This was displayed for the happy couple in the entrance to the reception hall.Sunday, March 22
Crafton Stephens Wedding
My childhood friend and now coworker Ashley Crafton became Ashley Stephens this past weekend. The wedding was held at Mathews Manner in Springville, Ala. It was such a sweet ceremony and I loved seeing all my friends from the University Church of Christ there!
This was displayed for the happy couple in the entrance to the reception hall.
This was displayed for the happy couple in the entrance to the reception hall.Wednesday, March 18
Introduction to the SawGrass Horses
I have put a halt on labeling which horse is which in the pictures I have posted b/c it's tiresome! So let me introduce you to the SawGrass horses for future reference... I'll let you know all their names too... it can get confusing! :)
Whiskey is fairly new to SawGrass so he only has one name. His owner, Allen, is good friends with my family and boards his 2 horses (Full Throttle is his other horse) at SawGrass and lets us ride them! :) Whiskey is one of the oldest horses, I feel comfortable putting just about anybody on him.
Dapple Grey (aka Sundance or just Grey) is for a more confident rider. He use to be the most dominant horse at SawGrass and I didn't ride him much b/c he's a PILL to catch but the last few times we have ridden him he's been excellent!! He has a fabulous gait!
Comet (aka V6) is the only horse that survived the colic of 2007, when we lost 3 of our horses (Pretty Boy, Blaze and Seminole). :( I am so happy he is better b/c anyone can ride him as long as Full Throttle isn't with us (you'll meet him shortly)!
Whiskey is fairly new to SawGrass so he only has one name. His owner, Allen, is good friends with my family and boards his 2 horses (Full Throttle is his other horse) at SawGrass and lets us ride them! :) Whiskey is one of the oldest horses, I feel comfortable putting just about anybody on him.

Dapple Grey (aka Sundance or just Grey) is for a more confident rider. He use to be the most dominant horse at SawGrass and I didn't ride him much b/c he's a PILL to catch but the last few times we have ridden him he's been excellent!! He has a fabulous gait!

Comet (aka V6) is the only horse that survived the colic of 2007, when we lost 3 of our horses (Pretty Boy, Blaze and Seminole). :( I am so happy he is better b/c anyone can ride him as long as Full Throttle isn't with us (you'll meet him shortly)!
Buddy is my horse from back in the day! He turned 22 this past February. :) I have so many memories with Buddy riding in the woods behind our old house in Loganwood along with my other horse Buttermilk who died in 2003. :( I think only Papa and I can get him in his saddle gait now-a-days but anyone can ride him!

Full Throttle (aka Tyler's Horse) only knows one speed! I have only ridden him when all the horses were being ridden and he is a WORKOUT!! Basically you have to hold him back the entire time you are riding him. I let him go full speed one time and while it was a fun rush, I saw my life flash before my eyes!! :) He does love to be ridden, is easy to catch and loves on you when you step into the pasture.

Cisco (aka Palomino and Heidi) had a badly infected cut on his leg and foundered (which means REALLY sick, should have died) a few months ago and is still in recovery! Papa is going to give him another month to recuperate and then we can start riding him again. Cisco is everyones favorite horse! He's on the same level as Comet, anyone can ride him. He is easy to get in a saddle gait but is ADD and trips A LOT! :)
He is really affectionate and was a total camera hog so here are his glam shots! :)

I also forgot to take a pic of Black Jack so here is a profile shot while I was riding him. Black Jack is young and still doesn't know much. He was a pasture horse and had not been ridden until we bought him (he kinda came with Red). The first time I rode him I had to start with the basics! He is still a little "stupid" and jumps at any little thing that makes a noise in the woods but is really sweet and has a fair gait. I really enjoy the challenge he brings!

Full Throttle (aka Tyler's Horse) only knows one speed! I have only ridden him when all the horses were being ridden and he is a WORKOUT!! Basically you have to hold him back the entire time you are riding him. I let him go full speed one time and while it was a fun rush, I saw my life flash before my eyes!! :) He does love to be ridden, is easy to catch and loves on you when you step into the pasture.
Full Throttle sticking his tongue out at me! :P

Cisco (aka Palomino and Heidi) had a badly infected cut on his leg and foundered (which means REALLY sick, should have died) a few months ago and is still in recovery! Papa is going to give him another month to recuperate and then we can start riding him again. Cisco is everyones favorite horse! He's on the same level as Comet, anyone can ride him. He is easy to get in a saddle gait but is ADD and trips A LOT! :)
He is really affectionate and was a total camera hog so here are his glam shots! :)

Red (aka Blaze Jr.) has taken the role of most dominant horse! He is Papa's favorite horse and Papa doesn't like me to talk bad about Red but he can be so nasty! For example he took a big chunk out of Black Jack's neck while we were talking during our ride, poor Black Jack was bleeding. MEAN! (I forgot to take a picture of Red on Saturday so here is a pic of him with Leah a few months ago)

I also forgot to take a pic of Black Jack so here is a profile shot while I was riding him. Black Jack is young and still doesn't know much. He was a pasture horse and had not been ridden until we bought him (he kinda came with Red). The first time I rode him I had to start with the basics! He is still a little "stupid" and jumps at any little thing that makes a noise in the woods but is really sweet and has a fair gait. I really enjoy the challenge he brings!

Read all the adventures of Whiskey, Grey, Comet, Buddy, Full Throttle, Cisco, Red and Black Jack in future and past posts! :)
Tuesday, March 17
Dinner at SawGrass and Big Fish
After our ride, untacking the horses, washing down the horses, worming the horses, and changing in to some more comfortable clothes we gathered under Papa's new porch roof and awaited the chicken Papa was smoking for us.
Codie and Wes
Leah
Papa telling us about his experiences with a pedicure appointment Mom set up for him. He has extremely ticklish feet so he would jump when ever she touched his feet. He asked his pedicurist if she has ever known anyone more ticklish and in her broken English she said No, no and giggled then started talking to her pedicurist neighbors in Chinese… I wonder what they say? :)
Tyler (middle) and his friends, Caleb and Robin after fishing in the Big Catfish Pond in the back of the property. Check out the 6 pounder in Tyler's left hand! WOW!! :)
Meow is a hunter! We have had little to no problems with mice since Papa brought him to the farm a little over a year ago.
Codie and Wes
Leah
Papa telling us about his experiences with a pedicure appointment Mom set up for him. He has extremely ticklish feet so he would jump when ever she touched his feet. He asked his pedicurist if she has ever known anyone more ticklish and in her broken English she said No, no and giggled then started talking to her pedicurist neighbors in Chinese… I wonder what they say? :)
Tyler (middle) and his friends, Caleb and Robin after fishing in the Big Catfish Pond in the back of the property. Check out the 6 pounder in Tyler's left hand! WOW!! :)
Meow is a hunter! We have had little to no problems with mice since Papa brought him to the farm a little over a year ago.Monday, March 16
A Wet SawGrass and a Tombstone
One murky late Saturday morning Leah and I headed to Tuscaloosa to meet Codie and Wes at Taco Casa for some yummy lunch (two combo burritos with extra sour cream, sopapias and a large Mt. Dew). Papa called while we were waiting to let us know that he was for sure going to join us for our ride. YEAH!! I love riding with Papa b/c he always takes us off the trails (I wish I could do this more but I have no sense of direction and don't know the land near as well as he does).
After getting the horses saddled up and ready we headed west for the day's ride.
Wes, Papa, Leah and Codie
The horses taking a breather.
Part of the original tombstone is that buried light rock covering the date. The tombstone was replaced with the original inscription a few years ago. It reads "In memory of Anthony, a faithful servant and an honest man, died April 26, 1862." Because there is no last name on the tombstone and the servant reference we came up with our own conclusion that this is where a slave of this plantation beside SawGrass was buried.
After getting the horses saddled up and ready we headed west for the day's ride.
Wes, Papa, Leah and CodieAfter riding a ways Papa asked if we'd like to take a break and see something he found pretty recently off the beaten path.
The horses taking a breather.Although Gainesville, AL is not a big city today it is in the Black Belt and before the Civil War it was very prosperous with many plantations. Within the acres of SawGrass there are 2 slave houses that are still standing.
[A bit of history; Gainesville, AL is where the last Confederate army surrendered, weeks after Lee had surrendered and Lincoln had been assassinated. ]
Part of the original tombstone is that buried light rock covering the date. The tombstone was replaced with the original inscription a few years ago. It reads "In memory of Anthony, a faithful servant and an honest man, died April 26, 1862." Because there is no last name on the tombstone and the servant reference we came up with our own conclusion that this is where a slave of this plantation beside SawGrass was buried.A rough marked map of where we went.
To be continued...
Friday, March 13
A Hardy Boy Arrives
Justin and Whitney Hardy are the proud parents of
Hayes Scott Hardy
Hayes Scott Hardy
Birthday: March 12, 2009
Time of Arrival: 10:47 a.m.
Weighing in at: 8 lbs 2 ozs
Length: 19 inches
Hair: Curly Blonde


Welcome to the World! :)
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Papa cooked us a delicious meal! Smoked chicken, cabbage, potato, baby carrots and buttered garlic bread... my mouth is watering just reminiscing our yummy dinner!
















