TGIF!

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:34:45 -0600

We’ve had a rather non eventful week since arriving home from Oklahoma and the Licensing. We’ve all had some pretty productive riding days as, the weather was cold but not much wind and some sunshine. We’ve actually been able to work consistently on the movements for the new levels with each horse. Patrick reports that La Coruna and Glenda are both doing excellent with their changes. Glenda has finally quit leaping into the air and seems to have figured out her balance. It’s always great when a horse starts doing clean flying changes. It’s such a benchmark movement in order to proceed up the levels. Most of you out there know how important (and often difficult) changes can be to teach. Sharon says it’s time to start working on changes with Romance. Her counter canter is totally confirmed and her fitness level is where it should be to begin that work.

Mamie is progressing well with her First Level work (and even some Second Level work) and we have also been very pleased with Bling’s progress. It won’t be long now before we start to work with the coming 3 year olds.

Sharon and Alyssa have been trying to decide on which German Riding Pony to breed Dede to. At this time, the choices seem to be between Lateran and Champion’s Devito. We welcome any information on these ponies that anyone would like to share or other recommendations if you have them.

Sharon’s son and daughter-in-law are in for the weekend and they will have their Christmas this weekend since they will be with Carolina’s parents on Christmas. Patrick’s mother is flying in to spend Christmas with them and will be here on Christmas Eve.

We’re beginning to be concerned with the weather in the northeast and midwest as they are expecting heavy snow. Patrick’s mother will be flying in from Chicago so it could be an issue. Of course, many of you reading this are in the exact same situation during the Holidays.

BIG NEWS FLASH: The jennies are arriving tomorrow. Mocha, Calypso, and Sweet Solitare will be picked up by Equine Express and should be here around 4 pm. We may not be able to blog tomorrow and post pics but we will have them up by Monday. Interestingly, Michele who bought Bobby McGee, sent us a picture today of his new best friend, a mini donkey that she purchased. She says that Bobby loves him and they are very happy together.

While we are talking about our animals, just thought we would let you know that Clyde and his hens are doing great. We find them very entertaining and we think they find us very entertaining as well.

Sharon thinks that she has finished her Christmas shopping- all done efficiently online! She’s even got most of the gifts wrapped.

We hope you are up to date and finished with your Christmas shopping and looking forward to a relaxing weekend!

Back to work!

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:20:02 -0600

We are all back to work after Thanksgiving and hope you all had a good one too. Sharon and Lynn had a nice time in Santa Fe and the weather was really quite good there. Of course they ate so much that Sharon is complaining about it and now has to really be careful for the rest of the season. Alyssa and Patrick found their rack of lamb at Sam's in Abilene and Patrick cooked it and reports that it was great. Along with the rack of lamb, they fixed au gratin potatoes, corn, along with some leftover biscuits. The weather was nice here too and they enjoyed their time together. Although Patrick and Alyssa worked on Friday and Saturday, it was reduced hours and laid back efforts.

They put Born in the USA through the jump chute again and practiced his in hand work in preparation for his December Licensing. Although everyone is extremely pleased with his free jumping, his trotting in hand needs some work. We just can't believe that he will be leaving for Oklahoma a week from Thursday.

It was pretty cold this morning and has stayed that way most of the day but the forecast is that we might even get a little snow tomorrow. We are really, truly, not ready for Winter here. We know many of you live up North and think our cold weather is nothing, but it definitely bothers us a lot since we are not used to it.

Patrick and Alyssa put up their Christmas Tree yesterday and decorated it with newly purchased ornaments. The electricians will be coming out later this week to put up Christmas lights on our big barn as well as some of trees. We put the lights up last year and, not only did we and our workers and families enjoyed them, but many people in town or coming down 571 mentioned that they enjoyed them.

For those of you who are procrastinators, we are here to tell you that none of us have made a single Christmas gift purchase yet. Alyssa reports that she and Patrick have some good ideas on what they are going to buy but Sharon is clueless.

While Sharon was gone for Thanksgiving, Alyssa spent most of her time (when she wasn't eating) reworking our website. We think it's going to look great and we hope you will give us some feedback. We just think that every now and then it is time to make a change. We will try to have it up by the end of the week.

For those of you who read our blog about Gotti's incident, we want to report that he is doing great and he thinks he is ready for us to back him and start his career. We still have the other 2 year olds that we have to start and we need to make a game plan.

Sharon spent the day writing her inspection article for the AHS winter magazine. She said it was like writing a term paper and was grumpy as she sorted through and tried to recreate her 2 month old notes. The good news is, she finished it so it is one more thing off her plate.

Sharon is looking forward to "Dancing with the stars" as this is the Finals.

That's all folks!

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TGIF!

Back to work!