This summer…the summer of independence, I’ve learned a lot and got to try new experiences that I wouldn’t have if I was in the city. I got to fly to Texas, hike in flip flops, be a pizza chef, and see too many daddy long legs to count. I got to jump 2 feet on a horse in LI, practice for show jumping (got champion overall XD), learn all about how to take care for horses, and make intrepid friends. I got to cook and bake, cookies, dumplings, and shrimp bisque. And… I was blessed with a new baby boy cousin and had a stupendous time bonding with my grandma. This summer was so far the best I ever had.

Here are times where I saw growth in myself (and humor):

Messing up badly with horse cookies (the batch turned out to feel like soggy fruit leather) and still persuading Molly (my horse for the summer) to eat them.  This was my first experience taking the lead chef position while my mom stood back and watched. I got to learn about my mistakes and was able to fix them myself. The next time the cookies were a whole world better!

Those are my second try on the cookies, looks tasty!

Getting a second degree burn and being able to use my first aid knowledge to help (and the doctor’s wisdom too). I was able to keep calm and be brave while the pain was intense.  I had to take responsibility and chose to take of it myself and not rely on others.  If you don’t want to see something gnarly, skip this part.

This is my burn when it popped, eww.

I set goals for the summer.  One was jumping a full 2 foot course. I surpassed that challenge.  My trainer and support from all my friends at the barn gave me motivation.  I felt confident because I knew I was working hard.  I needed to have a lot of perseverance and not to give up.  Because of this they are recommending that I compete in show jumping starting October.

This me jumping a 1’9-2’0 foot elevated oxer. An elevated oxer is when 2 jumps are put together but 1 jump is higher than the other.

My grandma and I learned a lot this summer. I learned what’s it like to be away from home for a long time. And I taught her how to boil water, and make pasta. But most importantly we learned about each other. We were roomies, and I can’t wait to do it again next year.

Those are my crazy highlights of my incredible summer, and I can’t wait to have an even better summer next year.

Getting up in the early morning to go see a stable full of lively horses is a spectacular experience for any equestrian. Luckily I get to do just that. Walking in at 8:30 am to my favorite smell of horse sweat and poop, it’s quiet but not for long. My sneakers bounce against the concrete floor and I smile at the familiar views. The light peers in from the many windows in every stall, empty for now. After the never ending walk to the back of barn, I unlock my musty box. (My grandma couldn’t stand all the cobwebs and dirt so she had to clean it; although the dirt and spiders create a mystique not any ordinary barn could have.)

It’s time to get started… lugging my saddle, saddle pad, and bridle to the wash stall. Then to wait with my boots and chaps on till 9:00 am to get Molly, my horse for the summer.

Walking to Molly’s pasture where, she, Destiny, Sassy, and Scorpion hang. The hot sun beating on my back, dirt kicking up covering my boots. Swinging my lead rope back and forth, hitting my legs. Opening the rusted gate and looking inside. Molly comes running towards me as I run to her… nope, that’s not exactly what happens. I walk all the way to the back of the humongous pasture only to have her walk two steps forward. Making me do all the hard work.

Scorpion far left. Center of the pasture, Molly to the left of Sassy and Destiny to the right.

Time to ride! In the beginning of the summer I set out to jump a full 2 foot course, only had enough power to jump cross-rails throughout the year. But with perseverance and getting up with a smile I got somewhere. Jumper turns, elevated 1’9- 2 feet oxers, a full 2 feet course, and sooner than later a flying lead change. That’s what I achieved by devoting my whole summer to riding this one horse, working hard and learning something. And now, I am going to keep it up with all the challenges I might face and to eventually jump 4 feet.

This is me jumping 1’9

Me jumping 2 foot

Me jumping a 1’9 oxer

Ever thought about baking some horse treats? This summer, I am spending all of my time riding my favorite horse in Remsenburg, LI.

Molly has been working so hard for me.  It’s been really hot (95 degrees on Monday) and we’ve been jumping 1’9 and 2 foot.  so I thought “How about I make some homemade horse treats for her?”  On Saturday I made two different treats. I almost did everything but I got a second degree burn on my hand so my mom wouldn’t let me go near the oven. Just in case you want to make these cookies at home, here are the recipes…

Ingredients

Peppermint Treats:

10 Crushed Peppermints

2 Cups of Flour

2 Apples

I Cup of Oats

1/4 Cup of Molasses

Water

Directions

1. Mix flour and oats together

2. Add molasses

3. Add water (VERY) slowly until mixture is doughy

4. Add peppermint

5. Add apples

6. Cook at 350 degrees until golden brown

Ingredients

Carrot Horse Treat

2 Cups grated carrots (about 4 large carrots)

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/4 cup molasses

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup oats

1 cup flour

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl mix together the carrots, oil, and molasses until combined. Add the salt, oats and flour and stir until it’s combined.  It will be a sticky dough like consistency.  Form into small one inch size balls with your hand.  Place them on a parchment or sill, pat-line baking sheet and bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until they are golden brown.

Here are the two different types of cookies right out of the oven.

This is my peppermint cookie.

This is my carrot cookie.

My trip started in the N757XJ, with spinny chairs, pillows, and blankets galore. It took 3 long hours of Doctor Who, Teen Titans Go, and well, dreaming of my life in the world of Fairy Tail. We finally made it and unloaded our heavy bags to our friend’s Jeep Wrangler. Friends of my family live in Texas and they invited us to spend 4th of July weekend with them. The weekend was packed with a lot of bug related screaming, scrumptious food, beautiful views, and tons and tons of walking in flip flops. Here is my highlight of the trip…

Epic view from the swimming pool!!! Number 1.

Epic view from the swimming pool!!! Number 2.

Quinn, Eddie (the chef), Dagny (my mom and dad’s friends’ 6 year old daughter), Zita (their babysitter), and I had just finished our job making and serving homemade pizzas to our families. We were on our way back in their silver Jeep Wrangler when the group decided to be risky and go on the perilous rough off-road. There was no problems until we came upon the extremely steep hill. We got stuck midway up the hill!

“Ok, everyone out,” Eddie said puzzled by this conundrum. Zita, Dagny, Quinn, and I, all bustled out of the vehicle.

“It looks like we are going to have to hike up the rest of the way,” Zita problem solved with a can of bug spray in hand. So we started walking up the hill…

30 minutes later we finally made it to the ranch, dust covered and exhausted. There the parents were puzzled by our absence. All of us told different versions of our journey to different people.  On this July 4th we created our own urban legend to be retold next year.