A surprise (for me!)

I was really surprised and honored to have received an award. I certainly never got into this blogging world for any awards or to count followers, but it sure makes you feel good, doesn't it?

Thank you so much to Deirdra at A Storybook World!

Adventures and being lazy

On Friday, my daughter and I had a little day outing. Consignment store shopping. I didn't buy a thing, but she got some great buys!

Oh wait! That's not what I'm here for...

We got a little lost, made a wrong turn, and I'll let Jamie tell the rest of the story. She's got pictures too! Check out From My Classroom Window....because, well, she already told the story and I'm too lazy to tell it again. ☺

I-ce Cream

These are a few of my favorite things:

I for Ice Cream.

It was kind of a tough one to come up with! I do like ice cream, but I can survive without it. But I do like it.

In my old age, I can't always eat ice cream and that's a bummer. But then, I shouldn't eat much ice cream either. So not being able to (much) is probably a good thing.

Confused yet?

There are a couple of place that we like to visit, in the summer, when we feel like ice cream. I don't usually keep it in the house anymore unless there's a birthday cake to pair it up with.

So we go here:

Jimmy's Frozen Custard. Not ice cream but real frozen custard. It's good. But not every day. Well it would be good every day, but you really shouldn't have it every day.

When Jim and I go off on our own, we usually go here:

Vantage Point along the beautiful St. Clair River. If you look closely, you will see a little trailer on the right side of the picture. They sell ice cream there during the summer. Good, simple, hand-dipped ice cream. You can get a cone or a bowl. You can get a sundae or a Boston Cooler. We usually get a bowl (orange pineapple for me) and sit on a bench to watch the boats, freighters or fisherpeople. And then we might take a walk along the river. One of our favorite places to go on a summer evening to feel the cool breeze after a long hot day.

Simple Sunday

Me! Taken in July of 1978 at Rafter J-Bar Ranch in Hill City, SD

H-orses

These are a few of my favorite things:

H is for Horses.

I ♥ horses!

 I can't remember a time in my life when I didn't love horses. I suppose it was typical of many other little girls, but no other little girls that I knew, growing up in a suburb of Detroit in the '60's and '70's, loved horses like I did. I wanted nothing more than to live on a little farm and have a horse...or two. I loved horses then and I love horses now.

I loved every breed of horse, but I had my favorite. Being a huge fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder and, if you know anything about her, you will wonder why I didn't choose the Morgan horse as my first love.

     Laura looked up, surprised to see the brown Morgans. Young Mr. Wilder stood by the buggy, his cap in one hand. He held out his other hand to her and said, "Like a ride to the schoolhouse? You'll get there quicker."
     He took her hand, helped her into the buggy, and stepped in beside her. Laura was almost speechless with surprise and shyness and the delight of actually riding behind those beautiful horses. They trotted gaily but very slowly and their small ears twitched, listening for the word to go faster.  - Chapter 16, Name Cards - Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

I had a great respect for Indians though and, because of that, I fell in love with the Appaloosa breed.

     Laura was excited about the ponies. There were black ponies, bay ponies, gray and brown and spotted ponies. Their little feet went trippety-trip-trip, trippety-trip, all along the Indian trail. Their nostrils widened at Jack and their bodies shied away from him, but they came on bravely, looking with their bright eyes at Laura
     "Oh, the pretty ponies! See the pretty ponies!" she cried, clapping her hands. "Look at the spotted one." - Chapter 24, Indians Ride Away - Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

And guess what! I was lucky enough to see my dream realized, if only for a few years.

When I was fifteen, my parents made the decision to move out of the city to the country and I could get a horse! My father was raised on a farm and those roots ran deep. He loved country living as much as I did (and still do). Some of the best memories with my dad are those that we spent together in those years of "farm" living.

My parents first rented a house on what used to be a large, working farm. I was in heaven. When I look back on my childhood (or maybe teenagerhood), the months spent there were some of the best. This farm had the cutest little farmhouse with window seat in the kitchen and a converted attic bedroom that I shared with my sister. It had an old hip roof barn with a huge hayloft that was ideal for hiding or daydreaming. There was a chicken coop, which we very quickly filled with chickens! And...out by the road was a white picket fence. I fell in love with this place the very first time that I saw it.

The best part? The owners had two very large horses (part draft horse) and a pony. I was told that we could ride them whenever we wanted as long as I took care of them. Words can't even describe how happy I was.

We very quickly found out that these horses were not the best riding horses and they were very gun-shy. My sister and I found this out the hard way, on what started out being an enjoyable trail ride through the woods...until we heard gunshots. The horses ran all the way back to the barn. My sister was thrown, badly injuring her knee. I don't know how I stayed on and was very thankful when the horses stopped short of jumping over the fence when we finally reached the barn.

It was after this that my parents bought me Rachel, my spotted pony. She was a small, gray dapple Appaloosa and I loved her.

My little Rachel. I loved her despite her quirks. ♥

 Now I wanted the whole horsey experience. We found a riding instructor, who also happened to lead a 4-H group. I spent much of that summer staying with this family learning all I needed to know about everything horses. This family took me in and trained me. I took lessons from the parents and oldest son, I trail rode with the daughters, and they all became my friends.

If you know anything about horses,  you will know that that's a beautiful Arabian nearer the camera. I was riding my trusty mare, Rachel, in the opening parade of the 1976 Armada 4-H Fair.

 When I look back on that spring and summer, it's like I was living a dream. I compare it to being on an extended vacation. I embraced my life. I lived in the country, I lived on a farm, I loved the little house that we lived in with the attic bedroom. I spent only the last two months of my sophomore year in high school going to the school there. This was so very difficult for a shy person like me, but even the kids were the friendliest I'd ever met. I made friends very quickly and even went on my first couple of dates. The whole time there was magical...

Rachel and I leaving our halter class at the Armada Fair. My mom didn't seem to take pictures during my riding classes.

My parents wanted to buy a house. So, the hunt began and a house was soon found. I would have to switch schools for my last two years of high school. I had to leave my 4-H group as we were moving to a different county and the other was too far away. I would still have my Rachel though!

My mom made this beautiful "thank you" cake for the family who were my instructors/trainers/mentors/second family for the summer of 1976.

 We made the move and, over time, other horses came into my life. I loved them all. I wanted to spend my life working with horses. I was so very naive. But, at that time, horses were my life and my life was all about horses.

Pokey was actually my sister's horse. She boarded with us and I showed her. And I broke my arm being thrown from her. I'll save that story for a whole 'nother post!

I joined the equestrian team in my last two years of high school and competed.

Chief was my baby. I got him as a yearling gelding. It was my intention to train and show him. I only ever ended up showing him in halter classes.

I must confess. I never showed well. I loved my horses. I loved to ride. But I got the worst butterflies when I showed. I loved it and I hated it. But I really did love it. I loved being a part of the horsey circles!

Chief loved a good roll. This is from a snowy day, but he really loved a good muddy roll. Very difficult to keep a mostly white horse clean when he loves to roll in the mud!

Leaving a halter class with Chief. I had such high hopes.

 In the end, as life would have it, things happened and the life we had there on that little horse farm weren't so rosy as they had started out. It had a profound effect on me and I made many mistakes. And I had to end up giving up my horses.

Sparkles, my Appaloosa mare, was supposed to be the beginning of my "real" horse farm. I wanted to eventually breed her.

 You know, I can't have any regrets though. If I wouldn't have met the wrong boy and gotten married, I wouldn't have gotten pregnant with my beautiful daughter. Nothing could ever make me regret the way my life changed because of her! And, because of becoming a mother who loved her baby so very much, I found the courage to grow up and leave an abusive relationship. The path I took then lead me to being introduced to Jim and living my happily ever after. And that's another story for another day! ☺

Last year, Jim dug a box out of the attic and gave it to me. My horse collection. Jim fully supports my love of horses...as long as it doesn't include bringing a real live one into the mix. My dream is to provide a home for a rescue horse or two to peacefully live out their days. Right now the funds just aren't there for such an endeavor. Someday...

I spent many years, while having such good horse memories, trying to bury that lifetime. One day I finally realized that, with or without horses in my life, I will always love them. Nothing can change that.

Oh, my future horse plans? Besides giving a home to a rescue horse, I want to write a horse book. Just like the ones I enjoyed when I was a young girl. It may never be published, but it is my goal to write it, if only for myself...☺

G-iveaway - but not quite yet!

These are a few of my favorite things:

G is for giveaway - but not right now!

A couple of weeks ago, I had a giveaway here on my blog. I wanted to make it easy for anyone who wanted to enter. To enter my first giveaway you didn't need to be a follower, you simply needed to comment, plus I gave extra opportunities for extra entries. My giveaway is done and the two jugs of maple syrup that I gave away are safely en route to some fine people that I hope will enjoy them.

There are only a couple of drawbacks to doing a giveaway. First, and most important, I wanted everyone to win! It's hard to only give away one thing. That's why I ended up having a runner-up. Next, when someone enters and you don't know them and they tell you that they shared about your giveaway because that will gain them another entry...well they're not always telling the truth. And that's disappointing. I don't mind at all that I don't know everyone who enters, because I love to meet new people. But...please don't cheat to win something, especially from an everyday simple gal like me who just likes people and wanted to share a part of her life with them.

So that said, for my next giveaway, I have to ask that everyone be a public follower of my blog. Commenting will get them one entry and sharing on their blog and then coming back to comment and providing me with the link will get them a second. I would love to offer extra chances for extra entries, but, just like when we were kids in school, one person can ruin it for the whole class and I would love to do giveaways an a regular basis, but not to cheaters.

After I reach 50 followers, I'm hoping to do a book giveaway. But I have a question...

These are only some of my books. I have many more. And I'm continually buying more. I mean...who can pass up a library sale when you can get a bag of books for a buck??

I have tons of books and, quite honestly, the majority of them I will only read once. Then I give them away. The other day, I thought to myself, "When you read a book that you're not going to keep why don't you give it away to one of your blog followers?" People love books.

Would it matter to you if the book had been read once?

I would love to buy new books or other things and give them away, but to be totally honest, our business is slow, times are tough, and I really can't afford to spend a lot of money right now.

So, what do you think? Do you mind if I have giveaways for books that have been read once. I will be honest. If I didn't necessarily like a book I will tell you! As a matter of fact, that is the case with the first one I have chosen. However, it is considered a classic and it was written by a famous writer. It just wasn't my kind of read. Someone else may be thrilled with it!

F-rankenmuth

These are a few of my favorite things:

F is for Frankenmuth.

You don't have to be from Michigan to know about Frankenmuth (a Bavarian town just west of the thumb in Michigan). I'm lucky enough to live an hour and a half away. An easy day trip. Although much more fun when we make it an overnight!

This is probably how the Bavarian Inn looked the first time I was there. Except it probably wasn't in black and white, but, you know what I mean. ☺

 The first time that I remember going there was after I made my First Communion. My parents, a favorite aunt and uncle, and me (JUST ME!) all spent the day there. I wore my Communion dress and enjoyed the attention and I slipped and fell in my pretty, shiny, new, white patent leather shoes.

I have no pictures from that trip. There must be some out there, but I found this:

On the back, it says Frankenmuth, Mich. in my very childlike handwriting. We would have gone in 1968 for my First Communion, so it would match up.

I don't remember any other trips to Frankenmuth, although I am sure there must have been. My husband and son never really liked the hype, so we didn't go there as a family. Jamie and I spent the weekend there in the spring that she graduated from high school. I think that planted a seed.

We started going again in the year 2000, when Jamie was in college. My mom and I would drive up and meet Jamie there. Frankenmuth is about half-way between home and the college she attended. 

I love how Jamie tells the story in her blog, From My Classroom Window. She chose Frankenmuth for her F-day too.

The three of us cherished our trips to Frankenmuth and it will always be a special memory.

My mom and I in 2000. We were taking pictures of each other in the parking lot, and a man (about my mom's age) offered to take one of the three of us. He was very flirty with my mom and we teased her about that for a good long time. I've searched high and low for the picture with the three of us. I wanted to use it and so did Jamie. I'm fairly organized about my pictures, but I can't find it. It's out there somewhere and I hope that we can find it. We are all very happy in it and I know that's the only one we have of the three of us in Frankenmuth. Jim usually took the camera with him on these weekends because he, Jon, and the other boys usually took a snowmobile trip while we were in Frankenmuth.

I even took my friend, Brigitte, there when she visited from Belgium. I hope she enjoyed it too!