Horse ridin' gals go round the outside

 Such a gorgeous fall day in Ohio! The leaves are amazing this year and the temperature- right now- is fantastic (as in a fantasy.. that will not last). So, Middlest and I hopped on the ponies for a ride around the back field. I took this photo with my cellphone and the fake "click" noise was not appreciated by my green horse. Oh so much to learn! On the other side of the field is our house and barn. Wait, let me be more specific:

There, that should do it.

This is Middlest and her horse. Have I mentioned my horse is kind of tall? This looks like an aerial view.  We are now on the opposite corner of the field, once again you can see our barn in the distance.
We are SO LUCKY!!!!

Chillin's

\

 A few weekends ago, Eldest and I participated in the Congenital Heart Walk to raise money and awareness for congenital heart defects. This was a last minute thing, as she found out about it on a Friday while doing research for her senior project. She is doing a year long project about congenital heart defects and the procedures done by cardiac catheterization to modify the anomalies. She wanted to do the walk, not only for her senior project, but for herself. It isn't a secret, it isn't something we dwell on much either, but Eldest has Ebstein's Anomaly, a defect of her heart which means her tricuspid valve (the one between her right side ventricle and atrium) is in the wrong place, making her ventricle very small and the atrium large. She also had an ASD or atrial septal defect, which was a hole between her right and left atria. This was closed by catheterization surgery when she was in 2nd grade. They placed an Amplatzer device in the hole, and then over time, the body grows cells through the Amplatzer and she has a hole there no longer. I am glad she is learning about her particular anomaly, as she is almost an adult now, and this is something she will deal with, always. I was proud to walk the 5 K with her and lots of others with congenital heart defects, and also many walking in memory of children who did not live long enough to walk with us.
As Eldest works on her college apps, one of the schools she is sending an application is Duke University. She has not been back there since she was six months old, but that is where she was sent with the Life Flight team as a newborn. She spent several days in their PICCU (Pediatric Intensive Cardiac Care Unit). I am so thankful she gets a chance to apply to attend college, and Duke is a part of it from the start.

Youngest was in desperate need of a haircut. So, off to the patio we went with the scissors when I had a few minutes to spare after he got off the bus. I trimmed his hair, then he flopped into the rockers. I realized, as I looked at him, I have so few photos of him without glasses. So, I asked him to stay put while I grabbed the camera. This was the pose he chose. So serious! Those who have known him a long time will notice that his eyes, both of them, look at the camera. This was not meant to be a blog about the defects of my children, but I guess that is coming out anyway! He has worn glasses since he was younger than two, and for all that time, without the glasses on, the one eye wasn't strong enough to focus and would wander off. I guess he's getting stronger! And so handsome. He looks uncannily like my Dad as a boy.

Photo by Jennifer Hilaman

 On Saturday, before the big Band Showcase at our high school, Middlest and I snuck off (if driving 80 minutes north is sneaking) to a Pony Club lesson, to school the cross country fences at Crosswinds Farm. It was a stupendous fall morning, just a little chilly, and warm enough in the sun. The leaves are just glorious. She and Patches did a fine job, navigating all the fences nicely. Then, back home for a quick change of clothes and... hats (from riding helmet to band plume!).

Photo by Jennifer Hilaman

And, I had to include this photo, because it has long been a cliche phrase "That horse can jump the moon!" Well, for Patches, this is proof.

Werewolves and Faery fields

The soybeans behind the house came down (farmerspeak for extremely large farm equipment processing the dried beans from field to storage) on Monday, and we had our first frost that night. My morning view was of the barren brown field, covered in white sparkles- a faery field. My first thought was "Oooh, pretty/looks different" closely followed by "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Not notnotnotnotnotnot NOT ready for the cold again. So much coping needs to happen in the cold. But there is no point in denying. And I haven't yet fixed the poultry yard gate, which works, but won't in the snow since the hogs bent the hinges. And I haven't replaced the sweeper cloths under the big barn doors to keep the snow out. And, I haven't found the right hardware (because I have to have it made by a blacksmith) to fix the sheep stall door that the ram destroyed- particularly annoying since the door probably had most of 200 years working just fine, then ram happened. I have to get out the pile of horse blankets and make sure I have ones that will fit Chaser (new horse), I am loathe to buy more. Time to resign the top of my head to the darkness, as it will hardly be hat-free between now and next June, get out the polartech collection, the long undies, the warm scarves and make sure I have enough gloves - they disappear worse than socks- and hand warmers. To the top of the pile go the winter breeches and the beautiful leather riding boots of summer give way to the serviceable insulated winter ones. The hat cover that has ear protectors, the Carhartts, the Muckboots, are the features of the near future. Time to clean the chimneys and move the wood holder to the porch, stack it with firewood and stop putting the sticks that fall off the trees into the burn pile and into the kindling pile instead. Mornings will start not only with the tea kettle, but with a "what will I make in the oven to warm up the kitchen" decision.  Time to get ready for my constant companion- the wind that will barely cease for the next seven months, surrounding the house with what used to be described as inhuman voices, but with the advent of the 70's can better be described as a muted version of the devil's fiddle solo in the Charlie Daniels Band song.
Now, there will be beautiful days still this fall. Yesterday was one- sunny and warmer and bursting with the colors of fall. Middlest and I had our jumping lesson, and Chaser began his career as a jumping horse, doing a bang up job of jumping, not only a few cross rails, but an entire course of them- under the arena lights. And I was over the moon! Good Boy!
But today is a werewolf- dark, and grey, and howling.

Pre Barn Party, family and Homecoming!

 

 

So, regular perusers of the Cowfeathers Farm blog will know from previous September blogs, we have an annual Barn Party. This is a wonderful throw back to the family celebrations of harvest that were put on, perhaps, even in our very own barn in the last 200 years. Live square dance band, lots of food, and an outhouse...it's pretty authentic.  We tried to have one post-harvest, but frankly, we were too cold. The next year we moved it up to September, and usually the harvest is not done, but it is warmer.

This year I thought I'd not write about the Barn Party, but about the time before. First of all, the barn has to have a good cleaning each year. The straw and hay all have to be put in the correct places to make room for dancing, and a nice 20 foot long table. The chaff has to be all swept, and the year's deposits from birds scrubbed off. The strings of lights need to be cleaned, and bulbs replaced. We have to fill any holes the groundhogs have created so no one gets hurt, and of course, the outhouse needs a top to bottom scrub up and makeover. Quilts, old and new hang as decoration, and a pair of ancient milk cans get stuffed with huge arrangements of wildflowers from the bottoms around the creek. I would love to have great branches of fall leaves, but the trees don't change for at least a week post party. As I perform these tasks, some of them alone, some with welcome help, I think about who I will see. And then I realize I am the worlds worst inviter. So many folks I hope I'll see, I haven't invited. This means a flurry of last minute phone calls and Facebook messaging, just in case they happen to still be free.  

This year we also had the added bonus of family here to visit and help! Huz' sister and family came down from Chicago for a few days and an evening in the barn.  

 

Cousins! The youngest joins the Eldest.

 

 Eldest painted Alyssa's nails. This was a great source of excitement for Alyssa, and she was happy to show everyone and anyone the beauty at the tips of her fingers.

 Tramping around the fields. Good fun for the boys. And Dads.

 Cousins eat. In the busy build up to the barn party, it was catch as catch can.

Maarten. Such a pleasant, happy, intelligent little boy.

 Alyssa. Once again, easy to engage by asking her about her fingernails. She thinks she is showing them to the camera, because she can see them. Love toddlers. Same principle allows them to hide under a blanket.

Samuel and Middlest. They are the Middles. And, quite a fine pair.

 

This year's Barn Party had a special twist. It fell on the same night as the Homecoming Dance at the high school. So, Eldest, Middlest and their friends/dates came to the Barn Party for the dinner beforehand and a few squares before heading off to the other dance. I think they had a lot of fun in their finery.

Sisters. Friends. Beauties!

 Did I mention it was WINDY? Seriously, windy. 40 mph straight line winds. The pictures look so pleasant and warm. This is deceit. It was chilly and uncomfortably windy until the sun went down, then it quieted, and became much more pleasant.

My cowpoke. I love that this kid still wants to get "duded up" for the Barn Party. He still puts on the same pair of chaps Nana made for him a half-dozen years ago. They used to graze the ground.

 As the band gets set up, the boys have great fascination, and a piece of hay each for their mouths.

Middlest and her date, Cameron.

 The great wind sent the girls in their bare shoulders and legs searching for a wind break.

Thanks, Jack.

 The "Group".

My gorgeous girls. How does it make me feel to see them looking so grown up and beautiful, and chic? Proud. Terrified. Thankful they've made it so far, sad they'll be off on their own so soon.