I am coming out of my virtual shop to appear December 1 & 2. This event will be held at Pearl Street Brewery in La Crosse, WI, and will be open to the public on Friday, Dec 1, 7-10pm, and Saturday, Dec 2, 12-5pm. There will also be live music and food/beverages available for purchase. .  Vendors were selected on the quality of their work and the style the best fits the aesthetic of the event.  Diftless Makers Exchange FB-  https://www.facebook.com/driftlessmakerexchange/

Pearl Street Brewey Map       https://www.google.com/maps/place/Pearl+St+Brewery/@43.8343558,-91.2383373,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x87f954e8d55222cf:0xa15e0c5e5a0c22b4!8m2!3d43.834352!4d-91.236154

Hope to see you in person!

Therapeutic horseback riding is a unique combination of sport, recreation, and education. There are many benefits to therapeutic riding for individuals with physical, cognitive or psychological disabilities. Therapeutic riding focuses on forming a partnership with the horse. Students gain confidence by mastering riding skills. Sitting astride a horse increases balance and coordination, strengthens muscles, and brings about body awareness. 

The horse's three-dimensional swinging gait closely emulates that of the human gait and allows the brain and body to practice correct walking movement patterns. The rhythmic movement and the warmth generated from the horse's body soothes and relaxes tight or painful muscles, joints, and tendons while building strength and flexibility. 

Most importantly, therapeutic riding is FUN! Riders make new friends and social interactions are developed between the horse, instructors, volunteers, and other students. 

Riding Instructors need to have an understanding of a wide range of disabilities as well as horse and riding skills and safety for all involved.  They are very talented and skilled individuals!! And so my small contribution to this program helps the instructors.  Tool belts hold all the small items and notes to help  the lesson run smoothly.  Specially sewing games or aids were also made for the riding arena environment. And for the horse care people repairs to horse blankets and fly masks with IDs help their jobs go more smoothly!

 Go here for  more info on riding therapy in my area, Horse Sense for Special Riders  www.hssr.org/ .  PATH International is the parent organization of HSSR    www.pathintl.org/  

To mentor and support Veterans with behavioral health, substance use, physical and other challenges who are either involved in the criminal justice system or otherwise struggling with marriage, family, employment, housing and other issues. http://lavmp.org/

Why do I write about this valuable resource in our community?  My daughter-in-law, Catherine enlisted my help in the recognition of veterans in this valuable program 14 embroidered ribbons ago. She is a Marine veteran involved with the program. Each veteran's initials, rank and graduation date were embroidered on a colored ribbon representing their military branch.  These ribbons were to be presented in Veterans court upon graduation of the program.  Sadly a few were black recognizing a death.

What is special about the 14th ribbon? No I did not know the veteran. Rather it was more awareness of their struggles of rehabilitation through my own little mishap of a broken hand.   Not having the use of my left hand for 3 months showed me how I took my left hand/arm for granted. It was life changing and not to mention painful and then asking for help was not much easier.  It will take daily discipline to do the soaks, stretches and exercises to hopefully get full mobility of my hand and arm back in the next 1-2 years.  Confession time-  I was not always happy to drop my regular sewing jobs to set up 2 machines to make one ribbon here or there throughout the years.  Since my little accident,  making this ribbon was one of my first sewing projects on the road back to recovery.  Every ribbon after this one will be done joyfully, cause I can !  And to do it with gratitude for those who have a way longer road to recovery.  A big thank you to all service women and men everywhere. May they know when to ask for help, stay committed to doing the work of recovery and to live with gratitude for what is now.