Happy Halloween! The Abby/Dr. Seuss Post

Second Post of the Day

Reposting this blog post is a Horsiemama tradition that goes back to 2018 when I first wrote it. It's my all time favorite entry that I have ever written. And while Abby is now gone, it just wouldn't feel like Halloween to not share it. Sweet girl, I hope you are getting some candy corn in heaven.

There are formatting errors that I haven't been able to fix without retyping the entire post. Go here to read it in its entirety.

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Jennifer Buxton of  Braymere Custom Saddlery wrote on her blog that she had discovered that some people do not like candy corn. One of her blog readers posted in response that her real horses loved the Halloween treat, and Jennifer decided to see if her horses liked it, too.

They did. And so Jennifer challenged invited those of us with access to both horses and candy corn to try a little experiment and see if our horses liked candy corn, too.

Well, I was up to the challenge, and I figured Abby would be as well. Her favorite treat is a freshly unwrapped candy cane; since both sweets have a high content of sugar, I figured that Abby would quickly snarf up those little kernels of candy corn goodness.

As usual, she came up to the paddock at a fast clip, eager to say "hello" and to see what I had brought her. I held my hand out with two candy corns in it and she lipped them up without even smelling them. (Such trust in me!)

Then she gave me a dirty look when she realized that they were something new and not what she had been expecting. That face!! I could not help but think of my favorite Dr. Seuss story, Green Eggs and Ham. So, with apologies to him:

"I'm not sure I like them, Mom-I-Am."

She chewed thoughtfully for a moment, considering if she liked the taste or not, just as the main character in the book did.

Picture retrieved from Google Images.

Then Abby's face brightened, and she eagerly put her head over the wooden bars of the paddock fence.

"Say!! I like them, Mom-I Am! I do! I do like candy corn!"

 "And I will eat them from your hand,"

 "And I will lick you where you stand!"

 "I would eat them off the ground,"

"And I sure would like another pound!"

"They are so good, so good, you see! Thank you, thank you, Best Mom-You-Be!"

Halloween Houses & Decor

First Post of the Day

Happy Halloween! I thought it might be fun to take a look at some of the spooky and not-so-spooky decorations that I see while out and about or have in my own home.

There is nothing like a flock of turkey vultures circling over something that has died to make you feel creeped out and spooked.

This was in downtown Lafayette and taken when I was picking up my Feast check-in papers and buttons. I have never seen a flock that large, let alone in town. Whatever they smelled had to be large and very, very "gone."

My neighbors' home. A giant skeleton overseeing a hoard of smaller ones peeking into the home's windows. Eep!

Lisa's home is a mix of fall pumpkins and gourds

plus a giant spiderweb (complete with spider) and a lighted Oogie Boogie from The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Down the street from me is a fantastical display complete with a fire breathing dragon.

Its wings slowly flap back and forth while the flames flutter from its mouth.

Pepper is an unflappable dog, but when we approached this house on a walk, she stopped in her tracks and stared at the dragon while her hackles rose along her back!

This next house is subtle and very unusual.

Dancing skeleton silhouettes on the garage doors. I really like these. Clever and not too spooky.

Purple lighting makes this house with many blowup characters in the yard really stand out. While I love the home with the dragon, this is my favorite display.

As for me, I only have a few things up. I've just been too busy with the Feast to get more than the minimum done.

The garden stakes are in the patio planters.

And that is  about as scary as I get.

Some of my Breyer Halloween horses are out.

Cryptid here on the shelf behind me in my office.

Crane, Cornelius, and Eek are in the sewing room and under a lovely painting of Amy.

My favorite Halloween horse of all, Cryptic. On either side of him are surprise gifts left at our home by our neighborhood Rock Fairy.

No one knows who it is, but if you're lucky, you might find something hidden around the neighborhood or even in your own yard. The Rock Fairy sometimes comes as the Wood Nymph, too, depending on what you find.

Jessica made me those footprint pictures of Cambria and Titan's feet years ago when they were babies, but it wouldn't be Halloween unless I put them out. (They're going to the nursing home with me. Um, whenever I decide to go... LOL)

A light-up ghost on an owl placemat and a favorite book of my kids' (and mine), Jack Prelutsky's It's Halloween. I read that book every Halloween even though there are no children here to listen to it. (It's on the nursing home list, too.)

I left a lot of things in the Halloween tub, but that's okay, I don't mind. Most of what is out has significant meaning to me, and that's all I want.

Oh, and to never see a flock of turkey vultures massed over my location again, either. Eeeeee!!

Happy Halloween!

Feast 2026: Feast Conversations

When your tent flaps are open and you are selling things, anyone can walk through your door.  Most people are friendly, warm, and kind, but once in a while you get someone who challenges your patience. Or someone who says the unexpected. And more. 

It happens every event and this year's Feast was no exception.

A Crabby Lady

For me, the hardest customers to deal with are those who think they know more than me and aren't afraid to let me know that. I had one of those people come into my tent on Saturday, someone I'll refer to as "Crabby Lady." (Because she was.)

She deigned to drop by Jolis Chevaux in a quest for a new chemise.

CL: Do you have chemises? (grouchy voice)

Me: Yes, they are over here on this rack.

CL: These are cotton. Where are the linen? They should be made from linen, you know. (Pawing through the chemises one at a time.)

Me: I don't have any linen at the moment, and actually chemises were also made from cotton like these are.

CL: Humph (and a bit of a glare at me.)

CL: Paw, paw, paw.

CL: These sleeves are too long. (Holding a chemise against her arm.)

Me: No, they will hit you right under the elbow just as they should.

CL: Humph. (Holds the sleeve up to her arm again and discovers that I am right. Turns back to the rack and says nothing.)

CL: Paw, paw, paw.

CL: (Abruptly) How much are they?

Me: $65 (and instantly realizing that that is wrong; they're actually $70. But I keep quiet about my error at this point.)

CL: Eyebrows raise and an incredulous look at me as though I am bilking her out of every penny she has. (For the record, I have price checked before setting my prices and I know my prices are very reasonable.)

CL: Humph. I'll try this one on. (Trying to get it on over her head and her hat, jacket, petticoats, and very prominent bum roll.)

Me: Here, how about I help you.

CL: (Shortly) I've got it.

Me: (Stepping in anyway to carefully pull the chemise down over that hefty bum roll so that she doesn't tear the fabric of my chemise.)

CL: Okay. I'll take it. (I don't even ask if she wants help and step in to help her reverse the process to get it off.)

CL: (Folding the chemise up.) How much did you say it was?

Me: I misspoke. I said $65 but it's actually $70.

CL: Big glare.

Me: I will stand by the $65 I originally said.

CL: Well, you should! Look at these seams! None of them are finished! They should be.

Me: (Internal sigh and an eye roll that I mask. The seams have been trimmed and pressed; they are fine.)

CL: I'll still take it but I'm going to have to finish these seams.

Me: (Thinking in my mind.) No, you won't. They are historically fine as is and I can't see you taking the time to do that. If you can finish seams the way I think you want them finished, then 1) you would be able to make your own chemises, and 2) you'd be complaining because I'd be charging $200 for a hand finished chemise!)

Crabby Lady paid for the chemise and left. I wasn't sad to see her go.

Tick, tick, tick, tick.

The next day.

Crabby Lady walks into my tent and strikes a fashion model pose. I can see the sleeves of her chemise poking out from under the jacket she is wearing, and it is the chemise I'd made and she'd bought yesterday.

Me: Well, hello! You're back.

CL: A faint smile. Do you have any more of these? I need a size...

Paw, paw, paw.

Me: (To self) She smiled! She smiled at me!

CL: And can I get the next one for half price since I bought one yesterday?

Me: (Biting my tongue) Count to ten, Lynn. Count to ten...

Honey, Your Foot is in Your Mouth...

Several friends were hanging out in my tent and chatting with me and each other. The subject of me being unable to sell maple cakes this year because only the volunteer food booths would be allowed to do so came up.

One of my living history friends, a younger man, was very angry on my behalf. And he wasn't afraid to express his opinion to those in my tent (including me.)

"Can you believe it??" he said with incredulity. "Can you imagine not letting a sweet little old lady sell her maple cakes?? It makes me furious!"

There was total silence in the tent as all eyes turned to me. (Except his; he was rather clueless as to the slip of the tongue he'd just made.)

Realizing that it was an inadvertent slip, this "sweet little old lady" caught the humor in it and I smiled, ignoring the comment, and everyone else visibly relaxed. 

But there were glints of humor in more than one pair of eyes and I am still waiting for the other shoe to drop. I bet you dollars to donuts that one of those folks is going to call me "sweet little old lady" just to tease me! LOL

Don't Argue with the Beignet Girls

Sweetest girls, no pun intended. They started Feast Saturday off by bringing me beignets and arguing about payment. I insisted, they came back later to see me with more beignets and declined payment when I tried to pay, and a pattern was begun. 

At one point they were coming hourly with a new offering of beignets. (I had so many I started sharing them with customers and friends who were hanging out with me.)

While I was grateful that I could get my favorite Feast treat for free, I was also aware that the beignet booth was a fundraiser for their troop so that they could do activities. It was only right that I pay, and so the arguments continued every time a Scout came over  bearing beignets.

Around noon I looked up and saw Dennis, the Scoutmaster striding over to my tent, holding more beignets. 

Dennis?? Why was he coming - he was so busy at the booth! There were double lines to their tent and those lines wrapped all the way beyond the tent line!

He walked in, handed the beignets to me, and before I could say anything, said loudly, "NO PAYMENT!" while looking me straight in the eyes.

Okay. Back off, Lynn. Sometimes someone wants to do something nice for you and clearly that troop wanted me to have free beignets. And so I quit arguing (although I did offer to pay a time or two more.) 

Thanks, Troop 619. I will pass your kindness on.

Feeling the Vibes

The Feast of the Hunters' Moon draws folks from all walks of life to Ouiatenon. I love interacting with people I might not cross paths with except at a major event like this one. It's fun to meet, chat, and enjoy learning about other ways to live your life, cultures that are different from mine, and more.

Sunday afternoon a young man and woman walked into my tent. Smiling and friendly, I never learned their names, but they were anxious to tell me how much they were loving being at the Feast.

"The energy out here is so strong. The vibes! I feel so alive! So energized!" crowed the young man exuberantly, smiling at me as he threw his arms out to the sides of his body.

The woman smiled and nodded in agreement.

"Can you feel it?" he asked me. "It is so strong! I think all these people here are having a good time and putting out the vibes. The energy is everywhere. I love it!"

"I'm glad you are enjoying yourselves and joining us here at Ouiatenon today," I said with a smile. I didn't feel any energy or vibes (honestly, I felt slow and tired at that point in the day) but clearly the man was genuinely happy and excited, and it made me happy to see that.

"You know, the energy is just so strong out here. And oh, wow, your eyes are just popping. Your eyelashes are simply GORGEOUS!" he complimented me unexpectedly.

Well. What do you say to that? It was a heartfelt compliment, and while it surprised me, I knew he was sincere. (Although I was wondering - I had put mascara on that morning but surely it wasn't very visible by that time of the day, was it?)

"Your eyes really are popping," he repeated, and the woman again smiled and nodded in agreement. They wished me a good day and left my tent. 

I pulled my phone out, turned the camera on, and flipped the lens so I could use it as a mirror. I did not see what he was seeing. (The photo above is a clip from a photo taken with Lusia and Tim earlier that day. I still don't see it.)

But you know what? Neither did I feel the energy or vibes he was experiencing himself, but I did feel a warmth in my heart that two people would walk into my tent and be so friendly, and then leave me with such a kind compliment.

This sweet little old lady, full of beignets, working on her patience, and with eyes popping, had a terrific Feast. And for the record, she plans to continue wearing her mascara every day because apparently it makes a difference!

Stay 'tooned!

Feast Sunday: Unending Busyness!

Second Post of the Day

This is a sign of love. 

Craig's favorite flashlight, charged and ready to go with me in the predawn darkness to Post Ouiatenon. I didn't ask to borrow it; he knew I'd had trouble the previous morning and had placed it by my sink in the bathroom where I would be sure to find it.

It was so helpful! I felt much safer - cars driving through that unlit field could see my light and go around me, and I could see the ground and not trip as I hiked across the fields to my tent.

It gave  a lot of light to my tent and made last minute preparations for the day so much easier. Thanks, Craig. That was so thoughtful. xo

If you were inclined to go to church before the event opened, there were four different options. I chose to attend John Jarboe's service, done as Parson John and in 18th century style.

There was a bale of straw for him to use as a podium and we were under the trees as the sun came up.

Not only did I have a flashlight, I had my cloak. I huddled in it as I sat on a bale of straw during the service. Temps were in the mid 40s - brrrr!

When I returned to my tent to open for the day, a Scout from across the way popped over.

Not one but two servings of beignets! Another argument ensued about payment (I lost again; those Scouts are good arguers!) and customers started coming in as soon as I opened the tent flaps.  I offered a beignet to anyone who wanted one.

The bride and groom Lucia and Tim came in - I'd invited them to use my tent as home base if they needed a break or a place to store their things as they wandered the Feast grounds. They were in and out throughout the day and they even brought me lunch. (Even though the beignet girls did, too. Hah!)

These ladies are good friends. Before I set-up as a vendor, I used to volunteer with them at registration.

Jean (on the left) and Whitney (on the right) are both wearing shortgowns that I made. I love seeing people in clothing that I've sewn. 

The woman on the right is a long time customer. I cannot remember her name, but I made the trade shirt she has on.

Around 11:00 Vanessa, Ian, Mila, and Lukas arrived. Ian stayed with me in the tent and chatted while the others did a little shopping.

The "secret door" was blocked by a table this year, but it still made a good window! (Look at how few beeswax ornaments are left. At that point I was wondering if I'd sell out completely.) 

I sure love these kiddos and am glad that they like to join me.

I love this hat and this gal! 

A lady came by who was also wearing a chatelaine like me. I asked to see what she had on hers, and she had something I'd never seen before.

A walnut painted silver and with a hinge.

It's a velvet lined thimble case! The lady is also a sewist herself - what a clever way to keep your thimble!

All too soon 4:00 rolled around and the bands began staging for closing ceremonies.

How did the Feast slip by so quickly? I never got a forfar bridie! Or any gingerbread! My root beer bottle is still empty and I haven't shopped yet myself! It can't be over!

Brooke leading the processional after closing ceremonies.(Photo by A. Owen)

After months of preparation by thousands of people, the 2026 Feast of the Hunters' Moon is well and truly over.

The grounds are cleared and quiet, the cannons and musicians silenced,

and the Wabash continues its timeless flow past Post Ouiatenon. (Photo by A. Owen)

I am a little sad.

Stay 'tooned.

Tutorial: Getting Dressed the 18th Century Way

First Post of the Day

How to Get Dressed as an 18th Century Merchant Woman in just 342 Easy Steps. Brought to you by Jolis Chevaux, purveyor of fine 18th century clothing and accoutrements. (Be sure to try our maple cakes!)

Start by putting your chemise on (although you were probably already wearing it because it was rarely taken off. Yeah, they were smelly.)  

Roll your stockings up and pull on and up over your knees. Add your jewelry. Since it was Sunday, I added the Ouiatenon cross and trade silver heart earrings.

Catch your breath.

Slip your petticoat on, either by stepping into it or by sliding it over your head. (My method of choice; that way my chemise doesn't get tucked up and then need to be pulled down again.) 

Tie the petticoat around your waist tightly. Trust me, it will loosen during the day and if it's too loose now, you may find it suddenly dropping around your ankles at an inopportune moment. Whoops!

Step into your shoes.

Catch your breath.

Wrap your fichu around your neck, being careful to not catch your hair underneath it. Pull out your necklace so it can be seen. Pin the fichu at the waist to keep it from pulling up and exposing delicate body parts you prefer to keep covered. Then pin it in a few places around your neck. Don't poke yourself!

Catch your breath.

Bathroom check. If you feel ANY inkling that you might need to go, go now while you still can. It will only get more difficult as you still have more clothing to add.

Wash hands, adjust petticoat, check fichu pins. Smooth things into place.

Catch your breath.

Carefully insert arms into the sleeves of your bedgown. Adjust it so it is lying flat down your back. Decide if the collar will be turned down as a shawl collar or left up. Smooth, smooth, smooth everything down.

Check fichu pins and ensure the fichu is still flat and not riding up and exposing things. Pin front of bedgown closed using several long pins. Check to be sure pins are lying flat. Readjust pins as needed. Smooth, smooth, smooth. Do a 360 degree turn in front of the mirror and check that the bedgown is lying as it should all the way around.

Turn up sleeves as desired. Pull chemise cuffs down from inside the bedgown and check sleeve buttons.

Catch your breath.

Last check of hair. Smooth, smooth, smooth it, too. Cheat and use a touch of hair spray or a little hair oil to tame any flyaways. Smooth, smooth, smooth again. Let set and dry.

Carefully set cap on head. Check to be sure hair is still under control.

Do a final check with a 360 twirl in front of the mirror. Make any last minute adjustments. Sorry, too late to use the bathroom. You should have gone 15 steps ago.

Catch your breath.

Swing cloak around shoulders and fasten pewter clip. Argue with your fingers - yes, they can TOO fasten that clip. Try and try again until it is fastened. Pull cloak's sides evenly around you. Adjust hood to ensure it is lying flat. Do a final mirror check.

Catch your breath.

Carefully kiss hubby goodbye, tell the dogs you will pet them when you can bend over again later that night, and head out to the car.

 

Gather cloak and petticoat and slide in, crossing your fingers that nothing comes unpinned or slips out of place.

Catch your breath.

Make several efforts to click your seatbelt in place, take one last breath, and off you go.

See why so many 18th century women had maids to help them get dressed?

Stay 'tooned!