The Half Blood Prince's Potions Book

Hello all the new people who have added me. I would pimp the Bleach meme, but actually, you're mostly from there anyhow. You're thinking - I kind of get who this person is, but I might hate them after I start reading your journal. Be not afraid -- I'll try not to frighten you away just yet.

( Cut for length. Follow the cut for a proper introduction! )

Here's the news bit, so I don't post twice.

I took Soraya out today on a longer ride than I really intended when I left. Mother and sister drove out looking for me because they were worried, but on the other hand, I got her across the motorway, and I was so pleased with her when we got to the other side that I really didn't mind when she acted flirty with the horses further along the path. She definitely needs to be shod this year, because the ginger-stepping on the stones isn't doing her much good, and it isn't doing my bones much good, either. It's really hard to ride when you're constantly taking all your weight on one of your own hips so that you don't end up in the ditch. Considering she's not been shod for ten months now, I was rather hoping to keep it that way.

However, that aside, the ride went blissfully well, even when two deer ran out of the wood just ahead of us, and she thought they were going to eat her. Even when the cars went underneath her. Even when we walked past a cow that was actually birthing on the edge of the field. Not even a blink. We even chivalrously fetched a baby-bottle that had been dropped in the grass by a family on a fishing trip. I had a great time, and I'm looking forward to more rides like it.

Oh, and Soraya looks so awesome now. Her fur's almost shed out and she's looking sleek and athletic. With a summer of work under saddle, I think this is going to be a superb year. Not for my hiney, though. My hiney aches. I haven't gone on such a long ride for way too long.

This evening, now it's cool and before the aches set in, I'm working on a mock-copy of Ulquiorra's outfit. Since I'm working on something that is spoilery, I'll cut it short and simply say that I want to get the main copy right. This one, however, I'll be able to test and play with it and still have something I can actually wear when I'm done. That rarely happens in cosplay. How do you wear Vincent's cape out, anyhow? I have this lovely blue diagonal stripe fabric, and we'll see how it turns out.