Steep Rock | Ann Leary, author of The Good House

Let Me Plan Your Weekend

July 7, 2010 by Ann Leary 57 Comments

Looking for something nice to do this upcoming steamy Saturday? Well, if you live in or near Litchfield County, CT, I have a lovely plan for you.

First, arrive in Washington Depot at around noon and enjoy a tasty lunch at either The Pantry or Marty’s. Then, at 2:00, make your way over to the Hickory Stick Bookshop, where my friend Wendy Burden will be signing copies of her book Dead End Gene Pool until 3:00. I’l be there with her! It’s air-conditioned and, in my humble opinion, the nicest independent book store in New England.

Filed Under: Literary stuff, Steep Rock Diaries, Stuff I Did Tagged With: books, country life, Steep Rock, writing

Horse Heaven

May 1, 2010 by Ann Leary 46 Comments

Mark must review anything that is blogged about him (in his contract)

Last month I moved Mark, my boyfriend horse from our property to the farm of my friend Jenny. I moved him there because our driveway has been almost completely washed away this winter and until it’s fixed, it’s hard getting the horse trailer in and out. So I thought I’d move Mark to Jen’s so that I can ride every day. Jen’s beautiful farm abuts the Hidden Valley section of Steep Rock Land Preserve and there are miles and miles of well-maintained trails all around. Jen is a veterinarian and she takes in horses who are recovering from surgery and need to have special care during their recovery time. She also takes in regular boarders like me and Mark.

Filed Under: Dogs, Cats, Horses, Steep Rock Diaries, Stuff I Did Tagged With: horses, Steep Rock

Town and Country

October 21, 2009 by Ann Leary 75 Comments

toc_cvr-reg A few weeks ago, I received a call from my book publicist. He told me that he had just given my agent’s phone number to somebody at Town and Country magazine. Town and Country had an idea for me, he said. He actually used the word “collaboration.” It was something they wanted me to write. They would be in touch by the end of the day

Filed Under: Dogs, Cats, Horses, Literary stuff, Shameless Self-Promotion, Steep Rock Diaries, Stuff I Did Tagged With: country life, New York City, shame, spooky, Steep Rock, writing

Horses, Dogs, More Horses

September 19, 2009 by admin 24 Comments

Somebody needs a little horsey Prozac:
He was just sad to be left behind today. Have I mentioned that I’m rather fond of this horse?
Well, I was up with the dawn to feed the horses and then I met up with the Little Britches gang at the Washington Horse Show. The Washington Horse show is an annual horse show to benefit Steep Rock Land Preserve and there is a category for handicapped riders. I assisted three young riders who all won ribbons (deservedly so, they all did an outstanding job). Then, when the Little Britches riders went home, it was still early so I drove home, watched Denis and his friends play street hockey for a nanosecond, then loaded up Snoopy, picked up Jen and a new horse she’s trying out and headed BACK to Steep Rock, just to see how the new horse would do with the show crowd and the trails and the river and everything. New horse (yet unnamed – have at it, blog readers) did wonderfully.
He’s a Paint Horse, which is a type of horse that usually has large white splotches on a darker colored coat. Sometimes it’s the opposite – dark splotches on a white coat. This horse has a white splotch that looks like the continent of Africa on his rump. I wish I took a photo of that. I thought Africa might be a good name, but Jenny already has a mare called India.

Filed Under: Dogs, Cats, Horses, Husband, Just Nothing (really, nothing), Steep Rock Diaries, Stuff I Did, Very Important Stuff Tagged With: country life, friends, horses, Steep Rock

Torch Song Tragedy

September 5, 2009 by admin 15 Comments

I’m very unhappy with my camera situation. Don’t ever take out a warranty on anything but a car, that’s my advice to you. I took out a dumb warranty on this camera at Best Buy and it was supposed to cover anything that you could do to the camera. You could run the camera over with the car and they would fix it or replace it, said they. “I’ll take it!” said I, and handed over a giant wad of cash.

Filed Under: Dogs, Cats, Horses, Steep Rock Diaries, Stuff I Did Tagged With: horses, shame, Steep Rock

The River Hag

June 2, 2009 by admin 45 Comments

Yesterday I went to Steep Rock twice. In the morning, I took Mark. It was sunny and so chilly that I had to wear gloves. Perfect riding weather. We came across my friend Helen and her son Rowan on the trail.

Helen competes in triathlons, and her son is obviously a swift little fellow. Mark is still on the tubby side and we were left in their dust. My friend Leah started jogging past and we kept pace with her for awhile because Leah and I needed to chat. Eventually, I said goodbye to her and I steered Mark over to the old railroad bed that runs along the road.

Filed Under: Dogs, Cats, Horses, Hags, Bats, etc, Steep Rock Diaries Tagged With: horses, spooky, Steep Rock

Happy Memorial Day

May 25, 2009 by admin 17 Comments

Today was a gorgeous Memorial Day here in Northwestern Connecticut. For some reason I thought rain was in the forecast, so I had planned to work on my book. Instead, it was warm, bright and sunny and just a perfect day to go to Steep Rock. I actually groomed Snoopy and was all set to load him onto the trailer, when Mark’s sad, disbelieving gaze over the gate nearly broke my heart. So I groomed him up and off we went. I had originally planned to bring Snoopy because he’s a big black horse. I knew there’d be a lot of people in Steep Rock and the big black horse is so much cooler looking than the short, chubby grey horse with the idiosyncratic gait (and the manure stains on his forehead). But, as usual, I was glad I brought Mark. He was glad, too – nearly dragged me onto the trailer.

Filed Under: Dogs, Cats, Horses, Husband, Just Nothing (really, nothing), Literary stuff, Steep Rock Diaries, Stuff I Did, Very Important Stuff Tagged With: country life, shame, Steep Rock

Guess What I Found?

April 24, 2009 by Ann Leary 27 Comments

Sarah was on the right track. The camera had fallen in between the seats of my car, not my truck. Found it today. Now will bombard you with photos.

His Excellence:

You can see what a shorty he is when Lulu is near:

We went to Steep Rock today. Look how pleased he is to be getting out. I just adore this horse – not sure if I’ve mentioned that before. Look at that eye.

Will blog later about the characters we met there. Now I’m getting ready to go to The Soloist. I think that’s the name. Robert Downey, Jr., Jamie Fox?

Filed Under: Dogs, Cats, Horses, Steep Rock Diaries Tagged With: friends, horses, Steep Rock

Well, Now I have a Diaper Rash

April 17, 2009 by Ann Leary 19 Comments

I couldn’t resist. I had to saddle up again today, and now I’m lying on my belly as I type this because a certain part of my body is covered with Balmex.

I took Mark to Steep Rock because I had such a beautiful ride there yesterday on Snoopy. Today, Mark and I went alone. Here he is all loaded up, ready to roll …right over Lulu, who had parked herself betwixt truck and trailer. I really almost didn’t see her there. Denis would have divorced me, had I run her over, there’s no doubt in my mind.

Filed Under: Dogs, Cats, Horses, Husband, Literary stuff, Steep Rock Diaries Tagged With: dogs, horses, shame, Steep Rock

So Much Fun It Hurts

April 17, 2009 by Ann Leary 12 Comments

Yesterday, I decided to hitch my trailer to the new truck and take Snoopy for a ride. It was the beauty of the day that inspired me.

I picked up my friend Jen Carolan and her Irish Sport Horse, Levi, and we all drove to Steep Rock.

The trails are beautiful at Steep Rock, and there is a river for the horses to splash in.

Now I can barely walk. I haven’t ridden since the fall. There is a large blister on my ass. But I’m thinking of loading up Mark and having another ride today, it was so much fun.

Filed Under: Dogs, Cats, Horses, Steep Rock Diaries Tagged With: horses, Steep Rock

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