Update 8-15-12

Hi ya'll,

It's been awhile, but things have just been busy.  We are getting ready to travel to the Wild Horse & Burro Expo in Nevada.  HONEY BANDIT & ROCKY are planning to be there to see all their aunties and friends this coming weekend.

We are still working out the details, but Honey Bandit will finally get to meet a lot of the people who have been supporting him and following his story.  We are so looking forward to that.

Last weekend we spent Saturday at the Shingletown Volunteer Fire Department FUN DAY!  It was so much fun.  We spent all day surrounded by kids and yes, grown ups too.  It was so awesome seeing the smiles on the faces of the kids who had never touched a horse, or had never gotten a chance to offer up a bit of hay.  There were also lots of old friends that have been part of the Honey Bandit saga since day one.  It was really awesome watching the amazement on their faces when they compared the pictures from the "before" to the "now" that is Honey Bandit.  He is a little bit on the lean side, as he is enjoying another growing spurt.  We have upped his groceries and he is feeling very good, and once again picking up his weight.

I had forgotten how much he enjoys these "meet and greets".  Especially since the babies started coming through, he has been feeling a tiny bit left out as he hasn't been the complete center of attention.  But he made up for it by stealing the show on Saturday.  Talk about a ham, he certainly is one.  He knew he was the star.  Rocky enjoyed much attention also, but Honey Bandit was definitely the one "working" the audience.  We are so looking forward to the Expo, and to having a chance to meet in person so many of the people that have been involved in Honey Bandit's life, but who have never had the opportunity to actually say hi face to face, and to see the miracle they helped to happen.

Thank you all for your continued support and prayers.  Things are going well as we start looking forward to another year in our new place.  It is coming along, and thanks to a very special lady, we have purchased the insulation for the nursery.  The boys and I actually got one wall of the "stall" finished with insulation and putting up the boards over it.   It is so exciting to see the little changes that we have accomplished and the progress we are making (baby step by baby step) towards having a finished nursery before the cold weather arrives.  We are also looking to get materials for a hay barn so we can make sure we have a dry place to store hay and grain.  (We keep hearing rumors about having a harsh winter - and it can do that up here, so we want to be prepared.)  

We would appreciate prayers that the mountain lion that is wandering through our road/driveway in the middle of the afternoon stays away.  So far the dogs seem to be doing a good job of chasing him away.  Our neighbor watched one of the dogs actually run him off two days ago, but it is still nerve racking.  We are looking to find a burro/donk as they are known to be very good deterrents.  What is scary though is that the cats are so blatant and not worried at all about people or dogs or anything.  They just wander through the property in broad daylight.   So we appreciate prayers for safe critters.

I look forward to seeing ya'll at expo.  Please stay safe and drive with extra care!  

God Bless!