Easy Peppermint Fudge

 I made a couple of different fudges this season. Easy 3 ingredient fudge which was very rich and full of rich chocolate flavor but not very creamy.  I made some peppermint fudge for my daughter with equal parts bittersweet and milk chocolate, still not creamy.

I woke up Christmas morning realizing what I had done wrong.  The fudge needs fat!  So I melted down my fudge and added a stick of butter and about 5 marshmallows. Stirring until all ingredients were thoroughly mixed together. Then I poured the mixture into a meatloaf pan that was lined with  parchment paper. I added peppermints on top of the fudge and placed the pan into the refrigerator. After two hours, I had a piece of my new fudge and it was perfect! Creamy, minty, rich chocolate - so divine!

Recipe:

one can Eagle  sweetened condensed milk

one stick butter

6 ounces milk chocolate

9 ounces bittersweet chocolate  finely chopped or shaved. I used a vegetable peeler to shave the chocolate blocks - my hands really hurt after shaving

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp peppermint extract  I use Smith & Massey

5 marshmallows

crushed peppermints I used my rubber mallet to crush the mints that I placed in a plastic sandwich bag

on low heat, melt the chocolate into the sweetened condensed milk, add the extracts, then the marshmallows, mix all ingredients until combined. 

Line a 9x9 square baking dish with parchment paper, leaving a 2 inch over hang on all sides.

Pour hot fudge into the lined 9x9 baking dish. Add crushed peppermints, if desired and put into a refrigerator to cool and set.

some people use marshmallow fluff, I used 5 large marshmallows which I melted into my melted chocolate. 

Random Thoughts about Horse Riding and Showing in 2020

 2020, it's been a year of ups and downs, panic and fear, suffering, trepidation, patience, kindness, happiness and that is just from horse back riding.  I learned new skills, techniques and got  out of my comfort zone which gave me excellent foundation for the two shows I participated in the latter half of the year. I spent the first half of the year on injured reserve. I tore my Achilles tendon on my left foot at the 2019 End of the Year show and spent about 4 months recovering from that. Instead of riding Silver bareback I rode him in my dressage saddle  without stirrups. I wasn't going to give up actual riding for 4 months. So i "schooled" dressage for about 6 weeks, mainly sitting trot. I got brave and cantered a few laps.  
it was time well spent as I just got to fool around with my horse and watch my kids ride. My daughter had to sit out the last couple of horse shows in 2019 because of "growing pains", it's a real thing. Her muscles and tendons/ligaments had not caught up with her bones, so she was in a lot of pain. 

We were lucky our state and county considered horse back riding exercise. We were able to go to the barn several times a week. We got exercise but most importantly we got human contact from outside our family. We got to socialize! Very important for everyone to socialize.  Horse people know how to distance socially especially around horses, if you don't maintain proper distance, there is a fairly good chance your horse is going to kick another horse. Maintain at least one adult horse space, or two ponies space from each other. 

I was released for riding in June, yay! Just in time for hot weather. I still had to be careful with not over stretching my left leg. It's not easy remembering not to put your left heel down while riding especially when it has been so ingrained over a lifetime, but pain was a quick reminder.  I used my 3 foot tall mounting block to get on and off the horse while injured. And now my horse now walks over to the mounting block at the end of the ride.  It helps both my aching knee and feet not to slam down on them.   

AFter slugging, er, I mean riding through the hot, humid summer, I was ready to start competing.  But my trainer does not like to show in the summer, too hot and humid. It's hard on both horse and rider.  My husband decided to go to his second competition this year in October. Everyone in my family was riding in the competition but me. I didn't bring any show clothes because this was my hubby's time in the show ring, not mine. Well, I regretted not bringing any show clothes because the division he was in didn't have enough riders in it, so I got up early Saturday mornin, drove to Dallas from Tyler and returned to the Tyler Rose Horse Park late Saturday morning, so I could ride in the division.  It was well worth it, the fences just came so easily. We got all our strides and even our lead changes. Silver was like point me in the right direction and I'll make everything happen. And it did.  It was a two day show but it was the best ride I had ever had over fences in that division.  We didn't do as well on the flat. My husband beat me on the flat!  But I won Champion of the Rusty Stirrups division. 

The end of the year show proved to be a bit more challenging for Silver and I. Even my husband had trouble with Scout. Scout seemed to decide that he was going to go fast over the course. I'm proud of my husband for staying the course and not giving up on his horse or the show. 

the last day of the show, my husband and I entered the 18" equitation classic. I was scared to death. My earlier hunter rounds were terrible in the Rusty Stirrups division. I could barely get Silver to move faster than a tranter and he practically crawled over the fences, even the judge was telling me to use more leg - true story. I pushed through my anxiety about the Classic and ended up third, true I was beaten by an 8 year old but I had a lot of fun in the ring. I got Silver off my leg and I was determined to make every fence and lead change work. No trantering and crawling over fences for us, baby!

So after analyzing myself this year, I realize the longer I wait for a show, it seems the worse I do. My trainer will enter me into a division on a lark and I usually do well. I believe I am over thinking it and scaring myself. I won the Rusty Stirrup division because I wasn't there to win, only to help fill up the division. The end of the year show, I was there to win and the pressure I put on my self caused me to not do as well as I could. Perhaps I should drink a couple of sips of whiskey before I enter the show ring. I'm not sure how to relax during a competition. If showing is about having fun, why do I want to barf?

When Silver is balanced, collected and uphill, all our spots to the jumps become effortless. I have to remember to sit back, half halt when necessary and wait for the jump.  I like to jump ahead and "help" Silver jump. I need to remember it's his job to jump it, it's my job to get him to the right jump and patiently wait. And my helping him, actually hinders him. Sunday told me to work on getting him off my leg and not get behind it. which is really a nice way of saying, stay in rhythm with your horse. Be connected, be one. 

Rusty Stirrups Equitation over Fences May 12, 2018

Silver and I finally made it to the show ring this year after bad weather, show cancellations, hoof abscess, spring break, my pneumonia, etc...
We had a great ride and I felt so confident riding him. Even his crazy flying lead changes don't scare me (as much) anymore.  I do totally love this horse!

In the Zone

My riding takes a back seat to everything else. Which is normal for moms, I think. Family comes first. Riding is my therapy.
I had to take time off in February because it rained...a lot...and the barn where I board doesn't have an indoor arena. It does have a beautiful outdoor arena but I don't ride in the rain if I can help it.  Then came March with spring break. We went on a wonderful Disney cruise around the Caribbean. The day we get back in town, my sister in law comes to stay with us for two weeks.
So I finally get out to the barn and my horse has gone lame.  Poor guy had an abscess in his hoof...from all that rain...I had planned to ride in a horse show the weekend he went lame, so quick find a horse for Charlotte.  I tried out the new schooling horse, Tilly but I was unsure that we were a good fit. She has a lovely collected canter but her jump was different from Silver. I wasn't getting it.  The next horse was Elijah. My husband really likes riding this horse. He can sit is canter. And I'll be danged if I can't sit that less than smooth, uncollected canter.  But after a couple of weeks of riding him, I was starting to have problems over fences with him. So I got to ride Gypsy. I have been a little skeptical of Gypsy because the first time I rode her, she ran off with me.  I have fallen for this mare. She is wonderful and got me to enjoy jumping again. Really enjoy jumping.

After my 6 week hiatus from riding, I was a bit intimidated about riding a full course. Even though I had been jumping at 2 feet in the fall.  I could ride one maybe two jumps at a time with some trepidation.  I was blessed to be in a group lesson with two more experienced riders. My trainer set up a grid. It scared me but I enjoyed watching Amy and Michaela jump the grid.  Kelsey offered the grid or a line of two jumps.  I decided to feel my fear and do it anyway. I was assured that all I had to do was set Gypsy up and she would easily do the rest.  And she did!  I just stayed balanced and she jumped them all.  So I did it again that lesson.

 And I did it again another lesson, another grid...I figured  I could jump 5 jumps at one time, or 5 jumps in a course, just get it over with. And the more I jumped the grid, the better I got and the more I relaxed. And then suddenly I could do courses without freaking out.

And then Silver got better and we started having fun. True he kicked his heels up after some grid work and he crop hopped after a jump but he was happy with himself! And I stayed on! And I was happy with myself. And we did some flying lead changes, he hops a bit and I feel like he's bucking but I'm starting to get used to it.  Now that I know he's not trying to buck me off, I'm good with it and I tell him I'm happy about it, instead of slowing him down we keep going forward.

Unmet Mother's Day Expectations

Last week I was filled with energy and new found confidence over jumps.  I had found my zen. my happy place.

Today I am unhappy and I should be filled with joy!  I won my rusty stirrups division this weekend, 2 Blues in Equitation on the Flat and Equitation over Fences and a second place in  Equitation over Fences.  I was cool and collected and absolutely not panicked at the show. I even rode my horse in the warm up, no one got on  him before I did. I just got on and rode him, jumped a few fences and enjoyed myself.

But the day after mother's day, I'm sitting here furious, mad, sad and lonely...why you ask.  Not because my horse mistook my foot for shavings and crushed it. Not because I spent part of mother's day in the ER checking out my foot and then laying in bed resting it.

I'm mad because my husband didn't take the time to get me a friggin' mother's day card. He didn't lift a finger for mother's day. Yes, he fed the kids when I went to the ER and he fed them dinner but he left all the dishes in the sink, didn't unload the dishwasher...thanks so kind of you to leave that for me to do that the next day.  I made myself a grilled cheese sandwich for dinner although I was really tired from the painkillers, I couldn't sleep because I was too hungry.

He didn't have any lunch, brunch or dinner plans for the family.  He didn't help the kids get mommy a mother's day gift. No flowers, nothing, nada, zip, zilch.  In the past, we have gone out for Mother's Day Brunch. And he would get me flowers.  The kids usually make me something at school to give me. Nathaniel had brought me a bag from school - we've lost it. But Natty is in on my good side.  Emma quickly made me something in Sunday School.

And I shouldn't be so upset except he forgot me on Valentine's Day, too. Nothing from the kids and nothing from him.  Granted Valentine's Day fell on Ash Wednesday, I get that a secular holiday gets trumped by Ash Wednesday but really nothing?  I got him some cute red/white striped pants. I originally bought him a new suit but took it back because it was over the top.  He has yet to wear those pants, so I will take them back.  Nordstrom's is good about returning things.

We talked about  him not doing anything for me on Valentine's several days  afterwards. I told him it really upset me.  He said he didn't think I was that into it because I had forgotten a wedding anniversary.  He HAD forgotten the wedding anniversary!  He didn't make any plans that night and he didn't ask me to get a babysitter for that night. I try not to have hurt feelings.

I ended up buying some pretty 14k gold earrings to make up for Valentine's Day.  When we went on our spring break cruise, I bought a fantastic 14k gold Tinkerbell pendant. But I paid for it. I don't need his permission to spend my money!

My step son came into town for the Scottish Highland Games this past weekend and my husband went to the Games when we already had plans in place for the Spring Fling Horse show. I was determined to get to that horse show. I had already missed a few because my horse was lame or the show was rained out. The plan was for my husband to spend the day with our kids while mommy went to the horse show. It was a perfect horse show because the hunter divisions were on Saturday instead of Sunday. My division was in the morning. The kids didn't want to go and I understand if they aren't participating why would they be interested. Frankly, I didn't want to have to keep up with them, so he was going to stay with them.  So I ended up having to find a babysitter to watch them so he could enjoy himself with his older son, normally I don't mind. it's just that we already had plans. And it was mother's day weekend. So he did nothing for me. Nothing. He got to do what he wanted. Why should I expect my children to be any different?

I'm thankful for my trainer, Kelsey and her assistant, Michelle for being my cheerleaders. I'm also very thankful for Michaela, who rides Silver and has shown him in upper divisions for being my  cheerleader. She is wonderful!  Her boyfriend is kind to me. His son likes to ride Silver and has shown him, too. It's nice to have a little group of people to cheer me on because my family doesn't.  Most people think my husband is watching the kids when I go to shows but I actually have a babysitter. I hire someone to watch them during church because he is too busy with choir. I think I just depressed myself further. It hurts my feelings. It really does.

Riding on the Lunge line

December riding Lessons were spent on a lunge line. I was quite apprehensive at first, even though the time I had spent with Kai Handt 25 years ago was on a lunge line.
Once I got used to not having reins to depend on for balance, she started me holding my hands on my hips, I progressed to hands on my helmet, which was annoying because the headband I was wearing to keep my ears warm in the 35 degree weather would slip into my eyes. But that's another story.
As I progressed each week, the lunge lessons grew harder, not only was I holding my arms straight in front of me (zombie arms), roller coaster arms (straight up), out to the side but I was twisting to the outside and the inside with each of those positions at the trot.

A couple of days before Christmas, she had me ride with my arms above my head at the canter and twisting inside/outside, it was the most incredible feeling. I think she thought I was petrified, but I felt like I was flying. At first, I was nervous, but I realized Silver was not going anywhere but in a circle. I wasn't going to come off. So why was I worried?  Head up, eyes off the sand, looking ahead, stay balanced, canter, hold you arms up and twist to the right, now to the left.  This has seriously been the best abdominal work out ever!  I was sore for a couple of days which has really made me more aware of my lack of abdominal strength, so I'm constantly engaging my abs instead of letting it all hang out. It's been almost 7 years since I had the twins and I'm ready to get serious with my lack of core strength.

So two days after Christmas, Kelsey has me back on the lunge line with the EquiCube - a 5 pound rubber block with handles. So zombie arms holding the Equicube in front of me at the canter - I wanted to throw it at my trainer - I'm so weak.  Then she had me hold it over my head at the canter. I wondered if my helmet could handle the weight as it crashed on top of my head from my weak arms. I don't know the answer to that because I mustered all my strength to keep it above my head, it was akin to a military press. 7 hours later I can really feel it in the top of my shoulders.
And much to my surprise, I got to ride Silver with my reins!  And over a course of a month, riding on the lunge line has developed my core and given me increased stability. He stumbled and I remained balanced.  He started off at a slow canter and increased his speed and not only did I stay on, I remained balanced in the saddle and was able to transition to a beautiful stop while remaining balanced.  I was balanced, he was balanced.

I came away with a new realization today. I know that my feet pronate and this is a problem when I ride as my heels are in contact with the horse instead of my calves. But this month has really emphasized my foot/calf/leg position. Today I realized when I really turn my toes in towards the horse, my whole leg has to work, I can really feel my thighs working to stay balanced. A long time ago, a respected horsewoman had said riders shouldn't use their thighs to hold on to the horse especially when bareback. How the heck am I going to stay on then?  I think she meant to say, the whole leg is supposed to be connected to the horse, not just the thigh.  She was talking about the "ride a buck" bareback class. It's easy to keep the buck  under your thigh when walking and in the sitting trot, but not as much posting or cantering. But I digress..

I told my trainer I hoped we could continue the lunge lessons in the future because I can really feel my core working. It also helps me get over whatever fears I might be harboring about my beautiful grey gelding. That fall in July really set me back - no pun intended - in my riding.

The Three Second Half Halt

Nothing like taking a riding lesson from your trainer while her dressage instructor hangs out at the barn. My trainer is taking dressage lessons from a notable dressage instructor, who only works with professionals. So I'm trying to ride like he is not sitting near the arena, soaking in the sunshine, watching me...he was probably watching her teach.

So I learned a new concept today. Previously, Kelsey showed me how to use my hands in a zig zagging motion, not sawing on the reins, so that the horse's head goes side to side and back and forth -- which looks atrocious and probably feels the same --  I gently squeeze the reins with my hands. Right hand, squeeze, left hand squeeze   half halts to remind him, I'm up here and hey, are you listening...don't look at the woods at the end of the arena...listen to me, no, don't speed up...

Today, we took it a little more extreme, still not see sawing his mouth, so that his head swings from side to side but that he listens to me and drops his head and engages his behind. Really listening to me. I heard her ask if I could feel anything in the reins. Why yes, and I'm gently squeezing one hand and then the other - I think I'm doing great. But she says she can't see my arms move. Why would my arms move? I'm just using my hands.

Then she says, to squeeze and pull back on the rein for three seconds, release that hand and repeat on the other side. Well, that made a big difference in our riding! He really collected himself, especially when I applied my calves to his side while doing the 3 second half halt. Total control. He was not going anywhere I didn't want him.

Then we did some canter work and it was fabulous! He really has a lovely canter. I felt like I was out cantering across a pasture at my family's farm. It was that much fun!

We are using yet another bit, the Kimberwick Uster Snaffle bit gives me a lot of leverage and control without head tossing like the Dressage-Pelham-Bits/FES-Snaffle-Elite-Pelham/ used with double reins.  The transition from canter to trot to walk was smooth and almost seamless. Wow! This is how it's supposed to happen!

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