April 2010 Wing Spur Picnic

I hoped to be back earlier than this, but between thunderstorms messing with our internet and a pinched nerve that is causing extreme arm pain when I try to get on the computer to type, it just hasn't worked out. We plan to go back to Emory to my "local" neurologist soon. They think scar tissue from spinal and brain surgeries is the culprit. Living on pain pills that aren't working real well is causing me to opt for scheduling soon. We go to CA for Excy's heart surgery the week of July 19....



The WS picnic/fundraiser was a success and a hugely fun day! Two weeks previous was crunch time for moving hay, cleaning the pavilion, getting invitations sent email or addressed snail-mail...Pulling off a picnic/fundraiser takes a lot of volunteers. People to move round bales, mow the pasture, shovel manure, clean the area, etc. A local TV personality came out and interviewed Excy Tuesday before the picnic for the news. The portapot arrived. Someone found a brewry to donate a keg. We got two young volunteers to work the gates the day of the event. We bought provisions and supplies. I cleaned the house. Oh yeah, and taxes were due that week and we were also in the process of figuring out where and when to have Excy's surgery. His son Corey arrived from Chicago to help, got sick, and slept for 48 hrs., but after visitng the dr. for antibodiacs felt well enough to be of tremedous help. Around 3:30 a.m. the Thursday before the picnic, I fell in bed and asked Excy if he had ever heard of hot dogs or hamburgers, but half in jest because we really did want to offer something special. This was the menu: Friend Gary grilled lamb he had marinated and cut into thin strips. Rosemary made a gallon of Tziziki we served with pita bread and vegetables. I made a Greek salad of cucumbers, romaine hearts, kalamata olives, tomato, feta cheese and red onion and used the red wine vinegar from Italy I had bought over Christmas. Mom and I made five pans of Moussaka. Our Greek friend Mary made four huge pans of baklava and sent a bottle of Ouzo. (I overheard a guest say they couldn't feel their tongue after a swig).

The mustangs must've known what the picnic was all about. Several times they thundered up to the pavilion and ran around it, thrilling the crowd and providing quite a photo opportunity. It could not have been better choreographed. We had over 50 guests, and the weather was perfect - no rain, overcast and cool. Even the beaver came out of his lodge and paddled around the pond. I guess all the thundering around by the horses made him curious. (He slapped his tail at someone who got too close to his lodge).





Excy welcoming guests

Excy and Corey

Yeah, I'm tired, and the excellent RoRo (Rosemary). That's my beautiful niece Sarah on the right


Gary at the grill

Most everyone was gone by 3 p.m., and the last left by 6 p.m. I finished cleaning by 8 p.m. After such a heavy noon-time meal we ate sandwiches and watched TCM's Strangers on a Train, one of the best of Hitchcock. We met our goal of raising enough for the vet bill, and plan to have an autumn fest to help with the hay bill over the winter. We found a blue-grass band who'll play for free! If we get more successful at this in the future we hope to finish the almost-completed cabin we plan to rent out for guests by the week or for the weekend. We dream of buying land behind us to support more wild horses, as they are being forced off their land out west. Also we dream of buying a chute so the round-up would be easier on horse and man.