Catching up on Meme's

I've got one home sick today. Kid that is. S is recovering from a form of stomach flu. She is getting restless, so perhaps tomorrow she will be back at school. It takes a lot to keep that one down.

One nice thing I did today? Got N text messaging. Yeah, I guess we needed to come into the twentieth century and let her be a teenager. She only gets 250 outgoing messages in a month, so we'll see where that puts her. I got it for myself as well, but I imagine I will drop it after a bit and give her more.

In sad news we lost one heifer and two steers this weekend. This winter has reeked havoc on our fencing and they were able to get on the ponds. The heaviest broke through and the two lighter ones fell in after. Despite the fact that we raise cattle to consume, it is beyond words how horrible a tragedy like this is to us, and I'm not speaking monetarily.

I had a wonderful time riding yesterday in a trail challenge at Tammy's. I took Catfish, while N stayed home and worked on her solo's for the upcoming solo and ensemble competition and babysat her sick sister. The challenge was at a beginners level and I learned allot about patience. I also gained some confidence riding Catfish because he got stubborn in the backing portion and pulled his version of "not gonna do it..no way..no how" similar to what he was pulling on N last year going into the gate. Stinker. I had to show him who was boss and I was happy he didn't get more upset and decide to rear. Stinker.

N's flute piece is unbelievable. When she is on, it brings tears to my eyes, as well as her instructors. It's a french piece called Morceau De Concours. Here's another performer's rendition on you tube:



I think N is almost to his level. Fingers crossed she does well. This is her third time competing at the high level and I think she will be crushed if she doesn't make it to state.

The Love Hate Meme
I was tagged by Deana for this one. Visit her blog, you will love it. She’s the best Aunt ever. Not to mention a talented photographer, wonderful wife and a beautiful human being (inside and out).
· I love to eat: Outside in the summer at either my mom’s farm on the deck, at the lake at the picnic tables, or at my in-laws on their deck. It looks over our farm. We can see the horses, cattle and ponds.
· I hate to eat: in a crowd. At horse shows, too much dirt. At most outdoor events, I hate hot dogs. Luckily we live in WI, brats are good…very very good.
· I love to go: Shopping with my girls. On vacation. To the cabin. To horse shows. To S’s basketball games. To watch N play piano or flute. To Christmas celebrations at my Mom and Dad’s farm. Ditto the 4th of July. To book club parties. I used to belong to a book club, I’ve either been kicked out or the group disbanded.
· I hate to go: To the laundry mat. To the dentist. To the doctor. To the DMV. To the bathroom in the middle of the night.
· I love it when: I bowl a strike. Doesn’t happen very often, so I don’t bowl. I can get the horse I’m riding to understand what I want. Catfish appreciates my petting. Gunner hugs me. Donkey brays. S makes me cards. N does laundry or dishes or washes the floors. Jack rubs my back. My kids succeed. I paint. I am organized. We go on trail rides. My art gets compliments (I’m so immature like that)
· I hate it when: I’m in pain. My kids are in pain, my friends or my family is in pain. Pain sucks. It gets below 10 degrees. We get ice storms. I hit and animal in the road. People yell at me. I see neglected kids at the schools I work at. People underestimate N’s knowledge and experience. S’s friends exclude her.
· I love to see: Sunsets, sunrises, the ocean, the mountains, a pine tree forest. My girls do well at barrel racing after so much dedication. Freshly plowed roads (thank you very much). My house clean. My art supplies organized. A finished painting. Classy running without pain. The horses playing. My dog Mickey playing, the cats playing. Teenagers develop a self confidence through 4H.
· I hate to see: Road Kill (yuck). Most violent movies. The presidential contest starting three months after the last one finishes. Dirty snow. Children neglected. Litter (huge pet peeve). Animals at the humane society (especially Echo – who could ignore Echo?)
· I love to hear: The Ocean. The lake. My kids giggling. A baby’s belly laugh. The horses calling me or each other. Mickey singing. N’s flute or piano music. (must post video soon). Young children singing silent night.
· I hate to hear: The buzzer on the dryer go off. Bad news. Screeching tires. Sirens. Helicopters (in our area it usually means med-flight). Mickey whining. My girls crying.

Okay - Dokey...Let's see..I'm supposed to tag others, so I will give that a shot...

Miss Keri
Miss Katie
Miss Kathy

(just to see them blog again!)