For the ... (um... I lost count) in 30 days we have been without dsl internet. First it was because the phones were dead, tornado came though and knocked out lines in a local small town south of us and of coarse our lines are connected to that town. Phones came back up but the internet was still down. I believe we went for over 2 days without a connection to the outside world. Then there was another time it bleeped but came back on after an hour or so but within a few hours it was out again for another day. Yesterday we were looking at those bad storms again but it only looked like we'd get some rain, then POP, lightning hit and our line with the dsl went dead. Interesting that at the box it was a busy signal but the phones in the house were dead. I spent some time working on that and now the phones in the house all hear a busy signal. Our home line was working fine just our business line was out. Of coarse that is the line we need to be using and has the dsl on it. Got the phone company called and reported it but still 12 hours later beep beep beep. I got on the other line and called to get our local dial-up reinstated, at least if dsl is out we will have email, that is unless our phone lines goes BOOM! We did finally get our business line this morning but it was a weird thing and I don't understand it but it's fixed and that's all that matters.

I don't know what is up with this year but we've had more than usual weather, lots of hail, damaging hail too not just pea sized but golf ball sized and larger. Many tornadoes around us as well, so far they've mostly went north or south of us, however on Sat those swirling clouds did go right over us. Cold weather which has kept the grass from growing much and we've had madding rain storms. My horses have all taken their time in shedding that winter hair and my mares are cycling unusually weird. They have been staying in 10 days or so with is not normal for any of them, they all cycle 5-7 days per my records. I started watching my other mares as well, they have fence access to the stallions so it's pretty easy to see when they come in and when they are not. For the last 4 weeks with 5 mares to check there's been 2 standing in heat every single day of that 4 weeks. Very odd, wonder if it has something to do with the weather. Hopefully 2 of those were bred on their last cycles and the flow of estrogen will cease somewhat in just a few more days. I have one more mare to breed unless we happen to find a good cutting mare we are looking for and we'll breed her too, that will be 3 or 4 foals for 09. I may get the last mare bred this week as she is in, although I was going to wait till she went out then put her with the stud for 30 days. I'm about at the end of my wits with all these mares and their crazy cycles, if I got her bred now that would remove 3 peeing mares from the fence. I hope. We are coming upon our first checks so hopefully we'll be in business.

That song continues to run through my head, by Randy Travis while I rake rocks in the arena, not sure why but digging up rock seems more appropriate. A while back I was taking some photos and when I was processing them I noticed all these rocks in my arena, it's like they are growing and it was a mess, why did I not notice them before? With all the down pouring rain we've had we no longer have any sand in the middle of the arena, it's all washed to one side, or away I suspect, what a waste of good money too, sand is expensive! The rains have been horrid, many inches at one time. It beats me how all those rocks got in there but they are there none the less and not tiny ones, boulders the size of your hand! I'm just about finished moving those rocks to a new location and maybe i can afford some new sand? I don't know though the last we priced was outrageous! But for sure we won't be getting any until shore up the south side again to hopefully keep our $$ in and not floating down the Mulberry River. Looks like we maybe in for more rain, storms tonight with more tornadoes and then rain all through Thursday with heavy down pours expected. I'm never going to get back into a routine for riding.

How old is he? um... I have to think, he's 18 this year. Not as old as some that people have but it seems like he's been here forever. I got him when he was almost a year old. Actually what happened is I went to look at a riding horse, I fell in love with this guy right there but I bought the riding horse. The very next day I called the people and asked them if they would trade the riding horse for this colt named Pistol, I guess you know what happened next. He's been a great horse, he's done just about everything, roping, working cattle, barrel racing, poles, I've ridden him, my daughter rode him. He's now taking care of Evan and since Evan is not seriously interested in riding I suspect Pistol will be his horse a long time.

Waiting for it to begin

Call to Assembly- Clan Campbell's Gathering

The graduating class during Commencement Service
There are at least 2x as many as you see below.

Conferring of Degrees

It's almost Erica's turn

FINALLY!

Overwhelmed for a moment

Smile for the camera

The throwing of the caps!

Me and Erica

Erica with Michael
Our youngest son believes he's being funny

The 3 kids

Erica graduated today with a Bachelor's Degree in Science, Environmental Studies and Sociology. Cum Laude (honors those whose cumulative grade point averages are between 3.25 and 3.49). Monday she begins work for the University of Arkansas on one of their farms, she will be working with plants and pollination. In the fall of 2008 she will be attending the University of Arkansas seeking a Masters Degree in Rural Sociology.

Isn't it amazing how we can capture a moment in time.

Uzi is one smart horse. He's been with the witch now for a couple weeks, she appears to have come in heat yesterday per her new found love for Uzi. But he's smart, he trots off from her and she follows, she teases him but he is playing hard to get. They are eating hay together and he's watching, he knows what he's doing. Wish all stallions would be like this, it would make my job so much easier. Stallions that have been penned up in their life away from other horses are the hardest to teach, they think mares are to be man handled and they can take a beating until they learn.

It's raining today so not much outside work going on.

there's a lot on my plate seems like these days. This past weekend was hectic with company and the neighbor's company who couldn't seem to watch their small children. I ended up putting one of my stallions in a stall cause they kept sticking their hands through the fence with grass attempting to get him to come to eat it, it's a wonder they were not shocked from the electric wire. We do not feed our horses by hand, they always eat out of a bucket or a feed pan, this is one reason why. People do not teach their children.... the little girl, who couldn't have been more than 4 or 5 informed me I should teach my horses to be nicer to her, she was a tiny thing but demanding. Now tell me how I'm going to tell a 1000 lb animal to not bite the hand that is attempting to feed it? My horses are really pretty good and in these situations things tend to go pretty well, I'm observant to strange occurrences around and the horses aren't looking for food in your hand and don't pay a lot of attention to 3ft children on the other side of the fence. Usually when I see them I remove my animals since the folks won't remove their children, good thing those kids are only there once in a blue moon and the man who lives there is single. We've attempted to take precautions and installed 5ft 2x4 non-climb fence between us and the neighbor, topped and lined with electric but still it bothers me greatly that people feel they have the right to bother your animals, even posted with warnings. where's the common sense? sheeze..
Today I planted some garden for summer vegetables, I hate store tomatoes so we must grow us some of those and some Kandy Korn. That was a chore in it's self. I watched Uzi and Lacy interact, Lacy seems to be coming in. She was following Uzi around the pen but he was ignoring her. It's really funny to see that, she would do the pee thing for him but he could tell she is not quite ready. What I wouldn't give for many acres so I could run him with his own band of mare, my other studs too, they all seem very much happier. Hopefully Uzi and Lacy will connect in the next few days and a new Uzi baby will be cooking.
I did end up riding Ablo again last night, not sure if it'll occur tonight though I'm pretty tired. He did well last night after 3 days off he is ready for wet saddle blankets.

update: I did ride Ablo, we walked around the arena and I was amazed at his new trick. Today I asked for a stop and immediately he complied. Ablo seems very smart and understands what is asked, this colt is gonna have a huge stop on him. More and more I love my Sammie babies! I want one for myself now too!