My Cat is Vertically Challenged...

I thought as a kitten Fire was just special, and didn't know how to live in a barn without getting hurt. But he's almost a year old and still not very barn smart. The rest of the cats here know to stay away from the horses' hooves, how to climb the stalls to get into the rafters, and how to catch their own food.

How to Wash a Dog that's Too Big for the Tub

My brother's dog, Maggie, is too big for the bathtub. And she smelled awful. So where do you wash a dog that clogs the drain and shakes everywhere? The same place we bathe the horses, of course!

Chasing Chance

Our horses rarely get loose. I've only seen it happen maybe four times in the ten years we've owned the stable. Over the weekend though, one of the newer horses somehow took off when my brother tried to lead him to the field, and began the chase.

(What Chance thinks he looked like.)

Happy Birthday USA!

Happy Independence day! I hope you're all celebrating with families and watching fireworks.

We won't be lighting our own fireworks because 4th of July is generally a stressful day for the horses. We keep them inside most of the evening so they don't hurt themselves running in the fields. And my dog Pudge tends to hide. I have to keep an eye on him for seizures. Otherwise we love this day and all it celebrates.

Enjoy your festivities, everyone! Happy birthday United States!

Mr. Sun is a Cruel Man

I've been sun burnt before. Like, red-as-a-lobster burnt. While that hurts for a couple of days, it's not as embarrassing as a big ol' sunglasses tan across your face. The joke "raccoon face" wore out its humor after the fourth person to say it.

What the...wasp?

I always see those little mud tubes on the sides of the house or around the farm, but I assumed they were some type of worm or something. That is, until I saw a group of them on the bench on our front porch. One was knocked off and what was inside was not a worm.

Rest In Peace

It's never fun writing a post like this. It's even worse, getting the news. Saturday morning, about 5:30am, my brother's two friends were driving home, when the boy lost control of the car and crashed. Both boys in the car were alive, and the driver got out to help his best friend out of the car. A third friend was not far behind them, but speeding. Unfortunately the driver couldn't help his friend, who was stuck in the car, get out before the truck rounded the curve. The first boy lept out of the way, but the truck slammed into the already wrecked car, and killed the second boy. Both drivers survived.

The boy killed, Andy, was a happy, fun to be around kid who was just starting to get his act together before college. All three boys graduated with my brother, just two weeks ago. Andy worked at the same restaurant as me, but I didn't know him very well. The rest of the employees that knew him, loved him and he had friends everywhere he went.

It's completely heartbreaking to see my brother lose a close friend. I have no idea how I would cope if I'd lost one of mine. The most I can do is be here for him.

My town has had to bury far too many kids.

Rest in peace, Andy.

Steven, second from left. Andy, second from right.

Surprise Vegetables

Occasionally we find a vegetable growing around the house, that should really be on the farm in a field.
Last year, it was a cornstalk. This year, it's a pumpkin plant.

Country Girl in the Big Apple

As uncomfortable as I am in the city, I agreed to go on a day trip with my three friends to visit New York City. It was fantastic!

Graduation In Cowboy Boots

Last night my little brother graduated from high school. He drove off in nice clothes and nice dress shoes (I'm glad we got pictures, because Steven in clothes without oil stains on them is a rarity), but he didn't walk for his diploma in dress shoes. In true country kid fashion, he changed to cowboy boots before he got there, saying "Why graduate as someone I'm not? I'd rather be myself in my boots."

Of course, it runs in the family. I ended up wearing my nice pair of cowboy boots with a cute outfit, and our stepdad wore his nice pair with dress clothes. They're just so much more comfortable. Anyway, congratulations Steven, and the class of 2012!

Triple Crown Hopes Dashed, Once Again

We were so close this year. I'll Have Another looked promising after his run at the Preakness, but Doug O'Neill decided to pull him from the Belmont Stakes and thus end our hopes for a Triple Crown win after 34 dry years.

Grill Babies

For the second year now, a momma sparrow of some kind has built her nest inside our grill on the back porch. So instead of steaks, we have chicks. We all kind of like it though, because every few days we lift the lid and watch the little tykes grow.