Books in the Barn – From Four Sticks Farm

Another fun afternoon with some horse-loving young readers. This month, newcomer Katelin joined Allisen, Ana, Brenna, Erin, MaKenna, Nevaeh and Sofia. The day was extra special, as it was Brenna’s birthday, and I was honored that she chose to spend part of her day with us.

We read a second story about Keeker and her pony Plum, with an extended version of our “Wheel of Keeker” to review what we’d read. Next month, we’ll switch gears to meet Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa.

The readers decorated their own personal notebooks — impressive creations from everybody – and we celebrated Brenna’s birthday with cupcakes, granola bars and juice boxes.

Winter isn’t giving up easily, so we spent only a short time in the barn, learning how to halter a horse, and, of course, the now-routine brushing and braiding. Helpers Addi, Ane and Jaimie teamed up with Rusty, Biskit and Chicago to help the girls practice haltering, with Jaimie facing the biggest challenge – keeping Chicago on task, as the hay in his stall offered a nearly irresistible temptation, given that his job was to lower his head to little-girl level, which is just this side of hay-flake height. But Jaimie convinced him to cooperate, for which the Handsome Horse was rewarded with the laying-on of loving little hands, and lots of carrots. He’s got a good job…

After a long winter’s hiatus, our monthly book club for kids, Books in the Barn, finally met again.

Several of our regulars returned this month, Ana, Bella, Brenna, Erin, MaKenna, Nevaeh and Sofia, along with newcomer Paige. We started the year by reading “Keeker and the Sneaky Pony” a story of an eight year old girl and the pony who becomes hers, if only a little reluctantly. We’ll read several more books about Keeker and Plum this year, along with a few “Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa” another fun series about girls and the horses they love.

Again this year, I am lucky to be assisted by some of the best help on either end of the “Cool Spectrum” – my mom Jackie (a Very Cool Grandma) along with the Teenage Coolness of niece Jaimie, and friends Ane and Addi. I could not do this without them.

We added a new “Wheel of Keeker” game to review the story, and add some fun games to the program as the year progresses.

As usual, the horses ended the day on the happiest note, and though the temperature kept their part of the program a little brief this month, Biskit, Chicago and Rusty voted this Horse Activity their Very Favorite Ever.

Actually, Biskit tried to vote twice, but Rusty, being Boss of the Barn, strictly enforces the “One Horse, One Vote” rule. He detected the duplicate ballot and easily traced it back to Biskit, based on a smear of molasses that matched the smudge on Biskit’s muzzle. Case Closed.