Midnnight Skye

There are times in your life where material things do not matter at all. That lovely coat - your mother gave you.. all white and furry like a stuffed animal. The one with the silk lining... you remember the one...

but there it is -- laying over a shivering colt - wet and muddy - there are times that material things only have value for what they are... a coat. Beauty and design have no value.

When a bathtub is filled with an inch of dirt as you try to recover the internal temperature of a gasping foal - in a tub of hot water. Muddy water all over the walls and tiles and carpet - crying in the doorway as you wait for the foal to warm or die...in your husband and son in laws strong arms. Towels all muddy as you dry the baby... and rub his newly warmed skin as he attempts to stand.

When the worshop that has been so carefully prepared for Christmas company becomes the intensive care unit for your little treasure....and you rejoice when the baby pees in the middle of the floor...twice, to start......

Clothes all smelly and dribbled with goats milk - smiles of joy when you get up in the mddle of the night and he is standing - being inpatient for his feeding.

These are the things that matter.

Legend

Skyes story

Saturday night, December 20th was a very cold and windy night here in southwest Missouri. Unfortunately one of our mares decided that it would be a good time to deliver her foal and she dropped him on the ground in the midst of an icy wind and 13 degree temperatures at 7:00 PM. Fortunately my wife went to check on her and found the foal before he froze to death. We covered the baby with our coats and put him in the back of the pickup and took him to the barn for shelter and to get him warmed up. After half an hour our so, we recognized that he was freezing to death and was not going to survive. From my experience dairy farming, I remembered how we used to thaw out frozen calves, so we carried the baby to the house (my mother's house actually since it was closer) and put him in a bathtub of warm water. Within half an hour he was enlivened and began to try to stand up. We got him out of the tub and with towels and hair dryer we got him dried off. He struggled to stand but we took him back to the barn and his mother to see if we could get him to nurse. Unfortunately the cold proved too much for him and in a short while he could no longer stand up. Thankfully the mother was calm enough for me to milk out some of her first milk which the baby needed to survive. If you can picture me in a dark, cold barn, reaching under an upset and nervous 2000 pound horse to squeeze some milk into a measuring cup, I am sure that would have been a funny site, but we were on a mission to save the baby. With a wine bottle full of first milk, we loaded the baby back in the pickup and with our coats covering him and me holding him down we drove to our studio where we put him down on the carpet. We had done some preparation for such an event and we had a lamb nipple for the wine bottle and we got the little fellow to drink some milk. We fed him the milk every 10 -15 minutes and as he got warmed up and some energy from the milk he was able to stand on his own. Things were looking up but by 1:00 AM we were out of milk, and his mother was in no mood to be milked again, being very upset at having her baby taken away. Although I gave it a shot, it was unsuccessful, her snorting sounding a lot like I imagine a dragon would sound and those giant hooves didn't look to friendly as they slashed around. A quick search on the internet gave us goat's milk as an acceptable substitute for mare's milk and Apryl was quickly off to our 24 hour Wal-Mart for several cans of condensed goat's milk. The foal drank the goat's milk just fine and grew stronger through the night, as we fed him about every hour. My son had put his bed out in our studio so we had a place to nap while taking turns feeding the baby. After 2 days of round the clock feeding, we thought he was strong enough to go see his mother. Fortune was not with us in this case though because by that time she was confused and would not accept him. So we settled in to celebrating Christmas, with all our family at our house and Apryl and I sleeping with the foal and feeding him every 2 hours round the clock as well as cooking Christmas dinner and all the usual family stuff. It was tiresome but we watched him grow stronger each day, still uncertain he would survive. After we had gone through over 100 cans of condensed goat's milk, we decided to try some milk replacer. The first product we tried did not work out but we finally found a product that did work and began to transition the baby to milk replacer. As he grew stronger, we moved him out of the studio into a small pen with one of our mares that loves foals, even if they aren't hers. She has been watching over the little one and teaching him horse behavior, while Apryl and I have continued to feed him every 2 hours, day and night. Recently another internet search provided an alternative feeding method called an Igloo Mamma, which is an Igloo water cooler, spigot removed and replaced with a pipe and lamb nipple, which can hold several feedings of milk and allow the foal to nurse whenever he likes. A quick trip to our local farm supply store and we were set. It took nearly a day of us attending the feedings, guiding the baby to his new igloo mamma, but he now nurses it without prompting, is growing well and has enough energy to kick at us if he is unhappy. Last night Apryl and I only had to get up twice to make sure the milk was warm enough and verify the baby was eating. The baby is now 2 weeks old and doing very well.

It has been a trying time, but we had hope and persevered in the face of adversity and I think we can now confidently announce the arrival of The Forge's Midnight Skye.

Here are some pictures of Skye with his igloo mamma, in his little foal blanket and without and short clip of him with his adoptive mother, Raven.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ADBallard/SkyeAndTheIglooMama?

First "Real" trail ride

It was definitely a day to remember. :-) My mother and I laughed all the way home about the going up the steep hill prep ( me trying to figure out how to go somewhere else) Until you said it was ok. It is such a privilege to have you as my mentor... to have the opportunity to see things through your experience and learn . But also have a great time. How fun it was to be able to trust your assessment - knowing you knew me and my horse --- it was truly a blast.About the old stuff... I am not so sure a younger person would have stayed on. I watched the whole thing - and she side stepped a bit with her bucking at the end -- and that is when you got dusty. Take care and nurse your wounds for more riding comes soon!!Great to see you and Sue -- and fun to ride together...and your are welcome for the lunch -- it is fun to eat together. Wohoo - we are riders!!!





From Susan:

I keep replaying the sight of you going fast on the trail...leaving us behind. That is the most beautiful memory along with the climbing of the hill memory. I bet Raven had the best of time on the trail. Plus you are her leader and she knows that she is special. We didn't make her work very hard and we quit at the right time. All that is good memory in her storage area! You have proved yourself to her and she likes you now. that's what I believe.

Riding in the rain

I learned that I can - indeed ride in the rain. I learned that riding in the rain is tricky and that wet tack is slippery. Slippery not only for me but for my horse. So what would be tight enough dry - leave s space designed to pass a mack truck through when wet.

Raven and I rode with Mom and Reno - in the rain as the sun was setting -- Raven thought it was great fun - and was not her usual grumpy self.

With Raven - she surprises me with her wit and character.. and when Raven is having fun everyone is having a good time!

Haley

Todays post starts about 15 years ago- when I found the most adorable puppy under a "free puppies " sign at the local walmart... ok so perhaps I might get in trouble for bringing home such a fuzzy bundle... but what is life without a puppy!! So Haley came to us.

Always a bit aloof-- but ever the watchful companion - keeping Logan out of the street by holding onto his diaper.. playing in the snow -- her favorite thing...later she moved in with 3 other older dogs and had free run of 40 acres with a pack of goofy hounds just like her! She was a happy girl.

Over the last year -- her once robust figure became thinner.. and she walked more slowly -- and as the other pack members passed to the other side... she was allowed to come in the house - to not be alone - then there we a couple of more puppies.. she was not terribly tolerant of them - barking and snarling when they got to rambuncious - trying to keep order.. that was always her job.

Last night she had a HUGE ration of puppy food and beef broth.. ate it all and snoozed, stayed with us as Mike brush-hogged the field and sat comfortable in the green grass.

She followed me out to feed the horses - her normal routine. It was then that she decided she had enough - and laid down for the last time. Mike, Logan and I sat with her -- as she was in no pain - and kept the sun off of her as she made her quiet journey out of this life. As always - unobtrusive - gentle - it was strange to see the horses walk by - looking down - Bonnie stayed very close - and watched - looked at me - and was concerned with my sadness... but they walked on - and Haley was gone.

I will miss her...but it was her time to go - no doubt about it - hard to say good bye - but at least I had that chance. It was my priveledge to pet her soft and furry head as she breathed her last breath and wish her well and an easy journey... who knows - maybe we will see her again.. I hope so!

Success alone

Today -- Bonnie and I rode in the 10 acre field all alone... only one challenge of leadership be for we went in the gate.. and after that - it was smooth sailing... it also helped that mike had just brush hogged the field so it was all new looking -- she was very interested and went up and down and around the hay barn. I have to say it was so rewarding... she was alert and interested and I let her lead for a while - wherever she wanted to go-- awesome!!!!I even was relaxed enough to self check.. for tightness... moving with her.. pedaling..,, some - we practiced moving the hind quarters...when my confidence started to wane because we were so far from the barn... SSIGH....

Breaking Through and other thoughts

I rode today -- and had 2 break throughs. First I played with Image. I have been working with her with lots of friendly and food - but also concentrating on not allowing her to get in my space. And that has been it for a few weeks - wehave ridden a little - but I just felt sad with her introversion...she would almost go catatonic if confronted with anything strange -- she would do what she was asked - But I could tell she was not"present". but TODAY -- she was present... and this is going to sound strange - but I Reveled in her fears. That she showed them to me-- that and a teeny bit of curiosity. I went to spray her with flyspray and she EXPLODED. SHe had never exploded before. It was easy to deal with - but she showed me that she was afraid!!!! YAY!! SO we played approach and retreat etc.. until she was not too scared. then we played with a plastic bag-- some 1/2 circles and lots of friendly- swatting horse flies. I got a good couple of circles and some front and hind quarter yields... and some back up--- then we stopped to snack of the grass -- then it was up to ride. She did well - we got a few back up steps and some movement. I have decided to take her back to a hackamore until she is more open. Then we would go here and there....with Shadow following. Then she spooked and jumped into a HUGE trot.... I was almost ready though --- she had been very sensitive to things moving around.. another example of how she is coming our of her shell. I stayed on up straight and let her go -- very short lived... and then she was scared..... we petted and walked and went in our circles till it passed...walked a little more -- and I praised her for showing me how she felt instead of shutting me out. It was a breakthrough.... Now next on to Raven - Bonnie was not wanting to play but Raven was - so I thought what the heck -- rode her on the bareback pad for a while then saddled her so I could ride in the field with more confidence with Mom. We rode for over an hour then Kelly rode for an hour--- and Raven only stumbled 3x and all three were because she stepped in a hole... very very minor. SO we rode in the field with Mom and Reno -- and Raven led -- we had 2 battles over leadership -- but I have learned since last time....:-) she tried to rub me off under a tree and was rewarded with beign asked to do circles around the tree-- we used that tactic 2 or three more times when she wanted to go somewhere else.. then we had a great ride. I relaxed into her and we dogwalked and foxtrotted around. Reno following. Then Mom and I practiced walking side by side. So on the way back -- I decided to stop Raven at the gate and prepared her and me to head off faster....and yes -- it is true --- we cantered. 3 or 4 strides - but we cantered. It was on a slight incline .... and what a blast. She was alert -- ears forward - interested and Mom said over and over how pretty she was when she is in the interested and happy state. So - today was a good horse day.. cannot wait for tomorrow!!!

Instructions to Proceed

From Susan:

Ride Bonnie every day. It gets better if you ride every day. It sounds like you could go on the trail ride now! Well, you had a threshold to find and cross. You have crossed it!The rule is to do what you are doing 7 consecutive days. If you ride and practice going, coming, stopping, hind quarter and fore quarter turn - you won't believe the advancement you will make. If you can't make 7 consecutive days, just as many as possible. Horses in training with Tony and Jenny...5 days a w eek and that is important for young horses!

PART II -Bonnie Trail Ride at Home

I rode rode Bonnie today with Mom and we went out into a 20 acre pasture with hills and trees... SHe balked but we got through it -- she even threw a fit - but I didn't give up so then she started biting my boots ( Faking flexion) everytime... and I got wise to that. SO we went all the way up to the top and back --- it was so very cool

Bonnie and the trail ride lesson

ok - so we are off to try trail riding. Everyone around here trail rides.. and well - Bonnie can trot around and ok so she does not steer real well and come to think of it.. she does not walk off real well -- and ok - so when she does walk off-- I am not so sure I can stop her.. but what the heck -- lets trail ride!!!! She does stand to let me get on...
I took Bonnie and Mom/Reno to a trail ride class with Tony and Jenny at Fair Play. ALl the usual suspects were there and it was 96 degrees and very very humid.

we play on the ground- we do well... we get on... we go -- but go no where... but to the next threshold and I find mine as well -- I reach the end of my emotional strength and have to get off...and walk back

From Susan

You are the person clearly in charge. You use the strengh of your knowledge and product to persuade all people to recognize the suprior product you have. You are the person in charge in the room...all rooms. The minute you walk into the room, your energy tells the people that you are the leader. Your energy confidence overpowers all othersCan you make yourself this same person at home with the horses?Cesar Milan asks this of his dog clients all the time. What energy are you transmitting when you ride Bonnie? Make it be the energy that you take to a work site.Read Cesar's book on all the television shows. Each 1-3 pages tell about the dog, the people, what Cesar said and did and the followup success of failure of the people. Even I understood it after reading about 20 stories. I found myself in Cesar's book too. Worry about stuff and the energy of that worry projects its self into the dog's behavior. I have translated that into projecting myself into Sue's behavior.We are mere bits of emotionalism pieces locked up with a brain will to follow.

The Pioneer Spirit

Bonnie and Apryl go on a hike-

Some things never change – or at least I seem to have adventures at 50 that reflect how I was at 10.

When I was a 10 year old- I was staying with my favorite Aunt and my cousin.. I decided that my cousin and I should have a picnic and hike to the back of the property to eat our PBJs… My Aunt Judy being the trusting sort made us a lovely lunch and off we went – surely we would not go far…Well two hours later – she picked us up at a neighbors turkey farm – she was well how should we say – not happy.… You see the lure of that next—more beautiful spot, then the next – and the next…t had lead me to a stream and 3 feet of muck – in which my cousin lost her PF fliers to the mud goddess. She cried.. and I got mad – or scared or a little of both…. She was four…and now we were in the woods all alone.. and I had no idea how to get back.. -the pioneer spirit in me was in full swing --- I kept moving – hoping to find something familiar before the coyotes ate us. Thankfully - the mud goddess accepted our offering and lead us to a turkey farm when my aunt was called and we were IN TROUBLE.( Sorry Annjeanette)
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So fast forward to today…Bonnie – my Clydesdale mare and I rode in the arena – life was good—Mike and Logan were pulling up old fence posts – life on the ranch was good… so I thought we would take Bonnie on a hike..to the east 40 – so get us ready for our Trail ride weekend coming up. Now the east 40 is a vast WILDERNESS….grass as high as your eye.. fallen branches and trees – ahh a great obstacle course for us. SO off we went. I dismounted and lead her.. ( I am not THAT courageous)—this is the place where deer make their home—there is a ravine – a pond – black berry bushes – lots of tall green grass- trees with low hanging branches….hidden springs and pools of water, did I mention the springs? She followed me like a trooper – eyes all keen and interested ,, ears on me.. eating the occasional head of ripened grass. Hmm I thought – looks like a place where there might be ticks.. ahh no matter.

We walked on – she watched carefully where her feet went – in the waist high grass – but she could see the rocks and logs that I could not.. and went over them with ease… We were having FUN!!! She trusted me…she was having a great time.. so on to the next beautiful spot.—a little more dense—leading down to a pretty LITTLE stream—hmm a little marshy. Well lets see how she does with that. Splash! She did great—following, pleasantly eating the more lush green grass that grew by the springs that wound around the little valley we were in. Well now time to cross a BIG stream – about knee deep – so I stepped out first – and immediately sunk to almost my knees --- Bonnie had already started to come. I slowed her some and she found a gravel bar to stand on while I struggled to get out of the mud – If I believed in anthropomorphism… I would tell you she was smiling at her superior position, I think I heard her giggle. He spritely face covered in mud splashes.. She DID have a twinkle in her eye.

OHHHH!!! look ahead – once we Squeeze through these trees and under that one…. we walk down the stream ( knee high..) up on this bank – oh look --there are the trees that surround the pond. Bonnie does a number on the creek bed with those large hooves and mucks through the mud…did I tell you there was lots of springs and marshy mud? I never realized there were so many little springs or tributaries down there.. they are everywhere. SO the closer we get to the pond… the marshier it gets and the farther we sink if we stand still. Marsh to the left—pond to the right and in front of us the canon wall… hmm don’t think we can climb that vertical thing. If we just stand here we will be gone in two minutes, without a trace.

OK so now I am starting to think about how we are going to get out of here.. going back the way we came would be traveling through the places we had been and sunk deep and made 4 foot holes in the ground. Bonnie was happy – she didn’t care- she was on an adventure… and eating lush grass. She after all is a big stron Clydesdale with a rear made of steel. She followed me with enthusiasm.. sinking and pushing herself out of the mire like she did it every day. Back into the stream..I am not sure how it grew in size since we went through it a few minutes ago. I stepped where she had stepped and sunk above my kneecaps – and could NOT get out… Bonnie was sinking and using those powerful hinds quarters to push past me – so I undid her rope and let her lead the way – that was the most savvy thing I have done in a long time. As she walked by me – I grabbed the stirrup and let her help me out of the sink hole. The she looked up and lead me to a place I NEVER would have tried. Tall brush – but she could see over them, they were not stickers – or locusts or setting in 3 feet of mud. She made a trail for me .. and we walked out together. Back into the tall grass and back to civilization both of us glistening with black mud – and water lines to our bellies. Splattered with muck and mire--- the only thing white on either of us was my smile. She and I walked side by side for a ¼ mile. Loving the feel of wet and mud and the companionship of a shared adventure. I was so happy with how far we have come…not only tonight but over the last few years.

We walked back to the feed house where I have her a nice portion of grain..and my husband came to greet us. He kindly recommended that I undress outside and burn my clothes before I came in. So here I am 2 showers, 1 hairwash , 7 ticks and 1 pr of thrown out socks later…and alright… I know it maybe was not the best idea to go on a hike like that.. but sometimes my pioneer spirit calls… and now the mud goddess is with me.. in her furry Clydesdale form.

July 4th Weekend

Our yard is large and FULL of clover. We had been letting Image and Scout ( they are constant companions) graze in the yard - what a blast it is to look outside and see those big horses right outside the living room windows. We started adding a horse here and there and yesterday had 6 our there. No need to mow this weekend! The baby is wonderful -- he had a bout with rain rot when it was so wet -- but we are over that and beyond a few bare patches he is cute and adorable and loved by the herd. His legs are so long -- he is really having trouble reaching the grass... soooo he has a cute little habit... he lays down and eats that way.....heheh My Niece Maddy came over and rode Raven and Bonnie.. they had a lot of fun and all did well. Raven seemed to like it - although yesterday she went to the end of the pasture when I came out to get Scotty - I have ridden Bonnie a few times and she is progressing - we are now riding in the yard when the others are in their pasture. She seems to have made a change - that this stuff is not so bad -- and she likes hanging out with me.. I have been making a pile of apples in various places when we ride and take her to them...that is her favorite. Mom rode her too...Bonnie is moving forward now at a walk with a little squeeze and stopping with a seat drop -- all at the walk mind you... we are trotting her and I am looking forward to the canter. She has this rocket action in her strong hind quarters. When she goes from a walk to a trot -- she gathers up and "Springs" her hind end a little. Even when you ask easily..... It is pretty comical. I have to say - I am really enjoying her- she and I are quickly becoming real buddies.. and that is what I wanted -- more than riding - more that driving... - Sigh.....love that horse... can't wait to bring her to more things. Day before yesterday -- Mom was working her laoding skils and she was doing great... and I thought ...I WONDER......HMMMM. I circled her a little - then sat on the fender of the trailer and asked her to load herself.. she walked up -- looked in ,, decided naw... and we did another gentle circle... I asked again and she walked up, thought about it.. and hopped in, all by her little self....what a DOLL..next time we will hook up the truck and take her for a short tide -- then let her out.. I think she knew we are not going anywhere...I thought I might toake her up the road -- let her out and give her and apple or some grain... rest a few and get back in. I think within the month I will be able to ride her around the farm and when I can do that -- I think we can go on a trail ride.-- we walk her around the town like a puppy. and she is doing well with that. Mom says that Bonnie and I -- and the saddle make a very balanced attractive picture.:-) I was thinking that I had not "done enough " with them this weekend .. not enough work -- but then I thought -- I have been outside with the herd in the yard almost all weekend -- swishing flies for this one -- scratching that one when I walked to the feed shed, Spraying Winnie with water when I was watering flowers.. having my coffee with them-- nudging the sleeping Shadow baby when the herd left...driving one away when they were cranky......I lived with them -- was part of the herd. There is value....great value -- to my soul if nothing else... Image is settling in..I think I am lucky having so many left brained introverts... I don't have to change style a lot when working with them... She is now not mugging me until I get to the feed trough... she used to mug me the whole way -- and she is starting to move out of my way better.. a long way to go... pretty fun though.. she goes to her "happy place" pretty easy ... but I have a bag full of tricks...:-) I think she will really end up being a great horse. So - two years ago -- I stood in the pickup bed scared to death holding scouts halter as mike gave him immunizations.... 3 years ago _ watched in disgust and terror as my father in law and brother in law tied a terrified scout to a tree to give him a shot.... all panicked and fighting the whole way...I went home and said never again.I cried for hours. This week -- I GAVE ALL OF THE SHOTS -- no ropes -- no halters. Walked up to each grazing animal -- petted -- pinched and smacked the side of the neck...checked the response.. if they didnt care.. I gave the shot. if they did. I then went to another horse and tried later. So within a week everyone -- including Tango had been vaccinated with 4 way and west nile. It is so easy to not acknowledge the progress we make - sometimes our progress is measured in years. And I knew that when I got into Naturalhorsemanship. I do miss riding with you... but I also know that you are with me in horse spirit.. and we will ride again together!! That is enough for now... more later.

Being Aunt Bonnie

I forgot to tell you -- I had Immy Raven Bonnie and Scout together....in one pasture...been working up to that -- so Immy did not get mugged with the baby. but anyway -- I had just added Raven -- she seemed great...but the next day - Raven had stolen the baby-- and had it off in a corner....immy in the barn-- with a full udder... so needless to say --I got that fixed ( Immy is pretty timid) Took Raven out... she had milk... good grief....she does that when she cycles. Raven whinnied most of the morning - being anxious... what a good mom in her day she must have been... I felt sorry for her....I kept sending her thoughts of Immy giving birth --- but still it was sad...she had gotten very attached. So anyway --- all is back to being well -- Scout is Immy's constant companion...it is lovely to watch him get between her and a dog -- or someone he does not know...... life-- it is a beautiful thing.

Bonnie in the Tack house

Gotta love my Bonnie... Keep in mind that our feed/tack house is the size of the cabin or bathroom at Tony and Jennys /Here’s something you’ll like - - - - - I was taking the saddle off of Bonnie today at the tack house. I had given Bonnie a couple of handfuls of grain to eat to keep her busy while I was getting everything rst day of summer-- and as I am sitting here in my Atlanta hotel....I put up. I started to put your saddle on the stand and it folded up and fell over, I grabbed the saddle, stepped over the hay and proceeded to try and keep everything upright including me. I finally managed to get everything straight and turned to go out. Imagine my surprise and fright when Bonnie was standing IN the tack house, she had her front feet and most of her body inside – the look on her face seem to say, “I came in here to find the food, so where is it?” I backed her out and gave her some more grain. I would think that trailer loading would be a cinch from now on. The tack house has to be far more claustrophobic. What a girl, yesterday she was bucking on line and today she walked into the tack house - - - - she is really somethin’.

Southland Clinic

Southland Clinic in Marshfield, MO
Jenny Vaught and a cast of Characters!

There were several folks there completely new or almost new to the ways of natural horsemanship and several seasoned participants -- and a few of us in between. The first part of the day was spent teaching, reviewing and refining the games... those that were new -- learned and us with a little more time at the end of the carrot stick were given refinement instructions by Jenny--- and of course we watched as Jenny gave great demonstrations of phases with a couple of horses... The arena was quite large and so we had lots of room to work. As always the camaraderie was great and I appreciate the attention given to our novice young men -- as we gave them the opportunity to see another way of handling horses and themselves. Hope had her lovely new filly -April- what a pretty and smart Baby -- and of course Raffle the wonder horse - .Linda and Gary with Buddy and Charlie rode at the end of the day - when the arena was more empty - and it was fun to see the results of the day for them. Denise was a pleasure to meet and her horse did really well with the games and riding. She had a beautiful and athletic partner. We got to see Suzy and her triumphs and challenges with Miss Mac. What a good job she is doing to restore that horse's confidence...that little Paso Finos feet really MOVE!! Bonnie and I just soaked up each others company -- and Suzy, Dalton and I all did passenger lessons with her.. how fun is that... thanks Susan for being our leader - in follow the leader.Jeanette and Reno played and rode. We are seeing them develop a great relationship!! It was a windy day and Reno did really well dealing with his "spookies" about the wind. I hope I did not leave anyone out...we had a great group of Auditors that were so supportive and fun to hang out with. As always ---love being with horse folks. my husband made the comment -- that my horse friends are such "real" truly great people. Take care