Big Birthday and Small Victories

Happy birthday, Felicity! It's a cool, sunny, gorgeous Sunday. No school or April showers to put a damper on your big day this year! Yay!

We're in the final week of Star Stable's Equestrian Festival, so naturally that has occupied a good chunk of our time this weekend. Even though we already bought all of the items we wanted that could be bought with spring tokens, we keep going anyway for the Jorvik shillings.

We're no pros at piloting virtual horses through virtual events, but we've sure been persistent. Fortunately for Clara and crew, it seems the Baroness and her butler were only watching during their more competent moments, ha ha. They earned the Silverglade Legacy Ribbon once again this year.

Nice sentiment, Baroness, but we all know this is basically a participation award. XD

We just happened to be riding Tigertin again this year for this "momentous" award ceremony. =)

Looking good, Tigertin!

It turns out it couldn't have been more appropriate, because Tigertin went on to win us our first ever first place ribbon! 

Granted, it was the Silversong Pony Championship, so it was a small pool of only 5 ponies, but we were still super proud! No need to go out and buy a palomino after all!

Well done! We love you, Tigertin! <3

Are the full-sized horses jealous? Nah. I think it's only us dolls who care. They do all seem to like hanging out with other peoples' horses before events and running courses with them, though. 

Note the flying manta ray pet on the far right! So cool!

We have collected a few more ribbons since: rare occasions where we make it through a course with no major issues and the competition is not fierce.

#5: Silver at Moorland for Frostflight!

#6: Bronze at Goldenhills for Riverrock! (Yay for a small pool of 4 horses, ha ha.) 

#7: Silver at Silverglade for Snowsecret!

#8: Bronze at New Hillcrest for Frostflight! (We were 3rd of 3... Smallest pool we've been in so far!)

#9: Bronze at Moorland for Tigertin! Now she has one of each color. <3

If you count the Silverglade Legacy Ribbon, that makes it an even 10. Good job, everybody! What an unexpected, happy surprise! 

While on the subject of championships, we did finally reach the point in the storyline where we helped rebuild the Baroness's racetrack, consequently unlocking the long-awaited Baroness's Championship.

Before:

The rebuilding crew:

After:

At the end of the rebuilding project, Clara and Magicmirror took the honorary first gallop around the track. (We love that it was a giant Shire to do this...)

Very fishy. Love the statue, though!

Brightbeam was Clara's mount for the first ever attempt of the Baroness's Championship. They managed to make it through and weren't even last!

Beginner's luck? The second whack at it a few days later was a disappointing fail, and then we finished but came in last on run #3. Hopefully after more tries, we'll improve a bit and enjoy it more. It's unfortunate the game won't allow you to practice all of the championship courses, though. We've found that so helpful on the few where it's offered.

On the other end of the festival's difficulty spectrum is the laid-back Red String Trail Ride. We usually rush through it anyway because of time constraints, but it's nice we don't have to. Our favorite random event is probably the sheep:

but the fairy ring of shrooms is very cool too:

Interesting side note: on our first day of riding the Red String Trail, we forgot to pick up the string at the beginning. So, we had to ride it twice. XD We'll never forget that again.

The wandering animals have made a reappearance too. To our relief, the cows and sheep are not glitched this year and will allow you to herd them more than a few feet. The donkeys are so especially cute!

Speaking of cute, I didn't mention it before, but it wasn't just the fancy ribbon that the Baroness gave Clara. She also gifted her with Sir Meowstache, a dapper tuxedo kitty.

We also brought home the only pet available with spring tokens, this cute cartoony squirrel. 

Finally, I just have to mention Mom's real-life win. Mom's extended family participates in a NCAA men's basketball pool every year for March Madness. After coming in with a heart-breaking (not really) second place in a tiebreaker with a family dog last year, Mom redeemed herself with a first place win in a tiebreaker with her uncle this year! (We couldn't make this stuff up!) Way to go, UConn Huskies! <3 <3

This means the big prize, Hoops the Beanie Baby bear, will soon be in her possession. =D