First Spring Trail Ride

 We both slept in after that late night not getting up until after 6:00 am. My jobs today were to move in 2 bales and get the back gate of the last shelter rehung. Mark and Mackenson worked together on cutting down saplings on both sides of the dam, weed whacking and cleaned, sharpened blades on mowers. It was a perfect day outside to work.  Karin and Diane took mom and Aunt Jinnie first to Norris to check on the new wedding event barn the Hermans are putting in at the lake in the sky and then drove to the Goose Ranch for lunch at the Hub. 

Below Mark and Mackenson are moving the trampoline so they can weed whack under it.

As I wanted to get the gate hung Lily and her colt were put in the outdoor arena.

Mike arrived from Middle Grove with Sheena. She looks great but we need to find out if she is pregnant or not.

Rosalie and Rosaleigh were turned out into the back field.

Mike went back to get his tools and got that back gate hung.

Below the trampoline is back where it belongs and Mark was putting a hose on it that needs repair. This way he will be reminded to get the parts each time he sees that hose on the trampoline.

I needed to drop off mugs at the barn and on the way home stopped to take the picture below if Irish, Rosalie and Rosaleigh.

Evan was very envious that they are allowed out and he is not. He will be let out Monday.

Mike and Berlica decided to go riding taking Mika and Dancer on the death trails. They both needed the work, both were fresh. Mika did a few crowhops going down the first hill but soon they settled down. 

Below is a video of their ride. 

Just as the horses left the woods and were coming up the big field, 2 deer bounded out of the woods in front of them. I was able to video the second one but missed the first. It was much faster.

Today was a good day.

Berean Volunteer Appreciation Dinner

 We had an inch and a half more rain during the night. I could hear it pouring as we went to bed and still raining into the night. So much so that I had a nightmare that the barn flooded and there was mud covering the floor. I was working all night to clean up that mud and was so thankful to wake and realize I could quit working, it was all a dream and there was no mud. Of course I still needed to check out all the barns to make sure it really was just a dream. On the walk this morning we noticed all the white coral bells were getting ready to open. 

Mike wanted to get Blueberry covered but Valiant needed a bath before that could be done. That water added to the mud problem. By the time he was done covering Blueberry we were both well splattered with mud.  He decided then and there to get lime down and also dug out in front of the breeding stand to help drain the water. Pictures will be added tomorrow of that. After a shower and clean clothes I made a trip to Sam's to get supplies for the new barn. Another booking came in and paper towel, toilet paper, soft soap, napkins, plates and forks were really needed. The other thing that needed to happen was the 4 loads of laundry and the dishes. All of this was done while listening to Fred Witzig give a talk on Diversity in Christian Conscience. That was really good for me to listen to, not that I was convicted or anything.(sarcasm in case one can't read between the lines) To hear that click HERE. At 5:15 Spark, Rhonda, Ruth, Fedi, Mark and I met over at mom's to car pool with mom and Aunt Jinnie to the Berean Volunteer Appreciation Dinner held at the Cannery in Eureka, IL. Braker's Kitchen catered the excellent meal. The 2 music groups that sang were excellent and the speaker was an ex-inmate who did an great job of wrapping up the evening. Below are a few pictures before and during the fantastic meal. 

Below Spark was speaking about how Berean got into Kenya but I didn't realize he was going to speak on that so missed the first part.

That was one of the ex-inmates from the Peoria County Jail went to Kenya and realized when a woman was taken to jail there if she has children under 4 years of age the children must go to jail with her. There is no where for them to sleep. The rest of his talk is on the video below the pictures. Bob, Mindy and Faith (Kindred Spirits) sang next. By the time they were finished mom was just so exhausted she asked if she could go home. Ruth, Fedi, Aunt Jinnie and I took her home. Mark stayed so he could drive Spark and Rhonda home. Rhonda sent the pictures below. The second singing was by the Happy Husbands. 

Last was the inspirational speaker, a man named Brian Butler. 

Rhonda said he had a great wrap up. Even though it was a VERY late night mom and Aunt Jinnie enjoyed going. The video posted below is a not very good. It was just taken with my phone from all the way across the room. It is just missing the very beginning and then the singing of the Happy Husbands and the final speaker. 

The Little Princess

 I drove over to the playground early to ask Ruth if she would be able to pick up Aunt Jinnie at church today but she was going to be keeping the grand children until late afternoon.  At 7:15 pm those kids were already out playing on the playground.

The next job was to move Tatiana into the breeding shed paddock for easy access when it was time to leave for the vet clinic. Missy was also moved in with Lily and her colt as they would be sharing the front of the trailer. Rosaleigh was teased but she is still saying no. 

We were due at Hoerr Vet clinic by 8:30 which meant we needed to start loading around 7:30 am. The trailer was backed into the barn and the doors shut. Lily, her colt and Missy were put in the front of the trailer. I was very pleased with how well her colt loaded. We took the golf cart over to the cabin to pick up Dancer and Mika. Dancer needed an ultrasound and we didn't want Mika left alone. Dancer and Tatiana were loaded in the back of the trailer.  Mike drove the his truck and the stock trailer while I drove the Prius. We arrived just a couple minutes late. 

We had Dr. Hoerr ultrasound Tatiana first and are pleased to announce she is pregnant due the middle of March 2025. 

Tatiana was moved out of the stocks and Dancer moved in. She is open but we can't breed her to any of our stallions as she is related to both. We had bred her last fall to Pablo's Friesian stallion but she didn't settle. Those 2 were taken out to the trailer and Lily, her colt and Missy were brought in. When Valiant covered Lily 3 days ago something tore. Not a lot of blood came out but last night I found some pus. It was very important to have her checked out.

Her colt was so very well behaved. 

The speculum was brought out.

What happened was that she must have torn when delivering her colt 2 months ago, then that healed with scar tissue. Valiant must have torn that open. He said she would heal but I'm pretty sure she will be retired unless she settles from that last cover. Missy was brought along as she had been running with Titus and even though he isn't yet two we thought we should preg check her too.

We were done much sooner than expected. I got home and still had an hour to get some work done here before needing to leave for church to pick up Aunt Jinnie from quilting. Mark was busy grading the roads when I got back.

Aunt Jinnie was taken straight home where Karin had lunch ready to be served.  As soon as mom and Aunt Jinnie finished lunch we were on our way to the Connect Center in Washington, IL to watch the Central Illinois Drama Co-Op present the play, The Little Princess. This afternoon was the dress rehearsal.

Below are all of the actors and actresses of this play.

I videoed the entire performance but about midway my phone was down to 6 percent so my phone was given to Mark and I used his phone to video the rest of the performance. Now the problem with that is Mark's phone does not connect to a charger so I can't get the videos off his phone and on to my computer. I was able to do the quick share onto my phone but before I could download the notification disappeared and after spending over an hour trying to figure it out I gave up. Maybe one of my kids can help at another time. The play was great. They performed it tonight at 7:00 pm and will be performing it again tomorrow night at 7:00 pm.  It was WELL WORTH driving to Washington, IL to watch. Our weather radio went off this evening with large hail, winds and severe thunderstorms predicted. Mark's car and the truck were moved into the indoor arena. Both golf carts were moved into the garage and plugged in. My car is also safe in the garage. We got almost an inch of rain in a very short period of time. Then it stopped but now the rain has started back up again. Wow are we ever getting the rain this spring.

 

Family Night

Mike brought Blueberry over right as we finished the walk. She is in season and was covered by Valiant. After getting her done he was willing to help get a halter on Lily's colt for his very first haltering lesson. This should have been done pretty quickly after birth and during his first week of life but I really just didn't have time to work with him. He did well for the haltering. Not so well when Mike tried to get him to stand. I left to go get the phone to take a few pictures and when I got back Mike was on the ground petting him and blowing in his face. 

We put a lead rope on him then left him to get used to stepping on that and getting out of the problem without panicking. I went in then to cook Mark breakfast and made his usual of eggs over medium, sausage, keto bread, avocado with a little season salt sprinkled on it and strawberries. 

Then it was time to start making the meat loaf balls and placing them in the roaster pans. The amount mixed up made 124 rolls each about 5 to 6 ounces in weight. The first batch of 62 were put in the oven while the next batch was made. When those were done the potatoes were started. Each time I had a break I would take the golf cart up to the barn and spend a few minutes working with Lily's colt. He is doing so well. Below he was playing with the lead rope hanging on the post. 

He really is a cutie.

Below is a video of some of the work done. 

I needed to ask Joan if I could borrow her roaster. One of mine was not working. Mike was at the playground replacing the power pole at the playground. He had to straighten the pole first using the tractor. 

 This is used for the volleyball lights and for campers. Mike put in a 30 amp and a 50 amp and then put in two regular outlets. 

Mark left for an estimate and when he got back went to work repairing mom's garage door. He had ordered the parts on amazon and they came today. He got it working so that Karin can now shut the dog door and not have to worry about Kabur pushing the door open then getting locked inside. She is trying to catch the raccoon that keeps going into the garage so this might do the trick.  

Joan was out mowing but told me where the roaster was. The Little Guy Mini Max is parked at her house and I had not finished taking pictures for the rental ad so stopped to take a few. 

It is such a unique camper. If you would like to see the rest of the pictures click HERE. 

Berlica finished mowing the outdoor arena so Lily and her colt were put out there for a few hours.

On the way back down to the house the geese family were grazing in the pond pasture. They still have 6 goslings. In the picture below there are only 5 pictures as one was off to the left and I didn't get it in the picture.

Ruth is camping with her grandchildren at the playground. As we have 2 golf carts running now I lent her the new one to use. Those kids love golf cart rides.

We left at 4:45 pm for the fellowship hall. Diane and Mike were serving the dinner with us. She provided all the desserts, the salad, the rolls and the cuties. I just provided the meat loaf and the potatoes. We had a good amount of people come.  David came early to help get the picnic tables ready for use. Stephanie brought Elisabet and she went right to work bringing the rolls out.

By the time everyone went finished eating there were no meat loaves and no potatoes left. At least I know everyone got firsts as I was one of the last to go through and there were still enough of both of those.

Karl Kirsh had the message on Ebenezer's in his life.