Muddy Boot Acres: all right! I'll post!

Yes, it has been over a month now since I last posted. It wasn't lack of life going on here. Without much rain, it has been horribly hot, which also means dry, which in turn means yard work. Little things like weeding, trimming in the odd places that are usually swamp. You know it is dry when we get a small rain and the ground still has cracks in it. We are still playing the barrel game every few days. Tom brings home about 150 gallons every two-three days for the animals. It eases the water table a lot so we can wash and do laundry.

Tommy has come home.   I was afraid to take a breath until he was state side. You know things can change in an instant. He has been home about two weeks now.  The sleep deprivation was the big adjusment. Not knowing what day and time it was and trying to get back in the sleep pattern. He was up and down.   Trying to find things during daylight to fall into the norm of things. He even went horseback riding with the girls and a friend they had over during VBS week. He finally hooked up with a few friends the other night and they camped out on the trail.

Yes, Vacation Bible School had come and gone for the summer too. This year it was a rodeo theme.  Cowboy hats and the whole deal. Not to far from what most live everyday anyway! The last day they were to have horses and a roping rodeo, but wouldn't you know, after a really dry week, it poured just awful for the kids!

Jessalyn had her 14th birthday last week.   White cake with peanut butter frosting. It's what she wanted! It wasn't that bad. I made basic frosting and put about a tablespoon of pb in.   It wasn't to over powering.   Lots of little things, but her "big" gift was the compact stereo. Now she can plug her mp3 in and listen to her country music. Ken came out a few days later because he had to work that night.   He brought her a gift card that she can use to buy a new riding helemet because....

The OHC had an Ultimate Cowboy Race a short time back and apparently Jess forgot to pick up her helmet and lead rope at the ring. She didn't miss it for a week and by that time when Tom took her over to look, it was gone, of course. As far as the race, she did well, but pushing the basketball around barrels with a broom was a little scary for Dusty and she lost some time during that event. She did win enough to pay for her number that day.   Becky didn't ride, but she helped around the ring.

As the girls are doing chores here, Tom and I are also helping out doing chores for a neighbor who had to go on a road trip for two weeks. It isn't bad, but back and forth can be time consuming.   He has some big ladies, which are belgians, and a baby foal that has a mind of his own.   They are big, but amazing how lovable they can be. Still wouldn't want to be stepped on or kicked by one!

A few people from church got together and had a small picnic at one of the families homes.   They have a big pond out back and the boys just loved impressing the girls by swinging in on the rope. Real Tarzans, they are.

A few days left and school starts.   We got the hardware in the mail a while ago, Jess' books came yesterday. I hope this goes well doing cyber this year because I myself am burnt out. I need to take a leave of absence! Riding Becky to do her algebra, chemistry, and geometry this year is going to wear me out.

This is all you get for now. In fact, I'm so lazy that I'm just posting pictures that aren't even in order with some captions underneath!