Say What?

Sir BleedALot made his appearance the other day to show his lovely bride, Ellen, the scene of his accidents. We all walked beside Frank with pillows to try and keep him safe. I am happy to report we sent him home with nary a bruise. His leg appears to be healing nicely.
October 1--we're officially opening! I cannot wait to show you the finished product. I just want to say what a creative man my amazing hubby is. He wanted the stand to look even better this year--I'd say he definitely achieved his goal.

For the last two years I have refused any donation box placed in the stand. Through much urging by so many volunteers, I'm ready to give it a try. There might be people out there appreciative of all the extra effort we took to make the stand attractive and fun. I think the free horse rides we offer on the weekend might be enough for some to show their thanks. Do any of you have any lovely words that we can hang above the box? "Help us feed the horses" or "Keep the fun rolling." I can't think of anything. Won't you help a sister out? Let me hear it.

Off to bed. Another one of those nights where I feel asleep on the couch before posting. It's 1:50 AM and I'm really lacking creativity.

Thanks to so many!

Oh, if any of you crave a chance to pick small pumpkins out of a field, we're heading out Friday morning to do just that. Let us know and we'll help you fulfill your dreams. Times don't get any better.

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

Look what my lovely Lisa wrote for us:

GALLOPING GRACE YOUTH RANCH

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Max Wade, 991-1885

Galloping Grace Youth Ranch Opens

Annual Pumpkin Stand

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 29, 2009

ALBUQUERQUE – Galloping Grace Youth Ranch opens its 3rd annual Pumpkin Patch fundraiser on October 1^st. The owners of the ranch and a volunteer staff will run the pumpkin stand from the Quanz parking lot located at the corner of Paseo del Norte and Eagle Ranch from October 1 – October 31.

In addition to selling pumpkins, straw bales and corn stalks, the stand will feature a Kiddie Corral free of charge. Children can enjoy a corn maze, duck races, a bean bag toss, coloring pages, a corn pit, pumpkin bowling, a dress-up scarecrow, Mr. Pumpkin Head and much more. Free horse rides will be offered on the weekends and during scheduled field trips.

“We are offering more than we ever have at the pumpkin stand this year,” said owner Max Wade. “Our goal is to keep improving it and make it a fun destination for kids and their families.”

The pumpkin stand is the major source of revenue for Galloping Grace Youth Ranch, a local not-for-profit organization. The facility provides a self-guided adventure with a horse for all children. Appointments are made on a first-come-first-served basis and no one is ever charged for services at the ranch. “Our mission is to bring pure joy to children and we want to be as available to everyone as we can,” said Wade.

100% of the proceeds from the fundraiser go toward running the ranch so that services can continue to be offered free of charge.

The pumpkin stand will be open from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM every day in October.

For additional information about Galloping Grace go to ggyr.org or call Max Wade at (505) 991-1885.

I just love that Lisa! Thanks my friend.

And So It Began

Remember that Jason guy who took a picture of Frank in the ER as he lay there with the gaping flesh wound? Well, he came through for me once again! Jason was at the stand working (AGAIN)when these two nice people walked in and asked to buy a pumpkin. Even though we aren't officially open, Max was more than willing to take their $4 and a $1 donation. We had our first sale, and now it's documented for all the world to see. Jason, I thank you for this picture and thinking in terms of a blog post. That is one true friend.

I'd also like to thank you and your amazing family for being there for us all weekend. Thanks for helping to unload 18 big boxes on Saturday and then hanging in there in the thick of things as we picked pumpkins out of the field and then gathered corn stalks by headlight. And all that help Sunday by the five of you??! So fantastic! (Kelsey's cute shirt says, "Welcome to my Website." )

E. family, you are great friends to us and we love you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Many more to thank. . .

A Time To Rest Because I'm So Blessed

As wrong as it feels, I think I'm going to beg out on another post. Every inch of me is exhausted! So many wonderful people have helped, I couldn't possibly do them justice. Max and I just did a quick count of today--there were over 40 volunteers! Lots of pictures, lots of stories. That makes me want to shut down and crawl in bed. How can one fatigued girl be expected to show such kindness?

A picture for your viewing pleasure. (I know--so very kind of me.)

Renee figured we needed some pumpkin seeds to put us in the proper frame of mind. Thanks, Nee.

Was your weekend as productive and blessed as mine? I sure hope so!

Cannot stay awake. Pancake breakfast this morning (got up at 5 AM), unloaded pumpkins at the stand, went to the farm and loaded pumpkins in trailer, and loaded up over 300 bundles of corn stalks IN THE DARK. Walked in the house around 11:45 PM after dropping sweet helpers back at the pumpkin stand. Starting again in morn.

What I'm saying here is I'll be back soon. For now, I'm off to bed!

Dropped By To Say Hi

The corner of Eagle Ranch and Paseo is a happening location. I can tell this season is going to be even more fun than last. Just setting up the stand we're getting visitors galore. Max and I just love it! We have had a lot of friends stop and see how things are going. We always joked last season that on the weekends we could run five more stands with the amount of us "working".

Take this guy. He's the cool cat who kindly set up our website and has since worked endless hours trying to fix issues with the original server we picked without the benefit of his expertise. Trying to get everything switched over to an actual properly functioning server has been a bit of a nightmare. But look-- He keeps smiling!


And this gal--she has agreed to be the volunteer coordinator for the pumpkin stand. Isn't that nifty? If the above guy can make things work, the below gal will be fielding emails from those desiring a turn hocking pumpkins at the patch.
She might possibly be reached at pumpkins@ggyr.org


Would you believe more frozen treats for all?!
That cutie with the blond hair standing near the cutie with the brown hair wants the world to know that she (the blond chick) inspires her mother's kindness and not the other way around. Is that clear?
All I know is that we appreciate them both.


I feel I must tell any of you that simply wish to get a little work done on your vehicle at Quanz, the awesome business allowing us to camp out on their land, that you are under NO obligation to stay at the stand and help set up.

The super thoughtful person sporting the beard did not get that memo. Instead of going home with his kind wife pictured on the left, he stayed and helped Max for quite a while. Unnecessary, but oh so kind.

Just a small sampling. Just a little love. Just a great time.

Saturday morning we will be unloading pumpkins around 10:30 and then heading out to the farm to gather corn stalks and small pumpkins. If that sounds like a perfect way to spend your Saturday, feel free to join the fun.

Have a great weekend.

Cindy, Grant, Logan, and Kelsey--thanks for helping today. :)

Superman, He's Not!

Would someone please tell Mr. Frank he cannot fly?!

If you do not enjoy gaping flesh wounds, you should probably stop reading.

If you do not enjoy seeing staples in human flesh, this isn't the post for you.

Everyone ready for the show? Who knew setting up a pumpkin stand could be so exciting?


If you ask Jason, who was at the stand volunteering his precious time, Max pushed innocent Frank off the ladder. The truth might not be quite as colorful.

In thinking about the comfort of so many, Frank, Max, and Jason were working on the shade structure in the Kiddie Corral. Honorable, kind . . . dangerous! I guess the ladder (or Frank) was not quite tall enough. Oh, and add in the fact the ladder was set on top of gravel. Max said it fell over with Frank near the top. He held on to one of the beams for a split second before landing right on top of the ladder, arched over it like he broke his back. Max asked right away if his back hurt. "No, it's my leg."

Max looked to see a rather large, gushing area on Frank's leg. Those good ol' CPR classes came in handy again, but who knew it would be on the same patient?! I might also add Jason is a highly qualified nurse. Frank was in excellent care. Max and Jason applied pressure with some snotty handkerchiefs (forgot that word had a D in it!) before loading him up and taking him to the hospital.

Jason took him right in. Max followed shortly after. He was cleaning up the stand and dealing with news from Steph, our GG neighbor, that Cochise was colicky again. AHHHHH. Awesome Steph was right there walking Cochise and providing updates. Marvin, another neighbor and friend, showed up to help Steph. The last we heard, Cochise was pooping, peeing, and drinking--all great signs from what I've been told. Steph said Marvin insisted she sit on Cochise--said the horse wanted her to. Oddly once she climbed aboard, Cochise starting burping a whole bunch. Weird that Marvin suggested something like that and even weirder that it produced results. Marvin must be some kind of horse whisperer. Thanks so much to both Steph and Marvin for being there when we weren't.

Back to our patient. I called his wife to let her know what happened. She kind of chuckled and said he was accident prone. She did verify with me that he was not about to die, and then relaxed right in with the news of her husband's leg. I have never met Ellen, but I can tell I'm going to love her. What a sense of humor she has! She also has a fantastic German accent (considering she is originally from Germany.)

At one point during the ER wait, Frank was bragging about the amazing clotting properties of his blood. Max said, "Frank, if you kept on bleeding like you were, we would have been out of here two and a half hours ago!" What compassion.

Thanks to Jason for taking Frank and staying with him for so long. Thanks also to Trish who relieved Jason and helped Max get Frank home. (I was home with the four kiddos--didn't figure they'd be much fun in the ER.)

How great for me that I don't even have to be at an event to get pictures. BOTH Jason and Trish took shots to put on the blog. Love it! Trish told me Frank told his wife to look for his accident on the blog in the morning. I'd say that gives me full permission to post away. Ellen, here ya go!


From Jason:

From Trish:He got eighteen staples and three stitches!

Check back for the next exciting chapter of Sir BleedALot. I can only imagine what he'll try to pull when we actually have the pumpkins. (Frank, you know I love ya--I just couldn't resist.) :)

Volunteers today at both the stand and ranch:

• Diana
• Maddie
• Frank
• The other Frank
• John
• Jason
• Trish
• Steph
• Marvin
• Jack
• Renee

Thank you all!!!

Breaking News

To the one or two people that might check the blog in the next hour or so. . .

Max will be on the radio during the one o'clock hour with Peter Benson of the Calvary station, 107.1. He will be interviewing Max about Galloping Grace and the pumpkin stand.

I asked Max if he's nervous at all, and he told me he wasn't in the slightest. That's just odd to me! I know he did it last year and all, but really? Ugh. He wasn't nervous when the news station came out either. Folks, that is why Max is the face and voice of GG--nerves of steel plus he's my handsome hambone. Hmmm--that has a nice ring to it. I feel a t-shirt coming on . . .

The front: Handsome Hambone

The back: Just say cheese

We all know he'd sport it with pride.

Calvary station and Mr. Benson, thank you very much.

I know it might not be the most unbiased comment ever considering I'm hopelessly in love with the man, but I think he did an outstanding job! He was funny, informative, and confident. Way to go, honey!

The Sign

Painting Party

And this time we weren't painting a horse. It was time to get the display boxes spiffied up and looking fresh. That's where all the cool kids came in.

That's my Misha. She has been there for me since I was four years old. We lived two doors away from each other and were the best of friends.

Did you know we could control the wind with our blankets? We could indeed. We also used to catch grasshoppers to feed our pet lizards, polish rocks together, and wear matching Jordache jeans we bought with our own money after babysitting together all summer as the amazing duo of Mommy's Little Helpers. Good times.

It turns out Misha is still there for me. Now, she cleans and paints pumpkin display boxes and serves on our GG board. I love my Misha!

I happen to be falling in love with a lot of other super nice people.

Melissa started off as mom to Phoebe, a GG participant. Now Melissa is a facilitator running her own sessions. She has shown up at the stand several days offering her support. Phoebe loved the stand last year, so they're both really excited to be a part this year. I love when Melissa is around because she makes me laugh. There are Frank and Carri again. Wowsers! What work horses they are. You'd think the head wound would have discouraged Frank. Nope--not in the slightest. He has been there just about every day working like crazy helping Max get set up. Carri is there almost as often as she juggles her two cutie pies and their school schedules. Both of you, thank you so much! Carri, thanks, also, for all the goodies you bring for Max. Geez, at least someone bakes for the man! (I'm too busy organizing my house and dusting and stuff.) There's the ever helpful Rebekah. She started off as a participant last year, which she still did this year as well, but she is also so much more to GG. She worked many shifts last year at both the pumpkin and Christmas tree stands. She also served as a junior volunteer this past season. She has a servant's heart, that's for sure!! Thanks for all you do, Rebekah!
Here is Katy and her always expanding crew! Max and Trish tease her all the time because she shows up with extra children to almost all her sessions. I'm not too sure, but I think she has one of the biggest hearts in all of Albuquerque.

Max says she takes in strays, but I think she wants other children to experience what her children get to do. Really, who brings SIX young children to help paint???! My nerves wouldn't hold up. Katy was loving and patient and kind--cool as a cucumber! The children worked so hard and were so proud. They left with just a little paint on themselves, but Katy didn't even seem to notice. Please, no one tell my children just how cool other parents can be. Katy, you may not borrow my children to take on any of your wonderful adventures. They'd be so disappointed when they return to me. Jack was back. He's the retired police officer who left a paying job only to work hours and hours and hours on end for Galloping Grace! He has driven at least SEVENTY-FIVE T-posts into the ground by himself in the last couple of days, bucked straw bales, moved wood, etc. When offered food, he flatly refuses. He might be some kind of robot man in disguise. He happens to be extremely camera shy. Isn't that odd? I mean, if someone wants to take my picture, I happily let them. Jack just kept saying, "No pictures." I'll keep trying. He couldn't mean it. No way.

Jack, Frank, Carri and Trish--you four have been more than absolutely amazing helping get the stand ready. A million thanks for all you've done!!

B. Family, you are terrific! Robin read the blog in the morning and saw we were going to be painting.

They finished up their school work only to come do more work at the stand. Polite boys, hard workers--just great people to be around. i'm pretty sure they painted more than their fair share of boxes. Robin, Zachary, Jonathan, and Benjamin--thank you so much! Thanks, also, for jumping out of the car and posing for a group shot. Notice the two younger boys already had their shoes off? Good sports happily hurt their feet so I could take the picture. Couldn't you just pinch him? This young man and his mama had a session at GG in the morning. They heard about the painting party from Trish. Jennifer decided she was going to help out, but Tristan needed to stay home and finish his schooling for the day. I guess he asked his mom if he could please have homework so he could come out and paint. What a sweet guy! I think I know where he gets it--I love Jennifer! GG has introduced me to some of the nicest people around.
T and J, thanks for giving up your afternoon. We really appreciate all the help.

Kaley and Grant were so happy to be painting. Great news came of it--Grant now officially has a pair of jeans and a shirt especially for painting. So does Kaley for that matter. So Ms. Barb gets off work and comes over to see what she can do to help. That is typical Barb for you. She is such a dedicated pumpkin stand volunteer! Some of you might remember one of her kind deeds from last September right after we met her. One day she saw us setting up the stand as she drove by. Instead of driving home, she went to the store and brought back two boxes of Popsicles for everyone to share. Boy, did they ever hit the spot! Barb, you're a great friend and we love you. Wouldn't you know it--Misha was there at the end helping clean everything up. That's her style. She is always in the background doing whatever needs done, seeking no credit along the way.

Thanks, paint crew! You were so helpful I could almost jump for joy.

For now, I think I'll leave that to the experts.

Who Me?

I interrupt my regularly scheduled post for some judicial news. No, I'm not headed back to jury duty again. Nope, not me.

OK, what I'm about to tell you will definitely make many of you think less of me. That's fine. I totally deserve it. There are some things I do well, but managing my life and my family's is not one of them.

So I was going through a stack of papers last week when I came upon an envelope addressed to Max. Because he wants me to open any and all things that come to him so he doesn't have to, I had at it. Imagine my horror when I read a juror summons for August 6!! YIKES! Um, yeah, he didn't make it. What losers! In my defense, is there a law that says a person has to read their mail within two to three months? To anticipate correspondence from the government demanding compliance for duties? Please show me such law.

We got a little concerned about this missed court date. Was there a warrant out for his arrest? Would he be forced to make it up during pumpkin stand, his most beloved time of the year and a time we desperately need his set up skills? Cringe!

We fretted for a couple days, procrastinating the punishment. Today I called to face the music. I let the lady who answered know that I was calling for my husband who had missed his report date. She took all of his information and then said, "Yes?" I asked her what we needed to do to make good on this. She said, "We'll have to get him rescheduled." When I asked her when, she told me it must be done within six months of the original summons.

YEA! That means Max is available during pumpkin stand and Christmas tree stand. Oh happy day! She put him down for January 25. I love that kind lady who I'm sure has a thankless job.

Please feel free to help Trish remind us of this pressing engagement sometime in January. Wouldn't that be a bit of an issue missing again?!

Thanks.

Love,

The Jailbird and his scattered bride

Much thanks to the painters from today. Post to follow soon--I want you to see all the amazing volunteers in action.

I just noticed in this post and the last one I worried about what you must think of me. Really shows my insecurities, huh? You must think I'm crazy. ;)

Pass The Tums

Anyone remember how Templeton felt after gorging himself at the fair? I tell you what--that rodent doesn't have anything on me! I put on an exhibition today:

• half of a Navajo taco
• Tom Toms donuts, enough to feel greasy
• a bite or two of Grant's corn dog
• a couple corn chips dipped in cheese
• candied pecans
• some slurps of a slushy
• corn on the cob, all of mine and over half of Grant's
• lots and lots of bites of a turkey leg (which I used to think were not good but turns out this year they really are)
• a couple curly fries
• some more candied pecans for dessert

The New Mexico State Fair--a great place to clog your arteries. What you all must think of me.

I think I'll spend most of Monday trying to digest.

Paint party at the pumpkin stand around 1PM. I think all the cool kids will be there.

She's In The Land Down Under

Just a sweet little something I learned today.

Renee is my sort of sister-in-law. (Her sis is married to my bro.) She is good friends with Paige, the vet who has performed several free services for us. Paige just recently moved back to Australia for her career. I was concerned that we should have paid Paige for the last time she came out and treated Black for his infected tooth. Renee told me no. Paige once told Renee that she could never charge us because we take in old horses and give them a reason to live--make them feel important like they have a job. (To us, they are the most valuable and most useful for the children!)

Paige, you're incredible! I hope life is treating you very well down under. Thanks again for all you did for Galloping Grace. The old, important guys and the rest of us appreciate your so much!!

FYI

Just so you know, it makes all the sense in the world to wear a cowboy hat (and castrating t-shirt) to pick grapes in a vineyard, but not to a concert featuring a country western artist.
There I am keeping you in the know. It's just what I do.

Settle For A Pourdown

Max, Lisa, and I are heading out to spend some time with our buddies, Brad and Dierks. Who knows, we might even have them sing to us. Sounds like a fun thing to do on this rainy Thursday evening. I bought rain ponchos at Walgreeens. We're ready for the downpour.

I mentioned rain. Sessions had to be cancelled today at GG because of it. Here in New Mexico, it's hard to complain when we get any moisture. Pennies from heaven, I'd say. Drops of life. Green weeds for all! Thanks for the showers, God!

Hugs to our wonderful GG neighbors, Mike and Steph. They had to put down one of their dogs yesterday. Punky had a long, good life. If you know Mike and Steph, you know how much they adore their animals. Mike's father is also very sick. If you wouldn't mind, please pray for the whole family during this hard time. The circle of life is not easy to handle when it's someone you know and love.

Sweet Keri, thanks so much for all the data entry you do with our waivers. You are an unsung hero! Right here, right now I'm singing grateful lyrics in your name. Won't you tell your sweet daughter how much we enjoy the bedazzling she did to the waiver book? Big binders look so much better with images of horses adorning its cover.

Just in case you were one of the kind souls who offered to help pick pumpkins with us on Saturday, we are no longer doing that. Sure hope you got that memo. We were terribly short on trailers and didn't think we could pull it off. The new plan is to pay to have them delivered. Tell your backs they lucked out this time and thank yourselves for your willing attitude.

That's all for now.

Michelle Wade, signing out.

Rockin' Start

Fall is in the air!

The Galloping Grace 2009 pumpkin stand is getting under way. My stellar photo journalistic instincts kicked in. I pulled into the lot right as Max and Jack (a new AMAZINGLY DEDICATED AND STRONG volunteer) were unloading the very first items off the trailer.

Jack was one of the volunteers last Saturday at the big work day. He has recently retired from the police department in Albuquerque, and now finds himself with a little time on his hands before he starts up with another job in a couple months. We have taken that time and turned it into a torture session of sorts. He has worked like crazy. Thanks, Jack!

A big shout out to one of my mom's best friends, Sharon. Turns out Sharon reads the blog all the time.

As she was driving by, she noticed Max out there setting up so she swung in to say hi.

I then saw Carri hard at it. The lady is one strong cookie. I have had to coach her on hugging me gently because she has come close to breaking my fragile ribs. As strong as Carri is, she's equally kind and helpful. We're so grateful for all she does.

The crew carried on building the perimeter fence. I was near the cars tending to the kiddos as they sat watching a cartoon in Carri's vehicle. We were happy to contain them for a few minutes. The lot sits right at a very busy intersection. Having two four year olds and an almost four year old out there is a little nerve racking, especially with the fence still having gaping holes. Suddenly I see Carri sprinting to her car and announcing, "We have a man down!" (The picture below was taking before the accident.) I run over there lickity split to see this! That would be the bloody scalp of yet another great volunteer, Frank. We met Frank through friends of my mother. Frank has been out to water trees at GG on many occasions, cleaned up lumber, etc. Just today he and Jack built over 25 fence panels for the stand. You know, it just doesn't pay to be super helpful and kind sometimes. Frank was carrying a panel when his legs became entangled. From eye witness accounts, he did a super slow motion fall hitting his head on the gravel and then being hit in the chin by the panel. Poor Frank! I really did make sure he was sort of OK before I started clicking away. The picture below cracks me up. Months and months ago Trish, Max and I took a CPR class. We were taught one of the very first things that we should do is to announce that we know CPR and then send someone for help. That is exactly what Trish is doing here. Yep, she and I are having a laugh about proper procedure as Frank was listening to the bells toll in his head. Although I did absolutely nothing to assist in his care, I did throw my two cents in about a band aid on his head. I voted no. My rationale was that it wasn't really bleeding, so why bother. It would only be painful to remove it later. Clearly my vote didn't matter. The bandage was put on his spikey hair, far away from his lacerated scalp. Can you see it balancing below?

I'm sure he was later cursing Carri's helpful ways when he had to remove it.

The next half hour or so was spent unloading ginormous pieces of lumber off the trailer. I could only take so many pictures before it became obvious I was avoiding a mid afternoon sweat. I got myself in there and participated in the unloading process. No pictures--I was working too hard.

When it was all over, I asked Darren if he would take a group picture of us. I teased him and told him he couldn't be in the picture because he didn't unload any of the wood, I did! He might have been a little intimidated by my camera, but he gave it a shot. Gotta love those clouds.

Thanks, Darren.

Thanks, set up crew! We're off to a rockin' start.