Truthful Tuesday: The one about retail therapy

You all know when things get rough around here, I tend to seek out new boots for comfort. But sometimes, I seek out other things too. After I lost Jampy so suddenly last year I focused my energy on picking out a belt and some bracelets made from his tail hair. I didn't plan on losing another horse so soon, so I went ahead and got whatever I liked.

Belt from Pony Locks

same belt, different angle

bracelets from Horse Hair Creations, Pony Locks, and the Sugar Lady

Same bracelets, different angle

So when I then lost Rio also suddenly, later in the year, I wasn't really sure what to do with his tail right away. I knew I wanted bracelets and a belt again, but the problem was, he and Jampy had the same color tail. I didn't want identical items, as I wouldn't be able to remember who was who. So I diverted my grief into designing similar yet different pieces.
These arrived first from Horse Hair Creations:

I decided it was okay for the green bracelet to be the same since it has a nameplate, so that will be on its way soon. Along with that I'm getting a thin wrap bracelet in black leather with a small round braid to match my new watch.
But the belt was the most tricky. Pony Locks has a few different but very similar designs. I asked if I could get one done in green leather, but she wasn't able. So I went on Etsy and talked to my leather working friend at The Sugar Lady, and we came up with something really fun. Based on a belt she made once before, we did some tweaking, added a nameplate and green leather, and we have a design we think will be really pretty.

Top is what she has made before, bottom two are options for mine. We're going to go with the top green one I think. Also the green will be a deep forest/hunter color, not this bright.

All of this was a great divergence to actually, you know, dealing with my feelings. And they're wonderful ways to remember my boys and carry them with me.
Plus these that you all did for me:

I wear them everyday. It's possible I've turned the corner into full on crazy horse lady. It's cool though, I've come to terms with that.
But I still had one more thing I needed to figure out. And that was what to do with the beautiful wooden urns that hold my boys' ashes. Currently, they are still sitting on the bench in my barn. But that's really not the ideal spot. I finally decided to have a shelf made for them above the bench, and for the wall between that shelf and the bench I had some art created. These beauties will hang there holding the boys' leather show halters:

They were done by Alpha Mare, and you should definitely check her out. Her work is incredible. I can't wait for these to arrive and get them on the wall. I hope it doesn't come across as shrine like... I'm not THAT crazy... Or am I?

Anyway, today's confession is that I spent a LOT of money memorializing these two guys. And I think it was worth every penny.