MARTIN DRAFTS

Dear Friends,

I want to start off by apologizing for neglecting my posting duties to this site. I got caught up in the "Facebook" socializing and updated our site thru there. But I didn't even keep that up as well as I should! So, one of my New Year's resolutions is to do better about keeping up the information on our sites. As my friends and members, you all have my permission to keep me on track and scold me as needed!! LOL!

Here is my attempt to get back on track. We have had a good bit happen around here since I last posted. We have met several new members and have done qiuet a bit of one on one training. It has been very enjoyable. We have met some really nice people that I hope we can continue to be friends with for a long time. We have also been downsizing some due to some health problems in the family. We still have a few more of the Belgians that need good homes if anyone is interested. But just because we have downsized does not mean we are getting out of the business! We are still training and taking the mules/horses and wagons out when asked. One of our many "parties" that we did this Fall was for a wonderful, fun packed afternoon for a Halloween/ Fall Festival for a family that we have known for a long while. The Matriarch and Patriarch had ALL of their children, (which are living all over the Southeast) in for the party, as well as all of the grandchildren, their friends, and surrounding neighbors to attend. They had a traditional old timey Halloween party! It was so much fun. They had bobbing for apples, pumpkin carving, sack races, and so much more.They have a gorgeous farm with several hundred acres to enjoy riding on. The weather was perfect. We took our newest, biggest team of black mules and pulled the crowd around in the wagon from lunchtime til after supper. It was an afternoon packed with fun, and we were TIRED OUT when we got home. But we enjoy that so much. A lot of the kids were "city" kids and had never seen a mule before. It is such a treat to introduce someone to the animals and teach them something about the older times. I have some really good pictures that I will post.

We have also tried to do a good bit more trail riding when the weather has been nice and we have been up to it physically. (I will try to get the photos of some of these rides on here also) We have a good size group that gets together at different places and just rides for the enjoyment of it. We would love to have others join us if anyone is interested. If you want to be notified of the times and places when and where we go, drop me an email and I will be glad to let you know. Now sometimes, it might be a spur of the moment thing. But no matter when or where, I will let you know by phone, text, or email and you are totally welcome. The more the merrier!!!! We have had some really great times and have seen some beautiful countryside. We have had such good weather this year. It has been not too hot, and not too cold... just right for riding. I know we are just now getting into the colder weather and we may not be able to go as much, but we will continue to go as long as the weather holds and as long as we are able.

A bit of sad news before I sign off. Back before Christmas, we had to put down the very first Belgian mare that we ever owned. She was 29 years old and her body just gave out. She was so full of love even to the very end. Athena had quite a history here and we were extremely sad to see her go. As I said, she was our first Belgian mare; she was the mare that kicked David in the heart and gave our family such a breathtaking testimony, and she brought joy to another family that had lost their first child by sharing a child of her own. That is a story within itself. One that I will share at a later time with you all. R.I.P. Athena and thank you for the many many memories...

As I have kept you forever trying to catch up, I guess it is time for me to sign off. I will do my best to not go this long again. I hope all of you keep all of YOUR New Year's resolutions and I pray that each of you have a safe, healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year!! GOD BLESS!!!!