Lovely Loosestrife Farm

After Mary and Sundae left to return to Massachusetts, Winnie settled in to graze the yummy pasture grass at Loosestrife Farm. Kind Myron showed me around the barn and let me put Winnie's tack in his tack room. After a much needed bath, I enjoyed a delicious dinner prepared by Myron's sweet wife, Jean. I was tired that night and slept a full eight hours on a very comfortable bed in their lovely home.

In the morning, Jean made eggs and bagels for breakfast. Then I went out to the barn to start packing up Winnie, thinking to head toward Ellenville. Myron gave me three phone numbers and told me to call him if I got stuck en route.

Shortly after we left Loosestrife, Mark, aka "Mister Albino" (President of Winnie's Fan Club) found us walking down the road toward Route 209. He had a new phone for me, clean laundry, and cards from family in honor of my 57th birthday (Saturday, June 13). Mark, Winnie and I spent most of the afternoon hanging around the CITGO station at the corner of Route 209 and Queen's Highway, trying to arrange for hosts further down the road. Winnie and I hadn't found one by 4:30, so Mister Albino decided to rent a room for us at the Colonial Motel. He drove back to Loosestrife and asked Myron if Winnie could stay another day or two, while we searched for hosts in the area. Without hesitation, Myron welcomed Winnie back into his beautiful barn.
As Winnie and I were walking back to Loosestrife, we were stopped on the road by a woman who linked us up with Joyce Anderson. By the time we reached the barn, Joyce was there to meet us and offer any help we needed. She turned out to be another of my angels, arranging a farrier to check Winnie's feet, where a heel rub had developed. Joyce, who spends much of her time rescuing animals, also contacted some reporters in hopes of getting Winnie's story out. I had two interviews today, so perhaps we can get the word out about the worth of the American Mustang, and how important it is to save these beautiful horses. We also hope to get some hosts further down the road, once people learn about us. We are still looking for places to stay in the towns along New York Route 209, between Kerhonkson and Port Jervis.
Let me backtrack to my birthday for a moment. While waiting at the CITGO station that day, several friendly folks stopped to ask about Winnie. One family across the street (Greg, his wife Susan and their daughter) offered Winnie a bucket of water and let her graze on their lawn. Another man, Gary, posed for a photo with her. Darling little Maddie stopped with her mom and her grandma, who got teary-eyed admiring Winnie's beauty, and gave me $10. We immediately spent it on juice, coffee, tea, Coke and cake at the CITGO station, a funny lunch! Later, Mark treated me to a proper and very tasty birthday dinner at the local Candle Light Restaurant, followed by New York cheesecake.
Today we left Loosestrife, but not before Nurse Robin, who helps around the barn in exchange for riding privileges, made Winnie a donut lift to keep the pressure off her sore spot. It seems every time we need help with something, the right person appears to cure the problem. Myron also gave Winnie a new fly hat in his barn's yellow color, since Winnie lost hers somewhere on the road. Speaking of road losses, on Friday I lost my eyeglasses and on my birthday, Mark found them, but I'll let him tell you about that miracle in his own post!