I have found that the best way to counter the post-holiday/horseshow
blues is to start anticipating the next adventure. So instead of reflecting on what has been a
truly wonderful year full of blessings in every shape and size, let’s look
forward to the year to come.
The United Nations has deemed 2014 the “International Year
of Family Farming & Crystallography.”
It is exciting that the local producer may finally be getting some
credit for the tireless effort they put in every day of the year. Crystallography studies how things are put
together on a molecular level. It’s a
fascinating subject. If you think a
flying lead change is difficult, look around you. The world is far, far more complicated than
you would ever guess.
In the Sporting World, the Winter Olympics will be held in
Russia from February 7th to the 23rd. Rolex (the United States’ only 4 Star Event)
takes place April 23rd through the 27th in Kentucky and
the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will be held in Normandy, France, August
23rd to September 7th.
Technological advances are often mind boggling. In 2014, expect to see a cure for baldness,
breakthroughs in cancer treatment by either starving specific cancer cells or
targeting them directly, and electricity generation using heat and light,
possibly evening powering your phone without a charger. Scientists are trying to be more ecofriendly
and use nature to fight nature instead of introducing chemical pesticides. Saving the rainforest? They are working on that too. Now with an environmental friendly process
they can make fast growing softwood take on the properties so desired in
hardwood. Remember LaForge from Star
Trek? Allowing the blind to see using a
computer may just go from science-fiction to reality in 2014. Learn more here.
With all the events and advances, 2014 is sure to fly by,
but the year will be what you make of it.
At Fresh Perspective Farm, we’re still building fence (well, any day the
temperatures break the freezing mark).
There are so many projects to be undertaken. Last year we somehow managed to find a
healthy mix of progress and relaxation.
I hope we will find that balance again in the coming year. The horses are still snuggled warm in the
rugs, but dreams of the upcoming season are beginning to bud. May you and your fuzzy friends enjoy a little
down time as you look forward to the year to come.