Yesterday we cleaned out a house for the auction...it was soooo hot! We had fans going but we still all looked like we took a dunk in the pond!! We sweated it out though and got all of the house cleaned except some tires in the basement and the garage. The guys will go back tomorrow and clean that out, then in August we'll hold an onsite auction at the farm and sell all the machinery and tractors. That will be me and Dad mostly...Dad to take the pictures and me to take the videos of all the stuff that runs. We're going to have a few crazy months, then it should settle down alittle in October...maybe!! We keep saying that it will but it hasn't happened yet. I think Dad is determined to make it happen this time. I just told him on Wednesday that I'm ready to go to work full time for him. This next year, I won't have a lot of school so I'll be able to do both. I'm tired of playing around and I'm ready to have a purpose to work for.
I took Bannie for a ride when we got home today...he was alittle peppy, but after trotting for a mile straight, he calmed down!! We went about 2 miles and did some loping...even after just that little bit he was tripping by the time we got home...his knee is still hurt pretty bad. Smoke was furious with me 'cause I didn't take her!! A friend of ours that is a farrier came over to look at some of Levi's bunnies, so she looked at the crack in Smoke's hoof and said it isn't a really bad crack, just to watch it.
I've got 29 pages done in the third book....the climax is building!!
Here's some more pictures!
Lauren

I'm on page 27 of the third book. I changed the name to The Stranger & the Lost Mine instead of The Stranger & the Secret Mine because the mine really wasn't a secret, it was lost. I might have to do some reconstructing of the story now!!
I started a new book...again!! I don't have a name for it yet but the story is about a Swedish boy named Anton Nilsson living in Pine Lake Wisconsin with his parents Leif and Elise. He and his sled dogs, Vidar, Malte, Nels, Thore, Torkel, Jerk, and Ludvig are in a race against time as they discover a sick stranger, enter a race and learn what it means to show brotherly love no matter what. Should be an exciting story!!
Today and tomorrow is take in for the auction...Thursday and Friday we are cleaning out a house.
It's been really hot and muggy here....it's supposed to rain here today and tomorrow...first we don't get enough rain, now we have a lot!!
Gotta go help a customer!!
Lauren

We had two sets of twin lambs born last week. I caught one of them and that one was a boy, I don't know what the others are. They are so cute and energetic!! The fox pups were out too, they a getting so big! Won't be long before they're out on their own.
The horses were grazing so I sneaked through the woods to get some pictures of them. The sun was shining just right for some great pictures. My favorite is the one of Smoke's face. She's got a big crack in her hoof we're going to have to take care of.
The wild roses are blooming now. They smell so sweet and are so pretty. There are lots of them in Grandpa's pasture.
We finished an auction yesterday and we're starting another one next week....we've got a huge farm sale coming up in August, hopefully after that one is done things will slow down somewhat.
I have 25 pages done on the first book...I think this one is going to be the best one so far.
It's been really warm the last few day....over 80 most of the time and it's humid too. The kids just got back from swimming and now the boys are going with Grandpa and maybe two of my uncles on a drive around the block so to speak with the old tractors. Levi and I might go for a ride later if it cools down some.
A friend of mine lent me a trick book for horses. Some of the tricks are really interesting. I've tried to teach tricks to Bannie before...he's a little dense!!! Smoke is really smart so I think I'll try some with her. The one I really want to teach is the bow....I can't jump to save my life and since I'm so short, I can't get on the horses bareback without something to stand on...with the bow, it gets them close enough to the ground that I could get on.
Well, I've got to work on my book, enjoy the pictures!!
Lauren

Seth has been playing around with drawing lately...he's actually pretty good at cartoons. He and Levi have been enjoying Garfield. Seth drew this first on paper without looking at a picture, then he drew it again on the computer. I thought it was really good!!
He's pretty embarrassed I'm putting it on here, so if anyone who reads this ever see's him, give him a hard time about it!! That was said in a kind sisterly way of course!!!

The weather was kind of yucky yesterday, but it's beautiful today. Tomorrow through Saturday I'll be working at the auction hall...some loooong days! 
Yesterday, one of Levi's bunnies dug out of her cage on the
ground and got out!! She was right by the road when I spotted her...thankfully, no cars were near by. We caught her after about 20 minutes of chasing. Levi and Mom might be going to look at new rabbits tonight. Levi is switching from Netherland Dwarfs to Dutches. His website is www.dwarfacresrabbitry.weebly.com if you want to see all his rabbits.
Well, I've got to get back to cleaning...hopefully Seth made someone laugh today!!
Lauren

We finally got done picturing and the auction is loading as I type this! Over 13,000 picture this time...it only took us six day to do it!
Today I did some school, weeded the garden and looked for a new spot for the round pen...the spot where it is now gets really muddy after a rain...then I can't use it for several days so we are going to move it to a better spot. Later, I plan to plant some beets and go for a ride on Smoke.
I fixed the excerpt from my book in the previous post, Pictures of the Lotter Funny Farm....now you can read the entire thing!
Tomorrow the farrier is coming to trim Charlie's hooves...hopefully he is a good boy.
It's going to be a crazy couple months around here....we have a huge farm estate to liquidate, plus our normal auction schedule to keep and all the usual farm work. Then in the fall, we'll be starting competitions and...something else MAY happen...it's still in the infant stages of planning....I can't say any more for awhile!!! But it's going to be exciting. I wasn't thrilled about it at first but Dad's excitement has been contagious!
One of Levi's bunnies died today. We're not sure what happened. He is in one of the cages on the ground...I think something might have tried to get him last night and he had a heart attack. Rabbits get fatally frightened very easily. All the baby bunnies are growing fast and are so cute!!
I saw the fox pups again the other day...they are getting big and I think they are starting to go on hunting trips with they're mother. I sure hope Mama fox comes back next year.
Twin lambs were born the other day....the sheep just finished birthing in December but I noticed some of the other ewes are bagging up so I think we may have a second crop of lambs on the way. I caught one of the babies the day before yesterday when it got separated from it's mother...that one was a boy but I still don't know what the other one is. I'm thinking it's a boy too.
The alternator in Dad's truck went out...or rather, is going out...he's on his way out to the shop to fix it, always something going on!!
Well, if I want to plant beets, ride Smoke, work Charlie and edit my book....I'd better end this post!!
Lauren

Hey everyone,
It has been so busy lately!! So many things have been happening.
I've added a lot of pictures to the Photo Gallery page...or you can see them by clicking on the "Read More" link at the bottom of this post.
I've been working a lot with Charlie...he's doing lots better...he's much more confident and he seeks me out for companionship. I think he'll be good by fall.
Well, I did it...Smoke is now my horse. After riding her...I just can't go back to Ban after her energy!! And I'm the only one who rides her...Ban will stick around and be my lover boy!! We'll use him for new riders.
And another "I did it"!! I finished typing my second book!! I'm so excited! Also under the read more link is an excerpt from Chapter 21: Wedding Plans. Hope you enjoy it!
Yesterday we went on the annual tractor drive. It's a bunch of people who love old vintage tractors that get together and drive them about 25 miles and make 3 or 4 stops at places of interest along the way. It's a lot of fun and we always enjoy going. This year, Dad, Seth and Grandpa were all driving. We have a trailer that Dad pulls behind his tractor for us to ride on. It's kind of like a parade...people stop their cars alongside the road and come out of their house to wave at us.
After we got home from that, we went down to Lavonia to Relay for LIfe that my mom's side of the family is involved in. We stayed there until one a.m., and got home and two-thirty a.m. Then, since we intended to go to church in Ohio...we got up at six a.m. only to have the truck not start...so we ended up staying home. Now both of our vehicles have a major issues. Dad is taking the truck in tomorrow to get overhauled...I don't know what we are doing with the van yet.
We got a new goat..Micky. I don't have a picture of him..he is a wether, we got him just for a companion goat.
The boys got Dad a skeet thrower for father's day....they used it this afternoon with Uncle Greg. Lydia got Dad a shirt that says "Trust Me, I'm the Dad!" And I got him one that says, "D.A.D.D, Dads Against Daughters Dating!" He got a kick out of that one!!
In the pictures below are some of Smoke...she has the new Circle Y saddle on that Dad got me. And in the pictures of Charlie...that is the new roundpen I got. I'm one spoiled girl!
Well, I think this post is long enough!
We're going  to have a busy week this week...it's picture week...I don't know when I'll have time to write again but this should tide you over!!
Lauren

I can hardly believe it's June already! This year is half way over. Seems like just a week or two or go there was snow on the ground!!
We are at home today since it's Saturday....I'm planning on working on my book, riding 2 or 3 of the horses and planting the garden.
I'm on Chapter 19 in the second book: Heather's Garden. Here's a little bit from the first page: 
    Now they were all lingering over their coffee after breakfast.
   "Did you have any plans for the day, Daniel?" Clint asked, picking up another biscuit.
   Daniel shook his head. "No, I don't. All my work is caught up
right now."
   "Then I'd like you to take the buckboard into town and pick up these items for me." Clint said, taking a piece of paper from his pocket and laying it on the table. "Stop by the bunkhouse before you leave and see if Grubby needs anything."
   "Alright." Daniel picked up the paper, studied it a moment, then gave a Clint a questioning look.
    Clint grinned. "Make sure you get all the items."
    "Sure." A smile tugged at the corners of Daniel's mouth and his eyes twinkled as he tucked the paper into his vest pocket and headed for the door.
   "What was that about, Clint?" Jessica asked curiously.
    "Oh, nothing." Clint drank the last of his coffee, then leaned back in his chair. "What do you say we all ride down to Heather's Garden. I don't believe you've been there yet, Jessica. The snow is almost gone and we should find a few early flowers. What d' you say?"       
   "Yes!" Amy cried. "I haven't been there in such a long time.
Hmm...what was on the paper Clint handed to Daniel?? You'll have to wait to find out!!
I've got to get busy writing the rest of the story!!
Lauren