Guest Blogger's Bob and Brenda Ammons

I would like to welcome guest bloggers Bob and Brenda Ammons! More "famously" known as Molly Shakespear's humans, Bob and Brenda are attending Columbia Mule Days, and were nice enough to keep us updated on what's going on over there: 

LARRY THE CABLE GUY AND AMAZING GRACE

On Wednesday morning, Brenda and I met our good friends, Bill and Helen Eyre from Shelburn, Ind., at a truck stop on Interstate 24 in West Kentucky. We than traveled to Columbia, Tenn. for Columbia Mule Days. After our experience there last year, we knew we were in for another fantastic time. After an  outstanding meal at Stan's Restaurant, we drove to the check-in cabin where we were warmly greeted by Harvey Spann and shown to our camp site.

 

It's 10 a.m., on Thursday morning at Columbia Mule Days. And the log loading contest is underway. Larry the Cable Guy is assisting the first team and of course the crowd is being very encouraging by yelling GIT-ER-DONE. Larry did a surprisingly good job of assisting with only one mistake.  While holding the reins to the mule used to roll the logs onto the wagon, he turned to the crowd and said that he had the most important job, holding the HORSE!

It's now noon and time to decide on which of the many concession stand to stop at for lunch, they all looked very appetizing.

With lunch under our belts Brenda and Helen inform us its time to check out the flea market. Bill and I knew this would be very time consuming as there were so many.

At 2 p.m., we are back in the bleachers to watch Amazing Grace preform her tricks. This little molly mule does everything from pushing a baby buggy to dunking a basket ball. She even has a staring role in the soon to be released movie "Get Low" with Robert Duvall.

The mule race started around 5 p.m. and it was interesting to me that the shortest mule in the race was the fastest. 

Several other timed events followed.

Once again Columbia Mule Days is an event you just don't want to miss. Thursday's events have been

 great we can hardly wait for Friday to get here.

--Bob and Brenda Ammons

 

Easter Egg Hunt at NASMA Congress

This past Sunday, while we were at the NASMA Congress, the show staff hosted an Easter egg hunt for the little ones before the trail class. I had just walked in to the arena (I was in the next class) and got it on my iphone. These kids were super cute.

I guess I should have been practicing for trail instead of watching this, though... Or more specifically, talking to my mule about how it is not OK to eat the fake plants on the course. Oh, well.

--Cori

More Changes...

This ad is in the April issue (which we just got yesterday and will go in the mail tomorrow). Though the changes won't take effect for a while, I am trying to prepare myself.

This change will get magazines to subscribers more efficiently. We always say that if you haven't received your magazine by the 25th of the month, give us a call, and we will replace it for you. Well, that means that if your magazine gets lost in the mail, and we have to send you a new one, you could possibly not get your magazine until the last few days of the month. This way, everyone is getting their magazines quicker and has more time to plan to attend events, which helps our advertisers out, too.

Basically, I will have ten fewer days to put together the July issue. I'm hoping I will be OK.

We are leaving for the NASMA Congress in Tulsa, OK., at 5 a.m. tomorrow morning. Hoosier is clipped and is a beautiful dun color right now. He is almost unrecognizable. Still cute, though. He has had a blanket and sleazy on, but the past few days, it's been to warm for that.

--Cori

Camri and Ellie Mae

Camri is giving Blazin' Blue a "break," and has been riding Ellie Mae, a mule my dad has in to sell. Camri and "Smelly" Mae have been getting along great. They've been coming along when Hoosier and I ride before work, and have mastered crossing creeks, ditches and logs, as well as trotting circles and backing.

I haven't had a lot of experience around white mules, but I am thinking if Camri is going to ride her very often, we need to find a blanket for her to wear when she's turned out. If she is even a little bit dirty, she looks filthy!

What are you doing with your mules and donkeys this spring? Send in your photos so you can share with other long-ear lovers! Don't forget to send your New Arrival photos, either!

--Cori

Uh Oh...

The Postal Service is once again talking about dropping their Saturday service. I hope they don't because that would mean four more days a month in which our magazines sit still during the mailing process:
Postal Problems: Cutbacks Imminent - ABC News

Since just thinking about that stresses me out, I decided to include something "Postal Service" related that makes me happy, a video from one of my favorite groups, The Postal Service. The vocalist, Ben Gibbard, is the vocalist for one of my other favorite groups, Death Cab for Cutie, who I've seen in concert numerous times. I have a huge crush on Ben, but he recently married one of my other favorite people, Zooey Daschanel, so I am OK with him being taken. Zooey was in Elf, one of my favorite movies. Also, on a kind of odd note, Zooey's sister, Emily, is the lead character in one of my favorite TV shows, Bones. I recently became borderline obsessed with that show. I even convinced Camri to watch it with me a few times. I think she should know that there are cool scientists out there.
The Postal Service - Such Great Heights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH-ltD8XJE4

IT'S GONE!

The March 2010 issue of Mules and More is now at the printers. Thank goodness it is finally gone.

It might seem that the only time I ever post anything is right after we are finished with the magazine, and if you thought that, you would be correct. It seems that the only time I have five seconds to do something non-layout and non-copy editing related is the week after the last issue is at the printer.

I spent today doing web design. After the dreadful PC crash that wiped out all the programs on our computer, I thought I would try the trial version of Web Expressions 3 available online, so I spent the whole day testing it out. I previously only had Web Expression 2, but I think I like the new version better.


Check out the website for an updated calendar of events, new classifieds, and new picture page ads. I also posted the front cover story from the February 2010 issue.
I also added a new item to the M&M store, the 2010 Surrounded by Asses calendar. It's on sale for $14!

I feel a little better about life thinking that spring is around the corner. We have started planning trips, which helps a little bit. So far, I've got the NASMA Congress in Tulsa in April, Jake Clark Days in June, and the Great Celebration in July on the books. Also, it looks like my brother, my friend Amie, and I will be road-tripping to Chicago in July to see my favorite band Modest Mouse play at an outdoor festival. Ah, hurry up spring...

I hope everyone has received their February issues and is enjoying the jack and breeding related articles. If you haven't received yours by the 25th (Thursday), give us a call and we will get you another one sent out.

--Cori

Denver Stock Show - Day 3

Here is a quick recap from Sunday's mule and donkey events at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colo.

A ride and drive contestant.

Sage Pier running Reba in the open keyhole class.

The exhibitors in the final line up for Amateur western pleasure.

This stable must be a big deal, because every time I watched them show, they placed first. This is from the 6-Up Hitch, but I watched them in win in the ladies cart class that had over 25 contestants in it!

The only mule team to make it to the finals in the feed race, Pearl & Nellie, shown by Tom Mowery and owned by Bruce & Terri Wagner of Keenesburg, CO. They placed third out of the numerous mule and draft horse teams to compete.

Monica Bishop and Judiciass, Open High Point winner.

Be sure to look in March's issue of Mules and More for complete coverage and results from the National Western Stock Show!

--Cori