TURQUOISE COWGIRL

REMEMBER WHEN...

2012-01-16T08:07:00.005-06:00

A friend of mine sent an email with these memories from the Montgomery Ward 1937 catalog...I remember going to the Montgomery Ward store with my mother when I was little (1970's). I also recall collecting and assembling books upon books of H&S Greenstamps, and turning them in for our choice of item on display. Times have certainly changed...what do you remember? This generation of kids is so vastly polar opposite...they just can't imagine life without a cell phone, iPad, iPod, computers, satellite TV and the thousands of channels available, Walmart, air conditioners, SUV's, fastfood, waterparks, malls, etc...what other differences can you remember?

GREAT TEACHER GIFT!

2012-01-14T13:51:00.009-06:00

A co-worker & mother of one of my students gave me one of the coolest gifts ever...Ya' know how it is when you're at a loss as to what to get someone? Well, that was me, regarding my parents...I had no idea what to get them for Christmas...until this gal solved all my problems! She's a very skilled & creative photographer and after a couple of hours on the farm, and over 200 photos later, I was given a CD containing all of the original shots + some that had been edited with special effects! From that, I picked out 5 and had a canvas wrap of photos, courtesy of Shutterfly, made for my parents...

Here's just a gander at some the pics that were taken!

CHRISTMAS, NEW YEARS, BACK TO SCHOOL & BIRTHDAY...Gone With The Wind!

2012-01-14T07:52:00.014-06:00

My word...no posts since November? YIPES...sorry about that! It's been just a lil' whirlwind-ish around here for the past couple of months! Here goes all attempts to catch you up!

Saw this poster on Pinterest...have you ever been to that site? Well, it's just a tad bit (hugely) addicting! Check it out - http://www.pinterest.com/ Amazing discoveries in all areas! Recipes, solutions, photos, sayings, CREATIVITY, INGENUITY, BEAUTY...S-P-E-C-T-A-C-U-L-A-R! Thought this was a great way to say it....

Lubbock, Texas had a horrendous dust storm...Think again if you think the Dust Bowl Era is gone...

A friend with her hour old donkey...mama kicked 'im off, so now he's a bottle baby...look at them ears!!

BUCKSKIN HALF BROTHERS - FIRST SADDLING for the one on the right...

The deep sand in the round pen was perfect for Buck's first go round....

NOT TOO BAD!

Christmas was here before we knew it...
During the Christmas break, I was invited to bring my jewels to the Wichita Falls Symphony during their Christmas Performance...it was fun!

Very thankful to send Santas to Santa Fe this year!

The Kemp Center for the Arts
Some of my jewels that are displayed in the Kemp Center.

Zack spent a large majority of his Christmas vacation out at the deer lease on the Red River!

Zack with Tim and Bob out at the deer lease!

Cole - Zack's good buddy - catching stripers on Lake Texoma!

"We got our limit, Mom!"
(Zack, Cole and Penny)

Talia came to visit over Thanksgiving and then again at New Years! Boone is Jake's Australian Shepherd pup... Of course, Jake wouldn't let me get a picture of him...

Luanne and Bobby went to Canada to see their daughter and grandkids...here's Bobby after their wolf hunt! (I'm diggin' the snow camo!)

FALL HAPPENINGS!!

2011-11-10T06:57:00.008-06:00

Ooooweeeeee, the thief of time has stolen again! This Fall has been moving at warp speed, but these pics should catch you up to speed on things here in Texas!

One evening, the dogs started barking, and it wasn't just the tone of bark that they usually proclaim when their conversing with the coyotes...it was rapid, high pitched and carried a "warning" overtone...I went out to see...and...off the porch...by the storm cellar...was...a............BADGER! They had him backed in the corner of the concreted storm cellar and good gracious, was he MAD! I ran in to tell Zack and of course, the "WILD KINGDOM" genes that Zack possesses instantly thrust him into the "catch and release" mode! He ran to the barn and fashioned a 1"PVC pole (long enough to stay at a safe distance from this critter) into a catch pole. He threaded a lasso's loop through the pipe and very quickly returned with a perfect way to catch this thing...

..... It was hissing and charging and clearly upset at the circumstances...

Zack slipped the loop over his neck and pulled him out into the light so that we could take a gander...never caught a badger before! WOW - they sure have long claws and a mouth full of sharp teeth!

HE WAS SOOOOO NOT HAPPY, BUT, AFTER WE TOOK A LOOK AND MARVELED AT HOW ZACK WAS ABLE TO DO WHAT HE DID...HE RELEASED THE LOOP AND USED THE POLE TO GUIDE IT AWAY FROM THE HOUSE AND DOWN THE LANE TO THE WEST PASTURE...IT WAS REALLY COOL!

Through my website, I was connected with a gal from Denver. She ordered 50 western wineglass charms for the Denver chapter FBI convention. She said they were a "hit" and sent me a couple photos of how great they looked!

Each one had a different western charm - horses, hats, boots,stars, spurs...as well as different stones to compliment them!

THE COWBOY MOUNTED SHOOTING WEEKEND has come and gone in a "flash"! I got sick during the morning of the first day of this weekend that I had waited all year for, so I didn't even have my booth and didn't even go to enjoy it! IT WAS SUCH A BUMMER! My friend had the priviledge of borrowing a horse, and a set of pistols to give it a "shot", just for practice, not for competition...but she may have been bitten by the mounted shooting bug! Here she is! She did great and the horse was amazingly perfect for her first time out!

I know this is a montage of "happenings"...teaching is going great! Here are the 4 of us that are at the east end of the 2nd grade hall! We sure have a great time together and are just like sisters! I am so blessed to work with these gals!

Mom and Dad came to visit this Fall, to see 2 of Zack's football games. I had not seen them in a year!!! (Oh, I hate living so far from them!) They got to go to one of Zack's pep rallies at the High School...everyone was in pink to support breast cancer awareness month... My school bussed the kids over to the High School, so they could be a part of the celebration! It was so fun! I am so glad my parents could be there!

Here's Zack with the team! He and Heath (next to him) were the only Freshman to be moved up to the Varsity team! It is a huge honor!! They played the entire season on the Varsity team! I am sooooo immensely proud of him!

Dad turned 80 at the end of October, so I organized and planned a big surprise party for him at my church! It was AWESOME!!!!

They headed north to Canyon, Texas to visit with Jake at college: West Texas A&M and meet Talia! They had a great, great time!

They even met Talia's horse, Zoe! Notice Jake's prank of tying Zoe's tail to the pole while she ate!

Other happenings: Zack's last team meal (the day before their last game)for the year...we served them steaks, baked potatoes, salad and dessert! That's Zack on the left in the white cap. They LOVED it! The next night, they WON their last game!!! It was AMAZING and everyone was so THRILLED!

Susie, Luanne and Iris took a trip to the Grand Canyon a couple weeks ago! They rode mules down into the canyon and spent the night at Phantom Ranch at the bottom! It took 5.5 hours each way and the trails were less in width than the mules themselves! Susie made a phenominal video!! Here they are! They had a fabulous time!!

Iris and her brand new GYPSY VANNER colt, Navarre. I have always wanted to see one of these horses...I've only seen them in magazines and they are OH SO BEAUTIFUL!!! You wouldn't believe the amount of hair these horses have!

GOOD GRAVY...IT'S BEEN EONS!

2011-09-25T08:16:00.015-05:00

Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful, lest you let other people spend it for you. ~Carl Sandburg

Carpe Diem! Seize the Day!

And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years. ~Abraham Lincoln

You live longer once you realize any time spent being unhappy is wasted. ~Ruth E. Renkl

Every man dies. Not every man really lives. ~Braveheart

As you grow older, you'll find the only things you truly regret are the things that you didn't do. ~Zachary Scott

Those are some of my favorite quotes about the passage of time. Almost an entire month has wisped away since I have posted. Among the many opportunities and experiences that have presented themselves in the last 30 days, first and foremost was the welcome reception of our recent rains! As the gauge in concerned, it wasn't record-breaking...as for the thirst of the earth, it seeped in,quenched the paralyzed sod and the promise of new life is slowly introducing itself across the plains. Temperatures have waned, and the gloriousness of each day is vibrant, present and affirmed. Just last weekend, Ed and I spent the morning together on a magnificent ride! The cool morning breeze in our hair, the warmth of the sun on our skin, no time limits, no fences, no worries. Perfection. Reflection. Liberation. We hadn't been together since May and as it is with our truest human friends, we just picked up where we left off...like we had never been apart. The weekend also brought the opportunity to absorb two of the most wonderful movies that I have ever seen...The Help and Seven Days in Utopia. If you haven't made the time for these marvelous motion pictures, you must. Life-changing and heart-warming...a good cry will do that for a person.
On to the post...here's a collage of what's been happening:

My brother and his family at my cousin's wedding in Connecticut.

Zac Garcia (graduated with Jake)- last day in Vernon before heading back to his army post in Germany. Soon to be deployed to Afganistan. Please keep him in your prayers, as well as all of our armed forces. So young, so strong, so full of adventure.

Zack and his friends, at his surprise birthday party on September 17! He's 15 and is working on getting his driver's permit!!! YIPES...talk about the passage of time!

Of course, boys will be boys...a lil' roping, a lil' tying and alot of expended energy!

The Crew! Being a bit last minute in planning, only a few of his gang was able to make it and boy was it a surprise for Zack!

Football, Friends, Cake & Ice Cream!!

Make your wish, Zacky-Poo!

What a resemblance!

Drought conditions called for the hauling of most of the cattle to the sale...going into winter without any available hay + skyrocketing feed prices + decent cattle prices = profit gain

The opening of dove season...

Another successful rehab...the coon has been gone for almost a month now...

Zack and his buddy Heath, were moved up from Freshman ball to Varsity! It's definitely "Friday Night Lights" each week! He's doing a super job as linebacker and has earned his high ranking among his teammates! Team meals on Thursday nights...Pep Rallies... games under the lights... Saturday practices... film... weights...the whole 9 yards!

Way to go Zacky-Poo!

Preparation for the October Cowboy Mounted Shooting Event called for some media coverage...I'm in charge of the vendors this year and we're all looking forward to an exciting weekend at the arena in October!

The Ranch Rodeo (back in August) was spectacular! Enjoyed a great evening with Joline, Bucky, Susie, Dan, Brad and his sweetie!

Circle Bar team

Waggoner team

Amazing ranch horses, aged chaps, and of course nice fittin' Wranglers!

At the chutes...

Dyke's grandmother (left) turned 98 in August! What a gal!

My parents sent her a gorgeous vase of YELLOW ROSES for their YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS!

The Red River Valley Museum graciously offered to showcase some of my jewelry! I am so appreciative and greatful for the public exposure! Many thanks to the RRVM!

My boys are still roaming the pastures and growin' horns! Although I love 'um to death, they still are for sale!!!

Sloppy Joe & T-Bone

Love this picture of Zack on top of the mountains in Colorado last summer...

A few funnies before I go...

INBRED CAT

HOW HOT IS IT IN TEXAS?

Oh...this is an old narrow door that I got out of an old farmhouse before it was torn down...I stripped it and dry brushed turquoise paint on it. Planning to use it as a jewelry display at my upcoming booths...

God Bless everyone who reads this...

I am really going to try to keep a more current posting schedule!

Sorry you had to wait so long!

PRAY FOR RAIN!

2011-08-30T15:13:00.014-05:00

While the East Coast is struggling to cope with record flooding and wide spread destruction from Irene, SO many states fight to survive in a desperate drought that's being easily compared to the droughts of the 30's and 50's... Please, Please, Please pray for those of us who are trying to endure this seemingly hopeless situation in modern day Texas and other states alike. The mercury is continuing to level out at well over 100 degree temperatures each day. The brutality of this drought is not merely measured by annoying water rationings as it is by the dessication, desolation and destitution of livelihoods and life itself. Livestock and agricultural losses are off the historical charts. The deadly marriage of, the extreme temperatures over a severe length of time, the lack of decent moisture for the past 10+ years and the fatal and frenetic wildfires that have swept these areas, have left states like Texas, asphixiated and defunct.

The following photos illustrate the deplorable plight of many rural Texans. When you're focusing on your own little circle of life, trying to manage, it's difficult to truly realize the depth of despair of the others around you.

Seemingly sheltered urbanites fight their own version of the drought, compared to the truculent rendition of rural Texans. Despite having insurance, every farmer worries about how they are going to pay their farm loans and are then forced to make the decision of whether to borrow more money for next season's crops. Signs like these can be seen all over rural Texas.

Fredricksburg, Texas community prayer rally.

Once a pasture near Webberville...now just dirt...weeds don't even survive!

A whirlwind near Garfield, Texas...

After searching in the cracked soil for cotton seeds on his 175-acre cotton field in Garfield, Texas, this farmer drops to his knees in despair. He planted 800 acres of cotton, corn, wheat and sorghum, and almost all of it was destroyed by the drought.

A waterslide and rope swing stand vigilantly, as they watch their tank evaporate...
Dime Box, Texas

Dead trees are silhouetted against the dawn sky in Wyldwood, Texas.

The cattle are very poor and so many, many ranchers have had to completely sell out. It will take years to build their herds up again. These cattle wait to be auctioned off in Fredricksburg, Texas.

Underweight cattle wait to be auctioned in Fredricksburg, Texas. Ranchers can't afford to feed them or even find available hay. Large round bales, normally $35.00/each are priced up to $120.00 each in some places.

This cow is stuck in the mud of a dried up stock tank...

A ranch hand in Garfield, Texas gives water to the exhausted cow. The eight-year-old cow survived the ordeal, but two weeks later she got stuck again and died.

This cow found some green grass in the bottom of an empty stock tank at a ranch near Manor, Texas.

This corn stalk is typical of the condition of hundreds of acres of corn that was destroyed by drought on this farm in Round Rock, Texas.

Here's the Round Rock, Texas farm that will not have a corn crop this year.

Boating anyone? This is a boat ramp at a fishing camp on Lake Buchanan in Tow, Texas. The owner is trying to sell out, but the property's value has plummeted to nothing.

Many Lake Travis properties look like this: boats and docks rest on dry land.

Boat docks are unusable as the Pedernales River, which feeds into Lake Travis, is reduced to a trickle near Spicewood, Texas.

SUMMER'S LAST BLAST!

2011-08-15T08:12:00.008-05:00

Nancy and I planned a garage sale for this weekend since so many people were going to be in town for the cruise weekend. It was pretty good, but what was better was to get rid of all of my accumulated stuff that was never used!

Every year, Vernon hosts "Summer's Last Blast"...a whole weekend of activities based around vintage, souped-up, jacked-up muscle cars, rock crawlers, motorcycles and fabulously colorful "blasts from the past"! Saturday night is the big "cruise" on the main drag of Vernon and it sure is a sight to see! People from all over come to this huge car show and line the streets to watch them pass by. Many of the people set up and spend the entire day on the side of the street, bar-B-Q'ing with friends and family! There are all kinds of vendors, live music and people EVERYWHERE! Jake and his friends set up a hay trailer with a huge galvanized water trough on it, filled it with water and all sat in it and watched the cruise all night! As I drove around town on Saturday, I was able to see some of the cars:

Talia came for the weekend and she and Jake had a great time at the "cruise". She even tried ol'Biscuit out!

She grew up with several brothers and had to stand up for herself, so she's a tough girl who loves to wrestle and play fight! Zack sure didn't know what to do when she tried to wrestle him to the ground! It was hysterical!
Reality has hit, because Summer's Last Blast always indicates the end of summer and the start of school!

Noble souls, through dust and heat, rise from disaster and defeat the stronger.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

2011-08-11T07:53:00.009-05:00

Still too hot to do much outside - unless you're up and out by 5:00 am...even at 10:00 at night, it's 100 degrees!!!

Despite the heat, the sunsets are magnificent!

The highest temp this thermometer has seen all summer!

DIRT DEVIL

DRY, DRY and more DRY...

With this epic drought, local hay (that is affordable) is almost non-existent...I was able to locate some alfalfa from the Kansas/Oklahoma border...not much, but it sure will help. It'll take a lot more to fill the barn for the winter...

Jake's been cleaning up the pasture, loading and hauling the scrap metal to town and has made some good college money!

I had an idea to make a bracelet from an old bridle rein and add buffalo nickles, so I headed out to my pastor's leather shop. He was not there, but his friend was...

He did a fantastic job!

Red River Valley Museum graciously invited me to display some of my jewelry in there museum store! They did a beautiful job of exhibiting the pieces! Thanks, RRVM!! (check out their facebook page!)

Finally bit the bullet and purchased a gunsafe...the purchase was the easy part...getting it in the house was a different story (especially with just the 3 of us)!!!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY THAT WE GET RAIN...IT'S DESPERATE AROUND HERE.

JEREMIAH 14:1-9

2011-07-27T13:08:00.010-05:00

The drought. It is the 34th consecutive day of triple-digit heat here in Vernon and everything is struggling to stay alive. We have let our garden go - watering twice a day was not only expensive, but of no worth, as the plants' leaves were being severly burned.

The pond...just a puddle now.

The vultures have already feasted on Zack's bellied-up catfish.

As in Jeremiah 14, it talks about the drought and so much of the scripture from the biblical ages could have easily been written about this summer here in Vernon, Texas.

'For there has been no rain on the land. The farmers have been put to shame and have covered their heads. Because the ground is cracked. For even the doe in the field has given birth only to abandon her young. Because there is no grass. And the wild donkeys stand on the bare heights; they pant for air like jackals and their eyes fail.' Dyke has had so many calls from people finding baby deer in their backyards, on the side of the roads and in the most obscure places....just like the bible said. The mamas have abandoned them to find food and water to stay alive.

Our Earth is so thirsty....

The pastures have dried up and are blowing away in the furnace-like winds.

Infliction. Asphyxiation. Tortuous. Lethal. Excruciation.

Our cattle gather each day, under the few trees that give shade by the pond. Most days, you can find them yearning to stand ear-deep in the muddy water, but the daily changing levels are now only teet-deep...Trying to find some resemblance of relief is nearly an impossibility. We are blessed to have two ponds and this one still has water. The lower pasture still has some grass...but when that is gone, so are the cows. We will be forced, like so many others, to sell out. Here's what our local news report said about the recent influx of cattle sales:
Wichita Livestock has confirmed they are no longer accepting anymore cattle for sale, unless a seller has made prior arrangements with staff members.
This comes as livestock sale barns have been seeing their busiest year yet. The drought is forcing many cattle owners to sell off their animals because they simply can't afford to keep up with supplying water and food.

Last week Wichita Livestock Sales saw 3,500 head of cattle come in for their weekly auction and they're expecting the same this week. Usually they see 1,500 to 2,000. In the 11 years the livestock barn has been open owners have never seen anything like this before. "We've been as busy as you can be in a 24 hour period," said Owner of Wichita Livestock, Billy Easter.All day Tuesday cattle raisers dropped off their herd one truckload at a time. Chris Mooney brought a 50 foot trailer with 45 cows. He hauls cattle around for clients, and says work lately has been nothing short of hectic."We're hauling to the sale barns and feed yards every day. Everyone has run out of grass and run out of water," he said.And for the owner of this sale yard, it's record breaking auctions at or near capacity of 3,500 and it's not slowing down. Recently auctions have been lasting nearly 24 hours; from 9am Wednesday morning to 7am Thursday. They usually end about 7pm Wednesday."It makes for a long day because we still have to check the cattle and get them loaded on trucks the next day. It kind of wears everybody out," said Easter.We're now 17.5 inches below normal rainfall. It's a cattle raisers worst nightmare."This is by far the worst year," said Mooney.There is good news. Livestock sales are not being affected by mother nature, "They're bringing in good money, awful good money," said Easter.
Those who are buying the cattle are coming as far away from Mississippi, Colorado, and Missouri. Wichita Livestock's weekly auction kicks off on Wednesdays at 9am.
There are concerns for the cattle raisers who are selling off their herd. Some may not be able to purchase their livestock back and it could potentially put some people out of business.

Our cotton has all but burned to ashes and those plants that are holding on to life are so very sparce.
In an attempt to keep spirits uplifted with a little humor...a friend sent me this picture of the "new Texas rain gauge"... but in our case out here on the farm...we haven't even had this much rain...and the punishing winds would have blown this right off the rail within moments of setting it there.

One of the coons that we were rehabing is still making appearances from time to time. Her sister has not been seen for several weeks. Although this one's off the bottle, she has grown to enjoy feasting on the dry catfood that we bring her, when we know she's back in the tree. I go out and call to her several times a day, offering food and water. Somedays, she pokes her nose out of the hollow and comes to me, other days, there's no response...The intense heat vaporizes the water that we leave in the bowls for her, and they have to be checked almost hourly. I can't imagine the heat index when you're wearing a raccoon coat...and I hope and pray the hollow tree provides enough protection from the scorching sun and heavy air.

PLEASE pray for rain to come to this part of our country. We're so very desperate. I know without a doubt that the Lord will provide. Those who read this, who are in similar situations...do not give up, do not doubt God's abilities and do not cease your prayers. He knows and He loves His children. God bless this country, the troops overseas, and the government leaders and others who are willing to stand up for what is right in the eyes of God.

AMARILLO BY MORNING...My Solo Journey Westward

2011-07-08T07:50:00.050-05:00

Back in April, I became interested in embarking on a sort of "self-discovery" trip...driving the Turquoise Trail between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. I had never really traveled anywhere completely by myself, so we purchased a new vehicle - Chevy Equinox LT - and I began packing! Zack was up in Colorado working for Adventure Experiences and would need a lift home, so I decided to combine the Turquoise Trail with Taylor Park...After some research, I found that most of the pueblos were off the beaten path of the Trail, and I was a little apprehensive to do that much "self-discovery" for the first time, so I made some amendments to my itinerary and elected to travel directly to Santa Fe and stay with a friend before heading north to Colorado. On June 28, 7:36am, I was Santa Fe bound!

Of course, I had to travel in my "bejeweled way", so with the XM radio, Onstar, my cowhide duffle and a pair of red cowboy boots, I was on my way! I headed my "steel horse" north on Hwy 287 to Amarillo and then a jaunt west on a portion of the old Route 66 (I40).
From the shortgrass Texas prairie rangeland to the dry buttes of Tucumcari...the semi-arid, vast expanses were hypnotic and captivating! The obviousness of the pre-Cambrian seas, that once owned this land, was staggering...

The newly established wind farms were a sight to see and definitely not able to be fully captured through a cheap camera lens. It was indefinite like the land.

The feedlots were equally as difficult to seize with my low rate digital Walmart camera. (I got pretty good at snapping pics as I drove, though!)

Leaving Amarillo and heading west, a flutter of excitement gathered in my soul. Santa Fe. I couldn't believe I was going to be in Santa Fe in a matter of hours! I had never ever been - even though I look like a Santa Fe/turquoise/southwestern poster-child! I was finally going to make it there...check that one off the ol' bucket list!

As the flat Texas terrain merged into small elevational rises, deep cuts/canyons, vast expanses of sage, red dirt, windmills and pure desolation, an occasional pre-depression era farm, with out-buildings in all stages of disrepair would pass. Some close to the road, others not. Networks of cattle trails connected the inoperative weather-worn windmills. With such barren, indecipherable origins, it truly pulled at your heartstrings to understand who the faces of those farms were and why they made this heinous place their home. Definitely looked like a John Wayne movie set!

I traveled on, lost in a certain solitude that I had never really known. On those forever-straight ribbons of blacktop, you fall into your own family convoy of cars and mostly big-rigs; leapfrogging your way west, them passing me, then me passing them. The speed limit extends to 75mph out there and you seem to get sucked into those trucker's tailwinds and before you know it, you've gone nearly 100 miles!

ENTERING NEW MEXICO: The Land of Enchantment

Overcome with anxiety, excitement and arrousal...I had to stop at the first rest stop after crossing into New Mexico! I met two girls (mother and daughter, I think), who were moving from Illinois to Nevada right that very moment...they drove a small, black compact car, with dealer tags and they were alternating turns taking each other's picture. I offered to take their photo and then they returned the favor.

Then a few miles later, I decided to stop and gas up at a huge and most beautiful rest area in Tucumcari. This sculpture commanded my attention, so I took a quick shot before I got on my way. Later I discovered that Tucumcari was founded around a tragic Apache love legend...google it...

Woo-Hoo...gettin' closer!!

As I turned north just prior to Cline's Corners, the elevation climbed among the motts of juniper and pinyon. It still had that vastness to the land, but it was now interrupted by huge plateaus and mesas. There seemed to be a cadence of the land.

The outskirts of Santa Fe were bustling. The roads were narrow, the vehicles many, and the scenery was beckoning me to stop every mile and take some pictures...Almost immediately, I felt a freedom and a diverseness that I had not felt since I was in East Africa back in '86. Santa Fe - the oldest capital city in North America and the oldest European city west of the Mississippi. The entirety of the local construction was, of course, adobe: various, almost "edible", hues... from caramel to mocha to dark chocolate, butterscotch and peach. Beams, posts, and desert southwest landscaping... Straight from the pages of some high-end travel magazine! The traffic was crazed, so there was no way I could stop to document what I was seeing! In entering the city limits of Santa Fe, I knew that I needed some help from a higher place, so I activated Jake's GPS, and after a few turns following this automated male's voice...I found my friend, CeCe's amazing adobe townhouse! I was ready to kiss Texas good bye and immerse myself in the breathtaking, old world style and grace of this Spanish Colonial time capsule. It was dizzying. Charming. Body, Mind & Spirit. Rolling hills studded in juniper. Magnificence in the distance. I had read something about Santa Fe and it became so real...The sky is an ever changing canvas painted by the light. Perfection.

The old Spanish door entry to the courtyard by her front entrance.

The view from her driveway...

The view from her back patio where I journaled my first morning there.

Her gracious home wore the colors of the earth. Hand plastered crisp white walls, rounded corners and arches, high ceilings, beams, glass tiles, giant floor tiles and a gorgeous corner adobe fireplace. Her decor was OUT OF THIS WORLD...literally! A luxurious melting pot of cultural treasures - each with its own story. The pure definition of excellence and an unmistakable palpable "peace" throughout the entire space. We visited and toured her home and then decided we better get the 2 hour Santa Fe tour underway...I was only there for a short time, so every breath counted. She gave me a driving tour of the outlying hotspots including the Farmer's Market in the historic railyard, and Georgia O'Keeffe's museum. We parked near the Plaza and walked to the square. Fat, juicy hanging baskets of overflowing flowers hung everywhere around the square. We started at the historic Palace of the Governors - where the local Navajos had their wares spread out on sidewalk blankets...exceptional craftsmanship...wow! We circled around the square hitting some of the more elaborate places. Places I had only learned about from the glossy pages of my Cowboys & Indians magazine!! Ortegas, Back at the Ranch, Rocki Gorman...

The infamous St. Francis Cathedral - which was closed that particular day. I had heard about its staircase that has no nails...

The turquoise was to die for! Most places did not allow photography, so it is really frustrating to try to document what the downtown Santa Fe shops and galleries were like...one place did allow pictures and the jewelry was world class! Well known artists like Douglas Magnus, Mummy's Bundle, Gilbert Ortega, Richard Schmidt, Coreen Cordova, Vintage Revival and famous clothing and accessory lines such as:Tasha Polizzi, Double D, Old Gringo, Lucchese, Patricia Wolf, Pat Dahnke and OH SO MUCH MORE! I felt like I was living in the pages of C & I!

This very city is the heart of the American Southwest, from which it pulsates around the planet.

We walked off the Plaza into award winning galleries, some of which were only "by appointment only"! Premier, Provocative and Permeating! I ran out of descriptive vocabulary words...

I saw the infamous "red couch" at Back at the Ranch!!!!

The living pace seemed to be in sinc with the landscape - sweeping, staggering, grounded, intrinsic, and VERY inspiring! Although I was willing to risk stiff consequences for photographing this next place, I decided against it since I couldn't even understand the middle eastern tongue with which they were speaking. We walked through Seret & Sons: a middle Eastern/Morracan bazaar market filled to the ceilings with amazing textiles, architechural elements, massive carved wooden pieces, antique Tibetan furnishings...it was staggering and highly overwhelming! UNBELIEVABLE!

ACC - American Country Collections - is a showcase for exquisite and unusual upholstery, lighting, accessories, antiques and worldly furnishings. From its modest exterior, you would never guess the depths of this place and the beauty of the pieces inside. This is where some of my Old World Santas were sold last year. I was excited to meet Trish, who I had spoken with and worked with over the phone. What a brilliant, joyous woman!

As the sun slid further to the west, we decided, because of the fevered pace that we had been assuming - trying to get everything in, in one fell swoop...we needed to engage in some local color with some refreshments and appetizers. We agreed on Coyote Cafe - a rooftop cantina! Margaritas, like I have never wrapped my lips around before, fabulous chips, a deep red spicy salsa and a chunky guacamole that you could easily live off of! The views of the street below were exceptional, the people were happy and it was a slice of heaven in every direction!

(below) A bed and breakfast next door to Vanessie's... LOVE the architecture!

After some more shop-seeing..excellent boutiques with furs, leather, turquoise, sterling, textiles and souvenier trinkets, we decided to head over to Vanessie's - an upscale piano bar/restaurant. An amazing pianist named David, caressed and floated his fingers along the keyboard without any visible music sheets, producing extraordinary montages of Broadway showtunes, while his partner, Julie, sang the words with flamboyance, and sassy Broadway-caliber vocals! We each ordered a pile of delectable fried Portabella mushrooms and a drink (or two)! We sat back and just let the show surround us until about 11:00! It was enchanting, vibrant and compelling!

After a dreamy and heavenly sleep, we headed out to the infamous Canyon Road - where there are over one hundred galleries in a mile stretch. Quaint adobe galleries introduced by beautiful flagstone walkways, water features, giant-like sculptures - all accented with half-whisky barrels and other creative planters bulging with spectacular flowers! Truly a polychromatic feast for the eyes!

Bistros and outdoor garden cafes captivated the senses! Following a delicious early lunch in one of Santa Fe's fabulous and intimate mexican cantinas, I, with great sadness, had to think about heading north. I drove CeCe home and then pointed my Equinox north toward Chama.

Los Alamos - a nearby town - was the site of a recent and ongoing fire. The smoke lay thick in the atmosphere above me, but visibility for driving was fine. It settled around the small towns like a gray wool blanket - thick, all-encompassing and impending. As the 2-lane road snaked its way north, I began feeling this immense awesomeness as I drank in the landscape. Magnificent raw cliffs stood as sentries of the highway and I whipped along - down into one canyon and out the next. Massive rock formations whispered their age as the breezes kissed the canyon walls. The further I went, the more ancient the land became until I grew closer and closer to Chama. Deep emerald meadows were introduced into the scene and herds of horses, belly deep in thick, green grasses seemed to be painted into the landscape. I thought of Ed and Biscuit and how they'd romp and play if they had such a pasture to pass time in. The sparkling mountain streams ran furiously, mirroring the turquoise sky above. The cattle were fat and grazing everywhere - dotting the endless pastures. It was a place that would completely fit the biblical scripture of Psalm 23:1. Beauty in its purest form. Soon after descending from one of the mountain passes, all of this heavenly, epiphanatic emotion was sucked away in a vacuum once I realized that the New Mexico State Police vehicle that I had just zoomed past, had turned around. In the rearview mirror, the flashing blue and reds that are only synonomous with law breaking, were honed in on me and my new Equinox. I think my last speeding ticket was when I was in high school, so the ol' ticker sure was pumping visibly through my neck. I was found guilty of operating a motor vehicle at 71 mph in a 50mph zone. I accepted my fate on the citation and we parted ways...darn. Of course for the rest of the adventure, I was hyper-sensitive and jittery as I followed the setting sun toward Creede, Colorado and then on to Lake City and further to Gunnison. I still had a long way to go and the 30-45 mph posted speed limits sure made traveling tedious...At least I had the staggering views to gaze at! FINALLY at 8:30 pm, I pulled into Gunnison to fill one tank and empty another. One more hour to go. It was 47 degrees.

TAYLOR PARK, COLORADO:

The view at the top of Taylor Canyon as it opens into Taylor Reservoir. (impressive 13,000 ft snow capped peaks of the Sawatch Range)

Luscious Lupines dotted the landscape everywhere!

Our memories and life in Taylor Park - at Adventure Experiences Inc.- has certainly come FULL CIRCLE! Zack (14) had an AMAZING and very POWERFUL opportunity working for Tim and Linda at Adventure Experiences' Base Camp - the very place that Dyke and I worked -1986 -1992...we were married there in '88 (in a sage brush elk meadow). So this amazingly powerful Christian place and its owners, Tim and Linda, hold a remarkably special place in our lives and hearts! How strange to have Zack working up there! Me and Dyke, on a rest break, back in 1988 or so, leading a backpacking group up Grizzly Peak.

When we worked up there, we would leave Texas in May, stay up in Colorado until September or sometimes even October. Several years before the adventure basecamp also became a hunting basecamp, Dyke taught himself how to elk bugle and was very successful at honing his bow and arrow skills to harvest an elk each year. Above photo..."skinny" me fleshing (part of the tanning process is to flesh out the hide...take off all the extra meat, membranes and fat) an elk hide for a rug in our cabin. On my days off, I helped the local cowboys gather and work their 2,000 head of cattle that grazed summer pastures up in the park. One year, I even helped drive them up over the mountain ranges from Gunnison - it was a 2-day drive and I will never forget it! CAN YOU FIND ME???????? (front row, third from the left)

Lupine Lodge: This structure (the main lodge) was already built when we started working up at AE. We put the finishing touches on it like, rocking in the pillars, adding solar panels to the roof, running gas lines for the antique gas iceboxes, and 2 gas stoves that we had, and of course the annual maintenance that the cabin required...(There was WAY more that we did to that particular cabin, but my "old age" memory fails me at the moment!)

It's still used as the main cabin today. Each morning is bible study. It begins with a "seed thought", after you write down the seed thought, everyone disperses (for about 20 minutes)to contemplate, journal and read from the bible concerning the seed thought. Here are the two seed thoughts that I took part in: 1. A hurried life is a shallow life. A life not shared is a life wasted. Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - there is no point. 2. We were made for God and nothing less will ever satisfy. What is your substitute for God? How can we keep Him at the forefront?

Lupine Lodge

Zack was part of the Trail Blazer Program, giving younger "adventurists" the chance to learn, grow, live and work at the remote base camp - receiving the many and varied experiences as their compensation. He worked under the guides who lead the backcountry trips: backpacking, challenge course, fly fishing, rock climbing, and whitewater rafting. He worked with Tim and the Senior Guides on work projects including construction and maintenance of the camp. Everyday was a problem solving task - you had a job to do and you had to figure out how to complete the job...sometimes you had help, sometimes you were on your own...Zack got REALLY close with the guides! All of them are college guys from all over the U.S. and very strong Christian role models! Zack misses them GREATLY and REALLY had a difficult time adjusting to being away from all of that. He said that when you are with a group of people for 3 weeks, night and day, they become your family and there is a special bond that will always be there forever! He said it was like he was leaving a part of him behind - leaving his family behind.

Zack and his good buddy, Eli (from Tennesssee)!

Zack and some more of the staff on Zack's last day...

Zack already had a tight bond with Tim, as they have duck, deer and turkey hunted together back in Texas...so he was pumped to escape the oppressive summer heat in Texas for the cool mountain breezes, lush valleys, snow capped peaks and crystal trout streams of central Colorado.

The Dining Hall - breakfast time - serving 50 campers from East Texas

There is a long list of changes from when we worked there and one of them is this beautiful dining hall - complete with an industrial/commercial kitchen. Our last year there, we put the foundation in for this building.

Outdoor Chapel - Zack built the podium while he was up there.

Indoor Chapel

This is the view from inside the indoor chapel.

We built this cabin and it serves, still today, as the equipment building - backpacks, camping gear, rock climbing ropes etc... The evening before our wedding ('88), Dyke and Tim finished putting the roof on and the upstairs part was our first home together! No heat, one small solar light, raw timber shelves and lotsa' blankets! Our cat even had kittens up there!
Home Sweet Home -23 years ago! (Zack & Eli lined the driveway area with those huge rocks...)

The infamous DOUBLE DECKER OUTHOUSE! This was our first outhouse and it's still basically the same, except there's a septic tank underneath that gets pumped out each year...we used to have to knock the "piles" over by putting a long stick down the hole and swinging it to lower the accumulated piles. We even had to shovel it out one year, into big black trash bags and haul it to the dump in town...boy, times have changed! It was great to hear that Zack had outhouse duty while he was up there!
This is the new wood burning hot tub (to the right)...the original one we built was out of redwood, but this one is a pre-fab concrete tub that holds more people. It takes all day to heat the water, so you have to keep stoking the firebox.

The sweat lodge - by heating local volcanic rocks in a firepit - all day...the rocks are then transported from the fire to the holding pit inside the sweat lodge. When everyone is crammed shoulder to shoulder inside on the short benches that line the perimeter of the building, one person splashes water on the hot rocks and instantly the steam fills the crowded space. For more of a Native American experience, small segments of sage are thrown on the steaming rocks - sort of a smudge pot effect. Temps can get up into the 140's and whenever you are ready, you crawl out the small exit door, run down the hill to the creek and jump in! The intense heat and shockingly cold mountain water sure does put a charge in your veins! Great way to ease sore muscles after a backpacking trip.

The Climbing Tower - part of the high challenge course

Upstairs in Zack's cabin where he and 3 other staff members called home...(they said that they had cleaned that morning...really?)
Melba Edwards' cabin, on the lower Illinois Creek (down below basecamp). I got to be good friends with Melba when I was up there. She was probably in her late 60's when I got to know her. She hauled her own water from the creek, had 2 lanterns for light, a wood cook stove and her pistol. She was very private and a bit eccentric! The mail lady would bring her some supplies, if she left her list in the mailbox at the end of Illinois Creek. Her "boyfriend", Melvin, had a mining camp way up in the mountains (back in the 40's and 50's) but I never knew him. Melba took me there one time - on foot, but that's a whole other blog topic!! wow! She spent her winters in Lincoln, Nebraska and we used to write letters back and forth. She was tough as a boot...one of the last pioneers of the area...She has passed now...what a character.

GUNNISON:

One of the mornings I was up there, I decided to head down the canyon to check out Gunnison, emerse myself in the local color see and how much it had changed over the years. There was a Saturday Farmer's Market. The streets and sidewalks were bustling and the enormous hanging baskets of flowers were the most vibrant and juicy hanging baskets that I have ever laid eyes on!

How could I NOT go in this cool place??? Traders Rendezvous on Tomichi Ave. in downtown Gunnison....Colorado's largest display of mounted trophies and antlers...

CRESTED BUTTE: Hippie Central! Flip flops, long skirts,halter tops, tourists, bicycles, live music...such an eclectic mix of hippie snowdogs, rafting rats, trustfund babies and tatted/bandana'd bikers! Old clapboard buildings with amazing paint colors - eggplant, turquoise, hunter green, butter yellow... you name it...there was a building with that color! I was ready to move in!!! The cool mountain breeze, hummingbirds zinging around, live music filling the air, laughing, talking, drinking and enjoying life! Vernon seems like it's on the other side of the globe!

After ambling up and down the street, in and out of shops, I decided to stop off at the Idle Spur to wet my whistle...I enjoyed 4 greatly overpriced prawns wrapped in bacon and drizzled with horseradish and a cold PBR. As I sat on the porch of the 'spur, I caught up on my journaling, frequently looking up as the steady streams of people passed by me. The photo above is my view - GINORMOUS hanging baskets of fabulous flowers. The warm sun skated across the high sheen of the varnished log table where I sat. I knew Joline and Bucky were in Gunnison, so I called her. She happened to be parking the car down the street from where I was! Woo-Hoo! Is that crazy or what? It felt so strange to see her there in CB! We enjoyed visiting and catching up over a nice drink!
She had a dinner engagement, so we only spent a short time together, but IT WAS GREAT! I finished up, paid my tab and headed down the street. More shops, warm sun and lots of people to dodge on the sidewalk, gave me a need for another quencher! I stopped in at the Brick Oven...an indoor/outdoor pizza/bar & grill...It was teeming with people sitting at outdoor umbrella'd tables - laughing, talking, and enjoying their favorite beverage of choice. The only seat left at the humungous wooden bar outside was in the sun...no seats at the tables and people started waiting in line to get in once I made it to the bar. WOW! As soon as I sat down and ordered, a blonde woman came over to admire my turquoise jewelry -we talked for a few moments, gave her one of my business cards and then she returned to her seat at the corner of the bar - in the shade! A seat finally came open in the shade...I was cookin' in the sun so I grabbed my backpack, journal and drink and headed over. She was there with ther boyfriend and they were such great people! We enjoyed a few great drinks together and even some cheesy pesto bread and then as the sun slid down the backside of the nearby peaks, I decided that I better get back up the canyon. What a day! It was so relaxing, refreshing and rejuvenating!

Zack with Tim and Linda on our last morning in Taylor Park...

Tim and Linda's gorgeous home! One of the views from their huge front porch!!
The living area - it was so expansive, it was difficult to get a good picture that covered it all!

The kitchen!

My first morning in Colorado - the view from Tim and Linda's porch toward their barn. The temperature was in the 40's... The sound of Illinois Creek, fast paced and winding, was proof that there was an enormous amount of snowmelt from the heavy winter. The valley was filled with fog and as the sun peaked the summits, it all discipated. Magical and mesmerizing. It's like it went from black and white to techno-color, in a matter of moments...

Linda's farrier came up from Gunnison to trim and shoe her two horses, Kentucky and Twister.
Linda and Twister...

Just before our long trek back to Texas...

On top of Cottonwood Pass (elev. 12,126 ft) leaving Taylor Park-headed back to Texas...

We headed south and passed this massive ranch that has a huge herd of buffalo. It was so iconic of the western landscape that we were traveling across. We drove the entire way home (12.5 hrs) and when the Texas heat descended upon us, we both wondered why we had come back...

IT'S SO HOT....

2011-06-21T08:32:00.010-05:00

It's so hot, my chickens are laying boiled eggs! PHEW...what in the world??? Here's the thermometer outside my kitchen window the other day! Today it was only 107 and it felt like a cold front had come through! No rain in sight...everything is drying up and blowing away in this oppressiveness!

This is kind of a random posting this time...not a whole lot going on - it's too hot to ride and quite frankly, it's too hot to do much of anything outside past 8am! Found this picture of Zack - from back in the spring when Jake and Blue (cousin) had him stand on the tailgate of the pick up while they saran wrapped (that industrial size plastic wrap that you wrap your round bales in to protect from the weather)him to the telephone pole...and then....pulled the pick up away and left Zack wrapped to the pole...I know in the last two postings, I have had a photo of Zack and some kind of "pole adventure"...I think all that pole stuff comes from my mother's side of the family! HA!!!

I've been heading into town every morning at about 7:45 to hit the gym...walk 3 miles, do arms and abs...exercise sure does make you feel better...it originally started as PT for my ankle, but now that the ol' ankle is getting more range of motion, I am continuing to go...here's what I see every morning!The middle treadmill is where I go...no one else is in there at that hour, so I flip on the flatscreen, watch the Early Show and powerwalk! It faces the street, so I can watch everyone heading to work for the day.

Coons are doing great and now when they hear my voice, they scramble down the hollow tree to get their bottles!

The heat has really hindered the growth in the garden...even with daily watering, it's just too hot for everything...I think we've harvested 3 yellow squash and that's it!

Dyke decided to till it up, to keep the soil aerated. Had to locate and put the two turtles, that live in the garden, in a bucket while Dyke tilled... these turtles have lived in the garden for more than 2 years. During the winter, they burrow down and hibernate and come spring and early summer, here they come tunneling back out! I feed them canned catfood and they just gobble it up!

It sure looked good when he got finished! The concrete curb and fence is much better for a garden out here...it keeps the moisture-sapping wind away from direct contact with the plants and the bermuda grass in the yard can't creep in and cause more weeding than necessary!

BREAKING NEWS: Just purchased a new vehicle...Chevy Equinox. It's gorgeous and I get to pick it up tomorrow! I can't wait! My maiden voyage will begin next Wednesday when I (solo) drive it to Santa Fe (I've never been there), stay the night and prowl around that historic, high end gallery town and then head north to pick up Zack in Taylor Park, Co. where he's been working at the same adventure camp that Dyke and I worked at for 5+ years! So...lots of fun blogs to come out of all of that!! Blog ya later!

THE SADDLEBAGS ARE STOCKED WITH NEW ADVENTURES FOR ALL!

2011-06-08T13:17:00.018-05:00

Friday was my last day of work and oh was I glad that summer had finally gotten here! It was like the last day of a long pregnancy...seemed like it would never get here! Although I miss my kids A LOT, I certainly am ready for a break in the madness! During the last week of school, I visited with the Fire Chief about the possibility of having one of the fire trucks attend our SPLASH DAY, for those who qualified due to their good behavior. It worked out perfectly and I was so thankful that there were no fires to fight that afternoon! The kids had an unbelievable time and it was a super way to end the school year!During that last week, before school was out, I had headed back to work after my "home-rodeo wreck". A teaching friend talked me into letting her take me to Wichita Falls to get "a second opinion" on my ankle. As we neared WF, I decided to call a friend who is also an athletic trainer (and helped us when Jake broke his tibia) to see what he thought, where we should go, who we should see... He told me that he'd like to take a look at it, but that he was not at home. I told him that we were headed to WF. He said, "Where are you on the highway?" I told him where we were and like it was already planned out, he said, "I'm only 2 exits in front of you...I'll pull off on the access road under the overpass - meet me there and I'll take a look at it. SO, here I am on the tailgate of his pick up, after he checked it! He said that it wasn't broken, but that it would take about 6 weeks to heal up...After my examination, we turned around and headed back to Vernon! Crazy, eh?? Divine Intervention! Being that I was all crutched-up...I didn't make it to the rodeo this year...but one of my friends who is an accomplished photographer, shared these pics with me!

On the East Coast, they do things a little more refined, classic and elegant-like...my two young nieces competed in a horseshow in West Springfield, Massachusetts...It must be in the blood! I remember showing "ENGLISH-STYLE" when I was young...brought back many fond memories!

My brother and his family at the West Springfield horseshow!

Our 23rd anniversary - a night together, a fine meal at Olive Garden and 2 boys the didn't want their picture taken...

SMILE BOYS!

Rehabbing a couple of raccoons...trying to start them on the bottle...

Quick naptime then back out to the tree!

Once they got the hang of the bottle, it was MUCH EASIER!

Zack taught Cole how to "pole dance"...out at the lake!

Last week, Zack took his boater's ed test and passed, so now he is licensed to drive boats, jet skiis and the like.......oh goodness, next is his driver's permit! Dyke and Zack headed to the Texas Coast to do some saltwater fishing, camping on Matagorda Island and just soaking up some rays!
Several fishing yarns about how he "caught the big one, but it got away"...he even had the lure with straightened hooks to prove that this big Jack Cravalle fish got away! I'd never heard of a Jack Cravalle, so I googled it...here's what one looks like...

It's been brutally hot, dry and 40 mph winds on most days...summer hasn't even started! Please pray for rain!

Then, there are places in this awesome country where there is so much water that the deer find the only dry ground around...someone's front porch!

We've had some severe weather already come by us...brought a couple inches of rain, and moved on to Oklahoma...

This is a picture after the recent tornado hit one of the dorms at Springfield College in Massachusetts, where I went to school -it's 1.5 hours from my parents home! C-R-A-Z-Y!!! Tornados in Massachusetts??

Jake's girlfriend came to visit us! Of course Jake didn't want "their" picture taken, so I had to borrow one from her! She is darling and definitely keeps him under control! She's on the equestrian team at WT and as uncanny as it is...she and I have a lot in common! It was amazing!

OFF THE CUFF...

I love words, and their creative usage - especially when they make you laugh out loud ...Here are some fun puns that I discovered:

1. The fattest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.

2. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian .

3. She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.

4. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class, because it was a weapon of math disruption.

5. No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.

6. A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.

7. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart

8. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.

9. A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.

10. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

11. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

12. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other: 'You stay here; I'll go on a head.'

13. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.

14. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.'

15. The midget fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.

16. The soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.

17. A backward poet writes inverse.

18. In a democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.

19. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.

20. If you jumped off the bridge in Paris , you'd be in Seine .

21. A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. The stewardess looks at him and says, 'I'm sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger.'

22. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. One turns to the other and says 'Dam!'

23. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.

24. Two hydrogen atoms meet. One says, 'I've lost my electron.' The other says 'Are you sure?' The first replies, 'Yes, I'm positive.'

25. Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? His goal: transcend dental medication.

26. There was the person who sent ten puns to friends, with the hope that at least one of the puns would make them laugh. No pun in ten did.

Another great nugget of info - FOOD FOR THOUGHT... to share is: YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT! (Many of you may have seen this before, but it's sure worth repeating!)

It's been said that God first separated the salt water from the fresh, made dry land, planted a garden, made animals and fish... All before making a human. He made and provided what we'd need before we were born. These are best & more powerful when eaten raw. We're such slow learners...God left us a great clue as to what foods help what part of our body!
God's Pharmacy! Amazing!

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye... And YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

Avocadoes, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of sperm as well to overcome male sterility.

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries.

Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like the body's cells. Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes.

A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.

SO...Be Safe - Work Hard - Eat Well - and Praise GOD Each Day for The Breath That He Gives You To Do The Things You Love!

VERNON, TEXAS a.k.a. MAYBERRY RFD

2011-05-19T13:31:00.018-05:00

WELL, LIL' NESTOR THE CHRISTMAS DONKEY WAS A HIT!

Pink Sparkly Hoof Polish and all!

Luanne made their banner by hand and their cause was called: TOUGH ENOUGH TO WEAR PINK

They sure did have their "Rodeo Queen Wave" going on!

That was Wednesday afternoon and by Thursday evening, God blessed us with some wonderful, desperately needed rain!

It even hailed!!

This is Jake heading off to work at the local rodeo. He wouldn't turn around to get his picture taken, so I just took one anyway...that boy! He's working each night of the rodeo, moving stock, draggin' pens and Lord knows what else!

ZACK HITS THE MOTHER LODE!
Zack had his 8th grade awards ceremony the other night. Here are the awards that he earned this year:

MOST INQUISITIVE MATHEMATICAL MIND

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

TRACK-OUTSTANDING THROWER

BASKETBALL - COACHES' AWARD

FOOTBALL- MVP

SCIENCE FAIR - CHEMISTRY - 1st PLACE

SCIENCE- OUTSTANDING STUDENT

I don't usually watch Oprah, but since I was crippled up and confined at the house, I happened to turn it on one day and was in awe of the one that was on.....an exclusive inside look at Ralph Loren's Rocky Mountain Double RL Ranch......I don't know where to begin, except to add that it's kinda rednecky to take pictures of what's on your t.v. I couldn't help it - ol' Ralph and Ricky's mountain compound was absolutely breathtaking...even if you can't see it too well off the t.v.

VISITING ON THE PORCH

One of five hand-painted tipi guest dwellings...

complete with beds, couches, desks and chairs

a bit distorted...oops!

Horses, Cattle, Mountains, Fresh Air, Wide-Open Spaces...God's Perfection!

RUSTIC, BUT OH SO CHIC!

ICONIC IN EVERY WAY! (Nice tornado watch alert in the top corner!)

Ricky's 1st public interview...dressed in buttery soft, fringed buckskin pants, matching vest:handpainted and beaded, chambray, turquoise, silver and sheer joy, appreciation and strong spirituality!

It was warm, beautiful, honest, simple, humble and TOTALLY AMAZING! That's the exact look that I have been going for all these years! I'm going to fast for the next month and then only put in my mouth the food that this earth provides....I'm going to check Ebay out to find some of those din-o-mite buckskin leggin's and get some permanent hair extensions put in...

All kidding aside, what I loved the most, besides the quintessential western paradise that they've created for themselves, was that when they started out, they had nothing! He started his vision and passion for design by selling ties when he was 16 years old. That's what makes success, success. He didn't inherit millions and was not raised around the luxury and leisure of wealth...but, HE KNEW WHAT HE WANTED AND HE DIDN'T SETTLE FOR ANYTHING LESS.

It was a great interview, great scenery and I hobbled away with a deep sense of what this country called America is truly made of and stands for...

...and after I hobbled away, I started my housecleaning list.....and thanked God for the soaking rains.

DON'T YOU HATE IT WHEN THINGS DON'T GO THE WAY YOU THOUGHT THEY WOULD?

2011-05-18T10:22:00.012-05:00

Well, it started out as a gorgeous, cool Sunday morning...Jake's home from college...I can't believe he's a Sophomore now!MOM...I'M HOME....CAN YOU DO MY LAUNDRY?

As I looked out over the wheat in front of the house, I realized how devastating this drought has affected the crop...usually, the wheat is hip high, and this year's crop is not even knee-high!

Of course the cacti can handle the drought and are still able to bloom and grow!

One of our 5 mature trees died, so Dyke cut it down and we now have next winter's wood already curing!

The drought didn't seem to stop this hen from sittin' on her clutch...but she sure didn't like me flashing the camera at her!

The biggest and most obvious victim of the drought is our tank...the fish will need to be caught and transported to another tank in order to survive....it looks like a puddle!

Changing the subject, my two saddle pals have been training Nestor the Christmas Donkey to pull a cart and have entered their rig in the annual rodeo parade, which is this afternoon. (pictures to come...)

Being that it was a cool Sunday morning and Jake was home, I decided that it would be the perfect time to get the calves cut and worm the cattle for the summer, so I sent out and started hollering for them and pretty soon all 30 of 'um were lined out and following me to the barn...

It's amazing what a sack of cubes and some high pitched hollering will do...they all just sauntered into the pen and started their brunching!

All but one calf and 3 heifers...Dyke was convinced that we could get them in the pen as well, but as usual, I was right and HE was wrong....
We planned and executed an on-foot roping strategy with one son driving them to the barn and the other hiding in the shadows with the rope ready to slip a loop over the calf...
As I thought, it was highly unsuccessful. That lead to a cross-country chase once Dyke pushed them too much with the 4 wheeler, so I saddled up Ed and headed out to help. As Dyke pushed them up to the barn, I decided to stand at the bottom of the draw where they come and go to the barn - keeping them from getting back out into the pasture. Well, that all was well and good until one dang heifer decided to run her way past me to get to the freedom of the wide open spaces...well, on her way down the draw, she caught her leg in the hot wire gate that I had pulled back out of the way, to avoid such a catastrophe...spastic and wild, she got that wire pullin' with her as she ran down the draw toward me. I thought for sure, but the time she reached me, it would sling off of her foot...but for once, I was wrong... the wire transferred and slung (is that a word?) off of her legs and wrapped around Ed's front legs! When I look back at it now, it seems like it happened in slow motion...Ed exploded in a series of bucks, crow hops and wildness! Trying to gain control, but knowing that I was not going to stay afloat very long, I just remember baling off on the right side, just in time to avoid impalement on a hot wire post. Ed continued his dance while I lay in the dirt with my leg torqued back in one of those "track stretches", that were outlawed long since my High School track career ended. The boys, who witnessed the entire performance, came running down the draw calling me "Woman of Snowy River"...I was still seeing stars, so my responses were slim to none. Dyke roared up on the 4 wheeler and said that he knew something went awry when he saw Ed, still bucking, but no passenger! He wanted to cut my boot off before my ankle swelled up inside, but somehow I was able to pull it off. I got on the 4 wheeler and headed up to the barn to soak my foot in the trough. The water was cold and even though the throbbing hadn't commenced yet, I was hoping that the cold water would keep the swelling at bay. They all took off to get the runaways back in our pasture, as they had plowed through the fences and were out on the road. After about 15 minutes of soaking, I knew I had to get to the house to find the old crutches that we've kept around since Jake broke his legs 3 times in elementary school! I was able to hop about 15 feet to the horse trailer and drag a 1x4 piece of lumber out of the burn pile, to use as a crutch of sorts...I felt like I was back in the pioneer days, but was glad that I wasn't having to fight Comanches while I "poled" my way around the barn...it really wasn't helping much and I was getting splinters in my hand, so I ditched the piece of wood and got down on all fours and crawled the rest of the way, carefully holding my ankle up in the air. The cats immediately ran over and were pluming their tails and arched backs in my face as I crept along at their level. Silky, white whisps of cat hair stuck to the sweat on my forehead. Finally, I made it to the steps at the door and became vertical again...hopping was the only way now and I prayed I wouldn't trip and fall. I made it to the closet under the staircase and thought I could just grab the crutches and be on my way, but it was black as pitch in there, so I had to hop back to the kitchen to get a flashlight. Squeezing my good foot among the stocks of about 20 guns that rested in that closet, I was able to shine the light to the back and VOILA - there they were! I could hear the angels singing and lots of Hallelujas and I think the clouds even parted! HA! Somehow, I used the broom handle to hook the crutches and drag them from the depths of the closet. There were 2 pair, so after some quick measuring, I found the best pair for me and I took a deep breath and just hung my armpits on them. What an ordeal! Damn heifer! There was still work to be done, so I headed back out to the pens and waited about 20 more minutes for Dyke and the boys. Parched, I took a swallow from the hose that fed the trough...I knew that probably wasn't the best water to ingest, but I didn't have a choice. Finally they all returned and we could continue to get these cattle sorted, worked and released.

Zack brought me the first Horned Toad of the season - I think as a peace offering for all of the whoopin' and hollering and "Woman from Snowy River" comments...

Dyke and Jake wormed them with pour-on wormer.

They sorted the cows, leaving only the bull calves in the pen...then it was time to work...

Jake, Zack and Dyke caught, flanked and held the calves down and I hobbled in on my trusty crutches to do the castrating. I was thankful that they were small calves. Once cut, I'd "crutch up" again and hobble to a safe spot before they released the calf. Luckily we only had to do that 6 times and we were done.

Jake's peace offering was an old, sweat-stained, lace-up ankle brace that he used in High School Football. It did it's job and gave my ankle more support.

It was a job well done and I was glad to have that checked off the list!

Later in the afternoon, I decided that I better call in "sick", so they could have a sub set up for in the morning. The next day, I went to the doctor, had it x-rayed and was given the order of staying off my feet for 1 week! I am glad that I had this picture in my camera, as I will miss my kids this next week!

This is kinda a wierd extension of my blog, but this picture of the Navy Seals that stormed in on Bin Laden, was sent to me, and it just made me proud of our troops, proud to be an American and thankful that we live in the best nation of the world! (Oh yeah, the xrays showed NO BREAKS, so for that too, I am thankful!) God Bless!!

HOLY MOLY...IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME!

2011-05-10T05:34:00.015-05:00

WELL, MY GOODNESS...I CAN'T EVEN KEEP UP WITH MY BLOG...IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR...SCHOOL IS WINDING DOWN AND REPORTS,AWARDS,PICNICS,TRACK MEETS, FIELD TRIPS, FINAL GRADES...only 7 more school days for most kids..and then those who don't qualify for the FLEX days, because their test scores are not up to snuff, have to stay for 5 more days!

Let's see...what all has passed by since the last posting...EASTER... Dyke's mom made a wonderful meal for us, but unfortunately, Dyke was called out to patrol one of the lakes for looters (after the fires destroyed many of the homes), so the boys and I went over to her place. Momo (Dyke's Grandmother who is 97) was there too! She was doing great. Here are the boys with her...I know it looks like Jake has an earring, but it's just the light!!! HA! (his father would NOT be happy with his son wearing an earring!)

The ROYAL WEDDING and THE KISS

MOTHER'S DAY...Here are my parents at their beautiful home in Massachusetts...I can't tell you how difficult it is being 2000 miles away from them....(That's my brother's new pup, Flynn.)

My Mother's Day was wonderful! We went to church and then Dyke made a delicious steak dinner and cleaned the kitchen...he even did the grocery shopping for the meal! Zack made me a card and gave me 2 beautiful and very symmetrical wild hog teeth to make some jewelry out of. He found the skull out on the deer lease while turkey hunting! Not many mom's would truly enjoy receiving hog's tusks for Mother's Day, but it was PERFECT for me!

Pictures from back during duck hunting season. Zack and his buddies...Zack is on the far left and the two guys on the far right are his friends from Huntsville - one is a chiropractor and the other is a physical therapist. The other 2 young guys are sons of a doctor friend of theirs. Zack did a lot of the guiding and of course, Penny, the wonder-dog did the retrieving!

With turkey season and duck season far over now, Zack prepares for his summer fishing by tying flies to use with his new fly rod. Dyke and Zack will head to the coast for a week of fishing and camping, when school is out. Then, Zack will journey up to Colorado for a month, to work at Adventure Experiences, where Dyke and I worked for many years. He will be part of the staff, leading backpacking, rafting, rock climbing and fly fishing trips...
Fly tying takes nimble fingers!

The end product! These are called "Clouser Minnows".

Dyke getting ready for work - strapping on his gun belt.

The figs are growing...

The chickens LOVE to hunt and peck around the farm!

The garden, back at planting time....

Our resident garden turtles have emerged from hibernation and are quite hungry...fresh strawberries were a nice welcoming present.

THE GIRLS - who I work with! What a great group!!!We have a blast working together!!

Jess showed up at the door one morning as I was heading out to work...she had found a bobcat and was bringing it home to show...I just love living in the country!

Although we are in a serious drought, we have had some sprinkles, but if we don't have more rain going into summer, we will be in a BAD SITUATION. Our tank is nearly dry and the crops are withered...Please pray for us! Its' crazy that some places in this country are UNDER WATER and others are drying up and blowing away! Here was a rainbow that I saw as I was driving home one day.

Although this was back during turkey season....I still wanted to include it. Zack shot a turkey and we grilled it for supper one night...Mmmmmm, Nothing is better than fresh wild turkey! Dyke and Zack sure helped with providing meat...we have a freezer full of duck, turkey, venison and crane!

Zack - with the henhouse culprit! I went in to gather eggs one afternoon and this guy was coiled up in one of the nesting boxes! As I leaned my head in, I quickly pulled back...luckily, his belly was full, so he did not strike me...we could feel the broken eggs in his belly. This was the 3rd year that Zack has caught this snake...we could tell because the end of his tail was just a nub where the dogs had bitten it off one year! Zack took him down the road and released him into the creek bed...maybe he won't find his way back...it kinda makes your stomach jump when you lean your head and hands in to the nesting boxes to gather eggs!

Well, I will try to keep better tabs on my blog than I have been. With summer almost here, I will have more time to attend to it. Thanks for checking in! I truly appreciate ALL of my followers!! God Bless!! God Bless America!

FRANTIC FRIDAY....FIRES!

2011-04-17T08:52:00.007-05:00

Texas is such a tinderbox... I can't remember when we had our last rains, and everything is so amazingly dry and vulnerable! I'm sure you've heard on the national news about how fierce the Texas wildfires are...it's crazy and so scary! Praise God, we don't have any in our immediate area...most are south of Vernon or north into Oklahoma. Dyke helped evacuate homes and fight fires down south of Electra at Lake Diversion, all day on Friday. Manditory law requires him to wear his Kevlar bulletproof vest everyday and even on a "regular day" they're so hot to wear...fighting the fires, pulling waterlines and evacuating people was almost completely unbearable. He was operating on pure adrenalin at that point! Boatdocks were in flames and he witnessed first-hand, how the fires just swept through the place eating up everything and anything in its path. He was remembering stories from last year's fires up in the panhandle of Texas... the livestock (cattle in particular)were pushed up against the furthest fencelines...in desperation to escape. Many of them didn't make it and their bodies lay everywhere, including calves that tried to chew through the fencewires, only to have their lips scorched and "branded" by the hot metal. He said it was horrific....I can't imagine...

Even the local cowboys from the various nearby ranches were called in to help quell the fires!

While Dyke was out on the front lines, I (we) were having our annual Famous Texan Day, where each 2nd grader chose, researched, and made a doll (out of recycled materials) to look like their Famous Texan. They also had to give an oral report, to the class, on their Famous Texan. Some of them even dressed up like their Famous Texan! One student across the hall chose his dad as his famous Texan...his dad is Jeff Bryant - the drummer and vocalist for the band Ricochet...you'd know their songs...one famous one is "Daddy's Money"...It was so cool! Jeff came up to school (after hours) and talked to some of the teachers about life on the road, the music business and living "the Nashville Dream"...his wife said it wasn't all fun and games for her. He has realized how much he missed by being gone on the road. It was very interesting to hear that side of "life". He told us about all of the famous musicians he played with, partied with and knew! George...Garth...Kenny...the Judds...etc... He comes from a very musical family - his dad played/traveled with Roy Orbison and some of the other GOLDEN OLDIES! Here's a picture of his band...he's in the back row - the 4th guy (long hair). He's an aide at the other elementary school here in Vernon. REALLY COOL TO TALK TO!

Of course the winds are a constant out here. A week ago, during the biggest fire outbreaks, it gusted to 60 mph! CRAZY! The cows have been out since then, so Ed and I checked fence the other day...several places were damaged....hopefully they'll stay in now. The green wheat on the other side of the fence is definitely a distraction to them...but in about a month, the "wheaties" will roll into town from Canada, and sweep through this area, harvesting thousands of pounds of wheat. I hope the prices are good...

Well, better run for now. Pray for the fires and for some desperately needed rain...it's so dry and with summer on the doorstep, if we don't get rain, it will be a tremendously destitute situation. God Bless!

OOOOHHHHH-WEEEEE, IT'S BEEN A WHILE!

2011-04-05T19:10:00.008-05:00

Mama Kitty snoozin' in an old tractor seat!

Goodness, it's been a long time! Sorry! Don't know where the time went, but it has surely been hectic, busy and the days have just blurred together! Took a few shots from around the farm for this posting.

An old petroleum sign that the boys dug up several years ago...I played around with the filters and special effects and came out with this cool turquoise color! (The sign is red in "real life".) This is the "crazy kitty" hiding up in the top of the barn wall...I'm not exactly sure what went wrong during this one's birth, but she's cross-eyed and acts "bi-polar"...one minute she's ok while you're petting her and the next minute she darts off and hides!......wierd!When I was feeding the other afternoon, I noticed how beautiful the light was in the haybarn, so I converted the photo to black and white, played with the hues and this is what I got...

SWEET ED! (The wheat's been growing, but is is soooo dry here...we need rain!)

I know it's strange...but I have some kind of funky attraction to people's hands...these are mine...I wanted to post a variety of people's hands, but I figured that they would think I was wacko when I asked if I could photograph their hands, so I didn't persue that idea...maybe soon though...I really like hands for some reason and I notice people's hands instantly and all the time!

Last Saturday, a bunch of us went out to my pastor's place and we had a "play day" cuttin' cattle. It was a lot of fun! It was a gorgeous day!! At lunchtime, we all went into his leather/saddle/boot shop, made a sandwich and relaxed in the airconditioning before heading out for an afternoon round of cuttin'.

This is my Pastor, David...he could smoke his pipe and cut at the same time! What a character!

This boy's name is Kutter!

A couple weekends ago, Zack and two friends decided that they wanted to camp out in the pasture. They used the tractor to haul their equipment, but didn't want their picture taken! We're in a burn ban, because it's so dry, so they couldn't cook over a fire and had to take the propane cooker! HA! They cooked steaks for supper and homemade frenchfries! ALL BY THEMSELVES! Breakfast was eggs, bacon, sausage and homemade tortillas from one of the boy's grandmothers!

We have 5 calves on the ground so far...all bulls!!!

BREAKING SPRING

2011-03-18T20:34:00.008-05:00

Today's the last day of Spring Break! I can't believe it! I was sick the first 3 days, so don't you think I need a refund for those days?? It sure was a nice, relaxing and most welcomed break! The wheat is a beautiful emerald green and even the pastures are starting to green up. I love this time of year!
Got a little riding time in as well! Sweet Ed is such a sweetie!Susie and Luanne came out and we rode the river road loop! It was blowin' a gale that day, but other than that, it was a gorgeous day and a great ride!

Left over cotton where the module stood - TEXAS SNOW!

Biscuit has certainly enjoyed the attention this week!

My Sweet Ed!

Even though duck season is a year away, Zack set up camp in the laundry room, cleaned his decoys and fitted new lines and anchors on each one.

Dyke and Zack went to Miller Creek to camp and fish. Zack won the contest for the most fish and the biggest fish!

He is such "his father's son"!

Jake and his friends drove to Taos, NM to ski for a few days, so I have no pictures of him!!!! He wouldn't even let me take his picture when he got home!! If I can sneak a picture, I'll add it to this post!

Ah....SPRING!

2011-03-05T13:18:00.009-06:00

Well, I guess when the days change from near freezing to 80 degrees...Spring is trying to eeak it's way into the atmosphere. Last weekend brought a sandstorm that blocked out the daylight and the entire sky was red with sand! Here's a shot from just south of our house as I drove home...you could barely see the farm!
Spring also brings better fishing, so Dyke and his brother and a couple of others decided to head to Lake Arrowhead to try their "homemade" catfish bait. Zack "skipped" out of school - his grades are wonderful and it was a perfect Father-Son trip. Here's Zack with one of the larger catfish that they caught (the head).

On Thursday, Zack had his first track meet in Vernon! He won the discus with a throw of 136 ft. and got 2nd in the shot put with a heave of 40'9"

Jake came home Thursday night so that he could work to make some Spring Break money. We decided to ship the bull (Toro) and 2 big steers to Hollis, OK. Their sale is Saturday morning. So, I called the cows up and we sorted those to be sold.

We've had Toro for 5 years and he's been great, but it's time to breed out the longhorn traits - longhorns don't bring much at the sale and he's almost past his prime.Sorting the steers and pushin' Toro to the chute to load in the trailer. With his wide horns, we had to reset one of the T-posts so he could fit. Here's Jake with the T-post driver.

It was kinda sad to see Toro loaded and ready for the sale. He was bottle raised and has been a great bull for our young heifers!

They got loaded and Jake had one of his High School buddies ride to the sale barn in Hollis, OK with him. It's about a 1.5 hr. drive each way.

Glad to get them shipped.

Ready for a young angus bull.

WHAT'S GOING ON NOW?

2011-02-22T05:34:00.013-06:00

Oh, goodness...it's been quite a while since I have posted...I think we need a new computer...it has taken me 4 days to upload these photos (at least it has seemed that long)....

Things on the farm have been great - the arctic weather was swept out of here in a hurry and we have even had days that reached 80 degrees!!!! Zack, of course, was lovin' every waking moment of that! Jake went with some friends from college, to New Mexico (3 hr drive) to snow ski at Angelfire. They had a blast, but he had only been skiing one time in his mere existence on this planet and that was when he was 7!! The second day, he shucked the skis and strapped on a snowboard, with which he has never done! He said that 6 people told him that he should be wearing a helmet! When I delved deeper into more details of this winter adventure that he survived, his response was, "You only live once, Mother!"

Ohhhh, the worries!!!

Anyway, here are some updates since the last posting!

A good friend who goes to Mexico at Christmas time to visit her relatives, brought me this bottle of "REAL" vanilla! Oh, it is SOOOO not the same as the Walmart version! You outta try it sometime if you can find some!

I have blogged since 2007 and wanted so much to print each of my postings, for posterity purposes...well, I could never figure out how to print and I thought all of those memories, stories, photos and happenings were just going to be lost in computer space...until.....I.......happened across........this AMAZING website.....where you can..................PRINT YOUR BLOG!!!

Woo-hoo! It's called www.print2blog.com

After a few clicks, a hard cover (or soft cover for less mulah), bound, book is created!! Here's the front cover of mine...

My blogs, (yes, all of them), compiled into a near 300 page book, complete with a table of contents, page numbers, color photos and ALL of the blogs that I have ever posted!

Here's what the inside looks like! OMG...IT IS FABULOUS! If you are a blogger...YOU WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ONE! Check it out on line!

Changing topics, quite drastically....Dyke and Zack have been minnow-seining in the rivers and have been catching gallons upon gallons of "minners" for their catfish bait (punch bait/stink bait...wickedly nasty, grotesque, vomit-inducing, stain your skin and clothing for God's eternity concoction.)

You start with live minnows. (Yes, that's my water trough that has now become a bait tank!) Make sure you have an aerator to provide enough oxygen to keep them swimmin'.

Next, you dip them out of the trough with a strainer, spread them out on something flat (An old rusted water trough works great!) and let them suffer, flop and bake in the sun 'til they draw their last breath.

Poor minners!

NEXT - scrape them into a 5 gallon bucket, add some menhayden oil and let the mixture cure for a couple of weeks...

BE SURE TO PUNCH AND MIX WITH A STOB. (that means, mix it well with a stick) Once the minnows congeal as one glob, add some "cheese" and some beef tallow...mix some more, wait a few more weeks and VOILA!

HOME MADE - REDNECK - PUNCH BAIT!

Switching gears.........

After school last week, we went out to fix a turkey feeder at our friend's hunting lease on the Red River. It was a spectacular afternoon and the views were astounding! When you can see 360 degrees, a camera just can't capture the sight! (but here's a try at it....)

scrubby pasture land

Red River Flood Plain

Zack and Dyke standing on the bluff, looking out at the Red River bottom land

Scouting for wildlife!

Fixing the turkey feeder

Another afternoon last week, as I was driving home, the sun was setting and it was absolutely amazing...again, the colors that God paints His sunsets are certainly not able to be captured by camera.

Almost home...

DAY 4 - NO SCHOOL AGAIN!!!

2011-02-04T07:29:00.009-06:00

The View From My Bed

Nanook from the North!

I can't believe we don't have school AGAIN!!!4 days off? I don't think this has ever happened at VISD!!! Now it's Friday and we have the weekend tacked on as well! A big WOO-HOO!!!!

It's been basically the same routine - wake up, put coffee on, bundle up, feed & break ice, then come inside, start the fire, spend time in my daily Devotional and God's Word, surf the web, and hang out until the evening feed. WONDERFUL CHANGE, yesterday: Nancy and I went over to Stephani's for lunch! The roads were extremely icy and I had to stay in 4WD the entire way to town. What usually takes 15-20 minutes, took almost 40 minutes! Stephani had made hot Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, which were out-of-this-world! We had fun visiting, laughing and marveling at how crazy the weather had been. As we started to watch a movie, it flashed across the screen that Vernon ISD was closed on Friday as well!
Not long after our celebration about Friday's closing, my phone rang and Dyke said that we had a busted pipe by the barn and that I had to bring some plumbing supplies...great...So, our little adventurous jaunt to town came to an end. I was glad that Dyke knew how to fix it, or we'd be without water until someone could get out there to repair it.

Supper Menu: Venison Stew and Homemade Bread

DAY 2 ON THE FROZEN TUNDRA!

2011-02-02T11:34:00.007-06:00

Woo-Hoo...another "free-day" off of work. Well, it's not exactly "free"...we'll be regretting it over Easter when we lose extra days...I'm a "live-for-the-moment" kind of gal though, so being off now is just fine with me!

Blinding whiteness, tissue-freezing air, clear visability and a slight north wind, is what I awoke to this morning. I lay in bed, covers up to my chin, wondering how the cattle made it through the night and if the new calf was still alive. The fire was out in the stove; although, the house was not too cold. As I usually do when I get up, I check to see if I can see any of the cows out...first I checked north and sure enough, there were about 8 that I could see. Huddled at the horse pens. Glancing out the east window, there were several more - pawing through the snow to get to the small strands of green wheat. I knew I better get out there and tend to things...I didn't even stop to put the coffee on. The frigid air stole my breath as I stepped outside. There were 4 strange dogs out by the barn. As soon as they saw me, three of them barked and took off. All except one that was all white and very thin. She had her head in a large silver pot out by the horse trailer. She wasn't stuck in it, but kept putting her head down in the pot. Of course, Penny and Jess went bounding over there, their hair standing in tall ridges down their spines. They ignored my call. By their agressive stances, curled lips and barred teeth, I knew I better get them in the barn before a fight broke out. It reminded me of the movie, Call of the Wild! My lungs and throat were strained and almost paralyzed, as I hollered at them through the arctic air. I had to cover my mouth with the flaps of my rabbit fur bomber-style hat, in between hollers. Finally, they listened and I was able to coax them in and shut the barn door.

The white dog was friendly and quickly realized that it was Chris' goat dog that lived with his goats to the south of us. She was uncontrollably shaking, thin and whining as I petted her. The snow had balled up inbetween her toes and was frozen.

The mystery of the silver pot attraction was solved when I looked in and saw the frozen remains of the last deer that was killed - supposed to have been hauled off by Zack a week or so ago...I couldn't budge the frozen meat, but she had been ripping it with her teeth and was somewhat successful.

She followed me to the horse pen while I fed, but being so timid she didn't get out of the way when Biscuit tried to stomp her. She yelped as he pawed his front hooves at her, finally forcing her to squeeze under the pipe fence. Mules are known to be quite protective and will not allow a dog to get in their space. Some ranchers use them with their livestock, to keep the coyotes out.

I fed the horses, broke ice and threw some hay over the fence to the cows who gathered around and then headed to the barn. I had to get the 4-wheeler out of the barn to haul the cubes to the pasture for the rest of the cattle, so I put the white dog in the horse trailer, so that Penny and Jess wouldn't fight. Loading the 4 wheeler with the sacks of cubes, I headed over the frozen ground and snow mounds toward the lower pasture. I had to push the 4 wheeler out of the snow drift, realizing that I better choose a clear path if I wanted to get there quickly. The cows followed right behind me, trying to bite through the feedsacks that were stacked on the back of the 4 wheeler. I had to keep shooing them away with one hand while I drove with the other. Finally, I was able to make it to the troughs, unload the feed and get the gates shut. The cattle were hungry. It made me smile to see the new calf shuddering at her mama's side. At least she was alive and with the herd. One of the syrup lix that the cattle had chewed through the cardboard casing to get at

Checking the henhouse was next on the circuit...all was well - except their water that, of course, was rock solid. I hauled a bucket of warm water from the house and they were glad to get a drink.

As I crunched my way through the snow to the house, I looked at the sky and thanked God for our electricity, the strength to get my chores done and that the animals were ok through the night.

WHITE - IMMACULATE, PURE, FRESH,CRISP...A BLANK CANVAS TO BE INSPIRED FROM

2011-02-01T11:25:00.011-06:00

They were right...the storm arrived in the night and we awoke to a white-out. School was cancelled, like we all predicted yesterday. As I lay in the warmth of my down comforter, looking out the window at the swirling snow and the knee-deep drifts that had been born in the night...I was greatfully thankful to God that we had electricity. The chimes sang their 7 o'clock proclamation. It was warm in the house, but I knew that I would have to get out there and tend to the animals. By the time I got ready to go out, I couldn't even see the barn - visability was probably 10 feet. I put the coffee on, so it'd be ready upon my return, pulled on my coveralls, wrapped my wildrag around my neck and mouth, and zipped up my Carhartt. The wind was biting cold. Someone could die in weather like this. I trudged out to the barn through the nearly knee-deep drifts, the snow packing up under the legs of my coveralls. Ooooo, it was cold as it melted against my warm skin. The dogs ran wildly, chasing each other, until they became submerged to their ears in the snow. It made me laugh! As I got to the barn, the horses' shivering was very obvious. They were covered in snow and balls of ice, the size of silver dollars. Even with protection under the barn, they were very cold. As they chomped on their sweet feed and then hay, I scraped the snow and ice off their coats. Their shivering seemed to lessen. I had to rip a iron fencepost from the frozen ground to break ice in the trough. The water was solid in places, and slushy in others - at least I could get some water released.

Making the rounds, I turned my back to the wind and made my way down the gap to check on the cows. The drifts were nearly head high in places. I rolled under the hotwire and kept moving. I was really concerned with finding the new calf, but only a handfull of cows were at the hay, backs turned to the north, just standing like statues. I tried to look for the rest, but the frigid wind was freezing the tears in my eyes. I could sort of make out some black cattle standing down in the dry creek bed, out of the wind, so I decided if they weren't smart enough to seek cover, there was nothing I could do, and headed back up to the barn. The chickens were next on the list. I nailed some burlap sacks to the window to keep some of the snow out, but it still blew in. It was warm-ish in the henhouse, but their water was an iceblock. I could tell that there weren't 12 hens, even though I couldn't see all the way up under the nesting boxes. Again, there was nothing I could do. I closed them in and headed back to the house - all of my footprints from earlier, had been erased by the wind. Grabbing the cats from the barn, we pushed with the wind toward the house - the cats were glad for the warmth of the laundry room and some Friskies. I shucked all of my snow covered clothing and stood by the fire. Dyke had gotten up, remade the fire from the night before, and was watching the news. My cheeks burned with the instant warmth that touched them. I walked to the window to see how tall the drifts had gotten and saw something orange under my cactus. As I tried to focus my eyes from the blinding whiteness, I realized it was one of my hens. She had been out all night, sought refuge under the cactus and just huddled there in the drift. I ran outside, snow crunching under my slippers, sounding like I was walking on a pile of broken pieces of styrofoam. I scooped her up and could feel the packed snow and ice under her wings and tail. Wrapping her in a towel, I sat with her beside the fire. She was unresponsive. The snow began to quickly melt and drip and I was able to remove the slabs that had frozen up under her wings. As I unwrapped her from the towel, thinking the heat from the fire would warm her faster, she opened her eyes. I placed her on the towel and she just hunkered there. Her toes were caked in ice. I knew she wasn't going anywhere soon, so I poured another cup of coffee and went up to wake Zack. I crawled under the covers with him and we visited. He was glad that school was cancelled. After I finished half of my mug, I headed back down to check on my hen. What I saw completely amazed me! She had laid an egg right there on the towel! It was so egg-citing! I knew I had to put that in my blog! It was warm and oh so fresh!

I went to the south windows again to look out and noticed a pick up in the driveway, so I went to the back door and a large Mexican man stood shivering at the door. He asked for Dyke, so I invited him in out of the cold. I quickly had to explain why there was a chicken sitting by the fireplace...that was a bit awkward. He started talking when I did, so I don't even know if he heard my reasoning about the chicken. We stood by the fire and he told us that he was getting some hay from a farmer out here, and his truck had high centered down the road. He said he walked to a nearby house, where no one was home, borrowed a pick up that had keys in it and drove it to our house to get help. Why would someone be out on the roads? He didn't even live out here, but he said that a year or so ago, he had worked for a farmer out here. It was mysterious and I was skeptical. He continued to warm up while Dyke and Zack got ready to help him. Then, he was gone and I pondered why he was out here in this part of the country on a day like today...strange!

The rest of the day was spent inside - until evening chores, watching The Horse Whisperer for the 100th time! Don't you just adore a movie that you've seen more times than you can recount? Hot, fresh, buttered popcorn, and a cool drink, a classic, bracing film by Robert Redford,warm antique quilts to bundle yourself - still clad in your pj's and hours of time left in your "free day off"! Perfect!

Thar She Blows!

2011-01-31T19:06:00.007-06:00

Well, it's no secret that the wind is a constant variable up here on the northern plains of Texas - the season depicts the wind direction. Of course, this time of year, it's a steady north wind. Oh, by the way, for those that follow me, I am sorry for the gap of time that got between this post and the last. It seems that just a blink of an eye can advance time a couple of weeks...

A big arctic blast - like in '09 - is expected to hit tonight around midnight... ice, snow, wind...misery! It's already sleeting and pinging against the windows. Before I left town this afternoon, it was buzzing with traffic;people buying groceries, gas, propane and stocking up on livestock feed. After work, I headed to the feedstore and got a load of cattle cubes, and 2 syrup lix. I picked Zack up from basketball practice and headed north. When we got home, we both changed our school clothes, bundled up and headed out to get things in order for the night. The wind was strong out of the north and the tips of my ears were stinging with the cold. I had Zack take the tractor to pick up the 3 cattle feed troughs from the west pasture and transport them to the east pasture where the cattle would atleast have a windbreak, water and hay. While he did that, I opened gates, grained/hayed the horses, fed and watered the chickens and checked the insulation on the faucets. As soon as he got back, we headed to the east pasture, unloaded the two 2oo-pound syrup lix, positioned the big feed troughs and filled them with cubes before the cattle bombarded us! They were hungry. I think they knew the bad weather was headed for us. I am glad that I had Zack out there to help me.

Yesterday, I had gotten 2 round bales of hay grazer from Chris, a local farmer and friend. I left them on the trailer so there was less waste and thought that 2 bales would keep them through the next couple of days. Well, one had been split open and was off the trailer, the next one - almost the same. They were hungry. I hope it keeps them fed for a couple more days.

It's a rather dichotomous relationship - my husband and I. Definitely a role reversal...I buy all the feed and do all the feeding and tending to the animals and he tends the fire inside, tends to the dishes and cooks. I don't understand it sometimes, but I LOVE my role and wouldn't change it for anything. It's frustrating sometimes, though when I can't fix something and it's cold or I'm not strong enough to make it work right...like the other night...I was out checking the fence gates and it had gotten dark. I was trying to pull one of the hotwire gates closed and didn't realize that my glove was touching the wire when I connected it...ZZZAAAAAPPPPPPP!!!! Yowza! I don't know how many volts that thing carries, but I could smell burnt leather after that one! Man! I couldn't let go of the wire fast enough and the shock went straight through my boots!

Aahhhhh, life on the farm!I love it and consider it a humungous blessing from God!

New addition to the farm!

Well, the weather is coming in, so I better go and get this one posted for the night. Will write more later - maybe we won't have school tomorrow! YIPPEE!!!!

SPRING CLEANING IN JANUARY!

2011-01-17T14:09:00.005-06:00

From the kitchen to the den and front room...

The kitchen

From the front room to the den and kitchen

With everyone gone for the evening and the majority of the cleaning done, a glass of wine and a comedy sure hit the spot last night!

Zack's first deer with his custom longbow and homemade arrows! Woo-Hoo!!! That's my boy!!!

What a great feeling it is when you clean out all of the "stuff" that has accumulated over time in closets, corners, boxes and cabinets! Well, I'm in the process and even though there's more unearthing to complete, at least I have started! I have started putting some stuff on Ebay, so check it out under my seller's name - cowgirlontheplains

VERY GENTLY USED COWGIRL LEATHER FRINGE JACKET - check it out on Ebay!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!

2010-12-26T17:26:00.009-06:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! BY CHECKING OFF ALL OF THE ITEMS ON ALL OF THE LISTS OF GIFT AND FOOD PREPARATION, THE REASON FOR THE SEASON WAS CERTAINLY NOT OVERLOOKED. IT WAS A WONDERFUL AND ALWAYS THANKFUL CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!

THE SUNSETS HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN SPECTACULAR AND THE WINTER TEMPS HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT COMFORTABLE - 20's in the morning and 40's during the day. No snow this year, so I've been able to get in some wonderful riding time with Sweet Ed (although bundled up tightly).

View from the top of the River Road north of the farm.

Enjoying the River Road, spotting numerous deer, a badger, and something in the tall grasses that we never caught sight of, but was definitely rootin' around... it took some cajoling to get Ed to pass by that particular spot!

The cattle, once again, make their annual escape to the young green wheat sprouts...
The longhorns wanted no part of the "round up", so they sauntered off to the far north corner of the pasture.

Ed patiently waited for me, while I mended the fence where the cows escaped...being so dry, there's not much of a "pop" when the cows touch the hotwire, so they have become accustomed to just plowing through the fence in places...
A round bale every now and then, seems to pacify their desire to break out...but there's PLENTY of pasture grasses to go 'round.

Ed loves to stick his head in the hay crib while I get his feed.

Zack has been busy hunting cranes with Dyke.

Of course duck & deer hunting are also scheduled into his calendar...along with the harvesting of an occasional coyote...this one will be used to make an arrow quiver for his homemade arrows.

Four more Santas were made and sold prior to Christmas, as well as the 3 that were sent to Santa Fe in November!

Woo-Hoo! I am thrilled about that and hope for the blessings of more business up that way!

I pray that everyone had a very special and heartwarming Christmas holiday and wish the greatest of blessings for this upcoming New Year! God Bless!!

BLUE NORTHER...ON ITS WAY...

2010-12-11T10:29:00.004-06:00

We've definitely had some cold days so far...25 degrees is the lowest so far...Tomorrow, we're supossed to get an arctic blast, so in addition to the pasture grasses and "syrup lix" for the cows, we tried some cotton burrs (from our gin) for the first time...2 loads @ 2 tons each. Even though the cattle weren't sure what to do with them at first, they soon realized that they were pretty dang tasty. A lot of ranchers feed cotton burrs for the high protein content...I was happy to try anything that would keep them at bay from tearing down the fences to get to the green winter wheat that is only about 5 inches tall at this time...That wheat sure must taste good though, the cattle have been out for 4 days straight! It's no fun to come home (in the dark) after 7 hours of 7 year olds, basketball practice, a speedy Walmart run, post office for mail and finally out to the farm to find that they're all out in the wheat...CALGON, TAKE ME AWAY! The thoughts of sliding into my PJ's, making supper and relaxing by the fire were soon destroyed into a billion pieces never to be recovered again! Without the 4-wheeler, the "darked-out" search and rescue would not be possible!

"What do we do with this stuff?"

"Do you expect me to choke this stuff down?" Where's my alfalfa and sweet feed?"

Biscuit and Ed have certainly become pasture pals - winter coats are in the process of growing and they definitely look forward to their breakfast and supper!

Even the cat has started making her "warm spot" in the hay barn - for the cold winter ahead.

With 12 more hens added to the flock, and a clean henhouse, hay in the laying bins and full feeders, the chicks are ready for the winter too!

"PPPLEEEEAAASSEEE can I come in the chicken pen with you? I promise I won't bother a single fowl...I just want to sniff around -I love the smells in there!"

GIVE THANKS, ALWAYS!

2010-11-28T08:07:00.011-06:00

It just doesn't seem possible that the Thanksgiving dishes are washed and put away, our first hard frost has come and gone and the cows are ready to come up to the barn to seek refuge from the steady north wind.

Winter on the Plains can be barren, sterile and severe.

The Red River Valley Museum hosted a reception for their "Only Vernon", exhibit. It was a wonderful reception and a chance for the public to share in and enjoy work by some local Vernon artists.

Gourds n' leather...by Susie

Handmade saddle by Larry

Handmade Boots by Dew- local bootmaker and former Waggoner Ranch cowboy

Bits, Belts and Spurs by Greg-Vernon's County Judge

Western Pillows/Wire Wrapped Bracelets by Luanne

Western Buckles by Dee

Framed Artwork by Beth - Veterinarian

Bits, Jewelry and Belts by Tony - Postmaster

Intarsia (the art of inlaid wood) by Phil
Native America by his wife, Mary Ann

Turquoise, Fur & Western Decor by Su

We were all invited out to one of the artist's beautiful adobe hacienda-style home for a post reception. It was a glorious day to celebrate all that we are thankful for - good friends, good food, laughter, sunshine and God's blessings each day.

Wyman had another booksigning at the gorgeous Truscott Lodge in Truscott, Texas. It was a magnificent venue!

It was a pitch-black night. On the way home, you couldn't help but notice the moon. It was GLORIOUS! (even though this photo is horrendous, it reminds me of the beauty that the night holds.)

On a different note, our school invited some local Cherokee to display Native American items and exhibit their dance skills. The kids loved it!

Our cotton stripping began yesterday - a month earlier than normal. Hopefully it will be a good crop, as cotton prices are up.

Although our lives are dotted with challenges and trials, the very things that He uses to draw us closer to God and our faith in Him, always remember to keep your heart and focus on His love, goodness, grace and mercy. Give thanks in all situations and know that God loves you and cares about what you're going through.

UNDER ONE FENCE...WHAT AN EVENING!

2010-11-07T06:32:00.016-06:00

Last Friday night was an evening that I will not soon forget. The Red River Valley Museum, hosted a book signing with the infamous Texas State Photographer, Wyman Meinzer, showcasing his most recent and stunningly brilliant project... Under One Fence, The Waggoner Ranch Legacy. In addition to signing for the local multitudes, he and his wife Sylinda, generously gave of their precious time, to present a magnificent slideshow of handpicked shots from the project. He narrated, in vastly colorful details, the particulars of each depiction. It was absolutely fascinating and I didn't want it to end.

You can absorb his brilliance and adventurous life by going to his blogsite: http://wymanmeinzer.wordpress.com/

He and his wife live in the old Benjamin jailhouse. I have seen it on television and only dream one day to see it in person. His wife, Sylinda, is a talented, beautiful woman. She owns a classy, fabulous shop in Benjamin, called Santa Fe On The Brazos, providing an eclectic mix of American Western clothing, jewelry and accessories. Its venue is a long-standing gas station that once served as a restaurant and Lord knows whatelse. Inspiring and daring pieces by well known designers as Double D, Tasha Polizzi, Old Gringo, Western Vintage Revival and many more...filling every nook and cranny of the three-room structure. It's an adventure in itself! If you don't know the "community" of Benjamin, it's as if you've stepped back in time, a wide spot in the West Texas road that leads you in and out of this unpretentious and magical place. You can take a gander at Sylinda's shop by visiting her website: www.santafeonthebrazos.com

I donated several items from my home to serve as part of the western decor for the event.

People were lined up to get their copy of this amazing book!
Wyman graciously honored my request to have a photograph taken. As I handed my Walmart-bred, pocket-sized Cool Pix L-20 Nikon to my friend behind me in line, I was perfectly embarrassed by it, as a photo was snapped standing with this legendary professional Texas State Photographer...I just wanted a picture with him, and was willing to withstand the "common-ness" of myself. What a cool guy!!!!

The entire evening was spectacular, complete with fabulous wine and mouth watering hors d'oeuvres!

Backing up a day - Thursday - as we were sitting down to some homemade burgers, the phone rang. Douglas, our neighbor, frantically screamed through the phone, telling us that his house was on fire. We instantly dropped what we were doing, grabbed our keys and lit out for his home that was about a mile away. Prior to the Vernon Fire Department's arrival, our only arsenal of defense from the roaring blaze, were 2 water hoses and a fire extinguisher. Thanking God that noone was hurt, we did what we could to extinguish the flames, but it was to no avail. Smoke and flames had engulfed the attic space. From the outside of the modest brick home, you would never know what had taken place, but one step inside and the shocking results of an electrical fire hit you in your gut.

The fire department arrived and did an amazing job. The department's chaplin held a prayer with the 40 some-odd neighbors from this rural community. As people started to discipate, the fireman remained on site through the night, watching and protecting the home from continued destruction.

Ed is back! Originally named Hoolihan, I had sold him to my friend, Luanne, but recently bought this sweet, 12 year old, dun back. He's a gorgeous, muscley quarterhorse with the manners of a gentleman and a heart of gold. We've enjoyed many days of riding and exploring pastures, after school. It brought back memories of when I was in high school and the feeling I would get when I looked forward to getting home after school to ride, Chips, my unruly, horrendously mannered appaloosa. Same feeling but totally different appreciation!

After a glorious 3-hour ride.

As the sun sets on our west pasture. Bermuda, almost tall enough to reach the stirups, in some places.

The ending of another blessed day on the farm.

After I fed and watered Ed and Biscuit, I headed to the chicken house to gather eggs. My summer pullets are finally laying, and boy are the eggs pretty! Smooth, big, brown and tasty! I even have one hen sittin' on a clutch. Not so sure when she started sittin', but it usually takes about 20 days until they hatch. I hope the weather isn't too cold by then.

With all of the drenching rains this Fall, the cotton is high, full and ready to strip. We usually strip in mid December, but this year will probably be an early year.

The wildflowers sure are pretty!

Crazy sock, clothes and hair day around Halloween, at school! (Nancy, me and Stephani)

I found this great "unknown" quote:

peace. it does not mean to be in a place

where there is no noise, trouble

or hardwork. it means to be in

the midst of those things and still

be calm in your heart.

THE BIG THICKET RIDE

2010-10-30T09:37:00.012-05:00

Truscott, Texas...about 100 miles north of Abilene in north central Knox County... founded in 1880, the community was originally known as China Lake, after a small nearby lake bordered by numerous chinaberry trees. When the county was organized in 1886, however, the community applied for a post office, submitting the name Truscott in honor of J. J. Truscott, a local pioneer. In 1907, much of the town burned down. The town was then moved a mile to its present site to take advantage of the newly constructed Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway.

The Wichita Divide (this area of Texas) was once a part of the Permian Sea of Texas. Indians (Kiowa, Apache and Comanche) lived along the Wichita Rivers about 10,000 b.c.. Texas was under Spanish Rule until 1821, Then under Mexico until 1836. The Wichita Rivers were known only to Indians and Fur Traders. Reports mentioned huge prairie dog towns and immense rattlesnakes near the South Wichita between present Truscott and King County. The buffalo were pushed west saving the grass for the cattle, In the 1870's , Indians swarmed frontier counties then retreated up the Wichitas and Brazos beyond reach.

Family roots, in this area, reach as deep into the red clay land as do the hardy mesquites. The Moorhouses called this pasture "The Big Thicket"...

Circle Bar Ranch (est. 1982)- Truscott, Texas

As I crossed the Pease River one early school day morning, I received a call from Luanne that she and Susie were headed to Truscott the next morning to gather cattle with the Circle Bar. As our conversation came to a close, I soon realized that consuming my mind was my mission to submit a request for a substitute teacher for the following day. It was a done deal...

We met at Susie's house the next morning at 6:00, loaded Shorty and made our way west and then south to Truscott. I had only been there one other time and that was for a street dance last summer! We were supossed to meet Eugenie at her barn around 7:15. We pulled in to the ranch and it was 34 degrees on the truck thermometer. Eugenie was cleaning a couple stalls, fed some horses and then we were off. We followed them way out in the middle of no where to pick up another horse, a saddle and met up with the cowboys that had been camping and gathering cattle for a week.

Following Jerry Bob and Eugenie to the pens.

Jerry Bob and Eugenie Daniel - owners of the Circle Bar Ranch

Heading out...Once we left the pens, we wound our way east through the cedars and rocky breaks at a long trot. I used one of their amazing gray geldings. He was so steady and sure-footed!

Topping one of the rocky points, Jerry Bob showed us where the cattle were and where we would be driving them back to the pens.

It's thick cedar country with lots of rocks, sand and rugged terrain. We went up and down some pretty crazy stuff! It we didn't have to pay attention negotiating the terrain as we went, I would have snapped a few "en route" pics...It was wild!

Back in "the day", cattle rustlers were known to hide stolen cattle in these hills and canyons...and marauding Indians wreaked havoc on settlers...it was like stepping back in time!

Several species of cacti grow out there, so we were glad to have our chinks on!

ON THE LOOKOUT...

We waited at the base of this ridge, so we wouldn't get a head of the cowboys who were driving the herd toward us.

Jerry Bob scouted from above...Perfect vantage point!

Bringing 'um in

At the pens...

Eugenie took us over to see one of their studs and the upcoming colt crop.

The original bank in Truscott.

The newly remodeled bank building, that is now the headquarters of the Circle Bar Ranch. This was where the street dance was held this past summer. Circle Bar has purchased the buildings that remain as the center of the Truscott community. The old church was totally overhauled and made into a spectacular lodge for hunters and guests.

THE CHURCH...PRE-RENOVATION

The side of one of the old Truscott buildings.

SANTA FE SANTAS!

2010-10-25T06:06:00.004-05:00

HUGE thanks to a friend of mine, Cece, who is blessed to spend time enjoying life both in Vernon and Santa Fe. She graciously offered to take a couple of my Santas (samples) to show some of her friends in various design boutiques in Santa Fe. As it turns out, Trish, at American Country Collections (ACC), requested 3 of them on consignment in their store. With only a week of time to design, create and produce... I had a full weekend ahead of me!

After a jam-packed school day on Friday, I headed straight to Wichita Falls to stock up on "Santa makings". Arriving back home at 9pm, with a bag heaping full of Friday tests to grade by Monday, and several sacks of heavy tapestry fabrics, fancy trims and assorted goodies...I spent the next 2 hours grading papers, knowing that there would be NO time later in the weekend! With a good night's sleep and a very early morning wake up, "Santa's workshop" was opened!

In the dark morning hours, I found myself trudging through the dew covered pasture grasses- pajamas and boots- searching for the perfect wooden base for my project. Finally, as the sun winked on the horizon, my search ended. A 4' long, old and weathered, fence post. After hurling it on my shoulder, I grunted my way back up to the house. We had just had 2 days of rain, so it was heavy, and wet and I was definitely not in lumber-jack form! Setting it in the barn with the huge shop fan blowing on it to dry some of the moisture out of it - I headed up to my studio to get organized. Three body forms were cut out of 1x6 pine and with Dyke's help, the bases were cut. I was all set! I worked all day and all night - til' 1am - staging each Santa as I went.

As I slithered into bed, I quickly found that my second wind took over. Ideas swirled in my head so fast that I just knew that I was losing my mind and would probably need to be medicated...Sleep was no where to be found! No rest for the weary! I must have dozed off at some point, because at 5:00 the next morning, I seemed rested enough to get up and start again. Sunday was a blueprint of Saturday - although I found myself wallowing into bed at 10pm...I knew that I was ahead of schedule...so I could finally sleep. My efforts were blessed with God's hand and here are the 2 finished Santa Fe Santas!

PHEW - what a whirlwind weekend!

SHOOT 'UM UP!

2010-10-17T19:05:00.013-05:00

This past weekend was the 3-day CMSA (Cowboy Mounted Shooters Association) Regional competition where I had my booth - (like last year)... It was great to see old faces that I had come to know 12 months ago, do some jewelry business, and completely enjoy the whole weekend of activities! Come Tuesday, they all head north to Amarillo for the World Competition! Good Luck to all those amazing, wonderful people that I have been blessed to get to know in the last year! A special thanks for Phil and Mark for their help unloading and loading all of my "stuff"! The entire weekend went to help in raising funds for the new Red River Museum extension and update!
Check it out on their website: http://www.redrivervalleymuseum.org/

My booth!

Two of the Mounted Shooters! Their 45 ca. pistols run @ 1,500.00/set and the custom leather holsters -depending on how ornate and tooled they are run close to the same!

They come from all walks of life and all over this glorious nation - from Texas to Florida, to Tennesee, to Washington to Idaho...Colorado...Oklahoma...Misouri....
Arkansas...Louisiana...Ohio...They're regular people in during the "regular year", from nurses, to air traffic controllers...Bell Helicoptor mechanics...ranchers...Viet Nam Vets...electrical engineers...lawyers...secretaries...retired teachers...horse trainers...commercial refrigeration business owners...retired coal miner...dog trainers ...ETC (JUST LIKE YOU AND ME!)

Cindy Duke - originally was living in Hawaii and spent her days on the beautiful golf courses of that delicious state! She met James Duke, a bachelor from Oklahoma, and left that golfing life for ranch life in Oklahoma, where they raise Black Angus cattle and Catahoula Cattle Dogs!! Riding her gorgeous Leopard Appaloosa with a perfect heart spot on his hip! She's from Big Cabin, Oklahoma and what a sweetheart! Check out her horse motel/ranch @ www.bigcabinhorsemotel.com. Her App is the grandson of Secretariat!

Here I am as a 10 year old (1974) in Lexington, Kentucky (Paris, KY) with Secretariat! It is a photo that I will cherish my entire life, but only have come to realize the depth of how special this photo truly is! With the new movie. " Secretariat", that I am really looking forward to seeing...it brings back all of those amazing memories of when I was in Kentucky!

My parents flew me (with them) to a wedding of one of my dad's college swimmers from Williams College. The bride's parents were good friends with the owners of Claiborne Farms (where Secretariat lived), so we had a private tour of the farm and were then introduced - up close and personal to Bold Ruler -Secretariat's sire, Riva Ridge -a Belmont winner and 4-5 other "big-name" Thoroughbreds that resided at that amazing blue-grass farm! As I have become a grown woman - always having that photo in my bedroom since it was taken - I have suddenly come to truly realize how blessed and amazing my journey to Kentucky, all those many years ago, really was! I am thankful, and praise God for allowing my path, and my parents path to cross with all of those wonderful people that I have come to know! (The photo was larger than my scanner, so I wasn't able to get it all in the scan!)

Waiting to hear their name!

The Videographer...

WAITING IN THE WINGS...

5 shots down and 5 shots back! 200+ patterns to learn! Using black powder and no projectile in the bullet, the hot black powder residue from the shot, is what pops the balloon targets that need to be reset after each run! The range boss reports with hand signals whether it was a clean run or not. A 5 second penalty is added to their time for each missed balloon or for a dropped gun. It's LOUD, but totally FUN to watch!

Men, Woman and Children compete...it's totally a family affair!

BADGER HENRY - A COWBOY/INDIAN ARTIST HAS MADE THE TRIP FROM THE TEXAS PANHANDLE, BOTH YEARS, TO DISPLAY AND SELL HIS AMAZING COMANCHE BEADED, BRAIN-TANNED LEATHER GARMENTS, BAGS, HIDE COATS AND ACCESSORIES ALONG WITH HIS GORGEOUS PALM LEAF HATS! WHAT A CHARACTER!

WE HAVE BECOME FRIENDS AND I CAME TOO CLOSE TO BUYING A BRAIN TANNED AND BEADED DEER HIDE DRESS! I COULD SEE MYSELF WEARING IT TO SCHOOL AND WOWING ALL OF MY KIDS (EITHER THAT OR THEY'D COMMIT ME TO SOME LOCAL PSYCH HOSPITAL!)

SATURDAY NIGHT WAS A BAR-B-Q FEED WITH A DANCE BY OUR WESTERN TRAIL COWBOY CHURCH BAND. GREAT MUSIC, GREAT FOOD AND GREAT PEOPLE! THAT MORNING AT 7AM WAS A CHUCK WAGON BREAKFAST TO START OFF THE FULL DAY OF COMPETITION! LIKE A STEP BACK IN TIME!

SUNDAY MORNING (8AM) WAS COWBOY CHURCH IN THE ARENA. THE WONDERFUL RANDY GUNN AND HIS WIFE HEIDI GAVE THE SERVICE AND IT WAS ONE OF THOSE A-HA MOMENTS FOR MANY. IT WAS DOWN TO EARTH, RUSTIC, AND ALL ABOUT THE ANALOGY OF THE WESTERN NIGHT SKY AND HOW REAL AND ALIVE IT CAN BE COMPARED TO JESUS AND HOW REAL AND ALIVE HE IS! WE SANG AMAZING GRACE, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND AMERICA! GOOSE BUMPS GALORE! Check out their amazing and very blessed cowboy ministry: www. GunnPoint.us

WHAT A SUPER WEEKEND HAD BY ALL! NEXT YEAR IS THE "CLASSIC"...WHERE A $100,000 HORSE TRAILER RIG WILL BE GIVEN TO THE WINNER OF THE COMPETITION! SHOULD BE A GREAT TIME, ONCE AGAIN~!

FALL IS HERE...AT LAST!

2010-10-03T17:23:00.005-05:00

There's nothing like a spectacular sunrise over the Plains of Texas on a cool, dewy Sunday morning! I lay in bed, listening to the roosters begin their morning serenading, and knew before I opened my eyes, that it must be sunrise. Yup, 'shore 'nuff, the gorgeous orangy-fall-melon-of-a-sun was peering over the horizon. It was also opening day for deer season - bow hunting only. Dyke and Zack had gotten up a couple of hours earlier to head to the lease, in hopes of bringing home some winter venison.

Church was amazing this morning and full of surprises... Two young rodeo cowboys from Vernon College had been baptized in the church pond last Wednesday and were going to make the journey back home to Kansas. The newness of Christ in their hearts was fresh, raw and glowing. Their lives had been changed forever. I had only seen them - never met them - but strangely felt like I had known them for many years. At the end of the service this morning, as people were heading home for the day, I felt that I needed to say hello to these young guys, and bid them a safe trip home. Earlier in the service,Pastor David had sent around a few hats to collect some traveling money for them. So, as I handed Tanner my meager offer of ten dollars to help them on their journey, he turned to me with his eyes full of tears. I could feel the depth of his story and all of the things left undone in his life. As I prayed with him right there in the aisle, as people were heading out the doors, I noticed that his tears were soaking his black felt hat that he clutched in his hands. I knew without a doubt that Jesus had a hold of his young heart and was now in control of his life, if he would only surrender it all to God. It was a moment in time that I will not soon forget and I pray that God allows their paths to cross again at the Western Trail Cowboy Church.

The other surprise was that we (our church) held a wedding this morning! It was beautiful, simple, powerful and without all the "to-do" that most American weddings involve. A young local couple who are obviously very in love and wanted to make it official in front of their church family. Starched white shirts, Wranglers and boots...perfect.

The weather has cooled off - 50's in the morning and 70's-80's in the day. Crisp, and cool! You can smell "Fall" in the air! I love to walk outside in the early dawn and sip on my hot coffee as the birds awaken from the night and the world lightens up with the break of day.

After church, I decided to get Zack to take a few pics to update my profile. We took the dogs up to our northern fenceline, snapped a few shots and then he and the dogs walked home through the lower pasture. It was a gorgeous late afternoon!

ON THE HORIZON

2010-09-26T09:15:00.005-05:00

Oooo-weeee! Much has happened since my last posting, but the reins have been 'a flappin' in the wind and time has totally and completely run away with me!

Finally, when Jake returned from college 2 weekends ago, we all worked to get the 'quickly aging bull calves', cut! Since the process involves ropin',wrestlin' and holdin' (no chutes at this outfit) before the cuttin' takes place, we have not been able to get this chore behind us until now. They should have been cut a month ago...but, now I can check that one off the to-do list.

I planned to include some photos, but there was never a free hand to grab the camera! Even when I made the last cut, thoughts of photographing the evidence quickly faded as I watched Jess (our young lab) slurp down the last testicle!

Zack was checking fences one afternoon and came home with this lovely surprise.

Duck season has opened, so Zack's alarm has been chiming at 5:30 am. In the early morning darkness he takes the 4-wheeler across the pastures to a neighboring pond. This morning, he got lucky...a green wing teal.

Of course, he grilled himself some fresh teal wrapped in bacon, for Sunday breakfast! He's saving all the feathers from his ducks this season, to make himself a feather pillow to sleep on...he says the musty smell of fresh duck feathers is better than any expensive cologne on the market!

Yesterday, Vernon had an event around the courthouse square to raise money for the restoration of buildings and historical places in Vernon. Luanne and Sarah and I had a booth! It was fun and we did pretty well. Here's Sarah before the crowds got there...

Dyke returned from his annual elk hunt with Biscuit. They had a "good misery" as always, but were unsuccessful. Biscuit did better than the last journey north - didn't escape - but just in case, Dyke tethered a cowbell around his neck, so he'd at least be able to hear his movement if he did decide to sneak away.

Home Sweet Home

MOUNTAIN MULE!

Ahhhh, Colorado!

What is that noise??

Just a' waitin'

Two days after he returned home, another warden called to see if Dyke wanted to join him on his elk hunt...so back to Colorado he went -without Biscuit this time. Dyke bugled and his buddy bowhunted. A big 5X5 was called in and Shea was able to get the fatal shot! No pics yet, but it was an exciting and successful second go-round kill.

WE'RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE, TOTO!

2010-08-28T11:07:00.027-05:00

"When the goldenrod is yellow,

And leaves are turning brown -

Reluctantly the summer goes

In a cloud of thistledown.
When squirrels are harvesting

And birds in flight appear -

By these autumn signs

we know September days are here."

Beverly Ashour, September

Appologies to all, for it has not been procrastination - the thief of time, but only a month of Sundays where time outran me.

Since my last posting, it seems that volumes of experiences have taken space in my memory. To cut to the chase, here's what's been going on up here on the Texas Plains:

The big trip of the summer was when Stephani, Nancy and I flew home to Massachusetts to visit my parents, go to NYC and also to the Boston area to see Plymouth, Mass where the Pilgrims landed and started the Plymouth Plantation. It was certainly a trip of a lifetime and to spend it with parents and 2 of your bestfriends...priceless!

Here we are (with Donna too)- on our way - a preflight overnight in Oklahoma City...supper at Toby Keith's Bar and Grill!

Ahhhh, the mountains of home!

We combined our photos and discovered that we had taken over 600 pictures on this trip - so it was quite difficult to sift through and decide which ones to use!

After mom and dad met us at the Albany, NY airport, we went across into Vermont to THE MAN OF KENT TAVERN for supper! It was an old, Revolutionary War Era, low ceiling'd tavern on the edge of the road that served delicious food and over 130 types of beer!

My parents' beautiful home is a classic example of the original "Colonial" architecture. The land was purchased in 1799 (the year George Washington died) and construction of the home began in 1800. It was the home of the farm foreman for the Cluett mansion above this property on the hill. The Cluett family owned the "Arrow" shirt company. The chinking between the boards in the walls is a mixture of mud and horsehair!The kitchenThe Central HallwayThe Livingroom and DiningroomThe DenSome of the Bedrooms

The upstairs hallway

The "Root Cellar", in the basement, where their winter vegetables were kept

Mom and Dad put in a small patio area with storage shed where they do a lot of entertaining.

This is an old carriage road (lined with pines) from the early 1700's. It's in our backyard!

Here we are with my parents at the Taconic Golf Club in my parents' town of Williamstown, Massachusetts.

My dad's "last" pool before he retired as Swimming Coach at Williams College. He designed the pool and saw it through its construction completion. Because he is a legendary New England coach, the pool is now named for him! I can't tell you how proud of him I am!!! We went to a college art museum that was featuring this HUGE "MOCHA DICK" sculpture. It is a lifesize model of THE Moby Dick. It is constructed out of industrial wool, sewn and zipped together. An internal fan inflates it so that all of the muscle & bone structure is an accurate representation of the legendary whale,Moby Dick. It was unbelievable! It even had barnacles on it, made from the wool!Here we are at a local farm, buying fresh corn - picked within the hour. No one operates the farmstand. It is based on the honor system. Each buyer weighs their produce, uses the provided calculator to find the price due and then puts the money in the money box: dollar bills get placed under a rock in the money box and coins just get dropped in. If you need change, you remove the correct amount of change. Pretty amazing!

The next day, we took the 10:20 am commuter train into New York City. We got off the train in Grand Central Station @ noon, walked to the Princeton Club where we were staying, and then caught a cab to Times Square where we saw the Broadway show - Wicked - at the Gershwin Theater! It was unbelievable! There are no words that can describe it all! The noises, smells, heavy hot air, people, languages -

It was CRAZY!!!!

TIMES SQUARE!

New York City Sights!

One of my dad's former swimmers, Bill, met us after we saw Wicked. He works in the Seagram Building. He gave us an amazing and unforgettable walking tour of the area near his office. We saw Tiffanys, The Plaza Hotel, The Early Show building, The Apple Cube, the beginning of Central Park, The Waldorf Astoria, Trump Tower, Rockafeller Center, and MORE...and we even walked through the movie set of the remake of Arthur!

We also went to the infamous Four Seasons restaurant/bar, which was in his building. Of all days and times, President Obama was due to arrive at the Four Seasons right about the same time we were, so with Bill's clearance identification, we were frisked thoroughly, checked by top security and made our way past the secret service and NYPD. Obama was there for a Democratic National Committee meeting/fundraiser in the room right next to where we were!Here we are at the bar in the Four Seasons. Gold chains decorated the huge floor to ceiling windows. It was absolutely crazy!!!!

That's Obama's car inside the tent surrounded by 8 or 10 black Suburbans with machine-gun ready security, federal agents and LOTS OF POLICE!

SECRET SERVICE AND POLICE, WAITING FOR OBAMA'S ARRIVAL!

Bill took us up to his office, that was being renovated. This is the view from his office on the 36th floor!

We walked through the Waldorf-Astoria - where Obama was supossed to be staying for the night...
Stephani with Donald Trump's doorman. He informed us that Donald was home in the Trump Tower. Stephani told the doorman that with all the money that Donald had, he needed to use some of it to get a better hair-do! He laughed!!!!!

This was from the movie set of the remake of Arthur. We didn't see the actors, since it was later in the afternoon, but all of the camera crews, lighting crews etc...were all over the place! It was very exciting!
The actual car that was used in the original movie, Arthur, with Dudley Moore!

GROUND ZERO - it was very well protected with fencing. The whole place was buzzing with activity as they worked on rebuilding the space. It was amazingly powerful.

Bill's mother gave us tickets to the Fashion exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It's an amazingly huge museum and we hardly had time to see what else was there. Tons of people - many speaking different foreign languages! What a culture shock from Vernon, Texas!!

On the Staten Island Ferry - taking us over to the Statue of Liberty.

We climbed 156 steps to the top of the pedestal (base)of the statue. We were wiped out! I can't even imagine what it would be like to climb to her crown!

When we returned back home from New York, we repacked and regrouped to get ready to drive 3.5 hours to the Boston area to see the old town of Plymouth, Mass. where the Pilgrims landed in 1620.

Here we are on the Mohawk Trail overlook. The Mohawk Trail is the old trail that the Mohawk Indians used to get from our area to Canada - following the Connecticut River. What a view!!

When we arrived in Plymouth, we met another one of my dad's former swimmers, Michael. He took us out for a delicious seafood supper! We spent one night in Plymouth and saw some great sights, and PLENTY of history!

THE ACTUAL PLYMOUTH ROCK - where the roughly 100 Pilgrims stepped foot off the Mayflower in 1620.
Massachusetts Bay - where the Pilgrims sailed in from the Atlantic Ocean. You can see the Mayflower II in the distance: an exact replica of the Mayflower! Yo-Ho-Ho and a Bottle of Rum! Here we are on the deck of the Mayflower II. It was hard to imagine 100 men, women and children - PLUS animals & supplies on this small vessel for 2 months! WOW!PLYMOUTH PLANTATION - a living history museum showing what the settlement was like. Historically correct building construction, settlement layout and historically accurate characters dressed in Pilgrim garb speaking Old English!

These are some of the "Pilgrim" ladies... you felt like you were back in time - they only discussed issues of the day and would answer your questions as if they were living in the 1620's. It was kinda crazy! The girl in the light tan jacket said that it was apparent to her that with the "short shorn hair" that I was wearing, it was evident that I had lice. It was hysterical and it got Nancy so tickled that we 'bout laughed our eye make-up off!The other village at Plymouth was of an Indian Village - similar to that which Squanto, Massasoit and the Patuxets lived in. Here we are near a family dwelling, made of bark and sticks.

Here we are in the Plymouth Museum Gift Shop!

With the strange artistic eye that my mother has, she spotted a piece of firewood in the woodpile at the Pilgrim's settlement and said that it looked like a goat-head! She whined and begged for us to go back (as we were exiting the settlement), and get this piece of wood so that she could add it to her collection! She already has a flying goose and a witch, that she had picked up years earlier along the way. So...Stephani and I went back to find the dang goat-head wood. Finally, after scouring several woodpiles in the settlement, we found it and without anyone stopping us or questioning us, we made it out of the settlement and to the car where we stuffed it in! She was so excited and proclaimed that it was her "best" piece!
This guy was outside of a tavern in Plymouth. We were a bit lost, so we had to ask him for directions! It was a riot!!!

On the Plymouth Beach!

Here's Nancy, feeding the birds our stale doughnuts! She fed the homeless in New York and the gulls in Plymouth! What a sweet heart she has!

Grabbing a bite to eat before making the 3.5 hour journey back to my parents' house.

The following day (Sunday) was our last day. We all got up and headed to Vermont (about a 5 minute ride to the state line). We went to Bennington, Vermont to eat breakfast at the Blue Benn Diner. We met my brother, Matt there. It was delicious!

While we were waiting for our orders, this guy and two girls came in to the diner and sat at the counter right next to our booth. Stephani IMMEDIATELY recognized him as someone famous, but Nancy and I had no idea! After a few minutes, he had turned around and noticed my humungous turquoise ring and commented on it. The two girls who were with him turned around and we struck up a conversation. He tried on my ring and one of the girls showed me a picture of her kitchen (on her phone) that she just finished painting turquoise. Long story, short....after several attempts to find out who this guy was, we finally found out that it was Justin Long - the movie actor! The two girls were actress friends of his and they were involved in the Williamstown Summer Theater. His play had just ended its month of performances, but the girls' were still acting in their play. IT WAS SO CRAZY!!!! They took one of my business cards and we appologized for making such a scene about who he was! Time to say good-bye to Matt! He's an attorney in Vermont and had to get back home to his 3 young girls! It was so fun to see him! He was appaled at our behavior over Justin Long and said he would NOT act as our laywer if we were sued for public harrassment! (It really wasn't all that bad, but he was mortified!)

Next, it was on to the first church of Vermont and the gravesite of Robert Frost, the writer! The church was beautiful and a typical colonial church. Family "boxes" with hinged doors and padded benches filled the sanctuary-very similar to the church I grew up in. We learned that the pews on the sunny side of the church cost a family $500.00 to "purchase" , where the pews on the shaded side were as low as $40.00/family. Single boys/men sat upstairs on one side and the single ladies on the opposite side of the balcony. On the boys side, you could see where they had used their pocketknives to carve their initials or pictures into the wooden benches during the several hour sermon...still visable since the 1700's!

Each family brought heated bricks in this warmer box and put it on the floor inside their family pew. With the floor area heated, their feet stayed warm in the winter months during the lengthy sermon!

Following a quick tour of Bennington, we headed over to my parents' good friends, the Gangemis. They live on an old farm on the side of the mountain where they run a bed and breakfast. Their mountain stream-fed pond looked so inviting, but we just had no time! It was beautiful up there!

Our week's adventure was coming to a fast close. We had jammed so much into the 7 days that we were there that it seemed like a year had gone by since we were sitting in New York at the Gershwin Theater! It was time to fly back to Texas - knowing that within a few short days, we would have to be getting geared up for another school year!

It was a trip of a lifetime and one that none of us will ever forget! HUMUNGOUS thanks to my parents for making this dream trip come true! Texas seemed so far away and I was certainly not ready to say good-bye to my parents! It wasn't easy!!!!

Upon returning to Texas - with a little downtime to rest and adjust to the 105 degree heat, Zack and I went with a couple of his friends and their moms to Six Flags Over Texas - an amusement park in Dallas. It was amazing and we all had a wonderful time, but boy was it HOT!!! Here are the boys!

We ate at a restaurant next to Hooters and when we finished eating, the boys wanted to go over to see what Hooters was like. We said that the only way they could go in, was if they got their picture with one of the Hooters' girls! So, without hesitation, they disappeared through the doors. Several minutes passed...several more minutes passed....we thought maybe we had better go find them, when all of a sudden, here they came out the door! Ear-to-ear smiles and "deer-in-the-headlight" looks on their faces gave proof that they certainly enjoyed their few minutes in Hooters! They even accomplished the mission and got a picture with one of the girls!

Nice grins, boys!

The next day, as we awoke and got around, we noticed that the dogs were restless and pawing at their muzzles. Upon a closer look, I found that they had met up with a porcupine and had quills all in their mouth and nose area! Dyke had to take the pliars to remove the quills and it certainly wasn't easy!

On August 25th, we drove Jake to college up in Canyon, Texas. He is a freshman at West Texas A & M - majoring in Criminal Justice. Most of the entire ride looked like this out the window:

Good Ol' Texas Plains!!

In his dorm room...

We got him settled and made his bed. (Both he and Dyke covered their faces as I tried to get some pictures!)Soon it was time to say our good-byes. I know that he made the right choice of schools, so we were very happy for him and excited for the beginning of this new chapter in his life. (I just hope he can make it to class on time! HA!) It was strange leaving him there, but knowing that he was going to have a great time and that it was a wonderful school made it easier to leave him!

On the way home, I saw this sign and thought - where else in the world would you see a sign like this! (for those city slickers, a calf fry is a deep fried calf testical!) They are good - as long as they are on the small side -those big ones are hard to choke down! HA!

I love Texas and it's great to be back home!!

JULY - JULY - JULY...HOT - HOT - HOT

2010-07-18T17:24:00.007-05:00

Well, with all the wondiferous rains, we now have humidity and mosquitos that quickly remind me of life on the Gulf Coast...BLECH!!!! YEE-HAW!

Each July, Dyke's dad's side of the family has their reunion down on the Nueces River at Chalk Bluff Camp outside of Uvalde, Texas and once again, it was great fun to see everyone, catch up on news and enjoy tubing the river! There's nothing better than a scorching hot summer day in south Texas and a beautiful, clear, cold river to cool off in!

AWWW, come on, Mom!

There were games like egg toss, egg relay, water balloon toss and pin the money on Booker! We also had a raffle for different amounts of money and a pinata!

Every year, we celebrate Aunt Polly's birthday - she's the oldest living McMahen! She turned 89 this year and as usual, Booker and his "ladies" performed a well-chorographed dance routine around Aunt Polly! What a hoot it was! Booker is such a great guy!!Aunt Polly, Aunt Jean and Aunt Barb

CHEEEESE!!!!!

Hmmm, what else has been going on???

On Saturday, I had a booth at the Christmas in July craftshow. It was a lot of fun!!! For those newbies, you can check out my "stuff" on my website: www.turquoisecowgirl.etsy.com

I've been looking at a new horse. Hank's his name and he's a 15.3 hand quarter horse gelding. He's very sweet.

It's been so dang hot, that if I don't get out there to mess with him early in the cool of the morning or in the evening before the mosquitos descend upon me, it just doesn't get done.
I'm hoping to get a vet-check on him this week and then make a decision.

Zack's been getting a little garden time...we have 4 turtles that live in the garden and actually come out to see you when they hear your voice. We made a little "pond" for them to swim in and discovered that they LOVE canned catfood! They do help keep the bugs at bay - especially the squash bugs!

Well, that's about it for now. I'll try to do better at posting more often...there just doesn't seem to ever be enough time. Two of my good friends that I teach with are going to fly home with me and we're taking the train into NYC to see Wicked on Broadway and some other tourist attractions and then travel to Boston to see Plymouth - where the Pilgrims landed (we teach that in our social studies classes, so we thought it would be great to actually go to the living history Plymouth Plantation! All of that will be a big posting in August!

NEVER A DULL MOMENT!

2010-07-05T10:16:00.010-05:00

Ya know that song by Alabama called High Cotton? Well, with almost 4 inches of rain in the past 4 days, with more to come this afternoon...the cotton is almost knee-high! I can't remember a cooler,greener, wetter July! Alright by me, though! With such rain, I've been forced to be productive inside...which is alright by me as well. Closet cleaning, studio time, and cooking seem to be the focus this past week.

WITH ALL OF THE RAIN, THE TARANTULAS ARE MOVING! I WENT OUT TO THE BARN, IN THE RAIN, AND NEARLY STEPPED ON THIS ONE! SCOOPED IT UP AND BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE HOUSE TO SHOW ZACK AND JAKE. WHAT A BEAUTY!

Zack, of course heads out for daily adventures after morning football workouts. Jake's either at the lake or working at the feedstore and many times manages to be in both places in a day's time.He can't seem to stay around long enough to get some shots of him, so Zack is my photo subject lately!

Night fishing in the tank - he hooked and reeled in this monster bluecat (23lbs)!

LOOK MOM!

Barefoot in the pasture and down at the tank is the only way he'll take it! He's definitely a modern-day Huck Finn!

Hmmmm...snakes in the kitchen...

His new invention is to attach his fishing rod to his kite string and reel it in and out!

He found the strangest lizard out in the cotton field. Even his dad hadn't ever seen one like that, so he keyed it out on the computer, but could never find an exact match - he was gently released back into the pasture...watch it be some kind of rare, undocumented species!

Today is Dyke's 48th birthday! I am only 6 months to the day,behind him, so I can't make too much noise about his elderly state... He's not here either...busy patrolling the lake...so no birthday pics today!

NEW PROJECT!

Using some of my "retired" ropers that have just been taking up closet space, I decided to do some decoupage work and give them a second go-round as table decor, wine bottle gift packaging or with a few rocks dropped into them for weight, a cool doorstop! Endless options for this new look! Check it out on my website - and look for more designs that will be coming out! http://www.turquoisecowgirl.etsy.com/

Checked cows this morning - looks like it's time to bring 'um up to the barn to castrate another bunch... they seem to like these cooler temperatures, and with the abundance of water, the pastures are really looking great and the tanks are full to the brim! That's certain peace of mind, going into a hot Texas summer!

CHANGE IS GOOD!

2010-06-27T15:26:00.006-05:00

Well, it was time for a change and since it was a beautiful Sunday and we had 3 young fella's baptized in the horse trough baptismal this morning, it called for a "newness" to my profile pic. Again, Zack was hired as the photographer for the photo shoot, and again, he produced some good ones...

green velvet jacket - Saddle Ridge Vintage Collection

jeans - "BUCK" by Cowgirl Tuff Co.

frilly cami - Top Tops USA

boots - Twisted X

turquoise jewelry - Turquoise Cowgirl

hat - "Bullhide" by Montecarlo Hat Co.