Tank Goes To School

We decided it was time to get Tank started on his transformation into show material. A short trip to Holly Ridge would put Tank in the capable hands of our trainer, Roey Mobley, at Milestone Walking Horses. Roey, as do we, believes Tank could well be a diamond in the rough. Roey run a fine establishment with a great stable of students. We will be making periodic trips through the process for lessons and to see how she is coming along with polishing Tank's rough edges.

Lady Gators Week 1

After having their first four games of the year rained out, the ECHS JV Lady Gators finally got the 2010 season rolling with four games in three days. In the season opener on Tuesday, B started and pitched a complete game 10-1 win over East Bladen. B struck out 10 and walked none while also getting three put-outs on come-backers. A double header at South Columbus on Wednesday concluded in a split with the Lady Stallions. The Gators dropped a close 5-3 decision in game one, leaving the bases loaded in the final inning. ECHS came back strong in the nitecap, hammering out a 9-2 win. B started the first game and went four innings allowing only one run. The Gators wrapped up a successful week on Thursday with a 15-1 pasting of East Bladen in an away rematch of the season opener. B started and picked up the win, going four innings and striking out 5 while allowing only one walk. The Lady Gators look to have a well balanced squad with good hitting and solid defense. Going 3-1 in the opening week is a great start and should make for a fun spring.

First Show of 2010

B and I had our first horse show of the year on March 13th & 14th. It was truly one of the best times we have had. Considering the many hurdles we had to get past. We had to do this show solo as Dad was working an outage and wasn’t able to go with us. Due to B having a game scheduled on Friday evening, we decided to take the horses up on Friday morning to get them settled in and set up the trailer for spending the weekend. We usually try to get to shows on Friday so we can practice and get the horses familiar with their surroundings. On Friday morning we were going to tie up loose ends so I decided to let B go to school a little late, but she had to be present so she would be eligible to play Friday night. The forecast was calling for rain so I told her that if it rained and they cancelled her game she could go with us. Just before time for her to go to school we received a text from her coach saying the game was cancelled. So B got to stay home and we loaded up the horses and headed to Camden. .

Since my truck driver was not able to go to this show with us, I would have to drive the trailer home from the show by myself…..something I have never done before. We have a 3 horse trailer with living quarters. It is pretty big for me. Yes, I drove to Camden for practice and R followed us in his car to help us get set up. We arrived safely, got the horses settled in and started hooking up the trailer. Water immediately started pouring all over the floor. We ended up with a broken water pump. Of course, there was not one to be found anywhere. So that meant we had no water. No big deal. We’ve camped for years so we are no newbie’s when comes to a shower house.

We got everything squared away and R left for home. We hung out with our trainer Roey Mobley and others that were showing with her. It was so much fun being “barn buddies” with them. There were a total of 4 horses in our stable showing together. Gus, Moonie, Mya and Missy. We all did very well in the show ring. B and I both got a 4th and 5th place ridding Missy.
We are looking forward to our next show in Raleigh. Oh, and by the way, my drive with the trailer… piece of cake!

We Got the Big One

We got the biggest snow our area has had in quite a few years. It was a good 6-1/2" which is a major event in these parts. As is usually the case this close to the coast, it was a heavy, wet snow, which brought down quite a few limbs. Our power blinked a time or two but stayed on. C's Mon and Dad, next door, lost power for almost half of the day right after a transformer just down the road blew. It was beautiful on the farm and I think the horses even enjoyed it. Especially our new Percheron, Midnight, who promplty took a roll in the snow as soon as B let her out of her stall.

A Tank for Christmas

A Happy New Year to everyone and hopes that all had a very Merry Christmas. As has been the case with us for the past few years, Christmas was kept on the light side this year. Not much under the tree and just a bit of family gift exchanging. B did get her #1 wish for the Holiday though...a new food processor whose official name is Flashy Cuts Rebel. His short name is Tank. The Flashy part seems to suit him best as his a black beauty with what looks like it will prove to be an eye catching gait. He is a 5 year old Tennessee Walker that we purchased from the N.C. Boys and Girls Home in Lake Waccamaw. That may not sound like your average pipeline for quality horses, but you can never judge a book by it's cover. They have many very nice, well cared for horses. Tank is green as a gourd relative to any type of showing and will need a good deal of training and ground work, but looks to be well worth the effort. Task one will be getting him introduced to the current residents and seeing how things work out between him and our reigning ban boss, Apollo.

Times are Tough

For the past almost 20 years, our favorite vacation venue has been the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee area. Not only for our family, but for our Inlaws as well. During that time, we have visited the area as many as four times in one year. We currently own a time share there and have done everything from numerous camping trips, cabin rentals to quick weekend getaways at a last minute motel. The trip this weekend was a spur of the moment trip that was special. For one thing, November is our Anniversary month and I spent this years Anniversary time in Florida due to a work assignment. Aditionally, we had not been to the mountains in two years due to our incredibly busy schedule what with all of B's hore shows and ball games/practices, etc. Anyway, the point is, having not been to the area in two years, we were very much unprpared for what we found. Pigeon Forge has always been the shopping mecca of the free world (at least to us). We were greeted, however, by front row parking at lots that had been previously full to capacity regarless of season or day of the week. Malls that had always provided endless shops of every genre known to man, now sit with well over half of their spaces vacant. The state of the Factory Outlet Mall, better known as the Red Roof Mall on the Parkway, was the most shocking. If you've ever been there you know that only a few years ago there were dozens and dozens of shops with everything from tools to towels or dishes to Dolly dresses. Of the sixty some shops that used to make up the mall, only fifteen are currently occupied. A number of those are in the midst of going out of business sales with many isles stripped bare. We found it really sad and depressing to see these places, with so many memories wrapped in them, left to waste, awaiting better times that may, or may not come.

Varsity Debut

B had her first varsity bball game tonight. As a freshman playing on the varsity team, I think she understands well that she is in a rare position and that playing time will be minimal as she develops and adjusts to the many challenges of a step this big. ECHS opened the season tonight at home against North Brunswick. One thing that surprised B (and us) was the size of the crowd. By the second half of the game, the gym was around 3/4 full, and getting hot. The ECHS Gators took a strong run at the Scorpions late in the game, after falling well behind early. In the end, the Gators came up on the short end of a 62-54 decision.