The low down on Lucky Lucy.

When I was filling out the paper work I asked if she was surrendered or if she was found.  The helper said, "I don't know, all I know is we bring in animals who's time is up at another kill shelter and we try to give them one last chance at adoption.  I can tell you she came from the Colombia area and she received her first shot from them in March 2013."
I was saddened that she has spend the last year and a half in the pound, but happy Joe found her.  She's adjusting to life with the Bjerke herd, she did growl and snap at Rootbeer and Mickey when they first met, but they have since made their peace.  She had been swiped by the cats and ran away whimpering, usually hiding behind my legs, she has also decided that I need protecting from the horses, we are working on that.  I just hope she's happy here.

 All four dogs playing in the pasture. 

 Helping mom with laundry.

Lucky Lucy

I just first want to say nothing will ever replace our beloved Abby Zabby.  She filled our hearts with Love and our home with Joy.  That said...a new chapter is to be written in the Bjerke family.

Joe and I have been heart broken since we lost Abby June 15, 2014 and our world was turned upside down.  There were holes in both of our hearts the size of Texas, I still miss her.
When we would see Jack Russell's on the TV, we would cry all over again.

Our friend Annie had one that needed a home and we went to look at him, but for whatever reason, Joe just didn't connect with him.  I honestly didn't care, I thought he would be fine and I was tired of our home being quiet.  I think Joe wanted another little girl...but I'm not sure.

Joe spent last week in Sacramento and Friday morning he saw a commercial with a Jack Russell digging holes in the back yard to help his mommy plant trees.  He said he just broke...he knew we needed another baby.  He got on the internet and found one at the Spokane Animal Shelter.  He sent an email inquiring if she was still available and sent me the link.  I looked at her and called twice only to get a phone recording.  I left my information.  In the mean time, they sent back an email telling Joe she had already been adopted.  I was glad for her, and yet sad all at the same time.  No doubt feeling sorry for myself.

Then the thought crossed my mind as I was on my way home from work, what if they were wrong...I wanted to talk to someone.  I called a third time and this time a lady answered.  I asked if Lucy was still there and she said, "Yes",
No sooner had I talked to her, I got another text from Joe telling me someone else had sent him an email stating she was still there and I should stop by and check her out and if I liked her to get her.
Mikey was with me and when we pulled up, I asked him if he was going to go in and that I understood if he didn't want to go in.
Well, what could I do...We adopted her and brought her home. She's learning to fit in, although she is learning a few hard lessons about cats.

Beau has a new friend!

Cayleigh is Beau's new friend.  She wants to learn how to ride a horse and Beau is going to help her with her quest.

Cayleigh is learning how to lunge your horse to take the edge off and warm up their muscles.

 How exciting to ride without Joy hanging on to the horse!  Her first 

ride all by herself! YEA!!

 You must always take care of Beau afterward, because he will always take care of you.  What a great lesson in giving back. 

 Horse Hugs! 

 Giving Kota some love too.  He kept banging the gate with his hoof until Cayleigh came over and gave him some love. 

What an awesome way to spend the day. 

The joy's of fall.

I just love the colors of fall, but they do come with a warning, winter is on its way and you better be ready.

Hunting season is upon us, so Beau has to flash some color.

 I'm trying to put down straw in the goats pens, Joe and Mikey helped me clean out these stalls last weekend and it's time to renew.  Rosey acts like I never feed her, she loved nibbling on the fresh straw.

 Rosey is giving her pen a look over.

 Xavier, Lars and Lena check out their new bedding too.

 Lexi is enjoying a little down time.  Lars is nibbling on the straw. 

 Even Mickey Mouse came out to the barn to help mommy. 

 I just love the way a barn smells with fresh hay scattered all around.  I still have to fill up the dog houses and the horse stalls, hopefully I will get that all done this weekend.

Answer to Sue's question about Ahni.

Sue, you asked so I'm going to share the whole story.
Summer of 2012 Joe's cousins were coming for a visit, they were on the last leg of driving the Nike truck to different sporting events and were on their way home to Portland.  The truck that they drove wouldn't make it up our road, so Joe stopped by a horse ranch down the road from us.  A new trainer had just taken it over and he was friendly.  He said they could park it there and as Joe talked I looked around.  I asked about all the young horses he had.  He said they were all for sale.  I went out and looked, I liked Kota and this little bay kept following him around.  He said he would prefer to sale me the bay mare, because Kota was on a one way trip to the meat market, because he kicked the trainer in the head and had chased him out of the round pen. Kota is her full brother. She was cute and I was sure someone would buy her and Kota seemed to need the more immediate help.  So I talked to Joe and we bought Kota.
During the winter of 2012 Joe and I stopped by to give the trainer some home-made Jelly for x-mas and he told me the little mare was still for sale.  He said she was down at the lower barn with the brood mares.  I told Joe I wanted to stop and see her.  If ever my husband was going to divorce me it was over this little girl. Bless his heart he drove there and I got out in the snow and found her.  I was horrified.  This is how she looked.

I think I cried all the way home.  Joe didn't think this was the right time to buy her, we didn't have room in the barn and more that likely not enough food.  

So I began making her a bowl of feed in the morning when I feed the boys and every day after work I stopped by and fed her.  The first day I went out all the brood mare surrounded me and she stood off in the distance.  I approached her very slowly and put the lead rope on, the trainer had left this halter on her, I was upset that he did that, because it was starting to wear the hair off around her nose and I was worried it would get caught on something. The next time I went out there, I whistled  and she came trotting up with the others, but still stayed back.  The third time, she was waiting for me at the gate.  I believe she had been eating pine needles because the smell permeated her skin.

 After about a month Joe told me that it was my decision.  So I went down and paid the 500 bucks for her.  The problem was I had to go on a 4 day work related conference and could only come get her after my return. 

Now, up to this point I  put the lead rope on her and let her eat and I began brushing her, that was it.

The day I got home, I asked Joe if he would help me set up some panels under the awning so she could have a space of her own out of the weather and try to heal the rain rot and I could begin feeding her more food slowly. I rode Beau down in the snow, whistled to her, she came trotting up! I hooked the lead rope on and ponied her back home.  I was worried that she wouldn't pony and then I was worried that she wouldn't walk into the barn.  She did both! She walked right in that barn like she belonged there.

My dad even sent me $500 dollars to help with her feed bill.  

This is what she looked like the summer of 2013.

I adore her!

Second Ride for Ahni.

I unfortunately don't have any pictures of my first ride on Ahni, but I did get Joe to take some of her second ride; Thanks Joe! It feels so strange to ride a horse through their first several rides.  You can feel how uncomfortable they are and how they are trying so hard to keep balance. I also marvel at how different each horse feels, I think she is going to be the smoothest of my three horses.  During her third riding lesson, I did get her to trot around the pen once each way, when I asked her to trot, she put her ears back towards me and seemed to say, "I know what trot means, but you can't be serious." After words of encouragement she took her first trotting steps.  I am so proud of her.
PS...Please don't tell my dad I wasn't wearing my riding helmet, he gets upset.

Two Cute Little Ones.

Yara got to come play with Mickey Mouse.  They are so adorable together! 

Y

My Daughter and a Basket

Megan sends me a text this morning and included a link to a crochet basket from Ravelry; it's called Basket Crochet by Lauguina Siuke  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basket-crochet .  I went to the site only to find it was written in Spanish.  I just love the internet, because it translated it to English for me. I really like the stitch she used! It is a very nice basket.
I asked Meggie if she was going to make one, she said, "Maybe." I'm now wondering if she's trying to drop her dense mother a hint. :0)  I asked her if she had seen the one I made, she said, "No." so here it is...

You will notice mine is not perfect, that's because it's stuffed full of yarn projects.

I copied mine from a gal on pinterest...sorry I can't remember who...I believe her's looks a lot better than mine, I would change a few things i did, but since I was 'winging' it without a pattern I suppose my first attempt wasn't too bad.  

Cotton scarf/ light wrap.

I have been working on this scarf off and on for about 6 months.  I finally finished it!

I used size 10 cotton thread, Bernat.  I modified their free scarf pattern that was on the back.  I finished the outside with beads that I bought from JoAnn's.  I think it gives it a nice touch and it helps with the shaping. 

Fun Filled Summer Coming To An End.

Removed 3 birds over 2 days from the fire place box.

Took naps with Minnie Mouse.Enjoyed seeing my mom and dad! 

I still can't believe I got my mom to pet and feed Ahni a carrot. 

 Dad and Mikey working hard in the barn!

Rode Ahni for the first time.

 Enjoyed watching Mickey, Tank and Lexi play in the pasture.

 Loved looking at Annies Sun Flowers!

 Smashed my thumb with the shoeing hammer...not fun!

 Enjoying the tomatoes and cucumbers that cousin Rick gave us when we visited him.

 Helped Meg buy a car.

 Mom smelling Mikey's arm pits...gross!

 Mom and Ahni.

 Dad doing Suduko.

 Visiting the Coeur d'Alene fair and wishing I could figure out how this person made this yarn!

 Picking elderberries...I'm still not done desteming all of them!

 Enjoying the Moose.

 Cutting Firewood.

 Mikey and his pal Rootbeer.

 Riding Kota.

 Retiring my boots.

 Making stained glass.

 Driving my best horse Beau!