Top photo is of the Michigan Appaloosa Horse clubs raffle horse. Yes, I bought tickets, no, I did not win. (Would have been closer than WA!) I won Paha instead in October and couldn't be happier.

What a great pose! I made this quilt for an ailing Aunt (only a few years older than myself) and thought since she like animals too, I took this shot of Meins wearing it. They are such good sports with just about anything I do.

Guess what! I'S RAINING AGAIN! sob. I threw down some more grass seed so hopefully it will not get washed away this time.

Nothing much else going on today so enjoy the pics.

More of the same

Been doing marathon sewing lately so I got behind a bit.

Here are some more pics from the flooding. The bucket I was using to pick up my scattered firewood which was dotted throughout the pasture to the farthest corner where I also found the cover for the fire pit and a makeshift bird feeder. The tire went out with yesterday's trash and in working in that far corner again to clean up more debris I found more firewood and even some 2x6 boards. When Klaus and I were finally able to walk the back half of our property we discovered a broken culvert drain. Of course it isn't on the county maps so it's something we have to fix.

Got our new John Deere tractor and am very happy with it. I took advantage of the Appaloosa Horse club's Members advantage program and rec $300 off + the $300 from JD. I harrowed the pasture and was able to get done quicker. Being able to remove the mowing deck makes a big difference! It isn't banging around when I dip into a hole or bottom out going through gates.with more power I am not afraid I am overloading the motor. Very happy with it.

Next month Meins and I will be getting for the parade in Matamora. I am really excited as this entire celebration is all about horses and the people who make sure we enjoy every moment with them!

OOPS, the sky opened up again!

Our area got hit hard again and the damage from flooding has been worse. Although I moved my hay shed to a higher area and built it up, it was no match for the 2' high flood that flowed through the yard, so I lost 10 bales of hay total. Trying to move them out into the sunshine was impossible. I did not realize they would weigh nearly 100# when soaked.

I spent the better part of yesterday slogging through flooded pastures picking up logs from our no longer stacked firewood. Lawn chairs were jammed into one gate, a small tire from the back is up front along with the round, wooden cover for the fire pit and a home made bird feeder. A post I wanted to replace another post with made it's way up front too. And the driveway washed out again to the point even I could not drive over it with the truck. A great deal of recently put down gravel made it's way to the round pen. Oh yeah, some water in the basement. When I got up Sunday morning I was shocked and upset to see all the water around the house and, freaking out, started making phone calls, the first to my hubby in Kentucky on a business trip.

All the photos are of our yard and some of the surrounding roads in the area I was able to get through. I met a lot of good hearted people, whom, turns out, we all know each other. Not so much by name but, "oh you have the show tractor", "your the lady with the horses" , "you drive the purple semi" and so on. One couple, making a desperate effort to divert water that was flowing across the roadway and taking away their parents driveway, stopped and mugged for my camera. And sadly, a young, divorcing couple were forced out of their home because the foundation collapsed. This was only on our road which is approximately 2 miles long.

My horses are ok, my dogs are ok, the house is ok and Jeanne is OK!

Right at this moment it is thundering and lightning, yet again, so it's either the swimsuit or the diving gear today.............big sigh:-(

Rainy days and Saturdays!

Well I will definately get lots of sewing done today. It's really raining cats and, well, you know the rest. Check out my umbrella.....cats and dogs! HAHA It has been a hard steady rain for the better part of the morning (1pm now) and finally went out to get the mail and check on Meins and Paha. I put the mail in a plastic bag and while holding the umbrella, wearing my pink hat and long black raincoat, I went over to where they were munching hay and did a bit "mind work". Meins started to walk away at first, more from sound than sight I believe, but he did not go any farther than the back of Paha and turned around to face me. We have done stuff with the umbrella before but it was not raining and making all kinds of noise. I give my trainer a lot of credit for what all three of us have been able to accomplish.

So even though today was a washout, as far as riding/ training goes, I believe we did accomplish an element of training that might otherwise may have been missed. I'm glad to have taken advantage of this oppurtunity to add to our training.

Thanks again Ann-Marie, I'm always thinking!

Go Meins!

Since the riding mower broke down I had been thinking of how to harrow the paddock. So, since Meins had successfully helping me move hay over the winter, (hay bales on a blue tarp hooked up to his harness) I thought, well.........why not the harrow. We made 2 complete circuits around the paddock when the harrow got caught on a small ? poking out of the ground and we lost momentum and Meins decided he had had enough. By then the rope had stretched out and Paha was bringing up the rear sniffing the harrow the entire time. Sheesh! What a parade! So I have spent the better part of the last two cool mornings with my pitchfork, rake and wheelbarrel, trying to do cleanup but I swear for every scoop into the wheelbarrow those two will let loose with a fresh pile. Sigh! So I gave up around 9:30A and went for a ride instead. The muggies will be here later this afternoon and thunderstorms over the weekend. I don't mind riding in the rain and Meins seems to enjoy it also, but when I know a storm is coming, on the back of a horse is not where I want to be!

This is so cute! I came across this saddle birdfeeder from Collections Etc. and just had to get it. I put our farm name on the backside and put it in the garden I had redone earlier this Summer and filled with birdseed. It's just really adorable!

Took my camera with me, but I always forget to take pictures!

L & L Equestrian Complex

Did you ever have a dream or idea that was so freaking big it scared the bejesus out of you?

On the southern corner of our road is a HUGE empty lot (approx 150 acres) that a developer bought 7 yrs ago with the intent of putting up new homes. Well there was a lot of activity there the first year, then, nothing! Now it has become a dumping ground for old refrigerators, tires and animal carcasses. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, if I won the lottery, haha, that property would become the L&L Equestrian Complex of Lapeer. 20 acres for hay, a barn for hay storage, a trail along the perimeter with training/obstacle loops, nice sized outdoor arena, a nice sized barn with attached indoor arena, round pens, pond, ample parking and two homes, us and my trainer, and an apartment above the barn. She would design the barn layout, where to put pastures, r/p's, etc. We can hold 4-H shows, she can do clinics, lessons, her training. And weekend trail rides. Me? Well there are lots of things for me to do. I can feed, water turn out, answer questions, help organize, keep the property up answer phones and run our tack/gift shop.

There would be a nice sized shop with heat, a bathroom and hot/cold running water for hubby. He can do his woodworking and stuff. He could get his Harley, and be comfy away from the crazy horse people.

I have always thought of opening up my own tack shop and that would be my main focus. It would probably take a year to get it up and running with all the actual cleaning up, septic, water, drainage, power and building. Our hayman would see to the hay fields (straw also) we would have our own nice sized gardens and, WHEW! Like I said it's one of those things that just pops into your head and festers for awhile til you take care of it.

Just a crazy fantasy, but then..........never thought I would be back with horses again either!

Not able to post any new pics at this time but will add them soon.

My first colic scare!

Yesterday I was not feeling too well so I spent the better part of the day, (after weeding in the sun) sitting in the shade and reading a few pages from a Luanne Rice book. Paha and Meins, as usual when I sit in my chair, came over by the fence to "hang out". Meins pawed the ground which I know means he is going to roll. Once he was up Paha went down, did a half roll, then lay there completely stretched out, legs held out stiff in front of him, breathing really hard and groaning. It wasn't that "Oh that feels good" groan this groan sounded painful and when he lay like that, legs held straight out and groaning, I got up and went into the pasture. Normally when you come up on a horse laying down they get up. But since the boys trust me enough (I hope) they will usually roll up onto their bellies and let me rub their bodies from nose to tail. Paha did not move. He just watched me as I came around and even on the ground he looked hunched up. Within a few seconds I had his lead around his neck and practically pulled him up, put his halter on and started walking and called my trainer and another friend just to make sure I was doing the right thing. Paha walked very slowly at first, as if each step was painful. I ran my hands up and down his legs and picked up his feets, nothing. His tummy was gurgling but no more than usual and then after walking for nearly 20 minutes he let out a fart that was so long, LOUD and noxious smelling my brother would have loved it. (Fart Connoisseur!) His step was livelier and he was relaxed afterward. Just as I was walking him out of the pasture on the way to the roundpen, Ann-Marie called and asked what was up and I told her what was going on and she said he might have gas colic. I put him in the roundpen and had him walking for an additional 20-25 minutes then he took a nice, healthy looking but, stinky, poop. 15 minutes later he went again and it smelled like normal manure.

I don't know if he ate a naughty weed, bug, stone, etc., etc.. He never thrashed about on the ground and the signs were so subtle I briefly wondered what might have happened had I not been sitting right there. It was scary enough regardless and when I fed later in the evening, giving him half his normal ration, I started to tear up. Many people do not realize what a special gift these creatures and all animals are to us. I would love to take in every horse, dog or cat that needed help. But I cannot. It's a little about the money, ok a lot, but I know my limits, physically and emotionally. And although we can have up to 6 horses on our property, realistically 2-3 is enough.

Three! My lucky number! Let's see, Oakly, a leopard Appaloosa, trained by Ann-Marie, 5yrs old would round out my Appaloosa patterns, hhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...........................................!

Sigh..........no!