A Crazy Day

With horses like this do I really want to take a chance on dangerous fencing? This is Dock's Velvet. A daughter of Choco Dock. A two year old filly who has secured the high point award this year for 2-3 year old Country Trail Pleasure.









The phone rang early this morning. It was my son Mike. First thing out of his mouth was, "Mom the horses are all out". I didn't stop to ask how, I just hurriedly brushed my teeth got dressed and went to the barn. I hastily locked the dogs in their crate. I remember a time when they were all "helping" with the livestock and it was no help.



We had a storm that blew through yesterday that was really something. Although I don't remember the lightening being terribly bad, I do remember the wind really blowing. It blew more limbs off of my few remaining trees in the yard and blew some other things around that weren't tied down.



So we went out with feed buckets in hand and rounded up the horses. I am not real sure how long they had been out. We knew how they got out but not how the fence got torn down. The wind blew awfully hard so we are guessing that it scared them and they started running and ran through the fence. Thank God we use rope fence. It would have been bad enough had it wrapped around their legs but had it been barbed wire or thin wire the damage could have been devastating.



I really like rope for electric fence. We all know that nothing is perfect and it all has some drawbacks. I did a lot of research on fencing before we started putting up fence for the horses. I liked rope best. And it has been really good fencing. It is very easy to put up. A good current runs through it so it keeps the horses safely in where they belong (most of the time). In the event of something happening as it did last night, the horses are not as likely to get hurt. That is the best part of it. It is not overly expensive when you consider all the cost involved. I figure in the cost of a good horse in the equation.

Today, my grandson, Edward Zinsius took his oath to begin his service to our country in the U S Navy. I was not able to be there. (You know, horses out) I am so proud of him. Edward has always had a special place in my heart. He was a sweet little boy and he has grown up to be a fine young man. At his Grandpa's funeral he read an essay he had written about his experiences with his Pa. He loved his Pa very much and he listened and learned from Bill as he taught him things that would serve him well the rest of his life. He knew his Grandpa had served during the Korean War and Edward admired him for that and many other good reasons.

I always thank soldiers that I meet where ever I meet them. Today I want to congratulate Edward and thank him so much for the service he is providing to our country. It is young men and women like Edward that keep our country safe. They fight for freedom where ever it is threatened. So thank you so much Edward and all the men and women in the armed forces.

Soon we will be at the horse show. We won't worry about much of anything except where our horses will place in the competition and do we have another helping of the Amish ice cream and if we don't hurry will it be all gone. We won't think about the price these special people pay so we have the freedom and liberty to come and go as we please. To move from one place to another. To drive the car we want. We take for granted the fine health care we have, the standard of living like no other in the world. We don't stop to think the price that was paid for all we enjoy today.

So while we are at the horse show or where ever you may spend this Labor Day weekend, stop to thank God for the freedoms we have. Ask him to bless and keep in his loving care the men and women who are serving in the military to keep us safe from harm.

Then thank all the military men and women you meet for their service to our country. For the sacrifices they make. For the times they do not get to come home at night to their families. Some where tonight soldiers are patrolling out in the dangerous world. Bless them in your prayers and ask God to forgive us of our national sins and ask him to continue to bless America.

So later everyone. I am really looking forward to seeing you at the horse show. Melissa is riding again in the Country Trail Pleasure 11 and under class. I am looking forward to seeing her do that.

God bless and keep you in his loving and tender care.

Regards

Mary

"Politicians are like the bones of a horse's fore shoulder---not a straight bone in it."

~~Wendell Phillips, speech, July 1864~~


Thine word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Blessed are thou, oh Lord, teach me thy statuetes.

Psalms 119: 11-12

The Show is Getting Closer

In case my spelling and writing is really bad tonight, I am taking no blame. Erica, the youngest lab, is helping me write. She is insisting on licking my hands. I must have a smell of food on them. But it does interfere with the key strokes.


Anyway today has been busy again. I rode with Natalie to take her brother Ollie and her son Fabian to the airport in Louisville. She has lived here a year but there are places she doesn't know how to find just yet. Ollie and Fabian have been here for three weeks and today was their day to fly home. Airports are always hard for me. I tend to cry at airports a lot. Today as Ollie and Fabian were ready to depart, there were so many tears and hugs. It was hard to see them leave especially for Natalie. Fabian and Ollie both had tear stained faces and red eyes as they hugged us both and stepped into the security check lane. Natalie had red eyes too as those she loved so much started on their long trip home to Germany.


We watched for as long as we could see them. And then with a final wave goodbye we turned and sadly walked out of the air terminal, quietly got into the car and headed for home. It was a sad moment for Natalie and I am again reminded of all she left to come to America with her husband. Then she left her best friend in Texas and moved to Kentucky where she knew no one. Well of course she had met Mike's family but she didn't know any of us very well.


She and Mike had made an agreement when they moved to Kentucky last year and that was if she was unhappy a year later they would move back to Texas. A year was up in April. By then she had a new home and living on the farm with Mike. She almost swore she would never live on the farm. She saw how much Mike loved the farm and I think she came to like the farm better than she ever though she would. She is a good woman and does want to make Mike happy. She wants him to do what he loves.


I sensed a turning point last fall when she called me one day all excited. She said her friend wanted to sell her a horse. She wanted to buy Romeo and wanted to know if I would be willing to let her keep him here. Of course, I agreed. She loves Romeo and she is riding him and learning how to feed and groom him. She helps me a lot around the farm. Especially last winter when I was away from home because my lights were out. She came out in the bitter cold with me and helped me feed and water the horses.


She has helped build fence once. She said she would never do that again. She wore short pants and the bugs ate her up. She got whelps from the weeds on her legs. It was miserably hot. And her asthma was acting up from the pollen. She was not accustomed to any of those things so she immediately swore off of building fence. But she did help us load and unload hay this summer. I can't even begin to relate to you how much that helped me.


Many days she is at the barn to feed her horse before I finish my morning routine and leave the house. I will find that the cows have been watered and her horse is in the barn eating his grain. Natalie and I have become good friends. I am a fortunate woman to have daughters and sons in law that love me so much. In turn I love them too and I also like each of them very much.


My children all show me so much love and respect. I am such a fortunate woman. I thank and praise God for each of them in my life. He has truly blessed me with such a good family.


Erica finally laid down and went to sleep. So my typing improved a lot when she quit helping. All the dogs are asleep and of course snoring.


I had my show jacket altered in the sleeves and I went to Prospect Ky today to pick that up. There is a tailor there that does such a nice job and I just hate to trust my alterations to anyone else. He and his wife run a little shop there and they are always busy. I had to wait over a week to get it back but it was worth the wait.


I worked at the Post Office there. Our customers swear it is the best post office in the world. I feel that I had a small part in them getting that reputation. I really liked my customers. And when I meet them out somewhere they recognize me and I get lots of hugs. I miss them and I miss my Postmaster and co-workers


I visited there today while I was in Prospect. I was really glad to see all my co-workers. We all go along really well and cared for and respected each other. It was a unique working environment. La Donna likes coffee very much. So I stopped at the little restaurant where I often ate and bought her a cup of coffee. I also brought her coffee a lot after lunch when I was still working and always kidded that I was kissing up. I just genuinely liked her and liked to do small things like that for her because she appreciated it so much.


She always made me feel very special. She always told me I was the best window clerk that she had ever had working for her. She knew I would not bother her with stuff I could handle at the window without her. I was the one everyone else wanted to see with those difficult customers. I had learned early in my career that they may be upset because of what had gone wrong before they got to the post office. I could diffuse most of them by just listening and being sympathetic with them over their supposed wrong. Most of the time they were just having a "what is happening to my world day". I had one of those recently. By the time they left, most were in a better mood and thinking their post office was the most wonderful in the world.


We learned the names of our customers. We knew about their families. We sympathized with them over the loss of loved one and rejoiced with them over happy events in their lives. We liked them and let them know it. At Christmas our office was filled with all kinds of good things to eat the customers had brought in for us. I missed those that passed away and I no longer saw. Many had gotten to be good friends as well as customers. So it was a visit I was glad I could make today. I did not have long to stay since I was meeting Natalie and her family to go to the airport but I left feeling refreshed and happy that I could see them again and catch up on their families.

Another day I will have to tell you about La Donna's talented daughter Kristen Leigh. She is a very talented musician and has a wonderful voice.

But until another day, God bless you and keep you in his loving care.

Regards

Mary

My son forget not my law, but let thine heart keep my commandments. For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Proverbs 3: 1-2

"Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear or a fool from any direction."

Cowboy saying

Busy Day

My Grandson and his future wife were here today. She wanted to ride. I ask Jennifer when was the last time she rode a horse. She told me when she was twelve. So I knew then I needed to walk with her. She really wanted to ride alone and to get the horse moving faster. She is a little accident prone so I was unwilling to be responsible in any way for her walking down the isle in a cast or worse yet have to delay her wedding day because she was in a full body cast. So Edward and I walked along with her and the horse.

Next Natalie and her brother Ollie and son Fabian came to the barn. Ollie wanted to ride too. Jennifer soon gave up the saddle and Ollie climbed on. I think he had a nice ride and then Fabian got on and took a turn. Natalie also took a short ride. They all had a good time. Tomorrow Natalie's brother and son will return to Germany. It has already been three weeks since they first arrived. I think they have had a good time. They have been to the zoo, Holiday World,shopping,more shopping, riding the 4 wheeler, been swimming and horse back riding. Ollie has enjoyed mowing on my Cub Cadet The yards in Germany are not especially large so there are not many riding mowers if any. They have really enjoyed living on the farm for the last three weeks.

Farms in Germany are very small. It is not a large country so land is limited. The farms in Germany are really well kept. Every foot of land is used to get the most out of every acre. When we were in Germany I was impressed by grapes vines growing on hill sides. It would be a plot of land that we might just put in pasture and graze. The rows were very neat and no growth was visible other than the long rows of grape vines. Actually Germans grow a lot of grapes for wine.

Across from the apartment we were staying in was a dairy farm. Their cows were kept inside all the time. The land is too valuable to use for turning cows out. They were beefier looking cattle than our dairy cows. The farmer had a small herd. It was again a well kept farm.

We also visited a small stable. There were maybe 8 horses in the stalls. There was a little land around the stable and my granddaughter was able to ride outside on a very good natured pony.

But back to our day. It was a lot of fun seeing those in my family and friends enjoying the horses as I do. Natalie's horse Romeo is a very nice horse. His favorite gait is stop. So Jennifer had to urge him on frequently. I really wasn't afraid that he would take off and run away with a rider. He does seem to want to go to the barn which is a problem and I cautioned each one to address that problem immediately.

My sister Eleanor also dropped in for a few minutes to bring me some papers. It was a good day with family and friends. Edward and his bride to be Jennifer, Eleanor, Natalie and her family and early today Mike came by for coffee before work. A full day.

Tomorrow I will help Natalie take her family to the airport for their departure. I will miss them a lot. They don't speak English very much and I don't speak much German but we managed to communicate. They are very appreciative of whatever is done for them. Ollie has fallen in love with America. Fabian is ready to go home. He is 11and misses his Oma and Opa and father back home. But they have had a nice visit and it has been my pleasure to help with that in whatever small way I did.

See you at the world show. I am very excited about the upcoming show.

God bless and keep you in his loving care and may all competitors and horses be safe and may each horse and rider perform to the best of their ability.

Regards

Mary

No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle

Winston Churchill

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Proverbs 9: 10

Upcoming Horse Show

Vera in her office stops to help me with my new camera.

We, Eleanor and I, went to Stanton last week. We as usual had a very nice time. We make the rounds. Van Berts first and then Cool Shade. Van Berts do have some very fine horses for sale right now. I have to stay away as much as possible. Larry would sell me the whole herd. Failing at that, he is trying to sell me the herd one at a time. I have bought several horses from Van Berts over the years and I have top quality horses. I have horses by Choco Dock, Sudden Impact, Toco Motion Shepherds Snowy River and Sam I Am to name a few.

So the breeding is high quality. The conformations are awesome. The rides are the best. One of the first horses I bought from Van Berts was a filly named Butterfly Kisses. She is a Chestmut. S T Tipton trained and showed her for me. I no longer have her because right after the show on Friday night after she won the Conformation Championship as a weanling, I sold her. She is still beautiful. I saw her last year at the World Show in yearling conformation. She didn't win the class but she was high in the ribbons and she is still a very beautiful filly.

To replace that filly, I went with Larry in his rolling office, his golf cart, to look at a filly that I was drawn to from their web site. Her name was Boone Dock Fairy but I changed it to WOF Dock's Velvet. She was here at my farm for over a year. Last November I took her to Cool Shade Mountain Horses for Chris and Stacie Tipton to put under saddle. Every once in a while, I hear Chris and Stacie in a little discussion on who gets to ride her. She was put under saddle at 20 months old with very light riding. They tell me every time I talk to them or see them that she is such a good filly and how fond of her they are. She has had a winning season with these two trainer. I like the way they bring her along. She is a great horse and is getting better all the time. I just can't say enough about the sweet disposition she has. Nothing much gets her excited. She is always happy to see someone come to give her some attention. She is a prime example of what Mountain Horses are.

Of course I also check on the progress of the horses I have at Van Berts. Jamie has been training my 2 year old mare for me. Her name originally was Tilla Tequila but I didn't like that so I changed her name to WOF Rockin Andi. She is chocolate with a white mane and tail. I liked her the first time I saw her. Larry didn't even have me in his rolling office to sell me that one. He just had her out where I could see her. I have ridden her and she is a great ride. Jamie has done an excellent job of training her and showing her this year.

Then I always want to see Spirit and Flair. Those are my two yearlings in training for Conformation. Flair for Fury has been amazing in the show ring this year. S T has done a wonderful job with her and she goes in and shows her conformation and most of the show season we have taken the blue. Otherwise she is usually no lower than second. S T has also shown Spirit for me this year and he is coming along great. He gets more beautiful every time I see him. He also has a great disposition and will make someone a wonderful horse. He will not go under saddle this year. He may not be as ready at 20 months as Velvet was. She was extra big for her age.

Lately since I bought Code of Honor, barn name Cody, S T has been training and showing him. He is now under saddle but he may not be ready to show under saddle this year. He has just started his under saddle work. But he is looking very promising. I can't say enough good about the fine work the Van Berts and Tiptons do for me. I hope I make it plain to them how much I really do appreciate the quality of horses

I also had a wonderful visit with Vera. I have recently purchased a new camera and she and Morris were helping me learn about it. It takes some wonderful pictures. Both have a lot of experience with camera work and after I took some pictures of my horses, I had them to critique them to tell me what was right about them and how I could improve them as well. You see Vera's work every time you look at their web site. Morris is a very talented man who knows the ins and outs of everything computer. He also has experience taking pictures for work he once did and has the eye to know what is right about a picture. Vera is very good with a camera and I appreciate the use of her extraordinary talents as I am sure the Van Bert Farm does.

Did you see the video of the 11 and under Trail and Country Trail classes? I know everyone in my family has because not only are the Tipton children featured, so is my Great Granddaughter, Melissa. I so appreciate Vera making sure Melissa had her day in the lime light. You must watch it if you haven't already. Kayles Tipton was riding in Trail Pleasure and won. She is a very accomplished rider and it looks as natural as walking for her. We want to congratulate her on winning the class. She really did a nice job as you will see from the video.

Then the second part is the Country Trail Pleasure Class. Both Kobe Tipton and Melissa were riding in that one. Kobe did a nice job and we were so proud of Melissa for the way she rode in her first ever horse show. She is also looking forward to riding in the World Show in the 11 and under class. I think that I mentioned in my blog before how good Jamie was at teaching Melissa how to ride but I want to repeat how much we appreciate his kindness and patience with her.

Now in just a little more than a week the World Show will begin. For those of you who are new to Mountain Horses, this is the big one. It will bring the finest Mountain Horses together to compete for prizes and titles that will award the best of the best. Winning a first place in some shows is the only thing that really sets a horse apart but winning a ribbon at all at the World Show puts a horse in an elite group. There are many fine horses that will make a wonderful show and leave without a ribbon.

So I am looking forward to being at the World Show and seeing the quality of horses that will go through the gates of the arena. I love to cheer for my favorites and I always try to make a point of congratulating the winners even if they just placed higher than my horse. The show is a wonderful event that brings the UMH shows to a grand finale. It is the highlight of a season that started in April with its many reasons for celebration and times of disappointment.

I want to wish you all good luck with your horses in the show this year and that God will bless your efforts and hard work. Most of all that he keeps each horse and rider safe.

Later everyone

Mary

Horses are restless in the wind for both what they hear and what they can't hear.

Quoted from How to Think Like a Horse by Cherry Hill

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven Matthew 5:16

A Riding Family

Stephen is 5 years old and gets a turn on Romeo who is Natalie's horse. He is a very calm horse with Mountain Horse breeding but no papers so the breeding is unknown. Stephen did not want to get down for his sister's turn.

Steve and Chrissy were home recently for a visit. Steve at that time wired my barn. It wasn't all work. The second night they were home we had a pool party at my oldest daughter's house. It was the coldest July on record in Kentucky and they were from Mississippi. The kids enjoyed the pool with their cousin, Melissa. They sort of all turned blue when they got out of the pool. Steve and Chrissy didn't venture into the chilly water and neither did I.

The children wanted to ride while they were here. So Natalie got Romeo and I got Rocky Top Rebel. None of them are very certain on horses so we just mostly led them around but they loved it and hated to get off. Natalie is riding some now after never touching a horse in her life until two years ago. She was able to purchase a horse and saddle for $300 and now she likes to ride. She is still uncertain on the horse but she is trying. He is a good horse for her. Very gentle and very calm. Does not spook over anything. He was a bargain.

My sister Eleanor loves riding best of all. She has ridden a couple of times at Van Bert's Farm and she is very confident of her skills. Mike has also been on the horse a couple of times to ride Romeo to make sure he was ok for Natalie to ride before she got on. Natalie's son is here from Germany and he rode some too. But it wasn't long before he wanted off. He likes to ride the four wheeler best.

What is it about a horse that makes us want to be around them so much? Even if we are initially fearful, it is soon natural to walk up to them and scratch them and pet them. We want to be close to them. My horses seem to enjoy the company of humans too. Except tonight. The only ones wanting my company was the two weanlings and Rocky Top. They are big animals and out weight us by hundreds of pounds. What is it that draws us to them? What is it that draws them to us? It is a mystery that is too deep for me to explain. I just know from earliest childhood we have a fascination for horses that doesn't go away for many people.

I could be very jealouse of the kids that ride. I see Kailey Tipton riding almost any horse that she is offered. She rode my first horse, Mt Girl (a two year old) on trail rides before I bought her. So I figured I could do it too and I fell off of her three times. I wish I could ride as good as Kailey. I wish I could ride as good as any of those young riders out there in the show arena. That will soon include my great granddaughter Melissa. They do all ride more than I do and I know I need more time in the saddle.

I really don't have a seasoned rider here to ride with me and I am not confident to ride alone or with someone who has even less skills than I do on horseback. Was that an excuse?

Tonight I have found some jealousy in Blaze. He is the oldest weanling and has always liked me to make over him. Celine has started letting me get close to her. Blaze loves to come to me where ever I am. He had walked up to me tonight in the field and let me scratch and pet him. Celine walked up to me as well. She put her nose up close to my nose and we were exchanging breath when I suddenly felt Blaze bite my back. I jumped and elbowed his nose but it scared Celine and she ran off to her mother. I think he was wanting my attention and I wasn't giving it to him. Not at all funny Blaze!

I am planning a trip to Van Berts and Cool Shade tomorrow. So I will have more to write about then.

Later everyone

God bless and keep you in his loving care.

Mary

Thought for the day:

"Far back, far back in our dark soul the horse prances....The horse, the horse! The symbol of surging potency and power of movement, of action...."

D H Lawrence, from "Horse Quotations"

His love has taken over our lives. God's faithful ways are eternal

Psalm 117: 2

A Car I Wouldn't Let My Mother Drive

O K. I don't know what happened to the picture again. I was trying to post a picture of my truck. It is a cute picture of me and my 5 year old grandson sitting in the cab. We are both wearing our straw hats. Very cute of Stephen. As many of you know, I drive a Silverado . I sold my car and got rid of two other pickup trucks after Bill died and I bought a truck that would pull my horse trailer. So I am a person that really doesn't need a small car.

However, there are many small cars that I would drive and like as well. My son had a red Jetta that I drove some while he was in Iraq the first time. I liked that car very much. It was hard to keep the speed under control. I was stopped twice driving it and one time I was awarded a ticket. It wasn't for a popular Broadway show either. I have also had some small cars in my life time. We owned two Beatles and liked them as well. I also drove a Grand Am. It was small but it was a nice car.

But today I saw a car I wouldn't want to see my worst enemy driving. This thing was a 2 seater with a tiny trunk. I think it was no longer than 6 or 7 feet. I am only guessing there. It was not twice as wide as my four wheeler. It was so small that the tall people that tried it on for size had to double up like an accordion. It was setting in the Sam's Club in Louisville that I was in today.

One woman was thinking out loud about how convenient it would be for her mother. I blurted out my thought on that matter in less than a heart beat. I told her in no uncertain terms that I would never think of letting my Mother drive that thing. She replied that she would only drive it to the doctors office and the local grocery and never go on the freeway with it.

That thing is a death trap. It doesn't matter where you are if a school bus hits you or a truck the size of mine. Or God forbid, a full size car or a garbage truck. I know it is cool to think we are saving the planet by using cars that get 41 miles to the gallon on the highway. Mike's Jetta was very efficient on gas and a nice size car too. The price tag on the thing read something like $14,000 but for Sam's Club member the price read around $9,000. I figure in the long run it would cost over $14,000. $9,000 for the car and a hefty chunk for the funeral.

I just can't understand all this stuff that is being put before us today or why we are not more upset than we are. There is a lot of outrage at town hall meetings this month over the health care issue. There should be. Obamacare is not care at all. We can't drill for oil on our own soil. We are advised to buy a tire gauge to save fuel. We are told to use different light bulbs to save energy. We are told we are unpatriotic if we want to drive a bigger car. It goes on and on. Our government wants to control every aspect of our lives. And they are in the process of doing it.

It is not the America that I grew up in. We had a very good childhood. My parents were God fearing Christians. We read the Bible, went to Church and prayed. The flag was honored and respected. Life was cherished. Children were protected. The tenants on our farm were not well paid but they were furnished nice housing, a garden plot and had a tobacco crop to sell at the end of the year. They were also able to raise a beef and hog for meat for the family. Most were hard working people and had a good life.

As I remember it their houses were clean. The children were clean and were encouraged to work hard in school. They were respectful to their elders. For the most part they minded their parents. I really don't remember seeing a lot of bad behavior from the children. Some were more motivated than others, of course. Families worked together for the common good of their households. My sisters and brother and I also worked hard. We had chores to do and the girls helped Mom in the house. We helped can vegetables and helped with the cooking. We also worked in the fields. And we knew we had to bring home good reports from school. We knew if there was bad behavior at school there would be a penalty to pay at home.

Where did we go wrong? We allowed unbelievers to kick God out of school. We listen as people question the Bible. We can't read the Bible in school anymore for fear we will offend someone. Our politicians are corrupt, self serving, power hungry people that will stop at nothing to get elected to another term or for the first time. The Constitution is in the process of being shredded. The politicians in Washington no longer have our best interest at heart. They don't care what we think and they don't care what the Constitution says. They find rights where there are no rights and ignore the rights given to us in the Constitution.

It is not just the little tin can of a car I saw today but it what it represents. It represents an erosion of our freedoms. We are being told what we can drive, what we can eat and soon if it is not stopped how much health care we can have. End of life decisions are about to be made for us. We are told what we know is wrong is right and what we know is right is wrong. You can't say anything about something being wrong because it will offend someone. We are told ponography is free speech but don't mention Jesus Christ.

I think of the man in his eighties that my daughter in law stays with three nights a week. He is suffering from cancer. He is now in the hospital. I think he must have had some blockage that had to be corrected with surgery. He has been found to have heart problems as well. His care is expensive at this stage of his life. If the (no) health care plan goes into law as it is written right now, he would be denied treatment. He would have been denied the surgery and nothing would be done for his heart. But he could according to the President have a pain pill. But no treatment for cancer.

I am sorry. I try to keep this blog light and thoughtful. Tonight, I just can't be light. It was all about that little car that our powers that be think we should drive while they are spending our money for new jets for themselves. So please get involved. Contact your Senators and Congressman. Tell them what they are doing that you don't like. If you feel they are doing the right thing they should know that too. I have a very fine congressman who is conservative and is voting against this insanity. So are my Senators. I need to let them know they are voting the way I would and you need to speak up too before it is too late.

God bless you and keep you in his loving care. God forgive us for our national sins. Pray for our leaders. Pray for our country.

Regards

Mary


Let us run the race that is before us and never give up

Hebrew 13: 1

Spinner and Frosty

This is a tale of two cats. Pardon the pun.

My daughter called me about 15 years ago and told me they had to take Chocolate (their cat) to the vet that day. I felt very sympathetic at that point. I knew how much they liked the cat and they had gotten it as a kitten. So he had been part of their family for several years already.

So I asked what had happened to the cat. She said that his feet had been burned by the dryer. She related the story about her husband Ray transferring clothes from the washer to the dryer. While Ray had turned around to get more clothes from the washer apparently the cat had jumped into the dryer. Not knowing he was in there, Ray started the dryer.

It was not long before he heard some awful noise coming from the direction of the dryer. He went in to investigate. He realized the screams from the cat was coming from the dryer. He opened the door and out came the cat. By this time Debbie was home and they looked at the cat and realized it had burns on it feet and ears so they took him to the vet.

My husband always wanted to know what the person on the other end of the phone was saying so he was in the background asking me what had happened. I told him about the cat in the dryer. At that time Bill did not realize the cat had injuries. He just knew the cat had been in the dryer. It struck him as being funny so he started laughing at the idea of the cat being in the dryer and going around and around. He started asking funny questions. "What do they call the cat now, Spinner?" Or "Is his new name Downy?" "How about Fluffy?"

By this time I was laughing too. But Debbie was hearing her Dad in the background and she started crying. She told me it just wasn't funny and the cat was burned. I knew it wasn't but Bill was saying such funny things I was having a hard time not laughing.

For those of you who are horrified now that we would laugh at an animal being hurt, I will tell you that Chocolate soon recovered from his minor burns. He was none the worse for wear. And today Debbie does acknowledge that the idea of the cat going around in the dryer was funny. If you don't think about the burns.

Fast forward with me to this week two days ago. I was taking a trip to Dayton Ohio with Debbie and she told me she had talked to her sister Mary Beth the night before. While she was talking to her, she could hear their new kitten, Oscar, in the background. He was meowing very loudly. Mary Beth was looking everywhere for the mischievous cat. Debbie could hear her opening and closing cabinets. She kept saying she could hear the cat but she could not find him. The closer she got to one wall the louder he was. Finally the only place left to look was in the refigerator.

She opened the door and out he came with pink yogart on his paws. He was a little chilled but none the worse for wear. She soon had him wrapped in a towel and he got warm in a hurry as she held him close in her arms.

Please don't infer from this that we abuse our animals. Nothing could be further from the truth. My family loves their animals and take very good care of them. Cats and kittens are so curious and can get into so many predictiments. I guess that is why they need nine lives. The cat Mary Beth had before lived to be 17 years old. They all cried when Bob died and Melissa (5 years old) came for the funeral wearing her black velvet dress and announced to one and all that this was her funeral dress. She cried broken heartedly over the death of the cat as they buried her and talked about her unique attributes. Although she was always a cantanerous old cat even as a kitten they did love her dearly.

Animal do such funny things and bring so much joy and happiness to the people they own. Erica, my youngest Lab, was asleep on the couch a couple of night ago and she got a little close to the edge and rolled off of the couch. She had a stunned look on her face like she thought I had done something. I lost the battle of the couch about a month ago. It is an old couch so I might as well forget it and try for a victory somewhere else.

So later everyone. Check you appliances before you close the doors. It is hard telling where a cat may be lurking.

God bless and keep you in his loving care.

Regards

Mary

We all have dfferent gifts, each of which came because of the grace God gave us.

Romans 12:6

Looking for Tomorrow and thinking of Yesterday

From left to right:

My daughter Debbie,son in law, Ray, Edward and Jennifer.

I will have another busy day tomorrow. My daughter Debbie and I are going to drive to Dayton Ohio. My grandson Edward will be married in Dayton on February 6, 2010. He is marrying a young lady from Dayton. I am driving up with Debbie for her to try on her dress for the wedding. They are all so excited. Edward is the oldest of the two sons and their first to be married.





Edward will be going to the Navy the end of this month. He will get his basic at the Great Lakes Naval Base. We will miss him terribly but will go there for his graduation from boot camp. And to see how he will look with those curly locks no longer attached.

I remember the day back in 1986 that Bill and I attended our son Steve's graduation from boot camp. He was sent to San Diego Ca for his basic training. Bill and I drove to San Diego and was on hand for his big day. We had not seen him for six weeks. They marched onto the field. Many parents were there for their son or daughter's big day. It was hard to pick out your own child. They were all dressed in their uniforms, of course. We had sent boys and girls to boot camp and now we were looking at a new group of men and women. Different people than what they were just six weeks ago.

After the ceremony, we were invited to gather in a hall to meet and greet our children. The first time I saw Steve, I caught my breath. No longer was there a head full of pretty blond curly hair but now it was all gone and he looked more like his older brother than I thought possible. His older brother had recently graduated from boot camp in the Army and of course his pretty hair was gone too. Now Bill and I had never been ones to want our sons' hair to be long like girls. But as they got a little older they did let it grow out some and both had a nice head of hair. It was blond and curly on both boys.

When Steve was a baby his hair was coming in pretty, very blond and very curly. The children and I were in a local store one day and someone commented what a pretty little girl he was. I went home and gave both boys a burr hair cut. Bill was horrified when he got home and I was never again allowed to cut their hair. Both boys were so cute and sweet and all boy. I just did not want my boys to be mistaken for girls because of long hair.

That was back in the sixties when boys had short hair and girls had longer hair. Boys and men did not wear earrings or other jewelry. In high school only the girls with bad reputations smoked and had pierced ears. No one wore a tattoo unless he had been in the Navy and on a whim got a tattoo. Girls wore shorts but they were pretty much to the knees. Bathing suits covered most of the subject pretty well. No one ever heard of a thong. Much less wore one.

My my how things have changed. Yes you have come a long way baby but how is that working for you?

Did I get preachy or what?

Anyway sometimes we just have to look back to where we have come from and wonder are we better off now or then. I do miss those days. Family life for my family was so normal. No one watched T V during "Supper". We did not go to our rooms to watch T V or play video games. No phones in our rooms and no cell phones.

There are many things I love about our lives today. Microwaves are wonderful and many meals have come out of mine. I like my washer better than the one Momma had when I was a child. I remember Monday was wash day. She started early in the morning and by night the clothes were off the clothes lines and the fresh smell filled every room in the house. She worked hard. She did not expect thanks or praise because it was normal for her. She cooked three meals a day and we ate meals together.

My parents gave us a very happy family life and a very good solid upbringing. They taught us right from wrong. They took us to church on Sunday morning, Sunday night and often on Wednesday night. We prayed and read the Bible. We never realized what a good childhood we had until we left home and started out in the world where we met people who did not have such a good childhood.

Our circle of friends were the same as we were. Mother and father raising their family. Mother was at home with the children and father was home every night for supper. Daddy was a farmer and I remember that every day he came in from the field for an hour at dinner time (that was 12 noon then) and Momma had dinner on the table. He washed his hands, combed his hair and ate. After dinner he would lay down on the floor and sleep for 15 minutes. That is known as a power nap now. Then he would get up and read the paper. After an hour he would put his hat back on and go back to the field. He did the same thing every day for as long as he was able to work. After he retired from farming he kept to that same routine as long as he could.

When he was in his eighties, my dad was still cutting fire wood for his wood stove that was in his big old country kitchen where my family shared many meals together. He was a tough old man then and still very strong for a man his age. When my father came to cut firewood, our boys would drop whatever they were doing and go help granddaddy cut and load his wood. Sometimes they were about the have the rest of the day off but if Granddaddy drove up in his truck with the chain saw, they were out the door and ready to help him. I am proud of them for that. There are still many fine young people in this world but I do know many who don't know how to work.

Well that is all until another day.

May God grant you a good night's rest and keep you in his loving care.

Regards

Mary
aka Jane Wayne is some circles.

Thought for the day

Life is not so much about the milestones as it is about the moments.

Flair for Fury in the show ring and eating in the pasture. She is getting better and better all the time. She is a beautiful yearling filly that is going to be an awesome mare.

The Summer Celebration is over and time to look forward to the World Show. But we are still glowing in the memories that were created at the last show. Melissa's great ride and 5th place ribbon is still fresh on our minds. It was such an awesome experience to see Melissa riding that horse in the arena by herself. Again Jamie is an awesome teacher and had her ready for that show in short order. She still has much to learn but she has a great start.

My yearling filly pictured above was once again 1st place yearling filly and was shown against some very nice fillies. Another filly by Venture's Black Fury has been breathing down our necks for 1st place ever since the show in Stanton Ky. These Fury babies are really something. My colt has been beaten by a Fury colt in every class we have shown against him. I do have to concede that every time they come into the ring together that he is the best yearling colt in the class. So a big congratulations to Mike and Judy Brummer for their outstanding colt. My appreciation to Van Bert Farms and S T for their preparation of this yearling filly. S T does a wonderful job of showing. He might have been stuck on 2nd place for a while but he never stays stuck for long.

Both of my two year old fillies made good shows. Velvet won a third in a very tough class. And Rockin Andi placed 4th in her first time out as a Classic 2 year old filly. She has been showing in Trail Pleasure classes but Jamie felt she would do better in Classic Pleasure because of her leg lift and head set. She has a very nice stride and she really is learning how to get her back end under her for the propulsion she needs for that class. She looks like she will just get better all the time. Again a big thanks goes to Jamie for his hard work with this filly.

As usual my friends the Brummers had a very good show. Judy gets to be a better rider all the time. She has a big smile in the saddle and looks like there is no place she would rather be. Fury and Lady both did well. Judy placed 2nd in Versatility and that is pretty awesome with the tough competition that is out there. Judy is an Amateur rider and she came in second behind a professional rider. Versatility is selected on a point system and for every place that the rider shows in he or she is awarded points according to their placement. Some of the classes necessary to show in to be eligible are trail obstacles, western and under saddle classes. Judy is a very accomplished rider and it is very apparent that she works very hard at it. Plus she really enjoys it.

It was an awesome show and now on to the World Show that will start September 1st and run through the 7th. I am looking forward to seeing everyone there. The competition will just get tougher there than it has been all year. It is a really nice statement on the quality of the Mountain Horses. They are truly a breed to themselves.

I thank God for each of you my friends and family and for these awesome horses he has provided for our work and enjoyment. I know the people who actually used them for work on the farms in the early days was thankful to God for these awesome horses.

May God keep you in his loving care.

Later

Mary

40 Pounds of Cute

Melissa Cooper is my Great granddaughter. She calls me her greatest Grandma. We really like each other. Yesterday, Aug 8, 2009 was the first horse show Melissa has ridden in as a competitor. She was the smallest and possible the youngest competitor in the class and she was definitely the hit of the class. She rode in on Rose's Morning Glory Morning Glory was chosen for her mount because of her sweet nature and her experience in competition. If Melissa didn't quiet know what to do, Morning Glory did.

Regardless of how many times her Granny, Papaw, Mommy and Daddy said they weren't nervous we were all worse than hens on a hot rock. We gave Melissa so many last minute instructions that it was a wonder that she knew how to stay on the horse.

One of my most important instructions to her was not to stop the horse and pose for a picture. She has been photographed so much that she automatically poses for pictures. In one of her practice sessions I was taking pictures of her and she leaned over toward me and looked directly into the camera to get her picture made. I felt it was good and necessary advice to tell her not to stop and pose in the show arena.

Jamie Derickson was instructing her and he was the calmest one of us. He is an excellent teacher for Melissa. He is very patient and he genuinely seems to like her and like helping her learn to ride. All of us in the family really appreciate and like Jamie. He remained very calm and I think it gave her the confidence and the calmness that enabled her to do so well.

I was stationed on the south side of the arena to encourage her to keep Morning Glory in her gait. So as she went by me I continued to tell her to keep clucking to her and keep her in her show gait. She did that really well. But her helmet slipped down in her face. Everyone was really wanting to go out to help her with her helmet. Finally Derick Tipton solved the problem when she came by us at a trail walk. He told her to push her helmet up and she did and then she looked around to see who in the world was talking to her. It was a very sweet moment.

Derick's son Kobe was also competing in that class and it was the evidence of the good sportsmanship of the Derickson and Tipton families that Derick helped Melissa too. He was also encouraging and instructing her on the rail.

When the line up was called she rode her horse over to the north rail with the other five competitors. When she asked Morning Glory for her back up, Morning Glory did it perfectly as she had done so many times for many other riders, young and old. Finally the announcer gave the show results over the speaker.

We had told Melissa she would be competing with some riders who had been riding all season and some had even ridden several years since this was an eleven and under class. Melissa is six.

We had stressed to her that since this was her first time in the show ring she may not get a ribbon at all. Even though she had a very good first ride I did not expect her to leave with a ribbon. We were all so pleased and happy when Melissa earned the fifth place ribbon out of six riders. And Melissa was very pleased. Pink (or as she would say "Pank") is her favorite color.

I think all you readers who are parents or grandparents can relate. It is a story that is repeated many times in many different ways. We all want our offspring to do well. It is important to them and so it is important to us. Yes I wanted to her do well. But most of all like other parents and grandparents, I just wanted her to be safe.

Riding can be dangerous. But so is riding a bike, skate board, swimming and any other sport you can name. It is not our job to make her fearful of all the fun things in life and afraid of having fun doing what she likes to do. Yes it is our job to keep her safe. But when it is all said and done, she is in God's hands and there is no safer place to be. He is with her everywhere. We are not.

God bless and keep you in his loving care.

And my prayers for you is that you will have happy trails where ever you may go.

Regards

Mary

aka as Jane Wayne in some circles

Silver Creeks Code of Honor

Whispering Oaks Farm and the Lipginski Family are happy to announce the purchase of the winner of the 2008 World Grand Championship Conformation horse. This stallion is the epitome of the Mountain Horse. He is triple registered and a son of the great Choco Dock. He is under saddle and getting better every day. He is a life time nominated Breeder's Cup Stallion.

Watch for him in the show ring. Standing at Van Bert Farms in Stanton Ky. For breeding information contact Larry Patterson at 859 940 8267.

The Summer Celebration starts in just two days and I am very excited about the show. Melissa is planning to ride on Saturday evening in the Country Trail Pleasure class for Juveniles 11 and under if she is well enough. She felt bad yesterday when we went for her riding lesson. She has a cold and was running a little fever. Her Granny says she is better today and if she keeps improving she will be riding Saturday. I am excited to know this Great Granddaughter of mine loves riding horses. And she is getting very good. This will be her first show and I think she will do well even if she doesn't win a ribbon. At any rate I am very proud of her. Our whole family is very proud of her.

Eleanor and I will be leaving tomorrow for Winchester to check into the motel and get ready for the next two days of the show. Whispering Oaks Farm will be represented by 6 horses in this show. We have two yearlings. Mountain Spirit and Flair for Fury. There are two that are two year old fillies. They are Dock's Velvet and Rockin Andi. Also for the first time under the Whispering Oaks and Lipginski name is Silver Creeks Code of Honor. And finally Chocolate Amigo. I am excited about our prospects for a good show. Our horses under the careful training of Cool Shade Mountain Horses and Van Bert Farms have done really well this year.

So good luck to all of the competitors. I am cheering for all of you out there. Unless of course you are showing against one of my horses.

Natalie and Mike have guests from Germany for the next three weeks. It is Natalie's brother and son. They arrived last night and the first thing her brother Ollie wanted to do was go to to Walmart. Of course, her son also wanted to go. So today we went to Shelbyville to the Walmart there. Then to get parts for my bush hog and finally to tractor supply. So they had a good day. When I went to have supper with them, Ollie was asleep on the couch. That 6 hours difference sure makes it hard to adjust at first.

They are very nice. I don't speak German and they don't speak English. But we do communicate. Smiles always communicate a message and we also understood a little of what the other is saying. Of course Natalie interprets for us. Ollie is very interested in the horses and I think they are planning to come to the show on Saturday. I think they will like it very much especially Ollie. We will also plan a trip to Stanton before they go home. There is so much to do and they have so little time to stay. There are so many nice places they can go to see.

Natalie and Mike are planning to take them to Holiday World while they are here. Fabian will really like that. He is eleven and the rides and water rides really appeal to him. Fabian is a very good soccer player and loves the game. He has learned to like Tex too who is Mike and Natalie's Labrador Retriever. He has found out if he throws a stick or ball Tex will bring it back as long as he will throw it. So he is beginning to relax. He has really been excited about the trip to America.

I hope to see you all at the Summer Celebration. Good luck to everyone and I pray that we will have a safe show for horses and riders.

God bless and keep you in his loving care.

Regards

Mary

I have found that life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end you get the faster it goes.

Andy Rooney

Reflections

I live on and own the farm where my father was born. His father and mother bought it in 1902. It is not the farm I was raised on but it has been in the family all those years. My father and his brother Clarence were born 4 years apart with my Uncle being the oldest. As they grew up they did what they had known all their lives and became farmers too. Just like their dad and many generations before them.

They bought the farm I was raised on and started farming in partnership when they were in their early 20s. Later the partners bought the home place from their parents and farmed both places. It was a partnership that lasted the rest of my Uncle's life. He died in 1969 and Bill and I bought the farm I live on from his estate. We have lived here since 1971 except for a few brief years we lived in Taylorsville before Bill died. I now live the only place I have ever wanted to live since the day we moved here.

My dad was a wonderful story teller and today I was reflecting on a story he has told me often. It was about our farm during the Civil War. I think I starting remembering it because I was mowing around the barn and there were some really big horse weeds. I started thinking about an incident that happened during the Civil War as told to my father when he was a youngster by a Mr Malin Hill.

Mr Hill was a neighbor of my grandparents and often came to visit in their home. He was a youngster himself when he heard this story from the Coopers who were neighbors of theirs. At the time he told this story he was an old man. He had been alive during the Civil War and had first hand knowledge of this incident.

The cavalry was on the move going to Perryville Ky. As you will remember from your history that Kentucky was a border state. And from your history you will remember that Perryville was a major battleground. As Mr Hill related it to my father, the Cooper men looked up and saw dust coming over the hill toward the Cooper house. Knowing it was probably one of the armies by the amount of the dust, the men and boys gathered the livestock as quickly as they could and took as many as they could to the river and hid them in tall horse weeds.

Soon the Union Army arrived at the home of the Coopers. The men and horses gathered at the spring for water and to wash up after their hot dusty ride. The officers of the Army ordered the women of the house to start cooking for the hungry soldiers. I do not know if there were slaves on the farm at that time but I do know that when my grandparents bought the farm there were still slave quarters on the farm.

So the women started cooking and they cooked until the meat house was empty. They cooked all the food stored in the root cellar. They cleaned out the garden. When the men were fed there was no food left anywhere. I don't know how many were fed that day but it was told to my father that as soon as one bunch of men left the table another bunch was ready to sit down to be fed.

I can somewhat verify that the story was true. Other than Mr Hill being a reliable source of farm history, I have a relic from the bridle of one of the horses that must have been here that day.

When my children were youngsters, Bill bought them a pony. They already had one pony that my sister and her husband had very generously given them.. Their children had outgrown the pony and my children were just the right age to ride. So as a 4-H project they became involved in showing their ponies at the county fair. They also had to keep records and do their grooming and practice their riding skills.

We had been to the county fair and had gotten the ponies off of the truck. We were leading them up the hill when my foot caught on something in the ground. I reached down and pulled a part of a bridle out of the dirt with a piece of metal on it. I cleaned it up when I got into the house and found it to be an emblem dating back to the civil war. I did research on the emblem and it was indeed a civil war relic. It was also verified by one of our local historians who saw the emblem and also said it dated back to the Civil War.

Every place has a history. I am one of the lucky people that has a true story about our farm and the small part it played in one of the worst periods of our nations history.

Later everyone. I will see many of you at the Summer Celebration this week end. From the weather forecast we could get wet but the temperature will be pleasant.

God bless and keep you in his loving care.

Regards,

Mary