Category Archives: horses

My Blessing List illuminations

14 Monday May 2012

Posted by in beach sunsets, Hearts Filled With Joy, horses, mountains, wisdom and understanding

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“Many, O LORD my God are the wonders you have done.  The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.”     Psalm 40:5  When life deals you a bitter blow and you can’t sleep because your mind is filled with worries and whys that whirl around in your head like a swarm of gnats that won’t let you rest then deliberately change your focus from the present to the blessings from God in the past.  A few years ago I decided to make a list of some of the best blessings that I have known and am thankful for.  Yet each time I would try to make a list I found like David said in his psalm that “they would be too many to declare.”  Now when I feel stressed and anxious about the future just reading my list relaxes me and fills me with peace knowing that my God is a great and awesome God whose love never fails.

At the top of my list of blessings would have to be my personal relationship with Jesus who is my Best Friend and Savior.  I am also so very blessed to have 4 children and 8 grandchildren which my dear husband and I get to enjoy most every week.  And now to the list I would like to include some of the precious memories of times I have spent with them.

1.  When my daughter was only four, I helped her plant a tiny twig of a pine tree. When she turned seven, she helped me plant more than 200 tiny pine tree twigs and together we loved and cared for them through flood and drought.  It doesn’t seem so long ago and yet now they have become a fragrant forest and she is a beautiful young woman with little children of her own.

2.  I have watched my grandchildren sleep snuggled close to me and listened to them giggle when they’re tickled.  And I have heard them pray and talk to God with childlike  faith knowing that their heavenly Father will care for them just like a loving Daddy. 

3.  I’ve seen the beauty of a deer followed by her fawn crossing our back yard and once my grandchildren found a baby fawn.  In springtime tiny waterfalls bring music to my secret garden in the woods and I have listened to the crickets sing and watched the evening fireflies rise up spreading over meadow mists like a million tiny Christmas lights.  And with my children I have  watched the stars come out while making wishes and hoping for a shooting star.

4.  I’ve pulled the sack from a newborn pup and watched its mother lick and warm it into life.  And I have seen a newborn colt stand up on wobbly legs and later  dance across the grass to the music of the wind. 

5.  I found a Sea Horse near the shore and I carried it out to the deep and watched it swim away and I’ve rescued many starfish stranded on the beach.  I’ve seen a double rainbow and the unfailing love of God in wing like clouds that overshadow me as I travel down life’s way.  6.  At midnight I have rafted down a river in Alaska and seen a glorious sunset reflected in my true love’s eyes as we watched eagles flying home.  And I have seen the majesty and splendor of the snow capped mountains and heard the mighty roar of giant waterfalls.  I have watched as storms rolled in across the  ocean and felt the gale force winds and heard the  crash of giant waves.  And I have also listened for the still small voice of God and been rewarded in the silence.

7.  I have felt the power of the Holy Spirit in my life and praying for a miracle discovered that what seems to be impossible is possible with God.  And I have seen the glory of God from sunrise to sunset and felt the joy of His Presence deep within my heart and soul and know that I’ve been blessed. 

“If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”                            Psalm 139:9,10

A few weeks ago I was honored by being nominated for the Versatile Blogger award and I first of all want to thank my friend at newviewfromhere.wordpress.com for his kind words and nomination.  In receiving this award, I have been asked to: (and the same goes for you)

  • In a post on your blog, nominate up to 15 more fellow bloggers for The Versatile Blogger Award.
  • In the same post, add the Versatile Blogger Award.
  • Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to them in this post.
  • Share 7 things about yourself that most people don’t know.
  • In the same post, include this set of rules.
  • Inform each nominated blogger of their nomination by posting a comment on each of their blogs.

I have decided to nominate 7 blogs for the Versatile Blogger Award because each of these 8 have blessed my heart over and over again with their posts.  There are many other blogs that I love reading as well, but I think most of them have already received this award or do not have the time to follow the list of instructions that go with it.  I have included a list of blogs that I follow at the top of this post.

Here is a list of my nominees: 

  1. altarofheaven.wordpress.com
  2. charinabrooks.wordpress.com
  3. godthang.wordpress.com
  4. jadedbygrace.wordpress.com
  5. mychainsrgone.wordpress.com
  6. malouprestado.com
  7. onemoremorning.wordpress.com

And what about you dear reader.  Have you made a blessing list?  I would love to hear about it.

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Racing Horses and Kentucky Derby illuminations

30 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by in beauty, Christianity, crafts, Fun stuff for kids, horses, Keeneland, Kentucky Derby, recipes, wisdom and understanding

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“His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.”  Psalm 147:10,11

Springtime in Kentucky brings thoughts of beauty, Red-buds and Dogwoods in bloom, tulips and daffodils, and the woods filled with wildflowers.  Basketball and ‘March Madness,’ take priority over all other sports and events at this time of year.  And just in case you haven’t heard, our fantastic Lexington team the Kentucky Wildcats won the NCAA Division 1 basketball championship this year, YEA WILDCATS!

When April arrives and the new foals are put out to pasture many a Kentucky heart turns to racing horses.  Lexington, Kentucky has been named the Horse Capital of the World.  Kentucky is the leader in the United States in the dollar value of its horses.  They have $1.75 billion worth of horses and other equines that are bought and sold each year.  The Kentucky Horse Park has visitors from around the globe come to the many international events that are held there every year.  In 2010 the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games were hosted by the Kentucky Horse Park.  This was the first time the games had ever been held outside of Europe.

This year, for the first time I went to Keeneland.  The Keeneland Racetrack is a  National Historic Landmark and is considered one of America’s most beautiful race tracks.  The annual horse sales at Keeneland are also world-renowned and literally attract the “crowned heads of Europe.”  I had heard for years what a beautiful place it was and I was not disappointed.  The day that we went was one of those perfect spring days with blue sky and white puffy clouds and temperature in the 70s.  If we had arrived early in the morning we could have attended the popular breakfast with the Works, a Southern style breakfast buffet that is held during the jockeys early morning workouts.

The first thing we decided to do when we arrived was to head over to the  Equestrian  Restaurant at the clubhouse and enjoy a cup of their delicious Kentucky Burgoo  out on the patio.  I was surprised that everyone at the other tables hardly seemed to taste their meal or notice what a beautiful day it was because they all had their noses buried in their racing forms.  I for one, loved every moment of the day and I especially enjoyed watching the parade of fashions that hurried past us on their way to the betting windows.

Recipe: Kentucky Burgoo                                                                                                                              I found this recipe for Kentucky Burgoo in my Bluegrass Winners Cookbook and I have made it several times with some adjustments depending on what I have on hand.  This cookbook not only has great recipes but also contains pictures and a little history about many of the famous horse farms around the Bluegrass.

  • 2 pounds beef, cubed    
  • soup bone
  • 1/2pound lamb
  • 1 frying chicken, cut up
  • 4 quarts water
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • Red pepper to taste
  • 2 cups diced potatoes
  • 3 cups chopped onions
  • 2 cups lima beans
  • 4 carrots diced
  • 2 green peppers, diced
  • 3 cups corn (fresh, if possible)
  • 2 cups okra, diced
  • 6 cups tomatoes
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic
  • 1 cup minced parsley

Put the beef, soup bone, lamb, chicken, water, salt, pepper, and red pepper in a heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid.  Bring to a boil then simmer, covered for two hours.  Remove the chicken skin and bones and cut meat into bite-size pieces.  Return meat to pot.  Add potatoes, onions, lima beans, carrots, green peppers and corn.  Simmer two hours.  Mixture will be thick but should not stick.  Add water sparingly, if necessary.  Add okra, tomatoes, and garlic and simmer 1 1/2 hours longer.  Add parsley and remove from stove.  This soup will keep in refrigerator for a long time.  The flavor improves with standing.  Makes 10 servings.

After we finished our early lunch we wandered over to the paddock and were treated to a parade of horses that would be running in the first race.  I was amazed by the size and beauty of each horse up close.  A couple of them were so anxious to run that it took two handlers to hold them.  This was followed by getting to watch the jockeys mount their horses and head for the gate.  Following that we got caught up in the crowd hurrying to watch the first race.  We found a place at the rail and I  loved feeling the excitement and hearing the crowd roar as the horses came pounding down the final stretch nearing the finish line.  I am afraid if I were to pick a winner it would be for all the wrong reasons so it is a very good thing I don’t place my hope in a horse and gamble.

One of the fun things I did that day was to find the perfect Derby hat at one of the  beautiful shops.  However when I discovered that the cost was $70 dollars, I decided I could do just as well without it especially since I had no plans to go to the Derby this year.  Instead I decided to do a girly project with my granddaughters at the next cousin’s night and make Derby hats.

Fun Stuff for Kids 

Craft illuminations:  Kentucky Derby Hats

This was one of the most fun projects we’ve ever done and the large brim straw hats cost only $3.99 at Michael’s Crafts store.

I gathered up a bunch of assorted ribbons and lace along with a couple of bunches of artificial flowers and even some curly ribbon bows to  decorate the hats.  We hot glued and stapled the flowers, ribbons and lace on each hat and then took pictures of each winner wearing her hat and holding a bouquet of red roses. 

Recipe:  Kentucky Chocolate Pie (often called Derby Pie, or Chocolate Pecan  Pie.)  This is definitely a man pleaser, but I think you gals will love it too.  This recipe also came from my Bluegrass Winners cookbook.

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 6 Tablespoons flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup margarine, melted 
  • 1 cup pecans, chopped
  • 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 11/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 unbaked 9″ pastry shell
  • 1 cup cream whipped

Combine sugar and flour; add remaining ingredients, except cream, and pour into unbaked pie shell.  Bake 325 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes.  Serve with whipped cream or vanilla Ice cream.

If you go to Keeneland you may want to try the buffet in the Kentucky Room.  It sounds wonderful and if I go back next year, I am going to try it.  If I had only known sooner it would have been near the top of my list for must dos at Keeneland.  On the buffet is Carved Roast Top Round of Beef, Au Jus, Roasted Turkey, Baked Ham, Pasta Marinara, Fresh Vegetable Du Jour, Potatoes, a variety of Fresh Homemade Salads, Bakery Rolls, New York Cheesecake and Pecan Pie.  Makes me hungry just thinking about it.

Kentucky Derby illuminations:                                                                            I have only been to the Kentucky Derby once many years ago but I love to watch it on T.V.  It is fun to pick a winner and I always choose the horse that has the name I like best.  My favorite thing about the Kentucky Derby race is the fact that the winner receives an armful of red roses and the horse gets a blanket of red roses.  My what a prize! 

And the prize we will receive at the end of life will be even far greater than an arm full of roses!

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:14