Sisterhood in the Hobby

Dogs who like to curl up against you and cover up your feet when it's chilly?

It's that time of year and boy howdy, I'll take it. Thank you, Pepper! Best way to read a book or take a nap!

Today's blog entry is a follow up to my post, Coming Full Circle ( and Beyond). Jennifer Buxton read it and posted her own perspective about that experience on her blog, Braymere Custom Saddlery.

I'd written about the bridle that Tiffany had given Jennifer who'd passed it on to Shannon who asked me to hand it off to Dani.

Jennifer shared about it in an aptly titled blog post of her own, The sisterhood of the traveling bridle. Here's a screen shot of part of it.

I love the reminder in Jennifer's title of who we are as hobbyists. We are a sisterhood (with some brothers thrown in, too) and this was quite a timely reminder, especially at this time in our culture when the world seems to be getting meaner and more polarized by the day. Thanks, Jennifer, for the reminder of who we are - sisters in the hobby.

But the story continues in an odd twist as I figured out who the 4th (and missing) Vintage Club offering was that I mentioned in yesterday's post. Nancy Kelly reminded me that it had been Domingo who also came with a book.

A trip over to PayPal to double check that I'd actually gotten this piece inadvertently gave me the answer. Right after the notation and date that I'd paid Breyer for him, was payment to me for the exact same amount from a friend. 

And in a fun twist of sisterhood irony, that friend who got my Domingo has a brand new, shiny purple bridle thanks to that hobby sisterhood.

I'm thinking a lot about hobby sisterhood right now and how so often it is evident. I've been the recipient of it and I know what a difference it can make for someone who perhaps feels lonely or left out, that her models aren't "good enough," and so on. Hobby sisterhood is a good thing and we need more of it.

Thanks for the reminder, Jennifer. I will do better.