Summer Days

We love summer at the farm. Lots of hay went up this week with lots still to go - a dry, hot weekend in the forecast! Bruce moved the cows out of the top field, so Barney had his first true mega hill workout today - he thought he was dying, but he survived! Humidity is finally down - it was starting to feel a little too much like my childhood summers in Memphis! We did break down and turn on the AC, though. Happy Summer and Happy Father's Day to all the Daddies out there!

Summer Begins

last day of school for the kiddos - yeah! they both had a super year, and we are so grateful for their wonderful teachers! people say motherhood is the toughest job, but i think being a school teacher is right up there! it has been a very emotional week, but there has been something going on at their school everyday, which has been good - i do better with lots of activity and less time to sit and think too much when i'm sad. we've pulled out lots of pictures to show the kids how Grae looked over the years and funny things she did. the sweetest are the ones of when i was pregnant. she is at my side in EVERY picture. she wouldn't even leave me to go on her daily runs with bruce during that time. again, the greatest dog ever! have a blessed summer everyone!

the greatest dog

We lost our precious Grae this afternoon. She has given us so much happiness over the last 15 years, and our hearts are breaking as we let her go. She is buried here at Sally Run in one of our favorite spots. The tears will come for a long time for her, but we know she lived a very full life. I feel like I have grown up with her - going from a 21 year old with a dog, a car, and a cute boyfriend (who sealed his fate when he gave her to me the first Christmas we were dating) to married for 13 years with two amazing children and a farm full of animals. What a blessing to have shared so much with such a devoted companion. You'll always be my greatest dog, Grae baby!

A great week

So, the horseshow was super - Barney was a star and exactly the horse I hoped he would be! I feel like we have run the course of "new" with great success these last couple of months, and he has been a gem in every situation - what a lucky girl I am to have found him! To recap, I have now ridden him in 40 mph winds, a huge thunderstorm that came out of nowhere, around the giant, very loud mulch truck with its long snaky hose shooting mulch all around the barn, and at our first horseshow together, where we were one of the first rides, so very few horses were around for company. We've now done vet, farrier, dentist, and saddle fitter with complete compliance and lots of patience (okay, we needed a little something for the dentist to get those hooks, but anyone would need to take the edge off before letting someone stick that giant thing in their mouth). We've loaded and unloaded like a champ, clipped and bathed with no issues, and he has been the rock solid citizen every amateur rider dreams of having. Can you tell I'm a happy girl? Oh, and I didn't even forget Rowdy's awards day at school today- a good week indeed!