Holiday recuperation

I think everyone (man and beast) here at Meadow Creek Farm (and Calm Acres too) is in need of some holiday recuperation.  We are bushed.  I blame the cookies...CB blames the catnip.  Either way, we are all grateful to have each other and a nice cozy place to nap.  Zzzzzzzzzz...

ChiChi Claus!!!

Merry Christmas!!

In the news...WOOT!

Last week I had the opportunity to participate in a Comcast Newsmaker interview about
Calm Acres (a small non-profit I started in November). 

FUN!

I always enjoy talking about my work at Calm Acres
and the impact it has on the lives of the people I help. 

Enjoy!
(BTW...LOVE how Yolanda pronounces my last name.) 

CLICK HERE!!

Nostalgia

Black and White photos are nostalgic to me.  They seem vintage and lend an elegance to whatever is being photographed.  I love my farm in Black and White.  LOVE it.

The Buck Stops Here

No.  Really.  The BUCK stops here.  So far he's still alive...much to the disappointment of all of my neighbors who hunt.  I'm rooting for the buck.  Go Buck!

Takin' Care of Business!

Go Mark Go!!!

Blowin'

SNOW!!!

The prediction was for 1-3".  Woopsie...we got just over 8".  Mark was happy...he got to use the new snowblower.  So glad HE likes doing this stuff.  I was happy to snuggle on the couch with the kitties and watch holiday movies.  

Giving Tuesday

Today is Giving Tuesday.  Before I ask you to consider a donation to Calm Acres, let me tell you about Frank. 

Frank is an animal lover; he really enjoys Disney movies, going to yard sales and eating burgers at Denny’s.  He also loves the horses at Calm Acres.  When Frank visits the farm, he is calm…he is relaxed.  For most that would not seem unusual.  But to Frank’s mom it’s phenomenal.  For Frank’s mom, the hour Frank spends with the horses is rewarding beyond words can describe.  For Frank’s mom the reward is in witnessing her son learn, work, help, smile, laugh, socialize and above all else, relax. 

We celebrate three days (Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday) where we shop for the best deals.  How about a day (Giving Tuesday) where we give back to others?  After all, it IS what the season is about right?  Interested in helping us help more people like Frank?  Please consider a small tax-deductible donation to Calm Acres ($25 goes a very long way). 

Visit us at www.CalmAcres.org for details on how you can help and to learn more about our work.  From the bottom of my heart…I thank you.  Please share my appeal if you feel it worthy.

Pretty Little Flowers...

Adorned our Thanksgiving table.  So lovely.  

My oh my...Calm Acres is ALIVE!!!!

Today it became official.  Thanks to the Carroll Community Foundation, Calm Acres has achieved 501c3 status.  What does this mean exactly?  I can continue to offer customized equine experiences to individuals with special needs at a VERY reduced rate (in most cases free).

Can you see my smile?  I'm so excited to continue this work...and help more people.

Visit my site if you have time...www.CalmAcres.org  And hey, if you want to make a donation (no matter how small) I'd love you forever.  Really.  FOREVER!!

Bad Bad Leroy Brown...

Leroy used to live in the city.  Baltimore to be exact.  His life was very different then.  Luckily our wonderful Mobile Vet (yes...she COMES TO THE FARM) noticed how friendly he was.  She asked if he could live here at Meadow Creek Farm.  

He is amazing...Oliver's best bud and has worked his way (sometimes) into the house.

I think it's safe to say he loves his new life.  

Faith

What happens when you let a new found friend carry your camera while you feed horses?

She takes an AMAZING photograph of a Boarder's horse.  

Thanks Eleanor!

(and...pssssttt...Faith, what's up with that face?)

His Day of Birth - Happy Birthday Markie Mark!

Man...I am SO HAPPY Mark was born.  Every day he makes my life exciting, special and full of fun.  Happy Birthday to my favorite man/boy.  Love, love, love him.  

Camera click and play

Just fudging around with the camera...toying with shutter and aperture.  Fun.

CB upside down cake?

No words.

Alice in Wonderland?

Ummmm...he is so COOL!  Or is this a she?  

New Venture...

Check it out! 

(and share if you feel compelled)

Thanks!

www.CalmAcres.org

A thoughtful gift

One of my horsemanship lesson clients is a 3 year old girl who has been taking lessons with me since she was 2.  I don't think anyone is too young to learn from horses.  They have so much to teach.  Compassion, empathy, kindness, patience...the list goes on and on.

I pride myself on knowing that children who participate in and eventually leave my program will have these important qualities.  It's all the thanks I need.  But, occasionally a client will give me a gift.  Something tangible.  I received this gift a few weeks ago and it melted my heart.  This little darling gets it...she gets me.

I'm so proud to teach her.  (and can't wait for Santa to fill this awesome stocking)

All grown up

Ol!ver is growing up so fast.  And boy is he handsome.  (I think he knows this.)

Guilty?

Innocent until proven guilty.  That's what they say.  

But, man she looks guilty as h-e-double hockey sticks.  

Thinking I should check the porch for bird parts.  Ugh. 

Nice Digs

Not sure if I will be lucky enough to have a bird family take up residence in my new birdhouse (THANKS MOM!!!), but if they do, they are gonna be living in the nicest house on the block.

Just sayin'.

Tough Life

This hammock was one of my birthday gifts from Mark.  I have laid in it ONCE.  Just sayin'.

So Proud...

Mark is published!!!  Last year Mark was approached by an editor who was updating "The Complete Guide to Stonescaping".  She had found a picture of Mark's firepit and wanted to use the photo.  Mark declined, but instead offered to show examples of his work.  Before and After.  It didn't take long for her to realize she needed to have Mark in her book.

I wonder if I can quit my job now?

Smug

He knows he has certain privileges the other cats don't.  I mean really...look at that face?

A new porch for MCF

In late June, an event forced us to make the decision to finally fix our rotting porch.  See this hole?  It was caused by a bench I was standing on that went through the floor.  Woopsie.  

We got to work pulling up boards...figuring, we needed only to replace the rotted boards with new boards.  It wasn't long before we realized that "rut row" we had major issues.  Rotten beams.



A quick trip to Lowes and several hundred dollars later, we were back in business.  We removed the rotted beam...



And replaced it with a new pressure treated beam.  Yes...the previous owners had used pine beams...ummmm...okay.  NOT!  (btw...thank goodness for the mini excavator....phew!)



Yup...ANOTHER rotten beam.  Ugh. Bye bye rotten beam!!


The new porch starts to take shape.

Mark even added special touches like the finished corner.

It's amazing!

We had installed these oak tree trunks as supports...they were neat looking but not pressure treated.  They were starting to rot.  They had to come out.



We purchased (yes another trip to Lowes) 6x6s to replace the trunks.  Not as neat, but much better for construction.  We even installed the post brackets.

The first new beam in place.

Big difference between the old porch (red/blue) and the new.  Lovely oak boards.

So cozy!!!



The best news of all, the porch is 100% kitty approved.  We will paint the posts (no more white) and install a railing.  The new porch is safe and sound...100% built by us.  Cool.

Repurposed

This year we had 3 sets of barn swallow babies.  Three nests FULL of the winged critters.  Their nests are so neat...they use mud and whatever else they can find.  I really appreciate their craftsmanship and that they use the hair from our horses to create their home sweet home.

The greatest gift of all...

One of my lesson students recently chose Cheech as the subject in her art class.  I was flattered.  I mean really...it's exciting when you realize that your horse is inspiring a young person.  But last night...I was absolutely FLOORED when she GAVE me the painting.  I'm not gonna lie...I burst into tears.  What an amazing child.  Talent, compassion, humor, and sweetness...she has it all. (and she's cute as a button too!!)  I'm so honored to be able to share horses with her.  Drum roll please...by the way...she is only 3 years old.  AMAZING!

pssssssttt...we can say we knew her before she became famous!!!  :)