Warm Weather = Trail Rides

It doesn't take long for the trail riders to climb on board the horses when the weather moderates. We had one group go out from here while Mike and Diane planned another ride at Middle Grove.
Karin, Emily and Tyler loaded up Zalena & Valiant in the front and Eliza & Jenis in the back of the stock trailer for a trip to Sandridge State Forest this morning. Below are a few pictures of their fun ride.

 Above they are unloading Eliza and Jenis from the back of the stock trailer, good thing that is a big trailer, those are big mares! Below is the group ready to head out on the trails. Left to right is Mikayla Cooksey on her Raven daughter Avalon, Mitchell Cooksey on his gelding Captain, Tyler on Jenis, Karin on Eliza, Emily Smith on Zalena and Emily Ricketts on Valiant.

 This was Emily Smith's first time to ever ride a Friesian and she had a great time. She enjoyed Zalena and later got a chance to ride Valiant. Below are Tyler, Karin, Emily and Emily on their trusty mounts.

Above they are heading out on the trails. We were very very pleased with Valiant. At first his canter was huge but he soon learned to smooth it out to conserve energy. This was exactly what he needed, lots of canter time in a straight line on sand. By the end of the ride, just about everyone took a turn on him. Check out the smiles on Mitchell Cooksey and Emily Smith's faces in the pictures below. 

We got a lot of wood split today. The temperatures were in the mid 40s which made every job easier to do without the many layers needed when it's freezing cold outside. Mark was pleased with how well the equipment worked today. 

Fun in the Snow

This is a young Raven daughter out of a Saddlebred mare learning how to pull a sleigh. Thanks so much for sending the video Anna!

Dragon Horns

The sun was shining and the temperature rising today, it was still below freezing on the walk but didn't take long to rise to above freezing then stay there most of today.
We had lots of good news today on the walk. Ruth came and reported Anni is going to be staying with the Belvidere minister and his wife for the 3 months she is working in Rockford. I reported Liz Robinson agreed to manage Rhoda's reception and Diane had the best news, her breath doesn't smell.
Mike told Diane today that her breath smelled like dead meat. When she asked are you sure it is me, he took a good sniff then exclaimed, "no, it must be Ebby!" Now most of us would have blamed the dog first.
The other good news is it only took an hour to balance and reconcile the Horsemeister check book.
I was suppose to have Israel today but Stephanie's work called her off so instead I went shopping for a few cruise clothes. I went first to the Salvation Army store up on Allen road. The doors were locked but a man came out and told us they were going to open at noon so I drove to the mission mart on Pioneer Parkway. I found 2 shirts there, then went to the Goodwill store on sterling and found nothing. I drove back to the Salvation Army and there was a note on the door we will be opening at noon  1:00  or maybe later. I wasn't going to wait around and drove home.
Karin arrived to work on Ribbon's costume for the March show. Can you tell what she is suppose to be?

The wings are a work in progress and Karin didn't work on her tail yet. Mark arrived home with the big truck.

There is a scheduled trail ride at Sandridge tomorrow for the Friesians and we needed the big truck. Emily will be taking Valiant, his first time to go out on trails off this property with other horses. Karin is hauling Eliza, Zalena and Jenis for guests. The Cooksey's with their Raven daughter Avalon will be joining them. 

Vaulting Practice Starts

Another very cold morning with the promise of a warm up and today the weather man kept his word. It warmed up above freezing for the first time in days.
Diane drove Emily and I in to work this morning. We were surprised by how little mail was waiting. Ellen is breaking the news to Diane in the picture below.

 This looked suspiciously like maybe the permit fees hadn't been paid and the post office was holding out mail. Oh well, Ellen is going to find out tomorrow.  There was still plenty to do, Below Emily is reading letters.

 Eva Jean is applying the labels to the envelopes and then the envelopes to the studies

 Maddi folding studies to prepare them for stuffing later.

 Rhoda is busy reading letters

 Dillon is stamping envelopes

 and we had a new volunteer. Diane R came in from Morton to help. 

 Rhonda showed  up with a coat and probably took some of the studies to the jail but she sneaks those out when we aren't looking. She reminds us each time we complain, "we're all on the same team!"

 The printer jammed and thankfully Diane R was able to fix the problem. Are we ever glad she showed up today.

 Below everyone has a job and everyone is working hard.

We went to Tyrones for lunch then home to the farm. The sunshine felt warm today. Emily pulled Valiant out to work him before the vaulters arrived.

It was such a blessing to ride outside for the first time in weeks. Although the snow was starting to melt a bit and get slippery. Valiant wiped out the first time he tried to canter in the arena.

Emily did all the canter work inside for that reason.

Maddi arrived early for vaulting so Karin put her on Ribbon to warm her up for the group.

 Then Karin got on her to work on Ribbon's laterals. 

 The practice was well attended and all of the vaulters worked hard. It was a good break but everyone is glad to get back into the saddle or surcingle as the case may be.

We will have to get the heater going again but today was actually warm enough to practice without heavy winter coats. I think it was all of 35 degrees.
I asked Spark if we could start interviewing chaplains for the Berean blog. He not only ok'd that idea he gave me the notes  he has been writing of his experiences since he started working at the Peoria County Jail. I'm going to share some of his notes on that blog each day. If interested in reading them, (and you will be interested) click on this link: Berean Blog

Big Belly Bump

We started this cold morning below zero but by the time of the walk it had risen to 5 degrees. Diane sent through a text that we need to put on our big girl panties, man up and get out there. At least that was the gist of the text.  After 1 round I had to drop out, my legs were pretty frozen. Emily discovered Evan's waterer was frozen and went to get a hair dryer. Once the dryer was hooked up, she and Mike moved Sheena and Ripper over to the cabin field where Mike put in a new round bale ring with a good bale. The skid steer didn't want to start and when it finally did get started wouldn't moved, the tracks were frozen. Thankfully Mark's new tractor started right up so Emily could move a new round bale in for Valiant and Zalena before she had to leave for class.
This afternoon the thermometer was reading 20 degrees, warm enough to head outside for pictures. The golf cart was taken over to the cabin to pull hair from Ripper's tail for his dna test. He has to have that before we can get his Andalusian papers. Mike had the John Deere tractor parked in front of the cabin. Mike's project for the last month was to paint that tractor and I had to admire the new paint job. It looks brand new!

Sheena and Ripper are pictured below.

 Emma saw them looking over the fence and I snapped the picture of her as she was running and barking. What a funny face with so much skin and ears flapping around.

The icicles hanging off the cabin roof were impressive.

Ripper's hair was taken into the house and taped onto the dna kit then out I went to check Anna. Anna was taken out to the arena, she didn't want to run but who can blame her. Check out this big belly bump. She is due in 10 days. I really hope she delivers before we leave on the 23rd for the cruise. 

I had someone wanting to see updated pictures of Tatiana so put her in the paddock next to Killian's for a few pictures. 

She did want to run and show off.

She had a good roll in the snow before I took her back to her sister Violet.

We used mom's car for church tonight, Sarah's is suppose to be fixed and tomorrow that will be picked up. We had a visitor from Roanoke who gave us the Philippians study kick-off. 

Sweet Harmony

While feeding the horses this morning I glanced toward the east and had to take a second look. My first thought was something was on fire but quickly realized it was the sun breaking out of the darkness.

It really did almost look like a flame shooting up. We had a cold walk. I should have taken a picture of Mike on the John Deere plowing in front of us walkers. Yesterday we had Mark plowing a path and today Mike. Those guys take good care of their wives. Diane drove today taking Emily, Rhoda and I to the shop for  Berean. Mom drove separately as she brought Molly down with her.

 Molly is so good down at Meisters, not making a peep and just staying right beside mom. We had a wonderful crew of 11 today and worked like a well oiled machine.

 Above Diane is lining mom out while below Philip is getting the second computer up and running, Kathy and Dave are reading the letters, Shirley and Eva Jean are opening mail and Emily is working on the copier.

 Above Rhoda is explaining to Joyce the next step with the study process and below Eva Jean, Kathy, Joyce and Shirley are stuffing envelopes.

 Dan and Dave are labeling the Bibles to be sent out while Emily is loading them into the boxes.

By the time noon rolled around we were ready to haul the studies and Bibles to the post office and quit for the day. AMAZING! This is the first time we have been able to finish by noon in months. Everyone knows their job and works together in sweet harmony.

We had over a hundred letters but I'll just type out 2 shorter ones. The first one exactly as written: 

Friend Thank you! So, much for loving me, When no else does. And caring so much, to keep sending me such God anointed and Blessed, Holy Spirit Teachings. Thank you! Brother Jerry

The second one also as written: 

Greetings Saints, Thanking our Heavenly Father for you and your Bible Study Program.  Taking this time to say Thank you! for helping me to obtain knowledge of his word and ways.  I'm happy to announce that my tenure of incarceration will in a few days will be coming to an end.  Thank God! Nevertheless, my newness in him, his teachings, his way and Knowledge is just beginning. I wish to continue my studies in our study program so blessfully forward all communication to my home address. Thank you! Thank you! God Bless!Choir started back up tonight and I was pretty sure it was my turn to serve lunch. Sure enough Eddie sent an email reminding me. That worked out well, driving to Sams first then choir. Jeanette and Roma happened to come early and gave me a hand getting the food ready, then Shari helped get the food out onto the counter when the practice was over. Diane, Joan, Sarah, Hannah, Spark and Rhonda all came together and all stayed to help with the clean up. Many hands truly do make light work. Our theme song for the year is Sweet Harmony and today was a day filled with sweet harmony in blending our voices and talents working together. 

When I arrived home from choir Anna was brought inside and her stall cleaned. It is currently negative 4 degrees, that is -4 or 4 BELOW zero. The weather men have been promising warmer weather to come. Not sure if we believe them any more but we don't care, "the cold never bothered me anyway" NOT TRUE it's just that we are leaving to cruise Caribbean in just 10 days with 40 wonderful people. By the way if anyone else is sick of the cold there is still room on the boat. We are taking the Berean bus leaving from the Peoria church on Jan 23rd, 2015 and will arrive home late Thursday Jan 29th. We can't afford a gospel cruise so are doing our best to make this cruise one. Diane called the cruise line yesterday to see if we could reserve a room after dinner as we are bringing instruments and the lady asks, "are you going to be performing?"