A year at a glance...
2007

December 2007

Well, we have gone from a beautiful fall season to an ice storm.  The poor horses are stuck in their stalls because our ground is ice covered.  Since they can't go out, they are getting pampered with brushing and loving...so I think they will be okay!

WD To A Sheik left for his new home in Texas today.  It was sad to see the big guy go, but I know he is in good hands.  His new home will be with Encores Secret at Secret Meadows Ranch!  Brooke said that when they left Texas yesterday, it was 80 degrees!  WD won' t have any problems losing his hair coat down there!

I also sold DL Just Precision to a wonderful couple.  He was one of those I held on to because he had to go to a show home that would pamper him.  He is such a loving horse that the more attention he gets the more he likes it.  Not a mean bone in that colt's body!

I wanted to pick up Detailed by Rockafella this week, but the weather isn't cooperating.  Kara at Double D Quarter Horses is such a sweetheart.  I can't wait to get "Pebbles" home.  She is just so awesome!

Awaiting Christmas with much excitement.  I think as I grow older, the child in me still holds on to that magical dream.  On Christmas Eve, I sometimes still hear bells in the air!

Had a wonderful whirl-wind trip to Florida!  So strange to see all green after looking at all brown!  It is so wonderful to see my family there...I wish we were closer.  Went to a great dog shop called the Pampered Pup in West Palm Beach.  I bought the cutest clothes for Martini!  Enjoying my second childhood with this girl...so much fun dressing her up!

Pebbles finally arrived!  Kara and Leslie brought her down!  Holy cow, this girl has grown since I saw her.  She is going to be a hard mare to beat this summer.  Hoping to get Kent Allen to fit on her for the AQHA and IBHA world shows. 


Ralph C. Barding,
1911 - 2007.

My mother called this morning from Florida, my 96 year old grandfather passed away Christmas morning.  It is sad, but I lost both my grandparents this year.  How lucky I was to have them for 50 years!  I got to see him when we went to Florida earlier this month so I feel very fortunate about that!  He was quite the business man in his younger days.  Pampa accomplished so much in his long life.  Starting with nothing and making a name for himself in the corporate world.  How proud all of us were of him!

We love you Pampa!

On a brighter note, Christmas is over and the house is quiet.  Here is a picture of Martini in her new Christmas dress.  She is just a joy and I love dressing her up (I know, my second childhood!)  She is a good sport about it, just looks at me with loving eyes and takes it all in!

This will probably be my last entry this year.  I want to wish all my friends, old and new a wonderful New Year...may you have love, good health and much happiness in 2008!

November 2007

It's been a slow, quiet month!  Have enjoyed watching the trees turn wonderful colors.  Our weather hasn't been too bad, so everyone is still enjoying the outdoors!

I sold WD To A Sheik to my good friend, Brooke Smith.  She also purchased Encores Secret from me.  I'm excited that she is going to show him under saddle.  That boy has the softest stride I have ever seen in a horse as large as he is.  How wonderful for him, no more cold weather!   Lucky horse...
 

I just purchased the most wonderful yearling filly from Kara and Leslie Johnston of Double D Quarter Horses!  Her name is Detailed by Rockafella.  She is a dun, but so dark, she looks like a bay!  I'm excited about showing her next year.  I've always showed paints, so this will be a new venture for me.  We are also going to start fitting on Jamaican Rose.  She has had time to grow and mature and is absolutely beautiful!  My daughter and I will have a good time competing with each other!

DC Precision's sire is now registered AQHA!  I am waiting for the DNA sample packet to get here from AQHA, so I can send in DC's hair sample so he can be parent verified.  That's all that's left!  He will have his AQHA papers by breeding season.  Thank you to everyone who has been so patient with this.  It has taken almost 3 years, but will be well worth it!!!! 


 

October 2007

My hubby and I went to Nashville, TN to visit our oldest son Josh.  We had a great time!  He took us to a climbing place called the OBED.  This time of year was beautiful there.  Our son is a rock climber and a very impressive one at that! The first picture is where everyone was sitting when they weren't climbing.  The second picture shows Josh getting to the ledge that he has to work around.  The next pictures show the progression he has made.  All his weight is hanging from his fingers as he scales the ridge to get on vertical rock again.

The last picture is of me and "Martini."  She had a long day and took a much needed nap on the big rock.  Me...well, I grabbed a good book and took advantage of the beautiful fall day!

All AQHA papers for DC Precision and his sire have been submitted to AQHA.   Hopefully, by breeding season, our stallion will be double registered, APHA/AQHA!  It's been a long haul, but well worth it.

Our futurities are over and what a great fall it was!  Look on our accomplishments page to see all the winnings of the DC babies!  Thank you to all the owners for your hard work and great results.  How proud it made me to see the weanlings win, yearlings win and 2 year old win!!!  DC is not only producing superior offspring, but offspring that continues to grow and continues to win.

September 2007

It's hard to believe that summer is closing.  I hate to see the beautiful warm weather leaving, but am looking forward to no more flies!

Our futurities are going great!  I am so proud of the winning foal crop of DC!  What a producer he has proven himself to be!  I am working on DC Obviously A Titan's quarter papers now and should have them back to  AQHA in a week or so.  I am so excited to be getting his papers....finally!

We sold two horses, I love finding them new show homes, but it is sad to see them go.  I'm lucky enough to have their new families keep me up to date on them and send pictures.  It makes them leaving a little easier.

Mattie and Rika, our two female Siberian Huskies, both had their litters on the same day!  My gosh, surprised me.  I knew they were close, but the same day!  We have 14 gorgeous pups here.  This is the best part of breeding, always having small ones to love on.  You can see their pictures on the husky page.  They still look a little like moles, but are growing fast!

Went down to Florida last weekend and got to meet Phil and Sue at CS Acres.  What a beautiful place they have...and to top it off, they are just the nicest people!  I enjoyed seeing their marvelous horses and their facility.
 

Martini is now 2 pounds and about the funniest dog I have ever had.  She got herself caught in an empty Kleenex box and was walking around with it on her head.  She doesn't give our older Maltese a chance to relax.  What a joy she is!!!

Well, you probably noticed I'm experimenting again with my web page.  I love to change and thought I would do this page different!

August 2007

We have little Martini home and what a joy she is!  So much personality in one pound!!! 

Getting babies ready for the futurities.  Sold DL Cool Precision to the Harman's.  What wonderful people!  Iris will be going to a great show home!  The best part is, she is going to be in the same state, so I will be able to watch her win!!!  The babies continue to grow and become more beautiful!  This is my favorite part of owning horses....watching them grow and mature. 

We're getting closer to DC's quarter papers.  AQHA has registered Super Miss Titan and I'm waiting to send in DC's sire for his papers.  It's been a long road, but hopefully, by the end of summer, we will have his AQHA papers! 

We had a great futurity in Indiana this weekend.  DL Cool Precision got a reserve championship in open late fillies and in the SSA!!!  Clint Fullerton was handling her and did a terrific job!  Its Okay To Look, won a championship in the IBOS and Non-Pro early fillies and took the reserve championship in the open class!  Noble Precision won a third placing in the early weanling colts in the open and non-pro!  DC was the honor roll sire last year at the Indiana futurity and from the wins this year...I think will also be the honor roll sire!

Our next futurity is in Wisconsin.  Check our accomplishments page to see how we did!!  DC's babies were all top winners!

July 2007

Back from the APHA World Show and did we have a wonderful time!!!  Got to visit with old friends I don't get to see a lot and catch up!  Mark, my sweet hubby, went with me this year.  Usually my daughter goes.  We ate at some wonderful places.  You just can't get fresh fish in Illinois like you can in Texas!  Wow!!!

DC 'S BABIES WON 2 WORLD TITLES, 1 RESERVE WORLD TITLE, 3 TOP FIVE TITLES AND 3 TOP TEN TITLES!!!  As you can imagine, I was elated and on cloud nine.  To see his babies grow into such massive adult horses is just amazing!  I was proud to be "grandma" to these kids!!  It was especially exciting to see DL Star Precision.  I raised and fit on him myself last year and he took a Reserve World Title.  Bruce and Bev Baker purchased him from Tim Hancz and Bruce showed him in amateur.  I couldn't believe how big "Martin" has gotten.  He is just breath taking!  He took a Reserve in amateur and won the Open class with Tim Finkenbinder at the shank!

I was also proud of the two little fillies I took down there.  Probably the youngest ones there, but so elegant!  I got 2 top five placings with them!  If they would have been January babies, they would have been huge!  Next year I will have early babies!  Joey, alias Barlnks Preicision, was showed by Hannah Walls in a tough youth class and she won a 4th place!  Donna sold Joey to Allyson Rotan and Allyson went on to get a reserve with him in amateur!  They just loved him and are excited to show him! 

I could write forever about DC's babies, but I won't!  We brought DC home yesterday from Griffey Equine Center.  Don and Melanie did such a good job with him this year.  I think he grew since I last saw him.  He's out playing in the pasture as I write and to see him run and play is a truly amazing sight.  For such mass, he moves so gracefully!

Hopefully, Martini will be coming home this next week if the weather stays cooler.  She is flying in from Washington!  My daughter can't wait to see the little puppy!  She is already looking for dog clothes for her!  LOL!!!

June 2007

Hot weather has hit with full power.  In early spring, we had so much rain, we didn't know what to do and now we are just begging for rain.

I'm working on getting the two babies ready for the world show.  They have been such sweethearts and so easy going.  It's a joy to work with them!  I gave them both their first trailer ride last week and you would think they have done it forever. 

My favorite part of a horse is their rear ends.  Luckily DC Precision passes his large behind on to his babies.  The first rear end is DL Precisely Lolly, our solid filly we are taking to the world.  The second picture is of DL Stinging Precision, the colored filly that is also going to the world.

I am also impressed with how DL Just Precision is maturing.  It seemed like one day, he was a lanky yearling and now is growing into such a mature 2 year old. He is standing 16 hands!

I would love to see him go to a 14 year old girl to show.  He loves attention and has a heart of gold!  Here is a picture I took when we got home from our last show.  I let him out to run and stretch after the long trailer ride!

I'm looking forward to the World Show in Ft. Worth the end of June.  DC will have quite a few of his get showing.  I'm really excited to see DL Star Precision, the weanling I took last year who won a reserve world championship!  Tim and Jodi Finkenbinder have bee fitting on him and from the pictures I see, he is amazing!  Tim Hancz, his new owner, will be showing him in Amateur and Tim Finkenbinder will be showing him in Open.  Absolute Precision will be shown in 2 year old stallions in Open with Ray Barton and Amateur with Allyson Rotan.  Rapped with Precision will be shown in Open 2 year old stallions with Garrett Jacobs in open and Christel Worderski in Amateur.  The Worderski's will also be showing a weanling stallion, DL Beyond Precision.  Donna Wall's 3 year old gelding Barlnks Precision will be shown by her daughter, Hannah in Youth geldings.  This is why I am so excited.  I feel like  parent watching her young succeed!

After the world, we have the futurities to show, and also Congress.  Dusty and Stephanie Feller, my good friends are taking their weanling solid filly to Congress.  This filly will be double registered when DC gets his quarter papers.  How exciting it will be to see this "paint" filly win over quarter horses!  I just can't wait!!!  Dusty is planning on taking her to Quarter Congress!

We have a little less than a week to drive down to Texas for our World Show.  I just can't wait!  I will be coming home without Zoey, DL Stinging Precision.  A wonderful couple for LA drove up last Friday and fell in love with her and bought her!  They will give her a wonderful home and promote her!  She is going to be a great show filly and I'm looking forward to watching her win with her new owners!

I want to share with you the newest member of our family, "Martini on the Rocks."  She is a toy Maltese that we bought from Desert Hobby Ranch in Washington.  Shasta mailed me pictures of her and it was love at first sight!  She is only 6 weeks old in this picture, but will get to fly home in 2 weeks!  Thank you Shasta for allowing us to buy your sweet little girl!

May, 2007

Isn't this weather wonderful!  The trees are blooming and the flowers are popping their heads out of the ground!  My son, Matt, graduated from college on the 5th and now gearing up for graduate school.  He rented an apartment, so we went shopping!  I had so much fun, that guy has good taste!

We don't have any shows this month since we had two last month.  Gives us a breather to get things done around home.  The babies are growing like weeds.  It is so exciting to see them blossom and grow.  Watch my baby page, I keep updating pictures! We've had some incredible babies and they are growing like weeds! 

Traveled down to Jensen Beach and Stuart Florida to visit my wonderful family  and attend my nephew's high school graduation.  My sister's friend, Jon, took us on his boat and we stayed the day on the san bars.  What a wonderful, relaxing place to be.  The only downfall, was the top of my feet got sunburned and I had to wear house slippers on the plane home.  How embarrassing!  Florida is the most beautiful place and the sight and smell of the ocean is just the most beautiful think I have ever seen!

April, 2007

My favorite month...my birthday month!  Diamonds are a girls best friend...after her horses!  Getting tuned up for our first show this month.  One more mare to foal the end of April.  Been busy collecting WD To A Sheik and Jamaican Hottie.  No rest for the weary...but what a way to go!

I want to wish everyone a Blessed Easter and always be thankful for your family and friends!

I think this month has been the busiest yet.  Breeding has kept me busy and show season has started.  We have had two shows and they have been wonderful!  My daughter, Erin, is riding more this year and it is such a joy to watch her.  The pride I feel when she is in the saddle!

All our babies have been born now!  Coolie, our AQHA mare, had her first baby.  She was born on April 15, so we named her Iris...(IRS) All that color out of a quarter mare!  When DC gets his quarter papers this summer, she will be double registered.

March, 2007

I keep hoping for warmer weather and sometimes we have a day where I can think that spring is coming!

We were blessed with another beautiful filly out of our other stallion, WD To A Sheik and our 16-1 chestnut quarter mare, Ellie!  This was Ellie's first baby and she is such a good mamma.  I think this baby will be as tall as mom!

Been working Duke (DL Just Precision), getting ready for our first show in April!  He is looking so good and stands 16 H in the rear end as a two year old!!  The one thing I love about this colt is his heart.  He is the sweetest horse I have ever had!!  It is pure joy to work with him!

Starting to enjoy the warmer weather, our grass is starting to turn green and the trees are budding!

February, 2007

Life seems to be speeding up!  Breeding season is here and the babies are coming! Misty (BBF OneAwesomeBeauty) gave us an absolutely gorgeous filly on February 10.  She has to be one of the most beautiful fillies I have ever seen!
This little girl was born one week after I lost my grandmother, so I saw fit to give this sweet little girl the nickname we called my grandmother.  Everyone, meet "Lolly!"  There is something special about her...such a soft look in her eye and the kindest heart.  She would rather follow me around than mom, but mom knows she is safe and lets her follow me!   DC, you did good!

I am now spending my nights and days watching for Sting (Shesa Sting) and Lexie (A Starr Attraction to give birth.  Lexie is our mare that had the APHA Reserve World Champion last year.  I'm expecting big things out of the baby this year!

Oh my gosh...12 inches of snow overnight.  The drifts are up to my waist and we are expecting more!  It is so beautiful!  Here are some pictures I took from our front porch.  Thought the change in weather would push my two mares into labor...but no, they are waiting!


A Starr Attraction (Lexie) gave birth to a beautiful colt on Feb.16 at 1:30 a.m.  This colt is massive!  We decided to give him the barn name of "Hurley," after the big guy on the show, LOST.  Hurley came out with lots of color and lots of body!  He is such a cutie!  Sting is next and as now, is late!  Baking on the color??

I think our weather may be getting better!  Yipeee!!!  The snow is melting, I can see the grass again.  Come spring, the babies want to play in the warm sun!


We were blessed with a huge filly out of DC and Shesa Sting on Feb. 26!  She is so exquisite!

 February was a great month...even if we had way too much snow!

 

January, 2007

Christmas is over, the tree is put away, the New Year has been toasted in and life is good!  Matt played at "Just One More" on New Years.  It is always a delight to watch and listen to him.

Erin, our daughter enjoys taking pictures of her horse, LB.  Below is a picture she took of him, and I must say, it captures LB's kind heart!
 

It's now time to gear up for foaling and breeding season.  I am anxiously awaiting Fanny (Just Obviouslycool) to give birth on January 20th!  She is huge and so uncomfortable.  The horses will be birthing one right after another.  It is such an exciting time of the year.  Holding those sweet, innocent foals in my arms!

Watching the foaling monitors...the mares are getting closer.  I feel so bad for Fanny.  She is huge!  She's to the point now that laying down is a chore.

Fanny gave birth to a huge, beautiful colt on January 20th! Bless her heart, she didn't wait until the middle of the night to have him! This is our first baby here and what a delight he is! 

On January, 28th, my grandmother, Lolly (age 95) passed away.  What a woman she was! She got her name by singing to us as babies.  She didn't know the words to the songs, so she would just sing, "La, La, La...."  We called her LaLa, which eventually turned into "Lolly."

My two sisters and I had a standing sleep-over date ever Friday night growing up.  We could choose where we wanted to eat, McDonalds, Dairy Queen, Sandy's or Burger King.  "Back in the olden days," it was a treat to go out and eat!  After we had our dinner, she gave each of us $2.00 to save or spend.  $2.00 was a fortune to us, and we usually found something.  Who wanted to save it when you could get something and play with it that night!  We would then head back to her house where we would drink 7-up and eat M & M's while watching our television programs.  This may bring back memories to some of you, "Love American Style," "The Partridge Family," and "The Brady Bunch."  We would also play card games.  Our favorite was "Old Maid."  Poor Lolly, we would bend the Old Maid card back so we would know which one it was, but she would lovingly take it so we would win, then act surprised!

Picture of Lolly and our three children, 1987.

When it was time for bed, she would tell us Bible stories with such flair that it would make us feel like we were there.  Lolly taught Sunday School for 55 years, so she knew all the stories and how to tell them.  Sometimes she fell asleep telling her stories and we would have to shake her and wake her up to finish.

I have so many wonderful memories of her.  I could probably write a book.  Aren't grandmothers magical?  I get tears in my eyes writing this.  Not many people are 49 years old and still have their grandmother!  I love you Lolly....and will miss you deeply....

Lillian Margaret Owen Brilley
"Lolly"
Born August 14, 1911

Picture of Lolly at her 95th Birthday Party!

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