animal kingdom / babyhood / DAILY FARM LIFE / LIVING WELL / MOTHERHOOD / out and about

looking forward, looking back

i love barn silhouettes. birds on a wire are nice, too.

the barn, in different light

Just popping in to share some pictures from this morning. I took Emma over to the barn to get a little practice in before tomorrow–her first horse show. She is showing at the county 4-H Fair in lead line classes. My little sister will be bringing her pony and taking Emma through the events. Emma is excited and admittedly nervous. But the prospect of show clothes and ribbons has her grinning from ear to ear. 

rider in waiting

dressed for the ocassion

Mary, of course, got a ride in as well–always dressed for the occasion in her pink cowgirl boots and ruffled skirt. It’s also ninety-plus degrees and humidity is hanging in the air like a damp towel–but she’s in a long-sleeved, long underwear top. I’ve given up my fight with this child. The long sleeves were a compromise. I talked her down from jeans and a fleece zip-up hoodie. I just have to let her sweat it out, until she agrees to take off one of her many layers. 

learning the art of climbing gates

the persistent little farm dog

a comfortable spot

My littlest sidekick learned the joy of climbing gates and finding a comfortable seat. And she became best pals with a persistent little farm dog–rolling a gritty brown tennis ball back and forth until she tired of the game.

the road that lulls my babe to sleepunfortunately that's humidity, not cool morning mist.

On the way home she fell asleep in the car.

The road to the farm is one of my favorites around here–the majority of it is not paved and it winds along a beautiful, clear creek. When Elizabeth was a little babe and I needed to get out of the house for a break, the girls and I would often pile in the car and drive this road so I could catch my breath in the world of mother-to-three. The vibration of the stones under our tires, the flickering of sun and shade through her window, always seemed to lull her to sleep.

I watched her in my rear view mirror today while I drove. Her eyes were always out her side window, looking up into the treetops. When I looked back the last time, she was sound asleep. My sweet little babe.

i love barn silhouettes. birds on a wire are nice, too.

the barn, in different light

Just popping in to share some pictures from this morning. I took Emma over to the barn to get a little practice in before tomorrow–her first horse show. She is showing at the county 4-H Fair in lead line classes. My little sister will be bringing her pony and taking Emma through the events. Emma is excited and admittedly nervous. But the prospect of show clothes and ribbons has her grinning from ear to ear. 

rider in waiting

dressed for the ocassion

Mary, of course, got a ride in as well–always dressed for the occasion in her pink cowgirl boots and ruffled skirt. It’s also ninety-plus degrees and humidity is hanging in the air like a damp towel–but she’s in a long-sleeved, long underwear top. I’ve given up my fight with this child. The long sleeves were a compromise. I talked her down from jeans and a fleece zip-up hoodie. I just have to let her sweat it out, until she agrees to take off one of her many layers. 

learning the art of climbing gates

the persistent little farm dog

a comfortable spot

My littlest sidekick learned the joy of climbing gates and finding a comfortable seat. And she became best pals with a persistent little farm dog–rolling a gritty brown tennis ball back and forth until she tired of the game.

the road that lulls my babe to sleepunfortunately that's humidity, not cool morning mist.

On the way home she fell asleep in the car.

The road to the farm is one of my favorites around here–the majority of it is not paved and it winds along a beautiful, clear creek. When Elizabeth was a little babe and I needed to get out of the house for a break, the girls and I would often pile in the car and drive this road so I could catch my breath in the world of mother-to-three. The vibration of the stones under our tires, the flickering of sun and shade through her window, always seemed to lull her to sleep.

I watched her in my rear view mirror today while I drove. Her eyes were always out her side window, looking up into the treetops. When I looked back the last time, she was sound asleep. My sweet little babe.

36 comments on “looking forward, looking back”

  1. Someone does some great weed-eating at your farm, wow! Ours looks much more ragamuffin this time of year. I love the little noggin in the huge riding helmet and the gate-sitting. Here’s hoping it’s less humid and hazy tomorrow.

  2. Yeah, my little one wanted to play outside (it’s 100 today) and I said no because it was too hot. He offered to put on a jacket. I countered with waiting til sunset.

  3. Our resident horse lover had her first horse show over Fourth of July weekend. She also is in the lead line class and was plenty nervous before the show but after her first words were “I want to do that again!” She is hooked!

    May yours enjoy her showing experience just as much!

  4. What beautiful country side. And how exciting for your wee girl, I used to ride horses when I was young and went to the odd show, what fun.

  5. My son did his first horse show last summer. Lead line was a wonderful thing – all of them got first place ribbons! Our show has a costume class too. Also a lot of fun.

  6. The drive along that road looks divine. I have a drive-to-napper/sleeper also. Not quite the time for it at $4.27/gallon but whatever works, right?!

  7. Oh, Molly, Kathy and I are headed over to the fair at 2:30ish. We’ll look for you. I’ll be able to find you by looking for those pink cowboy boots and long underwear. Bwaahh…

  8. What a beautiful drive – so refreshing and I can imagine it would offer much good for the ‘soul’. As would your little one asleep. I never get tired of peeking in on my sleeping children. Hope your daughter does well with her horse show.

  9. What beautiful pictures! My son likes to wear long pants all year long – even in our hot and humid Florida summers. I gave up suggesting shorts. If he gets hot, he can always change.

  10. I’m writing posts about the farm we visited recently. There’s something so lovely and fun about living on a farm. Yours looks beautiful and what a great opportunity that your girls can ride horses. Such a blessing. Hope the show goes well!

  11. I just found your blog this morning and was treated to your gorgeous country road farm pictures. Wow. Just what a suburban girl like me needed to see today…some peace. Thank you for sharing. Your blog is beautiful!

  12. Good luck with the horse show.I had one of those days today where I needed to breath a little so I piled mine into the car and drove and they fell asleep and the lines disappeared from my furrowed brow (well almost what can you expect at my age – they aren’t going to disappear completely when I stop frowning). Have a great weekend

  13. Beautiful pictures Molly! Haven’t been on the computer in awhile so I’m catching up on everything you guys have been up to. Your new home looks so great…I am sure you are just loving having your own space. I’m happy for you! And happy birthday…..hope it was wonderful!

  14. Molly, Jeremy showed me your blog last night. I am in awe of the beautiful pictures and wonderful stories that you have shared. Thank you for being so real!

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