Florida Fam: Twins Reunited!

 In April of 2012, I was trailering Abby from Indiana Horse Rescue to her new home when I got a call from Kyle. "Ashley's in labor - the baby will be born today!" Corinne (Cory) arrived a few hours later, and we have called Abby her "twin horse" ever since. (When Cory was just learning to talk, she pronounced it, "tin hoss." How I miss that sweet phrase!)

The twins together in September, 2017 when Kyle's family came and sheltered with us as Hurricane Irma bulls-eyed their town, St. Augustine.

Abby and Corinne reunited again this month. Cory no longer needs me to lift her up in order to pet her twin.

Trying to not giggle as Abby reaches through the bars of the gate, asking for some more peppermints.

We thanked Hokey with some peppermints and apple slices for being such a gentleman while the kids rode, but we also made sure everyone else got a nibble, too.

Next up? A scare at the barn. Stay 'tooned!

Florida Fam: We Ride!

Kyle came for a visit as he and his family completed their cross country tip to visit national parks. One of the first things they wanted to do was to visit the horses and go for a ride. We went early in the morning trying to beat the heat, but already the temps were climbing.

Curt, Lukie, Cory, Whitney, Braden, Melissa, Addie, Kyle, Ashley, and Lisa on the veranda of the new barn.

We often pop kids up on Hokey bareback and he is gentle and trustworthy. So, with the heat and all, I just put a halter on him, brought him into the small paddock behind the new barn, and the rides began. 

Going for a ride was a family effort - someone needed to lead Hokey and then we needed a person on each side of the rider. The flatbed trailer that Lisa's standing on was used as a mounting block.

Cory was especially excited to be at the barn - she would like to be a farmer when she grows up. (Isn't that a good picture of Hokey?)

I didn't make it around the paddock too many times - heat bothers me, so Lisa took over for me.

Melissa's first ride on a horse! And no doubt it is not her last one - not with me as her Grammy!

The other kids waited in the shade of the new barn for their turns. 

Even a couple of the adults took a spin around the paddock. 

Curt.

Braden. (Another pretty shot of Hokey.)

Addie. (She'd have ridden all day, even in the heat, if we'd let her!)

Hokey was such a good boy. He never balked or argued, and walked carefully around the paddock no matter who was on his back. (He got peppermints and apple slices for his efforts.)

More on our barn visit to come. Stay 'tooned!

Craig is Honored

 Saturday night, Craig was surprised to be honored by our State Representative, Sheila Klinker, at his high school reunion. (His high school class is unusual in that they have stayed in touch over the years and have well-attended reunions every five years. This was their fifty plus one.)

Craig was senior class president and involved in a host of service activities while in high school, some that continue on to this day. He has done a lot of behind the scenes work for his alma mater as well as our local community that most people do not know about because he is the kind of guy who quietly serves and doesn't look for pats on the back when he does.

But those who he serves, know. And so, as a big surprise to him, that service was honored Saturday evening with recognition by the Indiana General Assembly. 

Craig with his award; State Representative Sheila Klinker is to the right.

Craig is the most selfless man I know, and for years I've watched his quiet service to his classmates, school, church, and community. I am delighted that someone else saw all that he does and then thanked him for it by honoring him this way.

Congratulations, Craig! 

Utah Trip: Rodeoing!!

Cambria and Titan ended up not mutton busting. At their last rodeo, there had been no protective vests and their falls from the sheep without that gear hurt. 

Plus, the sheep at this rodeo were kept in the arena and when a child clambered up onto the sheep's back, that sheep headed straight for the flock. More than one kiddo came off in the middle of the flock of milling sheep and disappeared in the dust.

But not watching the kiddos mutton bust was fine - we found seats on the grass and settled in to watch the rodeo.

And eat!

Jessica told me that just about every small town in Utah has a rodeo arena

and this particular rodeo was the youth component to the adult rodeo that would happen the next weekend.

We sat and watched the pole bending after the mutton busting was over.

They had two sets of poles running - one rider was on deck while the other ran the pattern.

Jessica has become a real horse lover as an adult, and she really wanted to walk the grounds and look at the horses. As you might imagine, her mama was all in for that!

She was interested in having me tell her about breeds and colors. (I had to look up the difference between dun and buckskin when she asked about those!)

We spent about an hour together just wandering the grounds and talking horses.

This cutie had ridden her pony in pole bending and was very excited to show him to us.

Her dad spent time explaining the freeze brands on this horse - they had to do with breeding lineage.

I have mixed emotions about branding, but I also admit that since I am not living the ranch life, there are reasons behind branding I may not fully understand. (And, according to most sources, freeze branding is far less painful that the hot branding iron style. I hope that's true.)

Jessica posing with a roping dummy.

Cattle awaiting their turn in the arena.

The warm up arena. 

Boompa and Titan watching the pole bending together.

"Petting" the wall art horse.

So the rodeo didn't go as we had planned, but that was okay. We enjoyed sitting outside as a family in the fresh Rocky Mountain air on a beautiful sunny day, watching sheep, horses, and cattle. 

I couldn't have asked for more.

Utah Trip: A Surprise for Titan and Cambria

When I realized that I would be able to attend a rodeo while visiting Titan and Cambria, I decided to surprise them with a rodeo shirt to match the ones I had made them.

Me with the Pony Pals in their yard in Santaquin, Utah. 

Despite the stress from the time crunch, I was able to get my shirt finished in time before we packed the car and headed west.

I chose a cherry red gingham for my shirt, and selected embroidery designs similar to the ones on Cambria's shirt. (The embroidery work took me two days to do!)

My pocket flaps had the same design that Cambria had on her back yoke. (I love horseshoe designs!)

Pearl snaps, the bane of the 2020 shirts, no longer intimidate me and went quickly.

The kids were so excited to get ready for the rodeo and Jessica took photos of us together in our shirts to remember the occasion.

I wore my vintage western hat with its new braided horsehair hatband and slipped a Batman patch into the band so match the one I'd stitched on Titan's rodeo shirt.

I'd also packed the boots that Craig Santa Claus had brought me last Christmas.

We were ready to rodeo! Stay 'tooned!

Utah Trip: Basement Time with Titan and Cambria

In late July, Craig and I headed cross country on I-80 to Jessica's home for a visit. She has a guest room in the basement that is connected to a family room, and that worked beautifully for me during our visit. I'm an early riser and would get up and work on the computer while everyone else slept.

Titan and Cambria are also early risers, and they would slip quietly down into the basement and join me as I worked. Titan always climbed into my lap - he likes to be in the thick of whatever you are doing!

Titan enjoyed helping me "write"blog posts. I checked and rechecked them, but if you see any silliness inserted or things that don't make sense, it was probably him!

When he realized that I was writing about model horses, he clambered off me (oooff!!) and ran into the toy room. Moments later he returned, model horse in hand.

Not to be outdone, Cambria brought out one of her models to show me. Both were duplicates from my collection that I had given them; I was glad that the kiddos liked them so much.

Titan showed me how his horse could stand two different ways, one resting on its tail, the other on three hooves. (I remember discovering that about that mold myself!)

We had a lot of fun during our visit with them,

but honestly, my favorite times were those early morning moments that we shared together,  chatting while I wrote.