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Mark's Birthday
I'm not sure why but I did not have a restful night. I was really tired but my mind wouldn't shut off. That made it hard to get up and get going this morning. Rosaleigh needed to have her eye salve put on before our walk. After getting that done and the horses grained I went over to the barn to work on the kitchen floor and collecting any garbage. I quit and made it over to mom's 2 minutes early and mom wanted to know why I was late. After breakfast I went right back to work. We had the Farmington highschool girls volley ball team coming this morning. Anna and Kensley arrived to rake the outdoor court and there were still bees flying around on that court. We used 6 full cans of wasp killer last night so were hopeful they would all be gone. I had 2 new cans in the house which were given to Anna and Kensley then I drove back to Dollar General to buy 4 more cans. I passed the Farmington busses on the way to Dollar General so gave Anna a heads up that they would be there in a couple minutes. They were parked by the time I got back.
I went straight to the outside court, saw a few bees (hornets?) and sprayed but just then saw some of the girls walking over to play. I was needed at the outdoor arena. Mike and Berlica wanted to work with Titus in there today. They couldn't find the horses and thought I may have moved them out of the pond pasture but they just didn't know where to look. We took the golf cart across the pond and called at the edge of the woods. The horses came up the path. They have a nice shady spot away from the biting flies and it is cooler in the woods. Today was the first time Titus was ridden without being ponied. He did reasonably well.
Titus really wants to please but is not always sure what we are asking him to do. It didn't help that Mike kept saying, "good GIRL". We don't usually keep the colts but Titus is the last foal of Indy which was truly a favorite! 
We will sell him someday but sure want to enjoy him for now. He is only going to get better. Right now he is priced at $15,000.00 as he is still green. It was too hot to do much more with the horses as the temperature was already 90 degrees. Mackenson had the really hot job today. He was helping Mike keep the fires burning by picking up sticks and feeding the fires.
The Airbnb guests left the apartment later today. They got in last night at almost midnight and needed the extra sleep. I didn't get started cleaning that until noon. There were 4 loads of laundry as they also had 2 dogs with them. After getting the laundry started at the apartment and my own laundry started at our house I left for Sam's club to pick up the dessert for tomorrow's dinner at the barn. When I got back Sarah, Rebekah and Kari were here with their children swimming. I went back to the apartment to finish the floors then went over to the lake. Rebekah's family had left but Sarah and Kari were still there. Below Eden is running up to meet me.
Ruth was with mom so I went in to visit with them for a while before going home to finish the laundry. As today is Mark's 75th birthday I made him a special dinner of shrimp stir fry with extra asparagus and an egg roll. I would have taken him to Scapecci's for his birthday but he said he would prefer to eat at home. At 7:00 pm Mike stopped in to work with Valerie. Today was the first time she was ever line driven. It took her a while to figure out what she was supposed to be doing but by the end she was doing reasonably well.
Above she is waiting patiently to be untacked. She turned 3 April 20th, 2025 so it is time to get her under saddle. She has lived at Middle Grove until now. After she was put away Rosaleigh needed to get her eye salve applied one more time today. It must not hurt as she stands well for that. Another booking came in for the foaling apartment. We have a couple coming tomorrow for one night then a group of 4 coming in on the 12th for one night. That foaling apartment is keeping me busy and in grocery money.