Play Time

Lily and Rosalie were allowed to play a bit in the outdoor arena. Lily had a ball.

Between her takeoff and landing she did a huge buck. She thought she could fly but she really didn't get that high in the air, too much weight.

Jenis, Zalena and Marika were all standing together just hoping they would be brought out next.

Their hopes were dashed when I walked right by and into the house. It wasn't very pleasant outside sloshing through 8 inches of wet snow. After a quick dinner of tacos, Mark moved a wheel barrow of hay in for Ella as I cleaned her stall. She seemed more restless tonight. Could be because she has been locked up since Saturday night or maybe she is getting ready to foal. The foaling predictor kits were ordered today from Chemetrics. This year we need 3 of them. Dr. Hoerr is scheduled for ultrasounds Thursday morning. Bunni and Sally were bred last year in October and never checked, Star and Sissy were bred in Feb, while Lily and Ayanna were bred 16 days ago. If they all settled they can go back out to Middle Grove.

A Thief in the Night

Yesterday and all during the night, this thief sneakily slipped in our area quietly stealing. We were all shocked at the snow when we stepped out of church at 2:00pm. There was a white-out  trying to drive home still...this is spring it will all melt right? What was stolen wasn't apparent until morning. All night long the snow kept falling. The roads out here are not passable without 4 wheel drive. Below is a picture taken of our drive this morning, and this is after Mark cleared it last night:

The tree in our south yard that looks as if it is bending under the weight of this heavy burden:

We could decorate this evergreen with Christmas lights if it was near that time of the winter:

But this is not winter it is spring, it is just 6 days until Easter and 1 day after Psalm Sunday. Below is a picture of mom's bird feeder, taken by Jessica:

 The thief has stolen precious time away from my grand children, stolen the seed for the birds,  the productivity at work as snow removal is now taking precedent over installing equipment and most of all it has stolen the few bright spots of green that were just starting to arrive.
Mom had a pretty decent night, awaking just after midnight for pain medication and again at 5:30am. Rachel took my place at 7:30am so I could rush home, take care of poor stalled Ella (who is still heavy in foal) the dogs and be all ready to greet Braelyn and Taegan at 8:00am who are now not coming because of the snow. Mark drove my car in as that is the only car that still has it's snow tires on so I'm stuck here for the day with no grand children. This could be a good time to work on re-installing the contacts on my phone as I accidentally deleted every single one while trying to learn how to use this very difficult piece of equipment!

Greedy Girl

No baby yet, Ella was standing quietly in her stall just waiting for someone to put her out but that won't happen today. There is about an inch of snow on the ground and more coming down. We are only suppose to get between 2 to 4 inches total. Rhoda bought the dogs 2 big flavored rawhide rolls and sent them home with us last night. Today they were both given one, Darcy settles down to chew on hers while Emma sits with hers in her mouth staring at Darcy's calculating how she can end up with both. Emma is such a greedy girl. She finally gets up, walks over to the desk and hides hers under the desk, then lies down next to Darcy just waiting for Darcy to let go and get up. When this didn't happen, Emma ran to the door and started barking. Just as soon as Darcy joined her in barking at a nonexistent bad guy, Emma quickly left the window, grabbed Darcy's rawhide and quietly went sneaking out of the room. (don't worry Rhoda, I didn't let her get away with it) Emma's rawhide was given to Darcy and right now they are both chewing away happily, the proof is pictured below.

Mark and I are heading to Wild Berries for breakfast before church. Cathy, the lady sending up the half Friesian mare from Kentucky on April 7th, has made the decision on which boy she would like to use for her. Below is her email sent this morning: We have picked Evan!  After carefully looking at all your blogs and website, even though they look so much alike, Evan is the one.
Cathy
A very nice letter came in yesterday's mail pictured below:

Just in case it can't be read this is what the letter says: Dear Mrs. Sceggel. Do you give lessons on your Friesians? I would like to have lessons on them. I was at the IL horse fair on  Saturday. I love Friesians! Steven put me on Zalena. I have ridden 5 different horses so far. I am 8 years old. I have been riding horses since I was 2 years old. Audra
Well Audra, We don't really give lessons on the Friesians but have your mom contact me. We would love to have you come help us one day before Zalena gives birth to her expected baby. Zalena needs someone to groom her and ride her around a bit. Expected mothers need to keep exercising and you seem like just the person to help with this.

Braelyn's 2nd Birthday

We had a beautiful day, the sun was shining the wind wasn't blowing and the temps were rising into the 40s. Needless to say we spent a good part of today outside working. Lily's paddock and the middle paddock each got a new round bale,Mark took the skid steer and started working on the road then the manure pile from the stalls.

Ella was checked, her udder is definitely filling up.  The picture below is from the back. Her tail was picked up and the picture snapped.

Of course I had to bend down and look from the side. Surely she can't hold on much longer. There is still no way to test her, she lets us pull on her teats but will not let any and I mean not even a drop of colostrum out. Sure hope she will be a good mother and let down her milk for a foal. We are expecting a snowstorm late tonight and tomorrow, perhaps that will help her move things along.

 This afternoon we headed over to Phil and Anna's for Braelyn's second birthday party. Below she is getting ready to blow out her candle: The kids all enjoyed her gifts. I forgot my camera and had to use the phone.

 Karin spent the night last night with mom, when she was asked how the night went, the first words out of her mouth were, "I heard the bell!" We wouldn't quit teasing her about the night before. Diane is spending tonight with mom, Beth will be there tomorrow during the day then I'll take the night with Rachel relieving me on Monday morning. Mom is making progress by leaps and bounds. That was metaphorically, there is no leaping and bounding yet with her new knee.
Cortney sent an email update on Helen:
Hi Judy,  Helen is settling in well. I walked her around and showed her where the water tank is and the shed. She is adjusting well. I am amazed at how calm she is. I have been out numerous times to scratch and love on her and she comes right up to me. I feel so blessed and I am looking forward to the relationship we develop.  Thanks again for letting us come and stay there. Have a wonderful spring!  Blessings!! Cortney

Trail Riding with Deer

Mom had a good night although after ringing the bell Ruth gave her 5 times to get Karin up and Karin not responding, mom got wise and called her on the phone. Karin was just in the next bedroom, she heard the phone but not the bell. Ruth arrived to give Karin a break and Karin took advantage of the sunny windless day and took Rebekah and Jessica to Middle Grove to put riding time on Missy and Cookie. Jessica rode Sally, Karin rode Missy and Rebekah had to ride Cookie without a saddle. They brought 3 saddles but only 2 girths. No problem, Rebekah is a good rider. They had the experience of a lifetime. They were riding along at a gallop and a huge herd of over 50 deer came running up alongside them, surrounding them. Rebekah said she could reach out her arm and touch them they were that close. The girls thought at one point when the horses started to slow the deer were going to start jumping over them. Rebekah made the comment, "I'm never going to forget this experience!" Karin told us, "you just had to be there, it was like nothing we've ever experienced." Later they came upon some scattered old bones, big bones, too big to be human, unless there are giants that roam the land. Below is Karin on Missy and Jessica on Sally.

Below is Rebekah on Cookie holding Missy (Karin's ride) and Jessica on Sally

 Jessica and Rebekah heading over to the lake:

 The herd following Jessica and Sally:

 One of the many creek crossings:

All three horses were great, Karin reported that Missy was her new favorite horse, her canter is like flying!

Helen Leaves

Helen's new family arrived yesterday afternoon, They were settled in the apartment then I headed over to mom's to meet with Diane, Ruth and Karin. The strategy for the next few days of mom's care was gone over while she was deep in sleep. The move home was exhausting for her. Ruth decided she needed to wake her up by 5:30pm for dinner. Diane brought over fresh fruit and vegetables while Ruth heated up a bowl of home made chicken soup.

It is good to have her home! Ruth stayed the evening, Karin is spending the night and Ruth is coming back today. They are both physical terrorists or is that physical therapists and will teach the rest of us what we need to encourage mom to do.
Mike helped move a bale in for Jenis' paddock last night and the skid steer is coming home today which will really cut my work load. No more hauling wheelbarrows of hay to the paddocks.
Helen's family wanted to leave for Colorado around 6:00am. We waited to load her until they were ready to go. She loaded without drama and is now on her way to the mountains of Colorado.

Mom Day 3

After dozing off numerous times during the day yesterday and then falling asleep before 8:00pm mom woke up around 1:30am ready to start the day. I however wasn't. She settled down with her book until 2:40am then decided she better have a pain pill. We both fell sound asleep around 5:00am and slept hard until 6:45am when the lady came in to take mom's breakfast order. Mark called just as the doctor walked in the door so the phone was just shut off until later. The doctor is pleased with how her knee looks and will be sending her home this afternoon. YEAH!! no more nights in the hospital. Mark was called back after Dr. Mauer left and he reported the 5 horses in the middle paddock escaped sometime during the night. He was hiking the fields trying to find them. I sent Rachel a text to see if she could help. By the time she responded with a yes and Mark was called to tell him help was on the way, the horses had come back. He locked them up in the outdoor arena, fed the 2 stalled horses and left for work. Rachel moved them back into the middle paddock and tied the gates shut.
Ruth arrived to take over mom's care just as we were getting her off the bed and into the chair. Mom is a little discouraged as to how painful her knee is when trying to bend and move her leg.
It is a very cold 14 degrees this morning but sunny and best of all the wind has died down. Once home Helen and Ella were let out of the stalls. The horses all in the middle paddock were laying down soaking up the rare sunshine. Ribbon looks like a beached whale. They were all pretty exhausted from their night out on the town. Jenis' paddock is now out of hay. The skid steer will be returned tomorrow but they must be fed somehow until we get that invaluable machine back. I'll just have to haul wheel barrows of hay over for them. Onyx is leaving this afternoon.

Day 2 after Surgery

Mom had a rough start to her morning. The first time up, not able to keep breakfast down. But progress is being made. She was able to walk today with assistance.

And of course we need a picture of her knee all stapled up.

After therapy she took a good 3 hour nap and was able to keep down a pain pill. 
Helen's owners are arriving tomorrow afternoon. The apartment was given a good cleaning, the sheets washed and the bed's remade. Helen and Ella were put outside while their stalls were stripped and aired out before adding bedding. They would have loved to be left out but the wind is fierce and it is still just in the 20's. I'm down to 2 bags of bedding and will need to make a trip in to TSC soon.

Shadow

The picture above is Airiah's filly by Raven born May 13th, 2012 named Shadow. Isn't she gorgeous! She is owned by Will and Jenni Moser. They bred Airiah back to Raven last year and are expecting her full sibling soon. Will and Jenni also own 2 other Raven offspring, a 4 year old gelding named Palmer and a 3 year old filly named Isabella's Song, both out of a Trakehner mare named Salina. Check out their beautiful horses on their website www.hbfriesians.com
Diane relieved Karin at the hospital with mom until Rachel could arrive, then Diane went to Morton to attend Nancy's meeting. After the meeting Diane took Nancy shopping buying her the outfits and shoes needed for the year. Rachel is spending the night with mom. I'll relieve her early in the morning and Beth will relieve me. I am so thankful we have plenty of sisters, enough that we have round the clock care. Mom is not having a very good day, the therapy was extremely painful. Mom is very nauseated and vomiting. Rachel reported they are starting her on anti-nausea medicine to help. Karin found the missing hearing aid which was hiding in the bed.
Eva Jean and I had a frustrating day at work, the new printer had a label peeled off the wrong way sticking itself to the roller causing a major jam. It had to be taken apart pretty much down to the bare bones to remove the jam. Thankfully there was a book to show us how step by step. After lunch I headed to Hoerr Vet clinic to pick up Helen's travel health certificate then home to let the dogs out and feed. The horses in the middle paddock had knocked down a gate and escaped but all came when they were called. They were locked in the indoor until the gate was fixed then taken back one at a time. I think Indy is in season but didn't take the time to check. Spring is suppose to arrive tomorrow with a temperature when we get up of 15 degrees. People are starting to threaten Gerty the ground hog for lying.
And finally an email came from Kres, a lady that shipped semen from Raven for her horse Belle and ended up with a beautiful Raven daughter. Here it is posted below:

 

I wanted to make 2 comments about your blog, where you asked for opinions. Sorry it's in an e-mail--I couldn't figure out how to comment on the site--but this works.

 The first is about your question of a detached garage vs. an attached garage. I can see merits and problems with both choices. What about a detached garage but connecting it to the house with a covered or enclosed (like a porch) walkway. That way, the garage, with it's fumes and fire danger isn't right up against the house, but you can still have access to it without having to go out into the weather. I don't know if the terrain will work for that idea or not-- it is just a suggestion :)

 The second comment is in answer to whether or not to post photos of the last year of Raven babies. My opinion is absolutely!!. First of all, we would all want to see them, especially those of us who are lucky enough to have "siblings". Secondly, they have value for your site because they can speak to Raven's line which you are continuing with Valiant, which is important information. I don't know the best place to put them on the site, though-- wherever people need to see the latest info for decision making, I suppose. But, please put them somewhere-- I for one would like to see them :)

 One more thing, there is a good article in the latest issue of the "Mane Program" magazine, put out by Purina, about Jerry Diaz and his Friesian Adentro. He is a Charro who has a production that he is bringing to Nebraska in April. There is a photo of him standing on his horse twirling a rope, and of course Adentro is posing in the classic, beautiful Friesian stance. If you don't get this magazine in the mail and want to see this article, let me know and I'll send you a copy.

 I'm glad all your horses are on the mend and OK, and I hope your Mom is healing well also.

 Take care,  Kres

 

21 and Falling

Outdoor temperature 21 degrees, wind speed 30 miles an hour equals frozen fingers, nose, cheeks and toes.  At first each time a gust of wind would slam into the house the dogs would bark but by morning either they got use to the noise or their hearing is going. The horses are going through huge amounts of hay trying to keep warm. And this is March 19th!
Yesterday Mika got out at Middle Grove. Poor Mika was  walking up and down the fenceline trying to get back in with the others but the people that showed up were kind of afraid of such a big horse and called the police. When Mike arrived he told the bystanders, this is the best horse out  here, took off his belt, looped it around Mika's neck and walked him through the gate. Turns out a lady from the area was coming each day to feed the horses treats, one of the fence posts had rotted and fell as Mika was reaching over. He stepped over the knee high wire but couldn't figure out how to step back in. Mike temporarily fixed the fence and will head out there today for a more permanent fix. He moved 4 bales in and a salt block WAY a way from the fence.
Mom and Karin's night wasn't very relaxing. Mom's IV machine wasn't working properly and the alarm kept sounding waking them numerous times. One doesn't go to the hospital to catch up on sleep.  Her hearing aid has vanished off of the stand. Hope Karin can find it.

Mrs America

Mom was the very last knee surgery of the day finally getting to her room around 5:30pm. Surgery went great, they were not able to give her a spinal so just blocked a nerve in the front of the knee, used a lot of local for the back of the knee and sedated her. She came back to the room feeling well, no nausea, no pain, and well rested.

As she is all snug in her bed the nurses waiting on her hand and foot, a bunch of her daughters hovering around asking if she needed anything she asks, "why are they treating me like royalty?" then happened to look over at her board.
Notice her preferred name:

Her first response was, "alright, who wrote that?" We could honestly say none of us wrote it. Although Rachel never would admit to who told the nurse what mom's preferred name was.
Karin, Rachel and I left for home while Ruth and Diane are staying the evening. Karin is driving back to spend the night at the hospital. Diane and Rachel are covering tomorrow, Beth has Wednesday and from there we will see.
Ella was moved inside tonight, the wind is strong and the temps are suppose to drop into the low 20s. Olympia is now at her new home. Dee reported she walked right into the trailer.

Another Raven Daughter

The picture above is a filly born last summer by Raven out of a draft cross mare. It was actually sent to me last September shortly after we lost Raven. I never got around to posting it on the website on the photogallery foal page. There are still quite a few Raven foals coming this year but this year will be the last. Is there a reason to keep posting pictures of Raven's offspring? Do we want to combine that page with Valiant and Evan's offspring?
Today is mom's total knee replacement surgery. She is not first on the list to do, we don't have to leave here until 10:30am. We are not sure what time her's will start not knowing who all is in front of her. Although we do know Randy Kellenberger is. He is having the exact procedure, the exact day with the exact surgeon and scheduled before mom. More than likely we will share the waiting room with his wife Ruth. Ruth's parents were Edna and Bill Klein, they had 8 girls and 2 boys where our family had 8 girls and 3 boys. We grew up going to their house or their family coming to our house many Sunday afternoons. Small world.

Who Am I

The video below was posted just for my brother Spark. He use to sing this way back before he was married.

and as long as video's are being posted, the one below is a short video on Ronald Reagan.
It was sent to me from Howard Herman, it is not too long, less than 5 minutes but really says it ALL!

As Ronald Reagan said,
"Within the cover of that single Book are all the answers to all the problems that face us today if we'd only read and believe."
Today was our Easter program at church, we just had to laugh at or is that with some of the parents of the younger classes. Dusty and Erin Funk's little guy stole the show.
After church Onyx was brought into the stall opposite Helen and Olympia. Rhoda arrived to help practice loading Helen. What a smart filly, she was led up to the trailer, she felt the edge, sniffed the inside, then carefully walked right in.

Prayer Breakfast

The video below is the speech Dr. Ben Carson gave at the February prayer breakfast. Mom insisted we watch this. Just perhaps THIS man should run for president! Watch the video yourself and decide, is this someone we want running the government? Fair warning the video is 27 minutes long but worth seeing.

The speech is not politically correct but seems to be very popular. The video was published on Feb 7th, 2013 and already has around 2,500,000 hits.

Busy Saturday

Philip and Ben arrived to start working on their project in the big barn while David and Stephanie arrived to work on taxes. Rhoda stopped at Avanti's and brought lunch out for everyone here. Sarah was only able to eat soup. I am amazed at how well she did with having all 4 of her wisdom teeth pulled at the same time.  The equipment need for us old handicapped people had to be dismantled from the apartment and taken over to mom's house and installed. Her total knee replacement is scheduled for Monday. Steven arrived to work with the trick training on the boys. He reported they both did very well. He asked both boys to sit then started the sidepass toward the handler. Below He is working on teaching Evan to park out as the first step to the bow where the head drops down and touches the ground between the front legs.

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Ruth and Diane were over playing scrabble with mom around dinner time. Diane offered to drive her van to Gil's for a chicken dinner but when the 5 of us arrived there was a wait of over an hour. We loaded back up into her van, drove to Trivoli where Mike joined us then headed to Farmington for dinner at Scappechi's. They got us right in, the food was great, the fellowship even better and the best part of the entire evening was Mark came out to help with the evening feeding and stall cleaning. The work just seems so much easier when there is someone to visit with. 

Olympia will be leaving for her new home on Monday. Onyx and Helen are also leaving next week. 

On The Mend

We are almost finished with the equine flu, the horses are all on the mend. Helen's temperature was just taken and only reading 100.4 and that is more than 24 hours without banamine. Olympia still has a slight fever just above normal but nothing to worry about. She has also gone more than 24 hours without banamine. Both of these girls need a bath desperately they are both leaving for their new home next week but the weather doesn't look like it will co-operate. They will have to leave with caked mud in their coat. There is no way they should be subject to getting wet now that they are finally getting better. Maybe the forecast will be wrong and we will have at least one sunny warm day to clean them up before they leave.
Sarah had all 4 of her wisdom teeth pulled today. Luckily I had the kindle all loaded up with some good books. I had to sit still for over 3 hours which is much harder to do than it seems even reading. Luckily Karin called to report on  her progress at Middle Grove. It took a while to find the herd but when she did there were 15 horses laying among the trees napping and 2 standing pretending they were the guards. Mika was one sentry and even though he was standing it looked like he also was drowsing. That herd feels totally safe. Karin was most pleased with Hadassah but the ponies did well also.
A booking came in for one of the boys. The mare is suppose to arrive April 8th. She is a black 11 year old half Friesian mare from Kentucky. The owner hasn't made up her mind which stallion she wants to use. That is really a much harder decision than it seems. Evan is more baroque, has and throws the hair, while Valiant has Raven's blood flowing through him and has the height.

Temper Temper

Not the dogs, not the horses but my temper needs to be tempered with love and understanding of which there was none of that around here this morning until my eyes were opened thankfully by sisters in the flesh and in Christ. Just a bit of history, yesterday I spent the day sticking the thermometer up so many back ends of horses it wasn't funny. Killian looked and acted so bad I took his temperature 3 times not believing when the thermometer read normal. Cleaning stalls, scrubbing buckets, replacing bedding pellets, hauling in hay and worry seemed to eat away the hours and not pleasantly. This morning as I am stumbling out of bed to grab a cup of coffee Mark informs me the skid steer will be hauled in for general maintenance today. Now instead of being grateful my husband is taking such good care of this very important piece of equipment, I lose my temper, raise my voice to say, "I needed warning on that, we need to move in a round bale NOW and get others down and ready for the tractor."  The clothes were thrown on and out I stomped to feed the stalled horses and get the weanling paddock ready. Jacob arrives with the truck to haul the skid steer away before Mark had made it to the barn. Jacob was told he would have to wait, Mark moved in a bale and I left on the walk still fuming. After the first half of a round of of the walk, listening to my sisters and the Holy Spirit, my anger was crumbling by the end of the first round I knew who was really in the wrong and needed to apologize. Thankfully Mark hadn't left for work yet.
After finishing the walk it was back to work to finish cleaning stalls. Lily and Rosalie were moved outside. Rosalie was such a worry the day before as she just didn't seem right but today she was running around playing then grabbed a quick snack at the milk bar before pawing Lily's hay into a bed and flopping down. The phone was taken out for a quick picture. Below she is nibbling on the hay as she is resting.

All of the horses were standing at the bales eating while Helen and Olympia, who are stilled stalled, were anxiously waiting for their grain. Today neither filly wanted that thermometer stuck in where the sun don't shine. They must be feeling better! I'll have to wait to take their temperature for when someone shows up to hold them. They were left inside the stalls stripped, new bedding applied, water buckets scrubbed and finally it was time for my breakfast.

Still Winter

We awoke to a layer of pretty good dusting of snow and below freezing temperatures. By the walking time it was all of 26 degrees with a stiff wind. Helen and Olympia were very glad to hear the door open to the barn  both are feeling well enough to tussle over the grain bucket, knocking it off the hanger and onto the floor, but Helen is still running a fever. She was given more banamine. They would love to be out of the stall but it's not going to happen in this weather. 
The picture below was taken during our walk yesterday. 

This is an icy pot hole on Joan & Tim's dam. Today it was completely covered with snow.
As none of the horses here can be worked, Karin headed out to Middle Grove. She had to hike to find the horses but when she did the whole herd came galloping through the woods heads held high snorting with their manes flying and tails up. They are all feeling great. Karin reported they settled down quickly some grazing some napping. Karin decided to work with Mytross, Cor, Missy and Cookie and reported on each of them. This was a first time for Mytross and Cor. Both were confused but by the end both had made progress in learning to accept the bit, bend and move away from pressure. She is well pleased with Missy and Cookie.
Helen, Olympia and Onyx will all be leaving next week. Hopefully all will be over this flu and ready to travel.      

Tuesday = Snow

The picture below was just taken a few seconds ago. It's snowing so it must be Tuesday.

Eva Jean and I didn't have a huge amount of studies come in today giving us time to catch up on the chaplain letters, sending out almost 100 Bibles by UPS to a chaplain in Topeka, Kansas. 
After work it was off to Sam's for choir treats then home to check on the 2 weanlings now stalled. Helen and Olympia were stalled this morning, Helen is running a fever of 102.4  and Olympia is coughing. Helen was given some banamine to help her reduce her fever and feel more comfortable. I stayed out in the barn long enough to watch them both eat grain, drink and manure. 

Spreading Virus

The flu virus has spread to the weanling paddock. Some of them are now coughing and have snotty noses. They all came up for their grain and obviously not off their feed. Lily and Rosalie are still locked in a stall. Rosalie is still coughing but no longer has a fever. She was bucking in the stall today wanting to play. It was just too damp, cold and windy to put them out. We moved in 2 round bales today, one for the boys and one for the walkers. The weanling paddock will need a new bale soon. Hopefully the sun will come out tomorrow and warm things up enough to dry out some of the mud. I'd like to hold off giving them a bale until that happens.