Country Time Acres Blog

Scenery from the Gettysburg Battlefields.

Tour the battlefields on horseback.

     There is only one way to see the Gettysburg battlefields and that’s on horseback.  The Artillery Ridge Campground offers camping for you and your horse as well as traditional campers. Every weekend they offer planned events for their guests. Don’t have your own horse, no problem, use one of theirs.  I have taken this ride several times and my favorite is the last one of the day when you return at about sun set.

     While visiting the area plan to attend the 54th Apple Blossom Festival held at the South Mountain Fair Grounds in Adams County. This years festival is May 2-3, 09, hours are 9-5. I have also attended this event several times and will be there this year with the First State Corvette Club showing our car. The festival offers crafts, free entertainment, clogging, pony rides, orchard tours, antique cars, tractors and corvettes (of course), wagon rides and a petting zoo too! A fun day for the entire family.

Learn more about the Artillery Ridge Campground and Gettysburg Battlefields. Google the Adams County Apple Blossom Festival (sorry, their site was to long to mention).

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If I Had A Horse: How Different Life Would Be

If you enjoy beautiful books, breath taking photography and words of inspiration then this is the book for you. If I had A Horse, How Different Life Would Be, written by Melissa Sovey-Nelson and photographs by Mark J. Barrett capture the true spirit of the horse through photographs and beautiful  language that will inspire your outlook on life. It is a collection of phrases as well as stories by Sovey-Nelson. My favorite paragraph goes like this: Confidence starts in the mind, blossoms in action, and grows with practice. Truer words were never spoken. It is my dream to one day write a book like this. This is definitely one to add to your collection!

Courage, wisdom born of insight and humility, empathy born of compassion and love, all can be bequeathed by a horse to his rider. (Charles de Kunffy)

When I can’t ride anymore, I shall keep horses as long as I can hobble along with a bucket and wheelbarrel. When I can’t hobble, I shall roll my wheelchair out by the fence of the field where my horses graze, and watch them. (Monica Dickens)

For great horse gifts and books shop  at Country Time Creations.

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Jenna and Rob Mermin, founder of Circus Smirkus.

Jenna and her pumpkin she painted with the Circus Smirkus logo.

While traveling this journey called life, one never knows where it will lead. After three years of teaching  horse behavior  and liberty I knew I needed something new to offer to camp programs. Fortunately, my family has had a pretty adventurous life so, inspiration isn’t hard to find. My daughter, Jenna is a circus artist and after watching her show I thought what a great idea, I’ll do a circus using my horses and so was born, Le Cirque of Horses. 

Jenna’s circus adventure started when she was in high school and she took an interest in a show called “Circus Smirkus”. This was a reality type program documenting the life of children who were part of this circus program based in Vermont. During the summer troupers travel and put on a circus, all the participants are children under the age of 18. When my daughter came to me and told me she wanted to audition for a spot at the circus camp I told her to “Go for it!”. This was a world wide search and I figured she really didn’t have a chance in heck of getting a spot.  Boy was I wrong! There were only four openings and she was was getting one of them and it would only cost $1,500.00. That’s a lot of dollars for a week of camp but, I knew it would be an experience of a lifetime so I dipped into her college fund and off she went. She spent one week in Vermont learning from the best in the trade which included people from all parts of the world. Children experience all parts of the circus arts including acrobatics, clowning, stilt walking, trapeez, tight rope, juggling, balancing and unicycle. The camp has very strict rules including diet, no junk food and three minute showers. Many of the costumes are hand made but, I sent several boxes of costumes for them to borrow. When we returned a week later to pick her up I was amazed at the performance the kids did for us and they looked great in the costumes I had sent.  Jenna didn’t put the experience behind her, instead she let it grow and began performing at hospitals and community events. Learn more about Circus Smirkus and Jenna’s Never Ending Road Trip.   Did you visit us? Leave a comment.

A carriage parade is one of the many events at Point to Point Steeplechase.

And their off!

Ladies grab your hat and your picnic basket and head to the 31st annual Point to Point Steeplechase to benefit the Winterthur Estate.  This year’s event is Saturday, May 3, 09 and will feature  racing, a painted ponies silent auction, kids coral, fun run/walk, carriage parade and historic auto’s. The painted ponies auction will spotlight heirloom rocking horses painted and signed by artist. Winterthur is a country estate with antique collections, gardens, an enchanted woods and library. Winterthur is located in Delaware’s beautiful Brandywine Valley. Point to Point is a major fundraiser for the estate. Learn more at Winterthur.org. Shop for jewelry and horse handbags at Country Time Creations.

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