Well, guess it's been about 1.5 years since anything was posted on this site. It's amazing that it still exists! It's been a wild winter here in the 'burg...we're having a good time in the snow with friends...guess that's all that matters.
So many things have happened since the last update. One thing hasn't changed, and probably many of my posts will be about this...at least until it changes. That "thing" is caregiving. I feel as though my life is consumed by it. It feels like an unrelenting pressure to perform. I am not finding joy in it at this moment, and I'd like that to change. Perhaps as I write some thoughts about it, the joy may return! I can only hope!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Oops!
Well, I guess we're not doing so well with keeping up a blog! There's been a lot happening since January...sigh...
Right now, Abigail - my not-so-faithful-blog-keeper-upper - is stationed in Ohio on my cousin's farm. She wanted some work experience, so she's getting it (she's having fun in the process, so I'm not sure it's really work!). She's helping with their horses and whatever else needs to be done on the farm. I miss her a lot.
Elisabeth gets her braces off in July (Abi gets her on in July), and she's filling in at the farmer's market for Abi. She's decided to reenroll in cyber school, so she just completed the placement tests for that.
Ben has himself a little yard job for right now. He's pulling weeds, hauling leaves, and whatever else goes on with that kind of work. He's pleased as punch to have a job.
Ethan has about 3 weeks of Little League left and then he's done with that for the summer. Both boys want to play football. I made them write essays about why they should be allowed to play. They have some pretty good reasons, actually!
Well, guess I'll write more later...gotta get our portfolios for homeschooling completed. There is lots to do!
Right now, Abigail - my not-so-faithful-blog-keeper-upper - is stationed in Ohio on my cousin's farm. She wanted some work experience, so she's getting it (she's having fun in the process, so I'm not sure it's really work!). She's helping with their horses and whatever else needs to be done on the farm. I miss her a lot.
Elisabeth gets her braces off in July (Abi gets her on in July), and she's filling in at the farmer's market for Abi. She's decided to reenroll in cyber school, so she just completed the placement tests for that.
Ben has himself a little yard job for right now. He's pulling weeds, hauling leaves, and whatever else goes on with that kind of work. He's pleased as punch to have a job.
Ethan has about 3 weeks of Little League left and then he's done with that for the summer. Both boys want to play football. I made them write essays about why they should be allowed to play. They have some pretty good reasons, actually!
Well, guess I'll write more later...gotta get our portfolios for homeschooling completed. There is lots to do!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Snow!
Today we got quite a bit of snow. It was very cold at the barn today. I, of course, got suck with the coldest job; watering. It ended up not being too bad though because I ended up with a couple breaks to bring horses in and catch the ones that got loose. Yep, they busted thru the fence. The whole upper field came running in the barn. That was caotic. We had 5 horses loose in the indoor arena. The worst trouble makers in the barn. Well, with the exception of Skittles. A white Arabian gelding. Very good temperment. But the other 4 are trouble. Black Jack, Buddy, Lily, and Roanie. I ended up having to grab Lily. She's a filly (female baby) that was wiened about 2 months ago. She gave me a double wammy kick before and she usually rears when in the halter and we bring her in. So, I had to take her to a temporary stall with a leadline around her neck! I was not too excited about that. But she ended up being fine. God certianly answered my prayers there. All in all the day didn't go too badly.
The town is absolutely beautiful today. There is snow all over everything. I am really kicking myself because there was a beautiful picture out at the farm of one of the horses. Her name is Star. She's black with a white star on her forehead. She had snow on her mane and tail that made it look white. Against her jet black coat it was gorgeous! I missed it. I hope there's a next time...
The horse I talked about in my last post, Rajah, is dead. They put him down on Saturday morning. Apparently he had a tumor. He spent his last day in the animal hospital. It was an on and off battle to keep him alive. I got the call Saturday afternoon. His owner, Angela, took it rough. Sherry, Sharon, and I took it rough. The lady that called me, Michelle, took it rough too. They are searching for another horse for Ang. Hopefully something like Rajah. He was a once in a lifetime horse though. He and Ang had formed a wonderful bond. I have yet to form one that strong with my horse. He would do anything for her. I hope she can find what she's looking for. I saw Ang today. She seems to be doing okay. I know that it's gonna take a while. There's no two ways about it. I just continue to keep her, and everyone else involved, in my prayers.
On a different note... I was at the dentists today to get my expander adjusted for the first time. It almost seems looser. Dad says to give it until tomorrow, but I'd imagine that since it was adjusted today at 9:45am or so that my mouth would be at least a little sore approximately 11 hours later. We'll see who's right... Time will tell.
Blessings to all! I wish you all much warmth!
Abi
The town is absolutely beautiful today. There is snow all over everything. I am really kicking myself because there was a beautiful picture out at the farm of one of the horses. Her name is Star. She's black with a white star on her forehead. She had snow on her mane and tail that made it look white. Against her jet black coat it was gorgeous! I missed it. I hope there's a next time...
The horse I talked about in my last post, Rajah, is dead. They put him down on Saturday morning. Apparently he had a tumor. He spent his last day in the animal hospital. It was an on and off battle to keep him alive. I got the call Saturday afternoon. His owner, Angela, took it rough. Sherry, Sharon, and I took it rough. The lady that called me, Michelle, took it rough too. They are searching for another horse for Ang. Hopefully something like Rajah. He was a once in a lifetime horse though. He and Ang had formed a wonderful bond. I have yet to form one that strong with my horse. He would do anything for her. I hope she can find what she's looking for. I saw Ang today. She seems to be doing okay. I know that it's gonna take a while. There's no two ways about it. I just continue to keep her, and everyone else involved, in my prayers.
On a different note... I was at the dentists today to get my expander adjusted for the first time. It almost seems looser. Dad says to give it until tomorrow, but I'd imagine that since it was adjusted today at 9:45am or so that my mouth would be at least a little sore approximately 11 hours later. We'll see who's right... Time will tell.
Blessings to all! I wish you all much warmth!
Abi
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Exhausted
I am thoroughly exhausted tonight. I could go to sleep now and not wake until morning. Why? Well, I got up at 7 to be at the dentist's at 8 to get my expander for my upper jaw. This is the first step in the braces process. After that I did a full day of school until 1:15 when I went to the barn with my brothers and cousin. We worked our hind ends off there until 6. The boys were a wonderful help on the mucking and watering. Then I ended up helping with a horse who just got stomach ulsers. I have never had to beat a horse before in my entire life, but his life depended on it so, I did. That sentence probably sounds strange so let me explain. We didn't know if he was colicing or what so we called the vet and when the closest one wouldn't come out we had to call around. We figured he was colicing and we knew enough not to let him roll. So, we're walking him around in the indoor ring and he lays down and begins to roll. We couldn't stop him. I was working with two others to get this horse to stop. One was pulling his head up and the other was helping me keep him on his feet. We had to literally beat him. He had a couple layers of blankets on though so he didn't really feel it. One of the ladies almost got kicked. We had some men in later to help and the one got his knee nicked.
We were finally able to get a vet out and she told us he probably has stomach ulsers. She dosed him up on meds to make him feel good. His eyes glazed over and then he was in his happy place. So, the barn manager, Sherry, is going to go to the barn several times tonight to check on him. I'm so glad he made it. It was a very interesting evening to say it lightly.
We were finally able to get a vet out and she told us he probably has stomach ulsers. She dosed him up on meds to make him feel good. His eyes glazed over and then he was in his happy place. So, the barn manager, Sherry, is going to go to the barn several times tonight to check on him. I'm so glad he made it. It was a very interesting evening to say it lightly.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Williamsburg VA!
Well, we are back from vacation. It was a blast! I have not had so much fun in
such a long time! We arrived at Governors Green Resort on Sunday afternoon and
then we spent the rest of the time unpacking and settling in.
Monday started the excitement when we went to see the Crystal Concert in
Williamsburg. There is a man that plays the Glass Armonica that Benjamin Franklin
invented. He is one of the few. He also plays the Crystal Bachett, which was
invented in France by the Bachett brothers. The brothers are about 80 years old
and they train all the musicians themselves. The Japanese have also made him a
glass violin. It took 100 casts to make it perfect. He also plays a set of glass hand
bells that have a majestic sound to them.
After we finished at the concert we went to Yorktown to see the museum
there. Ben got to participate in a mock cannon firing. He had the tool that was
shaped like an energy saving floresant light bulb. It was used to loosen the grime
from the inside of the cannon. My mother was whispering in my ear the whole time
the guy was speaking about what each tool did so I didn’t hear too clearly all the
details. After the mock demonstration they actually fired the cannon! We all had
to plug our ears ahead of time, but it was still very loud. After that we went to the
arcade and swimming. The arcade was at Kings Gate and it cost $5 to get the
group in and then we had unlimited playing time.
On Tuesday the boys went to the arcade for 6 hours non-stop while we girls
went shopping. We went to the outlets, the pottery barn, and so many other
places that we spent 7 1/2 hours out. It was so much fun though. Aeropostale is
having huge sales. So is Van Houson and The Children’s Place and so many other
stores. We had some major savings.
After we got back we ate supper and then went to the arcade and then
swimming again. We swam inside because the heating gauge was broken in the
pool outside and it felt like we were swimming in the arctic. We came out
penguins. I was very glad the ladder was right beside me because otherwise I
would have had to stay in longer. It was cold. Ice water doesn’t even come close.
On Wednesday we went back to Williamsburg to do touristy things like gift
shops and the traditional gawking. We watched the Elementary School do their
Halloween parade thru the streets of Williamsburg.
On Thursday we went to Historic Jamestowne and the boys did the hands-on
canoe scraping like the Indians would have. After we finished there we took a ferry
to Surry and ate at a diner for lunch. Surry is an island that people live on. It's
about 20 miles wide. They actually have a ferry running year round for the people
on the island so they can still go to work. We were asking one of the security guys
questions about the boat and said that it takes around $40,000 to run the ferry
year round. All government funded. We went to the arcade and swimming again
that night.
On Friday the rest of the kids and Neil went back to Historic Jamestowne to see
the glass blowing and walk thru the area. Carol, Mom, and myself went to
Williamsburg to make reservations for Saturday night. The adults were going out
for a night on the town while we kids stayed at the resort to swim or watch TV.
We went to pick up dad that night from the train station. He used up all his
vacation days so he wasn’t able to get off all week.
On Saturday we went to the Golden Corral for breakfast then mom and dad
drove around looking at the different places since dad hadn't seen them. We kids
stayed back at the resort. Neil and Carol also went for a drive.
That evening Mom, Dad, Neil, and Carol went out for supper. They went to one
place for the main course and then for desert they went to the Trellis for dessert.
The Trellis is where the original Death by Chocolate was invented. The man who
invented it is the chef there. They brought some home. Oh, my, word. It was so
good. It's a little rich. I don’t know if I would have been able to eat the whole
thing, but it was still good. I loved every bite. Carol got the cookbook so she can
give the recipe to me and I can make it.
We started home on Sunday at about 10:30 am. We stopped with some family to
celebrate Betsy's 14th birthday and we surprised her good. My mom and her cousin
Veronica went to the kitchen to get the cake ready. Betsy got up to follow my
mom to the kitchen and I said, "Betsy, come sit with me. This chairs big enough."
She said "Okay... why?" I said, "Because we haven't sat together for a while." That
answer satisfied her. Then I said "I don't mind sitting with you because you won't
be subconsciously hit my leg like mom does." that made her grin because I had
moved off mom's lap earlier because she has a habit of hitting her let when she's
making a point, and my leg was on top of hers, so mine was the victim. Then mom
and Veronica came out of the kitchen with the candles lit and we sang "Happy
Birthday To You". Once the cake was done we talked and played Phase 10. We then
completed the last leg of our journey home. We got to Millersburg at about 7:30
Sunday evening. I slept very well. I woke up with a severe vacation hang over
though. All in all it was a very good vacation.
such a long time! We arrived at Governors Green Resort on Sunday afternoon and
then we spent the rest of the time unpacking and settling in.
Monday started the excitement when we went to see the Crystal Concert in
Williamsburg. There is a man that plays the Glass Armonica that Benjamin Franklin
invented. He is one of the few. He also plays the Crystal Bachett, which was
invented in France by the Bachett brothers. The brothers are about 80 years old
and they train all the musicians themselves. The Japanese have also made him a
glass violin. It took 100 casts to make it perfect. He also plays a set of glass hand
bells that have a majestic sound to them.
After we finished at the concert we went to Yorktown to see the museum
there. Ben got to participate in a mock cannon firing. He had the tool that was
shaped like an energy saving floresant light bulb. It was used to loosen the grime
from the inside of the cannon. My mother was whispering in my ear the whole time
the guy was speaking about what each tool did so I didn’t hear too clearly all the
details. After the mock demonstration they actually fired the cannon! We all had
to plug our ears ahead of time, but it was still very loud. After that we went to the
arcade and swimming. The arcade was at Kings Gate and it cost $5 to get the
group in and then we had unlimited playing time.
On Tuesday the boys went to the arcade for 6 hours non-stop while we girls
went shopping. We went to the outlets, the pottery barn, and so many other
places that we spent 7 1/2 hours out. It was so much fun though. Aeropostale is
having huge sales. So is Van Houson and The Children’s Place and so many other
stores. We had some major savings.
After we got back we ate supper and then went to the arcade and then
swimming again. We swam inside because the heating gauge was broken in the
pool outside and it felt like we were swimming in the arctic. We came out
penguins. I was very glad the ladder was right beside me because otherwise I
would have had to stay in longer. It was cold. Ice water doesn’t even come close.
On Wednesday we went back to Williamsburg to do touristy things like gift
shops and the traditional gawking. We watched the Elementary School do their
Halloween parade thru the streets of Williamsburg.
On Thursday we went to Historic Jamestowne and the boys did the hands-on
canoe scraping like the Indians would have. After we finished there we took a ferry
to Surry and ate at a diner for lunch. Surry is an island that people live on. It's
about 20 miles wide. They actually have a ferry running year round for the people
on the island so they can still go to work. We were asking one of the security guys
questions about the boat and said that it takes around $40,000 to run the ferry
year round. All government funded. We went to the arcade and swimming again
that night.
On Friday the rest of the kids and Neil went back to Historic Jamestowne to see
the glass blowing and walk thru the area. Carol, Mom, and myself went to
Williamsburg to make reservations for Saturday night. The adults were going out
for a night on the town while we kids stayed at the resort to swim or watch TV.
We went to pick up dad that night from the train station. He used up all his
vacation days so he wasn’t able to get off all week.
On Saturday we went to the Golden Corral for breakfast then mom and dad
drove around looking at the different places since dad hadn't seen them. We kids
stayed back at the resort. Neil and Carol also went for a drive.
That evening Mom, Dad, Neil, and Carol went out for supper. They went to one
place for the main course and then for desert they went to the Trellis for dessert.
The Trellis is where the original Death by Chocolate was invented. The man who
invented it is the chef there. They brought some home. Oh, my, word. It was so
good. It's a little rich. I don’t know if I would have been able to eat the whole
thing, but it was still good. I loved every bite. Carol got the cookbook so she can
give the recipe to me and I can make it.
We started home on Sunday at about 10:30 am. We stopped with some family to
celebrate Betsy's 14th birthday and we surprised her good. My mom and her cousin
Veronica went to the kitchen to get the cake ready. Betsy got up to follow my
mom to the kitchen and I said, "Betsy, come sit with me. This chairs big enough."
She said "Okay... why?" I said, "Because we haven't sat together for a while." That
answer satisfied her. Then I said "I don't mind sitting with you because you won't
be subconsciously hit my leg like mom does." that made her grin because I had
moved off mom's lap earlier because she has a habit of hitting her let when she's
making a point, and my leg was on top of hers, so mine was the victim. Then mom
and Veronica came out of the kitchen with the candles lit and we sang "Happy
Birthday To You". Once the cake was done we talked and played Phase 10. We then
completed the last leg of our journey home. We got to Millersburg at about 7:30
Sunday evening. I slept very well. I woke up with a severe vacation hang over
though. All in all it was a very good vacation.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Trail Ride and Bridal Shower
Yesterday I had a wonderful trail ride! I left church and then went across the road to the farm where I have my horse to get ready for a 3 hour trail ride. It was so much fun! We went down the fence line and into the hollow. Then we went up the hollow and on the road for about a quarter to half a mile until we reached the Ned Smith Center railroad bed. There used to be a rail road that ran thru it but now the tracks have been torn out and it is used for hiking, four wheeling, horse back riding, and so much more. We took the Woodside Station Road trail up .7 miles to the top of the mountian. After that we took the Berry Mountain Trail across .7 miles to the power lines. The veiw was tremenous! We ended up going half way to my house. If it wasn't for the tops of the trees, I coulda seen my house. We saw the storage units right down from us as plain as day. I was amazed. It was beautiful up there though. I haven't seen something that nice in a long time. So we ate our lunch and then headed down the mountian. We took several trails to the bottom. I must say though that I took my riding to the next level. We went down hills that were on a 75 degree angle. It was so much fun though. Chaver's feet were bothering him though. When I went to take him out he was limping, then I got on him and he was fine. I think it's because he just got reshod so one of the nails might be a little tender on his feet.
We had a bridal shower at the barn for a lady named Jamie who is getting married on the 3rd of November. She is really sweet and she was so surprised. She was told that she was going to a surprise party for Shelby. Well, she walked in the barn door and we all holler "Surprise Jamie" and she looked at Shelby and hollered "Surprise" and then Shelby said, "No, Surprise" and then she got it and got so embarrassed and was so surprised that it was worth all the 15 seconds of confusion. :D We stayed up and had a bonfire and watched a movie. I wasn't really all that tired so I was the only one to last thru the whole movie. So I finally got to sleep at 2 am. I got up ag 7:30 am to get ready for church and then come back for a trail ride. It was so much fun though. We played horse oriented games. The cake was really good. The icing was more of a cool whipped icing than a frosting or a sweet icing. It was so good.
We had a bridal shower at the barn for a lady named Jamie who is getting married on the 3rd of November. She is really sweet and she was so surprised. She was told that she was going to a surprise party for Shelby. Well, she walked in the barn door and we all holler "Surprise Jamie" and she looked at Shelby and hollered "Surprise" and then Shelby said, "No, Surprise" and then she got it and got so embarrassed and was so surprised that it was worth all the 15 seconds of confusion. :D We stayed up and had a bonfire and watched a movie. I wasn't really all that tired so I was the only one to last thru the whole movie. So I finally got to sleep at 2 am. I got up ag 7:30 am to get ready for church and then come back for a trail ride. It was so much fun though. We played horse oriented games. The cake was really good. The icing was more of a cool whipped icing than a frosting or a sweet icing. It was so good.
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