Some news to share
05/30/2011
I have been so unbelievably busy since March that I have been failing to update everyone on all the very exciting things that have been going on around here.
My dear friend Lori at Sunkissed Acres Equine Rescue and Retirement, Inc. in Summerville GA needed a new look for the rescue. It was time to get some business cards going and some promotional materials that showed the heart and soul of the organization. Sunkissed Acres takes in some of the most profoundly disturbing cases of abuse that I have ever seen. With the love and care that Lori and her core volunteers give to each and every horse, they are able to take these broken souls and make them whole again. But not just whole, better than ever before. There is something in the spirit of a rehabilitated horse. A gratefulness, a serene sense of peace. You have to see it and experience it first hand to understand what I am saying…but it’s there. The horses are forever changed because of the compassionate care they receive at Sunkissed Acres. All of our horses, with the exception of Trooper, have come from Sunkissed Acres so I see first hand the life saving work that Lori does. But not every horse that will find their way to Sunkissed Acres is in need of saving. Some, like our Shadow, are horses that received incredible love, care and training from their former owners. Shadow and his former owner adored each other, but they weren’t a perfect match. Knowing how difficult it is to ensure that your horse finds the best possible home, his owner worked with Lori to find him a wonderful new opportunity…it just so happened that he was perfect for our program, and we are so grateful to have such a sweet, funny and smart young horse!
Rescues like Sunkissed Acres have their hands full and are just overflowing with horses in need. It was my pleasure to donate $3500 in services to Sunkissed Acres for all that they do. With a clean and easy to use new website, Facebook integration, a professional newsletter, marketing materials and the ability to network and connect more effectively, hopefully we can find some horses some homes! Please visit Sunkissed Acres at www.sunkissedacres.com
As most of you know, our equine facilitated therapies and activities program is growing by leaps and bounds. And Borrowed Freedom Equine Assisted Therapies and Activities, Inc. received its 501(C)(3) exemption in April. This will allow us to serve clients more effectively through the procurement of grants, corporate donations and endowments. While Todd and I would to be able to fund the entire program as we always have we have reached a point where the budget of the program and our own personal ability to support it has changed. If the program was to grow the way we intended, we needed to proceed in this direction. We launched a new website to announce the good news. Please stop and visit and be sure to join our Facebook Fan Page and sign up for our newsletter! www.borrowedfreedom.org
We are also happy to announce the launch of PerformanceSporthorsesLLC.com. Wanja Gerlach is a Bereiter, and is trained up to Grand Prix in Dressage, has competed successfully in CCI*** Eventing, is a Level 7 Jumper, has an L Judges Degree, and is an M* Jumper Course Designer. In the United States, Wanja has had the opportunity to train with US Dressage Team member Michael Barisone, and famed American jumper rider Joe Fargis. He has competed successfully in the US in licensed dressage competitions through Intermediare I and at the Level 5 jumpers. Melissa Gerlach is an accomplished Equestrian and the business manager of Performance Sporthorses, LLC. Our Thoroughbred, Trooper, was owned by Melissa and she is responsible for his amazing training and work ethic.
I was thrilled that Wanja and Melissa entrusted me with their website needs. The resulting design is simple, clean and an effective way for them to show off their incredible horses and accomplishments. Performance Sporthorses, LLC is located in Berryville, VA and the website address is www.performancesporthorsesllc.com.
Easter is just a few weeks away…
03/26/2011
And it is time for my annual public service announcement to the many photographer friends I have out there, and also to the well meaning parents and teachers who want to bring the miracle of birth into their childrens lives.
Please don’t…just…don’t.
Yes they are adorable. They are fuzzy, sweet and cute. But they are still living, breathing creatures that require tender care.
A chick needs consistent warmth until they are several weeks old. This is, of course, long past the time when they are adorable little fuzzies. Chicks are kept in draft free areas with heat lamps so that they can retain their body heat. They also should not be handled to roughly. Anything that takes them away from their teeny routine of pecking away at soaked mash in a 92 degree atmosphere places them under great stress..and reduces their life span.
Speaking of life span, you do realize a chicken can live to be 20 years old? Most never make it that far because they end up as someones dinner after their useful life of laying is done. So unless you are in it for a 20 year commitment, please do not buy that sweet little chick, duckling or bunny.
Frankly? It makes me sad seeing animals exploited for the cute factor at Easter. As a photographer I see it year after year, little animals being tortured by little children. The kids don’t mean it! But there is just no need to profit off the backs of these little things and to be putting them in harms way.
Farmer Colleen out! If your school would like to learn more about hatching eggs, chicks or ducks, please contact us and we will be happy to set up programming for you that is safe for the animals.
Can winter be like this all the time?
02/08/2011
We woke up to a cold, but beautiful morning. This is how winter should be, bright and snowy and looking magical. Not muddy and icy like it has been!
Freezer Cleaning
02/02/2011
Yes Virginia, I ate Scallops. The world has not come to a horrendous end and I am still alive. Why are scallops featured in the really bad photo below when recipes are primarily Vegan these days? Simple. The NYSEG bill came and it was ugly. Between three fridges, a set of double ovens, an electric cook top and a 5 burner gas range and oven and the *cough cough* heated stock tanks and buckets for my wonderful horses..let’s just say I won’t be saying a whole heck of a lot when Todd leaves the lights on or forgets to turn off the TV. Anyway, yes, I had to clean out a fridge and Scallops and Asparagus were in there and needed a new home.
Wasting food is something I do not believe in! And now my horses can drink to their hearts content and I don’t need to hear any lectures about the NYSEG bill. But please, don’t expect me to give up my five burner range and double ovens!
Vegan, Gluten Free Corn Chowder
02/01/2011
Recipes like this one become family favorites! It started out as Cheddar Corn Chowder from the Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, which I have been making for years and years. It isn’t a dish you want to eat very often, unless you want to weigh a million pounds. But thanks to my GF, Vegan existence we can eat it more often because the fattening parts are gone.
The original recipe calls for half and half, butter, flour, chicken stock, bacon and cheddar cheese…all ingredients guaranteed to kill me! I decided to play a bit and this is what I came up with. Ditch the butter, sub vegetable stock for the chicken, use Bob’s Red Mills Gluten Free AP flour for the AP flour, silken tofu for the half and half with a splash of soy milk and ditch the cheese. To give it more taste I added red peppers and smokey hot paprika.
Is it Ina Garten’s blissful Cheddar Corn Chowder? No, but it was crazy good and a heck of a lot better for you. So now this has become a meal we can enjoy more often with less guilt! A win-win! The one substitute I would make next time is to use full fat coconut milk for the tofu and soy milk if I wanted to splurge with the fat. It would be delicious in this.
If you don’t have the Barefoot Contessa Cookbook…get it. It will become a favorite in your kitchen. The recipe is on Foodnetwork.com, here is the link: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/cheddar-corn-chowder-recipe/index.html Enjoy!
