Laurel Wreath Farm in High Gear!

Okay, so it's early August and when I go into my garden, I don't know what to expect! So, today I saw just wonderful basil, a great fat zucchini, many eggplants, fabulous cauliflowers, melons, cabbages, peppers, and lots and lots and lots of cucumbers. So, here's a pile of vegetables, waiting to be processed, waiting to be canned, waiting to be blanched and frozen!

I brought some over to my neighbor today and she gave me the nicest compliment. She said that she'd been talking to a gentleman about me and she told him that she could just tell that I was a farmer, that I'd had a farm in my background because of the way I laid out and tended my garden. Now, isn't that just the BOMB of a compliment!? Rock on, Little Farmer Girl! Rock on, Little Miss Carbon-Footprint Reducer! Rock on, Little Girl Organic! Rock on and Namaste!

Renny's First Ribbon!

This summer has been magical. Zelia is still my girl, roaming the neighborhoods with her personal panache! Hailee has been a spectacular mother. Violet has been a one-woman thoroughbred show of elegance. My garden has kicked into a second year gear with the introduction of horse poo from last year. The cats are wonderful, including the new Rory. And little Renny has been a true divine gift -- sassy, lovely, sweet, sexy, wonderful!

So, my good fortune was an early morning event when I was in the pasture with Renny and Ruthie shortly after he arrived at Showgate Stables. He had been nervous the first few days about the pasture, the dogs, the new horses, the new location, the larger stall. He knew it was all good, but he was counting on his mom and grandma. And then I got lucky! I was there the morning that he and Ruthie kissed for the first time! I entered that photo in the Fair, along with my Chow-Chow and Corn Relish, and I earned ribbons! What a great year! I got an honorable mention for the photo of the kiss, a blue ribbon for my chow-chow, and a third (out of 3) for the corn relish.

Namaste from this farm-girl. I really enjoyed seeing my picture and canned goods at the Fair. I enjoyed my lemonades, my milkshakes, my pork-a-leans, my french fries. I enjoyed going to the Fair when it was all over and picking up my $5 check for 1st and 3rd place. I enjoyed all that summer has been bringing me!

Hope and the KGC

Here is Hope, formally known as Pleasure Dynamics, taking her turn in the sale ring. I have known this mare for quite awhile now. She was purchased in foal at Congress by Meghan and had beautiful little Faith. She then had Scooter, an adorable Paint foal and then another beautiful red filly out of the Red Hot Krymsun clan. She's now in foal again in this photo. I really love her because I believe she helped train Hailee how to be a good mother. Hailee knew her when she was a young girl and used to share the pasture as a 2 year-old with her first baby, Faith. In fact, Faith and Hailee were as thick as thieves and dearest of friends. They used to stand for long periods of time, giving each other swirly grooming kisses along each other's backs.

Eating Like Mama!

Here is a photo and video from June 29th, showing my baby boy, eating grass like his mama. He's so sweet. I know I say that in every entry, but it's true. He's playful. He's funny. He's seriously into goofing around. He likes to meet horses, but does so politely. He goes right on up to them, puts his nose up to them, and then clacks his teeth in submission! He charms everyone!

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Sam and the KGC

Here are some photos of Sam when it was her turn to enter the sale ring. Sandy and the girls had her looking perfect. She practically looked silver she was so shiny and clean and her braids were beautiful. She looks fantastic in foal. She's such a big elegant powerful mare to begin with and being in foal only makes her seem even more beautiful!

Hanging Out on a Cloudy Day!

Here's mama and baby, in the far pasture, relaxing on a cloudy day, and making sure that they get their roughage! Such smart creatures!

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The Lovely KGC Helpers!

Barbie has a whole group of young women who she has gathered over the years. She's known them since they were babies and she's worked with them on their riding dreams! And several of them were at the Kentucky Gold Classic, performing skillfully like army drill sergeants to make sure the sale went off without a hitch. They made sure that horses had their hip numbers, were lined up in the hole and on deck, and helped people find lot numbers and stalls to visit horses they might want to purchase. Plus they helped get horses ready and shining for the ring! In this first photo, you see Jenny and Chelsea with Sam! Sonoita's Artful Move!

Here's My Cute Baby!

Again, a sweet photo from June 27th, showing my darling boy with his ears forward, a sparkle in his eye and the cutest little round belly!

KGC Auctioneers!

The auctioneer was fantastic. He was just like you would imagine -- fast talking, funny, on top of his game! And his bid workers were just like you'd expect in a Western auction! They were snappy in their pressed white shirts and khakis, boots and cowboy hats, and their black Kentucky Gold Classic ties! I liked the Auctioneer for his humor. Here are two examples. At one point, he was talking about a black broodmare who was in foal to a coal black stallion. He said, "The stud is so black, he's as black as a black sack filled with black cats!" And another time, he said of a mare in the sale ring who had followed two other mares from the same seller who had been purchased by the same buyer, "You might as well buy this third mare. The other two mares like her so well that they're not going to eat, drink or rest until they are with her again!" He was really quite a hoot!

Total Sweetness

Again, a photo from June 27th, of baby and mama sharing a meal. You can see the sweetness in their eyes. Hailee is having the time of her life with her little foal.

The Kentucky Gold Classic!

On the weekend of Friday, July 26th and Saturday, July 27th, I went to Lexington, Kentucky to participate in the Kentucky Gold Classic, a sale of Kentucky-bred broodmares in foal. About 90 mares were consigned into the sale which occurred at the world famous Tattersalls. The event was amazing. It was great to see how an auction was run from the front office where the horse's registration and health papers, and ultimately no-sale or purchase agreement forms must be processed, to the auctioneers, to the concessionaires selling horse wares and history books, to behind the scenes in the stall aisleways where beautiful horses are prepared for the ring. Barbie and Tom hosted a truly elegant event.

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A Happy View!

Here is a photo and video from June 29th. Baby is relaxing with his mom in the upper pasture. You can see that he's turning into a fine-looking fellow. He'll be a charming, smart, sweet pony!

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Violet's Stall

f Here's a photo and video from Violet's stall, taken on June 27th. She has a corner stall right as you enter the stable. Right next door is her friend, Sedona, and Violet loves to hang her face out the window, watching the activity and goofing around. She's like a little old lady, keeping watch over her neighborhood from her stoop. A happy bossy girl!

Mom, Godmother and Me!

This photo is dark, but it shows me at the retirement dinner with my mom and my godmother, Anita. I could not be happier at this moment in time!