Horsing Around

Hello!

Come on in, the coffee

is on.  So is the tea kettle,

if you are so inclined.

There's a nip in the air,

here in Minnesota, so let's

plump up the squishy sofa 

pillows and snuggle right in.

As I've been fluffing

the nest and welcoming

the fall, one thing keeps

galloping to the front of

my mind.

Horses.

Here, let me pour you a

little more, and I'll explain.....

In August, my youngest

cousin, Lander, married 

his sweetheart, Sarai.

{Her name is biblical

and is pronouned Sair-ee.)

They met at their summer

jobs during college, in

Bend, Oregon, where they

worked as wranglers at

the Rock Springs Guest Ranch.

Like the movie Sliding Doors,

they had both vacationed many

times with their families as children

and teens at the ranch, but kept

missing each other by days or weeks.

But with a shared love of horses

and the dream of becoming summer

wranglers, it was inevitable

that the handsome Texan and

the beautiful California girl

would cross paths.

They worked at the ranch.

They met.

They fell in love.

They returned after college

to tie the knot, in Bend.

At Sarai's bridal shower, she

received a lot of horse-themed

gifts for their new home in Austin.
  

One was a book called Horses

and Homes by Jenifer Jordan,

which I absolutely loved.  As

soon as I returned home, I found a

barely-used copy on Amazon that

now sits on my coffee table. 

Like all great design books, I find

something new that inspires me

each time I pick it up.  Scooch a little

closer and take a peek with me......

{Sigh}

{How cozy would this be, today?}

{Or THIS?}

I love all of the rustic-elegant 

details featured in this book.

Each room is more

striking than the next,

especially for an equestrian fan.

{Just a few of the many gorgeous

images in Horses and Homes.}

I never had formal riding instruction

as a child, but I guess the love for

these beautiful creatures is in the

blood, because my daughter was

also drawn to them and took 

 lessons for many years.

And as luck would have it,

my family was seated next

to the Gill Family at the reception,  

owners of the infamous guest  

 ranch, so we got to hear all about 

young love among the horses.

They sold the ranch a few years

ago and it's now a corporate retreat,

but in our family, it will always

be remembered as the beginning

of a happily ever after.

Thanks for horsing around

with me.  Hope you get to

kick up your heels this

weekend. 

{Sorry, couldn't

resist!}

xx

Suzanne

PS:  Speaking of horsing around,

I'll be at The Creative Connection

Friday and Saturday and the 

Junk Bonanza on Friday morning.

If you are going to be there,

please let me know!

photos

Horse & Homes

The Gill Family

My family

P&H