Summer & Sable  10 and Under Walk/Trot

Meet our newest addition, yet unnamed.  Isn't he cute?

Sanity and happiness are an impossible combination. ~ Mark Twain

 I did it.  I rode a horse again.  After being hurt - physically *and* mentally - in a riding accident a few years ago, I rode one of our horses yeterday!  Not *completely* without fear, but hey it's a step forward.  Thank this gentle old gelding who patiently and forgivingly waits for me to try to get my rear end, legs, hands and brain in gear all at the same time.  Yes, I know I'm just *walking* but hey, it's a start! lol

So we have a mare that's getting ready to foal, very exciting times!  Even moreso when you consider that once she "waxes", dh will be sleeping in the barn with the horse until she gives birth.  Yes, he's a dedicated and loving horse owner, but that's not the only reason.  Last time this horse gave birth, the foal ended up with Equine Neonatal Isoerythrolysis.  For anyone who doesn't know what "NI" is, let me sum it up in one phrase - OMG!  It's rare, it's expensive and it's nothing you ever want to go through twice in one lifetime.  So, as a preventative measure, dh must be present at the birth to keep the foal from drinking the mother's colostrum immediately after the birth, we must feed alternative colostrum that has been screened for the dreaded Aa or Qa antibodies, AND he must milk the mare every two hours for 1-2 days before the foal can nurse from the mother.  Ay-yi-yi!  I'm going to go up into the attic and get the hammock down for dh to sleep in out there. Oh yes, you KNOW I'll post a pic!   We're trying out a new homemade flyspray recipe from the Discussion Forum at Trot.org... it's 1/3 Apple Cider Vinegar, 1/3 Water and 1/3 Pine Sol, Orange Scent.  Much less "chemical" content and smells good.  Can be used on animals and environment.

Let's see what else is happening...

Well, oldest ds got his driver's permit. 'Nuf said.  Gulp.

Youngest ds's allergies are in full swing.  Allergic to horses, how can that POSSIBLY be?!

Dd is having a break from dancing, just a couple of classes and summer "camp" type things going on.  She's excited to have her brother taking a tumbling class with her.  He's thrilled too, he's been anxious to learn how to do a backhandspring for a couple of years now. 

I'll keep you all posted on our progess! lol

Overall Solo Winner  - Seven Springs Dance Masters Competition

"To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals. "   

~ Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) Poor Richard's Almanac, 1737

Grab a box of tissues and prepare to laugh and cry at the same time...

http://helpothers.org/?pg=home

Nice site!

Have you ever found a photo lying on the street, in a book from a thrift store or somewhere just really unexpected?  Did you pick it up and then wonder why or what you'll do with it?  Well here you go:   http://community.livejournal.com/foundphotos/

I think only certain kinds of people will actually pick up a misplaced photo.  Strangely enough, I must *be* one of THOSE kinds of people, lol.   I'm almost giddy with anticipation, I'll definitely post it on Found Photos, won't you join me? 

So, this makes me think of a time that I was at a second hand store last summer and the decorative handle on a cake server in an overflowing box of silverware for sale caught my eye. Having a cake server already, I had really no intention of buying it... until I saw the inscription that read,

George and Norma

April 18, 1970

As I ran my finger over the inscription, I thought how I was only a *toddler* in 1970, and then I thought how sad it was that a very loving moment between George and Norma ended up discarded, shoved in a box doomed to end up in a foreign country if not sold in a timely fashion.  Why wasn't it in a family member's drawer?  Why wasn't there a grandchild out there proudly serving cake with it and re-telling the story of her grandparents special day? 

Well, by gosh, I wasn't going to let it just lay there, unappreciated and unloved!  I shelled out the .99 cents and took it home, washed it and put it in the silverware drawer.  Days later, my husband was putting away dishes and asked a little warily, "Uh, honey, who are George and Norma?!" lol