Since I shared Moss Mountain farmhouse tour last Friday, I wanted to share Part 2 of the house today. It’s definitely worth visiting again. This is a post from 2017.

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I’m back today with Part 2 of P. Allen Smith’s beautiful Moss Mountain farmhouse.  I don’t even have to ask you all if you loved last week’s tour, Part 1, do I?  Wasn’t it beautiful?  I know you’ll love seeing the upper floors today including both porches. Those porches are a sight to behold and I could have just camped out there the whole time.  Those views, oh my!  I hope you’re not tired of seeing Moss Mountain farm yet, because I still have one more post to share of the gardens around the house.

The post Feature Friday: Moss Mountain Farmhouse, Part 2 appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

Norma Jean received a package a while back – during the time that Dodger passed away… so she wasn’t able to read them, until now.

WHAT A GREAT IDEA!

I think it would be great to teach little ones about the value of wonderful donkeys…  What better way than an easy to follow, engaging, picture book about a real-life donkey!

Meet Donkey Donk!  (Yes, I am partial to donkeys.  I have two – Norma Jean and Mo – and they are incredible beings… so smart, so emotional and so giving.  Donkeys are wonderful.

And, you will be able to see how wonderful donkeys are because the author, Ellen F. Feld, who owns Donkey Donk,  is able to dress her in all kinds of outfits, have her do all kinds of tricks, and takes her to all kinds of places!

THE BOOKS.

There are three Donkey Donk books.  (I’m sure Feld loves creating these!).

What can I do?       Horse Show!      and Take a Hike!

All of the books are real photography of the real donkey, Donkey Donk (they live on a Morgan Horse farm, which I love, of course!).  The photos are engaging, the print is big and pretty, and the learning messages are simple and true.

WHAT CAN I DO?

This book is about the poor little Donkey Donk who is growing up on a fancy horse show farm and wonders what she can do as well as all of the big show horses.

The first book from 2018. All real photos with a sweet message of a little donkey living on a show horse farm. Click image to go to the Amazon page

A very sweet message

Donkeys are very affectionate.

HORSE SHOW

In this book, Donkey Donk prepares for her first show!

Donkey Donk learns how to be a show donkey! Click image to go to Amazon

Fun, relatable photos!

Sweet.

A good message…

TAKE A HIKE

This story is really quite a feat!  Donkey Donk actually went on a major hike on Mt. Washington!  So awesome!

Click image to go to Amazon

Gorgeous photos.

A sweet message about accomplishing a goal.

I could not imagine doing this with either of my donkeys. Wow! Great job!

HOW CAN YOU PURCHASE THESE BOOKS?

All of the above titles have links to their Amazon page.  However, I noticed that you can get a ‘signed copy’ (by Donk or Feld, not sure…) by contacting willowbendpublishing.com.

More info!

The post NORMA JEAN RECEIVED A PACKAGE! Do you read picture books to little children?! Check out DONKEY DONK! (Donkeys are the BEST)! appeared first on Horse and Man.

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Posted: 05/14/20 | May 14th, 2020

As I landed in Helsinki, I didn’t really know what to expect. Out of all the capital cities in the area, Helsinki gets the least “buzz.” And, while small and not as “cool” as Stockholm or Copenhagen, Helsinki is a hip, modern capital home to a vibrant art and music scene. It’s bursting with museums, cafes, and green space.

I really enjoyed my time here. It’s a very relaxed place to visit.

And, best of all, it sees a fraction of the tourists that cities in the area do too!

Helsinki is a lot cooler than you imagine it to be and it’s a wonderful place for art lovers (Finns are really into the arts). To help you make the most of your visit, here of all the best things to do and see there (at least, according to me):
 

1. Take a Free Walking Tour

One of the best things to do when you arrive in a new destination is to take a free walking tour. You’ll get to see the main sights, learn about the history and culture, and have a local expert available to answer all your questions. It’s the first thing I do when I arrive in a new city.

Walking Tours Helsinki offers a free 1.5-2 hour tour that acts as a solid introduction to the city. Just be sure to tip your guides!
 

2. Visit the Post Museum

A museum about the postal service sounds absolutely boring but I found it surprisingly interesting. The museum highlights the history of the mail service in Finland, from ships and sleds in the 1600s to the modern-day service. There are tons of relics, galleries, and short films about how they made mail delivery work in such a sparsely populated and harsh environment.

It does an excellent job taking a boring subject and making it fun, accessible, and educational.

Alaverstaanraitti 5, +358 03 5656 6966, postimuseo.fi. Open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-6pm. Admission is 13 EUR for adults and 6 EUR for children.
 

3. Relax in Sinebrychoff Park

This small city park used to be the private garden of a Russian businessman. Today, it’s a popular spot for picnics, relaxing, events, and sledding in the winter. There are lots of cafes nearby so grab a snack and come here to lounge and watch the day go by. It’s super popular with the locals in the summer.
 

4. Explore the National Museum of Finland

As a history buff, I always appreciate a good museum. I’ve been to more than my fair share of disappointing and under-funded museums over the years. Fortunately, this was not one of them.

Opened in 1916, the museum covers the history of Finland from the Stone Age to the present. It has a large collection of artifacts, provides lots of detail and creates a chronological narrative, and offers decent descriptions so you always know what you are looking at. For a small capital city, it’s a very, very impressive museum. Don’t miss it!

Mannerheimintie 34, +358 29 5336000, kansallismuseo.fi/en/kansallismuseo. Open daily from 11am-6pm (closed Mondays in the winter). Admission is 14 EUR.
 

5. Wander the Suomenlinna Fortress

Suomenlinna is a UNESCO World Heritage site constructed by Sweden in 1748 on an island just off the coast. Originally named “Sveaborg” (Castle of the Swedes), it was built as a deterrent against Russian expansionism. Eventually, it was renamed to “Suomenlinna” (Castle of Finland) in 1918 when the country gained independence. A visit here is a relaxing way to spend half a day as you can explore the fort, wander the island, or chill in one of the many parks.

There are also a lot of interesting buildings here (including six different museums) and some out-of-the-way beaches.

Admission to the fort is free, though each of the museums has its own admission fee.
 

6. Visit the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art

I’m not a fan of contemporary art. However, if you are, then be sure to visit. This museum opened in 1990 and is housed in a really unique modern building not far from the Post Museum. The collection consists of over 8,000 works (though I personally don’t recognize any of the names). Part of the Finnish National Gallery, Kiasma is Finnish for “chiasma” which is a term that describes the crossing of nerves or tendons.

Mannerheiminaukio 2, +358 29 450 0501, kiasma.fi/en. Open Tuesday from 10am-6pm, Wednesday-Friday from 10am-8:30pm, Saturdays from 10am-6pm, and Sundays from 10am-5pm. Admission is 15 EUR for adults and 13 EUR for students and seniors. For children under 18, admission is free. Admission is also free on the first Friday of the month.
 

7. See the Finnish Museum of Photography

This museum houses an awesome collection of photography from both Finnish and international artists. There are rotating exhibits as well as exhibits by new and emerging photographers. There’s always something interesting here so check the website to see what’s on display during your visit.

Tallberginkatu 1, +358 9 68663610, valokuvataiteenmuseo.fi. Open Tuesday-Sunday from 11am-6pm (8pm on Wednesdays). Admission is 10 EUR for adults and free for anyone under 18.
 

8. Marvel at the Helsinki Cathedral

This cathedral was built in the 19th century as a tribute to Czar Nicholas I. Located next to the Bank Museum, it towers over the city and is one of the most recognizable facets of the capital’s skyline. If you’ve visited a lot of cathedrals won’t likely walk away thinking this is one of the greatest cathedrals in Europe, but I think it’s one of the best in Scandinavia.

Unioninkatu 29, +358 9 23406120, helsinginseurakunnat.fi. Open daily from 9am-6pm. Admission is free.
 

9. Stroll Around the Central Market

For souvenir shopping, tasty local food, fresh produce (including lots of berries in the summer), and great people-watching be sure to head to the Central Market. It’s located near the harbor, which sits on the coast of the Baltic Sea. In October, the herring market begins which is a huge local event. The market has heated tents when it gets cold and there are plenty of restaurants and cafes around making it a fun place to visit any time of the year. While it is often swarming with tourists, I heard enough Finnish to know it isn’t a complete tourist trap.

Open daily from 8am-5pm. Admission is free.
 

10. Explore the Sinebrychoff Art Museum

This is the only museum in the city that focuses on older European paintings and portraits (from the 14th-19th centuries). Housed in a building built in 1842, there are around 4,000 items in the collection. Not only are there some incredible and historic works here but part of the museum is composed of the Sinebrychoff residence itself. You can walk through the old Sinebrychoff estate and see what life was like for the affluent in Helsinki in the 19th century.

Bulevardi 40, +358 29 4500460, sinebrychoffintaidemuseo.fi. Open Tuesday-Friday from 11am-6pm (8pm on Wednesdays) and 10am-5pm on weekends. Admission is 15 EUR and free for kids under 18.
 

11. Visit the Bank of Finland Museum

Admittedly, a bank museum sounds even more boring than a post museum but this museum was one of the coolest museums I’ve seen in a long time. First and foremost, it paints a clear and insightful picture of the history of money in Finland. They also host rotating exhibitions on all sorts of related topics (such as counterfeit money). But what I found the museum really did well was to explain the history of modern finance. It makes the topic so clear and concise that I really learned a lot during my visit.

Snellmaninkatu 2, +358 9 1832981, rahamuseo.fi/en.Open Tuesday-Friday from 11am-5pm (12pm-5pm on Wednesdays) and 11am-4pm on the weekend. Admission is free.
 

12. Relax in Esplanade Park

This park, known as Espa to the locals, is a popular place to spend an afternoon when the weather is nice. In the warmer summer months, there are street musicians and performers around as well as lots of green space and benches for anyone looking to lounge with a book or a picnic. Opened in 1818, the park also has some walking and jogging trails too. It’s just a nice place to relax and soak in the city.
 

13. See Uspenski Cathedral

This large red cathedral is hard to miss. It’s an Eastern Orthodox church with large domes and gold crosses and definitely has a very Russian feel to it. Consecrated in 1868, it’s actually the largest Eastern Orthodox church in all of Western Europe. The interior is lavishly decorated too, with a large vaulted ceiling and lots of Eastern Orthodox icons (though some of the most famous icons have actually been stolen in recent years).

Kanavakatu 1, +358 9 85646100. Open Tuesday-Friday from 9:30am-7pm, Saturday from 10am-3pm, and Sunday from 12pm-3pm. Closed during ceremonies. Admission is free.
 

14. Take a Food Tour

If you’re a foodie like me, you have to take a food tour. They’re the best way to sample the local delicacies. From fresh fish to craft beer to Finnish porridge, you’ll be able to sample many traditional foods. Heather’s Helsinki offers a tasty tour of the city that lasts 4-5 hours and includes 9 different stops around the city for just 85 EUR per person.
 

15. Visit the Helsinki City Museum

Opened in 1911, this is an excellent city museum with plenty of descriptions and top-notch exhibits and photos. It’s actually the third-best city museum I’ve come across in Europe (after the Amsterdam and Barcelona museums). Do not miss it. You’ll learn a lot about the city and learn about how it has changed and evolved over the centuries.

Aleksanterinkatu 16, +358 9 31036630, helsinginkaupunginmuseo.fi. Open weekdays from 11am-5pm and weekends from 11am-5pm. Admission is free.
 

16. Chill out in Kaivopuisto Park

This huge park is tucked away in the southeast corner of Helsinki. During the winter, tobogganing is popular here. Lots of events held here as well, such as Vappu Day (May 1st) celebrations. The park overflows with thousands of locals who come to picnic, listen to music, and drink away the day. Since it’s so out of the way, you hardly ever see tourists here.
 

17. Hit the Sauna

You can’t visit Finland without going to a sauna. The word itself is Finnish and there are over 3 million in the country (which is a lot since there are only 5.5 million people in Finland). There are plenty of public saunas in Helsinki, most of which ost around 10 EUR and have separate sections for men and women. You can usually rent towels as well, and while going nude is the traditional method there’s no shame in wearing a towel either.

Some of the best saunas in the city are:

• Kotiharjun Sauna
• Sauna Hermanni
• Allas Sea Pool

18. Explore Seurasaari Island

This island just north of the city is home to an open-air museum featuring traditional style Finnish buildings. Guided tours are offered daily in the summer and will take you around the buildings and shed light on how Finns lived from the 17th-19th centuries. The museum, which opened in 1909, collected the buildings from all around the country so you aren’t seeing replicas here.

Meilahti, +358 295 33 6912, kansallismuseo.fi/en/seurasaarenulkomuseo. Open from May-September. Check website for specific hours. Admission 8 EUR in May and October and 10 EUR from June-August.

***

Helsinki is a city that deserves more praise than it gets. Fortunately for you, since it often overlooked, you’ll be able to visit without dealing with the crowds that so many other European capitals are plagued with.

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My detailed, 200+ page guidebook is made for budget travelers like you! It cuts out the fluff found in other guidebooks and gets straight to the practical information you need to travel and save money while backpacking around Europe. You’ll find suggested itineraries, budgets, ways to save money, on and off the beaten path things to see and do, non-touristy restaurants, markets, and bars, and much more! Click here to learn more and get started!
 

Photo credit: 3 – Mahlum, 5 – Tomi Lattu, 7 – Finnish National Gallery, 8 – Antonio Caiazzo, 10 – Olga1969

The post The 18 Best Things to See and Do in Helsinki appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

What is it about wind and horses?

I know that I always think twice when considering riding on a windy day.  I think the horse does, too.

What is it about wind that makes a horse … uh… go on the fritz, as my Dad would say.  It is as if on windy days, their brains short circuit.

Of course, wild ponies, who grew up in windy areas, are just fine with wind.

WIND AND THE DOMESTIC HORSE

I am sure there are many horses who are old souls or were trained in windy days or are from the Dakotas…   But most horses that I’ve ever known usually totally freak out in the wind.

Horse:  WIND!!!  Agggghhh, gasp!  I cannot hear or smell or THINK!  RED ALERT RED ALERT!  RUUUUUUUUN with your head REALLY HIGHHHHH AND SWING IT FROM SIDE TO SIDE.

Mustangs seem to be fine with wind, although I am sure they are on high alert on windy days.

AGE, GENDER AND WIND.

Today is an incredibly windy day here on top of the ridge in San Miguel, CA.

Now, if I was honest with myself,  I’d look out over my herd and say, well, the boys are going crazy… but the girls are handling it.

Hmmmm.  Is this just my herd?  A false generalization?  A reality?  Dunno.  But Wrigley, Finn and Mo are spinning around making themselves all sweaty… and the girls are just hanging out in the shelter.

Looking out over the herd, I would also say that the older horses are much more calm about this than the younger horses.  That is probably a very basic conclusion.  However, Finn is getting up there in age yet he is still freaking out right now.  So that theory is a bit blown.

But, Gwen and Norma are acting as if it is just another afternoon.  They are in their 20s/30s.  Been there, done that.

Another wild one.

NO SENSES

People have said that since horses are prey animals and they rely on their senses, when wind interrupts their senses of sight and smell, they feel very insecure/vulnerable.

Sounds about right.

They look so beautiful in the wind!

JUST SO IRRITATING

Or is it that wind is just so irritating?  It blows sand in your eyes… it blows your hair all around and the static electricity is very annoying.

I can’t even touch my cats right now… we all end up getting shocked.

This is me, today.

IN CONCLUSION

My only solid conclusion is that I must be very aware when working around or riding my particular horses on windy days.  And even if I am hanging out with my older mares, a huge thing might break off from a tree or come rolling around or blowing about at any moment – which will cause some immediate and frantic hoof action, so best to be inside…

The post HORSES and WIND. Not a love story. appeared first on Horse and Man.

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I thought I had enough halters to last for the rest of my life!   But then I tried to find a nice, not chewed, leather halter around here for Dalton.

Now, you’d think he would wear a horse-sized halter since he does have, well, he is a mustang after all and they have those larger heads… so I just figured that one of Finn’s leather halters would fit him… or maybe one of my older show halters from my Morgan show days.

But alas, Dalton is a Cobb.  Who knew?!  Finn’s halters were too big.  My show Morgan halters were too worn… so I decided to get Dalton a new halter of his own.  And, since I love nice leather halters (breakable), I ordered his halter just a few days ago, and it arrived already!

I’m very impressed with this company (Tack Shack of Ocala).  I had never purchased from them previously and the halter is beautiful and very well made.

The halter is beautiful and very well made. Triple stitching and very soft, lovely harness leather.  (tackshackocala.com)

DALTON, KING OF ALL

Here he is… surveying his landscape (and helping me with weed abatement).

I totally should NOT have gotten him a new halter since he destroyed my hat yesterday, but clearly, I’m a pushover.

Here is the King, helping me with weed abatement and surveying his kingdom.

This photo was taken in the moments before he destroyed my hat and pulled the hose into his paddock and ate it.

SO THE HALTER NAME PLATE FITS…

I don’t think he liked that I was giggling as I took this photo!

He was a little peeved that I was giggling as I took this photo… but the nameplate fits him for sure.

YOU CAN GET ONE, TOO, with anything you want printed on it – (NO AFFILIATION)

I showed Dalton’s new halter to Lorelei, who has Annie, and she is going to get one for Annie.  Her nameplate will be “Princess Annie”.

You can put whatever you’d like on the plate and I think you can use up to three rows.  I only used one row.

Anyway, I have no affiliation with these folks, I just thought they were very professional, the halter is of very fine quality and the name plate is FUN.  Also, they shipped really fast!

I have no affiliation but I do think this is a terrific quality halter, triple stitching, fine harness leather, well oiled and a fun nameplate with very fast shipping!

The post SIR DALTON, THE KING OF ALL and other ranch goingson. appeared first on Horse and Man.

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!

Your purchase with R.W. through this link helps the Bucket Fund!

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Hey friends, I’ve been ordering a few new things for summer and I also spotted some other colorful cute tops that I wanted to share. I love adding color for summer, it’s the perfect time to break out some of the more vibrant hues. The sales are still great and that’s how I shop, so all of these are on sale and good prices. I also added some shoes that are very similar to the ones I was wearing last week in the Target dress. You all loved that dress and a whole lot of you ordered it! It’s not on sale this week, so we all got a good deal.

The post Fashion over 50: Colorful Cute Summer Tops appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

Equestrian centres have been advised that they may re-open and coaches and farriers that they may return to work in view of the latest government guidance.

Since prime minister Boris Johnson announced some easing of coronavirus lockdown measures on Sunday (10 May), the British Horse Society (BHS) and British Equestrian have been working with Sport England and the Sport & Recreation Alliance.

As a result, the BHS has today (12 May) advised that riding schools, facilities and livery yards may open from tomorrow, while adhering to government guidelines on social distancing, and that due to be published this week on hygiene and biosecurity in relation to sport.

“To align with the latest government guidelines stating that you may only exercise in groups of no more than two unless you are exclusively with members of your household, riding schools and freelance coaches are advised to provide lessons or coaching to individuals only, not to family groups,” a BHS spokesman said, referring to the government’s website for more details.

“The Sport & Recreation Alliance has advised that it is for individual facilities and organisations to develop their own guidance on reopening, to best fit their own situation, in line with the government’s advice. The BHS will support centres by providing advice, guidance and risk assessment templates, which will follow, in order to help you re-open your business.

“The continuation of this advice and guidance is conditional based upon the criteria set by government and is therefore subject to change.

“This update is for England only. Our guidance from Monday 11 May remains unchanged for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.”

The Farriers Registration Council (FRC) has also released updated guidance to owners and registered farriers.

In a statement, the FRC said it has engaged with the government on farriery.

Continues below…

Riders urged to get back in the saddle following changes to coronavirus restrictions 

The new guidance follows Boris Johnson’s most recent announcement

Excess rider weight can cause back pain in horses

Heavier riders and unsuitable saddles can cause muscle tension and pain in horses according to a study by Dr Sue

Horse & Hound delivered to your door with extra savings

If you want to keep up with the latest from the equestrian world without leaving home, grab a H&H subscription

“The direction and guidance accords with the key questions and tests applied by the Scottish and Welsh governments,” the statement said.

“It is agreed that the FRC interpretation of the government’s updated guidance is that registered farriers may provide farriery services to equines by arrangement with equine owners.”

Farriers must adhere to provisos on social distancing and biosecurity, as set out on the FRC website, and the council added that its advice may change in accordance with future government guidance.

We continue to publish Horse & Hound magazine weekly during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as keeping horseandhound.co.uk up to date with all the breaking news, features and more. Click here for info about magazine subscriptions (six issues for £6) and access to our premium H&H Plus content online.

HI, friends! Thank you for all the love on the patio and screen porch project! We couldn’t be happier with how it all came together and just in time for summer. We celebrated a little more low key this year without Lauren and the girls, but we ate outside on my sister’s porch and it was so nice. A gorgeous day for Mother’s Day! I hope you all enjoyed your day as well with things still being not normal this year. 

Today’s Style Showcase has lots of inspiration for you from DIY projects to lots of summer ideas so you can start planning some summer outings and getting your homes ready for summer. We are ready here for some summer entertaining! 

The post Style Showcase 29 appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

The Pont-du-Gard is the remains of a Roman aqueduct that delivered water over 30km to the Roman colony of Nemausus, what is today called the modern city of Nimes. It also holds the distinction of being the highest surviving Roman aqueduct in the world. Overview The aqueduct was used as a bridge across the river …

Read moreVisiting Pont-du-Gard, France

The post Visiting Pont-du-Gard, France appeared first on Everything Everywhere Travel Blog.

This week Jen Leo, Spud Hilton, Chris Christensen and I talk about the Coronavirus Covid-19 and its impact on life, travel, and the travel industry. This Week’s News: Impact of coronavirus on the travel industry Coronavirus and the travel industry CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Could Royal Caribbean Stock Double After Coronavirus? COVID-19 …

Read moreThis Week in Travel – Episode 261

The post This Week in Travel – Episode 261 appeared first on Everything Everywhere Travel Blog.