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Spring into Fun Show Horse Gaming Show Saturday, March 28nd Frontier Park/Pierce County Fairgrounds Registration: 7:00 am (Come Rain or Shine) Classes begin @ 8:00am Sponsored by: Horsewise & Otherwise 4-H Get rid of your cabin and barn fever by springing into the next show season. Come stretch your legs and flex your horse and have fun doing it. Helmets and Boots required (under 18). Try something new! Instruction and demonstration before each class. Whether you’re Novice or Experienced, Gaming or Performance come join in the fun of exercising your horse. High point awards! Concessions available. Receive a DISCOUNT for pre-registering_ $ 4.00 a class or $25.00 for all day. (Includes Fun Games and $5.00 non-refundable handling fee). Same day registration $5.00 a class or $30.00 for all day (includes Fun Games). Any questions call Lori 360-832-6744 or Shelly 253-843-0567. Pre-entries must be postmarked by March 23rd. _____________________________________________________________________________ Check one for High Point: ____Beginner: (any age) ____ Jr.(3rd-5th) ____ Int.(6th-8th) ____ Sr.(9th-12th) ____ Adult (Walk/Trot/lead line) Check class(es): 1. ____Key Hole ____2.Flags ____3.Figure 8 ____4.Pole bending ____5. Barrels ____6. International Flags *** Fun games to follow as time and weather allows *** Pre- Classes___ at $4.00 ______ Exhibitor_________________________________ Pre-All day or $25.00__________ (includes Fun Games) Horse____________________________________ classes_____ at $5.00_________ All day for $30.00____________ Total Amount Due $___________ Phone number: __________________________ (includes Fun Games) Signature (required) ____________________________ (Parent if MINOR) ______________________________ Make checks payable to: Horsewise 4-H. Mail entries to: Horsewise 4-H Club P.O. Box 1628, Eatonville, WA 98328. (Fundraiser for Horsewise and Otherwise 4-H Club.) The above signed agrees; that exhibitor named on entry enters at his/her own risk & releases PC 4-H, PC Fairgrounds & Horsewise 4-H from any liability or damage to horse and rider, equipment or property. Exhibitor agrees to abide by all rules both written and announced. |
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I'm not sure if this award will post here for me but my friend, Sunshine gave me this lovely, sweet award! Thank you! You can check out her blog at: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Carrots/ ![]() |
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We are go to have the Rummage/Tack Sale on Saturday, Feb. 7th from 10:00 to 5:00 pm. It will be at the Country Schack Gifts Shop at 4020 224th St. E., Spanaway, WA 98387. We are looking for any items that people would like to donate to the benefit of JayDeen, Aubrey and Crystal. All proceeds will be divided between these three that lost their horses in the barn fire on Dec. 11, 2008. There were costs that were incurred that we would like to help out with- besides their hearts being broken. If people would like to bring any of their items to the Horse Leaders Meeting this Wed night Jan. 21st that would be great or they are welcome to bring them to the Country Schack at 4020 224th St. E., Spanaway, WA 98387 anytime. Please call Jaenette 253-250-8533 for directions and drop off. Items to be delivered that day can be brought in from 8:00 to 10:00 am on the 7th. On the same day there will also be a Chocolate Contest and vendors for the Chocolate Festival- This is a Heart Association benefit. So if you have nothing to donate please come and and support both benefits and have fun. If you have any questions, please call me at 360-832-6744 or email me at lqgsunshine@aol.com or go to the Website at www.countryschackgifts.com . All items that are donated that do not sale you are welcome to pick up at 5:00 pm that day or they will be donated to the Salvation Army. This rummage/tack sale is not in place of our Horse Dept. tack sale to be held in March. Thank you all for your wonderful support of these 4H people. Let's bind together to help heal them. Sincerely, Lori Grohs, Horsewise & Otherwise 4H Club |
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I LOVE THIS ONE! Your Horse is Your Gift To have a horse in your life is a gift. In the matter of a few short years, a horse can teach a young girl courage, if she chooses to grab mane and hang on for dear life. Even the smallest of ponies is mightier than the tallest of girls. To conquer the fear of falling off, having one's toes crushed, or being publicly humiliated at a horse show is an admirable feat for any child. For that, we can be grateful. Horses teach us responsibility. Unlike a bicycle or a computer, a horse needs regular care and most of it requires that you get dirty and smelly and up off the couch. Choosing to leave your cozy kitchen to break the crust of ice off the water buckets is to choose responsibility. When our horses dip their noses and drink heartily; we know we've made the right choice. Learning to care for a horse is both an art and a science. Some are easy keepers, requiring little more than regular turn-out, a flake of hay, and a trough of clean water. Others will test you - you'll struggle to keep them from being too fat or too thin. You'll have their feet shod regularly only to find shoes gone missing. Some are so accident-prone you'll swear they're intentionally finding new ways to injure themselves. If you weren't raised with horses, you can't know that they have unique personalities. You'd expect this from dogs, but horses? Indeed, there are clever horses, grumpy horses, and even horses with a sense of humor. Those prone to humor will test you by finding new ways to escape from the barn when you least expect it. Horses can be timid or brave, lazy or athletic, obstinate or willing. You will hit it off with some horses and others will elude you altogether. There are as many "types" of horses as there are people - which makes the whole partnership thing all the more interesting. If you've never ridden a horse, you probably assume it's a simple thing you can learn in a weekend. You can, in fact, learn the basics on a Sunday, but to truly ride well takes a lifetime. Working with a living being is far more complex than turning a key in the ignition and putting the car or tractor in "drive." In addition to listening to your instructor, your horse will have a few things to say to you as well. On a good day, he'll be happy to go along with the program and tolerate your mistakes; on a bad day, you'll swear he's trying to kill you. Perhaps he's naughty or perhaps he's fed up with how slowly you're learning his language. Regardless, the horse will have an opinion. He may choose to challenge you (which can ultimately make you a better rider) or he may carefully carry you over fences - if it suits him. It all depends on the partnership - and partnership is what it's all about. If you face your fears, swallow your pride, and are willing to work at it, you'll learn lessons in courage, commitment, and compassion in addition to basic survival skills. You'll discover just how hard you're willing to work toward a goal, how little you know, and how much you have to learn. And, while some people think the horse "does all the work", you'll be challenged physically as well as mentally. Your horse may humble you completely. Or, you may find that sitting on his back is the closest you'll get to heaven. You can choose to intimidate your horse, but do you really want to? The results may come more quickly, but will your work ever be as graceful as that gained through trust? The best partners choose to listen, as well as to tell. When it works, we experience a sweet sense of accomplishment brought about by smarts, hard work, and mutual understanding between horse and rider. These are the days when you know with absolute certainty that your horse is enjoying his work. If we make it to adulthood with horses still in our lives, most of us have to squeeze riding into our over saturated schedules; balancing our need for things equine with those of our households and employers. There is never enough time to ride, or to ride as well as we'd like. Hours in the barn are stolen pleasures. If it is in your blood to love horses, you share your life with them. Our horses know our secrets; we braid our tears into their manes and whisper our hopes into their ears. A barn is a sanctuary in an unsettled world, a sheltered place where life's true priorities are clear: a warm place to sleep, someone who loves us, and the luxury of regular meals. Some of us need these reminders. When you step back, it's not just about horses - it's about love, life, and learning. On any given day, a friend is celebrating the birth of a foal, a blue ribbon, or recovery from an illness. That same day, there is also loss: a broken limb, a case of colic, a decision to sustain a life or end it gently. As horse people, we share the accelerated life cycle of horses: the hurried rush of life, love, loss, and death that caring for these animals brings us. When our partners pass, it is more than a moment of sorrow. We mark our loss with words of gratitude for the ways our lives have been blessed. Our memories are of joy, awe, and wonder. Absolute union. We honor our horses for their brave hearts, courage, and willingness to give. To those outside our circle, it must seem strange. To see us in our muddy boots, who would guess such poetry lives in our hearts? We celebrate our companions with praise worthy of heroes. Indeed, horses have the hearts of warriors and often carry us into and out of fields of battle. Listen to stories of that once-in-a-lifetime horse; of journeys made and challenges met. The best of horses rise to the challenges we set before them, asking little in return. Those who know them understand how fully a horse can hold a human heart. Together, we share the pain of sudden loss and the lingering taste of long-term illness. We shoulder the burden of deciding when or whether to end the life of a true companion. In the end, we're not certain if God entrusts us to our horses--or our horses to us. Does it matter? We're grateful God loaned us the horse in the first place. Author Unknown |
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Pierce County opened its Emergency Operations Center this morning in preparation for predicted flooding on three local rivers. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the rivers in Western Washington, including the Puyallup (above), Carbon and Nisqually rivers in Pierce County. ORTING: 700 Orting-area residents urged to evacuate homes SUMNER: Sumner advises some residents to get to higher ground CLOSED: Roads, highways throughout region under water PASSES: Avalanches, mudslides close all three mountain passes SHELTER: Shelter opens for displaced Pierce County residents SCHOOLS: Stormy weather prompts school closures, bus changes BLOG: Get updates on road closures and flooding on the Lights & Sirens blog |
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URGENT INFORMATION: I just spoke with the Pierce County Parks and Recreation Department.
Michelle at JMJ Stables in Graham, WA also has called and she has |
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Greetings,
We would like to organize a rummage/tack sale. The proceeds would go to Aubrey, Crystal and JayDeen. So if people are going to be going through their closets and barns soon, please keep in mind that there will be a fire victims rummage/tack sale. The sale will probably be in early February. Exact date and location to be announced. Thank you to all the 4-H Clubs that have been very supportive of these people. Sincerely, Lori Grohs, Horsewise & Otherwise 4-H For more information please contact Lori at: lqgsunshine@aol.com Here's a link to one news story covering the barn fire:
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Christmas Blessings in the Lord! Love, Bernie, Marie, Nate & Joy Roxy, Ima, Snickers, Spike, Thumper & Miss Kitty ![]() ![]() |
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We are easily entertained 'down on the farm'. We had fun with these three roosters, so I grabbed the camera to capture a bit of the action. Thank you to our dear friend, Nancy, for sharing her wonderful critter farm with us! |
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Hi Everyone, There was a barn fire last Thursday that took the lives of 15 horses in the Summit area of Puyallup/Tacoma, WA. Four of those horses were 4-H horses. However, Horsewise 4-H club along with friends of Horsewise are hosting a Memorial Service on Monday, December, 22nd for all the horse owners that lost horses. It will be held at Real Life Family Center on 176th and 28th Ave., Spanaway, WA at 7:00 PM. There will be a silent auction and a gift box for donations for the fire victims. There are financial needs that need to be met. All proceeds will be divided and there will be separate envelopes for those that would prefer to designate who they want their money to go to. But foremost, your attendance would be wonderful. Please notify your friends because I don't have everyone's e mail address. I know a lot of you have asked me what you can do, so that is why I have sent out this bulk e mail. We need to get the word out. Thank you for all your support. Sincerely, Lori Grohs, Horsewise & Otherwise 4-H lqgsunshine@aol.com |
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IT'S OKAY TO SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! These boys are telling it like it ought to be.
. click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAckfn8yiAQ |
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Just posting this survery regarding "Unwanted Horses" for your information. This is from the Pinto Horse Association or America and is a nationwide survey. The link would not remain a 'hyper link' when posted so you will have to copy/paste it into your browser. For Horses, Marie Unwanted Horses Pinto Horse Association of America Inc. is a proud member of the Unwanted Horse Coalition, a broad alliance of equine organizations that have joined under the American Horse Council and strive to reduce the number of unwanted horses and to improve equine welfare through education. To help the UHC solve these problems facing the nation's horses, please take the quick, anonymous survey by clicking the link below. http://survey.ictgroup.com/uhcsurvey/ A Call for Help: Your Input is Needed in a Nationwide Survey on the Problem of Unwanted Horses WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The problem of unwanted horses is being studied through a nationwide initiative of the Unwanted Horse Coalition (UHC) with help from equine associations, veterinarians, breeders, state and local law enforcement, horse owners, rescue/retirement facilities, and other facilities using horses. The first step is an online survey - and everyone with an interest in the welfare of horses is encouraged to respond at http://survey.ictgroup.com/uhcsurvey/. With tens of thousands of unwanted, neglected and abandoned horses in the United States, some say the problem is a fast-growing epidemic. However, much remains unknown. Currently, there are few documented facts about the accurate number of unwanted horses, their age, sex, breed, recent use, value or what happens to them in the long run. "Although there are numerous media reports and much anecdotal evidence of a growing problem with unwanted horses, there have been no studies or surveys done to attempt to document it," said Jay Hickey, president of the American Horse Council (AHC), the national association that represents all segments of the horse industry in Washington, D.C. The UHC operates with the AHC. "The downturn in the economy, rising costs of hay, the drought that has affected many parts of the United States, the costs of euthanasia and carcass disposal, and the closing of the nation's slaughter facilities have all made the problem worse. But no one knows its magnitude. That's why the first step toward a solution is to gather and examine the facts. The goal of this survey is to get the input, observations, opinions and suggestions from anyone and everyone involved with horses." The Study on Contributing Factors Surrounding the Unwanted Horse Issue will be instrumental in filling factual gaps with actual data on: -- Awareness of the unwanted horse problem and perceived trends in recent years -- Level of concern -- Factors contributing to the problem -- Direct and in-direct experience with the issue -- Actions taken by owners -- Expectations about responsibility and assistance -- Solutions Phase I of the study is an online survey of people most affected by and involved with the issue of the unwanted horse. An independent research firm developed the questionnaire and is hosting the online survey site at http://survey.ictgroup.com/uhcsurvey/. The firm will also tabulate and analyze responses, and provide a full report. A comprehensive view of the problem depends on representation from all corners of the horse industry, according to Dr. Tom Lenz, chairman of the UHC. "To ensure the broadest possible participation, we're working to involve a variety of individuals, associations, state and local agencies, and equine-related companies to actively encourage their constituencies to take the survey and voice their opinions." The American Association of Equine Practitioners defines the term "unwanted horse" as, "Horses which are no longer wanted by their current owner because they are old, injured, sick, unmanageable, fail to meet their owner's expectations, or the owner can no longer afford or is incapable of caring for them." This definition, according to Lenz, is a starting point to discover what's causing the problem and what can be done to correct it. "Regardless of how horses reached this state, every owner-and the equine industry at large-has a responsibility to ensure that everything possible is done to guarantee the humane care and treatment of unwanted horses," Lenz said. "Our message now is to please go to http://survey.ictgroup.com/uhcsurvey/, and provide us with feedback. Answers will be confidential. More important, this feedback will be invaluable in developing a strategy to solve the problem." The American Horse Council (AHC) Founded in 1969, the American Horse Council was organized to represent the horse industry before Congress and the federal regulatory agencies. The AHC promotes and protects all horse breeds, disciplines and interests by communicating with Congress, federal agencies, the media and the equine industry. The AHC is member supported by approximately 160 organizations and 1,200 individuals representing every facet of the horse world, from owners, breeders, trainers, veterinarians, farriers, breed registries and associations to horse shows, racetracks, rodeos, commercial suppliers and state horse councils. The Unwanted Horse Coalition (UHC) The mission of the Unwanted Horse Coalition is to reduce the number of unwanted horses and improve their welfare through education and the efforts of organizations committed to the health, safety and responsible care and disposition of these horses. The UHC grew out of the Unwanted Horse Summit, which was organized by the American Association of Equine Practitioners and held in conjunction with the American Horse Council's annual meeting in Washington, D.C., in April 2005. The summit was held to bring key stakeholders together to start a dialogue on the unwanted horse in America. Its purpose was to develop consensus on the most effective way to work together to address the issue. In June 2006, the UHC was folded into the AHC and now operates under its auspices. Contact: Unwanted Horse Coalition Julia Andersen, 202-296-4031 Director jandersen@horsecouncil.org or Stephens & Associates Cathy McCormick, 913-661-0910, Ext. 115 cathym@stephens-adv.com |
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For more nifty Show n Tells go to: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Canadagirl/ ![]() Bernie fixing the front gate AGAIN! If the workmen can't undo the lock they just lift the gate off its hinges. This gate needs help but will 'do' for now. The previous ownerleft 2 other gates that we don't use. Bernie is using a grinder to remove very thick, rusty chains off the gates so we can use them some where else. I'm easily entertained by all the sparks! Power tools are awesome!![]() Pounding in the metal T poles for the horse pasture is a family event. Joy holds the ladder, Bernie holds the T pole, Nate whacks it in with the mallet. I was useful for deciding where I wanted the pasture fencing and photographing the moments. I think maybe the person holding the T pole should wear a hard hat. Shift change: Berniewhacks the T pole, Nate holds it and Joy still holds down the ladder. After this, the guys decideJoy should hold the ladder and not be taking photos like she did for this picture. Bernie has spent hours working at the property and we aren't even building the actual house but there is PLENTY of work. He's been on strike from the Boeing Company and using his time wisely. Praise the Lord there seems to be an acceptable contract for the members to vote on this Saturday!!! November is certainly "Voting Month" for our family. I wasn't 'just' takingphotos. I was scooping up broken glass, metal scraps and debris. Joy and I have spent many hours doing this. Some years ago a lot of this debris was dumped on the property. We call this "Environmental Reclamation" for the our school record books. We spent a lot of timesweeping floors in the house and cleaning the windows. Joy showed me where she was hiding for a game of Hide & Seek. It's a silly shot with our new bathroom fixtures. The building crew putin the nook and kitchen linoleum, light fixtures and started on the kitchen counter laminate this week. We thought it was neatto see how the finish carpenter put the baseboard around the rounded corners. More and more front porchprogress. See those rocks? I spend a lot of time chucking glacier rocks out of the yard around the house. More work-outs for mom! That pile of stuff on the left it where I've been carrying and chucking rocks. Bernie's job 4 hours a week when he's not workingat the property. He earned $150/week for doing this. He called the strike his 'vacation'. Prayerfully this will no longer be his part-time job and he will be back to his full-time work very soon. All the time at the property was useful but having an income is rather 'useful' too! |
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For more nifty Show n Tells go to: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Canadagirl/ ![]() Here's Nate already looking through the cupboards. This week we have cupboards and the counter bar. Subflooring is going down for the linoleum. The counter laminate is waiting to go on. The 'colorful view' insideand outside of the house looking to the back pasture from the kitchen. The wide plank wood look for the foyer floor was added yesterday. Joy was excited to see shehas closet doors today! ![]() ![]() We have our master counter top and sinks now. Today we have a working toilet too. This is something you don't see every day. Are you ready for what this is? It's a toilet waiting for a bathroom! ![]() The front porch railing is onand the skirting is next. A homeschool dad, "Mr. Bob" is building this with a bit of help from Bernie, Nate and his friends. I have some wisteria in mind for this porch. All of this means.... we NEED to start PACKING to MOVE! Joy and I took a walk to the back of the property. There's nothing like God's handiwork in nature. Fall color is BEAUTIFUL! More of the back acreage.![]() Fall color and Mt. Rainier. I had to pull over and snap a few photos of this pretty scene on the route to our new home. "He makes me lie down in green pastures, He restores my soul...."Psalm 23 |
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Did you ever dream of getting a horse for Christmas? You can get a sneak peek of our Fall issue and see Nancy Carter's first horse! Oh, and she's not the only one sharing her childhood pictures. You'll see photos from the 50's through the 80's.
But, you'll need the Fall issue of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine to go on this walk down memory lane. Plus, do you like to create holiday memories? The brand new TOS holiday E-Book can be yours, too. It's all about the fall and winter holidays - mainly Thanksgiving and Christmas. But it's not even for sale yet. This is your chance to get it first - for FREE ($12.45 value)!
Normally when a person subscribes, their subscription starts with the upcoming issue which can take a while. But, TOS thought about that when they planned their Fall Special.
If you subscribe now with their Fall Special, you'll get:
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![]() The US Army mug Nate earned for me by doing NINETY PUSH UPS at the Puyallup Fair! I can't even do one push up and I'd be hurting! It's too special to use. But if I do, I'll drink my cocoa in it! How sweet of him and what a lot of work! |
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For more nifty Show n Tells go to: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Canadagirl/ Let me begin this Show n Tell by saying we have lived in an all white interior house for 8 years. I wanted to try a variety of colors in the new house. Joy and I spent HOURS selecting colors, analyzing them in the store, in the new house,at the model display house with the other house fixtures we selected, and in our current house with the furniture and accessories. Nate and Joy selected their room colors after some time selecting wall paper borders. I also wanted the house to be upbeat and warm colored to counteract the gray, rainy days here. I prefer warm colors. So here it is..... I loved the greens on one colorchart. This is grape leaf on the bar and corn husk on the wall. I see fields of these colors now all the time and ooh, and aaah. In the nook, the yellow is wickerware. It should go very well with our nook table and L bench. Nate says the house looks like a wanna be Jamba Juice I LOVE Jamba Juice and its upbeat energy and drinks. So we have some fruit smoothie jokes about the house now. Okay, I liked corn husk so muchI have a WHOLE room of it. Yes, yes, it's the watermelonlook. This is the foyer and it's going to look great with our pictures on the walls with this 'delicate blush' color that extends into the living room. Men tend to gasp when they see 'pink'. I did show the colors to my husband before we made final decisions. He left the choices up the kids and I. We've given some of the construction crew men something to talk about! I think our painter was going crazy having to 'cut in' all the colors. Nate coined Joy's room "The Welcome to Heaven Room" He had me laughing as he'd walk in her room with his arms outstretched saying, "Welcome to Heaven, my son." Joy selected this sky blue to go with her running horses wall paper border. Later, she got to help paint the green on the bottom half of the walls. Without the border on it the colors don't make sense but it will with the border. Okay, Nate in his room.The room closest to a 'cave' or camo as I'd let him go. I think he wanted a slightly darker brown and I told him, "Not in my house." I tease him it's the peanutbutter and mold room. Nate looked at the rest of the house and said, "At least I have my room..." He took a paint brush and touched up areas, put his hand prints on the floor and had a creative time. Here's a sample look atNate's wall paper strip called "Stag Creek". After showing him many options he really liked this one of cabins in the dusk with lights in the windows and stags by the creek. It's definitely "Mantastic!" as he'd say. After the trim, carpet and fixtures are in we will put up the wall paper borders. We don't want the wall paper torn or dinged by the other work left to do. Master Bedroom and Bathroom:Delicate blush and glass bead. It will go nicely with our burgundy curtains and bed spread. Joy and I checked all these colors with our current accessories. These rooms look better without the plastic on the windows. Eew! Bernie's comment was it's pink and blue since it's a his and hers room. He's learning what to say. Ha! Joy and I selected a desert dirttype color for the laundry room. We wanted it to hide dirt and even the linoleum for this room will have streaks to hide dirt. The bonus room color is home song and I call it my lemon meringue pie room. I didn't get the photo hosted. I really like it. We made sure the color would look good with the green on the pool table. The front of the house with thefront porch being built. I'd like to have the doors painted the darker green as well. |
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Pam tagged me and wow, is she quirky. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hip2schoolathome/ I am inviting the following blog friends nayt, JoyKuuleilani, Sunshine, HorsieBabe and Stef Joy has accepted the tag at: Here are the rules: Link to the person who
1) I always have to use a 2) Just like Pam, I talk to 3) I can't leave the house 4) I only drink non fat 5) I'm a night owl and 6) I want to lead nature
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For more Friday Show n Tell posts
Sometimes Joy and I have shared Ima and I've done
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The previous owner
Power tools are awesome!
Shift change: Bernie
After this, the guys decide
I wasn't 'just' taking
We spent a lot of time
The building crew put
We thought it was neat
More and more front porch
Bernie's job 4 hours a week when he's not working
The 'colorful view' inside
The wide plank wood
Joy was excited to see she
This is something you 
The front porch railing is on
Joy and I took a walk to
More of the back acreage.
"He makes me lie down in 
I loved the greens on one color
In the nook, the yellow is wickerware.
Okay, I liked corn husk so much
Yes, yes, it's the watermelon
Nate coined Joy's room
Okay, Nate in his room.
Here's a sample look at
Master Bedroom and Bathroom:
Joy and I selected a desert dirt
The front of the house with the


This was the BEST FUN of all: Joy showed Ima in all the