Our July 09

Well, I almost didn't get a post
up for July '09!! I have several VERY good
excuses!

First of all, the last weekend in
June, we went on a trail-ride with folks from church. The pics are of Johnnie riding Grace and Rely (not at the same time). When I was saddling Rely, he stepped on my foot. He wasn't
willing to get off it before he'd broken my baby toe! I did get on and ride with them even though my foot was protesting. I was able to watch Grace being ridden for two hours; she certainly showed that Johnnie's training was effective!

Since then (over a month ago) I haven't been able to get my foot into any of my shoes. I've been wearing some crocs Mom left behind. They are large enough that they don't put any pressure on my toe. I don't feel very nimble in them, though.

That's excuse number 1. Not that good.
Excuse number two. Amy came to see us so we could take some Texas pictures of her (to celebrate her graduation and upcoming nuptials). The pictures came out great! See more on our website: rhemaranchphotography.com in the Weddings and Aspects thereof gallery. Look under Barefoot Bride. Look also in the On Site Shoots gallery.










That's a better excuse? Yes?
Well, here's the best one yet. That same week, Kevin started having pain in his midsection, on the right side, under his ribs. He said it was about the size of an egg. Very specific spot. Burning pain. At first it was just after meals (about two hours after). It would build to quite intense by bedtime. In the morning when he woke up, it was gone. But, toward the end of the week it was more constant. By the end of the weekend; it was unbearable. We went to the ER. It was (any guesses?) his gallbladder. He had it removed. It was dead on arrival. It was decaying inside him. There was mention of gangrene on the pathology report! So, he spent four days in the hospital. Then another 9 days at home recovering. Meanwhile (since he was told not to lift more than 5 pounds), someone had to do all the chores.

Two weeks of lugging hay to the cows made me desperate for some round bales (we'd been trying to find some for a month). FINALLY (five days after delivery was to happen) we got some very nice round bales. That means that I only have to carry the hay 20 feet or so to the cows (instead of almost 1/4 mile!)

The last excuse is the best of all. My brother's family were in a head-on collision on their way home from church the Sunday after Kevin came home from the hospital. They were all injured. The guys (my brother and his sons) had broken bones (thigh, tibia and toes). My sister-in-law was the most critical. She was Starflighted. She had emergency surgery immediately on arrival at Brack. A partial list of her injuries: collapsed lung, broken ribs, punctured bowel, ruptured spleen, hematoma on chest, fractured clavical and two fractured disks on her neck. She was in ICU for a couple of days, then in step-down and then in a regular recovery room for a few more. All of them are home now, but for a while there was a lot of blood relatives and church family traveling to and from Brack.



So there's a little summary of our month. Illustrations tell the story even better.

Although the month felt fullblown with crises, the TRUTH is that THE LORD spaced them out just right! We did/DO see His Handiwork; His Provision; His Protection; His Mercies; His Goodness! ALLELUJAH!

Grace Appraised

When a friend of ours, who likes to work with problem horses, asked to "play a bit" with Grace (our three year old filly), we were more than willing to let him take her! He's had her almost three months. He's only had time to work with her a couple of times a week, but after some lively go-rounds, he's gotten her full cooperation. Seeing her give him his due: her attention, was terrific. We called on him Sunday after church. It was over 100 degrees. He said, come on over.

When we drove up we saw her out in the field with two older mares. He called and she came a-runnin'!


Then he caught her, tossed a big stock saddle on her (with a back cinch) and climbed right up on her. Not even in the round pen. He rode her up and down near us and there was a lot of stuff in her space which she hadn't gotten up close to before. She looked and rubber necked a little, but no shy, no spook.

There was a little footbridge over near the tool shed. Very near the tool shed. He had never shown it to her before. She balked briefly, then put a wary foot on it and within 10 seconds she was walking on it!

I said I'd like to see her trot/jog. He
took her in the roundpen for that and she went right into it without a problem. No buck, no hump in her back. She turned, stopped, backed up...I think this was maybe the sixth time he'd ridden her!

So, thanks to Johnny, we're cutting Grace some slack. If she continues to be of sound mind, she may have a future with us yet!

I love the photos of her being worked with. As good as any taken in Colorado or Nevada of ranch handling of rough stock. Johnny is the real thing!

Hot to Trot

Last week we survived four very hot days of shooting at the SDMS Texas Shoot-out. Those little critters were tough; they weathered that heat wave like their desert ancestors. It wasn't just hot to trot; it was hot just standing still! We brought home about 5000 captives. Some of them were evasive, but we bided our time, pretending that we weren't paying attention. But, as soon as an ear twitched, we were on it! We got 'em! Some of the best are on our website.

http://rhemaranchphotography.com/-/rhemaranchphotography/galleryindex.asp?c=17456

Here are a few that are favorites of ours. The driver of the four-in-hand is Tom O'Carroll who trained our horse to drive. He put the pairs of donkeys together for the first time right before the event.

Longears

This is our big "gig" for the year. Our biggest equine event. Four full days of longears. Both full-sized and miniature. Last year the SDMS Texas Shoot-out only had classes for miniature donkeys. This time they'll have regular donkeys and mules. We took almost 5000 pictures last year. This year will be even more. If you've got to spend 10 hours a day looking through a viewfinder, it helps if the subjects are cute. They really are! Here are a few of my favorites from last year.

Agaritaville

Howdy, Marshall Margason.

Whose horse is that parked in front of the jail?

Hey, Buck, look at the lady.

Saturday we went to Agarita. We rode Buck and Rely on the trails. We rode over the big bridge (which was scarier to me than it was to the horses). I have no photos of that because lugging our canons on horseback is too risky. Rather, when we got back to 'town', I shot at Kevin a few times and got him!

The cat on location came right up and reported for duty. He's played his part well, don't you think?