Day one....and still alive

We survived the first official day at the fair. Yesterday was the day we took all our non-livestock exhibits, the chickens and rabbit in. The poultry show was in the afternoon and Suzanna got A ribbons for both her market and production chickens. Both pens were considered for grand champion by the judge, which was neat.

This morning we hurried around to catch the banty hen and her chicks to take for the Barnyard Children exhibit. Then it was time for the rabbit show. Thomas tried his hand at Rabbit Showmanship and got a cute trophy for his time. Suzanna participated in showmanship for her age group and came away disappointed. There were 12 kids in her class and she didn't place (5 placings are given out). I chatted with the judge after the show and he was very impressed with her age group and said there were only a couple points separating most kids in the class. He gave us a few pointers for next year.

Her breeder rabbit was the second place California doe. She was second to her litter mate and that rabbit was the eventual best of show, so we thought we were in good company there.

Our neighbors and fellow dairy exhibitors hauled Rhoda and Fancy in for us. Worked out well, they have the stock trailer and we had the truck. With the Rabbit show starting at 10am, it would have been a lot harder to get the heifers hauled in and be ready for the show. The less rush the better in our world.

Daddy kept up with the electrical projects at the fairgrounds and managed to be busy all day. The kids and I took in the annual talent show. That was an interesting event. I have to say, just cause you sound good in the shower, it isn't always a good idea to take it public....lets just leave it at that.

The BIG event as far as Thomas was concerned was the combine demolition derby. Yes, someone came up with the great idea that it would be fun to modify a traditional combine into an instrument of destruction. The goal of this spectacle is the be the last combine standing. We watched a couple "heats" and it was kinda fun. We stood by an "expert" on the sport. He had been to several demo derbies over the past several years and told us all about the strategy they utilize. Mostly try to take out the drive belt or a back tire. The neat part about the whole thing was the crowd that was drawn to the fairgrounds to watch it. Being a part of the fair as we are through both 4-H and doing the electrical work for it, we are always hoping for a great year for the fair. With the economy in Michigan being what it is, seeing the infield parked full and the grandstand packed was a good sign. Hopefully that trend will continue through the rest of the week. For now, I have another load of laundry to fold and need to get to bed.

You haven't lived 'til you wash a chicken

or in our case four of them. The fair has arrived and first up on the schedule is the chicken show. The market chickens made weight with no problem which is a major improvement over last year. A pen of two chickens has to weigh at least 7 pounds to qualify. Last year we just skated in with one hen weighing 3.75 and the other weighing in at 3.25. This year they each weigh right around 5 pounds.

The brilliant minds from who knows where decided that chickens should be washed before they are shown. Why, when they are on a road of no return??? A week from tomorrow they will be headed for the stew pot. Anyway, we follow orders, and they have been washed and blow dried (wouldn't want them to catch cold!). The house reeks of wet chicken and the dog and cat are sizing them up for dinner.

All the non-livestock projects are ready for entry. The heifers have been clipped. The stalls are bedded and the hay has been hauled in. The camper is set, the food is cooked. Get the sense that I am nearly organized for this spectacle??? You would be right. I keep wondering what I forgot, since I am feeling really on top of things this year.

I will keep you posted on how well I feel by the middle or the end of the week. I will try not to talk about my aching feet or back or the fact that I am tired. That will be a challenge!!!!!

The Birthday Girl.....

here was Suzanna the day we brought her home from the hospital........

And here she was tonight blowing out 11 candles on her cake....she got them all, hope all her wishes come true.

Saying Goodbye....

Snoopy was vetted this afternoon and despite my smarty pants trainer trying to scare me over a sudden and never before heard of leg injury, he passed with flying colors. This is a melancholy moment, as I was working at trainer Mike's and spent a few minutes saying good bye to my horse. I know there are many more standing in the pasture, but I still get sad about it. He was born on our farm and I have been responsible for his care ever since. I can't help but be a little saddened to see him go to a new home. Not that life there won't be good....I suspect from talking with his new owner his life will be pretty cushy. She sounds like she will spoil him rotten. And I expect that come next year, we will proudly see our prefix at many shows throughout the Kansas area as Snoopy wins lots of blues for his new owner.

We in the meantime move onto the next project. That will be Storm. She is headed for driving training.....right after we get through the Fair. I am halfway through my sewing projects....Emma's costume is done, Kathryn's just needs some elastic in the waistband. Then all I need to do is sew her dress. We are coming down to the wire. One heifer was trimmed last night, and the other will get done this evening before church. I just keep knocking things off the list.

Finally, Happy Birthday Suzanna!!!!

Our oldest turns 11 today. Wow time has flown. She took doughnuts and cider for her class this morning and is planning to take a treat to Kids Club tonight at church. Sometimes I think her birthday gets sidetracked with all the horse show and fair stuff that is going on right now, but she doesn't seem too bothered by it. Maybe it makes it more of a party for her, since it takes about two weeks to get the celebrating with family finished up.

Boy am I tired....

what a long weekend....fun, but long. The horse show went well. Lilly, the filly, placed 8th in the Sweepstakes class on Saturday night. There were 27 babies in that class, so to get a placing was great. Henry didn't make "the cut" and I was disappointed, but he is still wonderful in my opinion.

Both foals showed back in their baby classes yesterday and Lilly came away with a 5th and Henry got a 6th, which were both good placings. There were some really nice foals there and I think our breeding program was well represented.

With Futurity behind us, we are heading into the home stretch for fair week. I have to get Kathryn's outfit done for the dog show and her costume as well. So I am off to the sewing machine this morning, along with catching up from a weekend away.

Snoopy has his vet check on Wednesday and it looks like the shipper should be picking him up by the end of the week. Then after we recover from the fair, Storm will head to Trainer Mike's to get her training underway. And the babies will get to come home for the winter.

Off to the sewing room.

Tying up loose ends....

That has kept me busy the last couple days. I am heading to the Shiawasee Fairgrounds this morning for the Michigan Morgan Breeders Futurity and Show. Henry went up last night to get settled in and Lilly is coming from a different trainers barn and will arrive tonight. I will be staying two nights away from the zoo, so I have been getting everything and everybody organized.

In the meantime, God blessed the garden and the kids picked 2 bushels of tomatoes the other night. That, combined with the bushel and a half last week has my tomato needs fulfilled. I made 20 pints of tomato juice, 18 pints of salsa and canned 28 quarts of whole tomatoes. Only thing left to do in the canning department is some green tomato relish and green tomato mincemeat. I will get after that early next week.

Had to get everything organized for the 4-H club too. As I have mentioned more than once, the fair is coming up the last week of this month. Bunnies need ear tattoos in order to go and one of the dads in the club is going to take care of that. Chickens have to be tested and certified "pullurium free" as well. One of the club moms is certified to do the testing, so she is handling that tomorrow as well. The kids also get their passes and have their project reports signed too. I am fortunate that there are great parents in the club who can jump in and take care of this stuff while I am away.

The kids and daddy will head up to the show tomorrow afternoon so they can watch the two babies show tomorrow evening. By about 8pm tomorrow night, we should know how our little ones placed. Pins and needles until then!!!!

Too Much Fun!!!!

Yesterday, neighbor Melissa and I headed off to the annual extravaganza held at Hillsdale College called the Women's Commissioners Rummage & Treasure sale. The college field house is transformed into a treasure trove of bargains from clothing to jewelry to antiques to books to.....well you get the point. Actually I hear there is jewelry, antiques and books, but did not witness it personally. That would be because we both carted off enough clothing for the whole family and never had a chance to get to all the other good stuff.

After a couple hours in the place, Melissa had to be pulled out of there kicking and screaming. She kept mumbling something about knowing she was missing something great in another department. But lets be realistic, when you have to stack a huge pile of sweatshirts and then tie them together with a pair of sweatpants in order to carry them out, it might be time to call it a day. Of course she had to do that because the one bag she brought to carry stuff in was already stuffed beyond its limits and more was spilling out of the top. Of course, she would have had two bags if she would have been more selfish and let me fend for myself rather than giving that second bag to me. Don't worry, I will be so prepared when we do it again next year. Anyway I hope I get to go back with her next year.

In the end, I can't feel too guilty about being the sensible one in the expedition, since she gets to go back this morning for round two. That would be where everything you can stuff in a bag costs $2. I have to take my mom to a doctors appointment, or believe me I would be right there with her!! Hope you have fun today Melissa.....and do you even know what a Women's Commissioner is??? Let me know.