Dashing Through The Snow!

Oh, What a Ride!

It all began MANY years ago, Dear Readers, when I came across this little Santa Sleigh Christmas Decoration (pictured below) and Could NOT resist purchasing it! It didn't come with a Santa or Elves or even a Reindeer...... but it looked like Just the right size for a Dollhouse family to use for Sleigh rides! At the time I wasn't even building any Dollhouses..... and I wouldn't admit I was Collecting bits and pieces for my Someday Dollhouse.....and I was even a little Embarrassed that I had bought such a Useless little trinket that wasn't even a good Christmas Decoration..... so I hid it away in the Cupboard... for Someday. And every now and then I would think about how much Fun it would be to find a way to use it!

It is really rather excessive in it's ornate impracticality......

but, Hey, this is the mini world.... so I held onto it and kept on Dreaming...!

Then, much more recently, I came across this little sleigh.... (Another Christmas ornament!...)
at the local store that specializes in Baskets of all kinds...... and I could NOT resist buying it! (You see it here already altered by the wooden harness block I lashed to the front runners....) It is only about four inches long and is Ever so Sweet! Perfect for little Children to be pulled around in.... um, Doll children that is...!

So Really, all we were missing was the Perfect Snow....

Because here in the North, Sleigh Riding is an old and necessary means of travel in the Winter. When I was little we had an insurance Company that gave Calendars with pictures of the engravings by Currier and Ives, those Artists of the Quintessential American Life of the mid-Nineteenth Century, and I always loved the ones with horses the best... such as this Winter scene... a VERY New England farmhouse and the horse-drawn sleigh.

And even Better these Sleighing Parties.......

Or the ones showing the Breakneck Racing Sleighs.......!
Just so you can see what my Daydreams were inspired by... all those years ago!

So is it any wonder that when we Finally got some snow...

not just Any snow, but some PERFECT Snow......

not too deep...... soft and fluffy........ no wind....
(AND on a Weekend!)

It was TIME to go for a Sleigh Ride!
Are You Ready?
Beatrice and Caroline have put on their NEW Matching Red Riding Hoods.........

Even Tommy is wearing his New Winter Cloak AND his Hat........

But ONLY because Papa is wearing his Stylish new Many-caped Driving Cloak.....!

The Hitches have been carefully checked for Security.....

And the Pony Prince has been Harnessed to the Little Sleigh......

While the Mare, Dancer, is being harnessed for the Christmas Sleigh......

She really is Such a Sweet Goer... she pulls like a Dream.....!

Prince is Eager to be going too, in his Lovely New black leather harness......

Clarence is overseeing the arrangements....

it takes an amazing amount of work to get Everyone Ready!

At LAST, they are all prepared....

just like in the Currier and Ives Print.......
Are YOU Ready?

Off we go!
Out into the SNOW!

In the Crisp Clear air.......

Oh WHAT FUN it Is....!

To Ride.....

In a one-horse open Sleigh...!

O'er the fields we go.....

Laughing All the way!

Okay,..... no bells or Bob-tails......

But, Oh the Spirits are BRIGHT!

Beatrice has never been Sleighing before.....

The afternoon is fading quickly......

as it does at this time of year........

Their shadows long upon the snow...

they head for home....

An afternoon they will Long Remember.......

Oh, WHAT a Ride!

Dashing Through The Snow!