Happy
Summer!
How are you all? I am finally taking the time to sit down and
get this letter out to you, and to tell you all that we made
it back in one piece from South Dakota's Black Hills. I just
didn't have the heart to miss the sunshine we have had since
we returned from vacation to come down to this dark basement
and do computer work, but I have pictures to show you that you
should enjoy and tidbits of the adventures we have had now that
the clouds have rolled in today.
I want to take a moment to thank the ever-faithful Andrea Hanson
for being at the ASAP farm each and every day to feed and treat
the horses that are here waiting for homes. Rhonda, Andrea's
sister, and Andrea drove at least 45 minutes just one way either
once or twice daily to feed and water and just provide the TLC
each horse here needed. There was one scare, where Star Cheetah
mysteriously hurt his leg and did not want to put weight on
a front foot for two days, but Andrea's prompt attention and
wise decisions brought him right back within 72 hours, and we
didn't even need to call the vet!!! Andrea also helped out at
the recent Pleasant Ridge Waldorf School Benefit Horse Show,
where we were specially invited by Nancy of the school and horse
show committee. It was a cold, breezy day, but the sun did shine.
We saw many familiar faces (adopters of String of Palaponies
and Glittering Glamour and Cindy and Perhaps and Dandelion and
Taken By Surprise and Rebel were all there) and met new acquaintances
that raised awareness of the coulee region's only horse rescue
and rehabilitation program.
Zach
and Rachel in front of the Casey Tibbs museum.
South Dakota was fun....................for the first two days.
I left the evening before Craig did, along with the two youngest
children and my mother in law Sandee. We made it to Sioux Falls,
South Dakota within 4 or so hours, and got in a little late
- at around 12:30 am. It just so happened that we couldn't find
a room that night - there was an "ethanol" convention
in town and they were booked, but the third try was the charm
we were looking for! I had taken Tina and Cookie (my disabled
dog) along, too, and dreaded the thought of having to "smuggle"
them in to a "No Pets Allowed" motel, but this Days
Inn took pets, so there were two less pieces of "luggage"
to carry upstairs.
The next day we ventured on to 1880's Town, between Chamberlain
and Wall, SD. This has become a popular stop for us (see pictures).
The admission fee isn't much, and they have a diner that is
a real obsolute train before you enter the 1880 town where you
can order a great lunch at a reasonable price. The kids absolutely
loved the food at the diner, and they loved old western town.
In case you didn't know, upon entering the 1880 town you can
tour the round barn and see tons of antiques from the old west.
Rachel and Zach had their picture taken inside an old jail cell,
and there was a row of saddles from the early 1800's that were
fun to look at. Going upstairs, there are actual props from
the movie set of "Dances With Wolves". It was fascinating
seeing the teepee and the fort and hundreds of other props.
We chatted with the owner, who started 1880's town several years
ago. He knew Kevin Costner during the filming, and somehow was
able to cut a deal to get not only the movie props, but the
mule team and one of the horses used in the movie (Buck), who
you could feed and pet right on site.
The owner of 1880 town was especially proud of the Casey Tibbs
museum. He knew Casey Tibbs also (the owner is 85+ years old
and an awe-inspiring man of knowledge), and showed us personally
around the museum while Rachel and Zach petted the cat who was
sleeping in an old chair covered with sheepskin! There was a
mount of a long-horn steer in there that was killed as it was
being roped (neck broken) in 1889!!! It was still in good condition.
The owner was very nostalgic as he showed us a bunch of Casey
Tibbs' memoribilia, and then the glass cases that held artifacts
found at the site of the massacre at Little Big Horn. Talk about
NEAT!
Mule team from the movie Dances
With Wolves.
After
an hour or more the kids were restless, so we moved on up to
the saloon to get fitted for some old time clothes (only $2
per costume!). My mother-in-law and I decided to dress as saloon
dancing gals (sorry, no picture of that!!!), and Rachel wanted
to be Pocohontas and Zach HAD to be the sheriff. We walked all
around the old time town until my pinkie toe almost came out
of my fish-net stockings, then came back to the saloon for a
s-a-r-s-a-p=a..............aw, heck - I mean a root beer!! After
a few more pictures we decided we had better get going on to
Wall.
At Wall we browsed the $2.83 Store but never made it to the
main Wall Drug, as time was a wasting. Craig had already cruised
by with four horses and the rest of the crew, and was going
to beat us to Nemo. My mother in law wanted to see the Badlands,
so we took a road I THOUGHT I was familiar with. Well, what
can I say? We got lost in the Badlands!!!! It took us a little
longer, but we made it to Rapid City and to our cabin by 10:30
pm. Poor Craig - he had been so worried!!!
For two days we rode and rode and fished and fished. Janimal
and Randy (okay I had to see if Janimal could hold up riding
the trails out there!) and Mack and Fargo loved it, and loved
the lush green grass, which won't be there next month! The fishing
was good, and the pawn shops were much fun to shop in! Then..................the
storms hit. It rained and it rained and it thundered, and it
got downright FRIGID. I didn't want to ride - I just wanted
to go to Deadwood, which we did! By the third day we were getting
so depressed I just wanted to come home! It was 49 degrees for
a high on two of the last days we were there, and on the last
morning before Craig left it was 29 degrees and ice on the windshield!
Let's hope that never happens again!!!!
Anyway, the trip home with Jordan (my 14 year old) and Rachel
and my mother in law was fun. We stopped at Wall Drug and took
pictures in the main backyard, then stopped at Al's Oasis Motel
(very reasonable and NICE!) and had fun there in the pool and
hot tub. I was never so happy to get home, and the pigs were
even happy to see us!!! If we go again, I am turning on the
weather channel to make sure it is hot and dry - I guess they
needed the rain but I didn't get a tan - maybe next time........................
Coming home I saw More Slush Please, Always and Forever, Derby,
and Ruby Sign in my lower arena and turnout. More Slush Please
seems to be upset that Always is there and picks on him, but
Always holds his own fairly well. Derby and Ruby stick together,
and Ruby is looking more black and sleek each and every day!
More Slush Please will be going to training before too long,
so check in with us in August to see if he is ready to go. Always
is already trained to saddle, and Derby is growing fonder to
my heart as each day passes. He doesn't like pressure on his
halter, but with understanding and time Derby will trust you
on things he is not sure about. Ruby should be easy enough to
train ourselves (low energy level - just likes slow mo), whereas
Slush is ready to roll!!!! Always thinks he is a big dog, and
if turned out with 10 horses in a 400 acre pasture, I think
he would prefer a human to a horse any time! What an incredible
pet he will make someone.
We need people to come and help us give horses the attention
they deserve. If you can volunteer your time by being a foster
parent or hauling, please let us know. We are in a particular
bind for horses coming from Michigan into Wisconsin..........
desperately seeking someone who can offer charity in helping
us get two horses transported who are being threatened with
euthenization if not picked up within days.
I hope you enjoy the pictures, and hope to see you soon!
Susan
