Happier thoughts

Wow, yesterday's post was a downer!! Although it was all true, the reality of it was still super depressing. I have not spoken to the neighbors today to see how they are feeling since the death of their horse, but I would imagine they are still pretty sad.

In light of my black, gloomy, post of yesterday, I thought I would post some cute pics of Madison and Thomas just having fun with the horses. No horse show stress or wardrobe dilemmas; just fun times with kids and horses at home. Sometime though, I will have to post pictures of Madison and Thomas collecting their awards at AQHA shows. Madi always acts like it is no big deal and Thomas is just the opposite. He wants everyone to take notice of his accomplishments.

But today is to honor the treasured relationship between people and horses. Our oldest horse, Josh, is a handsome, regal 21 year old Arabian. He still knows he is hot stuff, but he takes care of my kids. He is a four-legged babysitter and although he is aging, you can still see the majestic and proud Arab that he was and still embodies. Our Arab mare, Lucki, is a wonderful example of hot-blooded, raring to go, show off horse. She has a sweet heart, but a will of iron and I trust her implicitly with Madison only. She loves Madi and when they had a nasty spill two summers ago, Lucki waited beside Madi until she got up and took ahold of the reins.

Our Quarter horses have very different personalities than do our Arabs. They are more willing to please and not as tempermental, but still take care of us. My horse Tommy is a world class reiner that came to us from a breeder in Texas. I had a bad riding accident as a child and it took me well into my adult years to go back to riding. When I found Tommy at a show in Oregon, I fell in love. Little did I know that Marc and our friend and trainer, Terri, brokered the deal and bought him for me. He has restored my confidence in myself and taught me to trust the horse again. Now Madison rides him in the Quarter Horse and Reining shows and is kicking some serious ass against the much older kids. Marc's mare, Hondo just produced a beautiful filly that we hope will become a world class reiner in 3-4 years. Our mini's are just are pets that the kids goof around on and have a lot of fun. I love all my horses and their personalities are as unique and different as people.

Too much realism

My four little mini Shetland ponies

Yesterday I spent 6 or more hours with my neighbor Jan over at the other neighbors house helping them deal with one of their injured horses. Seems that one of their horses fell on the ice and snow and either fractured its pelvis or severely damaged the supporting ligaments in the hip socket. Either way, the horse couldn't get up and we had to roll the horse frequently and try to keep it warm with blankets as the windchill was just about zero.

The vet came out last evening and thought it would be worth it to give the horse a day to see if it could get it's legs under her and stand on her own. She did manage to get up twice, but it became abundantly clear that there was something very wrong and her rear legs were not functioning as they should. But about two hours ago the horse fell with its legs in the froggy position. Definetly not a viable position for a horse. Three of us managed to lift her back end and tuck a leg under her so that we could roll her onto her side. After getting her more comfortable, we could see her hip was out of socket and it appears as if she broke the left side of her pelvis. She was grinding her teeth and grunting in pain. It was a horrible, horrible sight. No vet could get out here within several hours, so it was up to the neighbor to have to put the horse down and out of agony by shooting her.

I have never had to witness this before. I have had dogs humanely put down at the vets with medication that stops the heart, but I have never had to hear the sound of the moment of death. Yes, it was the right thing to do and the most humane, but it was brutally real. We have 9 horses and this is my worst nightmare. I pray that I will never have to do this with one of our horses because it would be like shooting a member of your family that you love. To watch an animal suffer is a miserable thing in which to bear witness. They are incapable of expressing in words what hurts, but their eyes express plenty of emotion.

I am very grateful to our good neighbors who we all must count on for help in times of trouble. Friends are family that we meet along the way and I am sure glad that I have such good friends who just happen to be my neighbors.

Since today just happend to be Veteran's Day, Marc had the pleasure of being home to help out with all this realism. Yes, animals are an intergal part of our lives, and I would not want change our lifestyle and not have animals, but having to make these decisions are just plain awful.

Now, to my good friend Tifanni, try to top that day!! I call her Lucy and I am Ethel for all the escapades we have faced and the unfortunate luck that seems to happen around us. I am now enjoying another Corona and hoping that tomorrow can just be a normal day.

Yummy idea for Christmas gifts for people you like a lot

Since moving to North Dakota, we have met some of the most sincere and kindest people around. A lot of our friends have come thru contacts in the horse world, particularly the American Quarter Horse Association.

One such couple are Mark and Sonja Stromswold. They live a little north of us, near the Canadian border in a small town named Mohall. Nice, nice, people, but Sonja has a super sweet side to her.....namely her ability to bake FABULOUS treats. She has quite a reputation in these parts for her baking skills and ability to produce outstanding delicacies. So I am planning on ordering a lot of treats from Sonja's online site to send to family and friends for Christmas.

Check out her website at www.sonjasbakeshop.com . I promise you will not be disappointed and after you have tried some of her Scandinavian specialties, you will always want more!! These treats are truly a hidden treasure from North Dakota.

odds and ends

Carlos and Gucci

Carlos and Gucci escaping from the snowcave

Pebbles and Chowder

Madi as a pirate wench

I was looking thru some out-take photos that April and Beth just took on their last trip to the creche. I actually think they are just as good as the photos that we got as our monthly update pictures. I loved some of Jerome acting silly and Richnightder, looking the part of big brother, eye-rolling at his antics.

I am also posting some pictures of yesterday's blizzard and the fun things the kids did with all the snow. Marc helped them dig snow caves and even added built-in seats in the caves. They really were neat caves and the cool thing about them is that they really do protect you from the weather and they are ultra quiet inside. Marc and I met up in one of the caves when we had told the kids we were going to the barn to feed the horses. Actually thought we would have a moment to make-out, but Thomas burst in on us with a loud "Gross." Geez, with all the snow clothes on, it's not like we could actually "DO" something.

Also added a picture of Madison on Halloween dressed as a sassy pirate wench. She is growing up way too fast!! I also added some pics of my cute little puppies and of Pebbles, our Rottweiler and Chowder our Chow Chow.

It's beginning to look a lot like winter

You know the weather is bad in your area, when the anchorman from The Weather Channel shows up to do live reports.

It started to rain very hard last evening and quickly turned to freezing rain. Then oddly, it began to lightning and thunder. At the same time, it began to sleet and then turned to snow. It is now a raging blizzard outside with 50mph winds and almost zero visibility. Marc is slowly making his way home on the backroads as the highways are glazed over and they are getting close to closing the major roads.

All this snow makes me want to slip away to something tropical and blessed by warm ocean breezes. I also picture in my fantasy, a very handsome, dark-skinned cabana boy and an endless supply of Long Island Iced Teas. Ideally, my island fantasy will not require me to take anti-malarial medicine; those are nasty tasting and have unpleasant side-effects. 'Nuf said!

Fantasies are wonderful things. I often picture myself escaping from my children and not leaving a forwarding address. But then reality bites me back into conciousness and I realize that I am soon to be the mother to 4, count 'em 4 kids. Egads...how in the hell did that happen?? I had better find a reliable escape mechanism before the new boys are home or I will be a real loon.

The above picture is of Marc and the neighbor clearing our driveway. What a beautiful North Dakota Autumn day.

OBAMA

Obviously I am thrilled that barack Obama has been voted as our President Elect. I saw the eyes of the American people last night, yearning with hope and triumph. This is a moment of infamy!

I did not vote for Obama because he was black. I voted for him because I saw the desire to bring hope to our country. Hope to the people who have seen their dreams and their hopes for their children slowly ebb away from reality. I do believe that Obama can and will inspire all Americans to do what they can for our country. I do believe that he will have daunting challenges, successes and failures and I do believe he will lead our country to a new-found standing of importance and respect on a global scale.

As the mother of four black children, I am overwhelmed with joy and hope that my children will now be able to say that although they have studied segregation, they have also witnessed the culmination of perserverance and determination to overcome injustice. Yes, racism still exists, sometimes subtly and sometimes quietly, but perhaps those clutching to their ingrained fallacies, will now begins to see things thru different eyes. I believe the best days of America are still ahead of us. That responsibility does not lie soley with Obama, but with the millions of Americans who must take responsibility for our destiny. Millions have voted and now our future is in our hands and Obama's respectful vision of America; one of hope, success, independence, and unlimited possibilities.

dreaming

I'm bored and getting sad. I have heard our unusually warm fall is about to end next week. That means a return to parkas, hat, gloves, etc. I even heard the weatherman say the 'S' word...snow!! Marc put up some snow fencing today to keep it from piling up in between the barns. UGH I am not ready for winter yet.

The feeling of being in MOI has not worn off yet. It is a nice feeling to think that we are getting close to the end, relatively speaking. I know once it gets back to the USCIS offices, Marc will have a little 'pull' as he has lots of contacts. He has also spent a great deal of time at the Senators' offices and our Representatives office making contacts that will help when it gets to the embassy. Not like it is hard to do as he works right across the hall from their offices. Marc told me they have had some nice talks in the men's room. Right now, I don't real care where the schmooze happens as long as it helps get our kids file to the top of the pile in PaP. But bearing in mind that I have the luck of the Irish, we may just spend a few years in USCIS. Who really knows if anything will help, all you can do is try.

With the coming of winter weather knocking on our imminent door, I thought I would post a picture of Marc and me with our friends from last winter's cruise. We had an outstanding time and it was wonderful to be together, sans kids. Gee, maybe I should start planning another trip soon. Our 18th wedding anniversary is Nov. 24th. Yes, Marc married me when I was only 10!!!!! ;)