Sweet Sustenance

Doubtless God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God never did. William Butler (1535-1620)
Oxford dictionary of quotes

Some days I feel like I can’t get anything “important” done, because of all of the daily, mundane tasks I must first accomplish.

Tasks such as getting gas, buying groceries, stopping by the post office, horsekeeping, housekeeping, innkeeping, (geez all this keeping !) greenhouse gardening the weekly menu line up, getting the car’s oil changed…these are all regular, everyday activities, which seem to leave little room for creative expression.

Or, do they?

Perhaps this every day life stuff is what sets someone apart from the crowd.
Perhaps it is about the way you treat people, and the way you face each day, which makes you who you are.

If you grocery-shop with a scowl on your face…what does that say about you? If you wait in line at the post office with your hands on your hips…what does that say about you?

How can we make our “everyday life” reflect our extraordinary qualities? It’s something I strive for everyday. I’m not quite there yet. I might be guilty of an occasional grocery store scowl, or find myself in an occasional hands-on-hips sort of mood…

But I want to create a better realty, because this islife; it’s not a dress rehearsal. So on to the weekly menu with my all time favorite fruit… guaranteed to inspire creativity and smiles..

When To Buy Strawberries
From: Handling Tips From The NASGA Fresh Strawberries Booklet

If you cant or don’t grow ‘em yourself, of course, choose locally grown strawberries during the harvesting session, they will be the freshest and the most flavourful. When picking strawberries, try to pick early in the morning or later in the day when the fruit is cool. Strawberries are best used within 2-3 days of picking. Cover and store them unwashed in the refrigerator. Do not crowd or press.

What To Look For When Buying Strawberries
From: Handling Tips From The NASGA Fresh Strawberries Booklet The best strawberries are the ones you pick yourself or buy from your local strawberry fields. Farm fresh strawberries are hours old with little or no handling and no travelling. Enjoy the flavour and fragrance of fresh-picked strawberries. Look for plump, bright red and fully ripe berries. Caps should be attached green and fresh looking. The size of the strawberry is not important. All strawberries, large and small, are equally sweet and juicy.

How To Store Fresh Strawberries
From: Handling Tips From The NASGA Fresh Strawberries Booklet
Sort and remove any bruised or damaged berries as soon as possible and use in sauces, purées or jams. Place the berries in cool, well ventilated containers (32 to 40°F / 0 to 5°C). The moisture content of Fresh Strawberries is high, so store uncovered or loosely covered. Hull strawberries and rinse gently JUST before serving. Careful storing and handling will maintain their maximum flavour, colour and texture.

They start pointing their nose out around mid-may and disappear by the end of July. We are lucky have real-ruby-red-home-grown strawberries as soon as the beginning of May.

Strawberries are so versatile from a mousse to a soup, from a compote to a posh tart A so many strawberries, too little time.

So basically what happens is that you end up making a new strawberry thing everyday and everyone — except you — gets bored with strawberries.

It’s Monday …. so let’s have a healthy start to the day and week. Not to worry, decadence will take uh root during the week, no doubt Blend strawberries, blackberries, a banana, a small pot of strawberry yoghurt and orange juice for 30 seconds.

Served with whole wheat toast or muffins . you’re ready to roll. While you’re sipping…more fruit for thought.

Freezing Strawberries Without Sugar for Jam and Other Uses
From: Handling Tips From The NASGA Fresh Strawberries Booklet
Fill freezer containers with prepared sliced, or washed and dried berries to within 1/2″ (1 cm.) of top. Combine 4 cp. (1 L.) cold water with 1 tbsp. (15 mL.) of lemon or lime juice and pour over berries before freezing. Seal, Label and Date.

More strawberry induced fixin’s on the inn menu this week.

Strawberry Cream Cheese French Toast

Serves: 8

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups fresh strawberries
12 slices home style white bread cut into 1-inch cubes
16 oz. cream cheese (cold) cut into 1-inch cubes
1 dozen large eggs
2 cups half-and-half
1/3 cup Canadian maple syrup
1 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 Tbsp. butter

Steps
Slice the strawberries. Arrange one half of the bread cubes in a well greased 13″x 9″ baking dish. Arrange all of the cream cheese cubes over the bread cubes, and sprinkle 1 1/2 cups strawberries on top. Arrange the remaining bread cubes over the strawberries.

Pour the half-and-half Into your blender, then add the eggs and blend. Add the maple syrup and blend. Pour the mixture evenly over the bread, strawberry and cream cheese mixture. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Remove the dish from refrigerator 45 minutes prior to baking. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake covered with foil for 30 minutes; remove cover and bake an additional 30 minutes, or until French toast is puffed and golden.

To prepare strawberry sauce: In a small saucepan, stir together the sugar, cornstarch, and 1 cup water. Cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until mixture has thickened. Stir in the strawberries and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until berries have softened. Add the butter, and stir the sauce until butter has melted. Serve hot over the Strawberry Cream Cheese French Toast.

Waffles with Fruit
Ingredients

* 2 cups sifted flour

* 3 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 tablespoon sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 3 eggs, separated
* 1 1/2 cups milk
* 5 tablespoons melted shortening
* 1/2 cup strawberries, blueberries or whatever fruit you’re adding

PREPARATION:
Mix and sift dry ingredients. Combine beaten egg yolks, milk, melted shortening and; add to dry ingredients, beating until smooth. Stir in sliced banana. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites. Pour or spoon batter into each section of a hot waffle iron.

Cook waffles until crispy and browned. Serves 6.

Strawberry Pancakes - From all recipes

Pancakes are the epitome of a decadent breakfast. Light and fluffy, sweet and doughy they are comfortable and fancy at the same time. Dress them up with some vanilla and a few slices of gorgeously plump strawberries and you have the perfect start to an amazing day.

ingredients:
1 ¼ cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 ¼ cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more for cooking
approximately 1 strawberry per pancake (~8), sliced into 8ths

* obviously these would work with almost any fruit: banana, blueberry, blackberry…peach…mmm. Anything works.

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a smaller bowl beat the egg slightly, add milk, vanilla and 3 tablespoons oil. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir just until flour is moistened (clumps are okay!).

2. Heat non-stick frying pan over medium-high and brush lightly with oil.

3. Pour batter by ¼ cupfuls onto hot pan, making three pancakes at a time. Top each with strawberry slices and then cook until edges look slightly dry. Turn and cook other side until golden.

More fruits of my labour for next weekend, and the “doingness” takes my mind off pre-show nerves. Another show and go with Alle, here in Whitehall. Yup .. it’s showtime folks yet again…

Without courage, wisdom bears no fruit. Sorry couldnt resist
-Baltasar Gracian

Run Horses Run

Did the morning run up to Kronenberger’s ranch this a.m. with a Manker dog in pacing mode. I’m always amazed by his herd. THe more equines he acquires, the less he rides.. **sigh**. I ’m just a person—one single human body, about 5′3″ and (never mind) pounds. I’m far away from the safety of my car, and I’m standing in the middle of the pasture, totally exposed. If they wanted to, the mares could charge me and totally wipe me out and finish me off by stomping on my abdomen or my sternum or my lower pelvic region in a New York minute. But instead, they run.
They run as if I’m the most threatening creature they’ve ever seen, much more threatening than the 1,100-pound cows or 1,800-pound bulls they sometimes come across, or the wild coyotes that roam our ranch looking for their next meal.

And I just don’t get it. I’m a really nice girl. I spoke to them in a soft, gentle voice. I was doing my best to hang with the homegirls.

Was it something I said ? It’s enough to give a middle child like me a complex.

As if I needed one more thing.

Home Grown Hospitality

Here we literally have home grown hospitality, having an on-site professional greenhouse where we grow our organic produce. A favorite “stop on the grand tour” that folks are fascinated by.

Some fruits - make that veggies of our labour from last year -

Which gave me food for thought on branding hospitality. What differentiates our bed and breakfast as a lodging opportunity? The greenhouse for sure is one. Being a horse friendly acommodation is another biggy… Which all comes down to “how else do we brand ourselves? “

Focus the Marketing Efforts - There’s that “F” word again. Casting too wide a net is a mistake often made by entrepreneurs with big appetites and small budgets (sorry couldnt resist) As a b&b owner in a rural country area, promotion and marketing while important is done on a totally different level than the big boys sitting on Park Ave.

Like most small businesses, we have to be creative with marketing since there are the budgetary constraints. . Here are three fun and effective tools we use.

1. Split advertising and promotion costs with neighboring businesses. Jointly promote a sidewalk sale, or take your marketing alliance further by sharing mailing lists, distribution channels and suppliers with businesses that sell complementary goods or services. Since we serve breakfast only, we recommend the restaurants in town and in Twin Bridges to our guests. Likewise people coming through town looking to make a stop for the night (hopefully) will get sent here.

2. Similar advice holds true for special events. Instead of taking a small, obscure booth in a half-dozen community events, purchase one or two major sponsorships per year to ensure that everyone who attends the events will be exposed to your message.
We have a banner at the Madison County Fairgrounds in Twin Bridges a venue which hosts a slew of different events from Rodeos to Reunions. Lots of locals and out of towners come to these events. This one covers a “multitude of sins”.

3. Happy guests spread the word. By telling others what they’ve gained from using your products or services in presentations or informal conversations, your sources can encourage others to use your products or services.

4. Hobnob with the locals; we regularly visit the farmer’s market here in town which is held each Saturday in the summer. We provide some of our produce as well as enjoy visiting with both locals and travelers.

5. Another unique feature is we’re a horse friendly accommodation. We have stalls, turn out pasture and of course 4 friendly herd horses for them join. As an endurance rider, we have lots of folks either looking for trail riding here or enroute to Yellowstone for riding. I’ve even heard some horror stories of overnight trailering on the highway. They love being able to board their horses here instead of at a campground .

How do you stand out from the competition?

Speaking of horses, today the Winds of Whitehall were back in full speed. It was pretty bitter on this morning’s run and we were set to meet Patrick later in the day. I was a bit apprehensive since the winds kept howling all morning serenading me whilst doing the innkeeping chores.

Still enjoying a plethora of greenhouse harvest, fortified the troops with a veggie omelet and toast. Recipe courtesy of the American Egg Board

Ingredients
• 1 small onion, sliced
• 1/4 cup chopped green pepper
• 1 small zucchini, sliced
• 1 medium tomato, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning or oregano leaves, crushed
• 4 eggs, separated
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar or lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon butter or cooking oil OR cooking spray
• 1/3 cup shredded reduced-fat Cheddar or Swiss cheese

In medium saucepan or skillet, stir together onion, green pepper, zucchini, tomato and seasoning. Cook, covered, over medium heat until vegetables are tender, but not brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Keep warm.

In large mixing bowl at high speed, beat egg whites with water and cream of tartar until stiff but not dry, just until whites no longer slip when bowl is tilted. In small mixing bowl at high speed, beat egg yolks until thick and lemon-colored. Gently, but thoroughly, fold yolks into whites.

In 10-inch omelet pan or skillet with ovenproof handle+ over medium-high heat, heat butter until just hot enough to sizzle a drop of water. Pour in egg mixture. Gently smooth surface. Reduce heat to medium. Cook until puffed and lightly browned on bottom, about 5 minutes. (Lift omelet at edge to judge color.) Bake in preheated 350°F oven until knife inserted halfway between center and outer edge comes out clean, about 10 to 12 minutes.

Loosen omelet edges with spatula. With sharp knife, cut upper surface down center of omelet but DO NOT cut through to bottom of omelet. Arrange reserved vegetable mixture over half of omelet. Sprinkle with cheese. Tip pan. With pancake turner, fold omelet in half and invert onto warmed plate or platter with a quick flip of the wrist. Cut in half or into wedges. Serve immediately.

Once fueled, we set out.I hoped my initial nervousness wouldnt telegraph to Picken and thought it would be a good profile in courage for me. We set out with Patrick on his “Runaway” , so nicknamed since that’s his inclination even at the ripe old age of three.

“The Runaway” was content to settle in behind Picken and we figured at the top of the hills along the bench winds topped out at 40 mph. Tough going. When we descended and were going through the “wash”, I started really having fun despite the conditions. Patrick wanted me to lead out at a canter/gallop so that the “Runaway” would have something to run “to” rather than run away. Picken did a fairly serious gallop but I had no problem bringing her down. Dan followed Patrick on Brady and was on the edge.! Continuing on the loop, Patrick led the way since following is a tough one for Picken. It felt good again that I was able to contribute to Patrick’s horse training and make a difference..

Again a good lesson in “enjoying the journey” and observing where you are in the process and where you’ve come from. A year ago, that kind of ride would never have happened; I did nt have either horse skill or mental management. I know this is just another “town along the road”.

Now go out, and make a difference. Trot on friends, trot on.

The Rundown on Roundup

What will this day be like? I wonder.
What will my future be? I wonder.
It could be so exciting to be out in the world, to be free My heart should be wildly rejoicing Oh, what’s the matter with me? I’ve always longed for adventure To do the things I’ve never dared Here I’m facing adventure
Then why am I so scared
Oh, I must stop these doubts, all these worries If I don’t I just know I’ll turn back
I must dream of the things I am seeking I am seeking the courage I lack
Maria - The Sound of Music

When I am completely and utterly outside of my element, I find that aspects of my life – my habits and thought patterns, even my conscious and unconscious beliefs - become clear to me in ways that they otherwise would not.-on fear and confidence issues.
But why then, do so many people give-up or deny their dreams? That is an easy one to answer…..They give up because they are afraid, afraid of failure. Fear is what stops us; the ultimate whoa. Fear is the darkness that casts a shadow over our light. And, fear is what we need to overcome if we want to reach for our dream

Roundup Rendevous Friday dawned snowy, rainy and cold. I went out to feed and was definitely close to bailing on our upcoming journey for my first endurance ride in Roundup. I thought I had prayed it out and went back up to the house at which point Dan looked up without missing a beat and pronounced we were going and that I’d totally regret not going and I had the sounds of chickening out. Spoken like the most excellent crew person he is. And while the motto of endurance riding is “To Finish is to Win”, I thought about revising it to “To Go is to Win Out of my head went thoughts of not going and a trailer loading we went. That in itself is a logistical exercise packing hay, feed and the equine essentials for the vet checks.

The trip to took an hour longer than planned since we had some good ol’ weather along the way. It ‘d clear up for 2 minutes followed by snow, hail, pelting rain and any combination therein. The ride managers Susie and Alan Churchill were incredible. They totally got my pre-ride nerves since it was my first ride and they and their volunteers did a yeoman job of calming me down. The volunteers who ranged from long time endurance riders to folks who’d never done rides, from the number takers to the guys who weighed tack at the end of the ride… completely selfless. Trust me, running a bed and breakfast, and a horse-friendly one at that.. it’s all about the guests needs. And having volunteered at marathons and crewed at the infamous Badwater 135, volunteering is often plum more tiring than being an actual participant. These guys were gracious and managed to maintain a sense of humor throughout (Walmart are you listening?)

My first fear of not passing the vet-check in were quickly allayed as vet Bill gave GaZi A scores on everything. One hurdle down

It helps to know your destination when facing fears… Where do you want to go? Small, successful baby steps will help you reach your goal. For most , their destination is confidence. That may be confidence in the saddle, confidence on the ground, Many riders have lost their confidence through an accident, a fall, or another traumatic event. Mine was to complete with a healthy horse passing the final vet checks Regardless, they love horses and want to effectively communicate and enjoy the magnificent creatures they both love and fear. It is very frustrating to be terrified of the very thing you love intensely. It’s a doubled edge- sword.

The pre-ride meeting was presided over by the jovial Alan Churchill who’d spent the better part of the day in the freezing rain/snow marking trail and making sure it was as negotiable as possible with all the mud and muck. One of my fears is getting lost. The course markings here were so great you almost had to work at getting lost. Very informative with liberal doses of humor thrown in to lighten things up. And while I and one other rider were the sole newbies in the bunch, the endurance “family” just embraced us and answered those “questions that have probably been asked a million times” like it was the first time they’d heard it.

Whatever the journey, are your fellow travelers - Who will journey with you? The best laid plans… if you plan to ride with someone, you gotta see if you’re horses are simpatico. Some people prefer to travel alone, others do not. Some journeys are safer with traveling companions, and with others, it does not matter as much. A good horse to ride, a good trainer, and good horse friends are huge. Fellow travelers make the Journey to Confidence safer and a lot more fun!And while alot of this ride I did ride alone.. I found that awesome as well. A huge victory for me not as I do ride alone alot, but here I was on Gazi doing a great steady trot on trails I’ve never been on and not feeling real tentative about it.

But the true spirit of the sport came when about 2 miles from the end of the first loop, GaZi and I were trotting along and a combination of a rock I think he slipped on and other horses caused let us say a “temporary separation”. I immediately called Dan on my cell who talked me back down to the trail hoping Gazi’d make his way back to camp. I was hoping Gazi’d not gone galloping off somewhere into the Bull Mountains Praying as I jogged back, 3 riders that we’d passed earlier saw me and in typical endurance rider fashion, their agenda was done.. it was about my horse and my safety. About 100 yards up the trail they spotted him grazing in the pasture a little bit wondering why he was alone but they easily corraled him, I remounted and we all pressed on easily into camp. He pulsed down just fine and Alan who’d already gone on his four wheeler to find him was alerted that we were safe and sound. Passing vet check, and now in hold time, Susie asked if I was going on. I said “hell yeah” and she cheered.

Talk about karma, I found out later at the awards banquet that the girl who’d helped me, suffered an “unforced dismount” about 15 minutes later, and several riders happened on her and helped her out in much the same way. In this world of “lead, follow or get outta my way”, the comraderie and spirit is incredible.

Gazi ate and drank well during the hold and we headed out alone on the second loop. By this time, the weather had turned sunny and warm.. a stark contrast from the Montana winter of the day before . A true amen ! During the first section here the “little man ” as I call him and I were just enjoying the journey together and it was a good time to just “be”, be with the trail, my horse in our continuing partnership. I did catch up with other newbie who hailed from South Dakota, though she’s had way more seat time than I . We enjoyed the rest of the loop together making sure the “kids” took ample water along the way. I trotted in ahead though I stopped him well before the finish line to walk him in to pulse down.

Dan was standing there and I could see him saying from the distance “Are you happy”? And all i could do was give him two thumbs up. Even happier that the entire ride I was never alone… G-d was right there holding the reins . We did the final vet check and come to find out were were in the top ten. Awesome since we got to check and re-check GaZi’s recovery rates and that’s where my prayers were truly answered. He finished tired but healthy.

We got to visit for quite awhile with the vet after the ride who while busy vetting in the other 30 milers and 55 milers was a wealth of info on conditioning and overall equine advice. GaZi was pronounced fit, sound and ready to go. Proving that a successful partnership be it equine or personal must be 100%/100%.

The town of Roundup is a friendly welcoming town and the landowners were so gracious in allowing us to make use of their land for the tour. What I got out of this journey despite all my initial trepidations is first, trust G-d, second, Start the Journey! As I always say when I mount… “here we go, best ride ever”. There is a world of equestrian adventure out there, awaiting those who are brave enough to find it. You can overcome it (heck I took a huge baby step– hmmm is that an oxymoron?), if you are willing to put the time, energy, hard work, and often, money, into making your dreams come true. Riding your horse on a beautiful mountain trail and enjoying every step of the way is a satisfaction like no other. And in reaching the finish line of this endurance journey, I know I have come home. If your happy trails bring you to Montana, I’d run dont walk (or would that be gallop not walk) to this ride.

Do I hear an amen? Trot on friends, trot on.

Horses are Proof that G-d loves us and Wants us to Be Happy.
– Old Prairie Song

The Blessing Way of Horses

The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed.
- Carl Jung

All there is is now not what happened yesterday’s ride or what will next weekend’s ride be like. Everytime we take off I say “here we go , best ride ever”.

.We all strive for this promising moment where we find that true bond that is stronger then love. Only horses can give us the fulfilling magic. This magic can be instant; it may be discovered the second your eyes meet their devoted eyes. Or it may not be realised until you first make it through that tough show. Such was the case with Alle

Whenever or wherever it is revealed, treasure it forever, for you may not find the special magic with every horse you affectionately ride or take care of. Take every breathtaking chance you have to live these excitedly shared moments. Memories of magic

Through the eyes of a horse, you learn all your horse wants is love. In the eyes of a horse, you see it wants to be near you always. You know that you’re not alone when you’re lonely. You know that your horse will give you a hug without physically touching. And you know he touches your soul. During hard times, you look in his eyes and feel better.

Just another way of communicating… look in his eyes.. what’s he saying? Have you looked into your horses eyes lately? Next time you go to see your loving mount, give him or her a loving hug.

Discovering the Horse(Wo)man Within

I didnt grow up around horses… the only thing I knew from horses was watching The Kentucky Derby each May and reading Flicka.  Things changed quickly when we got here.

Gazi continues to bring out the horsewoman within struggling to get out… I’m still getting used to the “Arabian” constitution. in the continuing quest for focus, balance (can you say stay upright)” and discovery And while I”m still finding my seat… I’m trusting him more, he’s trusting me more.

We’ve discovered that while we thought Brady Dan’s horse had nothingbut disdain for her new “younger brother’ in the herd… alas they are very bonded. Patrick has us doing major “separation” exercises while we’re out.. causing more than a little worry for each of them… especially Brady.. But He is less agitated when he’s worried, and it’s easier to get his mind back with me.

Another change is that I am seeing him more for who he is, not just what he looks like. There is quite some complexity and insecurity and determination and willingness beneath that attractive Arab appearance. So I continue to discover the horsewoman within…

You might just be a horseperson if

…your horse gets new shoes more often than you do.
…your mouth waters at the sight of a truck full of hay.
…every time you drive past a road construction sight you think what nice jumps the barricades would make.
…you consider a golf course as a waste of good pasture land.
…your friends no longer ask to get together after school/work or on a weekend because they know you’ll say, “I can’t, I have to ride.”
…you pull a $17,000 horse trailer with a $1,000 pick-up truck.
…you buy duct tape by the case, and carry rolls in your pocketbook, briefcase, backpack, and car trunk.
…you realize finding a horse shoe is truly lucky because you’ve saved ten bucks.
…your boyfriend complains that you love your horse more than you love him and you say: “And your point is..?”
…someone does something nice for you and you pat them on the neck and say ‘good boy’.
…you try to get by someone is a restricted space and instead of saying “excuse me” to him/her, you cluck at them instead.
…you show up for an appointment in your city clothes and when you get there people reach across the table to pick alfalfa out of your hair.
…no one wants to ride in your car because they’ll get sweet feed and hay in their socks and on their clothes…but that’s ok because you’ll have to rearrange all the tack to make room for them anyway!
…you look at all the piles of laundry sitting next to your washing machine and most of them are breeches, horse blankets, saddle pads, etc…. but you don’t even care about the horsey hair residue that will be left in your washer and dryer.
…you say “whoa” to the dog.
…your mother, who has no grandchildren, gets cards addressed to Grandma, signed by the horses and dogs.
…you see the vet more than your child’s pediatrician.
…you groom your horse daily for hours and you haven’t seen a beautician since…?
…someone asks for a screwdriver and you hand them a hoof pick.
…you clean tack after every ride but you never, ever, wash the truck.
…on rainy days, you organize the tack room, not the house.
…you can remember worming schedules, lessons, and farrier visits in your head, but often forget your class schedule, household chores, and meals.
…you are unreasonably pleased to get a horse item, ANY horse item, as a gift.
…you actually get to a point where flies don’t bother you that much anymore.

Here we go.. .best ride ever I say to myself just before I put on my helmet (aka brain bucket).  Trot on friends, trot on.

The 10 Commandments from Horses

“I get up every morning determined to both change the world and to have one hell of a good time.
Sometimes this makes planning the day difficult” -E.B. White

If you want to watch G-d laugh, have a plan… especially with your horses. They dont know from schedules… all their is is now… Another great lesson they teach me. I think G-d teaches great lessons through his animal kingdom

I like quotes, phrases and mottos, because they can contain wisdom and lessons in a few words. . They’re no good unless you share them. Which brings me to another in my sometime series.

The 10 Commandments from the spirit of Horses
1. Thou shalt trot a mile in your fellow man’s hooves. If you treat everyone you meet as if they are hurting in some way, you’ll be right most of the time.
2. Thou shalt remember: you aren’t what you do. If you are what you do, then when you don’t, you aren’t.
3. Thou shalt do it now. There are so few tomorrows.
4. Thou shalt remember, horses reveal, when we are truly ready to listen.
5. Thou shalt treat money like manure; it’s not worth a thing unless it’s spread around encouraging young things to grow.”
6. Thou shalt know it is not enough for a man to learn how to ride; he must learn how to fall..”
7.Thou shalt shut thine eyes our eyes tight and commend yourself to G-d when purchasing a horse or taking a spouse.
8. Thou shalt not need a title or braggin’ rights to enjoy riding my horse long distances.
9. Thou shalt remember the innate qualities of our horse even when he’s not listening. “The horse has the pride of a lion, the eye of a deer, the speed of a gazelle, the strength of an ox, the loyalty of a soldier, and the heart of a woman. He has brought the country doctor to the day of our birth, cleared our roads, and plowed the fields that feed us. He has carried us as children across an open meadow, and, finally, when our time is done, pulled the wagon that takes us to our final resting place. He is with us always.”
10. Horse, thou art truly a creature without equal, for thou fliest without wings and conquerest without sword.

The horse is G-d’s gift to man
- Arabian Proverb
Trot on friends, trot on.

Team Canter Gets Ready to hit the trail

As Gaynor and I (aka Team Canter) make our final equine preparations for our endurance ride at roundup Montana in the next weekend, we also have the “camping” extravaganza to prepare for too

As with weddings and tax-evasion, an journey to a backwoods trail demands that attention be paid to what seems like a myriad of details. Even among seasoned hikers there is no such thing as immunity to forgetfulness, while for the novice, simple lack of experience necessitates a near-compulsive attentiveness while planning, as often enough, even seemingly obvious points of note can go woefully overlooked. I know getting ready for this ride, I’ve printed out the quintessential “what to bring to a ride list” only to read and re-read til I have it indelibly etched in my brain. And still I worry I’m gonna for get something important.

That Hill Looked Flatter on Paper . . .

Never fails to happen. he problem though, is that when most initiate backpackers first pour over a park map, they focus on the indicated length of the trail, and not the terrain it runs over. Always remember: Most park-maintained trails are designed to offer the path of moderate resistance, and that winding red line measures the distance from A to B as the crow flies – while you’ll be walking.

A 10-mile trail traversing a park’s hill-strewn highland region can easily be more difficult than a than a 15-kilometer (9.3 miles) route through gently rolling terrain. Attention must be paid to the topographic contour lines that overlay the indicator for the trail itself, yet they are so often and easily overlooked by someone judging a trail’s difficulty on horizontal distance alone.

Cutting Weight Versus Cutting Corners

Anyone who’s ever carried so much as a schoolbag on their back knows that lighter is the way to go, but some kit pieces are unquestionably worth the extra poundage. This is particularly important to keep in mind, as a few of these are often among the heavier items you’ll need along with you. Back to my original theory… “less is more”.

Forgetfulness isn’t so much a problem here as is inexperience – know what’s mandatory and when looking to shed weight, give a thought toward Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Food, water and shelter above all else, followed then by what’s required for basic safety. In other words, whatever you do away with, adequate food, a means of producing heat (matches, flint, etc.) water and a pot to boil more in, clothing, tent and sleeping roll suited for nighttime temperatures and a first-aid kit all form the immutable core of your gear – look elsewhere when lightening the load.

Partners In Crime

The larger the group the better, and where a two-member party is the minimum, four would be truly ideal. This offers numerous advantages, including the dispersal of weighty communal items (cookware, tents, etc.) an increased party-presence that will help ward-off unwanted wildlife, and the reduced chance that a disaster along the trail will leave one member alone and immobilized while another goes back for help.

The Three Most Neglected Items . . .

Knife: There’s a reason why the first tools ever wielded had cutting edges. For all intents and purposes, a sturdy, sharpened knife will be one of the most oft-reached for items in your pack.

Matches: It’s the worst feeling in the world to sit hunched before your carefully included stove or readied kindling, only to realize you’ve forgotten a means of igniting it. On their first trip beyond car-camping, no one wants to find themselves re-enacting Quest for Fire . . . or Alive, for that matter.

Rope: You’ll be setting lines for your tent, binding things to the outside of your pack, stringing food high up in the trees at night, erecting tarps between fire and falling rain, replacing severed bootlaces . . . in short, you’ll need rope, preferably about 100 feet worth of the polypropylene variety.

Perhaps most important of all things to remember is that when embarking on any journey into great outdoors, camping, care and consideration are paramount, as barring that of Nature, the most common Law in the life of a hiker, trail rider or runner is, often enough, that of Murphy.

Camping checklists can vary depending on the length of the camping trip, size of the group, and your priorities … but here’s where you can find more than the ABC’s of camping and your outdoor extravaganzas.

Time to hit the road and git ‘r done. See you on the other side. Happy trails

Hey, we shall inherit the earth

I believe in God, only I spell it Nature.
Frank Lloyd Wright

Celebrated Earth Day out with Patrick on a trail ride near Mill Creek. Bordering National Forest it’s in the n the heart of Amish arm Country. Hey!” shouted a farmer; he invokes “PP”, the private property principle. When it comes to beauty and nature, I’m with Bakunin – property is theft, at least when the receiver of the stolen Indian property is just hogging the view. We’ll see how fast GaZi and company feel like going on this nice soft turf,. Before the landowner and I could get very far along on our debate over the proposition that the revolution had been for the pursuit of happiness rather than for property, he started worrying that his canine was making a break for for it. He started calling his dog JB, who was running quietly along behind us. Sometimes dogs would rather run with horses than bark at them. Patrick always brings Jack his jack russell wherever he goes. That this little dog has survived horses and miles he’s done is a major miracle… but I digress.  JB trotted along , until its owner, driving parallel in his pickup, caught up with us all and coaxed his dog back.

After this hit and run, we had a great ride for 5 miles or so along the creek, and through the fields, orchards and  and all around beauty that defines Mill Creek.. Being in Amish Country , this part of the valley does not suffer from much human pressure, and it’s not bristling with keep out indicators, nor so many abandoned appliances, not too many shotgun shells and bald tires half-sunk into the soil.

Sometimes the water ran so close to the top of its banks that it seemed like a gentle, winding stream. It went alongside a wild, uncultivated reserve, and past an alpaca farm – shorn. Their scrawny bodies and ostrich necks topped by a poof of furry untrimmed head make them more startlingly more ludicrous looking than those frou frou Park Avenue poodles. In a couple of places along the streams we had to be creative to find a crossing. Following one, the soft  ground encouraged G-man to exaggerate the hidden possibilities of danger lurking in the creek’s overgrowth on one side  into justification for a fast gaiting charge for half a mile,  until we emerged at an untravelled road/  A n an old bridge over the creek allowed us to  cross and head back down and loop back.

Sometimes on this ride and others in farming areas , when you look out across a field of some tall ripening grassy crop like wheat or rye, a blackbird suddenly flies up out of the nowhere and followed by the others, but the flock is so numerous and the flight so short that for a little while some birds are still appearing at the same time others are disappearing. Another spook opportunity for our menagerie.

At 8 mpg I added a lot of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere getting here. Trot on friends, trot on.

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”
Native American Proverb

B and B and Barnstorming

We’re expecting a full house here of shooting clinic participants; I know that whenever we have shooting clinic participants coming; it conjures up pictures of what they must be like as some descend in their Cabelas hunting clothes ready voice an octave lower, for effect tatoos for a day at the range . Also reminds me of sometimes when guests show up at the door; you see them through your filters and they end out by never being the “same folks” upon departure… It almost always happens that these folks are the kindest, most funnest and a classic case of “kiss your pictures goodbye”

Ever notice how phrases either take on new meaning and or come back to haunt you? How many times have you heard the saying “born in a barn” We’d hear that sometimes when we came in the door! Some simple country gleanings:

• Words that soak into your ears are whispered, never yelled.
• Forgive your enemies. It’ll mess up their heads.
• Never corner a critter meaner than you.
• It sure don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge.
• You just never can unsay a cruel thing.
• Everyones path has got some puddles.
• The best sermons ain’t preached, they’re lived.
• Most of the stuff people worries about never happens.
• Remember, silence is sometimes the best answer.
• Country fences should be horse high, pig tight, and bull strong.
• Life is not about how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you bounces back

But these boys are waiting for some fixings . To sustain ‘em we whipped up f Blueberry Buckwheat Pancakes — Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. courtesy of Epicurious

# 1/2 cup buckwheat flour (available at natural foods stores)
# 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
# 2 teaspoons double-acting baking powder
# 2 teaspoons sugar
# 1 teaspoon salt
# 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into bits
# 2 large eggs
# 1 cup milk
# 1 1/2 cups blueberries, preferably wild, picked over and, if large, halved
# Non-fat spray vegetable oil (such as Pam) for the griddle
# pure maple or blueberry syrup as an accompaniment

In a food processor blend together the flours, the baking powder, the sugar, and the salt, add the butter, and blend the mixture until it resembles fine meal. In a large bowl whisk together the eggs and the milk, add the flour mixture, and whisk the batter until it is combined well. Let the batter stand for 5 minutes and stir in the blueberries.

Preheat the oven to 200°F. Heat a griddle over moderate heat until it is hot enough to make drops of water scatter over its surface and brush it with the oil. Spoon the batter onto the griddle to form 3-inch rounds and cook the pancakes for 1 to 2 minutes on each side, or until they are golden. Transfer the pancakes as they are cooked to a heatproof platter and keep them warm in the oven. Serve the pancakes with the syrup.

Makes about twenty-four 3-inch pancakes.

And if all else fails, I can always retreat once again with dignity to the barn It’s there that I’m yet again reminded why G-d invented horses.

On days when things don’t go so right
When plans are crushed
or my heart aches,
I take a walk to the barn.

I hear a welcome murmuring
and then, Gazi’s fine chestnut head
peers out from his stall door.
He listens to my troubles
and never tries to blame.
I lean against his strength and softness,
rest my head on his rumpled mane (i need to detangle that thang)
and take a long deep breath.
He bends his neck to cradle me,
making sure that I’m okay
and then goes back to munching hay.

The rhythm of hisr chewing,
The smell of my GaZi,
Reassure me that life goes on.
So when I need a better reason
to keep moving on down my path,
to clear the air,
to forgive, if not forget,
I take a walk to the barn.