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!