Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Simple Pleasures

All you have to do is take a quick look around and you'll find so many reasons to be thankful.

I know that I do. I can become grumbly and dissatisfied so easily in this life. But, if I just slow down for a moment and take a breath, have a look around, I see that there are so many blessings in my life that I am very thankful for.



Harley is a huge blessing in my life. I love this guy. He loves me too. In fact, he carries me all over the mountainous trails every summer. Gotta be thankful for that.
And you see that white flowered tree in the background there - those will become this summer's sweet, succulent pears...a very sweet blessing. We just have to be quicker to get to them than the horses. They love them every bit as much as we do.


I'm thankful for how the light shines softly through these leaves here. And for how these trees provide a cooling blanket of shade for the horses and us in the summer's heat.


There's our little home. It's certainly nothing fancy, but it's where my hubby and I call home. It's warm in the winter and cool in the summer. See that deck off the back there...we've spent many relaxing evenings sitting there watching our horses graze in this little pasture. It never ceases to amaze me, just how much pleasure we derive from watching our herd. They are an endless source of amusement. We are thankful every single day for them. We are also thankful that we are fortunate enough to have a small piece of acreage in the country where our horses can live. And look, there's another pear tree. Sweet, juicy bartlett pears - scrumptuous!! The horses eat them until the juice squirts out from between their lips and runs out of their mouths in a sticky river of goo!



Harley is most thankful for the gift of sweet, delicious springtime grass - yummy!! Oh, and for horsey sunglasses too!!



We built our horse barn several years after we moved here. But before that, we relied on several old barns and outbuildings to house our horses and to store the winter's hay. We still use the old barns today for hay storage, bedding and our farm implements. They may be old and not so pretty, but we are still thankful to have them. They provide shelter for the barn cats too, along with a lot of barn swallows.





I have no idea what kind of flowering bush this is, but every spring it bursts forth with abundant color and much appreciated beauty.





Pansies and violas are one of my most favorite spring flowers. I think they are just beautiful. My mom used to think that they looked like little monkey's faces.




And here's our beloved Annie. I am very, very thankful for her. She's one of my nearest and dearest friends. Every single day she's at my side, wherever I may go. She's the best walking buddy a gal could ever wish for too!! I just can't imagine life without dogs. Annie's 5th birthday is coming up this week, on April 30th. Guess I should surprise her with a little something special for the occasion. Everybody loves surprises!



The ponies waiting for suppertime. It looks like Ladde enjoys his meals huh? He's getting a little round with all this lush spring grass. We'll take care of that before long. I have plans for their conditioning coming up real soon...



And here's Sally and her kittens...what would a farm be like without springtime kittens?
Our life is a simple one by many peoples' standards. And that's okay, generally we like to keep things pretty simple. Life and its' bountiful blessings are not to be found in a shopping mall, or in fancy pocessions. But instead, in the beauty of our surroundings and in the laughter of good friends and family. And, time spent with our animals and the people we love.
Life is good. Be thankful, and take the time to count your blessings...
Cingspots









21 comments:

Kathleen Coy said...

What a wonderful home and life you have! I wish I could taste one of those pears and sit on the deck and watch your beautiful horses with you. You are so right, happiness can't be found by shopping, at least not long term, lol. There is so much in our lives to be thankful for.

Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos, and please give each of those little kittens a kiss for me!

Reddunappy said...

You have beautiful blessings, its niee to slow down and realize them, I wouldnt trade our modest little house for the biggest nicest mansion. Who the #$% would clean it LOL LOL nd my horses too, give me joy every time I look out and see them.

Welcome To Wilmoth Farms said...

what a beautiful post! Thanks for sharing all those great photos and beautiful words! You are truly blessed

Maria said...

Oh I just love this post, what a good reminder of how life should be and written so wonderfully! The pictures are beautiful, I especially love the top one with Harley.
Your grass is magnificent, how do you keep such yummy looking grass, I have 5 acres and only 2 1/2 horses and it's all we can do to have grass, of course we live on sand.

Sherry Sikstrom said...

Great and insightful post ! I have always loved a song by(?) "Love grows best in little houses"
Great photos I too have much to be thankful for esp you ! my dear friend!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your wonderful post - it is such a valuable reminder of what really matters and how important it is to slow down and notice the important things in life!

Leah Fry said...

Thanks for the reminder to give thanks. And your life sounds just lovely to me.

Anonymous said...

thank you .. just what i needed as i started the day with a collective ugh at all the NEW white stuff we're getting... Grace in small things

blessings
gp

Carolynn Anctil said...

Beautiful reminder. I long for a simple life such as you describe. I too am surrounded by amazing bounty and blessings too abundant to count. You have some wonderful animals there.

Thank you for the truly lovely note you left over at my place today.

*Big Hug*
Carolynn

Pony Girl said...

Sweet post. I love your land and can just picture you and your hubby sitting on that porch and watching the sun set, watching your herd!
My Boy is getting a little round on that spring grass, too. He doesn't have much in his pasture, but the little he does, plumps him up! I need to make a conditioning plan for him this spring, too. Lots and lots of loping!

Lil Mama said...

looks like you have many blessings all around you.

allhorsestuff said...

I have to say I am very thankful for YOU... I know that sometimes life can be dour and though it is true... yet, your spirit is contageous and ever lifing those around you up higher, to see the beautiful view!
Thanks for the wonderful view of life, once again, Lorie dear!
Kac

PS thanks for the commnets on the mane quandary also!

Molly said...

Your property reflects your lovely personality. Thank you for such a sweet post to make my day.
Happy Birthday to Annie tomorrow. She is a treasure.

BrownEyed Cowgirl said...

It really is the simple things in life and it's a beautiful place you call home.:)

Jenn said...

Thank you for this post! I think a lot of us get so busy (me in particular!) we forget to be thankful for the simple, beautiful things around us every day.

I think it's hysterical that pansies look a lot like little lion faces to me (manes and all!). They resemble the King of Beasts yet are dubbed "pansies." How ironic.

I'm planting pear trees this weekend...I can't wait for our first harvest!

Chelsi said...

beautiful post!

C-ingspots said...

Thank you guys so much!! I really enjoy all your comments.

LuLo Designs/Blue Eyed Tango said...

I really enjoyed your perspective on living a simple life, agree completely with you! Your house reminds me of mine....just right for where we're at in this stage of life. I do not want to spend countless hours cleaning a huge home nor would I pay someone to do it for me! If I can't manage it, I don't "need" it. Unfortunately, too many people get caught up in the things this empty world has to offer to satisfy them. Have you ever looked around at people shuffling here and there never taking a moment to sit down and appreciate simple pleasures like the sunshine, sunrise/sunset, blooms of flowers, animals at play or even to talk with family and friends....what a shame that is....too bad it's by choice. They have to have that big job so they can buy more stuff and be even more dissatisfied, worn out and unhappy. They don't know what they're missing. What kind of fly mask is that? I want to try a new one this year....your grass does look lush!

C-ingspots said...

Blue Eyed Tango - aren't those masks a hoot?? They come with ears, but hubby says big ole ears aren't cool, so we took those off. I bought them off the internet. The site is called Horses in Black - they were a little spendy, but ooh what fun!! They may even have others now too.
Thank you for your nice comment. And, yes I have noticed that about a lot of people. If I'm not careful, it can happen to me sometimes too.

gtyyup said...

What a beautiful post...and you really have a beautiful place too!! Look at all those spring blossoms! Incredible...enjoy~~

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Such a beautiful post, Lorie...in photos and in words, too. It brought several smiles to my face...especially the vision of ponies with pear juice oozing out of their mouths. :)

~Lisa