Brighton Park: Sundays at Brighton Park

7:25 PM | Posted by Katie | | Edit Post

Sundays find me at some of my favorite places every week... the stables in the morning and Mass in the evening. Though I admit, I tend to find God in both places...

The horse culture here in the Southwest is alive and well and is one of my favorite things about living here. As a girl, we had horses from before I was born up until my high school years when my father became ill. My dad was a cowboy at heart and his heart was big. I can't help but think he would be so proud of my continuing with these traditions in my own family.

Audrey and Bailey, whom she has been riding going on 3 years now.

We live on a horse property. We are surrounded by horse properties. Our neighbor has 4 horses who visit us frequently and love to watch us over the common fence. I dare say those equine are ~~nosy~~ friendly. While we have started other homesteading endeavors since moving here including gardening, backyard chickens, making soap,and a flock of ducks and turkeys, (and a 6 month foray last year keeping dwarf Nigerian goats for a lady) we do not keep horses on our own property yet. Instead we make the trip to the stables in Scottsdale that we started at three years ago each week to practice and enjoy some good old horse-talk.

We are lucky to live by such a beautiful, award winning facility.

new indoor arena. I'm in luv.

Bathing beauties...

For such a state of the art facility, it still keeps its Southwestern Charm. I love the old stage coach and the old covered wagon on the grounds...

While Audrey is riding, I will watch for awhile; so proud of her determination and maturity for someone not quite eight years old...Together she and Bailey warm up, trot, canter, work on diagonals and work on 2-point position (pre-jumping position).

Her love for animals is apparent during our visits there. One of her favorite activities, and I think one of Bailey's favorite's too, is treat time after the lesson...

Audrey feeding Bailey some well deserved apple slices...

I love watching her ride. I love riding. I love how the stable smells; the horses, the tack rooms, the ropes, the hay. It keeps me grounded and reminds me it is the simplest things that make us happy. Funny how Sunday morning stable trips always lead to Sunday afternoon conversations about if a barn should be the next thing we build at Brighton Park...

Me, watching my girl. My friend snapped this picture. She said watching me watch Audrey reminded her of watching her own daughter when she was little, but is now in college (gulp).

like Mother, like daughter...

I watch Audrey ride for awhile and then sneak off to visit my other equine friends... I couldn't get a picture of Kiss today, he was too busy playing with a traffic cone of all things, but Splash was all for getting his photo snapped today...

Isn't that the most handsome face, ever?

We leave the stables Sundays and then it is home to shower and have lunch as a family. Mr. Darcy and I take turns on who takes her on Sundays and sometimes we go as a whole family. Today we played outside and watched a movie together then it was time to get ready for Mass. We attend the 5pm mass each week. The stable and the church service bookend my day in a way that no two other things can. It is part of the beauty of an Arizona lifestyle, with my English love, on a homestead, with kids and animals that I wouldn't trade for anything. In fact, as I look at the wide open spaces of the west, I'm pretty sure I could never live East of the Rockies again. Just look at that sky...

Audrey and Bailey

What is your favorite part about Sundays?

Blessings,

3 comments:

Minimalist Mommi said...: I can't even begin to explain how jealous I am of this Sunday morning ritual! There is something about the smell of horses that is just divine! My aunt has a horse ranch in TX, and I used to spend my summers there in high school. Part of the reason I want to move so badly is so I can live closely to horse country! Loved the stories and pictures :); March 4, 2012 8:09 PM
Katie said...: MInimalist Mommi, you must come join me there one Sunday, since you live so close. we could visit and take in the scene together! thanks for stopping by!; March 6, 2012 11:01 AM
MissMOE said...: Your Sundays sound wonderful! My favorite part of Sunday is lying in bed with my hubby after we come home from church. We always spend an hour or two talking about our week and the upcoming week. Enjoy that time very much!; March 7, 2012 3:04 PM