Day 297
Moonlight
horseback rides
Take
a 10° winter day, or night, traipse on out to the stables where the critters
are snuggled in their stalls for the respite, slip into a stall, gently scratch
a refined ear and pat the animal on its furry neck listening to the soft nicker
of appreciation of the carrot tidbit offered; then bury a frozen nose into that
thick bundle of fur and inhale the “equine”-aroma mixed with saddle leather
from the nearby tack room. The full moon ought to be on the rise; snow comforts
the pasture meadow; what a “delicious” opportunity to tack the old steed for a
winter-foray in moon light.
Adventure
is where one makes it happen; full
moon rides are one of the very best events.
We
once lived on a bluff standing proud some three hundred feet above the
Mississippi River valley stretching westward to the big ole stream offering a
spectacular vista-view into the neighboring state of Missouri. When I fenced
the ten acre property to coral our horse “pets”, a gate was installed in the
west border for access to a ridge leading down the escarpment to the bottoms
where a levy restrained Fountain Creek when it decided to exercise its fury in
a spring, or fall, flood. This boundary provided the ideal trail riding venue
for some ambitious “cowboy” and his horse. Each full moon, we held a “Moon
light”-trail ride; quite a popular event.
Result
of the idea grew until one very fine autumn night we sorted some 63-horses on
the trek. Riding is quite the adventure in its own right; under an alabaster
pale full moon: Awesome!
Daughter
Beth had Little-Lady, the white Welsh-pony as her mount since she was 3 years
old; we broke her sister, Becky, into the tradition as Dad carried her in front
of him on the saddle. One night, she fell asleep cradled in his arms as they
traversed the midnight realm.
Always
enhance the moment---savor the “sweet”…until it is deliriously-delicious! Amen!
Life
is Grand! With just a bit of creative
ingredient---the concoction becomes…Magic!
Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “Moon-beam Magic!”
Memories!
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