Originally posted: March 18, 2011 ________________________ From Battlefields to Olympic heights I stumbled upon this story through a simple email to the United States Equestrian Foundation for some background about horse jumping in the 1940s. One woman mentioned they had a member from the last Army team who competed in the 1948 Olympics who might be willing to share some of his experiences. How could I turn down that opportunity? What I found was more than I’d ever imagined. Major General Jack Burton was indeed one of several riders who represented the United States at the first Olympics since Berlin in 1936. He’d served in the Pacific during World War...
Recycling Week – My favorite horse story (ever)
Originally posted Aug. 20, 2009 ______________________ The Arabian stallion legend: Witez II If I could credit a single book for my current work-in-progress, the Dreams of Yesterday series, it would be the Western Horseman Book called “Arabian Legends.” Published in 1999, the paperback book features 24 of the most successful and legendary Arabian mares and stallions. I have worn down my copy to the bare threads of the binding. I have spent hours pouring over this book and the photos of horses from in the 30s to the 90s. There are pen marks, pencil marks, highlighter marks, bent pages, sticky notes and everything in between. A hybrid of my two...
An Interview with Myself Part 4
Here is the final part of my in-depth interview with myself. I tried to dig deep and all of my answers are the bare truth. Feel free to share something about yourself in the comments! Also check out Part 1, Part 2, Part 3… 31. What do you dislike most in others? Saying one thing and doing another. And making selfish, stupid decisions with no regard for how you might affect another’s life (silly things like speeding through parking lots, tailgating, etc.) 32. Do you talk about religion or politics? I have strong opinions on each, but I believe in finding middle grounds and being the peacemaker. I find extremes...
An Interview with Myself Part 3
Here we go again! See Part 1 and Part 2 of the interview to learn a bit more about me. 21. If you could be or do anything else – what? I’d write, take photos, blog and connect with people each day. Thankfully, I’m living the dream. 22. If you could live in any other time, when might that be? The 1940s, hands down. There is of course a glamour surrounding the period and the way the country rose to meet the war demand. But I would want to see it, feel it, understand the true struggles and the meaning of sacrifice. What have we had to “ration” or sacrifice...
An interview with…myself (part 2!)
Last week, I started a four-part interview series with the most interesting subject I’ve ever hosted on this blog. Myself. (Kidding, kidding.) This week, the questions get a little deeper, and sometimes I wonder what this crazy interviewer was thinking. 🙂 11. When did you get your first doll? Doll? More like horse…I collected a lot of horses (both the small, toy versions and the larger, more expensive kind) over the years. 12. When did you learn there was no Santa Claus? One Christmas I caught my parents shuffling around downstairs and I got out of bed to investigate. By then, I had already put the pieces together. I don’t even remember...