SPRUCE CREEK TRAIL ASSOCIATIONNEWSLETTER

December 2009

www.sprucecreektrails.com

FROM THE PRESIDENTFROM THE EDITORThis is a special short issue, so I can start the new year with "Jan/Feb" because my literal mind had trouble with "Dec/Jan" and that had me out of sync all year. Better to have too many newsletters than not enough, know what I mean?

The year 2009 is coming to a close. We had big plans to work on our trails but our big plans didn’t work out. We received a tremendous amount of rain which played havoc with the trails! There are probably hundreds of dollars in equine boots stuck in muddy places all over our trails and who knows when, or if, they will ever be seen again. Even attempts at damage control didn’t work. Ricky Rains and Ricky Roe Rains will attest to that as they worked on a very bad section of the trail going to the Cumberland Valley Trailhead. One notable improvement was the section of trail between Tanglewood and Spruce Creek. That was thanks to the hard work of Alan and Cathy Roberts. While we did raise our dues in 2009, we did not bring in much more money overall because fewer people renewed their membership. We purchased a tilt blade attachment for a Bobcat (which I had previously mentioned) which cost around $1,400. Roy Sillman will have the 2009 annual financial report posted on our website after the first of the year. My personal best wishes to you all for a wonderful holiday season.

Sharon

Leslie

Here in Big South Fork National Park, late fall days are usually mild enough for trail riding. In fact, it is common here to ride right through the winter, with

many days in the 50's and some in the 60's. At this time of year, it is not the temperature that is a concern but the waning daylight which changes at about 1pm from a yellow morning light to a blue afternoon light. Riders need to plan their route to arrive back by about 3:30 as darkness falls early.For those who are unfamiliar with the area or the distances they might travel on various trails, it is a good idea to carry a reflective vest, reflective anklets or a reflective browband for your horse or a light stick that you can tie to your saddle, in case you have to make your way back to the trailer or to the cabin in the gathering dusk.

SHORTEST DAY OF THE YEARCOMING RIGHT UP

There will be an estate auction at AuctionWorld, 1015 Glenobey Road, on Dec. 5 at 12:01 pm, right after the parade. Rhonda and Darren Rudd have flyers for it and if anyone has questions, they can call Darren at home 931-752-9994 or cell 931-260-9047. The regular auction takes place every Tuesday at 6:00 pm.

ESTATE AUCTION RIGHT AFTER JAMESTOWN CHRISTMAS PARADE

East Tennessee Dachshund Rescue has three 8 week old pups! They are 3/4 dachshund and ?; cuter than buttons! They need a snuggly home with a fence or some way to keep them safe because they are hounds and will follow their noses! If you would love to have a bed warmer and help these little guys out (they are not puppy mill puppies), call Connie Ross at (931)752-8920. Many pix available; there’s one honey-and-white female, and one black-and-white male and one honey-and-white male. Puppies available December 1st.

THREE DACHSHUND PUPPIES NEED GOOD HOMES

Check out (no pun intended) cute holiday-themed horse halters and leads at http://www.redhautehorse.com/ or call 1-866-275-1755. If you’re looking for a gift for a horse friend, year round, they have an amusing selection including bandanna print, aloha, flames and other fashion statements.

LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT GIFT FOR YOUR RIDING BUDDY?

www.sprucecreektrails.com

You find carrot and apple treats stamped out with copper cookie cutters

and decorated for Christmas with royal icing using a #2 rosette tip!

Why do I like horses? I reckon I must be mad.

My mother wasn’t horsey And neither was my dad.

But the madness got me early

And it hit me like a curse. I’ve never gotten better

In fact I’ve gotten worse.

My stables are immaculate. My house is like a hovel.

Last year for my birthday I got a brand new shovel.

One eye’s always on the heavens But my washing waves in vain As I rush to get the horses in

In case it’s gonna rain.

And though they’re wearing 15 rugs, The best that you can get,

I bring them in to keep them dry While I get soaking wet.

I can’t make a cake

I don’t even try But I can back a truck and trailer

In the twinkling of an eye.

But late at night, when all is still And I’ve gone to give them hay, I touch their velvet softness And my worries float away.

They give a gentle nicker

And they nuzzle through my hair And I know it’s where my heart is

More than anywhere.

Author Unknown

HOLIDAY HORSE TREATS#1 Cookies (Your horse will love the sweet crunchiness)

INGREDIENTS: 1 ½ cup all purpose flour

1 cup bran 1 cup molasses

1 cup grated carrot or apple

PREPARATION: Preheat oven to 375F. Oil two cookie sheets. Put aside a small bowl of white sugar and a drinking glass with a flat bottom. In a large bowl mix all the ingredients thoroughly. The mixture shouldn’t be too wet, and should stick together. Add more flour to make the mixture firmer and hold together if nec-essary. Drop by teaspoonfuls, about 1 ½ inches apart on a greased cookie sheet. Grease the bottom of the glass, dip it in the sugar, and stamp the cookies to flat-ten them slightly. Bake for about 10 min-utes. This makes about 25 cookies, de-pending on the size. Store in an air-tight container or bag. Simple to make with a minimum of ingredients; perfect for gift bags for your friends' equine friends!

THIS SAYS IT ALL

#2 ChewiesINGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce 1 cup oat bran cereal or ground oatmeal

1/2 cup all purpose flour (approx.)

PREPARATION: Preheat oven to 350F. Oil a 9inch x 9inch square cake pan. Spread the batter evenly in the cake pan and bake for 20-30 minutes. The batter will start to shrink away from the sides and it will be firm to the touch. Slice into squares while still warm. Keep in the refrigerator in an air-tight container or bag.

YOU KNOW MARTHA STEWART HAS BEEN IN YOUR BARN WHEN...

Happy Holidays

Bev Bailey asked me to give you the link for a company that she patronizes. It's called "Kiwi Sheepskins" and she says they have the best boots and gloves she's ever worn. Bev does not tolerate cold well and suffers during winter months, so she would know best how to keep your extremities warm! Here's the link to their website: http://www.kiwi-sheepskins.com/

www.sprucecreektrails.com

Uh-oh! It doesn't look like Laurie Leroy's Rocky, Squirt, thought much of his Christmas ribbon last year! Perhaps he was hoping it was edible.

Here's Lois Schwartz's gelding, Charlie, sticking his tongue out...is he having fun catching snowflakes or is he saying, "Bah! Humbug!" to Winter Wonderland?

HOLIDAY HORSE PIX

Here are Sue Bertch's minis, dressed for the season. She has been bringing them from Michigan on trips to Spruce Creek so don't be surprised if you see them on the roads here.

TOASTY TOES (AND FINGERS)

Please ask ten friends to each ask a further ten today! The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily so they can meet their quota of getting FREE FOOD donated every day to abused and neglected animals. It takes about 15 seconds. they will send you a daily email with a link to their site where you click on the purple box "fund food for animals for free." Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising. Here’s the web site! Please pass it along to people you know. http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

HELP URGENTLY NEEDED

This dappled beauty is Brenda Goett's Rocky Mountain yearling, Charlie. You'll be seeing him Spruce Creek one of these days, too.

Brenda Lawson is renting the cabarn next to her house on Saddle Drive for a VERY reasonable rate. It's $45 one night/$35 multiple nights for the "ca" which is an efficiency with a queen bed and stalls in the "barn" part are included. There are also two RV/LQ hookups for $18 per night. To check on availability or to make a reservation, call Brenda at (931) 879-1958.

FULL-SERVICE AUCTION: Weekly auction at 6pm on Tuesdays, AuctionWorld, 1015 Glenobey Road, Jamestown TN 38556. Accepting consignments of single items or entire households. Call Rhonda or Darren Rudd, (931) 879-9994.

www.sprucecreektrails.com

NEWSLETTERLeslie Helm, (931) 752-8102, leslie@wingset.com

Donna Smith, smit1297@bellsouth.net

DIRECTORSLaurie Leroy, (931) 752-7716, leroy.laurie@gmail.com

Beverly Chase, (931) 752-5355, gaitinlady@yahoo.comTracey Hatcher, (931) 4549, macygypsy@aol.com

Brian Matchette, (931) 879-5312, azarsranger@aol.comTom Pickard, (931) 879-6784, tjpickard2001@msn.com

Roy Sillman, (931) 879-0508, rsillman@twlakes.netCathy Roberts, (931) 879-2002, c_roberts@gkfclaw.com,

Ricky Rains, (931) 397-4626, rrains@hotmail.com

OFFICERSPresident: Sharon Vaughn

898 Spruce Creek Dr, Jamestown TN 38556, (931) 879-7537, chvsnv@twlakes.netVice President: Brian Matchette

710 Deer Haven Trail, Jamestown TN 38556, (931) 752-5312, azarsranger@aol.comSecretary/Treasurer: Roy Sillman

749 Deer Haven Trail, Jamestown TN 38556, (931) 879-0508 rsilman@twlakes.net

CLASSIFIEDSWANTED: If anyone has unwanted blue jeans, I have a friend who makes the blue jean skirts and sells them to raise funds for her church. If anyone has some, Beverly Bailey 587 Spruce Creek Dr 879-7723 or email bevbailey@twlakes.netWANTED: If anyone wants to give riding lessons to an adult or knows who would, please contact Tracey Hatcher at (931) 879-4549.FOR SALE: I have a Tucker Endurance saddle for sale, EC, 16½ seat. $950.00. Debbie Hartman (941) 474-6500.HORSE FOR SALE: Registered Missouri Foxtrotter, black 9 yo gelding. Flatwalks, smooth single foot, and canter. Athletic on trails. Best ground manners. Forward on the trails. UTD on shots,worming, shoes. $3,500 to good home Please email jaimelwhiteaker@aol.com Can be seen on www.heavensgaitfoxtrotter.com. Under Geldings.

BUSH HOGGING, POSTHOLE DIGGING AND LIGHT TRACTOR WORK: Tom Jancek (931) 879-8660 Home or (931) 704-0500 Cell.

SPRUCE CREEK NOTARIES: Leslie Helm,752-8102; Connie Ross, 752-8920; Lorrie Sloan, 752-5855.

MOWING & WEED EATING: You choose price to fit your budget! JUST RITA; 931-879-6835.

PET ADOPTION: Donna Drochak is a volunteer for Best Friends Sanctuary. If you need a barn cat or a new dog, call her at 752-8388.

SERVICES

CUSTOM SEWING; Embroidery, slipcovers, curtains and window treatments, cushions, trailer accessories. Call Joan; (931- 752-7643.

LAND CLEARING & SITE PREP: Danny Hatcher will clear lots and will do the electric and the water for camp sites, also the septic tanks. References available. (931) 879-4549.

CABIN CLEANING on a one time basis,weekly, bi-weekly, monthly....can open and close your cabin or clean after you leave. Honest, reliable and affordable. References available. Call Claudia Matchette 931-879-5312 or cell (931) 704-3679..

CABIN CLEANING/YARD WORK:Rhonda Rudd is available for cleaning services and yard work. Schedule your fall projects and arrange to have your eaves raked now. (931)879-9994.EMERGENCY HORSESHOEING:15 years experience. Specializing in gaited horses. Call Rita Rosshirt, (931) 879-6835.

CABIN RENTALSKICKING BACK CABIN. Sleeps 6-10, fully-equipped kitchen, washer/dryer, fireplace, Jacuzzi. Very comfortably furnished. See website for pix, availability and rates. http://www.kickingbackcabin.com