Streethorsing

Tbilisi, Georgia by Martha Camarillo

I'm taking a two-week blog break. I have a design deadline approaching and want, if possible, to maintain some writing momentum (not to be confused with momentous writing ;)) amidst the craziness of completing the project.

Back in December!

Until then...

Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club Documentary
by Martha Camarillo



“In the heart of downtown Philadelphia, among abandoned buildings and impoverished neighborhoods where drugs and unemployment pervade, is a place called Fletcher Street. A block that upon first glance looks just like all the others, that is, until you see the horses and hear their hoof beats…"

A (Secret) Crush and Newborn Lambs

For a couple of years, I’ve had a huge crush I have not mentioned to anyone. My reason for secrecy was threefold: he’s an older man, a married man, and his dress-sense is slightly dated. But push those things aside (quickly!) and he embodies all I admire.

He’s intelligent, creative, and driven. He has soul. He draws and makes things out of wood. He writes wonderful short fiction and wonderful epics. His name is Philip Pullman.

And whenever I read one of his interviews, I feel enriched. Sigh...


(The Firework-Maker's Daughter, and Clockwork, or All Wound Up are two of my all-time favourite novels.)

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En-route to the Lake District for Easter weekend, I drove through Caldbeck Common -- where the ponies grow thick, winter coats.

Driving home on Tuesday, I jumped out of the car to snap the cutest newborn lambs… I’ve seen in all my life!!!

Click on the photos for bigger and better views!

Horses & Ponies

I should have blogged about this sooner, when it wasn’t last year’s news!

I’m a fan of local newspapers. One of my favourites is The Keswick Reminder (it inspired the newspaper in my novel). When I first saw it, I couldn’t believe it: eight pages, no colour, heavier paper than regular newsprint. I'd include a link -- but they don't have a website.

I love things in miniature, and I also love horses. So this story in The Cumberland News about the surprise birth a Falabella foal, just days before Christmas, warmed my heart. (No, I'm not afraid to be syrupy!)

I would love to have been one of the children in the photo. How wonderful for a five-year-old to stand face-to-face with a horse, then actually bend down to stroke the foal. When I was five, ponies were HUGE!

And I’ve decided; when my dreams come true and I have a house with a field, I will own two of these miniature horses.

It will be an ideal world, so... I think I’ll also buy a Fell Pony!