Rings!

We bought our rings!! They are both perfect. I went to pick up my engagement ring from being sized and we decided to check some out while we were there. And, we went ahead and bought 'em. They are now locked securely in my dad's safe. In fact, I can't even get the combo right. I went with John and his family to "Family Day" today with his National Guard unit. It was fun. We got the play in the simulator and shoot stuff. I didn't like the driver spot, however. It was extremely tight and I almost freaked. I think Carroll should have been in the military. I was even a little scared of how comfortable she was going after the pretend terrorists in that tank. No one would be safe. She was great. I'll post pictures when I get them from her later. It was also kind of sad to be there. It made me realize how much I was going to miss John while he was gone. We also got back from the beach 2 days ago. Photos also to come.

Quote of the Day: "I suggested we flip a coin, but Angela said she doesn't like to gamble. Of course by saying that, she was gambling that I wouldn't smack her." -Pam Beesley

LAME

Not sure why. I think John pulled a Tanya Harding on her while I wasn't watching. I thought she might be foundering, then maybe thrush. Perhaps it was a classic "I'll act crippled so you won't ride me," routine she learned from Cole. Whatever the issue she's out in the pasture lame(only when she thinks you're watching however). We pulled her shoes off. I'll have Timmy come by and check her. I just got finished running around the pond with John. Then we lifted weights (the bar) then did crunches. We followed that with jumping in the pool. Now I'm about to die. My fingers are the only thing that work. I just picked out the first wedding song. Joy, you will be receiving an email shortly. No pressure.

Quote of the Day:
Ryan: Did this happen on company property?
Michael Scott: It was on company property, with company property. So, double jeopardy, we're fine.
Ryan: I don't think-- I don't think you understand how jeopardy works.
Michael Scott: Oh, I'm sorry. What is, 'we're fine'?

Happy 4th

I have millions of pictures to post but I can't get to them right now. We worked on the house this weekend after going to the Thresher's Reunion (photos to come). We painted more, hung pictures and raided John's closet and found lamps and various sparkly things to use. The curtains went up yesterday also and they really look great. Now it's furniture time. Yikes! That takes $$ and good taste. I'm getting my ring sized down today. I think it takes about a week to get back. I'll be wearing one my mom gave me until I get it back. It's also very sparkly. And in closing....I'm stealing a photo from Joy's blog! Thanks Joy. You have the coolest camera ever!



Quote of the Day: "I love inside jokes. I'd like to be a part of one some day." -Michael Scott

Wahoo!!

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I'm getting married!!!!! Not right now however. We are going to wait until John gets back from Iraq. I am so excited. I'll be hijacking my blog to make wedding plans. I already have a general idea. I do want to run everything by John first. He already said I could plan what I wanted but I don't want to be selfish. Well, maybe just a little. He proposed while we were riding Scout and Lilly on his farm on Saturday...completely unexpected. I have pictures that I'll post once I get my hands on them. Updates to come!!!

Minus $189,00

I went to the Homegoods store today with Carroll and Martha. WOW! Talk about seriously overwhelmed. I bought everything horse...and I'm not kidding. I bought a large horse statue, horse head bookends, 2 horse lamps, and 2 large amber thingys. The only thing I didn't come home with was a new kitty. And, if Martha had pulled over I would have had one of those too.

The people who live in the new upscale subdivision where I used to ride horses have apparently gotten themselves into some hot water with the guy who owns the ponds in the community. I got yelled at by a homeowner awhile back who took it upon himself to run me off of the property (and it wasn't even his). Me being me I told him nicely to get out of my way. Now all the homeowners are restricted from using the pond or 50 feet around it. It's a consequence of them not minding their own business but everybody else's. The pond owners told me I could ride anywhere I wanted too. I'm thankful for small victories. Don't you just love it when people move to the country but don't really want the country that goes with it.

Quote of the Day: "In that song, she'll be coming around the mountain, who is she?"

Ole Farm Days

I've always wanted to drive one of these things. It's called a combine (for all of you city folk). It's used to drive around the field and tear up stuff. For a better description ask John. Well, I actually got to drive one on Saturday. John of course rode with me so I wouldn't take his house down. We rode around the field several times and then parked it under a shelter that's about as big as my bedroom. They got it under there but I'm pretty sure they'll never get it out.


Me being cool on the combine.


A view from the top.


John being safety patrol.


Artsy photo.

Quote of the Day: "My formula for success is rise early, work late, and strike oil." -Paul Getty

Ruby

Everybody meet Ruby. She is my new kitten. Terry and Ruby knew a lady who had her. She was a dump kitty. She is at very low risk for getting run over especially since she's an indoor kitten. So far Buzz hasn't gotten used to her. She still spits and hisses when Ruby gets too close but I think they'll get along just fine. Ruby has 2 little brothers also. I caught two little feral orange kittens at the office. They really like her. I'm in the process of rebuilding my cat army. It's too quiet in the yard.

Quote of the Day: "Experts say you should never hit your children in anger. When is a good time? When you're feeling festive?"

I QUIT!!!

Today Lottie got hit in the road. WHAT IS GOING ON!!! 3 cats in 2 weeks!!! At least John was home for grief counseling. My biggest fear is that God is making room for more bottle raising kittens. I'm going to go hide.

I hate my road

I took Claude to the vet on Wed because he was loosing weight and looked scruffy. He was also really lethargic. They pulled blood and sent it off to the lab. They said it could take until Monday to get the results. They gave me medication to give him in the meantime (total vet bill: $255.00). He acted really nice until they took the blood then he became anti-social and really ticked off. Well, my mom took him back to the house, let him out of the cat carrier and he promply got hit in the road. I'm not ok. I almost got killed by a truck just trying to move him. I hate my road. I'm making a sign that says "Slow Down! You're killing all of my animals." I don't know what to do. I think I'll send a letter to the paper...or call the HWY patrol. Sorry for the sad news but I'm sad.

An Ode

Momma Kitty was one of the best barn kitties we ever had. She is no longer with us. She was hit (probably by a yankee or some dumb redneck...i'm not bitter or anything....driving too fast down my road) on Monday. She had a good life here at the farm. She was actually extremely overweight. Her favorite things to do were eat, hang out with the horses, eat some more, and attack you from behind if you didn't pet her enough. She was laid to rest under the tree beside Boo (who was also hit by somebody driving too fast) next to Lilly and Coles gate by Mike who had to dig until he saw Chinamen in order to make her fit. We were all sad and nice words said over her. If anyone knows who did this please give me a description of the vehicle. I'll handle the rest.

We'll miss you Momma Kitty. Besides Claude you were my favorite.

P.S. The oppossum that was helping himself to her catfood accross the road has now moved to the house. He's up for adoption.

Momma Kitty's Quote of the Day: "I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter." -Sir Winston Churchill

PRACK WALK PLEASE!

Well, the horse show is over. Cole stomped around the ring and won several ribbons. His highest was a 2nd place. Lilly also was able to get her name called a few times...each time the anouncer had a looong pause to try to read her name. Thanks horse show people. I was neither bucked, flung, or in any other way dismounted from my horse during any of the classes. Lilly acted like a lady. We do have a long way to go with her. She invented a brand new gait during the championship class. I like to call it the Prack Walk (pace/rack/walk). In the line up the judge asked me to "back out of the line up, do a 360 and pull back into the line." Ha! Lilly thought that was funny. We backed 2 steps and stalled out. Thank goodness I had spurs on because one good bump and that was the fastest she's moved in a long time. We got 6th in that class.

Thank you to John for 2 days of much needed help and company. I don't ever want to eat Sour Patch Kids again. Thank you to Angie for help, videography and being paparazzi on Saturday. I owe both of ya'll 50 million dollars. It was a great show!! Photos and video to come when I can get my hands on it.

Leeland

Have you every felt like this. I've always had this strange pull to not want to do what everybody else does. Even if it's something normal. If everyone else was doing it I wanted to do the opposite. I think at first it was just a way to keep myself entertained. It turned out to be a big benefit when I went to highschool and college. It kept me out of a lot of trouble. Are you an opposite?

Rest

What a wonderful women's retreat. It all started with the gorgeous house practically "in" the ocean. There is nothing like falling to sleep with the sound of the ocean (not on a sound machine). The lesson and singing were fantastic. Thank you to all who planned, taught, prepared and prayed. It was such a perfect opportunity to bond with the women in the church. I'm already looking forward to next year.

Of course I came home to my fat horses who are now on diets. I'm going to have to glue Spice's mouth shut. I don't know what's she's eating because there isn't that much grass in her pasture. I think she fishes during the day.

Rachael's Quote of the Day: "Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill."

Hitting the Road

This week has been wierd. Noah's been sick, I've been sick, and I'm leaving town. That's right. Ladies retreat time. I'm staying in a million trillion dollar house on the beach. Don't be jealous. I don't know how I'm going to get away with swimming in the ocean in my sweat pants. I'm not about to put this white body in a swim suit. I'll miss all my animals.....kidding. Prepare for an update on Monday.

p.s.- Martha wrecked her car to get this picture right by the office. Yesterday there was a recliner in front of the sign.

Quote of the Day: "Because right now, this is a job. If I advance any higher, this would be my career. And if this were my career, I'd have to throw myself in front of a train." -Jim Halpert

New Post

As I write this I'm trying to watch the newest Office episode so I'm incredibly distracted. Only one more week before I can ride my horses again. I'm thinking about cheating and getting on early. Noah came to visit me today. I'm pretty sure we all have rabies. He played in the cat water, put some in his mouth, then kissed me. We're all infected. I finally found my favorite song. It's called Dark Horse...imagine that. I want to know what everyones favorite song is.

Quote of the Day: "I am Michael, and I am part English, Irish, German, and Scottish, sort of a virtual United Nations." -Michael Scott

Minor Setback

So, I had to go back to the doctor yesterday. Apparently, really bad pain is normal after someone cuts your ear out. The little pamphlet my doctor gave me was slightly misleading. Unfortunately (smirk) I missed the reenactment. I hate I missed sleeping in a tent during thunderstorms with severe ear pain. Hopefully I'll be back riding horses in 2 weeks. But, it was a great Saturday to spend lying on the couch, literally, all day. It's Santa Fe nacho night. My mommy is bringing one home. Sometimes it pays to be pitiful.

Quote of the Day: "And I did not become a Lackawanna County volunteer sheriff's deputy to make friends. And by the way, I haven't." -Dwight Schrute

Survival of those in the least amount of pain.

I made it through surgery. They wrapped me up like a burrito, put me mostly to sleep and scratched around in my ear for 2 hours. I didn't feel anything until I got home Friday night. THANK GOODNESS I didn't have to spend the night at the hospital. My doctor packed my ear with so much stuff I won't be able to hear much at all for at least 3 weeks. Every once in awhile I fall into furniture because my balance is off. Other than that things seem to be going fine. Thank you for all those who prayed for me. I was very nervous about the surgery. They were running 2 hours behind when they finally took me back to the OR. I'll let ya'll know if a few weeks if it was worth the ten million dollars it cost me.

love,
Rach


Quote of the Day: "I'm friends with everybody in this office. We're all best friends. I love everybody here. But sometimes your best friends start coming into work late and start having dentist appointments that aren't dentist appointments, and that is when it's nice to let them know that you could beat them up." -Michael Scott

Stapendectomy

Tomorrow is surgery day so Tuesday was my last horse ride until my doctor says I'm well....that'll never happen. Lilly and Cole are still at John's house and I miss them so much. The one thing I'm looking forward to is the sleep I'll get during recovery, and not watering my horses. Thank you John for keeping my babies for me while I'm out of commission. If you want to keep Holly and Cedar at your house too I won't be sad...promise.

p.s.- I want that baby goat for a get well present.

Rachael's Quote of the Day: "Yeah, I went hunting once. Shot a deer in the leg. Had to kill it with a shovel. Took about an hour. Why do you ask?" -Michael Scott

New Soul

I realized that my last post was worrying me...and kind of whiney. So, I'm moving on. When you have God and family you don't really have problems. So, I will introduce you to one of my favorite songs. I'll tell you the other one when I have a Lionel Richie post.

Farm updates: Lilly and Cole are moving to John's house until I get through with my surgery. Peri is officially kicked out of the house. He did a terrible thing on my comforter. I bought a new bit for Lilly. We have a new black cat..full grown...and all boy. If anyone wants to venture into the exciting world of cat ownership (and learning what a vet bill feels like) please let me know. If anyone has lost a black cat on my road please also let me know.

Rachael's Quote of the Day: "As of this morning, we are completely wireless here on Schrute Farms. So as soon as I find out where Mose hid all the wires, we can have power back on." -Dwight Schrute

Clouds

It's only Tuesday and this week has already been full. I hate making important decisions...and then having to stand by them. I hate the ominous feeling you get when you know something big and potentially destructive is coming and there's nothing you can do to stop it. So, this is where I wil go:

1 God is our refuge and strength,
a helper who is always found
in times of trouble.

2 Therefore we will not be afraid,
though the earth trembles
and the mountains topple
into the depths of the seas,

3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with its turmoil.

Psalm 46:1-3