Promises, Promises

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Oh Dear.  It's been another month since I've blogged!

But really, I'll get back to this soon.  In the summer it just seems like I should be doing outdoor things while I still can!  Plus we've been spending a lot more time at the barn with the horses since my daughter got her new Arab and he is in training.

I also have to start back selling on eBay too.  I like that little extra money!  I'm going to investigate Etsy too.

My vegetable gardens have done really well this year and I'm in the middle of enjoying the harvest from them.

  

There's nothing that can match good homegrown, fresh from the garden, tomatoes, greens, carrots or beets!!  Soooooo sweet!  I've already planted my Fall garden.

Plus I discovered volunteer plants of potatoes, and butternut squash coming up full force in my huge compost pile!!

I'm going to have enough squash to last me all winter, for sure!!

I think it is trying to reach the golf course!!!

I haven't dug to see if there's any potatoes yet.

Most of the squash have normal necks but some are round!  I don't quite understand?

It would be great if that plant was acorn squash!!

My little chicks are nearly full grown and are now 16 weeks old. In 2-3 weeks I might be seeing some eggs from them already!!

Babies grow up so fast  : )

Here's my little flock.

We've been going to the barn a lot more because of my daughter's new horse.  His name is Adonis and he's a full blooded Polish Arab.  She wants to spend as much time as she can with him to bond and he is also under training now.  He's 14 and had been a show horse his whole life showing country pleasure and was made to have his head up in the air which he really isn't built for.  He has more the frame of a hunt seat horse so he is being taught that he can relax his head and neck, stretch out more and hopefully bring up his top line.

 Now that doesn't mean my two horses are getting neglected!

Here's Echo with his newly braided mane and my older QH Preacher, loves his grooming time too.

My new house cats are doing well.  The kitten, Kia, is constantly getting into trouble and Maddie the adult has decided she wants to be an indoor/outdoor cat.  She is getting along just fine with the barn cats and stays really close to the house.

One good thing, to report:  The kitten, Kia, has already gotten 2 mice!!

Come on Maddie, get with it!

Well, that sort of gets me caught up.

I hope I haven't lost all my followers!

Leave me a comment and say "Hi" if you stop by.

Shirley

Catch Up Photos from the Past Two Weeks

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So much happening this start of summer time!!

Here are a few photos of what's been going on in Shirley's World.

The veggie gardens are flourishing.

Getting plenty of salad greens.

The big girls still aren't sure about this young-un's.

Early morning in the chicken yard is so pretty.

We spent some time with Preacher and Echo at the barn.

I didn't get a photo of Echo.  I'll have to do that today!

And, of course, in case you didn't here! Cleveland won the World Championship!

(and everyone is still celebrating!)

Shirley

**Note!!

Michele got her new Arabian horse so tune into the next post because he's already at our barn!!!!

The Horse News!

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Horse News

As some of you know, my daughter Michele has been searching for a horse.  She lost her beloved arab, Satire over 4 years ago.  It took her a long time to be ready to even start looking at other horses.

I'd say she's been seriously looking for the past 6-8 months.

It couldn't be just any arab, it had tall horse shoes to fill.

It didn't have to look like Satire or of course couldn't replace Satire but it had to be a horse she could comfortable ride without fear and the most important thing of all, she had to see something in it's personality to tell her that she would be able to bond with him and him with her.

She found a horse nearby that she was interested in.

She visited and rode him 3 times. and had our trainer come and give her thumbs up.

But most importantly, she spent a little time with him off line in the arena and saw what she wanted.

It was time to advance to the important pre-purchase vet exam.

This horse named, Adonis (a pure Arabian gelding), is 14 years old with an extensive and successful show career.

So a full exam with x-rays and blood work were done on Wednesday.

Everything looks extremely good.

 

Through this whole exam, which takes well over an hour, this horse had exquisite manners.

Soooooo, it looks like Michele finally is going to have a special horse in her life again.

All reports and blood work came back practically perfect.

Michele has announced it on Facebook so I can now introduce you to the new family member:

BR Adonis Afire V

Michele is a photographer and photographs equines among other subjects, so you know there will be tons of pictures on her website and her FB page!!

Here's a link to her website:

http://www.mzezulakphotography.com/

Shirley

Today At The Barn

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Michele's lesson day.

Preacher being a good school horsey.

Giving Echo some treats.  He had the day off.

He's a cutie!!

Shirley

A Day At The Barn

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It was Echo's turn to play.

Preacher my other horse, the chestnut quarter horse, has been getting ridden more lately.  

So Saturday it was Echo's turn.

Echo is part paint, part draft.

Sort of like a big kid.

He just turned 10 yrs. old, or is it 11?

He's gentle and kind and sometimes doesn't know his own size.

He's a comfortable ride because he's wide.  Part of the draft in him.

He, like all my animals I guess, loves treats.  (You know . . . a foodie!)

He's looking for treats in my pocket!

And begging!!

He ran around and kicked up his heels a few times.

He finally did go over a line of poles on the ground but mostly he avoided them.  You see, Echo is scared of ground poles.  (long story)

He finally touched the pole to find the carrot.

He almost knows how to bow.

Michele walked him out after his afternoon of running around.

A fun afternoon.

Shirley

A Visit To the Barn

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I had a riding lesson yesterday on Echo.  I missed the past couple weeks because of heat etc.  I felt like I was right back to the beginning again.  I was extra exhausted for some reason so that didn't help.  It wasn't till the last couple laps that I felt a little more in synch.

So frustrating.

I know if I rode more it would get better but I don't seem to have the right mindset to do that for some reason.

I visited with both my horses, Preacher and Echo in their stalls afterwards.

Shirley

It's Like Starting All Over!!

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When you haven't ridden in a few months and then just a couple times since I hurt my back, it's like starting all over again.

I've lost those riding muscles and muscle memory!

Frustrating.

But I intend to keep at it.

It'll just take time.

Why does my helmet look so huge!  Has my head shrunk!! 

              

I have to say, my inner thighs are killing me today : ))

So out of shape!

Shirley