11-11-11

Today we celebrate Veteran's Day... I found this photo on the Internet and felt it was most appropriate for the day... Thank you to all who have served in the past, and to those who continue to protect our home....













Since it was a "holiday" I had said to Ed earlier in the week that I would like to take a day trip somewhere. I had thought of a few different places that might be fun to visit.. but wasn't too sure where we would end up. We really should have stayed home - been adults - and got some projects done around the farm.. but ya know.. sometimes, it's good to have a change of scenery. I was also talking with our friend Becky.. telling her that I have been on the watch for a sleigh. Just a nice little sleigh that we could play with around the farm, and maybe do a sleigh rally this winter.... upon saying that Becky was pretty sure that she knew of a sleigh for sale.


So, as it turned out... our day trip was up to see Becky and Butch on their farm. It's been a couple of years since I was there last - for a riding clinic - and I had forgotten how pretty the country side is in their neck of the state. When we arrived, I had to pay a visit to Dick... one of their original horses... for an old boy - 32 years!!! - he's in pretty good shape and seems to be enjoying life as a big pet. Both Becky and Butch are very fond of him and are giving him a great retirement.





We had a nice visit together... got some lunch...and so did the others on the farm...












And then we went over to check out the little sleigh that Becky had told me about. Actually these folks have a few horse drawn vehicles for sale... they have a real cute cutter.. but it would have been too small to put behind our guys...








and then they showed us this little gem. It was made around 1800... and is Canadian. The gentleman got it at an auction... he did a few minor repairs to it.. but it's pretty much just what you see here.












The runners are nice and solid and it can sit four, it's big enough that the drafts can fit in front and the price was well within my budget.....













We decided to bring it home......













With little effort, Butch and Ed got it up into the back of the truck.

I was excited to see how nicely it fit.. this means we can put it in the truck, hitch our trailer and bring horse and vehicle to somewhere and go. There are a number of sleigh rallies that go on during the winter and I am hoping we might be able to attend one or two this winter.....

Before we left, Butch took us to see the sleigh that he and Becky restored last winter. They have it in storage now near their home, but once the winter weather comes, they'll pull it out.

This is another little gem. They put quite a number of hours into the restoration of it, but Butch said it had good bones to work with.

The seat was one of the biggest part of the project, they re did it in red velvet and nipped and tucked all those buttons. Becky said their hands ached after that project.. but it came out perfect...

The craftsmanship and details that went into these little sleighs of the century is amazing... people took real pride in their work back in the day. This scalloped design on the back of the seat proves it. We need to bring these kinds of things back....

But anyways, I am looking forward to a fun new project for the winter.... I'm sure there will be blogs on this to come.