Francesca Filanc

Tag: Horses

  • The White Picket Fence

    The White Picket Fence

    A couple of weeks ago I was in Northern California visiting my daughter Erica and her children. While Erica was busy working I took her girls for a walk in the double stroller.

    The temperature of the air was in the mid to high 80s. I rushed from shady side to alternating shady side of the street in this delightful sleepy town of mainly cottages. As I walked at quite a rapid clip to transport my, by now, sleeping grandchildren to the next shady spot, I came upon a white picket fence edging the garden and property of a home.

    white fence

    A huge smile swept across my face. I stood there in the shade for some minutes transported to another time and place. Who does not love the sight of a white picket fence? I venture that it conjures up all kinds of wonderful feelings and emotions for many people.

    It is about as American as Corn on the Cob, Watermelon, Apple Pie and Fourth of July! One can see an American Flag blowing in the wind in ones imagination if there is not one there already! Ice Tea and Ice Cold Lemonade come to mind too …or maybe even a Mint Julep!

    white horse picket fence

    As I stood there in the shade, a warm glow swept over my body and into my soul! I smiled broadly and thought of fields in upstate New York, Virginia, or Mississippi with horses frolicking gaily through extremely green pastures! White Picket Fences in friends’ gardens lined with Zinnias, housing Marigolds and Delicious Edibles, or White Picket Fences with aromatic Sweetpeas and Roses inside.

    I thought of my cousin Fran and her husband Dr. Ron’s Gentleman Farm home in upstate Connecticut, a White Colonial house, two story with a huge children’s bedroom that had paned windows where my sister and I got to sleep. I pretended that it was our real room and house. I was in the moment and never wanted to leave! I also pretended that I was all grown up and that it was my home. Looking out the windows I could see fields lined with white picket fences.

    I was pulled back to reality as a bicyclist passed by. Saying goodbye to my delicious musings and memories I continued on the walk with two darling, peacefully sleeping granddaughters.

    Happy White Picket Fence Musings!

     

    Bye for Now!

     

    Francesca

    Mystical
    Mystical https://francescafilanc.com/gallery/#lightbox/60/
  • SUMMER DAYS – OPENING DAY AT THE RACES

    SUMMER DAYS – OPENING DAY AT THE RACES

    Beauty

     Good morning my little Gigi!

     My father would exclaim as he burst into my bedroom kissing me and then opening the blinds.

     Hurry out of bed and we can go down to see the horses.

     As I raised my sleepy head and yawned I quickly made my bed and pulled on my bathing suit not wanting to be left behind! This was a very special time with my father that I cherished.

    We jumped in the car and traveled the mile down to the beach.

    Riding on the Beach in Del Mar

    During the racing season in Del Mar, California which Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Jimmy Durante were all instrumental in starting in the 1930’s. The horses would be ridden in the early mornings from the race track to the ocean. The trainers and grooms, men and women both, would walk them into the ocean because the salt water was good for their joints. Some riding bareback would take them swimming through the waves. The riders also galloped the horses up and down the beach. What a sight to behold!

    Daddy followed closely as I would scurry out of the car and down onto the beach. The delicious smell of salt air mixed with seaweed, horses and horse manure is one that I will remember the rest of my days. Exhilaration and anticipation abound because if I dilly-dallied or daddy did not wake me early enough on those Saturday and Sunday mornings the horses would be gone back to the track and I was sorely disappointed!

    Grabbing my hand we would walk down the beach. Then I would set myself free of his hand and run towards the horses, which seemed like an eternity away! Once we arrived huge smiles plastered on our faces we would watch these most elegant, stunning creatures as they were walked, run and cajoled into the waves for a swim! Many of the thoroughbreds had their legs wrapped with white tape. Some were hurt. Limping, the healing salt water must have felt so good to these athletic horses.

     What a shame this practice was outlawed on Del Mar Beach.

     Dog Beach is now where Horse Beach was up by the cliffs on the north end of town.

    When I was a girl, the horses were on the beach from about 6:30 -8:30 a.m. I was allowed to kiss and hug them. My father would lift me up to pat the necks of some. At the end of this magical period of time Daddy and I would say goodbye to the horses and watch as they left the beach walking under the 101 Bridge and back to the racetrack. It always felt a bit sad.

    Pushing me out of my dream world where I was riding the magnificent beasts I faintly heard my daddy’s cheery voice

     Ok my little Gigi, let’s go have a look and see who is on the beach today and have our swim!

     As we walked away from the horses, me feeling sad wanting to be bigger and having one or many of my very own, I hear my father’s voice,

    Look who’s here– Betty Grable and Benny Goodman.

     My father Lou, a showman himself, would walk right up to these people and say hi. On occasion there were some other exciting events to occur.

    One time my father walked up to a very pretty redhead on the beach.

     How do you do Lucy, this is my little girl Francie. She just loves watching you on TV!

    Well hello there!

    Lucy bent down to shake my hand with her brightly painted red fingernails that matched her vivid red hair.

    The Author Running into the Ocean

    Sweetheart this is Lucille Ball.

     Oh wow!

     I shouted,

    I watch you on TV every week!

    You just keep doing that baby!

     Lucy replied in her deep husky voice.

    The water felt so amazing as it hit my face. I dove under the waves and swam feeling so perfectly content, daydreaming of how it would feel to ride bareback into the ocean waves. Daddy laughed and I giggled as we played in the sea.

     Time to go sweetheart, breakfast will be waiting.

    A shower never felt better! I felt fresh and tingly all over and boy was I hungry! Mama would have a delicious breakfast waiting for us. We would eat in the top patio looking out at the sea where I had just been but half an hour before. Blueberry pancakes with hot crisp bacon and fresh squeezed orange juice never tasted so good!

     

    Bye for now,

    Good Luck at The Races!

    Francesca