Tuesdays With Jen... My Memoirs

A few things I remember about my Magnium...

• He was probably my bestest friend growing up. He loved me. He thrived on the attention I gave him. We traveled many many miles together.


• He used to give me kisses on the cheek.


• His favorite treat was Pecan Sandies.


• We won some ribbons at the Fair and also at some little shows


• One time he was so full of spunk that he actually chased after the dog, Peaches!


• He was injured when he fell onto a stick. He had to have stitches. I was in shock and hyperventilating when I called the vet. He has a scar, but fully recovered.


• One time he ran away with me and crossed the road infront of a car at a full gallop... that was scary!


• Another time we were riding around the pond in the woods behind the airport and a goose tried to attack because we were too close to her nest... not a pleasant experience. We outran the goose!


• There's nothing like lying back on your horse after dark at the foot of the runway watching the little planes come in overhead.


• I rode him to school on two separate occasions and 'parked' him in the agriculture department.


• I could ride after dark because my Magnium knew the way home.


• Mom... I rode across Route 8... a few times! AND we sometimes rode to the Dairy Queen for ice cream.


• I rode to McCormicks frequently where we would stop for drinks, snacks, and of course... carrots.


• Sometimes in the summer we would gallop into the creek in Renfrew full speed ahead. It was like something you'd see in the movies... water splashing everywhere. It was also refreshing.


• I knew my way on the trails as far as Saxonburg, Mars, Evans City, or Renfrew and sometimes saw more than one of those locations in one days travel.


• One time I was riding with some people that were drinking. I got off for some reason and let go of him and he ran home without me! That was not his brightest moment.


• Mr Helfer used to save a special box of apples inside his garage for when we rode by... he'd spoil the horse.


• When I was a senior in highschool I needed to run a mile for gym class. I practiced by jogging beside Magnium every night after school.


• My most memorable experience... I was riding with Rene'e back behind Browns. There was a hot air balloon and I said "Awesome, let's gallup up underneath it." (not my brightest idea) We did and when we got right up to the top of the hill they blew the hot air. Magnium reared straight up and I slipped right off the back of him.

Blessings Monday

We have been blessed with beautiful flowers. We decided early on this spring that we would not spend a fortune on landscaping and the like. Who knew we would have more flowers than we needed? We carefully collected marigold seeds last year and planted those. I had a couple packets of seeds that came free in the mail. Last year's rose bloomed abundantly. Rene'e gave us about a dozen more flowers to plant. Amanda gave us a handful of flowers too AND a burning bush taboot. I did pick up a hanging basket at work for $15 and a flat of impatiens from a church fundraiser for $13. Keith treated the yard to rid us of dandilions for $8. He put in a new rose bush for $10 and a Red Lady bush for $30. All in all we spent less than $100 on the yard this year.

I also have one tomato plant and some herbs growing on the porch. SOMEDAY I may have a legitimate garden.

I am grateful to have these plants surrounding our home. They are beautiful and good for the environment. We are so blessed to have an abundance of flowers this year.

Come join us at Blessings Monday hosted by Down On The Farm.

Road Trip

Sorry... no pictures. I didn't have batteries on the way down, but then I got some and it rained pretty bad all the way home. I'm looking like a drowned rat at the moment, but I'm soaring with gratitude for the return of my pony after 2 whole years apart. WOW - I can't believe she's home!!!!

We left Friday after work. We drove to Cincy, arrived pretty late, but had a nice warm place to lay our heads at my inlaws. Mom and Jim were glad to have us even if the visit was short. I am grateful for the rest and Mom made a really nice breakfast for us and gave me a go-cup of coffee for the road. She's so thoughtful.

By the way, Mom is doing great! She is actually back to work! She looks great and we are so thankful for her recovery.

This morning we drove from Cincy to Wilmore (near Lexington). We snuck into the IGA in town and picked up a few cans of Skyline Chili and Ale-8 soda (which we cannot buy where we live). Shortly thereafter we arrived at the stable, where the stable-worker handed her over with some necessary paperwork for travel. After filling some containers with water to offer her on the road, she walked right on the trailer without any glitch and off we went! I was beaming!!! (and still am)

The drive home was long. We stopped 3 or 4 times to fuel and offer her some water. Every time I opened the trailer door she would whinny. She was alert, vocal, and begging for attention (and carrots). She was not sweaty or nervous... she rode like a champ! Whatta girl!

So we arrived home 8 hours after picking her up... 11 hours total travel today. We ran into a few patches of nasty rain on the way home, but the rain cooled things off so it was actually not too uncomfortable for her to travel.

We walked her into the barn where she met her three new pals. Two of them were in stalls and the third was loose, kind of having the run of the barn. I slipped her into the stall and she, of course, immediately wanted to greet Rambo, who sauntered over to do the same. She squealed and then she acted like she was in heat. They groomed each other and squealed a little off and on and she even kicked a little too, but overall she is settling in nicely. We put up a new run of fence that separates the two pastures so she can be in one while the other three are in the other.

Tomorrow she will be led around the fence to show her the fence line. There is a lot of green grass there, so I hope she doesn't eat too much of it. I may need to get her a grazing muzzle. I hate to do that because when she wears a halter, it usually rubs. I don't like to leave a halter on her if I don't have to. Anyway... she fits right in at this farm and actually adds a very pretty color to the palate of the little herd.

Can I just say that my friend Rene'e... she rocks!!!! I love her so so much. If it weren't for her, I would not have been able to bring Penny home. If it were not for her, I would not have gotten her back in the first place. Rene'e is entirely gracious. She didn't have the time to spare to do this, but she did it anyway. I'm very humbled, grateful, thankful, and appreciative of her.

As I left the farm and drove towards home, there was a gigantic and boldly colored double rainbow over town. I thought to my self... God is so so good... doubly good. I thanked him many times this evening. His faithfulness has been displayed in my life over and over. The separation over the past couple years was weighing heavy on my heart. God knows... and he faithfully offered me the desires of my heart... to bring her home. He displayed that rainbow so brightly reminding me of his promises. God is SO GOOD!!!

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for pleasant weather, especially yesterday. We baled hay last night. Usually it is sweltering hot for the task, but last night it was pleasant and breezy. We know the hot-hot-hot is actually better for the hay, but for the sake of the workers... I am thankful that it was comfortable.

Summer In Full Swing

This has been a busy summer as usual, but also very pleasant. I'm enjoying the flex in the weather... hot, rain, cooler, warmer, etc. With summer comes summer chores. You know, the ones that are dreaded yet are somehow fulfilling and surprisingly rewarding. The kind that make you realize what a real days work is. Yes it's hay-making-time, for the second time now. We shall make hay TODAY! And when that's all finished I will go help a friend put in a couple new fence posts. I will return to my home covered head to toe in chaf, with heaviness in my chest from all the dust, and probably an achy body taboot. Ahhhh... Tis the season.

Tuesdays With Jen - My Memoirs

I have to make it short, so I'll just record a couple remembrances from my youth...

• I used to go to the barn with my "Grampy" to help with the milking (aka play in the hay). He would fill his feed sack half full, swing it over his back, then I'd jump on top and he'd carry me down the steps that way. I can only imagine how difficult that was, but actually I think he liked it.
• We had a pony named Sugarfoot but we only rode her in the summer. She was ornery and threw a bucking fit the first time every year. I decided I liked her and was sad that she passed on when I was in 4th grade, but not until I had pretty much rode her into the ground.
• When I was 15 my pediatrician gave me a horse, which fulfilled a deep down longing desire that had lingered on substantially since Sugarfoot died. Storm was a palomino saddlebred. I was in my glory!! Coincidentally, that same pediatrician is now my landlord.

That's all for today. I have to keep it short. I should mention that Penny is STILL in Kentucky. We were unable to go for her because the trailer brakes were not working properly. We decided to postpone until last Saturday, but the mechanic was not yet finished with it. SO... the plan is to go THIS weekend. Really... I'll believe it when the time comes! I'm still excited, but also a smidge disappointed. On the flip side, I PAID a hefty fee for her that is supposed to cover her board through JUNE and I should probably go ahead and use up as much of that as I can. Although the price of gas is also driving a desire to waste no time for fear the price continues to rise.

OK - I must go to work. Have a lovely day all... enjoy it and rejoice for it is the day which the Lord has made!

Blessings Monday

Life has been a little bit too overwhelming these days and that has caused a blogging hiatus on my part. I shall try to keep up with an occasional post, but it seems that it may be at least another month or so before things settle.

Today is Blessings Monday and that is my favorite weekly post (when I make it). So here it goes...

I am greatly blessed by my friend Rene'e. She is one of the greatest friends ever. She is family. She goes out of her way, above and beyond, to look out for me and the things that are close to my heart. We share a lot of special things and I am so grateful for her place in my life.

May God bless her richly today and always.

Don't YOU have a blessing to share? Come join us at Blessings Monday hosted by Down On The Farm.

Can I Just Say???

God is SO GOOD!!!!

I'm going to get my Penny on Wednesday. Please pray for safe and speedy travel. It's going to be a L-O-N-G day!!! We are planning to make a round trip which should be about 16 hours without stops.

Praise the Lord for providing for this!!! AWESOME!!! His timing is perfect! No more pining over her absence... My dream of her return is about to come true!

I'm like a child at Christmas!!! I can't wait!!!