The handsome Friesians and Fell pony here at my Bedford, New York farm are all ready for winter.
My horses spend most of their time outside in their paddocks - running, rolling, and grazing. Now that colder weather has arrived here in the Northeast, it’s important that they all have well-fitted turnout blankets to keep them warm and dry. My stable manager, Helen Peparo, and I use the Rhino® Hexstop Plus Turnout Rugs from Horseware Ireland, a company based in Dundalk that focuses on making breathable equine covers that don’t leak, rip, or slip. I've been using products from Horseware Ireland for years and am so please with how they fit and protect the horses from the cold.
These turnout blankets are very lightweight and are easy to fold and keep in front of each horse’s stall.
Before the cold weather sets in and while temperatures remain above 35 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the horses are fine without any blankets or rugs. What they enjoy most is being outdoors where they are free to exercise and graze.
Once overnight temperatures dip into the low 30s, I prefer to dress all the Friesians and my Fell pony in appropriate and warm turnout rugs. These Rhino® Hexstop Plus with Vari-Layer Turnout rugs are cut from the strongest and most durable turnout material on the market – ballistic nylon. And, they come in this nice gray color. Here’s Helen putting one of the rugs on Bond.
These rugs come in a variety of sizes and each of the horses in my stable is measured for precise fitting.
The Rhino® Hexstop Plus Turnout with Vari-Layer technology is also completely waterproof and very breathable and has an anti-static and anti-bacterial lining.
In the rear, the rug has a strap that, along with properly positioned darts, allow for a secure fit without the use of leg straps.
And these rugs come with wide back tail flaps for more protection.
Helen secures the rug underneath, where there are three cross surcingles. These adjustable straps keep the cover in place.
Here are all three straps secured, giving the horse ample underside coverage with a full range of motion.
The extra strong stitching all around the blanket gives it a nice finished look.
These blankets are outfitted with good leg room for smooth, easy walking. Here’s Bond showing off his new turnout rug.
In the front, every rug comes with nickel-plated bolt snap hooks – all the closures are durable and easy to use. The sure-fit neck design V-front closure gives the horse freedom of movement, especially when lowering its head to graze.
The blanket includes reflective strips in the front and back, so they’re easy to see in their paddocks during night checks.
And, these rugs come with an optional, easy-to-remove hood for neck coverage.
The velcro closures are extremely strong and keep the hood in place.
Helen tries it on for size. Rinze, the patriach of my stable, doesn’t seem to mind at all.
These rugs are so easy to drape over the horse and secure. It takes less than 15-minutes to get the equines ready to go out into their paddock.
The hood attaches from the front and the sides to prevent any slipping.
On this day, the horses didn’t need hoods. Although it is quite rainy, the blankets keep them all very dry and warm.
And here's a brief video showing how comfortable the horses are with their rugs - they can run and play in them without any restrictions.
It's that time of year again when one's calendar is filled with holiday parties. If you're hosting a gathering, be sure to check out my collections for great decorating ideas.
This year, I am excited to share lots of holiday decorations at Amazon, Target, Macy's, Wayfair, Sam's Club, and of course our own Martha.com. I offer trees, garlands, ornaments, wreaths, and a lot of holiday themed candles, serving pieces, festive plates, tablecloths, and napkins. I also have cheerful and fun bedding for all your out-of-town guests. There's still time to get lots of products for your home this holiday season.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
Earlier this week, I shared images of my Champagne Collection on Martha.com. This collection has several coordinating pieces that look wonderful in any home – a champagne wreath, garland, ornaments and this shimmering tree.
For something more traditional, my Martha Stewart Globe Pre-Lit Artificial Christmas Tree with energy efficient globe lights and memory wire branches is so life-like. It can be put up in minutes. It’s available from my collection on Amazon.
My Jeweled Snowflake Ornaments from Martha.com glisten so beautifully on the tree. These come in sets of six in both silver and gold and are bedazzled with bead and rhinestone details, so every angle is shimmering and reflective.
If you like pops of red color on your holiday tree, get my Martha Stewart Holiday Pointy Ball Ornament Set available at Target. These ornaments are made of glass and include loop strings for easy hanging.
And don’t forget the topper. This is my Jeweled Snowflake Tree Topper in silver. It also comes in gold. Measuring approximately 12-inches by 17-inches, the glamorous glisten of the jewels can be seen and admired on many sizes of trees, or part of a tabletop arrangement.
Everyone loves holiday lights. This is my Martha Stewart LED Beaded Swag Garland Silver Light Strand from Amazon. This string of lights has a timer and measures 36-inches long. It also includes six clear energy efficient LED lights that provide a bright and ambient glow.
But if you’re looking for classic, here’s my Faux Pine Cone & Ornament 13-inch Wreath. Glittering ornaments and frosted pine cones are paired to create a highly textural wreath with festive charm inside and out.
At Wayfair, find my Plaid Square Throw Pillow. Designed and crafted in 100-percent cotton, this reindeer pillow with print and embroidered details will delight all who visit.
My Flameless Candles have become so popular – I love them too. Here are my Flameless Tree Candles in green with white finishes. These candles also come in white with gold finishes. Both styles are available on Martha.com.
And here are my candles used as a centerpiece. The plastic flames flicker and shine with a realistic warmth and brightness, and is easily operated with a remote, also included. Also on the table is my Hillington 12-Piece Dinnerware Set. It is comprised of four 10.8-inch dinner plates, four 9-inch dessert plates, and four 6.5-inch cereal bowls, each made from fine ceramic with a high-gloss finish. For flatware, check out my Brescia Set. Everything is on Martha.com.
My Holiday Collection at Macy’s always includes lots of decorative pieces in fun colors and styles. Choose from dinnerware, serving accessories, and table linens in red and green and gold-tone accents.
Also exclusively at Macy’s, my Dear Santa Holiday Kitchen Essentials. These fun and functional serving dishes can hold various treats or be given as gifts.
It’s all in the details. At Martha.com, I offer everything you need for your holiday table including these Candy Cane Place Cards. They come in sets of 12 and each one measures 4.4-inches by 9.8-inches.
And here is my Martha Stewart LED 30-inch Shooting Star available at Martha.com. I love these shooting stars and hang one on every building at my farm during the holidays. This one is on the side of my Carriage House and can be seen from across the pastures. It looks wonderful inside or out. One can never have too many decorations – please take a look at all my holiday collections this weekend – there’s something for everyone.
During the busy holiday season it's nice to know one can depend on Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon to provide delicious, nutritious, and time-saving meal-kits.
Here at my Bedford, New York farm, we test many of the recipes we offer in our delivery meal-kit service to ensure we're sharing the best ones with all of you. Last week, my housekeeper Elvira Rojas prepared another great dish - Creamy Swedish Meatballs with Egg Noodles & Cranberry Relish. It was a perfect lunch, and just as promised, all the ingredients were delivered fresh and pre-portioned, ready to cook. Plus, like all our meals, it was done in 40-minutes or less. Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon features so many inspiring recipes and cooking ideas, and you can customize the menu and choose the recipes that best fit your tastes. Please go to the website for more information on how you can subscribe today! It also makes a wonderful gift for those busy loved ones on your list!
Enjoy these photos.
Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon delivers everything fresh, pre-portioned, and well-labeled. The first thing we do is take out all the ingredients, place them on the counter where everything is easy to see, and check what we have and what we may need. This recipe also calls for salt, pepper, sugar, all-purpose flour, olive oil, two eggs, and butter.
Each box contains a large recipe card that shows a photo of the finished dish on one side…
… And each of the six main steps on the other, with more photos to help show each stage of the process. What’s also great – these recipe cards can be collected and saved for future use.
To start, Elvira halves and finely chops a half-cup onion, which is provided in the meal-kit.
In a medium bowl, she then combines the pre-portioned and packaged cranberries with 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of sugar, 2/3 cup water, and a pinch each of salt and pepper.
In another bowl, Elvira whisks together the broth concentrate, mascarpone, water, and flour.
Next, over medium-high heat Elvira cooks half the chopped onions with oil in a skillet. It takes just a couple of minutes to cook them until softened.
She adds the cranberry mixture and cooks until the mixture is thick and jammy. She also mashes the cranberries with a fork.
While the cranberries simmer for about five to seven minutes, Elvira combines the panko, remaining onions, and two large eggs in a bowl with salt and pepper.
She adds the beef to the bowl and gently kneads the ingredients to combine and then forms about 16 meatballs.
She places the meatballs into the skillet and cooks over medium-high heat.
Elvira turns each one once or twice until browned, but not cooked through. This takes about six to eight minutes.
She removes the skillet from the heat, spoons out any fat, and then returns the skillet to the stove and pours the mascarpone mixture over the meatballs and brings it all to a simmer.
Meanwhile, Elvira roughly chops up the dill – also included in the kit.
Here are the meatballs simmering nicely in the skillet. Elvira bastes them with a spoon until the saice is reduced and the meatballs are cooked through.
The noodles are cooked in boiling water until tender.
Next, Elvira adds the peas and cooks them with the noodles.
Then both the noodles and the peas are well drained.
She returns the noodles and peas to the pot and cooks them with 1/4-cup butter and 1/2 of the chopped dill for about five minutes.
Finally, the noodles are spooned into a plate and then topped with four meatballs.
The meatballs are garnished with a sprinkling of the remaining dill and served with some pf the cranberry relish. So easy to make and looks exactly like the photo. It was delicious and just the right amount – each serving is enough to fill the hungriest of eaters. Please go to the web site to learn how you can order your Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon meal-kits. They really make deciding what’s for lunch or dinner so easy!
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