Happy July 4th

~ VFW, Richlands, VA ~

THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT

"We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc.

Having undertaken, for the Glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith and Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the Northern Parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another Covenant and Combine ourselves together into a Civil Body Politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for other general good of the Colony, unto which we promised all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Anno Domini 1620.

Source: William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation, 1620-1647 (Samuel Eliot Morison, ed. 1952, 75-76."

~ Little Miss and Miss USA ~

"It is impossible to govern without God and the Bible." 

~ George Washington, 

First President of the USA ~ 

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. ...

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
24 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence had a seminary degree!

"Republicans believe every day is the 4th of July, 

but Democrats believe every day is April 15th."

~ Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the USA ~

"I hold it, that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical." 

~ Thomas Jefferson, letter to James Madison, 1787 ~

"Well Doctor, what have we got--a Republic or a Monarchy?"

"A Republic, if you can keep it."

~ Benjamin Franklin ~

"Love your country but never trust its government." 

~ Robert Heinlin ~

"The power to tax involves the power to destroy...the power to destroy may defeat and render useless the power to create..." ~ Chief Justice John Marshall, 1819 ~

"The end move in politics is always to pick up a gun." 

~ R. Buckminster Fuller ~

Blessings ~ veterans ~ Veterans of Foreign Wars ~ Declaration of Independence ~ Mayflower Compact ~    

Mercy!

                                           ~ rainstorm coming from the head of the Cove ~
Be sure to look at my side bar for KC Willis' workshop: I Send You Wings.

I hear the rolling thunder so there's a chance another storm is on the way. We've had storms almost daily this week and looks like we're going to end the week with another one. We've hay in the field that needs cutting, raking, kicking and baling but it's not going to happen any time soon; storms are predicted for the next few days.

In the photo above, you can see the sheet of rain coming down the valley; it's coming from the head of the Cove. I've stood in the yard, arms outstretched while the rain covers me, first one outstretched arm and fingertips, crosses over my torso and then on to the other arm and finger tips. It's a very delicious feeling!

This week has been full, very full of house repair, re-doing the farm office bathroom and smaller office, spring cleaning and tidying the studio, housecleaning, crocheting rag rugs and helping mend horses. I've two mares, mother and daughter, who are both foundered. They need to lose about 100 pounds each, maybe a tad more and they aren't, even a little bit, happy about it. Just about as happy as I'd be if I had to lose weight and someone put me in a locked room with nothing but crackers and water.  Their feet were trimmed last week by a man who has been trimming horse feet for quite some time but not as long as my regular farrier who has been working for thirty years. He's a hoof specialist and has, just about, seen it all in his career. The first man did a really good job but he didn't take off as much as, perhaps, he could have. He didn't want to make their feet any more tender than already in evidence which I greatly appreciated.

The farrier came yesterday, at my behest, because I was concerned both mares still had tender feet. I've only had horses about 14 years and am a, relative, newcomer to horses; sheep too, for that matter. Most of what I've learned has been taught to me by the farrier, vets and OJT - on the job training. I'm still timid though, when it comes to trusting my gut. The farrier told me yesterday, "You know more than you think you know...trust your gut and, yes, they are both foundered!"

He trimmed another inch, perhaps a bit more, off the front feet of both mares and they were extremely tender footed for most of the rest of the day. Lightly, the daughter, and Peach, the mother, are put up in a "short lot" where they are totally dependent upon me for food. They have free choice water and shelter but the food is slim pickings.

When we returned from grocery shopping, Lightly was feeling better. I could tell because she was playing in the water trough; splashing herself and anyone else who was close enough to get wet. She had a grand time!

                                             ~ Lightly and her half brother, Dandy Man ~

They are separated by a gate and fence because Dandy isn't on a diet. He's still unhappy though, because he's a Momma's Boy and loves being with the girls.

                                   ~ Lightly, readying for another total water dispersement ~

                                                      ~ she's having SO much fun! ~

                                                         ~ up to her eyeballs in water ~

                                                            ~ just about finished ~
Lightly and Peach need to be tended to twice a day. I clean their feet, clean the barn and the lot and, usually, give them a small handful of hay just to let them know they are loved. Today I also picked a lot of the rocks out of the lot so they would have, mostly, grass to walk upon. Some of the rocks can't be moved...like the one in the right of the photos. That's the placement of the waterline, going from this trough to another trough and needs to stay in place. I also gave them de-wormer today; when they are on a short lot , I like to keep them as healthy as I possible can.

We have exceptional pasture in our region; one of the top two or three in the world, and it's very rich. American Curly horses are extremely easy keepers and it's a juggling act keeping them from gaining weight. So, for the next three months, I'll keep them on short rations and, slowly, very slowly, re-introduce them back into the pastures. But there's a stretch of time between then and now; in the meantime, they pout -grin-.

Wash needs to be gathered off the line, studio needs to be closed, barns need to be locked and then there's porch furniture to be held down. I'll show you the rag rugs later and explain how I crocheted them. It's been a learning experience and the second one looks better than the first but they both look good. I've already got the colors picked out for the third one which will go in the farm office bathroom. One of the rugs I'll send to my sister for her deck; that should keep her feet toasty when it turns cooler weather. Speaking of, please forgive me for whining about the cold this past winter; today was in the 80's and it's supposed to be in the mid 90's on Sunday. We're in the Appalachian Mountains, it's not supposed to be that HOT this SOON!

Mercy!

Blessings ~ healthy animals ~ the strength to tend to the ones not so healthy ~ rag rugs ~ fresh laundry ~

Dei Gratia,
Sandra