Hello...

It has been awhile.  I believe since before Thanksgiving.  We celebrated Thanksgiving on Wensday because I had to work Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  It turned out pretty good.  Marlin's sons were there, Chris with his daughter Kylie, Clint and Casey.  Mom was there, and of course Marlin and myself.  The meal was good.  I fixed brocholi and cauliflower with homemade cheese sauce and the picky eaters didn't eat any which left it all for me!!  If they only knew what they missed out on.  It is a tradition in my family, and is served at all the good meals, except breakfast of  course.  They all ate plain green beans and turkey and dressing and crescant rolls and lots of mashed potatoes and gravy.  I made mom backed sweat potatoes because dad and her always wanted that for Thanksgiving.  I bought the pies this year just to save time and they were good.  Then after everyone was stuffed we sat around and visited for a long time.  Lots of laughs.  It was a good Thanksgiving, lots to be thankful for.

Then it was back to work.  Seems like lately that is all I seem to get accomplished, is making it to work on time.  It has been very busy, lots of pneumonia.  A few overdoses, it is that time of year.  Sad.

Haven't been working much with the horses even though I know I really need to get busy.  Horse show season will be here and I won't be ready.  With deer season, that seemed to last for ever, the barn has been on hold.  Can't ride while everyone is out in the deer woods with big guns either. 

The horses have been real energetic lately but they quit playing when I go out to video them.  I keep trying.  Have some short videos from one morning when I got off work.  Need to fiqure out how to put them on here.  Need to discuss this with my IT person......OOOOOHHHHHHHH SSSAAAAALLLLYY!!!  Oh well, she's at work.

Making plans for a possible endurance ride in May.  It's sounds like fun.  Have to see how it goes!  Oh yea, need to start working horses.  Hhmmmm.  Gotta get motivated!!!!!  Don't know whats wrong with me.  And now it is bitterly cold so I don't think they'll like that too much.

Getting ready for Christmas, and yes it is CHRISTMAS, NOT HOLIDAY or some such.  Drives me crazy when someone thinks that politily correct is the way to go.  Remember, THE REASON FOR THE SEASON, along with lots of gifts and family get togethers and visiting and surprises and........

Think it will be a good Christmas, hoping, wanting......

Well, that catches me up to tonight.  Marlin went to see the boys and stay at their appartment in Stillwater tonight, sooooooo, I am here all alone with the dog coco and the cats, Ms. Black and Earl Grey.  Have a fire in the fireplace, hot chocolate to drink and made a crockpot full of deer chili, MMMMMMMMMMMM....It is 13 degrees outside so these are all really good things!  Doubt I get much horse working done tomorrow, probably be breaking ice and thawing out water hoses.  Cold is always better with snow, at least it is pretty to look at out the window. 

Well, I think I'll get back to the address book and making out a Christmas letter for everyone.  Maybe pictures next time.

More family time

I found pictures of Sara.  This is the serious side of my daughter in law.  Notice the smile.  It is always there!

Sara and Justin, big baseball fans.  Especially the St. Louis Cardinals!

Mom and Kaleb, always having a good time.  Notice, still smiling!

Kobe and mom, her smile is infectious.  I really appreciate that.

OK, change of pace!

This is my youngest grandson, Kobe.  he looks just thrilled to death with his halloween costume!

This is Kaleb and Kobe earlier this year in daddy's new convertable.  I think they like it.

Justin, my son, and Kaleb when they came to visit this summer.  They live just south of St. Louis.

Kobe, the innocent little monkey, on top of the head board.  He turned 1 in August.

Not sure where they are, but looks like they're having fun.  Kaleb is 5 and has started kindergarten this year and is doing very well.  He started basketball last week and I think today is they're first game.  Of coarse the one in charge of the scedule of games must be a woman because it is the first day of deer season in Missouri and even the coach won't be there.  Should be an interesting game!  Now I need to get pictures of Sara, my daughter in law too, she's always taking the pictures.

and MORE.......

This is from the Breeder's Sweeps Colts class.

The costume class.

I believe that is Adam's Afire.....He is awsume to watch, makes it all look so easy.

Halloween is here, (and gone now), a whole lot of people got into the spirit, hehee, and dressed up on Saturday night.

This is one of the Junior Stallions, was a beautiful class with Aria Impresario winning, Mr. Byatt was his handler, like the way he shows his horses.  I have a picture but I have to fiqure out witch one it is...........

More please....

They had a contest with Cowboy shooting off horse back.  The trainers got involved to raise money for he AHA research fund.  It was fun to watch, even the halter trainers got in on it, and were beating the English trainers.  It does look like fun.

This one I know is Rob Bick, I think he was for the Western team, don't remember.

This is Marg hiding behind her friend, Troy's puppy.  OK, it was not a puppy but a miniature Ausy and the sweetest little dog.  Made you just want to take her home.  This is right after Marg finished her trail class.  Rio did much better but didn't make the cut.

Highlights from Nationals!

Ok, this was a big highlight of the National Show.  This is Margaret Lucus, a great horse show friend.  She received 4 top tens in Pure bred Trail Horse, Open and Amatuer and THE Champion and Reserve Champion in Trail, Amateur!  Way to go Meg!!!!!!  By the way, Meg is a great person, very knowlegable, fun to be around and she trains her own horses!

This is MiKael from Mikael's Mania, a blog I follow.  She's from Washington State and a brave women, driving alone to Tulsa.  She didn't make top ten on her stallion, "Legs", but she looked great out there.

This is some of the Endurance riders presenting the flags for the final session on Halloween night at the Pavillion, I just think that's neet that they were there.  (Riding the green, for a change)

The halloween festivities were really fun.  They actually let these 2 into the Junior Stallion class on Saturday night.  It was an awsume class and everyone was having a great time.

Well, back to sort through more of the 200+ pictures I have.........

US Nationals!

It was an exciting week.  Got to see old friends, watch friends compete, meet new friends, shop and watch many, many beautiful horses.  Over the next couple of days I will post pictures.  Can't do it from this computer unfortunately.  There weren't near as many vendors this year.  The economy has really affected the shopping.  I did buy a few things.  A new dressage book, stirrups and show supplies. 
I watched show hack, western pleasure, hunter pleasure, working cow, reining, reined cow, country english pleasure, english pleasure, park horse, halter, costume classes, combination classes, cart classes.....the versatility of the arabian is amazing.  The classes were really deep this year, of coarse it is Nationals, but the horses were wonderful. 
Got to see Mike and Hollie, Cindy, Denise and Allen, Marg, Meg and family, Lisa, Kathy, Diane, a bunch of people from the Green Country Arabian Horse Association, Jay and Robin and the list goes on...
Sally took the kids on the first Saturday and they seemed to have a good time. 

The halter classes were great, watched many beautiful horses strut their stuff.  Halloween night was lots of fun with all the different costumes, people watching was really interesting.

Did lots of walking, talking, and just watching.  The horseback gun shooting was interesting and it was nice to see some of the big trainers get involved for a good cause. 

The endurance people were there the last night and presented the flags for the opening ceremony.  They also received there ribbons and trophies at the show.  I don't know how many times that has acctually happened that the competitions were in the same state at the same time to make that possible but it was really nice.

I think I will save the details and stories for when I get the pictures on here.  Makes it much more interesting.
It was a long week but entertaining and at times educational.

Count down!

Well, 1 1/2 hours to go at work, then 10 days off.  US Nationals, here I come!  Some day I will show at Nationals, not this year, but someday.  Wonder who I will meet, who I will see.  What awsume rides I will get to witness.  Old friends, new friends, good times.  Pictures and updates coming soon!!!!!

New day

It has been a long day.  So tired, don't know why.  Excited because I have just 3 more days of work then US Nationals in Tulsa.  Arabian horses for 8 days!  And shopping and learning and, and, ....

Today, Sally put a saddle on Chester and lunged him a little bit.  He did fine.

It's a good start.  Now I need to get started on the rest of them boogers.

Got videos from my son and daughter in law in St. Louis.  My youngest grandson, Kobe,  is finally walking.  Will try to put it on here, but not sure how just yet.  It makes me want to pick him up and hug him and never let go!!!!  I miss them!!!!!!  Kaleb their oldest is in Kindergarten, he sent me school pictures for my birthday.  Love them!  He had a really big week this past week.  He won a bike in a raffle at Dairy Queen, (and it doesn't have training wheels), then the next day he tied his shoes by himself, and then lost his second tooth!  What an exciting week for a 5 year old!  They grow up even faster when they are your grandchildren.  Need to go up and see them very soon!