BackYard and BarnYard Bliss

Divine Intervention

2012-01-28T20:29:00.000-05:00

First let me preface this. It is not about me or what I have done. This is all about a blessing from God. He did it all and I am so thankful to Him.

I NEVER EVER want to forget this experience...... NEVER EVER EVER!

In the post named "Finally" I wrote about a foal that was born on our farm. It was a wonderfully magical time and another example of God's handiwork - the miracle of birth will never cease to amaze me.

Anyone that knows me will agree that I am a "horse-crazy" gal. I was born that way and don't think at this point I will ever outgrow it (since I am pushing sixty). I took that skinny, long legged foal and raised him to the best of my God-given ability, enjoying every minute of it!

I brought mom and baby in each night, basically so that the little fellow could lay down and rest, but also so that I could sleep peacefully knowing that they were inside where he would be safe. Corki is a good mom and very protective, but you just never know what might happen in the dark of the night. In doing things this way he was handled twice a day, putting his halter on and taking it off. I feel that this is very important for the foals but that's a topic for another post. At any rate, he continued to grow and flourish on his mother's milk and my care and weaning time came without incident.

We named him Indy Mint. Indy comes from his sire's bloodlines, Indy King by A. P. Indy. The Mint came from me..... I always carry peppermints with me to feed the horses and he developed a strong liking for them very early in life. In fact, he grabbed his first one out of my hand when I was feeding it to his momma. I don't think he had very many teeth yet because he bit my thumb when he grabbed the mint. He probably knew what they were because his milk was saturated with the taste. Yeah.... his momma likes peppermints too.

So Indy continued to grow and learn about being a horse. He learned about standing for the farrier and we were fortunate that his first experience with this was uneventful. The farrier took his time introducing him to the task while I held him and cooed to him to keep him settled. He was a biter though and left many bruises on my body..... sometimes in places that I can't tell about. But that's what stud colts do and he was ALL stud colt. I didn't hold a grudge but did learn to watch him real close.

Indy Mint continued to grow and he looked more and more like the real deal. He was very athletic and looked the part of a race horse. Of course he should look that way..... his pedigree is full of very talented racing stock on both the dam and sire's sides..... and he LOVED to run. I decided that if we kept him he would just be wasted. While I have a Thoroughbred Trainer's License in the state of Indiana it has been several years since I have done my own training and our half mile track that we once had is now back to being part of the grain farm acreage. We certainly could not afford to send him off to a trainer to the tune of $75.00 a day. We are just common, hard working people. The decision was made to put him up for sale. I made a flyer on him and posted it on the backside of Hoosier Park. I received several phone calls inquiring about him but no one was serious enough to come look at him. I decided to consign him to the yearling sale that the Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (ITOBA) was having in October.

You might be wondering where all this is leading. Why the title? What does God have to do with any of this. I don't want to seem boastful and I really hate to mention monetary amounts but without that reference it isn't clear where the title does come from. So..... here it goes.

One morning I went to Hoosier Park to watch my other race horse train on the track. Being on the backside of the racetrack is truly one of my most favorite places to be. We were just getting ready to load Jazzical on the trailer to bring her home when one of my acquaintances came riding up to the trailer. He offered me $5,000 for Indy Mint sight unseen - my asking price was $10,000. I told him that I had consigned him to the sale and that he hadn't seen him, at which he said he had seen the picture and that's all he needed to see. He told me to think about it. Here is the picture that he saw (along with all the other people on the backside).

It's hard to believe that that skinny baby grew into this guy! He looks like a 2-year-old here not a yearling. So.... I went home and thought about the offer that had been made. One never knows how a auction is going to go and I really thought we should grab a legitimate, live buyer if we had one - and the man is a very good trainer. However, I knew I would have to pay a penalty to pull him from ITOBA's sale, so I calculated what that penalty would be. I talked it over with John and decided to counter the offer of $5,000 with $6,500. That would allow us to pay ITOBA and still get a reasonable amount for Indy. I called the man back. Blah, blah, blah...... he talked about colts that he had sold and what he had gotten for them..... blah, blah, blah.... then he said he would see me at the sale. Okay.

I continued to groom Indy both in manners and on his coat. I kept him out of the sun so his coat wouldn't get sun burned and put him out at night. At this point he was more than able to fend for himself and keep any predators away, but I still slept with one ear open listening for anything that sounded amiss. My mares were in the lot behind the house and if he got out I would be able to hear the commotion that they all would have made. He didn't. John put the trailer in the round pen for me so that I could school Indy on loading. Some horses are skittish about the trailer but I had to close it up if I wanted to just put him in the round pen because I couldn't keep him out of it!

Sale day came, well actually it was the day before the sale because we had to be there on Saturday and the sale was on Sunday. I had wrapped his front and back legs before and we had been on little short trailer rides. I believe that the more you can get them acquainted with at early ages the better they will handle when the big stuff comes along..... again a topic for another post. Legs were wrapped in white leg wraps (I'm big on making a positive impression) and on the trailer he went. It took us close to two hours to get to the farm where the sale was, he rode very well, and when he got off the trailer he was strutting his stuff. It was a beautiful place and after being in the trailer for the longest period ever he was taking it all in.

I wish I had pictures from this point forward but I don't. I was busy handling Indy Mint so I will have to rely on my memory.... another reason for this post.... as I said at the beginning, I NEVER EVER want to forget this.

We got him settled in. I had consigned him early enough in the registration process that allowed us a stall in the main barn. I'm not sure he would have stayed in one of the portable stalls that they had set up under a tent but you can tell by the picture that this is a very nice place and the main barn was a horse lover's paradise. Thank you, Lord. Our stable mate next to us belong to a very nice lady and she kind of took me under her wing, advising me on certain things to do.

Horse sales are designed to allow prospective buyers time to inspect the horses. We didn't have many lookers on Saturday. I could have hung around in the barn all night, because that's who I am, but we didn't. We gave our cell phone number to the night watchman and headed on our way to get a bite to eat and some rest. I believe there was a World Series baseball game on TV that night but I couldn't tell you who was playing, nor who won. I just wanted Sunday to come and I wanted to know what the outcome of all this hard work was going to be. Two years of hard work.... yes, he was only one year old, but I had taken care of his mother the year before he was born..... so two years hard work.

Day of the sale. Wow! It's been over three months and I am still in the clouds over this. Many people came by to see Indy Mint, some more than once. We had decided early on that it would be better if I handled him since he was more accustom to me. I had gotten him a leather sale halter with a brass name plate on it. His coat was shining like a new copper penny. He looked good! One of the leading trainers at Hoosier Park looked at him and was very complimentary on how I had gotten Indy ready for the sale. He said he knew that I had not just done that over a course of a couple of weeks. He knows horses and he knew the hard work I had put into getting Indy to where he was. There is something exciting that happens inside of you when your peers compliment you. John and I have been doing the race horse thing since Indiana got parimutuel wagering and a race track. We have seen a lot of people come and go, many thinking that it is an easy way to make a quick buck. Once they see how hard it is, they quit. We haven't quit, and I don't plan on doing so anytime soon. I enjoy it too much - but you have to enjoy it or it is too much, and too hard of work.

They had a stage set up under a tent but the wind was blowing extremely hard and the tent was flapping and making a great deal of noise. The babies were not wanting to walk up on the stage and they actually had a couple flip over backwards so they made a makeshift sale ring on the ground encircled with bales of straw. I was able to stroll around a little and watch some of the horses sell. The handlers that ITOBA had were kids that worked at the farm. They had trouble with some of the horses and they even had one get away from its handler. Again, it was decided that I would take Indy in the ring myself. There were 72 yearling consigned and he was Hip No. 66. When they got to around Hip No. 50 I started to get nervous. My heart was pounding, I was dizzy, and I was having pains in my chest. I prayed. I turned it all over to God and asked him to see me through this.

I waited until the very last minute I could to take Indy Mint into the sale ring. I didn't want to risk the chance of him getting away from me. He had not been out of the barn since we had gotten there.... there was no need for him to be. When we went into the ring he had his head held high, ears up, and he was standing as tall and proud as could be. I walked him in a circle and then we stopped. I stroked his neck and shoulder as he looked out over the farm. Every time we did that it seemed like the bidding went up another couple thousand dollars so I just kept doing it. He was behaving himself and and I felt very comfortable. Maybe I was numb or maybe it was God answering my plea. I know what I believe.

The man that offered me $5,000 earlier in the year at Hoosier Park was there. John said he quit bidding at $19,500 and that was because his wife pulled him away. Indy Mint sold for $20,000! I walked away from the sale ring saying WOW! And three months later I am still saying WOW! I would have been happy to have sold him for three times less than what I received. God had other ideas. He knows what we need and He is so faithful to those that delight in Him and I praise Him for what He has done for me!

Once the sale is over you are still responsible for your horse until the new owner comes to get them. We watched a lot of yearlings either trying to be loaded into their original owners' trailers or new owners'. The resident Vet was busy tranquilizing the babies to get them to load. Finally the buyer came to get Indy. I had brought a bag of feed so that they could transition him over to what they would feed and I brought a bag of peppermints, telling them that he would go anywhere, do anything, for a peppermint. He thought that might help to get Indy loaded. I walked out to the trailer with them. It was hard to let someone else take the lead, but he wasn't mine any longer. One man walked up into the trailer to be able to head him and hook him, the other lead him onto the trailer. Indy Mint loaded in that trailer like he had been doing it all his short life! It was almost like, okay.... so what are we going to do now? He made me soooooo proud!

My Indy Mint is a fun and playful spirit. He loves life and has always been eager to see what is around the next bend...... trusting that it will be okay..... just like I trust my Lord and Savior.

Please enjoy the video of my "Indy Guy". It will make you smile and we can all use a reason to smile every once in a while.

Never Leave a Friend Behind

2012-01-08T19:41:00.001-05:00

Living on a farm opens the flood gates for wonderous things of Nature to be seen. All you have to do is take the time to absorb them. I've seen my share over the years and hopefully will blog about some of them in the future. This morning I saw something that was absolutely amazing to me and have to write it down so that it doesn't get lost in the fog of old age. (yes, I'm getting there.....)

The nice thing about weekend mornings (much to my horses' dismay) is that I can wait until daylight to feed. That's what I did this morning and while I was watching them eat their grain I heard some geese "honking". Naturally, I looked up in the sky to see where they were. It was one of those "boootiful" winter mornings where grass is crunchy under foot from the frost overnight, the sun is shining bright, the sky is oh so blue, and not a breath of air is stirring.

The geese were in formation heading south, maybe a half of mile from our property (it's hard to tell when you are on the ground and looking up..... they might have been a mile away.... or even further). I thought, that's cool. We see a lot of geese in this area now a days so it wasn't really all that unusual. Then I heard more honking behind me. Again, I turned to see "them" and there was a lone goose in the sky, maybe about a quarter of a mile to my northeast. I looked back to the formation I had seen going south and to my amazement they were all turning around, coming back to get their friend. Lot's of honking went on, and the lone ranger joined the formation. I imagined that the leader was giving the straggler the devil for getting lost or being tardy. But they settled in and continued their flight south.

Moral of the story...... Don't leave your friend(s) if they loose their way. We all do sometimes.

AND take the time to watch for those wonderous gifts from God. There are many of them given each day if we take the time to open our eyes and realize where they have come from. I know the geese in the sky this morning have made my step a little lighter all day.

Looking Back at 2011

2012-01-08T19:08:00.001-05:00

It is funny when I think of it, but last January I told one of my co-workers that I felt like 2011 was going to be my year. I could just "feel" it all the way through to my bones. We talked at length about it numerous times throughout the year (still do) and he felt the same was going to be true for him. He is an entrepreneur and is always trying something new. He had a project that he was wanting to start and of course I have the horses. I didn't know that "my year" was going to come about because of my little horsey business, I just felt that 2011 was going to be my year.....  to have things swing my way.

We were half way through the year and nothing really "oh wow" had come to be for either one of us. Life was good, but it was the same rat race - and work was very trying.  In early August, John and my house was broken into! John did have some loose change taken along with his pillow case, but for the most part, the only items of much value that were taken were my fun things - camera, iPod, jewelry, my daughter's baby teeth, etc.  The biggest thing that was taken was my piece of mind. I no longer felt safe and it WAS a terrible feeling.

My co-worker was having set backs with his project, but we both kept feeling that 2011 was still going to be our year. We were determined and tenacious. Obstacles arose but we just kept plugging along..... never giving up...... NEVER giving up. He battled the red tape of buying property for commercial use and the set backs that it brought. I battled the snow and cold last winter (and the heat this past summer) to keep my horses fed. Once, right after the break-in, I thought my yearling colt had broken my neck! I was fine, and my co-worker beat the fall rains that just would not let up.  We were determined and we NEVER gave up!

Guess what happened? We NEVER GAVE UP and 2011 was "our year". He is on his way to having a business that could make him self-employed and I sold my yearling colt for a nice price and gained a great deal of respect from my peers with my little horsey business.

2011 WAS our year because we NEVER gave up! I can't say that enough. Be strong.... be determined.

I'm sure you are wondering what we predict 2012 is going to bring. I personally have no idea. I am going to enjoy the blessings that God has provided in 2011 and trust in Him for what will be in 2012.

A word...... for the New Year

2012-01-02T13:51:00.000-05:00

I've seen several posts lately about choosing one or two words to concentrate on during the New Year. Of course you don't just concentrate on the word(s) itself, but the meaning of the word(s), incorporating it into your daily life allowing it to shape you. You can either pick the word(s) or let God whisper them to you. All morning I have been thinking of the word(s) I would pick. The one that kept coming to mind was "nurture". I am a nurturer at heart and it seems kind of natural to pick that word. Maybe it is a little too natural and too easy since I already have that tendancy. As I am writing this Blog Post I am hearing God whisper the words "Stand Strong". That is much more challenging in today's world. At every turn it seems as though there is someone or something that wants to steal our joy. God has blessed me (and mine) in ways that I could never imagine. He has filled my heart with dreams and He has allowed those dreams to come true. He has filled my heart with a joy that is oh so awesome and I never, ever want to lose that joy. My word(s) for 2012..... Stand Strong. What will yours be?

Just Like a Mother's Love.......

2011-05-15T20:50:00.000-04:00

This clematis was given to me by my daughter, Ashley. She knows how much I enjoy plants and flowers and actually shares that with me. She probably has a greener thumb than I do!

When I received it we had an old deck on the back of the house with lattice on one side for a wall. We thought it would be pretty to see it climbing up the lattice...... and it was for a number of years. Then we removed the old deck and built a new one..... kind of in the same place but not exactly. The clematis took a beating when the new deck was being built but it DID survive. It didn't have anything to climb on but flourished in a mound on the ground. John gets a little carried away with the weed whip at times and as luck would have it he whacked down the clematis.... not once but twice! I thought it was done for sure. Nope. Several people tromp on it (not knowing how special that plant was to me). Nope. It still came back. This beautiful flower was obviously determined to survive so I bought a tee pee-type trellis for it to climb. It is happy now and outshining the other clematis by leaps and bounds.

Just like my love for Ashley, this plant keeps on growing and when I don't think it can get any greater it does. A mother's love is a truly amazing and wonderful thing! Ashley was married last year and is making her dreams come true. I couldn't be happier. It warms a mother's heart to see her babes flourish and be happy!

I love you Sweetie! XOXOXOXO

Finally!

2010-06-21T13:21:00.000-04:00

For the last six weeks I have been sleeping on a couch that has theater seats. It definitely was not made to stretch out and sleep on! But it was all worth it. If you read one of my earlier blog posts, the one titled "In Our Children's Eyes", you read about my passion for mares and their foals and my efforts to ensure that I am there when the foals are born. This year was an exceptionally long year.

The average of the average number of days a mare will carry her foal is 340 days. Corkiella went 373! One could argue the fact that a person should be able to tell when a mare gets close, and normally you can.   There are "signs" that point to foaling being imminent - udder size and waxing, muscles relaxing at the tail head, etc. But.... there are also times when mares offer no indication that foaling is near. I was NOT going to take a chance of missing this blessed event. It meant too much to me and had been so long since we have had a foal. Truthfully, if I had waited for distinct signs I would have missed it. She really didn't show many.

She had seemed close several times and I even missed a fews days at work - taking half-day vacation days. Thankfully I have a very understanding boss and plant manager. Most big farms have a night watchman. I enlisted my father-in-law to become my day watchman. He was loyal about checking on her three and four times a day. When he'd get in for lunch I would call to get his update on what she was doing. It was usually enough to keep me at work for the rest of the afternoon.   And of course I had my cameras going so that I could watch from the house during the late night hours...... sleeping with one eye and both ears open.

Saturday night was John's trap shooting night at the gun club and I was enjoying the night at home with my dogs and horses, making sure that Corki's stall stayed clean just in case. Yep, everytime she poohed I was on it and it seemed like she was poohing more than normal. Maybe a sign? Maybe just wishful thinking on my part. I had watched him bounce and kick his mom for months and I was anxious for it to be over for her but also for me. I simply could not wait to get my hands on this baby.

I was in the barn, hanging on the front of Corki's stall when she started walking in circles and then her water broke. Another thing to be thankful..... cell phones...... yeah, I know, but they can come in handy. I called John ..... "Ummmmm, Corki's water just broke...."   He said he would come right home. I thought I could do this by myself but it is always nice to have moral support. Once the water breaks (providing that all is positioned normal) it doesn't take long. She went down and I started seeing feet, then a muzzle. Yep, it was positioned correctly......"Thank you, God!" Corki got up once and then went right back down. This time there was enough legs out that I could grab hold. When she pushed, I pulled being sure to always pull down toward the hocks. We hit a snag so I moved one leg around a little. That was all it took and here he came!

John missed the actual birth but not by much and he was elated to see that he had gotten his chestnut stud colt just like he had ordered..... chrome (white markings) and all.

It didn't take the little fellow long to try out his VERY long legs nor to find the good stuff Mom provides!

His first outing outside was yesterday. He was only a little over twelve hours old and we had his halter on him and a lead rope around his butt to help guide him. Mom is pretty protective of him..... she is such a good mom and is very proud of her little buddy. He is a little thinner than other foals that we have had here at our farm, but I am confident that Corki will provide good nutrition for him. And you can bet that I will provide the best I know how to for her. He has a hearty appetite and she is so patient with him...... letting him nurse all he wants...... and that is a lot! I can already see that he has filled out a little just in one day. Our vet will be here today to check him out and give him his tetanus shot.

I read somewhere last week that misery loves company but God loves a grateful heart. I am so very grateful for all the blessings that He has bestowed on us. He knows what we want, but He also knows what we need. It was somewhat worrisome that Corki went so long before she foaled, but I had put her in His hands and I do trust in Him with all my heart. God is so very good! Now let the dreaming begin. This guy could be the 2013 Kentucky Derby winner, or Indiana Derby winner, or both! Yep, I dream big but with God at the wheel anything and everything is possible.

Eagle Watch 2010

2010-02-21T20:41:00.002-05:00

The above is a young bird.... no white head yet.

Yesterday, February 20th, the Salamonie Interpretive Nature Center sponsored their 3rd Annual Eagle Watch. Information distributed there indicates that on June 20, 1782, the Continental Congress voted for the Nation's symbol. The Golden Eagle lost due to it also being native to Europe. The Turkey, which was Ben Franklin's choice, is a truely native American bird but lost out to the Bald Eagle. At that time there was estimated to be over 500,000 Bald Eagles that called North America home.

Because of the introduction and use of DDT, by 1963 there were less than 500 pairs. In 1972, DDT was outlawed and since that time the Bald Eagle has been making a brave comeback. While they have been removed from the Endangered Species List, they are still protected by the Migratory Bird Act (1918) as well as the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (1940). If you should be fortunate enough to encounter one of these majestic birds please remember to give them the respect and space that they deserve.

Just a few Bald Eagle facts:
1. They are 4 to 5 years old before getting the white head and tail. This is also when they reach mating age.
2. Eagles mate for life.
3. Pound for pound, the Eagle's wing is as strong as an airplane wing.
4. The Bald Eagle has a 10-plus square mile hunting range.
5. Vision is six to eight times better than humans. They have both binocular and monocular vision and can see color, but they cannot see at night.
6. They may build two nests...... just in case.
7. Both parents incubate the eggs but it is mostly done by the female. The male does brings food to the female.
8. New nests can be 4 feet deep and 5 feet in diamter. The largest ever recorded was 10 feet in diameter and 20 feet deep, weighing 4,000 pounds.

Our day out watching for Eagles started in mid-afternoon. While a little on the gray side, the weather was near perfect for February. We originally had concerns that incoming weather might prevent us from being able to participate...... but that was not to be the case. John and I met up with my very good friend from work and his wife.

After a brief tutorial on Eagles we joined one of three caravans. They had a much larger group than in the previous two years and were kind of overwhelmed with the number of cars they were going to be dealing with.

We couldn't have been more than a couple of miles from our starting point when we spotted an Eagle flying. Sorry that I didn't get a picture of it but it was a good indication that we were indeed going to see Eagles. We saw some awesome winter scenery also.

And we did see more Eagles! It was truly spectacular and quite an experience. We were able to view a nest and there were two birds occupying it - one actually in the nest and the other on a limb.

At the roosting spot John counted twelve birds in the tree line. It was breathtaking - to actually see them flying in for the night! We had no idea that there were that many Eagles in our area. Do you see them? Sorry that we couldn't get closer, but as I said before, these bird deserve their space.

Here are a couple pictures that I took last summer. Boy, the "green" looks very inviting. ☺

And the Grand Finale...... a couple of links to webcams where you can watch the nests.

http://www.iws.org/bald_eagles/pelicanharborcam.htm

http://www.iws.org/bald_eagles/twoharborscam.html

And

Lot of links to cams for different species of birds can be found here:

http://www.beakspeak.com/birdcams

How Great Thou Art

2010-02-14T19:34:00.001-05:00

Look at what God can do with simple very cold water! He is quite the Artist.....

Normally I would be at work this time of day, but last Monday (2/8/10) I scheduled a vacation day. When I looked out the windows I couldn't get outside with my camera quick enough. What a beautful sight!

The above picture was taken several years ago, but it is the same theme...... frozen fog...... although that day it wasn't anywhere near as cold as it has been here lately. If it was these guys would have been inside. ☺

What an awesome artist He is!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

2010-01-10T20:41:00.000-05:00

I'm not a huge baker or cook but I do like to try new things from time to time. The website of an author I have read and that I really enjoy following includes recipes and I thought that was a pretty neat idea. You can check her out at http://www.deborahvogts.com/ While I am sure I won't post a lot of recipes, if and when I come across one that is pretty tasty I will share it with you all here. You can trust that I will have tried it myself and confirmed that is worthy of the energy to type it before it appears here.

And.... since the NFL playoffs are going on, this recipe might come in handy for some. I warn you though..... I found it to be pretty spicey hot...... but a "want more" hot and then maybe it was just my taste buds. I took it to work and it was a big hit.

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, boiled, drained and shredded with 2 forks
1 (12 ounce) bottle of Frank's Hot Sauce
16 ounces cream cheese
1 (16 ounce) bottle Ranch dressing
1/2 cup minced celery
8 ounces shredded Monterey Jack or Sharp Cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
In a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan, combine the shredded chicken meat with entire bottle of Frank's Hot Sauce, spreading to form an even layer.
In a large sauce pan, over medium heat, combine the cream cheese with entire bottle of Ranch dressing, stirring until smooth and hot. Pour evenly over the chicken mixture. Sprinkle celery over top. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, then sprinkle cheese over top and bake uncovered for another 15 or 20 minutes until just hot and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving with celery sticks or any sturdy dipping chip.

Enjoy!

Sense of Scents

2009-12-30T13:21:00.000-05:00

Today my nose is full of smells from a horse barn...... and it is wonderful! Horses, like all animals, have their own scent and when you mix it with the smells of fresh bedding (we use pine shavings), hay, and yes.... even the pooh...... aaahhh.... There is just something about it that is soothing to me. I know, I'm a little off in the beaner, but in my profile I describe myself as an "animal lovin' country gal" and it's not just for show. That is what I am all the way to my very core. Throughout my life, horse barns have brought me much succor during trying times.

I have read that our olfactory sense is the one most attached to memories. For me this is definitely true. Take for example the smell of cows. Remember that each animal has its own scent? When I was a small child (many moons ago) my dad had a bulk milk route where he would go to the individual farms and pick the farmers' milk up in a big tanker. Many summer days I tagged along, probably so my parents wouldn't have to get a sitter, but having a fun time going from farm to farm none the less. I made friends with all the dogs, cats, and any other animal that would give me the time of day. I'm not sure if I outgrew the milk route before my dad sold it or not but one thing is for sure, the smell of cows brings back some pretty sweet memories for me. There is a dairy farm that I pass many days on my way to and from work. When the smell hits my nostrils I throw my nose in the air just like a bird dog we use to have did. I'm sure to many the smell is rank and unpleasant. For me it is a whiff of the past and sweet memories of my dad.

What scents bring sweet memories for you? Is it the aroma of a pie or cookies baking in the oven? Perhaps chicken frying on a sultry Sunday afternoon. Flowers are good for calming scents, my favorite being the petunia. We all know the smell of rain in the air, but what about the ground being worked in the spring? This year take a moment when you see a tractor in a field to take a deep breath and smell the dirt being tilled.

We would all be doing ourselves great favors if we would slow our lives down so that we could take the time to smell the scents (not just the flowers) that God has put out there for us. We could be making some remarkable memories in the process!

My heart is warmed........

2009-12-29T14:59:00.000-05:00

My daughter moved out of the nest several years ago. I still miss her terribly but find comfort in the fact that she is happy in the city she now calls home. Fort Wayne is quite a bit larger than our little two-horse town, but not so big that she can get swallowed up in it.

She has created a new website and blog and is quite talented in her creativity and literary skills. Check it out at http://www.iheartfortwayne.com/ and if you live in that area you will get the added bonus of discovering some of her favorite places.

Yep, I am proud of her. iheartAJ!

Jazzical

2009-10-25T19:50:00.001-04:00

The miracles of life are ever constant if you keep your heart and mind open. Birth in itself is the grandest of all God's miracles, in my opinion. I was the only person present when Jazzical was born and it was thrilling. Her momma was the first foal born on our farm and she and I became good friends (but I will write about that another time).

Because Corki and I are such good friends, she doesn't mind if I get close to her foals. And that I did with Jazzical. I towel dried her and had my fingers in her ears and nostrils. I pet her and tapped on the bottoms of her feet. I don't do the whole "imprinting" ritual but I do go through the motions of getting my hands all over the babies so they are accustom to human touch from the very beginning. We get halters on them within the first day or two and start leading them to and from the paddocks. You have to be really careful with their little necks but most of the time we find that they are willing to follow Mom. If not, putting the rope around their rump gives the added encouragement that they need.

Jazzical was a cutie:

And she was always a strong looking filly:

John and I, with the help of a rider-friend, taught this little girl everything she needed to know to become a race horse. You wouldn't think there is too much to it, but stop and think about it. All they really know on their own is how to eat and sleep. We taught her how to load in the trailer, to stand still to have her feet picked up to be cleaned and trimmed, how to accept a bit in her mouth and a saddle on her back, then we introduced the rider. Through it all she was easy to get a long with and very eager to please. Once she figured out what you wanted she was golden.

Once you have taught them everything you can at home it is time to take them to the race track. There they learn to gallop with other horses, be ponied by another horse (the rider of the other horse is leading the race horse), and to break from the starting gates. They will also school in the paddock so that when race day comes it is not a totally new place to them. It would be easy to take all of this for granted but it requires a tremendous amount of time and dedication. At the race track there are many, many things going on that can interfere with a young horse's concentration.

We all worked hard to get Jazzical to point of being a race horse. It wasn't easy by any means. And there were times when I honestly didn't know if she was going to "cut the mustard". She has had issues every year, but Jazzical and I have had a special realtionship from day one and I never gave up hope and I never quit believing. The results:

JAZZICAL stalked the pace early, angled off the rail into the turn, took over command in the stretch and cleared the field late under a steady drive.

She made us proud that is for sure! I thank my husband, John, for putting up with my passion. It can be very expensive and it is a lot of hard work. But boy...... the rewards are awesome! And thank God for allowing all the pieces to come together. He is so good to us!

The 15th Running of the Indiana Derby

2009-10-03T21:12:00.000-04:00

October 3rd, 2009
It is the first Saturday in October, not May, and Hoosier Park just hosted the 15th running of the Indiana Derby, a Grade II stakes race worth $500,000.

The weather wasn't as cooperative as it could have been in early October, nor was it as bad either. The day started out partly cloudy with a brisk wind from the northwest which pretty much stayed with us all day. Temperatures were in the low 60s for most of the afternoon. Post time for the Derby was 5:17pm and by that time it was pretty much all clouds and getting very chilly. Of course the horses didn't mind the cooler weather. They get very hot when they run and I do believe the cooler weather is easier on them.

John and I were celebrating our 18th Wedding Aniversary so we splurged by getting a table in the clubhouse. Another couple joined us and we had a grand time. The buffet was delicious and very nicely presented.

Look at that pile of shrimpies! And the ice sculpture was gorgeous......

Calvin Borel had a mount in the "big" race and was signing autographs early in the day. For those of you that don't follow horse racing, Calvin is the jockey that rode Mine That Bird in the Kentucky Derby and also is the regular rider of Rachel Alexandra (the filly that is beating all the boys in the big races this year). I did get my program signed (thanks to my friend Sherry) and will add it to my collection of mementos.

Below are the track outriders patiently waiting on the horses to be saddled. The crowd was too large for me to get pictures of the paddock. Sorry......

Misremembered, the 3-year-old chestnut ridgling by Candy Ride (ARG) out of the Quack mare, Beyond Perfection, won this year's contest in record setting time going a mile and a sixteenth in 1:40:80. Misremembered is trained by Bob Baffert whom is very well known in the racing industry. Congratulations to all of Misremembered's connections on a job well done.

MISREMEBERED

Above is the winner on his way to the track. He is a big, good looking rascal, that's for sure!

Hoosier Park has grown so much and it is a lovely place to spend the day, especially if you enjoy looking at beautiful horses. So.... We had a wonderful day at the track (even though we didn't cash many winning tickets). Good food and good company...... it doesn't get much better!

It's That Time of Year Again

2009-09-23T20:32:00.006-04:00

On my way home today I was driving through our small town and noticed that the carnival trucks and trailers were starting to congregate for our fall festival. It brought back memories of the most frightening thing that has ever happened to me.

Six years ago it was a beautiful Sunday. My hubby and I had gotten up early to take our two race horses to the track about 25 miles away to train. They trained well and I was very excited. I love going to the race track in the mornings and when the horses train well it makes me giddy. There is no other way to describe it.

I believe that if you treat your race horse like a "class" horse he/she might just run like one (but that's a subject for a different post) so after we got them home from the track I began my ritual of rubbing and wrapping legs. It was a gorgeous day. The sun was shining and noises from the festival in town were drifting on the wind to our farm. I had one horse tied to the wall in his stall and all of the sudden a hail storm came through. It was downright weird. We had built a new barn and it has a metal roof. The sound was deafening to say the least.

After this squall passed through I heard my daughter yelling for me. "MOMMA!!!!" I knew immediately that something was terribly wrong.   I ran to the old barn that we had not gotten torn down yet and found her lying in a pile of boards, straw, and dirt. While looking for a litter of kittens that had just been born she fell through the floor of the hay loft. Her legs were already starting to tingle and she didn't think she could move. I ran to the house to get my husband. Once he evaluated the situation he sent me back to the house to call for an ambulance.

It seemed like forever before they got there but I am positive they came as soon as they could. The town was packed full of visitors and I am sure it was difficult to manueuver through. And I am also sure they were competent EMTs but was grateful to see the son of good friends of ours respond too. He wasn't on duty but they had heard the call dispatched on their scanner and knew it was our house. They knew it was either our daughter or me that was injured and they sent him out to ensure things were okay.

Our friend made sure they put her on a back board and put her neck in a brace to be safe. He told me that he thought she probably just broke her leg or ankle but he wanted to be cautious just in case. He drove the ambulance to the closest hospital, letting me ride with my daughter. I was so thankful that I was able to stay with her. She was, by all accounts, a grown woman but she was (and always will be) my little girl.

After xrays were taken at the local hospital it didn't take them long to determine that the injury was more serious than they could handle.   We had another friend that was an EMT on duty at the hospital and he wrapped a back board with blankets to pad it for her. His shift was coming to an end but he elected to work over so that he could personally drive the ambulance to transport her to a bigger hospital. Every where we went we encounter Angels. First our friend that came to the house and now this one. Eventually people as far away as Texas had her on prayer lists. It was incredible.

Once in the Trauma Center (that's scary enough to type) at the bigger hospital they began taking xrays again and evaluating her injury. It was determined that in her fall she had shattered her T12 vertebrae. She was beginning to be in a great deal of pain from pieces of the vertebrae touching her spinal cord. Just someone bumping her bed sent her into spastic pain. It was horrible to sit back and watch and not be able to do anything. Horrible!

Bless our friend that padded the back board because she spent a number of days in ICU laying on that very board. Flat on her back for days! We had to put a large note on her bed asking people to not touch it because any movement or bumping at all caused her excruciating pain. It was horrible to see her hurt so bad. Horrible!

Surgery was not an immediate option because of swelling. She was put on steroids to reduce that and xrays were taken every so often. Everywhere she went she left a trail of barn dirt. Remember that I found her lying in straw and barn dirt? It was still in her hair and eveywhere they took her..... on this back board on a bed with wheels....... she left evidence that she had been there. If she wasn't hurt so badly it would have been funny, but it wasn't.

Since she was in ICU, visiting was restricted. They were good about letting me stay but there also were times they had to ask me to leave.   Then too, there were times that I had to get away, running from the room in tears. It was horrible to see her suffer. Horrible!

Then one time when I returned from a break my daughter said to me, "Momma, I was laying here with my eyes closed and I felt someone touch my legs and it didn't hurt! When I opened my eyes there was no one here."   I knew right then that Jesus had visited her and had laid his healing hands on her. I knew she would be okay.

Several days later she was able to have the surgery to repair the vertebrae. They couldn't really get to it from the back so they went in through the front, moving her heart and lungs out of the way. They put a titanium basket in place of the vertebrae along with four screws to hold it in place. It was a 7 or 8 hour surgery, I can't really remember. All I know is that it was a very long time and I was so engrossed in prayer when my pager went off to let me know she was on her way to recovery that I threw it in the air!

The pain was not relieved immediately. The spinal cord had to heal. But it had not been penetrated by any bone fragments so that was a blessing. She was not paralyzed and that also was a blessing. What she needed now was time and tender loving care and hopefully that is what I gave her.

The day we brought her home from the hospital that ol' momma cat that had had the litter which started this ordeal deposited one of the kittens between the wall partitions in the old barn. That kitten cried and cried. I simply couldn't stand it. I was totally exhausted and listening to it cry unerved me to no end. I fished it out of the wall and brought it in the house. It couldn't have been more than a couple of weeks old so I bottle fed it with an eye dropper. I certainly didn't think it would live but I couldn't just leave it. It did live and ended up being good company for my daughter while she was healing.

Taffy is no longer with us but she was a good friend and something good that came from a very bad experience.

My daughter is a trooper. She never complains about pain now although I would imagine that she has some from time to time. It took her a little longer than most but she did get her college degree and has a job that she can be proud of . She has grit and determination that will see her through life and if you can't tell, I am very proud of her.

In Our Children's Eyes

2009-09-20T17:08:00.013-04:00

Have you ever wondered what affect the passion for our "hobbies" has on our kids? The following is a paper my daughter wrote when she was seventeen. (I typed it word for word and if she messed up be kind. She was just a youngster). She did embellish the facts just a little, but what the heck - it was all in fun. We haven't had any foals born on our farm for about five years for various reasons but we did breed one of our mares this spring and are expecting a mid-May baby next year. I have missed it tremendously and look forward to watching and waiting. Hopefully you all will check back periodically and share this exciting time with me. Continue reading to see just how deep my passion is rooted at least from my daughter's eyes. Enjoy!

My parents, like most people, have hobbies they like to do in their spare time. One of their many hobbies (and probably the most obvious) is racing and breeding Thoroughbred horses. Horses have always been my mother's passion. This has been her dream since she was in grade school. She works double-time to maintain the horse farm she has established with my step-dad over the past 10 years. I just wonder if her life gets turned updside-down as much as mine does because of her love for the animals.

A recent example of this crazy cause an effect situation would be the impact the next three months are going to have on my life alone. We have three brood mares which are pregnant, each due to give birth about a month apart. Starting in April, my mother will be sleeping on the couch in our living room to be prepared when the babies come. We have a TV set up next to the couch, and the TV is connected to a video camera which is hooked up in the barn. This elaborate electrical set-up took a lot of time and effort to construct, not to mention the high electric bill we are going to have.

I will trip over these wires and cables approximately 58 times before all of the three foals are born, and I may possibly suffer from minor injuries such as a bruised knee or stubbed toe. The last time one of our mares was pregnant, I accidentlly ripped some of the cable out of the back of the TV. Woops!

Another effect of having three pregnant mares is that I will be woken up in the middle of the night many times during those weeks with cries of, "Hurry, John (my dad)!!! She's in labor! I think this is really it this time!" when these prove to be merely false alarms. I'm a very light sleeper, and if I get woken up in this manner, I get cranky. It's not a pleasant experience, for myself or those who have to deal with me during these times.

My social life as I know it will cease to exist until the foals are all born. I'm famous for my late night phone calls, but with Mom right on the other side of the wall, those calls will have to be suspended for a while. This also means no late night chatting, web surfing, midnight snacks, or loud music. I wonder if this is what prison is like?

If I am late for curfew, I can't just sneak in the front door -- the couch is off to the right of the door. I'm rarely more than ten or fifteen minutes late, but when I am, I can normally manage to sneak in quietly without being noticed. Now that won't be possible. I guess there's always the window, though.

Another effect of having three pregnant mares is that my mom will be using my bathroom since it is closer to her "bed" in the living room. During this time, my supply of toilet paper will mysteriously greatly diminish. This also means I will get hounded on that it is not clean enough, I forgot to put a fresh towel out, or the trash can needs emptied. When I am faced with comments like these, I have to wonder why this etiquette does not apply to her own bathroom?

If you have ever witnessed a birth of any kind, you know it is a messy ordeal. Horses are no exception. For the last foal that was delivered, about eight towels were used and two or three blankets. Multiply that by the three babies we will have this year---that's 24 towels at least! Wouldn't it be cheaper to use paper towels? I just hope I'm not expected to participate in the "clean Up" when the time comes. Yuck!

As anyone can see, three pregnant mares equals a lot of time, stress, and disrutpions in normal life. However, I'd have to say the stubbed toes, ruined towels, high electric bills, sneaking in the window, hours of lost sleep, and absence of a social life are all worth it when summer comes and I get to watch the foals play in the fields. I may not share my mother's passion for horses, but I do appreciate the innocence and sweetness of youth---even if it is a pain in my butt for three months.

Bunnies!

2009-07-12T16:09:00.005-04:00

We had a nest of baby bunnies in our yard this year. Its the first time I can remember having rabbits for a long time. We normally have lots of cats in the barn and while they are good at keeping the mice population down, they are also hard on rabbits. Not sure if you know how Momma Rabbit makes her nest but it is usually a hole dug in the grass out in the open. She pulls out some of her fur and covers the hole with grass clippings mixed with her fur. Needless to say, one isn't suppose to know it exists and my husband, John, didn't have a clue when he was mowing. Luckily the wheels straddled the nest and the only harm that was done was disrupting the fur and grass. It warmed my heart when he came to the house and told me that he needed my help. We were quick to get things back to what we thought looked like good cover for the babies and hoped (and prayed) that Momma Rabbit wouldn't be put off by the smell of humans. Our kindness paid off and Momma Rabbit stayed around to keep her babies fed. She munched on the little white clover that is plentiful in our yard and I am positive it made her milk rich and wholesome. I kept an eye on the babies each day and when I saw a set of ears sticking straight up out of the nest I figured it wouldn't be long before they bunny-hopped away. Sure wish I had gotten a picture of that but at least it is safely secure in my memory.

2009-06-03T20:31:00.013-04:00

Ten Things that make me smile (but not in any particular order):

1. My daughter Ashley.

2. Dogs, horses, birds, and any other animal that God created.

3. Time to sit on the deck to listen and watch the birds that visit my feeders.

4. Going to the race track!

5. The obvious..... my family and friends.

6. The smell of a horse's muzzle.

7. The smell of a freshly cut hay field.

8. A good book.

9. Puppy kisses and puppy breath.

10. Hanging around in the barn listening to the horses munch their hay.