Elisabet Adelina Sceggel IS HERE!

Stephanie went into St Francis yesterday in labor but didn't progress like they had hoped.

She was in labor for 23 hours when the decision was made that a C section must be done. My cousin Mary Ellen was the surgical tech on staff that night and scrubbed in. Baby Elisa was born at 11:11 pm August 5th, 2016. The picture below was taken right after birth. Elisa had a wonderful score of 9 and 9 on apgars weighing in at 8 pounds 1 ounce and strong.

Now for the record she was not standing and nursing within an hour but that's to be expected after all this is the 2 legged baby.

 Israel was pretty thrilled with his new sister.

We didn't get a lot of sleep last night waiting for news then not able to sleep once the news came but so so thankful both mom and baby are doing well.
This morning Prissy was taken out and bathed then taken into the round pen for a few pictures.

As soon as she was put away Missy and Cookie were taken out, saddled, bridled and brought over for Emma's birthday party. Emma is Chad and Julie's second daughter and she loves horses.

The girls all had a ball with the ponies. If interested in seeing the rest of the pictures click HERE.
Chad, Joan, Faith and Berlica were put to work giving rides.
The people coming to see Prissy arrived just after 2:00 pm, looked at her, watched her move in the round pen and without even seeing Valiant they wanted to put down the deposit. We need to get a new coggins on Prissy before they take her home. Valiant was taken out and he was icing on the cake. He is such a gentle kind stallion and so impressive with his height and hair.
This evening Mark brought home Chinese for dinner then we took a nice long walk. The weather is cool and the sunset was beautiful. An update came in on Sally's last colt by Raven named Phoenix. The owner sent a picture and writes: This is the girls working with Phoenix today, first time with saddle and sitting on him, won't really ride him till next year but Avery only weighs 100 pounds so figured he could get used to someone. He is all legs at the moment.

Today we have much more than usual to be thankful for.

Laboring Long

We got over an inch of rain last night! This rain was needed and the fields will take off again but I felt bad for the neighbor who had cut his hay a couple days ago and did not get it up yet. That field looked pretty sad this morning, all those nice rows that use to be bright green now brown and smashed down. I noticed them on the way in to town this morning. The mower tires were dropped off at Riekers this morning and picked up a couple hours later. That mower will easily be able to make the hills. Mark mowed the entire area in about an hour later this evening once the tires were mounted.
Anna dropped off the girls just as I made it home. Braelyn and Taegan played quietly and nicely on the porch while Kensley took a nap.
Cathie Trent brought out a group for swimming today. With her was a couple friends from the past, Susan and Lynn. Funny but when they were headed our way it was cloudy and spitting rain but as soon as they pulled in the drive the sun broke through and stayed out.

 When Kensley awoke we joined them all at mom's beach just as they were getting ready to head back.

 Braelyn caught a bright green grass hopper. She is such a good hunter of toads, frogs and insects. 

 The trampoline was a favorite today. 

 Even Kensley toddled over to climb the ladder. 

  Anna arrived not too much later to take them home. This evening Mark and I took mom's mail over and found her out watering but bleeding from her arm and leg. She was planting flowers on the new landscape tiers, fell from the second tie, rolled down to the third tier rolled off that and slammed into her burning bushes. She was surprised she rolled and felt nothing was broken so just went in and bandaged up the bloody spots then prepared a big meal for Joan and the kids who were just getting home tonight. Nothing keeps our 84 year old mom down long.
We are anxiously waiting an update from  Stephanie and David. Stephanie is in labor and hopefully getting ready to deliver their baby girl soon. She has been laboring most of the day. Thankfully she has the best OB team in the entire Peoria area...my favorite cousin MaryEllen! Stephanie sent the picture. Praying for YOU Stephanie and that beautiful grand daughter that will soon be making her way into this world.

This evening I got a call from a man wanting to come down tomorrow to see Prissy so I drove out to Middle Grove leaving at 6:50 pm and arriving back just after 8:15 pm. Galena was so sad to see Prissy leave, she followed us all the way back to the trailer.

That was a quick trip. Tomorrow she will be groomed up before the guests for Emma Herman's birthday party arrive.
Jewel was still in and covered by Evan.

Stamp Drive

We had such a good morning at the Berean office. Hard working volunteers of all ages. Check them out by clicking HERE.
Ruth took the day off but sent this picture:

We understand, after all this is her very first grand daughter.
When I got home Rhoda was here grooming Evan. She had already cleaned 3 stalls, brought Evan in and took out his braids, brushed his mane and tail and was busy rebraiding. Of course the camera HAD to be taken out when Rhoda agreed to let him have some fun in the outdoor arena. Evan dances when he is let loose.

This is just a sampling of the pictures taken. If you would like to see them all click HERE.
As we were putting Evan away we noticed Jewel calling to him. She was taken out, teased and when she showed covered. Jewel is as sweet as she is beautiful.

This evening Mark worked on removing the back mower tires. He ordered 2 new heavy duty tractor tires for the mower to help on the hills here.
The Berean banquet meeting was tonight and Spark called with a plea. We really really need to get the word out about the banquet. This is the main fund raiser for this ministry that donates so much. Please consider coming to this banquet held at 5 Points in Washington, IL at 5:30 pm Saturday August 27th, 2016. The featured speaker this year is Manny Mill, a well known author and the CEO of Koinonia House National Ministries. Come hear how YOU can help share Jesus Christ to inmates all over North America, Russia and Romania. For banquet reservations call 309-672-0991 We would love to have a full house! Just one more plea as if that isn't enough...IF you would like to donate stamps we can sure use them. We would love to have a stamp drive again this year at the banquet!

New Addition To the Family

Rebekah and Brian so excited to announce the birth of their beautiful baby daughter, Riley Jane Schwind. She is a healthy 7 lbs 4 oz and 18" long. 

Today Taunya let me have her children for the morning. Jace was a good help with the morning feeding.

The repair man Rod, showed up to work on the skid steer. Jace was glad to hold tools for him while he worked. Rod's family use to rent the Old School Center from Dan for family reunions. 

 The morning was perfect for butterfly hunting so we loaded up the golf cart and took off for far fields.

 We found some pretty butterflies but a lot of ugly grasshoppers too. We also found a campsite that may or may not belong to a group of Gypsies. Addyson was very interested in learning about Gypsies so as the boys were jumping on the trampoline I was telling her stories mom had told me of her mother and the gypsy bands that would come through down by Kickapoo Creek.

  Right about that time someone started screaming loudly. We were suspicious that maybe the Gypsies had come back and were stealing children but mom came out about then and told us she didn't hear anything.

Miss Molly came out right behind mom and she heard the screaming. Turned out mom didn't have her hearing aids in. 

 Below mom is telling Addyson all about the stories of Gypsies stealing children way back in the early 1900's and how her mom was so afraid to let her brother play down at the creek by himself because of those stories.

 We finally figured out that the screaming was coming from Rachel's house. She was doing a photo shoot for 2 little children and was doing anything to get them to smile, even telling them to scream.

 We went toad hunting next and both boys found a toad. Taunya arrived to take them home just before Jace found his toad so the boys were given buckets and took their new pets home but promised to let them go in their yard later today.

Addyson was not thrilled to be riding in the van with two brothers and their toads.
Tonight Mark drove to church with a full car taking me, Sarah R, mom and Diane. It was good to be there. Tim Roecker had the service.

Galena and Prissy PREGNANT

We had a short walk this morning, just about everyone had plans and jobs to get to. I had to pick up the mail and get it to the Berean office by 9:00 am which means I must pull out at 8:15 am.
To read about our morning there click HERE.
As soon as I got home Prissy and Galena were taken out of the paddocks and given a bath for their vet appointment in Morton, IL.

We are thrilled to announce these mares are both pregnant. Prissy is due June 23rd, 2017

and Galena is due June 25th, 2017. 

We only got one cover on Prissy so were very happy with her. She settles easily and is a great mom letting us play with the foal. Her 2015 colt also by Valiant had the hair gene, I snapped these pictures of him before he left for his new home. His mane was double sided and his tail thick and long.

We are placing Prissy for sale for only $1500.00 and she comes with the paper work to register her 2017 foal in Friesian Heritage Horse. She is not trained to ride but is a good registered brood mare. BTW the foal is worth at least $4500.00 so Prissy will be a bargain for someone. We are reducing our herd to horses that do double duty (ridden and brood mare). 

Galena's foal is going to be HUGE, probably 16.2 or taller, may be spotted and best yet have the mega HAIR gene.  Check out Galena's thick long mane, tail and feather in the pictures below.

Galena is not for sale, we are excited to see what she produces crossed with Valiant. From the vet's office in Morton, IL the horses were taken straight out to Middle Grove. When we arrived the horses came galloping up to meet me from all different directions. The sun was too bright and I couldn't see the anything in the viewfinder so just guessed while taking the video below. It is not always in focus and jerky.

The grass out there is waist high under the trees. It isn't tough grass, this is tender bright green with seed tops. The horses are all gaining weight out there. Even those mares nursing foals. 

 Above is Soul and below is Star both fat and happy both nursing big foals and both bred back. 

 The horses blend well in the trees. They enjoy the shade while munching away. 

 Below is April, Lola's filly. She and Sheena's colt left the herd and started following me back to the truck. 

First of The Month

As today is August 1st, a trip into town had to be made to deposit checks and pay bills. That didn't take too long so the next errand was to take the golf cart tire back to Riekers, the tube was bad and Mark got stranded on that Sunday morning. He had to walk back, fill his air tank then tire to get the cart back in the garage. From there I went to Sam's Club for groceries then home to cook the groceries. The meal cooked is for tomorrow's lunch at Berean. The Bibles were suppose to have been delivered today and we have extra help coming in to wrap and label them.
Karin hosted vaulting practice today with the entire team. They have a performance on the 20th so she was pleased all of them could be here. After vaulting some of the kids rode Missy and Cookie and some went swimming.
Hoerr vet clinic called when I was getting ready to head back to the farm to report Dr. Hoerr would come tonight if that would work instead of tomorrow afternoon. The cousins were meeting up with Mike and Dort at Jack's tonight then heading to their house for a singing. I hated to miss that but the owner of Patty would like to know as soon as possible if she is pregnant. Karin was waiting at the house when I finally got home around 3:30 pm and we worked on the script for the next performances then went out to start bringing in the mares for their ultrasounds. Galena

Prissy

and Patty were brought inside. Praying all three of these mares settled. 

And then it was time to wait, wait and wait some more. Around 7:40 pm Dr. Hoerr was sent a text to see if he wanted to cancel tonight and he was quick to respond that would be good as he still had emergencies to see. Galena, Prissy and Patty were taken back to their paddocks. I'm going to have to drive them to his office tomorrow afternoon. The other horses were locked off the pond pasture until we get some rain and somehow Indy's filly got on the wrong side of the fence into the pond pasture. She was galloping back and forth trying to figure out how to get back into the paddock. Indy calmly walked up to the front gate and stood there looking at me then over to her filly just waiting for me to rescue her lost filly. Indy is just SO sensible. Any other mare would have been frantically calling and running back and forth along the back fence line trying to get out with her baby but not Indy. She knows we will help and goes to look for humans.
Molly's last puppy left today for his new owner. We all got WAY to attached to Teddy. He went on our walks every morning.