Melissa coming up the rail in the practice arena at the Van Bert Farms. She is very confident on this horse and I think she has decided this may be her favorite horse now. Her favorite used to be Wilda's horse Autumn Strider. Then Wilda sold her.

Today is Stephanie Moore's wedding day. I am sorry I can't be there but it just wasn't possible. I am there with them in thoughts and good wishes.. Stephanie and Cody are a lovely couple and all who know them like them a lot. Stephanie is one of the sweetest people I know and is very encouraging and nice to everyone she meets. So congratulations to them as they start their life together. May their years together be happy. And may God bless them in whatever way is good and pleasing to him.

I am still very excited about the prospect of Melissa showing this next show. She is young and could still change her mind but I think she is excited too. Her mother was out shopping this afternoon to buy a couple of things she needed to complete her show outfit.

Today was a day of shopping and returning horses to the field they belong in. When Natalie and I returned home from shopping the horses were all out by the barn. I really didn't know how they got out so we put them back in and went in to put groceries away. Natalie got in her car and drove down to her house which is in sight of where I live. Soon she was on the phone telling me that the horses were all in my yard. So out we went again to put the horses back in their own pasture.

I went around the garden to open their gate but it was already open. Mystery solved. No wonder they were all out. So far they have stayed in their pasture the remainder of the day.

Shopping is never my favorite thing. I have a shirt that says "I would rather be at the stall than in the mall" and that is just how I feel about the whole thing. But no milk and no bread and it is time to go to the store. Also I had a breakdown on the bush hog again yesterday and of course I needed to pick up parts so Mike could put it back together for me. It isn't very serious but it still will take time to fix it. But the parts house I buy from for the bush hog didn't happen to have the parts I need. So they had to order them and they won't have them until Tuesday.

Then I went to tractor supply to buy a tire for my four wheeler and they didn't have a tire the size I needed. Natalie's brother and son are visiting for three weeks and I really want the four wheeler ready for them to ride so I will have to go shopping again today to find a tire somewhere. I really hate shopping. On line is not too bad but to actually go to the store and shop--- no way.

Walmart doesn't really appeal to me either. I go there because I can and things are often cheaper there than other places but I don't go out shopping to just go out shopping. I don't even like going to the post office any more. I do go. I have to go to get my mail but I would rather not. I think sometimes I could just be a recluse. Except when it comes to the horses. Then I really love going to the horses shows and to Van Bert's farm and to Cool Shade to see how my horses are doing that are in training.

I love taking Melissa there for her riding lessons. I like Eleanor going with me. She gets so excited about the horses. She has her favorites that she always goes to see. When we get over to Cool Shade she makes sure she visits Fury. She always takes some mints with her. She knows he loves them and she gets very tickled that he takes it out of her hand so gently. Then she visits Heart of Motion. And she goes on down the line to each stall in the barn giving each horse equal time, except for Toco Dawn. She loves Toco Dawn and always gives her a lot of attention.

She also has her favorites at Van Bert's. Mercy Me is her favorite there. She is Stephanie Moore's horse and we both love her big heart. She is a small horse with a big motor. I relate to her. We should both be taller than we are. But it is what it is. So we both do the best with what we were given by God.

And of course Eleanor rides when she can. She rode last year and again recently. It is fun to see her enjoy herself so much. I believe it is God's reward to her for the hard life she has had. She has had much to overcome and to deal with in life.

She had two sons who have gone on to be with the Lord. Both had MD. She took care of the oldest for 15 years on a ventilator which is no easy task. Her youngest died at a early age. He was 21 and the oldest died in his 40s which is old age for a MD patient. When I hear someone whine they can't, I think of Dennis who never complained about anything. His lot in life was to spend it in bed. He was bed ridden for over 20 years but he had more curiosity about life than most people. He read his Bible through several times. Dennis and Roger were both inspirations to anyone they came in contact with. They both left their mark on the world. There will be many souls in heaven that would have been lost without their testimony.

Their whole lives were a testament to what one can do with even limited mobility. Their abilities were a whole story in itself. They were both very intelligent. Roger used his abilities to write some really beautiful poems. Dennis used his voice to record some songs and to give his personal testimony. Instead of saying "Why me Lord?" Or to whine about what they couldn't do, they both concentrated on what they could do.

So even with their limited ability to be out and about, they inspired many people to go beyond what they think they can do and try harder to do what seems impossible. Two young men, two different lives but those lives left so much to the world.

God bless and keep you in his loving care.

Later

Mary

All it takes for evil to succeed is that decent human beings do nothing.

Edmund Burke

Where Do They Go?

For two nights now I have been trying to upload pictures to my blog that I took yesterday. One is of Melissa riding in the practice arena at Van Bert's Farm and the other is of Eleanor riding in the barn. They are both good pictures and I really wanted to share them with you. So I went to my picures and hit upload. The symbol whirled around and around and it indicated that pictures were being uploaded but I can't find them now and they did not make it to my post. So the question is, where did they go?

Melissa is 6 and I am so excited. Her mother is so excited as well as Papaw and Granny. Melissa has decided to ride in the next horse show. That will be next week end at the Summer Celebration. I am amazed at how her riding has improved over the summer. I think it was the trail ride. Melissa is so excited about the trail ride she went on a couple of weeks ago. Now she is really pumped about getting out of the arena. She really wanted out of the barn yesterday and before Jamie knew what had happened to him, she was down in the arena riding around by herself.

H T had told Jamie to stay with her but it was soon apparent she was having none of that and away she went around the arena by herself. I hope no one tells her she doesn't have to be afraid in the show ring. I don't think it has occurred to her there is anything to fear.

She knows she will have no easy ribbons this year. Last year on lead line, all she had to do was show up and she won a ribbon and sometimes a trophy. No easy ribbons and trophies this year. She will have to learn to be a good winner and a good loser. Probably the good loser part will come first. She will be competing against some riders who have several years of practice in the show ring. But she is very competitive and she loves winning.

So we are all pumped and excited about Melissa's first real horse show.

We are getting to be a riding family. How much fun is that? It is beginning to come together. It took a while. Natalie is excited about riding now. Mike helped her last time she rode. I am thrilled about Natalie too. Two years ago when she went to the first horse show with me, she had never touched a horse. Then she met and petted Mt Girl at the World Show in Harrodsburg. Then she got to know Butterfly Kisses. She also petted her and almost kicked my rear end when I sold her.

Since then, I have bought several more horses. So I will see you at the World Show in September and I hope to see you at the Summer Celebration next week end. I hope I will be the one leading Flair for Fury in the Yearling Filly Conformation Class. Perhaps, I will be in the winner's circle with her. She has been doing really well this summer. I hope I can keep the trend going with her. She knows a lot more about what she is doing than I do.

Have a good night's rest and God bless and keep you in his loving care.

Later

Mary

Quote for the Day

"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."

Ronald W Reagan- President

A Day at Van Bert Farms

Today we rode down to Van Bert Farm. We being Eleanor, Mary Beth, Melissa and I. What a fun day we had. Melissa wanted to ride and have a lesson. Jamie got Rose's Morning Glory saddled up and Melissa got on her for her lesson. She did so well and had so much fun. Jamie ask when we would be back for another lesson and we said next week on Tuesday. Melissa ask Jamie to take her outside to ride some. Jamie had said next week we would go to the outdoor arena and Melissa could practice riding out there. Before Jamie knew what had happened to him, Melissa was down in the practice ring riding Morning Glory. Jamie later said it was either there or a trail ride. So he took her into the practice arena and she was really doing good.

She has good form. She has soft hands and she is not afraid to urge Morning Glory on. She still has some trouble keeping her in gait and when she gets between gaits she tends to pull her back and she slows down but we are thinking if she wants to ride in the next show she could. We will see after her next lesson. The next show is only 9 days away.

H T was watching Melissa ride and Eleanor expressed a desire to ride so before long the bigger saddle was on Morning Glory and Eleanor was on the horse riding. I have tried to upload the two pictures of two different riders today. But I don't think they uploaded. One is of Eleanor, 76 years old and Melissa, 6 years old. I don't know who was having the most fun. They were both having a pretty good time.

I think we are becoming a riding family. Week before last, Kailey and Stephen were riding the horses here. Natalie is riding now and H T is trying his best to get Mary Beth on a horse. I will take hundreds of pictures if that happens. She says it will never happen and I don't think it will happen more than once if ever.

We visited with Wilda while we were there. She is looking so much better although she is still having headaches. The doctor says they will go away once the blood clot dissolves. She is naturally impatient for that to happen but it may be some time before it is gone. She was out on her observation deck while we were there watching Jamie ride Rockin Andi and watching me with my filly Flair for Fury.

She has a new beautiful deck out by the edge of the yard. It is really nice. I think Bruce built it. He did a beautiful job and she has already enjoyed it a lot. I love the location. It is at the edge of the yard and overlooks the outdoor arena. Since she can't get out a lot it is a good idea for her to have it. So we enjoyed our visit with Wilda and are so thankful to God for her continuing improvement. Please continue to pray for her. The blood clot will take a while to dissolve and in the meantime, she is having headaches.

A visit to Stanton would not be complete without stopping at Cool Shade to see my two horses over there. While we were there, Stacie and Chris rode Velvet. As I have mentioned before, she is a Choco Dock daughter and she does him proud. She will be one of the horses I own that will be showing in the Breeders Cup at the World Show. She is getting better all the time. She was two years old in March and she is really something special.

Later everyone.

I hope to see many of you at the Summer Celebration next week end.

In the meantime

May God bless and keep you in his loving care.

Mary

Busy Week

I had a very nice thing happen to me this week. Well more than one really. But I was in the barn feeding the yearlings and waiting for them to finish their feed. I was standing by the gate going out of the barn. I saw the new filly and her mother walk away from the barn. I stood there for a little while and I saw a mare and foal standing by the gate. The weanling walked up to the gate and started sniffing my hand. I thought it was the colt because he always seeks me out to get a good scratching on his shoulders and back.

I started the scratching on the shoulders and worked down the weanling's back. Suddenly I realized that it was not Blaze. It was the little filly, Celine. I was so surprised. She is two months old now and she has never let me touch her except briefly with the dressage whip that I would rub lightly over her back. At that point she would walk around to the other side of her mother to get away from me. She stood there for some time obviously enjoying the attention and the scratching too. I suppose they had walked back around to the barn when I was putting the feed in the trough for the yearlings. It was such a thrill and pleasure to finally have this filly make up to me.

When she was born, I was in the hospital and didn't get to go into the stall with her as I did the colt. I was in the stall with him along with my daughter when he was only minutes old and he has never failed to come to me in the field or where ever he is. She on the other hand has been very standoffish. No one was here that would go in the stall with her and Wind Socks. I can't say that I blame them one bit. A new mother is not to be fooled with if you aren't comfortable around her and she is not comfortable around you. It is a sure fire way to get hurt.

When Blaze was born there were two of us. I knew when Magic Rhythm had enough of me in there with them and I got out. She gave me a warning and I hasted to obey her warning. For awhile she did not mind us being in the stall with them and she has never minded me around her baby since then. I have walked up to him in an open field. He comes up to me and she ignores me.

Today it was to the dentist again. This time for me, not the horses. Then I did something a lot of fun. My great granddaughter, Melissa ask me to come and go swimming with her today. She ask me for yesterday afternoon but I told her no that I would come after my dental appointment today. She was excited all day that I would be coming to swim with her and Granny today. We had a lot of fun in the pool. She thinks I was a little chicken because I don't just jump right in like she does. I have to ease into the pool. The water was not real warm but nice once my body adjusted to it.. Melissa had no trouble. She is 6 and she is almost like a little fish. She had to be coached to put her head under water the first time but not any more. By summer's end she will be a pretty good swimmer.

Tomorrow, we are going to Van Bert's Farm. Melissa will get to ride for the second time this week. I ask her today which she would rather do, swim or ride and she quickly answered both.
She rode as part of her regular lesson yesterday. She doesn't ride a gaited horse for her lesson so she has learned to post. I watched her ride and she doesn't have any fear even though she fell off on the trail ride last week.

Last Monday she got to go on her very first trail ride. She was so excited. She called her granny, my daughter, Mary Beth and said, "Granny, Granny, Granny" Then she went on to tell her about the trail ride she had been on. She didn't really understand how to position herself in the saddle going down a steep slope and she leaned forward instead of back and fell off of the pony. She admitted she cried a little but she did get back on. She loved it and was ready to go again. She also told her granny that if she had fallen on her head the helmet would have protected her. As it was she fell on her little fanny and had a couple of small scratches that her mother put peroxide on. So everything was alright when mom put something on it. Moms are so good and wise when accidents happen.

Next week is the Summer Celebration at the Winchester Equine Center. I am really looking forward to that show. I missed the last show. I am hoping this will be the time that I actually get to show my yearling filly, Flair for Fury myself. I have replaced the show hat I somehow lost even though I haven't worn it at all this year. My show clothes are ready to go. My boots are polished. I am getting excited at the thought of showing her now.

I will give a report on how it goes tomorrow with Melissa's lesson on a gaited horse. Maybe I will get to practice with Flair for Fury some before we come home.

I am looking forward to looking in on Wilda to see for myself how she is doing. I hope to find her much better tomorrow. It has been several weeks now since her accident and hopefully she is in less pain now.

Please remember Larry Patterson and his family in your prayers. His mother is very sick and it is a hard time for the family with what she is going through.

Later everyone. God bless and keep you in his loving care.

Mary

Thought for the day:

Careful attention to details is often the difference between mediocre and magnificent.

Dental work

Yesterday, it was my pleasure to welcome Chris and Stacie Tipton to my home town of Taylorsville. They were on the way to my farm for some dental work for my horses. But first I had three horses for them to work on at a boarding facility near me. The first horse was owned by a man named Marvin and she is a black and white spotted horse by the name of Lucky.

Chris and Stacie went into the barn and went to work. It is quite a deal watching as they floated the horse's teeth. It took some time but finally they were finished. Chris gave some advice on what bit to go to now that the dental work had been done. Then he did two horses for a lady named Theresa.

After he got to my farm he left to visit his brother and family last evening. After spending the night there and doing some dental work for a neighbor this morning they came back to my farm to do the horses I had for them. Since I board horses, I had a couple that were done for my boarders. Then he got to the serious work of doing the teeth on the 20+ year old gelding that I own. It is my charity horse. He was given to me and it was an expensive gift. He is hard to keep weight on and I am forever buying special feed. The vet gives him special shots to put weight on him and still he looks terrible. The teeth work should help.

In the meantime while Chris and Stacie were working on my horses, her phone rang. It was Marvin, the client from yesterday. He could not say enough good about how well his horse has performed since the dental work was done. He said it was like a different horse. Then he also sent me an email thanking me for bringing Chris and Stacie to do the dental work for him. Chris and Stacie worked on several horses here at the farm and checked my yearlings to make sure their teeth were in alignment as they should be.

In appreciation for their long trip from Stanton and a harried two days here, I fixed them a supper of roast beef, carrots and potatoes in the crock pot. I also had some corn on the cob and sliced tomatoes with cottage cheese. For desert there was pineapple upside down cake. They really appreciated the home cooked meal. Chris and Stacie are so easy to please when it comes to home cooking. They are a busy young couple trying to get their new business going in the right direction. I know they don't really take time to eat right. I really like them and it was my pleasure to fix a nice meal for them. So that has been the end of my busy week.

My family went home to Mississippi yesterday and the house is so quiet since they all left. Mike and Natalie are also gone on a trip to West Virginia. I had forgotten how quiet the whole farm used to be when no one was around except me. Steve has my barn rewired and it is a very beautiful job. It is so nice to go to the barn and switch on a light. And it was nice for Chris and Stacie to have a nice plug in to use for their dental equipment.

I have two new followers for my blog. My two daughters in law read my blog now. I had at one time a faulty link and now that I worked the bugs out of that, it is working good and easier to log onto. So I want to welcome them. They are both lovely women. One is a native of Mississippi. Chrissy and Steve met while Steve has been stationed in the Navy in Gulf Port Mississippi. Natalie is a native of Germany and she met Mike when he was stationed in Germany.

We are having a thunderstorm tonight. It isn't such a bad one yet. Holly is still ok. She has a terrible fit when we have a storm. She is our old dog that is 14 years old and she was really Bill's dog. She really loved him. He trained her to do as he wanted her to do and he loved her like everything but he did not allow her to be in charge of the house. He always gave her the last bite of whatever he was eating. She knew he would and she always waited patiently for him to give it to her. Til the day he died, she got whatever he was eating.

Often I say we when I speak of home. I speak in the plural like I am not the only one that lives in this house. Of course, I am not. I have three dogs here with me. I never feel alone at all. I have so many good memories and the company of these dogs. Holly had one last litter of puppies that turned out to be one puppy which was Lilly. Lilly is a yellow lab. She had a litter of 13 puppies in 2007. I gave one to my granddaughter and great granddaughter. Her name is Ericka. Lucy and Melissa ask me to keep her on the farm because they lived in an apartment and it was no place for an active Lab. So I have three labs. They are a house full.

Well it is getting time to crawl in bed. I am tired and ready for sleep and the dogs have already gone to sleep. And of course, they are snoring. The rain is pounding outside and it feels like a good night to sleep.

God bless and keep you in his loving care.

Later

Mary

The lower tobacco barn. The upper barn had the most damage. This missing tin on the roof was replaced and screws used to secure the roof to prevent damage from future wind storms.




I will be having an almost new barn tomorrow. Recently I had a lot of work done on the structures of the farm. I just can't stand to see the barns falling down when I am out driving in the country side. You can see them everywhere. They are along interstates and country roads. You can see them along state roads too. They are a reminder of days gone by when they were used for the tobacco crops that were everywhere. We no longer have tobacco raised on the farm but the structures are old and mostly sound and most of all, still useful.





Steve has been very busy this week rewiring the barn. The lights have not been working in the main part of the barn where we bring horses in and store hay. Because of the two things, he has done a lot of work to prevent future problems. He took all of the old wiring out of the barn as well as old plugs and light fixtures and replaced all of them. He has also put outdoor plugs in some of the areas where the horses will be. When he finishes in the barn tomorrow it will be in very good shape. He has put something in for me as a surprise and I was told I could not come to see the finished result until he says so. That will tomorrow.





The wind does a lot of damage here. Our structure that was a milk parlor and milk room combination was built in the early 80s. It seems like it is still new but when I start adding up the years, it has been there a long time. Almost thirty years. The roof was originally put on as a shingle roof. The wind comes out of the west here and the roof takes a hit with every wind storm. So this year instead of making just the needed repairs to the roof, I had my contractor to strip it down to the wood, repair all the damaged boards and put on a metal roof.





It has made a very attractive building. And it is very useful. Someday the existing structures in that setup will be a nice horse barn. I have thought frequently of building a horse barn that is separate but with the structures I already have I think we can remodel and get that done. Oh it won't be the fancy new structures that I see that set my heart to racing but it will be one that won't set my head spinning from the cost.





We already use the part of the milk barn as storage. Part is already in use as a tack/feed room. We may do something different at some point about the feed but for now it is adequate and not costing us any extra for storage of feed stuff. We also have a refrigerator for storage of medicine for the livestock and drinks for the boarders. If they want to store soft drinks or water, they have a place.





We are getting things organized and handy for the horse operation and for those who board horses with us. And in the process it is making the place more attractive and nicer for us too





In the main barn that had been used for feeding the cattle and dairy cows we now use part for hay storage and part for horse stalls. Now the stalls are not fancy just adequate for holding horses that need treatment or extra feed. We have done a lot in just two years but a lot is yet to be done. Every new project started and completed seems like a big thing. Again, I can not say enough good about the time and energy put into our farm by my children. None of this would be done without them.





Mike keeps my equipment running. Steve is now doing my wiring. Mary Beth has put her heart into cleanup work on the farm. Debbie has pitched in to help at times as well. Bill and I raised a very nice family. I think maybe more due to him than to me. I was the old softee and he did the hard job of discipline. Not that I didn't discipline but he was the back up and when and where I might have failed he didn't. He had true grit and determination when it came to our family. He also had a heart full of love for them. He would have moved heaven and earth to protect them. He was a really good father.





The tobacco barns also had some roof damage from the winds. Several of the sheets of metal had been blown off during the recent storms. Again my contractor went to work on them. Where the metal had been nailed down, he went in and replaced the nails with screws. The upper barn took over 400 screws. It is a rather large barn made out of oak. It has been standing for many years now and with the repairs made it will stand many more years. There is still repairs to be made but the roof was the main thing. The lower barn had the same problems. It cost me more than the insurance paid but it was money well spent. Although no tobacco is hung in these barns now, they are still buildings that can be used for hay storage and to house the equipment.





So it has been a busy week with the family here. But my two daughters in law have done the hard work of putting meals on the table. Chrissy has taken the lead in cooking supper almost every night. I have done my part with clean up and helping prepare the meals but she is the rock, the get it done person. I no longer really know how to cook a big meal since I hardly do that anymore and certainly not every day. Tonight Mike's wife, Natalie, prepared her Germany spaghetti. I made brownies for desert. The two brothers, their wives, the three Ms grandchildren and I set down to a real family meal together. Does that ever feel good. Almost like the old days but not the same either.





Every family meal together, their Dad is mentioned. Something brings a memory back. When that person isn't present, every occasion brings back a memory because those memories aren't far from the surface. Every place around here has a memory of him to unite him from the past to our present and future.





God bless and keep you in his loving care





Later





Mary

Show Results

We have been busy gathering supplies for Steve to do the rewiring in the barn. When we lived here the barn had been wired and all the lights were working. I know they had been working after Bill died and I started coming to the farm more. So somewhere between then and to this date they have not worked.

Steve and his son Dalton spent most of the first day tracking down what breaker operated which set of lights or plugs. That took a considerable amount of time. After that was tracked down, they started on the electrical work. Steve and I laid out the plans for where the lights would be and together we planned where we wanted to place the plugs and what kind of plugs. Actually we had already planned that before supplies were purchased. I ask for all weather plugs for inside the barn where horses might be close to them.

We are putting lights over the stalls that can be used for foaling. This will be convenient for checking on mares that are ready to foal. I have two mares that will have their first foals next year. I am fairly certain they will both be alright but they will bear watching.

The family has been together and it has been really nice. We went for years when both sons were deployed to other parts of the world that we were not all together. Now we still have an empty place at our table but our hearts are full of memories he left us. Bill''s memory is still so much alive with us that it seems he is not really gone at all and then......

We had our pool party over the week end and everyone had a great time. The bravest among us went for a swim. They had a really good time but hurried in for dry warm clothes when they came out of the pool. The night air was very chilly. We had left over pork barbecue from the pig roast in June. And plenty of good food to go with it. As aways, someone said, "Mom, bring banana pudding."

Of course the show was this past week end. I would have loved for the two events to have not conflicted but my choice was to be here for the family. I was so very glad to see all of them. The last time we were together was in January when I took the pony to the children. Steve and Chrissy call me a lot so we are in touch by phone. Steve is very faithful about calling. He worries about me mowing the fields but I think he understands how I feel as well as anyone. He loves the field work too.

Steve and a friend of his have a hay baling operation in Mississippi. They bale for neighbors all around them and their part of the hay is sold or fed to their herd of cattle. They have bought a new tractor, a new rake and a new hay baler. They make nice tight bales of hay so their hay is in high demand. They sell or feed all they can bale. Steve is also a Sr Chief in the Navy Seabees. He loves the farming and the Navy both.

Our children were raised on our farm and like me, it is in their blood. My family background is filled with farmers and preachers. It seems like a good combination to me. To farm, one needs a lot of prayers and the dependence on the Lord.

But back to the show results. My yearling filly, Flair for Fury, won the first place in her class. It is, of course the conformation class. S T did a really outstanding job of showing her from my understanding. I know she looked great in the pictures posted on the web.

But Stacie took the show with her win for Versatility Award. She rode 5 different horses to win the award. They included the obstacle course, Country Trail Pleasure class for 2-3 year olds on Velvet, and the Trail pleasure class, on Chocolate Amigo. plus two other classes. She won 1st place in each of the five classes she competed in for the Versatility Award for a perfect score. She and Chris have done a great job of training my two horses I have with them. I am sure everyone else is just as happy or should be. They took a total of 8 horses to the show and won 13-14 1st place ribbons. There were also other placings as well so they had a really good show.

Chris and Stacie were not able to find a groom to take with them for this show so in addition to doing all the showing, they also had to do all the grooming, saddling, cleaning stalls and feeding the horses. I am sure Judy was a very good help but she was also showing. So they had a very busy two days. This is not to sell Debbie short. Debbie is Stacie's mom and goes to a lot of the shows with them but she can't do everything.

Van Berts did very well at the show as well. I have not heard just how well but they are always ready and a force to be contended with in competition. So I am looking forward to my visit to the stable this week to find out just how well they did.

Later everyone

God bless and keep you in his loving care

Mary

He (God) crowns the humble with salvation. Psalms149.4

The Horse Show

Stacie Tipton of Cool Shade Mountain Horses and Equine Dentists riding WOF Dock's Velvet

Velvet turned 2 years old just shortly before the first show she was in. In her first show she won first place in a nice class of 2-3 year olds in Fletcher N.C. She has done really well already this year.

I am really enjoying my children being here with me. Steve has been busy getting supplies together to get lights back on in my barn. He is tracing the wires to find out which breaker switch operates which set of lights. So he has tracked that all down now and labeled all the switches. Tomorrow he will get the lights back in my barn in working order.

I don't really know what happened to them except they were all working when we moved away and they haven't worked since I have moved back here. So I am looking forward to walking into the barn and being able to turn on lights and have outlets that actually work.

I can't say enough good about my family. They are very good to me. Each in their own way with their own unique set of talents and skills. They all show they love me in every thing they do. I know I could not do what I am doing on the farm without each of them. Thanks to each of them.

I have a new follower. It is my daughter in law, Chrissy. She started reading my blog since they have been here. She liked the pictures I had put on the web of their children. Since they have been here there will be more. The two little ones got to ride today. They rode both Rocky Top Rebel and Natalie's horse, Romeo. Rocky Top was not so nice today. She was all about eating the grass in front of her. And she stepped on my foot. I will get Hobo tomorrow. She is a nice gentle mare.

This afternoon Chris and Stacie called me to give me the results of the show in White Pine Tennessee. I think my horses actually do better when I stay home. Chris and Stacie took 8 horses to Tn. They brought home 13 or 14 first place ribbons and several other ribbons. I am so proud of Stacie. She won the Versatility Award with a perfect score. Congratulations Stacie. They did really well with my two horses too. Stacie won two first place ribbons on two of my horses as part of her versatility.

S T won a first place ribbon with my yearling filly, Flair for Fury. She has won a total of three first places this year already. She is really a sweet little yearling that has a lot of class and style. She is very laid back. I think she will be very nice when she is ready to go under saddle. She is really calm. She has all the attributes that make the Mountain Horses in so much demand.

So we will probably go to the stables soon and collect ribbons. And discuss the show I missed. I really appreciate all the hard work they do to get my horses ready for the shows. I have been around the shows enough to know how much work goes into showing. Van Berts and Cool Shade both have my horses in top condition. I am always pleased with what I see when I visit. S T has done a wonderful job of showing my yearling, Flair for Fury. I am so pleased with the wins we have had this year with her.

This blog will be out of order but it was such a nice pictures of Stacie on WOF Dock's Velvet that I just had to post it. I don't know why it did not get posted when I first wrote it.

The next show we will be going to now is the World Show held in Winchester Ky at the UMH show grounds. I hope many of you get to come out and see the show. This is the best show of the year. It is the grand finale of the show season for the UMH shows. It attracts a lot of horses from all over and the classes are great. To be placed in these classes is wonderful. There are so many good horses and riders that know how to get the best from them.

I hope you can all make it. I will see many of you there and look forward to seeing old friends and catching up.

Later everyone.

God bless and keep you in his loving care.

Regards,

Mary

Another Horse Show

My son and his family are here from Mississippi this week end and through next week. So we all gathered at my oldest daughter's house for a pool party. As our good luck would have it, this July 18 has set or equaled the record for the coolest on this date. The sun was no where to be seen until about 6:30 P M and only the hardiest among us went into the pool. After the sun came out the pool was full. The children were having a great time in the pool and lots of adults were have as much fun as the children.

Steve and his family arrived around 8 P M. We had supper on the table shortly thereafter. Stephen who is the youngest in the family wanted to see "my horse". He was referring to WOF Stephen's Blazin Star. He was so proud that the colt was named after him. Stephen has just gotten the cast off of his leg. He broke it on the trampoline and he is still having a bad time walking. He will be on a crutch a couple more weeks and he is doing his exercises to strengthen the muscles in his leg. It is still painful for him to walk but he does give it his best shot. It is tough for a 5 year old boy. But he is very brave and tries his best.

So I am missing the horse show in Tennessee this week end. I have 5 horses that have gone without me. I know that my yearling filly placed 3rd in the confirmation class yesterday and has placed 1st today. So thanks to S T for a good win. She is Flair for Fury and she alternates between losing to her half sister (also a Fury get) and beating her. Today we had a nice win with her.

I don't really know how the rest of the horses have done. Stacie Tipton will call me tonight or tomorrow to let me know. I know she and Chris are really busy with the horses they are taking to the show and they don't actually have anyone to help with the horses this time. Stacie's mother, Debbie, is there with them but there are things she just can't do. Judy will help all she can but she is busy showing her horses too so they have a lot to do.

I really had a good time at this horse show last year. I would rather spend time with family though. And it has been a good day. My two great grandchildren were there as well as many of my grandchildren. Speaking of grandchildren, I want to welcome Lucy to my blog. She told me today that she has been reading it too. I did have some problems with my link but I think it is fixed now. So hopefully she has been able to sign on again. I am happy to have her with me.

Lucy, Melissa and I went to Van Bert Farms this past Wednesday and we really had a nice day together. Lucy was our first grandchild and her daughter, Melissa is our first great grandchild.

Melissa fell in love with another horse while at Van Berts. She rode Morning Glory and she likes her a lot. But this one probably can't be bought. She already has a home.

Melissa rode while she was there with the help of Jamie. He closed barn doors and turned her loose in the barn to ride. Melissa has been taking lessons close to her but they have quarter horses and she is learning to post. She is having a hard time getting her mind around the concept of not having to post on Mt Horses. She does pretty well though despite the difference.

I was really glad to see my little and big grandchildren from Mississippi. Those are Kailey for whom my filly, Kailey's Magic was named. Stephen for whom Stephen's Blazin Star was named. And Dalton who is the oldest. He is the big brother and really treats the little ones really good. He is 14. And he is several years older than Kailey and Stephen. Of course I was also glad to see their parents. I haven't seen them since January when their Aunt Mary Beth and I took the little pony, Lilly, to them.

We are having a really good visit. Steve, my son is a Sr Chief in the Navy. He is a Seabee and right now his job causes him to travel a lot. He will soon be traveling again. He has had a hard time finding time to come to Kentucky this year. Chrissy, his wife will soon be starting nursing school. So I don't think we will get to see or talk to her very much. She will be a busy woman. She has three children and a husband and a house to keep. They also have a small farm with animals.

So while you are having fun at the horse show, I will be having fun with my family.

May God bless and keep you in his loving care.

Regards,

Mary

Another Show

Chocolate Amigo. He will be going to Tn next week end. He is a 4 year old gelding. Absolutely beautiful. And more beautiful this year than in this picture.

I am so pleased to tell you in my post tonight that Wilda is home from the hospital as of yesterday afternoon. I know what it is like to get to leave the hospital. It can make one feel better by just being in their own home and in their own bed.



I was very glad to leave the hospital. You know there are sick people in those hospitals. I sure didn't want to be sicker than I was and I know Wilda didn't want to come home with anything extra. Seven broken ribs and numerous cuts scrapes and bruises are enough for anyone.



Next week end is the White Pines Tennessee show and I am sorry to have to miss this one too. My youngest son and his family are finally going to get to visit for a few days. He is Sr Chief Stephen J Lipginski in the Seabees. The Navy has him traveling a lot this year. Sorry if I sound like I am bragging on my son but yes I am and I am very proud of him. As a matter of fact I am very proud of all my children. I have two daughters that are about to start nursing school and two military sons. My oldest son just retired from the Army last year and his last promotion made him SFC Wm M Lipginski II.



I will not be going but my horses are. Van Bert Farms is taking my two yearlings and my 2 year old mare. Cool Shade is taking a 2 year old mare for me and my gelding, Chocolate Amigo.
I know they are all in good hands. I really enjoyed the show there last year. Even though my mare Mountain Girl dumped me in the middle of the practice arena.

I had finally gotten enough confidence to get back on her after a really nasty spill in December of 07. I was planning to show her in the Novice class. Stacie and Jamie had walked me down with Mt Girl to the practice arena. It is an enclosed arena and really nice. Jamie and Stacie were watching me ride and I was feeling so good on Mt Girl. I had ridden around the arena several times and her gait had gotten so much better than it ever had before. It was the best ride I had ever had in my whole life and I was feeling very comfortable and confident.

Suddenly for no apparent reason to me or anyone watching, she jumped sideways and off I went. The rocks in the arena were small and very wet and it was one of my better landings. But when I got up I had rocks all over me and I was wet too. Stacie caught and got on Mt Girl and Jamie walked me to the wash bay where they wash the horses off and helped me get most of the rocks offs of my clothes, arms and hands.

Poor Mt Girl. She shouldn't have to have to put up with such a terrible rider.

At the last horse show that was just held in Winchester, S T showed my yearling filly in the halter class for me. I had planned to show her but the night before I had leg cramps and ask him to show her instead. Larry had told me she was almost too well broke. He commented that she nearly went to sleep in the ring and she just didn't look alert enough to show good.

S T and Flair for Fury came into the arena and she didn't act like the same filly. She was dancing around and didn't want to walk by S T the way I had always seen her do and the way she had been walking by me. She got a little calmer as they walked but when they started to line up nose to tail she reared up a couple of times right in front of the judge. I was thinking that I was glad I was not showing her. And of all the times to rear up, did she have to do it right in front of the judge?

Out of three yearling fillies, she placed 3rd. Later I found out why she was so alert and frisky. To get her to be more alert, they had fed her a nice meal of grain. She was actually eating while they were grooming her for the show ring. So she was on a sugar high. We wanted her more alert but I think that was maybe too alert. So did the judges. So I am sure next time, there will no extra meal right before the class. Although there might be an extra meal in advance of the class. Another experiment gone bad. Something else to laugh about. It was a good idea but it didn't work out as planned.

There is always a good story, something to laugh about at the horse shows. That is one reason I like the shows so much.

I hope you find joy in life and a lot to laugh about. Heaven knows there is also plenty to worry about with out country in such a mess right now. But you know we need to pray about that too.

Have a good Sunday. Go to church and worship. Thank God for what he does in your life and praise him for his loving kindness and goodness to you as well as to our good friend Wilda and her family. God has truly blessed all who know and come in contact with Wilda by touching her with his healing power. I am so grateful she is better and improving.

God bless and keep you in his loving care.

Later

Mary

Update

For those of you who didn't get an email from Diane Wright, I will give you an update on Wilda's condition.

Diane visited with Wilda and H T at the hospital today. She was pleased to report that Wilda had been out of bed with the help of a therapist and walked to the door of her room and back to a chair. H T and Wilda were both all smiles.

She is still in a lot of pain from the broken ribs and she stated that the horse had stepped on her and that is how she got the broken ribs and the collapsed lung. She had a CAT scan last night but there was no report from that yet.

We still need to keep praying for her and the family. Wilda has a lot going for her. She is strong and determined plus she is physically fit. And we will not sell short the prayers of many friends, family and prayer warriors from all over.

This is all good news and I hope the good news keeps coming.

While I am on updates, I will brag on our garden. It is the first garden we have had for several years on the farm. Thanks to all the rain this year, the weeds have really gotten ahead of us. But despite all the weeds, we have had a really good garden. We now have squash running out our ears. Speaking of ears, our corn is going great guns. We will have corn on the cob to grill next week. The beans have been delicious. We had ripe tomatoes on the 16th of June. Our potatoes are very large. The pumpkins are growing like crazy and we have some nice size watermelons now.

So if you get a chance, come on by. I am sure we can send some vegetables home with you.

Later everyone

God bless and keep you in his loving care.

Regards

Mary

Why Won't This Horse......?

VBF Blue Ridge Mountain Girl 3 year old conformation class.


Why won't this horse approach the gate. That was the question on H T's mind when he was practicing for the trail obstacle class.





H T walked into the barn with sun glasses on and asked for his horse Dressed for Success to be saddled and made ready for a trial run through the obstacle course. I am sure he encountered someone with whom he had a chat while waiting for the horse to be ready.





Eventually he mounted and headed for the obstacle course. As luck would have it, he dropped one of the reins. He was having a time with her until Judy came along and handed him the rein. H T walked her on down to the obstacle course and every thing seemed fine. But he still wondered why his mare would not neck rein when he needed her to do it. Now he wanted to practice getting her to go over the bushes that were part of the course. She had not walked over bushes and he wanted to make sure he could get her to do it in competition





She was very reluctant to step over the bushes at first but soon he had her stepping over them just fine. After she started to step over them, he kept practicing and practicing with her until it was second nature. They approached the bushes, she stepped over and on they went. Finally when H T was convinced she would do it during the competition he let her stop.





A lady had been watching H T practice with the mare and she asked him how he would open the gate on her. He and Dressed for Success had done it many times on their obstacle course at the stable so he was confident he would give a nice demonstration on how to open a gate from horse back. But this time the horse refused to go near the gate. H T had almost decided his horse just didn't like the white gate (at home it was red). The lady suggested perhaps his horse didn't like the blue flag by the gate. H T looked down to see what blue flag she was talking about. That was when he noticed that the horse he was on had white around the coronet of one her front hooves.





Dressed for Success, a mare H T had trained and ridden numerous times, had no white. That is when he realized, he wasn't riding Dressed for Success. Back he went to the barn and asked just who he was riding. Then he found out he was riding 2 year old Rockin Andi. And he had never been on her before. Both horses are chocolate with very light manes and tails. They obviously look a lot alike.





I have often had some embarrassing moments when I didn't recognize my own horse. Now I don't feel so bad. H T had a lot of fun telling this story about being on the wrong horse. And how he could not get her to go anywhere near the gate.





It reminded me of an incident that happened last year at the World Show. Tristin Curtis was 12 and she is an extremely talented rider. Wilda has been working with her and she is already a very capable rider. She needed a horse for one of the classes in the show and I offered her the use of my mare VBF Blue Ridge Mountain Girl.





As luck would have it, Mt Girl had been taken back to Van Bert's barn but Tristin's Dad, Robert,


took a trailer and his truck and went to the farm to get her. It was after dark when they got to the barn to get Mt Girl. The barn wasn't well lite but they went to the stall where Mt Girl was kept and put a halter on, loaded her and went back to the show grounds. They put her in a stall. The next morning when Tristin was getting ready to practice, she and her dad went to the barn had the mare saddled up and went off to practice.





After a few minutes Tristin told her dad that Mt Girl was not acting right. So they took her back to the barn thinking they had the wrong bit. The first person they saw was Ernesto. They ask if Mt Girl had the wrong bit. He looked at the horse and with a surprised look on his face told them "this is not Mt Girl". We had a lot of fun over that. I teased them that they had stolen a horse and it was the wrong horse. As it turned out, someone had switched stalls for Mt Girl and the other horse.





Robert and Tristin had as much fun telling how they had borrowed the wrong horse as H T had telling about his horse that wouldn't approach a gate.





Life is full of enough sorrow and heart aches. When we have a chance to laugh over something silly that we have done or has happened to us we should by all means do it.





Tonight as I write this, my heart is heavy because a dear friend is in the hospital suffering. I talked with Vera today. Wilda is still being closely monitored. The doctors are working on her to get her lung filled with air once more. Her broken ribs have her in a lot of pain. I don't know if the extent of her injuries is fully known. H T is in agony because his wife is suffering. Her family is worried.





I know none of them are reading blogs today but I encourage those of you who are reading this to keep Wilda and her family in your prayers. I am praying that the Lord God of the universal will touch Wilda with the healing in his hands and restore her to good health. I pray that God will guild the decisions the doctors make and that each decision will be the right one for her situation. I am praying these things in Jesus Holy Name and I invite you to also do the same.





God bless you and keep you in his loving care. And may God bless and keep the Derickson family close as they work their way through this terrible event in their lives.





Later,





Mary

In Need of Prayer

My post will be short tonight. I do want to let you all know that Wilda had a riding accident today and is in the hospital in Lexington. Let us agree to pray for her. I do not know the extent of her injuries but she was having pain when she was breathing.

To those who would say that riding is dangerous, I will say so are cars, planes and motor cycles.

So more posts will follow soon and by tomorrow, I hope to be able to report more on Wilda's condition.

Later everyone

God keep you in his kind and loving care.


Mary

Please Bring a Desert

Don't we all love pot luck? That is my favorite get together. We recently had a pig roast and pot luck dinner. I can not say enough about the good food we had. Almost all was home made and delicious. My granddaughter, Lucy, made broccoli casserole. It is always requested when we have a family meal together. I make a good one but Lucy's is the best. The table was loaded with good things to eat and we had a feast like it was Thanksgiving in June. I can't say it often enough. I love pot luck. And we should be just as thankful in June as we are in November.

When we were planning the pig roast and deciding who in the family should provide what, I was assigned the desert. The family said, "And of course you will make banana pudding." This has become a dish that everyone loves and asks me to make often.

I promised Cheryl Moore that I would give the recipe on my blog. Mike Brummer had told her I have a good blog and gave her the address to follow it. I want to thank Mike for his kind and encouraging words to me about my blog. I was humbled to think anyone thought it was that good. But thanks Mike, I truly appreciate the encouragement.

Here is the recipe. It was on the can of Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk about 16 or 17 years ago and it is a favorite everywhere I take it even to the point some people want to hide it and not share. I won't embarrass Wilda by telling that she would not serve it at her barn party last year and she and H T did not even leave Jamie a bite of it. I believe her exact words were "will you shut up about the banana pudding" when I reminded her that it was in the refrigerator.

1 (14 oz) can of Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 c cold water
1 (4 oz serving size) package of instant vanilla pudding mix
2 c of whipping cream
36 vanilla wafers
3 med bananas, sliced and dipped in lemon juice


In a large bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk and water. Add the pudding mix and beat well. Chill 5 minutes. While it is chilling whip the cream. Fold the whipped cream into the chilled pudding mixture. Next spoon 1 cup of the pudding mixture into a large serving bowl. Top with wafers, bananas and pudding. Repeat layering twice ending with pudding. Sprinkle a little cinnamon on the top. Chill until ready to serve.

It is best if prepared and served the same day. Preparation time is less than 15 minutes.

Please, if you decide to make this recipe bring some to Jamie. He really got left out.

I want to congratulate all the winners from last week end's State Show held in Winchester at the Equine Center. It was a good show and so many good horses there. I especially want to congratulate Em Dee Mountain Horses and Cool Shade for the great show they had. I am so glad I have my mare already bred to their stallion Venture's Black Fury. I am afraid the breeding fee may go up. Fury had a great show and won a truck load of first place ribbons. Michael is going to have to build Judy and Fury a new trophy room. They also placed 1st in the Yearling Colt class with a colt out of Fury. Two of Fury's offspring placed 1st and 3rd in the Yearling Filly class.

Judy was also very successful with Legendary Lady.

Van Bert Farm was as always well represented in the winner's circle with their outstanding trainers and horses. The yearling filly that took first place was shown by Jamie Derickson for Real Horse Farm. And S T Tipton won with their mare Mercy Me. Vera's mare won or placed high in her classes. The team of S T Tipton and Vera Patterson won the Pro Am class on Autumn Venture.

Van Berts had too many winning entries for me to remember all of them but you can go to the UMH web site later and see all of the placing for Van Bert's as well as all the others at the show. And congratulations to all of these talented riders and horses.

I appreciate the work that Jamie and S T have done with my horses this year. My 2 old filly place 3rd in the Pro Am class with Jamie and Wilda riding as a team. Jamie has done a great job with Rockin Andi. To have 2 year old filly and to come in 3rd was a real honor. To make it even more remarkable was that Wilda had never ridden Rockin Andi until the moment she got on her in the show ring. That makes her disposition and training outstanding. Wilda is of course a very talented rider as well.

I will have more from the horse show in coming days. Until then,

God bless you and keep you in his loving care.

Regards

Mary


Commit thy works unto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established.
Proverbs 16: 3

The Little Things

Pictured is S T Tipton with WOF Mountain Spirit. Spirit is a colt out of my mare VBF Mountain Wind Socks

and by Sudden Impact. Spirit is about to go into the yearling colt class at the Stanton Horse Show where a weak link in his chain broke and he was free to run around the arena for a couple of minutes. He gave me some anxious moments but some of the crowd found him very entertaning. A little link, a small thing.

I am happy to report we, Eleanor and I, were able to make the horse show this past week end at the Equine Center in Winchester. The weather turned wet and chilly for our 4th of July celebration. I don't know if I have military people who follow my blog but I want to thank our military both past and present for allowing us to enjoy this holiday in the land of the free another year. Thank you all for the selfless sacrifices you have made for us. And if you know military people remember to thank them for their service.

The horse show was so much fun as usual. I think mostly because I don't do that much. I just enjoy watching and meeting new people and visiting with friends I have made along the way. This show we made a new friend, Alice. She was very sweet and friendly and nice to be around. If you are following the blog Alice, welcome and I want to tell you how much we enjoyed being with you during the horse show.

So what are the little things I am talking about? One is making a new friend and visiting with friends we have made during the time we have been involved in the horse shows. Yesterday, I saw a young girl, I think Kaylee is 11 do an act of kindness that looked like it was just natural for her to do. Eleanor was getting chilly. I had brought her sweater out of the truck and she was already wrapped up in it but still acting cold. Kaylee Tipton pulled her jacket off and wrapped it around Eleanor without any hesitation and insisted that she was not cold. That is how I know that all the younger generation is not selfish, self centered and lazy. I have watched and admired Kaylee for a couple of years now and she is such a nice sweet girl. Her family is doing a great job of raising her. I can't say enough good about her. Oh and besides that, she is a great rider. I wish I was a tenth as good as she is.

Friday at the horse show Larry was very confident the filly from his barn and trainers would place higher than my filly that is trained by Stacie and Chris Tipton. He kept picking at me. It is all in good fun and I love it. He kept telling me their filly would beat my two year old filly in competition. It was a 2-3 year old Country Trail Pleasure class. The class started and they were both making a really good show. I really don't know which would have placed higher but all of the sudden their filly tossed her head a couple of times and my filly ended up placing one place higher than theirs. It is the little things. Larry always says "Pay attention to the little details".

This morning when I checked my horses, I saw that Once a Hobo was limping and holding her foot up like she was in real pain. I walked across the field and picked her foot up. A huge nail was protruding out of the frog of her foot. I pulled on it and came out really easy. It had penetrated her frog about 1/4 of an inch. Nothing real serious but we got advice on treating her foot anyway. We treated her and she still favors it but it is not serious. Tomorrow she will get a tetanus shot. In a few days she will be better and walking normal again. It is attention to the little things. A small injury today could have been worse tomorrow.

This afternoon we walked the field with a magnet and picked up nails and all sorts of metal. Just before we had the pig roast, I had hired a bull dozer to push the remains of a trailer together and dispose of it. Nails and metal had been left in the horse pasture. I am sure that is where Hobo had picked up the nail. With the magnet and picking up other debre, out of the field we filled a wheel barrow. I had not paid attention to the small things in that field. One of my horses had paid a price. If it had been more serious I would have paid a bigger price and so would she.

It is little things. Little things that can cause big trouble. Little things that can make someone smile and feel good. Little things that can make the difference between being cold or having an extra coat to ward off the chill. Life is so seldom made up of big events. The wedding, graduation from college, first job or winning that big class in the horse show are all big things but it is the little things in every day life that makes us the happiest. A smile from the most important person in your life, a compliment from a friend, a pat on the back by the boss. Any number of little things that make life interesting and pleasant.

May you have days and weeks be full of little things that will make yours a big successful life.

God bless and keep you in his loving care.

With kind regards

Mary

I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. Jeremiah 29 11-12

Hay Update

Pictured is my two year old filly Rockin Andi
Andi is proving how willing to work she is by
walking the obstacle course for her rider. This part of the course is the seesaw. She will walk until it thumps down and then she will calmly step off.


If it can go wrong it will. We started mowing hay on Monday. My old White tractor was really humming along. The disc mower was throwing out hay in it's wake and life was good. I really love mowing the fields whether it is for hay or just to knock down weeds and small brush. Larry, the hay guy, as he is known around here had walked over to where I was mowing and ask how it was going. I said great. He had just had a break down on his tractor. So he was walking a short distance back to his truck. He offered to mow but I was enjoying myself too much to get off of the tractor.



He no sooner walked away until my tractor died. We had some trouble with the tractor last week but Mike, my son and mechanic, thought he had it fixed. I tried and tried to start it again. But to no avail. Larry walked back over to the tractor. He couldn't get it started so although the fuel gage was registering better than half a tank, he measured the fuel. Empty. He put some fuel in and still no sweet hum of the engine.



So yesterday morning Mike once again worked on the tractor. All it needed this time was the lines bled to get the air out. Well gee, who knew you had to refill the fuel tank ever so often. I guess I do now.



Anyway, we are working on the hay field and it is not yet ready to bale because it is still too wet. It is thick and tall. So not until tomorrow.



I was hoping to be leaving home about 1 o'clock tomorrow for the horse show and to get settled into our motel room and get a good night's rest before the start of the busy week end. But now it will be late at night before we leave home. Eleanor will once again be going with me to the horse show. I think she feels it is her duty to keep me out of trouble. You know the older sister thing.



No really, she loves the horses as much as I do. She hates it if we miss a week going to Stanton to the Van Bert Farm and to Cool Shade. She would feel totally left out if I went to a show without her. So as long as I can get her home on Saturday night so she can play the piano on Sunday morning for church, she is with me all the way. So we are looking forward to a nice weekend of watching my horses as well as all the other favorites we have. She loves Toco Dawn and Mercy Me. I love Mercy Me too.

Mercy Me is a mare that is owned by Stephanie Moore and I love the big heart that little mare has. I love to yell "Mercy Me what a mare" when she is in the show ring. Stephanie always gets a big smile when she hears me. I love to see her win because she just seems to put her whole heart into the show.



We also love Venture's Black Fury. He is a nice stallion and he loves peppermint. Eleanor keeps them in her purse just for Fury. She loves to see him eat them. He never loses even a tiny piece of peppermint. So we love the show and the interaction with the horses as well as seeing friends we have made there.



I hope you all get to the horse show this week end. I am expecting to see Jessica there. She said she would be coming in and be staying over for the show. I will have to ask her how she and Mr Twister are getting along. That is her horse in training at Van Bert's and he is a beauty. I think he will be a great horse.

So until then





God bless and keep you in his loving care.





Regards





Mary





For God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16