Fowl babies

The Daisy excitedly pointed out that our hen had hatched out one baby. The kids call this chicken "Evil" and have named her lone baby "Muffin." In addition, The Daisy bought two baby ducks and our surviving duck from last year, Chips, took right to mothering them. Unfortunately, yesterday something got one baby but Chips no longer has to be the only duck around. She was getting bossed something terrible by the rooster.

County fair night

I've maintained that nothing beats the South Carolina State Fair in the freak department but I saw some whack jobs when we went to the county fair the other night. Nevertheless, we had a good time, until The Boo had a meltdown.




This seemed to be The Boo's favorite ride and of all the things he could have chosen to ride on, he picked a rooster!

Then it was The Daisy's turn and she had to go on the ThunderBolt by herself. She really was having a good time even though it doesn't look like it here.

And like a good big sister, she hopped on something with The Boo. I think this was after they terrified me by making me go on the ferris wheel She is so beautiful! Then they did the slide:

The Daisy took a last turn on the swings: And The Boo was very unhappy because he was too little to ride the swings. This is major meltdown preview:

This is what you see ...

... if you visit my neighborhood. This is a common sight - somebody drivin' down the road with some kind of farm animal in the truckbed. This is my neighbor Dustin, who helps me on occasion, and he's with George, who I have to twist arms to get him to help me on occasion.

Daisy art

Here is a recent picture The Daisy did of Spirit, the Disney horse:

Berry pickin'

In early July, we went to our favorite orchard and picked gobs of blueberries! Well, I picked gobs of blueberries ... SOME people stood around and ate gobs of blueberries right off the bushes.

We moved down to the blackberry patch and were about a week too early. Still, we got almost a quart's worth of huge delicious berries.

Here is a picture of The Daisy as we were leaving, wearing her jockey goggles. Weirdo. Then The Boo has taken to sticking his head out the window as I drive down our road.

Berries weren't enough so The Boo had to partake of Cheetos:
And The Daisy finishes off a honey stick:

Watching Lou Brissie run

As usual, I tend to invite myself along on any foray into horse racing or touring farms and, again, my friend Charlie Pigg was agreeable (or too polite to say no!). So the kids and I went to Churchill Saturday to see the Dogwood Stables partnership horse Lou Brissie run.
That horse ran his heart out and was beaten, fair and square, by Kantharos but came in a good second and everyone seemed pleased with his race. At 2, he's just getting started and I imagine we've yet to see the best of him.
Here's Lou getting saddled by trainer Neil Howard:

And the jockey getting insructions from Neil. (I just had to counsel my friend Jennifer that the clothing is referred to as "silks," not pajamas and, no, they are not stupid-looking.)
Surprise of all surprises was my friend Mary Jane Howell from Dogwood! And here's Dogwood's owner Cot Campbell: For me, meeting Mr. Campbell is like someone meeting his or her favorite actor. I didn't go all stupid but I did gush a bit upon meeting him - I think he is so smart having started racing partnerships!

Of course, here's us with Charlie. Thank you, Charlie, for letting us hang out with your family and watch Lou run a good race!

Shannon & Charlie's horsey day out

Last week I tagged along with my friend Charlie Pigg to see his horses at Three Chimneys Farm in Lexington. It was a perfect day for farm touring, but when it comes to horse farms, when is it NOT a perfect day?
First we stopped to see his 2-month-old filly by Sky Mesa out of Old Fashioned Girl. She is tall!

Then we just hung out at the fence at watched the babies. Here, let me get that thing off you.
The Old Fashioned Girl filly nursing:
Next it was a stop at the stallion barn. I had no idea we were going to see who we did. First, it was Sky Mesa, the sire of Charlie's filly. He has a tremendous neck!
Needless to say who this is.
We watched Smarty get turned out and he likes to act like a total goofball, rearing and taking off at a full tilt gallop.

Then there's the monster Dynaformer. He's 17.1 hands and commands the highest stud fee at Three Chimneys - $150,000 to get a foal that stands and nurses. After that, you're on your own.

We were told that Dynamformer is the boss around the farm - like, don't go in his stall kind of boss. I was told he actually bit a finger off one of his handlers.

Lastly, here is Charlie's yearling colt who goes to the sales in September. He is a really handsome fellow with an interesting coat at present. I might have to save my pennies!