The Christmas Carousel

There is something magical about a carousel. I still get excited waiting in line to get on. I still look at every wooden critter that goes by to decided which one I will race to, to be the first to get it. Well I live near a regional park called Tilden. They have an old but beautiful carousel there. At Christmas time they light it up, bring in Santa and have all kinds of Christmasy things around and call it Christmas Fantasy. Well tonight The Hunter and I bundled TLC up and took him over to see it. He wasn't exactly feeling the same magic I do...yet. I think next year he'll be way more into it. (whether he likes it or not) The Hunter manned the camera and it was super crowded so the pics didn't turn out as awesome as I would have liked but you get the idea.

This is the outside of the Carousel house

We picked the bench seat with horses in front. TLC wasn't sure about actually sitting on them.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas.

The Oryx

What is an Oryx you may ask. Well it's a big ass critter from Africa. They also happen to have been transplanted to some parts of the USA. Namely New Mexico. Well the Hunter drew a special tag to go down to White Sands Air force base and hunt one of these things. It is my understanding after talking with The Hunter this hunt is pretty much a free for all on Saturday morning for all the guys and gals that drew tags. They give out 110 tags and most people bring 2 or 3 people along for help. They guys on the base call it the Oryx 500. Not my Hunter. He did it all his own self. Here a pic of the one he shot. I find them pretty impressive.

Well I for one can't wait to have this bad boy looking down at me from my living room wall. Like I totally needed another pair of eyes up there. we already have at least eight. Yikes. I mean it's no elk hoof gun rack but hey, we all gotta start somewhere.

What in the world is going on here!!!

OK so for those of you who came late or are just a little bit slow, I live in the Bay area in SUNNY California. I live here because the weather is lovely. Usually a little bit warm. HOWEVER, the last couple days have been FREEZING! When I say freezing I mean it.(for a Californian) This morning it was 20 freaking degrees out side. (For those of you in AK or some other god forsaken state that actually gets lots of snow on a regular basis sorry for my whining ) On Monday morning/night it actually snowed. I am talking hit the ground and stayed there. In 31 years I have never seen it stay on the ground where we live. In fact I have only seen it actually snow maybe once or twice. Hardly "snowing"

I know it doesn't look like much but this is a lot of snow where we live.

I had the Hunter go out and take pictures (as it was much to cold for the Little Mama to go out in her P.J.s ).

Here comes Santa!

I took TLC to see Santa. . I will remind you he's 18 months old. He refused to look at the camera. and he cried because he didn't want to talk to Santa. He wasn't even really afraid of Santa he just didn't want to sit there. As soon as we walked out of the Santa house he turned around pointed and said "Santa " He did however really enjoy the candy cane, so I guess it wasn't a total bust.

I do love this Santa. He used to work with me at the county. He was the fleet manager (of course).

Since I am picking up my Christmas cards today I decided I would also post a picture of it.

So boring

Well after the whole JC Penny's debacle my life feels a little dull. Thanksgiving was uneventful. I didn't even eat that much. I did get a piece of Mom's yummy homemade pumpkin pie with whipped cream. Yum. The Hunter, TLC and I also got our Christmas picture taken. I learned that it is very hard to get a toddler to look at a camera with no one on the other side (we used a tripod) On Saturday, Mom, The very best sister in the whole world and I went and saw the new Christmas Carol movie in 3-D. That was cool. Except I had the Headache from hell and apparently 3-D is not good for that. Although Icees are. Well that was about it. Once I get my Christmas cards mailed I'll post the family Picture. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Remember there is only 24 more shopping days till Christmas. Hooray!

A Nightmare at JC Penny's

You ever have one of those days/events where you later look back and go "boy that sure seemed like a good idea at the time."? Well today was one of those days. I took TLC to JC Penny's Portrait studio. Auntie Cracker and Sweetie pie met us there. So did The Hunters Twin sister, her boyfriend/baby daddy and their daughter Turtle. Hunters twin was late so by the time she got there TLC was already startin to get fussy. Oh boy.. here we go. So while we were waitin for Twin we decided to take single pics of the little critters. I am not sure but I think the lady helping take pictures did a couple lines of coke before lunch. She was so loud and obnoxious that TLC took one look at her and turned into Velcro boy. So finally we get through the picture taking ordeal. They tried to get TLC and Sweetie pie to sit on Auntie Cracker and Me and We made it very clear that we wanted no part of us to show in the pictures. "No problem" they say, "We will just crop you out". Oh by the way that's how they get cha, once they crop the picture, it's considered "enhanced" and you can no longer use your coupon. So after an hour and then finding out that we couldn't use our coupon on any of the REALLY BAD PICTURES they took of my screaming banshee of a child, they then informed me that there would be a sitting fee on every child in the picture. WHAT!!! You people told me when I specifically asked about sitting fees that there was only one and that I could use a coupon!!! Needles to say we left without any pictures and a whole hour and a half of my life that I will never get back. I got in the car looked at OD (who also went with us for support) by the way she is the worlds best sister, and said " I feel like I just broke up with a bad boyfriend. That is how drained I feel. End conclusion. Fuck JC Penny's Portraits in Sun Valley mall. You suck!
PS. before I left the house the cheap ass port-a-gee hunter says " why don't you just do it your self?" So now when I get home he gets to say "told ya so".

He's baackk.

That's right folks, after twenty one days in back country Idaho, the mighty hunter has returned home. That was Tuesday night. So far, so good. Although we did have a discussion about body mass index which I didn't really like. (He lost more weight while hunting. I think it's becoming an obsession with him.) He did take some pretty cool self portraits while gone.

The funny things that only I live with are already starting to happen. So when you kill a large animal in the woods, you have to quarter it up and pack it out. You stick the meat in canvas bags. Well when The Hunter got home he put said bags into the washer to soak. (proof to me that he does indeed know how to use the washer) I decided to help him out and put the bags into the dryer. (I am a wonderful wife that way) Apparently The Hunter does not turn the bags inside out to make sure all the little bits of meat are out of the bags. Let me just tell you it is really gross after it goes thru your washer. Yuck!

Feedin ducks

With the Hunter gone TLC tries to help me keep life exciting. After I had two chickens make a break for it this morning while feeding, I had the baby in PJs in one arm (no shoes) trying to keep four goats poking large horns and faces in the chicken food and trying to open the gate to the coop with the other. Apparently this was spotted by the first chicken as an opportune time to escape. Out she goes. Damn. I couldn't put the baby down to catch her for fear of the goats trampling him and besides that he had on no shoes. So I throw down the scratch for the other cluckers and leave the gate just barely open, run around to try and shoo her in. Nope not happening. Then her sister sees she is out and woohoo the race is on. The good news is I am the best Chicken wrangler this side of the Pecos. ( A lot of people don't know that. I also have been know to round up the occasional emu) I ended up catchin the chickens by their little tails (The Hunter says I am like lighting) and tosses their little butts back in the coop. All without lettin the goats in the chicken pen. (Chicken chow is VERY bad for goats.) And I still made it where I was going on time.
So in the afternoon I took TLC to the marina to feed the ducks. (Like we don't have enough critters around here to feed. ) Our favorite girl Sweetie Pie came too. So here are our adorable children running around, I see TLC lean over and pick something up....Hmm. "Caca Mommy, Caca" I look down at what he is holding. It is a great big gooey, green glob of runny snot like goose poop. "Yuck Dude!" of course I left the diaper bag with the wipes in the truck. So here I am trying to wipe it off with a piece of drift wood (and not doing a very good job, wood does not a napkin make)before I pick him up or he decides to taste it. Not much grosses me out and this was so gross. And Sweeties pies Mommy just sat on the bench and laughed her butt off. Any way that was my day. I hope yours was better.

The Aquarium

TLC and his cousin Sweetie Pie

It's very hard to take pictures of moving critters with a squirming toddler in one arm.

This is a Sea Dragon. They were my favorite.

So Michelle and I took TLC and her daughter (who is the same age as TLC) Sweetie Pie to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

The Drive took us about two hours. The kiddos slept for about an hour on the way. The weather was divine.

The Aquarium never ceases to amaze me. I was hoping to see the Great White they had in their shark tank but unfortunately they had released it two days ago. Major Bummer. The did have some Hammer head sharks that were pretty cool. The Sea Horse exhibit was my favorite. They are so little. There were all kinds of different species and Kin as they called it. Sea Dragons, Snake fish. Very cool stuff. It doesn't look real. The colors and shapes of some of the fish and aquatic animals are like something from another world. I took some pictures but they don't even come close to how awesome the real deal is. Needles to say the kids had a blast. They had really cool stuff for the little kids upstairs too. Little splash areas and tunnels and glass bubbles that they can go under and water sprays them. The drive home did suck. Good old CA traffic jams. TLC had a major melt down for about an hour. Oh well We had fun anyway.

Gosh I am totally blushing.

So I guess I've been blogging for about a year. I have read some super blogs (super? Who am I? My Grandmother? May as well start saying words like "sharp" and "fetching"). There are a few that no matter how busy I am I make time to read. "Gizzards and Calf Fries" is on the top of the list. She has just surprised Lil ol me with an award.

please stop by and visit her. She is an exceptional photographer, and very funny
crazymranch.blogspot.

Now I am supposed to pass this award on....Hmmmm. Who should get it. There are so many funny bloggers out there. I might have to think on this one a while and get back to ya.

Also for any one who is interested, or may have noticed that I haven't been angry with The Hunter lately. I haven't talked to him in over a week. He is still in Idaho. I did talk to his mother yesterday who called me from Boise. He did get a Deer. Yeah! Go meat! I am sure you will get to see those great photos later. He should be back next week to give me more good stuff to blog about. It certainly gets quite around here with out him.

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Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!!! I couldn't wait to get home to post the few pictures I got of TLC in his costume. He was so cute. We just went to Mom's and grandparents house because he was tired (and teething. At this point do I even need to mention that? He's always teething.) As you can see he was my darling little Rodeo Clown and I (of course) was the Rodeo Queen. I am sure Vaquero Girl will post more pics too.

Just FYI the first Picture is my Granddad and his wife (Aka the Evil Troll.)

Another Red Neck thing.

Ok. So the Wife posted about her dogs and mice. Which in turn leads me to post about my great mouser....The Hunter. That's right even the littlest mammals better watch their butts.
So my house (as I have mentioned) is very old. The Hunter and I have our bedroom downstairs. The room were we sleep is also a washroom/water heater closet/basement. It is not the relaxing bed room you may be envisioning (go figure). Well our rat/mice situation got so bad at one time that the Hunter cut a large hole in the ceiling to better access the space that the little buggers were running amuck in, in the night. He then patched the giant hole with a piece of sheet metal. (of course). The last couple of nights we have been hearing the pitter patter of little feet (mouse feet that is) so he puts a trap in the ceiling....right on top of the sheet metal patch. So you guessed it at 2:00 in the morning....SMACK!!! Then thunk, thunk, thunk. It could possibly have been louder if it were on the night stand next to my bed.

Just as a side story, I was also having trouble with rats stealing my tomatoes. Hunter very nicely placed some traps on the deck. Well something sprung it and then carried of one of our good 3.00 dollar traps. The traps are now on chains screwed to the deck.
This is the same man that screwed the cushions on to the couch because they kept sliding off. I shit you not. I do not make this stuff up.

Halloween Pre-view

So TLC went to his first Halloween party so I thought I would give you all a sneak peak. I would also like to inform those of you who don't know...painting the face of a 16month old little boy is not the easiest thing. It (the paint) doesn't last long once you get it on their little faces. It was almost completely rubbed off by the time we got there.

Cheap a$$ port-a-gee

OK. So today it rained over five inches. For those of you in Oregon and Washington that is considered a lot in California. The Hunter has been a busy bee getting ready to go to Idaho for about three weeks. (Thank God I could use a break. He has been standin on my last good nerve!) So he gets home from runnin chores today and informs me that when it's raining it only costs you a couple bucks to have your truck washed. I have a feeling that in the future when the heavens open up I'll hear the Hunter yellin to get my pick up down to the car wash before the rain lets up.
WTF? Who's life did I sign up for?

Hello from October

Hello every body. I hope you are enjoying your fall so far. I am.

TLC and I went to the Harvest Festival the other day with Hunters Step sister. (She and I are really gettin to be buds) her little girl Sophie (she is 3 months younger the TLC) and The Best Mom in the World.

It was the perfect weather and the Kiddos were so good we didn't get home till around 5:30 at night. On the way home from the festival we also stopped at a really cool pumpkin patch.

Have a look.

Funny stuff.

OK. So I decided to give you all a larger glimpse into my life with the Hunter.

So some background info for you. I live on Hubby's family Ranch. We live very close to the road. A road that when the house was built 100 years ago was a dirt road that occasionally had a horse come thru. This is what it looks like now.

This road is now used as a short cut between two cities. It is very busy. The windows you see are to my living room. We hear everything. Well because we have the goats. City folk who ain't never seen a goat before feel like stopping to take pictures. Right in front of the house. This causes the dogs to bark and wake up TLC. Because of course people only stop during nap time.

This was the hunters solution.

I convinced him to leave the word/s Fuck and/or Fuckin out of the sign. We also have similar signs posted on the garage and front gate. Jealous yet? Wish your hubbies were so creative with a Sharpie. Think people will get it now?

I also thought you might like to see how some cabinets got baby proofed. I remind you the Hunter is a Sheet Metal worker by trade. You know Heating and Air. Duct work

Duct tape. Lucky me. Forgive the totally grimy cabinet. It's useless to clean at this point.

Last but not least.

Know how this is a man's house?

It's horny. Ha Ha Ha. Actually they are some (I stress some) of the antlers and drop horns Jeff has found or killed over the years. Which is why he had to build this little house. To keep all his huntin stuff in.

What now?!

So the darling hunter went and got his MRI. He has a bulging disc. He was referred to the neurosurgeon. The Neurosurgeon said "lets give ya a Cortisone injection and wait two weeks, If your not feelin better we will operate". Grand. Needles to say, I got home from the Dr the other day to find The Hunter in the back yard with an air rifle shooting bats out of the eaves. (I can't make this shit up) Poor guy was supposed to leave today for Wyoming.
The Littlest Cowboy has a horrible ear infection. You can imagine how pleasant that is for me. Poor little kid. I did manage to go get a facial today. It was lovely. Jan, is my esthetician, she gave me a neck massage too. After she was done she said I had a lot of tension in my neck and shoulders. Duh, Ya think.

Whoo!

Well the Hunter went and got an MRI this week. His primary care DR. referred him to a neurosurgeon. Not good. Needles to say the 10 day pack trip in WY is off. The Hunter is PISSED!!! He is trying real hard to behave himself in the house. It's very hard for him. He is NOT GOOD at being still. I compare him to a shark. If they stop moving they drown. Also they have sharp teeth. If your going to swim with them, it's best to be in a cage. I have only had to run away from home once. He did apologize for being cranky so I came back. This injury is bad on a bunch of different levels.
1. He has to be off work
2. He can't go hunting
3. He has to be home on the couch. (My least favorite)
4. He has a hard time watching TLC because he's not really supposed to be lifting things.(although his back is great, it's his leg that is the problem)
5. I don't get to ride much because of #4
So I think I will probably not be going to the show on the 13th, total bummer. Oh well.
Mom and I are going to go to the Draft Horse Classic in a couple weeks. It's a really cool horse show and harvest festival. Lots of cool old carts and carriages and some beautiful horses.
We are also going to be trying to convince Grandpa Jesus to take us to the Snaffle bit Futurity in Reno in Oct.

Screaming men/boys Laundry, Dishes, Pick up Toys

So I am feeling a little worn out. After commenting on "Gizzards and Calf Fries" blog about her darling Hubby not wanting to go to the DR. Who do you think should injure his very own self? You got it. The Hunter. Always the Ass Hole, he didn't let me down. First he got me up at 4:45 (yes in the morning) to put his socks on. " My dearest" I said. "If you can't put your socks on I hardly think your going to be able to hang sheet metal all day" (insert batting eyelashes) He then demanded I make him lunch because he had to leave in ten minutes. Well he ended up staying home because he couldn't walk. (Sciatica) Needles to say he's been the dream boat ever since. (I have reminded myself daily that it is against the law to kill, maim or light fire to you husband, besides I think if I kill him I don't get the insurance money)He however has gone to the Dr. although there isn't anything they can really do. This means I can not leave TLC with him to go ride. Big Bummer. Did I mention TLC is teething again. (Hoo-fucking-ray). My day has been filled with nothing but catering to a bunch of babies. AHHHHH! I think my head might explode.

P.s It's 104 degrees today.

TLC's New Hat

Wanta' see somthin super cute?

TLC got his first real cowboy hat.

The Spa

The Main Mansion

This is where we had dinner. It was sooooo good. I had

Sauteed Prawns and pasta.

Mmmm.

This is the front entrance to the spa
It was Divine. If you ever get a chance to go
Do It.



The trip to the spa was awesome. I had such a good time. Despite the small family feud that is going on, I really do like my husbands family.
The ladies in attendance where, My mother in law, 2 sister in laws, 2 cousins and and aunt.
I received two treatments. A Lomi Lomi Massage and a pineapple papaya scrub.
It was great.
We arrived in the limo about 2:00 so we were actually a little late. So I didn't get a chance to sit in the whirlpool or hang out by the lagoon like pool. Their lounge is great! The attendants bring out yummy fruit kabobs and they have cucumber water and three different teas for you. They pretty much wait on you hand and foot.
I also liked that the same girl did both of my treatments. That way I don't feel like everyone in Napa got to put their grubby little mitts all over my body.
After our day at the spa we went to dinner at one of their restaurants. It was so good. It was one of those times where you know you should stop eating but you can't because it's just soooo good!
Anyway, we didn't even get home till 10:00. I took pictures of the limo but unfortunately my memory chip was actin crazy and I lost a whole bunch of photos. Damn technology.

A little rant

This is the tale of The Portaguee and the Princess.
Once upon a time there was a Great Grandfather who came to the united states from Portugal and worked his skinny little ass off to buy 100 acres of prime California Real estate. He paid around 1000. dollars an acre for 100 acres in the early 20's. Many people said he was crazy that the price was too high. "Don't worry" he said " The property will pay for itself." Well, sure as shit he did. First by growing tomatoes then with raising cattle. He raised a lovely little family. His children and their children in turn raised their children on the same property. Well now his great, great grand children are here. However. living in CA has some down falls. In the 70's the property was turned over onto the "Williamson Act" this is basically an act to keep people from building like a hundred houses on their property and fuckin up the country for everyone else. It also kept your taxes low.
I am fortunate enough to live on 17 acres of the original 100. The only problem is my house is a piece of crap When I say piece of crap I mean it. there are places that the foundation is coming away from the walls, I am sure there are termites.(hopefully they don't stop holding hands I think that's what is keepin everything together) My bathroom has no heater or vent and the walls are literally falling apart, my bedroom is also the laundry room/storm cellar/water heater closet and it sits on the road. This was not a problem in 1920 because there was no road. Now it's like living on the highway. My husband has been working with the county to try and find out how to get us off the Williams act (which ain't easy it can take up to 10 years) so that we can build a house at the top of our property (considering that everything about our house is illegal.) Well the Hunter has been working on this for a very long time talking to country planers and finding out what needs to be the first step. He finally found a lawyer that deals with this kind of thing. Got his mother to agree to go see the lawyer and figure out how to split the property up in a living trust/will so that he and the Princess (the Hunters twin sister) will be most profitable and make the transition easier and less expensive if god forbid something happen to his mother. However the spoiled little princess without doing any work, or asking any questions, threw a total hissy fit that she wasn't involved and that he was only doing all this for his own benefit. Well that really pissed off the Hunter. The whole reason for him doing this is so that it benefits them both in the event of their very own mothers death. Not only that but it would keep the houses and property from going in to probate, which, is whats going to happen now. The Mother was so upset by the Hissy fit that she called off the meeting with the good lawyer. Saying she will use her Lawyer, who by the way she hates. Not only that but Mother in law is the BIGGEST procrastinator ever!
Example: The Hunters older sister died of cancer almost 3 years ago. There is still no plaque on the grave site. The cars are all still in her name sitting in the field up at Mother in laws and there is still problems with the taxes and credit cards that no one has taken care of.
Now all the Hunters work is down the tubes because of a spoiled little brat. Meanwhile we are living in a house that you can't fix because you can't pull permits on it, and we can't build because we can't have Mother in law divided it up and The Hunter isn't talking to either of them. AHHH!!! It is so frustrating to be living on land that doesn't work for you. Whats the point. Seventeen acres and all we have on it is a chicken coop, four goats and a lot of poison oak. I pay (get this) $375.00 a month to board my horse five miles from my house. (You may close your mouth now.) Why you ask? Because there is no barn (any more) no arena and no where to ride. How totally ridiculous is that. I am not really sure how this this little tale will end but I will keep you updated.
On an up note I get to go to a spa in Napa on Saturday. (with the Mother in Law and the Princess) should be fun.

In case any one was wondering.

So just and update in case you were wondering. Bob was a dream boat on Sunday. I ended up riding the crap out of him on Saturday night. Then on Sunday morning I switched my classes around and just did Walk/Trot (English) He was so good. I was ecstatic! I got to end on a good note which was precisely what I was shootin for. Huh, I guess I do know what I'm doing after all.
We ended up getting eighth place in our last class. (in a class of about 13) Hooray Bob.

Stories from the front

Well if you read Vaquero girls blog you know that yesterday wasn't our best performance. So this morning I woke up and decided that I would try somethin new. I decided not to show. That I would just pack around on Ol' Bob today. So that's what we have done so far. (TLC is having his nap right now so I have two whole seconds)(I type fast) I will try and ride again this afternoon in the SCARY ARENA. Actually  I don't think it's that he is scared. I think he has learned the difference between practice and show time. A really cool thing is I met a new trainer named Jacqueline. She and I were talking this morning and I was running some ideas by her and vice versa. It sounds like she kinda agrees with me. The plan now is to just try and get him in the ring as much as possible and school. We shall see how that works. How ever he go's this evening will be the deciding  factor in whether I show tomorrow or not.   I guess what so frustrating is that he is sooooo good in the warm up and at home, basically anywhere other then the show ring that when I get in there and he turns into Sea Biscuit I feel like people think I look like a fool showing this crazy horse. When I know how good he can be. 

A different kind of cowgirl

O.K. so I'm not totally certain where this blog is going to go so the ending will be a surprise to all of us. It's just somthin I just started thinking about lately.

When people ask me if I am a "cowgirl" I don't always know what to say. (I usually say yes). I don't have cattle, but I've helped with friends and know a bit about them. I don't Rodeo. Never have. I do love the rodeo though. I had the chance to get a barrel horse and start but chose to go with a pleasure horse. I do know about horses. I have had them all my life, as has my Mother and Grandfather. I train myself I don't have a pro trainer. I can ride the trail or go to the show. I don't consider my self any thing great but I have received many compliments from people who I think are great. I believe cowboys and cowgirls (cow people) have a certain way of life. They seem to have a certain beliefs. Life is pretty simple, it's honest and kind (most of the time). It's hard working. It's knowing how to have a good time. It's dirty. It's a common bond with other people like you. It's having a gift with horses and other livestock. It's knowing how to look at things a little differently . It's helpful when it can be. It's common sense.

I feel like I am all those things. Some of them a little more then others. I do not believe that it is how you dress, the music you listen to or the car you drive. So am I a "cowgirl" Yes. Just maybe I am a different kind of cowgirl then the ones you read about in stories or magazines. Are you?