Drafts and Sheep

Despite the cold and threat of snow flurries, it's always fun to walk around Landis Valley. 

They had several activities for children today including a lesson, 1892 style, in their old school house.

This black Clydesdale was really keeping his eye on that sheep!

An adorable Percheron was checking out my camera. He was interested in the noises it was making. 

Tanya the Turkey is one of my favorite Landis Valley residents. She's so ugly, she's cute!

This is inside the school house. I was never able to go in the classroom before! 

The teacher did a wonderful job telling as all about what school would have been like in the late 1800's.
The flag had a few less stars on it and The Pledge was different, no mention of God.

Wrought iron detail from one of the desks. 

They don't make 'em like they used to!

I love the rusty hinges on the gun shop door. 

Peeking in the tavern window. 

Love the Christmas cookies.

 Hanging inside, you can just make it out in the photo below, is a German style tree, hung upside down, with cookies and pretzels for decoration.

I just opened a pro Flickr account. I have an album with my favorite Landis Valley photos HERE.

Harvest Days

This weekend we went to Harvest Days at Landis Valley Museum. 

I love watching all the different breeds of work horses. Belgians, Percherons, Shires, Haflingers...

This pretty ox would make a nice painting...

All pies baked in a rustic outdoor oven. Wish I could taste one!

My daughter Zoe...

Draft Horses @ the Farm Show

For more photos please go to my Flickr Page.

A lovely horse is always an experience... It is an emotional experience of the kind that is spoiled by words. ~Beryl Markham

Oodles of Percherons

A gaggle of geese, a murder of crows, an oodle of Percherons. Well, maybe I just made the last one up!
We made it to the PA Farm Show today and it was insanely crowded. I am not much of a people person and it is so hard to get around with a 3 year old in tow. Top that with a husband that is not as enamored with farm animals as I am and you get a whirlwind tour of the show. Today I'll post some of the photos I took of the draft horses as they were about to enter the arena for the unicorn hitch class (2 in back, 1 in front). Couldn't really take any photos inside the arena, it's too dark and the horses are moving very fast. I'll post photos of some of the other critters tomorrow.
These horses are so gorgeous and I was surprised how geared up they were to go into the ring. One horse reared up and fell down on the pavement. You could almost feel the ground shake when they trotted past. My daughter loved the silver on the harness and the colorful ribbons in their manes and tails.
Let me know what photo is your favorite!

If you click on each photo you can see a larger view.

New, new, new!

I have 3 new pieces listed on Ebay and a great new horse treasury on Etsy! Thought I would go back to basics with a few signs and just focus on the beauty of the horse without fussing around with a background. I think they turned out well.