The Long Lost Blog... update

Long time, no blog… Life has been full of lots of stuff and blogging went to the back burner. Blog or not to blog… only God knows if there will be time for it




Snipper- The little horse has been doing REALLY well, Praise God. Since my last blog, we have ridden at The Davis’ and gone on a trail ride. He was a little wild on the trail ride and a little bit sticky in the round pen. But I was pushing his envelope, as they say, so it is to be expected. We will see how much he retains.



Horses in General: I am very blessed to look be able to look out my window and see such nice horses. God has not blessed everyone with such. We traveled several hours to a ranch to look at some really “well-bred” horses…. Sadly they were small, and as far as horse flesh goes… they weren’t much to look at despite their bloodlines. This too is of the Lord.



Blanketing fiasco: No matter how many times I blanket …always seems someone will have an “issue”. Yesterday Lily was the culprit. I don’t think she has ever been blanketed, but her two siblings took to it fine. I spent 20 or so minutes trying to get her to except the blanket and in the end I quite with the blanket in the dirt and her standing over it. I think she’s just not into blanketing or she really doesn’t care for me…. Or both. Oh well, Todiyah and Suriyah will have something to work on everyone else for the most part is ready to winter the “BIG” Storm…if it should ever come to pass that is



Building Projects: Well even though there is a house “in the works” … there are so many ranch structures that seem to take precedence. With only one of Aaron (with an occasional hand from Grandpa or Jesse) and so many projects….pasture, fencing, shelters, pens, arena, house, etc. Things are slow going. But it is a blessing to see what God has allowed us to complete…and in the ranch life there will always be something that needs building.



Farm Baby Blurp: The kiddos are growing everyday it seems like. Bowen and I (with a little help from Dani) planted some starter seeds in a little green house deal. We are hoping to have healthy seedlings to start in the backyard when spring rolls around. Bowen is always very excited to water and watch them grow… it is a good lesson on waiting on the Lord, for He is the only one to cause them to sprout.

Speaking of which… better open the curtains so the little seeds get as much day light as they can



MOM: We all miss my mom, and will be glad to have her face around again. MooMoo says “MaaMa...houwse...beads…” every other day seems like. I hope that she has a fun trip and will travel safely back. It is a joy to have her around.



The Lord Gives and Takes away…. A stray mama dog wandered in one cold day and had a litter of 11 pups in Friday’s dog house. Although, not all of them survived…we do have 7 fat as tick “Round (Rottweiler X hound)” Pups. But the ranch (namely Ez) lost Bow. She was the last of the grandma dogs (by personality, more than age). She had been struggling with some undetermined ailment and breathed her last as they attempted to load her up to go to the vet. Such sorrow in life…. Although not much of a trade off…God decides these things.

Snip ....the training continues

Today was an easy day for Snip. I saddled him, did a few things to check him out and then headed to the back forty...or hundred. We had a little hitch in our departure from the hay barn (snacking, it seems, is always on his mind). But as we passed the cow pen and headed down the hollow[ar] and back up to the top of the hill, he moved out freely at a trot and seemed eager to go. It is amazing how they figure out the way things go. We did some loping, a little log and brush jumping and a few collected circles of lateral and vertical flexion and back home. A little more hesitation at the pile of shed carcasses, with miscellaneous metal sheeting blowing in the breeze. Nothing significant, just a hesitation. So on down the road, past the site of the attempted ravine jump from a few weeks ago, and around the corner. He slowed down and calmly walked up the road. I use the sides of the road, lined with trees and fencing to initiate the beginning steps of a roll back. Also, along the road a few one rein stops and backing, with a few subtle rein cues for flexion here and there. He did really well and was quite sweaty due to his long coat and the warm, slightly more humid weather.


I was so blessed by the day, the trail, and thankful for Snips good behavior, that I quit at the gate and walked him back to the tack room. It proved to be good timing, baby Sara was just waking up from her nap in the stroller and Aaron wouldn't have to hold her for long. I unsaddled, let Snip finish the scraps in the hay cart and then went to turn him loose. I remembered that I had some horse cookies in the tack room (Aaron was kind enough to let me purchase them at TS...even though I know he thinks they are ridiculous.) Come to find out as I offer one of the cookies to Snip and he spits them to the dirt that he hates them. He even turned his lip up. Oh well, good ol' Bella gobbled them up, at least one of them is sure to eat them.

Ranch Babby Blurp

The Lord has blessed us with some very nice weather in Oklahoma.  After the bitter cold a few weeks ago and being snuggled in the house, the kiddos and I ventured out.  It was nearly 50 and very  warm when the sunshine peeked from between the clouds. We tractored and dug in the round pen sand, watched Aaron and the kids ride, visited the mamma hound and her pups and played in the hay barn. It was nice to be outside!

A gate to the face...

It is always interesting to be aboard a young horse as they experience new things. Today, instead of getting on Snip in the round pen, I intended to ride to the round pen…just for the adventure. Aaron had the girls in the stroller and Bowen was tootling along with a shovel in hand. The days have been mild and about 50 degrees, such nice weather…especially for the middle of winter. What a blessing. So Aaron went through the first gate…and I was hoping he would hold the gate as I navigated Snip through. We had good forward motion, until Aaron let the gate go and the wind caught it and the next thing it crashed into Snips’ nose. Of course, he went flying away from the insult. Thankfully, I went flying with him, instead of flying the opposite direction. He trotted off, but came back to me pretty quick. He was very apprehensive when I turned him back toward the gate that had just attacked him... when he was close enough to see he could make it through he bolted and tucked his tail. Poor little horse. We worked on staying away from the other horses in one of the big pens, he figured it out pretty fast, but I opted to get off and lead him into the round pen. It gave me a chance to tighten the cinch … which never got real tight due to the fact my over pad got drenched in the miscellaneous Oklahoma rain. Some day we may get accustomed to rain proofing no matter what the weather “seems” to be. Finally, we worked on freeing up, loping and flexion circles in the round pen. Snip, much like his mother, is always trying to beat you to what you might ask him. So, now every time we stop and I cue him behind the back cinch, he backs up, moves his hip, and then finally when I cluck he will move forward. It makes me realize that I must be very in tune to the little cues that I am giving him. In this instance, I will use his sensitivity to my advantage I will use this as a backing cue and to cue forward motion move my legs more forward at the front cinch. We’ll see how the Lord works it out. Am very thankful to have the opportunity to ride Snip like I do…God is kind.

Snip At the Oaks...

Snip seemed a little tired today... so I planned not to do too much.  Plus, the sand in the Davis's indoor arena is really deep. My goal was to work on the little tantrum he had when loping in the round pen.  The open space really helped he loped off well each time  I asked.  So  for the rest of the ride i worked on circles, shoulders hips and a little stop and back. He is really a good little horse... I am very blessed.  At the end of the day I turned him loose and he rolled in the sand at least 10 times. Ahhh... the ponies like to roll in the sand.

Snipperific

Yesterday was another exciting day in the life of Snip... The girls and I headed out on the trail. Sierra was a little soar footed, so we just took the short trail. Up on the top of the hill, where Bro in law, Jesse, has a level pad for his shop, we worked on flexion, backing and making circles at a walk. I loped around a little and then we headed home. We then went into the round pen, worked on some more flexion and on not being sooo sticky at the gate and the other horses. We did run into a little young horse rebellion. In trying to keep him “freed up” and practicing loping he started to kick out. It is a common problem that you can run into with the youngsters. In Snips case it only occurred in the round pen and going to the left. As I would cue him with a smack on the butt he would kick out at my gesture. He was being pretty defiant and getting more and more stuck. Soooo.... I set it up to be the easiest scenario. And instead of using my normal cue, I resorted to the use of the end of my rein. One strong smack with the end of that and he was "freed up". He loped off for four of five strides and I let him come to a stop. I pet him and quite there. Hopefully, we will get to work on it another day. I think that the round pen situation, and the fact that it was at the end of a ride, may have contributed to the kicking out. We are hoping to ride at Coyote Ridge Ranch at the Oaks. The full size arena will help Snip feel like he has somewhere to go. We will see what tomorrow has in store for us.

Snip on the Trail...

It had been almost a week since my last Snip adventure, but the opportunity arose and I was able to squeeze in a little time outside. I was blessed to be able to go with my cousin, she decided to ride Sierra (the Master Merada mare that we call Sierra now that we have a daughter named Sara Keeps things simple). We saddle up and I decided to move Snip out a little in the round pen. You never really know how a young horse will be after so much time off. Suprisingly, he seemed better than I left him. It’s amazing when that happens. So, I decided he was ready to go.

I lead him out of the round pen and on to the road. We goat on and headed out…well sort of… both the horses were reluctant to go anywhere. It seemed like a half and hour before we turned the corner. Once we did however it was far from smooth sailing. I tend to ride really relaxed out on the trail. I like to give the young horses a lot of leeway to get the feel of a rider on their back at various gaits and over differing terrain without having much tension on the reins. Usually, I feel I have enough control even on a loose rein to keep them out of trouble, or have the dexterity to shorten up if we get into trouble. Well, Snip had a plan C and dove to the right and attempted to jump a rocky ditch next to the road…. I say attempted because he didn’t quiet make it to the other side. He hit the other side funny and then fell to his knees. I felt a face plant into the rocks was indefinite as he began to fall to his side… but somehow, by God’s mercy and kindness, Snip was able to regain his footing and catch me in mid-expulsion, putting me back in the saddle. Thankfully we were both fine, but now we are on the other side of the ditch and Snip is not willing to do a repeat act to get back to the other side. In the mean time as I am trying to get the chicken to cross the road, Sam was almost squashed by a speeding UPS man. They really drive fast on these roads. I finally had to get off Snip and show him how to get back to the other side.






I remounted and we were going again, past the green gate and over toward the Beautiful valley …or Filthy valley depending on who you are talking to The rest of the ride was great…Sam thought she got us lost, but the Lord directed our paths and we ended up where we were supposed to be in the end. Snip is real nice to ride and feels like a big horse under ya. I think he will make someone a great horse.






Hopefully, today will hold more Adventures of Snip…according to the Lords will. It is supposed to be sunny again and its already 32 degrees and its only 9 am… Toasty






Here is a picture of Snipperton about a month ago…. He is really going through a growth stage and looks like he has a foal body on four adult horse legs. Hopefully, He will balance out before the sale…or I will have to put “giraffe” somewhere in his ad…

Rick Karr's Place...

We loaded up yesterday to head to Tulsa.  We had to deliver a couple of horses that the Huz had in for training  and pick up the van he bought at auction for my mom.  We first had to go to Siloam Springs to pay for our blood work and pick up the resulting paper work...and I thought Health Certs. for the up coming sale in OKC. But we have to wait until 30 days prior to the sale date...ooops!!  So it was a long trip to find out we didn't have to venture out to the vet that day and will have to come again in February... this too is of the Lord.  So we grabbed lunch and were on the road again. 
  Early afternoon we arrived at Ricks.  He had run into town to wash the "snow garbage" off my mom's van but called as we were waiting in the drive way..."If your at a place that looks like it has been there for a 100 years you're there."

  It was neat... He showed us around... we saw about 50 horses....two of which were his stallions... a grey Hancock bred horse and a bay son of Lancaster Bert. He also showed us where the old four story barn was, where they stored hay, the pig barn the sheep barn...etc. 

Most of what was left was just the foundation and odds and ends of the structures.  Still interesting.  We had come to drop the two horses we had,had off and Rick decided to send a 3 year old filly back with us...Praise the Lord.
  We then did the paper work for the van and loaded up. The van drove well, and my mom was very excited.  She will probably do a deep cleaning and it will be very nice for us all... I hope the Lord will sustain it for a long time for her....

Back to Blogging...a quick catch up

It has been a few days, but i just haven't been able to sit down long enough to type much. After the blanketing extranvaganza all the horse stayed blanketed,  eating hay trying to stay alive.  With wind-chill of negetive 30 and an average all day temp around 2 or so, we just weren't doing much out side. 

 With all the inside time I was able to make a little blanket for a friend of ours that went back to Cali.  She was here to help her daughter awaiting the birth of their third child.  She ended up being her for about two months.  So whenn it finally came time to depart, a going away momento was in order.  I had everone write her a note on a 4X4 square of fabric with a fabric marker.  I sewed them all on the back side with a contrasting zig- zag stitch.  I embroidered a verse and "We'll Miss you!" on the front.  It turned out really neat and I think it was well recieved:) I wrapped it all up with a couple of mugs I had drawn on as well. 

The weather is "supposed" to be a little warmer so I am hoping to be outside a little with the kiddos, and the horses. We will see what the day will bring. 

Blanket extravaganza!

It all began an hour before I needed to be up the hill, yesterday evening... when we realized that the weather conditions were going to be treacherous Aaron shuffled some horses around and then I was sent out to blanket. Although, we have been working on building this place up to be “weather ready” we aren’t exactly there. So some horses are directly exposed to any harsh weather. I headed out. I started with Bella, Music, Sara and Camille. It was Camille’s first time with anything on her back, so I took some convincing that this was a good idea. Thankfully, she seems to have taken after her father when it comes to brains, so she settled down and I was able to do all the straps adjustments and attachments. She looks quite cute in her purple and turquoise plaid:)




Next it was time for the boys. We put Tyke (a client horse, black stallion) in the alley, so the weanlings and the new roan colt could get in the three sided shelter in the square pen without being bullied. He was the hardest one to deal with. I guess he has never worn a blanket and he is a little pushy, but I managed to get him all cozied up.



Gyp, Snip and Tank were up in the pen next to the driveway. Snip was already wearing his blanket so he was just pestering me for treats and scratching while I was trying to catch and blanket the other two. Gyp was easy and just stood chewing with a leg cocked. He really is a nice little horse. Tank let me catch him and I was able to blanket him with only a little persuasion. It shows that the kids work with him is paying off, and sinking in. Had the storm been a month earlier, he may have had to weather the storm with ice hanging in his fur. Praise the Lord he is coming along.



So with that I was out of time and could only throw grain to a handful of horses, as not to be late. But the winter, blanketing extravaganza wasn’t over yet….



After Moomoo, Bowen and Aaron feel asleep, I laid baby Sara down around 12:23 am, and I began bundling. I probably looked pretty funny, with Aarons “Elmer Fud” hat over a beanie, my wild rag wrapped around my face and my ski jumpers over my coat. It’s no wonder the horses were temporarily alarmed. But I hadn’t had time earlier to blanket old Sissy and I felt it was necessary. So I grabbed her blanket and a halter. As I was trudging over I realized that there was a handful more horses than I expected. Rick Cars’ horses and Music had busted through the gate and were hogging the shelter. So…. I kicked them out, back to their side of the pasture, but decided to blanket them too. I figured I should reward their resourcefulness. Sissy was easy and seemed glad. I had drug a bale of alfalfa/orchard out and fed everyone. I was able to catch Ricks mare….but she is half crippled….and the gelding was trotting around like a wild stallion so at nearly 1:30 am I decided if he turned into an icesicle it would be Gods will for his life….at least I tried. I fed everyone hay except the Thouro’s and the cows. For the time being everyone seemed “comfortable” and content. How you can be sure looking at animals covered in ice and munching feed…just trust God that they are:)

Taco's, Dancin and.... Gymnastics?

Another, profitable evening across the street. The food was excellent…. Although, it is hard to go wrong with a Taco. Before we even got to the road I could smell the tortillas frying.


As for the dancing… I am slow to retain the steps to the dances and at times confuse moves from one to the other, but slowly I think I am making improvement. Near the end I pulled The Huz in for a little swing dancing….what a workout, and a lot of fun. Awe, so cute a “2 X 4 and a noodle dancing”…Hahahaha. Well, at least one of us has some moves:)



Its sooo warm in the Fishes house, Moomoo and Sara were in diapers and Bowen had his shirt off. What a blessing to have warmth in the cold!! And it looks like more cold up ahead.



I also showed H2 Some gymnastics and gave her some things to help her do handstands. I did a cartwheel For Huz…He was wondering if I would still be able to do one after so many years and babies:) But something like that just doesn’t go away….it is kinda like writing or riding a bike:)



The walk home was frigid, yes, but the night was clear, still and awe inspiring!

Farm Babies Blurp

Well the Kiddos have had a little head cold, a little snot and coughing, making sleep difficult. They are just as enthusiastic about the day and despite the dreary weather, are asking to go out. I don’t think we will be going out anytime soon, except maybe to cross the street or run out to the truck. But with a cold, the frozenness is not very inviting, especially for the me. I envision having to chisel frozen snot and frozen tears from their faces. So I think we will observe the cold from the nice warm house and maybe do some “cold” weather color pages instead of actually venturing into the reality of sub-freezing temps.

Snip Hits the Road and I don't... Praise the Lord!

The opportunity presented itself for me to take Snip out. I was not really sure what I was going to do…since the round pen was frozen , the square pen was frozen …basically everything was frozen. But I couldn’t sit around contemplating for long or I would be frozen! Even though it has been 6 days since he’d been saddled I decided to take him for a ride down the road. Although, it too, was frozen, it is at least somewhat flat. When the ground is frozen every ridge is hard and virtually unmovable. Not the best terrain for wobbly young horses. So off we went; cinch snug, sporting a snaffle Snip has only worn twice, semi-frozen to my seat.


He was a little sticky with his buddies along the fence, but something was interesting up in the distance….something that Snip eagerly wanted to follow. He trotted off freely, I was a little skeptical to let him go, but he felt really good, so off we went. He seemed to be a little scared of the thing he was following but they kept going, so, he did as well. Every so often I would check in and bend him to both sides. It could be sorry if he forgot I was there and then realized somewhere out in the woods that he was packing a predator. He was feeling like a broke horse, soft responsive and really lively. We went down our road, turned right up past Carcass Canyon, to the green gate, on to the property, up to the folks house site. By now my chin and lips were almost numb. So I managed to work my wild rag over my face with one hand while holding the split reins in my other gloved hand. We trotted circles in both direction on Jesse’s graded shop site. Then down the hill again, to the back side of our house. When we got to the cow pen he came to a calm stop. I got a soft lateral flexion to both sides, stepped a hip over and got off. I lead him up to the tack room and was really excited. He really did well, Praise God, and I am looking forward to our next outing.



So aren’t you wondering what Snip decided to follow? Was it a car, was it a bird, was it a loose horse…it was Buster and Freckles, who had escaped from the yard (through a gate that was left open) But it was a blessing God had directed m y path… down the path and around the property.

Snip's Been Gyped...I mean jipped:)

So much for the Snip training portion of this blog, its more like the Sniperton grooming diaries in this weather... hopefully he will be back in action soon.  The count down has begun...less then 8 weeks until the sale day....maybe a trip to The Oaks should be in the itenerary:)  We will see what God has in store!

A drive in the ice

We were off to see my mom last nite.  The kiddos and I loaded up in the Dodge and headed out about 4 ish.  It was right in the middle of a little snow flury and the temperature was only 23 so the roads were a little slick.  We arrived safely, with only a few slips and slides.  After an evening of stir fry, various grandma goodies, and putting the little trailer in disaray, we were wondering if I should even attempt to travel home.  It was nearly 8 pm and the temperature was now 19. Brrr...but really not signifigant considering 23 and 19 are both below freezing.  The huz said he would come and get me in the Ford, but we decided I would go ahead and try it myself, if I had trouble by Moody's I would call. To my surprise the conditions were better than when I had arrived.  I took the trip slow... I mean slow... I don't think I went over 35 miles and hour...and there was a section after the trash station I was creeping along at 7 or 10 miles per hour:)... and it was a good hour before I reached my destination, but God blessed the journey. Sara and Moomoo naped through the excitement and Bowen kept the conversation going:). Winter in Oklahoma...what's next:)

Farm Babies Blurp

This is the section of the blog that will be dedicated to the kiddos. I am very thankful to be able to raise our children in this place. With all the family, friends and animals around it is a perfect environment for learning and playing.

Bowen Charles is my oldest and only son (so far:)) He normally wants to be outside and work with his dad. He digs, explores, builds and and takes his little sister all around. He is very helpful with many things inside and outside. He rides the tractor with dad to unload and feed round hay bales, he stacks wood, brings in fire wood and helps start the fires. In all that he still finds time to draw and sew with mom. He has recently started a John Deere tractor/ wild lizard pillow for his little friend next door. He is a very special boy, but I could be bias:)

Mini Moo, or MOO MOO or Moosh or Moosha or Smoosh or officially Dani Marie is currently the middle child. She is defiantly unique, full of life and quite entertaining. She is a great counterpart for her brother. She is a tough little cookie and wrastles and wrangles and keeps up right along with her big brother. She has really grown up fast. She is really a momma's girl, and enjoys helping me with me with the baby chores. Taking care of dirty diapers, kissing her as much as possible, and "Yo Yo" her (translation; Hold her). She doesn't say much but more and more she is adding to her vocabulary. She hardly needs words to communicate, because she is soooo expressionative. She is truly a crack up.

Sara Jeanette is by far the happiest baby I have ever encountered. It takes a lot to get her fussy. She is just a big, happy baby and a joy to have around. She hasn't really developed a nickname...except" Baby Sara".... but Bowen says when she is older we will drop the baby and just call her Sara. So, not much of a nickname... yet.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I am so GLAD to welcome in another new year in OK.  What a blessing we landed here!  2009 was full of new babies (people, horses, and other:), some losses, alot of freinds and family, some building projects, some quilting, and baby blankies, a lot of learning and growing, and thankfully a lot of relization that I am very blessed... to whom  much is given much is required! May 2010 be filled with the like according to Gods good pleasure and plan for our lives.  Interesting to await the paths He will set before us.

Jogging with Snip

I gave Snip a couple days off, but decided he needed to stretch his sore legs.  I brought him in gave him a snack, unblanketed him and brushed him out.  He is still got a little fungus, so he is itchy. I was going to just let him loose in the round pen but it was solid as a rock. Like a sandy ice cube.  So... I decided it would be good for both of us to go for a little jog.  The air was so cold it was hard to brethe so jogging quickly became a quick paced walk.  It was a short walk but I think it served its purpose. 

Grandma is here!!

What a blessing to have my mom close.  It has been nice to take her to town with us, drive here and there and hang out with the kiddos.  The Kiddos really love there Grams.  Here are a few pics of her house and some comments about the new weather:)

Snip under the weather

Looks like Snipperton is going to need a few days of R and R.  He has a cold.  Poor little horse. Thankfully he has his nice warm blanket.  Hopefully the Lord will heal him up.... back to the intense training schedule...hahahah

The New Year is here

The new year has arrived ... and with it the coldest temps of the year...hahahaha... it's easy to be the coldest when its the only day of the year so far:) Hopefully, the rest of the year won't get much colder. 7 degrees is pretty cold in my book:) The sun is bright and shiney, though, so it looks warmer out there than it feels I am sure. We are nice and toasty with the little wood burning stove... even in this weather it keeps this tin can cooking:)