Today, Jane and I contemplated jumping big round bales, a feat that young Brandy Holloway legendarily performed when she was young.
Derry would like to eat this! 
Go, Bart, go! Jump it! Bart is not impressed.
Harry stoped by the barn in his PPE. He is doing messy work in the studio. In case you are worried, he has had this equipment for a long time, he did not buy it out from under healthcare workers.
An apparition appears at the barn. Stone is concerned. 
“Oh, it’s just you!” – Stone is happy now.
It was very hot, and there was significant watering to do (Rebecca insisted on planting some sunflower seedlings when she was here on Thursday). After I had everything watered, there was a strange, short, sudden downpour, with no wind or thunder, just a watering from the heavens!
Out at the pond, the water lilies are beautiful. Roscoe likes to rest in the grass and contemplate the babbling water.
Contemplative Roscoe
The horses stay close to the shed when they are turned out in the evening because horse flies have arrived. No more blissful grazing in the mornings and evenings until the cooler weather arrives in September. One of the great curses of life in Missouri for horses.
Keeping close to the shed 
Stone grabs a drink, but watches for horse flies
I heard from Kari Sletten this week. She has Artie, the Thoroughbred I thought would be my “old lady horse”. We adopted him from Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center in Kentucky to compete in the Thoroughbred Makeover in 2015. It was quite an adventure. We loved the experience, and that terrific horse. Alas, Artie developed asthma, which was attributed to some environmental allergies. We were advised to relocate him. So Artie moved to Colorado in 2017. I was devastated, but he has thrived with Holly Sletten, and her daughter Kari.
Kari sent a picture of Artie dressed in western tack for a Colorado trail ride. She and Artie will relocate back to Lexington soon for college. Last year, Jane and I got to visit with Kari and Artie when we were showing at the Horse Park. Kari brought him over for a visit! We feel so lucky to have Artie in such a good place, and to know these wonderful people.
Artie (Street Art) and Kari in Colorado 2020 
Artie in Missouri in 2015
Finally, out in Montana, Rainy and Gracie are enjoying low humidity and cloudless skies, and plenty to eat. Rainy likes to play in the sprinklers, as you can see by her coat.
Stay safe, stay well, and yes, as Chris reminded me, stay hydrated this hot weekend!
So nothing ate them yet? I’d be happy to water the seedlings while they become established. Or you can let them “fend for themselves” if you like. I certainly didn’t intend to make extra work for you. Or take time out of your horseback endeavors, those bales look insurmountable. Maybe something will eat them tonight and the vigil will be over. Artie certainly looks good, was he foaled in Kentucky? Rainy is the cutest mule foal that I have ever seen, such a personality!
You know I was just teasing you about the sunflower seedlings. They are going to be fending for themselves soon.
Artie was, indeed, foaled in Kentucky.
On the subject of those awful and ugly tomato horn worms, I thought you would find this interesting:
From Dave’s Garden.com…
Years ago, I learned to keep an eye out for the fat, green hornworms that could strip a tomato plant overnight. My only concern was finding them and squashing them. Until I started lurking on the DG Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardening Forum, I hardly gave a thought to what these pests might turn into as adults. I figured it was probably something equally repugnant, if less voracious. Wrong!
If you’ve ever been out in the garden and glimpsed a flying creature darting among the blooms that reminded you of a miniature hummingbird, you’ve probably seen a sphinx moth, also known as a hawkmoth or a hummingbird moth. These remarkable creatures with their long proboscises have an important role in pollinating deep-throated flowers…
This and other articles I found on line make this rather interesting…
Judy
Well, that complicates my attitude toward hornworms! Thanks for the information.