Our family's loss

Off topic today, but you know life gets really REAL sometimes, and our animals are such a huge part of our lives here. Today I want to honor Willie.

Just when you think you're recovering from a tough month with Bethany's emergency surgery and the sale of our long loved family beach house, another blow has come to the Powell and Brower households.  Our dear "MicBeth's Madigan", aka " Willie", our 19 year old 16.3 hand Thoroughbred, passed away this week leaving us totally heart broken.

Bethany got Willie when she was 15 after she outgrew her first horse, to continue her riding career. He was always a beautiful specimen, a pensive soul and gentle as they come.  He loved people and always greeted walkers in our neighborhood. We had the honor of his company for 16 years at our home, and he made every day pleasurable.  

We still have our pony Thomas, and hope he will be alright by himself in the field. Lucky for us, Willie was buried next to Bethany's first horse, Dreamy, in the field, so we'll get to visit him everyday. Thomas will miss Willie terribly, too.

Our lives were enriched having known such a wonderful horse. It was our pleasure to take care of him, and he loved us back unconditionally. 

 Rest in Peace, dear Willie. 

Derby Day at our house

Saturday is Derby Day... is anyone else excited?  In our house, we've always gathered around the TV on Derby Day, winners picked, mock bets placed to see the likes of Barbaro, Sunday Silence, Winning Colors and Cigar run the 'fastest two minutes in sports.'

 

You've got to have a mint julep in honor of The Derby!

 Each year almost 120,000 juleps are served at Churchill Downs over the two day period between the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby, virtually all of them in specially made Kentucky Derby collectible glasses.

Here is Paula Deans recipe:

Ingredients

• 4 cups bourbon
• 2 bunches fresh spearmint
• 1 cup distilled water
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• Powdered sugar

Directions

To prepare mint extract, remove about 40 small mint leaves. Wash and place in a small bowl. Cover with 3 ounces bourbon. Allow the leaves to soak for 15 minutes. Then gather the leaves in paper toweling. Thoroughly wring the mint over the bowl of whisky. Dip the bundle again and repeat the process several times.

To prepare simple syrup, mix 1 cup of granulated sugar and 1 cup of distilled water in a small saucepan. Heat to dissolve sugar. Stir constantly so the sugar does not burn. Set aside to cool.

To prepare mint julep mixture, pour 3 1/2 cups of bourbon into a large glass bowl or glass pitcher. Add 1 cup of the simple syrup to the bourbon.

Now begin adding the mint extract 1 tablespoon at a time to the julep mixture. Each batch of mint extract is different, so you must taste and smell after each tablespoon is added. You are looking for a soft mint aroma and taste-generally about 3 tablespoons. When you think it's right, pour the whole mixture back into the empty liter bottle and refrigerate it for at least 24 hours to "marry" the flavors.

To serve the julep, fill each glass (preferably a silver mint julep cup) 1/2 full with shaved ice. Insert a spring of mint and then pack in more ice to about 1-inch over the top of the cup. Then, insert a straw that has been cut to 1-inch above the top of the cup so the nose is forced close to the mint when sipping the julep.

When frost forms on the cup, pour the refrigerated julep mixture over the ice and add a sprinkle of powdered sugar to the top of the ice. Serve immediately.

YUM!!

So here are our Derby contenders - Thomas (quite the squirt but definitely the quicker of the two) and Willie (tall, dark and handsome but can't be bothered to pick up the pace). Willie was actually bred to race, born from winning bloodlines on both lines, but never quite could get his long legs to work together on the track.  Besides, pasture life seems to suit him much better these days :)

While our steeds stand idle, waiting to be called up to the big leagues (NOT) we are happy with life here in Virginia, watching in the comforts of our living room.   Although we all hope to make it to Churchill Downs for a Derby one day ... hats, gloves, juleps, the whole nine!  

Have you been?  I'd love to hear your experience!

~Nancy

Equestrian Style

I have always loved EQUESTRIAN style; we are 'horse people' here at Powell Brower. We have a 17 year old Thoroughbred named Willie and a 7 year old Welsh pony named Thomas.

We try to incorporate our horse-love anywhere we can.  I have used our bits, and fly swatters and ribbons in my house for decorating.   Of course both of us would love the real-deal HERMES horse themed accessories, but who has that kind of money?

My daughter, Bethany's  bedroom was adorned with (hundreds of) horse show ribbons growing up, and she protested when I took them down, but here's what I plan to do with them:

{from Copy Cat Chic via Pinterest}

I went so far as to dress my powder room in equestrian style about 10 years ago, and I'm finally tiring of it.  I did a paint treatment on the walls to simulate the color and texture of saddle leather.  I'm ready to change it to navy and white stripe (like our blog header), but here's what it looks like now:

{Old hunt-scene prints from my father and a loose-ring snaffle above}

{A hunt commerative poster I had custom framed and highlighted with another bit - this time a D-ring roller snaffle}

{One of Bethany's High-Point Champion ribbons she let me decorate with}

So let this serve as the 'BEFORE' of the powder room.  It's been a good run, but can't wait to have an 'AFTER' to show you.

-Nancy