More Rain

 Thankfully at 3:00 am the fever broke and by morning I was perfectly normal at 98.6 AND that held all day.  Ruth and I met at the dumpster and by 7:19 am thought Diane must not be home and started walking without her. She called right then, she was going to be late and would meet up with us. There was quite a bit of storm damage with lots of branches down at the playground. Thankfully Joan brought a crew of workers and they all pitched in and got it cleaned up before the next rain moved in. 

I was with mom this morning. Mom's remote for her lift chair wasn't working so Spark arrived to fix that and while he was working on that Karin found a new one on Amazon. That was ordered and will be here tomorrow.  I filled the bird feeder and it wasn't long before the birds arrived for breakfast.

Taunya dropped off her kids first. Jack and Jace swam over to jump off Rachel's highdive.

Sarah arrived with a bunch of kids next and soon David arrived with Elisabet and Israel. Everyone was having fun swimming when the rain started. Below they are all heading to mom's basement.

They went to the barn to play in the gym until the rain stopped around noon. Ruth, Diane and Dan arrived right around lunch time so we all enjoyed a meal together.  After lunch all the kids came back for boating and swimming.

It is always more fun when there are lots of kids to play with.  I left before 2:00 pm to finish my laundry. When Mark got home he emptied the 5th wheel tanks, then cleaned up and we drove in to Peoria to go to One World for dinner. The kids gave Mark a gift card for that. Mark ordered the Rueben and I ordered the fish sandwich. 

The place was busy but then it was Friday night. When we got home we drove to the barn to get some roasts out of the freezer for Sunday's meal.  Anna had been there pretty much all day painting trim. Below is just a small sample of her work.

We got less than a half an inch of rain today but that added to the 2 inches yesterday really helped make this the million dollar rain. At least for some of the farmers, for us it means we will get a second cutting of hay and I am thankful.

Much NEEDED Rain

 Since we were up early I left for the walk early. The sun was out and the Yucca plant was blooming. 

I stopped in at the barn and noticed we have doors!

Instead of riding the golf cart I walked to Joan's and back and didn't hold the other walkers up by going too slow. Berlica and her friend were leaning against the house each holding a kitten.

Joan has 2 kittens both females looking for new homes and they are ready now.

Their mama is a wonderful mouser. She came trotting up with a chipmunk in her mouth, then when she thought I was going to take it, laid on it. 

After the walk I left for Sam's club to pick up food for the camping trip Monday and Tuesday at Middle Grove. We have reserved just 1 trailer and will haul that out on Monday. Joan took the motorhome in filled the gas tank, bought a new house battery and now the generator works perfectly. When I got home from Sam's we had a surprise, it started raining. Then the day turned dark and the wind picked up. We got 2 inches of much needed rain during this storm.

This storm did some major damage. The big oak tree at Spark and Rhonda's fell and destroyed their barn.

The truck and boat seem to be ok.  People arrived to help clean up the area and pull the truck and boat out.  Rhonda sent a text, "many hands make light work." They quit when the drive was cleared, the insurance people will need to come before the barn is taken down.

I started feeling chilled and realized I had a fever again and spent the rest of the day in the recliner trying to get better. This is just so strange, there was no fever this morning but by afternoon it was up to 102 degrees. This evening the fever is dropping and I'm almost back to normal. Probably some bug I picked up. Mike got Jewel covered by Evan.

Wednesday's Trip

We woke up at 4:00 am, got the coffee going and our morning routine done all before 6:00 am. We pulled out at 6:00 am and started our trip to Wisconsin. There was so much smoke in the air from the Canada wild fires that the sun was blood red at 6:30 am while driving through Chillicothe. The phone just doesn't capture the color. Mark tried with his phone too.

 

 We didn't need to stop for gas for the Prius as Mark had just filled it and we only had to drive 320 miles. We stopped around 9:00 am for a quick breakfast at McDonalds. We arrived at the the man's house a little after 11:00 am and talked and talked. We followed him to the bank so he could put the check in, then back to his house to get the paper work done. He took pictures of both Mark and I AND our car just in case the check was a fraud then apologized for doing all of that. We told him in this day and age it makes perfect sense. By the time we left over an hour had passed. 

Traffic going up to Wisconsin was not bad at all but coming home we ran into a lot of traffic, especially around Madison. That was backed up and only running about 50 mph instead of the listed 70. The other problem came once on 39. The construction in one part was bumper to bumper at a crawl or a dead stop for about a half hour. The Transit doesn't get near as good of gas mileage so we had to stop twice to fill it once while still in Wisconsin where gas is only $3.13 a gallon and the second time in Illinois at a Loves where we felt like we got a bargain at $3.39 a gallon. You see at home in Hanna City we are paying $3.85 a gallon. By the time we reached Chillicothe it was almost 6:00 pm and we were famished. We stopped at a Mexican restaurant for dinner and shared a meal. The truck was dropped off at Phil and Anna's and we walked in just in time to get AC Central on and watch Craig Stickling have Peoria's message. At least Mark did. I stretched out on the recliner to listen and fell sound asleep not waking until midnight. It took me a minute to figure out where I was, got up made the coffee for morning and could hardly wait for that soft comfortable bed. At 3:15 am we were awakened with a HUGE CRACK of thunder. Something close was hit. Too bad no rain came with the thunder. At 4:00 am Mark decided to get up and start the coffee make early so for the second morning in a row we are up at 4:00 am. 

Need Rain

 It is so very dry, the pastures are just not growing. We are bale feeding but I'm still letting the mares out on the pasture as they can go into the trees for shade and can still graze a bit. This morning I noticed Jewel was up so hopefully tomorrow we can get her covered by Evan. 

The two colts are not at all worried about the dry grass, they are still running around playing.

Ruth is camping with her grandchildren so it was just Diane, Joan and I on the walk. I left right after the walk and stopped at Casey's to grab some raspberry flips for the Berean volunteers then got to Berean about 15 minutes early. Skip, Leila and Bruce had already arrived.  It was so good to be back to work.  IF you would like to read about our morning there click HERE. We finished up there before noon. I drove to the Aldi on University to pick up a few groceries for mom's house then straight to mom's to put them away before heading home. Mark came home early with our instructions for tomorrow. He and I leave for Wisconsin to pick up a new truck for Meisters in the morning. It is a 10 hour drive round trip and I'm sure will take some time to get all the paper work done so we want to leave early and just maybe we will get home before dark.  We will head to bed even before the sun goes down tonight. Lately we have been trying to stay up past sundown but that is  AFTER 9:00 pm. 

Joan borrowed the truck today and delivered the trailer load of shelving she picked up on the weekend not getting home until late. She was wore out unloading that trailer. This shelving went to 3 different places but everyone that got it were happy with it. 

Saints and Scumbags

 Right after our walk Ruth, Diane and I stopped in at mom's to visit with her before starting the day.  It was my turn to be with her and Ruth was on call.  We had a quiet morning. Ruth stopped by around 11:15 am and brought her neighbor Annette with her so they stayed for lunch. We started with beef and vegetable soup, then had steak smothered in mushrooms, chips and watermelon. For dessert we had Karin's secret recipe of apple pie alamode. Annette laughed when she saw how we made it.  When Karin got home I left and found Mark was already home waiting for me. We moved a round bale in first for the middle paddock. 

As soon as that was done Jury was moved into that paddock to be with the mares. 

Next Evan was moved into Raven's old paddock as Mark wanted to work on his paddock. Evan ran around smelling everything before settling down to eat.

I took the golf cart to open the gate into the field and then Evan's back gate so Mark could get started. 

He removed manure, flattened the clay then added a load of lime to that paddock.

Once the horses were all fine I went in to rest and fell asleep. This evening I listened to Jeff Waibel speak at Bloomington's VBS  This was an interesting talk. He was given the title God Is Trustworthy to talk on, but decided that title wasn't the best and came up with one he felt was a thousand times better! Saints and Scumbags a study of inverse nonlinear asymptotic relationships.  Click HERE if you would like to watch this lesson, it really was worth watching and I promise you will learn something if you do. 

  After supper Mark noticed a baby bunny on the patio. This bunny didn't move when I went out to take a picture.

When I was younger I would have caught this bunny and try to raise it as a pet. I did the same for mice, birds and even snakes. Bunnies are so cute but we are overrun with rabbits now that our neighbor killed off the foxes and we no longer have a dog. 

The bunny finally hopped into the grassy area of the patio.

Mark was going to go back out to run the chain saw and cut up a few trees that fell during the wind yesterday but decided that might be too much effort. 

So Thankful For Sunday

Mike sent the video of yesterday's drop off at Middle Grove. 

I had another good night, I'm getting downright spoiled. I didn't get up until the coffee was done about 5:15 am and enjoyed a couple cups of coffee before doing anything at all.  I'm very thankful for Sundays.  I had to run up to the apartment to sweep the floor one last time just in case any rolypolys or a dead fly was on the floor. The guests coming in were told they could come anytime after 9:00 am and they replied they should make it here before noon.  Mark and I left for church at 9:05 so we would have time to get the car washed first.  We got to the car wash and the $5.00 bill Mark was trying to put in must have been too old. The machine would not take our money. After trying both ways he finally pulled out his credit card and swipe that. Just then Diane arrived with a new $5.00 bill and asked if we wanted to try that. They were behind us waiting to get their car done.  We beat them to church as they had to wait first for us then for their car to get done.  Ruth had just arrived with mom so I helped hold doors open for them to get inside.  Kathy picked up Nancy and she arrived after we were already in church singing.  Gregg Rumbold had the morning message and Tim Roecker had the afternoon. Both messages were kind of on Truth. After church Rhoda and Lee arrived first. Rhoda was going to take Jury on the trails as she was here. She went to the cabin to help Mike tack up all the horses first.

Jury did very well.

Iris arrived with a unicorn pinata filled with candy. Lee came in with a birthday cake and lots of cupcakes. We planned on celebrating Iris' birthday after supper.  Mark grilled hamburgers and hotdogs for dinner tonight. I made a salad, cheesy carrots watermelon and a broccoli dish. We also had sliced avocado's, grilled onions, sautéed mushrooms, fresh dill pickles, pepper jack cheese, cheddar cheese and of course ketchup and mustard to go on top of the hamburgers.

Rhoda added cheddar cheese chips. The food was delicious. After supper came the party. We sang to Iris, she blew out her candles and opened gifts. 

Next we all went to the playground and had fun destroying the pinata. Dividing up candy on the trampoline before going down to the beach for swimming. The older grandkids swam across the lake to jump off Rachel's high drive. We ended up back at the barn to play in the gym.

After volleyball Dan brought out his guitar and some of us walked over to the barn to sing.

On the way back to the house I noticed Mark walking back from the 5th wheel. He told me we had a slight problem. The wind arrived, picked up the umbrella and blew it to the top of the 5th wheel. Thankfully the guest hadn't come back from supper yet. Mark had to climb up to get it off.

No damage was done. He was able to throw it down. We put it back in the picnic table but closed it up for the night.

We really did have a wonderful Sunday and I'm thankful.

Wrong Horse

 I sure appreciate a good night's sleep and last night was 2 in a row.  Our airbnb renters sent a message this morning that the smoke alarm was going off but she was in the shower and there was no smoke. I waited a minute sent her a message back that we would come right up as soon as she was ready. Not long after she told us it stopped.  They were getting ready to head out so we went once they left. The smoke alarm had been pulled from the ceiling with the casing broken but was still wired in. 

Mark brought in the ladder then took it down, checked it out and decided not to put it back but to get a new one up.  We have a smoke alarm in the bedroom about 10 feet away and another 2 in the apartment so all should be good. He went down to the house to order another while I cleaned the apartment for the guest coming in tomorrow morning. I can't work efficiently but slow and steady works fine. While working in the apartment the guests in the 5th wheel asked if they could stay another night but I had to turn them down, it is booked for tonight. They didn't leave until a little after 11:00 am. Mark emptied the tanks while I grabbed the laundry and took that into the apartment to wash so I could continue to clean the apartment while the laundry was going. Both the 5th wheel and the apartment were finished by 1:00 pm. Not too bad for an old lady with a new hip. Then it was time to go to the house to start our laundry. 

Yesterday Mike dropped Irish and Rosaleigh and their colts off at Middle Grove and brought back Mika, Sangria, Missy and Cookie. At least that is who he thought he brought back. I took the golf cart over to check those horses and instead of Sangria I see Jury, Rhoda's horse. Rhoda was sent a text with a picture and she sent back, "Good I'll ride her tomorrow."  Mike said Jury came right up to him and was first in the trailer so thought it was Sangria. Sangria has a big belly from colic surgery and Jury has a big belly as she is due in less than a month and both mares are Andalusian's so we understand why the mistake was made. Remember the Canada trucker convoy?   Jordan Peterson's gave an update on the person considered the number ONE political prisoner in Canada, a lady by the name Tamara Lich. She was one of the organizers of the convoy. 

After what happened to these truly peaceful protesters, how the good people of Canada supported them How Justin Trudeau called them a small fringe group while the news organizations were labeling them Nazi's and saying they were flying Confederate flags and how the money raised for the truckers was stolen, how the Canada bank system froze accounts and even though it wasn't publicized caused a run on the banks of Canada. It was good to see that these truckers really did make a difference. The video is long with a lot of ads but I found it interesting.

This evening I got the stove cleaned up and the dishes done so tomorrow should be an easy morning before leaving for church. 

PotLuck

 I SLEPT all night in the same bed. This is the first time in over a year. I really am healing and today I decided it is time to get back to work. That came a bit later, after the walk I pulled food out of our fridge to make a nice lunch for Ruth and mom then took the golf cart over to mom's as it was my turn.  Joan is gone to family camp and had a trailer leaving that was supposed to go around 11:00 am so Ruth was going to come over then so I could go through the paper work with the man renting the trailer and help him get hooked up. Well he ended up coming at 10:00 am so Ruth came over an hour early.  While helping the man with the trailer a booking came in for the 5th wheel so as soon as that trailer left I ran over to the 5th wheel to turn on the water, looked at the camper stairs and they no longer looked insurmountable to me.  Sure enough I was easily able to walk up into the camper, turn on the electric water heater and turn on the air conditioner.  While at the barn Madiera and her colt were up at the gate so I decided to take her out and tease her. She is still in. Mike was sent a text then Madiera taken to the breeding stand and her colt put in the paddock next to that.  Since that went so well I decided to bring Valiant out, he was the perfect gentleman, waiting until I told him to mount and Madiera stood well. I was SO pleased. Valiant was put back first then Madiera and her colt.  I got back to mom's house and saw Sarah and Anna were there with their girls.  I couldn't help but brag about being able to do my job.  Ruth and mom were out on the deck watching the kids swim so I made their lunch then called them in. We had Panera's cheese and broccoli soup to start followed by a salad with poppy seed dressing, sliced chicken and a side of spaghetti with meat sauce and strawberries for dessert. I left then to drive to Aldi and bought $100.00 worth of food not getting home until 1:00 pm. Mark was here to help bring in the groceries. As soon as those were put away I went back to mom's to take Ruth's place until Karin got home. Yesterday Mike took Valerie, Tessa and Blueberry out to Middle Grove and took the video below:

This evening he took Irish and Rosaleigh out with their foals. No pictures or videos of that yet. This evening we had potluck at Mike and Lisa's house.

Besides Mark and I, Chelsi and CJ along with Steve and Lois were the guests. We had such a nice meal and a wonderful evening visiting.  Mike grilled porkchops that were juicy and delicious, Lois brought an amazing salad that even had pears in it, I brought cheesy carrots, Lisa made baked potatoes and a topping for the potatoes that really made those potatoes special and then Chelsi made creme brulee. 

After supper we sat out on the patio, it was cool, comfortable and so enjoyable. A big thanks to Mike and Lisa for hosting.

2 Confirmed

 Since both Mark and I bought strawberries yesterday, we had strawberries for breakfast along with our eggs and sausage. Just Diane and I walked, Ruth is camping at Middle Grove and Joan left to drop off 5 raccoons across the river. After the walk I went out to feed and was watching the two youngest foals play in the woods.

The two older colts (these are all boys left here on the farm) were also playing with each other but stopped when the camera came out.

Later I drove in to Hanna City to pick up some cash and was pleased at how easy it was to get in and out of the car. Tomorrow I'll go grocery shopping and would have today but wasn't sure what time Dr. Hoerr would arrive so decided to just wait until tomorrow for that job. At 5:00 pm the clinic called to say he would be here in 5 or 10 minutes. Mike was sent a text then I took the golf cart up to grab Rosaleigh and Irish and right then Dr. Hoerr pulled up. These two mares and their foals were taken into the stall barn and their ultrasounds were done. Irish was first and we are pleased to announce Irish was bred to Valiant and is due May 10th, 2024

Rosaleigh was next, she was bred to Evan and was also confirmed in foal. Rosaleigh is due April 26th, 2024. 

Her colt made quite an impression on Dr. Hoerr. He really is spectacular. 

The last horse for today was Titus, Indy's 2022 colt by Evan. Well he sedated pretty quickly.

It was when he was in position for the gelding that the complication came.

The inguinal hernia has not repaired itself. This is more complicated than just a simple gelding. Dr. Hoerr felt it would be best to do this one at the clinic. So for the 4th time this colt got a reprieve. I'll call the clinic and figure out when they can take him for that then just have to drive him there. Mike had the stock trailer hooked up to his truck so Blueberry was loaded into the front while Valeria and Tessa were loaded into the back. Those 3 left for Middle Grove. It was too late to take 2 trips tonight so Irish and Rosaleigh were put back in their paddock. Hopefully they can go out tomorrow. Titus was still snoring away. I went down to the house to ask Mark if he would help move him once he was awake and he agreed. The monitor was put on and it wasn't too much later that we heard him get up.  Mark led him out then went to the house to pick up his car so he could take care of the 5th wheel tanks. I grabbed a wheel barrow and got the stalls cleaned up.  I was pleased that this is a job that I can do. I don't have to bend at all, just scoop and dump. My guests coming in for 2 days have not yet arrived. These are the people that would only book if I didn't have dogs. The family was notified that all dogs must stay home tomorrow.  Speaking of dogs, Sarah and Nolan's Cavapoo Willow had her puppies. There are 2 available. 

If interested in one of these adorable teddybear puppies just click HERE for more information.