Another Trip to Elgin

 Early this morning the review came in from the family that stayed in the foaling apartment. I have to share it here as it was my grand daughter Braelyn who cleaned it by herself. Usually Anna checks it but was not able to this time. Check THIS out! Perfect place for families with children. The place was immaculate, spacious and simply lovely. We were very impressed by how large the space was with plenty of room for our 3 Children to spread out their toys and play. The huge couch was so cozy (and clean) for cuddling. For me, one mark of cleanliness is often the washer and dryer, which in many places have off scents from uncleaned lint screens and stinky detergents - not this one, even the washer and dryer were spotless (which we needed because my son puked all over my husband while we were out for the day) and I was so pleased they even provided laundry pods :-). Judith is super friendly and helpful. My children were thrilled when she gave them a tour of the property and introduced them to all the horses and gave them fun play ideas and just let them have freedom to feel home in the Property - it was an incredible experience for them. It’s very accurate to description -Privately she sent:  Thank-you so much for all your generosity and availability to us. All the horse pictures on the walls were very inspiring to my artist daughter and she is now working on drawing pictures of horses. My kids had a blast playing in the barn - thank-you for giving them (what is for us) the opportunity of a lifetime. If I were to add anything, Recently I’ve seen people put small things like Q-tips with the other toiletries and I find that a nice touch but certainly not a make or break type of thing. We were very happy with the place. I was recently having a conversation with some Friends about having to bring our own cleaning supplies and clean resorts/air B&B/hotels before we let our kids in cause cleaning has been a lost art. I didn’t feel the need to clean anything in your place before using it which is a big deal for me - so, good job! I also appreciated the Meyers dish soap option along side the dawn cause I personally hate the smell Of dawn- thank-you :-)

Not to brag on my grand daughter but she IS amazing and I'm thankful she is willing to work.

Mike sent the picture below off of his trail cam at Middle Grove.  This is not the first time a big Bobcat has shown up on one of the cameras.

We walked this morning and on our way back from Joan's house Spark and Rhonda stopped us with a gift for each one. 

Ruth took some over to mom's I took Spark with me to the barn. He used the truck to pick up Maria's patio set. Mark and I left for Elgin shortly after the walk. We went to visit his brother Jon who is on Hospice. This is our 3rd trip up and we are recognizing the way by now. Jon's caregiver met us at the door. They were waiting for us.

We visited until Jon got tired then left for home. We stopped at a Mexican restaurant and asked David if he would like to join us for dinner as Stephanie was with Rhoda at girls night. We still made it home before sunset. I checked on Leah at the cabin field her udder is starting to fill so she will be brought back here tomorrow. From there I went behind the barn to get a few sunset shots. God sure does paint the sky beautifully. How can one not see our Creator in the many beautiful colors?

Wonderful Sunday

 When Mark went for his walk I pulled out the potato peeler and started peeling 10 pounds of potatoes. Those were put in salt water to hold until after church. We picked up Spark this morning for church. Rhonda was needed at the jail this morning. We had a wonderful day in church with many visitors and a lot of them were my age or at least in the young group when I was. We had a wonderful time catching up. We were almost late getting into church. We also had 2 visiting ministers.  The morning message was given by Richard Martin from Gridley. Richard spoke on Exodus 17 where the people needed water. I use to read this and sympathize with them on their complaining. I could see families with little children crying, "I'm thirsty" and the adults in a panic. BUT  Richard reminded us that they had just been given manna and quail for food and right before then had seen the parting of the Red Sea. They really should have known God would provide. In my own life, especially when building the barn I had to rely on God's provision. A big bill would come and and sometimes my mind wanted to worry but each time I comforted myself with, "if God wants the barn to be built He will provide and always and I mean ALWAYS God provided when there was need. What a lesson for me as we have no idea what is going to happen in America. I just know God WILL be with me. To watch his message click HERE. The lunch room was crowded so some of us waited to eat and some ate standing up.  We made it in for the afternoon singing then Dale Koch from Tremont had the afternoon message. I think he is Dave and June's son but will need to ask Amy. He spoke on Luke 5 where Jesus asked Peter to let him use his boat to speak then after speaking told Peter to go out and let down his net. Remember Peter had been fishing all night without catching a single fish but nether-the-less he did. One of the things Dale brought up was what WAS that message Jesus gave. IT must have been so powerful and yet there is no record of that message in the Bible. Hmmm something else to ask Jesus when I'm done here. To watch his message click HERE. Mark and I left pretty quickly after it was over. I needed to get the pork loin in the oven as that needed 3 hours to get that done. Once that was in the oven the potatoes were put to boil then the carrots.  Mark went over to the barn to check out the damage from the wedding. The only real damage we found was one bath towel that was covered with some kind of pink dye. 

We have a lot of furniture to rearrange as they had moved every table and had all of the chairs out of the living area. There were also some spills to clean up. I didn't really work there although I moved 3 of the round tables back in the living area put the banquet table back where that belonged and moved in 2 of the 6 foot rectangle tables up near the kitchen to serve tonight's food. Mark helped get all the food over for the meal tonight. We had a big group, only missing one family member but had 3 extra for dinner so needed all of those tables. No pictures of that I was just a little too busy. Below is Braelyn's dessert. She opted not to have the hot apple pie instead she cut up strawberries and added that to her ice cream. 

The others were fine with the hot apple pie and cold ice cream.

Zeke was busy with the toys.

I loaded up the left overs and dish towels to be washed but the golf cart was gone. I thought it might be at the playground, it wasn't but Diane's 4 wheeler was. I snapped a couple pictures before she gave me a ride home on the 4 wheeler. The volley ball was going strong, the playground was in use and there were a lot of young cousins in the tree house.

Once home I quickly changed back into Sunday clothes then Mark and I left for the Fellowship hall to join the Invite. They were just finishing up their meal. The singing started at 6:30 pm and I'm happy to say we made it in time. The singing was beautiful and the numbers were given out so quickly that sometimes Dave had to say 2 numbers, one to sing and another to sing next. The singing was over by 7:30 pm and both mom and Aunt Jinnie were ready to leave. Both were tired from the long day. Ruth met me at mom's house to help with the bedtime routine. Dan sent a video of Abram using a sling from ancient times. Abram was slinging black walnuts and hitting a tree. Pretty cool to watch.

It is after 9:00 pm and I still have pots and pans to wash from dinner but what a wonderful Sunday. Almost like living our youth over seeing so many people we grew up with. 

Making Muesli

 Saturday we do not walk but Mark went out anyway. He is having hip and knee problems and feels the exercise is good for those joints. Breakfast was served when he got back. Just before I was due at mom's house Karin sent a group text through explaining that mom wanted to make muesli this morning. I arrived at 9:30 and started gathering the ingredients. Muesli is easy to make but one MUST use Jonathan apples. Mom wanted to buy a bushel but Aunt Jinnie talked her into just getting a half of bushel. Joan went to Christ Orchard to pick those up.  Rachel's David came in with his two pugs to visit a bit while we were waiting for Joan. Those pugs are so cute and hopefully Lucy is expecting. They visited a nice pug stud on their way out East. Lucy is the pug in the back.

David's pugs are like his children and one should never say, they have a face that only a mother could love. Those Sauders think their pugs are beautiful.  David told us on the trip a man looked at them and said, "Ugly!"  David whipped around and told him, "you'd better be talking about ME!"

Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. Joan arrived with the half bushel of Jonathans. 

We went right to work. I cut up the apples and mom and Aunt Jinnie used the apple grinder.

Once the apples were done the juice is added to the bowl of the apples, original rolled oats and a can of sweetened condensed milk. The only other ingredients added was the juice of one lemon and walnuts. Mom was almost out of walnuts so when Karin got home I left for Sam's to pick up 3 pounds of walnuts. Today there was a couple asking for money but they were entertaining us as they asked. The man was playing a violin while the lady took donations.

I would have stayed and listened but was needed at home. The walnuts were dropped off at mom's just as the bride and groom were getting their pictures taken. I went slowed way down going to mom's to keep the dust down.

Mark was at mom's dropping off the mail so was invited in for a bowel of muesli and he got a handful of walnuts with his. On the way back to the house the bridesmaids were getting their pictures taken.

They had an usher waiting at the beginning of the drive to direct people to the barn. Mark stopped to talk with him and he told Mark this place is beautiful. We forget that sometimes. It is easy to take for granite but we are thankful.  This evening I went up to move the tractor just after the sun had set but the sky was still pink and purple.

The picture below is looking through the barn.

I could hear some of the music from the wedding, it wasn't very loud but I could tell the reception was going well. Mark came up to the barn right then and helped hook the truck up to the trailer with the 40 bales of hay. Tomorrow Spark will haul that out to the fellowship hall for the church invite picnic. Our hipcamper left so I could leave the truck in the middle of the barn.

 

Website Workings

 Mark went to bed last night around 8:00 pm. I needed to stay up as the Hipcampers were arriving after 9:00 pm. They made it and were hooked up by 9:45 pm and were glad to get settled. On the way back down to the house I realized I had left the camper lights on from a couple days ago. In the daylight no one would notice so it was a good thing I had to stay up and go outside after dark. Before going over to the meeting place the apartment lights were turned on and the packNplay set up. These guests are bringing an infant. I also stopped in the barn to put the chairs down and around the tables for the wedding guests coming in. We walkers stopped at the horse barn to help Mike load horses for the vet appointment. That was kind of disappointing. Neither Jewel nor Curlin were pregnant.  Jewel is cycling and will be ready to be bred tomorrow but just in case Dr. Hoerr did acupuncture on her which is supposed to aid in ovulation. (I think that is what Mike said) Mike sent the picture below.

Curlin had just ovulated so will not be bred for 3 weeks. 

I needed to clean out the indoor arena moving equipment around so Joan could pull a trailer full of hay inside. The green haywagon was dragged over to the right side of the barn and parked next to the tractor. The cart attached to Mark's golf cart was removed and hauled over by the hay on the right side and the small Kubota was driven over by the side door on the right leaving most of the left side for the hay trailer Joan was bringing. Mark was helping me move a bale in for Valiant when Joan arrived.

The hay is really nice. Miguel and Laura sold it and helped Joan and Faith stack it. This hay is for the Peoria church invite on Sunday then will be used again for the Single invite on October 18th and 19th. After that we will stack it in the barn to be used for when we have a mare delivering in a stall. Valiant was glad for his new bale.

 As soon as that was in I went down to the house to clean up and head to Morton where I was meeting with Dan and Gaetano at Dimension 10 LTD to learn how to work on the website. That was very interesting and I learned so much. As soon as I got home I started working on the practice site Gaetano had emailed but quit by 4:30 pm so Mark and I could go to Gil's Supper Club for supper. We were there by 4:38 pm ordered the cob salad to share. 

It came very quickly and was more than enough for the both of us and we still took some home. By 5:15 pm we were finished and on our way home. I have spent the evening working on the website. 

More Hipcampers

The horses were put out early. Oliver settled right down to graze and I snapped the picture as I liked the colors, he is eating in the shade the early morning sun has lit up the back of the field and the corn in the field beyond. He is growing.

 I left to go to the barn having about 20 minutes to work there until it was time for our walk. We had a good walk this morning, Diane, Ruth, Joan and I did one round then stopped at mom's to visit with mom, Karin and Aunt Jinnie. I left at 8:30 to run home to make breakfast. After breakfast it was back to the barn. Today all of the sports equipment was taken out of the gym and stored in the closet that has the freezer in it. 

The only equipment that wouldn't fit was the pickleball nets, those were taken through the gym into the living area and through the South door then dragged over to the East side of the building.

They are out of the way there and are actually designed for outdoor play so should be fine for the next 3 days. The gym was given a good sweeping then pictures were taken off the tables, chairs and supplies in the pantry and sent to the airbnb people that booked the barn for a wedding explaining they what was available and how many tables and chairs were available.

They will be arriving tomorrow at 3:00 pm to get the barn decorated with the wedding taking place on Saturday. I explained that the office chairs and camp chairs could be stored somewhere else if she chose. I also sent her a picture of the lift now covered with sheets, the floor scrubber and sweeper and asked if she wanted me to cover them also.

After lunch Mike arrived to hook up the stock trailer and take Missy and Cookie out to Middle Grove for the winter.

After lunch the horses needed to be put back in the paddock as I had a hip camper book for tonight and tomorrow night. All the temporary fences had to be taken down. Berlica and Mackenson came over to mow. I had Berlica mow the round pen first.

That didn't take very long and the outdoor arena was mowed next.

Mackenson came in with a surprise. He found Mark's wallet that had been lost months ago. It had fallen in a crack in the grasshopper mower. Mark gave him the cash inside the wallet as a reward. Almost everything had been replaced but it is nice to have it back. Mark is researching a way to put up a small screen room at the foaling apartment. He asked Fedi if he would come give him some ideas.

The hip campers are coming in after dark this evening so I ran up to the barn to turn the lights on. They will more than likely have to stay on all night, unless they arrive before we go to bed. Mark has been online looking at different options for the foaling apartment. Tomorrow morning around 7:45 am Mike needs to start loading Candy, Curlin and Jewel for their trip to Hoerr Vet. IF Curlin and Jewel are pregnant all 3 will go out to Middle Grove. 

Forgot the Day

 I checked the waterer early this morning. There was water in it and it was overflowing but not by a lot so I left it. After the walk though the mares must have bumped it as it was overflowing at full blast. I adjusted my wiring and got it to drip enough to slowly fill it. Ruth, Joan and I walked. When Ruth and I got to Joan's we had to stop to take a few pictures of her beautiful flowers. 

Hibiscus above and marigolds below.

Joan was able to get a mirror put on the cabinet door for the motorhome. It looks brand new.

Diane and Mike are on their way home from Gulf Shores. Mark left to drive the cement mixer back. I went to the barn to start the cleaning for the wedding this weekend. First though I needed to get the lift covered.

When that was done the 3 bathrooms were cleaned and the floors swept. The game room needed a lot of organizing and a good sweeping. Mark arrived just as I was finishing that.

Mark brought home a chicken from Costco so I stopped working for lunch. That really is the cheapest but most delicious meat that can be bought at this time. After lunch the horses in the field wanted to come in. They were done grazing and had lined up at the temporary fence.

Oliver wasn't happy being that far away from Leah and was running to get close to her in the picture above.

He was happy to stand next to her and graze.

Mark went to work removing the frames off the cement squares.

He put the waterer in place but it isn't yet hooked up,

At 3:00 pm I left to first drive to Raber's to make a payment on the hog they will be roasting on October 5th then to Aldi to get a few groceries and finally to the airport to pick up Aunt Jinnie. Her plane which was supposed to have arrived yesterday was cancelled, she was shuttled to Charlotte then missed her flight to Peoria and today trying to get from the hotel to the airport took over an hour as Trump was in Charlotte. Her plane was delayed but she made it by 4:20 pm. I went in to meet her and found Joan there waiting for Aunt Jinnie. I was pretty shocked. Joan had sent a text in the morning explaining she would pick up Aunt Jinnie and I had not read it. Aunt Jinnie was also surprised to find 2 of us girls waiting for her. I took her to mom's while Joan went to Aldi. Mike and Diane got home early enough that Mike was able to repair the waterer before dark. Tonight for dinner I made home made pizza. This had bacon, sausage and pepperoni, 2 kinds of peppers, onion, black olive and 2 kinds of cheese.

I piled every thing on as when it bakes it shrinks down. Mark really enjoyed it, we only had 2 pieces left over which will be good for lunch.

\This evening I sat down to start working on the blog and was shocked to find it was 7:00 pm on a WEDNESDAY. Both Mark and I forgot it was Wednesday and missed church. Thankfully it was just 7:00 pm and we were able to get on AC Central to watch the entire church service. Craig Stickling had the message on Joshua as he was giving his last message. Craig also talked about Felix Manz an Anabaptist martyr and how he died. It was a very interesting message. Click HERE to watch that. Crazy how we could both forget that it was Wednesday.