More Damage

Here is some of the damage at our farm up the road. 

 This was a 3 sided shed.

 One of the sides landed a hundred feet away.  Good thing that apple tree was there the keep the rest on it from flying off.

 The posts broke right off of the ground.  This shed was at the end of a round bale lot so we had to do some patching yesterday.

 Most of the trees just broke off but this big walnut completely uprooted.  You can see we only have about 4 inches of top soil on top of rocks.

J was going to start cutting it up yesterday but decided with the 90+ heat to wait for another day.

Power Outage

We just got our power back after 6 days.  We had a terrible wind storm Sunday morning after church.  We were in the grocery store when it hit.  There were so many trees down that it took an hour to get home and multiple detours.  It's usually only a 15 minute drive.  When we got home the power was out and since we have a well that also means no water. 

 I rode Otoelene out Monday morning to survey the damage to the fences.  There were lots of limbs down but nothing very major on the home farm.

 I also rode her out across the creek.  This was her first time crossing by herself.  She did perfect.

 The wind snapped a lot of tops out of trees.

 There was a big walnut across a fence next to the road that J had to cut up and fix the fence.

At least we got some firewood for next winter.  But it's pretty tough cutting wood in 90+ degree heat.  J thinks there is enough wood down to last us for at least 2 years. We also lost the ridge cap off of part of the roof.  The generator burned out the refrigerator so it looks like we will be shopping for a new one.  And the 4 wheeler is now in the shop after the a-arm came off the wheel while I was spraying thistles. 
To be continued.... 

Blooms

It's turned dry, temperatures in the upper nineties with no rain in sight.  I took some flower pictures before everything dries up and blows away. 

Pray for rain.  It's needed in lots of places.

Switzerland

Apparently, V and E are really roughing it in Switzerland.  

This is the view from the house on Lake Geneva that they are staying in.

Farm Tour

First off, we are very happy V got back safely from Texas.  Her team was 15 out of 35.  No one on the team placed in anything.  V had the highest score from  Virginia.  I think she had a good time.  She bought a cowboy hat and a  western bling belt.  I told her with that outfit she will have to start barrel racing Hank.   They saw lots of Quarter Horses and Paints.  She doesn't remember the names of any of the ranches that they visited.  She is now packing to go to Switzerland with E and their 3 aunts for 2 weeks.  They leave tomorrow.  I know they are very excited about this trip.

 Today I rode Otoelene around the farm for 1 1/2 hours.  It is such a pleasure to ride her that I lose track of time.

 First, we visited the goats.

 Emma can be a help sometimes.

 When we get to horse eating things if Emma goes past first without getting eaten then it must be ok for a horse to go past.

We rode to the end of the long bottom and trotted around, serpentined and zigzagged back up.

She enjoyed standing in the shade next to the creek.  Most of the other horses don't like this area with all of the brush.  

I debated not putting in this picture.  We really don't have that much junk laying around.  These were some old tires that came with the farm but there is a limit to how many we can take to the dump each year so it is slow going to get rid of them.  I think she would have walked through them if I had asked. 
Maybe V and E will have some pictures of Switzerland in a couple of weeks.  Meanwhile, J and I will still be here on the ranch. 

First Ride

Aimee, a  friend of ours, finally got a horse trailer so she can now trail ride with us.  V is in Texas at the Paint Horse Worlds with the VA State 4-H horse judging team and E just went to 2 shows yesterday so we had an extra slot on the trailer to take another horse.  So, Aimee's husband Shannon decided to go too.  Shannon has only ridden bareback with a halter in the field so this was his first time on a real ride in a saddle. 

 Of course we couldn't keep it simple.  Just walking wouldn't do.  We are in training for the next endurance ride so there was lots of trotting.  Aimee had told Shannon how to post but hearing is different from doing especially on Hank's big trot.  I told him to stand up and hang on.

 Shannon's saddle did a lot of listing to the right.  He had to make a lot of adjustments.  J was in front on Jessica and Aimee followed on Inny.  I think Inny remembered Jessica from the endurance ride two years ago and she stayed right on Jessica's rear.

 Hank kept his distance especially at the water crossings.  I think he remembered Inny from that ride too.

 Shannon did remarkably well for 8 miles in 2 hours.  I just hope he can walk tomorrow.

 I always enjoy the view from the top of the mountain.

 And sometime the views I don't get to look at much.

It started to pour down rain right when we were done so they loaded up Inny in the Barbie Trailer and went home.  Aimee wants to ditch Shannon for the next outing so we can go really fast.  I'm even considering training Thumper instead of Hank because his trot is sooo much smoother.  I'm still thinking on that one.

Two Shows

E had 2 horse shows yesterday.  She started 1 1/2 hours away at the district 4-H horse show to qualify for the state show in September.  Our local saddle club was also having a show that I needed to help with.  So J dropped me and Otoelene off at the fair grounds at 7:30 a.m. for a show that started at 1 p.m.  It was the first show I didn't get to see E in. 

 But it sounded like it went well.  2nd in showmanship, 5th in western pleasure, 6th in trail and 3rd/23 in go as you please.  She showed Hank in trail (to qualify him for state as a back up) also but didn't place with him but said he did the pattern better than Pep.  They then loaded up and brought Pep and Hank to the show I was helping with.

Since I was there so early by myself I took the opportunity to ride Otoelene all over.  I've never seen such a calm 2 year old.  She never whinnied when the trailer pulled out with the other horses, walked around grazing peacefully, and stood in the stall for the first time without even pawing.  I showed her in Jr. Horse GAYP and got 3rd and ride a buck and got 5th (beat E on Pep).  Hank got two 2nd's but he is still first in by book.  And thanks to J for all of the driving and being a wonderful waterboy and the 5 pictures he took.