Our new neighbourhood and me are gonna get along just fine - I've got loads of people to talk 'horse' with and DO 'horse' with. At the district Christmas party I got to know the locals. One of them is a member of the local club and has offered me a lift to a clinic with Will Enzinger in January...the clinic I thought I couldn't go to because I couldn't get there! So, now I get to go (if there are places left), get to know the clubgrounds and some club members, for when we finally have a float and I can join that club, as well as the neighbouring club, further up the road that I just joined. This particular neighbour just happens to have an older pony her kids have stopped riding that Boy can have rides of, in preparation for when we find him his own pony.
In further horse news, I met Dante's soon-to-be paddock buddy, Nook. A big, black Warmblood/TB, who doesn't like to tie up, but is otherwise quite a nice, fat boy. I put the call out to my new club and one of the members and I have come to a mutually beneficial arrangement. Nook will be on loan to us for as long as we need him, then she can take him back to reintegrate him into her herd. This gives us time to find Tom a suitable horse, Boy a pony and, possibly, my second horse.
On Sunday, I also visited the local artisan, The Gooseneck Pottery. I have been wanting to see the wares since we first bought the farm and I just get ensconced in farm life, forgetting my intentions until we leave again and see the signs. So, I made a special effort and met the American apprentice who lives on site, Jennifer. She took me through the pottery to see the massive, wood-fueled kilns and the workshop. The pottery is just divine, with prices to match the quality and exquisite nature of the work! There IS, however, a bargains and seconds section, for plebs like me who don't see the need to adorn an old caravan and cow shed with fine wares, so take heart.
I'm loving being a farmer, and since 'planting' my Tibetan prayer flags, I feel much more part of it, having offered up my assurances to the elders past that I intent for us to look after the land whilst it is ours to look after.
Now, to get Christmas and New Years over with so that we can get down to the business of MOVING!
