Making dreams come true at Sprucelands.

This is my dream come true.

It has been a week since I've made a posting on the blog. Busy week what with Thanksgiving, keeping up with horses and riding lessons, and decorating for Christmas.

I will admit I thoroughly enjoyed the holiday this year. Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving I retreated into the house, baked and cooked and watched old Christmas movies, cried at times over the childhood memories that are sparked from those movies, and in between chatted with friends on the phone or over the internet. For me, that was a special day. I felt part of the magic of Thanksgiving.

Thursday the kids and grandkids graced me with their company. Cousins chitter-chattered about their most recent facebook messages or discoveries. Brady was one of the bunch. Little Trevor, passed from one to another, made everyone realize how wonderful the youngest stage in life can be. It was a day reminding me that I am fortunate to have such a connected family.



That was the best trail ride ~ and in the snow yet!

Friday I went to the botannical gardens in a snowstorm. Long story. Photographers dream. A gift to myself. And then I got back to the business of making dreams come true.

Sounds a bit strange to say that, I know, but more and more I realize how many of my Sprucelands riders dream each week of their lessons with me and their favorite horse. They bring an energy into lessons and a willingness to learn that is wonderfully real. Kalayne was here and Tsz, Sarah and then Hailey. Lots of smiles, hard work, visiting and hugs.

Hailey's mom had made arrangements several weeks ago for Hailey to make the trip from Rochester. She said it was Hailey's dream to come see Fella and his horse friends. She also wanted to hang in the barn, do what Matt had taught her, and then ride.


Hailey's riding confidence was outstanding. She was dedicated to a good ride.

So Hailey arrived with her little basket of grooming tools and a smile from ear to ear. Because she was going to ride Honey, she got busy, making Honey shine with the joy of tender grooming. Honey was in her glory and needless to say so was Hailey.

Then we set off to give Hailey a little of everything. She had a lesson, walking, halting, trotting and cantering like a pro. Honey listened and responded like only Honey will do, giving her rider the rewards of a solid, forward moving ride. Bless Honey. She's so good, and of course, Hailey hugged her and patted her with all the kindness in her heart she could find.

Tsz happened to be here. She nicely led Hailey on a trail ride, and then afterwards, Hailey cleaned Honey's stall. She talked with pride about how she was doing what Matt had taught her in the summer, and you know what Matt, she did really well. The stall looked beautiful when Hailey was done.

I caught Hailey standing at the gate to ring two watching the horses eat. She wanted to see Fella because Fella was the first love of her life. Fella wasn't being too social though. Still Hailey watched, entranced, as the horses mingled and ate around the hay. Hailey wouldn't be interrupted. She was making a mental snapshot of her beloved equine friends that she could remember when she falls asleep at night.


I don't ever want to forget Fella. He's special.

Hailey's visit was special. It reminded me why I am here. Each rider comes to the barn looking for something. I never know quite what it is. Sometimes they want to drink in the fragrances of the barn. Other times it's a wish to get into the stalls and clean them. Then there are those who realize that riding gives them a priceless confidence or friendship, one they get in few other places.

Hailey had been dreaming about her horses since summer camp. It was a goal of hers to come and do her thing for a while. Like recharging her battery until her next visit, she immersed herself in the adventure and reluctantly left for home. As I saw them drive out the driveway, however, I had a fresh and renewed sense that this is why I am here. Life is good. I am so grateful.

Comments invited. They too recharge my battery.

New riding group evolves at Sprucelands.

Smile for the camera girls. Share that impish look with the world.

Riding lessons in the off season are fun. I enjoy teaching because it gives me a spark in my weekend and somehow I feel as though I'm part of that process that connects young people and horses. How many times have I said that? I know. Over and over and over.

Well, there's a unique group evolving right now in the history of Sprucelands. This particular group of girls have been enjoying a comaraderie with each other. They came together as campers and clinic helpers. Their laughter is genuine. They are kind, caring and very real and loyal, loyal to each other, their horses, and Sprucelands.

I've watched each one of these girls as they mature in their riding. It has been an experience because they have struggled at times to learn their skills. Yet they persevere. They are determined to 'get it'. They never give up and you know there is a strength in that. These girls are building character while they are creating memories to last a lifetime.

Saturday afternoon in their riding lesson, I suggested they come up with a name for their riding class. Just for fun and before we knew it The Kevins evolved. I'm not sure the meaning of the name and wouldn't want the burden of explaining. It does it for the girls though. You'll have to ask them.

So The Kevins have been born. Anyone wanting to ride with these gals is welcome. Come join in the fun. Believe me this is not an exclusive riding group, just one where we laugh a lot while we work. The one pre-requisite: you must have an active sense of humor.

I know you'll have comments to share. Write away!

Thankful tidbits on the edge of a Thanksgiving week.

Not long ago Lia and Kokomo had a thoroughly wonderful lesson.

Good morning everyone! I don't have time to write a long post. I simply wanted to say 'happy Friday'. Hope this is fabulous Friday for you all and that you have the chance to think Thanksgiving preparations over the weekend. That's my plan.

I also wanted to send positive thoughts to my special friend in the photo. Challenges are on the horizon and so my thoughts come your way with hugs and love and empathy. Keep your chin up. Those challenges make us stronger and wiser, hard as they are.

Be thankful this week - as always - for the wonder in our days. Take time to look around you at the miracles we are privileged to enjoy. What gifts we have in friends, family, trees, land, flowers and the process that makes them all beautiful. I marvel at 'the process'. That 'process' is everywhere and is in itself a miracle.

Have a fabulous Friday!

Leave a comment as you ponder on your gifts.

Announcements you don't want to miss.

While there's still green grass, here are some important announcements.

A while back I wrote about twosomes at the barn. Finally got a photo of Bonnie and Honey to add to the list of horses who have best buddies. As long as I have Sprucelands in my memory, there will always be stories to tell about Bonnie and Honey. They are basically inseparable.

Bonnie is particularly good at making announcements to the world, especially when Honey is not with her. I often keep Honey in for a lesson or trail ride. So Bonnie sings aloud for quite some time either scared Honey is leaving her or fit-to-be-tied that Honey is getting special treatment.

Like Bonnie I am making announcements to you regarding Sprucelands. I may try emailing this blog post to you in hopes that you get the information provided here, although I don't think the post comes through with any photos, just data.

(1) Our camp discounts are gradually decreasing and will be gone by January 1st. There is an opportunity to benefit from $50 off per week if you are able to pay in full by Thanksgiving. Time is running out on that option. After January 1st, there will be a special offered here and there, but not with as much of a savings as what is offered now. Remember: you don't have to claim a date. You can simply send in your registration with a $200 deposit to save whatever discount is in place right now.

(2) As you shop online for Christmas, please consider using Amazon. If you enter Amazon through our camp blog, Sprucelands will benefit. We are like a portal to Amazon. Every little bit helps us out, especially with keeping up with the horses over the winter. You will see in the side panels of our blog different ads for Amazon. Click on any one of those and then you will have a search button for what you want to find on Amazon. You are then all set and whatever you purchase earns us a percentage. Click here for a fast link to the blog.

(3) Through the Planet Green recycling program, we collect empty ink cartridges and old cell phones. You can send us your empty cartridges and cell phones or drop them off if you are in the local area. Best of all, you can buy recycled. We receive a 15% donation from every inkjet cartridge you purchase and you can save up to 70% buying high quality remanufactured inkjet cartridges vs. the original brand.  Click here to go to that website. We are working hard to raise funds for Sprucelands AND help the planet through recycling.

Thanks for listening to me and Bonnie. Stay in touch. I'll do the same.

Comments and questions are welcome. Feel free also to call or send an email.

It's all about perspective at Sprucelands.

News from the barn where clean shavings rule! Lots has been happening at the barn lately. Little things to you readers. Big things to those of us who keep up with the horses.

For example, the weather here has been positively, absolutely, astonishingly beautiful. What a gift! It felt like early September instead of November all week long. Do you know how much that helps us? It means we can leave the horses out all night and all day, bringing them only to get their grain - steak and potatoes and strawberry shortcake - and that means cleaning fewer stalls.



Look at the camera, Bonnie, and smile!

The good weather came along at just the right time because we were out of shavings and waiting for another delivery. We waited and waited. Finally they arrived on Saturday morning early. Another gift, although I had to pay for this one. Still the shavings were here! The shavings were here! One of those little things that is big when you are keeping up with horses.

Now here's another thing. The Saturday Club is growing. This weekend Courtney and her dad arrived to help me feed. Then Tsz and her dad popped in, and before everyone began working with their own horses, we topped off every stall with clean shavings. It felt so good to work together. Thank you all.

One more thing. Katie and Tsz rode together on Veteran's Day. Katie rode Bonnie and Tsz hopped on Romeo. We wanted to get some schooling in for both of those horses. Bonnie did so well; Romeo was acting up like he occasionally can. So I switched his saddle and - ta-dah - I think we figured out the problem. With the different saddle, he moved freely and without complaint. We had our old Romeo back.

And so the little things that become big here at Sprucelands make our life much easier. It's all about perspective. Most times those little things benefit the horses. Every time they make a difference, and along the way, we have some laughs. Just look at Tsz. Doesn't that just make your day?

Comments welcome because they are one of those little things that make a difference.

A New Horse in the Sprucelands Barn

Did you call me? Hi there! My name is Shiloh.

I love watching the girls with their horses, especially when the whole experience is brand new. Recently, Tsz brought a horse into our barn. The horse's name is Shiloh, a roan appaloosa mare. She has her own, very interesting look.

Tsz and her dad have been working side by side to acclimate Shiloh to her new home. As with any horse, once they feel part of the routines and the herd, they settle in to new friends and family.

At first, Shiloh was noisily excited about making new horse friends. She didn't want anything to do with people. Apparently, where she was before, she was quite alone. So having horses around her was a novelty. To make a long story short, she has settled in really well.

Pretty horse. Pretty girl.

Thursday of this week was Veteran's Day. The weather was perfectly beautiful. It was like a gift to a new horse owner because hanging at the barn was reality. Sunshine. Warm temperatures. Just what Tsz needed to thoroughly enjoy her new acquisition.

Tsz and Shiloh worked all morning together. Grooming, ground work, riding, they did it all. They were in their own world, enjoying their own conversation. What is fun is that I see them discovering a connection with each other. With that chemistry, anything is possible.



Working in the round ring and riding bareback was really fun.



Shiloh hasn't previously been ridden on a regular basis, especially in a ring. So Tsz is schooling Shiloh to remind her about the cues so she will consistently walk and trot. I know Tsz is very patient. Patience is always a virtue when working with a new horse, especially one like Shiloh that is a step ahead of Tsz in figuring out how to avoid work.

The wonderful piece of working with Shiloh is that she is quiet to work with. That doesn't mean she has a quiet voice when she talks to the other horses. It means she is quiet to ride. No surprises so far.

We went on a trail ride Thursday and Shiloh was wonderfully safe. No spooking. She trotted a little and listened really well to Tsz. Inconsistency in the ring is her biggest fault. In that regard she reminds me of Brandy and Kayne from last summer.


It's all about connection.

Shiloh is teaching Tsz to be a different rider. While Tsz is an excellent rider, she is now using her skills more aggressively. She is learning to be firm, give clear messages, and praise her horse verbally when Shiloh responds correctly.

There is a great deal of work that Tsz is doing on the ground. She is working in our different riding arenas, with a lead rope, without a lead rope, and sometimes with the long wand. By doing that ground work, Shiloh is connecting with Tsz. That makes Shiloh so much more receptive to cues from Tsz when Tsz is riding her.


A quiet ride on a quiet horse. Dreams coming true.

A girl with a horse is a magical thing. We all know that. It's like a dream come true when having a horse becomes reality. Tsz is handling this well. I know she'll be happy to show off Shiloh at the Reunion. I love watching when Shiloh follows her around the ring, shadowing her every move.

Makes me smile when I watch Tsz and Shiloh together. I realize that once again I am given the gift of participating in another training process. And best of all, Tsz and I are getting to know each other better. That makes life really good.

Send a comment here to Tsz. I know she'll be happy to hear from you.

Sprucelands Christmas Reunion

Thinking about summer and all the fun we had? Come to the Christmas Reunion.

If you are getting out your red and green and are prepared to decorate for the holidays, then remember the Sprucelands summer fun and consider joining our Sprucelands Christmas Reunion. We have an absolutely, positively down-home weekend celebrating the holidays, each other, and Sprucelands.

Some have asked if the Christmas Reunion is just for clinic helpers and staff. I am writing this post to clarify that anyone is welcome. If you would like to join us, we will accommodate you. Here are the details:

Arrive 7:30 p.m. Friday. Finish by 1:00 p.m. Sunday. Cost: $60

December 4-6, 2010

I would like to do a Christmas Reunion that will kick off our Toy Story theme for next summer. Maybe we can each bring something connected with Toy Story: an idea for summer, a movie, a book, a game. Who knows? I'm game for anything. We could brainstorm about the characters in the movie, weekly camp themes, overall themes in the movies, and even create a unique Sprucelands character that could fit into the Toy Story plot. What better time of year than Christmas to talk about toys!

Get up close and personal with a horse and smell those horsey smells!

Bring a dish to pass for supper on Saturday night. We always love our buffet. It's a beautiful meal with candles and Christmas tableware. I look forward to this all year long.

Breakfasts and lunch are provided as part of the cost of the weekend. No need to bring extra food except if you want junk food or soda pop above and beyond.

Other activities and events: riding lesson, cookie decorating, Christmas tree raising and red ribbon ceremony, lots of laughs and silly fun. Come and be grateful for the wonders of 2010 and the anticipation of 2011.

So come for the fun! Get up close and personal with a horse, perhaps your favorite from the summer. Kick off the holidays with visions of sugar plums and tons of Sprucelands fun. This is a non-sectarian celebration of the season, each other and Sprucelands. All faiths are welcome.

Please R.S.V.P. to Eileen or leave your R.S.V.P. in the comments of this post.

Comments will spice up this blog post and be the sprinkles on my Christmas cookies.

Good times hanging out at Sprucelands.

A happy weekend. Just a girl and her horse.

I had a blast this weekend, and I think the kids that joined me for the 'hang out at Sprucelands' weekend had a blast too. My how we laughed! In between the silly times and the riding times, there was homework of course. Still, our time together was well worth juggling school work with fun.

Everybody arrived Friday evening. Lots of chatter and re-connecting catch up conversation. We sat around the table in the kitchen till the wee hours. When I went to bed, the chatter had turned to homework. A few were up quite late making sure they could enjoy Saturday conscience free.

You can well imagine the pampering our kittens got with the girls here. They meowed and immediately were cuddled by someone. I do think they were spoiled, and interestingly, have been doing a lot of sleeping since.
It's rough being popular you know.

That was a satisfying ride, one I want to remember.

Saturday we enjoyed feeding and work around the barn. Rode in the morning and again in the afternoon. I think everyone was a bit surprised how out of shape they were what with not riding much since camp and clinics. We did equitation work in the morning; in the afternoon we went on a trail ride all around camp.

I couldn't take the trail ride much farther than Sprucelands property because hunting season is in progress. Wouldn't want one of us taken out with an arrow. Egads! Just the thought is horrifying.

When we weren't riding, we were playing. It's such a terrific feeling to shut the world out for a day or so. The kids laughed themselves silly over whatever. This is definitely a bunch that can find belly laughter over the dumbest things.


Wait a minute! I can't stop laughing!

Yesterday I heard them call me to bring the camera - quick! - and they were piled high in a pyramid. It took several tries to get something presentable - like where one side of the pyramid wasn't collapsing from laughter - but they pulled it together and still laughed. I even had trouble holding the camera steady because of our giggling.

Sunday morning we did an abbreviated jumping lesson. Interesting what happens when you lay a pole on the ground and then canter it in two-point. Horses like Indigo and Kokomo can jump three feet. You'd think they were at the Olympics. Afterwards, the girls took themselves on another trail ride. It was fun watching them.

Looking back over my photos, this was the kind of weekend where I caught the kids smiling openly and at times to themselves. Those quiet 'to themselves' smiles were personal pride in their accomplishments and 'I want to remember these times' smiles because right now at this moment and in this place with these people, life is wonderful.

Happy trails to you until we meet again.

It was a feel good weekend with friends and horses in a place they love. I have to say I don't know a lot of riding programs that do 'hang out' weekends. This was one of those special times that makes Sprucelands unique, genuine and different.

The weekend and the kids definitely renewed me again. I am so grateful to be investing in young riders, horse lovers that they are. They energize me. Teaching them is such fun. Besides, they give me something to look forward to. Let's see. Now...hmmm...the Christmas Reunion is the first weekend in December.

Comments from you also energize me. Write on!

Come and hang out with us at Sprucelands.

We may burn that campfire in lower girls village and sing silly songs.

With visions of summer dancing in my head I anticipate the weekend. Of course it will be interesting. The leaves are totally gone on the trees. Clocks move back an hour so we get an extra hour of fun or sleep. The temperatures will give us snow in these 'higher elevations'. AND I have a wonderful group of riders coming to share my visions with me.

Our goal is to hang out and play together doing whatever we decide to do. I love weekends like that. There are a few 'musts' that I need to accomplish like feeding horses and cleaning stalls, but beyond that there's the chance to put our feet up and talk about anything and everything.

The kids are planning the schedule. Not me. I like that. We will ride when they choose to ride, hang out when they want to hang, play games, have a campfire if we want. Who knows? This could be an entertaining and totally memorable weekend.

Of course, if there are any of you out there who would like to join us, come ahead. I'm providing breakfasts. We are doing our own lunches and everyone is bringing something to put into supper along with $60 for the weekend. Warm clothes are a must, especially if you have long underwear. Layers. Layers...and laughter.

Comments from you warm me inside.

Skeletons and fairies, kittens and friends at Sprucelands.

Three little kittens, they lost their mittens.

Busy weekend this weekend. Lots of wonderful things though. Riding lessons. Sunshine. Happy horses. Happy kittens. And believe it or not, instead of goblins and ghouls, there were barn fairies.

I started my day on Saturday feeding screaming kittens. They were having such a time. I decided I was doing something very wrong. Then Yvonne showed up with her girls and in conversation shared that Walmart sells kitten formula. Go figure. I didn' t know there was such a thing.

It was terrific to also hear that Yvonne and the girls had decided to take a kitten. They took the other orange one and it sounds like he or she is doing really well. I'm glad for that. I feel like a proud mama.

While I taught lessons on Saturday, Yvonne and the girls also surprised me by doing stalls. I finished lessons around 1:30 or 2:00. Stalls were done and I actually had time to prepare for and visit with company in the afternoon. What a gift. Thank you. Thank you.

Meanwhile, I continued with the kittens. After supper, I journeyed to Walmart, graced them with my presence for long enough to purchase kitty formula, and returned home. This morning I am happy to announce that the kittens are satisfied. They aren't screaming any more. Lily continues to clean them for me and I am definitely a happy camper.

Will you play with me?

Sunday I had the company of Tsz and her dad. They were at the barn to welcome Tsz's new horse, Shiloh, a lovely 16 year old mare who was a bit anxious about being in a new place. I worked with Tsz and Shiloh for a while so Tsz could help Shiloh relax, and you'll never guess, Tsz's dad finished stalls for me. I think I'm beginning to like Halloween weekend!

Halloween is always a bit lonely at camp. No one comes to my house for tricks or treats. That's when I miss living where there are lots of houses and kids. I spent the evening watching Olivia tentatively explore the kittens. She still runs and hides when they cry. When they sleep, her braver side shines.

Brady and Trevor went with Stacy and Jenn into Uncle Drew's and Aunt Kelli's for trick or treating. I thought I was going to miss out, and then there was a knock on the door with a little skeleton trying to scare grandma. You can well imagine, that made my Halloween perfect.

Comments welcome from all you ghouls, goblins and fairies. Go ahead. Be brave. Make my Monday!