A legendary horseman speaks about the five most important things a horse must have to make the cut in the Californio culture.

Part of the appeal of collecting valentines is to display them. Longtime Valentine collector and author Katherine Kreider offers the following display ideas:

• Place the Valentine on a pretty piece of fabric or lace and frame it. If it’s a valuable Valentine, be sure to have it framed using archival, acid-free materials and protective UV glass.

• Transfer images onto paper to make cards and stationary, or fabric to make purses, clothing and home accessories.

• Decoupage cards onto wood, dishes, tin containers, lampshades, photo frames, etc.

I’ve all but given up sending Christmas cards. I order them, and even go as far as hand-addressing each envelope. My major hold up is filling out the inside. As a writer, I obsess on coming up with a personalized sentiment to include in each card. I should just sign the cards and complete the task, but I can’t help but feel as though that cheats my friends and family out of what they really want when they open the envelope. I could create a form letter, but who wants to receive another impersonal, sappy stream of self-absorbed drivel? Furthermore, I just don’t have that much to write!

Chris Littlefield’s ranching background taught him the value of training an all-around athlete. He says exposing young horses to a variety of environments and giving them different jobs is the best way to prepare them for the show ring, whether they’re aimed for roping, cutting or reined cow horse competition.

Since 1941, the Burk family has been moving cattle from their ranch in Squaw Valley, California, to their summer range in the Sequoia National Forest, an area that includes some of America’s oldest and largest trees. Last spring, I got to go along for the ride.