Tis the Season

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Leavenworth Washington is a small village that has “reinvented” itself as the place to visit to get into the spirit of the season. 

I was enchanted by this magnificent Percheron, Jackson, that took Santa on a tour and was also available for tourist’s rental as well.

One hundred years ago there were lots of horses and wagons still carrying the majority of people on their journeys to and from town, as well as handling the freight and agricultural demands.

My mama told me about riding to school on a buckboard behind a horse called Old Nell.  Grandma would take rocks heated on the old wood stove and place them in rags around mama and her siblings feet to keep them warm.

Her other memories of the ride include a loud and effusive burst of gas escaping from the old mare every couple of clip clops. 

Mama said that one day on the way to school she herself was guilty of a small aromatic ester.  Even in her early 70s my mama would blush when she told me that her social blunder earned her the nickname “Old Nell.” 

I thought of that story when Jackson clopped past me later that day.  Pugh!  Jackson was quite the stinker!

Comments

Sandy said…
We were fortunate enough to see Leavenworth at Christmastime (from a distance) when we were loading fruit in Wentatchee. We drove past but the downtown streets are not very truck-friendly...lol.
bichonpawz said…
Interesting memory Pamela! I would love to see that little town!!! It sounds divine and very Christmasy!!
Peter said…
Ah.. the good old days, all of us who reach a certain number of years have these wonderful memories, we just need to be prodded into recalling them, thanks.
Steve Skinner said…
Now that's one big horse, glad I'm not paying the feed bill!
Gattina said…
What nice memories, lol ! All horses I have met so far behaved !
JoeinVegas said…
So, is that the phrase going around the family now, 'like Old Nell'?
Karmyn R said…
I'm so glad you and dad got to go! yeah.
Janis said…
Such a nice story, the town looks so quaint. My grandma also told the story of warming a brick and wrapping it in a towel to put in her bed. As a matter of fact she did it when I was growing up and we all lived in the same house, us kids thought it was so funny, since we had heat in the house.
Living Life said…
I would love to take a ride on that! What great memories Pamela!
grammy said…
Great memories and stories about your Mom. I rode on a horse drawn carriage a few years ago in Central Park. Loved it... but it was about 12 degrees. Brrrr
I hope you went for a ride no matter how bad the horse had gas..they have to stay warm ya know! I also enjoyed the story about the stones..my Mom says that they used that same thing in their upstairs bedroom that was not insulated:)
chrisb said…
I love your family stories. This looks an enchanting little place.

I might have to resort to old remedies (such as using my stone hot water bottle!) our boiler stopped working at lunchtime today and the chap can't come and fix it til late tomorrow afternoon. Not good in sub-zero temps!
Intense Guy said…
LOL! Now that's funny... even if it was rough on your mom.

Hope ya got a ride! A nice romantical one with hubby keeping ya warm.
kailani said…
What a beautiful small town. It looks like something right out of a movie!
Simple Daisy said…
What a lovely and intersting post! Hard to believe how much has changed in as little as 100 years:)
Great post. I love the photos & the story. Reminds me of stories told by both my parents, and of the horses 'on my back trail'. I so miss having horses in my life.
Unknown said…
Oh he's pretty! Love the Santas! Exciting!

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