Sampler

 Each night gets better, less violent coughing makes for a better night's sleep, this time only waking about 5 times during the night. Yesterday was such a nice warm day it was a little disappointing to have temperatures of below freezing this morning. Mark didn't want to start a fire as he said it was supposed to warm up into the 40s so once he went out I brought wood in and started the wood burner. The house was chilled. He spent the morning working on his new car. He bought window shades and covered all of the windows today, brought over a mattress that fit in the back, asked for a sheet and by the time he finished he explained he was going to sleep in the car tonight. It is currently 32 degrees out. He says the car will keep him comfortable. We shall see. I left at 1:40 pm to pick up Braelyn for her volleyball games at Louisville Slugger.  Below is just a sampler of one of her games. I watched her play 4 games.

She played the entire game each time, I think she was the only setter today.  Diane was here when I got home. She was taking with Mark about Quicken. She will be going back to Gulf Shores next week. Joan is on her way home from Florida where she went as soon as she flew home from Gulf Shores last night. Berlica needed a ride home and Mark was willing to go pick her up. Marvin and Gale brought all of Ruth and Fedi's luggage along with mom's supplies home from Gulf Shores. I'm still coughing so will watch church on-line tomorrow.

Coggins Tests

 Mark came up with me to pull Disco and Dreamer out of the weanling paddock and help load them into the stock trailer at 7:00 am. The vet appointment to get their blood drawn wasn't until 8:15 am but I wasn't sure how long it would take to load them. Below Mark is leading them to the trailer. 

Disco is in the lead. He has an amazing tail and is going to be really beautiful. 

Mark held the stock door open while I lead Disco in first. He only hesitated a little before jumping in after me. Dreamer decided the step up into the trailer was just too much. It looked like she was measuring it over and over and each time thinking there is no way I can climb up that high. It took a bit but I finally convinced her it wasn't that hard and up she went. They were both tied at the front for the trip to Morton. I arrived  there at 8:00 am, went in to fill out the paper work and pay the bill ($88.00) for 2 Coggins test then went out to wait. Dr. C followed me out and was ready first to take the pictures. Each foal has to have a head shot then a full body taken on each side. Dreamer was first. When Dr. C stepped into the trailer for the blood draw she asked if they were good with needles. She was told they have never been stuck with a needle but it won't be a problem. Both didn't even flinch or move a muscle while the blood was drawn. They were such good weanlings. I took the picture below before leaving for home.

We were back on the road heading for home at 8:15 am. When we got home instead of taking them out of the trailer I decided to feed them their grain IN the trailer and brought in a bucket for them to share.

Disco was sure happy about that. When they finished he took a while to unload. A couple times started to step down but just wasn't sure about it finally very carefully he stepped all the way down then out. He is such a thinker. Dreamer just jumped out not at all concerned coming out of the trailer. I'll needed to work with her on loading again tomorrow. The apartment booked so that was given a quick once over to make sure no ladybugs or stinkbugs found a way inside, the heat turned on and the lights turned out. The guests are coming to watch their daughter play in a college basketball game tomorrow. It was just beautiful outside today and both Mark and I spent time outside. He went around the drives with a rake and shovel moving any gravel off the sides and back onto the drives from plowing this winter.  I finally hauled a chair out onto the patio to just sit and enjoy the almost 70 degrees. We had salad for supper. I made a big tuna salad some of which was put on my plate, Mark decided to wait on the tuna salad until it cooled down in the fridge.

Above is Mark's plate and below is mine.

Dinner was good! Bradley Epworth church uses the barn on Friday nights for a couple hours. Sarah sent back the picture below: 

What a good group!

They usually leave by 8:30 pm and we have just now heard the cars leaving so the outdoor parking light will be turned back off. Hard to see the stars with that bright light on. 

Obnoxious Sounds

 It wasn't a very good night again, not because of aches and pains or even fever shivering but the coughing is still violent, loud and long. Once it starts I almost have to get up. I remember looking out the living room window around 2:00 am wondering, "why is the sky so light?" Later I realized it was snowing and we had at least an inch of snow on the ground when we got up. I went over to the barn with the exact nails needed, got the step threshold fixed then looked around for any ladybugs and found a few. The guests arrived and let me know quickly they really liked the place. They must have been looking out the South side upstairs bedroom window because they asked if they could walk down to the lake. I explained the lake is off limits. Laundry was started here at the house. Sarah brought Israel right after school today to work for grandpa. They organized the indoor arena, cleaned off one of my white tables Mark had borrowed a couple years ago to organize tools and Israel scrubbed that. They also got lots of other stuff done. Israel set Mark's new car up with internet and they spent some time learning all what this car can do. I was in the shower and had just soaped up my hair when Mark interrupted the shower and said Mike might need stitches. He had hit is head on the yanmar bucket and gouged a cut into his head. He had come walking over with blood pouring down his face. Diane was gone and he couldn't see how bad it was. After getting the soap out of my hair and finishing the shower some bandages, sterile water and some sterile sponges were found. Mike came back to the house where I cleaned it up then just put a bandage over it. It is a y shaped cut but not too deep and will heal. At 3:45 pm Mark, Israel and I left for Sarah and Nolan's house. When we arrived Nolan was hard at work building a play house for his girls under their steps.  The outside walls around the house are white board perfect for little girls that love to color on walls.

The little house was suprisingly roomy and even included a window.

They will have a lot of fun decorating it, putting in plush carpet, pillows shelves for books and lots of washable markers that can be stored inside so won't get lost. I'm amazed at Sarah and Nolan's imagination to come up with something so cute and yet very practical. The girls were upstairs playing with the puppies.

We couldn't stay as David was meeting us at the Mexican restaurant in Chillicothe for dinner tonight. One of the things Israel changed on the car was each time the blinker was turned on, instead of making a clicking noise the car would make of the sound of someone expelling gas very loudly making the most obnoxious sounds. We just had to laugh and laugh and laugh. They decided to play a trick on David and have him ride with Mark while I drove David's car home and had fun making this plan while we drove. They kept the secret of the sound all the way through supper. The food was delicious. For our group of 5 we just split 2 chicken fajita meals.

As I wasn't in the car I didn't see David's reaction but I bet he laughed. Hoerr vet clinic set up the appointment tomorrow morning early for Dreamer and Disco's coggins. The truck is already hooked up to the horse trailer and Mark is willing to help. We will go out around 7:00 am tomorrow to halter and load. My last load of laundry is almost ready to go into the washer. The dishwasher was filled with the dirty dishes and started and as soon as I get that last load going I'm going too. Straight to bed!

Almost Normal

 I awoke and knew the fever had broken and was able to drink my first GOOD cup of coffee in 6 days. This morning the car was taken up to feed the weanlings, the golf cart had a flat. From there I went straight to the barn. There are guests coming in from Summit Church at 9:00 am tomorrow and I had not cleaned the barn since before going to Gulf Shores. The welcome barn sign had been pulled off the wall by that Spartan solar guy that left without paying the bill. When I picked it up to hang it, dropped it and it broke in 6 pieces. I thought of repairing it but too many little broken pieces so just threw it away. The picture below only shows the 2 larger pieces, the wooden frame part and the windmill attachments are not pictured.

That guy also left these drinks in the fridge.

Maybe he decided he shouldn't have to pay because of leaving all of those expensive drinks. Fedi was the only one in the family that would admit to drinking them and even then he said maybe 1 every few weeks. He came and got them tonight. I got the kitchen swept then went into the gym to search for ladybugs and organize the sports toys. Those really needed organizing.  

Sarah told me she needed to take her kids home early on Sunday but would come back to help clean up on Monday. I was pretty sure the adults sent the kids in to clean up their mess then didn't check their job. Maybe I need to post pictures on the wall how we like to keep things organized. Volley balls go in the blue carrier, the dodge balls go in the first rack. The bases and whiffle ball bats go between the volleyball and dodge balls with the whiffle balls on the first shelf (there is a rack the bats go in attached to the dodgeball rack. The footballs go on the 2nd shelf of the dodgeball rack. The second rack holds the basket balls and the roller blades. On the side of that rack are where the 8 pickleball paddles hang and the pickleballs.

I have one repair I'll need to make in the morning and that is take a hammer and a few nails and nail down the stair threshold. 

This afternoon Dreamer was de-wormed with a half of tube of Quest Plus. She was so good, she came right to the gate. I had asked Mike to put a halter on her earlier just in case she tries to back away as I'm still pretty weak. She was tied and didn't fight that or the de-wormer at all. When I drove back up to see about moving a bale in all of the weanlings were laying down except Dreamer.

Mark came up to help move the bale in. Mike came over to work with Roseberry. She was walking quietly  up and down our stairs.

It is good for the weanlings to learn how to navigate steps incase they ended up with an owner like me. When I was young and mom was gone we walked Blaze up our stairs and into the house at Pleasant Home. We thought it was cool to ride Blaze into kitchen hall door, going through the kitchen, going through the hallway, then the study, the living room, through the dining room and into the playroom and back to the kitchen. We could all take turns riding that loop. For some reason mom didn't really like us doing that. I'm still coughing and can't really talk so didn't go to church tonight. Gregg Rumbold had the message on Colossians 4 tonight to watch that click HERE. He told an unbelievable story of I think it was Heather's uncle that this happened to. They stopped at a fast food restaurant, ordered food and a hot cup of coffee. Bent his head to pray and was aware of someone watching him. He had the prayer and when he raised his head the man watching him pray immediately used his own cup of hot coffee and threw it into his face. Talk about being persecuted for your faith. What an awful thing to do to someone and what a terrible thing to happen to him.

I'm thankful to be feeling better but sure hope this cough leaves soon and it would be nice to be able to talk again. Sheesh I should be glad the fever's gone and I can walk without fainting. Will I ever stop complaining!

Alive

 Nights are hard, sleep is interrupted every few minutes by intense coughing, the chills from the fevers has me wrapping myself in the electric blanket on high until the coughing forces my body to sit up and then I move the the recliner and put the heating pad on high. Each morning I think today will be better. Yesterday I decided to get dressed for the first time since Thursday. That took so much effort that I had to sleep all morning. I'm struggling to sit at the computer desk and even right now while typing feel like I'd better lay down before I faint. I am alive just not living. Yesterday we had a family come out to see Madiera's filly. They would like to buy her but I need to get her over to Dr. Hoerr's for an Coggins test and can't imagine trying to drive. The website needs work but my brain isn't working well enough to make changes. For the first time since last Wednesday I was able to eat some solid food. Mark went to Kroger and brought home bananas and I was able to eat one. Later had a bowl of chicken soup . I was able to take the golf cart up to grain the weanlings but what an effort. Maybe tomorrow I'll be stronger

The Flu Strikes

 The pictures and video were all taken on Thursday. In the afternoon of that day I became sick with the flu. Thursday started with Mark helping me load Rosalie and Valerie for their vet appointment. Neither one looked pregnant and they were confirmed in foal last year. We arrived about 15 minutes early and waited inside. Dr. Hoerr had a new picture up of Psalm 23.

Mark was very helpful. He led Rosalie up to the clinic then I switched and took Rosalie and gave him Valerie while Rosalie was put in the stocks. Once she was in I had him stand next to Valerie while Dr. Hoerr did Rosalie's ultrasound.

Rosalie is in the blue halter while Valerie is in the purple halter. Rosalie was open, just like I thought. I wasn't sure how Valerie would go into the stocks but she followed me right in. She also is open. Disappointing but nothing to be done except bring them in for breeding in April or May.  I really was pleased with how well behaved both mares were.. Mark led Rosalie to the trailer while I took Valerie, they both just stepped into the trailer and once they were loaded I went back in to pay.  Now I will need to fix the website. Mark was dropped off at home then I went right to Middle Grove to drop off the mares. When I arrived I regretted taking Mark home first. The herd was napping at the gate. I wasn't sure if I would have enough time to open the gate and pull in before they all came running. The video below proves I got the job done.

Mike wanted Roseberry home to work with her so she was haltered and led into the trailer and tied. I should have brought Bulu's colt home, he came right up to me. He still needs to be registered, He has been at Middle Grove and I had forgotten to pull hair for the registry. Should have done that but was starting to feel chilled. 

About then I got a message that I should bring Dreamer home, Dreamer is Madiera's filly by Valiant born Sept 9th, 2025 and more than ready to be weaned. She came right up to me but didn't stand well for haltering so instead I just walked Madiera into the trailer and Dreamer followed. Madiera was then unloaded. The herd was still at the gate so instead of trying to get out I took the trailer to the far field then put the halter on Dreamer. After waiting about 20 minutes I drove back to the gate. The herd was about half way up the hill which gave me enough time to open the gate and drive out. Roseberry and Dreamer were put in the paddock with the other weanlings. Dreamer was tied as I wanted to make sure she remembered that. 

She will be looking for her mama but no calling yet. The others just settled down to graze.

I worked a little with Dreamer asking her to go forward a step at a time but soon thought I think I'm going to faint. I was glad the golf cart was up and took that back to the house then for the rest of Thursday and all of Friday could only sit moaning. I hadn't had anything to eat since Culvers on Wednesday night so thought I would try some oatmeal but I held the bowl, and just by smelling that started vomiting. After another miserable night this morning I'm starting to feel better and even drank a cup of coffee. 

Financial Trouble

 The guests coming to the barn this morning were arriving at 8:00 am so the heat was turned on last night, the lights were turned on this morning and I ran over at 7:00 to sweep up any ladybugs in the gym, empty all the garbage cans and make sure the place was perfect. We were ready to leave for Chicago around 8:00 am. The guests hadn't arrived yet and had told me they would bring cash to pay for it so I left them an envelope in the barn and asked them to put the cash in that envelope and put it in the drawer and I would pick it up as soon as I got home. We made it to the car dealership just after 11:00 am but it took a little while to get the paper work in order. Mark had already bought and paid for the car so it wasn't too long. It kind of shocked us how BLUE it is.

He took a few minutes to get familiar with it before heading home. He drove that car while I followed him home. As soon as we got home I drove over to the barn to find food left out, papers taped to walls, some crumbled up and left on tables and no cash. I sent the man that booked it a message telling him he could pay Joan using Venmo (that is how he paid the last time) but so far he hasn't paid. He had rented before so I thought I could trust him. He sure seemed like a nice guy when we met him so maybe he is in financial trouble. I took the golf cart up to the barn to find a big halter then the truck and trailer taken back to Middle Grove to pick up Valerie. The (big halter) wasn't big enough, so I looped the lead rope around it and led her to the trailer that way. I wasn't sure how she would load but she walked into the small side door and about that time the wind grabbed the big back door and blew it wide open, she promptly walked right out and took off at a run with the halter that was only part way on and the lead rope dragging. I found another halter in the car that was just slightly bigger, walked up to her and tried that on. That barely fit. She was loaded again through the small side door but this time I made sure the back big door was latched. Once in I tied her up left for home. I needed to stop for gas and when I did realized the lead rope she was tied to had come loose and she was standing at the back of the trailer looking out the back. I called her to the front and used the outside loop to tie her more to the front, filled the truck and made it home. Before unloading her went to the stall barn to find an extra large halter but hadn't even stepped into the barn when I heard water running where no water should be running. The automatic waterer that had been turned off for the winter had the valve break.

We lost quite a bit of water so I'm not sure when it broke. I didn't hear it before I left for Middle Grove and was only gone an hour and a half.

I took the golf cart to the house to turn the water off to the entire property until we could figure out which valve in the pit went to that paddock. Mark uncovered the pit had me turn the water back on and found the right one to shut off. This one also goes to the foaling apartment so that will not have water until Saturday when Mike gets home to replace the valve. The weanlings and Rosalie were very interested in what we were working on.

Valerie was also in that paddock but was checking it out well instead of watching us working. We finished about 5:30 pm giving us just enough time to shower and get ready for church. Craig Stickling had the message tonight about how we are all ministers and all needed. Click HERE to watch that. After church a fun group went out to Culvers.

I turned the phone on and saw the barn and the apartment rented for a 2 day family reunion. That makes up for losing the rent today. I guess we win some and lose some.

This car Mark bought has the option of self driving. We put our home address in and it did well taking us home until it was time to turn into our drive. That spooked both of us, Mark hit the brakes and grabbed the wheel and we made it home. This is going to be a real learning experience for both of us AND the car. 

Not Pregnant?

 Up at 5:00 am but still tired. Instead of going back to the pictures were downloaded from the phone onto the desktop then the blog posts from last week updated. I left for the Berean office just after 8:00 am and stopped at Hardees to pick up cinnamon and raison biscuits as a treat for the Berean volunteers. We were thrilled to have Vonnie back and she was VERY needed. Ray is back in the hospital so we were missing Shirley and Ray, Sharon went to the ER this morning. Bruce and Leila are still in Arizona, with Leila struggling with that hip that will not stay in place and Marvin and Gail in Gulf Shores. We just had Skip, Kathy, Shirley, Vonnie and me to get the work done today. We had a lot of mail. 

One envelope came decorated with fruit loops.

The letter inside was also highly decorated.

As we were short handed most of us needed to do 2 or 3 different jobs to get everything done. We finally sat down for our break around noon. Someone, and we think it must have been Lukie, left a big heart shaped box filled with chocolates. 

We shared that plus those cinnamon raison biscuits. Notice those 2 post boxes next to Kathy. Those were filled with Bibles and studies going out in today's mail. Both were filled to the brim.

They were dropped off at the Hanna City post office just before they closed at 12:30 pm. From there I went straight home to hook the truck up to the stock trailer for our trip to Middle Grove. We had problems with the adjustable hitch Mark bought last year. Over the winter it had rusted and we were not able to get the pin off to adjust it. We ended up taking it off the truck and using the old hitch. 

When we arrived at Middle Grove we drove to the far field and the horses heard the truck and trailer and came running. I should have had the video going, the came galloping down the hill surrounding the trailer but I only got the phone going as they got to us.

I just took one quick picture before looking for Rosalie.

I needed to bring Rosalie home as she is due the end of March but when I found her, it is pretty obvious to me and also to Mark that she is no longer pregnant. She was loaded anyway into the trailer as we have an ultrasound scheduled for her at 8:00 am on Thursday. I decided to bring Disco (Dancer's colt) home with us to get him ready to sell. He was haltered and led into the trailer then the halter taken off. Dahlia (Rosalie's 2025 filly)was the other weanling I wanted to bring home so the halter was put on her. I had Mark open the back door to the stock trailer to walk Dahlia in and Shadow jumped in first so we ended up bringing all 3 of them home. Rosalie was unloaded out the side door of the trailer. Shadow followed her. 

Disco and Dahlia weren't too sure about jumping out that door.

Dahlia got brave and came next.

Disco didn't want to be left alone in the trailer and hurled himself out.

I led Dahlia and the other two followed her right into the paddock and started chowing down on the hay.

I spent some time removing burrs from Rosalie's tail and forelock. The weanlings didn't seem to have any burrs. Rosalie has such a thick long tail.

Unfortunately she sure doesn't look pregnant but she sure is a magnificent looking mare.

I sent a text to the people wanting to buy her 2026 foal that she probably lost the pregnancy. So sad but it happens. They would like to try Valerie but she also didn't look pregnant. I'll need to bring her in next. Both Rosaleigh and Tessa are obviously pregnant as are some of the Thoroughbred mares. 

The barn rented for tomorrow morning so after removing burrs I drove the car over to work on the barn. It really looked clean and ready for company but the heat needed to be turned on tonight as the company is coming in around 8:00 am. 

Flying Home

 This is actually Monday's blog written this morning now that we are home. Mom and I were up early again. The sky was very black, no moon, no twinkling stars showing at all, just thick dark clouds. The wind had died down and the Gulf waters were much calmer with small waves instead of the ferocious beating waves from Sunday. Sunday the red flags were out, the waves were crashing and very loud. What a difference. Mom commented, "each day the Gulf is so different." It was also much cooler today with the wind coming from the North. Mom was the first to see a dolphin this morning. As we were getting ready to fly out this afternoon all the sheets and towels were washed as Fedi and Ruth were coming in to take our place. We used the last of the fried potatoes with our breakfast of eggs and toast. Amy and I both got texts that our plane would be delayed by 45 minutes. Around 11:00 am we got another text that the plane was delayed another 45 minutes and would now be taking off at 7:05 pm instead of 4:35 pm.  Late this afternoon the clouds broke up and the sun broke out lighting up one area with light. If you click on the picture you can see people talking and standing around in the light.

The pictures were taken around 4:30 pm

 Diane came to take us to the airport at 5:30 and Rachel arrived at the same time to stay with mom. We were delayed by my artificial hips going through security. They took me aside and gave me a very thorough patdown explaining it slowly what was going to happen before starting. The explanation was taking so long I interrupted and said, "it's ok, just get it done" but the tsa lady was new and told me she had to explain it first. She had me take off my shoes and examined them. Thankfully my socks had no holes in them and the shoes were clean. I traveled down with the step in shoes the kids gave me for Christmas one year that I never wear out in the paddocks.  She took so long at one point I had 2 of them working on me. Maybe because I was wearing a skirt that had lost the back button and was kept closed with 2 large safety pins.  When they were running their hands up my legs they stopped and asked if I wanted to go behind a curtain. Nope, just get on with the job, although I said it nicely and not at all impatiently. I could not possibly have looked like a bomber or at all threatening. I think they just wanted to have the newbie practice. We couldn't see the plane arrive but saw Ruth through the window as she arrived. Diane had to wait at the airport I think around 15 minutes. The plane was packed going home, in fact over booked as one lady told me her husband was supposed to fly back on this flight but there was no room. Both Amy and I had window seats just 2 rows apart.

Below is as the plane is getting ready to take-off.

The less than 2 hour flight flew by. Well it seemed to go quickly as I was finishing a book. The entire flight there was a baby crying. This flight had lots of children on it. As today was a holiday some families had flown down for a 5 day break. Once we landed we had to wait a bit as Amy and I were at the back of the plane. I asked the stewardess how many this plane held and she replied, "180" really surprising that a plane of this size could come and go from the small Gulf Shores airport. This plane was the ONLY plane at the airport.  

Once we were off the plane we needed to find Mark's car. Ruth had sent pictures and told us it was parked in section c near row 5 but that parking lot was packed. The 3 hour drive home seemed to go quickly. Nice to have Amy along, we were visiting so much that her exit came up quickly. She was home by 11:30 pm and I made it home by 12:02 am. The coffee was made before climbing into bed. Thankfully Mark had the bed warmed up and I was probably asleep within 2 minutes. Thankful to have a safe trip home!

 

A Good Day

 It was so sunny and warm this morning we stayed out on the balcony watching the big waves crashing into the shore until it was time to go inside for church.

Diane got Peoria up on the big screen TV in the living room. Mike Kaisner had the morning message. Diane brought over 2 kinds of soup grilled sandwiches and a fantastic baked dessert for our lunch

After lunch Mike and Diane left going out of town to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.  Spark arrived and watched the afternoon message with us. Caleb Plattner had that. We went right back out on the balcony to enjoy the sunshine and stayed out quite long this afternoon.  Later Amy started cooking.  She first made a big pan of goulash for our lunch tomorrow but made a big pan full so Ruth would have a meal ready when she and Fedi arrive tomorrow. Amy also cooked orange glazed carrots for our dinner tonight. Rachel grilled hamburgers, Rhonda made a salad, i fried up potatoes and we had a feast tonight here with ice-cream topped with hot fudge and hot caramel for our dessert. 

Rachel brought over her guitar and after supper we sang. The song below they call David's song. He heard this song at the hospital after 18 minutes of being dead then revived. 

 It was a good day!

Good by Aunt Jinnie

 Mom awoke at 2:00 am. When I explained that it wasn't yet time to get up I had to tell her rather loudly as she didn't have her hearing aids in. That woke up Amy and she came out ready to party. Well really just to see if she was needed. We soon were all back in bed and sleeping.  At 5:00 am the coffee was started. Mom and I enjoyed seeing the sliver crescent of the moon over the Gulf water,

and a little later the beautiful colors of sunrise.

Diane and Mike drove Aunt Jinnie to the Pensacola airport this morning.  She was on her way back to New Jersey and sent us a text when she landed in Newark.  We were glad to know she made it home safe but we will miss her. Amy met her brother and sister-in-law at Bahama Bob's for lunch. After lunch they all stopped here for a visit. 

We had a steak and shrimp for dinner. It was a little cooler today so didn't get out in the sun much today. Mark sent news from home of fixing fences and getting the place spruced up for our busy season.