Phyllis's Muscial review

Let the fun begin. It is time to gear up for 
The San Luis Obispo County Women's Shelter major yearly fundraiser."Phyllis's Musical Review"

The Women’s Shelter Program is dedicated to supporting victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) and child abuse. Twenty-four hour crisis line, emergency shelter, food and clothing, counseling, case management, transitional housing, advocacy, and assistance with restraining orders is provided to victims. Education and prevention programs are offered to local agencies, schools, and to our community. During fiscal year 2010/11, the Women’s Shelter Program assisted over 800 people affected by the crime of intimate partner violence.

There are many local individuals dedicated to providing support so victims may create a violence-free lifestyle. Client services are funded by money raised during our annual fashion and variety show to be held March 2^nd & 3^rd, 2012 at the Alex Madonna Expo Building. This popular fundraiser has been highly successful, thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the Madonna family and local businesses who provide items for the raffle and auctions. 

http://www.womensshelterslo.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Phyllis-Musical-Revue-2012.pdf
This year the show promises to be big, special and full of surprises. Along with a good meal, wine tasting, live and silent auctions there is a fantastic interactive musical fashion show with local politicians, news TV personalities and local residents.

My daughters, Maddy and Izzy have been volunteering their time for 12+ years to this wonderful benefit.
Please join us this year for what will surely be another great show knowing you have helped the victims of domestic violence in the county.
Contact the Madonna Inn 805-543-3000 for tickets!
Tax deductible Live and silent auction items are always needed and appreciated to support the Shelter. Please contact
"My Favorite Things Boutique" at the Madonna Inn
http://www.madonnainn.com  to give...

Giving feels so good...

The holidays are a very busy time for everybody. It is a time of family, fun, laughter and giving. After the holidays It is a prime time to say thank you for all of the wonderful holiday gifts and good cheer you received and lend support to charitable organizations. 
Miller's Equestrian Center and Sanctuary is one of those organizations that can use a hand this time of the year. 
When it comes to helping equine welfare groups, knowing what rescue operators need most is the key.
Here is a list of items that Miller's can always use.

 The Basics

•             Parasite control products, such as fly spray.

•             New or gently used lead ropes

•             New or gently used halters

•             Weight building supplements and other feed additives such as                       

               electrolytes.

•             Wheel barrows--especially large, heavy duty-types with puncture-

               resistant tires.

•             Industrial-type brooms.

•             Heavy duty trucks and horse trailers in good condition.

•             Grooming supplies

•             Blankets, especially waterproof  

Wonderful Gifts!

•             Cash to purchase hay, to pay veterinary service, to underwrite training                 

               for rescued horses expenses, and to cover the daily expenses   

               incurred by   equine rescues.

•             Gift certificates redeemable at feed, farm supply, and home 

               improvement stores and elsewhere.

•             Volunteers, especially those with equine, marketing, advertising, and 

               fundraising expertise.

Miller's has taken in 3 new horses this winter for our riding school program. Treat, Lad and Logan are wonderful additions to our riding school. 

                           

Individual and corporate donations, fundraisers and grants primarily fund Miller’s Equestrian Center and Sanctuary. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent. These gifts are vital to maintain healthy horses and provide our program benefits to the children our organization serves. Please consider donating to our programs for their continued success.

Please visit http://www.millersecs.org/index.htm for information on how to help this wonderful equine organization.

Giving feels so good....

Lend a helping hand...

I thank you in advance for helping the magnificent animals...
It's that time of the year again...


Miller's Equestrian Center and Sanctuary www.millersecs.org
is holding it's annual Poinsettia Sale. Every year at this time we sell locally grown poinsettia plants for the holidays. 

HOLIDAY RED

Some Facts:
Plants are in 6 1/2" pots.
You have the color choice of:
                  
                        

RED GLITTER

                PLANTS ARE ONLY $10.00 EACH!

          MILLER'S RECEIVES HALF OF SALES!

The Sale ends November 18, 2011
Plants will be delivered between Nov. 28 and Dec. 2                              


The money raised will be used to buy MORE FEED for the horses and to winterize their pastures. Both of these items are very important to the horses to make the wet and cold months more tolerable. 
Please email me at 
mmp1865@aol.com 
with any questions or to place an order.

For my boy...

Some of us are lucky to bond with a great horse or two in our 


lives. Every moment with them is cherished. Memories with 


them are burned into our minds. We remember the day we 


met, the day they left and every day in between. Some horses 


are only in our life temporarily or for a short time. Some need 


to move on or pass on for different reasons. Their time comes 


and goes just as our own. Be kind to the horses that cross the 


trails through your life, as you never know when you'll meet 


again. We cannot be every horse's person, but we can be 


every horse's friend.





In Memory of Ted....


Happy Trails buddy. 


I miss you daily and know how lucky I was to 


have you.

To Blanket or Not to Blanket...

This is a question I get asked a lot this time of the year... I hope this helps!

How a horse stays warm:

Horses have developed very efficient means of staying warm, even in very cold temperatures. Your horse's coat is comprised of two types of hair: longer stiffer guard hairs; and a soft, fluffy undercoat. The guard hairs "guard" or protect the soft hairs from dirt and water, shed off rain, and collect moisture from sweat that might damage the undercoat. The softer, fluffier hairs of the undercoat trap warm air between and act like insulation around your horse. Natural oils are produced that coat the hair to make them water resistant. Each hair is connected to the piloerector muscle. This muscle allows the hairs to be stood up or laid flat. When they stand up, warm air trapped between them, just above the surface of the skin. When they lie down, warm air is released from between them, cooling the area above the surface of the skin.

When don't I need to blanket my horse?

• When he has a natural winter coat
• When he is healthy and in good body weight
• When it is not too windy or raining
• If the temperature stays above 5°F

When do I need to blanket my horse?

• When he has been clipped for winter
• When he is sick or injured
• When he is underweight (or any "hard keeper")
• When he is older, with weight issues, or difficulty moving around
• When he has been recently moved to a colder climate (Expect it to take 10-21 days for a horse to acclimate to a new climate)
• When it is Windy or Rainy or both
• When there is no available shelter

Important!

It is very important to keep in mind that there are times when blanketing is worse than not blanketing. A blanket will make your horse's hair coat lie flat, thus removing that insulating layer of warm air. If the amount of insulation in the blanket is less than what your horse's natural coat would provide, then he will be cold. Make sure that any blankets used for turnout are waterproof! A wet blanket will make your horse cold. Too many blankets, or too heavy a blanket will make your horse sweat, make the hairs lie down, and make your horse cold. Stick your hand under your horse's blankets to make sure he is not too hot. Additionally, you should not see sweat marks on your horse when you take the blanket off.

The Lobster's are Coming....

This is 2012 Opening Weekend of Lobster Season! I wait for this weekend all year long... My husband and his friends have been  going to the Channel Islands off the coast of Santa Barbara for 20 years to celebrate a little "man time" and hunt  
California Spiny Lobster.....
Which means Lobster Tacos, Lobster Macaroni and Cheese, Lobster Bisque, Lobster Risotto,Lobster Newburg, Lobster Salad and the list goes on and on.

                     Lobster Macaroni and Cheese  my personal favorite!                   
I can't wait for Sunday...

Little Red Barn

A Barn has always been in my dreams.            

For years I have visited barns, studied barns and taken pictures of barns. They make me think of one of my favorite smells, which is not related to food. I love the smell of a horse barn -  the combination of alfalfa, dust, leather, horses and even a little manure.

We are so lucky here in San Luis Obispo County to have so many beautiful barns.





The Historic Octagon Barn of
San Luis Obispo.





The Santa Margarita Ranch Barn being made more famous yearly by Sunset Magazines Annual Event Savor the Central Coast happening this weekend.

 Daddy caters weddings here. It is beautiful.

This is Avila Valley Barn owned by some good friends of ours. They also own Gopher Glen Apple Farm.

It is so fun to visit these barns and taste apples, buy fresh produce and visit the goats and other buddies on the farm!


 
 I love them all but the donkey is my favorite!


 Here is my little barn BEFORE....

                            

 Today Daddy and I finished painting my little red barn. It will serve my barnyard buddies well. It has all the smells I love and will be a big part of my history!