Magnolia Hill Farm

Wow, is all I can say about Ocean City! It was a wonderful opportunity for The Maryland Task Force For the Missing and Unidentified, Adults & Children as  a public awareness event. From the Coast Guard runners who we roped in to help us move the benches around to the OC police who stayed with us most of the day, it was wonderful! The people who stopped by our spot were all caring and kind, all interested in learning more about the stories of Maryland’s Missing and Unidentified. We got SO much traffic at the location and such overwhelming support, it was great. Some of us got pretty sunburned, we had the service on the beach but were all so wired we went out after our 15 hour day. To the friends and families who joined us there, Thank You from the bottom of our hearts.

Here are some pictures from the CUE center who visited with us:

I can’t believe I get some time away from the farm! With just one month till Tracy & John’s wedding and lots to still do! I’m going down to Ocean City with The Maryland Task Force For The Missing & Unidentified, Adults & Children for a public awareness event for Maryland’s Missing Persons. We will be joined by the CUE Center on Saturday August 23. So it’s not a vacation by any means but it will be a welcomed change of pace from all the goings on here at the farm lately. Anyway here is some info in case anyone wants it:

The Maryland Task Force For The Missing and Unidentified, Adults And Children
 
Event Location:
August 23, 2003 
501 South Atlantic Ave.
Ocean City, MD 21842
 
National Tour Joins Maryland Task for the Missing And Unidentified, Adults And Children Efforts to Bring Attention to Maryland Missing Persons Cases
 
Ocean City, Maryland will host The Maryland Task Force For The Missing and Unidentified, Adults and Children Public Awareness Event on Saturday August 23, 2003. The Maryland Task Force’s mission is to bring attention to the tragedy of missing and unidentified adults and children to the government and general public in Maryland. The Maryland Task Force is a non profit organization of family members, law enforcement and individuals who are committed to making a difference for the missing and unidentified. This all day public awareness event will be held on the boardwalk in Ocean City on Saturday August 23, 2008 from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM at 501 South Atlantic Ave. OC, MD 21842. This location is directly opposite the police substation.  The day will end in a candlelight vigil on the beach to remember all missing and unidentified from Maryland.
 
The Task Force will be joined by volunteers from the North Carolina-based CUE Center for Missing Persons on it’s 5th cross country tour to raise awareness of missing children and adults. The team is scheduled to make an appearance at 11:15 AM and will distributing a trail of DVD’s, press kits and valuable information concerning 110 missing persons and 6 unsolved homicide cases. Many Maryland cases will be featured at this year’s tour stop and highlighted at the groups pre planned rally stops that will include participation from law enforcement agencies, advocates – organizations, families of the missing and local and state officials and media.

It is wonderful that Ocean City and The Ocean City Police Department are supporting our event. If your at the beach this weekend come see us on the boardwalk and look at the faces of some of Maryland’s missing persons. We will be having a candlelight service on the beach at the end of the day.

WHEN I GET BACK FROM THE BEACH I’M HEADED TO VISIT MY MOM AND I JUST MAY STAY THERE TILL THE WEDDING! JUST KIDDING MOM DON’T GET WORRIED!!!

Well, no one ever said having a farm would be easy. We have been waiting on the birth of our Mini donkey baby for awhile now. Fancy Face, the Mom gave birth to a little boy yesterday who was born with a severe birth defect. He could not have lived with this defect more than a few hours.  Despite this he was very active and alert when born and was a sweet little guy. The vet arrived and put him down a little after his birth. It was sad especially for his Mom who had been pregnant for so long. Mom is doing fine and gets to go back in a day or two and hang out with the other girls. We girls all know, we  can’t do with out our girlfriends during those rough times! We are hoping this black cloud hanging over the farm blows over real soon.

For some of us a very l..o..n..g… day. Been up every hour checking on Fancy Face, our miniature donkey getting ready to foal, at least we hope so soon! Got up to check on her and she’s down and stayed down. She had contractions yesterday, maybe her baby was turning. It’s now 4:01 and she is up eating and looks fine.  Wish I could go back to sleep but since I’m getting up and down so much why bother, most donkeys ( at least I’ve read this) have their babies at night or early morning hours so ( YAWN) guess I’ll stay up! This will be our first mini donkey to be born here at our farm. If it’s a girl we will keep her, if it’s a boy, we already have a waiting list of buyers. It is quite and ordeal just getting to the barn during the night to check on her, as I go out the back door Iam greeted by at least two of our four cats. I try to go down by the light of the barn light because if the donkeys in the other pasture see you they start yelling up a storm. I’m sure our neighbors just love that! Usually Fancy just looks at me as if to say “You again, what’s up?” If she hungry, and she’s always hungy these days she lets out a yell or two if I’m not fast enough giving her a snack. I think she has me well trained. LOL. I usually don’t turn on the barn lights as not to wake the other 8 llamas, 2 donkeys and 7 goats who stay in that barn with her. it’s a really big barn with room to spare. I try not to get the dogs up in the garage barking either. It’s always an adventure here. I am always walked down to the barn and back by Max and Olivia. Olivia is the cat pictured on the top of this page and she and Max are the favorite’s here at the farm. They have the sweetest, most loving personalities. When we first brought Max here from the other farm he disappeared for over two months ( after just a week here) and everyday we searched and went to animal control to look for him. We had adds and poster everywhere here. We were beside ourselves, Sara and Matt especially. One day, here is Max sitting on the back porch, saying hello! Someone nearby must have thought they found a wonderful cat and kept him indoors because he looked great. Max doesn’t go too far now from home. Time to go back to the barn. Be back soon.