Monday, December 29, 2008

Wow!!!

Believe it or not I made it thru Christmas without self destructing. It was touch and go there for a while. Poor TLC got his schedule toatally messed up for a couple days. He's back on track now. Whew. Wore me out. I never did get everything done, but do we ever? I have so much I want to blog about and not enough time. So you'll have to keep checking back with me.

I thought I would post a few cute pics of my favorite boy(s)

So handsome !!!!

Mister blue eyes.




Any way The littlest cowboy got lots of toys from santa. Of course I am a horrible mom and didn't get any pictures of him opening any of them. It was a little slow anyway. Next year I am sure he'll just tear into them.





This is a picture of TLC's cousin she is 3 months younger but cute as a button. He should be getting another girl cousin around the 9th of January.




let me tell you she is the sleepinest baby you ever saw. She slept like this the whole time. What do you think TLC was doing.... Screaming!





The Hunter is takeing off for Arizona for a Deer/Javolina hunt on Tuesday. TLC and I will be staying here this year. I'll make sure to post picture of the hunt when he gets back. (I know how you all love pictures of dead critters.)




oops

Friday, December 19, 2008

Insane!!!

Holy Crap! I feel like I am taking crazy pills!!!!! I have so much to do. And what am I doing? sitting in front of the computer blogging. Now there is a great use of my time. I still have to clean the house, go to target (told you.. crazy pills), grocery shop, wrap presents, ride my horse, give a riding lesson to a six year old, make dinner, do some laundry (this is all today people) and also find time every 3 or so hours to feed The Littlest Cowboy. (He is very demanding also he's teething again so he is extra pleasant). Tomorrow we get to start all over again. Hooray holidays. In truth only about half (if I am lucky and fast) will get done today. Unfortunately the one thing I really really really want to do will inevitably get sacrificed. Riding. UGG. Any way. To add insult to injury it's also been FREAKIN COLD HERE!!!! The poor little goat babies had frost on their little horns yesterday morning. It's a good thing they are super fuzzy. All this and a whole bunch of parties that the HUNTER wants us to go to. Which all happen to be at TLC's bed time. Who says you need sleep. Oh well I also added some random new pictures for you just cuz.



I am in the middle I was so excited to wear grown up clothes to a party This is Diesel. I don't tell the other goats this but... he's my favorite. Ok tell me this is not the cutest damn thing.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Ornaments



This picture totally does not do the tree justice.






I freakin love Christmas ornaments! This is something The Best Mom In The World started 30 years ago. She has bought me an ornament every year that I have been alive. ( I know,... she is totally awesome). We went to Cost Plus the other day and she bought me the coolest ornament. I don't get it till Christmas though so you all have to wait to see it. I can tell you where I got any of my ornaments, I also mark them with the date so I don't forget which year I received them. I took some pictures of a couple of my favorites, but, really they are all my favorite.





One year mom bought me a couple different chicken ornaments cuz we built the chicken tajma hall. Of all of them I think this might be the cutest.


I love nutcrackers. ( sneaky chili pepper in the back)




This one mom painted for me when I was like 12 or something. I wanted a dalmatian sooooo bad that year.



Perfect for Mommy in spurs. Don't cha think?






I also like to put some of my ribbons on the tree. I feel it gives it a little something extra.



This is such a great one. It's made of glass. Love it.

What little girl doesn't want red toe shoes? These ones are heavy you have to find a thick branch.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Santa!!!!!






YEAH!!! I got to do a really fun parent thing to day. I took TLC to get his picture taken with Santa. He was sooooo gooood and even smiled. He got the cutest baby award and they took a picture for their wall cuz he's that cute.
I got this from the fabulous HORSE SHOEING HOUSE WIFE
Here's the rules
I tell you six things
you didn't know about me
post the rules
tag six other people
let them know when they're tagged
and tell the person who tagged you
OK
here I go
  1. I love the UFC. I love that's it's bloody and violent! I can't help it I love, love, love a good fight. Especially wrestling. (I was a stat girl in high school. I would have wrestled but dad said no)
  2. I am also really girly. I love to go to spas, get my nails done, my hair done, facials, waxing, the whole shebang. (not that any of these things actually happens anymore)
  3. I hate cleaning house! As much as I love horses I hate to clean my house. I really wish there was a house cleaning fairy. She could live here.
  4. I am the "Horse show Nazi" I hate to clean so I feel compelled to make/and keep things as neat and ascetically pleasing as possible at all times.
  5. I believe in love at first sight.
  6. I love, love, love the PBR (I am totally bummed that Justin McBride retired)

Now for the tags. This is hard because I don't have a lot of blog friends yet so, ladies please bare with me.

Trainwreck..

The Wife...

Meg...

I'll have to get back to you on the rest. Love you all.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Just like Christmas.... Oh wait, it is Christmas.




OK. So it's been a while since Ma and I have had any kind of adventure (unless you count motherhood). Last night The best mom in the world emails me a Craigslist horse add. Not unusual.... except we totally know this horse! At one time she belonged to my drug crazed, nut case, wack job of an aunt. Did I mention she is crazy. I am sure you can see the whole story on California Cowgirls blog (even if you don't want to hear the story you should check her out. She's pretty cool). Well we call up and find out we can go out and see this horse. We decided not to tell her we had any ties to the horse. We hitched up the trailer and drove an hour to go see her. She was way skinny. Poor old thing had been abandoned several times in the last year. Other then needing a little fat, a trim job and crud buster, she looks OK and is in good spirits. That to me says something about that horse. She's been near starvation several times and is still sweet as pie and loves people. Well we loaded her up and brought her home. This time for good.




Guess what else?! I got my print from Trainwreck today(also a fantastic blog). I love it. I love it, I love it. When I get it framed I'll post a picture of it on the wall so you all can see how great Kim is.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Random stuff

So today I wanted to just be a little random. Mostly cuz that's how my little brain works.

Since I have posted pictures of the big-bad-hunter I thought I would capture his more domestic side. (notice the hunting knife strapped to his hip. Just in case of a kitchen emergency)

The Hunter does not like store bought pies ( of course not that would be easy)
So he insists that we make pies our self. Including the crust. Let me just say, I am a lot of things but, I am not a good pie crust maker. (yet) Lucky for me I now have TLC to keep me from having to do a lot of the work. I did get to peel and slice all the apples.(jealous)







We also made a pumpkin pie. They both turned out great. I guess its worth all the work. ... Don't tell the Hunter I said that.








My next thoughts are on my good show horse, Bob...



besides my little dog Loretta, Bob could be the silliest creature on earth. I love him dearly. He has no idea he's a horse. I don't know what he thinks he is but he thinks it fits in my back pocket. (Bob is 16.2 and 1035lbs). He was a bottle baby. Right now he has one good leg. Poor guy. You see Bob is an acrobat. Apparently because I don't get to work him like he needs these days, he has taken to kicking the walls of the stall. Both back legs are now stocked up. Lovely. Also for some reason which I can't afford to pay for. He is lame on the front left. Grand. At first I thought it was an abscess. Three weeks later we don't think so any more. I am very concerned that he has re injured a suspencory ligament. AHHHH! When it rains it pours.


Sunday, November 23, 2008

Sunday pictures.




So the Hunter told me that my normal Christmas cards ( you know, the ones you buy at the feed store) suck and he wants a picture card this year. So TLC, The Hunter and I haul our butts up the hill. ( I remember why I have horses) Once on the top of the hill the dogs begin running somewhat amuck. We set up the tripod and the camera. I look at the LCD screen... great my batteries are dying. I get the dogs to sit for a minute. This is what we got. I think their kinda nice. Of course I also think I should have put on earrings, let my hair out of the ponytail and maybe taken a closer look at the shirt I was wearing. (Why do I look so frigging frumpy all the time.) Sigh... maybe they will turn out better next year.


I would also like to add I hate having a photogenic hubby. He could wake up in the middle of the night after a drinking binge and still look great. Yeah, he's also a morning person. Ick. I myself am a mid morning person. When I say mid I mean like 7:30 or 8 The Hunter wakes up at 5 or 6 even on his days off.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

What a weekend.

Wow, what a weekend. Things I used to take for granted are going to birthday/baby shower/parties. Saturday The Hunter, The Littlest Cowboy (TLC) and My very own self went to our friends son's 2nd birthday. There were about 100 little kids there and they were all screaming that high pitched, too much cake and soda scream and running around the house about 1000 miles per hour. TLC was of course fascinated. This party also happened to take place at prime nap time. I have to say though I was super proud. He hardly fussed at all. He was of course over stimulated beyond limits. Did I mention he's teething again. (Yeah! My new favorite thing). His normal bedtime is at about 6:00. 7 at the latest. He didn't get to sleep till about 8:30. Today we threw my sister-in-law her baby shower. We were at the hall from 1:30 till 6:00. Again my little boy was sooooo good. I really hope this is a sign of things to come. Like being able to take him any where. (We call him a wash and wear kid) He did have a small melt down right about the time we were cleaning up... Oh Darn I had to take him home early.
A big thank you and kiss for the BEST MOM IN THE WORLD. She stayed and helped clean up so I could take (TLC) home and put him to bed.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Amazing

I am totally amazed every time I log on to the blog to check out whats going on. It is truly wonderful for me to find that there are so many women all over the country that are so similar to me. I know the Best Mom In the World is like me, but she doesn't count cuz she raised me. There are so few country type folk, espesially women, where we live. All of these women validate me, inspire me, teach me. They also make me feel like no matter where I travel there will always be kindred soul somewhere nearby. I find myself really wanting to meet them. I know they are the kind of people I could have a great time with . I would like to extend an open invitation to any of you fine ladies. If you are ever in the San Francisco Bay area, let me know and I'll buy you lunch. I bet I could get Vaquero Girl to come along also.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

from hottie to house wife.







Bob has an abcess so Mom and I went to the barn yesterday (like we do everyday) and I looked down and realized what I was wearing. Ugh. I was wearing a red Barn Goddess sweatshirt, terry cloth pants, and mud boots. I don't think my hair had been washed in a day and there wasn't a trace of makeup on my dirty face. Yikes. I couldn't help but laugh. I had heard this had happened after you had kids. I just never thought it would happen to me. I have just gotten so lazy. I can't help it if I like pants with an elastic waist band. OMG! I used to actually be pretty. Tight pants, short shirts, push-up bras and sting bikinis. Just the thought of a bikini sends me into palsy. Oh well Bob still like to kiss me. I have taken the liberty of giving you comparison shots of 2 years ago and today.






I have to say I'm also a little bummbed out tonight. The hunter told me he is thinking about getting rid of the pack goats. He says that where he has decided to hunt, he doesn't need them and that they are an expensive pet. I know he is right but I really love the little boogers.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Himself Returns.(warning dead animals)




The Mighty hunter has returned! Hooray! I realized with his return that I feel bad for women who's husbands never go away. It always makes me realize just how much I love and want him. I say want instead of need because I function perfectly well without him. It is my choice to be with him. Which , I think is better then being dependant on him (even if he looks like the Wild Man from Borneo). Anyway, he has brought home a ton of meat. I think that everybody is getting elk ground for Christmas this year. Nothing says happy holiday like a little venison sausage. Don't you think.

Friday, October 31, 2008

halloweens gone past

I am the Leopard and Vaquero Girl is the belly dancer. This was about a million years ago.

Me and My Dollar Horse at a play day. I think it was 100 years ago.


Halloween









Ahh, Halloween. I brings back memories. I love this holiday. What other night can you dress up like whatever you want, knock on strangers doors and they give you candy? It is almost better then Christmas. Almost. As kids I couldn't wait till dusk. Amy (probably the best sister ever) and I would sit on the counter in the bathroom and The best mom ever would paint our faces. We didn't usually wear masks just because we liked wearing the paint so much. It never really mattered what we were but I remember my favorite costumes. I loved being a cat. I think I was a cat several years in a row. I was Little BO peep. That one was fun. I wore a great big orange hoop skirt and carried a crook. I ended up ripping the skirt half way through the night and finished up as Rainbow Bright. I was a rodeo clown. That was a great costume. No one knew I was a girl. I also was a Doll several years in a row. The last year I went trick-or-treating I was Tinkerbell. Another great costume. I think what was so great was that Mom or I always made the costume. It was always original. I didn't actually buy a costume till I was an adult. Since then My favorite costume had to be Marilyn Monroe. The Hunter went as Elvis. It was great. This year. I dressed Jr. up as a dinosaur. Too Cute. I can't wait till he's old enough to go door to door.

Happy Halloween Everyone.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Ugh!


So I am so tired today, The Littlest Cowboy just got his first new tooth. I know Ahhh. He's only 4 months old. He's been so cranky the last couple of days. I feel bad because I know how yucky it is when somethings going on with your teeth. I can still remember the days when they had to tighten my braces. Ick! He also decided he was going to figure out how to roll over... he decided this in the middle of the night... so he was flopping all around like a Mexican jumping bean at 3:00 in the morning and keeping himself (and me) awake. However, he was better tonight. I do praise the lord that he wasn't a twin! The Best Mom in the World called me today when she got off work and asked if I wanted to go to the barn. Of course I did but I was so tired I decided driving may not be such a great idea. ( If you recall The Hunter is still in the Idaho wilderness, return date unknown). It gave me the same feeling when I was a kid that I got when I was in trouble and Mom would say. " Do you want a spanking or do you want to not go to the barn?" I swear that was the ultimatum that she gave to me. I now realize that is one of those things that makes her The Best Mom in the World. ( she also brought me pot roast, potatoes and carrots for dinner the other night so I wouldn't have to cook.) I was such a hard choice. Sometimes I actually took the spanking. I just wanted to be at the barn so bad.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

The Boyz







So I am almost embarrassed to admit that I have goats. Very large goats. Mom calls them the Ibex. However, I really do love them. I was inspired to write about them because we live in the country but very close to the road (when the house was built 100 years ago there was no road). City folk are always slowing down and stopping to see them and take pictures. Mom and I were talking about it today. Most people have seen a horse and some have seen little goats in the petting zoos, but most people have never seen a goat this big before (mine weigh between 150 and 170 lbs) . People are totally intrigued. They are super sweet and follow me around as well as the dogs. The Hunter and I call them "The Boyz". Their real names are Dick, Dan, Diesel and Dozer. We bought them when The Hunter read you can use them to pack with. I swear this is a true thing. Google it if you don't believe me. We got the first two when they were only a couple months old, and the older two when they were two. If they were in any kind of shape we could actually add weight to their packs. I got knocked up before we could get them trained. So now we are starting from scratch. They are very smart and learn quickly and are a lot more accepting of the equipment then horses. Why not horses you ask? Well, they are great for packing because they can go where deer go, which is way higher then horses. Hello, goats are made to climb. They can pack up to 20 or 25 percent of their weight, about 80 lbs depending on the terrain. They can go for 3 days without water if needed and best of all they eat what deer eat. All this means you don't have to pack in as much food and water for them that you would with horses. Also goats are easier to keep in camp. If you let them they will sleep right with you. As we have learned from other blogs, if a horse can get in trouble it will. Not so much with goats. Believe it or not they are smarter then that. Any way thought others might like to see my show stoppers.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Why it's good to wear a helmet.




So I thought I would tell a little story about why it's good to wear a helmet. It has to do with the picture of me as Marylin Monroe. Every year the Horsemen put on a benefit for a therapeutic riding academy called Xenophon. We call it Battle of the Barns . It started about a million years go just for fun at a ranch that my Mom (The best mom in the world for those of you who haven't heard) managed. Well it eventually turned into this major event that barns (teams) from all over clamor to enter. There is a theme every year. The year I was Marylin the theme was Las Vegas. My team members were all dressed as different hotels. I was MGM. So it's my second event. Barrels. That's right barrels on my good pleasure horse. Not our first time. No biggie. Well my foot came out of the stirrup. "Don't worry" I say to myself "you can catch it before you get to that first barrel". Let me just tell you I was wrong. My horse, Bar Hoppin Bob, ( I'm not kidding that's his name) turned on the juice. 1,100 lbs of horse flesh careening toward the barrel... and the bucking shoots. Well here's me with one stirrup trying to steer and I see the judge who is not moving. Bob is now focused on running as fast as he can and I am slipping to the out side. "Ah crap"!!!! I think " I am going to fall off in front of all these people. How embarrassing" That is the last thing I remember before waking up in the sand. People all around me , Ice on my head and me begging my friend not to let them shave my head to staple the gaping wound in it. Turns out while I was falling I bashed my little noggin into the bull shoots. That will knock you out. So moral of the story. Wear a helmet no matter how bad ass you think you are. Accidents happen.

Monday, October 20, 2008

The Mighty Hunter Vs The Mommy in Spurs

"Little baby bunting daddy's gone a hunting. To catch a little rabbit skin to wrap my baby bunting in" Elk skin is more like it. The mighty hunter has "harvested" a Colorado elk and is now moved to Idaho to relive their state mule deer population of a couple of pesky bucks.
He called me from Colorado to tell me this. He also informed me that when he woke up that morning that it was 5% Fahrenheit. YIKES! He said it's beautiful. I told him that warm weather was beautiful.
So to recap his trip so far. He drove 2 days to Colorado, gets up at the crack of dawn in 5% weather to hike up and down mountains all day (P.S they are camped at 9000 feet.) to maybe kill an animal, which if you kill you must then find. They don't usually just drop in front of you. Then when you find said dead critter you must then skin it, gut it and cut it up into packable pieces to what?.... You guessed it. Pack it back out of the mountains you have been hiking in since 4:00 in the morning. May I also add it may or may not be raining or snowing.
WOOHOOO! Sounds like a great vacation!! Where do I sign up. This is why I stick to horses.

Yeah I know. Like that makes me "smart" My vacations involve. One day of packing up all my horse crap to take to a show 2 hours away. Driving the next morning to the fair grounds. Unpacking all my crap and horse and putting them into teeny tiny stalls. Then riding all day in 105% weather. Then if that wasn't making you sweat enough, adding either a wool jacket and knee high boots or a long sleeve shirt and leather shotgun chaps. I then get to compete against women and men who have their horses in training all year and maybe ride twice before they get there. (Never did understand owing a horse you didn't ride yourself.) A special day like this I will also be heard cussing about how the judge was either blind or just stupid. Why do I do it you ask? Well duh. Because it's fun!

Saturday, October 18, 2008

The Horsemen




Today I would like to talk about the people to the Left. They are collectively The Horsemen. I am VP of a horse club called Martinez Horseman's association. It has been around for 60+ years . Once upon a time it was a rip roaring club with tons of members. Sadly however over the years our numbers have dwindled down to a handful. The lovely women you see to the left are the four I most often hang out with. I have to say we are the most fun people I know. Where one of us goes another is sure to follow. I not only have horse fun with these ladies but have come to rely on them for advise and inspiration, they make me laugh so hard I cry or have a shoulder to cry on. We show our horses together and celebrate holidays with each others families. I would trust these people with my horse (which those of you who have horses know that is not something one takes lightly) and my child (again not something to do with just anyone). The president is sitting to the right. She is the best mom in the world. I know this because she is my mom. To her left is my good friends Linda, then Karen and to the far left is my sister-in-law Diane. (Diane is the Hunters twin sister). We haven't had any good adventures lately but I am hoping that next spring you'll start hearing good stories. Make sure to stay tunes.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Friends.

I feel very lucky today. The reason is that I have such wonderful friends and a great family. My mother is the very best. Today even though she worked all afternoon she still went and let my horse out for me because I have a hard time going out there by myself with the little one. (I have a bum arm too). If that wasn't enough. Some friends of mine invited me over for dinner because they know The Hunter is off killing something in another state and they didn't want me to eat Mac and Cheese alone again. I just count my blessings that I have such wonderful people in my life. Thanks to everybody who loves me.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

First time at the firehouse.

Today I took the Littlest Cowboy to see his Poppa at the Firehouse. I didn't know such a little boy could like trucks so much. He was fascinated by the shiny red truck and the sparkly gold lettering. He got his very own fire helmet and badge (to grow into of course).

Friday, October 10, 2008

My First Blog.

Well this is my first blog. I am a new mom. My son is only 3 months old. We haven't even hardly worn the shine off him yet. I am quickly learning that just because you think your going to have a plan for the day, you'd better be flexible because nap time could very well cross in to shopping, riding or chore time.
My husband is a hunter. Of course that makes me somewhat of a widow at this time of the year. Thankfully my best friend is my mother and she lives only 5 minutes away. I don't know what I would do without her. She allows me time to ride still. Which was another wake up call. I thought " Oh after the baby is born I'll just hop right back on the horse and everything will be like before" Uh not quite. I'll be lucky if I get to show at all next year. My poor horse (Bob) is so out of shape. I don't know who's worse off. Him or me?

The FamDamily

The FamDamily

My hunter

My hunter
Monster mule deer 2011

The Men On the Mountain

The Men On the Mountain

1st time at the beach

1st time at the beach

Harvest festival 2011

Harvest festival 2011

TLC and The Hunter

TLC and The Hunter
my boyz

TLC In Columbia CA

TLC In Columbia CA