On To the Next Adventure

We had fun at the Downtown Hartford Farmers Market. I'm hoping we can go back next month and maybe bring one of the horses. We were double booked with my daughter's open house for preschool so those that stopped out had the chance to talk with one of our amazing volunteers. For those that stopped the chat, thank you! And for those that donated, a huge thank you! Every dollar counts in helping with the horses.

I sometimes feel like we are at a disadvantage because we aren't a rescue taking in any age of horse and adopting them out. But then I realize, we are all in it for the same reason, to help the horses. And my heart lies with the older senior horses and all their wisdom. We may not adopt out but we can do long-term fosters of pasture puffs if anyone is interested. I hope that my children will not stuff me in a home and forget me as I get older. I hope that by having the Sanctuary and horses, that we instill in them the qualities that we should respect our elders no  matter if they are human or pet.

We had a lot of fun at the Farmers Market. We have lots of ideas for upcoming programs but need volunteers to get them off the ground. With three kids (and only one of them running with their activities at the moment (lord help me when all three are running)), we could use many more volunteers. If you're interested in hearing some of our ideas for programs or want to work with the horses (no riding), let us know!

Because we are so busy, we do ask that you text or email when you want to stop out for a visit (I am never near my phone where I can actually call or when I have time to call I can't hear very well). That way we can make sure we are home when you want to stop out since our schedule is so crazy.

We have our farrier visit tonight and will be tackling most of the horses. Our schedule and the farrier's schedule were super busy this summer so we got off on trims. Hopefully, we'll be able to catch everyone and get caught up.

Now we need to start concentrating on getting the funds for our winter supply of hay. We have the hay already baled and waiting for us. Now it's a matter of paying for it and getting it to the Sanctuary. Mike is running to Delmont tonight to pick up 50 small squares of hay. Our hay guy didn't have small squares this year and we need a small stash for those nights when the horses are in the barn, when we can't get round bales in for a day or two, and when I travel with the horses. We are paying $5 per bale and are getting 50 bales so if anyone wants to help donate to our small square bale fund, that would be fantastic. Or if you want to help us with our big round bale hay fund, that would be great too! I want to make sure we have enough hay for all our horses so they stay fat, happy, and sassy all winter.

Downtown Hartford Farmers Market

Today we are headed to the Downtown Hartford Farmers Market! We are so excited to participate and talk to people about the Sanctuary (and see everyone's goodies from their gardens).


We will have brand new tshirts for sale! Hopefully they will make people laugh (and buy them!)


So if you're in the neighborhood, stop on out to Hartford and swing through downtown from 5-8pm! We will be there!

Exhaustion

I’ve wanted to post for weeks but haven’t been able to muster the energy for some reason. Before kids, August was my burnout month. I’d go so hard during the summer and then mid August would hit and I’d be absolutely burned out and exhausted.

 

Now add kids to the mix (two of which were born in August), and my focus has switched to kids rather than horses and I’m still burned out. Of course, I was burned out in June too but that was at epic proportions of running errands I’d never had before so it was all new.

 

But I seem to be struggling more lately than in years past. I guess I’m just riding the pity train today (and possibly this week). I’m constantly having to tell people no when people ask and it really bothers me. But when I’m told no, I’m disappointed as well. I struggle with telling people no just as much as I struggle when I’m told no. I know I shouldn’t be disappointed and I should expect to be told no more often than not but it’s still hard.

 

I feel like I’m behind on everything. I’m behind on getting the Sanctuary out there. I’m behind on figuring out how to promote the Sanctuary but convince people that we need help both man power and donations. I can’t dedicate as much time as I used to so I need more help. Everything takes time. I realize we all have the same amount of time in our lives but I need help in juggling my time.

 

Many of the rescues are run on volunteers and with volunteers who work full time jobs. I’m in the same boat. I work full time (and I have to adjust my schedule for my kids) so I’m gone 10 hours a day minimum. I’m going to see if I can change when I leave for work but we’ll see. But then add in all the kids’ extra curriculars and I’m gone at least two nights a week if not three and then the weekends are packed with kids’ activities or getting them out to experience the world. It’s difficult because I can’t dedicate as much time as I would like and I’m missing out on opportunities. But I guess that’s part of the job. I don’t want the kids to be disappointed me in when I tell them I can’t go play with them because I have to do Sanctuary work. Juggling the paying job, caring for kids, caring for horses, making sure the kids get to do what they want, and trying to figure out how to make ends meet (both for the Sanctuary and at home).

 

I guess today I’m just feeling overly stressed. It’s not the post I’d like to put up here but hopefully it explains why I haven’t been around. The world and internet are full of negative and I don’t want to add to it so instead I’ve been quiet. Hopefully now that school is starting, the summer running activities will settle down and I can focus more on the Sanctuary  (but I doubt it). So if you have a passion for helping, let me know. I need all the help I can get. Like doing finances, then please oh pretty please help! Like marketing, oh we need you too! Love working with horses! Come on over! We have some jobs for you.

 

I’m behind on posting a couple of huge thank yous so check out Facebook in the next week or so (hopefully when I have more than 2 minutes and I’m not exhausted). Hopefully the next blog post will be more uplifting and it wont take me another month to post. But we are here, running around like crazy keeping kids busy and me exhausted. The horses are happy and content, so all is good for them.