Thankful For Grand Daughters

 Ruth came on the walk today, she is feeling better and stronger. We talked a bit about our coming up trip to Gulf Shores. Ruth, Fedi and I are leaving Monday November 4th for this quick trip.  Right after the walk I went in to do a little sweeping at the barn. Those Asian lady bugs seem to find their way into the tiniest crack. I swept up a lot in the gym and about 20 in the living area before breakfast.  After breakfast Mark helped move a bale in for Valiant. After that I went back to finish sweeping the game room and making sure the barn was ready for guests.  The morning was cool but the sun warmed everything up nicely in the afternoon. Thalia was taken to the round pen for some round pen reasoning. She did SO well today. I led her with the golf cart and she walked quietly beside. I didn't take any pictures but took two videos. 

Below is the second video.

She was left in the round pen and Valerie was led to the outdoor arena so I could get some new pictures of her for the website.

She really is a lovely but huge 2 year old. Lily, her dam is a solid 17 hands as is her sister Rosalie. I expect Valerie to easily make that height.

Phil dropped the girls off at 4:30 pm and spent a few minutes working on the computer. It is out of commission for a bit but I have every confidence it will be up and running soon. I tried to download a video editing program on this laptop but Windows 7 does not support any that I could find. The girls went right to work mixing up the ingredients for 2 pumpkin pies. All 3 helped and once the pies were in the oven baking went up to the apartment to help Mark on his project. They are tying the rebar in place in the picture below. He was glad for their help.

While they were working the 2 fillies were fascinated and stayed watching them until we left.

The girls came with me to the barn to help roll the bounce house up as there are no little children with the group staying tonight. When the pies were of the oven cooling we left for the Bartonville Diner. All 3 of the girls wanted the chicken and dumpling soup tonight so that was what was ordered.

We didn't want to eat a huge meal as we knew there was pumpkin pie waiting for our dessert. The diner was very busy tonight. There was a birthday party at one of the tables. The waitress stood on a chair to get a picture of the party group.

We had to wait a while for the check but we were well satisfied by the time we left. The pies were cool enough to slice and the texture was perfect. Before we poured the pumpkin filling into the pie crusts each girl took a turn learning how to flute the edges. Below is the finished project.

I think they did fantastic for their first try. The pie tasted as good or better than it looked.

We were just finishing up when Dan sent a text but my phone had died at the diner. He was able to send a message through messenger that a man in Hanna City lost electricity and was on oxygen and needed at least a 50 foot cord with a multi outlet end. Mark had one cord with that but it wasn't long enough but thankfully had another very long extension cord that could be attached. Braelyn, Taegan and Kensley went with me to the house that needed the electrical cords. I thought they may be needed to hook things up but we were met at the door by a man that said he could do the rest. Dan will come tomorrow to do a permanent fix. I dropped the girls off on the way back.

Mark drove the truck to Bloomington to rent the cement mixer this afternoon. He plans on pouring cement tomorrow Lord willing and the creek don't rise. We are thankful for grand daughters today! They really are grand.

Dan shared kind of a funny but sad story this evening with our family's group chat. A man ended up in Susan's mom's lake in Goodfield. Abram heard it happening on the police scanner. It was on the news tonight and if you want to see the clip CLICK HERE. If you just want to read about it:  - A man has been arrested after allegedly fleeing from police and stealing multiple vehicles in his getaway.

Peoria County Sheriff Chris Watkins said the man, later identified by the Woodford County Sheriff as Elijah I. Sack, 20, from West Demoins, Iowa, is being held by the Woodford County Sheriff’s Office on their local charges and will face charges in Peoria and Fulton counties as well.His preliminary charges in Peoria County are motor vehicle theft, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, aggravated fleeing and eluding and numerous traffic charges. Woodford County Sheriff Matt Smith said he is being held in the county on preliminary charges of obstructing a police officer, aggravated fleeing and eluding, possession of a stolen vehicle and trespass to property. Around 7:40 a.m., Peoria County deputies were notified of a stolen vehicle being pursued into the county by Fulton County deputies and Farmington police officers. Watkins also said that information was relayed that the suspect in the stolen vehicle also allegedly stole a vehicle in Iowa on Thursday.Peoria County deputies began searching for the vehicle being pursued and found it abandoned in the 2800 block of North Taylor Road just east of Hanna City.Watkins said it was learned that the suspect also had just allegedly stolen a vehicle from this location. Peoria deputies found the suspect which led to the suspect fleeing again.The suspect fled into Woodford County. Smith said they were notified by Peoria that the vehicle was a black Volkswagon Jetta that was allegedly stolen by knifepoint. The suspect jumped out and fled on foot on County Road 200 North just outside of Goodfield. Goodfield Police later found the vehicle abandoned. Illinois State Police responded to track the suspect via K-9. Woodford County deployed a drone. Watkins said the suspect fled from Peoria detectives a short time later before jumping into a lake and remaining in the water for around 20 minutes.Smith said a small boat was deployed and a negotiator was on scene and was able to negotiate with the suspect before being talked out of the water and taken into custody. Watkins said the suspect remained uncooperative and refused to talk to investigators or identify himself. Smith said the man is described as a Hispanic man, 17-25 years of age with a thin build. Abram told Dan there were over 25 police and police dogs swarming at the lake. The officers took one of their boats out to try to talk the man out of the water. I can't imagine how cold he would have been by the time they finally got him out.