Juliet's Birthday Celebration

Today, Sunday, October 30, is Juliet's 4th birthday. However, we had the party for her yesterday. It was held at Jumpin' which is one of those indoor jumping places with all the blow up slides. It's also one of those places where the noise decibels exceed the take off noise of a jumbo jet - at least to my old ears.

Juliet's cousins were there as long as several friends from her day care. Despite the noise, it was a lot of fun.

We'll give her our presents today so she'll have another mini-celebration.

Here are a few pictures from yesterday.

Juliet in her princess dress - a gift from one of her day care friends.

Marie's brother Michael gave her some large building block mats. He and Wade Daniel made Juliet a little house.

Nana and Leah.

Heading North

Betty and I hopped into our Toyota Tundra this morning to head North to Fort Collins, Colorado. We were going to take the Mustang, but with the heavy snow in Colorado a couple of days ago we decided it would be safer in the 4-wheel drive truck instead of the rear-wheel drive Mustang.

We're going up to celebrate Juliet's 4th birthday on Sunday, October 30. They'll probably have her birthday party on Saturday and, the last we heard, it was going to be at one of these jump places with all the inflatable slides and jump areas.

I'll post when I can so be good in the mean time and stay out of the cookie jar.

Electric Blanket Time

There are the regular seasons of the year - Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. We also enjoy the holiday seasons - Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Easter, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, etc. if you're a Christian you may be familiar with the seasons of the church - Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost and some I'm probably forgetting.

For me, I also note the seasons that are perhaps related more to my comfort and that of our horses.

We note the horses' change of seasons through the addition and shedding their coats. They're both heading into their wooly bear season. Next Spring, we'll celebrate the warmer weather and longer days by being covered in their hair as it comes out in bunches and constantly spitting it out of our mouths as we groom them.

Today, we put the electric blanket on our bed as we expect colder nights in the next few days. I don't know who invented the electric blanket, but there is a special place in heaven for him or her as far as I'm concerned. The season of the electric blanket means clicking it on about an hour before we go to bed so it will be nice and toasty when we jump in. We refer a dual-control as Betty prefers her side to be a little warmer than I like. With independent controls we're both happy.

The next change of season will be noted by me putting on my mad bomber hat when I go out in the early morning to feed Sugar and Morgunn. This is one of those hats with the large side flaps and are insulated with rabbit hair. I look really stupid when I wear it, but I don't care as it keeps my head and neck toasty warm.

I'm sure there are more changes coming up, but that's enough for this post.

Stay warm everyone.

Monday Video–Northern Lights

We’ve all seen Northern lights in pictures and videos, but have you ever seen the Northern lights from space?  Neither had I.
Enjoy.

Sunday Reflection - Pottery

My morning bible study over the past few weeks has been in the book of the prophet Isaiah - it's a long book. One of my favorite passages from Isaiah is: Isaiah 64:8 (NIV) [8] Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Pottery has been an important part of our lives. Neither Betty nor I have ever turned a pot, but our nephew Gary has and he's pretty good. No, pottery has been a part of our life because Betty has always appreciated good pottery. She has a good eye for pieces that are unique and well-made.

For many years she collected pottery pitchers and we had/have some neat pieces. As we've gotten older we no longer collect things like that as we're trying to cut down on our material things (without much luck, but we're trying).

When we moved into our house here in Corrales, New Mexico, we soon learned that our house sits on what used to be Indian land. There was a Pueblo community along the Rio Grande when Coronado first visited this area in the mid-1500's. Sure enough, after a few rains and wind storms, we started to find pottery shards in our back lot where Sugar and Morgunn live. A lot of it has been plain, utility ware shards with no decoration. But, we've also found pottery pieces with black and white decoration on them and a few pieces with a red ochre stain.

It's neat when you first pick up a shard knowing that the last person to touch it lived over 500 years ago and might even have been the potter who created the piece. I like to think that all the pottery pieces were works of love because they required so much time and work - and each piece was unique and well-made. This is especially true of the decorated pieces because they required so much creativity and skill. Even now, when they're broken, they're still beautiful and it's easy to see the love of their maker in each piece - even the utility ware.

I like to think that God is like that. Each piece/person he creates, he does so with love. And, even when we're broken, we're still beautiful in his eyes and we still reflect the love of our maker. Some times we just need to open our eyes to see.

Friday Funny - Dog Plays Fetch With Himself

This is the perfect dog for a lazy person like me.

Enjoy.

Horse Exercises

As I mentioned yesterday, this morning Betty and I worked with Sugar and Morgunn on some groundwork exercises. We're using exercises from a trainer in Tennessee named Larry Whitesell, a gaited horse trainer as opposed to a baited horse trainer. You have to read yesterday's post for this to make sense.

We did four basic exercises from his first DVD. The goal is to build balance and relaxation. First, we flexed their heads holding our hand on their Atlas joint which is the first cervical joint right at the poll. After a few moments they began to relax and lower their head. Second, we asked for them to lower their head by flexing at the Atlas joint while we gently massaged the rein. Third, we circled them around us while pushing the cervical joints along their neck from their poll to their withers. Besides relaxation, this encourages them to engage their hind ends and step forward with their hind legs into our hands. Finally, along the fence we asked them to move forward and back with our hand on their nose. Again, this encourages them to relax and learn how to move into our hands without pushing through with their nose

Here's a short video of parts of our morning. I didn't get video of every exercise and I included some of the desensitization we do every time we work with them. I also included Morgunn's favorite after ride/work exercise. Sugar just walks up to the tack room door waiting for some hay. Also, there is no sound or music - just lazy, I guess.

Groundwork

Betty and I are going to do some basic groundwork with Sugar and Morgunn tomorrow (Thursday) morning. We have been watching some DVD's from a baited horse trainer from Tennessee - Larry Whitesell. We like his approach and his philosophy. We're even thinking of taking one of his clinics next Spring. He comes to Arizona a couple of times a year and that's close enough for us to trailer Sugar and. Morgunn.

I'll do another post about what we did and how it went.

GGYR Pumpkin Patch

It's time for me to promote one of my favorite events - the Galloping Grace Youth Ranch Pumpkin Patch.

Betty and I were there this past Saturday to help out with the horse rides. This year's pumpkin patch is three times larger than last year. Besides the horse rides on the weekends, there is a tractor ride area for the little ones, duck races, pumpkin bowling, bean bag toss, real chickens, turkeys, ducks and goats, country crafts, pumpkin carving, and even more.

Additionally, next weekend there will be a craft fair and BBQ meals available, plus a woodcarving demonstration every hour. Plus, you can find some of the best pumpkins in the Albuquerque area lat good prices.

Here are a few pictures from this past Saturday:

If you're looking for a fun time - with free admission - come on out to the Galloping Grace Youth Ranch Pumpkin Patch on Irving just West of Coors.

Sunday Reflection - Rest

I posted earlier how tired Betty and I are our kids and grandkids visited last week. A four year old and a one year old are loads of fun, but they take a lot energy to keep up with them. I'm sure they were equally tired and they also had a long drive home to Fort Collins.

I thought a reflection on rest might be appropriate. God uses rest for his purposes. Jesus needed to go out into the wilderness to get away from the crowds to be with his Father and, I'm sure, to get some rest.

The big example for me is Elijah. He had just defeated Jezebel's prophets of Baal with an extraordinary demonstration of God's power. Jezebel set out to kill Elijah and, instead of standing on the power of God he had just witnessed, he fled in fear.

The first thing God did was to se that he had rest and food:

Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”
Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again.

When we're sick and/or tired, we can't live our lives in a way where we're of use to God. Rest becomes important to our relationship with God

Betty and I are going to take some time - several days - next week to get some rest. I wish the same for you if you too need rest.

A Quorum of Quail

We’ve talked before about our little ‘zoo’ we have around our house – rabbits, coyotes, hawks, snakes, squirrels – and quail.

Usually, we see at most 6 – 8 quail at a time.  Yesterday, Betty looked out our back window and said, “Quick, come see this.”

We had 30 or more quail back with the horses scratching around.  It was fun to watch them running around so I shot a quick video – and, of course, put it to music.

Enjoy.

Catch Up

It’s been several days since I wrote a post.  Our kids and grand kids left early morning.  It was a great visit but we’re tired and I’m sure they are tired as they had a long ride home.

Shortly after they left, a plumbing repair man showed up to work on our Jacuzzi tub that’s not working.  He was able to get most of the work done, but not all because we also have an electrical problem.  So, the electrical guy shows up tomorrow morning.

Tuesday, we spent the whole day cleaning the house and changing it from kid-proof to adult-livable because we had a counseling session here on Tuesday night.

Wednesday, we had a friend from California come for lunch before heading to Santa Fe for an appointment.

Today, the farrier showed up this morning and we had a premarital counseling session this afternoon.

Saturday, we volunteer at the Galloping Grace Youth Ranch pumpkin patch leading horse rides for the little kids.

So, we’re a little on the tired side.  Hopefully, I’ll get back to normal posting in a couple of days.  For now I’m going to rest.

Last Day Recap

Today, Sunday, is our kids and grandkids’ last day with us.  They leave for home, Fort Collins, Colorado, early tomorrow morning.

We’ve covered the Balloon Fiesta, the Zoo and Explora.  So here are some pictures and one small video to cover a few other things we did while they were here.

The first is Juliet had her first two horseback rides this week.  Today, she rode Sugar while I led her and her Daddy, Wade Daniel, rode on Morgunn. I used a lot of what I have learned working with the kids at Galloping Grace Youth Ranch to help her feel comfortable.  I even wore my riding helmet so she would feel comfortable wearing her helmet.

Everyone seemed to have a good time – even younger sister Leah as she watched. (Great pictures by Betty)

As some of you know, at the Galloping Grace Youth Ranch auction and dinner, Betty and I bid on and won the Wells Fargo gift package.  Part of that package was one of the Wells Fargo horses – a little larger than the usual stuffed horse.

Here’s a short video of the fun that was had with the WF horse.

Finally, a picture of Juliet in her Halloween costume for this year – she’s a ‘pretend’ Strawberry Shortcake.   And a picture of a happy Papa with his little one – Leah.

A great visit and they will be missed, but we’ll see them soon when we go up to Fort Collins for Juliet’s fourth birthday on October 30.

Explora Adventure

We took the granddaughters, Juliet and Leah, to Explora yesterday.  I have to admit that I didn’t know about it, but Betty did.  It’s a children’s science center that’s part of the Albuquerque museum system.

We arrived there about 1:15 in the afternoon and we didn’t leave until just before closing at 6:00. Even then we didn’t see everything.

It’s a neat place that has some things that most adults would find fun. At least I did.

Here’s a video of our adventure.

Juliet & Leah Meet Nemo

Well, not Nemo per se.  Betty and I bought a Clown Fish Air Swimmer for Juliet and Leah’s visit.

Wade and I put it together today (not that hard, but it took time) and pumped it full of helium.  We debuted ‘Nemo’ today for the girls.  Wade did a great job of controlling ‘Nemo’s’ movements around the room.

Here’s a short video of Nemo’s coming out party.

A Rainy Day at the Zoo

Yesterday, Tuesday, if you recall, was kind of a rainy day.  So, what did we decide to do?  We went to the Albuquerque Zoo.  Actually, we got there about 10:30 AM and it wasn’t raining – yet.  It started raining pretty hard just about lunch time so that worked out well.

We ate lunch at the Cottonwood Café and, by the time we were through (remember, with a 4 year-old and a 1 year-old, meals can take a little time), the rain had slowed down enough for us to continue.

Actually, it was kind of nice.  It was cool and pleasant and most of the animals were more active than they would be on a sunny day.  In fact, as we approached the tigers’ cage, one of them let out a huge roar and jumped into the pool.  That was cool!

Here are some pictures and a short video of my favorite zoo animals.

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta 2011

After watching the balloons on Saturday land around our house, we decided to head down to the balloon field to watch them take off this morning, Sunday. There are tens of thousands of people at each event, but they have a great park and ride shuttle system that drops you off right at the Balloon Fiesta park.

It was a beautiful morning with a huge crowd.  This is the largest balloon event in the world.  Close to 600 balloons participate.  It’s reported by Kodak to be the most photographed event ever and, if you watch the video, you’ll understand why.

If you’ve never seen the Balloon Fiesta, then here’s a quick overview in about nine minutes.  At the end you’ll see a balloon landing back at the field.  That’s a result of what’s called the Albuquerque Box.  The wind moves at different directions at different heights.  Usually at the lower levels, the wind will move the balloons South.  Then they’ll rise up to a higher elevation and move North or Northwest.  If the box is working properly, a balloon can descend back down to the lower level and land back at the field.

Enjoy.

Sunday Reflection–In The Beginning

Genesis 1:1 – In the beginning….

OK, this is not going to be a very spiritual post.  Our son, daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters came in Friday night from Fort Collins, Colorado for the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.  Today was the first day of the fiesta with the first mass ascension this morning.

It’s not uncommon for the balloons to come up our way and even for some to land around our house.  This morning, however, we had about two dozen balloons land around us which is the most ever.

Here’s a video of the morning’s activities.  (In case you wonder, our horses, Morgunn and Sugar, have seen enough balloons over the years so they’re not particularly concerned by all the noise and activity around them.)