Another Farmer's Market Tomorrow!

I had another great day today in the garden harvesting for tomorrow's market here at Blue Fountain Farm.  Of course, it's pick a few veggies, take a few pictures, but that's OK.  The weather is still unseasonably cool, but that, too, is OK. 

However, before I get to the garden, we had a visitor at pondside the other day, and I was able to get a couple of quick photos across the pond before our friend flew off.  It was a White Egret - we see a few of them here now and then, until Jake decides to chase them away.............

Back to the garden........ the veggies are doing great!

The purple beans are pretty, and taste great as well.....

The dill is really coming on, and smells great!

The peppers are showing signs of turning color, and will soon be bright red........

Now, explain this one to me.........these sunflowers look perfectly normal, and they came from the same seeds as the sunflowers that are 8 ft tall........

But, they are "Mini-Me" Sunflowers - only about a foot tall !

Pretty cute!  Of course, the other flowers are gorgeous as well, I can't get enough of them..........

The tomatoes are taking their sweet time getting ripe, but the ones that have ripened are GREAT!  I hear a lot of other people are in the same boat with slow ripening tomatoes, but pretty soon I'll have more than I know what to do with!

To go with the tomatoes, we have rows of basil - lemon, lime, Italian, purple...............yummy!!

So, if you get a chance, come on out to the the market on Sundays between 9 and noon!  Besides the veggies we have pears, honey, eggs, peach pie fillings, juices,and all sorts fo fun things!  Hope to see you there!

Dressage Clinic, Dressage Show and........Cowboy Dressage!!

It's time for everyone to get ready for more events at Blue Fountain Farm!  As it says above, we have dressage clinics and a show coming up soon - and for the first time we are offering Western Dressage classes (also called Cowboy Dressage) in our show!

We are happy to have Claus Bergener returning from Germany for three days in September on the 18th ,19th and 20th, and again in October on the 7th, 8th and 9th.  I did a post on Claus awhile back - you can go here to read about him if you don't know anything about my good friend of 20+ years.   And........Claus is very happy to take people riding in western saddles!  Be sure to sign up as soon as you can! 

I always enjoy Claus' clinics - it's one of the few times I get to be on the receiving end of instruction, rather than the giving end!

Then - the event that everyone is getting very excited about is our upcoming Dressage Schooling Show on October 3rd. 

Our schooling shows are always well attended and very popular. This year we expect a larger than normal attendence, due to the addition of the latest and greatest thing in horse competition - Western Dressage.

  Yes, dressage in a western saddle and attire!  Now, don't think that this is just the same thing in different clothes - this division has it's own rules and tests.  I've created links on my ranch website for everything you need for this show - flyers and entries, English rules and tests, and Western rules and tests.

So........... study up, practice, practice, practice, get your entries in for the show, and sign up for the clinics - they are all well worth the time and effort.  If you have any questions, shoot an email my way, and I'll be happy to respond.       

Farmer's Market News, and.............

Jozsef immortalized on a Farmer's Market stand by my great friend Leslie Ann Webb

............a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who has contacted me - either by email, card, flowers, or phone - whatever way felt best to them, to send their condolences and sympathy about Jozsef's passing.  I knew he touched a lot of lives, but there were many of you who had had some sort of contact with him, either riding, breeding to, or simply being around, who I forgot had been so moved by him.  I've been very touched by the outpouring of support from people near and far.  The above stand for the market was painted by my friend, and famous artist, Leslie Ann Webb.  She took the image from my last blog and "did her thing"!  And below is a great "Throne" that my friends made for me using the stall sign that has always been on Jozsef's stall............what a great idea, and how special it felt to find it waiting for me at the barn last night!  Thank you to everyone..............

Thank you ;)

Now, on to the Farmer's Market and Garden...........

Today was the "Official" opening of the Farmer's Market, along with our monthly Sunday Brunch.  It's been a long while since I've posted anything about the garden, (see the side bar post listed under "of interest....." to the right to have a look at the beginning of the garden) but it's thriving, and I'm very pleased with it!  For my first attempt at growing food to eat, I think things have gone very well, indeed.  I say "I" and "my", but, as I've posted before, it is a "community" effort, and (again) I want to thank everyone who has been a part of it.  Here are some images of the garden from this morning.........

There really are a lot of veggies, but the flowers are so great to photograph!

Along with growing the garden, we've been getting the Big Red Truck ready to serve as the Market stand.  I'm very pleased with how things are turning out on that front as well................

Seth's "Two Guy's" local honey

My chalkboard made out of an old window frame and chalkboard paint.

Ralph, a fellow photography buff

Bob at the cashier's stand

Chris hiding behind her sunflowers

Yea!  A food transaction taking place!

Pastels by Jeanine Christman and mosaics by Linda Lansky and Joan Fields

Jewelry by Laurie Finta

Yum - tomatoes!

So, next time you see the above sign out on the road (every Sunday), take a left and come in to see what we have! 

Until later............. 

   

The wind of Heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears........

.............and that is where my equine friend and companion - Jozsef - is now.  Jozsef (aka Siglavy XI-6) was humanely euthanized on August 5th at the age of 18 after a prolonged battle with spinal troubles.  He had spinal fusion surgery in 2003, and led a happy and painfree life until last week, when he started to evidence signs of pain and increased ataxia.  He now rests on a beautiful knoll here on the ranch overlooking his former domain.  His calm and self-assured presence is missed by all here - he surely made his mark on everyone who knew him.

I found Jozsef at the Lipizzan Stud Farm in Hungary in the fall of 1995.  He was a very rare, black Lipizzan stallion - only three years old - who immediately took my breath away with his beauty and swagger.

Hungarian Stud Farm

My first view of Jozsef through the video lens

It took over six months to get him here to Grass Valley, but it turned out to be more than worth the wait.

Jozsef's first day at Blue Fountain Farm

  He was an unstarted colt,  but proved to be a very willing partner in everything we did - right from the beginning.  There was a confidence about him that transferred through to me - I always knew that he could do anything I asked of him - and in our years together we had many adventures.  He loved to jump, herd cows, go on trail rides, do his dressage - anything that was asked of him.  He learned to drive in one easy lesson - which I am finding was a very rare task (maybe it  helps if both of you are ignorant of the possible dangers of a new task).........

Driving for the first time in an antique Dr's buggy

We did many exhibitions at the Draft Horse Classic and the County Fair, where he was a crowd favorite doing his piaffe to music.  Jozsef brought tears to women's eyes and was the object of desire of hundreds of horse-crazy young girls - who wouldn't love a gorgeous, fairy-tale black stallion who danced to the music?

 

Piaffe at Sunset

Waiting to perform

Jozsef was a very good father who sired over 60 babies, both purebred and crossbred.  He loved his kids, as shown by his interest in his orphan son - Siegfried.....

Jozsef and Siegfried

"Joz" - as we fondly called him - could be regal and commanding, or a total goof - in other words, he had plenty of character.  His life was much too short - most Lipizzans can easily live into their 30s - but he enjoyed his life thoroughly.  One of his favorite things in the world to do was to roll in the muddiest or dustiest spot he could find - he really didn't like it when he had to get all "Fru-fru'd" for his shows or exhibitions.  Strange as it may sound, I can only think that he is happy in his new home ..........

I want to thank everyone who has sent their sympathy and support my way after they have found out about Jozsef's passing, and I leave you with a few images - which can never do him justice - of this magnificent being.  I will miss you.............

Joz with his best friend, Calvin.

Piaffe by the lake

Good-bye..... and thanks.