Three things...

Hello Dear Ones,

One thing is that we went to Boonville, Missouri the end of February to take our young black and white colt, Buddy to Eli Yoder's new place to be ridden for 6-8 weeks. In preparing Buddy for the trip we practiced loading in the trailer... no problem, however, he spent a good two hours peering out at us as he refused to deplane. No problem, it just takes time and patience, you remember: take the time it takes and it takes less time... so true in many cases. So now we anxiously await word of how he is going... because obviously Eli does not carry a cell phone or have a phone for that matter. What he does have are some very cute blue heeler pups and a pole barn that was raised for him by his friends in just one day. Pretty impressive. I must say, I did have mixed feelings as we drove away in our big red truck with our friends in a continuation of our road picnic/party that we pay him to ride our horses... makes me wonder who is the lucky one...

Second thing is that I "had" to go to Lawrence to go to a computer class on a Friday in March and met up with Rachel for lunch and a chat. We dined at the "Ingredient", a very nice restaurant, great food and stimulating discussions involving law related things as well as meeting some of Rachel's friends. All in all, a perfect day.

And "Door Number Three", did you hear about Robin's adventures in candy land? had to do with a trailer loaded with empty syrup vats? The girl knows how to have fun! That's what I have always said!!! The Parsons Community Garden is in her debt... so here's a question for the gardeners: what is the essential gardening tool?

... ap/p

Snow in Tennessee

The Ames Plantation, Grand Junction, TN on Monday morning, Feb. 8, 2010.

Dear readers, We left Kansas on Thursday, Feb 4 amidst the snow/sleet/rain and arrived in Conway, AR in the rain, left there for Grand Junction on Friday, went to the awards, cocktails at the Ames manor house, attended the championship drawing, and the Eukanuba kick off party on Sunday night at the museum on Sunday. Sunday was a beautiful day and I rode Henry and Pretty Boy through the mud in the parking lot. Above is what happened overnight and what we were greeted with on Monday morning... The day's braces were postponed. Below is a picture of the stables where our horses stayed. While these aren't ours, they look pretty attentive, don't you think?
Next is a picture looking away from the stables towards the fields that make up the morning course.
Below is a picture driving towards the Ames Plantation.
The Ames is known for its historic Angus cattle herd... those black dots are huddled cattle...


Bud is standing in front of the plantation office. The plantation is also a research center for the University of Tennessee. This is the cemetery near the manor house
It looks kind of lonely overlooking the lake across from the manor house.
The championship finally started on Tuesday morning. This is the breakaway on Monday... notice the mounting steps, a very good idea...

And this is the first dog in the first brace... Bud took the picture and got back in the truck... We had fun, but glad to be home. Stay warm y'all.
The field trial is featured online at amesplantation.org

We went to Tennessee...

Hello dear ones, As some of you know, Bud and I took our annual trek to Grand Junction, TN to attend the festivities around the Bird Dog National Championship held at the Ames Plantation and the National Bird Dog Museum. Below, Bud is in front of the museum entrance, admiring the joyous springer spaniel statue.

Last year's winner, Lester's Snowatch is the dog in the picture, surrounded by from left, Mr. Lester, Ken McNab and Bud with Eukanuba and Mr. Ross the painter, and on the right is Ike, the scout.This picture hangs in the museum... and no this isn't the equine we tried out... the next one is...
So, Bud's smiling because this is a nice horse (for sale) ... and I'm smiling, 'cause we came home without him... that's probably a first for me. More pictures later... Love you all, ap/p

In my back yard...

Dear Brave Readers,

Only the bold should read on and only the brave should scroll on to see what I saw... in my own back yard. Really, it just scurried by my window and even though it took me a few moments to believe what I was seeing I had enough time to snap it's portrait. So scroll on...

No, it's not a bowling ball....

yep, a Kansas armadillo... want to see a closer view?

ok, not so cute, but this sure is... a present to me in memory of Roxie, the wonderful...


That's it from the winter wonderland, formerly known as the garden spot of Kansas by Bob. It is pretty weird to not have greyhounds on the farm, they left on Wednesday for places south, it was a good day to travel beings as they were transported in an open trailer, breezy I think. All for now, ap/p

My sister's chickens

Hello readers,

You might wonder what Leo is looking at, look up and see the little wren pecking at the frozen suet cube. It is really cold here. At the end is a little video of how hard this little bird is working, hopefully it works...

These are my sister's chickens. I love these chickens, each and every one, although when I started there were 12, here chick, here chick chick...

Happy Holidays

Hello Readers,
As you know, Bud and I married on Christmas Eve a few light years ago and the pink cyclamen was my anniversary present. Photographs well I think.

Below is a picture of ODonna's new australian shepherd pup named Moon. So cute, and no she wouldn't let me keep him.

We've been digging out from the Christmas Eve snowstorm, while we managed to get out of the driveway to go to Helen and Bob's to enjoy a tasty Christmas meal, our neighbors came home Saturday night and got stuck in the middle of the road at Fox and 60th. They called, we tried to get them out, but in the dark it was not a happening thing. Today the road grader driver tried and then called the front end loader driver. That and a tow chain and 2 shovels freed their truck. The snow pushed to the side of the road was above my head... so very very high...


I received some lovely Christmas cards, and alas to my embarrassment, sent none. This is one of my favorites as well as one from Jackie.

So in lieu of the traditional method of well wishes, I offer this picture of Leo and my hope for a wonderful New Year for all. ap/p

PS, I've enjoyed keeping this blog and I may rename it and keep on... Thanks for your interaction and comments. :)

Thanksgiving 2009 - a very good time

Dear gold ones,

Do you remember ..."some are silver and the others gold"? This Thanksgiving was filled with gold and silver for me. Some of the silver was reliving the wonderful experience of seeing someone ride a horse for the first time... You'll recognize Hailey on Blue surrounded by her entourage...


The picture below is of Bud taking Hailey for her very first horseback ride compliments of the flashy Ebony...


Here is Hailey decked out for riding... with all of the gear I should have had for Amanda and Rachel when they were little...


This is Bud and Hailey and the first fish... look close!


And then there's the favorite "boy"... hard to believe we used to have to lift him to his feet.


So perfect company, perfect meal, perfect day... Thanks for coming to our house, ap