A Day with Aunt Jessie

The other day Diana, Louisa, and Retta spent the day with me. I know this sounds crazy, but I got more work done while babysitting them than I usually do on my own! As a reward for helping me in the garden, we spent some time with Arby, our Arabian gelding. The girls are a bit "horse-crazy" so I gave them a little lesson in reality. We brushed him and talked about never surprising a horse, because when they are surprised, they kick before looking!

They surprised themselves by being scared about actually riding. I put Diana in the saddle and the first time Arby shifted his weight, she burst into tears, terrified. I just talked to her and left Arby tied to the post till she was ready to go. It was hilarious, though-while Diana was crying in the saddle, Louisa was marching around declaring; "I wouldn't cry like a baby. I like Aunt Jessie's horses. Diana, you should get down and let me ride!". That helped Diana get a grip. Soon she was ready to go for a ride. I led her around until Louisa couldn't stand waiting any longer.

When I put Louisa in the saddle, her eyes got as big a saucers and she grabbed my neck! I directed her to hold onto the saddle horn, and what a grip she had!

Overall, they did alright. I think they left with an a better sense of respect for horses. We are hoping to send Arby to their house for the summer, so hopefully they will grow into good little cowgirls :)

I didn't pose them, honest. Well, I did tell Trixie to "Stay"! Isn't this the cutest thing yet?!

Tabatha Twitchit our mama kitty with her six children. Four white ones, one gray and a black! They don't have names yet, I believe in making sure they aren't going use up all nine lives prematurely!
{Once upon a time there was an old cat, called Mrs. Tabitha Twitchit, who was an anxious parent. She used to lose her kittens continually, and whenever they were lost they were always in mischief!-from Beatrix Potter, The Tale of Samuel Whiskers.}

Louisa learning to milk Penelope. She actually got a few squirts! Diana got a some streams going, too. The biggest problem they had was letting up the death grip they had on her teats. I showed them they have to let up, then squeeze again show Penelope can let her milk down.

The girls admiring the black kitten.

Gray kitten hissing at Trixie as she gets too close. Trixie Anne loves all babies, and these kittens prove to be a huge attraction. Tabatha doesn't hesitate about going after her hissing, spitting and clawing when Trixie gets too curious!

Retta helping to cover peas, looking just beautiful.

My best workers making their way down the pea row. Louisa did a whole 120 feet row! Diana came up with a better method than crawling along on her hands and knees. She walked along using her right foot to push the dirt over the peas, and her left to pack the dirt over the seed. She said: "See Aunt Jessie, this foot is the push foot, and this one is the stomp foot. Push, stomp, push, stomp, push..." !