Here we are in September

     Here we are in September, even though it feels like the dog days of Summer.  The Old Farmer's Almanac says we're in for another brutal Winter.  I must say I don't have the fear of the dark months that I did a year ago.
     We have a great group of folks here.  Everyone helps everyone else.  After all..isn't that what it's all about?
     We're working on fence lines, getting in hay, and battening down the hatches for whatever comes our way.  I hope to have a new roof on the main barn, and tack room, and patches on the roof of the indoor arena before the change of seasons.
     We're already planning warming fire in the tack room wood stove and simmering soups, stews and chilis for all.
     Maybe this year will be a year of magic, and of midnight moonlight trail rides in freshly fallen snow.  

My baby boy Belgian Finnegan 8/2/2014

     Well, it's a coolish and drizzly Saturday morning in the Hideaway.  Finn was obviously playing in the mud during the night.  I LOVE his coat.  He sheds the dirt and mud on his own.  My 5 year old Belgian and I will be celebrating our 1st anniversary together on August 23rd 2014. 
     There have been some developments over the last couple weeks.  Thanks to help with some ground work last Fall and early Winter by Dianne, the patient and steady work in training with Finn done by Amie and my sister in law Betty, and the continued training and first times in the saddle accomplished by Daniel Marinos, we are riding Finnegan!!  Not only are we working in the indoor arena, but we are able to ride in the field and I have no doubt that we will be on the trails before long....in a bitless bridle no less!!!!
     Thank you too to my husband Tony for his patience, moral support and wisdom.  He has shared with me the knowledge of his roughly 53 years of gentling, training and competing horses, from beginner to Advanced International Championship level, and his roughly 40 years of being and instructor.  Now if I could only get him to ride again.
     I am looking forward to the rest of the journey.  Amie and I have a horse we can ride, as well as commune with. 

Welcome to the Hideaway

     It's a beautiful early Summer morning in the Hideaway.  The dew is sparkling in the early morning sun.  The birds are singing. The horses are browsing quietly through their piles of hay, or nibbling the grass in their paddocks.  There is a nice breeze, that for the moment seems to offset the humidity.  Horses and hounds are quiet and safe.
     At this point I would like to say a warm welcome to our new community members; Dan, Mariah, Axel, and Vice.  Janelle and Callie, Marisa and Cherry.  For welcoming 5 new horses in four days there was very little drama. 
     We look forward to a fun Summer and a great year!

GUESS WHAT!!!

We have three 10X10 foot box stalls available here at the Hideaway!  Two of those stalls have their own attached paddock so can be used as an in and out for two horses who get along.  The third is on the same side of the barn. 

We offer modified rough board in that I feed twice a day.  150.00 per month per stall per horse.

Turnout in the morning is available for anyone whose work schedule precludes them from doing turnout themselves. If interested, we can discuss pricing.

Stall care is available as well if needed, again we can discuss pricing.

You provide hay, grain and bedding.

Your own Vet, farrier, dentist, and trainers are welcome.

We do have an indoor arena, though fairly small 96X63, 25 acres of land with trails that link onto neighboring trails.  We are not fancy, but we are functional.  We are a cooperative, family barn where we watch out for one another.  We are a work in progress and a labor or love.  PM me on FB, or email me at ltlzig@Gmail.com.  

New Day

     It is April 4th 2014, and the temperatures have been for the most part above freezing for the last week.  It's still early in the day and I just enjoyed another beautiful sunrise...peaches and cream in a turquoise and gold bowl.  Tony is up getting ready for work.  I'm getting ready to go and feed the horses, and Nutmeg is snoring on the bed. 
     My cousin and I have been reminiscing about our Great Aunt Gladys for the past couple days.  She was an amazing, and strong woman who would have been 118 this year.  She played tiddly winks with us kids, and let us play outside in the rain.  I'm planning on making her favorite meal to celebrate her on her birthday, May 1st...ham, mashed potatoes, creamed onions, green beans, sweet pickles and her famous one hour rolls, finished off with home made chocolate cake with butter cream icing.  I enjoy honoring people's memory with their favorite foods.
     In memory of my Great Aunt Gladys May Kenyon I'm going to share my recipe for Creamed onions.

Creamed Onions
In a heavy duty sauce pan or double boiler melt over low heat
5 Tbsp butter

Stir in;
5 Tbsp flour
pinch of salt
pinch of black pepper

Let this mixture bubble gently for about 1 minute (this gets rid of the raw flour flavor)

Remove from heat and slowly whisk 2 cups of milk into the butter mixture
 Put back on low heat and stir frequently as it comes back up to heat.
Stir constantly while it bubbles until thick...about 1-3 minutes.  remove again from heat and add two jars Aunt Nellie's peal onions (drained).  warm once again gently and serve.

The promise of Spring

     The sunrise this morning was spectacular!  It bloomed across the eastern horizon like a bouquet of pink, and fuchsia roses.  For the first time this morning, the cold, still air rang with the Spring songs of the robins! What a welcome song!  I so love the morning and evening symphonies of birds. I listened as I fed the horses, and dreamed of the warmer days to come. 
     To celebrate this morning's symphony I thought I'd add a distinctly warm weather recipe:

Home made Strawberry Shortcake

Fresh, ripe sweet smelling strawberries (as many as you'd like) Washed, sliced and sprinkled with sugar

One recipe of Baking Powder Biscuits

Preheat oven to 450 degrees

Sift together;
2 Cups flour
3 teaspoons of baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 Tbsp sugar

ADD;

1/3 Cup canola oil
1 Cup milk

Mix together until moist, and drop by soup spoonfuls into a buttered pie or cake pan

Bake for aprox 12-15 minutes, until biscuits are golden brown.

While the biscuits are still warm, top them with the strawberries and home made whipped cream.  ENJOY! 

Finnigan's new friend

     The temperatures actually got above 15 degrees today.  It was a good day for stripping out, and rebedding stalls, and hauling a week's worth of fire wood.
     Laura and I introduced her horse Apache, and my horse Finnigan.  They got along famously; playing halter pull, grooming each other, and munching from the same pile of hay.  Finn actually took hay right out of Apache's mouth.  We are thinking of removing a couple of the top stall boards between them so that they can see each other when in the barn.   After the evening feed was done, I was amused to see that both Finn and Apache had moved their hay piles against the back wall of their stalls and were talking to each other through the gaps in the boards.