May 2013....

Guess who the handsome young dude in the logo photo is?

He has suggested that we post pix of ourselves as cute young things so we can see how we have changed.....for the better, of course!

So here is my photo taken in 1972 at the tender age of 18 on my first horse, Sandy.

Gotta be Donnie.

Any idea what a cute young SNOOP looks like?

I don't have a scanner to be able to post my first horse photo. I was less than two, and sitting in front of my uncle on a big white horse. Even at that age, I was a very happy camper to be sitting up there.

That has to be Rick......hint...the Grange jacket!

Right. And he's the one who's been going through old letter and pictures lately.

IndyApp wrote: "Any idea what a cute young SNOOP looks like?"

TALLY...I'm still active in Grange, but only in the local chapter that I grew up in. Sadly, it is about done for...dying for lack of new members and new leadership. I am the second youngest member at 68. The group would love for me to take the reins for leadership...but I tell them "NO" for the following reason(s).

I do NOT live in that community and furthermore...I do NOT even live in the same county. It takes me nearly 45 minutes driving just to attend a meeting. The Grange is a "community" minded organization on the local level, and each chapter needs people who actually live in the community to be the leader(s). I was, at one time, very active on the "state" level and to a minor degree on the "national" level.

This chapter that I grew up in was recipient of a $10,000 Community service award in 1955 that was sponsored by Sears Roebuck. Things have sure gone down hill since then.

Carol and I are making progress in cleaning/sorting the "basement"...we will have been in this house 30 years come Sept. 25th when we spent our first night in our new home. The basement has certainly been a repository of "STUFF"! We are able to work about 2 hrs. per day on this "together". I've spent A LOT of time going through Mom and Dad's papers, etc. that She would have no clue about...thus the old photos, etc.

Now...I wanna know more about that cute young babe on the red horse! Come on, group...I "showed you mine" and its time to let us "see yours".

I do hope all is well with the residents of FOOPVILLE. Has Facebook, Twitter, etc. been the demise of Foopville? I sure hope not! And yes...I'm guilty of not posting as often as I once did, but I'm not doing as much either.

Our love to all...Rick, Carol & Snoop!!

Hi. We're still busy doing spring chores, altho, actually, caught up. We irrigate today so I got home early here (now 2:30P) to do that.

Faith is obviously still bred, happy, eating eating eating grass and hanging with her friends.
She goes to summer camp next week and will be thrilled.

No other news.............it's a really nice day out there with temp only around 85 and breezy.

Oh. I don't have access easily to all those old pictures. So, they won't get scanned.
I was darling, tho. LMAO.

God bless. Prayers for ALL.

Hi to all foops----I finally made the trip!!!!


rick I was doing same as you and discovered that an ancient Irwin (clan) was fighting and stopped to each drink water. His armor had a not fitting ggood spot and the other guy stuck him time. Did they have "good sports back then???

One day I will learn how to post pics....one day!

I enjoy seeing everyone elses' tho!

Windy here, and only in te low 40's...yesterday was 97...what a change!

Made us housebound as the wind is so strong and it said it was 36 wit the wind chill...so staying indoors seemed a good thing.

This afternoon was one of those wonderful, all-too-rare days when the weather was just perfect, mid 70s, light breeze. The doors and windows were all wide open, and I was sitting here on the reclining sofa, enjoying the birds and squirrels and thanking God for all that I have.

During the winter, I do more than my share of complaining about the weather, so I thought I should try to balance the scale just a bit with gratitude for a perfect day.

oooooooooo. Ha, chilly out in the barn this morning. Faith just said, "cowgirl up". Oh well, grabbed a swatshirt and then I sat and had a cuppa. Lilly is here and she is just crazy happy in the morning. Addy is now 10 and lays at my feet trying to enjoy my cuppa and Lilly is running, yapping at birds, then runs another happy circle and then jumps in my l,ap. Then she looks up and wants me to tell her how cute and pretty she is. Puppies. It's life blood in the barn. Faith asked me if I'm ready for another foal.................ha. I told her "rest assured it will be great medicine for me". Then I went on seeing sev different colored foals standing in the stall nursing on shaky first day legs.

God bless. Prayers foe ALL.

Tomorrow is the day.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=9238154

Greymare, my evenings are a lot like your mornings..when the dogs all get out to run and play and take turns jumping in my lap, wanting me to tell them they are sooooo cute! before they are off again, and the older dogs making a loop or two and then settling down where my hand can reach their heads to pet and tell them how special they are. They are ever so happy to get out to explore and get loved, and then I also clean their pens and clean their water tubs which is another non ending job, as the lil ones just love to crawl into whatever has water in it when its hot...forget they have several roaster pans out there to do this in, they have to do it in their water tubs too! Dern dogs! Then its sit and have a glass of iced tea and watch the dogs tumble and play. They are put away and then we start on the horses...playing with the filly...now that my toe is healing...she stomped on it a few days ago, and it was all colors of the rainbow! ouch...
I find peace in working with the animals and just being around them. The two new horses are starting to look sooo much better. That Pally mare does sliding stops to a T!, and she can slide!

On another note, it angers me that the mayor of NYC has made a law now that anyone over 250 pounds can't ride a bike...what the heck! Is he wanting to have an early demise! How are heavy folks suppose to lose weight when they can't afford a gym membership, or have to get to work..I think he has gone too far tis time! What do y'al think?

CB, that rule was made for the "Share a Bike" program they are trying to institute in New York City. From what I can see, it appears that you can get a bike at one location, drop it at another one. The next person can come along and take the bike to where he wants to go. The company who makes the bikes, suggests a 250 pound weight limit.
Apparently, there are similar programs in other cities.

they are bikes! When I was heavier I had to ride my bike, it carried me just fine and gave me exercise too, but maybe they sould think of having some of the 3 wheel variety that has suspension for more weight...yes they cost more, but the other way, they are saying if you are fat don't ride! You don't need to exercise by riding a bike cuz you are too darn heavy! I hate it. I feel folks are being discriminated against. And its not just the bikes this is happening in. Airlines, buses, horse rentals, (small draft horses would work for carrying extra poundages) If you own the horse you can ride a 14 hand arab and the rider weigh 350 lbs on up...
Not taking it out on you Ellen, I'm just saying how I feel as I was heavy for a long time in my life. There were some seats in restaurants I couldn't fit in, flying, it was uncomfortable squeezed in the seat, same with bus seats...I don't know I just think there is a lot of discrimation that goes on. OK< I'm off the soapbox now!

I'll add one more bit of idiocy. The bikes were purchased from a company out of this country. There was a local bike building company that said they could build them for about the same price or a little less, and the weight rating would have been 300.
The mayor's idea is that bicycles would reduce auto traffic by providing bicycles.
I used to think flying was fun. With all the extra security and the very narrow seats, there's not much fun about it anymore. I know I'm wider than I used to be, but those seats are soooo uncomfortable. For a while, I thought it was just because I'd gotten bigger, then I looked around at most of the men with wider shoulders and how they were squeezed in.

It's really nice seeing you all post! Like RICKSTER, the handsome young fellow in our logo photo, I wondered if Facebook had made our little home for old Foops obsolete. I sure hope not. I would miss you all.

RICK
Why do you suppose the Grange isn't attracting younger members? What could they do different?


OL'MAN
Have fun with the race this afternoon! I am not sure we will get back in time to see it. Hope you choice wins!

ELLEN and CB
Speaking of weight.... Donnie and I have been on a new diet for the past 5 weeks called 'The Fast Diet'. We do it on Monday and Wednesday and eat normally the rest of the week. We are both losing a pound a week and I don't miss my grits on Saturday! The first day we did it , I thought I'd starve, but now it doesn't bother me at all. I think this diet will work for us.


RICK
Guess what we are doing today? We are going to buy a tractor! We are biting the bullet and getting a John Deer to make our own hay.

Monday is eye surgery day....think happy thoughts for perfect eyesight for me, please!

Many are now on Facebook ARK. I don't have Facebook so don't know why the rage.

ARK, things will be fine on Monday. Other than some eye drops etc., you won't k now anything happened. HA, except you will see so much better!!! Woooohooooo.

Prayers up for you!

ARK:...I guess I can forgive you for buying a "green paint" tractor! lol!! To each his own. You buy whatever you feel like will do the job for you AND who (dealer) that can provide you the best service. I joking with you on the "green paint"!!

You have asked the main question about Grange ... or any OTHER civic organization. We are a fraternal organization and I LOVE the ritualism and the lessons on life, living, character, etc. However, ritualism just does NOT set well with people today. Our 'world' is getting smaller each day...we are losing our sense of 'community'. AND...school consolidation also hurts the sense of community. I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.

NOW...you folk remember last month when I went to the "homecoming" on Easter Monday...at the Children's home in Winston-Salem...only to find it had been changed to 1st weekend in May. I went today and was disappointed at the small turnout...especially in my age bracket . Of course there were "family" names there that I remembered...from when Dad ran the farm. As might be expected, it was a bittersweet experience today...more sweet than bitter though. I'm glad I went.

Love to all...Rick

Good race. All home safe. Looks like the late betters knew what they were doing.

Ark, I'll be excited to hear about your eye.

What did the little plow say to the tractor??



"Come aong John Dear!!!!

If you still have time go look at a ford (New Holland)




It is so maany years now and my new tractor is old also


would you believe I am having to turn and back down off the darned thing------. Steps too high for "ol'man"


DERBY WAS A OK--- super horse , he is almost as good looking as my horse . Brown horses are always strong----


now!!!!

I try to not take so long whenever I post
because I get cut off. The errors in typing and spelling do not look so good. I try to say "come along John Dear".

Good luck on your tractor Ark.

OL'MAN
Thanks! We have a good sized JD dealer here that can service the tractor and they are running a zero percent interest rate for 60 months, so it just seems like a good option for us. We are going to get a mini round baler made by IHI Star that makes 40 to 60 pound round bales that I will be able to handle. Ask me how I like it in a year and I may not be so thrilled about it, LOL.


RICK
We almost decided on a blue tractor, but not the one you love. There is a local LS tractor dealer here, same pretty color as the New Holland tractors. I
do love that color!

GRAYMARE and ELLEN
Thanks! I am not sure if I can post tomorrow or not. Thanks for the good thoughts!