Fun Family Fourth

I'm ba aack!

How was your holiday?

Mine was a real treat.

Gorgeous views, great conversations and lots of fun.

In addition to all this I bought a new camera to record it all!
It's a Canon EOS Rebel T3.

I'm giddy!!!!

So now I apologize if I bore you with my *many* travel pics...

At least you might prefer them to the last 6 months of phone pics?  ;-)

There was boating of all sorts

And of course watermelon eating contests

Cousins jumped off the dock once again...

And acted silly with their Uncle!!!

We hiked up to see the lake from a different view

And wore some ice cream to cool off afterwards,

And just plain hung out.

Sometimes "upside over" as dear Jack likes to say!

My baby brother and his sweet fiance even snuck some alone time!

We enjoyed bonfires, s'mores, fireworks and sparklers... 

Lotsa games and

memorable cakes of all kinds.

Like Casey's perfectly patriotic one

and the "pro's" crooked, near catastrophe, that kept us giggling!

The birthday girl was extra special and sparkling
as she celebrated the big 7 0 !

I swear I watched my little girl grow up right before my eyes.

She really liked the boys...

Luckily I was distracted by lots n lots of pretty places to practice with my new camera....

 Now I think I get what Billy Joel was singing...

I'm in a New York state of mind.

Hope your holiday was a happy one!

Ready ready ready. Ready to run.

Happy Fourth!!!

... "All I wanna do is have some fu u u un!"

(luv me some Dixie Chicks)

I am off for a family reunion in honor of my awesome Aunt's 70th birthday!

Will be driving 8+ hours into the Adirondack's to Schroon Lake.

To say I'm ready is a gross understatement.

I am exhausted and eager to DO NOTHING!

Except maybe read the Joel Salatin book I got The Farmer for Father's Day and enjoy a gluten free hard cider while dippin' my toes in the lake...

I think it's like the prenatal "nesting instinct."

The instinct to leave one's home clean n perfect...

Problem is, what if that home is 115 acres with

an old (messy) farmhouse containing;

5 cats 

2 dogs,

 2 dirty small people

 and two busy large people.

And the grounds house 

10 horses

1 stallion

4 ponies

3 goats

6 chickens

8 guineas

10 fish  and 

umpteen garden beds and pots of flowers.

(in case you're counting I have a backlog of news updates!)

In that case this instinct might kill.

Often it seems more relaxing to just stay home.  ;-)

 I do hope to make some memories and watch more of this -

Cousins jumping off the dock.  :-)

Wishing you all a RELAXING holiday!!!

"IF" ~ a lesson from my Dad

My Dad passed away two years ago. It was very unexpected and affected me deeply, despite the fact that we didn't have a super close relationship. He was an admirable man in many ways and I have many fond childhood memories of him. Sadly, he struggled with depression and alcoholism later, and my teen years on became fraught with conflict. We were estranged for many years. Blessedly, by the time of my children's births we were close again and my children enjoyed being spoiled by "Pop Pop."  He came from very humble beginnings in London and worked very hard to get an education and provide for his family.

My Dad taught me lots. He was an original DIYer. When I wanted to have my own horse, he taught me that only my own hard work could provide all I'd need. We started by remodeling an old barn on our new property... It needed electricity and plumbing. We did it all and I have old pictures of me down in a trench hooking up water hydrants to prove it! After buying my first horse (at the age of 12) with my own savings *and a loan with 5% interest for the balance from my parents*, I had to work to pay for the ongoing costs. I waitressed, took in another horse on board, taught riding lessons and was a working student myself.

One lesson from Dad was to memorize Rudyard Kipling's poem "If."
I think he gave me $10 after I could recite it to him. I must admit I had no idea then how many times I'd want to lean on those words for strength later in my life. They often seem made for me. The horse world is a hard one... All longtime professionals and most hobbyists can tell tales of heartache. I am so grateful that my Dad showed me that I had the tools to get myself where ever I wanted to go.
Thanks Dad. I miss you.

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;
If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son! 

by Rudyard Kipling

The Dad in this house will be treated to whatever he wants on Father's Day. Starting with brunch at his favorite place Dutch's Daughter. He's always teaching his kids great things, mostly by example.

Here he is showing Jack how to evaluate the corn crop for weeds and growth by the car's headlights!

And how to be a safe driver. Just don't listen too closely kids!  ;-P

And mostly how to work hard n care for the ones you love!

Thanks Daddy, we love you !!!

Upperville Horse Show

My fun student/friends made another roadtrip with me, this time to watch a day at the prestigious Upperville Colt and Horse Show in VA. 

It was a colorful and crazy day!

We saw many pretty jumpers and juniors...

Tho I swear the show seemed as much about bows and hats as horses!

Maybe we should have bought the ones we tried on at Lucketts a few weeks earlier?!

Love ya lots Ashleigh and Diane!

The sidesaddle classes were very impressive. 

 These ladies were strong and oh so elegant. 

The leadline sidesaddle rider was a huge hit with the crowd.

My favorites were the family class and "Silver Foxes" class.

This gentleman was one of the most "silver."

This classy vixen gives me hope yet.

Today we're off to our town's historical home and garden tour! 

I'll be thinkin' of Jayme's fun with English accent lady and fans for sure! 

Wishin' you all a wonderful weekend!

Farmageddon, The Movie

Farmageddon Trailer from Kristin Canty on Vimeo.

To learn more visit the site!

Please pass it on n on!  ;-)

Most of my family (in DC) work very very hard in govt. jobs trying to make my American life better. They don't get it when I say that as a self employed person I'm overwhelmed with too much ineffective regulation and don't trust govt to make my world safer. 

Between the govt. and lawyers, its amazing I even try to earn a living as a farmer/horse trainer here in Maryland.

It would be waaay easier to just collect govt. money for doing nuthin'.

Or move.

Oops. Stepping down off my soapbox.

The Listening Chicken

What do you call yours?

That special reward box or cookie jar...?

 I gather up excess holiday candies and put them in my favorite vintage cookie jar...

When the kids are extra good listeners they earn a visit to
the "Listening Chicken!"

I've learned that its the idea of the chicken that is more intoxicating than the actual treat.
Like all anticipation maybe?

Looking with awe into all those brightly colored candies is the best part. 

Knowing they can pick whatever they want. 

Jelly beans are a favorite. 

Even those settled into the bottom of the jar from last year!

I try hard not to rush them

But its hard not to say "take your candy already!" Geeesh!
Then I remind myself to slow down and share their simple joys.

Speaking of... How cute are these leftover Easter chicks?!
I almost can't bear to eat them...   ;-)