THREE KNOB MOUNTAIN TRAIL RIDE

We had the most wonderful day today, riding with the Penkas on Three Knob Mountain! There is a nice logging road that runs back to a scenic view of the valley all the way to Mount Nebo. We rode about an hour or more and then rested at a beautiful pond where the horses got a refreshing drink and a cooling swim and the people enjoyed some cold water and an apple. So much fun! We can’t wait to go back!

Ted rode Woodrow (Formerly known as Cisco). This was his first trail ride off the farm since we bought him and Ted’s first trail ride off the farm ever! I was SO proud of both of them!!! Woodrow’s behavior was excellent!

ClaireAnna rode Missy, who was wonderful as usual.

From this point you can see the whole valley including Mt. Magazine and Mt. Nebo. I should have taken a picture from the middle looking out but I was thinking more of getting photos of the riders and not the view. Next time. :)

We just couldn’t keep ClaireAnna out of the water with Missy! She had so much fun!

Ted sure looks great on his great big, black and white, Missouri Fox Trotter! We LOVE this new horse!

We just tied the horses to some pine trees and took a rest.

Our riding companions were Justus and Olga Penka and their wonderful boys, Malcolm and Kurt. We are so grateful they decided to take us along today!

I rode Cindy, seen here tied to a pine tree taking a rest. She was very well behaved, but she had to trot so much to keep up with the gaited horses and her fast little trot is so bumpy that I felt like I was riding a pogo stick! Not so good!

Almost ready to head back. What a WONERFUL day!!!

Katelynn Shines!

Katelynn has gotten her first job ever at the new Subway in Dover.  She’s been there less then two weeks and is already carrying on the Harmon legacy by outworking everyone around her!  She has already been given two raises and been made the evening shift manager!  Holy Cow!!!!  The store is owned by a married couple, Allen and Michelle.  The other day, Allen said to Kate, “Honestly, I don’t know what we would have done without you.”  Last night, as Kate was helping close, Michelle came up from behind her, hugged her, and said, “You are a lifesaver!”   Way to go, Kate!  You are an amazing, intelligent and capable young lady and we are so proud of you!

ps. Thank you, Ted, for setting the bar by demonstrating an unequaled work ethic for all these years.  All three of our adult kids have followed in your footsteps and excelled in the area of hard work.  You rock! 

As If She Needed More!

ClaireAnna wasn't too happy this morning when we woke her up at 6:30 a.m. after she had been up late watching a movie with mom and Lily.
She changed her mind once we got to the post office and she was handed a box of cheeping babies!

Daddy surprised her with an order from Holderread's Water Fowl Farm! (Our favorite place to get purebred ducks.)

Thankfully, they all arrived in healthy, vigorous, condition.

The spoiler and the spoilee!

Double cuteness.

Ten of the ducklings are Penciled Runner Ducks. These are an odd looking duck, but ClaireAnna decided long ago they are her favorite and has been asking for them for a couple of years now. She is ecstatic! She'll be showing them at the county and state fairs.

Eight of the ducklings will look like these. They are Austrailian Spotted Ducks, an adorable, hearty, breed of bantam duck.

Spring Concert 2010

Here's our cutie at her music class spring concert. May 19, 2010

Getting Fleeced!

I met a lady last week, named Frances Mosby. We chatted a while and I found out she had Alpacas. She gave me a tour of her farm and introduced me to all the animals. Then she said we would be welcome to come back and help out with the yearly sheering of the fleece. So today, Ted and the girls and I went to the alpaca farm and helped to sheer 22 alpacas and 2 llamas. There were lots of other people there to help. But I have to say, the Harmon family jumped right in, worked the whole time and proved to be indispensable to the operation! Everyone complimented us afterward on our hard working girls! Kate got an especially nice compliment on her animal handling skills by the owner. This is the before picture.

This is the after picture!

Bob, in the middle, is originally from New Zealand, but currently lives in Colorado. He travels all over the country from farm to farm sheering animals. (Alpacas, Llamas, and Sheep) He has all the needed equipment, sheers, pulleys and cables. He even brings a bag of socks to put over the animals mouths if they are going to spit!

Kyle, standing up, is Bob's helper guy. He's from Hawaii and travels with Bob.

Ted helped with the manly stuff. He worked the pulleys, looped the nooses onto the legs, lifted the animals into position and helped to release each alpaca when it was finished.

Katelynn helped to keep each animal in position during the sheering and then walked them to the correct pasture when they were finished.

Claire was the fleece collector. She had 1 bag for the "firsts", the prime fleece from the barrel of the alpaca, and 1 bag for the "seconds", the fleece from the neck, legs and head. Each Alpaca's fleece was kept separate in bags with their name on it.

The alpaca is stretched out with all four legs tied to a pulley system which is anchored to the cement. Once they are immobilized, they are pretty calm. A couple of them put up quite a fight and spit, but not most. I helped tighten and loosen the pulley system at the right moments.

After the job was done, Frances fed everyone a big lunch. (Unfortunately, I missed it because I had to leave to run an errand, but the Ted and the girls said it was delicious!) We all had so much fun, we have volunteered to help next year! This is our idea of a fun family outing! Yeah, weird, I know.