Florida Fam: Twins Reunited!

In April of 2012, I was trailering Abby from Indiana Horse Rescue to her new home when I got a call from Beach Son Kyle. "Ashley's in labor - the baby will be born today!" Corinne (Cory) arrived a few hours later, and we have called Abby her "twin horse" ever since. (When Cory was just learning to talk, she pronounced it, "tin hoss." How I miss that sweet phrase!)

The twins together in September, 2017 when Kyle's family came and sheltered with us as Hurricane Irma bulls-eyed their town, St. Augustine.

Abby and Corinne reunited again this month. Cory no longer needs me to lift her up in order to pet her twin.

Trying to not giggle as Abby reaches through the bars of the gate, asking for some more peppermints.

We thanked Hokey with some peppermints and apple slices for being such a gentleman while the kids rode, but we also made sure everyone else got a nibble, too.

Next up? A scare at the barn. Stay 'tooned!

The Country Fair at Prophetstown

While my evacuee family was in town, Prophetstown was having its annual fall country fair. It's a fun place to go any time of year, but having horses trailered in for a breed parade? I'm there! Luckily, my family wanted to go, too!

My sister, Leslie is the head of Prophetstown, and she was delighted that we'd come out. Here she is letting Curt use the old fashioned corn shucker while Luann, Corinne, and Craig look on.

 She fired up the antique tractor, hooked up the trolley car, and took us for a ride around the state park.

 Lisa, Luann, Lance, Whitney, Addie, Mila, Ashley (mostly hidden), and Vanessa.

Ian and Braden were thrilled to be invited to sit on the high seat behind their great aunt. (Curt sat with them, just to be safe.)

The trolley ride was fun (and relaxing) but I was most interested in the horses that were there for the fair.

 Corinne looks up at a Paint horse that is used for gaming events. (He had a visible swelling on his left hind fetlock but did not seem lame.)

 She was a little more hesitant about the zonkey! (That's Whitney with her.)

 I loved the zonkey and had never seen one in person before. He was very quiet and gentle.

 And he loved having his big ol' ears scratched.

Ian was very intimidated by the miniature horse and would not get close to it. She is an older mare in her twenties and is a rescue from Indiana Horse Rescue just like Abby.

 Mila and Whitney play on one of the vintage tractors on display.

None of us wanted to go home, but we had other plans for the day as it was Braden's birthday, so we headed home at noon.

Pony Pal Pictures

Our hurricane evacuees left early this morning to head home to Florida. I'll miss them, and will also miss discovering that my pony pals liked to take pictures of my collection on my phone.

They're very random - I see no rhyme or reason as to why these pieces were selected! (I'm going to check that Misty's Twilight - is that a seam split on her chest?)

 My glass cases with some of my mini Hagen Renakers and other minis.

The chinas and porcelains in the living room display case. (And my head - I thought she was taking a picture of me!)

Looks like Corinne traveled all over the house specifically to photograph my collection!

Riding!

Just a brief post - the Hurricane Irma evacuees are still here and things are HECTIC. It's 4:00 in the morning and I am trying to catch up on my grading and all the things I have been putting aside so that I can spend time with my visiting family, but I did want to post a few pictures with the promise that there will be more to come when things settle down here a bit.

(And for those wondering, my son, Kyle, who remained behind in St. Augustine is fine. Their home has some minor damage and they lost a tree and had some damage to his car, but he is okay and is helping with cleanup efforts.)

Monday evening we went for a ride! Tim met us at the barn and saddled up Diablo for us. That's Addie, Corinne, and Whitney in the saddle. (Through a miscommunication my helmet was left at home. Since Diablo is old and very quiet, and Tim was leading them around, I went ahead and let the kids ride without one.)

Me, Mila, Braden, Ian, Ashley on the ground; Whitney, Corinne, and Addie in the saddle.)

Ashley and the kids will be staying with us until their home has power again and the roads and bridges to their home have reopened. I'll post more pictures when I get a moment.