your favorite Disney movie?

If it's an OLD disney movie, then Beauty and the Beast.  If it's a new one, I love the Narnias.

4. Are you a spender or a saver?

xP Lately, I've been a spender....

5. If you had a $10,000 shopping spree to any store, which would you choose?

A horse store! Woot!

6. Who is your favorite Disney princess?

Belle!!! She's so spunky and brave and I wish I were more like her... I took a quiz once and I got Snow White :)

7. Describe your favorite piece of jewelry (or show a picture!)

It's a square piece of picture jasper on a plain black cord....it's shiny, smooth, and looks like a desert scene with a slate blue sky and sagebrush.  I LOVE it.  

8. If you were a color, which would you be?

Blue.  I took a quiz on that too.  :) 

Sometimes calm and cool, other times rip-roarin'!

Thanks for the tagging fun!