Milliron Monday: Jody's Journals July 1985

  

 Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.:  

June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010

Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: 

April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021

Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate 

the legacy of Milliron Farm and Clinic, 

Dr. Pete and Jody Smith.

A continuation of Jody’s Journals.

July 1985

• to clinic/barn, wagged, took Puff, Colonel, Banjo > Pete on calls
• grass whipped yard > Pat brought wagon over, hauled grain, mowed yard
• to clinic/barn > Pete up for lunch > cattle in Lucas' corn, put them back in pasture, used Colonel; drove message around to Eric's; worked at clinic > dinner, CJs, hay crew, Dee, Gordon, Mitzi, Allan, Brent, Kim; went out to Rainbow's Inn, Allan, Pete played pool
• to church > clinic > rode Junie, Pete rode Apple, Ann rode Blue > popcorn, read
• wagged, very hot > Pete on calls > to clinic/barn, briefly > Farmer's Market, no one there > Concert on the Green, took Puff, saw Joy MillerUpton, went out to Pharmacy/closed; got rabbits (4), 2 hutches, brought them back in Scottie; radiator leaking?
• put rabbit cages in backyard > ran errands, copying, oxygen, rabbit pellets > to SEOVA meeting, boat ride, Blennerhassett Island (Dr. Truman sick/flu couldn't go)
• moved rabbit cages onto RR ties against fence, shrubs, grapevines > to barn, walked dogs, cleaned Junie's feet, fed sheep, geese; let "Rabbi" rabbit and 2 does out in the yard, brought up supplies for fence > Pete jogged
• put rabbits back in hutches, doe had gotten in dog run > CJs dinner > packed
• to early church > Pete took me to L'H's, looked at rabbits until her mother came, left for N. Carolina, pleasant trip, new air conditioner car, classical tapes, called Mom from Maggie Valley, met us at the Jarrett House, good dinner
• Senior Citizens Center for lunch, had SW checked, went to Franklin after Mom's new Ford wagon
• up at 2 am, not feeing well, probably too much sugar; ate at Senior Citizens Center again, looked at photo exhibit at college; visited Susan Benson, ate at Cullowhee Café, walked around to visit some of Mom's friends.
• drove home, pleasant trip; to barn, caught rabbits - both dogs in dog pen; took dogs for walk > Pete to Charleston
• wagged, took Banjo, Puff, Colonel, repaired one side of upper 2 snares > to clinic, paid taxes, ran errands 
• to church, Beard's buffet, good but expensive, several people from church sat with us > to clinic > rode, pulled out snares, bedded horse shed down with sawdust, straw; sheep shed, hay
• to clinic/barn > packed > Pete, Ann H. checked Marshall in at AMHC > wrote Jessica letter
• up at 4:15 am, left for Columbus, plane, hour late leaving; to AVMA, Indianapolis, changed planes at Kansas City, great flight over Grand Canyon, arrived in Las Vegas, Landmark Hotel (Mr. Travel) meetings/convention center; saw Dr. Frandson, Pete Matthews, dinner.
• Wednesday meetings, alumni receptions, saw Ann/Orley Arthur, Ron Bell/new wife; dinner with Dr. Frandson, show - Stardust
• Thursday meetings; Pete to pool, walked, rode strip, antique auto collection
• Friday meetings; left noon, arrive Columbus 9:20, ate at Spanish fast food, home 12:30 am
• to clinic, Pete to barn > Bowens, frog legs, fish, etc.
• to church, ate at O'Ryans; art exhibit Dairy Barn, Murray Stern, etc., picked up Marshall's car > to clinic late > Pete rode Apple, I rode briefly, shoes loose; bedded down horse shed, sawdust, hay, took dogs for a walk; picked up yard > read
• unpacked > to clinic, Pat here, got 2x4's set Pete's watch, etc. > to barn, turned rabbits loose in yard, 2 does, older buck (Rabbi)
• took Junie, Apple down, Gordon pulled Junie's shoes, trimmed; tightened Apple's shoes > ran errands > Ron Muhn check refrigerator

For Exclusive Photos Follow on Facebook @ Milliron Clinic

Connect with Gina:

Amazon Author Page

Milliron: The Biography

www.gmcknight.com

www.mondaycreekpublishing.com 

Hocking Hills Book Fair   

Hocking Hills Book Fair Author Podcast

Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian. 

 

This Week @ Monday Creek: Hocking Hills Book Fair, Hocking Hills Lodge November 15, 2025

 

LOGAN, OH — The heart of Appalachian Ohio will welcome authors from the Midwest on Saturday, November 15, 2025, as the Hocking Hills Book Fair returns to Hocking Hills State Park Lodge, 20020 St Rt 664 S, from 10 AM to 4 PM. This premier event features 52 celebrated authors, each ready to sign copies of their newest releases and cherished classics.

     From poetry to thrillers, memoirs to mysteries, the fair showcases a rich tapestry of voices that reflect the spirit, grit, and imagination of the region. Whether you're a lifelong bibliophile or a curious newcomer, there's a story waiting for you.

     To spark your own storytelling journey, attendees will receive a free Creative Pack filled with materials for journaling, scrapbooking, and creative endeavors. Available while supplies last.

     Admission is free. All are welcome.

Come for the books, stay for the community, leave with inspiration!

More about the Hocking Hills Book Fair:

Follow on Facebook for Upcoming Events, Exclusive Photos, and more!

Hocking Hills Book Fair Author Podcast

Email: hhillsbookfair@gmail.com

This Week @ Monday Creek: Live long and prosper

 

Live long and prosper

    A re-run of Star Trek was on TV late last night. Mr. Spock doing his thing - "Live long and prosper." I always wondered what the Vulcan salute symbolized. For some reason, my husband is unable to make the gesture; his fingers don't have the dexterity needed to form the "V" with his middle and ring finger. When I signal him, he can't signal back...one more thing that I can do that he can't (ha). 

    Curious, I researched to find the origin of this gesture (because I couldn't sleep and was intrigued). Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock) created the Vulcan salute for his Star Trek character. Drawing from his Jewish heritage, Nimoy adapted the Aaronic blessing from synagogue—a hand formation representing the Hebrew letter “Shin,” associated with the divine name “Shaddai.” In transposing this sacred symbol to Star Trek, Nimoy performed a kind of cultural translation, one that resonates with literary audiences.

    The salute, then, is not merely a sci-fi gesture. It is a ritual act, a sign of reverence, featuring the ways in which literature often borrows from liturgy to lend weight to imagined worlds.

    Spock himself is a likeable character—half-human, half-Vulcan, caught between logic and emotion, duty and desire. His salute becomes a visual synecdoche for this duality. It is emotionally neutral, yet it carries the warmth of a wish: “Live long and prosper.” In literary terms, Spock functions as a liminal figure, and his gesture is a ritual that marks the crossing between worlds. It is a symbol of peaceful coexistence. It is also a reminder that gestures—like words—can be world-building tools: a single hand shape that conveys an entire philosophy.

    I like Spock's iconic gesture, it feels whimsical and sci-fi. But, at the same time, it's offering a real blessing. It teaches us that even in imagined worlds, ritual matters. A hand raised in peace can speak volumes.

    Live long and prosper.

    Biblical reference: Numbers 6: 24-26

    "I am frequently appalled by the low regard you Earthmen have for life."

  ~ Mr. S’Chn T’Gai Spock, Chief Science Officer, USS Enterprise

Fred Rutter Hocking Hills Book Fair Author Podcast

 

Welcome to the Hocking Hills Book Fair Author Podcast!

Where Books Meet the Rolling Hills of Southeastern Ohio

NEW EPISODE! 

Meet Author Fred Rutter

SUBSCRIBE & LISTEN! 

Hello, book lovers, wordsmiths, and unapologetic hoarders of half-read novels! Welcome to the Hocking Hills Book Fair Author Podcast—the one place where southeastern Ohio’s literary charm gets amplified through your headphones. Whether you’re tuning in from your favorite reading nook, your car as you dodge potholes, or your kitchen while waiting for your coffee to brew, we’re thrilled to have you here.

This podcast is your backstage pass to meet the brilliant authors who grace the Hocking Hills Book Fairs with their wit, wisdom, and occasionally questionable coffee habits. These fairs are more than just about books—they’re about community, creativity, and perhaps an unspoken competition to see who can entice the most readers.

Find us on Spotify, iTunes, iHeartRadio, and more. Follow us on Facebook for Book Fair Events and connect with seasoned and new authors.  

Children's Book Week November 3-9, 2025 Monday Creek Publishing

 

Children’s Book Week is here, and Monday Creek Publishing is bringing the magic! With award-winning titles like the Pudgy Possum series and a cast of imaginative authors, they’re turning young readers into lifelong book lovers.

Welcome to Children's Book Week! 

    It’s that time of year when books burst into life, characters leap off the page, and imaginations run wild—yes, it’s Children’s Book Week! From May 5–11 and again November 3–9, young readers across the country are celebrating stories that sparkle, giggle, and inspire. And nestled in the hills of southeastern Ohio, Monday Creek Publishing is waving its literary wand to enchant children everywhere.

    Step into the pages of Monday Creek Publishing’s children’s catalog and you’ll find a delightful parade of characters. Leading the charge is the Pudgy Possum series—an award-winning romp that’s earned five-star praise and a place in many bedtime routines. Pudgy’s adventures are full of heart, humor, and just the right dash of mischief to keep kids asking for “just one more page!”

    But Pudgy isn’t alone. Monday Creek Publishing’s bookshelf is brimming with hidden gems—from gentle tales of friendship to rollicking journeys through enchanted forests. Each story is crafted with care, designed to spark curiosity and nurture a love of reading.

    Behind every great children’s book is a dreamer with a pen. Monday Creek Publishing champions local Ohio authors who write with warmth, wit, and wonder. These storytellers know how to speak the language of childhood through rhyming verse, quirky characters, or heartfelt lessons wrapped in whimsy. Their voices are as diverse as the kids who read them, and their stories reflect the joy, challenges, and magic of growing up.

    Children’s Book Week isn’t just about reading—it’s about connecting. Monday Creek Publishing’s titles help kids explore emotions, understand others, and imagine worlds beyond their own - a stallion trying to be brave, the Big Foot kids learning about grandparents, or a sloth becoming confident, these stories offer gentle guidance wrapped in adventure.

    Want to join the fun? Monday Creek Publishing hosts events like Author Meet & Greets and the Hocking Hills Book Fair, where kids can meet their favorite authors. It’s a celebration of storytelling, community, and the joy of reading.

    This Children’s Book Week, grab a blanket, a snack, and a stack of Monday Creek books. Let the stories whisk you away—and maybe, just maybe, you’ll find a little bit of magic tucked between the pages.

Find your favorite new story @ www.mondaycreekpublishing.com

 Happy reading, little dreamers. The adventure begins with a single page!

Milliron Monday: Jody's Journals June 1985

 

 Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.:  

June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010

Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: 

April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021

Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate 

the legacy of Milliron Farm and Clinic, 

Dr. Pete and Jody Smith.

A continuation of Jody’s Journals.

June 1985

• wagged, took Puff, Colonel > to Fairgrounds, Sheep Dog Trial > Pete on calls > to Windy Hills, film, home 2 am
• to church, late > puttered around barn, rode Junie, short ride, took Colonel, Puff; Pete rode Apple, long ride to Dow Lake trails
• to clinic/barn > Ron Muhn here, dryer, very frustrating > worked at desk briefly > ran errands > Pete on calls
• to clinic/barn > put Junie in yard, very huffy, rode him briefly without saddle or bridle, took Badge down to barn for Fritz Bookman to pick up; read Dick Francis novel til 2 am 
• cleaned house, put in screens > to clinic, went after oxygen, car wouldn't start, started after Elmer (?) Tim's friend and another worker pushed it > Pete brought 2 gallon milk from Bill Hines on way back from Sam's Gym
• to clinic/barn, put sheep down > Pete turned lame ewe out, put sheep down on clinic bottom > CJs lunch > Pete, Jessica, Jerry  Sullivan, I to movie "Fletch" > O'Hooley's > read, doughnut, milk
• 1 am call, cat's temp, fever > church > clinic, Pete logged bulldozed trails > read in hammock, lovely breeze, cut off maple limbs low over yard, put pinetar on trees > to barn, walked up thru hay meadow with Puff, Colonel, Pete coming back from trails
• to clinic, Jerry Sullivan began moving into apartment/barn, put sheep down on bottom > worked at desk, wrote letters
• rain - tried to wag, came back > Pete up for lunch, worked in woods > Pete on calls, then to Sam's
• wagged, took Colonel, Puff, Streak > Pete up for lunch from clinic, worked on fence, biggest steer out > ran errands > to barn, Puff left eye infected > Don Davis called for Susie
• to clinic/barn > watched 3-9 deer in hay meadow
• to clinic, worked til 8:30 pm, potluck > Pete on farm calls
• to church > to clinic, Susie, Sarah, toward Pat's house > Pete logging > Jessica rode Wildfire, Susie rode Alrod, Sarah rode Junie, I rode Apple > hot tub at Windy Hills, streaks from our freezer grilled them there, watched videos of Derby opening, Susie toured Dairy Barn 
• went to Jessica's; Susie, Sarah off to Portsmouth (Stanley Steamer "tour") > I ran errands > to clinic/barn, put Streak in barn
• wagged, took Colonel, Puff, walked to woods to get Pete for 4H meeting/tour of clinic > treated bull's eye > to movies, thriller > Pete went after milk
• cleaned > Pete up for lunch, nap > to clinic, barn, got Junie out of hay meadow, Pat getting wood; got sheep out of hay meadow; proof read Jessica's paper
• wagged Colonel, Puff, worked at desk briefly > to clinic, ran errands > to barn > Pete, Pat wood
• to clinic, took sheep down, de-wormed > to barn > J took Tim Tom, left Banjo, wagged, took Puff, Banjo, Colonel > to clinic til 8 pm > to barn > J called from Betty/Abbott's > Pete hauled bales until after dark, big tree fell up beyond white gate, no wind; bad mood
• to church > rode Junie, Heidi LaJohn called, rode Alrod, Pete rode Apple, Russ Isaacs picked Heidi up; Pete, I ate at DQ, went to Chamber Music Festival, looked at Eldrige's art by recital hall > got paper, read
• to clinic/barn, tired, fell asleep at table 
• to clinic/barn > wagged > put sheep down on bottom with Streak (on line) > Pete to Sam's Gym
• to clinic/barn > Chamber Music, took Puff, DQ
• raked, swept, etc., out hayloft > Pete to auction barn
• to clinic/barn, ran errands > auction for round baler
• to clinic, long day, to barn > Clint Eastwood movie
• to church early > Pete raked, began bailing hay (Pat, Karen, Gordon, Dee, Brent, Kim, Allen, Mitzi helped) put hay in loft > rode Junie > Pete rode Apple > picked blackberries, checked snares > to movie "Cocoon"

For Exclusive Photos Follow on Facebook @ Milliron Clinic

Connect with Gina:

Amazon Author Page

Milliron: The Biography

www.gmcknight.com

www.mondaycreekpublishing.com 

Hocking Hills Book Fair   

Hocking Hills Book Fair Author Podcast

Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian. 

 

Desert Acres Stables: An interview with Donna Hakanson

Donna Hakanson riding in Seven Springs Alabama

Desert Acres Stables: An interview with Donna Hakanson

by Gina McKnight

Archived from the October 2025 Issue of Florida Equine Athlete www.floridaequineathlete.com

No Duplication Without Permission

If you’ve ever wandered past Desert Acres Stables on a crisp morning, you’ve probably caught a glimpse of Donna Hakanson in her element—boots dusty, reins in hand, and a horse that seems to understand her better than most people do. Donna’s been riding, training, and mentoring for years, and her love for the sport runs deep. She’s not just about ribbons and show rings (though she’s got plenty of those); she’s about connection, confidence, and the kind of quiet magic that happens between horse and rider. I sat down with Donna to chat about life in the saddle, what keeps her inspired, and why Desert Acres feels more like home than just a stable.

Welcome, Donna!

GM: I’ve seen your photos and it looks like you know horses! When did you begin riding?

DH: I was a baby. I all I know is my parents took me to a place that had horses. When I was growing up, my sister and I would ride the mechanical Pony outside the grocery store for a quarter. We lived in Sweetwater first, and then my parents got a house not very far away, in Miami. When I was a kid, Seminole Indians lived behind us and they had horses. I had a good friend who went to Southwest High School. We went to Coral Park. She had a horse and we had a pony, we'd ride all over the place. My friend went on to Sebring, I believe it was, and learned to ride. Her trainer eventually became my trainer. He taught me so much. His name was Paul Vanaram. He had five or six horses, a couple had babies, so I got a filly when I turned 18.  She was a Quarter horse and Thoroughbred mix. Her name was Desert Sand

GM: How long did you have Desert? Did she teach you a lot of life lessons?

DH:  Yes, yes, she taught me a lot. When I was 21, I moved to Camp Biblia and brought Desert with me. Camp Biblia is no longer there. It was at 95 and Fiske Blvd. in Rockledge, and I lived in a camper, the kind of camper that fits on top of a truck. I lived in that camper for two years and six months with Desert. Finally, I moved.

I broke Desert to ride, with the help of Paul. You know, when you’re a teenager, you just run, run, run. We were going to shows and I asked my friend, Elaine, why I wasn’t winning. She said, “Go home, take lots of lessons.” I get that now. When I started the lessons, I began cleaning up at the shows. I showed at Live Oak, McCauley’s, Ocala, Vero Beach, Orlando.

Desert was only 15 hands. I learned to ride English. I took her on the jumping circuit. That was so much fun. Desert lived until she was 22. She had Cushing’s. Horrible disease. I had to put her down.

My trainer would come up to my place and train. Then he moved to Fort Drum and I would take my horse to Fort Drum for training to learn to cut. Eventually, he moved to Williston, Florida, and I would drive there. Desert had a baby named Sonny. Sonny and I went to shows and cleaned up. He was a bay, half Arabian, the rest Quarter and Thoroughbred (from Desert). He was 15.3 hands.

GM: Do you still have Sonny?

DH: Same as his mother. Cushing’s is hereditary.

GM: Any good anecdotes/experiences during your competitive years?

DH:  I had a good horse, she did anything I asked her to do, if I asked her correctly. My friends, Dorothy and Roy, really good friends I grew up with, we went me to a horse show. I was nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof. They helped calm me down. My horse was sailing four foot over a little tiny one foot fence. I guess I was nervous. I was just telling her to jump and she jumped. The riders that were falling off were the ones that the horse jumped really low. I got pictures of me jumping that high because I used to do four foot fences.

GM: Tell us about your riding facility…

DH: I have seven acres here to ride. I board two horses and the other four are mine. I guide trail rides, offer riding lessons, and summer camps. We have 22,000 acres outback behind us for riding. It’s all wetlands and the trails are always different. It’s where the hurricane waters run before going to the St. John’s River. If they ever build it, I’m out of here.

GM: What about your trail horses?

DH: One of our horses is 30 years old. He belongs to my sister who lives in Homestead, Florida. He is retired here, and only allowed up to 140 lbs. Mostly children ride him.

GM: Any good trail stories?

DH: I took two riders out, it was in the middle of the day, about 2:30. We rode down the main trail and looked down. To the left, there was a coyote carrying a baby pup in her mouth. She was moving her pup to a safer spot. In all my years, I had never seen that. That was pretty amazing. She was probably as intrigued by us as we were by her. We have seen bobcats, wild pigs, and deer, too. We ran into an alligator once on the trail. It was a six-foot gator. This was about 12 years ago. It rained so much from the hurricane, the gator was a bit lost.  

I just had two people here riding who live in Florida, but are from Germany. And two people from Ukraine that live here that like to come riding, too. Not the first time they've ever come to ride. The folks from Germany are going to come back because they're going to do a European horseback riding tour over Christmas break.

The best way to schedule a ride is to call me. I'm old school. I believe in the phone call method because usually if you talk to somebody, they wind up showing up. If you don't talk to me, you just text them back and forth. They usually never show up.

GM: Does the wildlife bother the horses?

DH:  I’ve never had a problem on the wetland trails. They allow us to ride through.

GM: What's your favorite riding discipline?

DH: Show class trail – it used to be jumping when I was younger. But after being in a few car wrecks that kind of said, oh, let's not do that!

GM: What does today look like for you?

DH: I already cleaned up all the barn area, and we took care of the horses. We cleaned up some stuff in the yard. Two volunteers came by at 10:30 to help with the horses. So now I'm gonna wait for my student lessons from 3:00 to 5:00 today.

GM: Do you have a favorite horse that you stable?

DH:  Yukon. She’s my Palomino. She used to be my husband's horse, now she's mine. I used to let other people ride her, but then she got to a point where she didn't like other people. She likes a consistent rider so I only ride her now.  I have a gaited horse, Diamond, he's still my favorite too.

GM: What about breaking horses?

DH: I tried. Well, it broke me. I got black and blue all over. I said I'm not gonna do that again. So it's been rough to be trained thinking I could do it. You know you’re a good horse rider, but training is a totally different thing. Safety at all times is important. That's what matters.

GM: What’s your best advice for novice riders?

DH: So kids, listen, I know that horse is pretty, but don't keep looking at it while you’re riding. You have to look up. And one of the most important things if you are teaching a lesson, you say, “Pull up.” Guess what they do? They pull back. They don't understand what that means. They think it's to pull back. You know what that does to a horse? Makes it back up.

GM: What has been your biggest challenge with horses?

DH:  Well, to find a man, you gotta have one that loves horses or loves the animal life. My husband passed away 9 1/2 years ago, it's hard to find the right guy.    

GM: Where’s your favorite place to ride?

DH:  I go camping. I got a three-horse goose-neck living quarters trailer and we go camping all over Florida. We're going the first week of November up to Samson, Alabama, and go do a cattle drive up there – Booger Brown CattleDrive. I been to Utah on the Red Rock ride and so much more.

GM: What does horsemanship mean to you?

DH: Everything - how you walk, talk, express yourself, riding is everything, ride and get better. So just like with anything, learning how to drive a car, your parents had to teach you riding a bicycle, you had to learn how to do it better. And horseback riding is like that.

Connect with Donna…

Follow on Facebook @ Desert Acres Stables

www.desertacresstables.com

 

Donna: "Riding after cows in Rexburg, Idaho."

Donna: "Getting ready with our horses at the McGarry Ranch."

Donna "My mule to ride in the Grand Canyon on the Red Rock Ride."

Donna: "Riding in Utah on the Red Rock Ride."

Donna on Cappy

Donna on Yukon.