I might as well come right out and say it.  I WILL NOT BE POSTING.  Don't panic.  I will be getting back into it when school starts and the weather turns.  Until then, I will only post things such as livestock shows, the fair, archery camp and such.  I'm really trying to get pictures up also.  So for now I will say: until we meet again.

In Christ,

Emilie

                 Well, it's been a busy couple weeks.  Don't be mad that I don't post.  During summer, everything is ten times as busy and there is very little time for the internet in my life. 

           I think the biggest news that you need to know about is that Lexie, one of my ewes, gave birth to a beautiful and healthy girl.  She's roughly the size of a loaf of bread with long legs.  She's so cute!  It's funny to watch her jump around the other ewes that are so much bigger than her.  We're still waiting for Lola and are hoping for twins.

           At the begining of the month we went to the Gospel Celebration to watch Mrs.D (Noah's mom) sing.  She has a beautiful voice and it was a lot of fun to attend.

          Also very important news being that, as of Wednesday, I am officially a done with my freshman year of highschool.  Super.  Only three more to go.  I did come away with 7 credits though.  That was cool.

         Tuesday was the first day of swim lessons.  We have EmilyD for a teacher. She's the best teacher I've had, I think.

         We were haying yesterday.  It wasn't too bad until Leah left, then I was the only girl.  Girls are so much tougher than guys.  I was stuck on the wagon by myself.  I had some pretty mean stacking ability going though.  I only lost one bale all day.  I am in pain.

         Tomorow we're headed to GCOC to help with the third leg of the IBO Triple Crown competition.  It should be fun and I'm hoping to meet some archers from all over the world!

14 days until archery camp!!!

          Well, I'm back.  This was an interesting 36 hours of my life.    

          My Saturday morning started when my alarm went off.  I sat bolt up-right.  3:30 AM.  Oh goodie.  I got out of bed, went down our stairs and then up the other stairs to get a shower.  It was warm but not hot and I couldn't stop shivering.  I got dressed quickly, pulling on jeans, a tank top, a long sleeved T, my grey flamingo socks, and my good ol' baseball hat.  I was ready for anything. 

           I went back to my room to get Eli up.  He had slept in Elliot's bed so I wouldn't wake the munchkin up when I went to get Eli.  I touched him and he jumped.  He looked at me.  "Good morning" I said flashing him a huge grin.  "Good morning" he mumbled pulling himself out of bed.  He went downstairs to get dressed and Jill was already at our door. 

          "You ready?" she asked when he opened the door.  "I jus' have t' get dressed" he said slurring his words together. 

          We finally managed to make it out the door.  (It took Eli nearly 5 minutes to get his work boots laced up and I've decided that my pull on ropers are my best friends.)

          We were going down the road when Chad turned down the radio and looked at me in the rear view mirrior.  "Is there anything you guys can or can't do?"

          I thought a moment and replied, "Well, let's see, smoke, chew, drink...that's on the can't list by the way...drive on the road..."

          "So if you steal the car and drive in the pasture I won't get in any trouble right?" he asked.

                 "I guess as long as she doesn't skip the state with some guy we should be ok" Jill said.

          "That's kind of what I was getting at" he said laughing "So you aren't planning on doing anything are you?"

          "If I was, would I tell you?  Besides, I'm generally a well behaved person.  You can ask just about anybody but my sister."

          He just laughed.

         The rest of the trip was pretty much a blur.  I was in and out of conciousness for most of it.  The only scary thing is that the trip should take about 4 hours and it took us three from Edinboro to Bedford.  Yikes!

         When we got there, the Ds (Trevor, Debbie, Mikayla, and Morgan) had beat us and Scott and Buffy were already there with the trailer.  The pigs were in their pens and the sheep were still in the back.   Buffy, Trevor, Debbie, and I went to check in.  We got really cool "Spring Fling Jack-pot Show" shirts.  After that, we washed pigs.  You have never truly lived until you have washed a pig.  Trust me, lots of fun!  Weeeeellllllll, as long as it's not to cold and it was cold in the morning.  Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.   

         Then we washed lambs.  Not nearly as fun because you can halter them. 

         To make a long afternoon short, pig showing was ok.  Mine was moving too fast and I couldn't keep up and still show well.  Not a good experience.  Sheep was better but for showmanship I got stuck behind a girl who couldn't move her lamb to save her life...I should've gone around but I didn't.  Oh well, I know better for next time.

         The most exciting part about the whole day is there was a skillathon to test our knowlege on sheep, pig, and goat stuff such as breeds, diseases, medicine, feed, and others.  I did my best and really wasn't paying attention when they were anouncing winners.  I didn't think I'd win...But I did!!!  I got an awesome platter for my efforts!  (for those of you don't know: "platter" is hick lingo for a really big belt buckle)  It's really shiny and has "Spring Fling" engraved across the top.  Across the bottom it says "Intemidiate Skillathon Champion".  In the middle it has a goat, a hog, a steer, and a lamb.  Gotta love a platter!

Sorry I haven’t posted in awhile.  I haven’t really had the time. 

To start off, last Tuesday was a 4-H meeting.  It was rather uneventful aside from the fact that we decided to be in the parade.  Everybody was really excited.  I was just relieved that there wouldn’t be a comity and I wouldn’t have to head it.  I am very proud to say that I’ve managed to stay out of all comities this year.  Much better than last year when I was in every single one!  That was exhausting. 

     Back to the meeting.  I was excited to be able to talk to Kayla, Katie, and Brittany.  They got to see my formal dress.  (You can always go next year Kayla. Hint, hint)

     Saturday was the first time in a long time I didn’t have anything going on in the morning.  I got to sleep in till ten!!! That doesn’t happen very often.  I went for a walk and watched the movie Flicka.  It was so good.  I watched it again the next day!

     Sunday we didn’t go to church because of the Livestock Tag-in down at the fair grounds.  It was cold, the wind was blowing, and on the way there it was raining like a tsunami.  We met Buffy, Chad, and Jill there.  They were already there with our animals.  I tagged in a pig and a lamb.  I saw some people I hadn’t seen in awhile.  I talked to Mr.B and his son in-law.  They don’t know a whole lot about livestock but at least they try.  Parkie’s truck almost…well I guess it was rolling down a hill.  Right for the trailer I was in!  Jesse eyes were bugging out something awful.  I’m sure it would’ve been amusing had I been aware of it.  At the time I was wrestling with a sheep.

     At any rate, it was an interesting and freezing day.  (Thank you Scott for letting me commandeer your hoodie.  Why is it that yours are the most comfy?)

     Not much has happened this week yet.  However, if I don’t get a chance to post again this week, Elliot and my mom just left for Elliot’s senior trip.  They went to Gettysburg.  On Saturday, at 4 am, Chad and Jill are coming to pick Eli and me up.  We’re heading down to Bedford for a jackpot show and Elliot’s meeting us down there.  Buffy and Scott are going Friday with the animals.  I know for sure that we’ll be showing sheep.  We also may be showing pigs and possibly goats.  There’s also a skilathon.  Last year, Scott won his division and received a really nice belt buckle.  You know, the kind that you put on and tip over. ;-)  Gotta love those.