Fox Bay Derby

While I was in DC Taryn was in her very first Jumping Derby at Fox Bay Farms. She and Bert did great placing in all four events they entered.

They earned second, third, fifth and sixth place ribbons. I am so proud of them! ...and proud of Gary for taking them.

Four Days In DC

Thursday morning at 4:30 AM I left for DC. Luanne, Anne and I were there for our annual Eagle Forum leadership meetings.

I just didn't have it in me to blog this trip, but it was a great four days, and a very interesting time to be in DC. Anne had not been here for 30 years.

On Thursday nite, after my State President's meeting, we took Anne to the Old Ebbit Grill near the White House, and briefly thru the historic Willard Hotel.

Friday morning after my state presentation we went to the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Monument, WWII Memorial & Washington Monument.

Saturday we had some great training and then headed up to Capitol Hill to visit our Reps re: the bailout. Our most impressive visit was with Reichert.

A highlight of the trip for me was having Jess meet us for our dinner on Saturday nite where John Fund from the Wall Street Journal spoke on voter fraud.

Missing Our Emma

It has been very hard for me to face writing this post so I have put it off for nearly a week. Last Wednesday we had to put our Emma down.

That morning after Taryn got on the bus I went to the farm to feed Emma and give her meds. She was laying flat in the paddock and I couldn't get her up. An hour after her meds she still wouldn't get up. Three hours later I still couldn't get her up.

So for a long time I just sat on the ground with her talking to her and gently touching her face. She was just in too much pain. Talking with Gary we knew we must act to spare her from this getting any worse.

Telling Taryn was hard. I went to school to be with her, and then took her out to the farm to say good bye. On double pain meds Emma had finally gotten up and was eating her hay when we got there. I was so thankful she was up.

Taryn so sweetly loved on Emma, brushed her and braided her tail. We took some pictures and all had a chance to tell her how much we loved her. She even enjoyed an apple or two. Then Taryn and I left.

The Push Is On

In two days I'll be in DC and there is simply more to do than is humanly possible. How did I get so behind??

I am spending a lot of time at the barn caring for horses these days.

I'm also spending a lot of time on the computer attempting to finish up a myriad of projects that are currently in "half done" status. I hate that. Please let me get just a few in to the "complete" end zone before I leave!

Today I got my hair done - thanks Jenny! After that I picked up Mom and Darlene and took them both around to see where the boys live. Britt was home and Brandon was out pressure washing his new project house. It ended up being a perfect time of seeing both places, and so much fun.

We stopped at home to pick up Taryn and then went to the farm to see the horses. What fun Taryn had showing them both to Darlene, and this was the first time Mom had seen Bert in person.

By then we were starving so we went to Milts for a wonderful combo with fresh tomato's on half. Perfect!

Dropping them off again Tayn was able to meet Darlene's two dogs Zoe and Sophie which she just loved.

Great baby news! Taya is dialated to 3 and getting so close! Come baby come!

Back home. Back at the computer. Suitcase comes out tonite.

Vet Day

Dr. Beckman came this afternoon to check on Emma. I knew it would not be good news. Gary was able to be there which was so nice.

She was literally misserable today. It is just so painful for her to walk or stand on her foot. It was painful to watch and I just hate this.

Dr. Beckman removed her foot pad and showed us the weeping from the bottom of her hoof. This tells him the injury is not healing the way we had hoped.

He believes the pain med is beginning to affect her stomach lining and she may not be able to tolerate it at the level she needs for pain. Not good either.

Our hope was to get her foot healed to the point that she could comfortably be out in the field again. I'm no longer sure that is possible. This is hard.

Sunday Rest

What a pleasant and restful day we had.

Really thinking of Taya today. She is so close to her due date and I know is getting a bit more uncomfortable each day. We can't wait to get the call that she's in labor. I have started taking the phone to bed with us just in case.

It will be hard being so far away from them during such an incredible event, but we are trusting God for the grace to be here when we want to be there.

We got a wonderful video from Isaiah this weekend which melted our hearts, and we have watched it over and over just to hear his voice and see his face. They are trying a new video system they plan to have at the hospital so we can see our new little grandson as soon as possible. Can't wait!

Taryn's friend Mackenzie spent the day with us while her parents went to the Seahawks game. Britt was at the game too. Shana had given him two tickets for his birthday and he had a fabulous time. Brandon and Greta spent this weekend in Seattle to celebrate their first anniversary.

In the afternoon Taryn, Mackenzie, Marika and Stacy set up their own jumping course in the Eide's field. It was a real kick to watch them go thru the course one after another.

We had a chance to watch them when we went to John and Kays for dinner. Then I really wished I had my camera along, but I didn't. Rats!

Sunday nite dinners with John and Kay has become one of our most favorite look-forward-to events of the weekend. As often as it works we combine our dinners and enjoy them together. Can't quite remember when we started this but we love it.

Jumping in the Rain

My word but it rained today...all day! Crummy and cold.

Taryn had a jumping lesson at 1:00 so we loaded two horses - hers and Marika's - in our trailer and headed out to Fox Bay.

Hannah was teaching today. We love Hannah. The jumping class before Taryns was running late. With the rain they had to haul all the jumps out of the field and into the covered arena.

It was a fun course for the girls to work on and the lesson went very well.

Next weekend will be a huge horse weekend with the Fox Hunt on Saturday and a Jumping Derby on Sunday. Gary will be in charge of both of these since I will be in DC.

I also want to report that I had no trailer drama this week, and even made two successful attempts at backing up. Yea me!

Gary spent his day working on the Ferndale development property. There are about 10 acres of grass that needed to be cut. He had rented a tractor and brush hog mower. There are also great expanses of blackberry bushes that need to be wrestled down out there. Quite a job.

By 2 pm it was just too wet to work there anymore.

We decided to go to church this evening and while in Bellingham accomplish some needed errands. Gary brot the Sequoia in for an oil change and we picked him up there for church. Don't ask him about this!

After church we attempted to do a Costco run but it was closed. Say what?? So we took Taryn for the first time to Billy McHales for dinner. Not such a big deal, but she was so excited to finally go there.

Then it was two episodes of 24. Yes!

Emma Update

Sweet Emma is not doing so well today. She seems to be in more pain than yesterday and quite stiff in her back legs.

Her pain level was most evident by the fact that she would not eat her grain this morning. Emma loves her grain. Refusing it is unheard of. I gave her pain med and after an hour she would eat again.

Not sure why this is happening after more than a week of positive progress but it definitely has me concerned.

Cross Country Meet #1

Today Taryn had her first cross country meet of the season at Cornwall Park in Bellingham. It had been a rainy day but thankfully stopped before the meet.

It was a frustrating run for Taryn. A "wardrobe malfunction" interferred with her performance, but she finished the 1.5 mile run strong and I was so proud of her! (she is the second runner in this pic)

You go girl!

A New Project

There is a small older home on the property we just purchased and plan to develop a few years down the road. Brandon and Greta will be renting this house, so they now have a project to occupy their spare time. Volunteers welcome!

Britt & Shana's New Home

Britt and Shana have been in their new home for about a month now and it's so beautiful! We drove by on our way to Brandon and Greta's new rental house project and I quickly snapped this picture as we went by.

I plan to post more pictures of their home after I complete my official photo shoot.

NWAHA High Point Award!

Taryn and Bert had an amazing first show together, and she won High Point Award in her age group. This year a trophy was given in each High Point division, so she even got her very first trophy!

Also, for the first time Taryn rode in both English and Western disciplines. They won first place ribbons in English Equitation and Western Pleasure.

Show Ready

Friday nite Bert got a bath and a shave so he would be show ready and he looked amazing!

Power Lunch

Today Luanne, Anne and I had a business meeting/lunch at our "office", so thot I'd share a picture of us hard at work. And yes, we really did get something done.

Drama Is My Middle Name

There never seems to be a dull moment in my life.

Today the plan was to pick Taryn up from turnout right at 5 pm, rush home to hitch up the horse trailer, dash to the farm and load Bert, then scream out to Fox Bay to make a 6 pm jumping lesson. Nothing went as planned.

First: Taryn was not ready at 5 pm, so we were instantly 15 minutes behind.

Second: the horse trailer was at the back of the shop so by the time I got to the narrow door I was somehow off center and then proceeded to get my self in a big mess - stuck half in and half out. Don't ask.

Third: Gary was in a meeting and couldn't help us despite our frantic phone call complete with tears.

Fourth: Britt wasn't close enough to get to us in time to help.

I had no choice but to call our trainer and cancel the lesson. I left a mssg on her cell.

After a few deep breaths I decided to try one more time, and unbelievably I did work it out. We were now 35 minutes behind.

For some reason I decided to go anyway, so as we drove to the farm I once again called the trainer and left another message on her phone saying we were still coming. I had no idea if she got either of my messages.

We finally got to Fox Bay at 6:05 - her lesson was at 6:00.

Taryn began to tack up and discovered her horse had a shoe loose. By this time Marg, her trainer, was there, took a look at the shoe and said she couldn't ride like that. We needed the farrier to re-shoe the horse.

How? When? It can take days/weeks to get an appointment. It's one thing to not be able to have a lesson, but Taryn has a show on Saturday - her first with her new horse. No shoes, no show. Once again, tears.

I went to the barn to get the farrier's number. As I picked up the phone Marg asked if she could call him for me. He is her friend and does many of the horses at Fox Bay.

He took her call and told her he was leaving tomorrow on his boat for the weekend. We are having an amazing streak of beautiful weather this weekend and he didn't plan to be back till Monday nite.

When Marg told him our dilemma he said that if we could leave Bert at Fox Bay he would come there at 7 AM and shoe him before he left. I could not believe it. This would have never happened if I had been the one to call. He did this as a favor for, and because of his relationship with Marg.

This was such a God-thing. Marg secured Berts shoe for the nite and we put him back in his old stall. Taryn and I left Fox Bay with and empty horse trailer but so excited at how God had graciously orchestrated all these events.

But I was exhausted by the time we got home. Emma still seems quite sore when we went to the farm with her meds, and then I was discouraged.

This week has been all drama - simply too much for me.

The Blessing of Time

All I can say is these last three days have been an emotional roller coaster. On Monday it was hopeless. On Tuesday I was encouraged. On Wednesday morning - back to hopeless. By Wednesday evening - back to encouraged.

Our vet has seen Emma everyday. She has pain med which is keeping her mostly comfortable. I have even learned to administer it. That's my task every morning.

She is eating and drinking, and very responsive to us. All of this is good.

Yesterday the vet felt he saw improvement in the tenderness of her left hoof. Now her right hoof is sore from shifting her weight to that foot. We have begun a supplement to help strengthen them.

She wears a pad on her hoof strapped on with duct tape which allows her more comfort when walking/standing.

The vet did make sure I realized that this is all a really, really long shot attempt to save Emma. We are committed to giving her that chance.

Time does have a way of adding perspective. Time allows us to prepare. Time permits our heads to catch up with our hearts.

We are not always allowed time. I am than thankful that in this situation God has allowed us the blessing of time.

Our Emma

Oh, I was so not prepared for this day. Gary worked at home this morning and it turned out to be such a God-thing for me.

For some reason the farrier went out to Emma without calling me so I was not there. Instead she called me as she left the farm and said Emma is not well. She had removed her shoe, cut back the hoof and didn't like what she was seeing at all. For comfort she wrapped a large sponge on Emma's hoof for her to stand/walk on. She gave me a grim prognosis. I called the vet.

He came out later in the day and there is indeed a significant issue with Emma's hoof. It is more than just a bruise, it is full blown laminitis. This is a death sentence to an older horse, which Emma is. I am devastated ...and we still had to tell Taryn.

Gary was able to make it to the farm in time to consult with the vet who did some more digging in the hoof, and then replaced the sponge with a two inch piece of Styrofoam. Laminitis is very painful so he gave Emma a shot for pain and left us some other pain med that we can administer till we decide what we need to do.

I just couldn't stop crying. We've only had Emma for four years. God gave her to us in answer to the prayers of a nine year old girl who desperately wanted a horse of her own.

Emma is gentle, and very attached to us. She sees and talks to us every time we come to the farm - such a welcome, like she's so glad we're there. Emma took Taryn thru the first three levels of Pony Club, and just this spring won two High Point ribbons - top of her class at the local Arabian Horse Show

This is devastating and heartbreaking. Emma is in pain, and her body is too old to endure the treatment which may not even be successful in a horse her age. Laminitis is what ultimately took the life of Barbaro, a very young horse.

I was too broken up, so Gary went to pick up Taryn from cross country turnout. She cried. We cried. She then went to her room and pulled all the blankets off her bed, took out the shoe box of ribbons she and Emma had won together and laid them all out carefully as a solemn tribute to the her dear friend. She then laid down in my bed and I held her as she fell asleep.

When she woke up we went together to the farm and spent some time with Emma. We brushed her, gave her treats and some more pain med, and then Taryn gently braided her mane and just loved on her till it was dark and we had to go home.

We are facing some tough days and decisions, and our hearts are broken.

Sunday and the Bay

I love my church and I was so glad to be able to worship there this morning. I was in complete shock to hear that our music pastor Sam's four year old son Max is in the hospital with e coli. He is a very sick little boy, and we are asking God for His grace and healing.

Taryn spent her afternoon giving pony rides at First Reformed church picnic. She got to wear her cowboy boots and hat and had a blast. After that she worked with her new horse Bert. They will have their first fun show together this coming Saturday.

She had hoped to take Emma along and do halter showing with her, but now we're not sure. Emma loves to go away and literally jumps in the trailer without being led there. It's too funny. It will be hard to have her watch the other horses be loaded and then to leave her behind.

Gary and I had a special invitation for dinner with the mayor and his wife at their new home at Birch Bay. It was such a fun evening with a great meal on their patio overlooking the bay. We watched the sun set over the water as we enjoyed a delicious meal.

The Kenner's were there too. The six of us have had a little dinner group for the past two years, and we alternate locations between our homes and favorite restaurants. I really look forward to and enjoy this. It's been fun to get to know them all a bit more personally than just professionally.

Oh, I could live at the bay! I've never been too excited about Birch Bay, but this little house on the water just outside of town is incredible. Such a get-a-way, yet so close to home. The ocean calls me and I feel so serene when I am near it.

It reminds me of the house on Orcas Island. Life there was so tranquil and minimal. There were four plates, four mugs, four towels... It's amazing how free that can make you feel.

Ok, enough. It was a great evening spent with great friends.

There's No Place Like Home!

While I love to travel, there is no place like home! Gary and Taryn did so well while I was gone, but were so excited to welcome me home again.

Since all of us had this Saturday free we decided to make it a work day for our horses at the Eide barn. There was cleaning and repairs to get done, and we need to plan for a new stall in the barn.

John, bless his heart, was able to help Gary with the construction part of the work and they fixed the overhang, gates, doors, lights etc. Taryn and I did the general cleaning, sorting and some fence work.

We did work out a stall plan with Mike and Marti, but that will need to be done another day.

We kept watching Emma out in the field and could see she had a limp. Later we all walked out there and took a closer look at her hoof. Her front left hoof was obviously sore and warm. I called her farrier and asked her to come check it out at her earliest convenience.

We are not sure why this is still an issue. She has been on strict pasture rest since we noticed bruising back in June and it seemed to be under control. Taryn was in tears right away fearing the worst. I had to tell her to get a grip.

John and Kay came over and we made hamburgers on the patio for dinner. It was fun to show them all my Minneapolis mementos.

Tomorrow Kay and Bria move down to Children's Hospital in Seattle to go thru some physical therapy Bria needs for her health.

Convention Reflections

I could never have imagined just how wonderful my trip to Minneapolis would be. I was so incredibly busy the week before I left, getting Taryn started in school and the purchase of our new horse, that I really hadn't prepared for this trip. And since this was one of the few trips I make where I didn't have a speaking or other commitment, I did no more than pack a bag and get on a plane.

The convention turned out to be so much more than I had ever imagined, and I am so thankful to both Larry and Luanne for this amazing opportunity..

I think it hit me the second day observing the convention that I was truly witnessing history. Palin made all the difference in the convention's success.

I have never been too jazzed about McCain. About a year and a half ago I was asked to meet with him and, as a conservative leader in Washington state, to ask him "the tough questions". It was an honor, but honestly he had burned one too many political bridges with me and I could not support him for president.

Things went from bad to worse as he pushed the failed amnesty bill last summer. He was/is way, way down on my personal list - but he did ultimately get the nomination, and I support John McCain for two reasons: life and judicial appointments.

I was not impressed with the names floated on his VP shortlist, with the exception of Bobby Jindal. I did hear Palin rumors, but doubted he had the courage to make such a choice, and rather feared he would continue to thumb his nose at the conservative base. I have never been so happy to be wrong.

Sarah was a bold choice and I commend him for making it. Honestly I think even he has been a bit shocked by the level of the positive reaction he received.

This has clarified so distinctly for people who they want in the White House. The excitement that left Minneapolis is now energizing the people across our nation and we're gonna rock this thing!