Down the Long Lane Helping Women Write
This is where you will find all my stories about living on the land, caring for and healing with my horses, and the writing and art they inspire.
You will also find family stories as I explore my past to unearth secrets and understand why I’ve moved so much, twenty times with my family of origin, and another thirty times since I turned 18.
Finding home here is Leaf River, Illinois marked a change in this pattern. We’ve lived here for nearly three decades, since 1995, the year my brother Chuck died.
Since then, all my family of origin have died, leaving me the sole keeper of our stories with the responsibility to share them.
I waited for the storm throughout last night, my sleep smothered by the humidity that had invaded the house. Nothing came. Not the storm. Nor the sleep.
I gave up trying for sleep at six this morning, dressed and went outside into the stillness.
The house of cards on which I stand is wobbling. Will I fall? I am hiding here in this beautiful place, trying to write. Will I finish the edits to my two books before the life of my dreams falls apart?
The most recent card to fall was the rain last night. I allowed my
I’m redesigning my entire website, refocusing it on what I love to do and to write about: HORSES.
Don’t panic if you’re not a horse person. I’m hoping to find a community of people (or perhaps gather a new one) who just loves horses. You won’t need to know anything about horses to enjoy it. It’s not about “how to” but rather “why I love my life.”
In my future blogs, I’ll be talking about what it takes to care for horses and why the joy I experience is worth all the work.
The rain has been spitting and threatening all day, but not much had fallen since the inch we got yesterday. The sun came out for a bit this afternoon, so I took Max for a walk up the lane. By the time we strolled up the second hill, the wind kicked out and rain that felt almost frozen started hitting me in the face.
Losing my horse Sonia last October really tore me up. But it was a lot harder on our horse Charlie—now he’s all alone. He needed a new family.
It’s Halloween, and it’s snowing for the second time this week and this time, it’s easily five inches. I’m not complaining. I know Denver has already had feet of snow and bit of shoveling is certainly better than all the fires the folks are having to deal with in California, but I do feel bad for the Leaf River kids trick-or-treating in the windy twenty-degree weather tonight.
After our rainy summer and a busy harvest season, I’m mentally ready for winter…but our farm is not.
Where we left off…
After Losing Sonia Charlie needed a friend. We were lucky to find two senior OTTB (off-track Thoroughbred) horses to rescue and bring home (see Charlie Needs a Friend Part I). I hoped they’d soon accept our farm down the long lane as their new home. It takes time to build trust and many things can go wrong after adopting two hot-blooded horses. They could try to run away.
A herd that had once numbered seven had dwindled to one. Now alone, Charlie grieved deeply. Every horse needs a herd. One horse can’t be a herd.
I love watching my horses roll. When I let the horses out in the morning, Charlie, the bay colt throws his head up, shakes his sleepy sand-filled eyes awake, bucks and rears, twisting toward the two chestnut mares, Sonia and Maggie, who dance and prance in the crisp morning air.
Three weeks ago, just as all this Covid-19 craziness was beginning to complicate everyone’s daily life, my husband Greg decided to tackle a do-it-yourself project which required cutting off our water supply. My familiar fear of a potential nightmare created an opportunity for me to practice patience, problem-solving, and kindness. So, here’s how plumbing is like writing.
Where we left off…
After Losing Sonia Charlie needed a friend. We were lucky to find two senior OTTB (off-track Thoroughbred) horses to rescue and bring home (see Charlie Needs a Friend Part I). I hoped they’d soon accept our farm down the long lane as their new home. It takes time to build trust and many things can go wrong after adopting two hot-blooded horses. They could try to run away.
A herd that had once numbered seven had dwindled to one. Now alone, Charlie grieved deeply. Every horse needs a herd. One horse can’t be a herd.
Losing my horse Sonia last October really tore me up. But it was a lot harder on our horse Charlie—now he’s all alone. He needed a new family.
It’s Christmas Eve and I want to wish you all a happy holiday and hope that you receive or find a way to achieve your deepest desire in the New Year. I also want to apologize for being out of touch for the last month.
I love watching my horses roll. When I let the horses out in the morning, Charlie, the bay colt throws his head up, shakes his sleepy sand-filled eyes awake, bucks and rears, twisting toward the two chestnut mares, Sonia and Maggie, who dance and prance in the crisp morning air.
Three weeks ago, just as all this Covid-19 craziness was beginning to complicate everyone’s daily life, my husband Greg decided to tackle a do-it-yourself project which required cutting off our water supply. My familiar fear of a potential nightmare created an opportunity for me to practice patience, problem-solving, and kindness. So, here’s how plumbing is like writing.
Where we left off…
After Losing Sonia Charlie needed a friend. We were lucky to find two senior OTTB (off-track Thoroughbred) horses to rescue and bring home (see Charlie Needs a Friend Part I). I hoped they’d soon accept our farm down the long lane as their new home. It takes time to build trust and many things can go wrong after adopting two hot-blooded horses. They could try to run away.
A herd that had once numbered seven had dwindled to one. Now alone, Charlie grieved deeply. Every horse needs a herd. One horse can’t be a herd.
Losing my horse Sonia last October really tore me up. But it was a lot harder on our horse Charlie—now he’s all alone. He needed a new family.
It’s Christmas Eve and I want to wish you all a happy holiday and hope that you receive or find a way to achieve your deepest desire in the New Year. I also want to apologize for being out of touch for the last month.
