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.

Making Progress

 I had leg cramps during the night and didn't have any mustard over at this house. Probably just worked a little too hard yesterday. We started today with more rain but again just a soft easy rain. Between yesterday and today we got less than a half an inch.

Joan borrowed the truck this morning to haul branches to the fellowship hall. Mark saw her out trimming branches and thought she was doing his job of making sure the stop sign could be seen. The girls were out gathering ferns. Today was the big decorating day for the wedding tomorrow.  On my way to the old house to start working I noticed Penny was getting low on hay. She was taken to the outdoor arena to graze so I could move the bale in.

Then it was back to work at the house. I had just hauled a load over when Taunya and Ben arrived with a bunch of boys. Today they were celebrating Jace's birthday. They had a good time at the lake.

I was back cleaning when Shaeya arrived to work with Penny. She met her for the first time so today just worked in the round pen with her.

It took a while for Penny to relax but Shaeya was patient, quiet, consistent and full of praise for Penny when she finally responded correctly. The video was taken after the round pen reasoning. I started videoing when Penny was tacked up. It was quite long so some of the repeating steps were cut out just to shorten the video some. Shaeya did a very nice job with her and will be back in 2 weeks. 

Once Penny was back in her paddock I went home to make some supper. After supper the evening was so nice we were sitting out on the deck admiring the reflection of the moon on the lake.

We worked hard today but it was satisfying. Rhonda and Diane arrived to help with suggestions. Rhonda is going to put Tarah on finding farm pictures for the bedrooms. Diane suggested a desk in the second bedroom upstairs. Below are 3 pictures of the living/dining room.

Below are a couple pictures of the downstairs bedroom. 

Mark removed my desk then Ben came over and helped fix up the internet wires. We are making progress in this move. 

All Day Rain

 It was raining and the walk was cancelled. After an early breakfast I took the black Prius over to the old house to start the deep cleaning. The 5 new sets of sheets were washed along with blankets and throws. The downstairs bedroom needed the heavy pedestal bed moved to clean areas that I've never done since we put in that bed. That room is finished. There are no pictures on the walls but it is a small room. Next was the living room. The 2 smaller recliners arrived and just after putting them together I saw a swivel rocker recliner with heat and massage had just been listed for sale on Facebook market place only 14 minutes away from us. It was exactly what was needed for the room. I also took down family pictures and put up horse pictures.  The other small recliner is by the front window. We still have the popcorn machine and supplies piled up in the living room waiting for Rebekah to pick up so no pictures of the front. 

Mark came over after lunch to help with adding the bedbug proof mattress covers on both of the upstairs beds. That really does take 2 people. I was just finishing up making the beds when Braelyn arrived. She was up cleaning the apartment but needed more of the 4 gallon garbage bags. Each time I drove back and forth from the houses I got wet from the rain that just kept coming. The wife of the family that stayed at the apartment for the last 2 nights sent a message that she had forgotten to take her sunglasses and that her husband had accidently taken one of our throws home. I found her sunglasses and she is coming tonight to drop off the blanket and pick up her sunglasses. There was a car at the barn and I just assumed it was Lesley who came up from Alabama for Sarah's wedding but when I stopped in was surprised to find Ellie, Eric, Abigail and their baby. They also are here for the wedding. The foaling apartment is also being used for the wedding. I only blocked that off for Friday and Saturday nights and was shocked when it rented for Sunday and Monday. That will need to be flipped. I quit working at the house at 4:00 pm and was just too tired to make supper and even too tired to eat supper. Instead I propped my feet up in the recliner and turned on AC Central and listened to David speak in Princeville last Sunday afternoon. It was a very interesting message. If you get a chance it is well worth listening to and you can by clicking HERE. I still need to listen to Dave Beutel who spoke in Princeville Sunday morning. I'm looking forward to a hot shower and bed.

Exciting End

 Well we all walked over 2 rounds, even Rhonda walked with us as I was supposed to give her a bag from Gail and had left that in the car. My new airbnb guests had accidently got locked out so I took the golf cart over to let them in. There was a bat in the stall area by the apartment back door. After finding a glove I took him off the wall and gave him a lift into the air. 

Mike picked up Crew and those two took chainsaws on the 'death trails' clearing them enough for the horses to get through without getting scratched by thorn bushes. 

Mike was so pleased with the horses, they stood steady even during the chain sawing. Beth and Diane arrived and took the meat grinder over to Joan's house then got their suits on and went floating out on the lake. Rhonda also joined them.  David arrived with Elisabet, Sarah arrived with Zion, Eden and River and then Rebekah arrived with Jordan, Riley, Blair, Walter and Mica. The beach was full.

I had to meet a man renting a camper at Joan's house and when I got there Rachel was bringing over the bottles. The fawns are now let loose during the day but usually come running when they hear or see Rachel or Joan. Today they were both in their night pen. I guess they felt safe and just wanted to relax. Eden got to feed the little one.

Two bales needed to be moved in, Mark had his therapy for his knee today so I asked Sarah if she could help. She was more than willing. Evan got a bale as did the last paddock with Jewel, Sally and Rosalie. Once that was done Sarah worked with Penny, her new pony. Penny is 14.1 hands and really has pretty  impressive movement.

She is teaching her round pen reasoning and today Penny got it, she was asked to stop, turned in and followed Sarah to the mounting block.

Penny's first trail ride is scheduled for Saturday, we will see how she behaves following the other horses. Shaeya my grand niece is coming out with some cousins and offered to work with her on the trails.

When we got back from the horses the weather got hot so both Mark and I took a quick swim in the lake. The top layer was comfortable but each time we dove down that water was really cold. We have not had a good stretch of hot weather to heat it up yet.  Braelyn came over to visit. She is now into needlepoint and was working on a project while enjoying the shade on the deck. She joined us for supper then we drove to Louisville Slugger where Kensley was playing her last game of the season. (I think) 

Then their team was up to bat for the last time. They were down by 2 runs but made 5 in that, the other team had one more chance to tie or catch up but, Kensley caught a fly ball which was the 3rd out. 

The game was pretty close until the last inning. Kensley made an in the park home run and also brought home one of the other girls who was on 3rd. They won 9 to 6.

An exciting way to finish the day. Since the Tesla would need to be charged tonight Mark met me at our old house with the golf cart so I wouldn't have to walk home. He really is a nice guy.

Valiant's Surgery

 Mark and I left at 6:30 am to take the truck to Casey's. He wanted to fill up the empty diesel tanks and I needed to fill up the truck. As soon as we got back the truck was hooked to the stock trailer and that pulled out and left in the drive. I left for the walk early this morning so the clean towels and sheets could be dropped off at the barn before our walk.

Valiant's doctor appointment was at 8:30 am today so I just walked with Diane to Joan's house then took the golf cart over to the horses, got the stud chain then he followed me right into the trailer. Joan, Heather and Diane stuck around until he was loaded just incase I needed any help.  Valiant loses weight each summer showing off for the mares but this year he just didn't seem to be putting the weight back on. I noticed a spot when he was getting ready to breed last week, took a picture of that and sent it to Emma at the vet clinic. I would never have thought to look if we hadn't lost Mica last year. I was hoping the weight loss was because he needed his teeth floated but that wasn't the case. Valiant wasn't happy with the gag and chewed it enough to cause himself to bleed even before Dr. Hoer started. Below he is just checking everything in his mouth out.

His teeth were floated and then came the more important part, the surgery to remove the tumor and then the sewing back up.

The video  is a little graphic so if you have children you may want to skip this part, if you want to see it click HERE. It is important though for not just breeders but even owners with geldings to know what to look for. This took 3 hours to get everything done and get back home. Once home I went over to the barn to make the beds and restock the bathrooms with bath towels, hand towels and wash rags. Only after the upstairs was finished did I start on the floors. I was not able to finish but only have to scrub the floors and the barn will be ready for company again. Sarah came and worked with Penny again. Today Penny did wonderful. 

The girls were glad to go swimming after that. Pam came with 3 of her grandchildren so the 6 played together nicely in the lake.

The clouds rolled in and a few drops of rain fell then the sun came out hot. This happened twice while they were playing but the weather didn't cause anybody to quit. 

We left for church at 6:00 pm. Calep Plattner had the message tonight on Genesis 37 click HERE if you would like to watch that. David gave greetings from Princeville, he and Dave Beutel were both there for Father's day.  Dave had the morning message and David had the afternoon message. I'll listen to both of those tomorrow. Right now I'm very tired. When we got out of church I stopped to take another picture of the clouds.

I zoomed in for the picture below.

A big group of us went to Culvers for a late supper. That place was busy tonight. We stayed just a little too late. 

Big Bass

 We were up at 5:00 again and seem to be settling in just fine. I spent a couple hours putting things away and organizing them from everything we brought over last. Of course that was after drinking coffee. Just Diane and I walked, Ruth is still in Romania with Berean Prison Ministry and Joan took the cat in to be spayed. Speaking of Ruth, she sent back some beautiful pictures. 

Their trip is going very well. They are visiting lots of prisons and meeting many of the Berean volunteers over there.  Joan got news on her cat. When she took her in the cat was already pregnant with at least 4 kittens, so no spaying her yet. She has had this scheduled at least twice. This cat lives outside and seems to be very fertile. My grandchildren are going to be thrilled to play with kittens again. I just walked one round as I needed to leave for the Berean office. When I arrived we were told that Leila Witzig had passed away. We were all shocked, she is one of our readers here at the Berean office. We don't have any of the details yet. We had a good group this morning with a new volunteer, one of Skip's grandsons was here visiting from Indiana and of course we put him right to work.

We didn't realize that the internet was down until we tried to print out postage.

Without the internet the postage machine won't work. Skip had to drive to the post office to pick up stamps so we could get the studies out today. The Bibles will have to wait. Skip is going to try to come in tomorrow to get them out.

Marvin worked on returns while Kathy read the letters and responded to a lot of them.

I dropped the studies off at the Hanna City post office and pulled in just as Diane was pulling out. When I got back I went straight to our old house to get the laundry going and more packing. Today the silverware drawers were emptied and everything staying was put in the dishwasher. I will need new contact paper for the drawers. Sarah was here and helped me load the tubs into the car. She worked with Penny and was very pleased. David had Israel and Elisabet here swimming so she left him in charge. Zion was fishing and pulled in a whopper of a bass. 

Later Berlica took a group out horse back riding and Zion got to go too on Jewel.

At 3:00 pm I finally quit working and came back to mom's to rest. Mark had been working on my computer, got it hooked up and the monitors installed. This evening Sarah sent back the picture of the bass Nolan caught in their pond.

That one was big but the next one was even bigger.

This evening after supper I worked on putting away and organizing the tubs taken over today. There is just one more to do but it is out in the garage right now and I am quitting. Today was a fun filled day for the grandchildren but labor for me and my back is sore from lifting and scrubbing.