The race meet in Ohio was over. Time to take the horses home to their owners for a rest and regroup for the following spring. We headed to Texas via Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. We needed a place to stay while we wintered in Texas and looked for fresh stock. Our old neighbors in Texas had an empty mobile home as they had built a new house. The mobile home had been advertised for sale for two years with no takers, so they offered to let us stay there. We would have to get rid of the skunk that had taken up residence under the trailer, and there had been roaches and mice as well. Old fashioned moth balls moved the skunk out and elbow grease took care of the rest.
Oh well, gotta live somewhere and Christmas was only a week away. The boys were hoping for an Atari under the tree. I helped hubby with horses in the morning, then headed to the mobile home to clean and disinfect. On Saturday I told my honey and the boys that we could move in, and bought a small artificial tree and a few decorations. We put the tree up before we unpacked much of anything. Christmas was now only 5 days away.
On Monday, the neighbor came home from work and immediately knocked on the door. She had some news - they had a buyer for the mobile home, and he would be coming after it on Dec. 26 - we had to move and quickly.
We checked the newspaper for rentals, but everyone wanted a one year lease, and we knew we wouldn't be in the area for more than 2 months. My husband's father had a small rent house he was remodeling and told us we could move in there. The toilet had a crack in it, the floors were plywood, and there were no kitchen appliances, but it was a roof. There was one small bedroom, a small kitchen, a living room, but there was room for our little tree. Once again, I put that tree up before anything else got done. Those boys were going to have a Christmas tree!!
We survived with an ice chest, a hot plate, and a little bottled gas camping stove. We had a tiny TV that an owner had given to us, so when Santa left one gift under the tree - the Atari - the boys were delighted.
When we ordered a pizza delivery, the cracked potty sitting on the front deck made it very easy to find the right address!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Thanksgiving the Hard Way
Trying to make a living on the race track with horses of questionable ability and two small boys makes you resourceful. We had purchased a used mobile home and moved it to the mobile home lot right next to the training track to save money. We could walk to work and the boys would always be close. We had water and electric, but no propane for the stove, and no money to buy an electric range. Along came Thanksgiving.
One of the jockeys liked to hunt and gave us a wild turkey, feathers and all. Fortunately, my dad was a hunter and had also been a meat cutter so I had watched him dress game many many times. The boys helped me dunk, pluck, and dress the turkey. We used it as an anatomy lesson. Then there was the rest of the meal. Potatoes, cranberries, dressing, and gravy, and, of course, a fruit salad and pumpkin pie with whipped topping were a must. I had a microwave, a crock pot, and a hot plate.
I cut up the turkey into pieces and cooked the legs, wings, and back in the crock pot as they fit, and then drained the stock and refrigerated the already cooked parts. Took the breast and stuffed it and put it in the crock pot. This was the hot part of the turkey meal that day. The potatoes were cooked on the hot plate, as was the gravy. The pie was a microwave miracle - you would be surprised what you can do with a microwave.
It probably took three times longer to fix the turkey, etc. by doing it on the installment method, but the family was happy and full, and to this date, the boys still enjoy Thanksgiving and the memories we all share.
One of the jockeys liked to hunt and gave us a wild turkey, feathers and all. Fortunately, my dad was a hunter and had also been a meat cutter so I had watched him dress game many many times. The boys helped me dunk, pluck, and dress the turkey. We used it as an anatomy lesson. Then there was the rest of the meal. Potatoes, cranberries, dressing, and gravy, and, of course, a fruit salad and pumpkin pie with whipped topping were a must. I had a microwave, a crock pot, and a hot plate.
I cut up the turkey into pieces and cooked the legs, wings, and back in the crock pot as they fit, and then drained the stock and refrigerated the already cooked parts. Took the breast and stuffed it and put it in the crock pot. This was the hot part of the turkey meal that day. The potatoes were cooked on the hot plate, as was the gravy. The pie was a microwave miracle - you would be surprised what you can do with a microwave.
It probably took three times longer to fix the turkey, etc. by doing it on the installment method, but the family was happy and full, and to this date, the boys still enjoy Thanksgiving and the memories we all share.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Food Pantry
We were at a racetrack that went bankrupt during the meet. Everyone had seven days to pack up and move out, and since all the money in the horsemen's accounts was frozen, there was no traveling money available. We sold a horse and left caravan style with two other families. There was another trainer, his wife and two boys, and also a trainer, his significant other, and one horse, and two sheep.
We got to our new temporary home with no food and no money, so we decided to pack up the kids and go to the local food pantry. They allowed $9 worth of food for each family member, and we could go back one more time after the initial visit. The woman who was the "significant other" whispered to us that she sure would like to have $36 worth of food like our family was getting, but she would have to give them names of children. We told her to give them the names of her sheep. She said she couldn't do that, and when we asked why not, she told us "because their names are Sheba and Twat Twat". While trying to keep a straight face, we suggested a couple of more common and acceptable names, and we all got our $36 worth of groceries.
We traded our name brand mustard for their pre-sweetened cereal and everyone threw in something so we could share a community meal. Our boys still smile at that memory, and I must confess I cannot look at that particular kind of cereal at the grocery store without thinking about that day!
We got to our new temporary home with no food and no money, so we decided to pack up the kids and go to the local food pantry. They allowed $9 worth of food for each family member, and we could go back one more time after the initial visit. The woman who was the "significant other" whispered to us that she sure would like to have $36 worth of food like our family was getting, but she would have to give them names of children. We told her to give them the names of her sheep. She said she couldn't do that, and when we asked why not, she told us "because their names are Sheba and Twat Twat". While trying to keep a straight face, we suggested a couple of more common and acceptable names, and we all got our $36 worth of groceries.
We traded our name brand mustard for their pre-sweetened cereal and everyone threw in something so we could share a community meal. Our boys still smile at that memory, and I must confess I cannot look at that particular kind of cereal at the grocery store without thinking about that day!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Barn Blind
How to you tell an owner that his prize race horse can't run a stumbling jump? Believe me, it ain't easy!!
A guy brought us a horse that was definitely race bred, and had been two four trainers already with no positive results. Positive results meaning that no money was being made when the horse ran. So, my husband gave it his best shot, and it soon became obvious that when this animal was conceived, in spite of his pedigree, his genetic racing ability got left out.
The man refused to believe it could be true. We tried repeatedly to send the horse home and save him money, but he stubbornly said to keep trying. Well, since I always did the stall cleaning, feeding, etc. - I am of the opinion that it doesn't take any more time, effort, and feed to take care of a horse that can run than one that cannot. So, we set up a little match race between his horse and our pony horse, Custer, age 23, with me riding Custer in a stock saddle.
That was the only time I ever won a horse race with me as the "jockey". He finally agreed and took the horse - but not home - to another trainer to try one more time. He said if that didn't work he was going to stand him at stud. Makes you wonder why he would want to breed more of the same, but it was his horse, his call.
A guy brought us a horse that was definitely race bred, and had been two four trainers already with no positive results. Positive results meaning that no money was being made when the horse ran. So, my husband gave it his best shot, and it soon became obvious that when this animal was conceived, in spite of his pedigree, his genetic racing ability got left out.
The man refused to believe it could be true. We tried repeatedly to send the horse home and save him money, but he stubbornly said to keep trying. Well, since I always did the stall cleaning, feeding, etc. - I am of the opinion that it doesn't take any more time, effort, and feed to take care of a horse that can run than one that cannot. So, we set up a little match race between his horse and our pony horse, Custer, age 23, with me riding Custer in a stock saddle.
That was the only time I ever won a horse race with me as the "jockey". He finally agreed and took the horse - but not home - to another trainer to try one more time. He said if that didn't work he was going to stand him at stud. Makes you wonder why he would want to breed more of the same, but it was his horse, his call.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Next Investment
We were contacted by a gentleman who wanted to sell us some running bred quarter horses, so we loaded the boys up in the old beater and headed out to check out the stock. Not only did this guy have horses to sell - he had a baby pygmy goat. Those two boys zeroed in on the little guy and the next thing we knew they were asking our host how much money he had to have for the goat. This guy was horse trader deluxe, or maybe a used car dealer on the side. He carefully extracted the amount they had to spend, and gee whiz - that goat cost just that much.
So, we loaded the goat, named Frisky, into the back seat of the car and hauled him home. He was put in a stall at the track, and the boys and their two friends started "training" him. They made him a halter out of some baling twine and broke him to lead. They asked for an old saddle cloth and an ace bandage and created a racing saddle for him. They wrapped his legs, groomed him, and were very proud of their accomplishments.
Then the day came when they took him to the paddock to teach him how to stand to be saddled for a race. They had all four legs wrapped, and managed to get his "saddle" on him before he started jumping around and got loose. That was when we got the page over the loud speaker system - would we please come to the racing office immediately!!!
Now, the ladies in the racing office were okay, but they wore dresses and heels to work, had their hair and nails done, and didn't get dirty. When we got to the racing office, there were the four boys trying to catch Frisky. Frisky was standing in the middle of the racing secretary's desk chewing on an entry form with a bunch of screaming women around him.
The goat was captured and returned to his stall. The boys were properly reprimanded (although it was hard to keep a straight face), and they had to help pick up the mess. The trainers re-entered their horses, and most of them didn't even try to keep a straight face.
And here I thought snakes and mice were trouble!
So, we loaded the goat, named Frisky, into the back seat of the car and hauled him home. He was put in a stall at the track, and the boys and their two friends started "training" him. They made him a halter out of some baling twine and broke him to lead. They asked for an old saddle cloth and an ace bandage and created a racing saddle for him. They wrapped his legs, groomed him, and were very proud of their accomplishments.
Then the day came when they took him to the paddock to teach him how to stand to be saddled for a race. They had all four legs wrapped, and managed to get his "saddle" on him before he started jumping around and got loose. That was when we got the page over the loud speaker system - would we please come to the racing office immediately!!!
Now, the ladies in the racing office were okay, but they wore dresses and heels to work, had their hair and nails done, and didn't get dirty. When we got to the racing office, there were the four boys trying to catch Frisky. Frisky was standing in the middle of the racing secretary's desk chewing on an entry form with a bunch of screaming women around him.
The goat was captured and returned to his stall. The boys were properly reprimanded (although it was hard to keep a straight face), and they had to help pick up the mess. The trainers re-entered their horses, and most of them didn't even try to keep a straight face.
And here I thought snakes and mice were trouble!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Mouse Invasion
Within a few weeks, the two mice had 23 baby mice. We got an aquarium for the whole gang, and a short time later, there were 22 more mice. About this time we moved to Oklahoma which had parimutuel racing, and another batch of baby mice appeared. We had moved into a duplex and when I walked into the boys' room and found mice crawling up the curtains, I knew we had another crisis. I do not like mice particularly well either, and I sure didn't want them crawling around the house.
We negotiated a settlement with the boys. They could take the mice to the pet store, sell them, keep the money for something they wanted. They agreed. So, the mice were gone, Snakey was gone - no complaints from mom. If I only knew what their next investment would be!!
We negotiated a settlement with the boys. They could take the mice to the pet store, sell them, keep the money for something they wanted. They agreed. So, the mice were gone, Snakey was gone - no complaints from mom. If I only knew what their next investment would be!!
Snakey
The boys enjoyed going with their dad to the track to gate break horses. One day a gallop boy found a corn snake and gave it to the boys in an instant coffee jar. They were so proud and happy, unlike their mother. I hate snakes!
That was when terrariums were popular, so "Snakey" was given a home therein, and I promised them if he got loose I would be forced to eliminate him in self defense. So, who got to stop at the pet store and buy baby mice for Snakey - yep, me. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, one time they only had baby mice that had white fur on them. Most of the time they were still naked and it didn't bother the boys, but this time they cried and didn't want Snakey to eat the baby mice. While I secretly prayed that this would be Snakey's last night in our home, I explained to the boys that if they were going to have Snakey, they would have to feed him, white mice or not, or let him go. They chose to keep the mice and let him go. Amen. I got their dad up from a sound sleep to take Snakey outside, with proper parting ceremony, and turn him loose.
Ah, life was better - no snake, just two white mice. Be careful what you wish for.
That was when terrariums were popular, so "Snakey" was given a home therein, and I promised them if he got loose I would be forced to eliminate him in self defense. So, who got to stop at the pet store and buy baby mice for Snakey - yep, me. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, one time they only had baby mice that had white fur on them. Most of the time they were still naked and it didn't bother the boys, but this time they cried and didn't want Snakey to eat the baby mice. While I secretly prayed that this would be Snakey's last night in our home, I explained to the boys that if they were going to have Snakey, they would have to feed him, white mice or not, or let him go. They chose to keep the mice and let him go. Amen. I got their dad up from a sound sleep to take Snakey outside, with proper parting ceremony, and turn him loose.
Ah, life was better - no snake, just two white mice. Be careful what you wish for.
Who Would Have Thought?
My husband and I met at an Arabian horse farm. He worked there part time starting colts, and I was offered a job finishing and showing. I didn't take the job, but I did get the guy.
On our first date we went to a movie called "Casey's Shadow" in a car he borrowed from his brother so that I wouldn't know he had an old beater station wagon. Little did either one of us know that our lives would parallel many of the events in the movie. As our children tell their friends to this day, we were not conventional parents.
We had two boys, and he had two girls by his first marriage, and one summer we picked up the girls for their visit, and all the kids got chicken pox. I was working as an office manager and secretary for a cardiologist, and the sitter wouldn't keep the boys, so hubby worked out of the home and took care of the kids. Somehow along the way, his brother talked him into training race horses, which he had done briefly in the past.
He bought a pink tractor for $50 and made a horse walker to cool the horses out, built some stalls, and created a training track. He bought an old truck to replace the station wagon, and even came up with a two horse trailer to haul to the track. Then we made one of the best purchases ever - Custer, a 23 year old horse that anyone could ride. He became the pony horse and babysitter for the boys.
On our first date we went to a movie called "Casey's Shadow" in a car he borrowed from his brother so that I wouldn't know he had an old beater station wagon. Little did either one of us know that our lives would parallel many of the events in the movie. As our children tell their friends to this day, we were not conventional parents.
We had two boys, and he had two girls by his first marriage, and one summer we picked up the girls for their visit, and all the kids got chicken pox. I was working as an office manager and secretary for a cardiologist, and the sitter wouldn't keep the boys, so hubby worked out of the home and took care of the kids. Somehow along the way, his brother talked him into training race horses, which he had done briefly in the past.
He bought a pink tractor for $50 and made a horse walker to cool the horses out, built some stalls, and created a training track. He bought an old truck to replace the station wagon, and even came up with a two horse trailer to haul to the track. Then we made one of the best purchases ever - Custer, a 23 year old horse that anyone could ride. He became the pony horse and babysitter for the boys.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
