US Navy Retired

I am extremely proud to state that I was in the US Navy for 21 years. I served as a Corpsman, HMCS (SS)(FMF), first running with the USMC = 1st and 3rd Marine Divisions and their Finance Center in KC MO, then on to Submarines, 3 of them nuc boats, and finally a Sub Tender that actually got underway (Diego Garcia = foot print of freedom, arm pit of liberty) was working on SW when got early transfer, ending up on staff duty at Pearl Harbor.

Here is a great statement about our Navy boys.



Just one little error in this picture, our boys only needed one shot apiece to solve the problem, not the ten or twelve rounds shown expended. We never wasted our ammo on little things.

Don't piss us off unless your ready for a med-evac. I have been there, done that, and was amazed at the Good, the Bad and the Ugly encountered (and I'm not talking about the Eastwood movie).

Golf and Horses!!! Nothing in common!!

I used to be quite a good golfer. In fact upon retiring, I came back to Springfield MO and the Gentleman Farmer (now a City folk) asked me if I would like to pair up with him at the 1st Anual KOTM Golf Classic (1991) to be held at Grandview Golf Course in Springfield. I jumped at the opportunity and soon we were playing golf. I hate to say this, but I never got invited back. This poor old military retiree beat the pants off all the others and took 1st place.
I still have that trophy



So what does this have to do with horse farming, etc.

I recently took up golf again. Nothing as dramatic as back in the 70s and 80s when I was playing two and three times a week, just casually going over to the local course once a month and playing 9 or 18. I don't have the strength I used to have, and where I once hit a 7 iron, I now settle with a 4 or 5 iron, but I am comfortable with the fact that age has something to do with it.

So back to the story: I recently got asked to play 9 holes after work. Of course my clubs were in the garage at the farm, but I reasoned I could make it. I called the Barngoddess1 and she gladly brought the clubs to work and put them in the front seat of the Bronc for me. Now if you are following this: couple things: gladly, and put them in front seat.......... something is cooking here and I did't see the fire nor smell the smoke.
I went off to play 9 holes of golf. Didn't do too bad, my swing is returning, hit the ball several times exceptionally well. Made couple greens in regulation, etc.
So after the game I head home.

Turning in the driveway I see the Barngoddess in the back of the Little Mule with something I couldn't quite make out.
Arriving at the garage I find a four wheel wagon in the back of the truck.

Barngoddess explains that she called this guy in Spgfld and went and bought this wagon for a price she couldn't pass up. Are you pleased with your golf game? Are you pleased with the looks of this wagon??

Now I get it.... golf clubs to work, off to buy another wagon that is pulled by two horses.



I love it. Now you should know the connection between golf and horses. When the wife wants you to play, even brings your clubs to work, and puts them where you can easily get them, look out for what is she buying for the horses??

LOL

Glad she got the wagon, it adds to the stable. A little work to replace some of the wood, and this wagon will easily be pulled by two of our four legged friends. So if I'm not blogging in the near future, I have an excuse, I am busy fixing up the newest addition to our humble little farm.

It will compliment the Stagecoach and Springfield Wagon, along with the two wheel single horse carts we have. Pretty soon, all the horses will be worked at the same time.

And that foks, is how us country folks

Celebrate Life

City Folks ...............

Well it finally came to pass.

A young couple moved from the city to the country. The bought 2 acres adjacent to an old farm stead.

One morning shortly after moving in, the young couple was eating breakfast and looking out their window, saw the old farm lady hanging the wash out on the clothes line. "That laundry is not very clean. She doesn't even know how to wash correctly, someone ought to tell her", the young wife says.
Her husband looks on, but remained silent.
Over the next couple months, everytime the old farm woman hung her laundry out to dry, the young wife would complain about how dirty the laundry was.
Finally, one day the young wife looks out and the old farm lady is hanging her laundry out to dry. The young wife spouts off "Look, she finally learned how to wash her clothes correctly, I wonder who taught her how?"
The husband quietly said "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows".

City folks.......... keep them in the city until they learn the country way of life.

Better yet, just keep them in the city and leave us farmers alone to

Celebrate Life

Trailers

Jeep and Longrooffan

Here is pic I forgot to put in last blog.

Stagecoach goes on black trailer.

Greenfield, MO Buffalo Days Parade

So on 5/23/09 we loaded up the team and stagecoach and headed for Greenfield, MO.
They have a Buffalo Days Parade every May on the town square.
Traveling a short 45 miles from home we found our parking spot and assembled the coach and team for a Saturday morning ride.
Unfortunately, forgot to take pictures of the team in the parade.
Will look to Greenfield's CC web site to see if we appeared.
Anyway here are a few pictures for the Longrooffan to visualize what I was talking about the other night.







Of course, the team behaved well enough that we won the "Judges' Award" trophy.



Getting home that afternoon spent good time doing lots on the farm and ended up at friends home tilling her garden. In return they stopped by today with a garden cake:


Notice the dark rich dirt, rolls of red tomatoes, yellow corn, green beans. Very original and cute.

So the rain continued today and I only got part of the garage straightened out, but enough that I can at least walk around in it. Then to watch the Coca Cola 600 Nascar race, despite several rain delays, there was some good racing. The winner? He's the one that stayed out when everyone else went to the pits, as soon as pit roll was clear, the rains started again and race cars were parked on pit roll. That's how the race ended "00" Aarons automotive car won.

I also got an email from the Jeep, pictures of Daytona Beach race track, which could be called Daytona Lake Boat track from all the water.

Off to Dover next week to see what happens.

Later all.

Tis the Season

The weather has been good, the horses better, and everyone around here working to the final goal.

Oh yes, it is the season to Celebrate Life and enjoy it to the fullest.

So while the Long Roof and the Jeep were beaching it, and the Bus was rocking it, our own Sharks angel was busy doing what she likes to do (yeah).




But weeding the onions is something I don't do. I figure if you don't eat onions, then you shouldn't have to weed the three rows that are planted.

Now the corn, pea and green bean rows, well I run the mini tiller between them.

Yes we have miniature horses, miniature cows, little chickens, miniature Broncos, and a miniature garden tiller. What else would you expect??

So while SA was weeding, my Noble Assistant and I fixed up a training wagon for the Barngoddess to use in getting the team ready for the season of parades, shows, events, etc.

Hooked up the team and away she went. Here are a couple to show how well she does.



Now Barngoddess is driving Sugar (mare) and Dandy (Sugar's son).

So in typical fashion, woman driver, woman in the wheel position on team, her son following what mom says, do you think they could keep the wagon on the mowed path around my prime hay field?????

Yes????

No way, and here's a pic to show how well those women kept to the path.........
And to #10, there ain't no blondes up here, so it has to be a woman thing....LOL...


LOL


I also got the chance to drive and enjoy it to no end.

In all fairness, Sharks angel drove the team yesterday evening before I got home and did a good job. So next to train on driving is my Noble Assistant the Little Princess.

Nah, she can do the halter and showmanship thing, I'll keep to the driving.

So that is how our week has been going.

Saturday morning is the Buffalo Chip Days parade in Greenfield, MO. and the stage coach and 4 up, along with the Little Princess and Fabio (her little white gelding) are going to be there.



and we will be Celebrating Life as we hope you do this weekend.

The T&V weather guys are calling for that rain in Florida, around the Tampa area, to head up this way and impact us on Saturday night and the rest of next week. Thanks to BBB for sharing the rain with us. So enjoy while you can.

Horsefarmer

The Things we see

Borrowing from Uncle Jon-Jon, What we saw today.

As Little Princess, Barngoddess and I were driving into the big city of Springfield the other day, we noticed this truck speeding by us on Hwy 60. Didn't think much about it until the truck passed us and then Princess yells out "Looky there Mom! He has our magnet on his truck."

So what we saw today was a strangers truck with 'our' Celebrate Life Magnet on it. Amazing how the word spreads even in our little town in Southern Missouri.

Enjoy your day and remember to Celebrate Life to its fullest.

Angel