The Ark Encounter

 Our night wasn't awful at our airbnb. We weren't used to all of the street lights and lights around the houses here. Even with the blinds closed there was enough light that we certainly didn't need any night lights. This tiny house had a couple mouse holes. The first was in the living area.

The second was by the bed.

We ate my leftovers from lunch for our breakfast then checked out and left for the Ark Encounter. That really is impressive. It is just massive.

We asked a lady behind us if she would take our picture at the door. The door too is massive.

If you would like to see the rest of the pictures taken inside click HERE. After exiting we walked through the little zoo before getting on the bus to go back to the parking lot. The ride home was uneventful. We didn't get home in time to go to Iris' program but Rhoda sent a marco polo of her class singing. 

Israel's team was playing Jackson's team tonight. Below are the two dads who happen to be first cousins. David Sceggel and Tim Meister.

Below are the 2 second cousins who played against each other tonight, Israel Sceggel and Jackson Meister.

I did not hear how the game went except one video David sent of Israel hitting a double. I walked over to the barn to turn on the barn fridge. Joan was there cleaning the bedrooms. All of the wedding guests left today. I took one set of sheets back with me to wash, she had the rest done. I know it is only 9:00 pm but feels much later. I'm glad to be home and looking forward to my own bed.

No Backpack

We met at the dumpster, all 5 of us. It started to sprinkle after one round so we all went in to visit with Aunt Jinnie but she was still sound asleep. We worked her much to hard at the wedding although it wasn't us that was pushing her. She wouldn't quit. I ended up not staying to say good by as Mark and I were leaving for our trip to the Ark Encounter.  We were packed and Mark got his pillow in the car but not our small backpack which had clothes for tomorrow, our pills and personal items when a big storm suddenly slammed into our door. We decided to wait it out before leaving. Below is a video just as the storm hit. 

We drove through rain almost the entire trip. We got to our airbnb and opened the back trunk to get our backpack out but it wasn't there. We will need to keep the clothes we are wearing as clean as possible for tomorrow at the Ark. This airbnb thankfully provides new tooth brushes and tooth paste. We went to a Mexican restaurant for supper. That was delicious.

It is an hour later here. We also found out Becky and Aunt Jinnie's plane got delayed until tomorrow. 

Wedding Day for Faith and Andrew

 Something got into the tomato plant bed. Yesterday one of the plants were completely uprooted and laying on it's side. I replanted it, today what ever is digging didn't uproot any of the plants just dug a hole.

Since I was ready for church and didn't want to get my hands dirty I left it. That poor plant is just not growing very well. We picked up Aunt Jinnie and Becky first and they were already outside waiting for us. Next we picked up Rhonda and got to church just before 9:30 am. It was wonderful to see church full and hear so many happy voices fellowshipping before the service started. Dave Huette was visiting from Tremont and had the morning message on Psalm 1 and John 15. Click HERE to watch that. David and Craig had the marriage message. Click HERE to watch that. I admit to getting emotional a bit. What a week this has been. After the service Mark picked up Aunt Jinnie, Becky and I from the front door and we went straight out to the fellowship hall to get ready for the reception. Aunt Jinnie and Becky were put on making the icecream punch. 

Diane and I got out the fruit cups Beth had prepared for us and set those out. There was another crew working on cooking the chicken strips.

We were all kept busy and by 2:00 pm when the line started there was a quick scramble to get everything on the table and ready. 

The sauces were for the chicken strips which were not pictured.

We were all pretty busy. I was washing trays from 2:00 pm until 3:15 pm. When someone came to take my place Amy and I went through the line and ate our meal before going up to see Andrew and Faith. We were waiting in line when I looked out the window to see 5 of my grandchildren chasing a baby bunny. They caught it.

Rhoda took the pictures below of Faith and Andrew getting ready to taste the cake.

Mark and I took Aunt Jinnie and Becky home but stopped at the parking lot to check out the car.

The kids were passing out bubble wands for the guests to blow bubbles at the new married couple as they left. Below Amy is blowing bubbles at us.

We got home a little after 4:00 pm. Sarah and Nolan along with Brian and Rebekah were here hiking the trails. A big branch had fallen across our second drive while we were at church.

I changed my clothes then went out to tease mares and was disappointed to see Basilea and Thalia were still in season. As we didn't cover them yesterday they had to be covered today. Basilea was covered first by Valiant then Thalia covered by Evan. Once they were fly sprayed and put away I took the golf cart over to mom's where the grandchildren were playing on the beach. They were busy burying Jordan.

Later we all migrated up to the fire pit. It was too hot outside to think of lighting a fire so we just sat around and visited.

Ruth brought a kite for the kids to try out as it was breezy.  Below is a short video of some of their fun with that kite.

They played with that for quite a while before going to the volleyball court to play games.

Around 8:00 pm the party started breaking up. I stopped in at the barn to check the fridge and it is still too cold around 20 degrees inside. That was turned off and hopefully by morning I can turn it back on. What a good day! The wedding and reception were very well attended. The church and fellowship hall were FULL!

Vaccines

 After breakfast I drove to Sam's club thinking I would be buying the ingredients for Sunday supper but when I got there the kids started chiming in on how they would skip the dinner and go straight home after Faith and Andrew's wedding reception. I sent back a message that I too would skip and go home from the reception and crash. I still picked up a water melon and more icecream for tonight. When I got home and the food was taken over to the barn and Mark, Mackenson and I started working on the west fenceline. There were so many trees down on that side.

I really dislike working in the weeds and as soon as we thought we had it horse proof went in to wash up, scrubbing everything the weeds touched. Sure hope I don't end up with poison ivy. The mares were let back out into the pond pasture.

They seemed content to settle down to graze. At noon we went over to mom's house for lunch. Rhonda heated up the casserole Gale sent and the meal was delicious.

Below are 4 generations starting with Aunt Jinnie, then Becky, then Becky's daughter Elisabeth and finally Elisabeth's son Jacob.

After lunch we watched the slide video of the pictures of mom. There were supposed to be 250 pictures but we never saw any of Rhonda's pictures which she sent in. I left then to get my dishes done and laundry started. The next job was to give each of the yearlings their shots. 

We use the 5 way from Tractor Supply and each yearling stood very quietly. No reaction at all to the needle prick. They are such good babies. Disco, Dahlia, Roseberry and Shadow were given them.

The people buying Dancer's colt arrived to visit with him. He is going to go to his new home next Friday and I think we are going to deliver him. I took the golf cart over to the barn and just as I reached the kitchen door the golf cart made a grinding noise and wouldn't move. That was left there and I walked back and told Mark we were going to have to tow it home. I went to put something away came outside and there was Bethany's mother-in-law and her great niece pushing the golf cart from the barn to our house while Mark sat inside and steered. I took them back to the barn then brought out a couple lead ropes tied them to the back of the working golf cart to the front of the broken golf cart and Mark drove the working one pulling the broken one while I steered all the way to the indoor arena. That was dropped off and it was back to the house for us. We needed to drive Sarah and Nolan's van to Walmart in Morton then meet David to take Israel and Elisabet with us while he and Stephanie went to the rehearsal dinner. We got back to the barn at 6:13 pm, just in time for the supper prayer.  Anni, Bethany's mother-in-law and Diane prepared a supper for 25-30 people. 

Daisy and Anni like climbing the poles in the dining area.

We were just ready to start the clean up when Ellie sent a message that there were horses out. Elisabet and I used the golf cart to go get them. We looked for the place they got out but couldn't find it. That meant we needed to move another bale in the middle paddock and the horses were locked in there for tonight. By the time we got back from putting all the horses in and securing all of the gates all of the meal clean up was finished. It was dark by then so Israel showed us the light show Mark's car puts on.

I posted it on Facebook but Facebook won't allow me to post it here and claims someone else made the video. If you would like to see it click HERE but it really isn't that good. 

We had just come into the house when David arrived to pick up the kids. Thankful for the beautiful weather and the energy we needed to get through today. 

The Grand Tour

First thing this morning I took the golf cart up to check the mares and saw 3 of them were out in the big field. The other two in that paddock were still in. That meant I had to walk the pond pasture perimeter to find the break but left the horses out until after our walk. We walked but didn't think Becky was up so left without her. We only did one round when we realized they were up but instead of walking we visited inside with Becky and Aunt Jinnie. After our visit I left to make breakfast for Mark then drove up to the apartment to get it ready for the guests coming in today.  After checking that over and turning the lights on. I opened the gate to the mare pasture and Rosalie, Dahlia and Valerie came running in. As this is the first time Rosaleigh and Star had other mares in the same pasture with their foals I stayed out to watch to make sure all would be well. 

I also took a few pictures to update the website.

Above is Dahlia and her dam Rosalie. Dahlia is just a year old, Rosalie sticks at 17 hands so this yearling is going to be huge.  Below is Valerie, Rosalie's sister at age 4.

Above and Below are Rosaleigh and her colt by Valiant.

I noticed a wire down between the 2 pastures. Took a picture then showed Mark. He got that repaired this afternoon.

Mark took the old bale spear out of the barn. That really was on it's last legs. The crack was so big that I am surprised it didn't break while moving bales yesterday.

I found the break in the pond pasture. A tree had fallen over the fence bending it down. The mares were just walking over the fence. They were locked out of the pond pasture until that can be fixed.

I was putting the mares back in the paddock when the gate came off the hinge and fell. It was propped up and down I went to the house to get Mark's help. The hinge needed to be drilled out and a new one put on.

I'm glad we have a new one. I started teasing mares and both Basilea and Thalia are still in. Basilea was covered by Valiant just before noon.

Diane and Beth had our lunch all prepared at the barn.

Right after lunch we left for the Giant Goose Ranch. Beth gave us a tour of the cabins first. Dave and Kathy had their door open so I knocked and asked if we could come in. They were more than willing to show us around. 

Next we went to see the goats, the donkey, turkeys, ducks and chickens. The goats were a big hit.

We ended up at the Hub and each made our own soft serve ice cream adding all kinds of goodies.

From there we drove to the Uplands where they were just setting up for a big wedding.

My phone died just then but I was able to charge it a little in Diane's car on the way to Middle Grove. There we went on a tour of the place then a pontoon boat ride. I was able to get just a few pictures of that before the phone died again.

To see the rest of the pictures click HERE. We got home just in time to leave for Chad and Julie's house where they were serving dinner. We were a little late and missed the prayer but in plenty of time to feast.

Mark and I left there a little after 7:00 pm. I still needed to get Thalia covered and did. It is now after 9:00 pm. What a long busy day but it was so good to be with family.