george and jodi: No Place Like Home!

This weekend we FINALLY got to stay home with no plans, no schedules, and nowhere to be. I'm pretty sure we all felt the same about our weekend home--wonderful! We have had the chance to show Amy and Dani a bit about our lives here and they had been on one of our horses and ridden with me leading the horse during one of their first weekends here, but we have not really had a chance to show them and teach them some of the things we wanted to until now. This weekend was relaxed, fun, and just what we needed. In fact, I am currently avoiding work on some pressing matters because this is the weekend and I just want to enjoy the end of it. Enjoy, I am...being outside, watching the girls ride, loving the countryside, I am so thankful for this place I call home.

Looking out over the cornfield on Grandpa Ed's place.

One of the things we didn't know if the girls would want to learn was how to drive. Lakeview is the perfect place to teach beginners how to drive. Few cars on the road, no law enforcement to speak of, and nice, muddy roads to challenge them with! Dani and Amy both expressed an interest so yesterday we began giving them lessons. We have been told we can do this but have to take full responsibility if someone gets into an accident. So the girls are driving. Sometimes it is a bit herky-jerky as they get used to the amount of pressure to use on the gas pedal and the brake. We are teaching them that 35 mph around a corner probably is just a tad too fast! But they are driving and loving it and their smiles and pride when they do a good job are so worth the heart attack I sometimes think I am going to have.

One of the things BOTH girls really wanted to do when arriving here was to ride horse, a lot. This weekend they got to do that. We spent a couple of hours both Saturday and Sunday afternoon at "Grandpa Ed's Place" (which is where my Great-Grandfather Edward Logterman lived). My parents own part of the place and the ride-able horses and expectant cow mamas are currently there because my brother Rob lives in my Great-Grandpa Ed's old house. Amy had ridden some before coming here and was quite excited to do more riding while here. Dani had never ridden but definitely had a desire to do so as well. On Saturday, Rob saddled both "Bucky" and "Red" up and the girls rode and rode. Amy took to the horse like she had never quit riding and Dani was a complete natural in the saddle--riding with the wind almost immediately. These girls seem to have no fear. We did the same today. Rob saddled them up, the girls rode, and then we unsaddled them. The next step will be teaching them to saddle them. I am sure they can both easily do it as Dani is already getting off, opening gates, getting back on, etc. We have two little cowgirls in the making!