December 2, 2006

"Tis the Season" to be delinquent in writing farm updates! I am sorry!

My schedule last week included working Monday through Wednesday full days, then having Thanksgiving for 25 people the next day! I wouldn't have traded this for the world, though, as I look forward to having the important people in my life close by and happy to be here. The children ranged in ages from ten months to 18 years, and we were blessed with the older and younger generations of our family to share in the many great dishes that had been prepared by everyone!

My sister in law makes the BEST desserts and brought a delicious chocolate rum pecan pie that was beyond words. My sister brought the best green bean casserole and pumpkin pies, my mother brought the chicken fruit nut salad, and my sister in law Chris brought a very exquisite bottle of French wine and cranberries which was enjoyed by all! My mother in law brought her famous seven layer salad -- two different kinds - and we all ate like kings and queens. Don't you feel lucky just to be alive on these days when there is soooo much to be thankful for?

The warm weather has been a delight to be out riding in and doing chores, but we are paying the consequences with the mud. Since we are on overload right now it makes for even muddier paddocks. We had quite a scare last week when our new foster daughter moved in and the kids had the day off school. There was mass noise and fun happening on all sides and I was outside, then in, then back outside as I ran crowd control. On one of my trips in, a car pulled up and it had cherries on top. The side of the car read "Vernon County Sheriff's Department".................then a knock on the door. I FREAKED and walked to the door trying not to put any emotion on my face. The guy said, "Sheriff's Department" . I thought, "NO DUH?"....and invited him in. He asked if our dogs stayed in the yard and I thought it was about them. I said they did now that we have invisible fence set up since last summer. He then peered around at all the childrens' faces staring back at him and said that someone had dialed 9-1-1 from our home phone. I said, "No we didn't". He said, "well someone did". My foster daughter took off, then my seven year old and her friend took off and my ten year old son and his friend were downstairs. I walked around the house interrogation-style....and no one confessed. I apologized to the officer. He then said (and this made me rip-roaring IRATE), "What about that thin horse out there?". Precious was outside and I had a blanket out about ready to put on her but hadn't gotten that far yet. I explained that we had had her for six years approximately and that this is the best she was going to look and explained why. He said, "I wondered who I would call to rescue a horse from a rescue" and giggled and walked out the door. I about flew through the doorway to get at him but had to refrain. I walked outside and vented all of it to my husband...........practically hyperventilating. HOW DARE HE? He was a new guy, as all the other deputies know us since we have done foster care for 19 years. This guy needed some education. I phoned the business line at the sheriff's department and mentioned to them who had been to our farm and that I was very offended by his comments to me about Precious.

I explained and explained, and the dispatcher said, "uh huh, yup, uh huh" then put me on hold to answer another call. I hung up.........why am I throwing pearls to swine (the new guy)? I am not going to worry about it. The deputy commented that all other horses looked fine except Precious but that he had grown up on a farm, yada yada....oh I will never forget those words! Anyway we never heard anything back about the 9-1-1 call but suspect my young daughter and her friend but no solid proof! Live and learn - we now keep the phones in our bedroom away from the kids!

To add to our adventures, we decided to go out to a state park at Yellow River to ride last Friday on the warm 60 degree day that we had. We loaded up Janimal, Randy, Lester, and Tex and the truck full and met our niece and sister and brother in law there. We had assumed that their deer hunting season was not beginning until December so saddled up and away we went down the trail. About half way through our ride we spotted a truck at the end of the trail near the river. As we proceeded on the trail we spied blaze orange up above us.........then a tree stand with three hunters in it. We looked at each other, the men glared at us, we shrugged our shoulders and rode on. When we arrived back at camp my sister and brother in law said, "Didn't you see the signs at the horse camp that said Equestrian trails were closed until further notice?"...............Craig was so mortified as he is an avid sportsman and respects laws and rules to the letter................we were embarassed and almost ashamed of ourselves!!! We did a short road ride and then got rid of the horsey evidence by loading the horses into the trailer before roasting smores around the campfire............all of our faces blushing. I will bet those hunters were swearing under their breath as we rode by!!!! OOps, live and learn. Now that deer hunting season is over we can ride anywhere again - what a relief!

So home again home again jiggety jig and this week has been a week of catch up from last. My foster daughter is settling in which brings a new set of stresses as we all get to know each other. Lori has been doing a fantastic job of getting JD arranged to ship to Texas for his Dyna-splint treatment with Jana - I told her it is a relief to be able to entrust people to just take the ball and run with it! Mikey and Double O are on their way to a new foster/adoptive family in Iowa this week. We are very very grateful for this family that has stepped up to help. We also thank Sue M. and her family for the one year plus that they dedicated towards their care.

Still needing homes are Ozzie and Allie, and about eight STB's waiting for pick up in Illinois. Hononegah and Fox Valley Festus and Margie's Bunny and Legacy Lin are all waiting for new homes - won't you consider that this holiday season?

The Christmas newsletter is coming hot off the print and will be mailed out in the next week and new brochures also! You will love them!

Our board meeting is in January so let us know if you are available to attend and which dates might work for you - and should we meet at the race track this year? Just a thought.

I am meeting with Isle of Capri Casinos in McGregor Iowa on Thursday to discuss fund raising options since Pompano Race Track in Florida is owned by them.....wish us luck!

Ann Iowa radio station is now running free public service announcements for ASAP! Special thanks to Rhonda Gritton for her trip here to see the horses and what we do and her effort in getting the psa's up and running! We also want to thank Lissa for her effort to come together to do a news article for an Iowa paper which will also bring more awareness of our mission and our horses to the public! Thank you to Carol Williams for her fresh face in coordinating the Mid West Horse Fair in April! It's going to be great.

I will continue to try to keep you "up" on all the latest things going on here........I know many of you write when I have not updated recently and remind me to do so..........I appreciate that and feel as though you all really enjoy hearing the real life of Susan and ASAP!!!!

Take care!
Susan

Read past farm updates