Did you ever go through a week and miss it?  I did.  Sometimes life just gets away from you.

Hope you all had a wonderful a Christmas and received what you were really hoping for.

I noticed a lot of my friends and neighbors went riding Christmas Day.  But then again, this is Florida and not as cold, rainy, or snowy as the rest of the country.  Horses were decked out in holiday decorations, hats, bells, and tinsel.  Happy faces were smiling into the cameras.

Boxing day is the day after Christmas and Hunt Clubs were out there having a wonderful time doing what they love the best.  Show season here in Florida is going into full swing, while the rest of the country is settling down for a long winters nap.

We’re coming to the end of the year.  Some are sad to see it go, and some can’t wait.  I lost a lot of good friends and relatives this year, don’t feel like things are going to change for next.  Mostly to cancer.  The animal casualty list was much better in 2018, but the horses on this farm are all pushing closer to 30, except for two, one pushing 10 and the other pushing 20, so it’s a wait and see kind of thing.

New Years Resolution?  Don’t really have any.  Have one horse that I’ve been treating for an eye ulcer, I would like that to heal.  She’s a slow healer, that always worries me.  Eye problems are common in Florida, a lot of bacterial, and fungus growth here.  I never had eye problems up north, except for Bob’s horse who poked himself with a piece of hay.

So what are your plans and Resolutions for the coming year.  I love the people who join a gym and then give up a few weeks later.  We all have great intentions, but…….  Horse people seem to go toward spending more time with their horses.  Riding more, caring for them more.  Those are always good ideas.  Great for the horse, and wonderful for our mental well being.

So sit back, enjoy the rest of the holiday week.  Grab a cup of Hot Chocolate, spiced Cider, or wine, some cookies, and kiss the old year good bye.  Welcome the New Year in with a positive attitude and enjoy life as much as you can.  As for many of my friends who have left this life can no longer do, but they are free from pain and have joined other friends, family, and are totally happy to see their pets who have crossed the rainbow bridge.  Make this coming year count and make it the best year ever.

Happy New Year!

Oh my! Missed Wednesday.

Well we’re down to the wire.  My shopping is done, but I haven’t finished the decorating yet.  Actually I haven’t started.

So much happening this time of year.  Parties, Cantatas, Children’s Christmas Program, Bon Fires.  Yes we’re big on large contained fires here in Florida.  No special reason, just have one and people will come.  It’s just another reason for a gathering.

So for a Christmas present, for a person who has everything plus, my husband has decided to restain the inside of the barn.  Sounds simple enough.  If you want to know what color it is you can look at the concrete in my barn isleway, several bales of hay, one of the Catahoulas, and Bob’s hands.  Bob really likes to get involved with his work, and the dogs like to help.  Now, of course, when you stain the barn all the hardware has to come off to be painted black enamel.  Well that was fine until all the horses had to come in the other day for a storm.  Oh my!  At least all the horses and their body parts are not a beautiful shade of the wood around them.  It would be like who can find Waldo?

It’s a job that needed to be done for the last couple of years,but we couldn’t decide on a color. However, it’s hard to decorate the stalls when they are still wet.  It’s harder to know what to do with the sheets, blankets, and halters.  Putting them away is a priority.  Otherwise, the dogs will carry them off to Never Never Land, yup, never to be seen again, at least not in one piece.  It’s so rewarding to find the two Catahoulas playing tug of ware and it’s your new favorite sheet in the middle.  Actually I’ve been really faithful about putting the sheets and blankets where they can’t reach them, but Bob’s flannel shirt was not that lucky.  Larry the Cable guy would love the sleeveless look, Bob not so much.

I may get the outside decorated, but the inside, I’m not sure.  The stockings will have to be hung on their pasture gates this year.  It will make it easier for Santa to fill.  He won’t even have to get out of his sleigh.

A lot of people down here have “Salt Life” on their trucks and cars.  Why don’t they have stickers for windows that say “Barn Life.”  We all spend more time in the barn than they spend in or on the water.  We spend more time at the barn than pretty much anywhere else.  But it’s our preference.  I’ve always been very proud of the idea that Jesus was born in a stable, and placed in a feed manger.  We have a lot in common when you think about it.  How simple is that.

Will I go out to the barn at Midnight to see if the animals bow?  I don’t think so.  I know in my heart that they all worship the creator in their own way.  I think I’ll just stay inside and watch the fire place, or perhaps just close my eyes and dream of a White Christmas.

Have a Merry Blessed Christmas to all people and animals alike.

It’s one of those posts that are purely nostalgic.

Remember Christmas when you were a kid, a magical time of year.  But as the song says “once you pass its boarders, you can never return again.”  So sad, but true.

When I was a kid I don’t ever remember there being horse catalogs to shop from, Sears and the local 5 & 10, yes.  We had our little, very little, local tack shop.  It sold mostly Western stuff, very limited, maybe one saddle, and a few bridles.  He carried one pair of English riding jodphers not in my size, so it was off to New York City.  There were two large stores, Miller’s and Kaufmans.  I loved the smell of leather as you walked into Kaufmans.  There were brand new bridles hanging in a display cabinet.  There was a walkway around the top of the main floor on the second story, and there were saddles displayed on the railings.  It was a magical place for me.  There were no racks filled with tons of clothing like in today’s market place.  You told the man what you wanted and he went in the back to find your size.  You tried it on and bought boots, jacket, breeches or jodpher’s just a little larger so you would grow into them.  Mostly children grow out of their clothes before they wear them out.  Nothing has changed there.

Colors in English attire were very limited.  Ratcatchers were simple and mostly white in color.  There were some patterns with colors, but never to be worn in a show or hunt field.  Colors started being more popular in the 1970’s.  Hunter riding clothes were fashioned for Fox Hunting, and the same followed through for show and pleasure riding.  Saddle seat was also very formal in attire.  You either rode, Hunt Seat, Saddle Seat, or Western back then.  No one ever mentioned Dressage, that was European.

Well Walmart started with their Christmas decorations before Halloween this year.  Nothing like seeing pumpkins and tinsel all together.  Years ago Thanksgiving would ring in the Christmas season with all its glitter and dazzle.  You’d walk through the stores and there would be Christmas Carols playing on the sound system.  The whole store was decorated.  There would be a section devoted to Santa’s Workshop, The North Pole, or Toy Land.  It was a special place in the store, that even if you were an adult you would gravitated to, just to be reminded of your childhood.  There you could catch a glimpse of the big man himself.  You might picture yourself waiting in line to sit on his lap to tell him of your hearts greatest desires for that Christmas.  Your parents may also request that your picture be taken with Santa, year after year, to mark your growth, and ultimately to be brought out in front of your (more serious) boyfriends in years to come.

Even in New York City, people were nicer, friendlier.  People smiled and said Merry Christmas, even at the cash registers when you were checking out.  There was a feeling of community, even in the big cities.  People carried large amounts of packages home, or made several trips to the cars.  There were no porch pirates back then.  There were no packages delivered. It was a simpler time.  You could say the word Merry Christmas to everyone whether they were Christian or not.  It was the spirit of the season, spreading love and joy.  Now people are hesitant to say it for fear of offending someone.  It was a message of love and good cheer, what happened?  When did it become and insult?

Well our horses don’t mind and they are every good about being trimmed like a Christmas tree.  Horse people have always done that.  Even in the good old days, before my time.  They would put sleigh bells on their horses when pulling their sleighs.  Although, I hate to break your bubble on that thought.  Sleigh bells were used for a safety reason.  Sleighs and horses were very quiet when traveling through the snow, and the bells were used so that you would hear another sleigh coming, especially around corners, so that there were no collisions.  But I’m sure other decorations were put on their horses.  Maybe a sprig of holly, or a red ribbon.  I wasn’t there, couldn’t say.

Oh well, we are in the here and now, so break out the Santa hats, the reindeer antlers, bells, holly and garland, and deck the horse for Christmas.  Hang their stockings on their stalls and fill them with Apples, Carrots, and horse treats, we’re getting down to the wire on shopping.

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas, if only in our hearts.