LUSK RANCH

Even though we've had the fire and all the devastation at the ranch. It's the end of July, two days from the first of August and everything at the ranch and throughout Montague County is so green. We have gotten rain the last 4 nights/early mornings. Yesterday, I poured out a little less than 1/2" rain and this morning was a little less than 1/4". There are pools of water and puddles of mud all over the ranch. We had to tell Juan yesterday that this is not normal for this time of year in the amount of rain we have gotten but we are NOT complaining, normally this time of year we are praying for rain. We had to move one of the temp pens that we had created in the burned metal barn for one of the horses we got at the Claremore, OK horse sale because it has 6+ inches of water completely covering the "floor" of the stall. So we moved the panels outside to a higher, grass covered, firmer area until the stall area drains some.

Most other things are moving along. More pearling was put up yesterday evening so the temporary structure being built to house stalls until we get a "real" barn back up. It is really beginning to look like it should. Next step is to order tin for the roof, then the wood to complete the stalls. I will take pics in the next day or two to show the progress.

Most importantly, Juan is back to riding every day. We all went to Lone Star Park last Thursday and saw our good buddy Chris at Lone Star Tack Shop (John and him have been friends since the Trinity Meadows days). We got an exercise saddle so that Juan cold get back to riding these athletes in what they are used to being exercised and trained in. It's so exciting (& a lot sad) to go up to the barn and look over at the training track and see Juan galloping by. Sad to look over and see the two mounds where our babies were buried and to know that those are the ones that should be training or at the race track now!

Other NEWS: Kimmie passed her TAKS Math portion so no more worry about that. She has physicals at 8 am Friday morning and two-a-days start for her at Gold-Burg at 7 am Monday morning. Let me tell you just how excited she is about that. But she really is looking forward to starting her Freshman year. Ryan will be starting 3 grade at Ringgold this year and he says he wants to try Football this year so we will see. Got a call from Jade yesterday on her way home from her Dr.'s appointment, she's not due till the 2nd week of August but she is already 4 cm dilated, 75% effaced so it could be anytime. Very Exciting!

We are finally getting some kind of information on receiving assistance from the government on Disaster Assistance, it's only going on 5 months! Also Monday, a Montague County crew with a "crushing" track hoe and a dump truck starting crushing and removing the metal debris from the piles of the barns, trailers, etc. that were damaged in the fires. HOORAY! I think that will help John tremendously not having to look out the house everyday and see those piles of barns and equipment.

Enough for now. I will get some pics of the barn progress and maybe one or two of horses going around the track as soon as the overcast skies cooperate.

Peace and love from Lusk Ranch!