I believe that statement. I have seen his answers to my prayers through my life. Big ones and little ones. Our earnest requests are heard and answered. Not always as we expect, nor as we think he should, and especially not as quick as we would like. But they are answered.
Early this morning was no exception. We have a couple house cats. Well, technically, we have three. Cassie, the calico, moved to the basement the day Emma joined the family and has rarely come up since. She hates me and usually hides when I head down the stairs. She lets the kids love on her as long as the dog doesn't come along. Anyway, back to my story. Our two upstairs cats are Butterscotch and HopSing. They like to take strolls in the yard when it is nice out. Monday afternoon, they both headed out. Butterscotch came back home, but HopSing did not. For the next 4 days we wondered, worried and prayed about HopSing. Much to our relief, at 5:30 this morning, I was woke up by a frantic cat yowling at the door. HopSing came flying through the door and meowed happily at me. My tears came instantly, and the first thought that went through my mind was to thank God for bringing this little cat back safely to our home.
I have no doubt she would have quite a story to tell if she could. There isn't a scratch on her, but she does seem a bit lighter. God answers prayers!!!!!!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
His and hers....
I headed back down to Amish country to bring Breezy home. She has been on a three-week date with a stallion. For awhile it looked like we would have to retire the old gal. She was not remotely interested in the stallion. Thankfully, her mood improved, and she has been bred. We will know in a couple weeks if it was successful or not.
I enjoyed spending time deep in the Amish community. I asked a few questions about the way they live and discovered one thing that really made me chuckle. The stallion owners four children were wandering through the barnyard among the horses. The older girls were messing around with one horse in particular. I asked about the horse and he told me that was his wife driving horse. I quickly asked what he drove. He proudly pointed out a tall, lanky horse who he said was pretty fast. I quipped, his and hers, huh?? He laughed and agreed that his wife wanted quite and he liked something with a little more speed.
I enjoyed spending time deep in the Amish community. I asked a few questions about the way they live and discovered one thing that really made me chuckle. The stallion owners four children were wandering through the barnyard among the horses. The older girls were messing around with one horse in particular. I asked about the horse and he told me that was his wife driving horse. I quickly asked what he drove. He proudly pointed out a tall, lanky horse who he said was pretty fast. I quipped, his and hers, huh?? He laughed and agreed that his wife wanted quite and he liked something with a little more speed.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
The years roll along
Yesterday marked 25 years since I graduated from high school. It doesn't seem possible. I am NOT old enough to have been out of high school that long. My high school years were a bit out of the ordinary anyway. I attended a small, Christian school from sixth grade thru my sophomore year. Then it was closed and my parents and I were left with the dilemma of where I should go to finish up my last two years. I ended up going to the local public school. It was an adjustment, but I now can look back and see the reasons God put me there.
One big reason was the choice I had made for my college education. I attended Michigan State, and to have gone there after spending my entire educational years at a Christian school would have been an even harder transition. Spending two years at a public school did prepare me for how different the world out there really was.
But the biggest reason was that I met the man who is now my husband because I was there. Although he had graduated the year before I started there, we had a mutual friend at the school. A guy named Dennis and I became friends when he discovered I was a good speller, and constantly asked me how to spell words when we were in English class. He and Mike were good friends and Dennis let Mike know that I was a girl he should get to know. That leads us to another "anniversary" of sorts. Coming up next month, it will be 25 years since our first date.
One big reason was the choice I had made for my college education. I attended Michigan State, and to have gone there after spending my entire educational years at a Christian school would have been an even harder transition. Spending two years at a public school did prepare me for how different the world out there really was.
But the biggest reason was that I met the man who is now my husband because I was there. Although he had graduated the year before I started there, we had a mutual friend at the school. A guy named Dennis and I became friends when he discovered I was a good speller, and constantly asked me how to spell words when we were in English class. He and Mike were good friends and Dennis let Mike know that I was a girl he should get to know. That leads us to another "anniversary" of sorts. Coming up next month, it will be 25 years since our first date.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
A whirlwind in May
It sure feels like we have been on one. The kids have their last day of school tomorrow. Wow, where has a school year gone??? We went to their Awards Night last night, and got the calendar and re-enrollment forms for next year....nothing like thinking ahead, huh? I don't want to even consider how fast the summer will zip by.
Spring brings the attempt to get mares in foal. Breezy, our foundation broodmare had a year off. So, the big question was whether or not she would get in foal one more time. So far, we don't have the answer. The first attempt hasn't gone like it should have and we are still unsure what is ahead. She is back at the Amish farm in Indiana for now. We will know more next week. I took her back down there Friday night and coming home from dropping her off, my truck was attacked by May Flies. So bad in fact, that I couldn't keep the windshield clean for about 10 miles. The coating of bugs on the truck and trailer was about a half inch thick. I had been "bug bogging" instead of mud bogging. At one point I saw a driver stopped on the side of the road cleaning his windshield with bottled water and a towel. It was GROSS!!!
I also have trainer Mike's mare here until she is bred. Her first go 'round wasn't successful and I ended up at Metro Airport on Monday afternoon going from warehouse to the McNamara terminal, trying to figure out where the shipment from Kentucky had been left. I went around the terminal twice to see where I needed to be. In the back of my mind, I sure hoped that security didn't decide I was a threat! She has been bred again, and we will see what happens in 18 days.
We have spent several Saturdays reworking shelters and pastures for the additional critters we are adding since Thomas and Kathryn are both full-fledged 4-Hers this year. We have adapted what was once a pump house into a new bunny barn. It is very nice. We moved the chicken coop. We now have a second calf hutch, although all three calves seem to sleep all snugged up in the same one. We have also built fence and gates. There is rain in the forecast this weekend, so I think inside stuff will get done, like equipment repair. Hay season will be here in a couple weeks, so it is time to get ready for that. Of course, recognize that when I say "we" it really is hubby. I just follow instructions.
Somehow, the whirlwind doesn't seem quite so extreme written out, but believe me, when my head hits the pillow at night, it doesn't take long to fall asleep.
Spring brings the attempt to get mares in foal. Breezy, our foundation broodmare had a year off. So, the big question was whether or not she would get in foal one more time. So far, we don't have the answer. The first attempt hasn't gone like it should have and we are still unsure what is ahead. She is back at the Amish farm in Indiana for now. We will know more next week. I took her back down there Friday night and coming home from dropping her off, my truck was attacked by May Flies. So bad in fact, that I couldn't keep the windshield clean for about 10 miles. The coating of bugs on the truck and trailer was about a half inch thick. I had been "bug bogging" instead of mud bogging. At one point I saw a driver stopped on the side of the road cleaning his windshield with bottled water and a towel. It was GROSS!!!
I also have trainer Mike's mare here until she is bred. Her first go 'round wasn't successful and I ended up at Metro Airport on Monday afternoon going from warehouse to the McNamara terminal, trying to figure out where the shipment from Kentucky had been left. I went around the terminal twice to see where I needed to be. In the back of my mind, I sure hoped that security didn't decide I was a threat! She has been bred again, and we will see what happens in 18 days.
We have spent several Saturdays reworking shelters and pastures for the additional critters we are adding since Thomas and Kathryn are both full-fledged 4-Hers this year. We have adapted what was once a pump house into a new bunny barn. It is very nice. We moved the chicken coop. We now have a second calf hutch, although all three calves seem to sleep all snugged up in the same one. We have also built fence and gates. There is rain in the forecast this weekend, so I think inside stuff will get done, like equipment repair. Hay season will be here in a couple weeks, so it is time to get ready for that. Of course, recognize that when I say "we" it really is hubby. I just follow instructions.
Somehow, the whirlwind doesn't seem quite so extreme written out, but believe me, when my head hits the pillow at night, it doesn't take long to fall asleep.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
The bovines outnumber the equines......
I had a need. Two March heifers. My phone call to a breeder was no help. They wanted a lot more money than I had budgeted for the project. I called another breeder, who never called me back. Trying not to panic, I really wanted to get this whole process wrapped up. See, the earlier we get the calves, the easier the project goes. The kids and calves sort of grow up together and breaking them to lead goes much better. So where do I get two calves from........Call Gene.
I met Gene back in 2007 at a cattle sale and have utilized his fitting skills at several shows. He is a wealth of knowledge and loves to share it with anyone who will listen. Being a greenhorn to the present day dairy world, I am one of those listeners.
So I put a call into Gene and told him what I needed. Then impatiently waited for him to make some contacts. Happily, last Tuesday he called to say he had found a heifer. Problem.....I needed two! He didn't hear that part of the request and only lined up one calf. No worries, the Purdue University Dairy Club was having a calf sale over the weekend. He figured he could find one there. No such luck....they all went over budget. So Gene brought Kathryn's heifer Monday morning. Kali took up residence in the calf pen and settled right in. Late in the afternoon, my cell phone rang. Good news! Gene was at a farm and had found a heifer for Thomas. So, after making a second trip to my farm, he dropped off Daffodil. (naming isn't necessarily our strong suit, remember Big Eyed Timothy??)
The kids are spending each evening leading their new calves. (the novelty hasn't worn off yet, just wait 'til mid-June, I will be begging them to get out and lead them) Kali is a very cooperative girl and leads nicely for Kathryn. Daffodil, on the other hand hasn't figured it out yet and only goes forward if someone is behind her poking and prodding her along. It will get better, and hopefully Thomas won't get totally discouraged before she gets it together.
Officially, there are now 8 bovines and 5 equines on the property. Hubby is grinning, since he prefers Holsteins to horses. Now if we can convince Thomas that he can't ride his bike down to the barn with two pails of milk replacer hanging off the handle bars, we will be just fine.
Oh and if you happen to know of any Shetland sheep on the market, let me know. That is the only project that we are lacking. Kathryn is looking forward to taking sheep to the fair.....but not for eating, just for breeding and the wool.
I met Gene back in 2007 at a cattle sale and have utilized his fitting skills at several shows. He is a wealth of knowledge and loves to share it with anyone who will listen. Being a greenhorn to the present day dairy world, I am one of those listeners.
So I put a call into Gene and told him what I needed. Then impatiently waited for him to make some contacts. Happily, last Tuesday he called to say he had found a heifer. Problem.....I needed two! He didn't hear that part of the request and only lined up one calf. No worries, the Purdue University Dairy Club was having a calf sale over the weekend. He figured he could find one there. No such luck....they all went over budget. So Gene brought Kathryn's heifer Monday morning. Kali took up residence in the calf pen and settled right in. Late in the afternoon, my cell phone rang. Good news! Gene was at a farm and had found a heifer for Thomas. So, after making a second trip to my farm, he dropped off Daffodil. (naming isn't necessarily our strong suit, remember Big Eyed Timothy??)
The kids are spending each evening leading their new calves. (the novelty hasn't worn off yet, just wait 'til mid-June, I will be begging them to get out and lead them) Kali is a very cooperative girl and leads nicely for Kathryn. Daffodil, on the other hand hasn't figured it out yet and only goes forward if someone is behind her poking and prodding her along. It will get better, and hopefully Thomas won't get totally discouraged before she gets it together.
Officially, there are now 8 bovines and 5 equines on the property. Hubby is grinning, since he prefers Holsteins to horses. Now if we can convince Thomas that he can't ride his bike down to the barn with two pails of milk replacer hanging off the handle bars, we will be just fine.
Oh and if you happen to know of any Shetland sheep on the market, let me know. That is the only project that we are lacking. Kathryn is looking forward to taking sheep to the fair.....but not for eating, just for breeding and the wool.
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