Saturday, May 23, 2009

Happy 8th Birthday, Lydia!!!!!!

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Happy 8th Birthday, Lydia!!!!!!!!!
Only 8 years ago your brother, sisters, grandmas, and grandpas where sitting in the waiting room, excited to see their third sister for the first time. We had no idea what fun, excitement, and energy would radiate from you as the years passed. You have kept us all on our toes quite consistently, and thank goodness for that because you prepared us for yet another sister. I love you very much, Lid Bit! Happy Birthday!!!!!!
- Big Sister
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Friday, May 22, 2009

My First Day On the Job!

Yesterday was my first day on the job! (Mrs.Love had to move it ahead because Thursday was better for her.)

I woke with gusto at seven, hopped in and out of the shower, put my hair up, put on makeup, and ate - all before 8:40. Just for the record, I wore my ATF t-shirt from the first year, jeans, and my polished paddock boots. Mrs. Love noticed the boots and said that they looked almost newer than her new ones! *lol*
Mom dropped me off at exactly 9 am and left soon afterward. Mrs. Love ran over what I was gonna be shown today and then left for Heinen's to pick up some stuff for the stable's fridge. Karen (the stable manager) and I worked on mucking out all seven of the stalls while she was gone, and we each told the other about how we had found the farm and our families the Bryer horses we played with as little kids. I thought it was funny that we each kept our horses in their own stable, with their own information sheet hanging on the stable door! *lol*
I visited with each of the real horses. I know all their names now:

Botchie ( short for something - I don't know what)
Relly (short for Relentless Love)
Wildfire (known as WiFi, *lol* )
Whitney ( or Whit )
Rondevous (I don't know his nickname)

and Chloe and Jimmy, two boarding jumpers.

When Mrs. Love came back, Karen and I where having lunch. As soon as she had dropped off the stuff, she visited and then had to leave for a hair cut. So then, Karen went over how to groom WiFi and all that fun stuff. I love that mare! I can hug her around the neck just like I do with Max, and she just soaks it all in! So we did that, and then headed to the tack room and started cleaning the tack. We then talked allot about our past riding teachers. As I was cleaning up a saddle, Mrs. Love returned in breeches, a riding shirt, and paddock boots. I felt really dorky in my dusty jeans and boots. This week is when Mum and I will get my helmet and breeches, woohoo! I left with Mrs. L and she lead Whitney out of her stall and down the hall where the baths, grooming, and tacking up take place. We tied her up to the leads on the wall and groomed Whitney within and inch of her life. I picked out her hoofs and then Mrs. Love showed me how to tack her up. Then we went out to the indoor riding arena and Mrs. L put the mare on the lunge lead and I watched from a distance.
After about a half and an hour of that,we took her back inside and hosed her down and picked out her hoofs again. Then mom showed up to take me home to a much needed shower and dinner. : )

Next week, I'll begin to ride. Hopefully Mom can get some pics and I'll post 'em.

Toodles - Hanna liz

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

In Preperation....

Okay, okay.
We ended up not going yesterday because I felt ummmm.....crampy. We really didn't need the breeches this week anyway because I won't be riding. I'm just gonna get to know Whitney first. I'll feel more comfortable that way after I know her and she knows me. I did however rinse and polish those paddock boots today. They where pretty gross before, but now they look pretty close to new!
Toodles - Hanna Liz Y

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Leaving Today 4 Clothes!

Heyyyyy!!!!!
Mum and I are leaving for a couple of stores that we found today! I'm hoping to find a black velveteen helmet: my fave! Tan jodhpurs or breeches are on our list too; and hopefully some gloves and half chaps, but I'm not counting on either. Then I'm spending the night at my Grandma Sherry's! Woohoo!
- Hanna Liz Y

Friday, May 15, 2009

The Best Blessing!

If you have been reading my mum's blog (which not a whole lot of people have, thanks to Facebook), you would have read that I got a position as a stable hand at a horse farm near us. We know the family, though not very well, and noticed that they where building an indoor riding arena on their property. Last week a notice went up at our church saying that this same family was looking to hire a new stable manager because their old one felt that God had other plans for her and was resigning. We got their number and my mom asked her if she needed a hand as well. At first, the lady (Mrs. Love) said that she had never thought about it but that she wanted to hear more. So Mom told her about me, my love of horses, and that I had been hoping to begin a to work with them. When Mom told her that we home schooled that boosted her interest. They talked for at least a half an hour and then mom sent her a pic of me and some character references. We made up our minds that we had been waiting for a year for something like this to come up and that we could wait a little longer to find out what the Lord's will was. Well, we found out much sooner than expected because the next day during school, we got another call from Mrs. Love and she asked if Mom and I could come down to her farm and do a tour of the stables! I was dumbfounded and so nervous that I could not eat my lunch for fear of getting sick! *lol* We left about 3:30 and drove down while Nathan watched the sibs. We got their and prayed in the car, then finally got out. I had seen the farm from the road so many times but I never dreamed that I would get to see the inside of it. I was not disappointed. We found Mrs. Love who immediately made me feel as though I had known her all my life and she took us to see all of her horses, the tack room, and even the room where they had a washer and dryer, mini kitchen, couch and huge flat screen tv. She explained that they had cameras set up around the paddocks and stables so that when a mare was foaling they could watch from inside. She said that mares are very private about foaling so they had to waite until the placenta could be seen so that the mare would not stop the labor. I thought that was pretty ingenious! Anyway, the horses where lovely, especially a chestnut colt we met. He and another colt are supposed to be broken in this summer, something I hope to get to watch!

I am going to be working to exchange my wok hours for riding lessons. I have already met the mare I'll be riding. She used to be a dressage show horse when she was younger. Her name is Whitney, and she is the most beautiful dark brown you have ever seen. The stables themselves are so clean you don't even feel like you have been around horses when you leave. I'll be working their on Fridays until school lets out from 9-4. Then during the summer I'll be there twice a week. Mrs. Love will be teaching me to ride English style and she even wants Mom and Dad to get breeches, a helmet, gloves, and half chaps of my own! The stable manager who is resigning gave me a pair of paddock boots size 71/2 that are in good shape except for a few holes in the back that we will get repaired at a shop somewhere. I'm so exited and so blessed!

Have a good day!
~ Hanna Liz Y

Monday, May 4, 2009

Hotels, Lovely Early Hours, and POOLS!

Sometimes the best part about vacation is the hotels, right? Sometimes they can be really crappy and sometimes they can be even better than you expected. I'm hoping for the latter this week. My totally awesome super mom managed to get us a hotel suite that has a family room with a roll out and a seperate bedroom with two queen-sized beds! The other hotel room we are gonna be at the second night has an in-door, heated pool!!! I actually asked mumzee darling to look for a pool! So, I'm gonna take my bathing suit and jump in as soom as we get there. We are leaving at like, 5 am which thrills me to no end. I know, I'm weird right? I know! But I love leaving before the sun is up and the lights of the town have been switched on. Everything is so dark and silent and peaceful. Love it.

G2G, we are having pancakes and bacon and eggs and hashbrowns....something I haven't had for ages. Anyway, have a good week and see yall Sunday!