Friday, June 8, 2012

Red Riding Hoods

Barbara: Yesterday, Deb and I fell in love. He’s a sexy beast, tall, rugged, soulful eyes. But he’s not afraid to show his soft side too: he loves to give warm kisses and lay his head on your shoulder. We won’t even mention here that his kisses are tinged with green and he sometimes shakes his head in a particularly goofy way when he gets nervous, gums all flapping and nostrils flaring (that only happened when he first met us, before he understood on a visceral level that we were meant to be the best of friends).

Our new boy-crush is none other than the tall, dark, and handsome Red.
Red!

We had the great privilege of meeting and communing with Red thanks to the lovely, kind, and sincerely sweet Mary-Jo—who you’ll know from our comments section here. Jo lives not far from us and invited us on a very special excursion to meet her new horse. She picked us up at Deb’s house, then drove us the half-hour or so to the stables where Red lives and where she visits him on a daily basis.
Mary-Jo!
The stables? Okay, more elegant and certainly cleaner than my house!! Yeah, they are that good. Jo explained to us that she met her own personal “horse whisperer” many years ago and now follows her to whichever stable she is at. I think Jo has the best of all worlds at this place. And Red too.
The stables!



He is loved here and gently guided and nurtured. For some reason, he won’t budge for many riders. But he and Jo clicked at first sight back in December of this year. You’ll see in these videos how literally “unmoved” he was with Deb and I. In fact, if you look closely, you’ll see his eyes going all soft and sleepy—like he’s enjoying a good nap while we beg and coax.


Jo was a bit embarrassed by her horse’s, um, lack of performance, but she needn’t have worried. We were in his thrall. He impressed us with his light feet and agile gait while Jo took him around the paddock. His hair is glossy, his features fine and elegant. The fact that he only wanted to nuzzle us and look deep into our eyes was icing on the cake.





Afterward, Jo took us to this adorable little café in the woods where we ate a truly delicious meal and enjoyed the clean air. While Red may have been the star in our little get-together, make no mistake, we fell in love with Jo too. As dear and sincere in real life as she is here in our virtual neighbourhood, we were thrilled to get to know her better, share stories, and relax in her lovely, loving presence.
Lunch!

Friends!
Deb: Red is my new boyfriend. I love him and I think he knows it. Wow you guys, what a lovely day we had. He is such a soulful beast and Jo is the most engaging and laidback gal. I had known her previously in a few social settings so it was lovely to see the very core of her on this day. It was one of those days that you know you are going to do again. It really made me wish I had continued my early 10-year-old horseback riding lessons. I had a really traumatic experience and it frightened me from riding. Not from horses, but from riding. But Red, sensing my need to—if you will excuse me for this—get back on the horse ... made me want to. 

44 comments:

  1. Morning all! I am just off for my daughter's graduation this morning -- and our videos aren't working, arghhhhhh. After I get back (maybe midday), I will try again, so if you're curious, try back here! Sorry and thanks!! xo Barbara

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  2. Thank you Barb for the beautiful blog about a very special day for Red and I....He did really fall in love with you both! He was a total goop with you and Deb, it was a bit embarrassing to say the least. I am thrilled you loved my "Prince Charming" as much as he loved you. It was a great day, with hopefully more to come (and perhaps you will "move" him) LOL

    Have a wonderful time at your daughter's graduation, a life time memory (that one) XO

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    1. Awwwh I'm in love with him too Mary-Jo!! He is amazing I can feel it from here... I can imagine how Deb and Barb must've felt!

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    2. Oh...and did I mention you look stunning !!!! :) xoxoxo

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    3. He was truly a Prince Charming, Jo. Shalaka, he really really is amazing!

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  3. AWWWWH MY GOD.....!!!! HE IS SO HANDSOME...Gosh you girls, I envy you...I LOVE HORSES...!!!! I so wish I were there..... Oh.... I am so happy you had fun....He is a magnificent beast... Awwh Deb, Can he be my boyfriend too.... please.... PRETTY PLEASE ?????

    Gosh I remembered my horseback-riding days..... Back when I was 8.. I LOVED RIDING HORSES... I didn't take lessons..the horse her name was Diana...She taught me what I needed to know. I just had to tell her where I wanted to go and she'd take me.. I'm not kidding. SHE DID..!!! She understood me completely.. and I LOVED HER SO SO MUCH...Still do! Awww this picture made me remember those days... Ahhh you should've seen her...Magnificent she was! My gorgeous girl..:)

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    1. Awwww, that is SUCH a sweet story of your connection. That really does stay with a person, doesn't it?

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  4. I have heard that horses are true windows into your mind. They need for you to release all your thoughts to them before they will let you ride them. I have a couple of friends who truly had to win the horse over before he/she would let them on her and actually ride. Maybe Red sensed something that you need to release Barb and Deb before he moves. :) There is a place in Arizona where this training and soul searching happens.

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    1. YES !!! and horses are easy to connect with emotionally.... they can sense your feelings...and they respond too.... I know a lotta people who easily communicating with them....

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    2. Yes Madgew, that's in Tuscon Arizona and is run by Linda Kohanov, who wrote "The Tao of Equus" and "Riding Between the Worlds". I have worked with Linda in a clinic and she is amazing with horses. It's a very spiritual encounter when you are around her.

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    3. I totally believe that, Madge. I will say that we found out that Red had a not-so-nice experience the day before with a new rider and maybe was a bit sensitive. Who can blame him? But he was very relaxed with us, even if he refused to walk.

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  5. The videos are UP!! Sorry for the delay, had to see my gorgeous daughter graduate. She's all done, my friends. It was a glorious day. Rohinton Mistry (A Fine Balance, etc) gave the commencement speech! It was stellar -- he wrote a parable about being a professor in these times. Magic. xo Barbara

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  6. LOVED THEM THEY ARE HILARIOUS...AWWW...Gosh.....He was FALLING ASLEEP !!! :D awww gosh this is funny :D Awww man!!! I'm gonna watch these A LOT!!!!!

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  7. Mary-Jo Red is beautiful! I love how chill he was and trying to sleep LOL. And to Barbara cpngrats on your daughter's graduation. And Deb I LOVE your hat : )

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  8. Red is very cute! I laughed when I saw the videos! It reminded me when few years back I went for a holiday with my friend to Crete and one day we went riding. The horse that my friend got was so eager to move that she could barely hold her still. Mine was luckily very easy going. (It was one of those beginner thingys so I didn't even need to know how to ride :P )

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    1. Ha! Yeah, we've had those kinds of experiences over the years of trail riding: you kinda never know what type of horse you're gonna get -- you just have to trust that they know what they're doing!

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  9. Number one: LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE that Fedora!! :D

    Maybe Red got stage fright! lol Oh my goodness I love horses. There's something therapeutic about them, isn't there? Looks like you all had fun!

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    1. Soooo therapeutic! As for the fedora: you'll love this: you don't see it in any of these shots, but I couldn't find my own favourite straw fedora (I wore it in Costa Rica and it fits perfectly and I can't find it and I so so miss it, arggggh), so Deb lent me one of theirs. But only Colin's would fit me! So there I was in Colin's fedora all day.

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  10. RED!!!! I am so happy you ladies met this lovely boy ... and so jealous that I haven't met him yet. (Thanks for setting things up so that I won't take it personally if he won't wanna move for me!)

    Ladies, the blogs are fabulous and it's just the coolest thing to see my dear friend MJ and her Sweet Boy Red featured.

    (So ... er ... wanna do a blog about removing a raccoon from my shed?)

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    1. Heather! Welcome. This is a lovely case of "any friend of MJ's is a friend of ours". As for the blog about the raccoon in your shed, yeah, I've had a few stories like that in my time. But those wily creatures pried their way into our attic!!!

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  11. Love the horse. Hes so beautiful.. How old,is the horse?

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    1. Red is seven years old. He acted a bit like an adolescent, but looked like an adult. Sound familiar???

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  12. It looks like you all had so much fun!! Red's gentle manner reminds me of a horse my friend had - PJ. PJ was part Arabian, and was the gentlest horse I've had the honor to encounter! Odin even loved him, and enjoyed the few times he went out and got to ride. My friend took her children - and let her 3 year old ride him.

    I can see why Red conquers the hearts of those around him ... :)

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    1. Mary-Jo, you have such great taste in horses. He's stolen a bit of my heart too!

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    2. Yes, horses are truly special beings. Red is a special of the specials!

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  13. Lovely and hilarious! That's one stubborn and very beautiful horse! The videos made me laugh. Seems like it must have been a fun day for all three of you, or should I say four!? I haven't ridden in ages adding this to my list of things to do this summer with the family. Love Colin's fedora too, looks sweet on you Barb! I often steal my husband fedoras he's got a million hats especially for summer so he doesn't get a burn on his slightly umm how shall I say it follicly challenged head.

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  14. For something completely unrelated, I need do some motherly boasting about Odin...

    For our new readers, a bit of background info. Odin, my 14-soon-to-be-15-year-old-son is autistic, and also has generalized anxiety disorder. He is finishing his elementary school career and will be moving to high school in September.

    Yesterday, we had our last PPP (Personal Program Plan - which address any sort of accommodations/modifications to curriculum/areas for further development) with Odin's classroom and resource room teacher.

    Firstly, Odin has accomplished all the goals that we set out in September - which is HUGE!!! This is the first time in all my years of doing these meetings/plans where Odin has accomplished what we set out to do! Go, Odin.

    Secondly, his teachers are currently filling out a "Yes I Can" nomination form. They want to nominate Odin for his excellence in the arts. He's a very talented flute player (helping his concert band win a silver award at SpringFest (a music festival put on by the provincial band association). In the Music Festival held in the city, Odin and his band mates got special mention because of how strong each player is (it's a 12 member band).

    Also, to the surprise of many in his school, Odin has shown that he is an amazing actor. His class put on a dessert theatre to help fund-raise for the Grade 8 Farewell ceremonies, and Odin stole the show!! This summer will be Odin's 6th season of volunteering at the Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan Festival. He hands out programs, rings the 5 minute warning bell, and helps his fellow ushers clean the tent.

    I'm floored that his teachers would do this. I'm proud of what Odin has accomplished. We haven't told Odin about this yet. This would make a great surprise for Odin - should he be selected. :D But, I needed to share this with *somebody*...

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    1. That is fantastic, Odin sounds like a very special and gifted young man!

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    2. Jo! this is such such wonderful news!! I am so thrilled and happy you shared this with us. Truly made my day. Odin is one of those dearhearts I've gotten attached to viscerally through his loving parent. So excited that he's found his "thing". Maybe one day we'll be working with him on stage or screen :)
      xo

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    3. That's great news!
      Odin seems to be very talented. Hope he can make his way!

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  15. This was a wonderful post that gave me some smiles and laughter. I had a horse as a teen and will never lose my admiration for these stunning creatures.The smell of a horse barn is ranked up in my top ten.(a horse lover thing)Your words were perfectly linked to the funny videos of Red with his own personal agenda.The running commentary while filming was icing on the cake!
    My husband and I went for a sunset ride in Arizona last fall.He was not keen on my romantic date idea due to a fall off a horse as a young boy.Our ride changed his viewpoint and was a special evening we will treasure forever riding through the desert and up into the mountains returning to a ranch with a sunset infront of us.
    I too loved your hat Deb! Becky

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    1. Becky! Thanks for sharing this story. It is so so beautiful. I especially love that your husband was willing -- and able -- to challenge his fear of riding because he knew it was so important to you (falls off a horse can be very scary, even for a fully grown person, but for a child...). Sounds like you had an experience of a lifetime in Arizona. I would love to have a ride like that one day!

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  16. Looks like a wonderful day, spending time with animals really does soothe the soul.

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  17. Thank you sharing Red Mary Jo. It looks like you all had a wonderful time. Well if Deb and Barb ever visit me I know what we can do for fun. I grew up on a horse farm on Long Island and have been around horses all my life even now. They are something you never quite shake and for the rest of your days your life is not complete without a horse or two in it. One of my favorite sounds is sitting at my kitchen table and hearing the horses sneeze in the pasture. Or even better hearing them munching on their grain after I've fed them in their stalls in the evening. Nothing like it!

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  18. haha
    That's so funny! :D
    Red you rock!

    Deb you look like a jockey, ready to win the race, and Red doesn't care at all. *lol*

    Ah, I love horses so much. I had riding lessons...but I haven't continued them (don't know why...).
    But one day I will own a horse. ;)

    Sitting on a horse (if it is moving :P) is so much freedom...I miss riding.

    You guys are awesome, and great to hear your voices again. ;)

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