First Swim

 Today was another hot one, in fact I think it was hotter today than yesterday. On our walk we met Berlica driving Joan's old van over to the barn. She was meeting some friends to go trail riding early, before the heat. Even at 7:30 am it was still very hot. They had a nice ride then decided to take the horses swimming. Below they are on their way over to the lake.

Rosalie has never swam across the lake and wouldn't go in so they just left her loose. She was happy to graze not realizing the other horses left her. This was the first swim of the season.

A successful swim!

After snapping the picture above I took the golf cart over to get Rosalie and her rider.  Rosalie figured out the other horses left and took off running through the fields. When she couldn't find them she finally looked back and saw the golf cart and came running to that so we could rescue her and take her home. These 3 mares were taken to the cabin field, there is much more shade there and plenty of grass. They were glad to be back in that pasture. Rhoda arrived to work with Jury and found the plug was missing from their waterer. Mark went to find a replacement but meanwhile I went in the paddock to search and found the missing plug. Mark gave me the replacement which I stuck in my pocket. Rhoda took Jury out to give Iris a walking lesson on her. I took Zeke to the house as it was to hot to be outside watching. The first thing I did was to stick the extra plug up on the mantle so it doesn't get lost.

If you can't see it below is a closeup.

I'm posting it here so I can remember where it is when needed.

Zeke found the toys great grandma left in the basement and had such a good time playing with them.

 Below is Iris on Jury learning how to ask her to stop.

When Rhoda got back we all joined the group out swimming.

Zeke was glad to get out to play with his favorite cousin River.

At 3:00 pm Diane, Mike and I left for Middle Grove to pick up Dancer and Dahlia. We drove back to the big field and the horses heard us coming. They came at a gallop. I stopped the truck jumped out and thought I put my phone on video but only later realized it had just taken one picture. Bummer. Below is after the herd arrived and had us surrounded.

The first thing Mike does is halter Oliver the stallion and ties him to the trailer. Only then does he give out carrots. Oliver knows if he stands quietly his turn will come.

Dahlia was loaded into the side door of the trailer and tied, then the divider opened and Dancer led into the back. She was tied up near Dahlia. When we were ready to leave Oliver had been let loose and ran over to Star Temple. I was waiting to see if she would kick at him to keep him away from her filly but instead they greeted each other then both came running up to the truck for carrots. Oliver stuck his entire head in the truck waiting for Mike to give him one. He really is a sweet gentle stallion. Diane had her window shut to keep any horses coming in her window.

When we got back Dancer was taken to the cabin field to join the other riding horses while Dahlia was put in the middle paddock with Jury and Izzy.

We've had a busy day but nothing more got done at the old farm house except Rebekah took the popcorn machine and all of the supplies. Tomorrow the appliances and bookcase headboard are supposed to arrive. I'm thankful to live here. Thankful for the refreshing water in the lake to cool down and very thankful for friends and family.

3 For 3

 Mark came over to help hook up the stock trailer at 7:15 am, then Berlica arrived just as I was going to load. I hired her on the spot. She got Madiera out while I haltered Thalia and brought her out. Last was Basilea. Those three mares were taken to Hoerr Vet Clinic for their ultrasounds. Madiera was out running with Oliver when she was in season but we didn't know he was settling mares yet.  Madiera was bred once to Evan and didn't stand well so may have already gone out. She was the first to sonagram. 

Madiera will not enter the stocks but stands well so I asked Berlica to hold her head while I held her tail.

PREGNANT

She was confirmed in foal and is due April 26th, 2027 but we will need to dna this foal as it could be Oliver's. Next we brought in Thalia and Basilea together. They are mother daughter and very attached. Berlica held Basilea up by Thalia's head while Dr. Hoerr worked on her.

Thalia has the red halter on while Basilea has the green halter.

Also PREGNANT

Thalia was bred to Evan and is due April 28th, 2027. Once she was confirmed in foal we switched and put Basilea in the stocks and Berlica held Thali up by Basilea's head.

She too was confirmed in foal. She was bred to Valiant and is due May 18th, 2027

The last two mares I need to get in foal are Tessa and Izzy. 

The mares were loaded up and driven straight to Middle Grove. They were pretty thrilled to get out on the grass again and settled down to graze. We expected them to start running up the hill to find the herd but that just didn't happen.

It was a good 3 hours before we arrived back at the farm. Berlica went to work with Penny and also move Jewel, Sally and Rosalie into the middle paddock as that one has more shade. I left to work on the old farm house.  I had to quit though as the man that put down the deposit on Rosaleigh's colt wanted to see a short video of him. It was so hot outside today I just took it while they were standing in the shade. Berlica took the kids on a short slow trail ride.

The video below shows Zion leading Penny back to her paddock after a good hosing down.

They left to go cool off in the lake and spent most of the afternoon swimming and playing in the water. Mark helped move the desk upstairs and once that was set up the floors were cleaned. Below is the second bedroom. It is still missing the book case headboard which should arrive tomorrow. 

By the time I was done working I joined the kids in the lake to cool off.  Mark and I left for the fellowship hall just after 4:00 pm to start setting up the tables.  Joan S arrived with the meat and buns, Diane arrived with the salad stuff, Joan arrived with the green beans, ice cream and sherbert. Below Joan, Joan and Berlica are making the ice cream cups for the dessert.

Mackenson, Mark and Mike put the chairs around.

The food was delicious.

Dave Beutel gave his testimony on how he ended up in Peoria. Click HERE to watch that. 

Sarah had the farrier scheduled to come out this evening to remove the shoes from Penny. She sent the pictures below.

The joys of horse ownership. When we left for home from the fellowship hall the sky was beautiful.

I am feeling so very thankful tonight, thankful for family, for church and most of all for Jesus my savior! How can I NOT give thanks!

Really HOT

 I just did one round of walk as I needed to leave by 8:00 am. Before going to Berean I stopped at Sam's club to buy the water for the family night tomorrow along with the food for Friday's meal. I am thankful for the big fridge in the Berean office. It easily fit the perishable foods. The bad news today was the internet was still not working. Skip and Marvin worked this morning trying to get it up and running but no go. That meant we would not be able to print out the Bible stamps. Skip opened a really nice letter and right after the prayer read it to us. I thought I was video taping his reading only to figure out that didn't happen. 

We did some complaining today at having to apply postage stamps to each envelope instead of just running them through the machine.

That brought back so many memories of when we had to actually LICK the stamps and to seal the envelopes we had what we called lickers. We really needed our licker here.

Life is much easier UNLESS the internet is down. We got desperate enough to call that nameless IT guy from church to see if he would be able to come out to help.  He didn't answer his phone but Skip left a message, hopefully he is not screening his calls. 

The Bibles and studies were taken to the Hanna City post office. As each Bible would need to be scanned for postage I knew it would take a while so asked Kathy, the postmistress, if she would mind if I ran the food home then came back to pay.  She was fine with that. I got back even before she finished.  She was quick to tell me that one of my sisters came in while I was gone. Funny how they know we are related, we all have different last names. A notice came that the new fridge and stove were going to be delivered on Thursday. I really needed to get the floor scrubbed before they arrive so spent the next 3 hours cleaning and scrubbing. David brought Israel out, Anna brought the girls out, and Taunya brought her boys out today and all enjoyed the lake while I was working so I never saw any of them. The guests moved out of the apartment today so at noon I drove up to check that out, opened the door and my eyes started burning and the smell was over powering. This couple had 4 little children and yet the apartment smelled strongly of pot. Thankfully the ozone machine was still in my possession. I lend it out each time someone needs it but everyone that has borrowed it has returned it. That was turned on for an hour and a half. A do not enter sign was put on the apartment door then Braelyn called to tell her not to come for a few hours.  We have new guests arriving tomorrow at noon so it must be cleaned before then. Later today I went inside and that machine worked it's magic. The apartment no longer smelled like pot. I took all of the towels and sheets over here to wash. Braelyn is going to take the comforters home for washing.  I picked up a desk in East Peoria for the second bedroom. Mark helped get it inside but it is not yet upstairs. That will come later when Mark is feeling better. A new microwave was ordered. I decided on an under the counter one but wanted a 1000 watts or more and found this one that has 1150 watt. It is also stainless steel so should match the new fridge and stove.

The sail boat was used a lot today. Berlica and Cheyanne hosed off the horses for us. It was just so very hot today.  The Family night meal will be moved inside tomorrow instead of outside. 

Buying and Selling

 As today was Leila Witzig's funeral, Diane needed to leave really early. She is in charge of the funeral dinners this year. I left at 8:45 am so I could go through the visitation line. We couldn't go yesterday because of the wedding. The funeral was very well attended. It is up on AC Central and if you didn't get the chance to go you can see it by clicking HERE. I got home to start cleaning out the fridge and freezer when Sarah and Rhoda arrived, Berlica joined them. They were going to take the horses to Jubilee but Rhoda called and found out the horse trails are still closed. Instead they tacked up Jury, Jewel and Penny. Sarah took the 2 pictures below. Penny did better following Jury. Rhoda rode Jury, Berlica rode Penny and Sarah rode Jewel.

Penny did not want to go through the creek at the first crossing. It took a while but when she finally figured out it was safe she was fine the rest of all of the creek crossings.

They made it back and all of the horses were hot.

They rode up to the barn, untacked and all 3 horses got a hose down and all 3 enjoyed their cool showers.

I went inside to order a new stainless steel fridgerator and a stainless steel gas stove from Home Depot. I also ordered a bookcase headboard for the 2nd bedroom upstairs. Those things will all be delivered on the 3rd of July. Rhoda and Sarah worked with Izzy. Sarah needed to leave but Rhoda went over to mom's house and started organizing and putting things away. I didn't know this until I finished cleaning the old appliances and was so surprised and pleased. 

I came back to the house to post the fridge and stove on Hanna City Happenings on Facebook. Below are the pictures that were posted. I put the price of $50.00 each.

Truly within 10 minutes the phone started going off and didn't stop until the post was removed. So many of the people wanted it but wanted me to hold until they could get here. I've been that route so put first come, no holds. By 4:30 pm I knew they are both sold and the people arrived at 5:00 pm to pick them up. They also took the microwave so I will need to order one of those too. Of course the floor needed scrubbing where those appliances had sat for years. The wind picked up this afternoon so Joan got the sail boat out and going. Joan and Berlica sailed then when Taegan came Berlica took her out. Below Berlica and Taegan are going for a sail.

Today was one of those labor days I really don't want to repeat. My back is sore from hauling heavy equipment and my legs are stiff. It's not easy getting old with so much to do. I'm so very thankful for everything that did get done!

Sarah and Josh's WEDDING

 Today was wedding day for Sarah and Josh! We were sitting in the living room at mom's house and watched car after car head to Joan's house for breakfast. She not only is the mother of the bride but was hosting 19 guests and all of those guests wanted breakfast. We've all agreed over the years that Joan is amazing but today just proved it. Nothing is too hard for her. We all left for church around the same time from this neighborhood and the traffic leaving was almost as bad as New Jersey's traffic at rush hour. Randy and Kathy brought Nancy and Kathy sent a message that Nancy was going to need some attention when we arrived. Kathy explained they were running late as Nancy was not dressed in church clothes but she didn't notice that she also needed her face washed. Diane arrived before I did and took care of that problem. Joan and her many guests were already in church when we walked up. Nancy saw her up in the front row and started waving. Joan is her favorite sister, Rachel might claim that distinction but we all know the truth. There were many visitors up on the pulpit. Robert Herrmann had the morning message. Click HERE if you would like to watch that. Ryan Hoerr had the wedding service with Craig actually marrying them. Click HERE to watch that. Ryan actually had the entire audience laughing at loud at one point. It really was a personal wedding service. As Mark and I were down to work second shift at the reception we took Nancy home (mom's house) first then left at 2:10 pm for the fellowship hall. The line was still out the door but I took Nancy through the kitchen door and had her sit next to Randy and Kathy so I could get a few pictures before starting my job of washing trays. 

Jacob and Andrew had the best job! They were making the icecream punch.

Karin and Doty worked both shifts. Doty actually came early to make the coffee and watched the wedding on line.

Below are the happy couple and we are all so happy for them.

Nancy LOVED putting bird seed and flower petals on Josh's head as they were leaving

We stayed to help with the clean up.

We stayed to help clean up for a bit. 

When we got home Sarah and Nolan were here with the girls. Sarah rode Penny then gave Zion a walk trot lesson on her.

Below is just a short video of some of that ride.

Penny is going to be an awesome pony for our family and we are very pleased Sarah bought her. They were all out swimming and enjoying the cool water of the lake on this first very hot humid day. It was 89 degrees when we were coming home from the fellowship hall so I know that water felt great.