Back at the Ranch

Updates

2009-11-04T17:04:00.006-07:00

Well many things have happened within the last 6 months. Roany as you know is still lame and seems like he wont recover. Also got kicked and now front leg seems very sore. Lame in front also maybe!!!! Sad, sad, sad!!!! Great horse gone to waste seems like. Husband says take him to the sale in December! :( boo !!!!

Also Frida our female border collie mix killed cats, cats, cats from all over our area including my sisters cat! Dog had to go to doggie heaven. Just cant have a dog that kills cats, chickens, sheep and etc. So sad about that too. Sweet dog but a true killer!!!

Stella arrived which was a relieve! Just getting used to the new schedule! Ugh!!!! Ready to start riding again just need a new horse!! In the market and hope I will find one soon.

Stella Victoria Rand

2009-11-03T12:04:00.003-07:00

Well it has been forever since I have blogged about anything! I have been a little busy with pregnancy, which was very hard this time. In September I was put on a 3 week bed rest due to baby wanting to come too early. I was due November 1st so that put it way to early. I was then released from bed rest. I did allot of walking around. Went to the fabulous Art in the Park here in Artesia and walked forever. I would of thought I would of had her then. No! That was on October 17th. The weekend came, no baby. Monday at 2 am thought it was time. False alarm!! :( So Monday went to several shops but felt really bad. Monday at 7 pm decided it was time. And it was!!!! OMG!!!! Thought I was gonna die. Got to hospital, took them over an hour to get the pain meds!!!! But finally I did and it was all much better from then on!!! Stella arrived on October 20th at 1:03 am!!!! Her name was decided if she was born on an even name her name would be Stella, odd day Emma. Well, it came very close to Emma as you can see!! I was rooting for Stella!! Yeah. Stella is an old name from the family.

Mystry has been difined!

2009-07-15T10:38:00.005-06:00

Okay I know, it has been a super long time since I have blogged anything. SORRY! :( Please don't write me off!! :)

I have just been busy being pregnant, taking care of Gracie and my crippled horse!! I went to a vet in Roswell, NM and we did another lame examination. The one here in town just didn't work for us so I needed another opinion. Well he said (the vet in Roswell) that my horse has a bowed tendon in the lower fetlock and probably a stifle injury also. Two things going against him. Well he said first of all we need to get some padded shoes on his hind legs. At least 1/8" to relieve the pressure on his heels. Then we go back to the vet and put on a very tight wrap for about 2 weeks. Then we do a cold hydrotherapy along with a DSMO mix rub for about 2 weeks or longer not sure yet. Complete rest for 6-9 months. I am sure glad I have the time since I am pregnant and cant really ride. Poor Roany. He doesn't act like it really bothers him too much but hopefully we can get it better. Dr. did say he is know more prone do re-injure it again. :( If that is the case we might ought to consider selling him but I don't think I could. If anything, he will be a good horse for my kids to play with. He has had a hard riding career so as the guy we bought him from said "Its about time he wore down". He was used a ranch horse for all of his life and he was rode hard and long. He is a good horse and knows how to do a days work. The guy that trained him said once they had to lope him at least 6 miles before he wore down for them. He said he just let him run as long as he wanted to and it was along time. This was when he was real young. Even to this day he wants to go fast everywhere. He is only 15 years old so he still have a ton of energy left but this injury is going to slow him down a bit I'm afraid.

We recently got a horse from my dad named Skippy and he is there only to babysit my horse. He is such a sweetie and just about anyone can ride. He is a little spoiled as he can be a big push over. No manners sometimes. Skippy seems to keep my horse at ease and happy since I sold his pasture buddy of many years (Max).

I don't Like Leg Troubles

2009-06-09T20:35:00.005-06:00

Just like I said it, I don't like leg problems in horses. Hard to detect, difficult sometimes to recover from. About 3 weeks ago maybe now 4 weeks I have noticed Roany constantly resting on his hind leg. When he trotted off you could tell he was off on his steps. Looked like he was just dragging his leg a bit. I waited a bit and then we went to see the vet. He couldnt see anything and when you palpated him he didnt budge or flinch. I did notice that he had a small puffiness on his fetlock (ankle) seemed bigger than on the other foot. I told him about it and he (vet) seemed to see a tiny bit of swelling. So we decided to do a week of therapy I guess you would call it. We did a sweat wrap for 12 hours and then off for the night with a hosing down. Plus butte twice a day. By the end of week no change. Well I dont know what it could be. I was thinking windpuffs, windgals or a sprain of some sort but I just dont know. I guess here soon I need to take some slides of it. I just hope it gets better. Decided to stay off of him completely and have him stay in a smaller pasture (with his babysitter of course) for about 2 months at least and see if it changes. I'll tell you..it sure doesnt stop him from doing what he wants. He can still run and kick and buck and chase his friend if he needs to but as soon as he stops he instantly rests that foot. That is what has been going on for us this past month. I'll tell you this, I have been giving him fat supplement oil with his grain and he has gotten so shiney this summer. I think.

Too thin, fat or just right?

2009-05-20T20:43:00.005-06:00

Okay, I need some advice or input or whatever. Roany is the subject of this post again. What do you honestly think of his weight? I think he is a little thin. His hip bones sorta sticks out and I can feel ribs but not see them. The tail bone is a little high. He does have bad teeth and we get them worked on about once a year. He is a very high energy horse. I feed him about 3 small chips of alfalfa at night along with a big coffee can of Opti-Bran with about 2 to 3 ounces of fat supplement added. I did that fat supplement due to dry hooves and skin but it also should help with weight I would think. Now we have a large round bale of coastal grass that they can free feed on. So he weights about 1033 lbs. That was what we got when we went to the vet last. So....I dont know, what do you think? He looks good but those hip bones are kinda pointy. Roany has always been a hard horse to keep fed. Well I was just wondering what other voices thought. I worry to much. I think in the last post my might of posted about something else that was wrong with him. The top picture was just at the end of winter.

This picture just taken a couple of days ago.

Skippy Jon Jones

2009-05-19T19:44:00.005-06:00

Well since I have sold Max, Roany has been so lonely and has gotten to be buddies with two of my dads horses that was in the next pasture. Well, every time they went to the lower pasture, Roany couldn't see them and would get so upset and nervous. He constantly ran up and down the lane, pawing the ground very hard. Just really over doing it and then would be sore the next day. Real Sore!!! I decided to take one of my dads horse and use him as Roany's babysitter. Works great. They get along well together and Roany is actually the boss so makes Roany feel better.

I noticed the other day on Roany when I pulled him out for my daughter to ride that he was favoring his hind leg. Resting it constant and when I had him trot I could tell he was off on the right hind leg. Looks more like his hip or something but I really don't know. What could that be? The last time I rode him which was maybe a week and half he was fine but I did ride him in some rough rocks. I loped him actually. That might of done it. Cant tell anything from looking at the legs. If he doesn't get better in the next few weeks I may take him to the Chiropractor. What do you think?

Summertime Fun

2009-05-18T11:43:00.006-06:00

Well the weather here has been so awesome! Hot, but I like it. Me and Gracie took Roany out for a ride. Gracie is getting excited about doing the lead line classes real soon. We have been practicing and hopefully we can do it. I need some ideas of attire and such. I have been graining Roany and adding fat supplement so he will be nice and shiney! It is working!!! We had fun riding in the wheat field and so did Roany. I think he nibbled the whole time since it was nose level for him! LOL

Excuse the tummy! I'm really starting to show!!!!
Here is Frida's favorite place to be!!! She is so crazy! So is Boss with his bunny ears.

Jewelry Show

2009-05-18T11:30:00.005-06:00

Well I know it has been a very long time since I posted anything! Sorry. Have been pretty busy and a little burned out from Internet. I recently had a show before Mother's Day to sell jewelry and my friend had her Scentsy Candles for sale also. We had a really good time and a good turn out. We did the show at Deena's house and was very lovely. I'll share some pictures of our tables! :)

If you havent heard of Scentsy Candles check it out cause they are really neat, especially if you like candles and wonderful smells. I love them and have two and I will probably get more! :)

Whoa!!! Thats some nice hair!!!

2009-04-14T20:01:00.003-06:00

Check out the story from the Today show!! To funny!! I think this will start a new trend or something!

Odds n' Ends

2009-04-12T16:02:00.006-06:00

Well I have been out of the Internet scene. No Facebook writing no blogging, nothing! Just wasn't in the mood. Sorry! I have been feeling okay but just busy is all. We had a Birthday party for Gracie. She turned 4!! Wow! She is a big girl now!

I made her cake. It was easy but had so much icing!!! yum!

Roany is now turning Roan! This time every year he sheds out like a strawberry roan but then by summer he will be liver chestnut color! A horse of many colors!

Well this would be my new prospect horse that we are looking to join our family. He is a Cremello. Double diluted genes! He is so pretty and an awesome roping horse. I have seen him in action at several round ups and he is just a great all-around horse. Kids can ride him as well. I think he will be a good addition. I will keep you posted if I end up with him.
This is my hubby's motorcycle that he is selling for.........a Harley Davidson of course! That's why I'm getting a new horse. Its called bribery!!! Ha

Well not too much going on in the Southeastern Desert. Spring is here and so is the 70 mph wind. I just hate it. Should be over soon I hope. I guess I would rather have this than snow or something.

Back at the Ranch is MIA

2009-04-02T20:55:00.003-06:00

Where is she and when will she come back????????

The Man From Snowy River Poem

2009-03-18T11:59:00.003-06:00

The Man From Snowy River
There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around That the colt from old Regret had got away,And had joined the wild bush horses — he was worth a thousand pound,So all the cracks had gathered to the fray.All the tried and noted riders from the stations near and far Had mustered at the homestead overnight,For the bushmen love hard riding where the wild bush horses are,And the stock-horse snuffs the battle with delight.
There was Harrison, who made his pile when Pardon won the cup,The old man with his hair as white as snow;But few could ride beside him when his blood was fairly up He would go wherever horse and man could go.And Clancy of the Overflow came down to lend a hand,No better horseman ever held the reins;For never horse could throw him while the saddle-girths would stand He learnt to ride while droving on the plains.
And one was there, a stripling on a small and weedy beast;He was something like a racehorse undersized,With a touch of Timor pony—three parts thoroughbred at least And such as are by mountain horsemen prized.He was hard and tough and wiry—just the sort that won't say die There was courage in his quick impatient tread;And he bore the badge of gameness in his bright and fiery eye,And the proud and lofty carriage of his head.
But still so slight and weedy, one would doubt his power to stay,And the old man said, "That horse will never do For a long and tiring gallop—lad, you'd better stop away,Those hills are far too rough for such as you."So he waited, sad and wistful—only Clancy stood his friend"I think we ought to let him come," he said;"I warrant he'll be with us when he's wanted at the end,For both his horse and he are mountain bred.
"He hails from Snowy River, up by Kosciusko's side,Where the hills are twice as steep and twice as rough;Where a horse's hoofs strike firelight from the flint stones every stride,The man that holds his own is good enough.And the Snowy River riders on the mountains make their home,Where the river runs those giant hills between;I have seen full many horsemen since I first commenced to roam,But nowhere yet such horsemen have I seen."
So he went; they found the horses by the big mimosa clump,They raced away towards the mountain's brow,And the old man gave his orders, "Boys, go at them from the jump,No use to try for fancy riding now.And, Clancy, you must wheel them, try and wheel them to the right.Ride boldly, lad, and never fear the spills,For never yet was rider that could keep the mob in sight,If once they gain the shelter of those hills."
So Clancy rode to wheel them—he was racing on the wing Where the best and boldest riders take their place,And he raced his stock-horse past them, and he made the ranges ring With the stockwhip, as he met them face to face.Then they halted for a moment, while he swung the dreaded lash,But they saw their well-loved mountain full in view,And they charged beneath the stockwhip with a sharp and sudden dash,And off into the mountain scrub they flew.
Then fast the horsemen followed, where the gorges deep and black Resounded to the thunder of their tread,And the stockwhips woke the echoes, and they fiercely answered back From cliffs and crags that beetled overhead.And upward, ever upward, the wild horses held their way,Where mountain ash and kurrajong grew wide;And the old man muttered fiercely, "We may bid the mob good day, no man can hold them down the other side."
When they reached the mountain's summit, even Clancy took a pull It well might make the boldest hold their breath;The wild hop scrub grew thickly, and the hidden ground was full Of wombat holes, and any slip was death.But the man from Snowy River let the pony have his head,And he swung his stockwhip round and gave a cheer,And he raced him down the mountain like a torrent down its bed,While the others stood and watched in very fear.
He sent the flint-stones flying, but the pony kept his feet,He cleared the fallen timber in his stride,And the man from Snowy River never shifted in his seat It was grand to see that mountain horseman ride.Through the stringy barks and saplings, on the rough and broken ground,Down the hillside at a racing pace he went;And he never drew the bridle till he landed safe and sound,At the bottom of that terrible descent.
He was right among the horses as they climbed the farther hill,And the watchers on the mountain, standing mute,Saw him ply the stockwhip fiercely; he was right among them still,As he raced across the clearing in pursuit.They lost him for a moment, where two mountain gullies met In the ranges—but a final glimpse reveals On a dim and distant hillside the wild horses racing yet,With the man from Snowy River at their heels.
And he ran them single-handed till their sides were white with foam;He followed like a bloodhound on their track,Till they halted cowed and beaten; then he turned their heads for home,And alone and unassisted brought them back.But his hardy mountain pony he could scarcely raise a trot,He was blood from hip to shoulder from the spur;But his pluck was still undaunted, and his courage fiery hot,For never yet was mountain horse a cur.
And down by Kosciusko, where the pine-clad ridges raise Their torn and rugged battlements on high,Where the air is clear as crystal, and the white stars fairly blaze At midnight in the cold and frosty sky,And where around the Overflow the reed-beds sweep and sway To the breezes, and the rolling plains are wide,The Man from Snowy River is a household word today,And the stockmen tell the story of his ride.

Sorry for the long read, but this has to be a favorite! If for some reason you haven't seen this film "Man From Snowy River" you are missing out! Great riding, great horses and great scenery! I would love to have a Australian mountain horse like this! I watched this so many times and as the years have passed I have bought an Australian saddle, a bull whip like the one in here. I thought I wanted to be able to crack a whip on horseback!!! Ha Ha! I have cracked my ear, face, arm in the process and that wasn't even on horseback!! Takes some skill that I don't have! lol :)

Scripture Sunday

2009-03-15T16:30:00.003-06:00

The Lord is my Saddle Partner.

My forty years gatherings are a saddle and horse,

spurs and a bedroll,

and catch rope of course.

I dont make much wages,

so the things that I own,

are sure enough mine,

cuz I cant get a loan.

Now folks might believe I'd be lonesome out there,

in those juniper breaks,

where there's no one to share.

The things that I hope

and the things that I see

but I've got a way more

than those folks would believe.

Cuz the Lord is my saddle partner

and we are never apart.

Whenever I want,

we can talk heart to heart.

And the Lord's also there

for each one of you

of you've got a problem,

He knows what to do.

Just let him take charge

of all that we own.

With the Lord for our saddle partner

We're never alone

Jon Bowerman

As Ray Hunt would put it!

2009-03-13T11:29:00.003-06:00

Heart
I talked to a friend just the other day
who’s got lots of opinions and plenty to say.
We discussed what we both like to see in a horse
His requirements and mine were different of course…
He likes a clean throatlatch and a long skinny neck,
and prefers that their hocks are set close to the deck.
Short backs and hard feet and clean slopin’ shoulder,
and a gaskin that looks like it swallered a boulder.
He likes a short face and a big ol’soft eye,
and says these are the horses he’s likely to buy.
And when he’d completed his lengthy discourse,
on all of the attributes of the quality horse.
He asked my opinion, and where do I start?
And I said that I….just want horses with heart.
I said I want heart above all the other.
I don’t care if he’s Smart Little Lena’s full brother.
Or just how much money that his grandmother won,
or whether he’s roan, palomino or dun.
But give me a horse with some grit and some try,
and some heart and some guts and that’s one that I’ll buy.
And I’ve found it’s the same with a woman or man….
the good ones won’t quit you when the shit hits the fan

by Monte Baker

Goodbye Ol' Paint

2009-03-08T13:18:00.005-06:00

Well finally did it. I sold my Max a couple of weeks ago. It has taken me a long time to come to terms that I should sell him to someone that will ride him more than I could. I loved this horse! I raised him in California and moved him out to New Mexico about 3 years ago. When he was about 18 months I decided to take some classes at the Junior college with a friend and these class were all about training horses. They had 3 levels you could take along with some cow clinics in between. I tell you I had the best time taking my paint there. What an experience for him. Taught him so much, especially how to stand tied (for along time) hobbled. Class was from 6:00-10:00pm and about 1 hour or so was lecture. Those horses sometimes stood in the rain at the trailer. I took all levels with him and took them over as well. I just should of rode him more in between and after. He is still a great horse.

A lady came by to buy some hay and she saw him and just loved him. She came back the next day and rode him and took him to her place in Carlsbad, NM. I was very happy were he was going. I could tell she was going to really take care of him and love him just as much as I did. :) I told here all his bad habits which weren't many at all. He is hard to bridle and he will spook at times out in the fields. She asked me if he bucks!!! I could honestly tell her NO! I told her this horse will not buck you off. He just doesn't have it in him. Unlike the lady in Santa Fe when I went to go look at her horse. She told me right off that he has NO BUCK in him!!! Yeah, the first thing he did was about buck her off!!! lol

Well Congrats to Gerri Amos on the purchase of Max. I did here word that they just love him to pieces!!!! I miss him and my little Roany misses him but he got over it in about 1 day. I guess he just figured it out that his pal wasn't coming back.

Now this little mare Dixie, is my dad's and he bought her about 2 years ago. She is a sweet girl and has an awesome stop. We just haven't ridden her much. Too many horses around this place. When we got her, about a month into her, we found out she was pregnant! The guy that sold her had no idea!!!! :) So she had a cute filly that looked just like her. Sold the filly and we have ridden Dixie here and there. Took her on a cattle drive and she did pretty good! I think I will take her in and maybe ride her some more. I think she will be having a colt this year (late).

Oh and I found out that I am having another baby.....so......I wont be riding too much! :( I havent been posting due to me being so sick!!!! I wasnt sick with my first one but man this one I have felt horrible! I hope it passes soon! :)

Excellent Movies

2009-03-01T20:58:00.006-07:00

This has to be one of my favorite movies of all time!!!! I love his grey horse (dapple gray) in this flim. I dream of a horse like this for me one day!!!! I have been on the couch this weekend so I have been watching allot of TV. Pale Rider came on tonight. I loved again and again.

I also ended up watching "The Lord of the Rings", all of them. Missed a few parts but these movies and can just watch and watch. My hubby gets so irritated.

Scipture Sunday

2009-03-01T13:28:00.002-07:00

For God so loved the world,that he gave his only begotten Son,that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
JOHN.3:16

Freaky Friday

2009-02-27T09:59:00.005-07:00

HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!!!!!!

Santa Fe Trails, a Table and a Future Prospect.

2009-02-23T14:15:00.015-07:00

Well we headed to Santa Fe for the weekend for our 5th year anniversary. We have been going there for the past 3 years and love it. We stay at a fabulous Bed and Breakfast called Inn on the Paseo. It is walking distance from the Plaza. That is so much fun to go walk all the neat shops that I cant afford and buy something from the Indians that I can try to afford. I got some awesome turquoise earrings. We ate at a great Tapas bar with live music, El Farol. Sorry, didn't take pictures of that. I really didn't take a whole lot and the whole time I kept saying I need to take more pictures.

Here at the Indian Market downtown.

They have great art here. I would say on every corner is some kind of statue, work of art or gallery. Here is a cute horse and dog and below an awesome statue of a huge elk.

I like this sign that says "double take at The Ranch".

They say this is one of the oldest establishments. This is a mission. They were having services on Sunday in it, amazing huh? You could say all the buildings here or the homes were adobe and had a turquoise, green or purple door and trim. I have decided to paint my door a pale turquoise color. We will see.

Okay, so while we were there I had a future horse prospect to look at. Sunday before we headed home we stopped by to look at Stormy a standerdbred cross gelding that was 12 years old and used as a lesson horse and for trail. She told me an 8 year old rode him all last year. I thought great, that should be a pretty good horse for our family. Well we got him ready, cleaned out his feet but he tried to kick me as I picked up the back feet, so he has issues with his hind feet. She said he has no other vices really other than not standing still while mounting. Those two things are my pet peeves!! He has no BUCK. (yeah) Well, I let her ride him in the arena first so I could see how he moved and acted. Another horse came down the rode and he would not listen to her. hmmmmmm..... and here is the big one she was trying to get him to trot and lope and he just wouldn't do it and finally got up to a lope but as soon as he did he flat out BUCKED her. She almost came off of him. Well she gets off and yanks and jerks on him for a second and that was it. I mean come one!!! I was thinking to myself no way and you should of made that horse do what you wanted it to do. (Spoiled) I said no, and she said he was going to get a hard work out on the lounge line. We passed by about 5 minutes and he was put up in his pen!! hahaha yeah, he got what he wanted. Its to bad cause he looks like a sweet horse.

Okay so I took this picture here for Sarah at Cottage Garden Studio here you go Sarah. Kitchen Table picture!! I challenge everyone to take a picture of your kitchen table and post. Really explains allot about yourself. As you can see here my daughter has her favorite animals in her spot. My picture hanging above there was a Christmas present and we looked for it for a long time. I wanted a very big picture of a majestic horse of some sort. This was the one! I love it.

Scipture Sunday

2009-02-22T20:56:00.002-07:00

I am so sorry I am so late. Went to Santa Fe this weekend, so I will post about that later.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)

I'm having a Mental Block!

2009-02-17T22:50:00.003-07:00

For the last couple of months I have been in this rut! I am not in the spirit of designing and making jewelry for some reason. When I do go into my craft room, I just sit and stare at what I have and can not come up with anything!! Don't you hate that? Well I did make a couple of pieces the other day and I am happy to say I really like them!!! This one here reminds me of Santa Fe...the colors are really great.

This one I really do like also. I used citrine and I just love citrine with turquoise!!!!

Well I hope I get out of this rut and back into it soon! This is a good start! :) I hope you enjoy.

Chiropractor was a GOOD THING

2009-02-16T09:54:00.003-07:00

Well the trip to the Chiropractor went very well. We took a trip to Andrew Texas and met a guy at his place where that morning he had already done 3 horses before me. Very nice man. Found that Max had 3 vertebrae out in his back. Took about 30 minutes to get them in and for them to stay in place. We came home and I rode him about 3 days after and amazing enough he didn't have his problem anymore. His gait was smooth, his hind end didn't cross-fire or fall out from him. Just smooth sailing. Well not completely!! His front left knee most of got knocked and is a little swollen and he is favoring it!! :( Its one thing to another for us! Well I am rubbing liniment on him 2 - 3 times a day and hopefully that will help! See he knows I am trying to sell him. Seems to always happen when you don't need it! He does feel allot better since the Chiropractor visit! Will hopefully take him back soon!

Scipture Sunday and a Little Branding

2009-02-14T19:29:00.004-07:00

Saturday started off by branding about 4 little calves that needed to be done. After lunch decided to brand my horse and my dads new horse. I was a little worried cause I sure didn't want my horse getting hurt, but I knew my dad would do a good job and take care of him. His horse went first. He acted like he slept through it. Only kicked once and that was it. Okay, my Roany was up next. Oh my, so I decided I would use our family brand Triple bar Z. My grandfather's brand where he ended up giving it to his sons (3) of them, Hunt, Perry and Roby Zumwalt (my dad). I wanted the Zumwalt legacy on him. Well Roany didn't want that. Started off okay but boy it was really hard to finish him up. Poor guy!!!!! He acted like a true wild horse. I don't blame him either I was just thankful we finished and with no injuries!!! :)

Whew!!! Job done!

So we end today on this note:

KIDS OF ALL AGES dream of being a cowboy. No time clocks to punch, no tests in school, no concrete jungle of high rise buildings, no blaring horns, no traffic jams. JUST A GOOD HORSE AND WIDE-OPEN SPACES.

Just a little poem out of "The Way for Cowboys" NIV bible.

Scipture Sunday

2009-02-07T23:33:00.005-07:00

Okay, I really dont have an actual scipture but thought you might like me to share a great movie request. "One Night with the King". First read the book of Esther in the Old Testament. Wont take you very long, the whole book of Esther is very short but a great story. Then watch the movie "One Night with the King". It is about Esther. I thought it was good story and great movie.

Van Gogh's Ear Award!!!

2009-02-05T22:02:00.011-07:00

Well I have been given the Van Gogh's ear award and I am very proud. It's Van Gogh!!! I have to say I am not very good at passing this stuff on but I will do my best to participate!! :) Thanks Melissa at Thousand Word Balance .

I would like to pass this on award on to Shirley at Ride a Good Horse. I love all the pics an stories about her palomino Sassy she is starting. What an experiance to go through and in the snow. Cold weather doesnt't upset this girl.

Also to Jennifer at The Mare's Tale. She has hilarious stories of this horse Siggy and she paints awesome! I would like to send a pic of my ponies for her to paint;)

To Heather at Ramblings of the Shy and Insecure. She is truly an inspiration. She has a big job with raising her family and looks to me she is awesome at it. Oh by the way, she is a ranch woman for sure.

Okay that is it for me.

Scipture Sunday

2009-02-01T12:46:00.002-07:00

"Prayer"

This is a little prayer that my dad always said to me when I was little and now we say it to Gracie!

Dear God thank you for this day for the hours of work and play. For the shining sun above for thy great and tender love. Help us God thy will to do, make us loving, kind and true.

Amen.

Me and my Dad!

South American Beef @ McDonalds

2009-01-28T13:16:00.004-07:00

THIS IS A GOOD DECENT MAN WHO TOOK THE TIME TO WRITE THIS AND: HE SIGNED THE STATEMENT AND: INCLUDED HIS CONTACT INFO:

I'm sure those of you who aren't in the cattle business don't understand the issues here. But to those of us whose living depends on the cattle market, selling cattle, raising the best beef possible... This is frustrating.

This will keep us from ever stopping there again, even for a drink.
The original message is from the Texas Cattle Feeders Association American cattle producers are very passionate about this. McDonald's claims that there is not enough beef in the USA to support their restaurants. Well, we know that is not so. Our opinion is they are looking to save money at our expense. The sad thing of it is that the people of the USA are the ones who made McDonald's successful in the first place, but we are not good enough to provide beef.
We personally are no longer eating at McDonald's, which I am sure does not make an impact, but if we pass this around maybe there will be an impact felt.

Please pass it on. Just to add a note:

All Americans that sell cows at a livestock auction barn had to sign a paper stating that we do NOT EVER feed our cows any part of another cow. South Americans are not required to do this as of yet.
McDonald's has announced that they are going to start importing much of their beef from South America. The problem is that South Americans aren't under the same regulations as American beef producers, and the regulations they have are loosely controlled.
They can spray numerous pesticides on their pastures that have been banned here at home because of residues found in the beef. They can also use various hormones and growth regulators that we can't. The American public needs to be aware of this problem and that they may be putting themselves at risk from now on by eating at good old McDonald's.
American ranchers raise the highest quality beef in the world and this is what Americans deserve to eat. Not beef from countries where quality is loosely controlled. Therefore, I am proposing a boycott of McDonald's until they see the light.
I'm sorry but everything is not always about the bottom line, and when it comes to jeopardizing my family's health, that is where I draw the line.

I am sending this note to about thirty people. If each of you send it to at least ten more (30 x 10 = 300) .....
and those 300 send it to at l east ten more (300 x 10 = 3,000) ... and so on, by the time the message reaches the sixth generation of people, we will have reached over THREE MILLION consumers!
I'll bet you didn't think you and I had that much potential, did you? Acting together we can make a difference. If this makes sense to you, please pass this message on.

David W. Forrest, Ph.D ., PAS, Dipl.
ACAP Department of Animal Science
Texas A&M University
Phone (979) 845-3560
Fax (979) 862-3399
2471 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-2471

Sunday ride

2009-01-26T20:48:00.008-07:00

I had a nice Sunday ride with my gelding Roany! (as you see above he is ready) He was so pumped up when we went we had to lope about 2 miles before he would calm down to enjoy the ride but after that it was nice until the New Mexico wind got up. I would say the weather was about 68 degrees! So nice, but without the wind. Roany got a good workout!

The country side out in this parts is so dry. We need to do an indian dance!! Dry, Dry, Dry!!!

This picture here is for PonyGirl at Pony Girl Rides Again she took a great picture of her chinks and so I decided I would do that before we went off on our ride. I love my chinks and wear them always!!!

Here is a funny picture of Max. He was super excited that we were coming back up the driveway!!!!

After the ride Max got a hose down and a big drink from the hose. He loves this, and the only workout he got was running up and down the fence line looking for Roany!!!! I'm sure the water taste real good from the hose. Remember when you were a kid and you drank from the hose. Sooooo good!!!

A Tagger Tagged Me!

2009-01-25T20:19:00.015-07:00

Actually this is a good thing! Someone wants to know more about me! :) I feel special. Heather at Ramblings of the Shy and Insecure. Thank You! And I dont think you are shy at all.

1. I love to watch trash TV. (Reality). I say I'm not going to watch and then I do! Bret Michaels Rock of Love Bus Baby!!!! :)

2. I have been having so much fun Blogging, Facebooking and just getting in contact with people I have not thought of in a long time.

3. I will feel very guilty if I dont go out and ride one of my horses. I hate it when they just sit out there waiting for me. Makes me feel bad that I am not riding like I should. Now that I have a child, I just dont always have the time anymore. :( I cant wait until she can ride with me. that will be good.

4. I like to clean my house and cook. I truly enjoy it! Nothing better than a clean house at the end of the day.

5. I work at an Attorney's office 3 days a week and I love the schedule.

6. I have been married before to my highschool boyfriend but that didnt work. I met my current husband in California and come to find out he was from Clovis, NM which is not far from the town I grew up in. He even knew a friend I went to HS with (Tracy Wilson) or he knew his wife (dont think he is married anymore to her). What are the chances of going all the way to CA and finding my husband that might have been at our football games at the same time I might of been there during HS years! Weird!!! :)

I am going to send this to Sarah at Gottage Garden Studio I think she is truly nice and an interesting person. She does lovely art also. I love it.

Also my eastern friend Teresa at The BELLADONNA Shoppe who make great lip balm! You should check out her blog and her etsy shop. I hope she is keeping warm! :)

Scripture Sunday

2009-01-25T07:14:00.003-07:00

A time for Everything

There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die.

a time to plant and time to uproot.

a time to kill and time to heal.

a time to tear down and a time to build.

a time to weep and a time to laugh.

a time to mourn and a time to dance.

a time to scatter stones and time to gather them.

a time to embrace and a time to refrain.

a time to search and a time to give up.

a time to keep and and time to throw away.

a time to tear and a time to mend.

a time to be silent and a time to speak.

a time to love and a time to hate.

a time for WAR and a time for PEACE.

(Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8)

Okay, I got this idea since I have been seeing Silent Sundays or Sunday Stills.....etc. I thought I would do Scripture Sundays! This is to encourage. My goal this year is to open my Bible more and read and maybe this will encourage me. So if anything, I hope it helps me just a little to read my bible more. :)

Chiropractor??

2009-01-22T21:06:00.003-07:00

Well I thought I would post another situation that I have with my 10 year old gelding Max. Since I got great advice about hackamore, thought I might see what everyone thought. Everyone's advice might help pinpoint the problem. I had my horse shooed by this really young farrier last year sometime. He said he mostly did racehorses and... well I thought he would be okay for my horse this one time since I didn't have anyone at the time. Well he took care of him and the next day or so I rode him and he was completely off. He could not keep the correct lead in his hind end for anything. It was like his hind end kept falling out from underneath him. So I found a farrier that could help and he has been taking care of him but I cannot get him over this problem anymore. We can go several strides fine and then boom he like crossfires in the hind end. Could his back be out? Also within the last 3 weeks I have noticed him limping when he trots off. Couldn't really pinpoint it until yesterday when my farrier said it was his left front shoulder. Every time you picked up the right he totally leans on you so he doesn't have to put to all the pressure on the left. We can pull that left front leg out and bend it and it doesn't seem to bother him so....I don't know. He did have an accident on that knee like 1 year ago but he healed and he didn't seem to have any trouble after that. So I wonder if I need to have the Chiropractor out to look at him. We have a really good one out in this area. I'm kinda skeptical of them but.... Well I'm really needing him to feel good cause I'm trying to sale him. I came to terms that I cannot give him the attention he needs. This is a horse that needs a job and right now I cant give it to him. He is such a sweet and gentle horse but spoiled right now! I raised him so I am really partial to him and It has been a hard decision to make but I think it will be better for him if he can find the right person to really give him a job. Right now I just ride him here and there and it just isn't enough! :( He is such a sweet boy!! I just love him.

Your my Best Friend

2009-01-20T14:14:00.006-07:00

Here are Boss and Frida and they are truly best friends. They love to play with each other and just be together. Unfortunately, we have found out that they love to run off together! On Christmas Eve they ran off for about a day and half. Gracie and I were so upset including my husband, he adores Boss. We have raised him and brought him out to NM from CA and if we lost him, boy he would be upset, so we were sad this Christmas. Well ,they decided to come home finally. We think they just got lost in the hay fields at night cause if you go down there at night, you will run into about a thousand rabbits! All they could do was run after all of them so no telling where they ended up. lol After about a week back home they decided to run off again, during the day. We went everywhere trying to find them. In the meantime our neighbor came up my father's driveway to ask if he had two black and white dogs. Well my dad said yes. Well the neighbor said they just tore up my cat and we are off the to vet!!!! yikes!!!! We knew it was our dogs!!! In the few months that we have had this new dog Frida we have found out that she hates cats and she will eat them! Our neighbors are not to happy with us. What to do!!! :( Looks like goodbye to Frida. I hate to have to tie up dogs all day long cause you cant trust them from running off and killing the cats around us or any other farm animals. We do have baby goats and lambs and chickens which she has killed before (about 5 of them). Here they are below looking at the goats patiently. yum yum they say! Bad!

To Hackamore or Not to Hackamore

2009-01-19T20:46:00.004-07:00

Ok, I finally went to town and spent some of my Christmas, Birthday money on a new hackamore for my horse. I got this idea that I wanted to start riding my horse bitless. I started riding him in just a halter and he loved it and it was fine so, I thought I would look into a real simple hackamore for him. So I got it home today, tried it one him, but would like some advice of the fitting. What do you think? (I think it looks pretty good)

I left the tags on just in case I need to return it! lol We tried it a little today and when I pulled back a little he did seem to jerk his head up. Is it just cause you think he isn't used to the pressure on his nose and under curb? The curb chain is not tight but not so loose. You can get 1 finger in there. Too tight? Too loose?

Gracie and Roany say hello. Gracie is so excited that she got to ride by herself today. Well while someone led her around.

2009-01-17T20:26:00.003-07:00

The History of 'APRONS'
I don't think our kids know what an apron is.
The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, because she only had a few, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven. It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears. From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven. When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms. Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls. In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees. When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds. When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner. It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that ' old-time apron' that served so many purposes. Send this to those who would know (and love) the story about Grandma's aprons. REMEMBER:
Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw. They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs was on that apron. I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron.

Author (UNKNOWN)

I received this in an E-mail and thought it was great. This story of the Apron is so true. I had to share! Thanks

And Thats no Bull

2009-01-15T14:17:00.002-07:00

Big Ben
Baby Obama

Newest Addition to the Family

2009-01-01T23:14:00.008-07:00

Meet Belle (the goat). My daughter has adopted a dogie goat. I'm not so sure I'm up for it, but all she can talk about is "can I have a baby goat". Well we happen to have a nanny that had triplets, one died and she rejected this one. I had to share these pictures, they are so cute. We have been having so much fun with all the babies. Yesterday we had a set of twin lambs and we have a couple of Barbados which really are the cutest of all. They are like little deer and they are almost impossible to catch.

Okay, Gracie here, with her goat reminds me of me when I was her age. I thought I would share this cute memory. :) If I could only get her a snazzy pant suit like I had. I'm sure my mother made that outfit for me.

Take a Look at the Nursery

2008-12-30T09:54:00.004-07:00

Sorry, I have been busy during the holidays and haven't had a whole lot of time to blog, create jewelry or anything. I haven't even had time to ride the horses. I got on Sunday for about an hour but since the weather was soooo nice out here in Southeastern New Mexico. Hopefully I can get back into it! In the meantime we always start our nursery around this time and it is a fun time. Baby goats, Barbados and baby lambs. So far we just have nine baby goats and counting. At night they all huddle together under the heat lamp and it is so cute. I will get a picture of that tonight. Gracie wants all of them to come inside with her. Wouldn't that be fun! :)

Photos that will Capture you

2008-12-09T21:55:00.004-07:00

I am having so much fun exploring on Etsy.com. I have bought several gifts for family on there and of course for me. I think I have bought more than sold more!!! "Go figure"!! I came across this lady (http://www.judemcconkey.etsy.com/) who does photography and the pictures just really took me to another place in time. They are almost haunting. I feel like maybe that is the direction she may be going in some of them and I think it is really cool. It inspired me to take those pictures of the graveyard gate and railroad. Of course there is a story to both those pictures. My mother played at both those spots, at the graveyard and on the railroad tracks, what memories she had!! lol. If anyone is at all interested you should check this etsy site out. It is just too cool! The Tapestry Trees is the one I think I will get for my In-laws. Hope they will like!

Gypsy Mare

2008-12-03T21:51:00.003-07:00

This lady is absolutely talented, and I love her work. How I have always wanted to own one of these breeds. But hey, I want every kind of horse. I like them all. My daughter loves Unicorns . I think she needs to create a children's book or something that has her images in it. Like a Halloween book or a fantasy book with fairy's and unicorns and such. That would be
really cool. You should check out her site at http://www.gypsymarestudios.etsy.com/. You will love it and it will take you to a magical place.

Getting Down on The Farm!

2008-11-28T23:08:00.001-07:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Merry Christmas

2008-11-28T23:05:00.001-07:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Pale Rider

2008-11-25T00:07:00.003-07:00

Another favorite by http://www.ellepace.com/ I have always wanted a gray horse, specifically a dapple gray like the one Clint Eastwood rode in Pale Rider. The horses name was Preacher! Waiting for that gray horse that I can name Preacher! :)

Playing in the Graveyard

2008-11-24T23:55:00.003-07:00

The other day I went out a wanted to take an interesting picture of the railroad. I did that but then my mother said over here is where I used to play in the graveyard when I was a kid along with her five siblings. We went over to take the picture which is now on someone's proberty but, if you have a graveyard on your land you cannot remove it! Well I took this picture and it turned out great. I ended up making it sepia and framing it with barn wood. Looks cool. Well I framed both with barn wood and did sepia. I love taking pics of intersting things. Sometimes they can be of non-interesting things and turn out really neat.

A Texas Contemporary Artist

2008-11-19T08:03:00.005-07:00

I love this painting of a Palomino horse with his big white blaze! This would go great in my dark blue dining room. I'm not sure how to add her link to this so stay with me, I'll figure it out. http://www.ellepace.com/ (Here it is!!!:) She has wonderful paintings of horses and livestock and much more. I especially like the horses. I so want this pictures but last weekend I finally found a picture to go in that room at Tangle-Y in Hondo, Ruidoso. Ever been there? Cool place! Hi logo is You Describe it, I will Build It!! Joe Switzer. He has cabinets, furniture, fixtures, home decor. Very rustic!! Cowhides everywhere. My kinda place. tanle_y_wwod_n_art@yahoo.com

My Banner Rocks!!

2008-11-17T21:51:00.004-07:00

I am so amazed what people can do these days. Found http://www.pixelcafe.etsy.com/ and she was able to create what you see above! Also it is on my new store on http://www.backattheranch.etsy.com/ I have just recently signed up and have yet to get photos uploaded. I am a dufus when it comes to computers but I will give it a try. I was so thankful for Pixelcafe to help me out! Way to go. She makes buisness cards also.

Bordor Collie Trouble

2008-11-04T19:50:00.004-07:00

Frida, one of our border collies, has gotten into some trouble it seems. As you can see by the picture she looks like a sweet and innocent dog. Well, last night she wondered off as she usually does on one of her many adventures. It seems she ran into a polecat (skunk). She must have had a pretty good fight with the skunk. She came home with a terrible bloody nose and of course stunk to high heaven. My daughter, Gracie, said "lets give her back".... she was so upset that she stunk that bad so she had decided that she should go back to her old home. lol! I guess she will be getting a bath in tomato juice! :)

Latest Jewelry Bling!

2008-11-04T09:52:00.003-07:00

Here are a few pieces of my work. I love to use natural stones and western conchos which are usually always in my pieces. Swarvoski Crystals are one of my favorite sparkles for a piece.

2008-11-02T13:51:00.000-07:00

Oh, here is Max!! This is Roany's siamese twin as my shoer would say. They cant be apart for more than a second it seems. This creats problems when we want to ride apart from each other! :( Max is my 9 year old gelding that I raised and trained. He is out of California Hotspot!

2008-11-02T13:45:00.002-07:00

Horsen' Around!

Roany is just waiting to take his daily bath!

He actually couldn't figure out how to get back out until his friend Max came up for a try. He then quickly jumped backwards and got out.