Horse and Harvest. Welcome.

In December of 2024, I started teaching at Roam Acres Farm. In January of 2026, I left Bramblewood Stables. Before I left, I was teaching 2 days at each barn and going to 2 home barns, teaching clients on their own horses. My plan and hope was to work out a notice during January, then add a teaching day at Roam in February where I had clients waiting for additional days. When it was not necessary for me to work out that notice, I thought about going ahead with that third day at Roam right away but I decided to just.... not.

I had an extra day in January. It felt like a real gift. I visited with friends, gave Jasper some much needed time, attention and extra long walks. Atticus and I got a little more time together. My sister came for a visit; we talked and worked on a puzzle. We hadn't been together like that in years. Clients and friends threw me a party (my sister and husband were there too). Just because they didn't want me to feel like the work I had done meant nothing... and they didn't want me to be sad. It was a good party.

February and March have flown by. My parents came for a visit and I am settling in more and more at Roam Acres, riding horses and teaching lessons. I still go to those two home barns but there is a final schedule shift coming this Spring that was part of my overall hope and plan for this new phase. This next shift *should* mean that I only drive to SC 3 days a week and get Saturdays back. With the full weekend available to me, I hope to visit my family more, attend clinics and support people who have crossed my path in their endeavors. 

Dudley and me

Katie and Frigg at their first schooling show

Katie and Rachel work with the same trainer

Life moves on.

One other thing I did with my gift of time in January, I started an LLC for myself. I joked about it a few years ago but when I found myself going to so many different locations, I realized it might be important. I talked to friends and they were surprised that I had worked so long as an independent contractor without one. So I closed my eyes, held my nose and dove in. After 3 months, it is still mostly a piece of paper. I have no idea what to do with this thing I created and life choices that my husband and I have made (for another post) have distracted me from digging into the business. But it exists.

I really just created it to hold the things I already do and maybe be a cover for some of the daydreams Walt and I have talked about for the future. I have no serious plans for growth or monumental world change or domination. I just wanted a little something to organize and care for the lessons I teach and the eggs I sell. If Walt figures out how to grow amazing tomatoes or peppers (we got the zucchini, squash and cucumber)... If I start baking again... maybe the farmer's market? That's all I've had in mind.

But.

I look at this picture from my party and it moves me. I wonder if this little business could house something more. Be a gathering or meeting place somehow for people who have crossed paths through horses. People who move on but don't want to lose each other. It's not much of a business plan. Not even a fully formed idea. I've left myself open to possibilities and that is exciting.

Horse and Harvest, LLC (if you were there when this was a joke, you'll see my sense of humor in that name) may come to nothing. It may stay a piece of paper, a name on a bank account or an insurance form. This may be an epic failure... or not. Almost every morning, I pray, offering it to God. To show me what it can be, what it should be and to give me the courage to take a step forward. 

I thought I would start writing again, recording how things unfold in this next chapter. Going back to The Matilda Project/The Girl Matilda Built and reading how things unfolded was incredibly valuable over the last few years. I needed the reminders of what actually happened between Matilda and me. I may need to look back on this too.

This is my next adventure.