Dublin and Max are ready for Christmas!

Merry Christmas, from Dublin and Max, and the Hunter family!

Carol bought the horse!!!! and a funny quote!!

So my friend Carol has a new partner!!! I am so happy for her. The mare passed the vet check tonight and Carol is going to pick her up tomorrow and take her home!!!

They will have many good years together!!

OK Meghan and I went to the Worlds largest Christmas Bazaar in Portland today. We wandered up and down the isles and bought a few things (Barbra Storys Rum Cakes! OMG soooo good)
I am headed down this isle, following Meghan and I look up at this booth that has wooden signs. (I forgot the camera, again, and my wheeled bag).
OK, on this one sign is printed the words,
"Sometimes your knight in shining armor is just a retard in tin foil"
OMG I laughed and laughed about this for the rest of the day!! LOL Just had to share :o)
My Hubby actually found it pretty amusing too!

Missing Career changed Guide dog pup!

Guide Dogs for the Blind

Hello folks near Portland, Oregon: Please help us find Jamaica, a career change dog that has gone missing. Jamaica is a female black Lab, and was last seen on 11/19 at 10PM in the Charbonneau area, just south of Wilsonville. Her tattoo number is 47VO. She has white hairs on her stomach and weighs 50 lbs. If you have any info or leads, please call Andy Fitzgerald at 510-418-9863. Please help us spread the word!


These dogs are worth their weight in gold!!! They are so sweet and have great kind personalities!!!

Looking for a new horse....

Ha ha, not me! LOL
But my friend Carol.
This little mare is up at my Sister in-laws boarding and lesson barn. Her name is Jazzy and she is a Rocky Mountain horse. Jazzy will be 5 in Feb.  Carol is looking for her next and probably, last riding horse. As she freely admits!! and should be proud of, she is 67, this year! She wants something gaited that will be easy on her back. Carol rode her in the arena, and Jazzy offered up several different gaits!!! even though Carol doesnt know yet how to keep her in them. And we dont think Jazzy has been taught to gait properly yet. Its awesome that she is doing it naturally!!! She offered a running walk, another gait where she stepped under more and lifted her front feet more, she also trotted, paced (oops lol) and she cantered. So we seen two gaits, the pace I do not think is desirable, I want to do some more reading on the gaits of Rockys.

 Carol rode her all over the back yard too, and introduced her to the goats, which she has not met before. She just stared at them! She seems to be a very quiet, level headed girl. She gives her feet willingly too.
She had not been ridden in 2-3 months, took the saddle and cinching quietly to.
Jazzy is a pretty Silver Dapple or Chocolate color. I did advise Carol to have her vet checked, as Chocolate Rockys can have an inherited eye disease, that is found only in heterozygous chocolates.

I am hoping that they well make a good match. It sure seems so, so far!!! The mare was really good for Carol and she is a people loving horse too! Also she was really easy to handle from the ground, and very respectful of space. Carol is taking her daughter up to see Jazzy. I was proud of Carol, she got on and put her through her paces, with a little encouragement! LOL Carol also admits that she has been riding since she was 12 years old, but has never had a formal lesson. She needs a few lessons and she will be just fine!! She wants to find a gaited horse, trainer.

I dont know what she has decided yet. I will let you all know!!

Our wounded warrior, makes it home for Thanksgiving....

A really long post!!!!

We went to Corys home instead of going across the river to the airport. We waited about an hour and finally got the word through some of this group of veterans. The plane had touched down at 3:36Pm. It had been a special charter donated by a group that does this for vets, the local pilot even donated her time. The VFW paid for the car to drive Cory and his Mom to the house.

 The front of the house. Another veterans help group, donated their time and materials to retrofit the house, bathroom, etc., so that Cory can get around inside easier.

 It was pretty cold! But at least it didnt rain1!!!! That is my Hubby in the black vest, Meghan, and my Mom with the red blanket.

 Meghan got interviewed by the Columbian newspaper. The Columbian videos Here is the link to one of the stories that this reporter did. It is good.

 Marques holding a flag. The VFW provided all of the flags.

 The house is behind that little red maple tree.

 This little guy was so cute, and posed for me!!

 Channel 12 and 6 news.

 Waiting, waiting.

 Here they come!!!!

 The Patriot Guard escorted them all the way from the airport home!!! This group does absolutely wonderful things!!!

One of the things that they do, is provide an honor guard for soldiers at their burials, it is very moving. They quietly surround the cemetery and will not let any hecklers or others disturb the ceremony. If it happens, they quietly, escort them away. They are awesome. But this is a much much happier occasion!!!!

Thats them!

The man in the plaid jacket is Corys Dad.

That is Cory just to the left of his Dad in the plaid.

The first time Dad seen his new leg, in person.

Cory and Dad.

That is Corys Mom in the dark brown jacket, Cory and Dad. This young soldier gave a very moving speach. He asked us all to not forget his unit still in Afganistan and the three that didnt make it.

Then this young man waded into the crowd, and shook everyones hand and talked to almost everyone. He is a great person.

At the end of his speech he looked up and said, "Wow! Thats a lot of flags" LOL

The Vancouver policeman in front of him is his brother in law.

The Patriot Guard standing in the driveway.

He must have talked to people for 45 min or so!!!!

The Guard had really neat bikes!!! Trikes LOL

A group of younger vets getting their picture taken with Cory.

Two or three of the bikes were lit up!! This one in purple.

I liked the blue one!

One of those backwards trikes!

And we headed home. This was a great experience. I am so glad that Cory got to come home, in more ways than one.

Thank you Cory.

I have to share this wonderful happening!!!

This is about a young friend of ours. The letter explains all!!!
I bawled when I read it!!
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
**I got this from several sources that I know. Please come and support Cory and his family!!**Lynn Vaughn, SW Washington Ride Captain will be leading the Patriot Riders for this event and several of us here will be there to welcome home Cory along the route.



TIME: 2:30-3:30pm

DATE: 18 November 2011 (Friday)

LOCATION: 13814 SE 23 rd Circle (Cascade Park), Vancouver, WA



PFC Cory Doane (son of Rhonda Doane) was serving our country in Afghanistan in July 2011 when an IED exploded directly underneath him. The bomb caused multiple internal injuries and ultimately the loss of Cory’s right leg. Rhonda flew to Walter Reed Army Hospital and has remained with Cory throughout his 16 surgeries (thus far) and assists him with his rehabilitation process. Individual and organizational donations have allowed Rhonda to remain with Cory and also volunteers have prepared the home of Rhonda/Cory to be ADA suitable to ensure Cory is comfortable.



Walter Reed Army Hospital has authorized Cory to come home for the first time since he sustained his injuries, to celebrate Thanksgiving. He must return afterwards for further treatments.



Some airline pilots heard about Cory and have volunteered to fly Cory and his mother Rhonda home for Thanksgiving on a private chartered jet due to arrive at the Flightcraft center of Portland Airport at 2:30pm on the 18 th of November 2011.



The Patriot Guard Riders will greet Cory and Rhonda at the airport and escort them to the family residence for a Surprise Welcome Home Party. Friends, Family and Community Citizens are asked to be at the residence to welcome Cory Home. Bring US Flags if you have them and we will line the street showing how much we care about this true hero that has given so much for our country.



Here is the route we will take to bring Cory and Rhonda home from PDX if community wishes to honor him along the way:



Route we will be taking from PDX will be I-205 to Mill Plain Blvd East.

Right onto Chkalov Dr

Left onto McGillvray Blvd

Right onto Talton Ave

Left onto Angus which curves left onto SE 139th Ave

1 block on left is SE 23rd Cir (Cul-De-Sac)

Participants will need to park on SE 139th Ave or Angus (only one block away from residence)



Again, we should be arriving at the residence anytime from 2:45-3:30pm but be a little flexible on this time please.



Someone will be at the residence at 2:30 pm to direct you where would be the best place to stand in honor of this home town Hero !



Please pass this email around to all your friends and acquaintances in our area that may have the opportunity to honor this hero..









Elisa Cotton / NMLS#86692

Team Coordinator for Michael Frakes

NMLS#71539

Creekside Mortgage

360-571-5626 x 115

360-326-1672 Fax



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