Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Mark and the Delivery
On Sunday Mark went with me to deliver Piper to Chicago. On Monday my son David, and his wife, Stephanie the nurse came over to work on thank you notes. I was telling Stephanie about Mark helping me with the delivery Sunday and she asked Mark, "Doesn't that make you sick?" I couldn't figure out why she thought driving a horse would make him sick and asked her "you mean because of where he was going?" Mark thought the same thing, he started in with "well, the barn wasn't that great, it had such a long aisle with lots of stalls." Then she started talking about the blood and we finally figured out she thought Mark helped me with the delivery of a birth of a foal. Turned out David thought the same thing. Do great minds think alike?
THE Princess!
Below is an email from Alesia, her Princess is by Raven and out of Ribbon. She sounds like a typical Raven baby!
Hi Judy,
Princess is doing well. She has come up with quite a few antics and we have to "Princess-Proof" the place continually! LOL!
If she's in, she finds a way out..... If she's out, she finds a way in.
THE Princess has 3 doors and a window in her stall and the one that goes into the middle of the barn is now a sliding Dutch door we had made just for her so she could visit us over the top while we are in the barn. I decided it would be easier to feed by opening the bottom half for me to walk through and leave the top shut because she is too tall to duck under it... so I thought.
Yep.
You guessed it.
She ducks right under that thing!
SO, I go get her (as she is investigating things she normally can't reach) I open the top door to put her back in her stall (I just put my hand under her chin to lead her) and I decide to just put up the chain across the doorway like the other horses have (it is waist high). I go back to the front of the barn to fill water buckets and just take a glance back her way and there she is! In the middle of the barn again! She ducked that chain and I don't know how! She is almost 15.2 hh at seventeen months old for heaven's sake! I dunno, maybe she went over it? (sigh)
I dash to turn off the water, turn around to go get her and she is trying to figure out a way to get in her neighbor's stall to visit with him. I am quite sure she would have if I weren't there spoiling the fun!
Her front door is a regular Dutch door that faces out under the carriage house roof. We keep a saddle rack and some tack out there. Never thought about her being able to reach it. None of the others had. Until...The Princess.
She had artistically expressed herself and decorated the outside of her stall as far as she could reach...Saddle on the floor, saddle pads strewn about and one she must have particularly liked was in her stall. (sigh)
SO we fabricated a bar to go across the front of the top part of the Dutch door so she could still stick her head outside but not reach the saddle rack. She immediately investigates what she thinks surely must be a new toy just for her. LOL (Yep).
One day as a treat, I decided to put her out in the front pasture (wooden fence) inside a section of temporary fence. I didn't turn the electric on because she had already introduced herself to it some time ago and has respected it ever since. I went on the other side of the horse trailer to hook it up to the truck...(for about two minutes). Did you ever have the feeling you were being watched? I looked over my shoulder and there she was! Right behind me, out of the temporary fence! Plenty of green grass everywhere and she is more interested in what I'M up to! (poised to nudge me if I didn't notice her) and saying "Hi Mom! Whatchya dooin'?" (sigh)
SO, I figure she is still safely inside the wooden fence with me so I let her hang out with me while I finished.
Then I heard mischief from the back of the trailer.
I peer around, not sure what I would see next. The door of the trailer is open about a foot wide and there she is... with her head inside the trailer! I walked back and she looks at me like "Mom, I wanna see!"
SO, I open the trailer door all the way... and she just scampers right up in there! And she starts looking for who knows what??? on the floor, in the manger, even checking out the roof vents!
I left her in there till her curiousity was satisfied and she finally came out on her own! No hurry mind you. LOL!
She is so quick! and smart! and funny!
I have a ton of stories! I suppose I should be keeping a journal. Just thought I'd share a few of the comics with you! :D
~Alesia
Hi Judy,
Princess is doing well. She has come up with quite a few antics and we have to "Princess-Proof" the place continually! LOL!
If she's in, she finds a way out..... If she's out, she finds a way in.
THE Princess has 3 doors and a window in her stall and the one that goes into the middle of the barn is now a sliding Dutch door we had made just for her so she could visit us over the top while we are in the barn. I decided it would be easier to feed by opening the bottom half for me to walk through and leave the top shut because she is too tall to duck under it... so I thought.
Yep.
You guessed it.
She ducks right under that thing!
SO, I go get her (as she is investigating things she normally can't reach) I open the top door to put her back in her stall (I just put my hand under her chin to lead her) and I decide to just put up the chain across the doorway like the other horses have (it is waist high). I go back to the front of the barn to fill water buckets and just take a glance back her way and there she is! In the middle of the barn again! She ducked that chain and I don't know how! She is almost 15.2 hh at seventeen months old for heaven's sake! I dunno, maybe she went over it? (sigh)
I dash to turn off the water, turn around to go get her and she is trying to figure out a way to get in her neighbor's stall to visit with him. I am quite sure she would have if I weren't there spoiling the fun!
Her front door is a regular Dutch door that faces out under the carriage house roof. We keep a saddle rack and some tack out there. Never thought about her being able to reach it. None of the others had. Until...The Princess.
She had artistically expressed herself and decorated the outside of her stall as far as she could reach...Saddle on the floor, saddle pads strewn about and one she must have particularly liked was in her stall. (sigh)
SO we fabricated a bar to go across the front of the top part of the Dutch door so she could still stick her head outside but not reach the saddle rack. She immediately investigates what she thinks surely must be a new toy just for her. LOL (Yep).
One day as a treat, I decided to put her out in the front pasture (wooden fence) inside a section of temporary fence. I didn't turn the electric on because she had already introduced herself to it some time ago and has respected it ever since. I went on the other side of the horse trailer to hook it up to the truck...(for about two minutes). Did you ever have the feeling you were being watched? I looked over my shoulder and there she was! Right behind me, out of the temporary fence! Plenty of green grass everywhere and she is more interested in what I'M up to! (poised to nudge me if I didn't notice her) and saying "Hi Mom! Whatchya dooin'?" (sigh)
SO, I figure she is still safely inside the wooden fence with me so I let her hang out with me while I finished.
Then I heard mischief from the back of the trailer.
I peer around, not sure what I would see next. The door of the trailer is open about a foot wide and there she is... with her head inside the trailer! I walked back and she looks at me like "Mom, I wanna see!"
SO, I open the trailer door all the way... and she just scampers right up in there! And she starts looking for who knows what??? on the floor, in the manger, even checking out the roof vents!
I left her in there till her curiousity was satisfied and she finally came out on her own! No hurry mind you. LOL!
She is so quick! and smart! and funny!
I have a ton of stories! I suppose I should be keeping a journal. Just thought I'd share a few of the comics with you! :D
~Alesia
Coggins & Worming
Dr. Pallen called as she was leaving a farm in Edward's Illinois and decided to go to the farm before coming to Bridlewood. Steven Marchal volunteered to go to the farm to meet her and get the fillies ready. That went off without a hitch. He even had time to move Izadora and Aragon out to the cabin pasture. It is time for her colt to start playing with the other foals and the breeding shed paddock needs to be opened up for the next 2 horses coming in. Steven called as she was leaving the farm so I had plenty of time to get the 2 foals from Bridlewood out of the mud and ready. I decided while they were out, I may as well worm them. I'm amazed at how good they were, both stood very well for worming. This is the second worming they have had so this time I used Ivermectin. This is a stronger wormer and also kills bots. We use this after the first hard frost.
WOW Daughter by Our Friesian Stallion RAVEN
The mare below is a Raven daughter owned by a lady from Michigan out of an Oldenburg mare and she is for sale. I remember well when her dam was brought all the way from Michigan to breed to Raven. We offered cooled fresh shiped semen but the owner at that time really wanted to bring her down. It is nice to see how wonderful the foal turned out. Every trainer that works with any of Raven's offspring say almost the same thing just read her ad below.
Belladona is a nice 6 year old mare has been brought along slowly. Well started under saddle and with trainer now~Trainer says this mare is one of the smartest horses he has ever worked with! Sweet temperment, intelligent and quick to learn. She has been on many trail rides and she is ready to take on in the discipline of your choice. With a solid build and her exquisite "swan" neck, she is truly an impressive mare. Solid walk, trot and canter. Dressage/combined driving/English pleasure/Trails~
She is for sale for $4200.00. She is owned by M. Moon and her phone number is:
231-762-4469
Belladona is a nice 6 year old mare has been brought along slowly. Well started under saddle and with trainer now~Trainer says this mare is one of the smartest horses he has ever worked with! Sweet temperment, intelligent and quick to learn. She has been on many trail rides and she is ready to take on in the discipline of your choice. With a solid build and her exquisite "swan" neck, she is truly an impressive mare. Solid walk, trot and canter. Dressage/combined driving/English pleasure/Trails~
She is for sale for $4200.00. She is owned by M. Moon and her phone number is:
231-762-4469
The Tire
This morning early I reminded Mark about the low tire on the truck but for some reason he didn't get going very early, he walks out the door 5 after 7:00am, looks at the tire and says, "yes, thats a low tire, make sure they fill it before they leave," and drives off. The air compressor here at the house is hard to use and that was why we really needed him to fill the tire. I jumped in my car started driving to the farm, called Rhoda and told her just drive straight to Casey's and fill the tire. She tells Sarah, she doesn't have time, jumps in her car, then calls Sarah and tells her to drive to Casey's and fill the tire. Sarah calls me and tells me that Rhoda took her car and left her with the truck with a flat tire. So I get home from the farm and here is the note Sarah left: "I am so thankful for my family, they steal my car and leave me with a truck that's got a flat tire....o well, my car has no gas, so overall its a win."
At the farm Raven was given another round bale. I'm heading to work but the vet is coming around 1:00pm first to Bridlewood to draw coggins on 2 of the foals, then to the farm to draw coggins on 2 more of the foals. Not quite sure how I'm going to get everyone in stalls and ready unless we get done from work early. Will have to push it!
At the farm Raven was given another round bale. I'm heading to work but the vet is coming around 1:00pm first to Bridlewood to draw coggins on 2 of the foals, then to the farm to draw coggins on 2 more of the foals. Not quite sure how I'm going to get everyone in stalls and ready unless we get done from work early. Will have to push it!
Monday, November 30, 2009
A Ticket?
OK, No one will EVER guess who got pulled over for going 10 miles per hour OVER the speed limit. Just try to guess, I'll put the answer at the bottom of this post.
Took the trailer back to the farm this morning in just enough time to walk. Sangria had to be moved from Raven's paddock, she is not sharing the grain and Sangria doesn't need grain so Raven is back by himself. His hay situation was checked and he will need another round bale tomorrow at the earliest, he may be able to wait a couple of days. Rhoda's car we dropped off at Byerline's garage, her drivers side window fell down and wouldn't close so she took my car and I took Sarah's car to the hospital. Sarah took my truck to work. When I get home from the hospital I see that the truck now has a low tire, hmmmm what did she run over.
Bernice is doing a little better, she had an eKg earlier, an eeg and mri scheduled for today. When the nurse came in to start hooking up all the wires I told her I know what an e e g is and I even know what a M R I is but Bernice also had an e G G today and wondered if she could explain that to me. The poor nurse was stymied, just couldn't figure out what the e G G was, I finally told her, it was this little white round shaped thing most people eat for breakfast. She laughed, told her that was my dad's joke.
Once home from the hospital Dan and Spark took me out to the Old School Center to work on the New Year's eve plans. I am in charge of taking the reservations for the suites and cabins. They gave me a map of where each suite and cabin was located, the door number and how many each slept. We were back to the shop around 4:45pm. I checked my email and found out David and Stephanie are coming over so ran home to straighten up the kitchen and playroom. Now I just have to figure out what to serve for dinner.
OK, the answer is MARK!!! He is the slowest driver and has NEVER in his life been pulled over for speeding. The police man didn't even give him a ticket.
Took the trailer back to the farm this morning in just enough time to walk. Sangria had to be moved from Raven's paddock, she is not sharing the grain and Sangria doesn't need grain so Raven is back by himself. His hay situation was checked and he will need another round bale tomorrow at the earliest, he may be able to wait a couple of days. Rhoda's car we dropped off at Byerline's garage, her drivers side window fell down and wouldn't close so she took my car and I took Sarah's car to the hospital. Sarah took my truck to work. When I get home from the hospital I see that the truck now has a low tire, hmmmm what did she run over.
Bernice is doing a little better, she had an eKg earlier, an eeg and mri scheduled for today. When the nurse came in to start hooking up all the wires I told her I know what an e e g is and I even know what a M R I is but Bernice also had an e G G today and wondered if she could explain that to me. The poor nurse was stymied, just couldn't figure out what the e G G was, I finally told her, it was this little white round shaped thing most people eat for breakfast. She laughed, told her that was my dad's joke.
Once home from the hospital Dan and Spark took me out to the Old School Center to work on the New Year's eve plans. I am in charge of taking the reservations for the suites and cabins. They gave me a map of where each suite and cabin was located, the door number and how many each slept. We were back to the shop around 4:45pm. I checked my email and found out David and Stephanie are coming over so ran home to straighten up the kitchen and playroom. Now I just have to figure out what to serve for dinner.
OK, the answer is MARK!!! He is the slowest driver and has NEVER in his life been pulled over for speeding. The police man didn't even give him a ticket.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Piper Gone, Bernice Otto
Mark rode along with me to deliver Piper to his new home. We left around 4:30 pm and made it home by 9:45pm. It is a big barn near Chicago, IL with 42 stalls and all the stalls were filled. They were big 12 x 12 and bedded with the same bedding we use at Bridlewood. We are glad to be home. I think Rhoda will be taking the puppy for overnight. Bernice Otto is in Proctor Hospital and I'll be heading there tomorrow morning and stay until Velma Hoerr, Bernice's sister, comes in the afternoon. Bernice worked for us for years! When she retired she started volunteering at Berean Prison Ministry until she was well in her eighty's. She suffered a stroke on Friday, then a blood clot behind her right eye and lost vision in that eye. The vision is slowly coming back. I think Bernice is 88 years old, she just had her birthday the 25th of this month.
Puppy Names
Rhoda took the puppy last night to Rachel Sauder's house as they were putting up their manger scene. This is a tradition from years ago when we were kids. My parents would put up the HUGE home made nativity scene my dad made and mom painted and then we would all sing around the piano Christmas songs. I'm so glad Rachel is carrying on the tradition. The kids all want to call the puppy Emma so all the names we worked on so hard were quickly discarded. I'm not sure she is an Emma.
She had a pretty good night, we made an enclosed bed for her right by my side of the bed and I crashed around 9:30pm. I woke up to whining around 12:30 but it was on Mark's side of the bed and I woke up very confused, turned on the light and there was Darcy asking to go outside. Decided to wake up the puppy and take her out at the same time so down the stairs carrying this 30 pound puppy, outside in my nightgown where both dogs took their time going, then up the stairs carrying this 30 pound puppy. I thought, mmm what a good aerobic work out. At 4:00am more whining and this time it was the puppy, not Darcy, so scooped her back up, down the stairs and back outside in my nightgown, back up the stairs and this time I thought, how much weight did she gain since the last time I bet she weighs 50 pounds! At 7:00am Darcy comes bounding in the room wanting to do her job so groaningly try to pick up the puppy, hobble down the stairs and outside with my nightgown & robe on, watch her go then let Darcy get the paper. Darcy grabs the paper, runs out into the side yard and scatters it EVERYWHERE. Do you think she's MAD? So out I go shoving bits of paper in my arms as fast as I can before the neighbors look out.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Website
I tried to get on my website to mark Piper sold and something is WRONG. Philip is in Kansas and won't be able to help me fix it until Monday. BOTHER! I can't get the website to update ANYTHING!
OK, I figured out this morning what was wrong. I did cause the problem but the very thrilling thing for me is that I figured out what was wrong and FIXED IT! Either I'm getting smarter or the internet is getting easier.
OK, I figured out this morning what was wrong. I did cause the problem but the very thrilling thing for me is that I figured out what was wrong and FIXED IT! Either I'm getting smarter or the internet is getting easier.
New Puppy & Piper SOLD
We sold Piper today and he will be leaving tomorrow right after church. I don't have his papers back from the Friesian Heritage Horse & Sport International but the new owners will have me mail them as soon as they come. They are very pleased with their purchase. They are getting a GREAT BUY! They paid with credit card so he is paid in full the day they came to look at him. Those credit cards are like magic!
Our big news is the new addition to our family. I don't know if the girls have settled on a name yet, some of the suggestions were Leah, Roxy, Rory, and Tyra.
I love the pictures of my grand daughter Addyson meeting her.
The first few pictures are of Addyson and her daddy, Ben with the puppy.
Addyson enjoyed the pup but didn't like her tongue. the next couple pictures was Darcy getting to know her. She is not thrilled and wants the new addition to go home quickly. Poor Darcy, she doesn't know this one is permanent.
We had to get some close ups of her beautiful face!
Have you ever seen anything more sweet?
Friday, November 27, 2009
The Day After
This may be the only time today I have to post. Our Thanksgiving dinner was one of the easiest dinners we have ever had serving more than 90 people. This was because we had the dinner at the Old School Center in Farmington, IL and the older grandkids all brought food. We had the prayer about 1:15pm and the 2 lines seemed to go off without a problem. There was PLENTY of food for all. After dinner was the awesome volley ball games in the gym, football in the theater, and cozy visiting in the library where the young girls were playing mountain lion and pony. One funny story was trying to tell Kim Sceggel their names, I did very well until I came to a little girl playing with the rest. I just couldn't place her and told Kim, that must be one of Amy Beth's daughters, turned out it was Emily Pence, not even related.
Once the school was cleaned up we headed home with lots of leftovers and wow were they needed. We ended up with a group of 18 big kids here for dinner. I headed over to Morton, IL to take Nancy home around 7:30pm. She was exhausted and by the time I got back to Peoria, so was I so Mark and I headed up to bed around 9:30 and pretty much fell asleep immediately. We were up just before 5:00am and were quietly talking over the day when we heard Addyson start to cry. She really got upset so Ben let me take her downstairs where she just wanted to PLAY. We had a very sweet morning just the 2 of us. Breakfast was planned for 8:30am and Sarah called from her shopping trip around 6:30 to tell us she was bringing 8 more people home for breakfast. I sent Mark to the store for paper plates and napkins, we were completely out, and I didn't want to have another bunch of dishes to wash.
We served 36 farm fresh scrambled eggs, 3 pounds of bacon, 3 pounds of sausage, a huge plate of pancakes with real butter and syrup, sweet black seedless grapes, 2 coffee cakes, fresh squeezed orange juice, coffee, and home made pumpkin bread from Kim. The shoppers made it here in plenty of time with treasures and fun stories. We served 16 hungry people and didn't have very many left overs to put away. They had all been up since 4:00am or EARLIER to get the bargains.
Jon and Kim left for home around 10:00am. Karin was heading out to the farm for a trail ride and she called around 11:00am to tell me Sangria is in season and did I want her bred? Yes, she will be bred then Sangria will now be kept with Raven for the winter as his special companion. Funny, it is now 11:15am and I'm ready for a nap.
Once the school was cleaned up we headed home with lots of leftovers and wow were they needed. We ended up with a group of 18 big kids here for dinner. I headed over to Morton, IL to take Nancy home around 7:30pm. She was exhausted and by the time I got back to Peoria, so was I so Mark and I headed up to bed around 9:30 and pretty much fell asleep immediately. We were up just before 5:00am and were quietly talking over the day when we heard Addyson start to cry. She really got upset so Ben let me take her downstairs where she just wanted to PLAY. We had a very sweet morning just the 2 of us. Breakfast was planned for 8:30am and Sarah called from her shopping trip around 6:30 to tell us she was bringing 8 more people home for breakfast. I sent Mark to the store for paper plates and napkins, we were completely out, and I didn't want to have another bunch of dishes to wash.
We served 36 farm fresh scrambled eggs, 3 pounds of bacon, 3 pounds of sausage, a huge plate of pancakes with real butter and syrup, sweet black seedless grapes, 2 coffee cakes, fresh squeezed orange juice, coffee, and home made pumpkin bread from Kim. The shoppers made it here in plenty of time with treasures and fun stories. We served 16 hungry people and didn't have very many left overs to put away. They had all been up since 4:00am or EARLIER to get the bargains.
Jon and Kim left for home around 10:00am. Karin was heading out to the farm for a trail ride and she called around 11:00am to tell me Sangria is in season and did I want her bred? Yes, she will be bred then Sangria will now be kept with Raven for the winter as his special companion. Funny, it is now 11:15am and I'm ready for a nap.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
End of the World Story
Ben told us this morning about what the state cop in his Bible study shared on Monday evening.
The state cop patrols the Champaign area.
A lady was driving at night last week in the RAIN and passed a hitch hiker. She felt bad as the weather was so awful so she went back and told him she would give him a ride. He climbed in the back seat but didn't say anything. She started driving when all of a sudden he says, "The trumpet is about to blow." She turns around and he is GONE.
She is hysterical and pulls over to the side of the road. The state cop pulls up and asks her what is wrong and she tells him you wouldn't believe me if I told you. The cop tells her, "tell me anyway you never know." When she tells him what happened, he says to her, "I do believe you this is the 4th time it has happened tonight."
Ben is relating this story today and we all got CHILLS!
The state cop patrols the Champaign area.
A lady was driving at night last week in the RAIN and passed a hitch hiker. She felt bad as the weather was so awful so she went back and told him she would give him a ride. He climbed in the back seat but didn't say anything. She started driving when all of a sudden he says, "The trumpet is about to blow." She turns around and he is GONE.
She is hysterical and pulls over to the side of the road. The state cop pulls up and asks her what is wrong and she tells him you wouldn't believe me if I told you. The cop tells her, "tell me anyway you never know." When she tells him what happened, he says to her, "I do believe you this is the 4th time it has happened tonight."
Ben is relating this story today and we all got CHILLS!
Addyson on Thanksgiving
It is Thanksgiving morning, we have been up since 6:00am doing laundry and final finishing on the house before our other company comes. Mopping the kitchen and playroom floor I had to quit to watch Addyson get her bath in the kitchen sink.
When Taunya brought her over last night, they discovered why she finally got quiet in the car. She had pulled her headband over her face, took off the flower and started chewing on the flower. No one would have thought of posing her THIS way!
I know this was blurry but I couldn't resist, she was just enjoying her bath so much.
Addyson LOVING her bath.
When Taunya brought her over last night, they discovered why she finally got quiet in the car. She had pulled her headband over her face, took off the flower and started chewing on the flower. No one would have thought of posing her THIS way!
I know this was blurry but I couldn't resist, she was just enjoying her bath so much.
Addyson LOVING her bath.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Puppy? and Classy SOLD!
Big news here, Rhoda is getting a puppy. Sunday after church Lord willing we are traveling up to Chicago to pick up a fawn female English Mastiff pup with FULL Registration papers and rights.
After taking care of things at the farm, the rain started again. Driving home in the rain is getting to be a common experience. The turkey was done around 9:45am and by the time it was taken out of the oven the pies were ready to go in. Four pumpkin and four pecan were all ready just as soon as the oven had room. While the pies were baking the turkey was sliced and the gravy made. Once the pies were done the other pumpkin dessert was ready to go in the oven. The oven was on from early this morning until late afternoon. The house unfortunately didn't smell as good as it should, I spilled some pumpkin in the oven and that filled the house with smoke. Just about the time the smoke was thick and I was opening the doors to air out the house, Ben, Taunya, and Addyson pulled up. They are staying here for a couple of days. Had to explain about the smoke. Rhoda, Sarah, Ben, and Taunya let me babysit while they did some shopping and went out to eat.
They got back here around 4:30pm so I went out to bring Classy in out of the rain for his new owners. They actually put down a deposit so we will mark him sold. He is going to a GREAT home. The mud is so bad, we took Classy into the indoor arena and let him loose. He had to show off with his HUGE trot. I wasn't sure how he would act, he has never been in the barn but he did good.
A really neat phone call came today. A lady buying a 4 year old Raven daughter called to get some information. She told me that when she first told her trainer she was going to look at a Friesian TB cross in Indiana, the trainer was not at all thrilled. She told him the 4 year old is by the Friesian stallion Raven down in Peoria, IL. He said, "I know that stallion, BUY her!"
What a wonderful reputation Raven's offspring are getting!
After taking care of things at the farm, the rain started again. Driving home in the rain is getting to be a common experience. The turkey was done around 9:45am and by the time it was taken out of the oven the pies were ready to go in. Four pumpkin and four pecan were all ready just as soon as the oven had room. While the pies were baking the turkey was sliced and the gravy made. Once the pies were done the other pumpkin dessert was ready to go in the oven. The oven was on from early this morning until late afternoon. The house unfortunately didn't smell as good as it should, I spilled some pumpkin in the oven and that filled the house with smoke. Just about the time the smoke was thick and I was opening the doors to air out the house, Ben, Taunya, and Addyson pulled up. They are staying here for a couple of days. Had to explain about the smoke. Rhoda, Sarah, Ben, and Taunya let me babysit while they did some shopping and went out to eat.
They got back here around 4:30pm so I went out to bring Classy in out of the rain for his new owners. They actually put down a deposit so we will mark him sold. He is going to a GREAT home. The mud is so bad, we took Classy into the indoor arena and let him loose. He had to show off with his HUGE trot. I wasn't sure how he would act, he has never been in the barn but he did good.
A really neat phone call came today. A lady buying a 4 year old Raven daughter called to get some information. She told me that when she first told her trainer she was going to look at a Friesian TB cross in Indiana, the trainer was not at all thrilled. She told him the 4 year old is by the Friesian stallion Raven down in Peoria, IL. He said, "I know that stallion, BUY her!"
What a wonderful reputation Raven's offspring are getting!
Cook, Bake, work & Clean
We were up this morning at 5:00 to start Thanksgiving preparation. The turkey was pulled out of the refrigerator and the giblets removed to start boiling them for the stuffing. As they were cooking the rest of the stuffing was being prepared and the oven was put on preheat. By 6:30am the turkey was stuffed and in the oven! That needs to be cooked today, sliced and ready for serving after church tomorrow as there won't be enough time tomorrow. We now also have 4 turkeys and one spiral sliced ham for the meat as the group keeps growing. One of the turkeys we will keep whole and have it sliced after the prayer kind of as a center piece. The pies will be started after the turkey is cooked so I have room in the oven. I'm making 4 pecan and 4 pumpkin. I also need to head down to work to get the individual Bibles out, I think we have almost 200 waiting. The labels are printed and I have the stamps, just need to put them on the Bible and get them to the post office. It sounds easier than it actually is. We have some family coming in today to stay with us and some coming tomorrow. I love having a full house!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
More Rain
We were up by 5:00am, only because we were in bed by 9:00pm last night. The day yesterday was so nice, warm 57 degrees and NOT raining so we really worked hard, couldn't stay up past nine. I get to the farm with enough time before the walk to get Izadora covered by Raven and the mares grained. Checked on the 6 at the cabin pasture and all is well. The middle paddock was opened so the herd can get to another automatic waterer and the automatic waterer is now hooked up and working for the first paddock. It cost $645.00 to get the drilling done for the water and electric lines, we already had the waterer and the rest Mike and Ralph did. We had a good walk, then home to water and grain the foals at Bridlewood and quickly to TEMCO to pick up the mail. Eva Jean still beat me in to Meister Brothers but not by too much. We had a LOT of mail today but still got done by 11:40am and took off with Philip, Mark, and Spark for lunch at Denny's. By the time we finished lunch it was POURING rain. I am so glad Rachel traded with me and took the pictures yesterday. The rain is not suppose to stop until Thanksgiving and then turn to snow showers. We are not suppose to get any accumulation but still how much more rain can the ground hold? The Kickapoo Creek is close to flooding again. The outdoor arena is under water and flooding the yard. Good thing I have tall boots!
What a surprise when I got home from work. Sarah had the day off and CLEANED the house to get ready for the company coming in on Wednesday. She even cleaned the attic and the basement. How THANKFUL I am for hard working daughters!
What a surprise when I got home from work. Sarah had the day off and CLEANED the house to get ready for the company coming in on Wednesday. She even cleaned the attic and the basement. How THANKFUL I am for hard working daughters!
Nothing Like a Father's Love
God is just giving us an example of His Love in the story below:
These little bunnies, about 6 days old, were attacked by a dog and orphaned.. Two out of the litter of five did not survive, and these three were not doing very well.
Noah is a non-releasable, one-legged homing pigeon/rock dove that is in the rehab centre. Noah kept going over to the bunny cage and looking in -- even sleeping in front of the door to the cage. Then, suddenly, there were only two bunnies in the cage. But when Noah moved a bit from the front of the cage to everyone's surprise..there was the tiny bunny..under Noah's wing....sound asleep! That little bunny rabbit had crawled through the cage, preferring a featherbed, no doubt to snuggling up with its littermates! Now, they are all together and the bunnies are doing GREAT. When the bunnies scoot underneath Noah's feathers, he carefully extends his wings out to surround them and then they snuggle.. When one of them moves and they start sticking out here and there, he gently pushes them back under him with his beak! It is beautiful and amazing to see....
These little bunnies, about 6 days old, were attacked by a dog and orphaned.. Two out of the litter of five did not survive, and these three were not doing very well.
Noah is a non-releasable, one-legged homing pigeon/rock dove that is in the rehab centre. Noah kept going over to the bunny cage and looking in -- even sleeping in front of the door to the cage. Then, suddenly, there were only two bunnies in the cage. But when Noah moved a bit from the front of the cage to everyone's surprise..there was the tiny bunny..under Noah's wing....sound asleep! That little bunny rabbit had crawled through the cage, preferring a featherbed, no doubt to snuggling up with its littermates! Now, they are all together and the bunnies are doing GREAT. When the bunnies scoot underneath Noah's feathers, he carefully extends his wings out to surround them and then they snuggle.. When one of them moves and they start sticking out here and there, he gently pushes them back under him with his beak! It is beautiful and amazing to see....
Email from Sally Herman a Trauma Nurse
"I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine…
Song of Songs 6:3
Great is His love and faithfulness. It’s His faithfulness that carries us!
Let us sing about the glories of His name.
His awesomeness let us forever proclaim!
Until, He ...Our Bridegroom comes and takes us--- His Bride, away!
As we flew over the scene of the accident, all I saw was crumpled metal. Car and truck metal, various car parts, broken glass and personal belongings had been thrown all over the highway; stopping all traffic from the west to the east. From the air, I had to rub my eyes a few times to figure out the mechanics of this multiple car and truck accident. A runaway car had crossed over the median; thus, rolling against the oncoming 75-mph traffic like a torpedo out-of-control. Caught completely off guard, people driving in their cars and trucks slammed their brakes in hopes to keep from colliding and crashing. However, what was hoped for ended up being cars and trucks rolling all over the highway like wind-swept tumbleweeds blowing across the desert floor.
Many helicopters were called as this scene filled up with ambulances and fire trucks. Police stood on all sides of the highway stopping all oncoming and going traffic. As we gathered our wits, my partner and I quickly jumped out of our helicopter and walked over the mountains of metal while carrying all our gear--not knowing what to expect.
Our patient (a 26 year-old woman with the most beautiful china doll face) was lying on the ground, covered with a blanket while supported on her side by three firemen; she was crying out in pain.
I knelt down beside her. As I was kneeling down onto the gravel and glass, I took a quick look at her crumbled car and noticed something that took my breath away. In the driver’s seat was her husband. The car had completely wrapped around him before turning on its side. He was lying still in what was left of the drivers seat; his head covered with a blanket.
I knew.
I knew he had died instantly. Lying on the ground beside the driver’s side of the car was his left leg that had been torn from his large muscular frame.
My heart stopped for what seemed like forever--as I took all this in.
His bride lay on the ground crying out in pain. I quickly came back to the task at hand and began examining this young girl for life-threatening injuries. The firemen supported her on her side; for she could not lie on her back. Her left leg was folded up like an accordion. She had fractured her left femur which is one of the most painful of all trauma injuries. We got to work right away. We started IV’s and told her that her pain was going to go away in a just few minutes as I drew up the much needed pain medication. She looked at me, covered in blood from the top of her head down to her arms and chest and politely said..
“Oh thank you, thank you so much!"
Her pain had ceased with the appropriate medication and we pulled her left leg into a traction splint which further relieved the excruciating pain from the fracture. We had placed her on oxygen and I then began to examine her other injuries.
Where did all this blood come from?
I tenderly wiped the blood from her face, her eyes while feeling all over head for external wounds that had caused such blood loss. None.
Wiping off her chest, shoulders, arms and hands---- still nothing.
I then realized something. She was covered with the blood of her groom. When the firemen had extricated her from the vehicle, they found that she had been thrown behind her husband during the impact of the crash.
He had taken the blow; he had died in her place.
It was the shedding of his blood that had covered her. He had shielded her from what would have been a sure fate of death for the both of them.
My eyes welled up. The reality of this hit me. I took a moment to glance down at her left hand. There it was. She wore a beautiful diamond ring; however it was now covered with the blood of her husband.
Simply put---she wore a blood-diamond.
I dropped the gauze towel that was in my hand. I could no longer wipe off anymore of that precious blood. It was as if this moment had become very Holy in the midst of the surrounding chaos that comes with working an accident scene of this magnitude. People were crying and yelling while firemen were running around ripping through car metal with loud machinery in order to set other patient’s free.
Trying to work quickly, we did all we could for her before we lifted her up and carried her traction-splinted body on the backboard to the helicopter.
I walked beside her and held onto her blood-covered hand.
“We are going to take you in the helicopter, sweetheart. We are going to get you to the hospital where they can take really good care of your fractured leg.”
She looked at me completely unaware of the proportion of her loss along with the reality of her own redemption and softly said, “Oh… thank you, thank you so much.”
You see, the human body by God’s design is built to handle only so much shock at one time. Even though she had been trapped behind her dead husband’s body and the firemen had to work around him to get her out---her mind had blocked it. It is a God given self-protecting mechanism built within our soul. The pain from her fractured femur was enough to overtake all of her senses. If she had grasped the reality of all her losses, her physical and sensory systems would have exploded and she would have quickly gone into shock--shutdown. She would have physically died.
Flying over the desert to the trauma center, we worked on our beautiful bride. Arriving into the trauma center---we gave report to the trauma team as they quickly began to work on her.
We told them there was a 963—on scene.
She would not get the tragic news of what had happened until the proper people were positioned to be there for her support. I left her with the team and quietly went up to the hospital roof where my helicopter was awaiting. It had begun to softly rain. I was numb to what had just happened.
Lord, Jesus… Why does there have to be so much pain in this world?
I couldn’t shake off my grief for this girl. At that very moment, the sun started shining against the light rain. I closed the door of the helicopter as we started to slowly lift off the helipad. My mind was far away…. However, God was working to break through the distance and held my heart in a defining moment.
God answered my questions.
For, as we started to fly, I noticed our helicopter was eclipsed by the most colorful rainbow I had ever seen. In fact, from the middle I could see both ends of this beautiful color scheme.
We were exactly centered in the middle of this beautiful creation!
And can you believe this? It stayed with us until we landed safely at our home-base.
Although, not audible… God was speaking. He was speaking to my questioning heart in a way that was as beautiful as that rainbow.
My child---do you remember the story? Do you remember the promise I made at the creation of that rainbow? Although, many years have come and gone, my Word still stands strong. My child, I made a promise to you and to the entire world that I would not drown-out the evil of the world—again.
Instead, I would bring to the entire world the promise of redemption by my Own Son. He would be the One to absorb all the evil of the world; be crushed, broken and shoulder every blow of every evil thing meant to destroy you. My dear child, He is Your Bridegroom. His blood is the blood that covers over you. He bought and saved you; your engagement ring is covered by the high price of His blood.
My child, Your Bridegroom is coming back for you. Hang on.
I promise you, that every pain of this world will be ended.
I PROMISE
I Love You,
Your Bridegroom.
Great is Your Faithfulness, Oh Lord.
It is Your Faithfulness that carries me.
Even in the many times I’ve run away.
Forsook Your love and all Your grace.
Still, You called me back by my own name.
Yes, You care---You cared enough that I would be saved.
I will forever sing the glories of Your name.
Your awesomeness I will proclaim..
Until You come, My Bridegroom---until You come
to
Take Your Bride away.
Like a thief in the night….You will surely come!
You will come and take Your Bride away!
Hang on my child… your hope is in His promise!
Song of Songs 6:3
Great is His love and faithfulness. It’s His faithfulness that carries us!
Let us sing about the glories of His name.
His awesomeness let us forever proclaim!
Until, He ...Our Bridegroom comes and takes us--- His Bride, away!
As we flew over the scene of the accident, all I saw was crumpled metal. Car and truck metal, various car parts, broken glass and personal belongings had been thrown all over the highway; stopping all traffic from the west to the east. From the air, I had to rub my eyes a few times to figure out the mechanics of this multiple car and truck accident. A runaway car had crossed over the median; thus, rolling against the oncoming 75-mph traffic like a torpedo out-of-control. Caught completely off guard, people driving in their cars and trucks slammed their brakes in hopes to keep from colliding and crashing. However, what was hoped for ended up being cars and trucks rolling all over the highway like wind-swept tumbleweeds blowing across the desert floor.
Many helicopters were called as this scene filled up with ambulances and fire trucks. Police stood on all sides of the highway stopping all oncoming and going traffic. As we gathered our wits, my partner and I quickly jumped out of our helicopter and walked over the mountains of metal while carrying all our gear--not knowing what to expect.
Our patient (a 26 year-old woman with the most beautiful china doll face) was lying on the ground, covered with a blanket while supported on her side by three firemen; she was crying out in pain.
I knelt down beside her. As I was kneeling down onto the gravel and glass, I took a quick look at her crumbled car and noticed something that took my breath away. In the driver’s seat was her husband. The car had completely wrapped around him before turning on its side. He was lying still in what was left of the drivers seat; his head covered with a blanket.
I knew.
I knew he had died instantly. Lying on the ground beside the driver’s side of the car was his left leg that had been torn from his large muscular frame.
My heart stopped for what seemed like forever--as I took all this in.
His bride lay on the ground crying out in pain. I quickly came back to the task at hand and began examining this young girl for life-threatening injuries. The firemen supported her on her side; for she could not lie on her back. Her left leg was folded up like an accordion. She had fractured her left femur which is one of the most painful of all trauma injuries. We got to work right away. We started IV’s and told her that her pain was going to go away in a just few minutes as I drew up the much needed pain medication. She looked at me, covered in blood from the top of her head down to her arms and chest and politely said..
“Oh thank you, thank you so much!"
Her pain had ceased with the appropriate medication and we pulled her left leg into a traction splint which further relieved the excruciating pain from the fracture. We had placed her on oxygen and I then began to examine her other injuries.
Where did all this blood come from?
I tenderly wiped the blood from her face, her eyes while feeling all over head for external wounds that had caused such blood loss. None.
Wiping off her chest, shoulders, arms and hands---- still nothing.
I then realized something. She was covered with the blood of her groom. When the firemen had extricated her from the vehicle, they found that she had been thrown behind her husband during the impact of the crash.
He had taken the blow; he had died in her place.
It was the shedding of his blood that had covered her. He had shielded her from what would have been a sure fate of death for the both of them.
My eyes welled up. The reality of this hit me. I took a moment to glance down at her left hand. There it was. She wore a beautiful diamond ring; however it was now covered with the blood of her husband.
Simply put---she wore a blood-diamond.
I dropped the gauze towel that was in my hand. I could no longer wipe off anymore of that precious blood. It was as if this moment had become very Holy in the midst of the surrounding chaos that comes with working an accident scene of this magnitude. People were crying and yelling while firemen were running around ripping through car metal with loud machinery in order to set other patient’s free.
Trying to work quickly, we did all we could for her before we lifted her up and carried her traction-splinted body on the backboard to the helicopter.
I walked beside her and held onto her blood-covered hand.
“We are going to take you in the helicopter, sweetheart. We are going to get you to the hospital where they can take really good care of your fractured leg.”
She looked at me completely unaware of the proportion of her loss along with the reality of her own redemption and softly said, “Oh… thank you, thank you so much.”
You see, the human body by God’s design is built to handle only so much shock at one time. Even though she had been trapped behind her dead husband’s body and the firemen had to work around him to get her out---her mind had blocked it. It is a God given self-protecting mechanism built within our soul. The pain from her fractured femur was enough to overtake all of her senses. If she had grasped the reality of all her losses, her physical and sensory systems would have exploded and she would have quickly gone into shock--shutdown. She would have physically died.
Flying over the desert to the trauma center, we worked on our beautiful bride. Arriving into the trauma center---we gave report to the trauma team as they quickly began to work on her.
We told them there was a 963—on scene.
She would not get the tragic news of what had happened until the proper people were positioned to be there for her support. I left her with the team and quietly went up to the hospital roof where my helicopter was awaiting. It had begun to softly rain. I was numb to what had just happened.
Lord, Jesus… Why does there have to be so much pain in this world?
I couldn’t shake off my grief for this girl. At that very moment, the sun started shining against the light rain. I closed the door of the helicopter as we started to slowly lift off the helipad. My mind was far away…. However, God was working to break through the distance and held my heart in a defining moment.
God answered my questions.
For, as we started to fly, I noticed our helicopter was eclipsed by the most colorful rainbow I had ever seen. In fact, from the middle I could see both ends of this beautiful color scheme.
We were exactly centered in the middle of this beautiful creation!
And can you believe this? It stayed with us until we landed safely at our home-base.
Although, not audible… God was speaking. He was speaking to my questioning heart in a way that was as beautiful as that rainbow.
My child---do you remember the story? Do you remember the promise I made at the creation of that rainbow? Although, many years have come and gone, my Word still stands strong. My child, I made a promise to you and to the entire world that I would not drown-out the evil of the world—again.
Instead, I would bring to the entire world the promise of redemption by my Own Son. He would be the One to absorb all the evil of the world; be crushed, broken and shoulder every blow of every evil thing meant to destroy you. My dear child, He is Your Bridegroom. His blood is the blood that covers over you. He bought and saved you; your engagement ring is covered by the high price of His blood.
My child, Your Bridegroom is coming back for you. Hang on.
I promise you, that every pain of this world will be ended.
I PROMISE
I Love You,
Your Bridegroom.
Great is Your Faithfulness, Oh Lord.
It is Your Faithfulness that carries me.
Even in the many times I’ve run away.
Forsook Your love and all Your grace.
Still, You called me back by my own name.
Yes, You care---You cared enough that I would be saved.
I will forever sing the glories of Your name.
Your awesomeness I will proclaim..
Until You come, My Bridegroom---until You come
to
Take Your Bride away.
Like a thief in the night….You will surely come!
You will come and take Your Bride away!
Hang on my child… your hope is in His promise!
Monday, November 23, 2009
My Sisters Beth and Rachel
This is Beth Herman butchering deer her boys shot over the weekend. The funny thing is I walked in Rachel's garage, put my jacket on a table, started walking, looked up and almost walked into a deer carcase in her garage she was butchering from her son David Jacob's kill. The things my sisters do for their sons!
My sister Beth has 3 sons and they all love to hunt. Beth needs the meat, she is always entertaining out at their place in Norris, IL. She is glad to process the deer the boys kill.
One down 4 to go.
My sister Beth has 3 sons and they all love to hunt. Beth needs the meat, she is always entertaining out at their place in Norris, IL. She is glad to process the deer the boys kill.
One down 4 to go.
Our Friesian Stallion Raven's Purebred Foals
After cleaning up Ylse, Sanna, and both of their fillies, thought may as well take a video of them.
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