Foaling Around...

It's been an lucky/unlucky year for foaling. I've had premature births, detached placentas, and stuck foals. Only 3out of 5 lived, and the vet doesn't know why- but the ones I did get are FABULOUS and I'm so pleased with the crosses!

Welsh pony mare "Princess Gretchen" and her colt "Hawkmeadows Knight Charger"

Hawkmeadows Elora Danan- Welsh pony/Thorobred cross- named after the princess in the movie "Willow"

"Chewy" is the foal that was premature and as a result had ligament problems- he had surgery in july to close off the growth plates on one side (they had been compressed) and alow the other side to catch up. I was going to put him down, but a friend who owns the pasture they were in for the spring fell in love with Chewy (he has the most loveable personality!) and insisted on paying for the surgery. We hope and pray it works.

My New Best Friend...

So when I got back from boston I was at a birthday party for Cari (Happy 30th!) and was wearing sandals when my kids noticed my ankle. "Mom! What's wrong with your ankle! (etc, etc.)" I had sprained it back in April and hobbled around for a few weeks then finally the swelling went down enough I could put a lace-up boot on and just basically tried to ignore the pain. I never went to the Doc's to get an x-ray, just figured it was a bad sprain. Well, it was still hurting 3 months later and still very swollen, so I went to the doctor. I had broken it- and he sent me to get an MRI- I had ripped tendons and ligaments. So he put me in this boot/splint thing (he really wants me to have surgery- but that's over $7,000- and I have "0" insurance.)

So this is my new best friend. I only take it off at night and to shower. I have to say I was VERY depressed the day I got it. Not only am I alone, taking care of ranch & businesses, but I can't even take advantage of Tom to wait on me "hand & foot!" I've had to let alot go- baby foals haven't been properly handled/halter trained, my yard looks like a jungle, fortunately neighbors have come from time to time to help mow, edge, move hay for me, invite me to dinner, etc. I actually got so exhausted (I was only sleeping 4 hours a night) that I basically had a physical breakdown. I couldn't stand up for longer than 15 minutes without getting dizzy/sick to my stomach. I was having hotflashes all the time and couldn't function. A good friend made me cancel anything I didn't absolutely have to do and helped me for a week so I could rest up. I still went to work, but I didn't stress over things- I've learned my lesson- not more type A personality (if I can help it.)

But seriously, I have play rehersal (I'm the director- I have to be there!) I'm so impressed with this group of kids- they are well behaved and awesome!!! So talented- I'm excited for our production of "The best Christmas Pageant Ever." It's a great story to read with your kids- funny and also brings home the true spirit of Christmas. Anyone who wants to come see it we are opening Thanksgiving weekend (I'll even throw in a Turkey dinner on Thanksgiving!)

Sage loves to come to the office with me most days. If she doesn't want to come she'll hang back on the porch- but if she wants to come she goes to the back of the truck and waits for me to say "Get in the back" and then jumps in the bed of the truck!

He's Homesick & I'm Tomsick

I finally have a minute to catch this blog up- needless to say it's been CRAZZZYYY!

So I'll post some pictures from my first trip back there to Boston area in July- we went to the Hill Cumorah Pageant, drove up into Canada and did a "drive-by viewing" of Niagra Falls

and drove down to Susquehannah River/Harmony PA (but it's not called that anymore) and went to Church there in a cute little old fashioned church that the Branch uses until they get their Ward building next year.

Stopped in a little town for the night in new York State and watched the final Harry Potter movie in a theater with maybe 30 other people!

And went to Plymouth, MA where we saw "the rock" but more interestinly connected my geneaology to a passenger (Edward Doty) on the Mayflower, (there had always been the family talk of it- but no big deal made about it).

Work, deadbolts and other things

So, Tom had a pretty big list of "to do's" before he left. One of which was install deadbolts in our front and back doors. Since we just replaced the front door when we had the flood problem- it hadn't been drilled yet for a deadblot. Needless to say- between foaling mares, training new help at the office, and getting the center ready for renters- it never happened. So he arranged for a contractor to come and get it installed this past week- which happened yesterday.
But, before he left, Tom handed me the 22 handgun and said"cock it"- which he then showed me how. He then gave me this wonderful advise: " Put this on your bedstand- if you hear any noise grab it, cock it, and hide behind the bed on the floor and use the mattress to steady your hand and shoot anything that comes throught the bedroom door- and call 911." I hope you see the humor in this- because I thought it was HILARIOUS!

The other funny thing was Tom's (almost) week long drive out to MA. I would get these calls because he is BORED TO DEATH- while I, on the other hand, am running around like a chicken with my head cut off- training a new person, cleaning the Center inbetween guests with my crew, and handling work- which I was going a tad crazy with messed up orders and inspections! I think I was still emotionally drained from losing the colt, no sleep, and Tom leaving, I just hope this week is better...
I have my first rehersal this next week and that's another story about the crazy Samuel French guy that I talked to so I can get our theater company licensed and get our scripts! Is anything ever easy????? I know- not if it's worthwhile!

They released Tom today at Church- it was very nice the Bishop went off on how much he loved Tom and all the work he did, same with the Stake Presidency. Women kept coming up to me crying (for me) which then made me cry. I kept saying he didn't die and I'll see him in three weeks! I'm so grateful for all the ward members who have offered to help me if i should need anything. I even have volunteers for the next "foal watch." One sweet lady I visit teach who is rather weak from a series of illnesses offered to come and keep an eye on her while I'm at work- she'll just read her book and lay there on the lawn lounge.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START...

Lots has happened since I last Blogged- so I have a fair amount of catching up. It seems to never stop amazing me how I can have have both bad news and goods news and ride a roller coaster of emotion all within hours of each other.

First-Good news: Tom got a KM consulting contract back east. It happened rather quickly- 2 phone interviews and HIRED! He sounds perfect for the job and it's with a VERY large , international company so it will continue to improve his resume. But then we had 2 weeks of hassle trying to get everyhting they wanted (insurance mostly) so we could go direct corp to corp- but it turns out the insurances they wanted us to carry aren't even available here in Utah so instead we ended up being an employee of the recruitment company and will get a w2- but for less hourly $$ because they will be paying some of the SS. It works out better in some ways because they can make part of the payment a perdiem- which is not taxed income. Tom arrived in MA yesterday and has already found a room to rent!

The other good news is a beautiful purebred Welsh colt out of Gretchen. "Hawkmeadows Midnight Charger" was born Thursday @ 4:30 AM (after keeping Tom & I up all night cause Gretchen paced nonstop starting at 6 pm the night before and was completely bagged up!) I actually watched her until 3 am when i couldn't stay awake a minute longer. Then Tom took over and woke me up 1 1/2 hours later to- "She's having it" over the baby monitor! The delivery was text book- which was a relief after Kaydee's catastophe. He is black for now but will "gray out" like his mom. He has the prettiest eye color- they are smokey gray- very unique.

Annie had her colt a few days after Gretchen- but not exactly "text book." Similar to gretchen she kept me up all night and had the foal around 4 AM. Unlike Gretchen- she had a "red ball" delivery. It's called that because the placenta detached prematurely and presents before the foal does- looking like a big red ball. I had never seen this before (and don't ever want to see it again!) Toma nd I were both surprised by it- I thought her uterus had prolapsed and told Tom to push it back in while I was at her head getting a halter on her to walk her while I called the vet. Unfortunately my vet was out of town and there was only a very new vet available. He didn't tell me to cut it, which would have allowed the foal to be born. But, the foals legs pierced it with her next contraction and the colt was born.

Everything looked fine that morning- the colt stood and drank- cute little bay half pony colt was going to be for my grandids. But the next mrning when I went out he was very lathargic. I took his temp and it was over 103- I called the vet (my regular one was back in town) and she came right out. She explained that a "red ball" baby rarely lives due to oxygen depravation at birth. We tube fed him and tried several things but later that afternoon he died.

This all happened the day Tom left to drive back to Mass. I haven't cried that hard in a very long time- it was heartbreaking to watch him slowly die. I felt horrible having lost two foals this year and I've never lost one before! The vet is trying to figure out what is going on with my mare's placentas. Why I'm having so much problem getting a healthy foal. I have one mare left to foal- Frankie- so I'm almost afraid to have it come. So much for starting my breeding program.

CRAZY pt 2

While Summer was there at the ranch, I had her look at "Chewy" our crooked legged colt that was dysmature. The prognosis isn't good- nothing much they can do for him. The ligaments aren't working right. So, one last hope is what they call a newspaper splint.

You wrap the legs in newspaper and then wrap vetwrap around that.

Chewy was cooperative while getting the wrap on- but immediately started chewing on it (hence his name-he chwes on everything) when we finished. The splints lasted a day before he had them rendered useless.

It was somewhat comical to watch chewy learn how to walk with them on. It reminded me of the militaries that march with straight legs.

I thought and thought and prayed that I might beable to come up with somehting that will help strengthen his legs. we came up with PVC pipe with an aluminum insert that acts likes a hinge of sort so he has the flexibility to walk. The long piece aligns with his cannon bone and the short with his pastern, with the hinge in the middle where the fetlock joint is.

On Sat morning, I felt like I had an idea that might work. So Tom and I went to Home Depot to see what we could find that we could create the splint with.

Here is the finished product on him and secured with vetwrap (looove vetwrap!) I think it may be working- it will take a week or more to know for sure.

CRAZY part 1

The past 2 weeks have been crazy. Crazy weather and crazy busy and crazy mare foaling. Unfortunately not all of it turned out good.

I'd been keeping a real close watch on Kaydee, one of our Welsh pony mares. She bagged up 3 weeks early (here we go again...) and so I brought her in where she'd be out of the bad weather and I could watch her closer. We bought a nursery monitor and hung it in her stall so I could here any suspicious noises, like, her water breaking.

Kaydee was just HUGE, and i suspected all was not right with the pregnancy. After a week of checking on her through out the night, last Saturday morning she gave signs of early labor. I was off for the day -first to mt Pleasant and then to Moroni where we were holding auditions for a play I'm directing. So Tom was staying back and was going to call me as soon as she looked like she was getting serious. I thought it was odd, when, I returned at 3ish to find her exactly as I left her. So I thought a little walking around would be good for her edema (poor thing had 4 posts for legs) and put her out in the round pen to graze and walk around.

About 1/2 hour after placing her there, she laid down and started to roll (never a good sign with a pregnant mare), while she was rolling I could have sworn I heard her water break and I looked over to see a bit of bloody tinged water. After she finished rolling, she simply jumped up and stood there- no contractions, pushing, nothing. I immediately called the vet- no response, left a message. Called vet #2 (45 minutes away in Spanish Fork) he advised that possibly it was a "pre-waters" bag- keep an eye on her. She walked around a little, then dropped and rolled again. I called him back and he said not good- why don't I go in and see if I can feel 2 legs and a head.

GULP! I went in the house and cut my nails and grabbed some oil. As I was heading back out- my phone rang and it was vet #1- she apologized and I advised her of the sittuation. She was about 40 minutes away.

So the low-down on a mare foaling is that once the water breaks, the foal must be born within 15 minutes to live. IF that was her water that broke- it had already been 40 minutes. Summer, the vet, arrived and went right in to assess the foal. It seemed in the right position, and the water had broke when I thought it did. So she started pulling on the front legs- with no luck. She got her chains and attached them to the legs and then went in to try and determine what the colt was hung up on. Somehow the head wasn't coming along with the legs. She gave a shot of oxytocin to the mare to help her contract. And I took over the head while Tom went back to help pull. Over a half hour later, they finally got the colt pulled. It was still alive, but our relief was short lived when it started fading. within 5 minutes of being born it was dead. It's lungs had been compromised during delivery.

It was heartbreaking. He was a beautiful, big colt. This is the first foal I've ever lost- I guess the odds were against me.

Summer and I milked off the colustrum from kaydee- incase I have MORE bad luck with foals this year. Summer looked at me and said, "How many more foals do you have coming?" She's beginning to believe me when I said something's not right with my babies this year! Is it the crazy wether? Something in the feed? Or were these two coincidences? I guess we'll find out when the next mare foals.

So Annie and gretchen are due next- in about 10 days. They both seem normal for their due date- keep your fingers crossed.

Getting stronger

Well little un-named is getting stronger. We had a minor setback Saturday when we noticed him straining to, um, shall we say, "use the bathroom." After making several phone calls back and forth with my vet, we determined it was serious enough that he needed to be seen at the clinic in Springville. So we loaded the Mare & foal up (not too easy as he's gained in size and weight in the past 10 days) and took off for the 45 minute drive. I was scared he might lay down and the mare would step on him, or that the strain of the trip would be too much for his legs.

But we arrived safely, until we walked him into the clinic and both the mare and foal slipped on the wet concrete. seriously, I know it's been there a while and the ridges that were once there have smoothed out, but you'd think they do something about that- rubber mats maybe??? Anyway, it was a good thing we took him in- he was starting to show signs of colic- the vet gave him an enema (we had already done that at home with no success), and also gave him some mineral oil through a tube in his nose into his stomach., as well as a shot of banamine- a pain med. While we were there, and since I did not want to make another trip back in a week, we went ahead and had an xray done of the colt's knees.

We were crossing our fingers that they would be mineralized already. (The cartilage hardened) Yah! They were! so the crookedness we're dealing with is strictly weak ligaments due to the premature birth and the fact he's growing so fast.

Two loooong nights, but...

It's foaling season- mine began last Thursday with a bit of a surprise. I was expecting Shikira to foal soon- but not THAT soon! We arrived at the Center- where I was keeping her so I could keep an eye on her during the day- to find a half frozen foal still attached to the placenta. It was a terribly cold morning and the colt had probably been born around 5 AM. We got there at 6:45 AM- but he was so cold his temperature didn't register on a thermometer for nearly 4 hours. I yelled for Tom to grab some towels- he came and started rubbing him while I ran to the office to phone a vet. I thought he was mostly dead at this point. It's so hard to find a good vet out here- the ones I used to use won't travel clear down here- but I was inspired that morning. The night before I had found a little ad in the local newspaper for a new vet in the area and I had ripped it out of the paper and put it in my pocket. I called and she was on her way. Meanwhile, I grabbed sciccors to cut the cord- Tom carried the limp baby into the office where we could put heaters around him and finish drying him off.

When the vet arrived her first comment was he was premature and didn't know if we'd beable to save him.

I ran back outside to milk the mare-the colostrum is critical in the first few hours to ensure survival. The vet put a tube in the colt's nose and into his stomach- we put about 250 CC of colustrum in him and then while I held his head, she put an IV into him and Tom warmed up an IV bag and he got 200 CC of warm glucose fluid.

The colt was not responding favorably at this time (2 hours later) the vet gave him some pen G and we kept rubbing him. Tom went through 2 rolls of paper towel drying him off! Finally, he started to shiver- which meant he was actually coming around and he started to open his eyes and lift his head.

We had one day of sunshine before a huge cold front that night. So at this point, the vet, Tom, and I put him on a blanket and carried out to his Mom. Tom then ran home to fashion a stall in the barn for them. I kept monitoring the colt- milking the mare, etc. A dear friend, Liza, willingly came to help- she stopped at the house to get some lamb nipples from Tom and bring them to me so we could try feeding him.

He started really perking up. With our help he finally stood up and we gave him the bottle. When Tom returned he had even taken a few steps. But we weren't out of the woods yet.- The vet said they do just good enough to build up hope and then tank the next day- the next 24 hours were critical and we had to be vigilant.

We trailered them home and as the cold night approached, we took turns all night milking Shikira and feeding the colt. After the second feeding with the bottle (and it wasn't working too great) Tom found an article of a better way to feed the colt. I just used my fingers and put them in the bottom of the pan and he wold suck on them and draw up the milk. Finally he would just suck up the milk without my fingers.

It was VERY cold and we would basically feed him, he would then lay down and we would cover him up with a baby blanket we had. All night, every hour and a half we'd have to wake him up and feed him. By friday he would stand on his own, but was still too weak to nurse on his own. While I was up during the night- I gort some of my fleece and made a little foal blanket for him to wear. Tom thought it was much better for him to have something that wasn't pink ;-) on him.

The vet came the next day and was shocked that he had made it! While it snowed and hailed outside, we did our best to keep him warm. Finally ( and I'm not sure why we didn't do this sooner) but a comment the vet made stuck (that preemies have a hard time regulating their body temp) and we Tom fashioned a couple of heat lamps over the stall for him to lay under.

The second night was much the same, but by 5 AM he surprised us all by nursing on his own! He didn't want any milk in the pan- so we knew he had gotten enough.

He still has a few problems from being a preemie- inverted eye lids on one eye- which we have to watch closely and keep medicated.

Several dear friends stopped by to see how he was doing (and some brought us dinner the night before-thanks Jim & Liza) and one special friend who LOVES horses wanted to touch his velvet soft coat- so we let Jamie give him a pat.

Clutzy me

Well, I missed the bottom step on our stairs (thinking it was the floor-it was dark and the new carpet color blends in...) Anyway, my ankle gave way and there was a popping sound (I thought I broke it). I screamed in pain- Tom came running- it hurt so much I got all tingly and naseaus. My luck, with summer around the corner and I'm now hobbling around. I haven't been to a doctor- if it's a sprain no real point- I'll give it a few more days and if there isn't more improvement I may go get an x-ray just to be sure- but Tom's fairly certain it's just a bad sprain. we got a brace for it and I used crutches for a couple of days until I got completely annoyed with them. None the less- yesterday was a great day for yard work, and we have a TON! Luckily I can hobble to the Tractor and then sit and let it do the work! So I was able to get corrals cleaned, arena leveled, and some rocks hauled out of the field! We turned out Kaydee and Gretchen across the road to the land- there isn't much grass yet, but for those two, enough. Shakira is bagging up and should foal on or before her due date! Sage is so smart- she learned to fetch a ball in about 5 minutes! Everytime I praised her for picking up the ball she would get so excited she would drop the ball- so I stopped praising her until she was all the way back to me with it. Now she's got it down what the job is I can throw the ball farther- well as far as my girl throw will let me... My Sis spent the night Friday while her daughter was at Snow college for an overnighter/intro thing. She is going there next fall- so we'll get to see her a lot! This week was busy as I also taught an afterschool acting class on Tues, Wed, Thurs- it was so fun! The kids we're a blast and really enjoyed the improv part! I think we'll have some great actors for the play coming up!

Visitors From Idaho

Just in time for some visitors our house was (mostly) finished! Good thing because we had one of those rare times when the Center was rented out for something other than a family reunion. Of course with the Center to get ready for renters, the house to clean (top to bottom dust!), I would come down with a cold! But we pretty much got it done- I noticed after Alex & Marie left that the fridge handle had gotten skipped- we had done the inside, but forgotten the outside! Yuk! It was thick with smeared dust. Anyway, we had a fun day with Alex and Marie and gang. Grandpa Tom enhancing the museum experience. Getting Muffin and her babies to come up closer- but they were too worried about Sage- the grain helped alot to overcome the fear of sage. "What is that?" Lincoln seems to be saying. He was so curious about everything and so dang cute! Kalia LOVED Sage our brand new Border Collie puppy. And Sage LOVED having so much attention! I gave Kalia a few instructions on making the puppy sit before petting and how to teach her walk quietly on the leash "heeling." Kalia was a natural dog trainer! Even Ethan liked Sage. We also ran up to North Salt Lake to have lunch with Aaron & Caroll and their gang. We FINALLY got to meet our newest granddaughter, Siena! I feel bad that we forgot the camera- she was a doll! The boys were all as cute as ever. We had Cari's three oldest with us as she was very sick from a horrible tooth infection- her face was swollen up something awful. Luckily it was one of the few sunny days we had that week and the kids all had fun playing together at the park!

Going, going, gone...

I was driving to Provo on Monday when the Hyundai started struggling up the hills. But we made it to Hwy 6 and cruised down the mountain into Spanish fork with no problems. I stopped at Sams Culb to do some shopping, got back in the car and on the freeway. I started to accelerate and... and...nothing there. No zip, no guts, nothing. With my foot to the floor I was topping out at 25 mph. Hmmm...put on flashers and poke along until the next exit- just 2 miles that seemed like an eternity.

I called Randy and he came and looked at it and suggested we take it to his mechanic. We took all the back roads to it and the mechanic took it for a test drive and said he'd give me the (bad) news tomorrow. Well- we got the news today...$3500. to fix it up. There's just not one thing wrong (which we had guessed) but a plethora of things. It's a miracle it's kept running at all. between clogged carburetors, linking oil coils, gaskets, oh and a timing belt- all of which you have to basically dismantle the car to get to.

So tomorrow we're going to go get it and bring it home and park it, and decide what to do with it. We'll haul it on a trailer back-easier than towing- I've had my share of those adventures. So we're down to the gas hog truck- Tom wants to look for a motorcycle to just run back and forth on during the summer. I'm not overly fond of driving on the freeway and highway on one, but Milburn road or state street here locally I'm okay with.

On a happier note, Hank is doing much better- he's actually walking around and somewhat back to his ole self. But he goes around quietly bah-ing for Patches & Bitsy- wondering where they've gone.

We've been clean, clean, cleaning at the house trying to get ready to move back in there this weekend-Slowly the snow line is receding back- yah! I can see grass!

TRADEGY STRIKES

IN MEMORY...

Very sad post today. Yesterday I was driving to Provo when I got a call from Tom. He had just been contacted by the Sheriff- 2 large black labs (from over 10 miles away no less) went on a killing spree and ravaged some of our neighbor's goats and then came and got ours. Apparently the Sheriff was contacted after the first incident and was looking for the dogs when he found them at our house- but it was too late. They had already killed sweet little Patches and Bitsy! The dogs turned on the Sheriff and he shot them both. They had also gone after Hank- but he wasn't dead. Tom checked him over and thinks he'll make it if the shock of it all doesn't kill him.

We will really miss sweet Patches- the Grandkid's favorite- she was so gentle and friendly. Both does were pregnant and due to deliver next month. I'm just grateful Muffin and her babies were still at the Center.

Our house is finally finished so we will be moving in this Friday and Saturday- it will be sad to look out the kitchen window and not see Patches frolicking with her babies in the Spring :-(

I also feel bad for the dog owners. They had to come get their dogs (2 large black labs). They moved to the area last year- I don't know if they realized how important it is to acclimate city animals to livestock.

This, (along with the skunk problem) has convinced us to invest in another good dog. I have missed not having one. I wish we still had Jack- he was the best, but I'm going to start looking for another really good Border Collie. They are so smart, loyal, and yet gentle for the kids.

Muffin and Hank make "little cookies"

About a month ago, I noticed Muffin "bagging up" and pulled her out of the pasture and set up the "birthing room" (the horse trailer) for her, complete with heat lamp and pine shavings. It was still very cold here at the time and I did not want to do a birth watch in 2 feet of snow and 10 degree weather. Hank was sneaky and must have jumped the fence- because I wasn't expecting babies until April....

Anyway- because this was here first time, I wanted to be sure and catch the delivery in case there were any problems. So 2 weeks ago we had Stake conference and Muffin was kind enough to wait until that afternoon and I was there to help. Good thing because the first one had a shoulder hung up on her way out and I had to bring it forward so she could get born.

Muffin did a really good job from there on out. We ended up with 2 does (worth a lot more than bucks) so I was happy- and they are adorable. One is Oreo and the other Chocolate Chip.

They are really friendly (even after disbudding) I think because Muffin is such a sweetie. She thinks she's a dog and even comes when you call her!

Opening Night...

Well... we had opening night for "Blythe Spirit. " All in all it went well. The local Community theater group does a dinner theater once a year every spring and they usually do some kind of murder mystery/comedy theme.

This year they did Blythe Spirit- and I was cast in the role of Madame Arcati- the psychic who brings back a man's first dead wife. (Angela Landsbury played the part on Broadway.) It's pretty funny because the man is now remarried. There was a full house and although the play is a bit wordy (it's British) and long (2 1/2 hours), we had rave reviews from the audience. I get to do all kinds of fun stunts and some pretty funny bits on stage.

We had a full house Friday and last night night. Tomorrow (Monday) is our final performance. Cari & Bill came out last night with their kids. We got them a sitter for the kids and they all stayed the night and went home this morning after I made breakfast and we got to visit. Tyler and his friend, Katherine also came (and brought flowers!) but drove back home last night. Of course the night they came was when one of my bigger scenes got messed up- but if you didn't know the play you wouldn't have known it. Oh well- that's live theater for you!

This is a picture after opening night taken with my friend Jill and her daughter, Annika. This youngster has seen something like 35 plays already and most of them on Broadway or in Salt Lake watching the touring Broadway company! I'm Jealous! She told her Mom that she is now going to call me Madame Arcati instead of Sister Fuhriman when she comes to Activity Days. Her Mom said she was totally into the show- and they loved it! You can see our cool set in the background- notice the pictures on the wall- this was just part of what the "ghosts" did to the set at the end of the play- the stage builders really put in some fun special effects.

Tom was asked to be the host and help serve-so he got a free dinner and saw it both nights. He sneeked back stage and took this picture of us getting ready opening night. This new theater is really awesome! There are 2 dressing rooms, a green room, (both with piped in sound and video from stage), and all top of the line sound and light equipment.

Found the Battery charger...

So here are the pics I couldn't share before. Bunny tracks and one of our resident bunnies...

"Our herd" of deer at the Center- they are there every day hanging out- sleeping on the patches of grass under the pine trees.

Update on house: flooring, tile , and paint are done. Waiting for a cabinet to get built, then the plumbing reattached. Started cleaning- what a dusty mess. We probably won't get it all done and moved back in for at least 2 weeks- but it's getting closer...pictures when it's ALL done.

Play rehersal is getting SERIOUS- we have 2 weeks till opening night-ACKKK- I always hate this time in a production when you knows your lines, but not solid and you have to perfect your role- but we'll be ready!

And new GRAND-BABY!

Rachel called us last week with a fun surprise- we now have 24 grandkids! Welcome Stella to the Fuhriman clan! Congratulations!!

I've been waiting to post until I had a picture of her. Isn't she cute?

Baptisms and Bunny Tracks

Okay, we have lost the battery charger for our camera- between the house thing and the center thing, somewhere is a poor lost battery charger for our camera. Until we find it or can buy a new camera- we are pictureless posts.

So- we have literally thousands of bunny tracks at our house! We've discovered a cute family of cotton tails living under our pine trees in the front. We have seen them a few times- they are adorable! They like the hay that I feed the horses and goats and help themselves to the "crumbs."

We've also had our own herd of deer at the Center. They come and sleep under the trees there and mill around. I've counted up to 12 at one time- mostly does with one 4 point buck. They don't even run away anymore when we pop out of the office or the back door of the center.

Now the BIG news- Kyle got baptised on Saturday- he was all smiles from ear to ear. And so excited! CONGRATULATIONS KYLE! We really brushed up on our Primary songs as we waited an hour in the chapel singing them until it was his group's turn (they were last-talk about ANTICIPATON...) But it all went off without a hitch! We love Kyle so much- he is a great helper with his brother and sisters and so much fun to hang around with- we love having him come out to visit. I can't believe in just four short years he'll be passing the Sacrament!

I also went with a friend this last week to California. She was taking a horse down to a Jumper trainer and I (somehow) made connections to get a colt on the way- so we brought back him. The story is really quite amazing. Last summer, as I was examining my breeding program for my horses (in particular the sport ponies), I decided, after much study, the bloodlines I wanted to find in an Arabian stallion to add to my program. The pure Spanish bred Arabians have amazing athletic ability and beauty and brains- all important. I had called a breeder in california, Wess, who had advertised a stallion at stud. Mostly still fact finding, an idea hit me to ask if he had a younger (2-3) year old colt he would lease for a year in exchange for training. He didn't. But we had a GREAT conversation reminiscing about the old days of showing and people we knew in common. He was very excited about my breeding welsh mares and producing sport ponies for kids to ride and show.

Out of the blue, last October, I got a phone call from him one night. He told me he couldn't get me off his mind and that he had a weanling colt he wanted me to have. In exchange, I would train and show him and he had the option for 10 breedings later. A colt of this caliber and breeding is worth around $10,000. !

He sent me video of the colt to analyze, as well as both his parents- straight spanish horses out of excellent breeding! I wanted to be sure that I was getting something that was what I was looking for in conformation and movement. And he is! A win/win for both of us! Wess is very excited for me to promote him as a sport horse.

The colt is BEAUTIFUL and has a GREAT disposition! My friend, Kris, couldn't believe Wess's horses and how great the colt was. He literally jumped right in the trailer and trailered like a dream on the long ride home! I've had to blanket him because we're so much colder here and he tolerates that every day, too. His name is Sal - short for Salvador- what they called him at the ranch- but I'm thinking of registering him as Regalo Sensacional- (which is Sensational Gift) or if I keep the Salvador- Salvador Regalo- but he is very nice!

A little about Wess-First- he is such a nice guy! Truly! He is a costumer for the TV show House, as well as several commercial clients. His ranch is in the beautiful mountains 2 hours out of LA. He knows what a great horse is and breeds some magnificent examples. His ranch manager, Ron, did a great job working with Sal- Thank-you Wess so much for your faith in me AND your generosity- Sal will be treasured and loved.

Oh- and exciting news for my friend, her horse was evaluated and seems to be Olympic caliber jumper- whoo-hoo! Kris and I had a GREAT time down and back- even having to delay our trip in Cedar City due to a horrible snow storm up here at the time, it was a fun trip (and we both loved California's 70 degree weather- it was lovely to get out of the snow and cold for even a few days!)

Over The Hill part III-conclusion

The balloons say it all (I actually thought I was "over the hill" ten years ago!) Now I'm half a century old - Thanks to evryone who made my 50th such a great time and I'm so grateful to have so many special people in my life!

My own private court jesters- the party entertainment!

Thanks to all my kids and especially cari and Kelli for putting on the spread- boy was it all good!

Thanks to my sweetie

Kaylee "helped" me blow out the candles on my favorite- Carrot cake!

The beautiful needle point picture my Mom made - it's a likeness of my childhood pony, Musket, who died when he was 35- and taught all my kids to ride.

Thanks so much Cari and company for the boots! They are SUPER warm and have come in very handy with all the snow and cold we've had this year!