2025 Other Things I Did This Year

 March 5-9 was the Heart of America and Leavenworth Kennel Club Dog shows - I helped at the photographer booth and it was fun - here are some of my fave dogs from the show.

On top of the March 1 Protect our Parks Rally, I also sent postcards - #IdesofTrump campaign, Protect our Parks, and to various politicians - Dem and Rep - either thanking them or shaming them for their good or poor choices. 

I went to Colorado School of Mines to see my cousin Rylee compete. She does the hammer and the shot. It with a great time with her and Kaycee (and Tina and Teri too - not pictured).

I did the touristy Aerial Tram in Estes Park. It's always beatuiful from there and a great reminder as to why I live where I do! 

I tried the Laser printer at the Library for some things I was making for comic cons! 

I contacted the Estes Valley Community Garden and paid for a plot. I was VERY excited about it until the first meeting - let's just say I was not impressed with being told that I was expected to be slave labor for everyone else's plots. I had been assigned a plot, cleaned it up and then was moved to another one. 😑 I spent a day doing putting the cover and planting a few plants to be horribly treated by some of the other people there. Let's just say, I won't do it again. If I get anything from the garden, I will be surprised, but I am not doing much. It was a waste of $175 for the plot and piping and plants, etc. I will try pots at my house next growing season.  I was highly disappointed in the way this was run and the people there. The snotty entitlement really made it not a welcoming place. 

August 22, I did a drive around, left Estes, went to the top of Trail Ridge Road, down to Grand Lake, Grandy, Winter Park, to Idaho Springs, Central City, Nederland and hope to Estes Park. I stopped at a lot of places and just had a fun day. 

August 23 was the 20th Annual Cowboy Brad and the TropiCowboy band John Denver Tribute Concert. Great Music!! 

On September 26, I did a Singing Bowl Sound Bath - it was interesting. It took a while for me to relax, but it was nice. And the setting was beautiful and peaceful. 

I went down the mountain to my first model horse TRUNK or TREAT - I wasn't able to do the lunch, because they didn't serve gluten free, but I had a lot of fun at the rest. So many local model hobbyists were there and I sold a few things, bought a few things, and traded a few things! I can't wait for the next one! 

SAMHAIN Honoring the Ancestors sound bath. 

November 30 was Cowboy Brad's Christmas Concert at the YMCA Hyde Chapel. 

And now onto 2026 to see what fun it brings. 

Protein Challenge - Finding the right protein drink

I have high gluten intolerance/celiac and don't get enough protein. I have been trying some various protein drinks/shakes/etc.

Here's my findings for me personally:

1) Ensure - SUCKS all the way around. AWFUL no matter the flavor this gave me stomach pains and diarrhea. YUCK. Mild chalky taste and didn't stop hunger cravings. 

2) FIT powder - this was rated the best for people with celiac - it's AWFUL - it's like drinking CHALK whether its mixed with water or unsweetened almond milk. Thick, pasty and not tasty at all. NO. I literally threw this away after using 3 scoops out of it because it was SO disgusting. Stopped hunger cravings because I felt like I was going to puke for hours afterwards. 

3) Premier Protein drink - this was very good - great taste and easy to grab and go. I will use it most likely when traveling, but it doesn't help with craving sugar and only really stops my hunger cravings for a short time. And all three flavors I have tried - chocolate, caramel, and vanilla, cookie dough and cookies & cream. This is drink is by far my favorite.  

4) Ritual protein powder is not bad. It is a bit chalky tasting when mixed in a shaker. I mixed it in a blender and it was much nicer and smoother with just the tiniest bit of chalky taste.  It makes a nice shake and tastes better with added fruit/etc. 

5) Orgain Organic Protein - just another chalky and disgusting tasting protein shake mix that was disgusting. 

6)  Aloha - just another chalky and disgusting tasting protein shake mix that was disgusting. I am amazed at how disgusting these EXPENSIVE powders. 

7) RISE - I LOVED THIS SO MUCH - the taste was awesome, not chalky, but they couldn't guarantee Gluten Free as some of their mix might contain it. While I never had a problem I did stop it just to be on the safe side of not having a BAD reaction. 

SO there are some of my thoughts on different protein powders and drinks. I hope it helps others on their journey. 

Intro To Oil Painting Workshop - Painting Dilutes - September 2025

 Since I am a glutten for punishment, I joined the Dilute painting class that Heather had as well as having completed her black oil painting class and her bay oil painting class. 

This is my reference horse. 

This is my model - the Breyer Stablemate 1:32 scale Peruvian Paso. He was prepped, primered and a layer of acrylics put down. 

This was after week one. I am also doing a Stablemate Breyer ASB and a SM cow just so I can get the practice down. 

This is week two's progress. 

Week 3's progress

Week 4's progress - I had a horribly busy work week and couldn't do any work on my model. Then for Week 5 - I was sick as a dog and couldn't attend class. I took class notes and after the 5th week I was able to get another layer on models. 

And here are the finished projects - they are by no means great - but it was a great learning experience. 

Also, I did a cow while I was working on the two horses and here she is. 

This class was hard and I was way overwhelmed, but it's a good learning experience. 

Intro To Oil Painting Workshop - Painting Bay - August 2025

 

I took an oil painting black class earlier in the year with Heather and decided to try the bay class. I ordered the needed supplies and prepped my model. 

I started with the Little Bit Thoroughbred by Breyer - this is a 1:24 scale model primered and with a layer of acrylics on top. 

The first week of painting went well. And I got the mixture for my reference horse and started the first layer of oils. 

Then the 2nd class hit and I did the next layer and the model started peeling up and lifting. So.... it seems that I didn't let the primer cure long enough and that I accidentally put my oil painting brush in the acrylic water - so..... I had to strip this model and start over.

The second model was a Breyer Stablemate 1:32 scale Corbin and I started on 3 stablemate cows too - because I wanted to get the techniquies down. 

So week 3 was catching the horse up as much as possible with drying time, as well as week 4. Week 5, my horse was no where near finished since I had to restart, but I am just continurig along at my own pace now until I can get the horse done. I have the basics, just need to finish it. 

I finished the two horned Herefords and am really pleased with them.

The Horse - he's completed and he’s not great but I am pleased and feel more confident using oils again. I know where he’s messed up and sometimes we have to share our failures so when we do it right we remember. This guy is a fail but I am okay with that.

He's covered in lint that I can't get off. And I learned a couple things about that from other artists to try to help since I have a very open area that isn't just for painting. I am going to be buying stock in Ziplock bags I think 😉

And my final "bay" was a cow - a red holstein, done in oils and acrylics. 

Still learning how to use the oils. And I am glad for the experience.