Goodbye Wolcotville, IN

You know it was a good visit when it's hard to leave. Again my friends are not making this easy. Doug and Jeanie have been great to me and I can't thank them enough for their hospitality. Now I think they are giving me a hint!

Of course I'm just kidding. They were using the pitchfork to make sure I didn't finish packing up!

I arrived to Dojea Stables and Dojea's Nest in Wolcotville, IN on July 7th, four days before my 50th 

birthday. 

Doug dedicates his time to his Standard Bred horses and sulkie racing.

Jeanie raises Hyacinth Macaws and that's the Dojea's Nest part. When she had her sign made she used to raise Blue and Gold Macaws but now solely dedicates her time to Hyacinths. 

I won't forget the almost 48 hours we hardly got any sleep waiting for a baby to hatch. 

I watched baby Zazu fight the struggle to hatch and only weighing 20 grams to almost 90 grams as I write this at three weeks old and opening its eyes. 

I will remember Adams Lake Pub night on Thursdays and the new friends I made there. 

Justin thank you for my special birthday cake!

Joan, you're a sweetheart. Life does get easier, hang in there. Teresa, what can I say other than thank you for the dance!

And I can't forget Joe. With a smile like this one he is one of a kind!

Never in my life would I have thought that I'd be celebrating this milestone away from my family and close friends back home. If you had told me that I would be in Indiana for this birthday I would have laughed at you. But here it is, a state that has me so torn, I'm not a political individual but its politics have been in the news for the wrong reasons. Then again I have finally met dear friends while here and I can honestly say I want to come back. 

Thank you Jeanie and Doug for making my 50th so memorable. 

Thank you David for being who you are and opening your home for the weekend down in Indianapolis. I will cherish your gift for ever. 

Mitchel you left an impression on me. You are a beautiful person and I hope our paths cross again. 

The horse racing was another first for me and I loved it. I got to see what a lot of people get excited about. The beauty of these magnificent horses is breath taking.

The preparation and time it takes to get them ready is incredible. At times they are actually flying!

I got to experience them all at the farm. From the time they are babies with their mothers out in the paddocks....

To the time they are yearlings and two year olds...

To being exercised and being put through their paces....

The farm never is boring. Something is always happening here...like a sow giving birth. 

Or spending play time with Mya the baby Hyacinth Macaw...

Or finding a snapping turtle from one of the ponds on a trail!

Farm life isn't easy. The summers are spent growing as much alfalfa as possible to feed the livestock over the winter. All of that needs to be cut and bailed which is hard work. 

Thankfully Doug can count on his son Doug junior and some of his friends to help out with this since they are out of school for the summer months. 

It all needs to be stored in the barns after bailing. 

The bird life at the farm is amazing. I spent many hours somewhere in the almost four hundred acres just sitting and photographing the wild life. 

I got to go and see tractor pulling competition for the first time in my life at the Elkhart Fair while here. 

But with all of these great activities and joy there was sadness this last week. Jeanie lost a beloved family pet. Mouse was a gentle giant. She was a family pet for almost twelve years and it's never easy letting them go. She will be missed but never forgotten since she is now watching her palace from the front lawn she always loved running around on. 

Rest in piece sweet girl. 

I can't forget my little friend Isabel. She is One of Doug and Jeanies grandchildren. She became my friend because Jeanie takes care of her while her Mom Alyssa works. 

We had a lot of fun together but usually we were on the couch with the gang all on us. 

One little creature worked her way into my heart more so than all the others. Little Chalupa the Chihuahua would go nuts when she heard my voice. She had to be picked up and once she was perched on me, near me, or close to me she would not allow any of the others get close to me. 

On this last evening of me staying in Indiana I got to do another first in my life. I got to go fishing on one of Doug and Jeanies ponds. 

I can see why they love doing it. It was so peaceful out there. Doug and I spent a couple of hours fishing on his little pontoon. You could hear every single bird song and watch as dragon flys and kingfishers flew by us. 

The stillness of the water was like looking into a mirror. 

Thank you Jeanie and Doug. I know I will be back so this isn't a good bye but instead an until we see each other again.