Our New Additions, Donkeys!

We went out to see the 2 mini donkeys that will be coming to live with us the end of April.  They are just adorable!

I've always loved miniature horses but they bite and kick.  These little girls absolutely LOVE people, even kids.  The kids were all over them and the donkeys followed them everywhere.  You couldn't ask for better friends for our grandkids.

Our friends Rod and Kathy wanted to get some to pull a cart for events in Hidden Springs and we told them that we'd love to keep them here.  So, Monday we start building the fence and the oldest of the 2 they're buying is currently 'getting lucky' so we'll have a baby next spring which Rod and Kathy are giving to us.

I can't wait to get them here and show all the grandkids how to brush them, feed them, and take care of them.  The current owners told us we can let them out of the corral when we're outside and they'll follow us all around just like dogs.  How fun will that be!

I'm excited!

The Saddle...

Well, here it is.  It's pretty rough, needs the sheepskin underneath replaced and a little bit of stitching re-done.  It also needs some oil.  I can't find a maker's mark on it anywhere.  The name of the people mom sold it to is stamped underneath and I can see the word HULE tooled into the leather but other than that, I can't find anything.

I'm going to see if one of dad's old friends can look at it and see if he remembers it.  I'm not sure why, but I have a feeling this was dad's saddle.  I guess I'm going to have to do some sleuthing!  It's very plain and basic, kind of what I remember and I can't imagine dad having anything different.

I ended up payiing $300.  My friend Schanen went with us and said that was a fair price.

Thanks Schanen, for going with us and for helping me.  It was great to have you along for this rather emotional experience.

A Random Act of Kindness, For a Soldier He Never Met...

Today something happened to me that I can hardly believe.  Small, in it's own way, yet it meant more to me than I can ever say.

We have a gentleman about my age that comes in to the Merc every once in a while.  A nice enough man, yet rather quiet and a bit grumpy looking most often.  Today he came in and went into the back room and sat down.  I took him his water and asked if he wanted some lunch.  He said he wouldn't be eating and sat and read.  I went back a bit later and noticed a box he had laying on the table.  In it was a brand new motorized helicopter.  I said, "You bought a new toy!" and he responded saying that he thought he could work it since it only required that you be 14+ to run it.

We started talking about it and I told him that I watch a show called "Inside Combat Rescue" on the National Geographic channel.  It's one of the shows I can't bring myself to watch yet because Adam and I always watched it together.  I told him about the medics on the show and how they fly those remote controlled helicopters in the building where they work when they have down time.  I mentioned that I have a son in Afghanistan and that I had thought, while watching that show, about sending one to him for HIS down time.

He looked and me and scooted the box across the table.  "Send him this one."

I about died.  First off, that hadn't crossed my mind.  "Oh no!  I can't do that."

"Really, send him this one."

I told him how nice that was, but that I could buy one and send it to Jake.

He picked up the box and handed it to me.  "Really, I want you to have this one to send to your son.  Tell him Thank You."

Wow.  I took the box and told him how much I appreciated it.  I walked away thinking what that had done for me.  I've never had anyone do something like that.  He didn't really know me.  He doesn't know my son. Yet he touched me in a way I will always remember.

As he got ready to leave, I walked up to him and said, "I want you to know that I will never forget what you did today."

He smiled and again said, "Just tell him thank you."

I paid for his coffee and muffin, it was the least I could do.  I will send the helicopter and a letter explaining how this all happened to Jake this week.  I know Jake, he'll leave this act of kindness for other soldiers to enjoy when he comes home in October.

This wonderful man will never know how he affected me today.  A random act of kindness, for a soldier he has never met.  Thank you.  Thank you for letting me know that my son and the other soldiers, mean as much to you as they do to me.

Coming Along!

So we're making progress on the barn, in fact, it should be done this week!  We can't wait to get the remainder of our things our of storage and have all of our stuff in one place again.

We have a rooster pheasant that has found us.  He's beautiful and not at all afraid.  He's also looking for a girlfriend but I think we'll have to go buy him one or two.  He lives down in the big bush in one of our fields and comes every morning to eat the seed that has dropped out of the feeders.

Linda, Nancy and I went "junking" on the 40 acres Linda used to live on.  It literally "littered" with old stuff.  Mostly rusty old stuff but we've had fun and added a bunch of things we'll sell during our first annual farm sale later this spring.  Old WWII ammo boxes, the complete fan off of an old windmill, old tool boxes that will be wonderful planted with flowers, an old wheelbarrow, and other misc. things that we hauled home.

I just couldn't resist this picture of Linda with the title in the background.  Sorry sister!  I love you!

We Almost Have a Barn!

Friday they started the barn.  Woo hoo!  They said it should only take a little over a week to finish it.  Woo hoo again!

I've been too embarrassed to show you, but before we cart all the crap off the back porch to the barn, I'll take a picture.  It's awful!  We can't wait to get the rest of our stuff out of storage, and I can't wait to get the full body bear mount out of our bedroom and into the barn!

Oh heck, here it is, in all it's glory.  Here in a week or two this will all be usable space!

and, we got some awesome patio furniture for a GREAT price from a friend who's moving up north for grad school.  A 12 piece furniture set, a 9-ft long teak table with 6 chairs, a 4-piece white wicker set, and a hammock.  Can't wait to get the porch all fixed up!

Adam's Going Away Party...

On Sunday, April 24th we had a little going away party for Adam before he left for basic training.  I shouldn't say little, especially with all of little people we have around now, our get togethers are no longer small!

I thought I got a lot more pictures than this.  Does anyone else have any?  I sure miss this guy already...

Albino Deer...

After all these years of watching for the albino deer in our area, I finally saw it this morning.  How cool is this!

Dad's Saddle...

I'm feeling ever so much better!  Today Linda and I went and bought some "old rusty junk" from a gal in Eagle.  We'll be having a big farm sale later this spring - can't wait!

Yesterday, a guy from Hidden Springs that I just love came in to the Merc while I was working.  He's retired from the BLM wild horse program.  He asked if we had come to the Merc Saturday night for the Cowboy Poetry fundraiser for the old farmstead.  I said I hadn't and he went on to say that Sam Mattise, the cowboy poet was also retired from BLM and lives just around the corner and down the hill a bit from our house.  Sam had asked Jim if he knew who had built the house on Cartwright.  Jim told him and said, "I think you knew her dad."

They started talking and Sam mentioned that he had borrowed a saddle from another BLM guy for the cover of his new CD "If Old Saddles Could Talk."  He then went on to say that the saddle on the cover of his CD belonged to dad.  I don't know if dad gave the saddle to the guy from BLM or if he bought it, but I couldn't believe it.

As kids, we all played on that saddle as it sat on an old sawhorse in our garage in Garden Valley.  We all have very fond memories of that wonderful saddle.

I emailed Sam and he gave me Steve's email address.  I sent him a message and asked if it would be possible to come and see the saddle and take some pictures.  I haven't heard back yet, but I'm hoping he'll be willing to allow us to do that.  I will also be sure to tell him that if he ever decides to sell it, I hope he'll allow the Pogue family first option to buy it.  How awesome is that?!

We think this is it...