Well... Ten Below....I Love Loading for a Show... When it's Ten Below...30 Below Wind Chill....

{This was taken at a Trail Ride, my friend Nicky and I went on..it was a 20 mile ride, on a crisp October, Sunday... through hills, and valleys, on the Turkey River, up near Elkader, Iowa...We camped there, Friday, and Saturday...The Big Ride, was Sunday Morning... About a thousand Horses would start...a fraction, would finish... Me and the Old Man...{Admiral} always made it... It was a grueling ride... This was taken when we got back...I laugh, when I see his 'halter'... I could run barrels with him, with just a little old piece of twine...he'd stop, on a dime... We'd sail over any 4 board fence... He was an Amazing Horse... God Bless these Amazing Animals...They saved me...} I was 16...he was 4... I had the joy of his company, for 28 years...I miss him...he's buried here...}

Working in the Shop, today...carrying totes down, to empty...and refill...slowly... my lungs totally shut down, when I start huffing, in this frigid air...I did myself in, when I was 12.... and would carry a bale of hay on my back...and drag one behind, down a half mile lane, when the snow was too deep for the old Ford to make it...{ I was driving, when I was 12... the critters had to be fed....} The year we rented that Farm ground, was the year my lungs went... I'm sure, I must have damaged them... it was so cold...and..the Snow was so deep....The horses would be standing at the gate, waiting for their supper...I could hear them whinny, soon as I would get out of the truck... I used to walk the corn fields, before the first snow, in the fall... and pick up ear corn, that the picker had missed... buckets and buckets...Then, I'd throw some out to the horses, in addition to their feed...when the weather got bad.. they loved it....I caught a glimpse, this morning, of a strange bruise, I have had, near my right wrist, since I was 12... I was feeding the horses...{they would swarm, when they saw the bucket...Treats!} I was throwing  the ear corn...and handing it, to them... one of the colts, grabbed ahold of my wrist, mistaking it, for an ear of corn...and wouldn't let go.... I thought he was going to get a hunk of flesh, for sure.... he didn't... it just left a weird, dappled spot, that is almost completely gone...
So...off to work I go...I have to take three Massive pieces, to Dale's... wanted to have it done, earlier, but, it wasn't in the stars...{seems it's always, hurry up...and wait...} I have to get them moved, so John can get busy on Nashville stuff...{his area, is beyond full...}
I have some Unbelievable... Nashville Stuff....If the weather holds... {even if it doesn't... we'll make it} I'm going to have some of the most unusual stuff, at that show...It's gonna be Grand....if only...I could just wave a Magic Wand....
Hope everyone has a Cozy Day!
Barb C.