Holidays and End of Year

I have been having a lot of fun learning how to use Facebook. In retrospect I should have set up a page for ASAP - as it is, me, Susan Wellman, has a facebook page. It's so much fun to talk to so many of you on the chat line there! Hopefully we will learn how to use Facebook to get word out to more people about ASAP. We could use about 50 persons who want to adopt horses right now.

Thanksgiving day was bittersweet. We didn't celebrate this day due to Craig's work schedule. It was a day of playing outside and working outside, munching only when hungry, and going to La Crosse to get last minute items at Walmart. Yes! Walmart was open! Dang it! I left my wallet at home in my other coat pocket! On to see the Christmas lights anyway - stopped at grandma's condo, and a quick stop at Burger King for the kids. Our thoughts turned to Craig's family and my sister's family who were also celebrating not too far away. We should have joined them, but by the time Craig got up and felt at all ready to seize the day it was too late. On Thursday Craig worked the 6pm - 4am shift at Cabela's and came home around 5 or 6 in the morning. It was already Friday. I had left him a note on the bathroom sink asking if he would mind throwing the bird in the oven before he crashed. That saved me getting up earlier than I wanted to. Up at 9:30 - got the potatoes boiling, then made the veggies and stuffing and oyster stew. When Craig got up on Friday we were ready to eat! It was just us and my mother at the table, but it meant so much to the kids. We had a great time and stuffed ourselves, then outside to do chores (does it never end? LOL). We made a last minute decision to go to Wisconsin Dells for an overnight getaway. This was partially because I felt badly that we had canceled our trip to see Jordan in Ocala Florida over Thanksgiving. Cherie and Julien flew down there and hoped we would be down to drive them back. It just didn't seem right, my kids reminded me, to leave "Papa" back here and take off for down south without him. I thought that was very thoughtful and selfless. So we went to explore Fort Wilderness at the Dells.

I was sorely disappointed at Fort Wilderness guest services and accomodations! The Kalahari and Great Wolf and all other motels are 10x better than this huge giant of a complex was. We felt as though we were herded from one area to the next, and the waterparks were so full that the kids didn't even want to attempt going in to any of the three to try to have fun. Between trying to keep the kids entertained, helping grandma to bed early because she didn't feel like going to the Ho Chunk for a bit, and my dog Peanut running from the neighbors who came to let him out we began to feel like stressed out bundles of nerves. To top it all off, when we got back from the casino (I only spent $8 and had a ball!)..........we went to bed and at around 3:30 am I found myself sleepwalking in the elevator of the motel!! Thank goodness I woke up, and realized I had to get back to third floor! I realized in my panic when I awoke fully that I didn't have a room key, and who would hear me? Thank God for Rachel who came to the door after I had rapped on it for several seconds. I was SOOO embarassed and it really scared Craig and the kids. Oh well..........another great little getaway that was more stressful than staying home!!!

Have been playing more with horses, realizing at any moment the weather can turn on us.....getting my thoughts organized for a holiday e-newsletter - we cannot afford to have one printed this year. We really need to rally in the end of year donations for hay. We have about 100 bales left in the arena (small squares) and some donated round bales from last summer (mostly grass, about five total), so my wheels are turning to figure out how to reach the most people with our holiday "hay" drive!
We do have about 250 bales of donated hay to pick up, but the hay is about a 2-3 hour drive from us.......and we need a flat bed trailer.

Last week Race for Home and Bart's A Bad Boy returned to the program. Gosh, I hadn't seen Race for Home since she was three, and she is already 13. She is so beautiful and you sure could tell the adopters gave them the best of care. Bart is already 14! They do have homes arranged, as Chevie Silverado is returning back to the ASAP farm due to, shall we say, behavioral issues? He just isn't happy in his current adoptive placement, and is beginning to charge the gate and has become nippy. Sigh...........Chevie is certainly a personality! I never had him nip at me while here, but did see him try to bite a man who was going to pet him. I guess he decides who he wants to be with and when - that is one smart horse!!

It won't be long and Flaunting It and Spect's Solution will be back at the ASAP farm.
Spect hurt his leg this past spring and is not happy being a driving horse. Maybe he wants to go back to Springfield? He had such a great home with Irma and her husband........if only..............

We got the tree up today, and Christmas decorations. It's great to have my ten year old still be so excited about putting the tree up and all. She's my last little one - I had better enjoy it!

Thanks to Carmen for fostering Anxious Larry and Jake and Dolly's Delight and Cape Cruiser. Thanks to Marie for continuing to foster Fox Valley Terror, Thunder, Sugar, and Comet!! Thanks to Ninette for continued loving care of Z Tempest, and to Kim for boarding Code Zero N and Ooops. Thank you to Terry for hanging on to Honey Fitz and King's Royal Fella and A Team Hall until we can find them a home. Thank you to Sara for doing the same for her adopted horses. Thank you to Sue L. for her recent donation of a carriage and harness! What a fantastic thing for our youth programs and possibly parades for ASAP?

If everyone reading this blog gave $5 on Pay Pal, and we got 350 hits per day on our site, that would be $1,750! Consider giving a gift! It would be so appreciated, no matter what the amount!

Horses at ASAP right now include:
Arne
Bob Cook
Stylish Sharon
Strawberry Jacki
Steelin Apples
Little Jeffrey John
Timesareachanging
Taser Gun
Tillie
Rocky and Chloe (our boarders)
Chief
Lakehills Texas
Cash Wilco
Cricket
R Colelateral
Janimal
Sheba (my own App)
Remmie
Race for Home
Bart's A Bad Boy
Miss Molly P
Brandy
Goodnight Starship (home pending)
Chevie Silverado

That's a load! At one bale of hay each per day, we are going through small squares at the rate of 24 per day. We are feeding about 1400# of sweet feed every other week. The tank heaters are about to be plugged in - oh there goes the electric bill!
As we move towards more and more boarding of horses it will generate more income to pay for more hay and feed. Pick a horse, or pick a cause. Your gift will make all the difference this holiday season.

I'll write more soon!
Susan

Monday Update

Well the anxiety of last week is slowly waning - and I feel good about my decision to stay part time at my work (less than 40 hours a week) and have more time to take care of mom at home, among all the other things that require a mother's touch.
We had a meeting with my mother's estate attorney last week and the investment company, and many issues were addressed and resolved. I guess the feedback I got from all of you was the same- we are all going through the same thing as women and mothers who have careers. We all do not feel 100% great about not being a home for our children and families, but we all do what we have to do to make ends meet. You all offered feedback that resounded loud and clear - "FOLLOW YOUR GUT". God always has a way of things working out the way they are supposed to in the end! So another lesson in patience, faith and trust was good for me.

What is new? SOOOOO MUCH (again)

Chevie Silverado is wearing out his welcome at his new home of one week. He came into the new adopter home like a true gentleman - adapted to the resident jack donkey and mare. Rode like a dream. No issues. Three days ago he began charging the gate when the adopters came to get him. He has been nipping or biting at the kids. NOT GOOD. Looks like he may have gotten himself a ticket back to our farm. Where do we put him? Good question, since we had six come back last weekend that filled up the lower arena. Please send foster families or adopters - aaauuughhh.

DT has not fit into his new family as hoped. There were three horses at the farm before DT arrived - two were Standardbreds Rocky and Royal Swan Song, and one is a blind horse. The family was hoping for a true companion to the blind horse. DT seemed a good candidate. After less than two weeks, the determination is made that DT wants to join up with his STB buddies more than he wants to be friends with a blind horse. Discussion ensued that in the wild the horse would have been pushed out of ther herd and eaten by a predator so there would be no social issues. Here is it more complicated. Rather than looking for another companion for the blind horse, it has been decided that Rocky and DT should come back to the program. I am throwing them out there for any of you who are tempted to adopt a drop dead gorgeous, well trained horse with tons of personality (DT), or Rocky the Amish horse turned pleasure horse. HELP!

Louannie, Code Zero, and now OOOPS are all at Kim Welsh's farm in Topeka IL - we need adopters in that area, although I do believe that Louannie has found a forever home with Kim there. Code Zero has certainly been hanging around for a very long time without any serious adopters. Seems horses that are not at the ASAP farm wait a longer time for adoption. Ideas on how to market Illinois horses for adoption?

I took a long ride up to the top of the bluff on Remmie with my husband Craig yesterday. What a beuatiful day to get out and enjoy the sunshine while it lasts. I went to take pictures and discovered my digital camera battery dead - sorry!
Timesareachanging and Taser Gun are separated right now. Seems with the overflow of horses at the farm we had to add another mare to their mix. Times wanted both mares for himself, so a little scuffle occurrred and Taser Gun was pushed out of the herd completely. What a weird twist of fate for a horse who was always at the top of his game! After a few bite marks and scratches left Taser in the trees, I brought him in and kept him in the barn for two days. Now it is Times turn to be in the barn, and I have turned Taser back out - will attempt to reintroduce Times to the herd today but if he becomes aggressive again I only have two choices: 1) Keep either Times or Taser out of that turnout or 2) take the mares to the lower arena and bring up two geldings. We'll see what happens!!

Thanks to the Edwards family and Lori H. W. and Andrea T. and other donations, we are happy to report that we are up to date on the feed bill!! YYYAYYYYYYY. Also with donations received in the jar at Balmoral Park on Super Night, we were able to purchase a new copy machine. Thank you everyone!

Parent teacher conferences last Thursday night brought good news for both Rachel and Zachary - both had all A's and B's! There was one questionable grade in Music class for Rachel, but teacher mom is going to approach this music teacher gingerly to ask if she grades on behavior or the actual class - not that Rachel has any behavioral issues cuz she doesn't, but a C in Music? Comeon! She loves to sing!!!! I think I remember Zachary getting an unjustifiable grade in Music in elementary school too. HMMMMMMMMM- wonder what's up.

Cherie will be student teaching in January already! GO CHERIE! Mom is so proud. Also Jordan is in school in Ocala Florida at the moment..............yes, it IS professional wrestling school - giggle giggle - but let him follow his dream. I just asked him yesterday what he would do if he got hurt, or broke his arm or leg?
He said he would just come home cuz he couldn't afford treatment. That worries me! Nevertheless, he was listed on doryfunk.com as "Wisconsin Iron Man" in his last match. OMGoodness, isn't that something? I remember Jordan being two years old sitting in front of the television watching his two favorite things. One was anything Garth Brooks, and the other was professional wrestling. While I didn't encourage it and didn't want it on in the living room, it was so cute to see Jordan watch the wrestlers and then shout "BIG MAN FALL DOWN!" Now my little boy is the big man falling down. Wow -life is a trip!

More on horses and kids later - have a GREAT WEEK!

Susan

Choices

I am putting myself out there to those of you who may have experienced similar struggles in regards to work vs. family.
I was having a pretty weird day to start at school today, but then got pulled in to the HR department to be told frankly that my Family Medical Leave Act time would be ending the end of November.

They informed me that it would be an opportunity for me to make a decision as to either going back full time, or staying part time with no benefits.

I guess I kind of have a pit in my stomach..........I have been taking time off to care for my mother who has been gravely ill for the past year and two months. She stays with my sister one month and me the next. During the months I have her I take two days per week off. I guess this can no longer be tolerated as we continue to encounter tough financial times.

In a way I feel as though I cannot be totally effective in both places, home or school, only working three days per week. If I go more than that, my mother needs a caregiver hired and that will cost me or her more than we can afford. But what does our family do about benefits?

If anyone has a take on this, please write me. What is ethically, morally, and spiritually the right decision? How do we make it without a full time income, let alone health insurance for our family. I am feeling kinda teary eyed right now- need some encouragement.

Sue

Facebook, horses, family

How can so much happen between October 25 and November 7? It has been a roller coaster ride of emotions.

First, upon arriving back from our trip to Alabama we noticed one of the four kittens in our house was acting dopey. Sleepy, no appetite. Then the diarrhea arrived. We nursed little Looshus along thinking it was no big deal. By Monday I became very fearful. He had started throwing up clear liquids. I followed the vets orders to give fluids either sub-q or by mouth and keep him warm, then bring him in the morning to the office. I felt hopeful, as he drank three syringfefuls of water while I wrapped him in a blanket and watched Dancing with the Stars on television.
He jumped down out of my lap and I felt he must be gaining strength back. He walked to the water dish and drank - even better!!! By morning he was looking rather pekid but still walking around the kitchen. I quickly put him in the cat carrier and kept him warm and made the drive to the vet. They put him on a heating pad. They gave him more liquids. Then I got a phone call at 9 am - Looshus had passed away. So again, the process of beating myself up began. God gives us wisdom - he gives us a brain - to notice things, to observe, to get help when needed. Exactly WHAT DID I MISS??? Rachel has taken this very hard. There have been a lot of tears shared, and a lot of questions asked. I have no answer why Looshus got sick and died. All I could come up with was a bible verse that Pastor David Holt gave us in church one time - Deuteronomy 29:29 - "The secret things of the Lord belong to the Lord......."
It doesn't make us feel better, but it lets us know that He is there and according to His word He knows even every sparrow that falls to the earth. How much more did he care about little Looshus? So our little kitten was picked up by Craig and brought back to the farm to be buried. Rachel wants me to be sure he is never forgotten. I also refuse to forget Trouble, Rascal, Willow, Velcro, Tuffy, Grandma Kitty, Squirt, Tommy, and other cats who have lived both brief and long lives at our farm. No matter how conscientious we are, sometimes we lose a kitty. Someday we'll have the answer.

Halloween came and went. I watched my 7th grade son do a street dance with his friends and have fun while my daughter trick or treated as Minnie Mouse. I proudly say that she won second prize in the costume contest that the legion had! She worked hard for that.

We had one of our friends' father pass away this week - very hard stuff, since her father was only 61. My thoughts and prayers are with Michelle and her family. Then, last night, we went to a musical tribute for David Crook, who passed away August 2 at age 61. What a shock to lose David - what a loss to the world - and the love for life she showed to others was reflected in the people who were at the Fieldhouse in La Farge last night. It was a wonderful night of recounting memories, telling David stories, and eating and dancing. Shots of chocolate milk were offered up in memory of David, as his favorite drink was organic chocolate milk! David was the very first person to tell me about Standardbreds. We met in 1988 or 1989 when he was working with my dad on satellite dishes. It started a friendship that would span many years, with many miles of trail riding. Nights under the stars, drinking a Point beer, listening to rock music, sharing dreams and aspriations with our horses tied nearby. You can never let go of times like that - they are forever etched in my heart and mind. Cheers to you, David - you live on through all of us whose lives you touched.

I am learning to navigate around facebook and it's a bit tricky but also very addicting and fun! I have linked up with a whole lot of harness racing people already, and even have some of my older kids' friends wanting to be my friend - coooolll!! Many of you are also facebook'ers, I am finding out.

Allie did find a placement and the people are working with her and all is well so far. DT got a home, as well as Cam's Matte Finish. Yesterday we had to go down and remove six horses from summer pasture - bringing them back alarmed us as we looked around our property and realized that we don't have a spare inch left. My husband feels we may lose our farm if we have to feed them all winter, so if you have room for one or two for the winter please let us know! Or if you have hay, or know of someone who has hay to donate, let us know. It was wonderful to get a donation of hay recently, but by the time we paid someone to go and get it, we were shocked to find out the bill was $475 upon his return!!!!!!!!!! We'll go and pick it up ourselves next time. Oh, the six horses who returned are Stylish Sharon, Bob Cook, Arne, Steelin Apples, Strawberry Jacki, and Little John. What a crew.

Cherie and Julien came to spend the weekend with us and we all enjoyed the sunshine very veyr much. I was outside nonstop most of both days, riding Timesareachanging. Amy came down and we hoped to ride Taser and Times together, but Taser is suffering from some rear leg problem of unknown origin. He has just been down and out lately, so I began some bute to see if it would make a difference. His hock has some fluid in it but is not enlarged. He just seems sore - even too sore to be fighting with Little John and Strawberry across the fence. Timesareachanging has taken that upon himself for now, thank you, with Taser watching from a distance. What a change in Taser - it's almost scary!

Special thanks to Lori H. and Barb and Scott Edwards for their recent gifts. Again, we could not function without you. We are hoping that IHHA will come through with an end of the year gifting, as they have in the past.

Enjoy today and this week - it won't be long before we'll be cursing winter. Let me know if you can help us - PLEASE!!!

Susan