Rain

We got almost 3/4 of an inch of rain during the night, too late to do much good for the crops but it sure helped settle the dust around here. It seems as if it has been months since we had any rain. After our record wet spring we are now in a drought. Thankfully we bought enough hay earlier in the year.
Today was beautiful, high in the 80s instead of high 90s. The mares and foals were left outside. Sally and her colt were taken first to the outdoor arena so I could get a few pictures of her now 8 day old colt.

We were hoping he may be gaited but after watching him run today it looks like he inherited Evan's movement. He was really strutting today. Once I had a few pictures the gate to the arena was just left open while I went to get Sangria and her filly. I thought Sally would take this opportunity to graze but instead she went into the barn, into her stall. When she realized I wasn't going to feed her she made her way outside and just waited in the front yard until Sangria's filly's photo shoot was over. Emily came up with a name for her.

We are now calling her Promise. She shows great promise  with her fantastic movement to be a superstar in dressage. She was so funny, this was the first time she has been in the arena and she had to check out the sand. Just look at her dirty nose! She has very nice movement, she is light on her feet and just seems to float.

The rest of my day was spent getting caught up on laundry and cleaning. Rhoda and Emily worked Indy and Killian after school. They reported Killian did really well, his canter is very balanced and smooth. After the arena work they took the horses on a trail ride. The other filly still needing a name was Jewel's filly. Rhiannon seems to fit her, it means Great Queen in Welsh mythology. She holds herself as royalty, all upright and proud.

Disappearing Act

Today was another very hot day but instead of 98 degrees we only hit 96 degrees as a high. Those 2 degrees didn't seem to make much difference, it was pretty miserable out there. Emily worked on the patio while I shopped and for once I was glad to do it, the car has a good airconditioner.
After Emily finished cleaning out the truck we hooked up the living quarter trailer and headed out to Middle Grove to pick up Indy and Killian. Rhoda and Emily are taking those 2 trail riding at Jubilee State Park on Friday and we needed him home to refresh his training a few days before the actual event.
The other reason we needed to go to Middle Grove was to stick Holly. We had someone that wanted her if she was 15.2 or taller. We had to hike in to find them. I snapped the picture below with the camera zoomed in when we found the herd all lounging over by some trees.

Ayanna was the first to see us and the first to start walking up to greet us.

What happened was pretty funny. I'll let the pictures tell the story. Emily needed Holly on flat ground for an accurate measurement.

Above she is walking up to Holly to bring her over to a flat area. Below she has Holly and the measuring stick getting ready to place it at her withers when the other horses started to arrive.

They surround her, so curious as to what she is doing. Left to right is Lilypony, Solomon, Oksana, Pandora, Killian, Indy and Ayanna. And to think years ago when we discussed putting the horses out on 80 acres we were afraid they would turn wild. 

I snapped a few other pictures. Below is Solomon, Hadassah's colt. He is an Evan son and a Raven grandson. He is very friendly and we were surprised how tall he has become.

Jewel's filly was taking a nap in the grass

 She woke up and came over to visit. I pulled some tail hair for her registration papers. Now I can send in her papers as soon as she has a name.

 Killian at 2 years of age is starting to act like a stallion, arching his neck and teasing mares.

 It was hard to get a picture of Lola's colt, he kept coming in for attention getting too close for the zoom lens.

I finally got far enough away to get most of  him in the picture.

Indy and Killian were loaded up and brought home. Emily set up the arena for practice but that will have to wait until cooler weather coming tomorrow. The stalled mares and foals were turned out before church.

We had a full carload going to church. Willis was the speaker and his theme was the right hand of fellowship although he had to remind himself of that theme a few times. Today was a good day.

Another Scorcher

Another hot day reaching a high of 98 degrees. The mares with foals were stalled by 8:00am as I had to leave for work and wouldn't be home until late afternoon. They were turned out by 6:00pm and it was still 92 degrees but the paddock was in the shade and there was a nice breeze. An email came in from Jenni Moser to report Isabella's Song had her ultrasound today and they are pleased to report she is pregnant. Evan was the stallion used as Song is a Raven daughter. The picture below is Bella when she was here to be bred to Evan.

We had a full day at Berean. Eva Jean, Diane and I were swamped today with studies. We were not able to finish so sent home a bunch of work with Eva Jean. She will finish up and get them to the graders.
Choir started tonight after the summer break. We had a large group, a new leader and a new MC. Eddie Meister has now taken over for Spark, and Bob Hoerr took over for Wayne. We worked on some new songs tonight that are going to be so much fun to sing.

A HOT 98 Degrees

Not a cloud in the sky, the sun beaming down brightly helped the temperature to rise to a very uncomfortable 98 degrees today. By 10:00am it was no longer safe to leave the 5 day old foals outside. The barn air was turned on and the horses brought inside. Rhoda and Emily decided it was just too hot to work so loaded up the golf cart with towels and Darcy and headed over to Diane's pond. Darcy gets so excited when she sees the girls with swimming suits on that Darcy has to sit in the middle with me on the driver side and Emily on the outside to stop her from jumping off the moving vehicle. Once we let her off the cart she hurls herself into the water.

After she and Emma had some time to cool off it was time for Jenis and Zalena to get a chance. Now Jenis is a great swimmer and Zalena has been used for trails at Middle Grove so we just expected both of them to swim. Were we ever surprised.

Jenis took right off heading for the deep end to cool off completely but when Zalena hit the deep this is what happened. Notice the missing horse under Rhoda, Zalena sunk right down going completely under.

She panicked and came up quickly thrusting herself to the surface giving Rhoda quite a ride.

Meanwhile Jenis and Emily are just swimming around the pond quietly.

Rhoda got Zalena to stand quietly in the water before putting her back

Eliza's colt was standing at the gate watching and hoping we would let him come swimming next. Below Rhoda is preparing to put Zalena back and let Eliza and her colt out. Notice him at the gate?

Emily grabbed Cookie while Rhoda rode Eliza into the water.

The girls stayed a while swimming once the horses were put back. I went back to check on the air conditioning in the barn and was pleasantly surprised to find the inside of the stall barn a very comfortable 78 degrees. What a difference having an air-conditioned barn. The foals were napping while the mares were comfortably cool munching away at their hay pile.

Mark arrived home from a very busy day at work, most of the day was spent trying to get air conditioning to people in hospice care. The mares and foals could not be turned back out until the sun went down and even then it was hot. I left the air on in the barn until after the stalls were cleaned. May as well work in comfort!

Another Great Sunday

How I look forward to this special day of rest. We heard in the morning service how the Sabbath was made for us, not to follow a bunch of rules but because we need this day of rest. Earl Ringger was our speaker for the afternoon speaking on prophecy, that already fulfilled and that to come. After church we picked up Chinese takeout for our family dinner which Mark and I were joined by Rhoda, Phil, Anna, Braelyn and Taegan. Then it was over for the usual Sunday evening volleyball. Below are a few pictures of the evening.

 Above Braelyn is climbing up to join the group on the tramp and below she has found a microphone stand.

 Taegan comes crawling to grandma. I love her reaction to seeing us old folks.

While the big kids were playing volleyball, Braelyn and Taegan came with me to water the cows.

Braelyn was real good about holding the hose and then the cows came up to drink. Below is her reaction when she thought they were getting a little too close.

 She was sure they were going to come across the fence but even then she didn't let go of the hose. Mom had dinner tonight in Banner, IL with Betty, Carol, Glenna, LuEllen and Leona. After dinner they stopped in at mom's house to see her Alaska pictures.

I talked them into coming over to the farm to see the new foals and of course had to show off Evan and Valiant too.

Lots of Riding

Emily took her guests out for a long trail ride today ending in a race to the finish. Below are a few pictures of these happy riders. Horses in the picture below from left to right are Cookie, Missy, Jenis and Mika.

 Jenis in the lead

 Missy right behind

 Mika starts his sprint. He hates to lose and ended up taking the lead.

 Cookie came in last but her rider had a good time.

 Posing for a picture below.

 Emily put the horses away and took the girls swimming. She needed to have the girls taken back to Forrest by 2:00pm. Karin hosted a group right after Emily's left. Karin had to take multiple trips with the horses. Below they are getting ready to head out on the death trails.

 Zalena was really needed today, a lot of our usual riding mares now have foals by their side.

Below is the last group heading back to the cabin.

Each time Karin took a group out the others were playing volleyball, swimming, fishing or boating. After all the group had a chance to ride David hosted the devotions. Karin grilled hamburgers and fed everyone.

 The horses will get a well deserved rest for the next few days. Our next company is coming a week from today when the ladies from Esther House in Peoria will be coming out for trail rides.
The evening wouldn't be complete without a sunset picture or 2 as tonight's sunset was a gorgeous gold beaming through the clouds.

The one above was taken from the pond pasture with the arena light pole dissecting the sun, by the time I got up past the barns the sun was slipping down below the cloud bank.