Villhauer's Farm Blessings: If Wishes Were Horses

If wishes were horses
then Holly would Buy.
Get it? Ha ha ha.

Trying to come up with a possible way to buy Roni
has consumed way to much
of my time and energy this
past week.

And school work has zapped me of any reserve.

Last Friday's trek to school was frustrating and extremely unproductive. Part of it was me, but part of it was due to, well, bad technology and poorly run building procedures. I brought home groceries and it wasn't long until Mark and his help started bailing and bringing in hay. I was too busy to get photos because it was just Joe and I putting it up to begin with. I put the bails on the conveyor going up to the loft and he took them off and stacked them. A neighbor and a friend showed up a bit later... which was so nice.

Hay men- cooling off and reflecting on farm life.

We ended up with almost 170 bails... and it is really good alfalfa hay. Once finished, a beer was enjoyed by all and then it was off to Wellgreen Farm to help Marj and Richard with their hay, putting up about another 200 bails.

We were glad the rain had held off Friday afternoon, but when I got up Sat. morning, I was disappointed to see yet again, that we hadn't gotten any that had been predicted. I spent the day over at Moraine View,
trail riding with Marj and a bunch from the barn.
I went out three different times with Roni,

probably riding for almost five hours. He is such a fun horse to ride. He did get overly excited a few times and we tried different things to work on calming him down. Marj and I traded horses for a while so she could work with Roni and see how best to continue with our training.
In the photo to the right, Roni is standing tied to the pick line. You can see the Expedition and trailer in the background.
In the photo below, we are getting organized and ready to ride. Seven of us went out the first time.

We got a big thunder storm with hail at about 4pm. All the horses were on the pick line at the time and just turned their rears to the wind, rain and hail. It cleared and was done for the night by 5 pm, so we were able to
enjoy dinner and a campfire.

We hang bags of hay from the pick line and the horses can eat till it's gone. We also bring around buckets of water.

In the photo below, Roni is enjoying some of our new hay.

At 8:30 pm, Marj, Dani, and I went for a moon light ride. It was too wet and dark in the woods, so we went out to a newly mowed meadow and had fun maneuvering and working the horses. It was nearly 11pm by the time I got Roni settled in back home. I think he was really glad to be back where he could relax and rest for the night. I was relieved to see Brother show up, after being gone for over 24 hours.

Joe came with me when I went back out to Moraine View at 10 am Sunday. We enjoyed breakfast while relaxing around the morning campfire. Joe went for a jog and kayaking while Richard, Marj and I went for another nice trail ride. Roni did so much better. It is amazing to see how much and how quickly he improves.

Using the picnic bench to mount up so as not to stress Roni's back. It is also better for the saddle stirrup straps.

Our small group is ready to ride.
Marj, Richard, and myself.

Off Roni and I go on a great adventure together. We had a blast zipping through the woods, so much fun and such a neat horse.

I returned home mid day (without Roni) and proceeded to get a bunch done around here in an effort to get my mind off Roni. A flood of emotions washed over me as I thought "I may never see this horse again". Marj had a prospective buyer, and planned to fine tune the training I have been helping with so that he would sell. All I could think about was how much I would miss Roni and if he was going to have a good home. I so wanted to buy him, but it just wasn't doable financially. Not knowing what I would do with myself for my "horse fix", I was really depressed. I knew I really needed to work with Amiga more (everything but riding her) but it's just not as satisfying as a good ride on a good horse. I had plenty of school work
to keep me busy, but I couldn't concentrate.

So, Kaysha got a much needed bath because she had rolled in cow manure. Later I brushed her for nearly half an hour. I messed with a feeder in the chicken coop, wall fencing in Zorro's stall, and other mundane tasks... mixing chicken feed, filling horse and cattle feed bins, cleaning water buckets, etc.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I was completely consumed by school work, spending 7, 11, and 10 hours there respectively. I had cried and prayed all the way to school Monday in regards to Roni, having read an e-mail from Marj about how well he had done with her Sunday afternoon. I knew I had passed up an opportunity to buy a very nice horse and felt certain he would sell. I can't recall the last time I have wanted something for myself so badly. (maybe 2 years ago before Onyx, my first horse) A gamut of emotions poured out to God and I was ashamed by my selfish desires. My wanting Roni isn't just because he is so fun to ride, but also because I have truly fallen in love with this horse. As I pulled into the parking lot at school, I felt spent but ready for the new task at hand. Having my mind on school related tasks and problems helped me forget about Roni.

I love this picture of him, peeking around the post. Isn't he cute?

When I stopped for a late lunch break at school and caught up on e-mails, I read one from Marj saying that she was thinking of keeping Roni because he was doing so well and could be used in lessons and leased out to intermediate riders. A peace and joy came over me, feeling this was Gods answer to my morning prayer. Roni would still be at Marj's, not for me to have, but to be able to see, ride and share with others.

Joe bringing Amiga in from her grazing pen. She is very cute too.

Becks had it's big show on Wednesday so I went out and got these pictures Tuesday evening.

All of this farm equipment is quite impressive...and I am sure extremely expensive. I do not know how farmers can possibly make ends meat. or is it meet? Kaysha was a good sport during our walk, posing for each photo.

Joe fixed dinner Wednesday night and we sat in the picnic shelter to eat and watch the sun set. It was a nice evening and a good dinner, even though the barn cats were on the prowl as well as was Abbey.

Thursday I was at school, a more normal, six hour day. The students were only in class for ten minutes. I had to scoot home for a lesson at Marj's. I started on Vinnie but then we switched and I got to ride Roni. In just 4 days of not riding him, I felt we were a little out of sink at first, but then we both relaxed and worked well together near the end. It was so good to see and ride him again, especially now that he is working so much better under saddle. Marj and I had a good heart to heart talk and the possibility of buying Roni was discussed. We both really wanted to make it work.

The barn swallow babies have left the nest I had filmed last week. This is another nest in the barn with newly hatched and noisy babies. The barn cats are always on the prowl trying to find a way to get the babies.

We had our first full day of school with students in the classroom today. I am quite pleased with the three classes I have. The temperature has climbed back up and it was very warm by the time I got home from school. After many e-mails back and forth with Marj today and tonight, we came to the conclusion that the selling/buying of Roni would not be possible. It was disheartening and emotional for both of us but apparent that it was not in God's plan for me to buy Roni. I think we are both at peace with how it has worked out, yet each a bit disappointed. Maybe some day we will need that third stall that Joe and I worked so hard on building this summer.

The cow boys eating out in the back pasture.

Britney and Daniel communicate by Facebook and e-mail, and are both doing well. Britney accompanied Dra. Sara at the national hospital in Chimaltenango, on a night shift from 4pm-8am last Friday night. They didn't get any emergency calls through the night, so were able to sleep from 11pm-6am. Britney was able to work in the NICU with a bunch of cute babies... she bottle fed the septic babies who are nearly fully recovered.

Photo- Cute little septic no-name, 13 days old.

Britney was in Orthopedic trauma in the National Hospital in Chimaltenango with Dra. Martinez on Thursday. She was gowned up and got hands on experience in the operating room. The Dr. kept saying “Come on Britney! Don’t be shy!” and she would just grab Britney's hands and place them right on the bone they were mending back together.

Britney even got to do the external sutures!

This is a pretty amazing photo taken earlier.
It is one of a C-section Britney was able to watch. Look closely and you can see a little hand and foot.

Dan is doing well. He made a power point and taught an OPSEC class (Department of Defense Operational Security Operations). Here is a video about OPSEC if you are interested.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEFN8mm5hko

Dan's unit was under attack by 2 rockets tonight, which caused a big fire. Thankfully no one was injured but it was a long sleepless night for Dan and the rest of the soldiers. Can't give you any details here. Please keep him and all the others in your prayers.