Ah Shucks!

I mentioned earlier in the week how we loved this sweet family. Look at the incredibly kind things they had to say.

Why Galloping Grace Brings PURE JOY:

Andrea: age 10
“Galloping Grace is a very special ranch. I like it because it is a good learning experience for kids, also it will help kids with their jobs when they get older. I love Galloping Grace because there is more than one thing to do. It is a REALLY FUN place to go all the time. Who says life on the ranch can’t be fun? I love the ranch and all the people and horses there. I hope when you are looking for a next riding camp you will choose this one. I know I liked it from the start. My time there was awesome and I hope yours is to. Max and Michelle are the best.”

Mom: age ??
I feel so lucky to have discovered Galloping Grace Youth Ranch. My children could not get enough of the ranch this summer. They actually got up by themselves to get ready. If only I could get them to do that for school! I agree with Thomas, Max and Michelle are just really good people! Not only do my kids benefit from interacting with horses, they are outdoors, contributing to the work that needs to be done in caring for the horses. They are participating in volunteering their time to benefit the horses and other children in a Christian setting. They even gave Max (most of) their hard earned allowance at the end of the summer to help feed the horses. Where else can children have these experiences and learn these valuable lessons? I am always touched when Max submits a post about a particular therapeutic horse moment which was provided to a child or teen from being at the ranch. These experiences, great or small, can truly be life-changing memories for the children and adults involved. All the volunteers at the ranch do so much to ensure the kids are safe and having fun. I can’t thank you guys enough for the privilege of benefiting from your vision! We are so lucky to have your family, friends and ranch as part of our life!

Thomas: age 12
“I love going to Galloping Grace because it’s REALLY FUN! There is so much neat stuff. You get to ride horses, scoop poop, groom horses, chase lizards, and play with everyone. Everyone is so nice. It’s way better than computer games because there’s lots of activities and never boring. Max and Michelle are so nice and fun. They are just really good people.”

Super Sunday

Good morning to you! I just woke up from another nap on the couch. Compulsive me finds it necessary to post something, no matter how brief. Please find it in your hearts to forgive me. Now for some random snippets from a most successful day pushing pumpkins.


A big thanks to Misha, Trish, Renee, Rebekah, Andrea, Thomas, and Donna for helping out today. Did I leave anyone out? If so, I'm pulling the 1:15 in the morning excuse. Valid, right? Thanks also to Carri, Alex, Gabriel, Jaden, and Amber for taking care of things at Galloping Grace. We just love poop scoopers!


The first customers I saw when I showed up today were the wonderful Ms. Patti and her patient hubby, Jess. Ms. Patti was one of the teachers in Claire's kindergarten class last year. I love the lady! She is so much fun! I think I acted a little goofy when I saw them, but I don't know if Ms. Patti would expect anything less from me. They were just returning from a weekend get a way to San Diego and thought they'd stop by and say hi.

Garrett's teacher Ms. Robinson and her friend also came by. It was busy while she was there so I forgot to snap her picture. Kicking myself now, but I think I'll get over it. Ms. Robinson, thanks for visiting--you made Garrett's day!


Call me crazy...

but I don't think this guy's gonna sell!

In last night's post, I mentioned we received some hail at the stand. If you look closely you can see the hail damage done to this particular pumpkin. Many more experienced a similar fate. I joked with customers all day that we would not charge extra for it.
Max said the had quite a few customers this morning who were digging the added character.
This is Andrea, Terri and Thomas. Andrea and Thomas were regulars at GG this summer. The kids worked all day at the stand. Andrea asked me several times if she could help when she saw me lugging more pumpkins out of the boxes. She also did a heck of a job cashing people out. It turns out Thomas is a natural with the customers. On several occasions I heard him informing them what made a good pumpkin, offering up raffle tickets for a quilt we're auctioning, or helping some child in the Kiddie Corral. Those two are welcome back to help any time!

Since I've shown you Terri, I feel the need to brag on her for a minute. She is a hard working, single mom who does such a great job with her children! The three of them showed up the day we arrived with the pumpkins ready and willing to unload. Terri called Max a couple days after that asking if we open to see if we needed any help selling that day. Max informed her that we weren't open quite yet, but that we were unloading another trailer if she'd like to participate. After working a couple hours helping us move the orange beauties, she let me know she had already run 3 miles that morning, had an HOUR LONG massage, and taken a shower. What a good sport ruining the benefits of a massage to lend a hand! Terri, thanks so much! If any of you thing she looks familiar, she's also the one who set up and helped teach the CPR class Trish, Max, Erin and I took a couple months ago.

Finally, Carri and Alex's son Gabriel. I LOVE him! He usually loves me back but today he was in need of a nap. That will happen when you miss yours because your parents are volunteering at some crazy ranch! After they left there, they stopped by the pumpkin patch for a bit. Gabriel sure was happy up on Seabiscuit. Seabiscuit was one of the two horses last donated to GG. He is proving to be a great addition to the herd! He gave pony rides all day and did a wonderful job. I could tell he wasn't used to having the paparazzi all up in his grill because he flinched a couple times when the flash went off in his face. It was nothing more that a moment's hesitation, but he was a little leery. You would think the other horses would have warned him by now.

Now that I'm wide awake, I'll end this. If you are sick and tired of hearing about all things pumpkin, take comfort in the fact we're nearing the half way mark. Also, be happy for us that we made $900 today!! Not too shabby, I'd say. Much plaudits to all our volunteers!

My lovely Lisa, I forgot to thank you for the yummy cupcakes and cookies you dropped by the stand yesterday. Thanks so much!

In looking back, I have discovered that this post isn't so brief after all. Have yourself a terrific week!

Now We Know

Sunday greetings!

Saturday morning Max, Trish, Cowgirl Erin, and I attended a CPR class taught by two ladies named Jeana and Terri. Terri is the mother of Andrea and Thomas, GG regulars. She had asked Max to let her know if there was anything she could do to say thanks for having her kids out this summer. Max asked if she knew anyone who gave CPR lessons at the hospital where she worked. Score for us--Terri volunteered herself and her good friend Jeana to do the honors.

These two ladies gave up their Saturday morning to teach us the ropes. That's Terri on the left and Jeana on the right. Trish and Erin both wanted to have a refresher course. I hadn't had training since I took a college course back in the days. Max had a few when he had the plumbing and heating company, but he needed to be recertified for insurance purposes.

It looks like Max also needs to be refreshed on how to properly hold an infant. Geez, honey.

I just love this picture of Andrea seen in the background. She thought it was a hoot watching Cowboy Max trying to revive a real dummy. Thomas took matters into his own hands. These two kids have been a so much fun. Max has loved working with them and watching them grow in their horse skills. Terri and Jeana, thank you so much for our very private, very perfect CPR and first aide training. While I would like to extol the great way you presented the class, I think I speak for the group when I say I hope we never have to use a single thing you taught us!