BreyerFest: And the FOMO Begins

Here I am surrounded by some of those who I love the most, and I am feeling left out. Hard to believe, right?

But yesterday I left a big box and two white envelopes on the porch for Barn Buddy Kelsey to come and get and that has triggered the blues.

Inside the box was a mummified, bubble wrapped, packing peanutted Beswick Drafter that is being delivered to Jennifer Buxton at BreyerFest. 

The white envelopes were my BreyerFest tickets. Kelsey was kind enough to agree to deliver my box and pick up my models for me this year since I cannot go.

I'm very grateful for Kelsey's help, don't get me wrong. But with the Beswick and the tickets now out of my hands, the reality has hit that I'm attending BreyerFest virtually this year and not in person. I won't be seeing my friends, I won't be wandering the Clarion, and I won't be attending seminars and strolling through the barns of the Kentucky Horse Park.

By the same token, I will be watching the live feed, participating in the virtual seminars, and staying cool and comfortable at home.

I have access to my own "horse park" where I can walk around and see the sights and pet the beautiful horses.

And Craig and I will go out to eat at Bob Evans as that is where he and I went to eat when we went to BreyerFest in person.

Finally, I will look forward to Kelsey's return and seeing what she brought home to me!

Don't worry about me - I'll be okay.

Summer Gathering: Bocce Mishap 2021

Second post of the day.

I was hit by a misthrown pallino ball at this year's bocce tournament and while it smarted for a while, no harm was really done. Two years ago we had a much closer accident, one in which we were very lucky no one was hurt. 

Summer Gathering, 2023: The Bocce Tournament

We are a week into our summer gathering and still going strong.

My kitchen counters are covered in water bottles, paper products, snacks and more. The front hall has a bajillion shoes, sandals, and backpacks on the floor, and folding chairs are spaced all around the living room and the dining room.

Most of us are bleary eyed from the busy days and late nights as we make the most of our time together.

Wizards, Skip-Bo, Pass the Pandas, Scrabble, and Sky-Jo are just a few of the games we have played and we have plenty more to go. But not all games have been indoor.

The tenth annual bocce tournament was held on the 4th of July at my sister Jenny's home in Indy.

Eagerly looked forward to all year long (Kyle and niece Trinity),

we take our bocce seriously. (Curt and Cole.)

Especially when the call is close.

We bring out the measuring tape to determine who won.

See what I mean?

And even though family members are pitted against one another (Trinity and her mama, Sarah),

Rick against Kyle with Cole judging and Jenny observing, it's all in good fun.

There is a separate competition for the Cowpokes and Pony Pals, too. This year we learned that it might be a good idea to give them some training before they play. See that twist as Susie prepares to roll? 

Instead of going straight, all her rolls went wild and had us dodging out of the way. I didn't move fast enough and got whacked by a rogue pallino (the white ball), but no harm was done and all who were present still have their teeth (and maybe a bruise or two.)

Leslie is this year's champion with Cole second, Rick third, and Nancy (a family friend) fourth. Pony Pal Susie won Rookie of the Year. (She has vowed to win the whole tournament next year; I have vowed to make sure she gets some training.)

But we weren't done! Since it was our tenth year, we pitted all the champions against each other in a Tournament of Champions. 

Sarah won the Champions competition beating out her dad (a two time champion), and both her aunts.

By that time, the tournament had been going on for several hours in 90 degree heat and we were all ready to go inside and cool off. And, we needed to head back to West Lafayette for fireworks.

I think I enjoy the bocce tournament more than anything else on the 4th of July. (Well, maybe not as much as the Texas Sheet Cake...)

Summer Gathering 2023: Our Farm

"Knee high by the fourth of July" is the benchmark farmers use to determine how tall their corn should be if it is growing as it should.

Looks like Leslie and Rick have gone well beyond the mark this year!

As for our corn, it is also doing well, although not nearly as well as Leslie and Rick's.

"Our corn" may have surprised you. I don't think I have ever mentioned that we own a farm. It's south of Lafayette and about 25 acres. The old farmhouse was razed along with a couple of smaller outbuildings years ago, and we have a farmer who rents the land from us and keeps it in corn or soybeans.

At the south end of the property is a beautiful woods that is thick and almost impenetrable.

A creek runs through the woods where Craig used to fish with his grandfather (the original owner of the property) when he was a boy. 

We inherited the farm in 2016 and haven't done anything with the land aside from keeping it in production and paying taxes, but if I were younger I might be tempted to use it for horses.

Recently the farm has become classified as prime development land. Unsolicited offers for it have been coming in from developers ever since. I'm amenable to selling, but several of our kids are keenly interested in keeping the land in the family. A trip out to see it while we were all gathered only fueled that desire.

What will we do? Hard to tell - the discussion is tabled for now. The land has been in the family for sixty odd years so I can see the kids' point.

Guess I'll be staying 'tooned on this one myself!

Summer Gathering 2023: Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July! I already have the holiday-specific piano rolls out and ready to go. (No doubt I will be asked to find Star Wars and a few other family favorites, too.)

I'll be baking a Texas Sheet Cake and then we will all head on down to Indianapolis later today to my sister Jenny's home for the tenth annual family bocce tournament.

We will play games, eat, and chat and then later in the evening, set off some fireworks. My boys love fireworks and they are legal in Indiana, but I always sit inside with the dogs and any littles who don't like the loud booms. (I don't like them, either.)

Pony Pal Susan helped me decorate for the big day and she was very creative.

I prefer kid decorating and a home that looks like people love living there, so kids are welcome to put decorations where they wish. 

Kyle repaired the Lego Blue Jay his kids made my mother and which I inherited. Now it stands proudly on my dresser.

I don't know who it is that likes to keep Pepper's leash twined around the handrail for the stairs. I untied and put it away a couple of times only to realize when it kept reappearing that it was more than just a red dog leash to someone. And Pepper has more than one leash so it can stay there.

Yesterday's family birthday celebration went well and Kate was thrilled with Neapolitan.

She was surprised to learn that Neapolitan was also a type of ice cream so I am going to buy a half gallon and we will have a treat in the next day or two.

Have a great 4th of July, all! (And wish me luck in the bocce tournament!)

 

Summer Gathering 2023: Birthday Horse

 I'm still here but on the go with the family. Here are a couple glimpses into what we've been doing.

Both Hawkeye Sarah and Daughter-in-love Vanessa are photographers so we took some family photos (even though we were missing 11 members of the family.) Our family is so big, we grab whoever is present and go!

Music City Son Cole, Local Son Curt, Beach Son Kyle, and Son-in-love Todd.

Five of our six kids. Teacher Daughter Lisa (middle) and Hawkeye Sarah on the end. Just missing Mountain Mama Jessica. (And do we ever miss her and her family!)

Tonight we are celebrating the July Birthdays with cake and ice cream (and a couple of go-rounds on the player piano with the Birthday Song.)

Pony Pal Kate is getting Neapolitan as she celebrates with her Boompa, Uncle Kyle, and her Dad, Cole.

More to come ASAP! Stay 'tooned!

Summer Gathering 2023: Telephone Poles & Puppies

Day one of the big family gathering is over and already I am tired. But that's a family gathering for you, right?

I was working on Friday's blog post when I had an early morning visitor.

Kyle sat down with Pepper and chatted with me while I wrote. She grabbed his arm to keep him next to her.

Pepper had an early morning vet appointment, so I quickly posted my blog post for the day and rushed her off to the vet.

Afterward, I ran past the barn for a quick visit with Abby.

She always comes when I call her, making soft nickers as she walks up, but recently she has begun coming up as soon as she sees my car. Warms my heart.

Back at home, some Pony Pals had arrived to spend time with their Uncle Kyle.

He taught them the joke my Dad had played on me and then on my kids, the old, "I can jump higher than a telephone pole" prank.

"I can jump higher than a telephone pole. Or even that tree in the back yard."

"Uh uh, no you can't. It's too tall."

Kyle makes a small hop. "See? I did it!"

"What?? No you didn't! You only hopped."

"Yes, I did." (pause) "Telephone poles can't jump"

Dawning comprehension crosses the Pony Pals' faces and laughter erupts as all three begin hopping around so that they, too, are jumping higher than a telephone pole.

Pony Pal Mila was so enamored by the joke that she told it to EVERYONE who arrived yesterday.  When Hawkeye Sarah, Todd, and Trinity got here mid afternoon, she ran to them and spilled the joke out so quickly you could hardly understand her. (My dad must be smiling from heaven at her delight in his old joke.)

Having family come home means I cook the kids' favorite meals from childhood.

Challah bread is always on the list.  (Bonus: it's easy to make and feeds a crowd.)

I also pulled out the cowboy dishes, a newer acquisition thanks to Liz Cory.

When our family gathers, we spend a lot of time cooking  playing board and card games. Often we do it in shifts, playing easier, shorter games first before the Pony Pals go to bed. (Will I ever beat Cowpoke Lukie at Llama, Llama?)

Last night was no exception, 

Pony Pal Mila with Molly.

but there were also six dogs to play with plus four puppies who'd figured out how to escape the expensive new fence their owners had just put it.  

Molly watching the action in the back yard.

Those pups were small enough to slip through the bars of the fence! Curt saw them bouncing around in the yard, captured them, and then alerted the owner. A puppy fest is a great way to end the evening - trust me on that!

Today's plans begin with donuts so I need to get going. (Wouldn't you? LOL)