Cousin Touring Day

 I was up at 4:30 am and used that time to read for a couple hours then ran over to the foaling apartment to make sure it was ready for the guests coming in today. I left the porch lights on for them when I left there.

Today we had a big day planned, meeting at the barn at 8:00 am for breakfast then packing our lunches to leave for the tour of the Giant Goose Ranch and Middle Grove. The problem arrived when the 2 couples from Utah overslept. They are on a different time zone and went to bed much to late. Michael, Peter and Evelyn's son brought some of his sour dough bread and we served that with our breakfast.

We spent quite a long time visiting around the breakfast table before finally getting up to make lunches and didn't leave for the Goose Ranch until almost 10:00 am. We went first to the hub. 

Then we drove over to the animal area.

Peter played while the animals begged.

Next we went to Director's Point to feed the fish.

We drove through the campground area and the cabin area. That place is amazing. Next we drove to Middle Grove and took a tour. We used Spark's side by side, Mike's jeep that pulled the trailer Spark built and had 2 four wheelers so everyone could go.

We found the horses but Spark went one way and Mike the other so the horses were a little confused until Spark drove his over to the jeep.

Finally when they both came from the same directions the horses came to us.

To get back we had to go up a very steep hill and it had rained out there this morning. Some of us less brave ones got out of the vehicles and walked up the hill. The video below shows how fast they had to go to get up this hill.

We then took the boat rides. Mark and Becky went on the solar coaster with Mike and Diane.

While the rest of us fit on the pontoon boat.

Joan caught a bass when we slowed down.

Diane was bragging and showed us the bag of microwave popcorn they popped in their solar coaster microwave. We went from there to Mike and Diane's tiny house in the woods.

The house is off grid and has 2 bathrooms, one upstairs and one downstairs. We all crowded in for a picture.

We didn't make it back to the barn until 5:00 pm. We were joined by more cousins, this time on the Meister side.

Below they are deciding who gets to have the prayer.

Mike was picked as whoever has the prayer get's to go first.

Mark told us about how dad taught the boys how to sing in a quartet. They were missing Bobby and Eddie (they had 6 guys but sang 4 part harmony). Below is one of the songs.

We had a wonderful evening of feasting, song, fellowship and of course a message from Mark.

Below is just some of the evening. 

Cousin Reunion Friday

 Spark didn't join us on the walk but Tony and Mike did. The trees are even more beautiful then yesterday around the retention pond just past Spark's house. 

When we reached Joan's house the sun broke through the clouds just for a few minutes and lit up the top of the trees across her field.

Right after our walk I went to work on the farm house as the new guests were coming in today. Sarah and Rhoda arrived with 6 children. Below they are getting Penny all groomed up for their riding lessons.

I finished the barn in time for lunch at the barn.

After lunch we all walked over to Mike and Diane's to try out the excavator. Today everyone that wanted to got to try out Mike's excavator. Below is Tony.

All of the guys took turns and then Aunt Jinnie tried it.

Below is the video of her running it.

Later I needed to move the mares with their foals into the middle paddock with Penny. We will be weaning soon and need to take Harli away. I want them to be friends with Penny when Harli is gone. The next week we will move Tessa away. That went well. Tessa made sure Penny knew she was in charge of the paddock.

We went to Sarah and Nolan's to see the puppies later this afternoon.

They are 8 weeks old and leaving tomorrow for their homes but they sure are cute puppies. Barbara had to tryout one of the rope swings in their basement.

Phil and Sharon arrived so we had to leave to get back to meet them. Supper was served at 6:00 pm. Ruth and Rhonda made us a taco bar and it really was delicious. After supper we watched the video of the Zeug Reunion held in 2009.

It was another long busy day and we are thankful to have this time with our Bossart Cousins.

Busy Day

 We all met at the dumpster for our walk this morning. We had a good group walking just missing Tony, Becky and Mark. Becky and Mark are staying with Skip and Pat as Skip has first dibs on them since Mark is HIS brother and only OUR cousin. We stopped at Joan's field to get a picture. As of yesterday she officially owns it.

When we reached the horse barns, Berlica was there getting ready to ride Harli.

We certainly spent a lot of time visiting on this walk. As Harli was out, Merlin jumped into the middle paddock with Penny and then in front of us Lucy jumped over and joined him. I left them there to finish our walk. We got to our house and Becky's car was there so went back to the barn to join Aunt Jinnie and Becky before going over to Rachel's house. We stopped at the diving board for a group picture (not one I took) and Tony walked out onto the board.

When we got back to the barn some of us had breakfast but aunt Jinnie and Becky had eaten early so they left for quilting at the church. The rest of the group left to hike Rocky Glen but I stayed back. I needed to put those foals back where they belong. The gate was opened in the middle paddock and both foals came right out when I called them.

Grain was used to bribe them into going back into the correct paddock with their very anxious mothers.

Sarah arrived to work with the horses. She worked with Tessa first then Penny and finished with the paint mare. The paint mare has a new name but I can't remember it now. When  Zion was riding Penny Eden and River helped grandma by sweeping up the barn aisle.

The bench came for the foaling apartment. It really is a storage container and supposedly holds 600 pounds. I just thought we needed some place for people to put luggage.

The picture below is of a bug I had never seen before. It was sitting on the gate and that is one ugly bug.

We moved Stardust and the paint mare into the mare and foal paddock now that Tessa, Harli and their foals are in the paddock next to Valiant.

Mark and Nolan needed to be picked up at noon at the Peoria airport at noon so once Sarah left I left. Their plane was on time and we made it back to the barn for lunch at 12:15 pm, just as they were getting ready to say the prayer. After lunch we went for a hike on the trails. My phone rang as we were at the bottom of the hill and it was Walter's Ag Service who were coming to deliver 21 bales of hay. They said they would be here in a half an hour. I needed to get up the hill, over to the barn, move the bales on the right side of the barn over to the left to get ready for the bales coming.

Berlica came to work with Harli as I was working on the bales.

Below is the video of one of the loads.

I was able to get two of the loads stacked in the barn but the 3rd load came while we were having dinner at the barn with the group. Ruth and Rachel joined us, Rachel brought a delicous peanut butter with chocolate pie for our dessert tonight. We have all been bringing food. Tonight though we had pizza and wings from Caseys plus Diane made a salad. After I ate I ran back to the barn to put the last load of hay into the barn. When I got back Spark had a nice fire going and we all sat around the campfire visiting and of course had to sing a few songs.

We heard the coyotes howling, Dr. Who, the owl hooting and the stars were beautiful. We say a falling star and lots of satellites. We took turns telling out stories of how we came to repent and to follow Jesus. It was a wonderful evening.

They are HERE

 We enjoyed our walk. The changing of the leaves continue to impress us. Below  are the trees around the retention pond

 The 8 pounds of hamburger were browned, drained then the spaghetti sauce added and only when that was warm did I start layering the sauce,  noodles and 3 cheeses into two crockpots. That was cooking by 10:00 am. Then it was time to clean the barn for the cousins but as I started working I could hear a smoke alarm chirping. I tracked that down. It was upstairs in bedroom . Thankfully we had an extra 9 volt battery. I just needed to get the 8 foot ladder out of the bunk room closet and haul it to bedroom 1, climb the ladder, take out the old battery and install the new.         

 

As long as the ladder was out I thought I could rehang the light on the bunk room but after struggling with that for about a half hour my arms were just too tired so that was left for someone else to repair.

 I went home to finish cleaning at our house when Berlica arrived to tell me the 2 foals were out running in the field. She helped me move Harli and Tessa over to the paddock next to Valiant and their foals followed. They will need to stay in there until I can figure out how they escaped. It was sunny and warm and the foliage is beautiful so I asked Berlica if she would hop on Penny for some fall pictures.  Below are those and they turned out well 

While taking the golf cart home I looked down at the floor to move some leadropes and halters and there was the missing golf cart key. Mark had already ordered a couple more so now we have extras just in case that happens again.

. Some of our out of state family arrived right after so once they were all checked in we went for a walk. Visited with Mike and Diane then over to the barn for supper. Joan, Spark, Rhonda, Mike, Diane and I joined Aunt Jinnie, Tony, Barb, Janet and we spent the evening visiting.

Mark and Nolan seem to be having a great time in Texas. They sent back pictures and videos that will be added later.