In the Good Old Summer Time

As you can probably tell from all these blog entries connected to songs, I love music. My minor in college was music, and believe it or not, I used to sing and perform opera. (Not any more!!)

This song is from 1902 and is an American Tin Pan Alley song with lyrics by Ren Shields and music composed by George Evans. In 1949 Judy Garland starred in a movie named after the song's title.

In the Good Old Summer Time
In the good old summer time,
In the good old summer time!
Strolling thro' the shady lanes,
With your baby mine;
You hold her hand and she holds yours,
And that's a very good sign
That she's your tootsie wootsie
In the good old summer time.

 These two are constantly together...

... and usually hot on Abby's heels "strolling thro' the shady lanes."

They follow her everywhere, and crowd me for attention when I am visiting my girl.

Sultanna (above on the left) is a three year old filly bred by Tim, and Snickerdoodle, a two year old gelding, is her full brother. Sultanna is very gentle and quiet; Snickerdoodle is a little more assertive and likes to poke his face into mine.

 I think he wants me to be his "tootsie wootsie!"

And if that's the case, then he's going to get a big buss on the nose every time he pokes it into my face!

Hmmm, maybe we aren't tootsie wootsies after all!

Just like the other herd members, Sultanna and Snickerdoodle are in good flesh and enjoying our beautiful "good old (Indiana) summer time." 

The Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer at the Barn

Summer can be such a wonderful time. Another fun summer song that I like to sing was done by Nat King Cole. It's not a lazy-type song, it's more of a "get up and go" tune.

Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer,
Those days of soda and pretzels and (root) beer!
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer,
You'll wish that summer could always be here!

Great song! (I always sing "root beer" since I don't drink - hah!)

Well, Abby isn't the only one who has been enjoying the "lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer."

This is Trouble, Tim's big-boned Quarter Horse gelding whom he bred, foaled, trained, and has had since birth. He's about ten years old. If you have ever seen the Breyer model Chub, Hoss Cartwright's horse, you have an idea of how Trouble is built.

(Photo credit to Identify Your Breyer.)

Trouble is big and often lives up to his name, although a better term might be "naughty." He's not mean spirited at all. Trouble just likes to know what you're doing and to see if he can lend a hoof to help you out whether you want that help or not!

As you can see from the photo, Trouble clearly has been having a good time this summer out on all that yummy pasture!

Summertime and the Livin' is Easy!

Cole Porter wrote the lyrics to a song that I love and often sing in the summer:

Summertime
Summertime, and the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is fine.
Oh, your Daddy's rich, and your Ma is good lookin',
So, hush little baby, don't you cry.

There's a real lazy feel to the song, and it describes perfectly life for Abby and the herd at the barn right now.

 It may be the end of July, but the pastures are lush and the horses are happy.

I wondered if Abby would come up when I called her. While I was out of town, my daughter, Lisa, checked on her, and Abby was too busy grazing to come up for a visit and treats.

Is that a contented face or what?

But, as soon as she heard my call, Abby's head popped up and she ambled over, munching as she meandered. (Good thing she came when I used my voice; usually I also whistle, but I'd just had a cavity filled and my lips were so numb, I couldn't get a sound out!)

Once in a while, when life is clearly good for Abby, I think back on her abuse and what she endured before she was rescued. This girl deserves all the "summertimes" that are possible.

Generosity Exemplified - Jennifer Buxton

Jennifer Buxton is a well known hobbyist and my favorite blogger. Especially during the school year when my days are packed and exhausting, I love to sit down after I'm home from school and read her blog. She is an engaging writer and blogs about all things horsey, whether it is the horses she rides, the models she owns, or the tack she makes.

And her tack... Absolutely stunning. If you looked at a picture of something she has made, say an English saddle, and have nothing in the photo for scale, you would think it was made for a live horse. She is a true artisan and every piece she creates is of the highest quality.

Jennifer and I became cyber-friends several years ago, and finally got to meet a few weeks ago at BreyerFest. (Go here to read about that.)  I found the "real life" Jennifer every bit as nice and fun as she came across in her writings for her blog.

I was not wrong in that assessment. Yesterday, a box arrived addressed to me from Jennifer.

I was puzzled - I had not ordered anything from her, so why had she sent me something? And when I opened the box, my jaw dropped and then I gave a cry of joy (which Jennifer may have heard clear across the country at her home.)

 Sleigh bells!! With a working buckle!!

I have a love of sleigh bells, and even have a lovely set for Abby. (Which, I admit, that I keep in the house because I love them so much and like looking at them.) One of my very favorite horse books from my grade school years was this:

I read this book over and over when I was a girl, and I suspect that is one of the reasons I feel such an attachment to sleigh bells.

I keep mine (er, Abby's) hanging on my antique player piano and whenever our grandkids come over and ask to play a song, Jingle Bells it is, accompanied by much shaking of the sleigh bells! (Hey, doesn't everyone sing Jingle Bells year round??)

The ones from Jennifer are perched on top in front of the music roll - see them?

Here's a link to a video where Ian is learning the joys of Grammy's player piano and sleigh bells. 

Christmas, 2015. That's my son Curt, Ian's dad, dancing with him.

My Bright Zip is the most Abby-like of all my models, and I know that Jennifer is fond of Abby since she reminds her of Snickers, a horse she had in her life some years ago.

So, my mini-Abby gets to wear them. Don't they look nice?

Jennifer, thank you sooooooooo much for such a wonderful gift. I absolutely love them, and I am very touched by your generosity. And folks, if you want to read the best blog around, go here. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

Thanks again!!

Circus Pony Score!

If you've seen the movie, Minions, you may remember the quote, "That unicorn is so fluffy, I am gonna die!" Well, I am feeling that way right now. I love to collect circus ponies, and I just found one on eBay that I did not know existed.

When I was in elementary school waaaay back in the 1960s, my friend Bobbie Vance and I used to pack up our carpet herds and go to each other's houses for horse shows. We'd set up an arena, make paper ribbons scaled to our models, and play away the day cantering our horses around the homemade jumps in the arena, barrel racing around paper cups (we actually timed each other as we raced them), and other horse show events.

Very, very happy memories. (I am smiling as I type.)

Bobbie had a beautiful flocked horse with a rhinestone bridle and tack. Named Ross, he had a hair mane and tail and was on wheels so he moved easily around the "arena." I thought he was gorgeous, and have looked on eBay and at BreyerFest ever since, hoping to find one just like him.

This picture from Google Images shows a very yellowed Ross. Bobbie's was snowy white.

I discovered that Ross was a Steha piece and manufactured in West Germany. He was also much more expensive than our Breyers and Hartlands were.

Last week, I was doing a search for Stehas on eBay, hoping to find a duplicate Ross, and this piece popped up. (Photo from eBay ad.)

A Steha circus pony!! It was not advertised as a circus pony so he had not shown up when I did that search. I checked the price, and he was at the very top limit of what I was willing to spend on a piece for my collection, even a circus pony. I bid on him, and I won. He was waiting for me when we arrived home last night from our trip to Florida.

The seller had said that he had some lint, a few pinpoint rub-offs of the flocking, and a missing wheel. I think she must've cleaned that lint off him before packing him as it is non existent. He is in far better shape than she described. He also has his original "Steha Made in Western Germany" label on his belly.

I can hardly contain my happiness this morning. He's sitting here on my desk in the horse room, and I just don't want to put him on a shelf! He's not a unicorn, and he's not really fluffy, but I feel like I am "gonna die" of excitement!

The Perfect Birthday Card

Sometimes you find that perfect gift or card for someone.

 I found a birthday card for Addie that I sure hope one of my family finds and buys for me!

A Girl After My Own Heart

After hugs and greetings this morning, Addie, the birthday girl, presented me with a gift - some drawings she had done for me. And her paper? Notes from a church meeting! (General Conference.) Be still my heart - a girl after my own!

She was concerned about the blue ink. "Whitney tried to color in my pictures," she said sadly. But I assured Addie that I was still thrilled with her gift, blue ink or not. (And I am.)

 She'd even written the breeds and colors on some of them!

None of my children are horsey (and you'd think that, with six kids, ONE of them would've gotten the gene!) Lisa likes them, but she isn't passionate about them like I am. But she will go to the barn with me and she is an excellent rider.

Addie is my second grandchild with horse-lovin' potential. Trinity, who calls herself "horseyreader" on social media, is the other. Looks like the horsey gene may have skipped a generation, but I'll take it!

Kentucky Again!

I'm on the road again. This time I am heading to Florida with Craig to visit Kyle and his family. Addie is being baptized on Saturday and we want to be there for that.

I always ask my kids if I can bring them anything. Kyle asked for a cherry pie.

 So, I made two.

I don't think he really expected me to do so, but I know he loves pie and so he got some!

We started the day already tired. Tuesday night we always serve in the Indianapolis temple, and we'd driven the hour home after that and gotten to bed around midnight. Then, we were up at 5:30 to pack the car and start the long drive. We got away at 6:50 AM, a little later than we had hoped.

For the third time this summer, I  was in my favorite state!

Kentucky!!

We had to pass through it again as we drove down 65. We were not in a horsey part of the state (although we did pass Churchill Downs), but I was still happy to be back in Kentucky again.

Our trip took us through Nashville, Tennessee, and by Murfreesboro where Cole and Emily live.

Nashville. Cole works somewhere in that urban jungle.

We told Cole and Emily that we would stop in on our way back home for a visit. Kyle's home in St. Augustine is about ten hours beyond Cole's, and we felt it better to push on now while still relatively fresh.

Our drive down was uneventful, but the conversation and company were good! We arrived at 10:40 PM, so it took us sixteen hours. We stopped to say "hi" to Kyle and Ashley (the kids were in bed) and  have some cherry pie, and then headed to the motel. 

A shower and quick unpack, and I crawled into bed at midnight. Looking forward to seeing the kids in the morning!

Sisters Trip/BreyerFest Day 3

Saturday stretched out in front of us just like a vacation day should - we had plans but they were flexible, and the time was our own. Jenny and I packed up the car (after eating our Chop House leftovers from breakfast, yum!) and were on the road by 9:30.

Our first stop was to visit Transylvania University in Lexington - we got a giggle from the name of the school, and Jenny really wanted to get a tee shirt from there.

Founded in 1780, it is one of the oldest universities in the country. It has about 1,000 students and is about twice the size of Hershey, the elementary school where I teach.

Our drive was uneventful until we were getting close to Louisville. I-64 was a three lane at this point, and we were in the middle lane. Suddenly, the mini van to the left and a little ahead of us had black smoke begin belching from its right front tire. It swerved into our lane, back into its own, and then the tire flew off! It soared over our lane, bounced in the right lane, and then ricocheted right at us!

Luckily, it hit the ground in its side instead of on the driven part. I think it would've bounced again and definitely hit our hood, windshield, or roof otherwise. As it was, we had no time to react and drove right over it.

How we kept from wrecking is a mystery. (Or, more likely, the Lord watching over us.) We plowed right over it, hearing the undercarriage scrape on the rubber of the tire. We discussed pulling over to check the undercarriage, but Jenny was leery of stopping on the side of the road due to traffic, and the exits were far down the road. I said a prayer and felt we would be okay, told Jenny so, and we pushed on. (We had no more trouble.)

It took a few miles before we both were able to calm down. But we had no further incidents as we drove through Louisville and over the Ohio River and into Indiana.

Outlet shopping at Edinburgh, Indiana? Yes, please!!

Me on the left, Jenny on the right.

We wandered around for about an hour, looking at merchandise and having fun. Jenny bought a nice black purse, but I continued my "shopping drought" and came away empty handed.

That drought ended near Indy. Having dropped Jenny off at her home in Indianapolis, I decided to stop by a favorite antique shop. There is a booth there where someone is slowly selling off a nice collection - I have found a woodgrain Brahma bull, a gold Modernistic Doe, and several other goodies in that booth.

Score!!

 A dark smoke Running Mare (I have a lighter colored one already, but I collect variations.)

 A semi-gloss bay Running Mare (I did not have one as it's very common and I just haven't looked for one to add to my collection, but this piece was too nice to leave behind) ...

 ... and an Insurance Jolly Cholly! (The third one I have found.)

Only THIS one has the ID label from the manufacturer of the tags! Score again!

How ironic to drive four hours each way to BreyerFest and buy virtually nothing only to find some good things in my usual stomping grounds. That's collecting for you!

I arrived home around 6:00 and it was wonderful to be reunited with Craig. Jenny and I definitely want to do another sisters trip - she's talking about doing the planning for the next one and heading up to Chicago next summer.  I'm game, and I hope Leslie can come then, too. 

As for BreyerFest, it was fun having my non-horsey sister come, and she has a new appreciation for my collection.

Sisters' Trip/BreyerFest Day 2

Today was the day - BreyerFest officially began! (Even though the horse trading' began as early as Monday back at the CHIN... hah!) Warning: this blog entry is pretty picture intensive.

The lane leading to the ticket gate for parking had signs with each of the dinner/celebration models from past BreyerFests.

The parking lot was huge and packed! In fact, there were several lots sprawled across the property. We'd gone a little late, hoping to miss the heavy crowds waiting to enter the park. We were mostly successful at that.

A mounted police officer directed traffic.

As we hiked up, we could see the Big Barn in the distance - the arena there would have horse demonstrations all day long while the concourse would be full of vendors and shoppers.

 I was ready to enter the park!

 Other attendees walking ahead of us. (Some already returning to their cars with purchases.)

 Breyer has several inflatables for photo opportunities. I think this one is called Fluffy.

The official entrance to the fun.

Breyer has made some large scale models for decorations. This Huckleberry Bey was by the Collectors Club Tent, a place where members of the Collectors Club can come and cool off.

While shopping on the concourse, I was intrigued by a display of barns made by a man in Iowa.

Also walking through the very crowded concourse were two people on stilts who were also juggling pins. Jenny and I both thought that that was a bit much considering how crowded the place was. (That's Jenny with her back to the camera.)

I made my one purchase from BreyerFest - the 2006 Stablemate Circus Pony! (Circus ponies are something I am very fond of and am always looking for.) I paid $25 for it - not bad!

Little Ricky Rocker, a horse that was made into a Breyer model several years ago, made an appearance with his owner.

After braving the concourse, we decided to go visit the barns that house the horses invited to perform at BreyerFest.

 And I got to stand right next to Guy McClean, an Australian horse whisper.

We watched his amazing demonstration in the arena and he controlled six horses with only his voice, hands, and a long whip.

It was very hot and humid and he was spraying his horses down after they had finished performing.

He was an amazing trainer, and I really liked how well he treated his horses.

 This is another former Breyer model horse, Paint Me a Pepto, and her 2017 foal.

Jenny and I were very hot and tired, it was beginning to rain, and my hip was bothering me very much, so we decided to walk over to the The Bit and Bridle and have lunch. Then we walked over to The Museum of the Horse.

 There was so much to look at! 

 Like this stagecoach.

 And Big Lex, the mascot of the 2010 World Equestrian Games who had been signed by every medal winner from those games.

The museum has an exhibit on The Black Stallion, a classic book that my students read every year.

 A display of sleighs (the one on the right was brought to America from France by soldiers after World War I. Supposedly it was a carousel sleigh from Louis XIV.)

 More horse drawn vehicles.

 I loved this whicker one!

 Jenny climbed into the beautiful wood and leather carriage that was set up for people to sit in.

We were exhausted at this point, and so Jenny and I decided to head back to the motel and take a snooze and cool off. We puttered after that, watching a little TV and just relaxing.

One of the things Jenny had wanted to do during the trip was to dress up a bit and go to dinner at a nice restaurant. We chose The Chop House, and was it ever a good choice!

The meal was delicious, the service was outstanding, and of course, the company was great. We ended our meal with some key lime pie in honor of our dad.

After that, we came back to the motel for the rest of the evening, reading, watching TV, and blogging.  We're really having fun together, and I am loving having all this time together with my sister!