Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Solstice Sleigh Ride

Sun Flares on a Solstice Sleigh Ride

For Christmas, I gave my family a sleigh ride.   
What better way to celebrate than by making some memories, experiencing the season!  

Long-time neighbors (The Ed Brandt Family) to my parents have horses -- not just any horses, but those big Budwieser-type Persheron (sp?) draft horses.  They offer sleigh / hay rides through the woods, with a stop at a bon fire where you can have a cook out. We kept it simple with s'mores and hot chocolate, cider, and tea.

It was a perfect day for a sleigh ride.  Not too cold.  Plenty of snow (almost 2 feet!) there (very little where we live). And a little winter sun for Solstice. 


Unfortunately, my Mom was not able to go along since she fell and injured her ankle.  She loves those horses, though.  And the chocolate pie I made for her birthday.
 


My Dad loves the woods. We had a nice time, even if it was just the four of us.

 Me with Oliver and my Dad watching the bonfire.






These are pics of the previous party coming back into the stable.

You can get a good idea of what the sleigh looks like, along with the beautiful winter day, and the northern Wisconsin landscape.


My Dad and CL at Brandt's stable, awaiting our sleigh ride.


Oliver with Sophie back at Grappa and Gramma's house.

Here's a nice video from someone in Sweden sharing the experience of being on a one-horse open sleigh.  Just trying to capture the moment for my mom who missed out.  

Here's another one.  Sorry-- I don't know how to embed the videos from FB.

And now for some mood music: