As close as she can get . . .

This is as close as Cassie can get since she is in Ohio and the horses are in North Dakota.

Every time we talk or Skype with Cassie she asks about the horses or asks to see them.  Well, tonight they were in the low line of the pasture so Mackenzie took my laptop out so Cassie could see them up close.  I love the picture above because it looks like they are checking her out.

Unfortunately, each time we’d get set up shortly after Kenzie would get Cassie down to the horses the signal would drop.  I’m not too sure if she got to see much of them.

A new visitor

This birdie has been visiting our feeder and we couldn’t figure out what it was.  We even got out the field guide for the Dakotas and couldn’t find it in there.  Earlier in the week we thought we saw a Baltimore Oriole, but after some googling and checking out our bird songs book we have determined they are black-headed grosbeaks.  This is the female.

We don’t know how long they’ll be around because according to the map below, we are just on the edge of the breeding area.  They are pretty to look at. 

Mornings . . .

Once they crawl out of bed – literally, they are still sleeping on the floor in their clubhouse in Mackenzie’s room – they find a comfy spot on the couch.  Chloe even likes to snuggle up as close as she can to them.

UP up UP up . . .

Last night while we were skyping with Cassie – she was watching the horses in our field (finally we have something here that she wants to come back to) – we noticed this little dot in the sky.  As it got closer, we could hear its engine, and the horses could hear it too.  I was surprised at their reaction.  They were grazing down on the low line of the pasture and once they heard it they galloped up to the hilltop and watched as this thing maneuvered in the sky.  They seemed fascinated by it too. 

He was still pretty far off.  This was the best picture I could get with my zoom.  But after I took a few shots, I was able to trim them by zooming in some more and cropping them.

I don’t know.  That looks like a contraption that belongs on the ground more so than in the air.  Definitely pretty neat though. 

In our back pasture . . .

This is Angel (black bridle) and Missy (red bridle).  No, they are not our horses – I know three kids that wish they were – they are a neighbor’s horses. 

When we arrived in ND, almost a year ago, the first night in our home, which we rent, a neighbor came around and asked if he could use the fields to pasture some of his horses.  Of course, Jay checked with our landlord and there wasn’t a problem.

We hadn’t heard anything else until about two weeks ago when the neighbor stopped by to make sure it was still okay.  Then last week he came over and fixed the fence line and got the top line wired – yeah, an electric fence for the goof balls in my house. LOL. 

Today we got some new tenants . . .

They were a little spunky at first.  Apparently, they’ll zap themselves a time or two on the fence.  They would run from one side of the field to the other and then back again. 

They are both four year old females.  Missy is already broke, so she is ride able and apparently for sale – don’t get any ideas, Bubba.  The owner is going to hay our other field and then bring over a training ring where he will work with Angel. 

They checked out all their new area to roam.  This picture is up on the other side of the field.  They were loving the green grasses to eat.  Their owner said they will probably groan some tonight because of upset stomachs from all the green lush grasses.

Horses are a great bonding tool – Jay and the kids, along with the horses’ owners went over to meet our other neighbors whose property is along the pasture too.  (I had been lounging all morning and I was finishing up getting ready.)  I did get to talk a little with Mrs.. B when we introduced them to our ‘horse’ – Chloe. LOL.

I have to say, after standing within an arms reach of these magnificent animals, my puppy is NOT the size of a horse – maybe a miniature pony.

Mackenzie really enjoyed go out and watching them and they seemed to like her.  They would come up to her.

Mackenzie guided them over to the water tank and after checking it out they decided to drink.  I guess they won’t need much water since the field is green.

 

They are beautiful animals.  We are always amazed and love seeing them when we drive down the road – they are everywhere around here.  But now we can just sit on our back deck and enjoy them.  They will hang out in our field until November.

New Blog

Okay, I have added another blog to this account.  No, I don’t have that much to say that I need another place to ramble.  I actually would like to share with you some of my edible creations.

Roadside view

We love seeing all the horses along our way back to our house.  It’s amazing how many horses are around here.

A neighbor of ours has fixed the fence line in one of the fields in our yard because he is going to bring up three horses to roam.  That will be really neat to have horses that close.

Water Day

Mackenzie had her last day of tennis practice a week ago.  She really likes playing tennis and I have to say – don’t mean to be a bragging parent – but she is pretty good at it.

The last day of the session they do spend time doing some drills, but the main thing is getting WET!!  So they don’t always use balls, they use water balloons.

After they would finish a drill with the water balloons, they spent time picking them up – save the environment and the wildlife.

Those coolers were full of water balloons.

Mackenzie had a great time playing tennis.  I think she may want to continue with this activity.

VBS – Kickoff Block Party

Well, tomorrow is the kickoff registration block party for vacation bible school.  This year Peace Lutheran Church (where Jay serves) is teaming up with Harvest Community Church and doing a joint VBS for the Lincoln community. 

Today Jay and the kids finished making a few of the decorations which gave me the idea of making a cake.  The VBS has a western theme and a group is coming from Missouri to help orchestrate the week.  So, I pulled out the horseshoe cake pan and made a simple cake . . .

Then I made cupcakes - they will be easier to serve.  I didn’t have any western theme decor so Kenzie helped me roll our some fondant and she used a cross cookie cutter. 

Who needs to shave???

I sent the kids in to clean – not just pick up, but CLEAN – their bathroom which also serves as the hall bath.  Anyway, the next thing I know Mackenzie was all giddy.  First, she was sitting on the floor with the toilet brush stirring it in the toilet bowl like it was a caldron – and she wanted me to see, but I was not allowed to photo.  The next thing I know she is standing in front of me with this . . .

Apparently she had figured out one pump of her body wash mixed with two pumps of the hand soap gave her the best soapy sudsy mix to make herself a beard.

Once Zack realized it wasn’t the bathroom cleaner, he joined in on the fun.  No, not the cleaning of the bathroom, just the facial suds!!

Mackenzie then perfected it with a mustache.  She was so proud of herself.

Since we were Skyping with Cassie, she too decided to join in on the fun.  But the bubble suds just weren’t the same quality.