Bluebonnet Equine Rescue Needs Help

I got this from Lin Sutherland of Onion Creek Ranch in Austin, TX.






Bluebonnet Needs Your Help

Posted by: "Jennifer Williams, Ph.D." jenn@bluebonnetequine.org equinebehaviorist

Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:58 am (PDT)



Howdy everyone,

I'm hoping you'll forward the below message to email lists, message boards,
Facebook, friends, family, etc. who might be able to help. This is the most
sincere, from the heart plea for help I could write. I'm scared for so
many horses out there across Texas and I worry about our ability to help
them.

****

I've been involved in rescue since 1998. I have faced many challenges:
halter breaking and taming wild horses, learning to run an organization,
overcoming a nearly crippling fear of public speaking to speak out about
rescue horses, testifying at seizure cases, etc. I have held horses' heads
in my lap and cried over them when it was time to let them go. I've cried
tears as some of my favorite horses have left for new homes, and I've smiled
and laughed and felt overwhelming joy when I hear wonderful success stories
about our horses and their adopters. I've met some wonderful people. I've
faced horrible burnout and overcome it to help more horses.

I am not alone in this - there are many people in BEHS who have walked
similar paths and help many horses. There are people across the country and
around the world helping horses. I'm so grateful so be part of that
brotherhood (sisterhood? Personhood?) of humans helping horses. And I want
to extend a huge, giant, ginormous thank you to the foster homes, adopters,
members and donors who make BEHS possible.

But 2011 is the most challenging year I've faced. The economy has affected
so many of our members - people have had to return their beloved horses,
they've had to stop fostering and some have been forced to let their
membership lapse. Donations are down, adoptions are down and we rarely have
anyone new sign up to foster. The drought has made grass non-existent and
hay is nearly impossible to find.

But the need for help continues to grow by leaps and bounds. We're
receiving more neglect reports than usual, we're turning away people who
want to donate horses they cannot afford to keep, and we're unable to help
starving, abused and abandoned horses when sheriff's departments call. We
won't agree to take in horses from cases when we don't have the homes or
funds to care for them. And this means we're turning many, many horses
away. More than I've ever had to turn away before.

This note or plea isn't intended to take away from the wonderful work that
so many of our members, adopters, foster homes and donors are doing. I am
truly thankful for each of them and know that BEHS wouldn't exist without
them. But I also know that we need more people to help us in this fight to
help horses.

I don't know what to do other than throw myself (and the horses) at your
mercy. So I am begging from help. If you are looking to add a horse to
your herd, please consider adoption. Our fees are very low (and July is
adopt one, get one free month). Many of our horses disprove the myth that
rescue horses can't be successful. If you have extra room and can foster,
please sign up (BEHS pays for pre-approved vet care, pre-approved
medications, $10 of each farrier visit and paste de-wormers. Other expenses
may be tax-deductible). Join the rescue - you don't have to volunteer, live
in Texas, or even be a horse person to join BEHS. Your membership says you
support BEHS and the horses in the rescue. Or make a donation to help care
for the horses in the rescue.

I have never been this worried about the future of the horses in Texas or so
scared about our ability to help them. Please help me and help Bluebonnet
Equine Humane Society continue to help needy horses.

Thank you for your time reading this,

Jennifer

How to Redecorate YourLiving Room in a Day with No Money

When we lived in Santa Fe, our house had a 27 inch door through which anything we took into the living room or kitchen had to pass. We really wanted a sofa but there was no way we could get the one we wanted through that door. Our solution was to buy a futon. That has worked out pretty well as we have used it for a guest bed several times. The cover I ordered for it was green. I mean really green. I had wanted a forest green but this one is bright Kelly green. That was OK in our tiny Santa Fe place but we didn't even want to try it in our current living room. For a while,we just left it off. The natural cotton didn't look that bad. However, a dog and a light colored couch is not a great combo and eventually, something had to be done.


A few years ago, I fell in love with a discontinued Ralph Lauren bedding fabric and found a canvas duvet cover on eBay. I never quite got use to using the duvet cover and finally just gave in and replaced it with a comforter so I had the duvet just hanging out on a closet shelf.

I decided that it would make a great cover for the futon.




It looks a little bit off the stripe in the photo but that has been corrected now that we have been sitting on it for a few weeks.


There was enough fabric left over (the duvet was queen size and the futon in full size) to cover the rocking chair.





I also made pillows for the ends of the futon and a small on to go on the cedar chest where I also put a small rug that I had been using on the table next to the futon.




I took a runner out of the closet and put it on the table along with some cut flowers.



I had chosen the fabric pattern in the first place because I thought it looked great with this poster by one of my favorite artists, Donna Howell-Sickles. I bought it in Telluride in the early '90s. Of course, I moved it from the bedroom and put it over the living room mantle.




The whole project took 7-8 hours. I did it in 2 afternoons but could have done it in a day if I had started early enough. Since I already had all of the materials, this project cost nothing.