All About Clothes

Ruth sent a text early this morning that she would not be walking. She and Fedi became grandparents again early this morning. More on that another day. I headed over to mom's about 8:30 am to look at the schedule. Joan was already there with the kids doing school work. I had to take a picture of Berlica as I really liked the shirt she was wearing. 

I was standing outside talking to Diane who is in Gulf Shores when I noticed the clouds this morning. There were dark storm clouds to our West but a little Northwest a cloud was in the shape of a woman kneeling in prayer with her hands clasped in front of her. I mentioned the cloud to Diane then told her I needed to go change so I could go to Sam's.  I had to explain that once I went to the bank in my barn clothes and the bank teller looked at me and exclaimed, "trick or treat!" At that point I realized barn clothes are not considered appropriate out in public.

The trip to Sam's club was to pick up a couple items for mom's house and some supplies for our house. I dropped off the Berean tubs at that office on my way to the Aldi on Allen road. Aldi had large avocados on sale for 75 cents each so I picked up 5 of them and for the first time in months they had canned pumpkin so picked up 5 cans of those plus 5 cans of evaporated milk. I'm serving supper Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at mom's this week so for sure will be making some pumpkin desserts. I also picked up the rest of the ingredients for those 3 meals. When I got back and the food was put away it was time to get working outside so the barn clothes were put back on. Indy may be getting close, she was at least squealing at Evan today. Not ready to stand but at least starting to react. Mark spent the morning digging around the barn for the electrical. 

He got both sides almost done but told me he needs to get this part about a foot deeper.

He needed to change to head to an estimate at 2:00 pm then went down to the shop.

Mark left work early and drove straight to church. He needed to arrive early as there was a problem with the thermostats. I got a ride with Joan and brought Mark a white shirt and tie as he was wearing an orange Meister T shirt. Today was all about clothes!  Mike Kaisner had the message.

An Entire Year

 Today has been exactly a year since mom's stoke. Rachel put it best so that is what is posted here.  One year! I think we could all say it truly was a year we were sustained only by the goodness of God

We have mourned.

We have been surprised.

We have had hard discussions.

We have felt hopelessness.

We have felt frustrated.

We had to extend grace to each other.

We have needed grace from each other.

We have felt joy.

We have felt failure.

We have laughed uncontrollably.

It has been hard.

It has been healing.

It has been a miracle.

Because only Jesus can take a great big family full of stubbornness, strong opinions, & sinful natures and bring them together all with one common goal of trying to do the best we can for her. (And not always succeeding I might add )

Giving thanks for a year we didn't think we had, stuffed full of irreplaceable memories

Thank you, to all who have prayed, visited, sent cards, food and taken the time to say hello at church. It has meant so much to her and us

What a year it has been. We were thrilled to be able to celebrate her 90th birthday March 30th with a Mrs. America birthday party.

Mom gets frustrated that she can't walk by herself yet but loved meeting and holding her 3 newest grandchildren.

She loved her surprise birthday at church.

She enjoyed the boat trip, lunch and tour at Starved Rock.

Almost every Tuesday she volunteers at the Berean office.

And of course loves going to church each Sunday. We are SO thankful to have had this extra year. She isn't done yet, she is going to Gulf Shores, AL in October for 2 weeks. Aunt Jinnie will join her then come back with her and celebrate Thanksgiving with us.

Confirmed

 We walked today for the first time in a week. Ruth was finally better from Covid. After the walk I loaded up Oksana and Sheena and took them to Hoerr Vet Clinic in Morton, IL to get sonagrams on them. There were 3 cute kittens playing at the clinic door. 

Sheena was done first. Below she is waiting in the stocks for Dr. Hoerr. 

I never realized how LONG her tail is.

Dr. Hoerr found the embryonic vesicle right away.

Sheena was covered by Valiant and is due August 8th, 2023.

She was taken back to the trailer and Oksana brought into the clinic and put in the stocks.

Oksana was much farther along. She was covered by Evan and is due June 7th, 2023. 

I picked up two shots of Lutalyse when paying the bill so Indy can be short cycled. She just doesn't show other wise. The mares were loaded into the trailer and we started the long 50 mile trip to Middle Grove arriving there around 10:30 am. I came the back way and saw the herd all spread out near the road. Taylor (Earl's gelding) was in the lead all by himself. A bit farther was Rosaleigh and her filly and Tatiana and her colt, Toward the main gate were Jewel, Missy, Cookie and Dancer. When I finally reached the gate Lily was nearest the gate but her filly, Big Rosalie, Jury and Irish were close enough that when Sheena called they heard her and came running. The others were too far away to hear us and kept heading toward the 5 acre lake. I parked on the road by the main gate and just unloaded there. 

Above Sheena has passed Irish and Irish was heading toward the gate to see what other mare was in the trailer.  Below big Rosalie is greeting Sheena while Lily and her filly watch.

Below far right is Oksana running toward the herd.

I didn't stick around or walk into the field to get pictures of the rest of the herd as they were already pretty far away. The short video below was taken just before I left.

When I got back to the farm Indy was taken over by Evan and teased. She was just not interested so was given the first shot of Lutalyse.  There was no reaction but I will need to tease her everyday for 5 days. If she doesn't come in the second shot will be given. Once she was put away the fresh water tank on the 5th wheel needed to be filled. After all the barn chores were finished I came inside to update the website now that we have 2 more confirmed in foal. We have 10 mares due for 2023 and still hope to get Indy pregnant. Our first mare due is big Rosalie (unless she sells) She is for sale as a 2/1 package for $18,000 with live foal guarantee. She was born Feb 18th, 2013 is 9 years old, is 75% Friesian 25% Warmblood, stands a solid 17 hands and rides nice.

She has gorgeous 7/8ths Friesian foals. 

If Rosalie sells that would bring us down to 9 foals for 2023 but we also have one  other mare in foal for sale. Jewel was born April 30th, 2008. She is half Friesian half Thoroughbred. She was bred to Evan and is due June 5th, 2023. She has been on miles of trails and is a fun ride. Jewel's price in foal with live foal guarantee is $12,000.00.

Jewel's foals are 75% Friesian and always have that extreme movement so desired for dressage.

If she sells we would be down to 8 expected foals. That would make for an easy foaling year.  After the website was updated I took off for the Peoria post office to pick up the Berean mail. A little disappointing as there was a smaller amount than last week. Bill Schick called while I was heading down to explain he will be missing the next two weeks.  My next stop was Sam's club to pick up another pecan pie for the Berean volunteers tomorrow along with more small plates and paper towels for that office. I also picked up a rotisserie chicken and a cheese cake for mom's house. Mom was talking to Aunt Jinnie when I arrived. They are really looking forward to the upcoming Gulf Shores trip.

And So We Grow

 Sundays are always so special and today was no exception. Peoria hosted ACYF, David Obergfel had the message at the fellowship hall in the morning for that group while Craig Stickling had the message here. After lunch the group sang 3 songs for us. 

Gregg Rumbold had the afternoon message. He got their attention and quite a few chuckles by explaining to everyone that perhaps we are here to use our elbows to help our neighbor stay awake. It really was a good message from Galatians. Mark and I used mom's car to take her to church and discovered her airconditioner wasn't working very well. After church it was really hot outside so the ride home was a little uncomfortable.  As soon as we got home and mom was dropped off I finished with the vegetables and chicken.  The 9 peppers and 15 pounds of chicken breasts were cut, drenched in olive oil then covered in parmesan cheese and put in the fridge this morning so after church the 3 huge onions were cut and added to the peppers. Mark started the grill at 3:15 pm so the food could be finished in time to take a meal over to mom's before the kids arrived. Below the food is waiting for the grill to heat up.

The kids all made it for dinner tonight and we had a very full house. Sure am looking forward to having Sunday dinners in the new barn.  Patience IS a virtue, just one that doesn't always come easily. Below are a few fun pictures of the evening.

The bigger kids were playing a game in the old barn.

The little kids had been feeding the horses grass and hay when I picked them up.

We drove to the playground where the volleyball games were going on AND the big news of the day.

Jessica and Clayton announced they are expecting and due April 3rd.  AND so the family grows.

I took the little kids over to the barn. Mark had finished emptying the black water tank so I emptied the gray water tank while Abe, Elisabet and Eden watched. Zion was picking pretty purple flowers (clover).

Once that was done the hoses were washed and put away then we went into the barn so they could all get a drink out of the hose.

On the way back over to the playground I turned around and took the picture below of the setting sun shining through the barn door. 

Elisabeth, Zion, River, Eden and Abe came back to the playground in the car with all the windows and the back of the car open. They thought it was almost as fun as a golf cart.

When we arrived of course they wanted to climb on top of the car. 

The playground was still humming with excitement over Jessica's news.

Phil and Anna's car load was one of the last to leave.

Below is a video of just a part of the afternoon.

It was such a wonderful evening with siblings, first cousins, second cousins, aunts and uncles. What a blessing this place is to our family. Dad really knew what he was doing all those years ago.

Hit and Run

 The girls were ready to be picked up about 20 after 8:00 am and were beautifully dressed. 

Those two dressed themselves and were excited to come to grandma's house.. Of course as soon as we reached the farm those dresses were taken off and left in the car. They were both wearing their swimming suits under their Sunday dresses. River was also happy to come to grandma's house.

We went right out to the barn so I could get the fresh water tank filled in the 5th wheel. The girls had a good time playing in the dust while waiting for grandma to finish.

When the barn chores were finished we headed over to the playground. Mark was busy digging the electrical lines. He finished one side and started on the other side this afternoon.

The girls were fascinated with the ditch and Zion had to jump it a few times. 

We headed inside to play for a while. They were pushing each other around in the office chairs and having a great time. Around 12:30 River started getting crabby so we headed back to the house for lunch and a nap.

Everyone was hungry and thirsty.  After lunch River took a nice long nap while the other girls worked on crafts. We decorated so many plates and papers with markers, crayons, stickers glow in the dark glue and glitter glue and placed them on chairs by the windows to dry. Below is a video of the fun.

The Gulf Shores people started driving home around 2:20 am this morning and all was going well until they got rear-ended by a hit and run driver. Rhoda was driving and was at a dead stop on an exit with a car in front of them also stopped. Anna happened to be looking back and only had time to gasp before the car hit them. The police were called but before they got there the other car took off.

The Prius has some damage to the back end but nothing a little gorilla tape can't fix. None of them were hurt and it only put them back about a half hour. They made it home by 4:40 pm. I had just dropped off Sarah and Nolan's girls when they pulled in right behind me. Thankful they are all home safe.