Play Time Work Time

After the walk I took a few more pictures of Hadassah's new filly for the website. Karin arrived as I was finishing up with that. She was willing to help get Tori covered by Evan. Then worked with Indy.

Sarah arrived about then bringing Nikki over to tie with Chewy. Hopefully in 2 months they will have a litter of Moyen AKC registered puppies.  Zion and Eden got to come with me. I took them on a golf cart ride while Karin and Berlica worked with Oksana.  Mom called that her decking boards had arrived and she needed her deck cleaned off. Sarah and I went to work moving all the furniture off and only after that was finished did I head back to my house for breakfast. Rhoda arrived about then with Iris. Zion and Iris were so happy to see each other.

 Zion climbed in Rhoda car and started beeping the horn. 

 Iris thought that was pretty funny and she wanted to do that too.

Rhoda and Sarah headed over to the beach.  Anna was called to see if she would help with the deck. She brought her girls over while she worked.

 The kids took off in the canoe for fishing.

They brought back a great big bull frog Israel caught.

Pictures were taken of mom's beautiful flowers and the work getting done on the deck. If you would like to see those pictures click HERE. 

Karin finished her first trail ride and then took Braelyn, Israel, Taegan and Kensley next. 

After the ride was finished the kids were taken to the barn to help feed Hadassah and socialize her filly.

If you would like to see the rest of the pictures of the trail ride and barn work click HERE. Next was lunch and after lunch they went swimming again. I took off for Stock and Field in Pekin to purchase 700 pounds of grain then Aldi for groceries. Rhoda and Emily took Jury and Missy on a trail ride and were just finishing up when I arrived back with the grain. Rhoda put Jury away and helped put away the grain. Mark got home as the groceries were being put away. Supper was made then Mark and I went to mom's for church. Mike Rieker had the message on Moses and Joshua. Diane, Ruth, Hannah, Faith, Berlica and Mackenson joined us for church.  It was a very busy day and I'm thankful for another safe delivery and a healthy foal.

Hadassah's Filly

Hadassah had a gorgeous filly this morning May 27th, 2020. I didn't discover her though until 6:30 am. By that time the filly was already up and nursing. Hadassah had no waxing at all last night so I didn't even rush out to see or have her on the monitor. I'm so thankful for another safe birth and healthy foal.

 The picture above and below were taken with my phone early this morning.

The pictures below were taken after our walk.

She is nursing well and Hadassah is a wonderful mother. She is protective of her filly but totally accepts us as iodine was applied to the cord. 

Back To Work

It was hard to wake up this morning after our long play day yesterday. Rachel on the other hand got up early and was ready for the bald eagle to show up for breakfast and got some really good pictures of the eagle fishing. Notice the red-wing black bird harassing the eagle.

 The red-wing blackbird didn't give up easily and only quit when the eagle flew away with his breakfast of a plump bluegill. 

The horses were all left outside last night so there wasn't a lot of clean up this morning. Ruth and I left after 1 round of the walk. She followed me to Peoria Tire up on Knoxville. My car was left there so they could fix the flat tire and repair the broken stud on the rim. Ruth drove her car to the Berean office. We had such a good time working together after being apart for months because of the virus restrictions. If you would like to read about our morning there click HERE. It was great to be back to work. Ruth took me back to Riekers after Berean to pick up the car. It was a beautiful day here most of the afternoon. The thunder started rumbling around 2:00 pm and the clouds started building up from the southwest heading our way.  Lily and Tori along with their colts were taken to the indoor arena just in case there was hail with this storm. Mom called not too much later to invite Mark and I to dinner at her house. She made a big pot of chicken soup. Mark got home around 5:00 pm from work and we went right over. Diane came a bit later and also enjoyed the soup. After supper Ruth and Fedi arrived so we played games. Spark and Rhonda also stopped in at mom's and we sat out on mom's deck enjoying the rain cleared air. The evening was just about perfect with a nice breeze coming off the lake.

Memorial Day 2020

Such a beautiful morning and afternoon, sunshine, warmth and just perfect weather to spend the day outside remembering. Not just remembering those who have given their lives for our Freedom but also remembering the One who gave His life to pay our debt.  David, Israel and Elisabet stayed in the camper last night and came over around 7:15 am for breakfast. Philip, Braelyn, Taegan and Kensley also joined us for breakfast. After breakfast David headed home while Phil took the girls in to the shop to get a little work done. I headed up to tease and care for the horses then came back down to the house to work on the golf cart. I watched a youtube video and Mark helped me take it apart and put it back together and it worked. We don't know what we did to fix it but it is running and ran all day.  Karin arrived and worked with Hadassah first. Hadassah is due June 10th but usually goes a week early. She took her to the round pen and did relaxation techniques with her.

 Next out was Ayanna. 

When Ayanna was put away Karin headed over to the cabin where Hannah and Bethany were busy tacking up Sangria, Sally, Missy and Cookie. Today Bethany's two boys Joshua and William were going to get to go on a LONG trail ride through the woods. They were both very excited.

Phil brought the girls back for swimming after lunch. Soon he decided he wanted to fish so took the canoe and the girls hooked the floating pad on and got a ride around the lake as Philip was fishing. He caught some whoppers, gave them to the girls who would let them go. 

When he quit fishing he came over here to help Mark with the manure spreader. That repair didn't go as well as the golf cart. We may have to haul that in for repairs. Mike and Diane got back from Middle Grove and Mike went right to work with his loader knocking down trees.

They are making a circle drive, connecting his drive with the cabin drive. At 4:00 pm Joan was hosting a graduation party at the playground for Sarah, Hannah and Faith. Sarah and Hannah for finishing their college programs and Faith for graduating 8th grade. We planned on eating at 5:00 pm and just as we were ready to start the heaven's opened and down came the rain.

We sheltered for a while on mom's porch before moving the party inside at Joan's house.  Sarah and Daisy were glad to welcome us in.

 We could sure tell Joshua takes after his mom, he was climbing poles like Bethany used to climb coconut trees in Haiti.

 Below Bethany is fixing Faith's hair for the party.

 After supper games were played.

Mark and I took the golf cart back to our house about 7:30 pm and the rain was coming down in sheets. It has been pounding down all evening. I'm thankful the rain held off all day. If you would like to see the pictures from today click HERE.

Lee and Israel's Birthday Party

The golf cart worked well early this morning as I went up to feed. It was parked by our door but when Mark and I climbed in to drive it over to mom's for church it wouldn't work. The brakes are locked up. We walked to church today. Tim Funk had the message. After church Ruth provided the lunch serving pork cooked exactly like they cook it in Haiti. Sarah, Hannah and Joan all really liked it and commented that it brought back so many memories. After lunch I walked home to work on the golf cart and wasn't successful in fixing it. First I tried to drag it in short bursts to try to unlock the brakes then it was jacked up and the wheels worked trying to unlock those brakes but nothing worked. That was when I walked up to the barn to use Mark's, dusted it off and took it down to start hauling food over to the playground for our supper and the birthday party. Karin was giving trail rides and Israel and Jordan got to go on the first ride. I arrived as she was taking the second group out.

Mom's beach was busy today, it was HOT for the first time ever in 2020. That is mom floating around at the top of the picture below.

 Bethany arrived with 2 baby raccoons she is caring for. These were in a hay bale and when the bale was pulled out they dropped out and were badly injured. There were 3 of them but the female was too badly injured and was put down. The other two survived and are thriving. 

 Israel got to go through the line 3rd as he was the birthday boy.

 Below are Lee and Israel the two birthday boys.

If you would like to see the rest of the pictures of the day click HERE.

Lee found a baby toad that Elisabet claimed for a while before letting it go but she would let all the other pet it then Braelyn found a just hatched baby turtle that she let the kids pet before letting that go. No pictures of the turtle as the camera was at home. We had a fun day.