Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Mepsa Other Makes Special Results

 I haven't put the results to a photo show in a post in awhile, but decided to do it with this one because I'd like to share it in a couple of non-Breyer FB groups to promote showing other makes.


And boy, was I surprised with the results! These guys came back on Thursday and the stack on the left are the Champ Show qualifiers (yes, it was a qualifying show!), while the stack on the right are all the other places from 4th down to 10th. I only had a few photos that did not place.


OF China Division:


Samayo (Japanese Draft Horse) - OF (Original Finish) Magazine Order China
Gender: Draft Type Mare: 2nd Place
Breed: Other Pure/Mixed Draft: 1st Place
Breed: Draft Breed: Reserve Champion
Color: Other Natural Color: 3rd Place


Bakti (Java Pony) - OF Made in Japan (MIJ) China
Gender: Pony Type Stallion: 6th Place
Breed: Other Pure/Mixed Pony: 2nd Place



Baskoro (Sandalwood Pony) - OF Lefton (MIJ) China
Gender: Pony Type Stallion: 5th Place
Breed: Other Pure/Mixed Pony: 1st Place
Breed: Pony Breed: Reserve Champion
Color: Cream: 3rd Place
Headstudy: 2nd Place

Customs Division:



Altivo (Andalusian) - CM Johnny West Thunderbolt by Jean Ross
Gender: :Light Type Stallion: 1st Place
Breed: Old World Spanish: 1st Place
Breed: Spanish/Gaited Breed: Grand Champion
Color: Grey: 3rd Place
Workmanship: Simple Custom: 1st Place
Headstudy: 1st Place



Isa (Friesian) - CM Cadaco My Horse Show Board Game Friesian Playing Piece by Daphne L. Headley (myself)
Gender: Light Type Mare: 3rd Place
Breed: Light Carriage: 1st Place
Breed: Misc. Breeds: Reserve Champion
Color: Black: 1st Place
Workmanship: Simple Custom: 3rd Place
Halter Headstudy: 3rd Place
Performance Headstudy: 1st Place & Horse of the Year Qualifier(?)


Twilight Sparkle (Moonpony Unicorn) - CM 2012 My Little Pony (MLP) Mini Pony Blind Bag Wave 3 Glow-in-the-Dark Variation by Daphne L. Headley (me!) (I also didn't know she was glow in the dark until way after I painted her)
Gender: Pony Type Mare: 3rd Place
Breed: Fantasy/Decorator: 1st Place
Color: Fantasy/Decorator: 1st Place
Workmanship: Repaint Only: 8th Place


Briar Rose (Lambert Morgan) - CM Papo Alezan English TB Foal by Vickie Meador
Gender: Light/Sport/Light Carriage/Spanish/Gaited Type Foal: 1st Place
Breed: Morgan: 1st Place
Breed: Light Breeds: Reserve Champion
Color: Bay/Brown: 1st Place
Workmanship: Simple Custom: 2nd Place

OF Plastic Division:


Bambi (Morab/Morgan x Arabian) - OF Grand Champion Micro Mini
Gender: Light Type Stallion: 2nd Place
Breed: Part-Arabian: 1st Place
Color: Chestnut/Sorrel: 2nd Place


Edward (Araloosa/Arabian x Appaloosa) - OF Grand Champion Micro Mini
Gender: Light Type Stallion: 4th Place
Breed: Part-Arabian: 7th Place
Color: Appaloosa Color - Other Patterns: 5th Place


Lord Malori (National Show Horse/NSH/Arabian x American Saddlebred) - OF Grand Champion Micro Mini
Gender: Light Type Stallion: 5th Place
Breed: Part-Arabian: 3rd place
Color: Grey - Other (non-Dapple): 4th Place


The Black Storm (Anglo-Arab/Arabian x Thoroughbred) - OF Grand Champion Micro Mini
Gender: Light Type Stallion: 6th Place
Breed: Part-Arabian: 8th Place
Color: Black: 2nd Place


Merlin (Brunk Morgan) - OF Schleich
Gender: Light Type Stallion: 7th Place
Breed: Morgan: 1st Place
Color: Black: 4th Place


Alaskan Fire (Arabian) - OF Grand Champion Micro Mini
Gender: Light Type Stallion: 8th Place
Color: Chestnut/Sorrel: 6th Place


Prince Ali (Russian Arabian) - OF Moose Mountain Toymakers Ltd. Saddle Up Bucket Horse Ranch - Arabian
Gender: Light Type Stallion: 9th Place


Sea Wings (American Mustang) - OF Chestnut Ridge Nurturing Family Playset Palominos and Thoroughbreds
Gender: Sport/Light Carriage Type Stallion: 1st Place
Breed: Feral/Semi-Feral Horses: 3rd Place


George (Cleveland Bay) - OF Moose Mountain Toymakers Ltd. Saddle up Bucket Horse Ranch Cleveland Bay
Gender: Sport/Light Carriage Type Stallion: 3rd Place
Breed: Light Carriage: 1st Place



Elron (Elven Horse) - OF Schleich
Gender: Sport/Carriage Type Stallion: 2nd Place
Breed: Fantasy/Decorator: 3rd Place
Color: Fantasy/Decorator: 4th Place
Performance Headstudy: 8th Place


Go Dog Go (Thoroughbred) - OF Moose Mountain Toymakers Ltd. Saddle Up Bucket Horse Ranch Thoroughbred
Gender: Sport/Light Carriage Type Stallion: 4th Place
Breed: Thoroughbred: 1st Place


Pluto Alba (Lipizzaner) - OF Grand Champion Micro Mini
Gender: Spanish/Gaited Type Stallion: 3rd Place
Breed:: Other Pure Breeds: 4th Place
Color: Grey - Other: 6th Place



Greyson (Andalusian) - OF Schleich
Gender: Spanish/Gaited Type Stallion: 4th Place
Breed: Old World Spanish: 2nd Place
Color: Grey - Other: 7th Place
Performance Headstudy: 5th Place


Javan Blanco (Spanish Mustang/Cartoony) - OF Spirit Riding Free 4 Horse Set
Gender: Spanish/Gaited Type Stallion: 5th Place
Breed: Fantasy/Decorator: 5th Place
Color: Fantasy/Decorator: 5th Place



Brown Tyke (Polish Arabian) - OF Grand Champion Original Scale
Gender: Light Type Mare: 4th Place
Breed: Arabian: 10th Place
Color: Bay/Brown: 7th Place
Halter Headstudy: 8th Place
Performance Headstudy: 9th Place


Cinnabon (Arabian) - OF Grand Champion Micro Mini
Gender: Light Type Mare: 5th Place
Breed: Arabian: 6th Place
Color: Bay/Brown: 4th Place


Annabelle (Arabian) - OF Grand Champion Micro Mini
Gender: Light Type Mare: 9th Place
Breed: Arabian: 8th Place
Color: Chestnut/Sorrel: 3rd Place



My Cupid (Polish Arabian) - OF Grand Champion Original Scale
Gender: Light Type Mare: 6th Place
Color: Black: 3rd Place
Halter Headstudy: 10th Place
Performance Headstudy: 6th Place


Elainya (Abstang/Arabian x Mustang) - OF Grand Champion Mini
Gender: Light Type Mare: 10th Place
Color: Cream: 6th Place


Mary (Araloosa/Arabian x Appaloosa) - Grand Champion Micro Mini
Gender: Light Type Mare: 8th Place
Breed: Part Arabian: 9th Place
Color: Appaloosa Color - Other Pattern: 4th Place


Steps High (Nez Perce Horse) - OF American Girl
Gender: Sport/Light Carriage/Spanish/Gaited Type Mare: 4th Place
Breed: Other Mixed/Grade: 1st Place
Color: Appaloosa Color - Blanket Pattern: 1st Place
Collectability: Other Plastic: 4th Place


Chocolate Pudding (Araloosa/Arabian x Appaloosa) - OF Grand Champion Micro Mini
Gender: Light Type Mare: 7th Place
Breed: Part-Arabian: 2nd Place
Color: Appaloosa Color - Blanket Pattern: 6th Place


Donut Princess (Sweet Valley Unicorn) - OF Schleich
Gender: Sport/Light Carriage/Spanish/Gaited Type Mare: 9th Place
Breed: Fantasy/Decorator: 7th Place
Color: Fantasy/Decorator: 6th Place


Ice Pop (Sweet Valley Unicorn) - OF Schleich
Gender: Sport/Light Carriage/Spanish/Gaited Type Mare:7th Place
Breed: Fantasy/Decorator: 2nd Place
Color: Fantasy/Decorator: 3rd Place



Queen Clarion (Forest Unicorn - Royal) - OF Safari Ltd.
Gender: Sport/Light Carriage/Spanish/Gaited Type Mare: 6th Place
Breed: Fantasy/Decorator: 1st Place
Color: Fantasy/Decorator: 1st Place
Halter Headstudy: 1st Place
Performance Headstudy: 2nd Place


Esperanza (Kiger Mustang) - OF Chestnut Ridge Nurturing Family Playset - Palominos and Thoroughbreds
Gender: Sport/Light Carriage/Spanish/Gaited Type Mare: 5th Place
Breed: New World Spanish: 1st Place
Color: Cream: 7th Place


Miss Maizel (Standardbred/STB) - OF Moose Mountain Toymakers Ltd. Saddle Up Bucket Horse Ranch - Black Standardbred
Gender: Sport/Light Carriage/Spanish/Gaited Type Mare: 8th Place
Breed: Trotters/Pacers: 1st Place
Color: Black: 8th Place


Mariah's Belle (American Saddlebred/ASB) - OF Moose Mountain Toymakers Ltd. Saddle Up Bucket Mares and Foals - Saddlebred Mare
Gender: Sport/Light Carriage/Spanish/Gaited Type Mare: 10th Place
Breed: ASB: 6th Place
Color: Black: 6th Place



Abilio (Alter-Real) - OF Grand Champion Original Scale
Gender: Light Type Gelding: 4th Place
Breed: Old World Spanish: 3rd Place
Color: Bay/Brown: 10th Place
Performance Headstudy: 10th Place


Agate (American Mustang) - OF Grand Champion Mini
Gender: Stock Type Stallion - Solid Colored: 1st Place
Breed: Feral/Semi-Feral Horse: 2nd Place
Color: Dun: 3rd Place


Red Bear (Paint) - OF Moose Mountain Toymakers Ltd. Saddle Up Bucket Horse Ranch - Paint
Gender: Stock Type Stallion - Patterned Color: 2nd Place
Breed: Paint: 2nd Place
Color: Pinto - Other Pattern: 3rd Place


Leo (Paint) - OF Blue Ribbon Ranch - Flocked - *Not Blue Box*
Gender: Stock Type Stallion - Patterned Color: 1st Place
Breed: Paint: 1st Place
Color: Pinto - Tobiano/Tovero: 5th Place


Sand Piper (Appaloosa) - OF Applegate Farm Flocked Three Horse Set
Gender: Stock Type Mare: 2nd Place
Breed: Appaloosa: 2nd Place
Color: Appaloosa Color - Blanket Pattern: 4th Place


Starbright (Quarter Horse/QH) - OF Blue Ribbon Ranch - Flocked - *Not Blue Box*
Gender: Stock Type Mare: 3rd Place
Breed: QH: 4th Place
Color: Grey - Dappled Pattern: 4th Place


U-See-It (Quarter Horse/QH) - OF Moose Mountain Toymakers Ltd. Saddle Up Bucket Mares and Foals Quarter Horse Mare
Gender: Stock Type Mares: 4th Place
Breed: QH: 5th Place
Color: Cream: 10th Place


Sally (Shire) - OF Grand Champion Micro Mini
Gender: Draft Type Mare: 2nd Place
Breed: Clydesdale/Shire: 1st place
Color: Pinto - Other Pattern: 2nd Place


Tucker (Shetland Pony) - OF Schleich
Gender: Pony Type Stallion: 2nd Place
Breed: British/Irish Pony: 2nd Place
Color: Roan: 4th Place


Bright Star (Burro) - OF Safari Ltd.
Gender: Pony Type Stallion: 3rd Place
Breed Longears/Exotics: 4th Place
Color: Other Natural Color: 4th Place

*Used an older photo*


Tinker Bell (Falabella) - OF Schleich
Gender: Pony Type Mare: 2nd Place
Breed: Other Pure Breeds: 2nd Place
Color: Appaloosa Color - Other Pattern: 2nd Place

*Used an older photo*



Mareabella (Fairy Horse) - OF Safari Ltd.
Gender: Pony Type Mare: 3rd Place
Breed: Fantasy/Decorator: 4th Place
Halter Headstudy: 3rd Place
Performance Headstudy: 3rd Place



Amara (Grant's Zebra) - OF Mojo
Gender: Pony Type Mare: 4th Place
Breed: Longears/Exotics: 2nd Place
Color: Other Natural Color: 1st Place


Sweetheart (Standard Donkey) - OF Toob Animal (likely Safari Ltd.)
Gender: Pony Type Mare: 7th Place
Breed: Longears/Exotics: 5th Place
Color: Other Natural Color: 5th Place


Misty Moon (Chincoteague Pony) - OF Safari Ltd.
Gender: Pony Type Mare: 5th Place
Breed: North American Pony: 2nd Place
Color: Pinto - Other Pattern: 1st Place

*Used an older Photo*


Mabel (Chincoteague Pony) - OF Stable Stars International Horse Show Collection (micro mini - Breyer G1 SM QH Mare Knockoff)
Gender: Pony Type Mare: 6th Place
Breed: North American Pony: 4th Place
Color: Pinto - Tobiano/Tovero: 7th Place



Cupcake (Sweet Valley Unicorn) - OF Schleich
Gender: Pony Type Mare: 8th Place
Breed: Fantasy/Decorator: 9th Place
Color: Fantasy/Decorator: 9th Place
Halter Headstudy: 9th Place


Firecracker Burst (Fire Unicorn) - OF My Little Pony (MLP)Blind Bag Wave 1
Gender: Pony Type Mare: 9th Place
Breed: Fantasy/Decorator: 10th Place
Color: Fantasy/Decorator: 8th Place


Margalo (Beach Pony) - OF Mattel Ponies in Bikinis Playset
Gender: Pony Type Mare: 10th Place



Flame (Abstang/Arabian x Mustang) - OF Safari Ltd.
Gender: Light/Sport/Light Carriage/Spanish/Gaited Type Foal: 9th Place
Breed: Part-Arabian: 4th Place
Color: Chestnut/Sorrel: 8th Place
Halter Headstudy: 7th Place


Honey Bee (National Show Horse/NSH/American Saddlebred x Arabian) - OF Grand Champion Micro Mini
Gender: Light/Sport/Light Carriage/Spanish/Gaited Type Foal: 6th Place
Breed: Part-Arabian: 6th Place
Color: Cream: 9th Place


Jellybean (Araloosa/Arabian x Appaloosa) - OF Grand Champion Micro Mini
Gender: Light/Sport/Light Carriage/Spanish/Gaited Type Foal: 3rd Place
Breed: Part-Arabian: 1st Place
Color: Appaloosa Color - Blanket Pattern: 3rd Place



Rosie Sunshine (Quarab/Quarter Horse x Arabian) - OF Hartland
Gender: Light/Sport/Light Carriage/Spanish/Gaited Type Foal: 1st Place
Breed: Part-Arabian: 5th Place
Color: Color: 4th Place
 Halter Headstudy: 5th Place
Performance Headstudy: 7th Place


Snow Sprite (Arabian) - OF Safari Ltd.
Gender: Light/Sport/Light Carriage/Spanish/Gaited Type Foal: 10th Place
Color: Grey - Dapple Pattern: 8th Place


Snowflake Prince (Arabian) - OF Safari Ltd.
Gender: Light/Sport/Light Carriage/Spanish/Gaited Type Foal: 4th Place
Breed: Arabian: 7th Place
Color: Grey - Dapple Pattern: 5th Place


Sparks Flying (Nez Perce Horse) - OF American Girl Doll
Gender: Light/Sport/Light Carriage/Spanish/Gaited Type Foal: 8th Place
Breed: Other Mixed/Grade: 2nd Place
Color: Appaloosa Color - Other Pattern: 3rd Place


Peadar (American Mustang) - OF Grand Champion Mini
Gender: Stock Type Foal: 2nd Place
Breed: Feral/Semi-Feral Horses: 1st Place
Color: Cream: 2nd Place


Mariah (Appaloosa) - OF Applegate Farms Flocked
Gender: Stock Type Foal: 4th Place
Breed: Appaloosa: 1st Place
Color: Appaloosa Color - Blanket Pattern: 2nd Place


Spooky Pete (Quarter Horse) - OF CollectA
Gender: Stock Type Foal: 3rd Place
Breed: Quarter Horse: 1st Place
Color: Dun: 2nd Place
Collectability: Other Plastic: 9th Place
Foal of the Year Qualifier!


U-Saw-It (Quarter Horse) - OF Moose Mountain Toymakers Ltd. Saddle Up Bucket Mares and Foals Quarter Horse Foal
Gender: Stock Type Foal: 7th Place
Breed: Quarter Horse: 6th Place


Cass (Quarter Horse) - OF CollectA
Gender: Stock Type Foal: 1st Place
Breed: Quarter Horse: 2nd Place
Color: Roan: 3rd Place


Mohawk (Appaloosa) - OF Applegate Farms Flocked
Gender: Stock Type Foal: 6th Place
Breed: Appaloosa: 3rd Place
Color: Appaloosa Color - Blanket Pattern: 5th Place


Andy (Gotland Pony) - OF Schleich
Gender: Draft/Pony/Heavy Carriage/Other Type Pony: 2nd Place
Breed: Other Pure/Mixed Pony: 1st Place 
Color: Bay/Brown: 9th Place



Esmeralda (Gypsy Vanner) - OF Schleich
Gender: Draft/Pony/Heavy Carriage/Other Type Foal: 3rd Place
Breed: Heavy Carriage: 1st Place
Color: Pinto- Tobiano/Tovero Pattern: 3rd Place
Performance Headstudy: 4th Place


Raja (Gypsy Vanner) - OF Schleich
Gender: Draft/Pony/Heavy Carriage/Other Type Foal: 5th Place
Color: Pinto - Other Pattern: 4th Place
Halter Headstudy: 6th Place



Paolo (Amiatina Donkey) - OF Schleich
Gender: Draft/Pony/Heavy Carriage/Other type Foal: 4th Place
Breed: Longears/Exotics: 3rd Place
Color: Other Natural Color: 2nd Place


Chestnut Beauty (American Mustang) - OF Chestnut Ridge Nurturing Family Playset Palominos and Thoroughbreds
Gender: Stock Type Foal: 5th Place
Breed: Feral/Semi-Feral Horses: 4th Place
Color: Chestnut/Sorrel: 7th Place


McGee (Anglo-Arab x Shire) - OF Grand Champion Micro Mini
Gender: Draft/Pony/Heavy Carriage/Other Type Foal: 9th Place
Breed: Other Mixed/Grade: 3rd Place
Color: Black: 5th Place


Monte (Arabian x Lipizzaner) - OF Grand Champion Micro Mini
Breed: Part Arabian: 10th Place


Bubbles (Arabian) - OF Grand Champion Micro Mini
Breed: Arabian: 9th Place
Color: Chestnut Sorrel: 9th Place


Blind Willie (Percheron) - OF Papo
Gender: Draft/Pony/Heavy Carriage/Other Type Foal: 7th Place
Breed: Belgian/Percheron: 2nd Place
Color: Grey - Other Pattern: 9th Place


Scottie (Shetland Pony) - OF Unknown Plastic
Gender: Draft/Pony/Heavy Carriage/Other Type Foal: 8th Place
Breed: British/Irish Pony: 3rd Place


Virginia (Brunk Morgan) - OF Moose Mountain Toymakers Ltd. Saddle Up Bucket Mares and Foals Morgan Mare
Breed: Morgan: 2nd Place


Mikey (Brunk Morgan) - OF Moose Mountain Toymakers Ltd. Saddle Up Bucket Mares and Foals Morgan Foal
Breed: Morgan: 3rd Place


Zipity Down Under (Australian bred Standardbred) - OF Moose Mountain Toymakers Ltd. Saddle Up Bucket Horse Ranch Buckskin Standardbred
Breed: Trotters/Pacers: 2nd Place
Color: Cream: 8th Place


Francisca (Lusitano) - OF Moose Mountain Toymakers Ltd. Saddle Up Bucket Mares and Foals Lusitano Mare
Breed: Old World Spanish: 4th Place
Color: Grey - Other Pattern: 7th Place


Lady Stromella (Lipizzaner) - OF Moose Mountain Toymakers Ltd. Saddle Up Bucket Horse Ranch Lipizzan
Breed: Other Pure Breeds: 3rd Place
Color: Grey - Dapple Pattern(?): 8th Place


Clara (Lusitano) - OF Moose Mountain Toymakers Ltd. Saddle Up Bucket Mares and Foals Lusitano Foal
Breed: Old World Spanish: 5th Place
Color: Grey - Other Pattern: 9th Place


Bellmaker (American Saddlebred/ASB) - OF Moose Mountain Toymakers Ltd. Saddle Up Bucket Mares and Foals Saddlebred Foal
Breed: ASB: 7th Place
Color: Black: 7th Place


Amelia (Egyptian Arabian) - OF Grand Champion Mini
Color: Grey - Dapple Pattern: 5th Place


Zahara (Egyptian Arabian) - OF Grand Champion Mini
Color: Grey - Dapple Pattern (?): 6th Place


Ice Cream Beauty (Sweet Valley Unicorn) - OF Schleich
Breed: Fantasy/Decorator: 8th Place
Color: Fantasy/Decorator: 10th Place

OF Performance Division:


Elron (Elven Horse) - OF Schleich
Other Performance: Showmanship(?): 2nd Place


McGee (Anglo-Arab x Shire) - OF Grand Champion Micro Mini
Other Performance: Other Liberty: 1st Place


Beauty Shines - Annabelle (Arabian) - OF Grand Champion Micro Mini
Other Performance: Scene: 7th Place


Bubbles Bubbly Excited! - Bubbles (Arabian) - OF Grand Champion Micro Mini
Other Performance: Scene: 3rd Place


"Huh? What?" - Paolo (Amiatina Donkey) - OF Schleich
Other Performance: Scene: 1st Place


Visible Dun Stripe - Spooky Pete (QH) - OF CollectA
Other Performance: Scene: 8th Place


Playful Splashes - Merlin (Brunk Morgan) - OF Schleich
Other Performance: Scene: 4th Place


Gentle Breeze and a Cool Dip on a Warm Day - Greyson (Andalusian) - OF Schleich
Other Performance: Scene: 2nd Place


Baskoro's Photoshoot - Baskoro (Sandalwood Pony) - OF Lefton China
Other Performance: Scene: 10th Place


Sistah Time! #1 - My Cupid & Brown Tyke (Polish Arabians ) - OF Grand Champion Original Scale
Other Performance: Scene: 6th Place


Sistah Time! #2 - My Cupid & Brown Tyke (Polish Arabians ) - OF Grand Champion Original Scale
Other Performance: Scene: 9th Place


Caught in the Right Moment - Bearla (Sun-Fader Unicorn) - OF Schleich
Other Performance: Scene: 5th Place


Other Info:



Tuesday, January 2, 2024

The Year of Compression Socks

 2023 was a crazy health yucky year.

And going into it wasn't any better.

It took my little sister to be diagnosed with Crohn's Disease in 2022 for us to find a better GI Doctor team down at the MacKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, UT, in order to get my own Ulcerative colitis back on track and on a biological medication later in December. The doctors up here in Cache Valley aren't actually that great and dismissed me as "not wanting to do medications and do my own thing instead." Granted, we don't really like western medicine, but since my body is annoyingly stubborn, we literally have to asses the situation from all angles - and that means a mixture of western medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, NAET,  and Chinese medicine. Of course, between after my birthday and screeching into the new year, a whole array of health stuff exploded: my sister got a drain put in for an abscess that was being caused by the Crohn's and rode in an ambulance from her heart rate going up after chasing after our Great Dane mix who therefore got out to chase deer behind our back gate; week after that, my younger brother also rode in an ambulance after a buddy's parents' bull broke his wrist while he was getting construction supplies stuff out of the paddock that the bull was being housed in; then the stress of that caused me to go into a flare, since I tend to feed off of everyone's vibes. So, going into 2023 was full of exhaustion and waiting for the biological medication (Humira) to kick in.

So, what was the year like?

Everyday was a different day, but yet it all seemed like the same day and you don't remember what in the world you did yesterday - let alone what day of the week it actually is!

Surprisingly, I was able to volunteer down at American West Heritage Center in Wellsville.

But, even that came with a major problem.

In the middle of May, my little brother got sick with something weird and had a rash for a day. Saturday night, I had similar symptoms with throwing up and a start of a rash on my right lower leg. Come Monday morning, the rash had engulfed my whole calf, shin, and ankle; and my leg swelled up. Whatever that was, wasn't what my brother had. After going to urgent care twice (or three times?), it was concluded that it might have to do with the Ulcerative Colitis as it can sometimes cause skin ulcers as well as gut issues. It was that Wednesday I had decided to not put regular socks on (which were preventing the swelling from going into my foot). What also happened is that I couldn't get my long jeans on over my swollen leg and had to switch to summer shorts early (I'm always cold, so I will hold out until the beginning of June if I feel like it). By the time Thursday rolled around, the bottom of my foot had also swelled up that I couldn't put weight on it. So, I was semi-using my sister's crutches from when she sprained her mcl a few years prior. Then there came the Prednisone. I started off with an antibiotic that did nothing. Then a week(?) of Prednisone...that also didn't do anything. So, my GI doctor prescribed 8 weeks of Prednisone that tapered each week!!! And what happened? Two weeks away from being done, the swelling came back and the rash was looking like it would come back (thankfully, it didn't!) But all throughout the summer and most of fall, I had to wear compression socks whenever I wasn't at home for long period of time (AWHC and parades). It took me to about September to buy some basic black ones from Smith's because I was borrowing fun ones from my grandmother....which were cute, but the stitched patterns would make imprints in your skin and the sock in general was super tight to get on and off.

It gets worse.

The week before Thanksgiving was a great day! I was able to have enough energy and motivation to do some much needed things mostly because my foot/leg wasn't bothering me. Friday? My right hip started hurting for some weird reason. I just thought it was because I pulled a muscle from lifting heavy boxes (I was trying to clear out my room so that we could finish my floor....that hasn't happened yet and everything went back in once I was able again). That pain escalated and a rash appeared on my hip. We were thinking that it might be connected with what was on my leg and possibly switching to a new biological medication earlier that month. It wasn't until I woke up early Monday morning(?) - way too early for instant care to open - with huge bouts of pain and had to be taken to the ER. It ended up being probably one of the worse cases of Shingles you have ever heard of. It literally spread from midline to midline and tempted turning into cellulitis (something I have a history in). Strangely, they didn't give me Gavapectin (I know that's spelled wrong) for nerve pain. We ended up going back to instant care and asking for a prescription of it - which worked way better than what the ER doctor gave me originally. But of course, I was still in too much pain and was having lots of nausea to go to my aunt's for Thanksgiving with my family. Thankfully, the shingles just ran it's regular course - still haven't gone entirely away, but it's better now than what it was.

What about art stuff?

Well, as a result of not feeling good, my motivation in everything tanked. Granted, I was still able to do some art stuff, violin stuff (AWHC), and even attended Little Tatanka Live at the beginning of November (I'll write about that later)....but it still wasn't great. Not being able to walk or stand for longer periods of time was limiting even on the level of worrying that if I do this, my foot would do that aka swell up further. And it's not like doing something low key could remedy that. What came with the lack of motivation came discouragement and down over everything. This is when all of the days blurred together and went on repeat every day except for Wednesday when I have my sewing group. 

Going into 2024?

Well, I saw on FB a video someone put together of going into 2023 is like I Love Lucy wearing a sparkling black dress, while coming out of it wearing old ratted out clothing and looking exhausted. Well, for my family going into and coming out of 2023 was basically the tail end of that video. My acupuncturist even said that he should write a doctor's note for us to have a vacation from all of the health issues!

So here's to hopefully a better year where everyone gets closer to being better health wise than on the flip side, because we've had enough of that!!