Friday Foto #70

Showing an image of a horse for the Friday Foto is a first, since I think cows are the only other animal that have ever been shown here. This particular horse belongs to our friends Tim and Janie Richards, who live in Leipers Fork and are friends of ours. A while back on a friday, we shut the office down so we could have a play day at the Richards’ home, which is quite the prescription for a stressful day, week, or life.

We had been having a lot of stress at the time with work and family issues, and Tim had been suggesting we come out and play, but we never made plans until finally, it happened. We drove out and met them for breakfast and then went back to their place, put on our boots, and headed to the stables so we could saddle up and do some horseback riding. It had been several years since Kristi and I had done any horseback riding, but we love to do it and looked forward to spending time on horseback with our friends. While in the process of getting the horses ready, Tim and Janie schooled us about the temperaments etc. of each horse and put us both with ones that they felt were good matches for us.

After our ride was over (3+ hours later!) we got back to the house and set them free to roam for a bit in the Richards’ yard, and all of them came down pretty close to the house, allowing me the chance to take some photos. The one above struck me as a rather up close and personal look into the eye and character of this horse, and we really enjoyed petting him, and all the rest while we were there. Kristi in particular loved this part of our time out there, because she has loved horses her entire life, and enjoyed feeding them and just being around them. It was quite the balm for a tough time in life.

We wound up staying for dinner and had some amazing bacon wrapped shrimp on the grill along with some sides and then just hung out with Tim and Janie for several more hours. We would have spent the night had we planned and brought a change of clothes! Given what life is piling on us lately, I think it’s about time for another trip to “the fork” for another escape, and enjoy our friends and their home and horses again. It is an amazing thing that happens to the soul when in such a peaceful environment—things just calm down and there is a breathe of fresh air that fills the heart and mind.

So the next time life is piling it on, and you need an escape, I recommend you find a place that you can go to for a day and let your soul be nourished and refreshed. Maybe it’s a park somewhere, maybe it is a trail you like to walk or bike, or maybe it is a friends house, like Tim and Janie’s—that has it all. If you go that route though, plan ahead and bring clothes to spend the night!