Memphis update!

I'm happy to say that Memphis is 100% feeling himself again! That was two weeks of absolute hell for me with him being sick and me not going to see him.

I went out Monday night because I had to meet my new farrier and have her give him a trim. She is a barefoot trimmer and a very nice lady at that. He hadn't been trimmed in 12 weeks. 12 WEEKS!!! What a horrible horse mom I am! But he is looking all spiffy now and I'm very thankful that that is done and off my mind.

Next up I need to worm him he is about 4 weeks overdue on that one. I was gonna do it right before he got sick but I couldn't do both worming and then try to pump him full of medicines while he was sick. I'll get him done on Sunday.

Other than that, he has been a very very good boy. The farrier was a little more trusting of positions with him than I would ever be and I did comment on that. She just replied that with some horses she is probably a little more trusting than she should be but she didn't really fear Memphis at all. Which makes sense because I don't either. He is just a big dumb horse that is awesome :D

Other than that, if all goes well, I will ride on Sunday if it's not 100 degrees outside. My limit on riding is 90F. So this heat wave thing has got to end.

Alfredo, trimmed down a little for us dieters..

Last nights dinner was homemade alfredo. Now before you go "OH HOLY SHIT THERE IS NOTHING DIET FRIENDLY ABOUT THAT" Oh yes there is. Oh yes there is.

Here is my version of alfredo that is pretty much nothing like the normal recipe.

1/2 box of penne pasta cooked and drained
1/2 stick of butter (1/4 cup)
Mix of veggies (I used bell peppers and sun dried tomato's)
3 chicken breasts sliced and cooked
2-3 tabl flour (you can use cornstarch, I am just out)
2-3 cups shredded parm cheese
2-4 cups of 2% milk
1 tabl garlic powder

Melt the butter in a large saucepan and then add in the veggies. Stir around till veggies are cooked. Add in the chicken breasts and then the flour. Stir around the heat for a few minutes to cook out flour taste. Add in the milk and stir over med heat until it starts to thicken up. Add in the cheese and continue stirring then add in the penne and garlic powder.

This serves A LOT if you stick to portion sizes. ~400 calories per 1.5 cup. Make some redneck garlic toast and you are right at 500-600 calories for the dinner.

Upswing?

Memphis is still coughing. Vet apparently dropped off something else for him yesterday. Some type of iodine powder to give him to help dry him out. I have no clue anymore lol my barn owner has been taking care of all of it and I've been trying to stay away from the barn until this whole thing blows over. That little mother part of me doesn't want to chance Lucy getting anything, even though the chance is remote.

Monday he sees his new farrier. I've only been putting this poor woman off for 3 weeks due to Memphis being sick.... She specializes in barefoot horses and keeping them sound, so I'm hoping this will work out well for him as I really really want to keep him barefoot since I don't really use him all that much. I've literally rode about 4 times since I gave birth...

I'm down 4.4lbs!!! I'm FINALLY under the 200lb mark!!!! My short term goal is to be at 180lbs. The long term goal is 145lb. I need to get my butt back to the gym, I was doing really really well with that buuuuttttt I've been slacking for 3 weeks...

I also keep trying to put money back into savings... BUUUTTTT Memphis got sick, new tires on my car, new brakes on my car, did our stock up on food, and life crap have gotten in the way this month. I *think* I shoudl still be able to put a little bit into savings this month with the goal next month to not let Murphy come out to play; he isn't allowed in my life anymore. NOT ALLOWED.

That's all I've got for today

Updates and life garbage

Memphis:

He is doing much better. Fever broke late last week. He is still coughing some but when I saw him Saturday he at least looked a little happier. He even snuggled with me, how freaking flipping sweet is that? Now before the nonhorsey people go "How do you snuggle with a 1k lb animal?" He sticks his head in your chest, holds it there, and lets you just stroke his face. It's totally sweet and totally melts a horsey person's heart. I'm so happy that I did not sell him. I'm so beyond happy.

Life:

Well, we were looking for land earlier this month because I figured that we would have our savings up and running by the end of this month. HA! (<--- notice the sarcasm laughter here! ) I stocked up at Costco yesterday for the month ($$$$) and now we have to get tires on the Escort ($$$$$). I'm driving a Cadillac right now ($$$$) and calculated that the money I am putting in this thing for gas could buy me the tires by the end of the month. Escort = 32-35 mpg ..... Cadillac = 18-20 mpg... That's a huge jump for a crony like me!

So land is put off for a moment. Probably until Jan of next year. Which I'm really ok with although a small part of me says that I should buy before elections this year... but we'll see. Got property taxes coming up at the end of November that I need to start saving for NOW. I can't wait to move out of this expensive ass city. MOVE MOVE MOVE

I also don't see myself getting a horse trailer for a long time. Sigh. The kiddo has kinda screwed up the money thing for us.... She's cute though.

Alrighty

Memphis has Strep which has festered into a lung infection as well. So he is on some crazy antibiotic for the lung infection and then the strep just has to run its course. Nothing I can do there. Sigh. Poor buddy.

Sick Horse :(

So Memphis is sick. Apparently one of my barn owners horses brought something home the last time she was at a show. I'm scared to even go to the barn because I don't want to touch him. :( I hate this. Really really hate this. She is waiting on blood work and then we will move forward with treatment. :( I hope nothing bad comes out of this. I hope he rebounds and I hope that I'm fretting over nothing. The unknown is so... well unknown.

Cole Slaw and Guiness Cake

So it's too hot to ride, too dry to set off fireworks, and well being outside sounds really really horrible. So I'm stuck in the house with a kiddo and 3 nutbag dogs. So I guess that means I'll find the time to clean and cook. Sounds about right.

I'm not going to go into tons of details about this cake other than its amazing. Here is the recipe http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/chocolate-guinness-cake-3086/

Only thing I changed is a I used plain yogurt instead of sour cream. It will work with the yogurt. Here is what mine ended up looking like:

I also made a batch of coleslaw. This recipe comes from a friends friend.

8 cups cabbage
1/3 cup sugar
3/4's cup mayo
1/2 lemon juiced
Salt
Pepper
1/4 cup condensed milk

Just shred the cabbage, mix all the other ingredients and toss. Let it sit for a little bit to meld flavors and you are in business.

BTW, there is NOTHING like coleslaw on a good pulled pork sammich...