As I write this, it actually and literally is the fifth anniversary of my volunteerism at the local horse rescue. To the day!
Here's Cheyenne. Because the name sounds so "girly", our president (his sponsor) has nicknamed him Fang. He's a gorgeous paint/Warmblood cross who's finally regained trust in humans.
To make things more wonderful, the horse rescue inspired fictional High Hill Horse Rescue, the setting for my soon-to-be-released Valentine story, Pick Me. (part of the multi-author Candy Hearts series and available for pre-order.)
Like I wrote in the dedication, I thank these horses for making me a better person. Just like my heroine Kelsey Hunter does, I find peace and advice there. Yes, the horses and I converse. And Johnny, below, is my grandson's favorite! He's part pony and just the right size for a nine year old.
Although our horses all have sad stories to tell, they get happy endings. We hope each will find a forever home, but if they don’t, they stay in our wonderful valley until the time comes to cross the Rainbow Bridge.
One of the reasons the valley is so wonderful is its “pink moment.” I always thought it an urban legend--a glorious sunset in the east?-- until I saw it. It lands on you with a hush all its own.
- This is Bridge. Can you see the hills blushing in the background?
Here’s the geography behind the pink moment, which also plays a big part in Pick Me.
About twelve miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, the small, 10 mile-by-3-mile, east-west Ojai Valley is found between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, and bordered by the northern ridge of the TopaTopa Mountains, elevation 6,000 feet. Sulfur Mountain at 3,000 feet is the southern barrier.
- Here's my grandson admiring the moment with Cheyenne, foreground, and Jasper. See Bridge way in the background to the left?
The mountains and valley are thickly forested with oak trees, and commercial avocado and citrus groves. Our rescue is a ten-acre former orange grove donated to us. We have 15 horses.
So...while sunset usually turns the western sky rosy and spectacular, this area is one of the few in the world where the sunset comes from the east.
- Bridge and Jasper. Four years ago, Jasper's pregnant mom was rescued from a slaughter lot in Nevada. Both ave happily adopted...he by our ranch manager's family.
The TopaTopas, like a mirror, reflect the sun from the west and the mountains seem to blush. The sunlight diffuses across the mountains in gorgeous shades of pink for a few breathless minutes.
The “pink moment” doesn’t happen with every sunset, but I’ve been lucky this winter to be feeding the horses at just the right time.
Thankfully, my nine year old grandson/helper got to see it, too.
And of course heroine Kelsey and hero Landry experience it. Over a glass of blush wine.
- Cheyenne, foreground, with D'Artagnan in the back.
Two weeks ago, after the “sunset in the east” faded”, the clouds over the ocean a dozen miles to the west did their dance.
A breathtaking two-for-one.
How about you? Have you ever experienced a sunset that you wanted to hold forever?
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Here's the blurb for Pick Me. Watch for it January 27!
Volunteering at a horse rescue has helped heal schoolteacher Kelsey Hunter after her celebrity ex's betrayal. Life in the rural California community suits her better than the bling of Hollywood. When she seeks help for a classroom project, she's thrown into the sphere of a down-to-earth organic farmer and horseman who could really steal her heart...
However....Landry Mills is really the successful mega-spokesmodel for a famed Westernwear line, He’s returned to his hometown to regroup and reconsider signing the next contract. Meeting Kelsey explodes feelings in him he wants to make real. But finding out a fancy director's son recently crushed her spirit has him take things slow. What will Kelsey do when she finds out he's a celebrity in his own right? He might not be able to bear it
