Great "Must Read" in Today's New York TImes!

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/13/sports/horse-is-a-fire-survivor-and-a-possible-olympian.html?_r=1&hp

The Lawn Jockey, Part 2

One of my most popular posts has been the May 2011 story about Lawn Jockeys.  I thought I would update it, with some interesting photos and tidbits. 

If you read the earlier history about Lawn Jockeys, then you know that there are two types, Jocko (like the one below) and the taller Cavalier jockeys. The old ones are rare and expensive.  This is an old Jocko currently for sale on Ebay.

The Cavalier jockeys are much harder to find and very expensive (typically thousands of dollars).  Here are two currently for sale on Ebay:



Reproduction Cavaliers made of concrete are easy to find and you can get one for less than $100 painted.  I bought one last year in Virginia.  Love the sideburns.



Here are some old post cards which predominantly display jockeys.  This first one is from Williamsburg, VA in the 1930's.



This one is also from Virginia, Charlottesville I believe, not sure of exact date, possibly 1950's.  You can barely make out the jockey in front of the white wall near the driveway.



Here is an advertisement from 1947 for Four Roses Whiskey. How politically incorrect is this?



And you can even find Jocko bookends:



And Jockos and Cavaliers were so much a part of popular culture at some point that they even made blazer buttons!



Sometimes we take for granted how much culture has changed and we can't begin to imagine what was "in" so long ago and how we just forget or we let things be forgotten since they were from an earlier time.  This is why history and especially oral history is so important.  

Starburst Mirrors

I'm searching for a gold starburst mirror to go over a console in my bedroom.  Need to spice up the room a bit, update it, and the ideal diameter is 24-25 inches. Here are a few that I found so far. Which one do you like the best?



Worlds Away

Danny and Ron's Rescue

There are some truly remarkable people out there, thank goodness. Ron Danta and Danny Robertshaw are two of those special ones.  Their incredibly successful "Danny and Ron's Rescue" has saved and found homes for over 3500 dogs (and counting).  All of the photos and paintings today came off their web site http://www.dannyandronsrescue.com/).  They also have a very good Facebook page. 



Danny and Ron are well known in the horse world and use their many contacts to find homes for the dogs, to transport them and to help raise needed funds.  Their 2012 calendar is wonderful (I got one for Christmas from a good friend).  These can be purchased through their web site and the money raised goes to the charity.

In 2008, Danny and Ron were recognized by the ASPCA for their good work for our furry friends:



Their mission:


Within the heart of every stray lies the simple desire to be LOVED!
Rescue Abused, Abandoned, and Starving Dogs, Many With No Future Or Hope For A Happy Life.
Educate the Public About the Importance of Spaying, Neutering, Housing, and Caring for Dogs.
Provide Medical Help For Those Who Cannot Afford To Care for Their Pets.
Stop Dog Fighting, Puppy Mills, Abuse and Cruelty.
Provide Help To Other Shelters or Rescues In Need.
Rehabilitate Dogs With Loving Care and Give Them The Opportunity of a New Home and Life

Here are some of the adorable faces you'll currently find on their web site:



Here are some photos of current animals that need a home.  Anyone need a new puppy?????



And artist Stephen Filarsky sells some of his work and donates part of the proceeds to the rescue. Here are some samples of what can be bought for $100.  Love these!  There are more paintings on the web site. 





Isn't it refreshing to know that there people out there like Danny and Ron helping the animals?  Thank goodness for them!  Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

The Eternal Erno Lazlo

You might be thinking "what does skin treatment" have to do with living the country lifestyle? My answer, "everything!"  When you spend as much time outdoors as I do, in all kinds of weather, treating your aging skin is vitally important; the elements can wreak havoc.



No one knew this better than Erno Lazlo.  Erno Laszlo products have been the secret of beauty icons from the Golden Age of Hollywood through today. Many famous ladies of the twentieth century, like Jackie Kennedy, Ava Garder, Audrey Hepburn, and Greta Garbo made Erno Laszlo part of their ritual. Hungarian-born Dermatologist Dr. Erno Laszlo developed his first products in 1927. Ahead of his time, he was first to produce sunscreen, skincare programs for teens and men, and pH balanced products.



Erno Laszlo was a medical doctor who, more or less, fell into dermatology after the notoriety he gained for improving the complexion of  Princess Stéphanie of Belgium, who suffered severe emotional distress and even humiliation due to the state of her skin.  Thus, Dr. Laszlo was a "celebrity doctor" long before they were a dime-a-dozen.  His clientele also included the Duchess of Windsor, Gloria Vanderbilt, Doris Duke, Lillian Gish, Paulette Goddard, and Marilyn Monroe, whose Laszlo beauty products were on the bedside table next to her death bed.



In the late 1940s, the Erno Laszlo Institute had over 3,000 clients, not one of whom bought their way in because Laszlo products were not for sale to non-members.  In order to be a member you had to be recommended - by at least two people - and each consultation was $75.00.  This was a lot of money back then.

Lazlo opened an office on Fifth Avenue in NYC in 1939.  As his fame increased, so did his client list which also included (by the 1960's) Truman Capote, Grace Kelly, Yul Brenner, and Hubert de Givenchy among others.  In 1966, Lazlo entered the retail market with partner Chesebrough-Ponds which later bought the company.  The company has changed hands several times since then but in 2011 the RBS Special Opportunities Fund managed by RBS Equity Finance backed Charles Denton in the acquisition of the company.



Lazlo must have been an interesting character.  He asked about his cleints' personal lives and refused to continue treating them if they failed to follow his advice.  He told Jackie Kennedy not to put any more oil or cream on her face and told Ava Gardner (in the above right photo) that she was lying about following his instructions. 

His products are legendary and many a boyfriend has commented about the black Sea Mud Soap in their girlfriends' bathrooms over the years.  There is only one!



This is great stuff and there is nothing else like it on the market today.  They have a very good Facebook page for additional information. You can buy the products on-line at Nordstrom's and other finer stores.  Are you a convert?



Perfect Ponies for the Parlor

Are these not the cutest little accessories you'ever seen?  You can use these leather ponies as footstools, conversation pieces, whatever.  For the horse person who has everything!

Wonder if this one comes with the hay?



You can find these and a lot more at http://www.wellappointedhouse.com/. 

Enjoy the playoffs!

My Favorite Things About Winter

Now that the cold weather has arrived, it's time to cozy up to winter.  While I love summer, there is much to embrace about winter, the crispness in the air, the clear skies perfect for star gazing and the glistening snow that comes with the cold.



Here are some of my favorite winter things.

Snow Skiing
Skiing is one of the best sports.  The feeling you get coming off a day's skiing, well there's nothing quite like it.  It beats a good run!  We are headed out for our first ski trip in about two weeks and we have a big trip planned in late February.  It is low impact, the scenary is breathtaking and being outdoors all day in winter, well, there's just no substitute.

The Playoffs

While the Super Bowl is generally a letdown, the very best NFL football is generally in the playoffs which start this weekend!  Something else to look forward to in winter.  Go Steelers!

(AP photo)

March Madness

The end of winter bring March Madness.  Can you tell I grew up in ACC territory?  I cannot wait for it start this year.  Bring it on!



Making Great Soup

I love to make soup in winter.  Some of my favorites come out of my restaurant cookbooks (Inn at Little Washington and Tupelo Honey).  There is nothing better than a great soup, a light salad and a glass of wine for dinner in winter by candlelight.

A Cat in Your Lap

There is nothing cozier than sitting in a plush chair with a cat curled up in your lap on a cold winter day. Truman loves to do this!  He'll be sitting with me this weekend when I watch the playoffs.  He also loves March Madness.

Time to Needlepoint

In the spring and summer there is too much farm work to do, so I don't have time to stitch.  My backlog of projects has gotten HUGE and I am trying to finish up a rug I have been working on for almost three years. It will be done soon.  I want to stitch a nativity scene for the holidays and this one is on sale at needlepoint.com but I have promised myself not to get into any more projects until I finish some of my outstanding ones.  Maybe for 2013!



A New Beginning for the Horses

The horse show year starts December 1st, so with the new year comes new challenges for the horses.  I set goals to achieve each year (have found that if I don't do this then I don't make much progress). Sega will horse show in late January, her 2012 debut.  Have set goals for her for 2012.  Let's see how we do!

(David Bell photo)

Spring

And spring is just around the corner!  I planted a lot of tulips this fall. I hope they look like this!