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.

Hi everyone!

This is an attempt to do something on the computer other than use a search engine or read e-mail. My daughter has a blog and she does an amazing job of posting pictures and information just about on a daily basis. I love to see what's going on with little Emma - my grandbaby! My life won't be nearly as interesting as watching that baby grow up but some of you might like to see what's going on with my horses and the restoration of the old house. So, bear with me and I'll do my best...