What Do You Do?

What do you do when a dejected, half starved, skittish doggie shows up at your house and you have a big heart that has a soft spot for lost, abused, or abandoned animals?

You start feeding them, talking to them, and becoming their friend. Then you open your home to them.

Meet Sam.

Sam showed up in early July and just kind of hung around the house. He walked with his head and tail down, jumping at the slightest noise. He wouldn't let anyone get close enough to touch him and everyone/everything made him so nervous.

Finally he allowed my middle child to pet him. They became friends and Sam followed B around the house. Then Sam let A pet him, then finally my oldest, D. After a while, Sam decided that since I was the food lady, he might let me pet him as well. Soon Sam began relaxing around us and hanging out in the driveway.

Over the last couple of weeks he has made an amazing transformation into the sweetest, friendliest, loving-est, most appreciative dog ever!

Last Thursday, A and I took Sam and our other two doggies to the vet for shots. Now Sam has his own set of tags - a rabies tag and an ID tag with my name on it, complete with a brand new collar.

I hope he decides to stay for a long, long time.

Quick Update on Filly pony

Sorry to be absent for so long! Kids and work and everything else is keeping me from blogging! I miss it and you guys!

This is Filly:

She is a 14.1 hand, 8 year old TB/paint cross, with issues. And for some crazy reason, I don't want to part with her.

I see so much potential in this pony, but don't have her close enough where I can work her enough.

I went to see Filly at L's on Sunday. We had a longe lesson. Filly was going along great, then all of a sudden had one of her panic attacks and went running backwards, jabbing the ground with her front legs. I couldn't stay on and hit the ground pretty hard. I didn't get hurt, just mad at myself for my clumsiness. Not sure what Filly's reaction was to, but I did get back on and continued the lesson. After changing directions, L longed Filly in side reins for a bit. She had one more panic attack, then was fine.

Going around quite nicely now!

Lots of walk-trot-walk-halt transitions.

I call them panic attacks because one minute she is fine, then the next minute she is flying backwards. After talking to the vet today, we are going to check her teeth, then go from there. If it is pain she is reacting to, I want to find out ASAP. If it is naughtiness, I am wanting to deal with it in the appropriate manner. Our major problem is consistency. Lack of time does not help the situation. Consistent work would work wonders on this pony.

Anyway, here are some photos of her in side reins. I've only worked her in them a few times, and L hasn't worked her in them at all. Filly went very well in them on Sunday and seemed to like the consistent contact with her mouth. We'll make them a regular part of her training program now.

L didn't work her in the side reins for very long, just long enough to feel her out and know what we are going to do next week.

As soon as I get a chance, I'll give you the rundown on this pony....her background, how long I've owned her, her issues...you won't believe her before and after photos from when I first got her in May of 2004!

I Love It!

One of my very best friends who I talk about a lot in this blog, e-mailed a gift to me last week. One of her friends does water colors, so she did one of Buck from my favorite photo of him.

But you know artists. They are their own biggest critics. S said her friend didn't like the background in this one, so she wanted to do another. I have to say that I believe this version is absolutely beautiful. She captured Buck to a T.

See what you think:

Hey S, please tell your kind and very talented friend that if she did this awesome on the water color above, I can't wait to see the next one she does!

Family Time

Wow, it has been a busy past couple of weeks! My husband's cousin came to stay with us beginning August 28 - September 8. It was wonderful having her here and getting to know her better. She lives in California, so it is not often we get to see her.

(Here is my hubby on the left, C squeezed in the middle and my husband's brother on the right)

All of us with C.

Surprise!

Nothing like kissin' cousins!

Having C stay with us has been wonderful! We never got to Pike Road to play with the horses, but we got to spend a lot of time hanging out and catching up. As a 21 year old college student, she has done a lot of things. She has studied abroad, even living in South Africa for 5 months teaching. C is brilliant! We look forward to seeing all of the wonderful things she will accomplish in the future.

Can't wait for her to come back and stay again.

Thank you Sunny in SD!

Wow! I am so totally honored to receive this award

from a new and wonderful friend I have come to know in this exciting world of blogging, It's Sunny in SD. This is a blog I came across one day on another site I frequent, and now read it every chance I get. :) Thank you so much Sunny D!

It's now my turn to share this award.


In no particular order, here are a few of the ladies whose blogs I've come to look forward to seeing updated...

• Suzi's Blahg (This is not always horse related, but Suzi is an avid horsewoman and does have a horse-related blog...she just doesn't have the time to keep it updated!)
• From Hell to Heaven: Saving Argus
• The Many Misadventures of McKinna McHorse
• Pandora's Box

Like Sunny D, I'd like to reserve the right to nominate a couple more down the road as I happen across them!

The catch is.............there are a few rules:

The winner can put the logo on her blog.
Link the person from whom you received your award.
Nominate at least 3 other blogs, but as many as 7 (or more!).
Put links of those blogs on your blog.
Leave a message on the blogs of those you have nominated.

So, go nominate your friends' blogs so the award can be passed along to those so well deserving. :)

Thanks again Sunny!