Author of historical westerns gets hands on research

 Writing historical romance means tons of research, which I do enjoy. But there is nothing like a real life experience. 

Yesterday two friends afforded me the opportunity to not only go for a carriage ride, but to help rig up the horses for the outing. 

Wow these guys are REALLY big. I'm accustomed to donkeys with big ears and little feet, not animals with little ears and feet the size of dinner plates!

The two beautiful Belgian horses, Flicka and Pete, were so well behaved and patient as I struggled with the surprisingly heavy trappings which had to be lifted quite high up and over their heads and backs. 

The process has a specific order to follow, and there are LOTS of straps and buckles that not only go on each horse but were also used to connect the two horses together. 

  Just think what your hero or heroine goes through every time he or she heads to town for supplies. 

   Ninety degrees in the shade, ten below zero, in wind and rain...they did this first if they wanted to go anywhere by carriage or wagon. 

           

        Look at their gorgeous manes and tails. 

      Steve told me when driving a carriage, the reins are called lines. 

     

  The next challenge was getting onboard the carriage, no easy feat either, but I managed to clamber up on top without incident. 

                            

  Brought along some "fancy hats" so we were in high style as we headed down the road. Barb grabbed a selfie.

                          Best view around. 

Loved hearing their hooves clip clopping along. 

Can you imagine doing this for hours and hours, the sound of their hooves became mesmerizing after a while. 

When we went faster, we had to hold onto our hats, Victorian headgear doesn't come with a stampede strap. 

                      Home again, home again. 

Now all the track must be properly removed and cared for, quite another undertaking. Thank you Barb and Steve for having me out, and for treating me to this unique experience. 

Other sweet faces at the farm. 

                                                          

 

What a wonderful day.

#carriageride #historicalwesterns #historicalromance

A beautiful day for the Berthoud Car Show.

    My sister and I had a fun time looking at the gorgeous cars and motorcycles, such a variety. Then we visited the nearby shops--lots of hard-to-resist antiques. My sister had to drag me away from a magazine rack I coveted but didn't need.

The cars were lined up on the street leading to the historic grain elevator. This mural entitled "Berthoud Roots" was painted by local artist Susan K. Dailey and Eleanor Yates. Created in their studio on 55 pieces of fabric, the artwork was adhered to the wall using lift trucks and lots of acrylic gel. It's a tribute to the town's agricultural roots and to its modern spirit of community. The mural is 55 feet high by 35 feet wide.

 

Music playing, engines revving, the cars were on display and the weather couldn't have been nicer. 

           This one is ready for a safari adventure                    

They came in all sizes 

Wouldn't this be fun for cruising down the highway?

The engines were as clean as the exteriors, wow. 

 

This fun VW is my neighbor Evy's car. We drove around in it one day and both felt like a couple of crazy teenagers. 

She dressed to match her car!

The antiques were my favorite. 

Would like one of these. 

This 1939 Jaguar belongs to my friend Virginia. 

What a beautiful car.  

 

This photo doesn't do justice to this huge truck cab, 

      It sparkled in the sun. Loved the colors.

Virginia's car won! 

Another special day with family and friends. 

#carshow #Berthoudcolorado #1939Jaguar

Good friends and goats, what could be better?

So many goats, so much fun! Thank you Carol and Norma for a great outing, and a chance to finally wear my goatie T-shirt.

Being one of the oldest domesticated species of animals, there are over 300 distinct breeds of goat. According to archaeological evidence, the earliest domestication occurred in Iran 10,000 years ago.

At the Boulder Country Fairground Dairy Goat show we saw Nubians, Nigerian Dwarfs, Alpine, Saanen, Toggenburg, Oberhasli, and LaMancha.

I love them all, but am especially drawn to the Nubians with their big floppy hangy-down ears. 

                                  

Conversely, the LaMancha goats are adorable and have very little external ear. 

These Toggenburg goats thought my hat looked pretty tasty. 

Here is a beautiful Grand Champion Alpine doe. 

Raising animals is a great way for kids to learn compassion, responsibility, team work, and how to win (or lose) with good sportsmanship. 

     My Nubian, Tanzie 

            My Nigerian dwarfs, Belle and Beanie

Goat milk is the most commonly consumed type of dairy in the world,  65% to 72% of all dairy consumed globally is goat milk. Goat milk is thicker and creamier than cow milk or plant milks, and goat milk has more nutrients. It is easier to digest, presents less risk of milk allergies, and offers better heart health while providing an excellent source of protein

calcium  potassium phosphorus and magnesium.

       

                           Bye, thanks for coming. 

#Goats #Dairygoats #BoulderCountyFairgroundgoats

The Anglo-Nubian is a British breed of domestic goat. It originated in the nineteenth century from cross-breeding between native British goats and a mixed population of large lop-eared goats imported from India, the Middle East and North Africa. It is characterised by large, pendulous ears and a convex profile. 
Males can weigh up to 310 lbs females 240

The Nigerian Dwarf is an American breed of dwarf goat. Like the American Pygmy Goat, it derives from the West African Dwarf group of breeds of West Africa. 

The Alpine is a medium to large sized breed of domestic goat known for its very good milking ability. They have horns, a straight profile and erect ears. The breed originated in the French Alps. 

The Saanen, German: 'Saanenziege', French: 'Chèvre de Gessenay', is a Swiss breed of domestic goat. It takes its name from the Saanental in the Bernese Oberland, in the southern part of the Canton of Bern, in western Switzerland. Wikipedia

The Toggenburg or Toggenburger is a Swiss breed of dairy goat. Its name derives from that of the Toggenburg region of the Canton of St. Gallen, where it is thought to have originated. It is among the most productive breeds of dairy goat and is distributed world-wide, in at least fifty countries in all continents. 

American Lamancha, or more commonly, simply Lamancha or LaMancha, is a formally recognized breed of dairy goat, first bred in California by Mrs. Eula Fay Frey about 1927. Later she moved the herd to Glide, Oregon for further development. no ears

The Oberhasli is a modern American breed of dairy goat. It derives from the subtype of Chamois Colored Goat from the Oberhasli district of the Bernese Oberland in central Switzerland. All purebred members of the breed descend from five Chamois Colored Goats imported to the United States in 1936.