It's been a while...

I knew I wasn't going to be very good at building this blog. I'm afraid my everyday life just isn't all that interesting....even to me...to want to write about it. Since I entered my last post to this I got to spend over a whole week with Steffi and Emma!!! For my birthday, Stef sent me a round-trip ticket. On the day of my birthday (April 9th) they took me out to dinner and we had steaks! Then on the 12th, which was Easter Sunday, we went to the Santa Anita racetrack! Emma was an absolute doll. We almost stayed the entire day! I think she may like horses - more than her mommy did anyway. Todd will make an excellent handicapper if he ever gets to spend a bit more time at the track. The only time he lost was on the last race we stayed for and instead of 'studying' like he did all the previous races, we just bet on the jockey (I won't say who because he didn't even make it on the board!) I think we may have broken even before then. What wonderful kids I have! Horse racing isn't very high on their list of priorities but they know how passionate I am about them so they treated me to an entire day! I'm so lucky! I have more to share about this trip but I will do that on my next attempt.

(Stef~I can't remember how to add pictures - there's no 'add a gadget' or a photo symbol on my post editor!! You'll have to help me when this class is over before you drive up here!)

My Rena

I'm surprised by people and things nearly every day, but rarely do I surprise myself. I've had pets of all sorts ever since I can remember. It's always painful when you lose one. I only had my Chocolate Lab about 5 years now. She was a sort of 'rescue' because her owner had suddenly died and she had nowhere to go. We were never quite sure of her age until just last summer when the wife of her owner found her AKC registration papers. She was born May 22, 1995, making her over 13 years old. She was beginning to lose her hearing when I got her and I don't think she heard much anymore. Plus, this last winter she had to start taking pain meds for her arthritis. Her pace slowed but she never did. She had become my constant companion. Early in the morning of Tuesday, the 27th, I awoke to her nails scratching on the wood flooring in the front entry hall. I laid there listening and it stopped. I dozed back off only to wake again to the same sounds a few minutes later. I didn't even have to turn the light on to know my old girl was in trouble. My niece, Mackenzie, helped me bring her into my room and I took my pillow and a blanket and lay down beside her. She was so cold - especially her feet - so my nephew, Greg, and I covered her with a small blanket. She maneuvered herself into a semi-upright but still lying down position (her chin between her front paws) and for over a half hour I stroked her head and (even though she couldn't hear me) told her I loved her and it wouldn't be too long before I could take her to see the vet. I was silently praying that the nearly six hours before they'd open would go by quickly. I think I felt she would recover - albeit with problems but still, she'd recover. Then she gently laid her head down on her side and simply stopped breathing. I had only seconds to realize she was really leaving me and accept it. I don't know if I said, "Goodbye" in time. Overwhelmed with what had just happened I saw in my mind's eye why she was in such a hurry...she was running! Oh, how she loved for us to throw baseballs or tennis balls for her. Especially when the grass was tall so she could hunt for them. I never got to see her hunt but that's what she had been bred for and the opinion of those who knew was that she was a dog who was hard to beat. My sweet dog had things to do and she went straight to them.

Now, I've had animal friends for much longer than I did Rena - btw - her real name was: Reina Mondial Hija de Tasha. Anyway, losing other pets - our Buddy and Tasha (no relation) and my horse, Prisilla, about killed me. They were like my kids. I was heartbroken. And it's not that Rena was any more special than they were -- maybe she was like my friend instead of family like the others. I don't know - I can't explain it to myself let alone here. But I'm so lonely for her. I was driving in my car all by myself yesterday. I don't hear her...she's not laying somewhere near me...she's not there to share lunch with... I can't look at her sweet face! Of course I knew we'd all be missing her but the thing that surprises me so much is how much I am really missing her. I truly am feeling lonely. Pretty sad stuff, huh? Proves that we never stop learning - even if it's just about ourselves.

So...to Rena - a wonderful dog - obedient, loyal, a trained and talented hunter - my sweet friend...I love you and I'm missing you girl. But I'm so happy that you aren't hurting anymore and - running. May 22, 1995 - January 27, 2009 2:58 a.m.

Emma!!!

Stef showed me some pictures of me that aren't so bad -and I'm holding Emma. So I'll share a couple with you. These were taken last summer right after they moved out here from Alabama to San Pedro. Isn't she a cute baby? I mean, I knew she'd be cute anyway, but she has surpassed all my dreams. I adore her!

Here's my kids - they're each holding Emma (I told you I was going to start on Emma next). I just wanted you to see that my two grew up good-looking!! Every one of my friends that I show pictures like this to tell me that I have a really good-looking family - and I think so too!

My babies!

I think I'm liking this blog thing! Here I am again, but only for a few minutes. It's raining and I have to go out and feed the horses and cows - I just heard the cows mooing at me. I'm going to give you a break and only show you a couple-three more pictures of my kids because the next time I get to do this, I really want to brag on little Emma!

Sorry about the picture quality but don't forget - some of these pictures are pushing 30 years old! Still, I can't believe I had such cute babies.

And this is my son, David Charles Johnson. Oh my goodness! I had absolutely no idea that two kids could be so different! I would just say, "Uh-uh" to Steffi and she'd behave herself. David was in the fireplace ashes, the straw flowers, the dog water and on his way to the bathroom before I could catch him! Even though he's a grown man now - he's still a challenge. He has never been tuned academically like his sister but he is far from not being smart. This kid can figure things out in a flash. He's strong and does work on both of our ranches that my mom and I couldn't do or afford to hire someone to do. I don't know what I would do without him sometimes. I'll be back to talk more on my babies later. There are 5 of us sharing the internet and my turn is up!

Okay bloggers - it's time for pictures of my kids! Even though their father turned out to be a dud - they are the best-looking and the nicest kids I have ever met. The picture above is my daughter, Stephanie Ann Johnson Koontz when she was only about 40 hours old. She's the one I've been talking about in previous posts. And - she's the mother of Emma! Everything about this girl has been perfect... my pregnancy was perfect (labor and delivery left a lot to be desired, I have to admit) and she was/is a perfect angel. No one is more proud of their child than I am of her.

This is my old gelding that I was talking about in my last blog. I bought him back in 1992 after we had to put my horse I had since I was 13 years old to sleep. I saw an ad in the Buy 'N Sell newspaper for a 'big Thoroughbred gelding' and went to look at him and fell in love. His registered name is 'Get Together' but the girl I bought him from had been calling him 'Suede' and it fit him so that's what we've always called him. The second picture is what he looked like when I first got him and the first one is what a few months and some groceries can do. I don't ride him anymore - he'll be 27 years old this summer, but he still knows his tricks. Once he had a stone bruise and I wasn't able to ride him for a while and during that time I discovered that he'll do anything for baby carrots. He knows how to give kisses and hugs and shake hands! For anyone who knows about Thoroughbred racehorses - he's a great-grandson of Bold Ruler. His sire was Whatsyourpleasure - grandsire was What's Your Pleasure. His 'uncle' was Foolish Pleasure who won the Kentucky Derby in the 70's. Suede was never raced because he bowed a tendon in training. The end of June it will be 17 years that I've had him. I can't imagine not having him in my life!

I don't know how Stephanie does all that she does on her blog! I am having a hard time figuring it all out. But I'll keep trying. She's busy these days because she's gone back to school (Master's degree) but maybe one day soon she'll be able to spend a few minutes on the phone guiding me through some more steps.

This is a picture of the old family house built in 1910 by my great-grandparents that I've been working on. This was taken shortly after they moved in. I'll post one of how the place looks now in a few days.

As for me, I've been busy working over at the old house and here on the cabinet doors and drawers from over there since the weather has been so good. My mom had another 'spell' a couple of weeks ago so I've been taking her to the doctor too. At her last visit, the doctor said that her bloodwork revealed something that could be what a lot of her problems stem from... the vitamin D level is normally around 40 while hers was the lowest he has EVER seen at only 5 !!! He prescribed a 50,000 mg tablet for her to take once a week and suggested she spend some time outdoors in the sun. Of course, she hasn't done the latter but I'm still suggesting different things to her every day. One day I have to come up with something she might go for.

My old gelding needs more attention this winter than ever. Poor guy. He's slowing down but he's more onery. Maybe that's because he doesn't feel so good, I don't know. I'm doing whatever I can for him though. Stef's been helping me with all his special nutritional needs. I think she is actually saving his life by doing so. What a great kid! You know what else she has done? My birthday isn't until April but she's already bought me a 2-way ticket to go and spend a week with her!! I can hardly wait. She called me the other day and was feeling bad because she was thinking my visit was going to be ruined what with her having homework to do while I was there and that I would have to watch the baby while she was doing it. Oh my gosh! Like paying attention to that sweet little girl could ruin anything!!!

So, at least I've figured out how to post. This is kind of fun.