"There is no secret so close as that between a rider and [her] horse." - Robert Smith

Here is a little picture history of Ribbon and I. A few days ago, the ranch manager called and said that Ribbon was not doing very well. She wasn't eating normally and wasn't as spunky as usual. The vet said that it was probably time to let her go. So, yesterday afternoon, he went to the barn and put her down. These are pictures that were taken just after I bought her in 2003, to the last one that was taken last month.

The picture above is when Karl came to take
our family pictures. See the red-head in the back?
She knew she belonged. :)

Christmas 2003

Ribbon would follow me everywhere, even trot behind me. 

Ribbon and Jimmy. He was always very distressed when I took her
from the pasture.

Uncle Loyal's back yard where Ribbon stayed on her way up to Oregon in
2009.

Ribbon and her new pasture buddy, Gus.

Ribbon's first blanket! The rainy winters of Oregon called for something
more than her own coat. She and Fritta were great friends when they met
in the barn and then shared a paddock in the summer.

Ribbon loved the grass in Oregon. It was always so green!

Katie went to work at Black Lake Bible Camp one summer.
Before we drove up to Washington we spent a couple days in Salem
and she got to ride Ribbon again. My first two years at Corban,
 Katie took care of Ribbon for me and they became good friends.

Katie saying good-bye.

Me saying good bye.

Our last ride was magical. I didn't even intend to ride, but the day was one of those cheerful sunny days that wasn't too hot. The front paddock was empty and made a great outside arena. So I saddled her up and we walked and trotted. And then she just stretched into a canter and we just went around and around the field. It was perfect.
Katie came the next day and we left a few days later. I saw her briefly in November, and I knew that it was time to say good-bye. I wouldn't be seeing her again.
I had hoped when I left to find someone to adopt her who would keep her at the barn so she could stay where she had been the happiest. No one adopted her, but she was able to stay at the place that had become her home.

"Photo-a-day..." Day 30

"Your Winter Wonderland"

Fortunately, we had snow the day after Christmas and it has kept coming, so today's picture actually looks like a "winter wonderland."

Our house early in the morning

 Katie and I bundled up today, scavenged for a couple of garbage can lids, and went in search of a hill to sled down. This was much harder than it sounds. We did more walking than actually sledding. And the hills that we found weren't very long or exciting. But we did have fun.

"December Photo-a-Day..." Day 24

"Favorite Part of Christmas Eve"

"What could be in these boxes?"

It's hard to say what part of Christmas Eve is really my favorite. I love the Christmas Eve service: all of the singing and reading the Christmas story. My family's church began their service with a Christmas carol flash mob which was, in Katie's words, "Awesome!"
Then we did the traditional songs and Scripture readings. Someone in the church put together a hysterical video of the Christmas story told by the little children and performed by the youth group.
And, of course, there was Silent Night and the lighting of the candles.

When we got home we had a delicious fondue dinner (another great, and recent, Christmas Eve tradition).
And of course, there is the annual Christmas Eve gift, that we always pretend not to know about. This tradition is much older than I remember. Apparently we've (I've) been getting pajamas on Christmas Eve for 23 years, rather than the 16 that I remember.
Needless to say, I just love Christmas Eve.

"December Photo-a-Day..." Day 22

"Tradition"

Every year my mom puts a small manger under the tree, before even one gift appears. When we lived on Palomar Mountain she would go to the barn and get a handful of hay and put it in the manger. Christmas morning, Katie and I would come out and there would be a baby-doll wrapped in a cloth and lying in the manger, surrounded by all the gifts, a visual of the gift that we are the most thankful for.

"December Photo-a-day..." Day 13

"Family"

I know, I'm back-tracking a little here, but it's the only time that we were all in the same picture. This is Christmas Eve, just after church.

Toronto Christmas Market

 Last Saturday, my mom and I took a little trip to Toronto. I found the Toronto Christmas Market online and thought that it sounded like so much fun.
I had been searching for a little Christmas excitement and what better than an outdoor market with live Christmas carolers, vendors of gifts from different countries, hot apple cider, and sausage in a bun with sauerkraut, fresh off the bbq.

 The market was held in the Historic Distillery area of Toronto. So it was surrounded by red brick buildings (it was funny because there were skyscrapers rising up behind the historic district, so it took away a little of the "old" atmosphere).  Santa was visiting, and there was a Christmas tree maze.
It was freezing, so we only stayed a couple of hours, but we were able to see everything. Some vendors were selling German toys and another was selling Dutch ornaments, and there was alpaca sweaters.

A giant tree stood in the center by a beautiful clock. Beneath the tree was a stage and there were children singing Christmas carols.
As we were leaving we slipped into an art gallery with a coffee shop. The coffee shop was selling hot apple cider with chunks of apple in it. It was delicious! And so nice to have a hot drink on our long walk back to my truck.

 

"Photo-A-Day Challenge..." Day 23

"Tree Topper"