Rain play /Suburban substitutes

This LOVEly and FREE print out made my heart happy.

You can find it here at http://lilluna.com/create-your-own-sunshine-print/

 must admit that I'll stick with Jack's artwork...

This pic/story Jack made in Kindergarten is one of my all time favorites.

"We like to/ I like to play in the barn on a rainy day"

Living in the country is awesome.

But it can also be a bit isolated with large distances between houses. It's not at all like the suburbs where kids can just walk outside and find a friend to play with...

We are blessed not only to have lovely neighbors, but also, the bestest clients friends who train with us. Most afternoons my kids are cavorting outside or yammering to whoever's in the barn aisle. They're even known to follow along through the fields on foot, talking nonstop, as riders cool out their horses after a lesson.

But when we have no visitors and the barn's quiet, they make up their own games!

"Hanging out" takes on a whole new meaning here.

As does hiking up hills... (of hay!)

And play simple games...

Maybe they're just simple minded?!

Tho we have no city sidewalks,
chalk drawings are plentiful in the barn aisle (clients often contribute).

As are bikes n rollerblades!

They also ride ponies through the fields with clients
or their dogs or goats following along.

There are no nearby gymnastics centers 

Instead they use their beds!

They've had to learn to play together;
 So they swing

and take turns sharing interests; be they scooters or babydolls!

 "Rock wall climbing" occurs on the strong horse ties hanging down the barn wall... Volleyball and soccer are popular in the barn too. A while ago they made up armbands and tickets for mommy n daddy to come watch their game. We were encouraged to bring our lawn chairs (usually toted to horse shows) and CASH. 

Jack shook his money box and rang the bell to signal game start, time outs etc.

Simple fun for us all on that grey, drizzly day!

I guess they're we're not suffering in isolation after all!

Here's another fabulous freebie from http://lilluna.com/create-your-own-sunshine-print/

Hope you enjoy either sunshine or some rain play today.

* friends, I'm posting some OLD drafted posts to keep the pics n memories alive. We recently had a hard drive crash n lose pics (yes, again. I'm awful about backing up pics) so I value this blog even more as our family scrapbook. 

Happy 1st Day of Summer!!!

Merit hopes that you enjoyed the 1st day of summer as much as she did! Although the sun isn't always visible she wears zinc oxide to be safe and hopes that you'll protect your skin too!

Memorial Day memories

Late again, but trying to get caught up...

My "baby" brother, his wife and their baby visited us from Austria!

They stayed just two short nights over Memorial Day but

the memories will last forever.

Of course we wasted no time getting the wee babe up on a pony!

It was The Farmer's first time meeting Aden and they really hit it off!

Our time together was very low key.

.

 We learned some bbq tricks from Ben and ate great food

Mostly we hung out on the porch, or grass...

And Uncle Ben played like old times!

The last night we finally lit the lanterns I'd given JoJo for her 70th!

 Keepin' it real

but maybe you'd rather I didn't?

I've mentioned I'm not a flip flop n fashion kinda farm girl...

I was caught in shorts n paddock boots

(no you will not look at my mortifying middle)

JoJo released the last one along with her wish

She shared it with us...

That we'd all soon reunite for more family fun!

She kinda got her wish extra fast as the next day we went to the Bay to play w/more family!

Next I must wrap up the school year and all the other comings n goings on the farm.

(hint~ we've been VERY busy n blessed!)

Here comes another summer, 

hope you're making fun memories!

Gorgeous plays gitbox

(Urban Dictionary)  Gitbox ~ A fairly uncommon slang word for guitar.

"Have you ever wanted to eat chips with a spoon cause you didn't wanna get chip grease on your hand?"

"No but that's a great idea. Greasy fingers are bad for playing the gitbox."

*Make that chicken feet are bad for playing... 

yes. yes. this was an unscripted "normal" farm finding. Another chicken in the house. yes, her name is Gorgeous 'cause she's gorgeous shades of gray. no. I did not put her there. I merely try to document this bizarre life I live.

Bunnies n Eggs on the Farm

It's finally been feeling like Easter 'round here!

No, not because of anything I've done with bunny decor.

Mother Nature has provided the bunnies and egg hunts!

This bunny was dozing in our driveway when I pulled in last week.

I about had to honk to get him to hop off.

I think he'd been enjoying the warm pavement.

Silly chickens have been hiding eggs in the bushes and hay bales!

They are "Easter Eggers" who make pretty blue n green n pink eggs

 It reminds me of an old card from my Aunt Betsy that I love and framed~

There's a hen pulling a small wagon of brightly dyed eggs and she's saying;

"Time to get home kids, I don't know what you were doing hiding under those bushes. And wearing all that outrageous makeup! Wait until your father hears about this!"

So guess what I'm sharing with my family for Easter?! 

Wishing you a HOPPY EASTER FRIENDS!

Thanks friends! Update

I so appreciate every body's kind words and support!

Thought an update on Merit (n family) was overdue...

Merit came home from surgery at the hospital and slowly but surely got stronger and brighter.

Just last weekend I finally felt she'd regained her zest and appetite.

Poor thing was too thin from the pain of chewing (and tummy ulcers?)

But it's been a real roller coaster.

She continues to have new smaller abscesses that develop and need lancing.

Each time I begin to feel confident, there's another setback.

Kinda like this spring, huh?! 

Today the vet was here at 8 am to lance a small abscess, then later I returned from a school meeting to find a fast growing new ugly swelling near the original site! soooo

The vet's coming back later...

Good thing we  LOVE  Dr Link ~

we see her often and have prolly bought her a trip to Europe at this rate!

Fingers crossed n prayers said that this new swelling doesn't go downhill fast.

We've had plenty of fun too despite this wicked weather...

Impossible to believe that Sunday was 32 n snowing and 

Monday we enjoyed spring peepers, sunshine and 64 degrees!!!

This morning for April Fool's Day (before the vet came)

I did easy / silly pranks like a whoopie cushion n fake buck teeth, falsehoods about a school delay and stuffing shoes with TP in the toes (last year it was ice).

I had more ideas, but less time.  :-(

We also enjoyed silliness when our Leprechaun visited and again caused mischief with green milk, juice n toilet water, upturned furniture and streamers of TP. Thankfully he also filled shoes with rainbow candy and left Lucky Charms!

Although we've not been able to get out fox hunting, we've been exploring pony racing and have had fun cheering for our sweet n talented neighbors The Leathermans as they run ~and won!

We're so ready for some relaxing and EASY play days, but even time to work on outdoor projects and dig in the dirt would be wonderful.

Thanks to you all friends! I'm praying that YOU are well n enjoying warm, sunny days!