Onion Creek Ranch, is our south Austin Mini Central where 6 of our minis live – (www.minisandfriends.org/meetminis).  On Saturday March 28, we had a wonderfully well turn out of new volunteers who wore out the little minis before their return to the ranch.

Lin wrote this great story that we wanted to share —

“Hey today I took two ladies down to see the minis who were visiting OCR. When we got down to the hay area where they usually are…. no minis. So I said, oh, they’re probably napping and drove to the “cave entrance”. 

Looked in and there were ALL of them, SeanMonet lying down and Bravo lying down, and all the others sleeping shoulder to shoulder to tail. I wish I had my camera! It was like the bunkhouse of a little summer camp for boys — all sleeping in a row. The women gasped and exclaimed “I’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE!”  They couldn’t stop talking about it.

It’s really adorable to see them all in there, comfy as a lil group. They really like the quiet privacy of their basement!

Stay tuned for pictures of the minis in their Secret Hide-Away!

 

Visit our website at www.minisandfriends.org to learn about the upcoming Volunteer Training in Austin, Texas. This training is for Virtual Volunteers, Mini Handlers, Mini Walkers, and anyone interested in working with Minis and Friends.

Join us!

Saturday, March 28th from 11-1

• Church of Latter Day Saints at 2111 Parker Lane

Bring your Used Laserjet and Inkjet Cartridges and Old, Unwanted Cell Phones with you!

• We will be collecting your old cartridges and cell phones to recycle with FundingFactory
• Bring the kids to watch the Minis work and train and stay afterwards for a picture with a mini for a donation

To subscribe to our “New” Volunteer Newsletter, email us at volunteer@minisandfriends.org to stay up-to-date on the latest opportunities, training and information for Minis and Friends.

 (by: Braydin M, Mini Cub Reporter)

SeanMonet and New Friend

My trip to Marbridge Farms was my first visit with Minis & Friends, and I have to say, it was one of, if not the most, inspiring and influential experiences of my life.  I was very nervous coming into it, as we had to train Bravo to get into our mini-van, and also I was going to be around people I didn’t understand. And of course, that makes anybody nervous. When we first got out of the car, someone in a wheelchair immediately approached us. After talking with him for a little bit, I  realized that the people here are different, but in a good way. 

 

 

 

Even now, 2 weeks later, it still confuses me how people with mental disabilities have such a nice, happy outlook on life, while people with absolutely nothing wrong with them are always so depressed.

  Maybe I’ll find the answer on future visits   

Milli getting her shoes on to go indoors

 

PS.  3 minis decided to go indoors to those folks who couldn’t come out – pretty cool… here’s Bandit and Jess with people indoors – And MasterCard with Roger and Nicole indoors.

Bandit and JessMarbridge Villa Visit Indoors

     

 

IT’S ALMOST CHRISTMAS!!!

Once a year families all over this nation get together to celebrate life, love, and laughter.  Commercials are suddenly filled with holiday jingles and gift-giving ideas.  This year, my favorites include the Progressive Santa Claus commercial,  and the Lexus Christmas commercials (yeah, it’s because I want one too).  Kids start thumbing through the Toys’R'Us catalog and circling everything on the page that they want (which is everything on the page)

Maximum energy is spent trying to decorate the house, the tree, the cookies, the kids, and anything that you’ve been meaning to hide throughout the year.  Nothing is more fun than watching the good old Christmas movies like the classic Dr Seuss’s “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas”, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, and “It’s a Wonderful Life”.  We all get excited about “Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown.”  This year, albeit not much different from other years on the surface, things are going to be a little less bright.

We may spend less money on a real tree with fancy trimmings, cut back on the five gifts per kid shopping spree we’re used to, and we may have to sacrifice the elaborate holiday parties for more intimate family affairs.  But in spite of everything that is happening in the world around us, we cannot forget the reason for the season.

This year remember to make Christmas less about the gifts and more about what you give.  Give your time, your energy, your expertise and your talents to those around you with special needs. 

1. Minis and Friends will be at the Town Lake YMCA from 1:00 – 3:00 pm on Saturday, December 13th.  Join us for a chance to make a child smile this season. 
2. Donate your used ink and laserjet cartridges and your old phones at Onion Creek Ranch when you stop by on December 14th to help us Spruce up for our Christmas Benefit starting at 10:00 am.

Get into the Giving Spirit this holiday and find other ways to give this season.   

Visit www.minisandfriends.org to learn more about our Minis and Friends Christmas Benefit on December 21st at 3:00 pm at Onion Creek Ranch.  Check the website for a list of Silent Auction items for you to bid on to pick up last minute gifts without wasting time in mall.  Enjoy good food, food fun, and good folks while listening to music, taking pictures at the Minis and Me photo booth, and chowing down on a BBQ dinner.

Email us at savethedate@minisandfriends.org for mkore information, directions, or to donate to Help Keep Hay in the Minis’ Manger.

Minis and Friends reaches hundreds of individuals a year because of the support and friendship of our volunteers and mini owners.  On a day when the whole nation briefly stops to give thanks, I wanted to take a moment and recognize those who give freely of their time, energy and money to help our “mini herd” touch the lives of those with special physical, mental, and emotional needs in our community.

This year has been full of blessings.  Eletrobraid has provided the minis with a wonderful gift of protection with the electric fence at Onion Creek Ranch. They are now able to move about the ranch with the other horses and we can rest easy that they are unable to escape and predators are unable to get in.  LCRA blessed part of our mini herd in North Austin with a new mini barn and two sponsored visits, one of which went towards the Good Friends visit in September.

Our volunteers base has grown to include new volunteers with different skills and abilities that have allowed us to grow and expand our outreach capabilities.  Minis and Friends would not be able to operate without your continual support and attendance at our events and visits.  Mini Handlers keep our minis safe in a crowd.  Think Tank volunteers keep our mangers and gas tanks full with creative fundraising ideas to support our mini interactions.  Business supporters and individual donors help us take care of the necessary medical care, liability insurance, and operational costs for running Minis and Friends.

So while gobbling turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie, take a moment and give thanks for the many gifts you have been given.  Today, our minis will be able to give th

Join us for a Bale of a Good Time with Food, Fun, Music and Laughter at our 1st ANNUAL MINIS CHRISTMAS BENEFIT!

WHEN: December 21st, 2008

TIME: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM

WHERE: Onion Creek Ranch (www.onioncreekranch.net)

Live Music

Silent Auction

Raffle Drawing

Dinner & Dessert

“Minis and Me” Photo Booth

Donations Accepted: Visit our website to learn how you can donate items for the Silent Auction, Decorations, Food and Beverages

Volunteers Welcome: Email us to find out how you can help with the Asking For and Picking Up Donations, Set Up and Clean Up at the Ranch, or the MIni Photo Booth and Raffle Sales

The More the Merrier: Want invitations sent to your friends, family and co-workers?  Just send us an email with their email addresses and we’ll send them an invitataion

Email us at info@minisandfriends.org or visit us a www.minisandfriends.org for more information

One of Mini Adventures for Candy, Dean, Cashew, and Khaki Delleney

October 19, 2008 was our 2nd year as a participant in the Buddy Walk.   Candy and crew set up the mini corral, decorated the table with miniature horses and miniature bales of hay, surrounded by a multicolored miniature fence – we are Minis and Friends after all.  Thanks to the Mini Friends who joined the adventure: Barbara Burns, Tom and Cheryl White, Nell Ritchie and daughter Kelly.

The Buddy Walk is an annual fund raiser for the Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas.  Minis and Friends enjoys donating a visit by some of our miniature horses to the lucky high bidder in the Silent Auction.  As a 501(c)(3) non profit organization, we are supported by the donations and generosity of the community.   We are committed to giving back through participation in events like the Buddy Walk, throughout Travis and Williamson County. There are numerous young Buddies with ig smiles on their faces who especially enjoy interacting with our miniature horses. 

 Next year load up your wagon, put on your spurs and meet us at the Buddy Walk. 

***** Visit our website (www.minisandfriends.org) to learn more about upcoming events, like the Story Book Time and Gift Wrapping Adventure at the Sunset Valley Barnes and Noble or the Town Lake Christmas Advneture.  We’ll looking forward to seeing everyone out at Onion Creek Ranch for the Minis and Friends Christmas Benefit on December 21st at 3 pm.  Check back soon for updates.

Minis and Friends Austin display with Ellen

What a good time Minis and Friends had  at the Bluebonnet Expo Oct 11!  Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society’s mission is “to improve the lives of equines by educating and helping owners, assisting law enforcement agencies, rehabilitating abused and neglected equines, and placing them into safe, permanent homes.” Every year they have a fund-raising expo, and Minis and Friends joined the event again this year.
 
We all got there early and set up with our new display and minis. Thanks to Sandi Hodge, our newest member, who came all the way from Bryan with her little paint mini Daisy, we could also set up a portable aluminum corral for the minis. It was great to put them in there when they needed a rest, since we were there from 9 to 4. Helping set up were Carolyn and Bonnie Devaney, Jeff Hodges and Gil Iwanski. Of course the rest of us – Sally, Lin, and Ellen were holding down the fort too.
 
The first thing we had to do was decorate the minis with garlands of flowers, neckerchiefs, and even a flashing red white and blue stars necklace for Buckshot. Each got Twinkle Toes on their hooves. You could tell the little girl mini – Sandi dressed Daisy in pink bows, buds and a tiara! Wow. All the little girls who stopped by wanted to pet and lead Daisy! There were a couple of kids who just hung around most of the day –future mini owners I’m sure.
 

Buckshot and mini-pals at Bluebonnet Horse Expo

The minis were on good behaviour cause they had a pen and hay. Sean Monet, MasterCard, Buckshot, Daisy and Stardust all drew a lot of attention.
 

StarDust and Bonnie

The big moment happened when Stardust drew the attention of a lovely lady, Bonnie Barrington. She works at Howdy Honda and helped Gil and Sally buy their new MiniMobile. You could hear the music, you could see the stars in their eyes. Bonnie and Stardust  went to each other like peanut butter and jelly. Like bees and honey. Little Stardust, who recently came back to Lin’s Onion Creek Ranch from a pony party business (boo-hiss) was so glad to see someones heart reach out to him. They were together all day, and when Bonnie finally went to the Ladies room, Stardust nickered after her! She has since been out to the ranch to see him and rumors are flying about them getting hitched!
 
We had a great setup spot where we could see the drill team, the clinicians, the auction, the parade of breeds and all else in the main arena. Sandi and Jeff brought out barbeque, beans and potato salad for everyone for a hearty lunch. Much appreciated. About that time the fancy Rodeo Queens Drill Team came out in their red white and blue spangles and chaps. Buckshot’s eyes grew wide. Oh he liked them. They were soooo flashy! 

What an incredible team Bluebonnet has. They do it right. So many wonderful volunteers. If it weren’t for them all these horses’ futures would not be worth much. They still have some wonderful horses for adoption, including minis…. you can look at the rehab area and pick from there too.

To see the difference BEHS makes, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn93Cl-xG2g&feature=relatedfor a moving Before and After slideshow….  or just check out http://www.bluebonnetequine.org/

On Saturday, September 20, 2008, Minis and Friends visited a group of ‘Good Friends‘, who meet together every 2 weeks for a few hours. Most of the ‘Good Friends’ are young people with disabilities, so they enjoy all kinds of fun and crafts and snacks, and this time, we and our minis got to join in with them.

We were invited by Jan Kerchiville, Donna Clendennen and several other ladies who hosted the group to join them. We met at Jan’s house here in Georgetown for a visit from Minis and Friends that LCRA had donated to ‘Good Friends’. When we got to the house at 2:30 PM, there were about 2 dozen people! Some to watch the festivities, some to do and help do the crafts, others to help with the horses, and others who kept the cold water coming. The craft for the day for the Good Friends was decorating horseshoes which were to be used as frames for the pictures taken with the horses. Kim Sullivan, Jan, and several others, took pictures of the day’s events, and we’re excited to share those with you on the website very soon.

One of our minis who went with us was Cajun, and he found a best friend named Stephen. Stephen hugged

Special Friends

 Cajun so much that by the end of the visit, Cajun kissed him which made Stephen’s day! Cajun who is a beautiful horse belongs to Stacey and Amanda Drane. Milli and Sterling, who were also there, belong to Jonathan and Melinda Fox. All three minis worked beautifully together to make the afternoon a great success. Our thanks also go out to Marcia Erickson and Cynthia. You helped out tremendously!

Days such as that one reminds us of our original goals and special memories that will be far reaching during the upcoming years. We thank Jan and Donna for the invitation. Minis and Friends would love to meet up with the ‘Good Friends’ group again at the Buddy Walk, on October 19, 2008. The Buddy Walk is the yearly fundraiser for the Down Syndrome Association. It will be at Reunion Ranch in Georgetown, For those who have not been to the Buddy Walk, it is a great day with food and fun and festivities. We hope to see you there!

Candy Delleney
Co-Founder of Minis and Friends

Nonprofit organizations across the county have been dealing with huge budget cuts, but we’ve found a way to supplement our finances to get the CASH we need.

MINIS AND FRIENDS is involved in the FundingFactory^® Recycling Program! This fundraiser is FREE and simple because there’s nothing to sell, no paperwork to fill out and no deadline. The program runs year-round, accumulating constant income for our efforts. But we won’t get very far without your support.

How can you help? Instead of throwing away empty printer cartridges and used cell phones, send them to FundingFactory. You can sign up for the Business Support Program to get FREE prepaid shipping labels sent to your location free of charge. Business Supporters simply need to load boxes, apply FREE prepaid shipping labels and leave them for the next UPS pickup. If you would be interested in supporting us in this way, please call FundingFactory toll-free at 1.888.883.8237. Give the customer service representative our school identification number, 136495 and they’ll set you up to support our account.

If you don’t use enough cartridges to set up your own account, you can drop off cell phones and cartridges at Onion Creek Ranch. We’ll take it from there. You can also email us, and we’ll set up a time to pick them up. We will recycle the cartridges and cell phones through the FundingFactory to earn new the CASH we need for new visits, gas, and shots.

Last year alone, more than 300 million cartridges were thrown away, while 30,000,000 cell phones were tossed or replaced. We’re alleviating the volume of waste that goes into landfills, while collecting the CASH we need to keep our [school/organization] running smoothly. Your help is vital to our fundraising success.

If you have any questions about this great opportunity, please feel free to e-mail me at aquila@minisandfriends.org.

 

MINI THANKS for your ongoing support!

 

Aquila :Q: Graham

 

Please visit www.FundingFactory.com for more information about supporting Minis and Friends through FundingFactory’s Business Support program. If you choose to register, please identify ID number 136495 as the beneficiary organization. That’s us!

P.S.We realize that many office supply stores and other businesses are giving a discount or coupon in exchange for the cartridges and cell phones. Please consider sending your used cartridges and cell phones to the school instead of using them to receive this discount. The rewards for MINIS AND FRIENDS are very much appreciated.