Storms Hit High Hopes Acres

Like many other Oklahomans, High Hopes Acres was a victim of the January 2002 ice storm that coated electrical power lines, trees and the whole outside.

We certainly have a new appreciation for the modern conveniences that we had taken for granted.  Our home is total electric so we purchased a kerosene heater to stay warm and used candles for 3 days.  At that point, we were informed that power would not be restored for at least 4 weeks.  We purchased a generator and life was restored to a "bearable" existence.  Fortunately, our daughter lives in town and her power was restored in just a few days.  We bathed and did laundry at her house, while she and her husband were away on a Caribbean cruise, which she could not have planned at a better time!  How could she have known?????

There was no power for the lights in the foaling pen, so our mares were monitored with a hand held spotlight from the house.

High Hopes Acres was coated with about 1 inch of ice.  We were without electrical power for 9 days.  Power was restored to the last victims in our area on March 8, 2002, which is also the date of the second storm that hit High Hopes Acres.

At 10:00 PM on Friday night, March 8, winds roared across High Hopes Acres, lifting the entire roof off the west side of our barn and portions of the east side, and scattering debris into our east pastures.  Panic filled our hearts as we began to think about the injuries to horses that we might find both to the horses inside the barn and in the pastures.  God was watching over us and our horses that night as only one horse received an injury.  High Hopes Cheyenne Angel TMW was stalled on the east side of the barn and was cut on the eyelid by a piece of flying lumber.  She has recovered from her injury and is still her calm, lovable self.

	While picking up the jagged pieces of rafters, nails and broken glass from the lighting fixtures, Jenni discovered a 2 X 4 that was imbedded in the ground 6 inches. We thank God for watching over us and the horses.
	Taco and DreamBoat (pictured on the right) have outside runs on the east side of the barn.  They escaped the storm without injury.

Repairs began March 23 with the help of our son, Rodney, son-in-law, Robert, and brother-in-law, Billy Tigert. 

We are thankful for family that has graciously helped both with the cleanup and repairs to our barn.		We are hoping that repairs will be complete before the real "Storm Season" arrives in Oklahoma! Thanks to all our friends and family for their calls and prayers.