From Will:
I just wanted to give you a short update on what's happening around here. First, of course it's almost CranFest. As we've said before, Look it up on the Internet if you would like to know more about it at Cranfest.com
Anyway, things are getting busier around here and Happily we get to add my Mom and Dad to the mix! I really enjoyed getting to see all the friends and family while we were in Florida for their Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary but we didn't get much "one on one" time together. Their coming up here is already making up for that and I am so grateful!
I of course am a Cranfest widower; with Deanna on the board, she is so busy that the kids and I don't get to see her much this month. The more and more she gets involved with Cranfest, the less and less that I do. I don't mind! I love what Cranfest does for this community and frankly Deanna has more to offer when it comes to this sort of stuff, so I willingly support her more and more as MY contribution. Deanna really is good at what she does and what she does, is a lot!
Dad and I spent the day listing things that needed to be checked or done with their Wisconsin Home (Camper-trailer), and got started taking care of the things we could fix, and deciding (grudgingly) what we couldn't fix.
This morning we hope to get his camper washed and maybe start on waxing it. This afternoon Deanna needs to pick up supplies in LaCrosse, which is 40 miles away. So, we're going to ride with her so we can spend some time together just the 4 of us. This maybe the only chance we get. We haven't decided where we're going to eat while we're there but considering the many choices is half the fun!
Jessalyn was up for Cranberry Princess along with her cousin Jessica. The two girls looked gorgeous in their dresses but didn't win...this year! Both were heartily encouraged to try again next year and said they will. Jessalyn, is still going to be quite busy with show choir and Crantastic Singers. She loves to make a big drama out of how she has to learn two different sets of songs and dance moves for the two different troupes. There is a lot of songs and dance steps to learn for each but I won't encourage her making a big deal of it. ( I am VERY proud though!!! Shhhh! it's our secret okay?)
Jacob will have the house to himself this afternoon which he considers a real treat! TV, Computer, Video games etc, all-to-himself! wooo hooo! Often I have come home and found him doing all three at once, quite a trick that!
Well, I have to go check my Facebook page; last night I checked only to find I had another 125
friend requests. That sounds like bragging and it is a little, but it's not that they want to "know" me, they just want me on their team for a game I play on Facebook. So my head doesn't get too big. Still, it's kind of cool that I have something like 1,300 "friends" and counting! I collect 'em like a hobby!
May the Lord Bless You and Keep You and Give You Peace!
God Bless America, we pray for you everyday.
Will.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Troops in Afghanistan Pay Tribute to Soldier Awarded Medal of Honor - FOXNews.com
There is a link below to take you to the Fox News website with this story.
If you are an American; if the words in the picture above mean anything to you at all, click the link below and read the story.
It's Every Americans Duty to Remember.
Troops in Afghanistan Pay Tribute to Soldier Awarded Medal of Honor - International News News of the World Middle East News Europe News - FOXNews.com
Posted using ShareThis
Troops in Afghanistan Pay Tribute to Soldier Awarded Medal of Honor - International News News of the World Middle East News Europe News - FOXNews.com
Posted using ShareThis
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
A great, great day yesterday!!
On Labor Day Will and I decided to be different and not "labor". Usually that is our day to work in the yard etc. to start getting ready for winter. We changed our habit permanently! We decided to go to the Chuck Wagon Races in Nashua, Iowa. Mom and Dad have been going for years with Uncle Leonard and Aunt Marion and have always wanted us to go, but things never worked out.....this year we went. What a blast!
Ok, so for those of you who don't know me all that well....horses are one of my "loves". I have ridden for about 40 years (man it's scary being able to say that). In high school and after I worked on a horse farm helping to train Arabians (volunteer) and have owned horses before. I love them, love their attitudes, love their looks. I feel at home the minute I walk into a barn. Given the right circumstances, I think I could have easily worked on a horse farm all of my life. God had different plans though and I'm fine with that.
Suffice it to say that the minute that I sat down on that bleacher and the first horse appeared, I was happy. Then they brought out the wagons. WOW. These wagons are pulled by retired/rescued race horses that love to run. The minute they step out onto the track they are pumped and ready to go... I don't know how the drivers hold them back.
Four horses pull each wagon and then there are 4 outriders that each have a job to do. They have put the wagons in a line and they pull out this tent type contraption from the back and set the poles in the ground like they would have in the cowboy days. Then there is this (pseudo stove) on the ground too. One guy stands at each of those. There is another outrider holding his horse and the other two while standing on the ground behind the wagon. The fourth outrider is standing at the heads of the horses that are pulling the wagon.
So the gun goes off and the guy grabs the stove and throws it into the back. The guy holding the stakes throws them and the tent into the wagon. The guy holding the team has already let go and the team is already heading out. They run forward and circle a barrel and then turn back and head out onto the track. Meanwhile the outriders are all busy sprinting for their horses and trying to throw themselves into the saddle before the horse is gone, because the minute that the other racers hit the track the outriders horses are ready to be there too. The track is 1/2 mile long and the wagons are FAST. The outriders race to catch up to their wagon. When the wagons cross the finish line, all 4 of the outriders have to be within 150 yards of their wagon or there are penalties.
Now this is fast and total chaos. When you hear about it, you think that you will be able to follow it all, but the truth is that from the time the gun goes off until the time the race is finished is about 1 minute. By then you as the spectator have your heart thumping in your throat and are holding your breath. I don't know how it happens, but you are hooked immediately. It was great!
They had races of single riders that were riding racehorses with tatoos (proving they had been racers) and then there was a farmer's race that was horses that were not tatooed. Man did that go fast. The one race was 1/2 mile in 46 seconds. There were chariot races and then the outriders raced their horses. There was even a "powder puff" race which was women driving wagons with a 2 horse team instead of the 4 for the men. That was great and I could well imagine myself being an outrider (man did it look fun). Will kept saying "No", but I can dream can't I?
All in all it was wonderful and we are already planning next year's trip to include a sightseeing trip and 2 days of racing. Right now I think I would make the 3 hour trip to go again today if they were there. What a Blast!!!
Have a great day.
dea
Ok, so for those of you who don't know me all that well....horses are one of my "loves". I have ridden for about 40 years (man it's scary being able to say that). In high school and after I worked on a horse farm helping to train Arabians (volunteer) and have owned horses before. I love them, love their attitudes, love their looks. I feel at home the minute I walk into a barn. Given the right circumstances, I think I could have easily worked on a horse farm all of my life. God had different plans though and I'm fine with that.
Suffice it to say that the minute that I sat down on that bleacher and the first horse appeared, I was happy. Then they brought out the wagons. WOW. These wagons are pulled by retired/rescued race horses that love to run. The minute they step out onto the track they are pumped and ready to go... I don't know how the drivers hold them back.
Four horses pull each wagon and then there are 4 outriders that each have a job to do. They have put the wagons in a line and they pull out this tent type contraption from the back and set the poles in the ground like they would have in the cowboy days. Then there is this (pseudo stove) on the ground too. One guy stands at each of those. There is another outrider holding his horse and the other two while standing on the ground behind the wagon. The fourth outrider is standing at the heads of the horses that are pulling the wagon.
So the gun goes off and the guy grabs the stove and throws it into the back. The guy holding the stakes throws them and the tent into the wagon. The guy holding the team has already let go and the team is already heading out. They run forward and circle a barrel and then turn back and head out onto the track. Meanwhile the outriders are all busy sprinting for their horses and trying to throw themselves into the saddle before the horse is gone, because the minute that the other racers hit the track the outriders horses are ready to be there too. The track is 1/2 mile long and the wagons are FAST. The outriders race to catch up to their wagon. When the wagons cross the finish line, all 4 of the outriders have to be within 150 yards of their wagon or there are penalties.
Now this is fast and total chaos. When you hear about it, you think that you will be able to follow it all, but the truth is that from the time the gun goes off until the time the race is finished is about 1 minute. By then you as the spectator have your heart thumping in your throat and are holding your breath. I don't know how it happens, but you are hooked immediately. It was great!
They had races of single riders that were riding racehorses with tatoos (proving they had been racers) and then there was a farmer's race that was horses that were not tatooed. Man did that go fast. The one race was 1/2 mile in 46 seconds. There were chariot races and then the outriders raced their horses. There was even a "powder puff" race which was women driving wagons with a 2 horse team instead of the 4 for the men. That was great and I could well imagine myself being an outrider (man did it look fun). Will kept saying "No", but I can dream can't I?
All in all it was wonderful and we are already planning next year's trip to include a sightseeing trip and 2 days of racing. Right now I think I would make the 3 hour trip to go again today if they were there. What a Blast!!!
Have a great day.
dea
Thursday, September 03, 2009
An interesting Quote in these terribly interesting times:
I predict future happiness for Americans
if they can prevent the government
from wasting the labors of the people
under the pretense of taking care of them.
Thomas Jefferson.
if they can prevent the government
from wasting the labors of the people
under the pretense of taking care of them.
Thomas Jefferson.
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