memories not forgotten

A picture of an old friend, but one who was a friend for only a short time. browsing through photos hoping to find a writing inspiration as if this morning's Chambers" reading was not worthy of comment...it was, very much so. So much so that I wrote it all day in my head. Now, seems like work, and maybe requiring more thinking energy than I have for this late in the day. As it always seems, I have some profound thought/s I can hardly wait to share with the waiting world only to weary of the work of it all.

Now this mare, she was a fine woman. Strong, vital, energetic, willing, but all the while expecting you to prove yourself worthy of her labor. I myself never rode up on her sturdy back. She came to stay while I was grounded from a larger fall; breaking my collar bone and confidence for a long season. I watched her work, carry others around; proudly, confidently, with purpose and dignity. For only a few short months she lived in my barn and under care. Somehow she slipped away one early afternoon in an equine hospital in Ohio.

It was a sad, very sad event in my life. Did I miss a sign? Was my lack of experience at the time a factor in Ginger's tragic death? My friends and the experts all say it was just one of those things. A fluke. Did I get to see the hand of God, or witness His Wisdom Unfathomable? NO! Not then and not now. Do I proclaim is Goodness, YES, as I always will. Do I understand? No again, but I am so in love with Him and confident in His Greater love for me that the answer does not need to be found in this life. I rest in Him.

These are the good 'ole days

Kaleb and Jeremiah almost three years ago

I feel like I should be singing the song from Fiddler on the Roof; Sunrise Sunset. Swiftly do the years pass. And yet, each day is filled with all the meat and cheese of life. Filling, satisfying, frustrating, terrifying. Wonderful, amazing; Gift of God.
Embracing each new dawn hoping to catch even a glint of the Plan Eternal, peering around the curtain anticipating assignment to even the most menial of tasks; knowing that His Kingdom will come and His Will shall be done. Hallelujah I have been awarded a part in the Holy Pageant.

Pilgrimage North

Left sunny Florida on time, just after 9 am. Course, we left our guest house, villa if you may, at 9. Were in Florida a few more hours. Continued north through Georgia and into South Carolina. Now snuggled into a Holiday Inn Express in Columbia SC, I am so ready for sleep. Tomorrow looks to be a long day. We hope to get as far north as possible knowing the weather is ready and waiting to slow our travel. I know this is short but am travel weary. Missing my baby boys I am sad to leave the sun behind but anxious to feel sweet chubby arms around my neck.

This One's for You Vic...

I have not been the blogger I should be, and I am real sorry about that. We have had a busy week here in the Sunshine State...not so sunny since we have been here. I keep telling myself and everyone else that "I am not complaining", but that is most likely not so true. I mean we drove all the way down here, rushing out of the house a half a day early, driving deep into the night to stay ahead of the snow; only to be forced off the road and into a Hampton Inn sometime around 4:00am, sleeping only a few short hours before we headed south again. We did wake to find the highway closed due to snowy conditions which caused several accidents, at least two involving tractor trailers. The delay allowed me a morning nap and Drew the chance to do what he does, phone calls, and Fox news watching.

Still, somewhat hazardous, initially travel was slow. Frozen snow and ice clumps rattled the our innards and reminded us of the highways of western PA. Normally by North Carolina we should be experiencing warmer temps and a few posies at the rest areas...

Guess its getting late. Will have to continue my lament tomorrow. Began the process of packing while watching HOUSE reruns and my new guilty pleasure "24"

Just got word my travelers landed safely in Pittsburgh. Now they have to get their bags, drag them through the snow, try and find a Tahoe under a mountain of frozen white. Hopefully the roads will not cause them too much trouble.

off your butt sandy

Not the exact house we will have in Florida, but one similar. Hoping the sun shines like that though.
whole day of not doing much of anything...tomorrow will be different. Needed today I think, at least that is what dear friends and family kept telling me, as I sat around and did nothing rather well. I think I have even let my fire go out in the wood burner.
Tomorrow I have to plan, pack, pray...not in that order necessarily. I have began to get a few details lined up, but time to ramp up and put 'er in gear. Weather has been fair in the Sunshine state, not amazing. But, I do promise ahead of time not to complain about the cool 50* temps or whine about the cloudy weather. I am sure I will be blessed for that be grateful...

winter in the barn

Bundled up and ready for anything. It was chilly but our guys are real troopers. Even after playing, fighting, and chasing the cat, they were still willing, sorta, to pose for these pictures. Getting the two of them together looking happy and still can be a task. Good thing for digital photography cause I deleted quite a few. Course they were from my phone camera. Notice the muddy boots. Gotta love dirty farm boys. I have decided that toddlers are like puppies; one is a blast, a great deal of work, but fun to watch, to enjoy playtime, and the silly antics of the small and cute. BUT TWO, oh my...they are over the top. What a weighty gift. The responsibility, the laundry, the poopie butts, the endless serving of mac n cheese. Yes, they may make a mess, or many messes, pee on the new carpet, but what the heck the Stanley Steamer guy needs the work. The smiles are endless and joy immeasurable. No mom, no Grammy, no Grandma, would ever trade jobs with anyone. Thanks dear baby boys for keeping my life adventure exciting and oh so blessed.

Kimmel' s to the Core

love to eat

Love to drink

Very appropriate captions for the boys two favorite activities. Yes, Kaleb's shirt is a bit on the small side; shows off those baby muscles nicely though don't ya think? DA always has to have a spoon or a fork, but always eats with his other empty hand. So does that make him left-handed or right-handed? Do we judge by his fork hand or his food hand? Either way he knows how to get it into his mouth. He can even eat yogurt with his fist. Messy, but efficient.
Bev and I spent some time talking today. We are definitely in agreement on the "this is sure stressful" part of the "what to do with a baby girl" conversation. those quotation marks are kinda senseless, sorry. It is past ten. should have written instead of watching Law n Order.
My anxiety level has been elevated. I should make up a color coded level chart like the terror alert to give the family a heads up before they enter the house. I could hang a banner over the back door so they knew how much armor do don before coming inside. I am not sure if it is something physical from my thyroid issues, regular old anxiety disorder, or perhaps a bit situational. Or perhaps a mix of all three. I considered calling a doctor today but wasn't sure which one, so I decided to wait on a sign from God. Picked up the phone and it was a recorded message from the shrinks office reminding me of an appointment I had forgotten, tomorrow morning....Guess we will start there. God's mercy abounds and He is a present help in time of need.

Kimmel

Growning

Spose we all gotta grow up sometime. Baby horses, baby boys, grammies, sons and daughters.
Winter seems to have set in kinda serious like. The view from where I am sitting is white and gray with a few brown undertones. More snow is foretold to be on its way into the area; soon.
I have missed writing and felt the push to get back at it. My time and brain function do not seem to follow the same schedule. Even now nap time is calling loudly. But the house is quiet, even the dogs are not make annoying dog noises, licking, chewing, snorting, scratching. Two large dogs can produce a symphony of annoyances. I cannot believe I spelled that correctly the first time. Spellchecked twice and no apparent glitches. Thoughts are a bit random. Yep they are.
Another Allen and Stacey baby is on the way; a baby girl is to be born mid to late April. The blessed parents are incarcerated, again. History thought to be a great teacher, supposing the student is attentive, seems to be repeating itself. Perhaps one would be tempted to inquire of this writer what the plans are. We are waiting for God to reveal that in a blaze of fire in the sky. Cause at this point no one here has a clue. I am confident there is a Plan, and it will be revealed; but my feeble selfish mind and heart cannot see past their own brick wall of denial. Groaning prayers are offered up knowing God's Glory will be revealed in my weakness.
Alas, I love using that word in literary works, potty and bed are winning this battle. But I did write, albeit, weakly.

I don't think I like goats on my porch

Teenagers, Toddlers, and One Woman's Sanity

I like to title something I write before I begin plucking away. I suppose I believe it gives me direction, like a goal to shoot for or some such notion. Besides it is easy to be quick witted and creative with a mere sentence; the challenge is to be able to produce a longer piece of work that holds up to the title teaser. So if I fall short of my preset goal the delete tab frees me from feelings of failure and self depreciation.

From the baby room, I hear a tractor engine and the chatter of the little farmer at work. The younger brother already asleep is oblivious to all the plowing and harvesting happening in the next crib. Both boys step into turbo drive just before bed, as if trying to squeeze every ounce of activity out of the day. Or, they simply want me to step over the edge.

Shucks, I had wanted to pen so much more; but alas, the lids are droopy and the brain is numb. Evening included an extended discussion on grades, homework, true honesty, and losing television privileges. Tentative conclusions were reached and a glimpse of humility spotted just over the horizon. Tomorrow holds the Hope of new adventures, larger victories, and a riding lesson at 10 AM.

The vet did come last night and administer the usual gallon of mineral oil to three gallons of warm water through a tube and into the belly of the over fed filly. Mia's diet for the next two days consists of banamine paste, and a few fistfuls of hay, no grain. She is most unhappy watching her two barn mates much down sweet feed and a heap of hay. Oh the pain of consequences.

OK, its like this...I am in the barn hanging out with my three year old filly, Mia, who very recently ingested way more goat feed than a horse is supposed to. Have a call into my vet, who is on the way. Just grooming, brushing her; more to calm me than her. Her barn neighbor the not so friendly Zulu, named accurately for the African warrior, stretches her long black neck around the corner to snap out a not so friendly nip at my soon to be ailing friend. Defending my rightful sovereignty as Queen of the Barn, I take a swing at the nasty mare. I miss of course. The rubber curry comb clutched in the defending arm is lost in the momentum and swirls across the yard. My ever-faithful dog Howard, who was nowhere to be seen only moments ago sweeps into view making off with the blue treasure almost before I realize I have lost it...Of course.
And I wait for the vet.

Oh where O where have I been. Wish I knew. This summer has flown/crawled by, flown mostly. Jen started back to school today with classes beginning on Monday. Jer goes back September 1. Oh nuts.

quite the summer...yep

yep

Baby Brio

Monday morning past, we welcomed Zippo's Cool Brio Bar into our barn family. The little filly was born just after 3:00 AM, as predicted by good friend Barry Beatty. After checking new mother Summer at 1:30 with nothing exciting going on, Jer looked out the observation window just after 3:00 to discover the wee one just kicking her way out of the birth sac. Rushing to call me on the cell phone we kept missing each other as I was trying to call him to see what was going on. Jer was sleeping in the barn and I was at home with daddy-no-arms. Ha...We have a bed and a day bed in the barn office. I will have to continue later as my patient needs a pill and I need to go to bed. Just wanted to post these pics...God is so good to continue to bestow such precious gifts on one so unworthy...

more wedding pics

Jer's First Jump Show

Time Passing

What a beautiful wedding. So much time has passed, and so much has happened. Our lives are full of God's goodness and love. My family is growing and I am loving it. Having daughters, in-law or otherwise, is the best. My sons are happy and blessed by these incredible women that God has blessed them with. I know, never end a sentence with a preposition. Oh well, least of my worries. Our lives are enriched by Jen and Hannah. It's like coloring in the circles that are our lives.
I miss writing. I can't seem to stretch my hours to include the time needed to consider my thoughts and weave them into words. Every day is an adventure; be it with babies, boys, men, or equine. Of course I still have Howard the Wonder Dog, and Lucy, and Lucy the Cat. Each human or animal keeps my life full of laughter wonder. I am filled to the overflow.

the last few

Funny, the last few pictures I have posted are some of my very favorites. Those two boys are such a delight...in pictures anyways. In real life they are a whole lot of work. Just pure simple, backbreaking, neck-stretching, bend and reach and chase, and spank; work. And, a sweet delight, even in real life. Just bring on the motrin and the heating pad. Ha.
I also like the view from my front porch. In the weeks and months prior to moving up here I did not know if I would be able to leave the home of half my lifetime. I had cried a hundred million tears and relived a bazillion memories; happy and sad. So much of who and what I am came from that old house. But God is so good about getting us through those situations for which we can hold no hope of our own. As excited as I was about the new house, deep roots grew around the house and were bound into the heart flesh of my soul. Yet never once since the first night we slept in this house on the hill have I ever looked back. My California Colonial ranch became home from moment one. And I am forever grateful. I could not ask for anything more. My God is more than faithful; he is generous and kind. I am blessed. And I am home.

Front Porch View & Kitchen Floor Fun