What a Fourth of July!!

At the end of this entry is a little photobucket of yesterday. We mowed all morning - and did a little food prep for our incoming guests. About two o'clock in the afternoon, the Fettkes arrived and we hugged all around and headed up to the house site to give the first "tour", even though we are still in the rough. We have framing, cedar posts along the porches, the roof and the green shingles and that's about it until Monday.

(The reason not more was accomplished this week is because the contractors blew out our transformer up at the house site and the electric company had to come shut it down until Monday, when they can get in here to replace it.)

We walked the Fettkes through the house a pointed out where various rooms would be, etc. But all they wanted to do is use the "nail picker-upper, rolled wheel thing" ( a magnetic device) and pick up stray nails - Lane. And all Luke wanted to do is ride his new birthday bike we gave him through the new house.

The next thing we know, the weather kicks up out of nowhere and we are in the middle of a very gusty, rainy storm. We all honkered down in the pantry - it was the most protected place in the shell of our house. Remember, we have no windows on yet and/or garage doors, so the wind and rain was everywhere. It was very exciting! After about 15 minutes, it had passed. And up drove the Thompsons! They had had to drive through it to get to Honey Grove. Things settled down and we had some cold beer and some cheese hors d'heuvres and I started to do some serious cooking. I had rubbed down a pork roast earlier and put it in the grill to slow cook about four hours. Unfortunately, during the storm, it knocked the propane off so I was behind schedule. Well, every once in a while, I have to ask our little stove in the trailer to work a miracle - and it did. About an hour later, we had a perfect pork roast, snap peas, grilled onions and a salad. Not bad! Then it was, off to the Rodeo.

Which is only a walk across the street! It just doesn't get much better than this. We all settled in to our little box seat (so the boys were right up front) and it was less than five minutes later when the procession of grandsons started to check out the restroom and the concession stand. There was the opening prayer, the national anthem and the "parade" of contestants through the arena. Then the excitement started. The first event was "Bronc Riding" and the first time a horse came out of the chute with a cowboy on its back, three little boys got big-eyed and serious about what was going on. The arena was very muddy from the downpour we had had earlier, so lots of mud would fly up on us when a cowboy would ride by. But little boys do not mind the mud! After broncs was cow roping and then mini steer riding - where boys under 12 ride miniature bulls. One little guy was stepped on and down for a bit but then jumped up (where they use the term "cowboy up") dusted himself off and was applauded by all.

The event the boys were waiting for was finally here. The Critter Scramble - where small animals including goats, rabbits and chickens are released in the arena and if a kid can catch one, it's his. Well, we lifted Lane over the rail from the box seats and he was off in the mud. Zach was just getting back from another visit to the facilities and we barely got him lowered in before the event started. Luke also went into the arena to try his hand. When the animals were released Lane was able to wrestle a baby rabbit and get it captured - only to have it wriggle away and get caught by another boy. Needless to say, the three grandsons are already plotting for a good catch next year! Our newest grandchild, little Lauren, our Rodeo Princess was charming to all and very interested in all the people watching. What a cutie!

During the Critter Scramble, Skip was called over to the Rodeo Clubhouse. It seems the little boy stepped on by the bull was not doing so well. They had the paramedics check him out and it was quickly decided to call in the CareFlight helicopter. They called Skip because they wanted to to open our gate so they could land in our pasture. As we crossed the street back to the ranch, they had stopped all traffic both ways on FM 100 to accomodate the chopper. We walked well inside the ranch to observe because there are many power lines overhead and it was a dangerous situation. Far off on the western horizon we could see the helicopter approaching, and soon it made a large circle right over our heads and made an incredible, careful, precision landing right on the highway outside our gate. Our grandkids were amazed, and so were we. It's good to know there are such incredible folks to help out here in the country.

After that excitement, we went back to the trailer porch for some homemade peach pie and some much anticipated fireworks. Because our property is so high and we have such a great view of the surrounding countryside, we were treated to no less than 10-15 different displays far off on the horizon. It was a great backdrop for sparklers and firecrackers provided by Uncle Brian.

At about10 pm, little sleepy ones crawled into family cars and rode home to Dallas. We can't wait until they can stay overnight. It was a great Fourth of July. God Bless the troops, the President and our great America! And special prayers for the little bull rider for a fast recovery.