My paper is done!

I didn't finish my paper last night due to technical difficulties...I mean lack of motivation...so I got it done tonight about 5 minutes ago. I never thought I would be writing a feasibility study...but I did and there you have it. I'll see if I can develop this project I have created in my head over the next 4 weeks...

So I have the videos from horseback riding downloaded and ready to share. This first one will crack you up. I am learning to 'jog' on Lady. A jog is faster than a walk but not as quick as a trot...it is also less jarring to the body. In order to jog, you put your foot on the gas (push your feet into the horse's side to make them run) and then apply the brakes (pull gently back on the reigns like you are going to stop). The result is a nice smooth ride. I am still learning how to do it but you can see Lady understand what I want and do it in the video. I was so excited. The only thing I must warn you about is that I have a bit of a 'strap' issue. I correct it at the end of the video (hehehe):



This next video is simply walking. My reigns weren't working quite the way I wanted them to so I would go to one of the pasture, stop, then adjust and then turn around and do it all over again. This video is where Mike caught me stopping her and then giving her praise as I adjusted those silly reigns one more time...



Finally, I guess Mike wanted to show Lady walking from behind so you get to see our butts as we head the other direction:



I hope you enjoy my videos and pictures. I love to be able to share them with people because I never get to do that now that I don't have time to do any scrapbooking. I also don't print photos out any more - they are all stored on my computer so unless I'm sitting there with my computer in front of me and happen to think of it, I don't usually share them.

I am ready for bed now. I have so many more stories to tell you and photos to share (especially about Neen and Dan being in town today) but it will have to wait until tomorrow.

C'ya!

The Mewes Family

It's Sunday and I have had a full day of cleaning, mowing, and hanging out (very little of the hanging out - although we did watch an Indy-car race). The house once again looks like somewhere you would want to live!

As promised, I do have some photos from horseback riding yesterday. I also have videos but I am still working on getting those loaded on so I will have to share those a little later on in the week. For now, you will have to settle for the Mewes Family Photos. I'm on Lady and Mike is sitting on Jet. He rode for a while but his back and feet don't let him stay up for long. He has to fight the urge to run the horse because it would do too much damage. Some day, we will find him a horse he can ride and not have to worry about the pain he will feel afterward.



Maybe I will just have to use one of these on my our next Christmas card!

Well, I have to write a paper for class. I need to get on it.

C'ya!

My Heart Aches...

Today was not the best day ever...last night I told you we were headed up to Kent and Kim's and were going to go horseback riding this morning. When we got up there, Kim let me know that a lady she met at a horse show was going to be coming over as well to ride. Cool for me...She and her 3-year-old son showed up around 10:30, we harnessed the horses and came out of the pasture to saddle them. When she had first showed up, Kim was introducing them to all of the dogs (including mine). Mike went over to the little boy and pointed out that Topos is not much of a 'little kid' dog and that he would probably be served best by not playing with him. The boy acknowledged and we moved on. While we were saddling the horses, the little boy was running around playing with all of the dogs and the cats. We weren't really paying that much attention to him but I did notice that he kept chasing Topos and Sedona around so I gave him a gentle reminder that he needed to leave them alone becuase they are not used to little kids and that sometimes Topos likes to snip at little kids. Again he acknowledged what I said. A few minutes passed (we had the horses saddled and were working on the bridles) when all of a sudden I heard Topos growl and the little boy bend down with his hand over his face. You guessed it, Topos got just a little mad and got the little boy on the lip. He bled and ended up with a fat lip. I feel just terrible! He has snipped at people before but he has never broken the skin like he did today. Of course, I took the dogs in the house and Mike doctored the little boy. We finished saddling the horses and rode (I have pictues but they will have to wait until tomorrow)...but the entire time all I could think about was the fact that MY dog just bit someone. The lady said she was okay and that he had been told so he should have known better - but that doesn't erase the fact that he did it. I'm heart broken. I am not quite sure what to do about this. Part of me says that we can't have a dog that is like that around little kids and he needs to find a new home because we know too many people with little kids. Mike recommended he go live at the farm with my parents...which doesn't work well when my brother and Ella are there...The other part of me says that he is my dog and I can't get rid of him - his sister would be heart-broken as well. I'm just torn. Right now, Mike and I have come to the resolution that we will look at muzzles for him and any time we are going any where with little ones, we will have to put it on him. That, or chain him up/lock him up. I hate to have to do that all the time but what else can be done? He isn't like that at home. And later in the day, the little boy came over and was petting Topos and pulling on his tail, and Topos just sat there and let him do it. Dogs don't attack unless provoked and I am sure the boy just scared him (which provoked him). I'm going to have to give this one to God and let it be. I did want to write it all out though because I have been pretty upset about it all day...

I'm really tired now as we left Kent and Kim's right after lunch and cleaned up the rest of the yard...with horseback riding and all the drama...add the yard work...I'm beat. I think I am going to sign off and head to bed.

C'ya!