How I've been spending my time....

[Katie]

Hi everyone.

It's been awhile since I've clogged the airwaves here, and I apologize to those who have sent me PMs that I haven't gotten till now. But I want to introduce you to my reason for being absent, well, along with my granddaughter of course.

Meet Annie, my new mare.



Finally, after almost ten years, I am able to drive again This is the greatest feeling since walking a straight line after surgery! I managed to keep my other mares, but they were not trained quite well enough to be safe for me in my revised condition. So when I saw the ad for this mare who had been on the American International Driving team, basically Olympic quality in her day, I couldn't resist. She was just needing a new home, not a whole new bank account to get her and she arrived a few weeks before Christmas, just in time to pull Santa's other sleigh

She is full of beans and gives me lots of fun on the trails. I don't even have the sleigh painted yet, nor gotten the harness adjusted properly in my excitement to just get out and drive (I know Frances at least will know the difference and spot the mistakes )

I apologize again for missing the holiday season completely and please accept our belated best wishes for the New Year. Pray for snow, lots of snow (We love the sound of those sleigh bells!)

[Katie]

(PS: Just click on the photos to enlarge them...takes a minute or two...)

[ajj1001]

Lovely to hear from you and congratulations on the new arrival! Sounds brilliant being back doing active stuff again. Happy new year!

[Genn]

Katieeeee!!

Annie is beautiful!! And, treating you well, by the sounds of it!! Woohooo!! Driving for the first time in ten years, What a feeling that must be!! Sooo happy for you!!

It has been an unusual year for snow here in the NE.. We got over a foot for Halloween and not much since.. It is very cold today so, I think more snow is on the way!!

To more snow and sleigh bells!!

Love the updated pics!! Keep them coming!!

Yay!!

[Kimberly]

What a wonderful Christmas gift!

Here's to a great 2012!

[dalhousie]

What a great pic with the sleigh. Annie looks beautiful. Good to hear you've been able to go out riding with horses again.

[KanRunMo]

That's a beautiful Christmas card. How perfect. I hope you put jingle bells on her. Glad to hear you're out doing things. We've had no snow. Our kids visiting from southern Oregon were hoping we would have lots of snow. An old area of town which normally has sleigh rides around Christmas, had to go with wheels this year.

[Cindylou]

Katie, I did get your Christmas card and I am just elated for you!!! I've been absent myself on the boards, trying so hard to get my glutes, abs, and quads stronger this winter, hoping to get off opiates altogether. Not there yet, some bumps still, but making progress. We are super low on snow too. We had a totally brown Christmas....first one I can remember in years. I've got the post holiday blues but I did sign up to start a new class next Monday evening for 8 weeks. That will help me get through winter, I am hoping. If it's going to be cold, I say bring on the snow! I can't stand it being cold with no snow. Ugh. Love you, miss you, but am so happy for you sweetie! CL

[Katie]

Thanks guys! The day after this was taken, the temperature went up, and they put salt on the road...sleighs just don't go well with slush Thankfully I have a four wheeled marathon carriage as well...all stuff I've had for years, so I'm able to take that out when conditions aren't right for the white stuff. It will go anywhere a motorized four wheeler will.

Actually today is the only day since the 26th that is 'sleigh-perfect' too....not -30 with the wind, no ice and fresh snow...but I have app'ts all day, and the plough just went by, just seconds ago Oh well, pray for a long winter!

Yes, Kan, we do have sleigh bells! On a horse forum I frequent, we can exchange Christmas gifts...just like we could here...complete strangers who are best friends One year, a lady in TN gave me a set of bells, knowing I wanted to have a sleigh some day. And I use the bells on the carriage as well

CL, I miss you so much too. Hugs sweetie. Hey, did you used to go snowshoeing? And is the ice thick enough to go fishing on the lake yet? That has always put a smile on your face There's not too many cold weather friends out there...good to know we share that as well!

Wish you could all come by for a sleigh party, then a bonfire and hot beverages.....

And not sure if everyone knows this, but if you click on the pictures in the first post, they will enlarge, so you don't need a microscope ;-)

[Cindylou]

A sleigh party sounds divine about now. We are heading up to the cabin this afternoon.....I haven't been in months. So we'll find out if the ice is thick enough for any recreational activity. I doubt it though, because the temperatures up there too have been unseasonably warm. And yes, we normally do snow-shoe when up there, but again, will have to see if they have any snow when we arrive. It's just drastic for all the winter businesses that depend on the white stuff for their sales. Such a different winter than last year when we were pounded with snow. It's going to be kind of a bitter-sweet weekend though, as we are planning on meeting with a real estate agent to discuss putting the cabin on the market. Prices have fallen so much, we'll be lucky to walk away from it not owing anything. Alas, wish we had a hidden fortune of money. Have a good weekend, CL