A Drizzly Day

The grey and bleak skies came back today after a few days of heat and sun. Farmers were scrambling to finally get some hay cut. Now its raining again. I had a lesson at Barb Taylor's Tack and Field booked for the kids and we needed to be there at 11 am. Got there and met a cute young boy named Noah, about Luke's age. Noah introduced us to his pony, Emma. She was there being nursed back to health by Barb. I remember the last time we were there for a lesson. Barb was called away to check on a pony that was down in a neighbor's field. This was the same pony. I guessed that Barb brought the pony into her stable to help the family out. The mom, son and daughter were there doing chores. This is typical Barb. She has a heart of gold and loves horses of all shapes and sizes. They brought Emma out of her stall to take her out to graze on grass when suddenly she fell down, in the middle of the ring. She wouldn't get up and appeared to be having some kind of seizures. The vet was called and he came quickly as he was on a visit nearby. We all gathered around to watch and help. Emma was given dextrose in a vein. We petted and stroked her and tried to get her up. The story unfolded as we waited for her to come around. The woman bought Emma recently after seeing her with three little kids on her back going for a ride. Emma was delivered at night, in the dark. In the morning light it was revealed that Emma is quite the bag of bones. Nevertheless, the family was in love and decided to bring her back to health. This has been a challenge to say the least. Our lesson never took place, but we can take pride in the fact that we finally got Emma up and back into her stall for more pampering. On the way back we stopped at Mary's farm to pick up the wool she was saving for me. We got to visit with her pigs, chickens, sheep, goats and kitties. I got a peak at one of the rescued Maremma's tiny puppies. Mary got her just in time from a terrible situation and got her fortified to give birth. Mom is resting comfortably in a sturdy doghouse with lots of good food and regular meals. We dashed into New Berlin to get a few very important things, like more popcorn and Hershey's chocolate sauce for Hannah, and marshmallows for Luke. After a roast chicken dinner, yes, roast chicken again, with mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli (Hannah said we needed more fresh vegetables after seeing Mary's massive garden) which I forced them to eat or I wouldn't take them swimming. What a mean old Omi. They polished the plates and I got our towels and snacks together. It was raining a little, but Hannah and Luke had a BALL snorkeling in the pond and practicing their rock skimming. They stayed in the water for almost an hour when I suggested it might be time for hot chocolate. That got them back in the truck, and down the hill to the barn. It's late at night but they are sitting side by side giggling and laughing at the cartoons on television. I will miss these happy sounds when they go back to California. Don't want to think about it. I think I'll make them some more popcorn.