What's Blooming

The poppies are still blooming. 

 I think that they are very photogenic.

 When my grandmother was in the nursing home she would always ask about my flowers and what was blooming at the time.  It would make for good conversation.  These poppies came piggy backing on some peonies that I had gotten from her.

 The old fashioned irises are in full bloom now.

 As is the allium.

 My Siberian irises are starting to bloom.

 I got this shrub a couple of years ago and have forgotten what is is called.  My grandmother had one like it at the corner of her front porch.

And the daisies are blooming now, just to name a few.

First Show

J and I had a great time at our first show of the year.  V and E were with uncle M at the beach, so we decided to just go and take our own horses.  

 This was Brother's first time going anywhere.  He loaded onto the horse trailer perfect.  It was his first time on that too.

 He was in the first class, Western Halter.  Wouldn't it be nice if he got first?  Oh well, we didn't place in a class of 10.  He was the youngest horse in the class and just didn't have the muscling of the others.  But he stayed calm and listened for the most part.  He stayed quietly at the trailer for the rest of the show.  It was a very good outing for him.

 The show had a good pay back for all of the classes.  As long as you were in the top 4 you at least got your entry fee back.  So, I went in Adult Showmanship.  Otoelene's pivot could have been a little sharper, we were 2nd out of 3.

 I took her in her first cantering class.  She did well, stayed calm and slow but it took nearly half the ring for me to get her to canter the second way. 4th out of 5.  The judge said she was making a real nice mare. (He had see me show her last year)  I told him that so far she is still just pony height.  He said she would be a super pony. (E are you listening?)

Our best class was Adult walk/jog.  

We placed 2nd out of 8.  I was very proud of how quiet and consistent she was all day.  It was a great start to the show season. (And we were only out a $5 gate fee and gas).  Now we just need to add V and E to the next one.
Didn't J take some great pictures!

Kit Cat Sunday #14

Today Kit is in the truck.  

 It's J's Farm Use truck.

 You can see he's been doing some fencing.

 Maybe a trip to the dump is in order.

Kit needed a little cleaning up after that photo shoot.  "Hand sanitizer anyone?"

10th Grade Awards

E came home with an arm load of academic awards Tuesday. 

 The first one was given out during the Senior Scholarship awards.  E was very surprised to get a $100 award in French from the Rotary Club.  She later asked if she should put it in her college fund.  I said, "You don't have a college fund, my working is your college fund."  I told a colleague of mine that and she said she had had a college fund for her son.  She saved for 18 years and it paid for one semester for the college he chose to go to.

E also got Most Outstanding in English, Highest Average in French 3, Highest Average in Algebra II, Highest Average in Biology and Most Outstanding in PE/Drivers Ed.  No award for home ec. guess we can't have everything.  We are very proud of you E, great job!

Friday's Fences #81

J has another orphan calf to raise.  It seems like there is at least one every season.  

I really like how the older cattle are looking through the other fence at the calf.

She's a cute little thing.
For more Friday's Fences click HERE.

Of Bees and Grapes

The bees swarmed again.  I was coming up from the barn and noticed a lot of activity around the hive.  When I went back after lunch I saw this. 

 A swarm was hanging off of the same tree branch that had a swarm a couple of years ago.

 We called a neighbor with bees and he came and got the swarm.  We have a new hive for ours and hope he will get them moved into it soon.

 Since they were calling for frost Monday night, I tried covering the plants that I thought might be in danger of damage.  The grape vines were at a very tender stage.

Even with covering they still got a little frost bite, but not so much I think it will hurt anything.

Brother Outside

The weather has be so bad all spring that we've not gotten a chance to work with Brother outside until today.  It was windy but at least the ground was dry. (We even had a frost this morning, pretty late for Southwest Virginia.)

 J worked on lunging Brother first.  He does fine with this in the round pen but it is a bit of a struggle on the lunge line.

 I was riding Otoelene and decided to try and pony Brother.  She was very tolerant of this arrangement and only half heartily kicked back at him when he had his chest up to her tail.  

 Then I went ahead and braved getting on.

Nothing to worry about, he did great.  We walked and trotted, circled and serpentined, halted and backed, all without problems.   Looks like it will be J's turn next time.