Happy Birthday to my sweet Nana...

Happy Birthday, Nana!

I will not say what number birthday this is

because a lady never tells her age!

And you are lady in the true sense...

I am blessed you are my Nana!

I love you with all my heart.

Your Granddaughter.

(it's so cool how they close all the gov't offices

in recognition of my Nana's birthday!)

**********************************

For those of you of that need your Little One fix.

here she is!

The Little One

waiting to go outside after breakfast!

Oh, when
Oh, when
Do I get to go play?

Soon, Little One.
Soon!

So worth the wait....

It was this kind of day.

Breezy, full of color, and cool.

This Eagle has resided near us for some time.

I cannot get over how beautiful it is!

And on this gorgeous day a Dam and her filly
take in the November day to it's fullest.


Miss D has been teaching the Little One all
sorts of new things.
Mostly, what not to do!

Until a mare has a foal at her side, there is
a demeanor in her you have never seen!
Miss D's lazy, all-about-me days are long gone for now.

It is amazing to watch her outside with the Little One.
She may look as if she is just grazing,
all caught up in the yummy grass.
But one move a little too far away by the Little one,
and she bellows at her lowest.
The Little One Obeys!


When we spend our time, in the stall,
playing with her foal, Miss D seems to breathe a sigh of horsey relief.
I am sure she is thinking,
Thank goodness the humans are here to give me a break!

The Little One is not shy,
licking us, chewing on our clothes,
and gumming our hands!

But, alas the sweet baby days of nibbling
on our fingers are coming to an end because her lower
teeth are beginning to pop through.
In a few days those those sweet nibbles will be one big
OUCH!

But that is nothing compared to what Miss D
will be feeling as Little One tugs while she
nurses, with teeth!

She is growing so FAST.
She has been very very curious about the automatic
water in the stall. But not tall enough to drink from it!
Trying as hard she can to get to the water.
We watched her on Saturday
using that slippery tongue to lick along the metal
base that surrounds the water.
She would get frustrated and stomp those cute little feet!

Sunday morning she was tall enough to drink out of it!





Little One has been memorized with the outside
water trough for days.
Watching Mom drink from it, but shying away herself.



But Sunday was the day!
I don't think she really drank any of it,
but had a great time dipping her
face in it, watching the drips and seeing her reflection!



And Miss D stood by with a secret little smile deep within.
("My foal is the smartest of all foals anywhere in the land!)



See this water puddle?
So did the Little One.
She decided since playing in the water trough was sooo
much fun, the puddle had to be twice that amount
of filly fun!
I do believe that once again Miss D stood by smiling.
Only this time it was a little evil grin.

For she does not have to worry about cleaning her
child's muddy legs.
I get to...




Keeping up with her as she discovers her world
is a daunting task.
For Miss D.
And for me, with camera in hand!
She is here,
she is there,
she is everywhere!




I marvel at how long her legs are already.
But you need legs that long for
all the filly running you do.
Those bursts of baby energy can come at any moment.



But first you must take in a little nutrition.

And then graze next to Mom with your knees bent

because your Arabian neck just has not grown as fast

as your legs!

And then you stray just far enough away that

Mom is content to graze with you in her watchful eye.

Then you, the Little One realize what a banner day

it has been!

You have learned to drink from the "big kid"

water in your stall.

You have learned to drink from the water trough outside.

And you played in your very first puddle.

These are things to be celebrated

in your sweet filly life!

Celebrate you do!

You are here,

You are there,

You are everywhere!

And you are only 12 twelve days old :)

You were so worth the wait, Little One...

**********************************

And two Awards!

I had the sweetest comment waiting for me yesterday.

It was from Maggie at The White Farmhouse.

She has awarded me the Kreative Blogger Award!!

Thank you, so very much :)

I have also been given an award from Donna, at Sugar, Spice, and Souther Life!

This was my banner day!

Thank you so much, Donna!!

**********

The Little One still has no name..

It has been narrowed down to three.

Because she will soon be registered,

the name has to be what you want your horse to be known as.

With the Arabian Horse Registry, there is no "name changing",

after you register a foal.

We gotta get it right the first time!

******

Have a wonderful week.

And don't forget to celebrate the little things in your life.

For they are the ones that count!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

And don't forget to kick up your heels a bit...

A Very Special Day...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DADDY!

Today is your day.

I wish I could twitch my nose

and bring you to the

mountains of east Tennessee.

So we could spend the day in the barn together.
You could groom Mr Handsome!
And hopefully no helicopters will fly over,
so you won't have to leap out of the stall!



And you could bring Mom.
Who is our resident barn sweeper.
She does her job very well,
and adds a little glamour while doing it!
(I never look like that at the barn!)


We could give the horses baths.
Or just watch them be their silly selves in the pasture!






You could spend quality time
with Mr. Handsome.
He loves you and trusts you.
For a horse with such a sensitive mind,
that is a tribute to
you.
He knows that you are an animal lover!

******
And I am an animal lover because of you.
Remember when you used to take that donkey back
to it's pasture?
You would be on your way to work.
There was a farm on Blue Lick Road that
had a donkey.
He always got out of his pasture!
You would park the car, and
in your suit and tie you would walk the
donkey home!
Because of you I have wonderful memories of childhood pets.
Dogs and cats.
And a pig.
And a Spider Monkey.
(Although Mom wasn't too thrilled with the pig and the monkey!
Still to this day I don't know why!!)

*******




You visited twice over the summer.
We hoped Miss D would foal while you were here.
But, darn if that mare would not cooperate!




I wish I send The Little One to spend the day with you!
She could frolic in your beautiful back yard, nap in front of the fireplace,
and maybe you could teach her how to keep her slippery tongue
in her little mouth!


But most of all you could love on her.
I know she would be in good hands :)


Since The Little One will not be visiting Ohio,
You will have to make another trek here to meet
her in person!

But hurry. She is growing as I type this!



But soon you will not have to visit anymore.
Because hopefully by this time next year,
you and Mom will be living here!
In the mountains of east Tennessee..


There is a part time job waiting for you.
Horse groomer, horse walker, horse lover.
And carrot giver :)



What a lucky man you are.
Married to a beautiful, giving woman.
Making plans for a new adventure in your life.
And knowing you are loved.
That is the greatest thing of all.
I am blessed that I am the one who calls you
Daddy.
(And J thinks he is pretty lucky to call you father-in-law!)


Happy Birthday!

I love you more than you know...



(To all my blogger friends; please wish my Dad a rousing Happy Birthday!

It would mean a lot to me :)