HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET BACK IN A GROOVE?

 Good morning world!

 Barb, Jill and I all converged on the barn around 7:30.

 Belle survived her first night in her temporary stall next to Abbe.  She will move to Mustafa's when he leaves.  For now, she is in a separate run-in/pasture.  So far so good.  The horses are no longer hanging around her gate...

 It was a very discombobulated morning.  I helped Barb get her mats out of Mustafa's stall, which she scrubbed down on both sides.  They are far too heavy and both of our husbands hate to deal with them.

 While she did that, Jill and I moved several other mats into his stall so it will be nice for Belle.  We were doing some serious sweating and looked lovely.

Daniela and Ariana stayed overnight at Jen's last night so it was relatively quiet around here all day.  Gary went to do some painting and I went to Weggies for another load of groceries.

 During the afternoon (while it was nice and quiet) I watched a movie.

 Then it was chore time again.

Jill came to help and is learning the routine.

 This hydrangea bush outside the kitchen door is absolutely loaded with blossoms this year.

 Everywhere you look, there are daylilies.

 A neighbor stopped by to see if I wanted to buy a wagon load of hay.  Went and checked it out and said yes.  He and a friend delivered and stacked it while the seven of us had dinner.

 L'orange followed me up to the loft when I went out to pay for it.

 He seemed very interested.

 The late afternoon sun was coming through Berlin's door.  It was just about 90 today.  HOT.

 More daylilies.

 Dinner was simple.  Grilled burgers, corn on the cob and fruit salad.

 Finn was getting creative with the mustard.

 We got smart, and used paper plates.  Not used to having 7 for meals all the time.  Gary has been doing a heck of a lot of dishes.

 Yum.

 Jenny and all the kids went out to the barn when it was time to put the horses in.

 Finn just loves Mustafa.

 In by 9:15 and time for one game of Sequence.

 Jenny and Ariana were the winners.

I'm still very tired.

Night all.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT!

This morning I needed to get a lot done in a short period of time as a new horse was being delivered around 11:30.  Fed the ponies, cleaned the stalls, set up a run-in and mowed a couple of pastures.  Did not have a chance to take photos as I started mowing the lawn.  Around 11am Ariana came running out of the house and said that Jenny was taking Finn to the hospital and that I should call her.  She asked me to go to her house and pick up some underwear and shorts for him.  Last night he was a happy camper after hitting a grand slam in his ball game....

(photo stolen from Ariana's Blog "It's All About Cookie")

.....and today he was in the emergency room being sewn up!  He was climbing a tree and on the way down hit a branch that had been pruned and it ripped the inside of his left thigh open.  When I got to the hospital, the PA was starting to numb the area with a ton of shots...right in the wound which was over 4 inches long and about and inch and a half wide.  It was extremely deep but did not go into the muscle (good thing).  The PA was so smart about the way she communicated with him...said it would feel like a sting and that she was putting medicine on it...never said the word shot.  Tonight he still did not realize it.  What a brave kid!

In the meantime (back at the ranch), Jill and her sister arrived with Belle.  Ariana and Daniela explained where the horse was supposed to go and had them wait until I got back before leaving.  Those kids are so cool! When I got there, the horse was right where she belonged and was being met by the herd.

 That's Jill on the left...her sister on the right.

Belle was very happy to finally be on grass and bounced around for a few minutes.  Settled down as the day went on.

Gary, Ariana and Daniela went down to the hospital and got there just as Finn was leaving.  I finished mowing the lawn.  Much to my surprise, a Federal Express truck arrived and delivered a box from Canon.  Ta Daaaaa!  Got my little camera back...except it was a refurbished one that worked better than my old (bought it in April) one.  Fine with me.  So I took the test shot below.

 Jill came back to help with evening chores and things went smoothly.  Belle was very mellow by then.

 Mustafa was checking her out.

It was a beautiful evening.

 The garden was looking good.

 Had to pick some spinach for a salad.

 At 6:30 Jenny and the four kids arrived with Pizza and wings.  The trip to Virginia was officially cancelled.  It would be too much for Finn.

 I'm ready for some healthy food!

After dinner Jenny and the kids went out for a game of Bocce.  It always works best when the lawn has just been mown.

 Belle did not seem to mind wearing a mask.

 The plant Tina brought us in memory of Pony is really taking off.

 This little camera grabbed a mighty fine shot of this daylily.

 Finn was utterly amazing tonight.  His Mom was taking good care of him.  I never would have known he had gone through such a traumatic experience.  Kids!

 Put the horses in around 9.  I hope Belle has a good first night.

She's got such a pretty face.

Night all.