Magnolia, TX

As most of you saw earlier this week we blogged about a tragic fire that destroyed a horse facility between Magnolia and The Woodlands. It has made the National and International news and has attracted the attention of the people from "Extreme Makeover."

The Barn Owner needs your help! There is a Facebook page regarding the tragedy and a place to vote for the Goslin-Nix family to possibly receive a Extreme Makeover. Please take a few minutes to go to Facebook and "Like" the page and Vote for them.

This barn has done so much over the years to help the community and impact the lives of so many children and adults as well that we want to do everything we can to see something positive come from this Extreme Tragedy! Here's the page!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Help-Nominate-the-Goslins-for-Extreme-Home-Makeover/245916178773417

Yesterday we shared the demise of one of the favorite properties we have ever sold. The horse facility where some of our favorite folks made their living educating others about the joys of horsemanship and learning to care about the needs of other living beings, burned to the ground in the early hours.

Fourteen exquisite arabian horses were lost in that blaze. Yesterday very little seemed to quell the pain in our hearts. Today, after a time to reflect, we see a flicker of hope.

One of the horses that survived was an older horse used to help teach young children how to ride. This horse is not beautiful to look at but is lovely when responding to the young riders. He is gentleness and patience personified. In his prime he may have been of the same show quality as his peers. Today however he serves to remind us that good is where you find it.

Although many of the horses that died got released from their firey stalls in time, they did not feel secure enough with their sudden freedom to seize it. They died just feet from what had been their percieved security.

The older,wiser horse sensed danger and fled. He kept running till he found a safe pasture up the road from his home. He grazed until his owners could retrieve him and lead him back to a safe pasture they owned where other survivors were.

Lessons to be learned here? Perhaps on many levels there are lessons. And maybe there is a lesson here for us people. The things that we fear can paralyze us even after we have sometimes been set free.

The best part of his survival is that Cinnamon is still around to help his owners start over with new people to teach. Out of the ashes the Phoenix will rise.

This morning dawned as usual for most of us. For one family however, things have changed forever.

They were wakened by knocking at the door with news that the 5000 sq ft barn that housed their horses as well as many boarders was on fire. Horses that were comfortably bedded down last night in their private stalls were now imprisoned.

14 beautiful show horses perished in the blaze. The other horses were freed in time and stood looking bewildered in the pasture at the time of our visit.

The barn is now a crumpled pile of metal with charred pillars rising out of the smoke and mud. The fire department did their best but the intense heat and the numerous flamable materials had a heat start.

Community minded people as well as numerous neighbors,students and friends turned out to show support and aid however they could. No one and nothing can do or say anything to take the loss,trauma or sadness away.

No one yet knows what ignited this inferno. All of us know the family is not only dealing with the loss of animals they loved, but the loss of the place they had taught countless people the art of horseback riding, caring for animals and many social graces.

There is a fund being set up to help with the expenses of healing horses that were hurt, and hopefully rebuilding the uninsured structure. Thankfully no people were injured... at least not in a physical way. The question for now will deal with the hows of taking care of the survivors, and what caused the fire. Those will remain burning questions for many days to come.

What a gut wrenching way to start the day! Be thankful everyday for the blessings you receive. Buildings and things can be replaced. But..... like people you love can't be replaced neither can the animals you love. Life of all things big and small is precious.

These people are friends of ours and our hearts hurt deeply for them.

The Kingsmen Quartet -- August 13th at 7:30pm, First Baptist Church, 18525 FM 1488, Magnolia, Texas

For more information on the group, go to www.kingsmenquartet.com. There is a big following for this group. Each year people come from all over, including out of state, just to see this great group. Please help support the Magnolia Lions Club and enjoy a wonderful show as well.

Note: Klein's Supermarket is no longer in business, but you can call me, the Magnolia Lions Club or the First Baptist Church in Magnolia for tickets.

This poster was from a previous year. This years concert will be August 13th, 2011 at 7:30pm. Tickets are on sale at the event for $12.00 for adults. You can preorder the tickets by calling me, Liz Flint, at 832-816-8066. The advance tickets will be $10.00 for adults.

Accident on Tomball Parkway near High Meadow Ranch on 7/19/11 at approximately 3pm. This stretch of pavement was very slippery. We are way behind on rain here in this part of Texas. This brief rain storm brought all the oil to the surface of the street and made it very treacherous.

Respondents to the emergency call were two sheriffs , one constable , three ambulances , one fire engine and about seven or eight wreckers . It took about 30 - 45 minutes to move the victims and cars and clean up the street.

Here is one of the ambulances loading a victim into the EMS vehicle.

Here you can see the firemen cleaning up the road surface so cars wouldn't run over debris and cause another accident. Thank you Mr Firemen .

The whole front end of the car is mashed in, it looks like back to the dashboard. I think everyone involved in the accident survived.

These folks were coming from Houston and Tomball . The line of traffic stretched farther than I could see.