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How did we end up in August already?

Every summer, July seems to be our busiest month.  This year was no exception.  Keeping up with blog posts seems to fall on the back burner as the days get long and filled with activities.  Evenings are spent riding horses and we come in from the barn around 8:30 to eat some dinner and get kids in bed.

So what have we been up to?  Early July included a week of Pony Club camp for the kids.  Vicki got cleared by the doctor to resume riding after her broken arm, just in time for the last 2 lessons at camp.

Towards the end of the month, we had a short trip down to Washington DC.  It was a down Sunday, back Wednesday trip.  But while we were there, we did take the kids to the National Archives, outside the White House, Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, and Mount Vernon.  We camped in our travel trailer at the campground on Joint Base Andrews.  Here are a bunch of photos from that trip.

Right after we got back, it was a quick turnaround and the New London County 4-H fair started on Friday evening.  Since we sold the goats, it we only had 2 rabbits and 1 dog to take with us, in addition to a lot of exhibit hall entries.  We camped in the trailer on the fairgrounds and it was a good weekend.  I set up an amateur radio station to run a demo, but also to have something fun for me to do.

Sunday afternoon, Alex and Vicki left directly from the fair to 4-H Camp for the week.  Unfortunately, Alex managed to slide playing kickball and broke his wrist in 2 places on Sunday night.  He still finished the time at camp after getting a cast, but he’s off horses for 2 months.  Amanda was the big farm helper while the others were gone.

Father’s Day 2015

Yesterday was Alex’s 12th birthday.  On Friday evening, he got to have a few friends spend the night.  For that age group, it basically means lots of time playing video games and watching a movie.  The boys stayed up late and got up early.  On Saturday evening, he requested pizza for his birthday dinner, so we went to California Pizza Kitchen at Foxwoods.  Alex almost fell asleep in the back seat on the way home.

 

This morning, it was pouring rain.  After morning chores were done, I spent some quality time in the garage organizing and cleaning.  Then, later in the afternoon as the showers cleared, Alex and I went to the range to do some shooting.  We had the place to ourselves for the 2 hours we were there and we had a great time.  He really enjoys shooting his rifle.

Once we got home, I groomed Mystique and snapped a few new pictures.  It was hot and humid, and I was tired.  We can ride tomorrow after work.

Overall, it was a good day.

2015 WGHA Hunter Pace #1

Today was the first hunter pace of the year. It was 9.4 miles and we finished in 1:38.  This year we moved up 1 division to the Hilltoppers, which is supposed to be mostly trotting, with some canter and some walking.   We did that, but apparently our horses trot too fast or too much because we were more than 16 minutes too fast. In fact, we were only 3 minutes and change off the pace for the hunter division. I think we will move up again next ride.
Last month,  Ace joined our farm as a boarded horse. Alexis, who used to lease Huey, got to do her first hunter pace and Ace did great. In fact, all the horses did great. Alex and Alexis got 5th in the Jr division.

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Non-stop fun

It’s been 2 weeks since I posted.  It’s not that there hasn’t been anything going on, but rather, we have been so busy I’ve been too tired to sit down and write.

On May 16th, we had the CT State 4-H Horse Show.  6 kids from our club, the Barnyard Buddies, attended and had a great time.  Vicki managed to win the walk-trot division and the 18″ hunter division.  On the 17th, our club participated in PetTopia in Jewitt City.

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Monday, the 18th was Amanda’s fifth birthday.  We had a small family party Sunday evening before my parents (who had been in town for the previous 2 days), left with all 3 kids and our travel trailer Monday morning.  They took a trip to Steamtown, PA and had a great time.  I don’t have any pictures because I stayed home with Anna.

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A friend who knits made Amanda a “big pink stocking” in accordance with her repeated requests.

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Of course, while they were gone we got some good trail riding in on Dakota and Mysti.  We have found a nice 6 mile loop for conditioning the horses.  We also have a 4 mile loop and occasionally even ride in the arena.

This weekend, the weather was amazing.  Since I had both Friday and Monday off work, we did a family trail ride on Friday (6 mile loop) with everyone geared up for the first hunter pace which is 2 weeks away.  Never try something new on race day!  The plan this year is Vicki and Anna will ride in the slower division and Alex and I will ride in the middle division.  So, today, Alex and I went out and ratcheted up the speed.  Dakota and Mysti are an amazing team on the trails.  Dakota is a rock star in the lead!  Mysti has found her confidence and is very sure-footed.  She isn’t ready to be a leader, but we will work on that later in the summer.  We logged about 20 miles in the past 8 days, so her conditioning is progressing nicely!  When we got back today, Vicki hopped on to cool her off in the arena.

Sunday was Amanda’s “A Very Hungry Caterpillar” birthday party.

This afternoon, Anna and I worked on planting more in garden – this will be our biggest garden yet.  Anna also spent about 4 hours teaching lessons in the arena today.  After dinner tonight, Amanda insisted that we have a Memorial Day party, so Vicki and Amanda did an impromptu performance of dog tricks with Turbo and Mack.

Luckily, I go back to work in the morning so I can rest up for next weekend!

 

Sewing Breyer blankets…

After Vicki finished her home work this morning she begged me to help her make some blankets for her Breyer model horses. So we used some left over fabric from the pillow case project and some bias tape and sew on velcro to make some fabulous blankets. Vicki did ALL the sewing. I helped with some of the pinning and taught her how to make a pattern. She’s really happy with the outcome.

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Fun in the Snow

Today we spent some time enjoying the snow instead of shoveling it. The sun was shining and the kids rode the ponies bareback in the snow. Then I got King out and drug the kids around on a sled for a while. He is such a good boy!!
Tomorrow we will be back to shoveling as there is another storm approaching.

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Christmas 2014

Christmas this year was a small affair.  No familiy visiting from out of town, and no where we had to be.  On Christmas Eve, we joined the Smith’s, owners of Cedars of Lebanon Farm, or their annual Christmas Eve brunch.  It has become a holiday event we look forward to.  The fact that their daughter Natalie is in culinary school and uses the brunch to showcase recipes doesn’t hurt.

After we got home, Vicki set to work baking the cookies for Santa, sugar cookies with a pepermint glaze are the appropriate recipe.

That evening, we headed to North Stonington Congregational Church to see some old friends at the evening service, and then back home for a traditional Swedish dinner that Anna put together.  We had meatballs with cranberry sauce (she couldn’t find lingonberry jam locally), ham, potatoes, pickled herring, pickled salmon, and pickles.  Afterwards, the kids got to open 1 present, plus their new pj’s from Grandma and Grandpa.  A fire in the fireplace seemed like a good idea, but as the evening progressed, the temperature outside climbed to almost 60F.  Turbo joined us fo the reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.

We told the kids before they went to bed, no presents would be opened on Christmas morning until the animals at had to been checked on and horses fed hay.  The rest of the chores would be deferred to later in the morning.

At 7:30, the kids came into our room to wake us up.  The horses had been fed their hay and Alex had actually completed all his morning chores.  Vicki went to make a pot of coffee for us while we got ready to join them for presents.

After opening gifts, the kids got to play with their new toys.  Since it was in the low 60s, Anna and I decided to head outside and spend 6 hours on a fencing project.  We significantly collapsed the goat paddock and gave a most of the back property to the horses.   By the time we came in well after dark, we were ready for a simple dinner of farm fresh eggs and bacon.

We were also surprised with a very nice gift from some friends and found the perfect spot for our new addition in the kitchen.

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Today was spent loading hay in the barn, loading shavings, riding horses, and time at the gun range.  Merry Christmas from our family to yours, and have a Happy New Year!

 

Trail Sundays

This afternoon I (Anna), Alex, Vicki and Alexis took the ponies on a trail ride. Living next to Pachaug State Forest really has its advantages. It was a perfect not too cold December day for a trail ride. The ponies were all feeling good and walking through the brooks and puddles from the recent rains. We went a little faster too…and everyone stayed on. It’s kinda fun now that the kids are older and can stay with their ponies a bit better and handle the occasional frisky moment. Fresh air, the sound of rustling leaves,  filtered sunlight, really can’t beat it. Now with two 9-10 year olds  it wasn’t quiet but enjoyable.

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Vicki’s birthday

 

Today was Vicki’s 9th birthday.  She left with Anna early this morning to go to the Big E in Springfield MA for a dog show with Turbo.  There was a special 4-H class: Vicki got 4th in 8-10 year old showmanship.  They got to participate in an AKC agility clinic and a junior handling clinic.  They also watched some showing, obedience, and agility trials.

After she got home, it was time for presents.  Dinner was her favorite: venison steak and mashed potatoes.  And of course cake for dessert!  Enjoy the pictures

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A great birthday

Today I turned 38.  Last night Anna and I went out to dinner without the kids.  Since I took a few days of leave this week, I was able to get up before dawn and spend the morning hunting.  While I didn’t harvest any deer, I did enjoy the morning in the foggy woods.  When I came in from my hunt, Amanda was following me around giving me “gifts”.  They were basically items she collected around the house and wrapped up in her blankets, but she was very excited to share with me.  I had a short sit in the tree stand in the afternoon and then went to trim a few horses this evening.  When I returned, we had dinner (venison and potatoes!) and cake.

Vicki made the cake from scratch.  Apparently this recipe required 8 egg yolks, so today she learned how to separate the white and yolk (manually using the shells).  She used pre-made icing, because my favorite cake is yellow cake with chocolate icing.

wpid-20141112_204057.jpgVicki also made me a birthday present.  She used her loom to make a little pouch, and inside, she put 38 hunting passes.  She was very excited because they don’t have any expiration date or restrictions.  I think I know who will be using some of them with me.

So what made it a great day?  Family.