Speaking of hayburners, after 45 years of talking about horses, last year around this time of year I got a beautiful American Paint on a care lease.  At first, all seemed to go well with Sly here at the Circle, if you don't count trying to kill a goat the first week and charging Cathy (stopping only inches from her at a full gallop).  He also challenged me at the gate with another charge that kicked up chunks of dirt because he stopped so fast.  I guess nobody bothered to tell Sly he was a gelding and no longer a crazy stallion.  Well after a month of training with a trainer using a variety of horse whisper methods, he only bit me once, kicked me once (all intentionally), rolled in the saddle, and spent so much time with his ears back, I thought they had been pinned there with clips.  All this fun, and I never got to ride him once because the trainer didn't feel confident enough in me and the horse getting "that connected"...yet!
Alas, Sly went back to its owner 4 months and $1500.00 dollars later.  So much for "kid friendly, husband ready" horses.

           Tara took this picture of Sly, Cathy, and Ron on the hill near The Circle of Trees.


Forty five years is a long time to have an itch, so I still have an interest in having a horse on site here at the Circle, but differently.   What would work is a partnership with someone who only has 6 months a year to put into their horse, and needs six months for work or other recreation.  We could also cover each other at other times so we could go away on brief vacations.  If you have a horse, and/or a horse property (or not), we could share a well trained/broke horse.  That way we could cut the cost and the time commitment in half, and still have all the fun of keeping a horse in our life.  So if any of you readers find this notion intriguing, contact me.

Slugs warming up for the big race.

It's 13 degrees, snowing, and the wind is blowing hard, and you have to believe summer is just around the corner.  I know it's coming because yesterday we set the opening date for the Blaine Gardener's Market for Saturday June 2nd, and it will officially stay open until Saturday October 6th (although some die-hards stick it out until the end of October.)  The Marketeers will gather every Saturday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM to sell local veggies, fruit, prepared foods, art and crafts.  The fee for a booth ranges from $1.00 to $4.00 per Saturday, and set-up begins at 8:30 AM.  There will be special Saturdays, including the opening Saturday which will be the 3rd Annual International Slug Race (check out some of the fine racers getting ready for the opening bell in the picture.), a Kid's Day at the Market (TBA), Drayton Harbor Days on August 4th, and an October 6th Harvest Day Celebration.  Venders selling almost anything under the sun, as long as it is not an imported item or a retailed wholesale product (except with special permission to help charities), food merchants, artisans, and Buskers are welcome to join us without a reservation.  just show up on any Saturday during the Market season.

February, we will once again be teaching artisan bread baking at the Senior Center (they have a board of health certified kitchen).  On Saturday February 11th, from 9:00 to 1:00 we will teach how to make olive oil dough and really amazing pizza.  There will be plenty of samples and some to take home.  The cost is $10.00 and it is open to members* of the Center.  We've been amazed over the past four years how quickly our bread classes book up, and there is always an overflow of students, so register as soon as it is advertised. (*You must be 50 or older to join the Center, and it costs $25.00 a year.)

Unfortunately, the broom making demonstration at the senior center has been postponed to Friday February 17th due to snow.  It will be from 10:00 to 11:30, and it is open to the public at no charge.

On Wednesday January 18th from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at the Blaine Senior Center, Ron will do a demonstration of old time broom making.  There is no charge, and brooms will be available for purchase.