Wiser Time

Today my run was through windswept fields of snow with sun shimmering off the ice coating. In my ears the Black Crowes were singing "and on a good day, I know it ain't every day, we can part the sea." Isn't that the truth? With the endorphins flowing and the sun shining, it does seem like anything is possible! Including waiting! The horses are delayed until mid-February. I am impatient, but I realize this is for the best. I am wiser now. Tired, but wiser for the time.

apples to oranges

Here is a photo of my dear Florida friends, Janet and Ted on Diablo and Red. I miss them and our sunny, warm rides. One day when I was grooming Red in her stall, another boarder, Virginia, handed Red a whole orange! Red started gobbling it up, peel and all, with the sweet citrus juice squishing out all over her face and my shirt. I could not believe that a horse would actually eat an orange! Janet and Virginia told me that all the horses there love oranges and grapefruit too! Our Pennsylvania farm has two types of apple trees and, of course, the horses love them - but oranges - who knew? I miss Red and her orange juice kisses!

happy daydreams of spring

It is cold and wintery and white with snow today. No grass for grazing! Here is a photo of Baja from "greener" days!

birthday presents

Happy days! Brian bought me a new scanner and it arrived today! I decided to scan my new calling cards! Thank you Fabulous Stationery for having the most absolutely fabulous stationery! I like that the cards say "Thoroughbred Bliss" - now if we can just get the Thoroughbreds so we can be blissful!

hurry up and wait

Now that we are home it is tough waiting for the horses to arrive! I am so excited. I am busy working on fencing on the farm, but still...no soft horsey noses yet. I can't wait! I did get all my new tack supplies. I now have two bitless bridles, two hunter green quilted saddle pads, two white fleece show pads, two halters, two leads, two of everything. I wish there were two of me! Brian says I need to learn to ride Roman! January has been unusually cold, but sunny and white with snow. It makes waiting a little easier because it is like living in a snow globe.

such a long, long time to be gone and a short time to be there

We are home now and, as always, it seems like we were gone forever yet our Florida time was so short. I miss Red and I thought about her Spanish Moss nibbling sounds the whole way home. What a nice Thoroughbred! I hope everyone at Lakeview Stables is doing well.
Last night I spoke with the Thoroughbred Rescue contact at Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. The two geldings are coming the last week in January!!! Just in time for my 42nd birthday! What a wonderful present!

Good ol' Sunday mornin' bells are ringin' everywhere. Goin' to Carolina...won't be long till I'll be there...

Here is our Pennsylvania garden. As we travel north, through the Carolinas, I will try to be grateful for the garden's beauty in both seasons. And, I know, two wonderful Thoroughbred foster geldings will be coming soon! What joy!

It's the same story the crow told me

Like most Thoroughbreds, Red is very thin-skinned. She had a reputation for wiggling and kicking and biting when groomed. Knowing Thoroughbreds and their ticklish tendencies, I brush her softly. Today after our bareback ride, I discovered while she grazed, that she enjoyed me "currying" her with my bare hand. I was able to get the sweat mark off by gently using my hand to "brush" her in the sunshine.

Our ride was wonderful, and like Saturday, she was intent on investigating a newly cut field. Workers had recently used the Bush-hog to clear out overgrown trees and shrubs. It is a horse nightmare with all the new scenery and tangle of cut limbs. Red is determined to plow through it all, though! Her inquisitive nature is funny and innocent. Her curiosity is stronger than her fear. She puts her head low and stares at everything in that tentative horsey way like she is looking over the top of bifocals. I am bareback and I have to trust her. I keep my seat deep and my hands light and she remains sensible. She is a sweet-natured horse and I want her to enjoy our rides as much as I do. I am going to miss her when we return to Pennsylvania!

I can tell my sister by the flowers in her eyes

We are so fortunate to have our little kitty with us this year in Florida. Here is a photo of Maizie and Noodlebug from home. Noodle has been the best travelbug ever! She is completely trusting of us and happily accepts anything we do with her. From van to hotel to condo, she never complained or acted unhappy. She sleeps in the sun in the breezes in front of the screen doors here and happily watches the birds and water and dolphins like it is a television show for cats. She naps on the beds or under the beds in her secret hideout but mostly she stretches out on Grandma Janet's "Fainting Couch" and proves to us that it really did have a purpose for being here all these years. If I had a camera with me (duh!) I would snap a photo of her on the ruffled yellow swiss dot fluffy pillow that she so enjoys. Noodle loves running from room to room in a game of tag with Maizie. She is more dog than cat at times. Our monikers for her range from "Miss Pity-Pat" to "Ticketyboo" but mostly "Noodle" is the one she answers with a sweet purring "meow". Happy Noodleyear.

all the winter birds are winging home now

So it is 2009 and we have to go home. The new year always brings such sadness because I never want to leave Florida. Sunsets, salty wet air, calm, water, dolphins, a new Thoroughbred love, nostalgic condo, idyllic back porch luncheons, sunshine. It is magical here. Still, there is hope of magic at home with our new Thoroughbred fostering buddies. One such cutie is at the top of this post. And the frivolous Candyland that I painted at the end for good measure. Happy, happy.