Monthly Archives: May 2012

Baby Showers

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I did not look up the history of baby (and/or wedding) showers but my general understanding is that the new baby or new wife were to be in essence “showered” with gifts.

Little has changed the days of my first baby shower, for Amber, many years ago.  My daughter Ally, was blessed, like I was, with good friends spending thoughtful hours preparing a party that would be fun and have wonderful food.

It is the idea of showering the baby with good tidings and gifts that is so great.  People that loved my daughter came together to make sure she and new baby, Kendyll, were off to a good start. The time spent making the unique cake (a zebra striped dress and shown over a  pregnant torso), the great favors and decorations was obviously a lot.

Jordyn, as the only child at the shower (although is Jordyn ever really childlike?) entertained us all with her happiness and enthusiasm.

I am thankful that I have a family with such friends that my daughter and new grandbaby  can be ushered into the world with such love and care.  I am only sad that Kendyll’s other grandma could not be with us as I know she deeply wanted to be.

Thank you Melissa, Stefani and Britany for such a special day for my special girl and her special girl-to-be.

Fences

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After over nine months of waiting, I have a new fence along the front of my property and along the front of my arena.  I put the fence in five years ago but between last summer’s drought that loosened all my poles and with horses getting their hooves stuck in the wire, my fence has not held up well. I have been worried as line after line of wire has broken or come loose.

I had nine months of waiting for the fence man to call me back.  The fence makers in my town are busy.  There may be job issues in other places but it seems in this town, no one (remodelers, painters, plumbers, fence makers, sand delivery men, or any other type of handy man) is ever eager for additional work. They are all busy.   Must be a good position to be in.  The guy who fenced my back pasture has been telling me he has had “cows to move” .  He told me that in the summer, in the fall, at Christmas time and again this spring.  Where is he moving all these cows?  These are busy cows. 

So, finally I got a referral from him to another man who was too busy building fences for others (at least he wasn’t “moving cows”) and he gave me a third referral.  After three weeks, the third referral fence man came and I got my new fences up.  I must say it was almost worth the wait.  He was a perfectionist and it looks great.  My cats were first to try it out.  It created a sort of gymnastic track for them.  Everyone worries about exercise now, you know.

Chloe doing her daring high-wire act on the new fence for her cat audience.

Fences, a sturdy one like this, are imperative when you live just off a state highway.  In the last five years, our horses have gotten out, through or around the fence a few times.  These episodes have included me racing manically up and down the highway trying to lure them back with feed, while praying cars wouldn’t hit them or me.  I had chased them a mile or so down the road, when they all suddenly reversed and headed back toward home.  I was closing in on a capture as I had almost caught Mickey when my 90-year old neighbor came out to the road. He was armed with a broom which he waved athletically at the horses.  The horses, reversed again and headed away from home at a gallop.  I am hesitant to admit that I cussed the old man out for scaring off my horses, but I was more than a little bit crazy.  Eventually, I caught up with them and got them home safely.  The old man died soon after that, but I am pretty sure it was unrelated to our adventure.

The horse escapes have included me being at work and overhearing co-workers talk about these horses that got loose and were trashing some farmer’s cornfield.   Out of curiosity only, I asked what the horses looked like, and of course, they were mine.  By the time I got to where they were being held, they were loaded all together (four of them jammed in a stock trailer), terrifed and white-eyed.  I was actually stunned that Mickey had loaded in a trailer.  That was amazing in itself. There were three sherriff’s cars there.  I guess it was like a local crime spree.  It cost me $175 to get them back that day.  When I hesitated about paying, the sheriff offered to take them to the auction barn.  Still, better than dead. 

 In yet another escape attempt, I was chasing them across my other neighbor’s property when she popped her head out of her house to speak to me for the first time in three years to tell me to get the horses off her lawn.  Really?  Did I look like I was willfully sending them across her lawn? Here’s the thing, Lauren weighs 120 pounds.  Mickey over 1000 pounds.  If he decides he is going, then he is going.

So, this fence is a big deal to me.  It makes my property look better and be more secure.  This fence is a symbol that my life is now better and more secure.  Fences between me and my silent neighbor are priceless.  Fences that hold in what is dear to me, keeping my animals safe and secure is also priceless.  The fence had a price but it was well worth paying.

Chloe-daring to look down. If only the fence kept the cats off the highway it would be perfect.

Grandbabies

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I was never the kid that baby-sat.  Never the teenager that loved little kids.  Actually, until the moment that Amber arrived in my arms, I had no idea I even liked babies.  Likewise, I had no idea what to do with one.  Thankfully my dear friend, Liz, a pediatric nurse, was there to help me, in the early days. Then she and her family provided almost a second home for Amber as I worked nights and weekends at the hospital.  And so it began.

Later, when Ally and Lauren came, things were easier in a way.  But I was still hurrying so fast to work, run a household and manage three children that I know I never, really, took time to enjoy them.  Sure I marveled at their accomplishments and was proud of them as they grew and excelled but I was always running so fast just trying to keep up.

Now, with my oldest at 30 (do you appreciate that, Amber, that I keep telling your age?), Ally at 24 and Lauren now 19, things have changed.  The grandbabies have forever changed the way I look at family.

Jordyn

Jordyn is the oldest at four and I have spent the most time with her, due to geographic restrictions of the other two being in Colorado.  The summer Jordyn was two, she spent three days a week with Lauren and I while her parents were working.  While of course there were things that were harder with a two-year old, and sometimes Lauren and Jordyn both acted like toddlers, overall, it was one of the best summers I remember.

We spent days doing horsey chores, playing countless hours in the backyard, going to the beach and just letting Jordyn teach us to enjoy the little things about summer.  We went to horse shows and barrel races.  Jo rode in an exhibition barrel race with friends Kallyn and her sister, also named Lauren, helping her stay in the saddle. 

We don’t see Jo near as much as we did that summer but have started picking her up from school on Wednesdays so she can spend some regular time at Granny’s farm.  While she still loves the horses, dogs and cats, she also loves Justin Bieber.  She is planning their wedding.  Things change, but it is so great to have her in our lives.  Hopefully, she will learn to love riding as much as Lauren.

Riley-my first little boy

Riley is two and lives in Denver.  I have been fortunate enough to visit regularly (as my mother is there as well) and he knows his Granny.  He believes I live at the Denver Airport (when I am not on the farm) and is forever after his mom, to just go to the airport and pick me up.  I think he believes I just wait there for them until they come.  Riley and I are friends and understand each other.  We like the same books, the same animals, the same treats, although he does like some car, tractor, truck stuff better than I.  He has come to the farm a few times, most recently for the Houston Rodeo and always has a blast.  I, the mother of three girls (did I mention Amber was 30?), have never had a little boy around.  I treasure his smile and the way his eyes lit up when I watched him take his first solo ride on Mr. Kid. 

I cannot wait for the day when he is old enough to fly to Granny’s by himself.  I want to learn more about this little man with the bright, inquisitive mind.

Lexi Faith

Lexi, is nine-months old now.  While I have seen her a handful of times (since she also is in Denver), my most recent trip had her showing serious reluctance to hang out with Granny.  For the first 24 hours or so, there was no way this little one was spending any time with me.  Slowly, we had a breakthrough.  By the last night we were sitting together in the rocking chair.  I was singing my stupid made up baby songs that the kids all love.  Amber actually got to take a shower without worrying about what Lexi was doing.  Lexi is going to be a beauty like her momma.  I can’t wait to spend more time with her!

Finally, we have Ally and Luke’s next child, Kendyll, due in July.  We will add another girl to our girl happy family.  I am sure she will be as smart and talented as all my grandchildren.  It is just what a grandmother knows.  I know this is all a cliché-but grandchildren are amazing gifts.  I am blessed in so many ways!

The Dogs of Six Meadow Farm

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The current dog members of Six Meadow Farm are quite diverse.  There is not a pattern here.  From oldest to youngest, the members of the dog household include:

Lula-the grande dame of Six Meadow Farm

  • Lula, is an eight-year old, miniature dachshund bought for Ally to offset the break-up from her high school boyfriend.  Somehow, Ally has moved on and started her own family with her own dogs, and I have Lula.  Lula is my current favorite.  She goes to the barn with me, rides the horses with me (seriously), hangs out with the cats and puts up with the puppy.  She is tiny but determined and holds her own in a household of mostly bigger dogs. Mickey chased her down and almost stomped her yesterday.  I need to be more careful. I would hate to have something so preventable happen to her.

    Sneaky

  • Sneaky, is a five-year old, Welsh Corgi bought for Lauren as her bribe for moving away from all of her friends.  Corgis are cute as puppies.  You can hardly walk through a horse show barn without stepping on several.  I am not their biggest fan.  I find Sneaky a little annoying, a little obnoxious and hate all her hair.  I swear I could re-create another Corgi from the hair I sweep up weekly.  On the plus side, she is loyal, compassionate, determined and loves Lauren. She does have a big personality and watches over all that happens on the farm.

Kena

  • Kena, is a three year old Doberman and is a very sweet girl.  She loves to please and actually smiles when she is trying her hardest.  Kena needs to go to obedience school, more to socialize than to learn (although that would be a great by-product).  Since we have owned her, there has been so much going on; she hasn’t gotten all the attention and training she really deserves.  Sidenote-it took us about a week to teach the Corgi to sit, lay down and to stay.  My daughter, Amber, taught the Doberman all those things in about an hour.  Just saying…

Muffy

  • Muffy, is a two-year old, spaniel mix, and who could resist this face? Obviously not me! Muffy was found in the corn field during one of our rare spells of snowy, icy weather.  She was tiny and sick.  She gave Parvo to Kena even though Kena was inoculated.  She is still scared of her own shadow.  But I found out when she started sleeping in my room after Wally’s death, that she has the sweetest soul.  First thing when I open my eyes, she is waiting quietly for me.  Then she helps me greet the day, cuddling with me, and just delighted that I have awakened. Believe me, no one else cares that much.  She is very special and I have called her my best surprise of 2011.

 

Browndog

  • BrownDog will be two this spring.  She appears to be a Doberman or lab mix.  As a puppy, she showed up in pasture one hot summer day.  Jordyn spotted her and I knew she was there to stay.  We named her Daisy but are more apt to call her “BrownDog” (all one word). She is big now, loves to chew, loves to dig, eats anything, and is a little quirky.  Of all the dogs, I trust her the least.  She is very territorial about her food and apt to snap at any of the other dogs if challenged. If she snaps at Lula or Gia, they will be gone.   She is very sweet to people and would never leave Lauren’s side if given a choice.
  • Gia, a three-month old, Yorkshire terrier, was clearly bought when my impulse control was not functioning.  In fact, I bought two of them and gave her brother to Ally.  I was nuts. With that said,  I do like the breed.  They are little but hardy.  Gia takes her walk with the big dogs each night across the pastures.  She keeps up with her little one-inch legs.  She is game for tasting any nasty, dead animal or scat we encounter.  She trees cats three times her size.  I will never forget owning Jessa, a little Yorkie in Florida and taking her to the pet store to buy new bowls for the giant Irish wolfhound.  Three Jessas could have fit in the wolfhound’s water bowls.  Jessa was never intimidated by wolfhound’s size and neither is “Puppy Girl”, as we affectionately call her, intimidated by the giants that surround her.

Gia aka"Puppy Girl".