Baby bubbles is gonna have a sibling

Baby Bubbles is going to have a brother or sister! This is Diablo's baby girl, Bubbles, who finally got a name. We had such a good experience breeding to Buffalo Ranch's stallions last year that I wanted to do it again this year. I stepped it up a notch and chose Laredo Blue.

If you are paying attention this year-- and I am not even sure I am, so I can hardly blame you for losing track of all this--you know things did not go as easily as they should have in the breeding shed for us. Diablo foaled in May, and we passed her foal heat but she had an excellent breeding while we were in Bonaire. All systems were operating beautifully--but it was a big ol bust. No pregnancy. Then she struggled getting herself another follicle, and it took enough time to get her ready to roll that I was sure she was not going to get the job done before breeding season ended. Luckly she got it together at the tail end of June, and we bred her again.

We were a little delayed preg-checking her, but on July 17, she checked 22 days in foal with a perfect little wiggle, heart beating away already. That puts her due at the very tail end or first couple days of June. Then we will give her a year off to back up her potential foaling dates.
I absolutely love this horse. I loved him before I really knew who he was, he just looks like a man to me. When I first saw his breeding, I laughed--because it just goes to show how predictable I am. I cannot say he will bring a lot of diversity to the program here--Haidas Little Pep and Doc Wilson are already pretty well represented in our herd. I do not care, I think he is gorgeous.
His record is not too shabby either. He won over $300K, and damn near won the Non-Pro Triple Crown, but took reserve in the Derby instead of winning it.
His first foals show this fall, and God willing, they will turn out to be as good as I think they will be. We will have a hot commodity on our hands then--so cross your fingers that all goes well, and she has a healthy athletic baby.
It is going to be a long foaling season next year, with the babies fewer and further between. We are expecting only four, starting in early April and running through June. That will be a different experience. We have two re-breeds to use nexy year--one to Peppy Plays for Cash and one to Snorty Lena, so that leaves us a lot of decisions to make.

For the time being though, I am going to enjoy the anticipation of what wonderful foals will be showing up in 2010.

So you think you can dance?

Last night, when I got home around 8 pm, I went out to help feed, and was treated to a weird happy dance by Squeak. First, she looked like this perfectly normal horse making her way to the dining area.

And then it was on---I can only imagine she was just really excited about dinner.

This next picture is the last time she had all four on the floor for quite some time.
That is a lot of sister up there, isn't it Squeak is my biggest mare--at 15'1" and about 1150 pounds, which is regular size horse for most people I realize. Here it is supersize sister.


Then all of a sudden it was over.

"Oh" she says to me. "I did not know you were here. Did you see my dance?" She looks a little sheepish, doesn't she?
"Yes I did Squeak, I am glad to see you are in such a festive mood on this nice summer evening." says me. She came over to get some loving from me--she likes to be loved on. She also is just blind enough to not realize I was not holding the feed, but whatever.
She wandered off for a while, then remembered what had set her off in the first place and started thundering back to me. To me, this is one of the best things I can see at the farm--Squeak living like a horse, blindness be damned. She is clearly seeing something, as there is no way she could keep from careening off of things if she was not. I love this horse, and am so happy that she has adjusted to living in a herd safely. She makes me smile

Another alternate title for this could have been "Dancing in the Dark". I crack me up.

Getting over it

Seems like there is a lot of "just get over it" going on around here lately. Here is Boogie's ouch from some time ago--he is getting over it. I did a fairly bad job of handling this one, by being lazy and leaving the wrap on longer than it should have been so that the pressure was not as tense as it should have been. I do not take shortcuts by using caustics on lower leg wounds, so pressure is the first line of defense for me--I should have done better. All the same, it looks pretty dang good considering that just several weeks ago, the open area was the size of the palm of my hand.


Here is miss Gizmo. Just before we went on vacation, she ripped open a part of her face. On what I have no idea. I could hardly wrap her face shut, and since it was such a big gash with missing pieces of face, she could not be stapled shut like normally I would have done. She got a little hit and miss doctoring, and a good probing to make sure there was nothing in there, and the vet's confirmation of how to treat--and she was turned out. There is some thickness there, and you can see a little bit of it in the middle of her face, but not much. She is even further along in the getting over it stage than Boogie is. I hope it does not detract too much from how pretty she is.
Finally, a pic of new kitty number three. She too is just getting over it--the eye goobers that is. It is clearing up in all of them.
This is Reno, he of the teeny tiny since removed nuts. The only thing he needs to get over is his teeny-tininess. He is a little bitty sumpin. Good thing Snap's babies are such puppies--he will make a great kid's horse. I am sure he will get to normal size eventually, but it is going to take a while. He is actually a little fat...I so have to put a stick to him to see how short he really is.

As far as me getting over it, I am a bit of a disaster this week. I have had bad headaches--blinding make your eyes water headaches since Sunday nite. Yesterday, I had a nice case of the cramps to go with it and today, my neck and back aches. I am an all around bundle of joy. There are things irritating me--like how much crap is in the truck--but I cannot seem to do anything about it. Also, there is entirely too much crap in my kitchen--stuff piled on the island, like four kinds of good smelling lotion, and the last of a case of beer, and a huge box of dog bones, and a bag of dog food, and a cowboy hat, and some squeezy cheese, and some books, and mustard and a box of checks, etc. Why so much crap? It drives me nuts, but do you see me getting off my fat ass and doing anything about it? Not so much. I cannot even blame Barry for it, and that makes me crazy too.

I make all these lists in my head, and goals of the day--but it seems that is as far as I get. I do not get anything done. The only thing I really accomplished today was meeting with the handyman to see if my roof is jacked up or what is going on--and thank you sweet baby Jesus, my roof is fine. That is good news. I also fretted about what to pay next with the left over money at the end of the month, which is very soon. That is not an accomplishment though as it is an ongoing plot for me. I did put in some laundry, but I quite likely will not put it in the dryer. I moved some hay after work and dinner, but it got too dark to get much done, and I learned I am not very good at that. I probably have 60-70 more round bales to move, but it is supposed to start raining any minute so it won't be done any time soon. And on top of that, it is such a big project that it will take several attempts to get it all done. I did mow the yard here at the house last nite, that is pretty good. I am not half bad at the beginning of the week, but I peter out.

Is there a group for that? So I can get over it? or is it just one more thing I won't get done?

What I did instead of Blogher09

I crashed the Class of 89 reunion. I have no couth, not a bit, so I not only went to the post-official activities on Friday nite, I also went Saturday after the dinner. I could not help it-- I have not seen some of these people in 20 years. This is the class ahead of me, but in a small town where there are only 400 people in your class anyway, the lines between classes tend to get blurred. There are too many connections to keep it straight.

Once I was there, I realized that I have known some of these people since I was three years old, when we first moved here. 34 years, for Pete's sake. That is absurd. It is amazing how with some of them, it was like no time has passed at all.This is Julie on the left. She lived up the street from me and was my best friend in the whole world when I was little. We did everything together. Including thinking that we invented the word "tallywacker", or at least that we were the only ones that knew it. Now she is a grade school principal. She had a disturbing memory of us when we were kids--we evidently thought closets were good places to keep kids. I am not sure I am against that even now, but I can see why it would be bigger concern for her, since she has kids and is now the boss of them. Good luck in the new job Julie--I know that beneath your nice smiley face, you can be a big enough bad ass to scare those parents that need it.

That is Libby on the right. Libby and I swam together since we were five. Our moms were very close friends too...they played tennis and golf together non-stop. When we were not at swim meets, we lived in the pool at the country club--or in the ladies lounge waiting for our parents who golfed as much as we swam. Libby is now a personal trainer and has two kids. I have rarely seen a normal person walking around with a body like she has. It is amazing. She just did a triathlon two months ago. I wish I could be so disciplined, but obviously, not so much. Libby has turned into an amazing woman, it is really impressive to see how self-assured she is. She also lectured me about the lack of stretching, so now we know for sure that I really did hurt myself last week when I thought I broke myself--and we also know why.



This is Camilla, who I have not seen in fifteen years. She swam with us for a while too. There were several years when I wanted to be her so bad, I thought she was perfect. She is the reason I had the balls to bust up in this reunion--if she could go despite her nerves, then I could too--since that is what it would take to see her. She has five year old twins. She lives between here and Chicago so I plan to see a lot more of her now-- stopping for meals on the way to see Barry, etc.

This is Manzell. I am sure he wrote me my first quasi-dirty letter. Tranae's mom found it and all hell broke loose. I think I was in seventh grade. That is embarrassing just now even thinking about it. He is a great guy though, we run into each other every few years. It is always good to see him, because he has never changed a single bit--he looks exactly the same.
This is Tiff and Leslie. They were on the swim team too--I swear Tiffany has double jointed shoulders, and I can still hear the weird rhythm she had swimming freestyle. It worked though, as she was unbeatable. Les always was better than me at the stroke we were both good at. She had another one too though, so we usually got to swim the same relays--the three of us, and Libby. They look exactly the same to me too, I do not get how that works. I have seen Tiff a few times over the years as her family is still here, but I have no idea when I last saw Leslie. It has been forever.
These two fools are a story themselves. Edward, on the right, is a professor teaching mostly stuff about Muslims in the US, and he brought his very cool wife with him. I don't know how he scored that, let me tell you. He is great, but a one of a kind for sure. On the right is Walt, who is a psychiatrist in Dallas. I could tell a great story about him that we told Barry Saturday nite, but I do not think my mother's heart could take it, so I won't. He had the best camera at the reunion and it made me drool a little.
I do not know how this happened, but again, here is a swimming person. Drew, on the right, was on the swim team too. I noticed at the reunion that the people that I had the strongest reaction to seeing were almost always people that I swam with, so we went back so much further than high school. Now I see from the very few pics that we took that almost all of the pics are them too! The guy in the middle is Tony--we went to prom together and were really good friends for several years. He lives here and has a very cool wife--he did good for himself too.

I just realized something else too--this last pic is one of the ones taken first--so it is not that my hair got flatter as the night went on. It actually got much bigger. I think it was not even totally dry yet in this pic--I cannot blow dry it or it would not fit in the car. I so need to get a style. I look like a sheep dog.

It was an excellent weekend. It almost killed me, of course, as all reunions tend to do, but I should get points for skipping out on the after-party Saturday nite. I was exhausted and could not do anymore--also, my shoes broke and I had been barefoot all night, but that would not have been a safe move at the Mug.

I think Barry had fun too, meeting people--many he had not met before because they have been gone from the area so long, but the ones he did know made him feel welcome. I made him take pics all nite, but evidently not enough, as this is almost all of them.

I was so excited to see all these people. My mom always said that at the ten year reunion people are trying to one-up each other but that is all gone by the 20th. If the class of 1989 is any example, then ours will be like that next year. I did not see any of that at all--people were just thrilled to see each other. It was a lot of fun, and since facebook is so easy, I hope to keep in better touch with people than I have.

The countdown is on for next year!

I think I broke it

What is that part of your body that is a muscle-ish sort of thing, where your leg connects to your hip--but not on the outside, more on the front of the leg? The hip flexors. That might be it.

I think I broke that.

I knew something would go wrong now that I have managed to at least start to get back on the cardio wagon-- I have done two spinning classes this week, and planned to do one in the morning--but now I wonder if I should.


It is very unfortunate. I feel lots of little spasms in it--they have calmed down tonight, but all day, it was going berserk. It kind of tickles, and kind of tingles, and does not really hurt so much as it aches. It is a little weird though to have buzzing in the crothc-al area, almost. And now that I have typed that, I can only imagine the kind of freaks who will be showing up here from googling tingly crotches.

They might as well come here for their entertainment. Where else will they learn that there must be something in the air here, as my poor open broodmares are whoring themselves out to the geldings today. Madison caught Target having at it with Xanadu, and Fuzzy trying to steal him away for her own. Evidently Radar was throwing his hat in the ring as well. It is just a horn-dog free for all here this evening.

Meanwhile, my hay delivery man was surely treated to the show as well. He spent all day--eleven hours--delivering my new round bales. 116 of them. That will be a nice start. Now Barry has to spend the weekend putting them in the barn. That is still better than receiving them AND putting them in the barn.

My secret project is almost done. A few more touches and that will be that. I am so excited to show him. He says he will be home super late tomorrow nite, which will work for me, as it is finally going to be warm enough to get in the pool and I will be damned if I miss that just to finish this project. It has not hit 80 all week, which is weird here for April and October-- so I have no idea what the hell is going on here in July.

I also have a clean house, fresh sheets and the laundry all done, so I am taking the nite off and going to bed!

Coming home scenes- a hodge podge o' crap

This was the scene when I pulled into Sly's barn driveway tonight. He was weird as a fruitbat. He was over by the far fence (behind where Twister is), but before I could even get out of the truck, he had started toward me. I wanted to take pics of him, but he knows it is dinner time, so he hauls balls to the barn so fast I usually cannot get them.

Tonight though, he stood on the crest of the hill and snorted at me. I think he thought I was going to shoot him, he was acting so squirrelly.
Then he cut some imaginary cows, snorted a few more times, then made his way over to me.
If that scene does not make you feel good, I do not know what will. I love him, and just seeing him be so happy does my heart good. That and knowing his new farrier will be here next Saturday --that does my heart good too, as it has been something I have been concerned about. Replacing the Magnificent Marvin is no ordinary task.
Finally, I got a picture of the black kitty. She is precious. They are at that stage where they are so silly, playing together and wrestling, and getting stuck in stuff. Cracks me up.
The roany pony gets wilder looking every day. Her face is going to be super dark--you can see it around her hocks too. She is really something, and when I saw her standing with Bubbles and Spike tonight, I realized that she is growing like a weed. Spike is no longer even close to being a big boy compared to her.
Can you believe how white she is? I LOVE it. I cannot wait until Barry sees her--she changes so much every day, he will not even recognize her after being gone a few weeks.
Rock is doing really well too--catching her near a wood board and not cribbing on it is a remarkable feat. She posed for several pics tonight and never once honked at me with that horrid cribbing sound. I love her too, even though the rest of the world tends to find her unpalatable. That is all right--she is my horse, I am the only one that has to love her. She is 27 this year, and fat as a tick. I may take her for a little jaunt this weekend, if I get a chance. She is completely blind in that right eye not looking at us--which means that when she is caring for Squeak, they are functioning with only one operating eye out of the four of them. You would never know it though.

It was such a nice day by the time I got home after work. It was gross and cloudy all day--but the sun came out around 6, when I left work, and it was only in the high 70s. Perfect for taking pics. As I did this, my hay was being unloaded by the surprise delivery man. We had been trying to get it together to receive it this weekend, and it would have taken ALL WEEKEND to do--we have 116 bales coming in, approximately 75 tons of round baled bermuda. At the end of the day today, as I was being hauled to the auto repair place to get my truck with its new brakes, I got a call with an offer to do it tonight and tomorrow, and to totally leave me out of it. The dude is even unloading it for me! What more could you want, I ask you? I felt like I had a huge weight off my shoulders.

So many good things happened today--that got started, I got through testifying in court, something that is really uncomfortable for me since I keep wanting to correct everyone else there; I reached some conclusions on a brief that is making me crazy; I got the new farrier lined up; I got the truck brakes off the list; I got the new belt for the lawnmower and put it on (now the mower won't start but that will just have to be all right, won't it?); did two steps in my surprise project for Barry and now might really get it done, as it appears I won't be mowing any time soon; and I bet there are even more things. Oh I know--I talked to Hammer's trainer, and he is doing well. He has managed to show his true colors a few times, but the great news is that he is working through it, and Bobby is enjoying him. The cleaning lady comes tomorrow, and I am so grateful we were able to get her back after Barry went back to work.

I am excited about him coming home and seeing the surprise, and getting the new fence built this weekend. It is also the class reunion of the class ahead of me, so I am going to get to see some friends I have not seen in forever on Saturday nite. I am going to intrude and join them for cocktails. I am really excited about seeing people, especially Camilla and Libby. I cannot believe we have managed to get this old!

I feel a little bit like the fog has lifted--there has been so much drama and trauma and pain and stress around here for the last several weeks, or months, and we are managing to get through it. The only crappy thing about today is that Linda is putting her pony to sleep and her pig Possum, who may be the ugliest creature on earth, is going for the dirt nap as well. She is a saint to rescue all those animals, and she knows when it is time-- I know she hurts though and I am thinking of her.

And I just have to add this because it is bugging the hell out of me--what is wrong with these mothers on Toddlers and Tiaras? This one has a mom whose five daughters all show in pageants, and two of them are fraternal twins. One is better than the other, but this bitch of a mother is so obvious about how she favors her--it makes me sick. If I knew where she lived, I would go put all my funky laundry in her house. Horrible woman.

RIP Cardanita

This is my old girl Cardanita last week. I know no one else can see it in her sun-bleached face, but I still see the horse I bought ten years ago, even when I look at these pics of an obviously old horse. I still thought she was beautifulI also think she looked so much like her daddy--the great Peponita--one of my favorite horses of all time. Look how similar their heads are.

Nita came along when we first decided that if we were going to bother to breed horses, we were going to do it the best we could. We took some advice from one of the top breeders in the cutting business, who we met on accident. He suggested buying ONE good mare, even if she had to be old, or too young--and work from her, rather than spending that same money on more than one average or just barely above average mare.

That started us off--and Cardanita was one of the first we bought. We bought her from Tom Lyons, who had owned her forever and bred her to some great horses, including Smart Little Uno that he also owned. On a related note, he also owned and trained Grandpa, back in the day. Anyway, the broker on the deal was Cletus Hulling Jr, who unbeknownst to us at the time, was from this area. He was super nice to us, and when we would run into him in the future, he always remembered her. When we finally met Tom Lyons later, when he was selling one of Nita's daughters, he was very nice to us as well, and shared some stories about Nita back in her day.

Nita in June--still plenty of weight on her--

just one month before we put her down.

Nita was old when we bought her, and had already had ten babies, so was already swaybacked, but checked out really well reproductively and was fat and shiny. She was open though, and 18 or 19 years old. She was almost pitch black and had the most beautiful eyes--she just looked wise to me. I make fun of people who think they can tell much about a horse based on looking at their eyes--the "kind eye" story--but back then, I swore I could know her just by looking at her.

Nita in May--still shaggy, but still fat

Taking care of someone else's baby, in May

Since I had myself this fancy broodmare, I had to make some big decisions on who to breed her to. That was how we got involved in the High Brow Hickory Syndicate. I gave up my in-ground pool money and bought a breeding share of him, and we were on our way. Nita and another even older mare, San Peppys Noche (a daughter of Mr San Peppy), BOTH got in foal that year on the first shipment of semen. Can you imagine? I think Noche was 22, and Nita was 19, I think.

Before we even knew what had happened, we were in the business. I was so excited, you cannot know. The more I got to know Nita, the more I loved her. She was just a class act. Even-tempered, quiet--just a great horse. I fell in love, and stayed that way.

The next spring, both girls foaled--Nita first. I am superstitious about naming things before they hit the ground, but I had one in mind the whole time--High Dollar Gamble. That is certainly what that baby had been--it was awfully risky to invest that kind of money in an old open mare with a swayback, especially with people who were just getting their feet wet in the game. He was awesome. Ultimately, we sent both those babies, Gambler and Angel, to the cutting trainer and sold them as two year olds.

Nita was bred back to HBH, but did not get in foal. She had to go to Texas the following year to be bred, and they thought there was no way in hell she would get in foal, and stay that way. But she did, and Gypsy was the result. I wanted to keep Gypsy from the beginning-- I had saved the name Gypsy for something special ever since I read those books about a horse named Gypsy when I was little. We needed the money though, so I consigned her to a good sale and sent her to the cutting trainer when she was 2 to get ready.

All good plans though....she got hurt within her first few weeks. The trainer thought it was a stifle injury, but it turned out to be a broken pelvis of all things. Gypsy came home to heal--and here she will stay, as she has proven herself to be worthy with her first two babies, especially the roany pony this year.

And now I need her more than ever, since we have lost Nita.


These photos were taken on Tuesday nite, which was supposed to be Nita's last nite. Weather delayed the situation until Friday though. Even through this sheet, you can have some idea of how much weight she had lost--in the space of a month, she lost well over 100 pounds, probably more. This was in spite of plenty of Strategy and great pasture. Even skinny, Nita was very happy--she had been stalled waiting for the vet, and she HATED it. She had a very raspy voice, like a three pack a day smoker--and she would holler holler holler and circle in her stall. One nite of that made me feel terrible--that is no way to spend your last day. So I put her in the front pasture where I could catch her easily. She has always played a game where she makes you chase her, then will stop at the furthest possible point and say "you win. now come get me". I could not let her get too far, or rish not being able to catch her when the time came.

The first thing she did when I turned her out was go to the corner and holler across the driveway to the pasture where Gypsy and baby were. So I went to get them and gave them back to Nita. Then the game was ON. Gypsy and baby loped circles, and as you can see, Nita went with them. The pics I posted last week of Gypsy and the roany pony were from that same session.

Anyway, Nita Loped loped loped--bunny hop--huh? She was off in her hind end. Hmmm. I wondered what that was about, but figured that she was happy, and was doing what she wanted to do. It made me feel bad to think she hurt when she has never once complained about a thing--but also more sure I was doing the right thing. After all, she was 28 years old. Sure, I could probably fatten her up again--but why? If something else was wrong?

Friday ended up being the day. And can you believe that when I went out to get her, not only had she torn off her pretty dress here, but she RAN FROM ME! Now that is absurd. Granted she did not run far and after about 30 seconds, she said I could win if I would just come get her, and I did.

As many horses as we have had--this is the first one I have had to make the decision on without a trauma or serious illness dictating it. We have lost our share, but it has always been more acute than this. And this was the first I have had to do on my own without Barry (but that is fair, since he had to handle Lucky when she went down when I was in Vegas) other than a baby and those have been clear decisions. It was really hard to do, but the second it was done, I felt better--like I had done something for her.

The vet as always assured me I was doing the right thing, and opined that she may have had EPM, a slight case, the way her topline fell off and her hind end got a little wonky but in a wierd way that did not indicate a particular area that was the problem. That makes me feel better too. And worse, if you know what I mean--but mostly better that I was not doing this for selfish reasons.

I am going to miss her so much--these old ladies teach so much that a young horse just cannot teach us. Nita was a special one, that I will never forget--and can only hope to be so lucky as to have another with her gentle ways in the future. I know that is not an age thing, as I still have Playmate and Rock at 28 and 27 and they are about as gentle and soft and sweet as a tsunami--it was just something about Nita.

I am including her two-generation pedigree thingy just to have a reference for myself--her daughters and granddaughters and grandsons show up at the futurity sales a lot, so this will be a quick reference for me to look back at when their names come up. I have the weird brain that remembers connections, even if it something like her grand-neice also had a baby by so and so, and that person who owned him also owned....that kind of thing. It is very crowded in my brain on these matters!

TWO GENERATION DAMS' PRODUCE RECORD

Cardanita 1856429 1981 brown mare SI: 0 Starts 0 Wins: 0 2nds: 0 3rds: 0 Earnings: 0 Hlt Pts: 0 Perf Pts: 0
SIRE side of pedigree		Peppy San 1959 0114978 sorrel H- 26 P- 180	Leo San 1949 0020113 sorrel H- 0 P- 1
	Peponita 1969 0605028 black H- 0 P- 74		Peppy Belle 1955 0054365 sorrel
		Bonita Tivio 1955 0065940 bay H- 8 P- 48	Poco Tivio 1947 0017396 bay H- 12 P- 19
			Pepper Girl 1944 0005030 chestnut
DAM side of pedigree		Baldy Bull Card 1962 0215861 sorrel	Post Card 1953 0042177 bay H- 13 P- 20
	Card Melissa 1968 0615300 bay		Kenny's Lass 1952 0046724 sorrel
		Poco Melissa 1961 0184448 dun	Poco Tom 1950 0031623 dun H- 1 P- 3
			Rev's Cutie 1957 0072591 bay

CARDANITA - Horse Being Requested

REG. NO.	HORSE'S NAME	COLOR	SEX	DATE FOAL	ST
1856429	CARDANITA	BROWN	MARE	04/01/1981	OK

Additional Horse Information for CARDANITA:

• Deceased
• Genetic Typed

SIRE		DAM		MATERNAL GRANDSIRE
0605028	PEPONITA	0615300	CARD MELISSA	0215861	BALDY BULL CARD

DESCRIPTION	NAME	ADDRESS
BREEDER:	ROGER RAMSEY	GARDEN CITY, KS
OWNER:	BARRY &/OR PAIGE STRAWN	MOUNT VERNON, IL

CARDANITA's Sire Information

REG. NO.	SIRE'S NAME	COLOR	SEX	DATE FOAL	ST
0605028	PEPONITA	BLACK	STALLION	01/01/1969	BC

Additional Horse Information for PEPONITA:

• Deceased
• Genetic Typed

SIRE		DAM		MATERNAL GRANDSIRE
0114978	PEPPY SAN	0065940	BONITA TIVIO	0017396	POCO TIVIO

AQHA Show Totals for PEPONITA

LAST SHOW	OPEN HALTER	OPEN PERFORM	AMATEUR HALTER	AMATEUR PERFORM	YOUTH HALTER	YOUTH PERFORM	NOVICE AMATEUR	NOVICE YOUTH	EQ W/ DISAB
07/1978	.0	74.0	.0	.0	.0	.0	.0	.0	.0

AQHA/Alliance Totals for PEPONITA
Accuracy and completeness of information are the responsibility of each alliance.

NATIONAL CUTTING HORSE ASSOCIATION

$ 126,221.04

Earned thru 12/31/1995

Achievements for PEPONITA

YEAR	TYPE	DESCRIPTION
1979	OPEN	NCHA FINALS NON-PRO	1st PLACE
1979	OPEN	NCHA WORLD CHAMPION
1978	OPEN	SUPERIOR CUTTING
1978	OPEN	WORLD CHAMPION SR CUTTING
1977	OPEN	WORLD CHAMPION SR CUTTING
1977	OPEN	NCHA FINALS	1st PLACE
1977	OPEN	NCHA WORLD CHAMPION
1976	OPEN	WORLD SHOW SR CUTTING	3rd PLACE
1976	OPEN	NCHA FINALS	1st PLACE
1975	OPEN	NCHA WORLD CHAMPION	4th PLACE
1973	OPEN	PERFORMANCE REGISTER OF MERIT

Detail of CARDANITA's Offspring

+ JR NITA 2598577 Bay Mare 04/01/1987
S- DOCTOR BOND 1572844 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028

+ LONNIE HICKORY 3177846 Bay Gelding 02/15/1991
S- DOC'S HICKORY 0919616 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028

+ NITA HICKORY 3153584 Bay Mare 03/18/1992 Genetic Typed
S- DOC'S HICKORY 0919616 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028
National Cutting Horse Association: $ 1,222.40 Earned thru 12/31/1995

. . HEBERT HICKORY 3745240 Bay Stallion 06/12/1998
S- SONITALENA 2651846 NITA HICKORY 3153584 DOC'S HICKORY 0919616

. . LIL HOLLYWOOD HONEY 3900243 Buckskin Mare 05/28/1999
S- HOLLYWOOD DUN IT 2086591 NITA HICKORY 3153584 DOC'S HICKORY 0919616

. . DUAL HICKORY NITA 4014529 Sorrel Mare 05/21/2000 Transported Semen; Genetic Typed
S- DUAL REY 3258332 NITA HICKORY 3153584 DOC'S HICKORY 0919616
Show: 07/2007 Open- H- .0 P- 5.5 Amateur- H- .0 P- .0 Youth- H- .0 P- .0
National Cutting Horse Association: $ 24,294.92 Earned thru 03/25/2007

. . . DUAL SPOON 5165545 Red Roan Gelding 05/18/2008 Parent Verified; Genetic Typed
S- HES A PEPTOSPOONFUL 3768647 DUAL HICKORY NITA 4014529 DUAL REY 3258332

. . MH NITA MILLION 4162453 Bay Mare 05/14/2001 Parent Verified; Genetic Typed
S- LITTLE PEPPYS ULTIMO 3487566 NITA HICKORY 3153584 DOC'S HICKORY 0919616

. . SHES A PEPTO HICKORY 4949959 Chestnut Mare 03/28/2007 Transported Semen; Genetic Typed
S- HES A PEPTOSPOONFUL 3768647 NITA HICKORY 3153584 DOC'S HICKORY 0919616

+ UNO ANNA 3209689 Bay Mare 04/14/1993
S- SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028

+ UNO NITA 3314541 Bay Mare 06/09/1994
S- SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028
Show: 06/2007 Open- H- .0 P- .0 Amateur- H- .0 P- .0 Youth- H- .0 P- .0
Novice Amateur- P- .0 Novice Youth- P- .0 Eq w/ Disabilities- P- .0
National Cutting Horse Association: $ 744.87 Earned thru 08/11/2007

+ UNO HELENITA 3417228 Black Mare 06/18/1995
S- SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028

+ UNO ED 3525755 Brown Stallion 06/15/1996 Genetic Typed
S- SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028
National Cutting Horse Association: $ 7,456.37 Earned thru 04/04/2009

+ UNO HOUSTONIAN 3629425 Brown Mare 05/30/1997 Genetic Typed
S- SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028
Show: 07/2000 Open- H- .0 P- .0 Amateur- H- .0 P- .0 Youth- H- .0 P- .0

. . SMART STEEL ACRE 4156863 Buckskin Gelding 01/23/2001
S- SIXTEEN ACRES 2738351 UNO HOUSTONIAN 3629425 SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633

. . NITA SIXTEEN ACRES 4198567 Bay Mare 01/09/2002
S- SIXTEEN ACRES 2738351 UNO HOUSTONIAN 3629425 SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633

. . UNO SMARTLITTLE BEAU 4632430 Bay Stallion 01/28/2003 Genetic Typed
S- SIXTEEN ACRES 2738351 UNO HOUSTONIAN 3629425 SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633
Show: 02/2007 Open- H- .0 P- .0 Amateur- H- .0 P- .0 Youth- H- .0 P- .0

+ LITTLE UNO NITA 3733186 Bay Mare 05/25/1998 Genetic Typed
S- SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028
Show: 09/2003 Open- H- .0 P- .0 Amateur- H- .0 P- .0 Youth- H- .0 P- .0

. . LIL UNO DUNIT SMART 4483398 Buckskin Stallion 04/15/2004 Incentive Fund Foal
S- DEFINITLY A DUNIT 3561832 LITTLE UNO NITA 3733186 SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633

. . NITAS UNO SHINER 4986306 Buckskin Mare 05/24/2006 Transported Semen; Genetic Typed
S- SMART SHINER 3465050 LITTLE UNO NITA 3733186 SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633

. . SMOOTH LITTLE NITA 4966246 Bay Mare 04/03/2007
S- SMOOTH AS A CAT 3808235 LITTLE UNO NITA 3733186 SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633

. . SMART DUAL BOON 5172624 Bay Roan Mare 03/24/2008 Transported Semen; Genetic Typed
S- DUALS BLUE BOON 4195517 LITTLE UNO NITA 3733186 SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633

+ UNO CARDANITA 3837699 Bay Mare 06/10/1999 Genetic Typed
S- SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028

. . ONE SPOOK N CARD 4457883 Bay Stallion 07/06/2003
S- SPOOK N TARI 3833245 UNO CARDANITA 3837699 SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633
Show: 05/2007 Open- H- .0 P- .0 Amateur- H- .0 P- .0 Youth- H- .0 P- .0

. . UNO PEPPY MISS 4663218 Buckskin Mare 05/10/2005
S- CGS MR PEP 3880155 UNO CARDANITA 3837699 SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633

+ HIGH DOLLAR GAMBLE 4171366 Bay Gelding 04/03/2001 Transported Semen; Genetic Typed
S- HIGH BROW HICKORY 2075796 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028

+ HIGH BROW GYPSY 4427965 Brown Mare 04/25/2003 Parent Verified; Genetic Typed
S- HIGH BROW HICKORY 2075796 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028

. . SLYDUN SHILOH 5118611 Bay Mare 04/17/2008
S- SLYDUN HAIDA 4037822 HIGH BROW GYPSY 4427965 HIGH BROW HICKORY 2075796

Summary of CARDANITA'S Offspring

Reg Foals	12	Perf Foals	5	CYR Perf Foals	1
Race Age Foals	12

No Race Information

No AQHA Show Information

Accuracy and completeness of information are the responsibility of each alliance.

AQHA/Alliance Summary	All-time	2009 Total
National Cutting Horse Association	$ 9,423.64	N/A

No AQHA Show Year End Award Information

CARD MELISSA - First Dam of CARDANITA

REG. NO.	HORSE'S NAME	COLOR	SEX	DATE FOAL	ST
0615300	CARD MELISSA	BAY	MARE	01/01/1968	NE

Additional Horse Information for CARD MELISSA:

• Deceased

SIRE		DAM		MATERNAL GRANDSIRE
0215861	BALDY BULL CARD	0184448	POCO MELISSA	0031623	POCO TOM

Detail of CARD MELISSA's Offspring

+ SWEET MISSY POCO 1146087 Deceased Bay Mare 05/01/1975
S- BELL BOY BAR 0674024 CARD MELISSA 0615300 BALDY BULL CARD 0215861
Show: 04/1992 Open- H- .0 P- .0 Amateur- H- .0 P- .0 Youth- H- .0 P- .0

. . MISS DOC BAKER 1885445 Deceased Bay Mare 05/01/1982
S- LITTLE BUSINESS 1481204 SWEET MISSY POCO 1146087 BELL BOY BAR 0674024

. . . CUTTER DALLAS 2653941 Sorrel Mare 04/01/1986
S- SKIPITY STU 0581504 MISS DOC BAKER 1885445 LITTLE BUSINESS 1481204

. . . SKIPA CREEK SUE 2763103 Brown Mare 04/06/1988
S- SKIPITY STU 0581504 MISS DOC BAKER 1885445 LITTLE BUSINESS 1481204

. . BENITO BAR BAKER 2024555 Deceased Chestnut Mare 04/01/1983
S- LITTLE BUSINESS 1481204 SWEET MISSY POCO 1146087 BELL BOY BAR 0674024

. . GENUINE POCO DOC 2964506 Bay Gelding 06/01/1990
S- COOPERATIVE EFFORT 2399595 SWEET MISSY POCO 1146087 BELL BOY BAR 0674024
Show: 04/1994 Open- H- .0 P- .0 Amateur- H- .0 P- .0 Youth- H- .0 P- .0

. . POCO TWO DOC 3232901 Bay Mare 03/26/1993 Genetic Typed
S- COOPERATIVE EFFORT 2399595 SWEET MISSY POCO 1146087 BELL BOY BAR 0674024

. . . TWO DOC POCO 3947312 Bay Mare 03/30/2000 Genetic Typed
S- POCO EPIC 2043773 POCO TWO DOC 3232901 COOPERATIVE EFFORT 2399595

. . . POCO SMART LENA 4163263 Bay Mare 05/04/2001 Genetic Typed
S- SMART LIKE LENA 2698458 POCO TWO DOC 3232901 COOPERATIVE EFFORT 2399595

. . . VW POCO TWO TIVIO 4323351 Bay Mare 05/01/2002
S- DRIFTIN' TIVIO 1001913 POCO TWO DOC 3232901 COOPERATIVE EFFORT 2399595

. . . POCO SI OLENA 4640305 Sorrel Mare 06/05/2003 Parent Verified; Genetic Typed
S- SI OLENA 2484747 POCO TWO DOC 3232901 COOPERATIVE EFFORT 2399595

. . . TWO DOC BULLSEYE 5072236 Sorrel Stallion 05/14/2007
S- DUHONS QUIXOTE JOE 3384317 POCO TWO DOC 3232901 COOPERATIVE EFFORT 2399595

. . . DOCCOLONELHANCOCKGAL 5170685 Chestnut Mare 04/30/2008
S- DUHONS QUIXOTE JOE 3384317 POCO TWO DOC 3232901 COOPERATIVE EFFORT 2399595

+ MELO TURFO SEVEN 1299996 Deceased Brown Gelding 06/01/1977
S- DARK TURF 0360595 CARD MELISSA 0615300 BALDY BULL CARD 0215861

+ MELISSA GILL 1429080 Deceased Sorrel Mare 06/01/1978
S- OTOE GILL 0361954 CARD MELISSA 0615300 BALDY BULL CARD 0215861

. . JOVA GILL X0482341 Bay Gelding 05/01/1991
S- JOVA (TB) T0428480 MELISSA GILL 1429080 OTOE GILL 0361954

. . JM LAST X0497839 Bay Stallion 05/05/1992
S- JOVA (TB) T0428480 MELISSA GILL 1429080 OTOE GILL 0361954

+ SAN CARD 1526358 Deceased Sorrel Gelding 04/01/1979
S- MILLER SAN 0351444 CARD MELISSA 0615300 BALDY BULL CARD 0215861
*** Refer to Horse Being Requested for Foals of CARDANITA
+ CARDANITA 1856429 Deceased Brown Mare 04/01/1981 Genetic Typed
S- PEPONITA 0605028 CARD MELISSA 0615300 BALDY BULL CARD 0215861

+ PEPPYS CLASSY GIRL 2018181 Chestnut Mare 05/01/1983
S- PEPPY PAR 1363332 CARD MELISSA 0615300 BALDY BULL CARD 0215861
Show: 11/1993 Open- H- .0 P- .0 Amateur- H- .0 P- .0 Youth- H- .0 P- .0

. . SMART DINAMITE CHIC 4760007 Sorrel Stallion 05/01/2004
S- SMART SUGAR CHIC 3018256 PEPPYS CLASSY GIRL 2018181 PEPPY PAR 1363332

. . MISS TOPSAIL GIRL 4764621 Chestnut Mare 05/09/2005
S- IM A TOPSAIL CODY 2284130 PEPPYS CLASSY GIRL 2018181 PEPPY PAR 1363332

. . PLENTYTOPSAILCODY 5077102 Chestnut Mare 07/18/2006
S- IM A TOPSAIL CODY 2284130 PEPPYS CLASSY GIRL 2018181 PEPPY PAR 1363332

Summary of CARD MELISSA'S Offspring

Reg Foals	6	Perf Foals	2	CYR Perf Foals	0
Race Age Foals	6

No Race Information

No AQHA Show Information

No AQHA Show Year End Award Information

Today's Paige-aster (s)

Well there are two of them.

First, I had my get-to-know-you meeting with the new boss. Even though I already know her, but just socially. I was my normal ignorant self--talked too fast, messed up words, acting like a spastic tool---so humiliating. I am remembering it now, and just cringing at how whacked out I must have looked when I was talking to her, with my eyes darting all over the room as I was being overly dramatic--like I was looking for my other personalities.

When I fretted about it afterwards, a co-worker mentioned that it was not like I could keep my whole self secret for long, so what difference does it make?

And he is right. She would have figured me out eventually. Hopefully I can redeem myself.

The second thing is even more Paige like. I had to make up some time at work, so I did not get to the farm until almost 7. I was thinking about getting all the crap out of the truck and pitching it, and doctoring Grandpa's eye, and wondering if I could get any decent pics where the sun was, and remembering all the things I was supposed to do today but failed to do--

I stopped near the dumpster to empty the truck of all the crap in it, and hopped out.

Did you notice the part I forgot there? I specifically said I "Stopped". Not parked. Because I had not. The truck kept on trucking, headed right for a new section of wooden fence--one of a very few sections mind you, so the last damn thing I need to run into.

I managed to get back in the truck and slammed on the brakes, just inches from the fence, and Grandpa, who was obliviously munching away on his 20 pound, 12 hour meal. He does not get too worked up over these things--I guess he is used to me. Or thought that he had finally found his chance to off himself, by standing in front of me.

And if you think this is the first time I have done such a thing--think again. Once the car got loose at the gas station, and backed into a preacher's new car---that was an error of stick shift in neutral and no emergency brake. Once I did exactly this same thing when I was getting the mail at our old house, and before I knew it, the car door had ripped a row of mailboxes down.

I am a menace.

In other news, I have new kitties. Did I tell you that? There are two that seem to live here now--one came but immediately went to Madison's house. I have had these little girls for more than a week, and they are filling out and getting better. This was one of the first days the girlies were here. The other one is solid black, so she does not photo well, but this one cracks me up. I am horribly allergic, but I cannot help but pick them up and feel their little bellies as they are getting fat. What I need from you cat people is advice on what you do for a little girlie like this whose eye is goobered up in that kitty way--what do I do with this?

No wonder

I am always so frazzled---I spent HOURS yesterday with Madison repairing fence that these SOBs that I own have torn up, down and backwards. I finally decided that I would repair as much as I could but since I do not totally understand the bizarre arrangement Barry has made around gates etc for the hotwire, that it likely would not work well anyway. So we opened the gate between the back pasture and the back section of the hayfield, thinking they might would have the good sense to go through the gate rather than walk through and tear down more fence.

Surely I do not have to tell you that it did not work.When I got to the farm this morning to load up for an afternoon trail riding with Headleys, the first thing I saw was this half a passel of hosses standing in the hay field. I did not have to think more than a second that they had used the gate before Madison showed up and told me they had not. Oddly, they are respecting this section of it. I have no idea--probably because this is a section that matters the least.

I decided not to care about this though. The only thing it makes me change is who gets grain and who does not---and for a week, it hardly matter, since most of this pasture has grass up to their bellies. And somehow I will find a way to fix my rotational grazing situation later. Today, I was not about to worry about it, as I was going to have fun.

And I did, it was a great trail ride. We rode about 3.5 hours-- I took Gyro, which is always a treat as it means I have to do nothing. I do not have to even load her. I do not have to use my hands to do anything but take pics--if I think about turning, she knows it when I do and makes it happen. As much as I love my young stock, it is hard to beat a completely brainless day where you just have fun.

I was so due.

More whining

I feel like this is all I do. And it is. I realize this is not new, but today I am aware of it

I was all set to come in here and put up a tribute to my special mare Cardanita, who went to sleep about 1:30 today.

But I am too tired, and I want to do it right, which means editing some photos of her recently and getting my thoughts in order and I don't have it in me right now

Add that to my inability to find my backup camera, which is really my best camera that I never get out because I am afraid I will hurt it-the only conclusion is that it is stolen and my thoughts on how it got that way really bother me---and my day feels more overwhelming that it already was.

On top of that, Barry's intent to come home and help me catch up and make me feel better tonight were nipped in the bud- he had gone off to Wisconsin for something or other for work.

Blech. I am going to bed.

So there it is!

I have a long standing feud with laundry. I hate it and it takes up too much time in my life. Now that Barry is not living here, I do not have to do load after load after load of laundry. It is a beautiful thing.

Now there is a new twist to the Laundry Chronicles. I usually buy the big ol honking laundry detergent from Sam's. I usually get All, the Clear kind, because my washing machine hardly needs another excuse to jack up my laundry by leaving little blue dots on my clothes. I ran slap out though, so last time Barry was home, I got two small ones at the store--one for him to take away and one for me to have until I go to Sam's again.

But I cannot find it. I do not know where the hell it went. This is what happens when I buy little thins instead of big things.

So I bought another one at Lowe's last Friday on my lunch hour. By that time, my laundry in the washing machine had gotten funky and needed to be re-washed. I brought in the new detergent--a kinda big one so I would not lose it---and guess what I did? I lost it.

It is now Thursday. You can imagine how disgusting the laundry is by now. Good thing it was sheets so I could bleach the hell out of it. I bought a THIRD detergent on the way home from work today and walked it straight from the truck to the laundry room and started re-washing everything. I seem to have finally beat the curse of the laundry detergent. What a relief.

It bugs me though, losing the detergent. Where in hell can it be? I have even gutted the truck looking for it. Not there. Neither of them.

Finally, I decide just now that I need ice cream. On one of my many laundry detergent getting missions, I bought some 3 for $10 ice creams at IGA. I went out to deep freeze #2 to get it and what do I find in there? Besides ice cream that is.

Laundry detergent. Frozen laundry detergent. And also some 2-cycle oil for the weed-eater. Also frozen.

Is this what senility is like?

And I have not even told you about how I keep losing my truck when I leave it at the gym. It has happened twice now, and I swore both times someone stole it.

Celebration may be in order

I could totally be wrong, but the most recent search I have done for budget news suggests that the governor has signed a budget.

Since I did not get paid today because there was not one, that is good news. Since I support so many beings, I am not the kind of girl who can wing it when she does not get paid. That and running three locations takes a toll on a girl's bottom line.

Please God, make it true--and while we are at it, I pray it does not cut public services so much it hurts someone

Here is an article that popped up as I was posting

Text size:

A state budget -- finally

Governor signs $26 billion plan that relies heavily on borrowing

By Ray Long and Rick Pearson |Tribune reporters

July 16, 2009

SPRINGFIELD -- After weeks of delay, Illinois finally got a budget Wednesday night as lawmakers asserted their power over an accidental governor they put in office, spurred by the potential for a government shutdown.

The $26 billion state spending plan that Gov. Pat Quinn quickly signed pushes tough decisions down the road by heavily relying on borrowing. It also gives the rookie Democratic governor the power to slice out billions of dollars, setting him up for the credit or blame for cuts that could include closing state facilities and laying off thousands of workers.

Ultimately, the new budget restores much of the social services money that had been on the chopping block for providers who care for the poor, elderly and disabled. And it allows lawmakers to delay a politically risky vote on an income-tax increase until early next year -- just weeks before the February primary election.

"We're doing this because we have to do it. But it's wrong to do it," said Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago). "The General Assembly will reconvene in January to address our need for additional revenue."

Quinn, who rose to the top spot in January after lawmakers ousted disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich, wanted but did not get an income-tax increase. Instead, he will cut $1 billion and keep another $1 billion in reserve -- decisions he will have to make a few months before he is likely to stand before Democratic primary voters.

The governor said he wants to have a "heart-to-heart" talk with union members to discuss $125 million in scheduled pay increases. Quinn also said he would "proceed with our plan" to lay off up to 2,600 state workers but emphasized that union negotiations could lead to scaled-back raises or unpaid days off in exchange for fewer layoffs. The budget also contains a dozen furlough days for lawmakers.

"Essentially by doing this, we have made him the king of Illinois," Sen. Donne Trotter (D-Chicago) said of the powers being handed to the Democratic governor.

Quinn credited the legislature for a budget that he said "moves the ball forward for the people of Illinois."

Approval came on the day paychecks for as many as 6,000 state workers had to be delayed because of a lack of state spending authority. Comptroller Dan Hynes' office said it was prepared to move quickly to issue paper checks now that Quinn's signature authorized the spending.

The delay in getting a state budget was a result of a test of wills between Quinn and the two veteran Chicago Democratic leaders of the legislature, House Speaker Michael Madigan and Cullerton.

Quinn, who spent a career battling the General Assembly as an outsider reform advocate, staked out a demand for a tax increase and threatened to withhold his signature on a job-creating public works bill he pushed. But he caved on both issues, taking a tax-increase plan off the table Friday and signing the construction bill Monday.

"I hope I learned a few things along the way," said Quinn, who added that his record was good enough to run on next year.

Though Cullerton's Senate Democrats approved an income-tax increase in the spring, Madigan's House Democrats never took it up and rejected a smaller tax increase. Madigan, who also is state Democratic chairman, has perceived that during a recession, an anti-incumbent, anti-tax mood may prevail in next year's elections.

Republicans, who watched seven years of one-party rule of Springfield under Blagojevich and now Quinn, had little impetus to back a tax increase as the GOP sought ways to regain its political relevance with voters.

"It avoids chaos. It avoids a tax increase," said Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont). "My constituents are saying, 'I can't pay more taxes.' "

The budget relies on $3.5 billion in borrowing to help pay state worker pensions. At the same time, the budget acknowledges that more than $3 billion in payments owed to various providers of state services will be carried over into the new budget year.

But the pension borrowing aspect frees up $2.2 billion to supplement social service providers. Another $1.3 billion for government operations also will be available for Quinn to use at his discretion.

Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) criticized the borrowing.

"We're on the brink of a man-made disaster," Franks said. "This is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. ... It's irresponsible and it's reckless."

rlong@tribune.com


Hey check out this phrase

The budget also contains a dozen furlough days for lawmakers.

Think they mean it? They have been quick to ask it of us, but this one might smite me dead out of disbelief