No Pictures?

Phil dropped Braelyn off early this morning, she got to go on our walk as he brought the neatest stroller and I forgot to get pictures of it. This stroller worked well on gravel and even had brakes for going down hills. Braelyn enjoyed the walk as much as we did. She stayed with me for the morning. When Anna came to pick her up, we were back outside watching the vaulters practice. Faith Reinhard told me she wants to be a vaulter when she grows up and showed us what she already knows.

Ruth drove up with a half gallon of ice cream for Sarah Reinhard. Sarah got her license today and Ruth helped her celebrate with ice cream, thankfully Sarah shared some of it with the other vaulters.
Steven worked Airiah again, today did not go as well as yesterday. She was more nervous of the saddle moving today. Karin has some ideas to try next with her. She sure has a sweet disposition. After Steven put her away, he helped tease Kim's three mares. Molly has not come back in season which means more than likely she is pregnant but the other 2 have still not even come in season yet.
Rhoda came shortly after the practice and came with me to Middle Grove to pick up Mika, Bunni, Sally, Jewel and DaMita. We fit all 5 of those big horses in the 4 horse trailer by leaving the divider open and just stuffing them in. Mika, Bunni and Sally will be used for Senior High Girls camp tomorrow, Jewel will go home with Emily Ricketts tomorrow after camp, and Rhoda wanted to start DaMita on trails, she has a couple of ladies interested in her. After they were settled in the cabin field, Rhoda came over and vacuumed off both dogs. Neither dog really likes this but for Rhoda they will do anything, even lie still for a vacuum cleaner.

After dinner Karin and Rhoda took Mika and DaMita on the trails. DaMita did very well, even leading in some instances.
Emily Ricketts from Forrest, IL showed up around 8:30pm, she and Sarah Reinhard are staying the night in the cabin and will be here for breakfast tomorrow around 8:00am.

Whelping Box

Mom made us breakfast after the walk today, we always enjoy her great cooking. Steven showed up to start Airiah today. We are so pleased with her attitude. She has the typical Friesian attitude, she wants to please.


We ended on such a good note with her and put her away.
Valiant was the next horse out. He was also saddled and had Steven start adding his weight and then lunged. The pictures below are not the best but shows a bit of his fantastic movement. This boy was BORN to show off.



Tonight after dinner Mark started on Emma's whelping box. He built it 6 feet by 4 feet which should be plenty of room for Emma and her pups. Now it just needs bedding.
While we were working on that, Mike and Diane came over to see what we were building. They were admiring Sanna and her filly in the next stall when the filly somehow someway came up with the bucket hooked around her head. She was so cute waiting patiently to be rescued.

Our Wilson Cell Phone booster came today, Mark hooked it up and our phones will now ring in the apartment and I don't have to stand outside to make a call. What a relief, it wasn't fun standing in the driving rain talking on the phone. I could just imagine what winter was going to be like. Too bad it isn't strong enough to work in the stall area.

Evan's Training

We had 2 and a half inches of rain last night. On the walk we could hear the over flow from the small pond rushing into the lake way before we could see it.
A trip to Meisters to drop off some needed items for Mark meant the grocery store should be visited as long as I was in Peoria. We needed more ice cream for when the vaulters come, that's as good as reason as any to have ice cream in the house. Karin helped bring in the groceries while the kids were warming up the horse. These vaulters are amazing and a few pictures were snapped while they were practicing.


Steven showed up to give both boys some training. Evan was first, he was showing off on the lunge line. What a pretty boy he is.



Valiant was saddled and walked around but no pictures of him. Steven was very pleased.
Ruth, Fedi, Diane, Mark and I met at the playground at 6:20 for our trip in to church. What a great time we have together, the worshiping in church is great but the fellowship with each other is an added bonus. We drove through McDonald's on the way home, Rachel came back with us and had coupons for shakes and cement mixers, we can't let coupons go to waste.

Faith of Our Fathers

My grandfather, David Meister was thrown into prison for his faith. The Apostolic Christian faith believes all life is sacred, even the lives of our enemy and he would not agree to fight, carry a gun or shoot anyone. He was taken to the prison at Leavenworth Kansas. He was twice told he would be taken before the firing squad unless he agreed to carry a gun, and twice he stood in front of the firing squad, blindfolded, heard the guns cock, then heard the guns went off. He was amazed to find himself alive both times this happened. When they realized he would not give in and agree to fight, he was sentenced to life. Life in prison at that time was not easy, he was a young man and the sentence was hard labor for the rest of his life. He was marched to work at a dairy farm every morning early then marched back into the prison at night. His cell was filthy and every evening as he would lie on the cot and the lights went out bed bugs would drop like flies onto the bed and start biting. One of the things he confessed to us later was he that stole some soap powder from the dairy farm and tried to fill the cracks of his prison cell to stop the bed bugs. He always felt bad about that theft. His life was miserable but he told us it wasn’t as bad as what Jesus went through for him. When the war was over, they took him before the judge and told him his sentence was no longer life but he was now sentenced to 20 years of hard labor. He went back to Leavenworth euphoric, thinking someday he would actually be out of prison. It wasn’t long after that, the guards came and let him out. He was then considered a convicted felon and was never allowed to vote. Grandpa Meister grieved over this and for years some of his children and grand children tried to get the federal government to give him a full pardon but this never happened in his lifetime.
Tonight in church we sang Faith of our Fathers, every time we sing this song I remember Grandpa Meister and what he went through. Would we be willing to do the same? Is our faith as strong? How easy we have it today and how lightly sometimes we take our faith. As young children hearing his story when ever he would speak of the prison we would hear the word Leavenworth and cringe. Today we send Bibles and Bible studies to a prison to Leavenworth and each time I see the name on the address, my imagination comes alive, seeing my grandfather as a young man bravely standing for his faith in front of the firing squad.
All you Meister kids and grandkids, Remember what your great Grandfather did for his faith. Do NOT FORGET what a heritage you have. Will you treat your faith lightly, doing the least or will you walk the second mile? What kind of example will you be for YOUR CHILDREN and GRAND CHILDREN? Will you tell them about your ancestor or would you prefer NOT TO REMEMBER. Grandpa Meister was willing to die for his faith.

The Boys

We left by 6:30 this morning to get Sarah’s car to Peoria Toyota, her air conditioner was out and needed repair. They also needed to replace a head lamp. The rain was coming down steady which meant no walk. I didn't mind going in to Peoria early, that put me at work around 7:30am and the time before Eva Jean arrived was spent entering new studies and Bible requests. Once she arrived we were able to get most of the work done by 11:30am.
The car was all finished by 1:30pm, once Mark was dropped off at the repair shop I headed to the farm. Kim’s mares needed another round bale and Dalia needed to be covered if we going to keep her.
After dinner we walked over to mom’s and visited with everybody congregated over there, she had a big crowd and it was good to be together. Rhoda showed up with more pills for Darcy. Rhoda decided it would be fun to work with the boys and brought them out. Mike showed up as we were playing with them so both boys were saddled and worked with. Below are some of the pictures of tonight. They were both so good. After Valiant was saddled, Mike got on the pedestal so he would be above him.

While Mike was working with Valiant, Rhoda brought Evan in and asked him to lay down. She asked him twice yesterday in the paddock without even a lead rope and today was just as good. Steven Marchal has done a wonderful job with him, pretty impressive when a horse will lay down for more than just the one that initially trained him.


Evan was then saddled and Mike decided to ask him to bend, Evan thought he wanted him to lay down, that was rather unexpected.



Mike was going to stand next to Evan up on the pedestal, he brought Evan over and what happened next kind of surprised him, Evan got up on the pedestal with Mike.

Mark worked on replacing some of the boards on the hay shelters while we were in the arena. He is getting this place in shape, I’m so glad we are now living here, this place was really looking neglected. When Rhoda was leading Valiant back he had to make a stop and visit Dalia, Valiant has a very impressive neck.

Rhoda showed Mark what we need as far as a whelping box for Emma. We are pleased he feels he can get it together in time for the puppies.

Mowing Adventures

Such a beautiful day for mowing. The Kabota was picked up after the walk and driven back so the fields could be mowed. My phone was in a shallow pocket where it could fall out too easy, so it was placed inside my shirt, Beth showed us where a phone is always safe and if you want to know where that is, ask HER, then the tractor started. This Kabota runs hot meaning a close watch needs to be kept on the gauges. About 6 rounds into the first field, the tractor seemed to be getting too hot, it was turned off and let sit for an hour. The radiator was filled back up and this time I was able to finish the first field. It was also running low on diesel fuel and starting to warm up on the second field. All of a sudden an alarm started going off, panic set in and quickly the machine was turned off. The gauges checked and still the sound of ringing filled my ears. Finally figured out it was my phone which I completely forgot was in my shirt. Once the diesel fuel was purchased and 5 gallons put in the Kabota along with water in the radiator it only took 3 more times of letting it sit to cool before finishing. Spark and Jay came over to take it back, they needed to move a railroad tie. Once the field was finished, the boys were allowed out of their paddock into the first field. They ran and bucked about 3 laps, settled down to graze, then took off running again. After they had settled down the second time, I went in to eat lunch, came out 15 minutes later and both boys were gone. Had to start calling their names loudly and they come running from the cabin field neighing all the way, run to the gate opposite the cabin lane and ask to be let in. Once that gate was opened, they ran straight into their own paddock. Until we find where they got out they must stay put.
A gentle rain started falling around 5:00pm, Sanna's filly was having a blast running out into the ran, whipping around and barreling back into the arena. Too bad Sangria isn't here with her filly, she needs someone to play with.
A vet appointment was made June 27th for sonagrams for Eliza, Airiah, Kay's mare and perhaps Kim's mare.

Brrr

June 13th and it is COLD outside. The windows were left open all night and what a delight to snuggle under our down comforter. The only problem with that was Emma had a miserable night and every time she wanted outside I had to get out of the warmth and stumble around in the cold. The puppies must be making Emma uncomfortable. She was up 4 times during the night asking to go outside. We are not sure on our puppy count down if we are to start counting from the first time she was bred or the last time. If anyone has this information please share it with us as there are 5 days between the first and last cover and the gestation is only 63 days.
Our next big function is senior high girls came this coming Saturday. Karin is going to be out of town and won't be able to help. We must come up with 3 replacements for her. Weird how it takes 3 people to replace one really important bossy (and I mean that in a nice way)one. Karin has been the person in charge of the horse riding for the camps for the last 3 years. What will we do without her?
Our news is Mark didn't have to wear causal pants to church. He went to Penny's and picked out some new black pants. They even match his suit coat and were only $29.00. While he was there he also bought a new long sleeved white shirt. He is now all set for church. His suit pants never did show up but there are a few more boxes and bags to organize yet in the big back room.
Sanna was called in for her grain this morning and she is still very sore on her left front where Dr. Hoerr dug out an abscess. That hoof needs to be soaked in Epsom salts at least 3 times today. She is such a grand old girl, and so fertile, pregnant at 22, and taking on the first cover each time. Her filly this year is beautiful, we really need to get new pictures of her soon. She still needs a name.

Dalia In

Up by 5:00am to a beautiful morning. The barn was swept and horses grained all before 6:00am. Raven was brought out to tease Airiah who is now out and Kim's mares. Kim's BIG mare would not let the bay near the gate which meant Raven had to be put back in his paddock and the bay taken to him. She was not in. Kay's Arabian mare was brought out next, when she had her sonagram on Friday, Dr. Hoerr thought she would be ovulate in 48 hours but she had already ovulated and no longer in. Kay was called to let her know the mare could be picked up. Kay wants to bring her back here for her ultrasound, we will have Eliza and Airiah done at the same time to share the farm call. Mike helped put Raven's splint back on then Mark and I left for Princeville for the day. It was amazing how connected we are there with 2 daughters-in-law from Princeville we felt right at home. The fellowship was just wonderful, reconnecting with many of the brethren from the past. When we were ready to take off for home, Taunya's mom gave us a special gift of her delicious home baked apple pie.
We pulled up after 6:00pm to find Chuck Altic delivering another load of hay. He was paid for 28 bales. Mark moved in a few of the old bales into paddocks then stacked the rest.
Jarad Plattner came over to check Raven's brace, actually Raven had it on all day and he feels there is some improvement. Dalia was in season and even with the brace on he was able to cover her with no problem. What a great day!

Camp Pictures

Above are random pictures of the horses at junior high girls camp. There were around 130 campers plus the counselor and workers. Every function at the Herman Lake in Norris, IL had lines, LONG LINES. We know with the horses we were not able to finish and at least 20 girls that wanted to ride didn't get the opportunity. We were so busy we never got a chance to see how their new blob did but we could sure hear the screams all the way across the 30 acre lake. The lake is extensively managed by Herman Pond Managment and actually grows trophy size bass, trout, perch, stripers and lots of other fish all HUGE. The Herman boys have their fish eating out of ones hands, mouths and when one is caught with a pole, it is a fight for the ages, NO one forgets pulling up one of these monsters. Nate Herman has many pictures and videos on his blog, check them out, just one click away.
By the time the trailer pulled in to the Middle Grove farm, all the horses left there were waiting for Mika, Bunni and Sally at the gate.
It took 2 separate pictures to get the ones all lined up.
I barely had time to shower then meet Mark at Meisters for our anniversary dinner, then Bach Fest. Even though I was tired, the music was heavenly.

Girls Camp

This morning Airiah was covered before getting started on chores. There was much to do before loading for camp. Rachel and Diane helped load Sunny, Sandy, Paris, and Larry and off to Norris we drove. the horses unloaded then with Karins help, off to Middle Grove to pick up Mika,
bunni, and Sally. Mika and Bunni were glad to go but Sally decided that was not for her and took off running. It took about 20 minutes to catch her but we still made it back to Norris in plenty of time to take the horses on the trial run. Sally ended up spooking and Jarad fell off meaning another trial had to be done. Thankfully the second run was perfect,as the campers started arriving and from that point on we never had a break. We finished at 3:45pm, took the first group back to Middle Grove, then back to Norris for the remaining horses. All went smoothly due to the great helpers Karin lined up. Melinda and Sue from Rainbow riders were great help along with Ruth,Sophia, and Carrie. Mark and I are heading to Bach festival for our anniversary and for some reason he thinks I should take a shower first.

Sanna and Cindy In Foal

Somehow Ebby OR it could be Heidi found this brand new baby deer and dragged it up to mom's house. There was no way Ebby could carry THIS around. Joan offered to bury it, poor thing.
I never was able to get back online to finish yesterdays blog. Sarah came in late because they couldn't get the barn lights on. She was told where the breaker was but she accidentally turned off of electricity. This shut off the computer and lost the information. Then this morning every ones electricity went out. Dr. Hoerr was scheduled for sonograms good thing Mike brought over a generator. We are pleased to announce both Sanna and Cindy are in foal. Kay's mare was sonagramed to find out where she is in this season. She is probably within 48 hours of ovulating. Dr. Hoerr sedated and twitched her and she still kicked at Raven. He left a shot for Sunday, the next time she needs to be covered. A trip in to the shop had to be done for the next trip out.
Lily and Wynnie and both of their fillies were loaded at 2:00pm and off we went for Quincy, IL. Wynnie, Kenzie and Kiera were a birthday gift for a very special lady. I stopped the truck and trailer when we were less than ten minutes away, groomed the horses and put big red bows on the three she was getting. When I pulled up to the barn I asked for Jill and told her she had a special delivery. She saw the truck and when the horses were unloaded asked, Are these Raven babies? Pretty cool, by looking at the Horsemeister name she knew they were Raven foals. Jill was a very happy birthday lady, she was really having trouble comprehending this gift, this huge gift!
The weather was awful on the way home. All traffic had to pull to the side of the road the rain was coming down so hard. By the time we were able to start driving a beautiful rainbow stretching from the west to the east came out, God's promise He will never flood the Earth again.
I drove straight to Princeville, IL and picked up Airiah, Eliza, and Dalia from Dr.Calhoun. All of their teeth are now done. It was a good thing we did Airiahs, she still had wolf teeth.
I made it back to the farm by 10:00pm. Airiah was unloaded, then put in the pasture behind Ravens, she immediately backs into him and he starts going over the fence. Whoops, she is still in season and had to be moved. She was put in with the pregnant mares until tomorrow. The other two were put in the pasture, hope they all behave tonight, I'm exhausted!
Hopefully the pictures from today can be uploaded tomorrow.

It's Here

Eliza, Airiah, and Dalia were taken to Princeville, IL to the equine dentist. They are staying at Dr. Calhoun’s farm overnight as their appointment is tomorrow. While they were being dropped off the apartment water softener was being installed. They also fixed the hot water for the shower and gave us a bit more flow out of the shower head. This may work living here after all
An appointment was made with Hoerr Vet clinic also for tomorrow. We are first on the job list meaning Dr. Hoerr should show up here around 9:30am. We need to have Kay’s Arabian mare sonagramed as she is now in season. Sanna and Cindy will also be ultrasounded and hopefully in foal. This way we can share the farm call with Kay.
Sarah leaves for Jamaica tonight and showed up to pack, weigh her luggage, do some laundry, and get her passport. She plugged in her phone then must have left it. It rang around 11:00pm then started beeping for a message. We could not figure out where the beeping was coming from not knowing her phone was plugged into a corner outlet, then some clothes dropped on top.
The guys from Plattner Orthopedic showed up around 5:00pm with Raven’s new brace. Raven stood very still while they were putting it on but then was afraid to walk. We walked him over to a mare in season so he would forget about it and forget about it he did. The brace was left on for a couple of hours, then removed for the night. Tomorrow morning Mike will help get it back on. Wonder what Dr. Hoerr will think of this? The pictures below show the story.





As I was trying to upload pictures late tonight, Emma lets out a soft bark but then is quiet, the next thing that happens gives me the creeps, actually scared me, a touch on my shoulder, I turn around and there is Sarah Reinhard,

Surprise

There was a big surprise on our walk today, AMY drove all the way from Tremont, IL to join us. Now if only Beth and Karin had come, just seems we can't get everyone there on the same day. Rebekah took the picture for us. Below Joan was trying to save some baby redwing blackbirds from Ebby but the camera was pulled out a bit too late, Joan was asked if she would bend down and pretend she was saving them just for the camera, yeah right!
After the walk, Amy helped with a few of the chores that should be done before breakfast around here. The mares were teased, the outside Arabian is now coming in but the only mare ready for cover was Airiah. I was very glad Amy was there to help, Amy needed to remind Airiah to stand still for the job. Poor Poppy, Amy's dog, she was sure Raven was doing something wrong, came up behind to let him know, Raven jumps off Airiah and kicked her. Poppy ran under Amy's car until that mean old stallion was put away.
We had a very nice breakfast, Amy brought sweet ripe cantaloupe and Bing cherries to go with our kiwi, sausage, eggs, toast and coffee. It was all just plain delicious.
Emma had to show off her puppy belly, 20 days and counting.

The water softener is now being installed and the instant hot water heater is in the process of adjusting, just maybe we will get to take a hot shower soon. Amy had to drop Poppy off at the vet, Raven caught her in the mouth and fractured her back tooth and it must be extracted.

SLOW Internet

It took all day but finally was able to connect onto the internet. We had a good turnout for the walk today, 6 of mom's daughters were in attendance. Now if we could just get Karin and Amy to drive here by 7:25 life would almost be complete. No one wanted to stop talking so continued here in the barn over breakfast. Now just for the record, Tim didn't walk, he came over to help Mike get Airiah covered then stayed to eat. As Airiah is a maiden mare, the first time with live cover it is better if there is at least 2 handlers. Tim said it didn't go as smooth as usual, the Arabian mare in the breeding paddock kept screaming at them the entire time. He was finally ready to come in to eat just about the time all the food was done.

Besides the brilliant colors the meal was delicious.
The eggs are free range brown eggs making them a brilliant orange, bright yellow pineapple, which was not yet on this plate, dark blue blueberries, green kiwi, orange melon, multigrain toast with black berry jam, sausage, fresh squeezed orange juice and of course a fresh pot of hot coffee.
Mom and I were the only one that stayed for a second cup of coffee, the rest of these strange people didn't even want ONE cup of coffee and took off for work shortly after breakfast.
Today the staining of the doors were finished. It took about 35 minutes each side of 5 doors. I stopped for a bit to watch some of the vaulting practice then invited them in for ice cream. It was SO hot ice cream hit the spot. The girls liked it mixed with peanut butter and milk.
They all took off for the lake when done, could hardly wait to jump in the refreshing cool water. I finished the doors by 5:00pm. We left for church a bit late but still made it on time.
This internet is really bad. The lady that we rented the vacation home emailed pictures of the cottage and none of them will load. Just typing this update I've been kicked off 3 times.