Life on Painted Ridge is a blur....

I had so many plans to keep up a weekly blog post and here we are over 2 months since the first post. That's basically how life is right now, it's a blur that I would so love to slow down to embrace and capture the moments. I know these busy days will some day subside and I will wish it were all still part of the daily grind. And knowing that, I take it all in the best I can. Making the memories, taking the chances, watching the growth and confidence blossom. It sounds all magical and flowery doesn't it? I mean it is great and I wouldn't trade it for anything. But I do long for the days to stand still. I do long for a week that is easy, heck I'd take a day that is easy at this point. Because you know what, this is hard. Every day my mind is racing on what next, what have we forgotten, what animal needs what treatment, what kid needs a ride here or there, did I make those doctor appointments, did I pick up my new contacts (answer is no), did everyone get signed up for the school things they need, when oh when will we do some school shopping? It truly never ends. The to-do list is like a never ending scarf being pulled from a hat - changing colors and tied up in knots. 

However, these past 2 months have had emotions like no other. In June our hearts broke, completely shattered, at the sudden loss of our sassy Odetta. The house is not the same, sleeping patterns completely disrupted and our most excited welcomer was no longer here. She was Joelle's constant companion and her best friend who was by her side throughout her concussion struggles and through losing Papa, not to mention the daily struggles of today's high school teens. Somehow, each day the tears lessened and the joy returned. But I know every time we come home from a day or two away, we sure miss her howling greeting us back. 

Next, enter in the addition of 2 adorable Nubian Doe kids, Valor and Tempo. Joelle submitted an essay and 3 references to the Ron Oschendorf Legacy Grant through Chippewa County 4-H and she was selected! Her grant was to purchase breeding does for her nubian herd to improve the show quality of her lines and be able to increase milk production to continue building her goat milk soap business line. These 2 definitely brought some healing to her heart and they follow her everywhere.

Then came 4th of July weekend and Pasha is in standing heat. At 2 years old and meeting all the health checks, we made the family decision to allow a natural breeding between Pasha and Novyy. Novyy being a small little stud man with the most beautiful face and did well in his beginning days of showing, we felt this is actually a good fit for a first time breeding for Pasha. Then we did the math.... if this breeding was successful, Pasha would be due Labor Day weekend - the weekend the girls were planning to show at the MN State Fair with FFA. So plans were put on hold until a pregnancy could be confirmed.

Insert County Fair.... and I will do a more complete blog post on surviving the county fair, but for now the highlights. Hot and muggy for the horse show and livestock entry as usual meant a lot of gatorade and high praise for anything producing a cool breeze. Horse show - check. Poultry show - check. Food stand shifts - check. Insert vet appointment for a puppy check in the middle of county fair schedules, cause that's how we roll and answers were needed to determine State Fair plans.

And the results are in - Pasha is pregnant! Due approximately Sept. 6th. At least 2 little ones, possibly 3, will confirm with an xray closer to her due date, which is also fast approaching.

Return to the county fair. Take more pictures. Walk some cooped up turkeys. Prepare goats. Show goats. Receive showmanship awards and prepare for Premier Showmanship on the final day of the fair. And the Carter girls SWEEP Premier Showmanship Small Animal! What a great surprise for both of them and truly something they both treasure. On to Blue Ribbon Auction and a HUGE thank you to Wing-Bain Funeral Home for getting the winning bids on both of the girls' ribbons. Then the mass pack up, clean up and load out animals right at 5:00 PM. I think we're still officially washing clothes from the fair.

Next, a wonderful but way too short of a visit with our Wisconsin friends on their way home from the dog show in Bismark ND. It was so uplifting to see them and I missed them the minute we said goodbye and the continued on their trek home. You never know what experiences will bring and the dog show world has brought some of the best friendships I never expected and will forever be grateful.

Now here we are in the weeks between the county fair and the state fair. Yes, the girls accepted their trips to the MN State Fair for 4-H Livestock, after saying we wouldn't go this year.... yep that's how we roll. That's another blog post coming in the future, because really the reasoning explains it all. Next week starts Tennis pre-season practice, and matches begin the following week and school starts Sept. 1st this year - throwing off all normal patterns and schedules. 

In conclusion - life is messy, life is never dull, it sure isn't easy, but the memories last a lifetime. I just hope I can remember it all.