Hey, got it to work!

Well, ain't that cool. Now I can put videos on here. Neat. Have to make a few this weekend. Well maybe if the mud, frozen mud goes away some. It's a mess around here and very cold. Can't work anything. There goes the umph to that new years resolution! Going to have to make changes, plans, think. OK, plenty of time to think when you can't do much outside. Guess I'll work on the web site and blog some. Go through pictures. Maybe even, dare I say, clean house. Oh, that's a thought, maybe fold some of those clean clothes. HEHE. Be back latter.

Something new....maybe

Just wanted to see if this video thing would work. This is a video of one of the 3 year old geldings, Nitez DB. He is out of SR Narida and by Winseck Whirlwyn.

What a Week

Where to start, I guess at the beginning, hehe.  The Friday before Christmas got up early and finished packing, fed the horses and jumped in the truck with my husband and headed for Missouri.  Of coarse on Thursday I drove Sally crazy with instructions and phone numbers and what to do if this happens and who to call if that happens and where everything was, and who would come and help if she needed it.  Thought she was going to choke me before it was over!  I just knew how much work taking care of the horses would be.

We headed up the highway, and after about an hour and a half, Marlin was ready for me to take over so he could take a nap.  See, I let him go hunting Friday morning before we left so he was out in the woods at 5 AM.  Gave me time to get everything ready to go.  We made it to Festus in good time, beating the school bus to their house.  Kaleb had been asking all week if we would be there before he got home from school.  Of coarse mom and dad told him when he got off the bus that we might not make it, just as he walked through the door.  He was surprised!

After everyone settled down, we opened Christmas presents.  I wanted to enjoy watching them enjoy their presents while we were there.  Kobe was more interested in the packaging than the presents but thats what you do when your one.  Kaleb loved his Mario Cart Wii game.  Justin and Sara were very surprised with their presents too.

Then gave my dad a call and we went to Petite Paree.  Marlin's first time.  It's a really nice resturant in Festus that the family has been going to forever.  The watresses know what we're going to order when we get there.  Fille Mignon, medium and twice backed, house salad.  The best steak around.  And the ambiance is wonderful.  Was nice visiting with dad, told lots of stories, caught up with all the happenings.

The next morning got to go watch Kaleb play basket ball at the YMCA.  He is in a leaque there.  It was very entertaining to watch kindergarten kids play this game.  Anyway, got some good pictures and videos and Kaleb scored the most points, not that they keep score cause they don't.  And Kaleb gets made if you clap for the other team, even though everyone dose.  This is a picture of Kaleb going down court, looks better in the picture, haha.

Went back to the house after the game and just hung out.  Worked on dad's Christmas present.  Bought him a digital picture frame and put all kinds of old family pictures on it.  He really liked it.

Saturday evening we went out to eat with Justin and Sara and family to an Italian restraunt that Justin had found.  It was incredible!  Was stuffed and took home doggy bags.

Got up Sunday and checked out of the hotel and went to say good by.  Never seems long enough, they just live to far away or maybe we just live to far away.  Any way before we left dad brought over some of his garden fair.  Canned tomatoes, canned green beans, strawberry freezer jelly and black berry jelly.  He has a really big garden that he works really hard on.  He's a good cook too!

Before we left got this one last picture, Kobe had gotten the marchmallows out of the pantry and was having a great time shaking them out of the bag and then eating them.  I showed mom the picture of what her youngest was doing while we were carrying stuff to the truck.  She just laughed.

Then it was back down the highway to home.  Unfortunetly, I got one of my migraines within the first 30 minutes on the rode and was pretty much useless on the trip back.  My husband is really wonderful, didn't bat an eye while I was getting sick.  But we made it home and after 20 hours of being either asleep or wishing I was asleep, I came back to life.

Then three crazy nights at work.  Christmas can be really strange at a hospital.  Of coarse the unit was full, only really sick people come to the hospital at Christmas!

The weather was a real trip.  On Tuesday we had thunderstorms  all day and it was 60 degrees.  Then Wensday morning the temperature dropped and the blizzard came.  6 inches of snow, with ice underneath!  It was a real mess at work.  You can't leave until the day shift nurse is there to take report of coarse and of coarse everyone was late.  The hospital had employees picking up people for work.  Well, Perry, who I was to give report to couldn't get her car started and they couldn't get ahold of the driver to go get her.  My husband hat taken me to work and was coming to get me.  I called him and asked him to pick her up on the way, cause I couldn't leave until she got there.  Bless him, he did.  Found her house and didn't get stuck, almost, but made it threw.  I didn't get home until 8:30 in the morning, which when you live less than 10 minutes from work and you are supposed to get off at 7:30, it seemed like a life time.  Plus it was Christmas morning and I wanted to be home for the big surprise!!!

Sally and family didn't get to our house until after I got home, made it.  Sigh of relief.  You see, Patience's Christmas present was at my house.  What she wanted for Christmas and knew she couldn't have was a horse of her own.  You should see the video of her opening her present at home, the confussion when she gets a grooming bag with brushes and a bright pink halter and lead rope.  Mom points out to her that there is more in the box.  An 8 x 10 picture of a little chestnut mare!  Her name is Ffire Danser, her barn name is Rascle.  This picture is actually from today, her mom will post more I am sure on her blog, http://www.arabianhorsefamily.com/

I also got to give Sally her present for taking such good care of the horses while we were gone.  It is so nice to have someone you know will do a good job.  You don't worry quite as much while your gone!  Of coarse Chester had other thoughts about this present and the others were quite entertained by it!!

Sally had been saving up for a blanket for him and it had to be red.  He has done very well with the blanket.  He was pretty much saying at first, "you have got to be kidding,"  but by morning everyone else was jealous.  By the way, I have been accused by some of dressing the horses better than my husband!  It's probably true.

Oh, and just for a good laugh, my husband asked me to go with him last night to just sit in the truck by the hay barn and look for deer.  Well, he got over confident and went farther that the hay barn and then we were stuck in the snow for 45 minutes waiting for Pete to come out of the woods and pull us out.  Fortunately  Pete saw us, and Pete and Joe came and got us pulled out.  Now they are teasing my husband about me not wanting to go on romantic parking trips with him anymore.  They might be right, at least not in the snow!!!!!!

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.