How do I restore this old Saddle?

I would like to restore my mother's old saddle. It has been stored for several years. I would like to try to bring this saddle back to its shining glory that it used to be. The saddle had layers and layers of dust built up on it when I brought it home (as seen in photo #1) I used my vacuum with the brush attachment to get most of that off (seen in photo#2). I know Mom used neatsfoot oil on the saddle to help keep the leather soft, but that was years ago, when we were still using it to ride. Is there anything that I can get to clean the dirt out of the design work of the leather? Any suggestions would be great.

What is for dinner?

Am I the only one who gets asked this question before he even gets the back door shut or at least by the time he takes his work boots off? he never seems to care what I have cooking... nothing makes him happier then when he opens the oven door and sees this....

looking back at him. I don't know how, but my guy would eat pizza seven days a week if I would let him. Actually it is a toss up between steak and cheese submarine/hoagie sandwiches or pizza that he would live on if he could. I made the steak sandwiches last night for dinner (sorry they didn't last long enough for a picture...lol).

Ginger has a new shadow

This has been the scene in our pasture since Sunday evening when *T* first let Ginger into Lacy's pasture. Lacy is so happy to have another horse here at Seldom Seen Acres. The poor girl probably thought that she was the last living horse on the planet, she has not had an equine companion since the pony died in December of 1998. At times I think I need some alone time, but nine years is a long time to go without seeing another member of your species. Ther are times Ginger looks at Lacy as if to say "will you just leave me alone, already!". I'm glad that they are getting along, I must admit that I was a bit worried because the transaction was rather quick and I had not met Ginger. *T* did all the dealing.

Bbbrrrrrrr....

At 5:30 a.m. the temperature outside was 28 degrees Fahrenheit. Everything was covered in a layer of ice. Here is a picture of one of the rose bushes in the back lawn.

Meet Ginger

Look who was waiting for me when I got home from work on Saturday! This is Ginger. *T* had seen an ad in the paper a couple of months ago for a horse who needed a new home... I don't recall the reason. He had called about her but the owner said that someone had already taken her. We were looking for a companion for Lacy (mom's twenty five year old paint). Then about a week ago a lady called *T* and asked if he was still interested in the horse he had called about. For one reason or another things were not working out with the family that had taken her and they must have talked to the original owner and gotten our phone number. *T* was really excited that we were going to get Ginger after all. They brought her to our farm on Saturday while I was at work, so she was here when I got home. She seems to be a very nice horse, but time will tell.

LOL .... *T* is convinced that we are going to ride her. Yeah, okay. I have not been on a horse in about 16 years and its been longer since he has ridden.... so we'll see.

Who are you?

Okay people, according to my sitemeter, this site gets an average of 45 hits per week. So, that means someone must be reading this blog, right? Who are you? Leave me a comment every so often so I know what you are thinking. Are you thinking "this lady should just stop already!" or are you liking what you see... or... let me guess... you are just speechless at what you see that is why I rarely get comments. ;-)

Picture of the day

This is a scene that I have looked at nearly every day for the past eight years but never thought to take a picture until the other day. When I moved here that old barrel was sitting at the end of the garage with that old calf feeder bucket turned upside down on top of it. I don't know why I have never moved them ... guess I just kinda liked the way it reminds me of Ernie, the farmer who used to own this farm, that barrel and bucket have been there since he lived here back in the 80's. It is kind of sad how I hang on to things like that isn't it?