Cowboy's in tight jeans, spurs and chaps... oh my

Great weekend!!! I attended the 2011 Road to the Horse... Chris Cox won. Here he is riding one of his horses on his ranch in Texas. The man has natural balance and a gift for gentling a colt. Google Road to the Horse and learn more.

The three horsemen in the arena were wonderful and I learned many things I want to try on my horse but what made me smile all weekend were the cowboys in tight jeans and the older mature cowboys in their fine boots, hats and with that "I don't give a damn" swagger. Now don't get me wrong those young things in big hats and even bigger belt buckles are sugar candy to the eyes but give me a confident cowboy with the story of his life written in the lines on his face and the callous on his hands. Don't get worried, I remembered the wonderful loving cowboy I had at home and only looked but a couple were really fine.... :)

The Child Within

I watched my two youngest grandchildren play yesterday afternoon and wondered why they were riding the toys that are way too small for them. They have bikes and scooters but they nearly always pull these toys out of the garage. I guess that feeling to have things the way they were starts when you're still young.

Here's a good lesson

Don't get too close to a horse's heels. Poor Lexie. Takara the part Clydesdale at the barn kicked her. Knocked her out. She was lucky not to lose an eye.

If I could wish for one talent

I would wish for the ability to paint horses like I see them. They are truly beautiful creatures and you can see their spirit in their eyes. A horse's eyes tell you their story. If they have been abused you will see pain and distrust but if they have been cherished their eyes will give you a chance to see the pastures of heaven. I love my dogs but I've always admired my horses.

Does it hurt to have a temperature

Some of y'all might not remember the commercial with the little boy that said that but I always do when I'm sick. Yes, I have the crud... drowning in snot... how do you like that image. hehehhee
Wanted to doing some writing today but it's hard to type when you're coughing and sneezing and feeling like crap... can anyone tell me where that came from... how do you know what crap feels like??
I've got to get better before Friday... Road of the Horse in Murfreesboro TN http://www.roadtothehorse.com/event.html

Are you part of the herd or a rouge?

Do you feel like you're a dull, blend-in type person? That people don't see you because you're invisible? Do you stay close to the herd were you feel protected?
I say... Break free
Kick up your heels and run!
Jump the things that would hold you back and feel the wind in your face.
There is nothing wrong with staying with the herd as long as you know in your heart that if you wanted to break free you could.
I'm the dot on the horizon, running against the wind. I'm the pounding hooves and flying mane that is out of focus to the human eye.
I race myself for the pure pleasure of knowing I can do better and when I slow to a walk, I return to the herd knowing it will only be a matter of time before the spirit calls my name again and I will answer it without hesitation.

Friends

I just don't understand why some people avoid making friends. Friends are your chosen family. Friends, in most cases, know more about you than you children, mother, and yes even husband. A true friend excepts you as you are and never tries to change you. As the song goes,

Winter, spring , summer, or fall,
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah.
You've got a friend.

That sort of says it all, don't you think?
Thanks for being my friend.

Cross my Heart

The last post of Levi... that picture wasn't photo shop he really is smiling and does it all the time. And yes that is one of those no fence collars he has on -- they really work and I should be a salesperson for this company because I tell everyone that they work
Love these beautiful 70's days but it will hurt when a cool snap comes.
Lexie just got a good brushing and let me tell everyone that if you have a dog you need to brush them now at the beginning of the shedding season instead of in a month when it will be too late and your dog will wear hair balls for most of the summer.
It is also time to start the flea prevention if you stop during the winter. I groomed six dogs today and three had lots of fleas.

Do you see my teeth??

This is Levi my oldest granddaughter's dog. He really is a good boy and I have to tell you that he isn't growling but smiling. But when I saw this picture and saw the purple ribbon Jase put in his hair... well the writer came out ...
Jase- "Look how pretty that ribbon looks. Let me put the other one in."
Levi- "Look at all these pretty teeth. Come near me with another ribbon and I'll use them."

What is that big yellow thing in the sky??

I'm standing at the window looking at the clear blue sky and dreaming of spring. My buttercups are peeking their green caps out of the just yesterday snow covered ground. It's too cold to walk in the woods or just sit on the porch but tomorrow it will be in the high sixties and by next week it will be getting into the 70's. I'm looking at garden seed sites on the web and trying to decide if I want to arrange my time to make room for a ride on the trail this weekend. Most likely I will. :)
I think we're on the down hill run to spring. It's funny, I'm always ready for spring but this year it's almost a aching need to soak up some sun.

Oh yes, I saw 19 robins in my front yard this morning. I think I'm going to pour another cup of coffee, settle in a chair in the sun room and see if I can hear the grass growing.

Winter Projects, You've got to love them

You know those things you love to do but they just take too much time... cold, snowy winter days are perfect to get them done. I just finished my Christmas quilt. When I got my Christmas stuff out a few months ago and looked at the store bought quilt I put on my bed... well I said "I can do one that will look better than that" so I did. Just finished piecing it tonight. Now to get it quilted.

Will you be my valentine???

I love this poem that makes the rounds on fb and emails every year... just in case you've not seen it... enjoy

VALENTINE POEM BY BUBBA

Collards is green, my dog's name is Blue
and I'm so lucky to have a sweet thang like you.

Yore hair is like cornsilk a-flapping in the breeze.
Softer than Blue's and without all them fleas.

You move like the bass, which excite me in May.
You ain't got no scales but I luv you anyway.

Yo're as satisfy'n as okry jist a-fry'n in the pan.
Yo're as fragrant as "snuff" right out of the can.

You have some'a yore teeth, for which I am proud;
I hold my head high when we're in a crowd.

On special occasions, when you shave under yore arms,
well, I'm in hawg heaven, and awed by yore charms.

Still them fellers at work, they all want to know,
what I did to deserve such a purdy, young doe.

Like a good roll of duct tape yo're there fer yore man,
to patch up life's troubles and fix what you can.

Yo're as cute as a junebug a-buzzin' overhead.
You ain't mean like those far ants I found in my bed.

Cut from the best cloth like a plaid flannel shirt,
you spark up my life more than a fresh load of dirt.

When you hold me real tight like a padded gunrack,
my life is complete; Ain't nuttin' I lack.

Yore complexion, it's perfection, like the best vinyl sidin'.
despite all the years, yore age, it keeps hidin'.

Me 'n' you's like a Moon Pie with a RC cold drank,
we go together like a skunk goes with stank.

Some men, they buy chocolate for Valentine's Day;
They git it at Wal-Mart, it's romantic that way.

Some men git roses on that special day from the cooler at Kroger.
"That's impressive," I say.

Some men buy fine diamonds from a flea market booth.
"Diamonds are forever," they explain, suave and couth.

But for this man, honey, these won't do.
Cause yor'e too special, you sweet thang you.

I got you a gift, without taste nor odor,
more useful than diamonds . . . IT'S A NEW TROLL'N MOTOR!

Luv, yor romeo
Bubba

If I was young again

Linda, a lady who has a horse at the barn, has invited me to go to a Clinton Anderson weekend clinic. I'm really looking forward to it but it has made me wondering why we have great loves in our lives but don't make the time to enjoy them. If I could go back in time I would not change one major event in my life. I married young, but I've been with my best friend and lover for nearly 42 years. I had a child at eighteen, but having my children young has made it possible to be a young grandmother and really enjoy my grandbabies.
I wish I had done more with training horses when I was young. I only made enough time to ride. I wish I had stayed with my dog training courses and had continued to train others. I'm too old to handle young horses now and don't have the patients to deal with people... dogs yes, people no!
I wish I started writing sooner.
Now I don't want y'all to think I didn't reach my goals and dreams... I did... I just didn't hold on to those minor dreams. I guess I thought the load would get too heavy or that I didn't have time to keep those dreams sharp but I now know that regret is heavier than any dream that takes a little time to maintain.

Learn grasshopper.

My best friend leaves me every morning

My dog, Lexie, goes everywhere with me. She patiently waits while I do errands, content to just be with me. Well, this week my husband (who in the past has called my dog stupid because she won't come when he calls and growls when he gets close to me) asked if I thought Lexie would go to the barn with him and help with the horse. He likes the way she helps me move the horses in and out of the barn and how the horses respects her presents. Being the kind person I am... I said sure. Now my best friend is gone from 8am until 10am every morning and this evening he took her for the evening feeding. I'm sad. But, she is losing weight which she needs to do... I'm a good master and feed her well... the most important thing is she loves herding. Like I was born to be smart, wise, beautiful.... okay wrong adjectives hehehe
This dog loves to herd. The dog in the picture isn't Lexie. My cheap camera won't take her working but I will post one of her as soon as I can get one of the grandbabies camera.
It is hard to go somewhere and my friend not be with me but I know she is happier and healthier doing what she was meant to do.

Calling all SCBWI members

If you have not voted for your favorite author in the Crystal Kite Award for the SCBWI region your a member, go online and do it. Help your fellow region writing buddies and vote. I've voted. You should have got an email from the SCBWI telling you how to vote. If you didn't and want to know how, give me a yell and I'll help you get her done.
For all my northern and eastern friends... be like the little engine that could-- look to the horizon for Spring and keep saying... I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.