Keith's Back

The Military Wife

---- Author Unknown

The good Lord was creating a model for military wives and was into His sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared. She said, "Lord, you seem to be having a lot of trouble with this one. What's wrong with the standard model?"
The Lord replied, "Have you seen the specs on this order. She has to be completely independent, possess the qualities of both a father and mother, be a perfect hostess to four or forty with an hour's notice, run on black coffee, handle every emergency imaginable without a manual, be able to carry on cheerfully, even if she is pregnant and has the flu, and she must be willing to move to a new location ten times in seventeen years. And, oh yes, she must have six pairs of hands!"
The angel shook her head, "Six pairs of hands? No way.
" The Lord continued,"Don't worry, I will make other military wives to help her. And I will give her an unusually strong heart so it can swell with pride in her husband's achievements, sustain the pain of separations, beat soundly when it is overworked and tired, and be large enough to say, 'I understand' when she doesn't and say 'I love you', regardless."
"Lord," said the angel, touching his arm gently. "Go to bed and get some rest.You can finish this tomorrow."
"I can't stop now," said the Lord. "I am so close to creating something unique. Already this model heals herself when she is sick, can put up six unexpected guests for the weekend, wave good-bye to her husband from a pier, a runway or a depot, and understand why it's important that he leave."
The angel circled the model of the military wife, looked at it closely and sighed, "It looks fine, but it's too soft."
"She might look soft," replied the Lord. "But she has the strength of a lion. You would not believe what she can endure."
Finally the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Lord's creation. "There's a leak," she announced. "Something is wrong with the construction. I am not surprised that it has cracked. You are trying to put too much into this model."
The Lord appeared offended at the angel's lack of onfidence."What you see is not a leak," He said. "It's a tear." "A tear?" What is it there for?" asked the angel.
The Lord replied, "It's for joy, sadness, pain, disappointment, loneliness, pride and a dedication to all the values that she and her husband hold dear."
"You are a genius!" exclaimed the angel.
The Lord looked puzzled and replied, "I didn't put it there."

Rose Ranch Jumper Show

We got 3rd place

Keith in France

He's traveling the world now. I miss him but glad he gets to have this opportunity. He wasn't able to take his computer so now we have no way of communication, not even an address to write to. Didn't realize till now how much skype has helped me get through these last 5 months. Hears to the Eiffel Tower.
P.S. No Randall he does not speak french.

 Who remembers the hunchback from Nostradamus?

 Underground tunnels

Drinking dog water

This is the plane they flew in... Keith is about the 5th one down on the right. You can see the back of his head with his camo- long-sleeve shirt on

Night out with friends in Spain

Revan's new buddie 'Gus'

They hang together

 Even Coda got to hang with him

They sleep together

Easter

Easter egg hunt and picnic fun at kris and marni's

SPRING CLEANING

Repair barn exteriors
Winter takes its toll on every barn. No matter where you live in the country, colder weather, high winds, and constant precipitation beats at your barn's structure. If damages are left unchecked, you, your family, and your horse could be seriously injured. To help protect everyone who lives on or visits your property, inspect your barn from top to bottom. Some key areas to watch include:

		roofs - replace loose shingles or tin sheets that can blow away in summer storms and injure bystanders. Weakened roofs also allow water, rodents, and birds free access to your barn's interior, which can create a whole mess of problems.
		gutters - unclog gutters to deflect water away from your barn. Clogged gutters allow water to pool where disease-laden insects may breed or your horse could slip and fall.
		eaves - carefully destroy any wasp nests. Then use perimeter sprays and traps to help prevent insects from returning. Just a few stings can panic even the calmest horse.
		doors/windows - replace damaged doors and windows to help prevent weather, insect, and animal invasion. Prune decorative shrubs near entrances to keep walkways clear.

Refresh barn interiors
Barn interiors need daily care. However, barn maintenance tasks have a tendency to pile like winter snow. Spring is the perfect time to clean and repair stalls, wash areas, and aisles. While you care for your barn's interior, however, turn your horse out to pasture. The dust created as you sweep, repair, and tidy is not good for your horse's health. Some areas to focus on include:

		rafters - clean away spider webs, which trap bugs, dirt, and other undesirables.
		stalls - repair broken walls and doors. Replace chewed wood and spray with a chew-deterrent, such as Chew Stop.
		floors - fill holes in clay or dirt floors. These trap waste and create unhealthy living conditions. Inspect wooden floors for rot. Clean floors with an All-Surface Wash.
		wash stalls - organize combs, shampoos, and other grooming supplies with a supply tote tray. Unclog drains to help prevent standing water and mold growth.

Rejuvenate pastures
Winter is harsh on pastures. Add daily turnout throughout the winter into the mix and your pasture can look considerably different in the spring than it did in the fall. Plus, natural erosion often exposes pipes, rocks, or tree roots that were not evident before. Unfortunately, most horse injuries occur while on pasture. So plan to examine every inch of your pasture each spring. Areas on which to focus include:

		fences - repair loose wires or broken boards and replace protruding nails.
		water troughs - tighten fittings and replace damaged pipes. Also consider water trough protectors to help prevent mosquito breeding.
		pooled water - improve drainage by digging ditches or adding gravel, especially around gateways, water troughs, and stock tanks.
		run-in sheds - fill in eroded soil, especially near entrances where legs can catch.
		debris - remove fallen trees, limbs, stumps, wires, pipes, nails and other objects that could cut or puncture your horse.

Renew horse tack
Tack needs constant care and maintenance. Halters, leads, saddle pads, fly sheets, and other accessories help keep your horse safe and comfortable. A thorough cleaning allows you to spot minute defects in the tack you use daily and prepare winter accessories for storage. If tack is damaged beyond repair, however, it needs to be replaced. The cost of buying accessories is minimal when compared to the costs you might incur should your horse become injured because of damaged tack. Tips to care for your tack include:

		blankets, pads, and boots - repair, clean, and dry turnout blankets, saddle pads, leg wraps, and hoof boots. Pack any blankets you plan to store in sealable plastic bags.
		halters and leads - check halter and lead stress points and hardware for wear and tear. Clean nylon with an appropriate wash. Use Leather New for leather accessories.
		fly masks and sheets - clean masks and sheets to prepare for the coming fly and mosquito season.
		safety releases and trailer ties - inspect tie hardware for damage and strength.

Replenish horse accessories
Your horse's health depends on a variety of accessories. Equine toys encourage activity. Manure forks clean stalls and barns. Wound care supplies help heal injuries. Buckets and feeders hold water and food. These and other necessities need daily inspection. However, each also benefits from a thorough spring cleaning, which allows you to repair damages, replenish supplies, and replace objects that are beyond repair. Accessories to inspect include:

		grooming supplies - disinfect brushes, combs, and hoof picks. Clean and oil clippers. Check your stock of shampoos and conditioners and specialty grooming supplies.
		first aid supplies - check your supply of liniments, poultices, bandages, and ointments.
		hoof care supplies - review your supply of moisturizers, conditioners, and dressings.
		stable supplies - replace damaged or chewed feeders and buckets. Consider storage bins and dispensers to protect feed and aid in rodent control.
		supplements - evaluate your horse's need for calming; digestive; electrolyte; joint; skin, coat, and hoof; vitamin and mineral; and weight-building supplements.
		toys and treats - inspect toys for excessive wear or damage, including any hardware that mounts or hangs each toy in the stall or pasture. Ensure treats are still fresh.
		vaccines - confirm your horse is current on prescriptions and non-prescription vaccines.
		wormers - start a deworming schedule to protect against internal parasites.
		wound care supplies - restock your barn's wound care essentials.