Mommy in Spurs

Crazy bitch neighbor and one angry hunter

2012-01-26T07:52:00.000-08:00

So for those of you who don't know, I have two adorable little Heelers. (Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn pictured at the bottom of my blog home page). Any one who has heelers knows they tend to bark a little. Mine do but not to the point I think is totally obnoxious. The Hunter will tend to disagree a little with that. I think he would be happy with a mute dog. A while back we put up an 8 foot privacy fence because we live so close to a VERY busy road. Unbelievably this made the dogs bark more because they can't see whats on the other side. So they bark when the neighbors pick up the mail or at the mailman, ups man, weirdos walking down the street, etc. Well yesterday I was downstairs doing laundry when I hear barking, no biggie I think. Then I hear yelling so I run like mad up stairs and out side to find the neighbor. So I very pleasantly say Hi Kathleen what's up don't worry the dogs are all bark. She (obviously drunk at 3 in the afternoon) says (and very rudely I might add) "I just can't take your dogs barking all day. You need to beat the shit out of them.
Well this just throws me for a loop I tell ya. Before I met the Hunter she got all pissy with him and threatened to sue and what not, She even went so far as to slash tires, break windshield and (we never proved it but) poison his dog so he ended up having his dog de-barked. Well we had liked her husband who died about 5 years ago, after which The Hunter has helped her out immensely. So now all of a sudden she starts freakin out about the dogs again! Mind you this women lives in a house at least 200 yards away with double pained windows. The only time she hears my dogs at all is when she has to get her mail or stop to open her gate.
Well I very calmly talk to her and tell her I'll try and keep them quite. I turn around to go back in the house and see a big rock out of place. TLC I say. Did you put that rock there? No says he. That lady threw it at the dogs. OH SHIT says I.
Well when The Hunter gets home TLC tells him the crazy lady threw a rock at the dogs and so I explain. MY SHITTY HUSBAND blames me! Can you freakin believe that? It's apparently my fault the dogs bark. Instead of freaking out on him for being such a douche bag I just went and rode my horse. When I got back. I explain a little more of what happened. He's still grumpy so I went up to my cousins house. While I am up there he calls and says that I should stay for a while because the cops are on their way over and that the crazy neighbor is out in front of our house making an ass of herself. (This is basically his way of saying he's sorry and I am not the one at fault here) Well I guess he had called over to talk to her. When she didn't pick up he went over. No answer even though her truck was there. When he gets back to the house there is a message from her on the phone crying to me how sorry she is blah blah blah. Well then he hears screaming out side. It's her screaming at him about his message on her machine. So he calls the cops. The cop comes over and basically tells her not to be crazy and not to come on our property that she is lucky she doesn't live in town because the dogs in his neighborhood bark all damn day and there is like 15 of em. Legally there is nothing she can do.
Now I am just a little nervous about leaving my dogs home alone.
Other then that it was a nice day.

Trip to the Kings Canyon Sequoia National Park.

2012-01-15T16:15:00.000-08:00

So we decided we would try and take a family trip. This is the first time it's been, The Hunter, TLC and Me and know one else. (usually we have a buffer) It was awesome. We drove down to the Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Forrest. It was unbelievable. The trees are so big it's more then awe inspiring. I could have spent a week there just hiking and looking around. The really amazing part is that the park is usually closed at this time of the year because of snow. Well we are having a very dry winter and they opened it up for the weekend. The weather was beautiful. This forest is home to the General Sherman tree as well as the General Grant tree.

Me and TLC in front of the General Grant.

This is The Hunter at the base of The General Sherman Tree.You can get an idea of how big it is.
It's said to have the greatest volume of any tree in the world.

The park is also home to Morrow rock and Mt Whitney. (The largest Mountain in the lower 48)

This is TLC and The Hunter at the Top Of Morrow Rock. TLC climbed the over 400 stairs by himself. I was so proud.

While we were in the Grant Grove we had a couple (sounded like from the east coast some where) come up to us and ask us they could ask us a question. It go's a little somethin like this.

Man: " Excuse me, do you know, is there any redwoods in this forest"?

The Hunter and I look at each other.

Me: " Yes the Giant Sequoias are redwoods."

Man: "well aren't there other ones"?

The Hunter: "Yes, there are two types, the Giant Sequoia and the Coastal Redwood".

Man: "Yeah, so are there any here"?

Us: "yes the Giant Sequoias"

Man: " What's the difference"?

The Hunter: " Well the Giant Sequoias are giant and the Coastal get taller but not as big around and live closer to the CA coast".

Man:" Well what about that tree"

The Hunter: "That is a Ponderosa Pine"

Man: " How can you tell the difference"?

Me: " Well there are a couple ways, the needles are different, the bark of the red wood is "softer" and the Pine trees have a hard bark".

Man: Ok so there's no red woods.

Us: "No coastal Redwoods".

Man's wife: " I told you, I told you.

The Hunter and I walked back to the car and just laughed our butts off.

Colorado down three deer.

2011-11-15T11:30:00.001-08:00

Well The Hunter returned from the state of Colorado with a big buck down (as we say).

His cohorts also bagged a buck each.

I love you and I am a lucky girl

2011-11-12T08:19:00.000-08:00

Vaquero Girl and TLC at the Harvest Festival

(Some of those pumpkins weighed more then my horse)

Cute, ain't she?

So when I was a little kid and not happy about something my darling ma wanted me to do, She would make me say "I love you and I am a lucky girl". Well I happen to have figured out that, that statement is true! I have the best mom, and grandma ever! I had a jewelry show last night and The Hunter is out of town so my mom and (my grandma) came and sat with TLC even though she worked all day. Thanks mom. Your the best! I love you all the way to Arizona.

Halloween

2011-11-08T07:53:00.000-08:00

Since I totally suck and it's been a couple weeks since I thought now would be a good time to show you all TLC's Halloween picture. He had such a good time. He went a ghost this year. It's actually not as easy a costume to come up with as one would think. At least with out making him look like a klan member. I think we did ok. Although someone told me they thought he looked like a sperm.

I also thought you might like to see our pumpkins. Usually my sister is the queen pumpkin carver (she did a ghost this year) but I think I won the title of queen this time. (I did the owl) And TLC did the spider.

Dirty

2011-10-16T19:25:00.000-07:00

So I we had a pretty good weekend. Yesterday we (Vaquero Girl the Martinez Horsemen and me) went to the Grand National Rodeo in San Fransisco. It was one of my favorite things to do as a kid. It has gotten so small over the last several years. There was hardly any vendors. We had a good time any way. Then today I took TLC up to his cousins house for a birthday party. He love playing with the boys. He's only 3 but his cousin just turned 5 and his other cousin is 7. You can imagine his delight. Those boys played so hard I had to change his clothes once. I swear that kid could find a mud puddle in The Horseshoeing Housewife's yard. By the time we got home he was caked again. I will actually have to wash the tub tomorrow because he was so gross. Boys are awesome! Well tomorrow is Monday. I hope you all survive.

Back from the wild

2011-10-09T13:30:00.000-07:00

So TLC and I made the 5 hour trip up to Adin, CA to see the Hunter while he was hunting. He had already "harvested" his deer. It was a whopper! Even the game warden was impressed. All the folks in Adin (which really isn't many) were in awe. He kinda became famous there for a couple days. As you can imagine this made him vera happy. I knew it was probably going to be cold. I was right! It snowed on us. I HATE THE SNOW!! Next time we go camping I want to go somewhere like.....Hawaii or Death Valley. Preferably Hawaii. Anywhere not snowing. TLC had a great time though. He got to fish with his dad and do a little hiking. The Hunter even let him drive the Rhino. All in all I guess it could have been worse.

Here I is!

2011-10-02T19:21:00.000-07:00

Surprise!! I am back. I went a little AWOL for a while but thought I'd check in a see how everybody was doing. (As if you couldn't possibly live another day without knowing where and what I am doing).
Well since we last saw each other I have started up a little business for myself selling Premier Jewelry. I am sure many of you have heard of it. I really like it. It gets me out of the house and I get to earn a little cash. Bob was lame but then he wasn't (I know, shocking) He now just HAS to have his glucosamine cookie every day and I also put him in pads. That really helped. I took him to a show in Aug and he didn't even stock up. That was a first. TLC is getting big, big, big. He's actually wanting to ride the horse. He's funny though because he doesn't want to ride with me he wants to do it himself. The Hunter is out of town on a..., you guessed it, hunting trip. He called me last night to tell me he shot and enormous buck (32inch 4x5 for all you who speak the lingo) He said it was a dream buck and it just about killed him packing the bloody thing out. This is really something because the Hunter is in uber marathon shape. TLC and I will drive north later in the week to see him and camp for a couple days. Any way that's about it. xxoo till next time.

We all survived

2011-03-28T18:58:00.000-07:00

Well we did it. We went to the wettest show ever and didn't drown. It rained so flippen hard that they changed the show to a split combined. Meaning, instead of showing for three days, I only showed two and on one of those days was double judged. Of course they double judged me on the first day I showed. Bob did ok. We won a buckle. I would post pictures but I had a HUGE zit on my chin and refused to be photographed. I did also get a new (slightly used) show jacket and shirt which I will be working off later at the ranch or Denisarita. Check her out she is not only funny but cute too. And I like her horse. All in all not the worst show I have ever gone to but very, very soggy

One of these days....Pow! Right to the moon

2011-03-15T20:06:00.000-07:00

So I know not all of you know me personally.(unfortunately) But I do not lead what you would call a "blissful" life. The Hunter is a pain in my ass at least 91% of the time. The last couple of days I would really like to shoot him. The thought occurred to me today, if he were a horse I would have to sell him. I mean, He's good lookin, and a hard worker, but his attitude stinks! (I am being kind here). He might be the down right most unpleasant man on the earth. He has a couple redeeming factors. All of which were out weighed today by his sheer obnoxiousness! There really wasn't even a fight today. He just walks around the house in a grumpy mood. Cussing at inanimate objects. Huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf. He is lucky he married such an easy going gal. (who like to drink and has a lot of friends she can visit) If things don't change I will have to find a husband number two!

The Aquarium

2011-03-08T08:58:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things about being a stay at home mom is that I get to take my little cowboy to do fun stuff in the middle of the week when every body else is at work. Our last field trip was to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. We have been before but it NEVER gets old. The sea horse and Jelly fish exhibit are totally worth the drive (two hours) and the admission.
The very best sister in the whole world went with me too. What more could you ask for? Oh, did you say shopping on Canary Row. Well yes of course we did that too. And no we did not forget to stop at the candy store and pick up some salt water taffy. Mmmm.

The internal struggle

2011-02-02T07:59:00.000-08:00

There are days when I feel like May West and Betty Crocker are fighting to see who gets to influence me that day. I really can't say who I like the best. I think May West is way more fun, but, Betty Crocker is more responsible and makes good decisions.
Some days it wears on me more then others.
The Hunter crunched some numbers (always scary) and decided that we should sell my truck. We already have one and trying to keep two large trucks full of diesel is very expensive. Just to fill up one truck he has to work 5 hours. YIKES! So we are selling the newer of the two trucks. Then buying a family car. Ouch. Well it could be worse. It could be a mini van. Yuck. (No offence if you drive one)Then with the extra money we are going to buy a rental property.
The May West side of me is shrieking and screaming and beating her fists on the ground in a full blown fall down tantrum. The Betty Crocker side full heatedly agrees with the Hunter and commends him on his smart thinking a rationality.
Clearly, Betty won this round. I think May West needs a trip to Reno.

The Redeemer

2011-01-21T13:41:00.000-08:00

This is Miss, S,K,G and T I was takin the picture and Miss A is not a morning person.
So my very good friend has a little house on the coast in Aptos. I have blogged about it before. We had decided to do a girl trip again. Well the week before we were set to leave her garage caught fire. YIKES. They now have to move out of their house for about three months. Well her fabulous husband said to go ahead to the beach anyway. What better way to feel better then a weekend at the beach.
The day we left was great. No traffic, perfect weather. It was about 70 degrees when we got there. My kind of vacation. That night we went to a little Mexican restaurant around the corner. It's great because we can walk. Well before we left, one of the girls (not one of the regular crew) had a couple drinks. No biggie, then at the restaurant before we sat down she had a couple more. Then the bartender decided he liked her and started sending shots of tequila to her. YIKES!! RED FLAGS!! She just kept on takin them. By the time we left the restaurant she was plowed. Well I have seen her drunk and so had one of the other girls in the group. The others had no idea what was in store. We got her home. Then she started in on a rant, verbally attacking one of the other girls. (there were 6 of us in all) Well poor little Miss S has never seen anybody this drunk and on top of it is very sensitive. In the middle of the drunkin rant With me and Miss A trying to get Miss T to just go to bed the power go's out. Great. I go out side to see if I can fix it. I am really the only one who even has a clue about this stuff. (Thanks Hunter) I get it back on and an hour later it go's off again. This time I can't get it back on. Miss T is still on a drunkin rant. I sent Miss S, G and K off to hide in the bedroom since they were the targets of the rant. Finally Miss A and I get Miss T off to bed. The next day was beautiful if not a little awkward. I got up and went for a run along the beach. Then we went to down town Capitola for a little shopping and lunch. By the time we got back the electricity was fixed. Turns out it was the line from the house to the pole. Any way. We had a great homemade spaghetti dinner and Miss G's 85 year old aunt came over. We call her Aunt Fairy or Fairy Godmother. She drives a sports car with a license plate frame that says "sexy ol' lady from Aptos" I have decided I want to be just like her when I am 85. She still plays tennis three times a week.
On Sunday we walked along the beach had a latte and walked back. When we got in the Van to leave the damned battery was dead. The neighbor was nice enough to charge it for us while we went down and had some pizza. It's a great thing that everything is within walking distance.
All and all It took the bad taste from the snow trip out of my mouth. That's right I would rather deal with a nasty drunk then go to the snow.
I can't wait to go again but I don't think we will inviting Miss T.

New year disaster.

2011-01-13T19:02:00.000-08:00

So for those of you who don't know I do not like the cold or the snow, or rain or mud. I love being from California. I would also not mind living on the face of the sun. I love heat and dry and flat. I also love the beach.
The Hunter's cousin has a cabin in Mineral, Ca. I am pretty sure Mineral has a population of less then 100. It's very close to the Trinity Alps and Lake Almanor. It snows there. The Hunter and his cousin decided we should go up with the kids for the weekend. It just happened to be New Years weekend. I was told there was a finished garage with a loft so we wouldn't have to share space in the teeny weeny cabin. OK I said. I'll be a sport. This was decided on Friday night with final plans made Saturday morning. Not only would it be my family but also 4 other adults and four other children ranging in age from 2 to 9. Oh joy.
Well we got a late start which really annoys The Hunter. We are up about 5:30 everyday and he doesn't understand why everyone else can't be on his schedule. Not to mention he is a task master and we can be ready to leave and move out within 20 minutes. (I know I am super lucky to have him).
Well every one else lolly gags. About an hour in to our 4 hour drive TLC decided it would be a good time for a melt down. Well The Hunter is not used to this because he seldom go's on long drives with us. Instead of just letting him cry a bit and fall asleep he turns the radio on full blast and yells back. (Yes yelling at a two and half year old. Very productive).
I am about to loose my mind at this point. Well TLC screamed and cried till we stoped as a gas station for a pit stop. He got out stretched and played with a cousin for a few and was good to go. The rest of the trip (and hour) was fairly pleasant.
When we got to the cabin there was about 3 feet of snow. Yuck. The two men along tried to get us into the drive way closer to the cabin. A fruitless effort. I went into the house and started a fire. The house was freezing!!! Not to mention no one knew where the key to the garage was. By 6 we found the key to the very very very cold garage. There was no loft. Just a regular old garage with a vaulted ceiling. Well there is no way we were going to be able to heat that up by bed time. Finally it was decided that we should go to the Mineral lodge for dinner not thinking any one would be there because it is such a little town. Boy were we wrong. The very snotty waitress (who almost earned herself a black eye. I have a short fuse when I am hungry) wanted us to wait for an hour. Yeah right. I told hunter to take me back to the cabin. We would eat jerky and cereal. I ended up having to share a room with The Hunters sister and her little girl. Not bad except that I was sleeping on the bottom of a very questionable bunk bed and every time the heater kicked on it woke me up. In the morning I thought OK. Now the kids can have some fun. NO again. Turns out TLC likes the snow for about 10 minutes then wants to come in the house and sit ON me. I told Hunter I could do that at home. He was super awesome about it and we went home.
TLC didn't even cry on the way and he slept. I think it's safe to say I will not be returning to the cabin any time soon.

It was a Merry Christmas.

2010-12-26T11:23:00.000-08:00

Well basking in the after light of a wonderful Christmas, the thought occurred to me to share with you all some of our wonderful presents.
TLC made out like the little bandit he is. He got some really cool things. A fire truck, a huge ride on pedal tractor, a remote control car, a lot of train stuff and a "Little Peoples" construction set that he loves.
The Hunter got several Cabela's gift cards. His favorite thing on earth. We really should own stock in that company.
I was the proud recipient of a genuine official Crazy M Ranch desk calender. I LOVE IT! You to can own one. Check out the Wife at Gizzards and Calf Fries. She has all kinds of cool stuff. My other favorite thing was a little pink circus hippo ornament. I may have to leave it out all year.
And of course My most favorite favorite thing was watching TLC play with all his new toys and spending time with all my family. Vaquero Girl remembered the mashed potatoes and as a bonus made green bean casserole. (I could eat that stuff every day). I hope you all had a great Christmas too.

TLC's First trip to the snow.

2010-12-10T20:03:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday The Hunter, The Best Sister in the world and I took TLC to the snow for the first time. It was about a two hour trip. Thank goodness for portable DVD players. It was great because it was Tuesday and there was no one in the snow park. Hunter bought us sled like things and everything. TLC even made a snowman with his favorite aunt. I can't wait to go back, and I don't even like the snow.

Friends

2010-12-09T19:41:00.000-08:00

What makes you "like" or "not like" someone? This was my thought today as TLC and I headed out of my little valley to visit a friend and her little girl.
The person I went to see is also my running partner. I met her through another friend about two years ago.(They are Neighbors) We will call friend one. Mrs. S and Friend to Mrs. R.
Mrs S is kind of an intense in your face person. As I started getting to know her I found out why. She had a pretty f'ed up childhood. All in all she turned out pretty good. She put herself through college and ended up with a BA. She is, as far as I can tell, a very loyal and smart and funny person. Mrs R is also one of my good friends. She however does not really like Mrs. S. Mrs S doesn't really know this. She gets her feelings hurt by it quite regularly. Mrs R feels that Mrs. S is too clingy and nosy. That she doesn't understand boundaries.
After I started running with Mrs S, Mrs. R got real pissy about it. Not really to me but to Mrs. S. It has made me feel uncomfortable to go over to either of their houses. (They live next door to each other)
I can sort of see why Mrs. R would feel like Mrs. S is a little forward. However, knowing Mrs S's back story I can understand why she is like that.
I guess this whole rambling blog comes down to If you don't like someone let them know it. Don't invite them to your parties etc. And for goodness sake don't introduce them to people if you can't handle your friends having a friend more then you. Cripes I feel like I am in high school again.
Sorry for the vent.

New

2010-11-12T16:52:00.000-08:00

So we got the new fence up! I love it. No one can see into my yard (unless you happen to be standing in just the right spot and tilt your head to the left and stand on your tip toes.) I now live in a compound.
The Hunter leaves tomorrow for Idaho. He is about a giddy as a school girl. A very hairy, gruff, masculine school girl. He will only be gone for 10 days. I am not sure how I feel about this. Usually I am pretty stoked. The Hunter and I need time away from each other regularly. I guess it's because I know Vaquero Girl and I have to put our fugly horse down on Monday. She has become way to blind. It's really the best thing to do. It just sucks. I know it will suck and then the next day I'll be fine. It's just the anticipation I hate. It's like "just wait till your father gets home." I would rather just have it done.
Also, The Hunter is going alone (unless you count the dog). Usually his dad or a buddy goes too. This year no one is available. It makes me a little nervous.
That is about it these days. Peace out.

Halloween aftermath

2010-11-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

We had a really great Halloween. This was the first time TLC got to to door to door. He was Yoda. I wanted to be princess Leia but couldn't find a costume in time so I was just a cute mom instead. The Hunter decided to pay tribute to our fav team and dyed his beard. Who do you think he looks like?
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Bye bye goats.

2010-10-11T14:43:00.001-07:00

So We sold the goats. That's right folks, I am officially goat free.....for now.
We sold them to some very nice people who ARE NOT going to eat them. They are going to use them for the same thing we did. Packing. Only, the husband seemed like he actually had the patience to deal with critters. I love the Hunter, but a "stock man" he ain't.

Oh boy! New toy!

2010-09-19T13:05:00.001-07:00

So I picked up a like new Jogging stroller yesterday. I never would have dream't that I would get so excited about a stupid jogging stroller (or poop). This is a pretty nice one. It's made by a company called B.O.B. New, they are like 300 bucks. Yikes. I got it on craigslist for 45 dollars. The lady says "oh I can't remeber if we ever even used it". It certainly didn't look like it.
Today I actually jogged without TLC, (for anyone interested 2.75 miles in 25 min) so I didn't get to try it out. But I'll have my jogging pal take a picture on Tuesday.

Guilty Pleasures

2010-09-17T19:54:00.001-07:00

Ok so I have a couple little guilty pleasures. The worst and most embarrassing for me is.....

.....I watch "The Ghost Whisperer". (Don't judge) I can't help it. I love that show. I sit there thinking how ridiculous it is and how bad the acting is and by the end of the show I am crying like some little girl. (Sigh) Oh well. I was just wondering what some of your little guilty pleasures might be. Feel free to make me feel better about mine.

Poop!

2010-09-16T20:05:00.000-07:00

Huge news. TLC has actually pooped in the toilet all by himself twice now. I was thrilled! I never thought I would be so excited about poop. I let him run around necked these days and he has been really good about going potty all by himself with out help. He even go's in the big boy potty...standing up! But the poop...I can't tell you how excited I am about this. I didn't take pictures for you. I thought that may be a little overboard.

Nothin big

2010-09-03T19:01:00.000-07:00

So nothin big goin on today so I just thought I would give my old fingers a little work out.
Hunting season has been going of for about a month now. Still nothin dead (except a few mice and a couple voles) However it's about to kick in to high gear. The Hunter is leaving on the 10th for Wyoming and won't be back till the 21st. Then he will leave again on the 8th of October and won't be back till the 24th. It seems like a lot of time when I look at it on paper. However it always go's really fast once he's gone. Hmmph kinda like being married.
Running again on Saturday without kids(yeah) then on Sunday the Scotish Highland games. Mmmm men in kilts speaking in Galic. Fun. I mean come on who can resist a good kaber toss?

Missed by one

2010-09-02T14:29:00.000-07:00

So my friend and I have been running together (three times a week thank you very much) with TLC and her adorable little girl. Today I convinced her to go run at a place called snake road. It's a dead end road that a lot of folks run and walk on. Plenty of hills and flats to have a great workout. There is also a trail head for hikers. We parked in the staging area and I reassured her I had parked there many times it would be fine. People are in and out all the time. Grabbed the mase (one can't be to careful)locked our doors and off we went. We ran for about 50 minutes when we got back to the trucks, someone had smashed her drivers side window and taken her purse and diaper bag. Part of me felt so bad because it was my idea to run there. The other part of me felt relived that she parked closer to the road otherwise it probably would have been my window.
Lesson learned.
#1 Don't park in that parking area!
#2 Don't bring purse and diaper bag on a workout then leave it in your car.

Life with the hunter: chapter 105

2010-08-24T18:47:00.000-07:00

So in this episode of "life with the hunter"....

The Hunter and I went to bed and as we lay there trying to fall asleep we here the squeak, squeak chomp chomp of a little mouse. At first Hunter thinks it's outside on the patio. No I say, I think it's in the closet. Hunter tells me that he will put a new trap in the closet tomorrow. (He loves teeny tiny hunting as much as the big stuff) About midnight I wake up. Something is clunking around behind the bed. (INFO. We sleep in the basement/laundry room/waterheater closet so we have a very weird and large concrete step behind our bed. It's part of the foundation. Our headboard is pushed up against it and we keep shoes and stuff up there. It's wide enough that you could fit a twin size bed on. We also have two large mirrors sitting on it proped up against the wall. Oh yeah and it's carpeted up to the ceiling. I know it sounds lovely) So I try and ignore this noise. But really I am thinkin that little f'er is not in the closet it's in the room. I am also thinking he's going to run right across my head and get tangled in my hair. That would really piss me off. Then I hear it over by our storm door. Then by the laundry baskets. I sit up and turn on the flash light. The nasty little mouse is sitting on the top of the laundry basket and looking at me. Of course The Hunter is not waking up because he has ear plugs in. So I get up and find a bucket (again this is not just a bedroom but a laundry room) and try and catch it. It jumps down behind the basket. So I open the door and think it runs out. I get back in bed. Then I hear it again. Now Hunter wakes up. What the heck are you doing? he asks. We have a mouse in the room. Where he says? I don't know, I think it ran under the bed. Then we here it by the baskets again. I get up and look for it with the flash light. It runs across my feet and I yelp and jump. Now I am really pissed. Hunter tells me to step on it and kill it. I am not killing it with my bare feet I say. He tries to go back to sleep. Then he jumps out of bed. I think it just ran across me he says. Now all of the sudden this is serious. He shines the light behind us and it's climbing up the wall! Holy crap! He knocks it down trying to catch it in the bucket and it falls between the mirrors. He then tries to crush it between the mirrors. (yuck) That doesn't work so he yells at me to get something sharp. I don't have anything sharp down here! He jumps of the step and runs upstairs to get his knife. (It's rather large as you can imagine) He then STABS the mouse right in the middle. (double yuck) then scoops it in the bucket puts the lid on and we both got a great nights sleep. This whole little escapae only took one hour. The moral of the story is Don't wake up the hunter or his wife.

Hello from Hell

2010-08-13T19:54:00.000-07:00

So let me just say yesterday was the first day in about two weeks that TLC has taken a nap. To any of you that have children you know HOW CRUCIAL the "nap" is. To those of you with out the blessing of offspring, it's a very painful thing. I am hoping it's just a phase. He's only two. I mean he just turned two in June. I am so not ready for him to give up on the nap thing yet. Any way, needless to say I have been feeling a little out of joint lately. OK, OK, I am a bitch. Other then that not much is happening. We are just enjoying the mild summer. I actually wish it were a little hotter. My tan is starting to fade. Hopefully I can work on it next weekend. I will flying solo to the last big show of the season. It's in Murieta which is right near Sacramento. Murieta is an old Indian word for "face of the sun". After I show maybe I'll go up to the reining pen and lay around in a bikini and try and find a sugar daddy. I could really use one. Kisses to all. (unless you have cooties then just a fist bump.

A Gift for TLC

2010-07-28T07:22:00.000-07:00

So we have been pretty busy around here, doin this and that. I think I found a home in Utah for Dozer (boo hoo), I attended my first gay wedding, and I won a little high point award for the spring series I was showing in. Yesterday The Hunter brought home a present for TLC. I think he created a monster.

I tried and tried to upload the video but it was taking to long.
Sorry. It was pretty cute. I'll try again later.

I have been thinking....We all know that's scary.

2010-07-13T19:47:00.000-07:00

So I haven't decided yet, but I think I may start a second blog called "Life with The Hunter and Goats" Most of the really good stuff involves him. He's usually why I am mad, sad, or laughing my butt off, and goats are just kinda cool.

Right now we are having goat issues. We have four goats. Dick, Dan, Diesel and Dozer. We have had Diesel and Dozer the longest. We got them as kids about three or four month old. They are now three. We have just bought them saddles and they can start carrying weight. Both are good packers. However, (you knew that was coming) Dozer has always been a little stand offish. It's getting worse. He has hooked The Hunter twice. He is always the one to escape (which means a lot of fence work for The Hunter) and he doesn't like to be caught. The Hunter, who has the Patience of a nat, has been close to killing him several times. He has even tried hobbles (I didn't know they made them for goats either) I personally think all this mucking around has made Dozer more wary of Hunter. Goats hold grudges like old Italian women. Goats also will do things to get a reaction out of you. As it turns out they are pretty smart critters. They say they can be about as smart as a four year old child. Now The Hunter wants to sell him. The only thing that sucks about this is I am already attached. Of course he has threatened to sell him before and I talked him out of it So I guess we'll see.

The 4th of July ect.

2010-07-07T09:20:00.000-07:00

I don't know how one person can feel so busy and still not have any thing to blog about. TLC turned 2 whole years old. The Hunter and I celebrated four blissful years of marriage. We celebrated his birthday and our anniversary on the horrible camping trip (see previous blog.) Then VG and I had a huge two day garage sale. It was ok. I got rid of a lot of stuff. Of course I will also be taking a lot of stuff to Good Will. Then came the Fourth of July. Of course TLC is sick (as always). He had like three good days and then back to the boogie nose. (We go back to the Dr tomorrow). It was a pretty busy Forth. Vaquero Girl, TLC and I went to a parade not in our town but the neighboring one. We had a couple friends riding their horses in it.

Then it was home for lunch and a nap and then to the Horseman's Arena for a bbq and fireworks. It just so happens that our arena makes a super awesome place to watch them from. My best bud, Mrs G and her darling little children came down to play too. We set up a kiddie pool in the arena. Talk about perfect. It was like being at the beach with out the worry of an undertow takin your kids out to sea. (I don't have those pics yet.)

Side note: The Hunter went on a three day camping trip with Mr G and the goats in the Trinity Alps. He said it worked out awesome.

This weekend should be a good one. Denisarita unpaid ranch slave is having her annual Slip N Slide party. I can't wait. I look forward to it all year. I hope that TLC will be well by then. As it turns out, He love the water. You never saw a kid so happy to be in the pool! Then next weekend I have a show. Then the weekend after that I am in my cousins big gay wedding. That will be a first for me.

Camping

2010-06-27T13:34:00.000-07:00

OH MY GOODNESS! Had I known that everybody in CA was going to be going to this tiny little lake up in the middle of bum F no where. I think I may have just said screw it. After a two hour drive (TLC did awesome) The Hunter and I pull into this camping area. (He is already irritated because we are camping somewhere that isn't 100 miles from everything. Yeah he's that guy) The place is packed. I mean P.A.C.K.E.D! He of course wanted to just keep driving but all our friends were there. (He pouted in the trailer for about an hour)I said Se La Vie and commenced to puttin on my sun tan oil and took TLC down to play with all his little friends. The first night was really rough. TLC didn't sleep at all. I think Hunter and I only got about an hours sleep altogether. The next day my very good friend and her husband took TLC and I out on a boat for nap time. They have two kids right about his age and the boat works like magic every time. Then MVGF (my very good friend) and I got to sunbath on the boat while the kiddos napped. My darling Mother and The Best Sister in the world got there that afternoon with their crazy little dog. Lucky us there was a huge family reunion going on and they had a guess what??? That's right a live band, that played until 10:30 at night. That was fun for little kids that are trying to go to sleep. TLC slept much better the second night. Best sister ever said she wanted to go home the next day. So did the Hunter. So I said OK. We hung around till about 4:30 then packed up and came home. I got a killer tan happened and TLC had a good time. The Hunter didn't shoot anyone so altogether I'd say it was a success. I am however glad to be home.
This is what The Hunter looks like when he's trying not to kill people.

My pal and her two boys on their boat

If you look up in the Left corner you can see feet, that would be my sister getting tossed of the innertube.

A great day!

2010-06-19T19:30:00.000-07:00

I had the best day today! I got up nice and early to go to a little one day show series I've been doing with Bob. The weather was perfect. Not to hot but still warm enough to make me (and Bob) sweat a little. He did so much better last time I entered the same four classes. Warm up walk trot, Walk trot, Sr horse and HUS (hunter under saddle) Novice Amateur. He was so good! The Judge told me after the first class that he would like to see me move out a little. Me, the one who is usually trying to keep my horse from leaping over the rail. Next class same thing, he said It looked like I was trying to show a western pleasure horse English. Holy Cow. Then I won my next two classes. In the last class he placed me over a horse that is a WAY better mover. He said he placed the "broke" horse over the better mover because my transitions were better. I swear to you I almost fell out of my saddle. My horse the more broke horse? I believe I felt the world jar a little on it's axis. Mom didn't show her horse today (although he was pretty good just puttering around the show) so we were home by one opposed to our usual seven.

Side note: I was getting mom to help me take off my field boots (big tall English boots) I kept telling her to pull harder. It was really hurting my foot. I was yelling at her to hurry up that she was getting weaker and my foot hurt. Finally after MUCH huffing and puffing and yanking it finally came off. Just at that moment I looked at the boot and said, oh, I guess I should have unlaced it first. Sorry mom.

I got to spend the remainder of the afternoon with The Hunters family at a little barbecue for the June birthdays. TLC included. Can you all believe he'll be TWO next Thursday! I can't. He got some pretty cool trucks and miscellaneous boy toys from the aunts and cousins. All together It was a pretty awesome day. I should even get a high point trophy for the spring series. And maybe get my picture in the PCQHA (Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Association) newsletter. Yeah me.

Nothing much

2010-06-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

So not a lot goin on in the life and times of Lil' Mama. Which is amazing because I always feel busy. I did start an E-bay store today. (sublimeequine) to sell some of my accumulation of crap er I mean really great stuff that I no longer use or need. I thought I would try the store for a month and if it works out great if not then I'll just go back to regular e-bay or good old Craigslist. Saturday I'll be at a horse show with Bar Hoppin. It should be like the face of the sun. Also gettin ready to go camping next week. That should be loads and loads of fun. I am sure you'll see pictures and read all about it when I get back. We will be celebrating TLC's second birthday and my Fourth Wedding anniversary. Oh Boy. The Littlest Cowboy was born the day after my second wedding anniversary. I got to spend it in the hospital recovering from a 16 hour labor followed by a c-section. God forbid they just get right to that. On the up side I don't think the Hunter ever got a better present. He by the way just turned 38. I have to say I haven't' seen him look better. (Don't tell him I told you that) He is vain as the dickens.

Drum Roll Please......the winner is.....

2010-06-10T07:26:00.000-07:00

MIKEY!
So I chose Mikey as the winner because she involved body fluid in her answer. Here is the story. Although all the situations sounded pretty horrible.

So TLC woke up from his nap. He felt a little warm but I didn't think much of it. It was hot out side and he doesn't have AC in his room. He was also a little cranky. Again, not so unusual (He's a two year old boy). My Sister (The best sister ever!) and I gave him some Sunny D and dragged him off to the fair. We were only there about thirty minuets before he barfed on me. YUCK! So we took his clothes off and came home. I didn't get a corn-dog or funnel cake or nothin! Not even a ride on a Ferris wheel. It ended up he had Rosiola. (He is better now.) So we will just have to go to a neighboring county fair later this year. Tomorrow we are going to the horse expo in Sacramento. (Sacratomatoe, as my Grandma calls it) Should be fun.

So I am not sure what your prize is yet but Mikey you should send me your mailing address so that when I find it I can send it off and you'll get a lovely surprise in the mail...just like Christmas.

didyouknow.

2010-06-05T12:24:00.000-07:00

I used to work at a kids camp and we had a game we played called didyouknow. We used the bottle caps from Snapples. We would hide them and then the kid who found it would get a prize.

I decided to start my own little didyouknow game here. Except I will give you a life situation (something that has actually happened to me) question and who ever gives me the best answer or as close to what actually happened wins. I don't know what you win yet but at the very least it would be braggin rights.

So first question.
Do You know what can ruin a County Fair Quicker that spit?

Farm days

2010-06-03T12:38:00.001-07:00

So I have been a bad blogger (say that five times fast) Well maybe not bad, just lazy. These are some pics of Farm Days we did for a local kindergarten class about two of three weeks ago.

This is my friend Carla. She couldn't find her crate for her pig (Suzie) So she just put her in the back of her car. Suzie also doesn't like a leash so Carla just leads her every where with grapes.

TLC and Suzie

Hard to tell but this is what it looks like when 5 year olds see a goat or a sheep. They swarm like bees. Very scary stuff.

Let me just say this pony is worth her weight in gold. All those kids running and screaming and waving body parts and she never even flinched. I would say the opposite of my first pony.

This picture is especially for Vaquero Girl. The little girl in the Misses Clause shrug and flip flops cracked her up. What is really frightening Her mother was dressed similarly.

I just thought this lamb was adorable.

Snake update

2010-05-16T19:44:00.001-07:00

So The Hunter saw my little friend yesterday, and I found him again today. It would seem he is living under my deck. (I shall call him Silas) Hmm. I think I am OK with this because maybe it will decrease the amount of gophers living in my yard. Although, Loretta Lynn the best little dog you ever saw nabbed one last night. Good dog! She may be a little dense at times but she is good with TLC (surprising) and she is just about as good as a cat with catching mice and the like.

How could you not love that face?

My new......Pet?

2010-05-11T19:39:00.000-07:00

So the other day I am puttering about the garden, as one is want to do on a lovely spring day. TLC is sleeping blissfully in his crib and I was getting a lot done in the yard. I was ho-humming to myself thinking about the zucchini and strawberries I just planted. I nonchalantly picked up a crate that was flipped over on the ground.....YIKES BIG SNAKE BIG SNAKE BIG SNAKE!!!!!!!. I actually was saying this out loud as I did the did my finest impression of a gazelle across the yard. As I was doing what we in the family call "the snake dance" I was thinking to my very own self how totally silly I must look. And then began chastising myself. You must understand I am not afraid of snakes, however I do not like to be surprised. So of course I ran in to get the camera to share it with you all. And after I had taken his picture he had the audacity to sit there for twenty minutes, like I didn't even exists. Just to clarify further, this was a gopher snake NOT a rattler. It was however large!
This all happened on Friday. Today after taking my mom and her horse up to the vet I back into my drive way and open the door. All ready to hop out of the truck and there he is, practically under my boots. I almost ran the little bugger over. Then he decided to climb up the wall of my garage instead of going under the gate like a normal snake. I guess we will just have to name him now as it seems he isn't going any where. I sure wish he's catch a few more gophers.

This was Sunday.

Todays pictures.

The Oakland Zoo

2010-04-30T19:44:00.000-07:00

Today Auntie Cracker, Sweetie Pie, The Best Sister ever TLC and I went to the Oakland Zoo (not to be confused with the S.F zoo which is where the Tiger attack happened a couple years ago). We saw all kinds of wonderful animals (disclaimer: some pics are better then others.) The Oakland zoo is fairly small in comparison to other zoos, i.e the San Fransisco or Central Park. It is however perfect for an low key afternoon with toddlers. It took us about two hours to walk through the gently rolling and beautifully landscaped park. They have really made it feel like a park instead of just a place where animals are kept. All the exhibit areas are large and inviting for both the humans visiting and the animals. After the tour of the zoo we rode the little train they have and the carousel. TLC loved both. I can't wait to go back.

This was the first thing we saw. Sorry for the cage bars. There really was no other way to take the shot with my camera. (The Wife or Trainwreck I ain't)

They have lots o monkeys at this zoo. These are Gibbons. He was putting on quite a little show for us.

There were real giant tortoise there but this pic turned out a little better

I know it's hard to tell from the pic but this is a bat! A huge bat. It's body was about the size of a large house cat. They were so cool. They had a whole bat exhibit!

God forbid we miss the goats!

I find baboons both fascinating and a little scary at the same time. These things are pretty cool.

Just in case your wondering...it's very hard to get a toddler to look at the camera when there are giraffes standing behind him.

The view from the train was really cool. We got a good view of the Oakland and Berkeley skyline.

So this was our last stop. The carousel. TLC loved it. Which totally surprised me.

The longest Parade I have ever been to.

2010-04-29T13:30:00.000-07:00

So last weekend, TLC, Auntie Cracker and Sweetie Pie and I went to the Butter and Egg day festival and parade in Petaluma CA. This is a really cool event their town puts on to support the local agricultural business (namely milk and eggs.) Apparently, Petaluma is the egg basket of the world. It is also home to Clover Storneta Farms Dairy. Clover milk and their products are found in all the stores in the area of CA I live in.
It was a two hour parade. Yes 2 hours. The little ones were so good for the whole thing. We got really good seats on the curb and we were able to see everything. I have added so pictures for you.
They had other things to see and do after the parade but it was so packed that Auntie Cracker (who is about 4 months pregnant) and I decided stop while the kids were ahead.

There was a lot of patriotism shown in this parade. This kinda surprised me because Petaluma is kinda an earth cookie peace and love town. I was so happy that they showed so much support for the military and the vets that came out.

lots of floats with giant chickens and eggs.

Why yes..there is a piano on that float. And that feller was a playin it good! And singin too.

Happy California Cow.

This is a local gymnastic club. They were actually doing stuff (as you can see) on the bar while the darn thing was moving.(They were tied off)

Personally I don't feel any parade should be without and Elvis impersonator...

Or a drill team.

The parade had every thing. Really cool cars, old tractors, Fire trucks. Lots of fire trucks. I wish I could show you the whole thing. But you really don't have that kind of time.
Tomorrow we go to the Oakland Zoo. Pictures and post to follow.

Goat Hike number two.

2010-04-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

Well the Hunter says the goats only have 4 1/2 months till they need to be ready to pack in the wilds of Wyoming and Idaho. Poor little fellas. They thought they had a pretty good life. Hangin out in the pasture burnin up hay, chewin cud and such. Not any more. This was our second packing outing. The Hunter decided that we need to start adding weight so he loaded them up with twenty pounds each. Yikes! Then we did the same hike as last time....but faster. They were OK after that but on the way back Hunter decided we needed to go up and down hills off trails. If I keep helping him with the goats I am going to be in some super shape.

The Hunter and Dick.

Don't they look cute all tacked up?

This is a little part of where we hike. We walk all the way to the end of the left side ridge. Then we walk back. It takes about two hours or so.

The Show

2010-04-20T18:31:00.000-07:00

So I went to a little one day show with my mom on Sunday. I was thinking Bob was going to be really good......then we went in to the actual class. Unfortunately and to my great dismay my darling angle of a horse has become what we in the biz like to call "ring sour". Ugh. I was hoping that it was just that maybe it was a once in a while thing but noooo. Hmmm. This will be a challenge. Any suggestions.

On another note. Is the moon making all men be assholes or just the ones that live in my town? I swear sometimes I could hit him in the head 47 times with a pick axe and not feel bad about it.

Just another day

2010-04-17T07:08:00.000-07:00

So I had a really good week. The Hunter and I went jogging around a local reservoir. He is a freakin machine. He pushed the stroller with TLC in it and did two laps to my one and a quarter. It's about 2.75 miles all the way around. It only took him about 44 minutes to do his two laps. Then we let TLC play at the little park they have there. That was on Wed. On Thursday we took two of the goats (Dick and Dan) out for a hike (sorry no pictures. I am a loser and forgot the camera). We ended up walking probably about four or five miles. The Hunter is in way better shape then my poor, fat, lazy goats. We are hoping to change that though. He wants to take them to Wy this year to pack out for his elk hunt. After we got back from the hike I went out and rode Bob. In fact I have gotten to ride every day this week. We have a little one day show on Sunday. I will try and remember the camera. Hope you all have a great weekend.

About The Hunter

2010-04-12T12:34:00.000-07:00

So the question has been asked, "what attracted me to The Hunter?" Well That's a long story Harold. The minute I saw him I told my girlfriend I was going to marry that man. This was funny because at the time I was living with someone else. (I know I am a total shack up hussy). There are actually a lot of things about The Hunter that I really love. They are as follow but not necessarily in this order.
1. He has a wicked sense of humor. He can make me laugh even when I am totally mad at him. He is very witty and sarcastic (like me) so we totally "get" each other.

2. He is very smart. He is one of those people who can read something once and remember it forever. And on top of that he's good at math. A skill I lack so it balances us out since I am a faster reader.

3. The Hunter is one of the hardest working men I have ever met. He hardly ever takes a sick day (of course there is the several weeks he takes off for hunting, but that's different). I always say he's like a shark If he stops moving he'll probably drown. He never, never, never leaves a project unfinished. (A trait uncommon in most men) If he starts a project he works like a maniac until it is finished. Not only is he fast but he also takes a lot of pride in his work so it is always done correctly with out shortcuts.

4. He is the savenist damn person you ever have seen. This happens to be a curse as well as a gift.

5. He is a great Dad. He gets down and plays with our boy for hours. He is always generous with hugs and kisses. Our little boy probably spends more time with his dad then most kids get to with their fathers.

6. Strength. I really love his strength. I have been known to use a man as a doormat. (I know it's hard to believe). There is no way I can walk on this man. He has a backbone of iron.(again a blessing and a curse). He also, sticts to his principals (even if it means I can't shop at Walmart).

7. He is fiercely loyal

The list of things I hate depends on the day. Having said this it is mostly as follows.

1.He is anal about certain things. Such as, he gets all pissy if I put the butter back on the wrong shelf in the fridge. This can also lead to other stupid arguments. like I left a spoon on the cutting board or other such nonsense (never mind I do all his laundry and put it away and clean the entire house as well as rear his only born son.)

2. He has a quick temper, and can be moody (he is a Gemini). He has a horrible tendency to take out whatever is bugging him on the moment on those around him (me). Of course if you wait 10 minutes his mood with usually shift.

3.He can be stubborn and closed minded. If it's not his idea it suck and there probably isn't anything you can say that will change his mind so save your breath.

that probably hit on most of it. I really do love him and even at his worst, I know he loves me and TLC. He tells me all the time that he like being married and wouldn't change it. So I got that goin for me.

Boring part two.

2010-04-09T18:21:00.000-07:00

So Vaquero Girl wants to know what I did think was going to happen to my life when I was in High school. Honestly I don't even remember any more. I think it was something along the lines of getting a great job that paid lots of money and find a handsome Trainer of a husband that would support my horse riding habits. We would live on 100 acres of prime horse real estate and travel all over America showing horses.

As it turns out that is not what happened. I did however find a Hubby that accepts and moderately supports what I do as a "hobby" (I use the word lightly). We live on 17 acres of somewhat prime real estate in sunny CA. I do not get to travel much at the moment, but, we did go cross country on our honeymoon. Hunters friends called it out scouting trip. It was pretty awesome to go to Yellowstone park with someone like the Hunter. He is really, really, really good at spotting animals. At one point we had seen a bunch of bison, some elk and some deer. So I said I wanted to see a bear. Hunter pulls over whips out the spotting scope and in about three minutes found me a grizzly bear.

Gettin to know Lil Mamma.

2010-04-08T19:41:00.001-07:00

So lately I feel pretty boring. This is a major factor in why I don't blog to much. I think my life is kinda dull and I don't really have much to say. My Mother says that I am creative and that I just need to practice it more. So I decided to tell you a little more about my boring life.

I am 31 years old. I have four sisters and a brother but I am the only child from my mother and fathers first marriage. That makes me the oldest.
We always had horses growing up. I was very lucky in that aspect. I didn't really get into serious showing (Breed show, etc ) until about ten years ago. I always just did the schooling shows and 4-H thing, and of course trail riding.
Ten years ago is also when I met the Hunter. I met him at The Grand National Rodeo in San Fransisco. (He totally ignored me.) Not to be deterred. I found him again in a local bar near our home town and basically hounded him until he gave in to my charms. (It didn't really take that long). We have been married for 4 years this year and have an adorable little boy who will be two in June.

My mother is Vaquero Girl. She's a really great mom. She does a lot for TLC and I so that I can show while The Hunter hunts. I also call Unpaid ranch slave, my other mom. I have known her since I was a little kid and spend a lot of time with her and the best Horse show Husband on earth.

Well I think that's probably enough to bore you all to sleep for now. I would love it if you had questions for me to answer cuz lately I got nothin else.

At the show.

2010-03-27T20:49:00.000-07:00

Well we are having a ....good time. If you consider gettin up at 5 and then busted ass in the saddle all day fun. Bar Hoppin is being pretty good. Sorry I totally suck and haven't taken any pictures. If you go over to Vaquero Girls blog she has posted some. So far I have placed 5th and 3rd each day in the same classes. This means if I do well tomarrow I will come home with a couple buckles.

So excited

2010-03-20T14:07:00.000-07:00

I am getting so excited to go show. Just reading about all my friends going to show is making my tummy jittery. My fuzzy horse is slowly making his metamorphosis into the sleek show pony I love. He is going along so nice. The weather here is warming up and I am beginning to remember why I love California again. It's so pretty. The sky is blue and the Poppy's are starting to bloom. I have even gotten a little sun on my face and a good start on my farmers tan. I think in the future I may have to winter in Arizona. California is getting to cold for me. The Hunter talked to the county planner and we get to by-pass one whole certificate for building. That will save us about 3000 bucks! The next step is to dig and perk test a septic and well. Hooray! This puts everything back on to schedule. On the down side. Hunter may be laid off on Thursday. Not to worry to much. He happens to be in high demand for his union. He is wicked good at what he does. (HVAC) He actually applied for a full time position at the Berkley Laboratory. That would be great if he got on there. They keep union HVAC workers on all the time.

Lil Mama in the saddle

2010-02-26T13:54:00.000-08:00

OK, Here is just a little snippet of me on Bob. Keep in mind he hasn't been out in a couple days and is a little stiff. This will be like the beginning and we can watch my progress. I Love and hate to watch my self ride. I love that I can see what needs improvement and I hate that I can see what needs improvement. In my minds eye I ride perfectly. A lot like Lynn Palm. In real life....not so much. I love how you can hear TLC talking in the background. That kid cracks me up.

Draggin A$$

2010-02-23T13:32:00.000-08:00

Today I feel like I am just draggin. By draggin I mean haulin my lazy butt around without enthusiasim. I went to the gym this morning and just half assed it. I haven't even changed clothes, and I've been back since 11:00 this moring. The only reason TLC isn't wearing footy pajams is that he had to go to the kid area at the gym and I didn't want people to see what he had for breakfast. (It is always evident on his shirt) Maybe it's the weather. It went from a lovely 70% and sunny. Just enough to pop my daffodills, to 50 and raining...again. This is not condusive to riding I'll have you know. All I really want to do is sit in my bean bag chair and eat chocolate chips right out of the bag.

On a different note. If you haven't read California Cowgirls blog lately. You should. The other day she posted about our Horseman's club crab feed. It was SO FUN. I put in a picture of a couple of us at the end of the night.

I am in the middle next to Vaquero Girl. Can you tell I cut my hair?

Ugh.

2010-02-19T13:49:00.000-08:00

Some days I just feel tired. Poor Vaquero girl never gets to see her little grandson these days. Bob is showing serious signs of arthritis, and Lil Mama is running out of money. I can't wait for the days to get longer, and warmer. I am sick to death of the rain and mud. I am really worried about my poor horse. When he first comes out he is a little lame. (not three legged, it comes and go's and there is no heat in the leg or foot) Just a little hitch in his giddy up. With about 10 to 15 minutes of warm up he no longer limps. Hmmm??? I talked to a couple of my horse buddies. They seem to think it is arthritis. They think if it was anything else it would get worse not better after warm up. Again, hmmm. I don't really have the money to take him to davis to get x-rayed and he is 14 this year. I think I will start him on so glucosomine with condroitin and see if it helps. Does any body have any brand they perticulary like?

Mommy in spurs

2010-02-01T20:34:00.000-08:00

Well it's almost here...Show season. I am going to a pretty good size show in March. Yikes that's only a month away. (nail biting) In the last month I think I've ridden three or four times. (more nail biting and a sheepish grin) Bob has gotten out of course, but the rain and mud and sickness has kept me grounded. I did fight through sinus pain and ride on Saturday. The good news is that Bob is getting older and more well behaved after longer stall stays.
I have decided to change up my show schedule. Hopefully that will be a good thing. I am feeling pretty confident at this point. Bob seems to be going along pretty well. Of course that all could change once we get to the show. The first show is an open show so I think we will be pretty competitive.
A girl friend of mine is going to be at the March show with us. She is also bringing her 9 month old baby. (holy cow) TLC was over a year when I took him to his first show and NOT breast feeding any more. All I can say is not easy. I told her of course I would help her but not to expect this show to be like it used to be. Forget about schooling your horse if he was bad in the show ring. You gotta schedule everything around naps and lunch/snack/whatever. I plan on leaving my little cowboy at home with the Hunter. Any way I'll keep you all posted and try and add some training video.

The first annual ladies weekend.

2010-01-27T08:52:00.000-08:00

OH MY GOD! We had so much fun. The great thing was all we did was eat, drink coffee and stroll on the beach. It was so relaxing. I missed my family but not like crazy. I got to sleep in and gossip (my all time favorite thing second to riding of course) and eat.

We stayed in Aptos which is a little town close to Santa Cruz. The beach was about a mile away. They have a little museum there with a tide pool. I can't wait to do a family trip with the kids. The beach is actually Sea cliff state park if you care to google it. At the end of a pier there is the remnants of an old Concrete ship. The history of the ship is that there were three of these "cement boats" made at the end of WWI by the time it was done, the war was over. So the ship was bought by a private company it's one and only voyage took the SS Palo Alto from around Oakland to Aptos where it was docked and turned into a entertainment ship. It had a heated pool, a ball room and a large dinning room. Unfortunately about two years later the stock market crashed and the company couldn't keep it running so there it sat. A large wave cracked the hull and so it has fallen in to a ruin like state. It is very cool lookin though. Any way I can't wait to go back. Thanks to my Very good friend Pam who invited us to stay at her family's little house. Which also was very cool. I think the house must have been built around the 60's sometime. Pam thinks that her Great Grandmother bought it new. I think everything in it is still original. Poor Pam has and Wicked Aunt who is part owner with her Grandma who won't allow it to be fixed up. Here are the pics.

I thought this stove was so cute. I took more pics of stuff in the house but they wouldn't fit in this blog.

I thought the pattern the rocks and water made in the sand was so pretty. My pictures and my little camera can't do it justice.

My three wonderful friends. I am sure they all appreciate that I took their picture from the rear. he he

The "Cement Boat" or the S.S. Palo Alto.

This is Pam. It's her beach house. Thanks Pam.

A bad week for skunks

2010-01-15T19:50:00.000-08:00

It's so weird. I noticed last week that there were a lot (I mean more then the average number) of dead skunks in the road. I think I noticed something like ten on a 13 to fifteen mile drive. Naturally I brought this very important topic of conversation up to the Hunter.
"Honey" I says, " Have you noticed all the dead skunks in the road"?
" Well yeah, it's skunk breeding season". I thought about it for about half a second and said
"So your tellin me all these dead skunks are in the road because it's the skunk rut?"
and he said, "yep" like that wasn't just the funniest thought ever. I know you've all seen a buck chasin a doe in to the street so intent on gettin a piece of little doe ass he doesn't even see the Peter built two seconds from sendin him into deer heaven. The thought of a skunk doin that conjured images of Pepe Lepue and the cat and just made me laugh. I don't no why. I guess I am just a little bit morbid. I did however spare you the pictures.

Not much going on.

2010-01-04T20:36:00.000-08:00

Look The Hunter found The Littlest Santa. I think he may also be the cutest Santa I ever saw.

TLC was not happy about having his Pic taken. Even if Sweetie Pie was there.

Hey everybody, I hope you all had a really great Christmas and a Happy New Year. Ours was actually pretty basic. All together I think the funniest thing that happened was my 16 year old cousin telling me that he didn't get much sleep the night before because my aunt was up at 1:00 in the morning making pot brownies. I actually have it on video but I haven't been able to get it on to the computer yet. Stay tuned for that one. It's pretty funny.

TLC got a whole lot of good toys. What was any one expecting? I mean after all he is a good boy. Just ask him he'll tell ya.

I got me a brand new MP3 player. Let me tell you. I love to ride my horse but this made it 10 times better. It could quite possibly be the best gift ever (next to the gift of livestock of course). The Hunter bought me a pretty turquoise bracelet when he was down in NM. I love it. He has also said he would buy me new boots. Hooray for Lil Mama. I guess my big news is that I get to go away on the 22nd of January with my girlfriends for a whole weekend with out TLC or The Hunter. I am very excited. In 18 months I have never left him for more then 8 or 9 hours. Now I get to go to the beach, drink, sleep in and not worry about what my kid is into or if he has had lunch or change one diaper for a whole weekend!

The Christmas Carousel

2009-12-23T20:23:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-15T20:09:00.000-08:00

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!!!

2009-12-08T18:38:00.001-08:00

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!

2009-12-06T12:32:00.001-08:00

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

2009-11-30T20:07:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-22T16:17:00.001-08:00

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.

2009-11-12T19:42:00.001-08:00

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

2009-11-09T20:52:00.001-08:00

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

2009-11-07T21:54:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-11-03T20:53:00.000-08:00

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.

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T20:22:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-10-20T19:24:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-18T08:10:00.001-07:00

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

2009-10-13T19:27:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-04T08:38:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-09-15T19:20:00.000-07:00

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?!

2009-09-10T20:34:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-09-05T11:19:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-29T19:29:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-27T12:38:00.001-07:00

Wanta' see somthin super cute?

TLC got his first real cowboy hat.

The Spa

2009-08-24T11:52:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-18T19:08:00.001-07:00

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.

2009-08-17T19:45:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-15T12:10:00.001-07:00

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

2009-08-11T12:27:00.000-07:00

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?

Just cuz.

2009-08-04T12:02:00.000-07:00

Just cuz I have a few minuets I thought I would tell you all what went on this weekend. We moved our precious ponies once again. This time to a wonderful barn (not that I didn't like the last one. It was just so fucking hot). It is so perfect. Mom's little horse is so happy he don't know what to do with himself. He has a great big paddock and his own pony. Bob is still looking a little worried but when I rode him he couldn't have been more perfect. Maybe he's nervous that I will take him back to the "hot box". I have decided to show this month. YIKES!!! I admittedly am a little nervous. I haven't shown in two whole years. We are taking the littlest cowboy which should be interesting. I have never shown with a baby before. I keep telling myself that I am very good at what I do. Hopefully I will start listening soon. Bob and I have had some bad luck at the place I'll be showing in the last couple years. Hopefully a little time off and the tune up I gave him will be helpful.
A friend of mine. (The one that owns the barn where I now board) just got back from a show in Rancho Murietta. It's usual class size for walk/jog for this particular show (Golden Grand) is 30 to 40 people. This time she said there was only about 20 people in her classes. I can't wait to see how many people are at the Brookside show (where I will be showing). Smaller classes are OK with me this year. Course that doesn't make people trying to qualify for world very happy. Oh well for them.

Pictures from camping.

2009-07-31T19:08:00.000-07:00

So I thought I would let everyone see some pictures of our very first camping trip with a kid. It was pretty fun. Just for the record I still haven't gotten all the dirt out of TLC's ears .
The Hunter and TLC in Lake Prosser

The Hunter Throwing a stick for Patsy Cline.

TLC and His Cousin Zach

Mmmm Dirt

Still cute even under all that mud.

From the ends of the earth

2009-07-29T11:47:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. I just got back from the ends of the earth. Just kiddin. I have just been so crazy busy with a kid and summer time that I don't have time to just sit down and write.
Lets catch up shall we? So TLC turned one in June. I can't believe how fast a year go's. We had a great party for him. Of course it was on the frickin hottest day of the year. He had a great time though. He's such a little partier. (No idea where he gets it) The Hunter and I had our 3rd year marriage anniversary. Yep we made it three years without firing any weapons at each other. I still have to sometimes reminde myself that would be not only wrong but illegal. (He's also a better shot then me so I would have to use the scatter gun and that could get messy.) We took TLC camping for the first time at a place called Lake Prosser which is just around the corner from where the Donner party all died. In the summer it's very nice. He loved it. I don't think I have ever seen a dirtier child though. The Martinez Horsemen had the annual Battle of the Barns and it was great. Vaquero Girl had a birthday, and last night we (Vaquero Girl and I) went and saw Jewel in concert at the Warfield in San Fransisco. She was amazing. She is truly a gifted singer. It was just her and her guitar. That's really all she needs. I decided that I want to be Jewel when I grow up. Not only is she married to the king of the cowboys, lives on a gorgeous ranch, but she also has an amazing voice, is funny and has a successful singing career. Lucky little bitch! She's better then Barbie. I have decided to take Bar Hoppin Bob to a show next month. Yikes! We haven't been anywhere in two years. Should be a really adventure. We will also be bringing my one year old son. Wow talk about throwing in some challenges. I am also excited because I bought mom tickets to Wicked for her birthday and we get to go see that next week. Woo Hoo. I feel all sophisticated and shit. Any way hope every body else is good.
Peace out!

AQHA Regional Experience

2009-06-06T18:46:00.000-07:00

Ok. So after packing up the enormous amount of crap you have to take with you when you have a kid, planning the trip around nap time so he wouldn't scream the entire three hours it takes to get to Reno, we arrived in one piece with a happy little boy. We had some lunch and went to the show......Did you ever see National Lampoons Summer Vacation? You remember when they get to Wally world and it's closed. That was my level of disappointment in the show. I was expecting lots of shopping, some clinics, and tons of horses. There were three vendors, that's what I said 3 ! Two of which are at my usual show. There was hardly anyone showing. Most of the people there were people I show with, and the parking lot looked deserted. There were no clinics that we saw. I don't know if they got cancelled or what. I feel so sad that this wasn't as cool as it could have been. I don't know if its the price it cost to show, or that no one has the money to travel. The classes didn't even have enough horses in them to get points to qualify for anything. Very sad. It must be so much harder and more expensive to qualify now. I bet the world show will be small this year too.

Goats

2009-05-23T10:01:00.000-07:00

So I thought I would just post a quick video of the goats on one of our walks the other day. Hope you enjoy.

Hello

2009-05-18T10:27:00.000-07:00

Ok. I know I am such a gigantic looser. I hardly ever blog these days. I blame it mostly on The Littlest Cowboy. Who by the way will be one whole year old in a month. I have started planning the party. I wanted something small and nice but The Hunter said NO WAY we are having a huge blow out. He calls it the Boy Child Party, because while I was pregers everyone said he was going to have a little girl. It about sent him into palsy. I am sending out over 50 invites, it will be catered, and we will have at least one bounce house. Yikes! I am so going to hide in the house. The horse move went great. Bob and Desi really like their new home. Although the stalls get really hot in the afternoon and they sweat like crazy. Poor guys. I hope they aclumate a little. The good thing is that they are so close to home now I can not only ride just about everyday but I can make sure they get hosed off and cooled down. We had the benifit for my friend in the coma on Saturday. It went great. We are going to be able to give the family a little more then 5000 bucks. Way to go horse people.
Allison's mom and dad came. Terri ( is the mom) makes me feel better because she is so positive. She told me that Allison will wake up any day now. You know what? I belive her.
Mothers day was great. The Hunter actually bought me a present. (I know. Like a brand spankin new truck wasn't enough) He bought me two tickets to Jewel at the Warfield theater in San Francisco. It's a very intimate setting. I am very excited. I have never seen her perform and I just love her. Now I just have to find someone to go with me. The Hunter says it's not his cup of tea. Any Hoo. Miss you all. Sorry I suck for not being on more. Have a great week. I am not even going to say I'll be on again soon cuz I don't know if its true.

Small miracles

2009-04-26T20:27:00.000-07:00

So I don't know if I mentioned it but a very young friend of mine is in a coma after falling with her horse. (He slipped in a warm-up arena at a show) She is only 16. She has been in the coma for almost a month . Her parents have an online journal set up for her friends and other family members to check. I am so excited to read today that she opened her eyes and blinked. She is also now breathing on her own and has moved her legs around a bit. I was just so happy to hear she is doing better that I had to share it with you.
Any way. Other then that everything is great. The moving day for the ponies is getting closer and I am happy about that. I am also a little stressed. The Hunter is going to make the necessary repairs to the barn we are at now. It has me anxious and I am not really sure why. I'll have to get back to you on that. Next weekend I get to go to my favorite place on earth. The Dolittle Ranch for a Sandy Collier clinic. I won't be riding but I really like Sandy and always learn a lot just by listening. My very good friends own the ranch and I love hanging out with them. I'll take pictures. It's like paradise. Maybe not for them cause they have to take care of it, but I can't imagine a better place to live.

Feelin like me again.

2009-04-17T20:33:00.000-07:00

Well that sinking, crappy, breakin up with your boyfriend, dog just died, accidentally drinkin curdled milk feeling is finally passing. Whoooo! I am sure the Barn owners will pull some shenanigans when it comes to fixing the lovely window Mom's horse installed, but for now it's ok. They told me I can continue to give lessons to Captain energy and that if my move doesn't work out that I can move back. (There is a better chance of winged pigs flyin out of my butt, but hey, I won't tell them that).

I feel like Summer is really sneakin up on me. I look at my calender and wonder how I got so busy so fast. The Littlest Cowboy is going to be one whole year old in two months. (cripes, didn't I just have him) and The Battle of the Barns is in three months. Ye haw! Not to mention all the shows that are coming up. Hopefully I'll actually get to show my horse this year.

Speakin of shows. Does anybody else watch the Alaska Experiment. I love this show. It's where they take a bunch of city folk and stick em in the AK wilderness and they have to try to survive. The Hunter and I can't get enough. These people are clueless. Any way. If you get a chance check it out.

Is that the sun I see?

2009-04-16T19:19:00.000-07:00

Well we didn't have to put down Desi. Thank goodness. Mom got him to the vet and they said the impaction had broken up and everything else felt fine, just to keep an eye on him. He was still acting a little puny today, but he had pooped and it was oily and runny. That means he has passed the oil and water they drenched him with. So everything seems to moving along.

Mom and I went and put our deposit in at the new barn. I am pretty excited. The stalls are smaller (sorry Bob) but it's closer to home so hopefully I'll be able to get him out more often. Yeah! This is a pretty big barn and someone falls off on a regular basis so I should have lots of stories to tell as soon as we move in.

Also here are some pictures of Easter. Enjoy

TLC's first Easter basket TLC and the egg.

What happens when you give TLC an egg

I am so proud of this one. TLC was totally riding this trike all by himself.

When it rains it pours

2009-04-15T19:22:00.000-07:00

Well, we gave our 30 day notice today. It went better then planned. I think she was kinda expecting it. On a more sour note my poor mothers horse colicked this morning. The vet was already coming out for a shot clinic which was good. He said that he had an impaction in the small intestine. He gave Desi a bunch of shots and oil and stuff. Told mom to keep walking him and if we didn't see anything come out the business end to haul him up to the vets ranch and he would give him the super drench. If that doesn't work she will have to put him down as she can't afford the 5000 dollar surgery. (Remember, no job) I haven't heard from her yet I really hope they don't have to put him down. When I left the barn this afternoon he was looking more bright eyed and acting hungry but nothing had come out yet.
Tomorrow I meet with the new barn owner to sign papers and put a deposit down. I hope it will still be for 2 horses.
Keep your fingers crossed for us.

Stess...part two.

2009-04-09T19:27:00.000-07:00

So Mom and I have decided to move the horses. We spent the afternoon looking at some other barns in the area. They all have their perks and downfalls. I am excited to be able to move somewhere closer to my own home. It will give me gobs more ride time (yeah). I am going to try to leave on as good of terms as possible. I think it will be hard though. I feel like I use to when I had to break up with a boyfriend. You know it's for the best but it is still hard. Mom thinks that we should give them notice and money for the pro-rated month and bail. She feels like they will try and screw us out of money or do something damaging to our property. The Hunter agrees with her. I have consented to do it her way. The other thing I am totally bumbed about is that I won't be able to give lessons to the that sweet little boy Captain Energy. Oh Well. I am not real sure where we will be going but I think it will be to a barn where a lot of our friends already board. So that will be cool.
Any way. I am sure you'll be hearing more about this whole debacle.

Your opinion

2009-04-08T10:23:00.000-07:00

So I get a phone call this morning from my very upset mother. Apparently the man that owns the place we board our horses called and lambasted her for 30 minutes last night. He was mad that I had put one of the other borders on my shoeing schedule. (at her request thank you very much) Well I guess he thought he was going to shoe her horse and hadn't told anyone. I didn't think anything of it when she commented last week that her horse needed shoes. Always looking to be helpful I asked if she wanted my guy to do it. She said yes. No big whoop. Well then Mr. Cranky pants (the barn owner) said I am taking money out of his pocket and went on to tell my mom that her horse is tearing his barn down and that it was gona cost her 2000$ to fix it and that my shoer was crappy and our horses weren't exercised properly. He even went so low as to attack her personally.
I could not believe it. This is someone that I thought of as a friend. If I thought he was going to shoe that stupid horse I wouldn't have offered up my shoer. Also when Moms horse kicked out the first board in the shoddily built barn, she offered to help fix it with his help, being that she didn't have the know how or the tools to do such a job herself. Cranky pants never got around to helping her. (a common trait for him) Now the hole is huge and he wants her to pay for it. She is so upset that she wants to move. (OK I understand that) What do you all think? Would you make her pay for it. How would you deal with this situation? Keep in mind that we have been with this barn for 7 or 8 years. Many of those years we were the only ones there. Sometimes board is late(never more then a week) but we always pay it. I am really at a loss here.

Sunday stills- probably the most handsome men alive

2009-04-05T09:54:00.001-07:00

How could I not love these two?

Howdy!!!

2009-04-04T15:58:00.000-07:00

Hey All. It is so rare these days that I actually get to sit down and just blog. TLC is growing so fast. He's crusin all around the house now. I am sure in a month or so he'll be walking on his own. YIKES! And let me tell you, he ain't one of those slow babies. No-sir-ee not my baby. He is wicked fast. I spend most of my time chasin him around in circles. And do you think he's an inside baby? Of course not. Unless there are force 5 winds out side with rain, sleet, snow, etc. we are outside. ( I have no idea where he gets that from) by the time he's in bed all I want to do is just sit on the couch with a Dixie cup of wine and watch Jeopardy. He's been totally snotty lately. I think it's a combo of a cold or allergies and teething. (he's constantly teething). I have to change my shirts like 100 times a day cuz they are totally gross with boogers. It's a good thing I've got a strong stomach. He slept great last night though. 6:30pm till 6:00am. I totally thought I died and went to nap heaven. I can't believe that in 3 months he'll be one whole year old. I enjoy every stage of his growth but I can't wait till I can just feed him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich instead of breast milk and baby food. Yuck!

O.K So I am sure you have heard if you follow Vaquero girl but our annual BATTLE OF THE BARNS is coming up. I have a couple questions for all of you and hope you can help.
First off Battle of the Barns is an event we do to raise money for a therapeutic riding academy. They specialize in children with handicaps. Last year was out biggest year. I think we raised close to 3000 dollars for them. (this coming from a club with like 10 members that actually show up to meetings.) To do that again this year will be hard.
1. We are looking for donations. Either monetary or something for our raffle. The money go's straight to the group. Xenophon. (It's tax deductible they have an tax id number and everything ) So I know times are tough but if you can help we would be ever grateful.
2. How do you get something patented . I totally think this event should be turned into a reality show. (I think it would be better then JOCKEYS)I have no idea how to go about doing this. Any ideas?

My new favorite thing

2009-03-31T10:01:00.000-07:00

Just a couple pictures of my brand new favorite thing. I haven't blogged in a while because I have been very busy driving around. I love this truck so much. I do feel like I need a PhD in electronics to operate have the crap it does. Hope all is well with you guy. Gotta go TLC is crying.

Yeah for me!

2009-03-16T19:42:00.000-07:00

I am so so so so so excited! The Hunter bought me a brand spankin new 09' twenty five hundred dodge diesel quad cab! Yeah!!! Now I will be the mommy with the Jake Brake. ( the new trucks actually have an exhaust brake, great for towing) After a very long day at the car dealership we finally got the truck we wanted. And the best part is my darling husband who is tighter then a dolphins ass, got the truck for less then half the MSRP. How awesome! I get to pick it up in the next couple of days so stay tuned for pictures.

Hello again

2009-03-12T19:17:00.000-07:00

Hey all. So I went for my walk today. It was so beautiful out. I did forget to take a picture of TLC and his little girl friend. However, I did snap a shot of him at the barn.

Isn't he just the cutest damn thing you ever saw?! Our walk today was so great that tomorrow we are going to go walk down by the marina . If I keep up this walking thing I'll be super skinny. Pushing his stroller up the hill bout killed me today. That's OK. They say if you can't breath that it's working. Kinda like the sting in Listerine.

What a Loser!!!!

2009-03-11T19:18:00.000-07:00

Hey there Y'all. I know I know. I am a total loser! I am so busy/lazy/busy I have hardly even turned my computer on lately. TLC is teething like mad. Today I think he caught a little bug or something too. He had a little fever and just cried and wanted to sit on my lap (with the boob in his mouth) all day. Huh, sounds a lot like the Hunter. Just kiddin. I had such high hopes for the day. Last night was the first time he's slept all night, but no. On top of his sick day, I had to take my devil dog (Loretta) to the vet. She was actually very good. Oh well tomorrow will be better. Right? I decided to start the day with a walk around the Lafayette reservoir with my buddy Ivy and her adorable daughter Paige. Paige looks like Boo from monsters Inc. She is so cute. I'll try to take pictures of her for you.
Also to let you know I am soooo excited. The Hunter is buying me a brand spankin' new truck. Ye Ha!!! I can't wait. We are going on Sunday to test drive. He is thinkin a 09 Dodge 2500 crew cab. I want the Mega cab. We'll see what happens. (he he) Any way miss you all. Sorry I was gone so long. I'll try to be better.
smooches.

The Report

2009-02-27T18:42:00.000-08:00

I would like to report that the Hunter is doing fine. I have not had to threaten death or bodily harm worse in several days. He has done dishes, watched the baby, cooked dinner a couple times and has been all together pleasant. Hope you all had a good week too.
Kisses and Hugs
Lil Mama

He's Back!

2009-02-22T15:14:00.000-08:00

Well it's been a stellar day. I got my teeth brushed and 2 whole loads of laundry washed! Not folded mind you, but washed. They can just sit in the laundry basket till I get to feelin froggy. The Hunter has returned from his camping trip with the boys. I am glad to report he is acting very sweet. Too sweet. Apparently when I said I was going to go lay down for a while, he felt that was an invitation to follow me. I explained that what he had in mind was NOT napping. Any way. Thanks for all the support you all give. Sometimes I really need to hear I am right from people other then my wonderful mother. She is really good at telling me I am right.
Next week should be fun, I get to go to the Dentist. I love going to the dentist. He is hot! He looks like a living Ken doll. Sometimes I actually feel funny about him putting his hands in my mouth because he is so good looking. Mmmm Dr. Troy. On Wed I get to go to court. I have a dispute with Unemployment. That should be fun. I'll keep you all posted.