Thursday, April 16, 2009

For The Love of a Horse

Many horse owners start out owning a horse innocently enough. We end up owning a horse because we fall in love. Whether it is a certain horse you see when you are visiting a friends farm, watching your child taking a lesson, or a horse that has been abandoned by a previous owner that looks at you with beseeching eyes, having not previously owned a horse, you jump into horse ownership with good intentions and both feet.
This is how my family came to own not just one but three horses. My daughter started taking riding lessons when she was not yet 5 years old. I, for one, really thought that she would take her lesson package of ten lessons and be done with horses, develop a new interest and we would not longer have to deal with 1200 pound animals. This was my plan, but not my daughter's. Now, at 13 year of age, my daughter not only continues with her lessons, but her love and understanding of horses has grown.
The first horse that was given to my daughter was an older rescued horse. Because we knew little about horse ownership, we did not know the questions to ask prior to committing ourselves to caring for this horse. We saw a horse in need and a way to obtain the best gift we thought we could give to our daughter for her ninth birthday. This was especially true as my daughter had been riding this mare for sometime prior to our decision to give the mare to her as a gift, and a relationship between child and horse had already been forged. Cinnamon, as my daughter later renamed this mare, tested my young daughter's fortitude. My daughter was bucked off of this mare more times that I care to now remember. However, my daughter loved this cranky mare unconditionally and, each she hit the arena dirt, she would square her shoulders, brush the dirt from the seat of her pants, wipe grim from her face, and with a determined look on her childish face, my daughter would mount her mare again. This type of determined riding went on for about six months. I believe Cinnamon finally figured out that no matter how many times she buck my daughter off, my daughter was not giving up on her, would not beat her, but would just mount up again for another go around the arena. Eventually, a strong bond built between Cinnamon and my daughter and they spent almost three years together learning how to ride and how to be ridden.
One cold morning two days after Christmas in 2007, I woke up in the very early hours of the morning. I was hearing something but I did not know what. There was a rhythmic thumping coming from the barn. My heart sank, I knew with dread in my heart that Cinnamon was in trouble, I just did not know how bad it would turn out to be. Still dressed in my pajamas, I woke the entire household and, putting on my heavy coat against the frost of the early morning hour, I rushed out to the barn. Cinnamon was down! My daughter was with me, her brother, father, and our family friend. I had my daughter put a halter on Cinnamon and my daughter, with cold hands and a scared look on her face, started walking this mare she loved so very much up and down the driveway. It was so dark outside that all I could see of my daughter and her horse was the plume of their breaths caught, occasionally, in the beam of the flash light I had pushed hurriedly into my daughter's hand.
I ran back to the house and to get my cell phone as I knew we needed the vet and we needed them now! I can remember how sick I felt inside and how sad. My daughter was so devoted to this mare, had lavished love on her during the three years despite her imperfect conformation and cantankerous Cinnamon had been. I can remember seeing my daughter grooming Cinnamon and telling her secrets, feeding her treats, and kissing Cinnamon's soft muzzle. Over the three years, Cinnamon never really grew to like me though she tolerated me and nickered when at me to be feed. Cinnamon only showed her softer side to my daughter, letting my daughter lay up on her back during warm summer days, content just to wander quietly in the arena with my daughter's chubby, small arms reaching around her neck, tugging gently, giving love and receiving it in turn.
That awful morning when it was so dark now stars could be seen in the night sky, when it was so cold my daughter's cheeks were red within minutes, was the last morning my daughter had with her first horse. It is a tender memory, bittersweet and filled with both happy smiles and painful tears. Cinnamon was humanely euthanized after we found that she had a severe colic. There was nothing more we could do for Cinnamon. We said out goodbyes and cried for many, many days.
We still have Cinnamon, as strange as this might seem to non-horse owners. Cinnamon's ashes now reside in a closet in our home, 45 pounds of her along with her shoes. I cannot seem to talk my daughter into finding a suitable gravesite on our acerage in which to bury Cinnamon. There is a comfort for my daughter, I believe, in knowing that her first horse is still nearby, not just in memory but in a somewhat tangable form. It is for the love of this horse that many lessons were learned, both for Cinnamon and my daughter.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

WE NEED WORK: Construction, please!






We are calling on all of our family and friends to help us find links to companies working in Afghanistan. We need to get something fairly big, work wise, going or we will not be able to continue paying our bills so, maybe God is leading us and our company to Afghanistan to provide the building talents they need over there that we have an abundance of?

What I am asking for are connections to be made: if you know someone who knows someone.... You know how it goes, that can direct our efforts, we would appreciate the help to make the connections. I have a company portfolio about ready to go out and you all know we are a good reliable company. Please pass this on, OK?

Thanks!

Monday, March 2, 2009

Erin & Theo: A video

Here is a video of Erin & Theo at the show last weekend in Lynden. It was COLD and windy, but Erin held it together and did well.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

OT: FGS School Fund Raiser.

For all of my friends, family, and business contacts, be they local or out of the area:

The school Erin is attending is having a fund raiser:

I really appreciate your willingness to help out here! I am a new FGS
parent and I think the educational opportunities this school can offer
Whatcom County girls are wonderful! Fairhaven Girls' School is an
opportunity not available in Whatcom County prior to this year!


This event is a critical part of our fundraising program for the
school and supports the school's scholarship commitment to an
economically diverse student community (30% of FGS students receive
financial aid to support attendance). Overall, FGS is not just another
private school; it truly is a school community.

Here is our goal: We need to sell 100 tickets by next Thursday! Or raise the same amount in donations!!! This will cover the cost of the event and still create a small fundraiser
for FGS!


Fairhaven Girls School is offering discounted ball tickets if
purchased by 12 noon on February 26. The prices are as follows:


$40 for a Family ticket (families of 5 or less)

$15 per Adult 18 - 64
$10 per child (age 6 - 17)
And a SENIOR SPECIAL of $12 per Senior 65 and over
Children under 5 years old are FREE with a paid adult admission.

Tickets are available online:
http://www.fairhavengirlsschool.org/masquerade.shtml


DONATIONS in lieu of purchasing tickets: In the event people would
like to make a monetary donation in lieu of attending the ball, for
every $10 donated they will be issued a raffle ticket for one of the
door prizes. FGS has been gifted many great items from local
businesses. Donations are tax-deductible and can be made online at:
http://www.fairhavengirlsschool.org/masquerade.shtml.


Note: Tickets are still available for purchase at the door on the day of the event at a increased cost.

Please Note: Donations can be made anytime and you can send a check to me directly (or I can pick one up if you are local) if this is how you would like to make a donation. Simply make the check out to Fairhaven Girls School, include the dollar amount being donated, and BONUS, it is tax deductible.

Please contact me via e-mail (abbottinc@aol.com) or phone (360)815-5054 to let me know how much you would like to donate. I want to post it to the "Success" area on the FGS parent group site and give you credit for your donations.


Thanks one and all, I really, really am grateful.

Lisa


Monday, February 2, 2009

Dog, Cat, Rat........

OK, so my Mom sent this to me and I loved it. It was just too good not to put in my blog.

Follow this link to you tube and it will be worth the watch!



This will put a smile on your face and brighten your day.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Equine Art



Here is yet one more picture that has just been completed. I seem to be in a creative phase!

By the way, the Ferndale Record Journal is coming to take Jon's photo and interview him tonight. Jon just loves to be interviewed. :O)

Wish us luck in getting our next job.....we need it!

Friday, January 23, 2009

Both Pieces of Art of DONE!



So I posted a while back the art I was working on. I have continued working on both pictures and have completed them. I am including pictures of the drawings.

The one of the horse head is mixed media: graphite pencil, photo pencils, colored pencils, pastel pencils and even a bit of paint! Sorry about the flash, I will retake when there is more light.

The second (whole horse) is done in graphite, colored pencils, and pastel pencils and pastel chalk.

I hope you like them. They are both different, I know,. Let me know what you think!

Lisa

Thursday, January 22, 2009

New Web Page with EASY Links

I have created a new web page that you can subscribe to if you want. This page has links to all of our businesses and should be easy to subscribe to. You can then just click on the link of choice to see what you want, when you want.

I hope this makes it easier!

Lisa

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Really, Now a link to the MAGIC video

For everyone who has been waiting to watch Magic under saddle, I narrated one copy of the video but that copy is STILL uploading, so I managed to get this one, without narration, uploaded on to you tube. Turn your volume off unless you want to hear a bunch of useless chatter between Nichole & I. :O)

Follow this link and, though it it smaller that the blog video, you can still see the amazing stuff Magic is beginning to do.

Leave me a few comments or hit the quick response under the blog entry. It will be fun for me to read! You can also subscribe to the blog. Many times there are interesting and useful links off to the right that are blog related, that maybe one could use.

I am going to see if I can find other horse related blogs, too.

All for now & enjoy this first video, AT LAST, REALLY! :O)

Friday, January 16, 2009

Just a Taste of Magic Under Saddle

So, while the longer video is uploading (and taking FOREVER) I thought I would try to post the edited shorter one. This has some half passing and some spins.

I hope that it uploads faster!


OFF TOPIC AGAIN: A link to flood photos

So, for all of you who are interested, the Bellingham Herald published some photos from the recent flooding. If you have not seen them, then take a look. WOW!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

OFF TOPIC But Great News :O)



OK, so I admit that what I am about to post if off topic, but I think it is great news that you all will appreciate hearing so, here goes:



Last night at the Building Industry Association of Whatcom County's annual board member installation dinner, Jon Abbott owner of Abbott Construction was announced as Remodeler of the Year. Abbott Construction is located in Ferndale and has been in business for over 20 years. Jon Abbott is a native of Ferndale.
Abbott Construction Company, Inc. became members of the Master Remodelers group in 1996. Since becoming a member, Jon Abbott has participated not only as a member of the Master Remodelers group, but has also participated in the Home Show and Tour of Homes. In addition, Jon Abbott and Abbott Construction recently completed the installation of finish trim in the new BIAWC building located at 1650 Baker Creek Place, Bellingham, WA.
As a general contractor, Jon Abbott and Abbott Construction has constructed many homes in the Whatcom County area. Since 1996, Jon Abbott and Abbott Construction Company, Inc. has turned their attention to the needs of residential customers looking to remodel, construct additions, complete repairs, and commercial customers needing quality tenant improvements.
Jon Abbott and Abbott Construction can be reached at (360) 380-4668, (360)815-5051. To visit our website: http://www.cabtrailers.com/abbott.html.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

My Newest Artwork





OK, so I am drawing again... Here are some pics of my most recent attempts. Both are almost finished. I will post again when they are complete.

Thanks for looking!

Lisa

Friday, January 9, 2009

A Request From Piper's Previous Care Taker

OK, so I think I told many of you that I got Piper from a private barn where her young owner had left her and really could not afford to pay her board. Well, the person, (Lisa is her name, too) who took good care of Piper even though she did not own her has a young project mare for sale.

I told Lisa I would post this mare on my blog to try and help her sell her. Pretty thing and Erin is already begging! :O) But, we now have Piper, Allie, and Magic so............

Take a look at this young mare and call Lisa if you are interested. As e-mailed to me tonight:


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Hi Lisa

Thanks again for helping me!!!!!

Here are some pictures of Haylie my 3yr old breading stock mare. She is 15.3 hands tall and she is by All Time Fancy (the top Hunter Under Saddle stallion on the paint circuit right now) and out of an Artfull Investment mare ( who is very well know in the quarter horse world). This mare has about 30 days on her. She has been worked with a lot on the ground, lounging and ground driving. She has been ridden a hand full of times walking and jogging in November before all of the bad weather. This mare is a world quality mover english and western. She has the big flat trot and the deep slow hock everyone is looking for, and she can jog also. I am only selling her because I have bought a house and I dont have a barn at my new house. I will let her go for 2000 if someone will take her now, she is worth a lot more and if I have to keep her I will be asking more in the future. If anyone is interested I have a video of her free lounging and on the lounge line saddled, or you can come and see her in person. Please give me a call Lisa Stoner 815-2040
2 Attached Images

So, You wanna live in Whatcom County? :O) (Part 2) Video

So, I got up this morning feeling all my aches and pains from being so out of shape and then pushing myself to fill, tie, and pass sand bags during the Ferndale Flood of 2009.

Here is part 2 of So, you wanna live in Whatcom County??? :O)

I have managed to get the "boater" on this one and the flooding of the office. For all of my concerned family and friends: the inside of the office remained dry even though the waters did flood the surrounding trailer lot!!!!

For all my horse loving friends: Yes! We managed to rescue the remaining Timothy hay so our horses will have enough to eat until we harvest again. Hopefully, we will find some nice local hay for our horses in the Spring and will not endanger any remaining hay by further flood waters.

For all of you that helped: Thank you, thank you, thank you. And, thank you, Pat, for rounding up your friends to help us make it through Ferndale's rising flood waters.

Carroll: I owe you a pair of shoes and your daughter some pain killers for helping both with the trailers and the sandbagging! :O)

Michelle: we started by trying to help you and the Boy Scouts bag sand, but you ended up helping us sandbag...

I have more Ferndale Flood video and will work on uploading it later. But for now, the flood waters are receding and things are slowly getting back to normal at our office and around Ferndale.

If you need help with repairs or remodels to your home, office, or business space please let us know. Here is a link to our website

Also: we are long time members of the Whatcom County Building Industry. To visit their website click here.

Or call us directly at: 360-815-5051 or 360-815-5053.

If you need a trailer to move items with or need a trailer to store items in while you are completing repairs or remodels, we can help you here also. Just follow this link to our trailer site or, again, call us directly. We look forward to hearing from you as we all work together.....

Do not forget, we have horses and can provide you with the horse trailer of your dreams....

Enjoy the video!



Thursday, January 8, 2009

So, You wanna live in Whatcom County? (Part 1) Video

OK, here is part one. Today, as many of you have heard or maybe saw, we had some flooding in Ferndale, WA. I say some flooding, but we actually had the most flooding that I can ever remember.

So, this is part one and shows Axton Road on the way into Ferndale. You will also see cars getting flooded in the park and ride behind our office and in the McDonald's parking lot. My friend's (Carroll) husband's truck was parked in the McDonald's parking lot (he car pools to work at Boeing) so she left work early and we met her to help move the truck (she needed an extra driver)....

Long story short: we were headed into Ferndale to help fill sand bags and ended up needing help as our office had become lake side property. But, that will be part 2 and saved for tomorrow's blog as hours of sand bagging and moving trailers has left me pretty drained. It's all I can do to upload this tonight.

Part 1 shows some of the trip in to Ferndale to attempt to fill sand bags to help others...

And, yes Piper and Allie, our lovely mares, kept warm and dry, happy and well fed, while we got wet, tired, hungry, thristy....and sore!

Ahhh, what a wonderful winter!


Slogging It



A nest far above 10 Mile Creek flood waters, Ferndale, WA

Over looking our creek shelf next to the field. High waters!





And. a creek runs through it...... an old barn that sits on the side of Northwest Rd. on the way into Bellingham, WA, now sits in the middle of creek water.


Overlooking Paradise Road by McKay's Farm and on the way to Axton Rd. in Ferndale, WA




From a 4 rail fence above water, to a barely 2 rail fence under water.........







For the last couple of days we have had alot of rain. For all of you who live here, or even near here, you know it has been the "duck your head and run for cover" kind of weather. With snow melt off as well as rain... well, you get, flooding!

I have included pictures of Ten Mile Creek, now looking more like a river, that is next to our horse fields.


Speaking of horses, I kept Piper and Allie in the stall yesterday as the rain was coming down in buckets. Today they are out slogging through the mud.

Piper got her feet done yesterday by Gary Flonas of Fit and Flat Ferrier Service. What a nicely behaved little mare.

I hope I can haul her out on Saturday and get video of her under saddle to post.

Enjoy our flood pics.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

In Love... With Piper (A Good Read For Those Who are, Sometimes, Afraid)

OK, so anyone who knows me knows that I have some fear of horses. But, I LOVE Piper already! Tonight, and this really is sweet, I took Piper out of her stall without her halter and lead rope. Really! I was standing in the aisle way of our barn and I opened Piper's stall door and just called her name. Piper came to me better than my little dog does. When I said (in my ignorance) "stop", Piper stopped! Then I said "stand" and Piper stood. I took out Piper's grooming tools and groomed her. When Ted opened Allie's stall door and Piper looked like (and started to) move towards Allie's stall, I said "no" and she stopped. Then, I continued to groom her. Piper was so good about this and I was not afraid of standing next to her even though she wore no halter. When Ted again opened Allie's stall door then started messing around in the aisle way, I took Piper by her neck with my arms and turned her towards her stall. I told her "stall" and she walked in!!!!

I followed Piper, finished brushing her mane, then just stood in her stall, hugging her neck, both giving and receiving love. Ahhhh............. to be loved by a horse, a sweet horse..........

Sunday, January 4, 2009

My Wine Store

OK, so I realize that maybe I did not explain my "wine" store to many of you. A couple of years ago when Abbott Construction had a "good"year in business, I purchased wine (both non-alcoholic, and that with alcohol) for our customers, both past and present. Since then, the company I purchased from has expanded their offerings to include bottled water among other offerings.

I have updated the labels available to choose from. With Valentine's day coming and special dinners being planned, take the time to browse these labels, click on your favorite label, pick your special one's favorite beverage, order it up, and plan your dinner celebration. Shop from home and get it delivered to your door!

Whether you are a horse enthusiast, a gardener, or just love to watch the sun set with a friend and a good bottle of wine, you are sure to find a label to express the moment, and the right beverage for the occasion.

Some of the labels are labels that Signature Wines had as their stock labels, but many are my own photographs. If you have questions as to which are mine, just e-mail and ask...

So follow THIS link to the wine store and have fun!!!

NOTE: Wine Store will be OPENED on Tuesday. I made changes to the store front that take time to update so please check back. Thank you!!

Happy New Year & Happy Shopping!

Lisa

Piper & New "Toys"






So, we played beauty parlor with Piper the other day. Erin, Michelle, & I spent almost three hours brushing Piper, washing down her back legs with medicated shampoo to fight the fungus she has on her rear legs, treating her with leave on products for her dander. Piper looks better! And, you could not have asked for a more relaxed and willing little mare... Gosh, Piper is teaching me to relax around horses. Piper gets a little skittish when approached too fast, but she will stand for hours while being groomed.

We all went for a walk, even Allie and Erin, once we finished grooming for the day and Piper showed us that she is willing to trot off on command and that she has a great stop on the ground. We were not able to haul out to BB Stables as snow fell here again, but Piper took the saddle without problem, though the western saddle she came with just does not fit her correctly. It is a little long for her and seems to pinch on the shoulder. Today, Sunday, I would like to try an English saddle for fit. Oh, and if anyone is looking for a nice Circle Y saddle with a size 16 seat, let me know.... We have one to sell so we can purchase a saddle that will fit Piper. This saddle has SILVER on it and cleans up nicely.

Back to Piper: today's pics show Piper in a new bridle that I picked up on sale at Del's yesterday. Erin donated her bit and we had no trouble with Piper taking the bit.... She is such a willing little horse! But, she did NOT, NOT like her wormer! Erin stuck with, was able to get Piper to take it, but was covered in wormer when done.

And, please do not forget to visit my wine store!!!

Friday, January 2, 2009

Snow Days






Just for fun, I wanted to post some snow days pics with Allie & Piper. We are scheduled to haul Allie & Piper into BB Stables on Saturday to have Kris look at Piper and for Erin's lesson on Allie. I will keep you posted........