Dr Zoe visits Eric

Summer Campers

Morning scenes

Zoe on the track

When little girls are left alone with their cat

Poor Punda. I found this image on my phone this morning. It may look like Punda has been in a fender bender, but this look was no accident. His morning nap on top of the laundry was interrupted by a bored 8 year old. Much to Punda's terror, the kids have taken a recent liking to his extreme handling. They no longer fear the fangs and grappling hooks, and he is sort of getting used to them picking him up like a frightened sack o' potatoes. They need constant reminders to "be gentle" and "if he is under the bed, let's leave him there. It's his 'no thank you' spot." I've taught them how to give him a 'hug' from behind, by picking him halfway up from under his arms, so that they can nuzzle his neck and rub his tummy without lifting his back legs off the ground. I'm hoping that helps. Sorry, Punda.

Little Big Girl

Afternoon water fights

Laying in wait. It's ambush time.

He rides again

Julian trots on Fanny for the final performance at the end of "Everything Horse Camp". This was Julian's last day of horse camp. He had a great time, and charmed the pants off of all the counselors. I spend a lot of cash buying carrots at the grocery store. On the first day of camp, I received a phone call while shopping at Target. "Hi, is this F....Farleigh? Yes, this is Julie from Redwood Stables- " Uh oh. "Is everything okay?!" "Oh yes! Julian is fine... but he took a little fall off of one of the horses. We have him icing his leg and..." "Did he hit his head?" "Just a bit, but he didn't loose consciousness, and it doesn't seem to bother him. We checked him over carefully, we just wanted you to know before you come to pick him up." Turns out, on Julian's 2nd time riding a horse, ever, he fell off after the horse was spooked, and took off running- with little Julian holding on for dear life. It seems that Mac & Cheese has some psychological issues. And when someone walked by the track holding whip, Mac & Cheese caught sight of it and flipped out, taking off and ignoring Julian's pleas to "HO!" The counselors all commended his amazing bravery for holding on as long as he did before falling towards the ground where a front hoof knocked his helmet from it's seat on his head, and the back hoof grazed that spot on his forhead on the way by. It was a very close call. Luckily Julian, though a bit bruised and shaken, was not injured and after a good spanking Mac & Cheese was sent to his stall and taken out of circulation for the week. The best part? Julian went to bed saying, "I can't wait to wake up and see the horses in the morning". And see them he did, from high in the saddle, no fear. By the end of the week, guess who was his favorite horse? Yup, Mac & Cheese. I guess they have a special bond.

Horsie nuzzles

Julian is having a wonderful week at horse camp. He goes to bed at night saying, "I can't wait to wake up and see the horses tomorrow!"

Bike rides & smackeroons

Old fashioned hay ride

This week the kids and I took a trip down to SLO to stay in our favorite hotel in Pismo on the beach. I found a wonderful farmstand on the road to Avila. They have a great little shop and market and deli. Zoe and I bought matching chicken aprons and some romaine lettuce to feed to the goats. Then we took a hayride through the fields and orchards, driven by tractor. The skies were bright blue, and the farm in it's peak of the season. Fat squashes ripening on the vine, corn taller than me, peaches blushing on the trees. It was really lovely there in the Avila valley.

Peace, love & patriots

Small victories

Julian lost his first tooth today!

Waiting for the fall- out

I finished Julian's tooth pillow tonight. I printed fabric using an xray of his teeth, and used it as the pocket where he will stash his little tooth for the tooth fairy. The pillow was finished just in time I think, as his tooth is very loose!