New Kitchen Staff for 2011

AnnMarie is the embodiment of 'ta-dah'!!!!

To me February is the longest month of the year. Doesn't matter that there are fewer days, it still is a long month. This year February was dark and grey. The snow kept coming, and I found myself very under the weather after tumbling down a flight of ten stairs, getting staples in my leg, and then landing a virus that took the stuffing out of me for three weeks.

The blog stood still for a while. My apologies. I had trouble thinking, let alone writing. I couldn't come up with ideas about what to write. When I had an idea, it was a strain putting words together sensibly. I decided to take a break and give my mind a rest.


If you want some fun, then come cook with AnnMarie in the kitchen.

Well, I'm jumping back into the blog with the huge news that AnnMarie is going to be running the kitchen this summer. If any of you remember AnnMarie from last year, she is bubbly, fun, and dedicated to good nutrition. She's even into trying new recipes while finding ways to make our money stretch. Of course, the idea of making money stretch tickles my fancy.

AnnMarie is a positive thinker with a terrific, enthusiastic attitude. She likes to be a kid with the kids from time to time, and with her sense of humor, generates smiles from everyone. She throws herself into our barn dances, knits with the art room knitting group, and still listens when someone needs to talk.

As we talk about the coming summer, I hear AnnMarie wanting to encourage campers and staff to help out in the kitchen. She's talking about running cooking classes so we all learn how to actually cook the good stuff. Maybe we can get a group going that would bake us special treats for store.

During the off season, AnnMarie has been going to school, attending classes so she'll learn how to be a vet tech. It has been a challenge for her what with all the science classes. It's pretty amazing what you have to know when becoming a vet technician. My guess is she has lots of funny stories to share about her experiences across the winter.

While AnnMarie has a vested interest in fun, she is also about expanding our learning.

Many of you enjoyed AnnMarie's geese, ducks and chickens last summer. She brought some of her favorites to camp toward the end of the summer so we all could learn about what it's like to show and train them professionally. It is fascinating to hear all the ins and outs to this hobby. I personally loved watching AnnMarie's attachment to her birds. She is one special lady.

The atmosphere in our camp kitchen is so important. It sets the tone for all of camp. When we have a supportive, enthuisastic and caring staff in the kitchen, then all of us feel wonderful. We even respond by wanting to spread that spirit to cabinmates, riding lessons, and horses. It makes all the difference.

So get those camp applications out, claim your space for the 2011 summer, and start counting the days until you are here. We are making all kinds of unique program plans, and you know we'll have fun using the summer Toy Story theme. There will never be a dulll moment...especially in the kitchen!

Comments always welcome.

Fella is a Treasured Sprucelands Memory

Peace to you, Fella, and thanks for being our friend.

This is a sad day for many of us who know Fella. However, I will admit that it is also a peaceful day because our Fella has been asking us to make a decision about his future.

Fella is very tired. He lays down much of the time. Then he gets up and lays down again. I've been amazed at how he still holds his own when he's out with the guys. But then there are scary times when he lays in the hay spread out from the round bales and sleeps for 3-4 hours at a time.

During these very cold temperatures, Fella has worked hard to maintain himself. We are feeding him huge amounts of feed to keep him going and yet he gets thinner and thinner. Now he is having trouble walking from one place to another. So it is time. He is 32 years old.

It is time to say our goodbyes, celebrate Fella's life, and tell stories we remember from good times with him. For me personally, Fella has been one of my best partners for teaching riding. He and I had an understanding about being safe and steady while building rider confidence. If you learned how to ride on Fella, then you know well what I am talking about.

For riders learning how to trust a horse, he was the best. For riders ready to do their first canter, Fella won the prize because he would canter a quarter of the arena and then slow down. He also read his rider well. He knew when they were off balance and he would tell me. He just wouldn't canter if someone wasn't ready. Talk about safe and steady.

I'll bet all of you have Fella stories. I remember riding him on a trail ride one time when my horse came up lame. We had so much fun that day. Fella down-shifted into his game racing gear and we cantered the airstrip with an energy that I didn't know Fella possessed. It was wonderful.

I also remember how riders were afraid to ride Fella when he first came to Sprucelands as a 19 year old. He used to be a gaming horse. He was fast. It took a while before Fella realized that he could slow down and enjoy us all.

Then he became a clinic horse for the scouts. Everyone laughed about his yawning as we would insert the bit in his mouth. Those of us who were clinic helpers know that he was fun and easy to work around. There was always Fella, safe and steady. He would accept anybody and teach them what it was like to love a horse.

It's okay to shed tears for Fella. It's also okay to be happy you knew him as part of your horsemanship experience. He was a gem. We will always remember his kind eye. He loved you because you were special.

Comments are welcome, especially if you have a Fella story to tell.

Snow riding and birthday fun at Sprucelands.

Happy birthday, Kalayne!

This last weekend was the best. Of course, I say that often. There are lots of 'best' weekends at Sprucelands. Main reason is because this is Sprucelands and we are lucky to know so many special people.

Anyway, this last weekend Kalayne had her birthday party here. The temperatures were dramatically warmer from the weekend prior. That reality along with her birthday warranted a celebration!

It was so much fun. Kalayne and her mom decorated my house, brought delicious food and party favors. I sat back and watched them make themselves comfortable.


There was just the right amount of snow in ring #1 for fun riding.

They set up a table of goodies in the indoor arena and then planned horse games for the kids. What a hoot! Bugler, Honey, Toby and Patti were the center of attention. They loved every minute of the pampering and games. Music was  played. Cheers were shouted. A great time in the indoor, for sure.

Meanwhile, my grandson Brady was here to share in some of the fun. He kept me company at the barn in the morning while I was getting stalls done. He built a chair in the snow, pushed wheelbarrows, and entertained me through his four year old eyes.


There is nothing quite as fun as riding in the snow.

Of course, a big hit for him were the sleds. The girls had brought sleds for sliding down the hill from the barn to the lodge. Brady grabbed a sled and had his fun at the barn, sliding down huge snow piles and learning to belly flop on the easy hill from the parking lot to the tack room. That was his speed. He was all smiles.

Saturday night the girls painted bobble-head horses and cats. Those were creative party favors along with bit warmers made by Kalayne and their mom. I told them they should market their bit warmers. What an original idea. So clever.


Trail ride, here we come!

Horseback riding was the name of the game on Sunday. Lessons started in the indoor arena and then moved out to ring #1 where the horses moved freely in snow up to their knees. They walked, trotted and cantered, seeming to smile with the fun.

Then the grand finale was a trail ride along the snowy Al Capone trail. It was such a beautiful day. I of course couldn't resist a few snapshots. Everything was perfect. The horses were round and fuzzy. Riders were bundled and warm. There were giggles and singing, and now lots of stories to tell.

Looking back over the weekend, I realize again how the heart of Sprucelands is the bubbling enthusiasm of friends connecting with each other and the horses. This year has been the best because almost every month we have had loyal riders finding reasons to gather, keeping that heart energized. I love all the chatter. It lifts me up. Thank you, Kalayne, for deciding to make this a Sprucleands birthday. What fun!

Send along a comment or two. Love hearing from you.