Goodbye TWENTY13. Hello TWENTY14.

2014 is here. Are you like me, wondering "where did 2013 go so quickly?" It's a good thing I have this blog to help me answer that question or might I not remember all that transpired in the last 12 months. Although, this blog is only 10 months old, so February and January are blurred memories. Except at the end of February, I do remember the very hard landing I took after taking an unscheduled dismount off my Arab gelding's back. Ouch! Somewhere during my recovery I started thinking about this blog...and how much I looked forward to walking again and being out of pain.

My first post went live on March 16, 2013. I chickened out with a short post and a photo.

I enjoyed reading back over the year's post to see all we accomplished as a family. Please be my guest to look back over the year at Stable Road Homestead.

March

We showed you how to make codling moth traps for your fruit trees

April

The Fix-It Month poem brought a few laughs
You met, Yeller, our Strawberry-loving Labrador Retriever

May

Celebrated Mother's Day and remembered on Serviceman and women in the US Armed Forces.

June 

We celebrated Father's Day and our son graduated high school.

July

The harvest began for apricots, grapes, and lettuces.
During the BIG HEAT WAVE, we took off to the lake to do some fly fishing.

August

Deer hunting season...There was nothing to "write home about", if you know what I mean...

September

We tracked a bear and harvested an abundance of apples, thanks to the codling moth traps we set out at bud-break in March.
Stable Road Homestead joined in The Homestead Barn Hop, hosted by The Prairie Homestead and New Life on a Homestead.
 

October

October was a busy month:
I wrote a review (non-paid) about Twisted X All-Around boots, which I like a lot.
We harvested Icicle Radishes and planted garlic--for the first time.
We began our experiment with growing in SmartPots.
Our Yellow Labrador, Bodie, turned four.
We joined other family members for a week on the North Coast.
We introduced you to one way to remove the "pickle smell" from a great big pickle jar so it can be reused to store whatever you like.
I closed out the month with a week of jury duty service.

November

We assessed our To Do List and felt pretty happy (and a little tired) with what we accomplished in 2013.
We helped neighbors move and adopted their 4 Barred Rock hens, who graciously give us two eggs a day.
We gave thanks for His grace and provision.

December

Winter came in hard in December. The Big Snow Storm sent a tree through the top of the horse shelter. The horses were not hurt, thank God.

Your Top 3 Favorite Posts

1. What I Like About Line Drying Clothing
2. Homestead barn Hop 134
3. Grateful the Horses Weren't Hurt

Your Least Favorite Posts

 ...Did I Say the Freezer is Full?
This post is a follow-on to a post about filling the chest freezer with meals, home-raised/home butchered meat. The point was...the freezer didn't stay full long enough and I need to improve the plan for next time.

Winter to Spring
A photo-only post that contrasts a cold, gloomy snowy winter day with the cold-but-sunny brilliance of spring buds on the Crepe Myrtle.

7 Projects to Complete Before Summer Strikes
I'm happy to report we made progress on this project list. The old pond is now filled with gravel and decomposed granite. The next step is to add the quartzite stones, seating and fire pit.

The carpets were cleaned in time for Thanksgiving. One day we hope to have wooden flooring again.

What Would You Like to Learn About in 2014?

Now it's time to hear from you. What is it you would like to know more about in 2014? Please let me know!

Thanks for joining us at this week's Homestead Barn Hop. Don't forget to stop in to say "hi" to Prairie Homestead and New Life on a Homestead, both of whom graciously hostess this blog hop.

A Personal Review :: Twisted X Women's All-Round Boot

My pair of Twisted X All-Round boots
after about 8 months of daily wear.

The Horse Saddle Shop invited Stable Road Homestead to review the Twisted X Women's All-Round Boots I purchased recently. Actually, I have had them long enough to know how they hold up in rain, snow, ice, and hot dusty conditions, so I'm ready to give you the complete picture.

Even when the summer temperatures tip over the top of the 100-degree mark, you will find me wearing denim jeans and leather boots around the property. Why? Comfort and protection.

During the summertime, I wear boots to protect my feet--and legs, from the hard, rocky, dusty ground; from Fox Tails and burrs; from snakes and spiders; from horse hooves. Boots keep hay and manure out of my socks, and keep my feet dry from when watering the animals and garden beds.

In the winter, I really want a boot to keep my feet warm and dry. So when I'm shopping for a new pair, I look for something with a quality leather upper that breathes, can be cleaned, restored, and water-proofed.

You might guess that when I set out to buy a new boot, I search for one that's going to stand up to all I'm going to put it through--and last.

What I like about Twisted X Women's All Around Boot

Fit

This pair of boot fit my feet well. But, I do not have hard-to-fit feet. The Twisted X is comfortable. I have no problem being on my feet all day when wearing these boots. They are roomy enough to accommodate good, thick boot socks. (A must for me!)

There is zero break-in time with these boots.The leather is supple and pliable. Overall, the boot is light weight. The tread is all it's meant to be: long-wearing, good traction. You can see in the photo below that it is wearing well.

My heels don't slip and my toe aren't crowded in the k-toe toe box.

Function

Like I said, I wear these boots nearly everyday around the property, around town, and sometimes I even wear them to church. The tread provides reliable traction when I walk up and down our dirt road to the horses' stalls in the rain, snow and ice. The crepe soles of my old boots didn't keep me from sliding. These do!

50K genuine Super Slab rubber sole.
NOT CREPE!I like the traction & shock absorption these treads provide.

The Twisted X All-Round boots has a "stirrup heel" so they can be worn in the saddle. But, I haven't trail-tested them. However, I can tell you they are great to wear when I'm working with horses on the ground, in the round pen.

The shaft of the boot comes with well-made, well-placed fingers holes that make it very easy to pull on the boots...if my hands are free. One thing I like about wearing boots is that I can step into them and out of them without using my hands!

These boots are easy to clean. I really can "just hose them off".

These fingerholds are superior to a typical boot strap.

Cost/Value

Cost is ALWAYS a big factor. The Twisted X All-Round boot is priced very well and my research determined that The Horse Saddle Shop had (and has at the time of this posting) the best price. Shopping through ebates.com afforded me a $25 discount. Check to see what deals are being offered now before you make your purchase:  ebates.com.

True to advertisement: 

Yes, the product is as advertised. It's everything I expected it to be.

There's Little Not to Like

The boots seem to run a bit on the big size. If I'm blessed to be able to buy another pair in the future, I will buy one-half size smaller. Also, I do have a high arch. With these boots, I need to use an insert for arch support. But, there is room in these boots to accommodate an insert.

Twisted X Specifications Per Horse Saddle Shop:

• Footbed: Cowboy Comfort SD footbed: machine washable, antibacterial, and moisture wicking
• Insole: XSD: flexible one piece with integrated composite sandwich shank
• Midsole: PVC
• Outsole: 50K genuine Super Slab rubber
• Toe: K Toe
• Heel: Molded long base heel

Twisted X Women's 9" All Around K Toe Boot Distressed Saddle wab0001

Thanks for stopping by the homestead to read this review. Please leave a comment or question below.