New Boarder in the Blue Barn

This weekend I got a text from Tim thanking me for the bridle rosettes and with a surprise addendum  at the end.

The blue barn and its pasture has been vacant for a couple of months. I figured that someone would rent it sooner or later so I really wasn't surprised. 

 The blue barn is really nice.

It has two box stalls, a hay mow, space for parking your horse trailer indoors, and a run-in area if you prefer to keep your horses loose with access to shelter when needed.

 There's a feed room/tack room,

lots of storage, and a large pasture. Tim rents it to people who want to do their own care for their horses instead of having him do it.

After giving Abby some apples that Pony Pal Mila, Ian, and Lukie had asked me to give her, I walked over to meet the new horse.

 It had no interest in saying hello and trotted off to the far side of the pasture.

Whinnying occasionally, it was clearly looking for its owner (and probably dinner - it was about that time!)

I hung around a little bit, hoping to meet McKenzie, but finally I had to leave. It was getting dark and I had some errands to run before supper.

I'll be out sometime around noon today. Maybe our paths will cross then.

Horsey Christmas Cookies

I had Pony Pal Mila, Ian, and Lukas over Saturday morning to decorate Christmas cookies. I asked the kids what shapes they wanted for their cookies, and Mila immediately cried, "Horses!" (That's my girl!)

Now, to me, horses aren't as Christmassy as bells, stars, trees, holly, and moons, but if Mila wanted horses, she would get horses.

 Naturally, I had at least one horse cookie cutter!

 I made those bells, stars, and other more traditional Christmas cookie shapes, too, of course.

With help from Boompa (Craig) and Aunt Lisa, we stirred up a variety of colors of icing, set out the sprinkles and sugars, and got to work.

 A purple horse is very festive and full of that holiday spirit. 

Pony Pal Mila was very slow and meticulous in her decorating, and she asked to do the other shapes, too.

So we helped frost the rest of the horses for her. (That gold one looks more like a sheep than a horse!)

Three more horses, ready to be eaten. Don't they look yummy?

A Chilly and Cold Winter Solstice

Today is the shortest day of the year - the winter solstice. My Grandma Honeywell used to call my mother on the day of the winter solstice and say, "Spring is coming!" My mom and I continued that tradition until she passed away, and now my daughter Sarah, calls me and says it. It's sort of like whistling in the dark only about winter.

Although the earth is actually closer to the sun now than it is in the summer, we have been in the deep freeze in Indiana.

It's been really cold here the past couple of days. Thankfully, things are due to warm up soon. 

And lucky me, a bonus of having a retired Seeing Eye Guide Dog is that she has been trained to go to the bathroom on command. I can take her out, tell her to do her business, and we are back in the house with a minimum of shivering!

Pepper doesn't seem to mind the cold and absolutely loves to play in the snow. She and Lisa are playing catch with snowballs in my front yard.

The horses have shaggy winter coats and free access to two barns so that they can choose if they want to be outside or not.

Yesterday, despite the chill, they were all out in the southwest pasture, enjoying the weak winter sun.

It's Abby's favorite time of year - candy cane season! And of course I had a couple to give her. (Look at the snow that she and Diablo are sporting on their noses!)

Trouble and Sultanna were hanging out together by the gate. Tim has told me that Sultanna is definitely in foal.

Trouble and Hokey meandered off (with a little encouragement from Diablo) while Diablo and Sultanna continued to enjoy that weak winter sun.

 Ever hopeful, Abby waited by the fence, just in case I came back with more of her favorite treats.

But I was too cold to linger. I was just making a quick barn run to check on her and to put Tim's gift on his desk in the new barn's office, then heading back home to finish my Christmas cards.

In the meantime, I keep reminding myself, spring is coming!

A Plain but Special Bridle Rosette

In my rosette collection is one rosette that most people would overlook.

 It was on the first bridle I ever bought. I was twelve and my father had just bought Amy for me.

The other rosette disappeared long ago, but this one is still with me. Someday I am going to have all my rosettes framed in a shadow box of some sort, and you can bet that Amy's will get place of pride.

My Favorite Donkey

Every week, Craig and I drive down to Indianapolis and spend an evening serving in the Indianapolis temple. 

I enjoy our weekly service year round, but December is particularly special.

Every December, I look forward to seeing this:

 A life sized but very simple Nativity is displayed on the grounds of the temple.

The donkey looks so mild and sweet and I love seeing him year after year. 

Even when snow covered like it is this week, the Nativity is still beautiful.

I've told Craig that we need a donkey just like this one to put on our lawn for the holidays. He thinks I am joking but honestly, I really do wish I could have one (and a fork lift to lift it, too!)

Holiday Impulse Buys

I am really busy right now. Since hosting a large Thanksgiving gathering for nineteen people, I have travelled to Tennessee and Florida to visit family. I've shopped and sent gifts to all of our children and grandchildren.  Hours have been spent wrapping and standing in long lines at the post office. Four sewing projects have been completed, and now I am working on preparing to host Christmas here at our home for my siblings, their spouses, and our in-town daughter.  Add to that checking on Abby, walking and playing with our new dog, Pepper, some volunteer work, and time is in short supply around here.

Last week I stopped by Walmart to get a few things that I needed. While there, I popped into the Christmas decor section to see if they had any horsey Christmas cards.

Red barn, nice message, and glitter? Sold!

And since I was in the Christmas section, I decided to stroll around the aisles and see if there was anything else that caught my eye.

Look what came home with me!

 I staked it right by my front door where all could see it. 

I'm not usually an impulse buyer, but I am glad I decided to check out Walmart's Christmas section!

Abby's Christmas Gift to Tim

Every year I give Tim a gift at Christmas to thank him for the good care he gives Abby year round. This year I am especially excited about his gift.

Bridle rosettes with his initials! The "T" was especially hard to find and only just popped up on eBay last week. They're different sizes, but I think he will still like them.

I love vintage bridle rosettes and have a small collection of them.

These circus horse rosettes  are so unusual and, I think, quite old (pre 1900s is my guess.) They are my favorites.

I also have a pair of Ringling Brothers/Barnum & Bailey bridle rosettes. 

This pair from the Monon Railroad is in my collection for sentimental reasons.

One of O'Boy's bridle rosettes remains on his old bridle.

The letter seems to be of the same style as the "T" I just bought for Tim. I'll have to get this one out and measure it and see if the are the same size.

We got about three inches of snow last night with more snow and ice expected tonight. I am planning to run out to the barn in a few hours after the snowplows have come through and leave the gift on Tim's desk in the new barn office.

I think they will be a nice surprise for him and will probably see them strung up on a leather strap or an old bridle and hung in the lounge with his other antique tack items.