Sisters Trip - Day One

When I decided to go to BreyerFest last spring, I invited my sisters to join me. I thought a sisters trip might be fun, and even though they aren't collectors, Leslie is horsey. Jenny (who isn't) would still enjoy the horse park, or shopping in Lexington, etc.

Sadly, Leslie was unable to join us at the last minute. So Jenny and I set off without her.

We had more of our unusual July rain as I left my home Thursday morning. The roads were okay despite being wet, although just south of Lafayette a semi in front of me suddenly fishtailed, jumped into the next lane (which fortunately was empty), went sideways (I thought he might roll) and then straightened out and continued on as though nothing had happened! I offered up some prayers there and then on the spot!

Jenny and I arrived in Lexington around 2:00, checked into our motel (the Red Roof Inn on Haggard Lane), and then headed to Horseshoes, a restaurant I ate in last time I was here, down the road by the Days Inn for lunch.

 I am in my element in Kentucky - everything is horse-themed!

Jenny ordered something called "the Kentucky Hot Brown" - a slice of Texas toast with turkey, bacon, tomato, and mornay sauce. She said it was delicious. I had my favorite, country fried steak, and it was outstanding.

After that, we grabbed our map to the CHIN (Clarion/Holiday Inn North, BreyerFest's host hotel) and went to see what was happening. I had a list of which rooms my friends were in, and so we targeted those. 

 Beth Dickinson and I have been friends since 1971 - I've known her longer than my husband! She was rooming with Jenn Danza, an artist who does repairs, and they were advertising in a fun way:

Jenny got such a kick out of it that she took a photo of their sign.

I was hoping to finally meet Jennifer Buxton, and knew she would be at BreyerFest somewhere. 

I ran into her down near where the swap meet would be held.

We chatted for quite a while  and then took some photos. (Jennifer writes my favorite horsey blog - check it out here.) We'd talked via social media for three or four years, so getting a chance to talk in person was a treat! (She's just as nice in person as she is online!)

Jenny and I took the opportunity to sit and rest for a few minutes, and suddenly hotel employees began putting out a long table of cake.

 What a nice thing to do - it was open to anyone who wanted a slice? But why?

I peeked into a box that held an uncut cake - to celebrate the anniversary of Marguerite Henry's book,  Misty of Chincoteague.

Jenny and I traipsed around the motel, poking our heads into rooms, meeting up with friends of mine, and looking at all the beautiful things on offer.

Then, a surprise. Neither of us had spent any money, and we were just about done. We walked into one of the last rooms in the 600 hallway, and Jenny spied a stack of costumes on a bed.

 Score!! A witch's costume! Jenny is a member of Irvington's Black Hat Society, a theatrical group of women who like to dress as witches and dance in parades and festivals. For $10, she got a new outfit, and at a model horse convention, no less! (We are still giggling over that!)

I found a dear friend in the last room we visited, Susan Bensema Young. As I walked in, she looked up, her eyes widened, and she smiled and said, "Lynn!!"

Sue gave me a tour of her personal tack collection and showed me her binders (oh, those parade costumes!) and an ingenious display of her bridles from the early days until more recent in a spoon case! She is so talented.

Jenny and I were about ready to drop, and so we headed back to the Red Roof Inn to rest and discuss dinner. We got to gabbing, and soon so much time had passed, we decided to just call out for pizza. (We were already change into our jammies and didn't want to get dressed again.

We ordered online, and then we got a kick out of watching "Marcus" online as "he" prepared our pizza.

The pizza was delicious - "Marcus" did a good job!

After that, we fell into bed. It was a super fun day - can't wait for Friday's events!