The Quilt

If you read my daughters blog, Life with Boys, you know what she did. If you don't, I will tell you......We were sitting at the table and Nikki brought a gift out and said they all wanted to watch me open it even if was a month early. I was puzzled but opened it and it was a quilt she has been working on for 8 years (I am not the only slow one in the family). But I understand. There are 45 squares with names and dates on them. Beginning with this one and ending with the "To mom" square. I did not take pictures of all the squares and Bob was holding it up for the picture at the end. I will take a picture when it gets hung. I love it so so much and am still overwhelmed by the work she did. She is not a "quilter" but a friend helped her. I can't even say how much I love it and how much I love her for doing it for me.
This is my dad's square. He died in 1955 of lung cancer.

My sisters square. She is such a special sister and going through such a tough time now.

The "To Mom " square.

This is the back of the quilt.

And this is the back. It will be better when I get it hung. I think we will hang it at the head of our bed.

My hand is pretty much unwrapped now. The stitches are dissolving. That was a load off my mind. When I go places he wants it wrapped a little. I can't do much with it until January 3rd. Darn it any way. I can take a shower and get it wet but NO doing dishes or putting my hand in water like that until January. It feels pretty good but still hurts in the palm of my hand.

Blessings

Finally made it to 1000. It has been wonderful. I hope not many are duplicates. I tried really hard.

987. A good lunch with the seniors from church.

988. Surgery over

989. Remote controls

990. Mirrors

991. Flashlights

992. My Christmas quilt from Nikki

993. Costco

994. Nikki's pies

995. Squirrels on the deck

996. My hand healing

997. Sunrises and Sunsets

998. Hope, cancer can not take it away

999. Joy, cancer can't take it either

1000. Eternal life

Thank you Lord for each one and that many more I could not think of.

1000 blessing finally

Thanksgiving

This is why I have pretty much been AWOL. It is healing and I get the stitches out on Tuesday.

Then we will see how it goes.

Sparkling cranberry juice. I thought it was so pretty,

Nikki, armen and the boys, Back row from the left is Dustin, Carmen, Nikki and Joel. Front row is Bryant, Lane, Isaac and Tyler. Dustin is the oldest.

Add in the back row Nathaniel and Heather and in the front row, Me, Bob and Lilianna

Heather Joel and kiddos, Nathaniel was not to happy

The old folks

All our little dogs, Scout is leaning down, she belongs to Nikki, Bolt is the black one in back and belongs to Tyler, Skeeter and Pistol are ours and Bella is Liliannas.

Rocky came to visit this morning.

We had a really enjoyable time. We drove home today. I slept most of the way for some reason. I don't usually do that.

My brother in law responded well to his first round of chemo. And a niece was just diagnosed with cancer in her hip. I am so angry with cancer. Our friend Shirley died last Wednesday and our neighbor a month ago. Hate it.

I will be so glad to get back out and mess with my horse. The doctor did warn me it would take 6 weeks so I should not be surprised. I am not but I miss the time with my horse.

Have missed you, Blessings

A Quickie Note

I am typing with hunt and peck method. Dr. Horn changed the dressing on my hand this morning so I don't have quite as huge dressing on it. It is still painful but it will be worth it. It was not as painful as I thought. I a, supposed to keep it elevated and that does help.
so that is all for tonight. Can't type even with one hand when one is supposed to be above my shoulder.

Blessings

Brrrr

Last night I had just gone to bed and Bob came and told me to get up and look at the moon. So I did and took this about 9:30 last night.
This is happening out our front door about 10 Minutes ago.

I went down and loved on Sage a bit and Ditto too. My girls have a little field all to themselves. I was loving on one and the other came and nuzzled my back and then vice a versa. I did not take my camera.

Today I tried to catch stuff up that I won't be able to do like wrap the Christmas gifts that we are taking to Nikki's when we go at Thanksgiving. All but one and Nikki will wrap it. It would not survive being wrapped up in the dark for a month.

We got some pretty good news today. We are for almost positive going to get the house next door. We haven't signed the papers but probably tomorrow and then the problem of getting the executor or the estate back here to get the place signed over. I thought the bank could do it but not so. Now the process of getting it cleaned out. They took nearly nothing - they meaning his family - and I think his clothes are still in the closet. It will be a job but we would rather do it than wait for the brothers to do it. That might take 5 years.

Blessings.

Getting closer to 1000 Blessings

956. A fun ride in the rain.

957. My sister sharing her heart with me.

958. Reading a happy book when I really don't feel so happy.

959. My new Demand The Brand Tee shirt

960. My first riding lesson in 20 years.

961. Cute little dressed up kids on Halloween.

962. Praying with Young people.

963. Meeting up with an old friend.

964. Hot water

965. Our little ceramic heater

966. Rebock walking shoes

967. Even though its expensive any more, gas for our car.

968. Ribbons for little girls hair

969. A friend to drive to Yakima with

970. Naps on a grey day

971. Penuche frosting

972. Hot spiced cider

973. School pictures

974. Chemo when its a life extender

975. Bob home from Oregon safely

976. Mary's face when her baby horse arrived.

977. Windex

978. Technology so keeping in touch with over sea friends possible

979. Born in the USA

980. A small town bank that knows you by first names.

981. A full moon

982. Reading glasses

983. Being married to a veteran.

984. WSH convention was awesome

985. Knowing that our family is being prayed for.

986. Antebellum homes in the south.

Got A Date

Finally got in to see the hand surgeon today and my date for surgery is Friday the 18th. in the afternoon. I am anxious to get it done. It has hurt and caused me to drop things like glasses of of water. In a restaurant once. Embarrassing. It will probably keep me off here for a while. But I will be here until Friday anyway.

We are going to Nikki's for Thanksgiving. I won't be able to help but hopefully I will be able to eat left handed. I could not be a more right handed person. I am looking forward to seeing grand kids and greats too. We have not done that in a while.

I am worrying about Sage and what will happen with her. I won't be able to work with her for 6 weeks. That makes me sad.

Please pray for our extended family. Our family has been touched by cancer and it does not look too promising. We are shaken and scared but standing together in comfort and prayer. Thank you Nikki for putting it into words for me. I have been wondering what to say. I won't talk about it much but do please pray for us all as we deal with this.

Blessings

Home Home

These were along side of the road. Behind the three does, look at that buck. I did not have my long lens on darn it. And my camera bag was in the trunk. He was immense.

This was in our back yard last week. The full moon was so beautiful.

The convention was good. At least I thought so. Good dialogue on some controversial items. I was really tired by the time I got home yesterday. I was really glad Michelle was with me to talk to. I always enjoy the conventions. I thought the banquet was a little spendy but it was good. I was the photographer for the evening. I loved doing it.

Today I just vegged around. Did not even go out and say hello to the horses. Slept off and on.
We are supposed to get a couple of inches of snow tonight. I hope to be able to work with Sage tomorrow, snow or not, but I have a Hand Surgeon appointment tomorrow at 11. I hope they do the surgery soon.

Blessings to you all

In Yakima

Michelle and I made good time on our way to Yakima on a lovely day to be driving. Had one close call when a big military truck in front of us dropped its drive line and the thingy went spinning down the road. The more I think about the scarier it gets

We went to the 2nd. Street Grill for dinner. They have the best blackened chicken/mango salad. I had it last summer when I was working down here. It was just as good.,

Meetings start in the morning. Lots of interesting horse related stuff.

Blessings

Finally

Today I worked with Sage a while in the round pen and then in and out of the trailer She does it quite well. I want to take her for a little ride one of these days soon.
In

Out

Carefully stepping down.

There are five of these hens left. I call them the Gingersnap sisters.

Bob getting more frustrated by the moment working on the tractor. A neighbor came and helped him. He is not a mechanic. Does not like mechanical work.

It was a pretty day, not as cool and it might be but not really warm. It was nice to be able to be out and doing things. This morning I went with Bob to the bank, the propane store and the meat shop where our beef is hanging. He had to pay all the processing. Then, the people who have purchased it can go pick it up. We do pretty good every fall with our meat.

Tomorrow I leave for Yakima to the Washington State Horsemen convention. I will be back on Sunday which is Bob's birthday. My friend Michelle is going with me. I may have a little time down there to keep up here but no promises.

Blessings

Cows All Moved

No pictures today, sorry. Today we weaned all but one of the calves and moved the cows to a pasture away from their young uns. I hope the neighbors don't mind the noise. The babies on one side and the moms on the other. It took us a while to do it. Mama cows don't like to go and leave their babies behind.

We also moved Ditto and Sage to a smaller field. Amelia was supposed to go too but she was not going to be caught and she was not going where I wanted her to go. Bob and I both worked with her for a long time and finally decided she could stay with the cows. That is where she is and seems content. Sage likes being closer to the house. Ditto too. Ditto is about ready for her blanket and winter in her stall at night. She always tells me when she is ready. Bless her old heart.

Skeeter went and got his hair cut today. He really likes getting groomed and is always glad to see Ginny. He is so cute all gussied up. I need to get his sweater out. He has a warm coat but he would rather just wear a sweater.

Mary called me this afternoon and is having fun with her baby. She is eating out of her hand. Babies are so fun to work with. They get things pretty fast. I forgot to ask what she named her. I will talk to her tomorrow.

Blessings

Mary's Baby

Bob got home this early evening from a quick trip to Burns to pick up our friend Mary's recently adopted filly. Isn't she cute. She is yet unnamed by Mary but the corrals called her Baily's Irish Cream but I think Mary will come up with something else.

Bob had a good trip. He got to visit with Andi and her friend Jill from North Carolina. She is a Face book friend of mine too. He and the girls went to dinner last night then he got the baby from the corrals, visited with them a while and he scooted on home. Snow most of the way he said.

Here on the home front the appraiser came today so they will approve our payoff of the place next door. I am not sure I understand it all but just want it over so we can get started on that house so the kids can get moved in. I didn't do much else. It was cold and I did not sleep well last night. So another rather lazy day. No one was around so I did not ride like I had vowed to do. Maybe tomorrow.

Blessings.

Lazy Me

I think this is Abby.
Violet the baby mule.

Shannon's mule Molly Bea

Bob and Cody

Violet again

I was just plain lazy today. Worked my tail off all week and today I just layed around. I did go out and work Sage for a bit but forgot to take the camera down with me. She did everything I asked except back over the pole. Finally she did but it took me a long time. I found myself getting frustrated and that does not work either. I didn't ride. Guess I should have but had no one to help me get the saddle on her and its really tough for me to get it up on her back decent. She is very patient with me flipped and moving and bouncing it around but I just didn't feel like it today. I think the stress of the last couple of weeks with our neighbor and things related to him dying caught up with me today. Tomorrow will be better and I can get my feet back under me.

So rather than whine about stuff I will just wish you all good night and say Blessings.

Friday Over !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On a foggy morning
Katie and Sheya on Sequoia

A couple of old ladies

Green grass, happy horses

Rusty

Katie on Abby

Love those ears.

And the soft noses.

Memorial service over. Bob spoke, it would have been nice to have known ahead of time. He did it OK. He did his mothers graveside service to I knew he could do it. He was prepared that time however. The lunch went well. Most of the people at the service stopped by. I was glad. We do have left over food though. I know what we will be eating.

Poor Sage has been neglected for two days now. Tomorrow I am going to get back to her and maybe ride her. I left her in the arena tonight and fed her a good chunk of hay. She misses her pasture friends though. Maybe tomorrow I will get more pictures of her or up to date things. This was a day I have wanted over for a couple of weeks.

Blessings

Busy

Tyler working with Liberty. Liberty now belongs to Cameron.
Dixie

A mustang filly that we fostered and gentled. We named her Nellie.

A man in winter.

Amelia

Mustang coming home for the last time. We sold him 3x and bought him back each time. He isn't going anywhere again.

No horse time time today. This evening we had a Northeast Zone Horse Club meeting. Not long and a lot of noise from the next room. Am ready for tomorrow. I will be glad when it is over.

Blessings.

A horse eating tarp

Sheya's first horse ride. She has never looked back.

Sheya on Pepper riding by herself at 3. Pepper baby sat her.

Star.

My student and friend, Marissa sound asleep on Sequoia at a break at the horse show.

Think this got posted before. Glory

I don't know why this picture is small. Could not get it larger. One of my students, Jamie, kept telling me Ditto would do nothing. She was mad at her so I took her into the warm up class at noon. You don't have to have show clothes on, so I paid my 2 bucks at the gate and took Ditto in the class. Well I won. Told Jamie to listen to me and she would do OK.

Caroline on Cricket.

I did work Sage today. It was cold and windy. She was full of energy. The tarp hanging on the fence was moving in the wind and she was certain it was going to eat her. I had put a white plastic pole for her to step over in too. So between a tarp going to eat her and a white pole going to attack her. It was an hour of stress for both of us. She finally got over the pole without much more goofiness but the tarp was always still going to eat her. She had trouble backing and doing all the other things she has been doing smoothly. She had her eye on the horse eating tarp. She will get the next 2 days off and then I am going to get back. Maybe the wind won't be blowing. We have snow on the ground but we are going to keep at it.

I have things pretty well organized for Friday. Tomorrow I will make the potato salad and some other things with the food, mop the kitchen floor etc. In the early evening I have a NE Zone meeting. It will be good to get out of the house and have someone to talk to but the dogs. Bob has been hauling cows and calves home and falls asleep as soon as he eats. One good thing, all our cows were preg checked before we brought them and all are going to calve from February to May. Hate to have early calves but what is what is.

Blessings