Granny Smith and Moon the Horse

Granny Smith decided to come ride horses with the Spy Twins over at the arena this winter.  The lady who owns the arena has a "bullet proof" older barrel horse, named Moon,  she said he could ride.

Well, Moon was pretty good.  He wasn't as quiet as I'd like, but I'm extremely paranoid about things like that.  I think Granny Smith was on his fourth ride.  He was getting pretty confident and jogging across the arena and having a great time.  I get too nervous to watch (the paranoid part - I can barely watch the Spy Twins and they've been riding for a year now) so I was out in the suburban talking on the phone.  I looked up and saw Nova Spy motioning me to come here.  Oh No.

"Is Granny Smith OK!??"
"He will be."
"AHH!"
"Mom, calm down.  Kathy (Granny's teacher) says to just come into the arena quietly."
I adopted my best "bedside manner" and calmly (moderately) went in.  Granny Smith was just getting up off the arena floor.  He was covered with dirt and his face was muddy and streaked with tears.

 He was ok.  His biggest concern was whether he had just fallen off or whether Moon had really bucked, because it seemed like Moon had bucked.  Kathy said, "no, buddy, Moon really bucked. You did great."  So the boys told him how Moon just got a bee in his bonnet and decided lessons were over.  He gave three big bucks across the arena.  Granny Smith hung on the first two, but got closer to the horses head each time and on the third just summersaulted over his head.

After we made sure Granny Smith was ok,  it was time to deal with Moon.  He needed to do some work.  Kathy was wearing her big snow boots so Nova Spy said he would ride Moon.  Well, Moon was just a pill.  He tried to buck him off several times, but Nova just sat down and kicked him out of it.  He worked Moon until he was trotting nicely and was listening.

When we were driving home, I said to Granny Smith, "I still don't think I understand how you landed.  What is hurting?  Did you land on your head?"  He said, "Mom, I'll just draw you a picture."  This is what he handed me:

Later that night I asked Nova Spy if he was scared riding Moon.
He said, "A little. But when he started throwing a fit I just told him, "Look buddy,  I weigh 115 pounds more than Granny, and I'm 115 times meaner, and if you buck me off I will kill you."

Christmas Service Write Up

I made the mistake of sharing this experience in Relief Society.  (We were having a lesson on how service blesses us).  Then I got a call asking if I would write it up for some book the Stake is doing.  So I did that and now I'm going to record it here so I can throw away my paper copy!

"This year for Christmas, our family was looking for someone to help.  We thought and looked, but just didn't find anything.  A neighbor called and asked if we'd take care of his livestock while he was gone for Christmas.  I said yes, and didn't think much more about it.

The first morning we went over, my boys were not happy about it.  They didn't want to wake up early and do chores while they were on break.  I wasn't so thrilled myself!  They got more and more unhappy as they went through the stalls taking care of the animals.  One of the goats was sick and shivering violently.  She wouldn't eat the hay we offered.  I couldn't blame her.  It was old, gray and dusty.  None of the animals had bedding in their stalls.  The boys were concerned because it was going to be below zero that night.  The calves needed bedding too, and the milk cow was very weak.  The calves had been left on her and had cut her teats up  and banged her up pretty good.  She gave almost no milk.

When we got done and climbed back in the truck, I had an idea.  I told the boys we were looking for something nice to do this Christmas.  We had just been presented with the perfect gift.  We could take care of the animals better than we would take care of our own and help the owners out while they were gone.  The boys immediately jumped on board, and started talking about how many bales of hay and straw they could fit in the back of the truck.  We drove straight to the feed store and bought 100# of grain, 50# of pig feed, and a salt block for the sick goat.  The boys came home and loaded up the hay and straw.

That night we took our loot over to the neighbors.  We broke a bale of straw in each stall, saving one of the bales which had good hay mixed with it for the pigs so they could nose through it looking for treats.  Then we gave the milking animals some good third crop alfalfa.  We also gave them a little grain.  We sprinkled grain for the pigs in their straw too.  Then we just stood back and watched.  It was so fun to see them enjoying their Christmas time feast.

The next day the cow gave more milk.  Each day she upped her production.  The pigs lapped up all the extra milk, and the sick goat stopped shivering and started eating.  Each day while the boys did the chores I swept the hallway outside the stalls.  We added all the waste hay as bedding for the animals.

Chore time became one of the best times of the day.  It was a great feeling for me to take care of the animals, talking and laughing with my boys the whole time, and then to go out into a beautiful clear night, and know that I'd done one small thing right.

My grandpa used to say that you can't give yourself poor to the Lord.  That's true with service also.  You always get back more than you give."

Merry Christmas 2011

Family Pictures

While the horses were escaping and causing trouble, Alaska Wildberry was taking our family picture. She had all these amazing gadgets: large and small reflectors, an enormous camera with various lenses, etc. etc.   Golden Delicious and I wanted to stay there longer, and take lots of fun shots, but the boys were less cooperative, and as soon as Mr. Bechtel got the phone call about the horses, they were gone.

But, we still got some good pics.  It helps when there's a professional photographer in the family.

Thanksgiving Odds and Ends

I can't remember everything from the weekend, and I wish I had taken some pictures of the hoe-down.  Golden Delicious and Cousin E. even got out their fiddles and played along.  But alas, no pictures.

My brother, Winesap, finished his biography of my Grandpa R.  I ordered a copy for each of my children.  Winesap did a phenomenal job and the book is just a priceless treasure to me.  Of course, since I know the author, I made him autograph each copy and add a personal note.  Such Fun!

Here is mom making gravy.  Poor Lady.  She has to make the gravy every year, but that's just what happens when you're the best at something.  Mr. Bechtel is her official gravy helper and they usually end up huddled over the stove with both ham gravy (from our own Crabapple Farm pigs) and turkey gravy. 

Alaska Wild Berry supervising the little kidlets table.  They appear to be waiting quite patiently.

Braeburn, trying to ignore me and pretending to be doing homework, while really checking the soccer scores from around the world.  Notice the adidas stripes on the computer.

And my Vet.  Bless his soul.  

The horses got out after dinner,  and S and L went chasing them across the neighbors field.  I wasn't trying to put him to work, but Yankee got cut up.  Of course, Yankee got cut.  She cannot walk 3 feet without injuring herself.  Luckily my vet was on hand and took care of everything!  

I actually want tons more animals.  It was exciting to get the horses back and every thing.  My new thanksgiving plan for future years is to work cattle .  But first I have to buy some cattle.

Thanksgiving at Crabapple Farm

Thanksgiving was fantastic this year.  We had both sides of the family represented, the weather was beautiful, and the food was lovely.

I actually don't think I did anything.  That's why I probably enjoyed it so much!  Everyone else did all the hard work!

Mr. Bechtel's sister, L, and her family came.  So beautiful!

 The Spy twins went out to help her bring food in from her car.  They said later, "she just kept on bringing out more pies!"  The boys looked so pleased every time they came in with something new.  L brought 6 pies, and S brought over 100 rolls.  I hope they come next year or it will be a real disappointment.

Happy Halloween!

I know it's Valentine's Day, But Happy Halloween anyway!

Horse Riding with Cousins

Mr. Bechtel's sister brought her two children up to stay a few days with us.  We love having A. and E. visit.  E. is a ton of help with the animals.  A. and Granny Smith are usually in the shop making knives and weaponry of some sort.  They wanted to ride Nikita, so Prairie Spy helped them saddle up and go for a little ride. 

Nikita is such a good horse.  She is only five and has plenty of energy and spunk, but she is really patient with the little kids.

Happy Cousins.

Come visit soon, E.!

Concrete Flower Borders

After five years of living here, we decided to put in some landscaping around the house.  Mr. Bechtel borrowed a neighbors curbing machine and we rented a sod cutter and cement mixer.  First he cut out the  long strip around the house where the curbing was going to go.  And then we started pouring the cement.

Grandpa mixed the cement for Mr. Bechtel.  (notice Jack the dog just waiting to chase some cement dust...)

Golden Delicious hauled all the old sod off and dumped it.  She is so excited to help!

It took awhile to get the cement the right consistency and figure out how the machine worked.  But all in all it looks pretty good.

Mr. Bechtel had to leave the next morning for Japan.  We worked until midnight and then ran out of concrete.  (I figured the amounts...)   When he got back from Japan we never did get around to finishing the last part.  Maybe we'll do that in five years or so.

Canning Tomatoes

My tomato crop this year was a complete failure.  We had great expectations, too.  The summer started off great -  70 heirloom tomato plants that I started from seed, planted with loving care by Mr. Bechtel and the family, complete with drip line and weed barrier. We even put little arches of pvc pipe over the rows with expensive frost protection fabric to keep them warm and safe from the wind.  We should have had a bumper crop.

Unfortunately, we have dogs now:  Jack and Pete.  Jack is obsessed with chasing dust and spent the whole summer digging up my garden and  chasing the dust right through my tomato rows.  Pete thought the fabric was a neat new toy and tore it off on about the 3rd day.  I kept hoping though.  By the end of august we still didn't have any tomatoes.  I inspected and every plant was broken off and ruined.  There were a few that managed to survive, but the chickens ate the fruit off them before we could get to it.  The chickens even ate all the hot peppers I planted for salsa.  It was very sad.

So I was thrilled when Spencer (Braeburn's friend) brought me over 2 big boxes of tomatoes from his mom.  His mom has a wonderful green thumb, an amazing green house, and is a REAL gardener.

Granny Smith helped me make salsa, chili sauce, and home made ketchup.  We haven't tried the ketchup yet.  It seems strange to get it out of a glass jar somehow!

The Spy Twins Meet Football

After several years of resisting, I finally let the boys play football this year.  There are several other boys in the ward who play and one of the dads kept asking me if the Spy Twins could play. Then the boys would beg me.  I kept saying no.  Finally this year the coach called me.  I told the coach I would think about it, but that I didn't want the boys getting hurt.  When I got off the phone I looked out back, and Prairie and Nova Spy were wrestling in the back field.  I watched as they straddled the ditch full of water, and then took turns throwing each other in.  They were banging each other around and having a great time.  I thought it looked very painful, but they seemed quite happy.  I decided then that I'd better let them  play. 

Prairie Spy.

Nova Spy.

Evening Practice.

They played O line and D line all season.  They protected the quarterback, blew holes in the opposing line, and took seriously the coach's yells:

"This is OUR HOUSE!  This is OUR FIELD!

This is OUR TURF!"

Time for School!

We took Braeburn down to BYU for School.  He's staying at Helaman Halls and majoring (right now) in Advertising.

Life is very quiet with Braeburn gone, and Golden Delicious and I are bored.  We miss the late night Krav stories and all the tales of wild adventures.  Braeburn, however, is having a marvelous time.  When I asked him what he liked best about college he said.  "I really like the total freedom to do whatever I want."  

Labor Day Horse Buying

The cabin wasn't available this Labor Day weekend, so we had to think of something else fun to do.  I saw an ad posted at the feed store for a horse sale and thought that would be fun.  The boys dressed up in their cowboy shirts and boots and we headed up to Rexburg.  

Mr. Bechtel said, "I am not bringing my wallet."  And I said, "oh, of course you're bringing your wallet."  Then when we got to the sale, Mr. Bechtel said, "we are not getting a number."  And I said, "oh, of course we're getting a number".  Then when the sale started, Mr. Bechtel said, "we are not bidding on any horses."  And I said, "oh, of course we're bidding on horses!"  And Mr. Bechtel said, "we're not buying any horses."  And I agreed.  "We are NOT buying any horses!"

So, then He bought a little bay filly.

And then I bought a yearling mare.

The moral of that story is that it is IMPOSSIBLE not to buy beautiful horses unless you have lots more self control that I do.  And you should always, always, listen to your husband and leave your wallet at home.

The little filly's name (which we got to choose and register, which was very cool) is Driftwood Dancer.  She is out of Drifts Chip and Mr. San Peppy.  She is also extremely feminine, fast, and utterly adorable.  Nova Spy has fallen in love with her, and takes care of her.  The yearling is named Yankee Illusion.  She is out of Dash for Cash, and a Society Road Mare on her dam's side.  She is gentle, gorgeous, and bright as a newly minted penny.  We know we can't keep both of them, but we are enjoying them for right now.  I can hardly wait for the sale next year!  But I notice that Mr. Bechtel has planned a trip to Japan then.  Is he trying to tell me something??