Today's photos

As soon as I read today's Shelter & Share Photo Challenge prompt, I knew I wanted to create a scene with my two Sarah Minkiewicz-Breunig babies, Gimme S'more and Squee! After all, they were sculpted to be frolicking pasture pal pair. I added a jolly ball, and the result was every bit as delightful as I'd imagined.

Here's a bonus picture of Squee! with the jolly ball. She is so stinkin' cute!

The prompt for the April Photo Challenge was a lot harder. It took me a while to figure out how to portray "Stars," but I am pleased with what I eventually came up with.

That's all for today!

The horses of Europe: Paris park ponies

Yesterday was Ryan's twentieth birthday. He got some presents. We ate dinner (take-out) from his favorite restaurant. Carol sent a cake. It was a nice birthday in a quarantine kind of way.

Earlier this year, I spent my birthday in Paris.

I drank champagne with my best friend on the Eiffel Tower. 

We went on a champagne riverboat tour...

and there were actual fireworks on my birthday "cake."

I didn't get any presents, but it was the best birthday ever.

The next day, we visited the Paris Catacombs...

and the Arc de Triomphe.

Carol has been to Paris several times. Most of the tourist stuff we were doing was old hat to her, but his was her first time on the Arc de Triomphe. It was fun doing something that was new to both of us.

Unfortunately, after that, things went a little sideways. Four weeks is a long time to spend with someone, even your very best friend. We had a disagreement over where to eat lunch, and ended up parting ways for a couple hours.

Reuniting was hard, not because we stayed angry, but because Paris is big, bustling and kind of chaotic and only some of the train stations were open.

We were both really tired when we finally found each other, so we decided to call it a day and head back to the hotel. I asked Carol if she would be okay with making a detour through Luxembourg Gardens. 

In the previous three weeks, Carol and I had ridden carriages in three different European countries. We'd hoped to extend our streak in France, but alas, the Parisian carriage companies don't operate in January. The closest thing I could find was pony rides in some of Paris' biggest parks, including Luxembourg Gardens. Carol had been there before, and she hadn't seen ponies. Still, I was determined.

We followed the signs and found one lonely little black pony, standing all by himself next to a hitching rail.

I was delighted. 

I was also amazed. The pony wasn't tied up and there didn't seem to be anyone watching him. 

"I can't believe he just stays here," I told Carol.

In heavily accented English, a voice behind me said, "That's because his soul is dead."

Okay.

I walked all the way around him and took lots of pictures.

Love the saddle!

Then I heard the sound of little hooves approaching. 

All of a sudden, there were ponies everywhere.

 Most of them were teeny tiny and black, but there was a little bit of variety in size and color.

This little chestnut was so cute... 

and this feisty black pony's soul was definitely alive and well.

The first group of kids dismounted and then another took their place.

Then the ponies set out again.

We followed them just a little bit, then turned back and walked to the hotel.

The long day ended on a good note. Ponies make everything better!

Today's photos

Both of today's challenge photos are pretty basic. The prompt for the April Photo Challenge was "Dun." I used my North Light Fjord, Bjorgi, and took the photo from above to highlight his dorsal stripe.

The Shelter & Share prompt was "Favorite Plastic Model in Your Herd." As always, I have a lot of favorites, but if you really pressed me, that title goes to Zucchini.

That's all for today!

Neuschwanstein Castle postscript

After we said goodbye to Sammy and Nora, Carol and I went on a tour of Neuschwanstein Castle.

Photography is not allowed inside the castle. I saw a few people sneaking shots with their cells phones, but I don't roll that way. All my photos are of the outside.

Here's the view from the castle grounds - spectacular!

We left the castle and hiked to St Mary's Bridge, where we took more pictures of the castle.

Then it was time to head back down the hill. I was sorely tempted to pay for another ride on the carriage, but Carol was having none of it. She was right, but still... We took a hiking trail down to the parking lot. It was beautiful, and we were able to catch glimpses of the horses between the trees.

We reached the road, and a horse trailer drove by us. I said, "Wouldn't it be great if that stopped right here in front of us."

And then it did!

Carol wasn't willing to pay for a second carriage ride, but she stood there with me as we watched the driver unload both of his horses. She's a good friend.

I look forward to being on the other side of this. I can not wait to enjoy horsey adventures with my friends again.

The horses of Europe: Neuschwanstein Castle

Clearly, I am jonesing for a horse fix. 

I was hoping to swing by the barn for a few minutes tomorrow after the statewide Stay at Home order expired. However, local government has since stepped in and extended the order for most of the Denver Metro area - including Arapahoe County - until May 8. I think it's the right decision, and I will abide by it. I hate it, but I will continue staying home.

In the meantime, I will fill the horse shaped void with my models and my memories. Today, I am going back to Europe, to spend some time with Sammy and Nora and the other horses at Neuschwanstein Castle.

On January 13, Carol and I got up early and drove two and a half hours across Germany to visit Neuschwanstein Castle.

The castle is located high on a hill above the village of Hohenschwangau. As we got out of the car, I looked up that hill and sighed. I love Europe, but so many hills, so many stairs. I grumbled something to that effect, and Carol laughed. 

"This time," she said "I have a plan."

Moments later...

that plan...

trotted right past us!

It turns out that the walk to the castle is so steep, there's a whole fleet of horse drawn carriages dedicated to taking tourists up the hill. We bought our ticket and headed over to the carriage line.

I took pictures of each of the pairs assembled there.

Some of the pictures were character shots,

but most focused on the tack.

The tack was fabulous!

I just love these colorful nosebands.

Definitely going to make this someday.

I also loved the surcingle construction: One big buckle on each side. So simple, so elegant.

And the quarter sheets each horse wore?

Love those, too!

I could have stayed there all day taking pictures, but Carol called me up to the front of the line. 

"Climb aboard," she said. "We're about to go."

"I'm not sure I'm ready to go yet," I told her.

"If we go in this one," she explained patiently, as if I was a child. "We can sit next to the driver."

Okay then.

Our horses were named Sammy and Nora.

I loved having a clear view of them as they pulled us up the mountain.

Clop, clop, clop, ting! Clop, clop, clop, ting!

When we reached the top, everyone else disembarked and headed to the castle.

Not me.

 I took a minute - or ten - to linger with Sammy and Nora.

Thanks for the lift, friends. I really appreciated. 

And thank you, Carol, for putting up with me and my horsey needs. I owe you a Disney trip when all of this is over.