Middle of the Road

Amazing Performance

2011-04-27T00:53:00.000-07:00

Most of you know who Carrie Underwood is.

You probably are aware that she was an "American Idol" winner.

She made the most of her shot and came out with several hit songs.

She was awarded the CMA Entertainer of the Year, twice.

I wasnt aware that she is the first woman to do so. Ever.

At the CMA "Girls Night Out" Award Show, she teamed up with

Veteran Performer, Vince Gill, on a well-known hymn.

Lots of people are saying that it is the best performance of the song - ever.

As she started the second chorus,

Carrie Underwood's vocal of

"How Great Thou Art"

brought the audience of seasoned performers

and country music fans to their feet.

The performance was so strong,

that people were brought to tears as they cheered and applauded.

Since that night, in comments from across the country,

people are talking of "getting the chills,"

"having goosebumps", and of "hearing a call".

Below, i have listed a link to one of the resources available to see and hear the performance.

Please, click on it; put on your headphones; close your eyes to hear one of the most moving renditions

of this great song.

http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2011/04/girls-night-out-carrie-underwoods-how-great-thou-art-brings-the-house-down.html

-Saddle Mountain Rider

Lookin' For Trouble - Challenge Winners

2011-01-16T19:17:00.000-08:00

Wintertime Blues Challenge

Answers for the Trail Challenge

Pony Cousins were pretty quick to figure out that the 1st instincts of Ole SMR

in meeting challenges on the trail are probably not always in the best interests

of safety or comfort for the group.

With that said, here are some answers and those Cousins who gave

corresponding answers got 20 points for the #1 answer;

10 points for the #2 answer; and 5 points for the #3 answer.

Some Cousins got points for giving a clever answer;

and some Cousins got points when the Seahawks scored.

(Perhaps if the team had scored more points, the Cousins would have scored more points.)

Trail Challenge #1

Going up steep hills can be a struggle for the trail pony who hasnt gotten into top shape.

When stopping on a steep trail to let the ponies catch their breath, should you

a) stay in line and face the pony's head up the trail

b) turn the pony's body so as to be perpendicular to the trail

c) drop your reins to take a swig of whiskey; let everyone else worry about where you are.

Answer: B: if there is room on the trail, one should face the side of the trail;

Answer A got 10 points because some times there is no room on the side of a drop-off

when an emergency occurs.

Answer C got 5 points because sometimes that is the only chance to get a little swig on the trail.

Trail Challenge #2

Crossing streams can be daunting for inexperienced trail ponies;

cow ponies dont usually run across streams in the roping arena. Not usually.

When crossing a stream on a reluctant pony, should you

a) "pony up" to a more experienced trail pony

b) let your pony figure it out on his own

c) take a swig of whiskey and wait for the Divine Ms C and the Desert Rose

to dismount and come lead your pony across.

Answer: A: I went with answer A because most ponies benefit from the assurance of a

more experienced companion;

Answer B got 10 points because in some cases, a pony just needs a little encouragement, patience,

and time to take those 1st steps into the water;

Answer C got 5 points because there is a chance that your pony will think that those 2 Cousins

are ponies also and will follow them anywhere. (see answer A)

Trail Challenge #3

Sometimes corrections and further training of a trail pony need to occur on the trail.

Some of the other ponies may become nervous or fidgety while the training is going on.

What is one thing that you can do to keep your pony focused on you during the distraction?

a) exercises, such as neck flexion, or one-rein pulls

b) move about in the saddle by leaning right and left, tugging the horn, etc

c) drop your reins, let the pony eat grass, and take a swig of whiskey.

Answer: A: This is recommended by trainers such as John Lyons, Clinton Anderson, and the Parellis;

Answer B got 10 points because it is also a good way to see if your cinch is tight enough

to keep your body from hitting the ground with a thud down the trail;

Answer C got 5 points because sometimes a Cousin needs to steady the nerves -

especially if the Cousin is riding the pony that is acting up.

Trail Challenge #4

While stopping for a breather, your pony sniffs something that looks like rabbit droppings.

One of the Pony Cousins shouts out that they see some really cute kitty paw prints beside the trail.

Just then, Dusty, the lead pony, lets out a huge snort.

Realizing that Dusty has just gotten wind of a mountain lion, you should

a) send Desert Rose up ahead to take a shot at it (come on, you know she has a pistol!)

b) quietly reverse your ponies and go find another trail

c) take a swig of whiskey, gather up your reins, and run like hell in the opposite direction;

every Cousin for herself; pray that you are riding the fastest pony;

you dont have to outrun the mountain lion, you just have to outrun the other Pony Cousins.

Answer: B: If the cat isnt chasing you, you do not want to give it any reason to do so.

Picture a kitty chasing a string - you would be the string;

Answer A got 10 points because if Desert Rose has been drinking enough "trail courage",

she would take on anything!

Answer C got 5 points because "you dont have to outrun the mountain lion,

you just have to outrun the other Pony Cousins":

forget the barrel racing - we'll see who has the fastest pony now!

Trail Challenge #5

Your pony has been rubbing his head on the butt of the pony ahead of you and

catches the straps of his bridle on the other pony's gear.

The other pony kicks out and your pony jumps back, breaking its bridle.

The bridle falls off and your pony sees the opportunity for a snack break.

Which of the following Pony Cousins do you think will have the necessary gadgets

to repair the bridle and will have the knowledge to be able to fix it?

a) Pony Girl

b) Desert Rose

c) Saddle Mtn Rider

Answer: B: Believe it or not, Desert Rose has been in this predicament before and has fixed the problem;

Answer A got 10 points because Pony Girl is smart enough to figure out

whose gear to tear apart to fix the problem;

Answer C got 5 points because, even though SMR should have the repair materials in her saddle bag,

she probably dumped it out at the trailer in order to fit in more booze;

and even though she should be able to figure out how to fix the problem,

she probably has been drinking enough of her booze supply that she cant even see the problem.

Trail Challenge #6

The Cuzettes ride their ponies up to the log house to use the hot tub on a beautiful summer evening.

While tying the ponies to the hitch post, they discover that someone is already in the tub,

cooler in-hand, enjoying the bubbling water.

Which one of the following Cuzettes will approach the interloper with stern words?

a) Full Moon

b) Palomino Girl

c) Pony Girl

Answer: B: Okay. Have you met Palomino Girl? Enough said.

Answer A got 10 points because Full Moon would probably refer to the visitor by unflattering names,

if there wasnt more booze to share;

Answer C got 5 points because Pony Girl would be glad to see a certain "FarmBoy" in the hot tub.

Trail Challenge #7

While on a moonlight ride up on the hill, the Cuzettes get disoriented, take the wrong trail,

and cant figure out how to get back to the ranch.

Back at the ranch, the other Cousins realize that the Cuzettes have not returned

and determine that something should be done.

a) Jane and Jeanette saddle up their fast-paced ponies and dash up the trail

b) Eeeeee and Betsy mix another batch of martinis

c) the Farmboy, figures out where they are and drives his truck up the road to lead them down.

Wouldnt happen if the darn Cuzettes wouldnt get drunk in the hot tub

and then want to go trail riding.

Answer: C: FarmBoy would be the logical choice to find them,

not just because of his familiarity with the area -

it has more to do with his familiarity with a certain Pony Girl.

Answer B got 10 points because, if the Pony Cousins are to remain calm in this crisis,

they will require sedatives. And what better way to take sedatives than with martinis?

Answer A got 5 points because they will have their ponies halfway saddled before

they hear the shaker mixing their martinis.

Results from this Trail Challenge

Cowgirljlynn: 65 points

Paint Girl: 130 points

Desert Rose: 140 points

Palomino Girl: 100 points

Bronco Betsy: 125

Queen of Hearts: 105

Wintertime Blues Challenge Results

-Remember-

-All Pony Cousins are Champions-

8th place with a total of 10 points: Full Moon

7th place with a total of 25 points: Cousin E

6th place with a total of 105 points: Cowgirljlynn

5th place with a total of 130 points: Palomino Girl

4th place with a total of 140 points: Queen of Hearts

3rd place with a total of 160 points: Bronco Betsy

2nd place with a total of 165 points: Paint Girl

1st place with a total of 185 points: Desert Rose

Thank you, dear Cousins for playing my little game.

I hope that you enjoyed playing along, because i sure did enjoy reading your answers!

I know that you are all wondering about the prize -

Well, it's just a little something for office or tack room

to display for others to see...your

Pony-lovin' heart!

Desert Rose will be receiving her prize real soon.

(D.R.: please email me your desert address!)

Now, Cousin Eeeeee and i are planning a real special Round Up,

the details of which we will announce soon.

So we need to hear from each and every one of you as to a date

when you will most likely be able to attend.

(April, May, June?)

We all understand that to single out a weekend where we all are available

is next to impossible.

But let's give it a shot.

Lookin' For Trouble - Final Round

2011-01-11T18:23:00.000-08:00

Wintertime Blues Challenge

Round 3

Trail Challenge

Some situations on the trail require quick thinking by the Pony Cousins.

Some situations require quick actions.

Some situations require a quick application of "snake bite medicine".

Whatever the situation, Pony Cousins must be prepared.

This Challenge is for the Pony Cousins to show "trail preparedness"

by (1) reading the situation and (2) determining a proper course of action.

Choose your answers from the choices given, or,
take a swig of whiskey and make up your own.
There are a lot of points involved here, so, Cousins, get yer spurs on!

Trail Challenge #1
Going up steep hills can be a struggle for the trail pony who hasnt gotten into top shape.
When stopping on a steep trail to let the ponies catch their breath, should you
a) stay in line and face the pony's head up the trail
b) turn the pony's body so as to be perpendicular to the trail
c) drop your reins to take a swig of whiskey; let everyone else worry about where you are.

Trail Challenge #2
Crossing streams can be daunting for inexperienced trail ponies;
cow ponies dont usually run across streams in the roping arena. Not usually.
When crossing a stream on a reluctant pony, should you
a) "pony up" to a more experienced trail pony
b) let your pony figure it out on his own
c) take a swig of whiskey and wait for the Divine Ms C and the Desert Rose
to dismount and come lead your pony across.

Trail Challenge #3
Sometimes corrections and further training of a trail pony need to occur on the trail.
Some of the other ponies may become nervous or fidgety while the training is going on.
What is one thing that you can do to keep your pony focused on you during the distraction?
a) exercises, such as neck flexion, or one-rein pulls
b) move about in the saddle by leaning right and left, tugging the horn, etc
c) drop your reins, let the pony eat grass, and take a swig of whiskey.

Trail Challenge #4
While stopping for a breather, your pony sniffs something that looks like rabbit droppings.
One of the Pony Cousins shouts out that they see some really cute kitty paw prints beside the trail.
Just then, Dusty, the lead pony, lets out a huge snort.
Realizing that Dusty has just gotten wind of a mountain lion, you should
a) send Desert Rose up ahead to take a shot at it (come on, you know she has a pistol!)
b) quietly reverse your ponies and go find another trail
c) take a swig of whiskey, gather up your reins, and run like hell in the opposite direction;
every Cousin for herself; pray that you are riding the fastest pony;
you dont have to outrun the mountain lion, you just have to outrun the other Pony Cousins.

Trail Challenge #5
Your pony has been rubbing his head on the butt of the pony ahead of you and
catches the straps of his bridle on the other pony's gear.
The other pony kicks out and your pony jumps back, breaking its bridle.
The bridle falls off and your pony sees the opportunity for a snack break.
Which of the following Pony Cousins do you think will have the necessary gadgets
to repair the bridle and will have the knowledge to be able to fix it?
a) Pony Girl
b) Desert Rose
c) Saddle Mtn Rider

Trail Challenge #6
The Cuzettes ride their ponies up to the log house to use the hot tub on a beautiful summer evening.
While tying the ponies to the hitch post, they discover that someone is already in the tub,
cooler in-hand, enjoying the bubbling water.
Which one of the following Cuzettes will approach the interloper with stern words?
a) Full Moon
b) Palomino Girl
c) Pony Girl

Trail Challenge #7
While on a moonlight ride up on the hill, the Cuzettes get disoriented, take the wrong trail,
and cant figure out how to get back to the ranch.
Back at the ranch, the other Cousins realize that the Cuzettes have not returned
and determine that something should be done.
a) Jane and Jeanette saddle up their fast-paced ponies and dash up the trail
b) Eeeeee and Betsy mix another batch of martinis
c) the Farmboy, figures out where they are and drives his truck up the road to lead them down.
Wouldnt happen if the darn Cuzettes wouldnt get drunk in the hot tub
and then want to go trail riding.

Okay, Pony Cousins, you have until Friday nite to get your answers in!
Good luck and Happy Trails!

Lookin' For Trouble - Round 3

2011-01-10T18:53:00.000-08:00

Wintertime Blues Challenge

Round 3

Wow! Round 2 was well done, Cousins!

Here are the results:

Round 2

"What's in your saddlebag?"

1. Your task in this 2nd round was to identify the Pony Cousin who would have the listed items in their saddlebag.

Saddlebag # 1

1. A beach towel and noseplugs.

2. A lighter or matches.

3. Jammies with long underdrawers.

Bronco Betsy

1. She blogged about her experience of swimming with ponies.

2. Her overnight trail riding experience taught her to carry something with which to start a fire;

or, at least, not to give up on checking all of her pockets for a lighter.

3. Again, the overnight experience on the PCT, taught her that one never knows when one will need to spend the night.

Saddlebag #2

1. A pamphlet on dealing with psychotics

2. Hockey ticket stubs

3. Blue ribbons and a crown

Paint Girl

1. How many times have we seen her refer to her beautiful mare, Brandy, as

"that Crazy Arab"? And now she works with a whole barn full of Arabs?

2. Paint Girl blogs about being a huge hockey fan.

3. At our 1st Stampede, she and her "Crazy Arab" kicked our butts in the rodeo

and she became our 1st Rodeo Queen.

Saddlebag #3

1. A pregnancy test kit

2. Something purple

3. A Starbucks gift card

Palomino Girl

1. Okay, i didnt want to make this one too easy, so i slipped this one in.

Jac's dad gave her a test kit for Xmas and told her that he wanted a grandson.

2. Palomino Girl is going thru a purple phase; she loves to wear it, paint it, flaunt it!

Dont be surprised to see The Yellow decked out in a lot of it this summer!

3. Well, her addiction to the Seattle coffee-maker is a well-known fact.

I did not allude to the cell phone, because that would be attached to her ear.

Saddlebag #4

1. A bag full of surprises.

2. A guide for backpacking.

3. Keys to a new home.

1. A bag of surprises? Is there any one of us who hasnt been delighted when
caught off guard with her quick sense of humor?
2. She and hubby have some fabulous pix of their backpacking adventures.
3. We were thrilled for them when we learned that they were moving into their very own home last fall.

Saddlebag #5

1. A fabulous clay mask.

2. Receipts from Vegas, Baby!

3. A bota half-full of wine.

Cousin Eeeeee

1. Yeah, i was not going to mention the obvious adulation of Clint;

but chose to highlight her work as a visiting

"artist in the schools", where she introduces students to working with clay.

2. E travels once a year with Aunt Jean and Cousin Danny to enjoy a few days in fabulous Las Vegas.

We should not worry about her gambling away all of her money, however,

Cousin E cherishes the time she gets to spend with her dear Aunt, whom we should worry about

gambling away all of her money.

3. A half full bota? Yes, she would be drinking out of it as she was preparing her gear for the ride.

Saddlebag #6

1. Something black.

2. Something shiny.

3. Something sexy.

The Divine Ms C

1. We know that she always wears some kind of black, somewhere on her body.

It's not hard to imagine that she would carry something with her.

2. This Cousin has always had a love of shiny things; and let's face it:

she looks fabulous in black and silver!

3. Okay, i dont even need to qualify this one.

Okay, Pony Cousins, there are your answers.
Here is the score for this Round:
Cuz E: 5/6          Queen of Hearts: 5/6
Cowgirljlynn: 6/6          Paint Girl: 6/6
Desert Rose: 6/6          Palomino Girl: 6/6
Bronco Betsy: 5/6
Score 5 points for each correct answer and here are the totals for the first 2 Rounds:
Bronco Betsy 35          Paint Girl 35
Cowgirljlynn 40          Desert Rose 45
Moonie 10          Queen of Hearts 35
Cousin Eeeeee 35          Palomino Girl 30

Okay, dear Cousins, i have worked hard to produce this blog of results,
with Gracie assisting me. Not as easy as one would think; trust me.
With help like that, most of you are thinking that this Round 3 setup would be a breeze.
Well, you would be wrong as lipstick on a dog.
I must now turn my attention to Gracie who is right now, wearing her brand new purple tutu,
sitting at the desk beside me, using a sky blue colored pencil in her Poppy's checkbook.
Please allow me to leave you now with promises to delineate the Round 3 directions tomorrow,
available for your perusal sometime after 6:pm.
You will have until Friday evening to get your answers in.

Good job, dear Cousins!
Happy Trails!

Pony Cousins Lookin For Trouble - Round 2

2011-01-08T18:46:00.000-08:00

Wintertime Blues Challenge

Just as i had guessed, the Pony Cousins are great guessers!

Almost everyone correctly guessed the first profile to be:

Cowgirljlynn

Profile One:

1. Flashy, classy, with a good eye for boots.

2. The oldest of a group, but younger than me.

3. the Divine Ms C used to teach her things.

The 1st clue would fit most of the Pony Cousins;

The 2nd clue is that she is the oldest of a set of twins and a younger sister.

The 3rd is that, in her formative years, a certain cousin taught her a thing or two about life.

But then that Cousin taught a lot of us some things!

And, again, almost everyone correctly guessed the second profile to be:

Jesse Pollin

Profile Two:

1. Lots of trail experience.

2. Highly valued, but was once thrown away.

3. A favorite among the Pony Cousins.

The 1st clue relates to the fact that this pony has spent his whole life on the trail.

The 2nd clue refers to the fact that Desert Rose rescued the young pony

from people who didnt appreciate his value.

The 3rd clue refers to the number of Cousins who have had the privilege

of getting to ride this "tried and true" (that's a phrase my Dad used) trail pony.

The last 2 entries (Jamie & Tena) correctly guessed the 3rd profile to be:

Cousin Missi

Profile Three:

1. At the first Stampede, should have been renamed "Rawhide".

2. Can be fun and funny, even without cocktails.

3. Heads up her own posse.

The 1st clue refers to the sunburn that Missi got at the first Stampede.

It is still painful to look at!

The 2nd clue refers to a gal who has a great sense of humor and can liven up even the liveliest occasions.

The 3rd clue refers to her adorable family, usually referred to as, the desperadoes!

She does a great job of keeping all of them in line and enjoys every bit of it.

The 4th profile stumped everyone but Desert Rose:

Moonlight (She Who Rides in Full Moon)

Profile Four:

1. Pretty and practical.

2. Full of Heart; also full of mischief.

3. Tries to wrangle a wild bunch: 2 of single digits and 1 who turns 27 soon.

The 1st clue, again, could refer to any Pony Cousin.

The 2nd clue refers to her kind heart toward all of her Cousins;

her nickname and her pranks explain the mischief part.

The 3rd clue references her children and the nearly 27 year old?

Well, Moonlight keeps tabs on Palomino Girl and i appreciate that!

In Round One, Pony Cousins get 5 points for each correct answer.

Leading the competition is Desert Rose with 15 points!

Tied for 2nd place with 10 points each are

Bronco Betsy, Cowgirljlynn, Moonie, & Queen of hearts.

In 6th place is Paint Girl with 5 points.

Round 2

"What's in your saddlebag?"

Now, it's a well-known fact what Saddle Mountain Rider carries in her saddlebag.

But, can you figure out what the other Pony Cousins carry in their bags?

1. Your task in this 2nd round is to identify the Pony Cousin who would have the listed items in their saddlebag.

2. Three clues are given and, in the comment section, you should list your guesses as to whom the saddlebag would belong.

3. The answers will be the name of a Pony Cousin, listed below, in no particular order.

Bronco Betsy...Cousin Eeeeee...the Desert Rose...the Divine Ms C...

Dusty's Cowgirl...Cowgirljlynn...Saddle Mtn Rider (that's me!)

Missi...Malea...Angie...

Pony Girl...Paint Girl...Palomino Girl...

Moonlight...Queen of Hearts

Let's commence the guessin'!

Saddlebag # 1

1. A beach towel and noseplugs.

2. A lighter or matches.

3. Jammies with long underdrawers.

Saddlebag #2

1. A pamphlet on dealing with psychotics

2. Hockey ticket stubs

3. Blue ribbons and a crown

Saddlebag #3

1. A pregnancy test kit

2. Something purple

3. A Starbucks gift card

Saddlebag #4

1. A bag full of surprises.

2. A guide for backpacking.

3. Keys to a new home.

Saddlebag #5

1. A fabulous clay mask.

2. Receipts from Vegas, Baby!

3. A bota half-full of wine.

Saddlebag #6

1. Something black.

2. Something shiny.

3. Something sexy.

Okay, Pony Cousins, there are your saddlebags...

You need to have your your guesses in by Monday at 6:pm.

Good luck!

Pony Cousins are Lookin for Trouble

2011-01-06T18:44:00.000-08:00

Wintertime Blues

The Pony Cousins have been far too quiet lately.

Especially for a group that is so full of hi-jinx

This has to be a case of "Group suffering from blues - wintertime type."

Thankfully, there is a cure.

This cure may or may not involve the use of cocktails, however,

that is not the salient point.

What the Pony Cousins need is a game to liven things up.

Pony Cousins are good at games,

and, if there is a prize involved, the situation could get cutthroat.

With that in mind, we will review the details of the

Pony Cousin Wintertime Blues Challenge.

Guidelines

The game includes 3 Rounds.
Each round has a competition where points will be awarded.
The final winner will be determined by the number of points earned in each round.
Any reader of the blogged game may compete, however, the prize will go to a Pony Cousin.
Competitors will find the next round of the game posted on this blog sometime after 6:pm on the given day.

Round One

1. Your task in this first round is to identify the described Pony Cousin or Equicousin.

2. Three clues are given and, in the comment section, you should list your guesses as to who it is being described.

3. The answers will be the name of a Pony Cousin or an Equicousin, listed below, in no particular order.

Pony Cousins

Bronco Betsy...Cousin Eeeeee...the Desert Rose...the Divine Ms C...

Dusty's Cowgirl...Cowgirljlynn...Saddle Mtn Rider (that's me!)

Missi...Malea...Angie...

Pony Girl...Paint Girl...Palomino Girl...

Moonlight...Queen of Hearts

Equicousins

Jesse...Lil Lady...Dusty...

King...Okie...My Boy...

Brandy...Skyler

Profile One:

1. Flashy, classy, with a good eye for boots.

2. The oldest of a group, but younger than me.

3. the Divine Ms C used to teach her things.

Profile Two:

1. Lots of trail experience.

2. Highly valued, but was once thrown away.

3. A favorite among the Pony Cousins.

Profile Three:

1. At the first Stampede, should have been renamed "Rawhide".

2. Can be fun and funny, even without cocktails.

3. Heads up her own posse.

Profile Four:

1. Pretty and practical.

2. Full of Heart; also full of mischief.

3. Tries to wrangle a wild bunch: 2 of single digits and 1 who turns 27 soon.

So, there are the profiles; see if you can guess who each one is!

You have 2 days to get in your answers because the next round will post after 6:pm on Saturday.

The judge is standing by...

Gracie's First Conrad Campout

2010-09-11T23:04:00.000-07:00

This is the story of Gracie's first campout at Conrad Meadows.

It was a beautiful weekend in August when Gracie and Nana pulled the camp trailer
into the White Pass horse camp known as Conrad Meadows.
Cousin Cherie would arrive later that day
and Jaclyn would drive in the next morning with our 2 ponies.

Gracie's Nana has been coming to Conrad since she was just a little bit older than Gracie is now.

My Dad started bringing our family there before there was a road to the Meadows.
The road stopped at Grey Creek back then and that is where we unloaded the ponies for the ride that led us to the foot of the hill leading to Surprise Lake.
Sometimes we camped there and then rode to Surprise Lake to do some fishing.

My brothers and i were ages 5 - 9 when we first rode those trails.
We each rode our own pony with our sleeping bags tied behind our saddles.

My Mom rode her trusty pony, Dekker, in the lead.
Dad bought Dekker as a 3 year old to train for my Mom, who was a novice rider.
Dekker was by a fairly well-known stud named Mickey Dexter and out of a grade mare.
Dekker was a sweetheart; we kids could catch him anywhere, anytime;
anyone who could sit up, could ride him;
and the three of us climbed all over him and under him,
and hung from his neck and tail.

Scott was usually next in line on the trail, riding a half Arab mare named Gypsy.
She may have been half Quarterhorse as well, because she was not a "typy" Arab,
but stockier. She was grey in color and gentle to handle.

I came next on my pride and joy: a short, stocky buckskin named Bucky.
Some people thought we called him Bucky because of his color.
But the fact is that Bucky was once a bucking horse who was "on the wagon to be destroyed",
because sometimes he would buck and sometimes he wouldn't.
Dad bought him as a pony for Scott and a couple years later i was old enough for him
and that's when Scott got Gypsy.
I thought Bucky was the most beautiful pony in the world.

Next in line was 5 year old Kirk on Sunny, a dun gelding who had raised the 3 of us kids.
Sunny was a retired State Champion in pole-bending,
who was given to Dad with the condition that no one would ever compete on him.
He must have been 15 or 18 years old when we got him.
We had him until he was 25.

Dad brought up the rear leading the packhorse.
At that time, Dad rode a big, black gelding named Pete.
Pete was a powerful looking horse, who must have stood 16 hands.
He was not a pony to put a kid on and turn him loose,
but Scott and i taken turns riding him on the trail to Conrad a few times.

The packhorse was a gentle black that my Dad got from a sheepherder on a trade.
The black loved to wander loose around camp
looking for left-over pancakes and potato peelings.
When i rode the black around our neighborhood,
I imagined that i was riding the "Black Stallion" that i had read about in books.

Our family rode other mountain trails besides Conrad,
but the Meadows were always my favorite.

I spent a lot of time at Conrad Meadows throughout my youth and into my adulthood.
When i was in my 20s and Dad had retired, we brought our young ponies and mules
to the Meadows to train them for trail riding and packing.

But as my husband and i started our family, we didnt get to Conrad for some time to come.

But now, this August, my daughter and i decided it was time for us to get our 2 ponies
some trail riding experience there and
it was time for Gracie to go to the Meadows.

Gracie filled her bota bag with apple juice for her first trail ride.

Gracie helped with the care of her ponies,
making sure that they had plenty to eat.

The call to "Boots and Saddles" was made and the ponies were curried and prepped.

It was a treat to have Cousin Cherie with us at Conrad and it was her job
to work with the "Golden Boy," Skyler, to get him "trail savvy."

After a hearty breakfast, Jaclyn and Cherie start out on the first rail ride.

When they got back, Gracie welcomed them with a special dance.

The next day, it was Gracie's turn to ride Skyler.
Gracie decided that, first, she needed to give Skyler kisses.

Then Mommy wanted to show Gracie how to sit on Skyler.

We asked Gracie if it was okay for Mommy to ride with her on Skyler
and Gracie said, "Yah."
So away they went.

After that, it was time for Cousin Cherie and Cousin Karen
to ride up the hill and across the creeks to the big meadow.
The ponies were tired after their 2 long trail rides,
so we didnt ride far.

Cherie rode the Oklahoma horse.

And i rode Skyler.
The meadows were as fabulous as i remembered them
and we had a wonderful short ride.

Cousin Cherie commented that, after having ridden her black Arab for these last couple years,
it was good to wrap her legs around the big solid body of these quarterhorses.
She was very impressed with both of the boys, but Skyler was her favorite.
Knowing all about the horse stealing nature of our family, we will keep an eye
on Cousin Cherie, to see that she doesnt get too attached to our "Golden Boy."
(After all, i did steal a dandy QH mare from Cherie's Dad years ago.)

Cherie and i shared a lot of childhood memories at Conrad.
It was a celebration of returning for both of us.

She and i have made plans to return next summer for a longer stay.

We are pretty sure that Gracie and her Mommy will want to be there also.
And we wouldnt have it any other way.

Happy Trails!

Guess What Okie and I Have Been Thinking About?

2010-05-28T22:16:00.000-07:00

Okie and i have been on a little trip down memory lane.

Why dont you join us on our little trip?
It wont take long and you wont have to do much.

Most of you know these gals and their ponies:They are a fun bunch - every last one of them.
And the gals are fun, too.
Yep, we are family...

We have fun around campfires...

We have fun on the trails...

We have fun with our games in the arena...

We have cabins full of mischief-makers...
(And they will be getting pay-backs! Tee Hee!)

We have pretty mommies...

We have ponies of all colors and breeds...

And sometimes we see spots...

All of our ponies are pretty, but this one is a beauty...
(a black beauty)

We have new riders...

And we have old hands...

We have new friends...

And (copper) friends we hold dear...

We have speedy ponies
and "need-for-speed riders"...

We have our share of "rowdies"...

And we have the best chuckwagon in the west...

When you put all of these things together...

You get one rip roarin', hoo-rahing

Pony Cousin Stampede!

Coming soon!
Are you ready for this?

Strangers in the Night

2010-05-09T12:35:00.000-07:00

It had been a long and windy day.

Newly plowed fields were sending a constant stream of dust across the valley all day.
At 9:00pm, the wind stopped and although the air still smelled of dust,
it was a relief not to have the constant blowing.

L to R: Stella Bean, Sinjin, Rory Bug

Just before midnight i was preparing to head off to bed.
I told my posse (Sinjin, Stella Bean, Rory Bug, and Fabio) that it was time for bed.
Three of them told me that they must go outside first.
Although i resisted, i knew it was pointless to argue with them
because they were not going to settle down until after they went out for one more run.

Fabio

Fabio, being the only reasonable member of the posse on this issue,
calmly took his place on the back of HL's chair
as i ushered the 3 knuckleheads to the patio door.

The porch light had been turned off when my husband went to bed a couple hours previous
and it was a very dark night.
The three pooches rushed out the door as they usually did, all "scurry and flurry",
ready to pounce on any moving thing caught unawares.

I cautioned the three not to bark and wake up Papa Bear,
but, as usual, they were already too busy barking to notice what i said.
As i turned from the patio door, i noticed that the barking didnt cease as it usually did; in fact, the barking got louder and more urgent.

I thought, "Oh crap! There's a visitor on the patio."
Thinking back to the occasion where the visitor was a skunk,
I shuddered to think of the year and dozens of baths it took to get rid of that stink.

I thought i had better go turn on the patio light, which is at the other back door.
I hurried my walk to the other door,
worried that the pooches might have a stray cat pinned down.
That scenario occurred last summer and i just barely saved a strange cat
from an untimely demise.

As i was hurrying to the light switch, i could hear the barking increase to furious levels
and i could tell that there was quite a scuffle going on.
I flipped the switch and stepped outside to see that the pooches had something cornered around the corner to my left.

As i rounded the corner, i could see that Sinjin was attacking something with a ferocious effort and that the visitor was something large.
I determined that the poodles had no business in that fight.
Rory was behind the other 2, barking only as tough as my sweet cock-apoo could.

The terrier in Stella had her attacking the poor creature from the side
while Sinjin attacked from the front.
I still could not see what the creature was because it was in a corner behind the BBQ.
I called Stella's name, but she went in for another attack.

I have never seen Sinjin fight like this.
Sinjin is part American Eskimo dog (hence the small face and feet)
and part husky or shepherd (the dark patches).
He is so gentle and his favorite place to be is upside down in your lap, like a baby.

He also has a healthy respect (some might call it fear) for Fabio.
But then, Fabio, is the King of the House, and he lets us live with him.

Sinjin loves the poodles and will even let them take his food and treats.
Sinjin is afraid of Gracie and prefers to be outside when Gracie visits.

But Sinjin does not welcome strangers into his fenced yard.
We caution people that we know not to go inside the fence if we are not present.
Once Sinjin becomes familiar with a person and knows that the person is welcome in the house, he accepts them and, i might add, he enjoys those who acknowledge him.
He loves my brother's kids, Courtney, Cody, and Chad,
who are old enough to play with him.

We have found evidence of Sinjin's wrath upon unwelcome visitors in his yard.
A muskrat found its way up from the nearby canal
and its carcass was found just inside the far fence.
We had a small family of bunnies living in a brushpile near the vineyard.
A couple of them ventured inside the fence and, i regret to say
that we found just half of each bunny in the yard.
I have mentioned the visit by the skunk;
there have been more than one who have not made it back out of the fence.
The poor kitty was saved just in the nick of time.

And who knows what other critters have met their demise
or have escaped from my sweet killer husky.

For Gracie's first Easter egg hunt, my daughter had to remind me
not to buy a bunny rabbit outfit for her to wear on the hunt in the backyard.
Well, i forgot.

Who could resist that cap with the cute ears and the little cotton puff on her bottom?

All went well, however, and Gracie was able to gather her eggs.

So, back to my story...

The fight was a furious one and Sinjin appeared very much like his wolf ancestors.
That is to say, that he looked more vicious than i had ever seen him.
He was determined to kill the creature,
as i watched him bark, growl, and attack.

I swatted Stella on the butt to get her attention away from the attack.
When she turned to look, i grabbed her and dashed her to the door,
throwing her inside.

As i was leaning over to grab her, i caught a glimpse of part of the creature.
From the side, and still obscured by the BBQ,
i could see that it was a head taller than Sinjin,
and twice as heavy; it had gray hair;
and then, i saw the black band around the eye.

"Holy Crap!"
Sinjin went in for another attack and came back out with a cry.
The huge raccoon was fighting for its life
and i pictured the sharp claws that a raccoon uses to tear up clam shells.

Sinjin growled, barked, and went in again.
He grabbed onto the raccoon's chest and ripped and tore at it,
before coming back out with a cry.
I knew that i could not reach in to grab him
and even though i was yelling his name,
Sinjin did not hear me.

I have never seen a raccoon that large.
In fact, i didnt think that raccoons could even live in our area.
Our climate is dry and it doesnt seem like there would be much
of the raccoons natural food supply around.
We had evidence that it had been on our patio before as early as a year ago.
Of course, we had no idea back then that the visitor was the biggest raccoon in the world!

I had to get Sinjin away from the raccoon.
Sitting on the shelf was a can of bug spray.
I grabbed it and threw it at Sinjin's butt,
which curtailed the next attack just long enough
for me to grab him by the neck and drag him to the door.

As i dragged the husky away, over my shoulder,
i watched the gigantic raccoon scurry to the fence
and vault over it with unbelievable ease.

There was a little bit of blood on Sinjin's throat,
but it wasnt his.
He had a scratch just below his right eye,
but it wasnt deep.

My heart was pounding pretty hard as i checked Sinjin for marks
and i thought that he was pretty fortunate not to have any serious wounds.
But i also was thinking hard about the sweet boy who follows me from room to room and is always at my feet.
I thought how happy he seems with every pat on the head
and how he sometimes places his head on my knee and looks up at me.
I saw another side of the sweet face, dark eyes and perky ears.

and i'll tell you one thing that i learned...
Dont cross Sinjin.

P.S. Oh, and my husband...
he heard the whole commotion.
I said, "I could have used your help."
He said, "I thought you could handle it."
In his defense, he didnt know that there could be a raccoon
as large as a bear on our patio.
I said, "In the future..."

Note to self:
If anything like this should happen again;
and should it happen that HL does not come to my aid;
I will be shopping on ebay for that
"bunny suit" - size: 6 feet tall."

2010-04-23T22:34:00.001-07:00

So, i needed to renew my drivers license and thought i would head on down to the office to get it done early in the morning on a weekday to avoid the crowd.

I was so naive.

I walked in and was directed, first thing, to get a number.
I had to select a button to correspond to the nature of my business in the drivers license office.
I really didnt have to think about it very long - i wanted to renew my drivers license.
I pushed the button that said "get a drivers license".
The ticket came out and, to my delight, the ticket was "012".

That's cool.
There's about 82 people in here and i got number 012.

So i find a seat next to a dead guy, thinking that i will be in and out in a matter of minutes.

Then the electronic sign over the counter catches my eye.
In bright red digits, the sign says "652".
This is when i realize that i am totally not getting in and out in a matter of minutes.

There was 1 agent behind the counter and 3 more milling around in the background.
It was interesting to watch the mechanics of the agents as they would take turns at the counter. The man would step up to the counter, the red number would flash over his station, the loudspeaker would call out the number in Spanish, the individual would go to the counter.
The agent would just finish with that person, would turn off his red number sign and disappear behind one of the doors in the back.
The next agent would step up to the counter and the process would repeat, the agent would turn off the red number sign and disappear behind a different door.

Fascinating...it was like watching a play or ballet.

The loudspeaker says,
" numero seis, cinco, tres."

Only 357 numbers to go and its my turn, baby!

It will never happen to us

2010-02-22T23:20:00.000-08:00

Three cousins, ages 92, 94 and 96, live in a house together.

One night the 96-year-old draws a bath.
She puts her foot in and pauses.
She yells to the other cousins,
"Was I getting in or out of the bath?"

The 94-year-old yells back,
"I don't know. I'll come up and see."
She starts up the stairs and pauses.
"Was I going up the stairs or down?"

The 92-year-old is sitting at the kitchen table having tea
and listening to her cousins.
She shakes her head and says,
"Crazy Old Cousins!
I sure hope I never get that forgetful,
knock on wood..."

She then yells,
"I'll come up and help both of you as soon as I see who's at the door."

25 Days Til Spring!

Pink Poodle Birthday

2009-12-30T20:19:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, we celebrated the first birthday of our Rodeo Princess.

The honored birthday girl made her first appearance on a snowy,
bitterly cold Sunday evening, just a year ago.

A much anticipated appearance, to be sure.
This little one has been the life of the party ever since.

In planning the birthday extravaganza,
the Rodeo Princess got things under control right away
by placing a few requisite phone calls.

The guest list required her immediate attention
and the Rodeo Princess made those contacts between naps.

The guest list included:
Mommy and Daddy (required)
2 sets of grandparents
Uncle Ty
Aunt and Uncle with closest cousin
"Aunties with future Uncles"
and
The favorite Tia

You cannot be surprised that the daughter of
"She Who Rides With Cell Phone"
has telephone skills before her first birthday!

The day of the big event arrived
and our birthday girl knew something special was going to happen
when she woke up to find the house festooned with
"Pink Poodle in Paris" decor.
And a special birthday banner with her name on it!

The first birthday party was an extravagant affair,
complete with Eiffel Tower (pink, of course).

An Eiffel Tower cake (also pink).

Eiffel Tower drinking cups (you guessed it - pink!)

There was also a passel of pink poodles.

Some pink poodles came in purses,

Some pink poodles were carried around by cousins:

It is with dismay that we note:
The pink pony was a party crasher.

Also noted with dismay,
the pink poodle ears headband was not particularly appreciated

by the guest of honor.

The birthday cake was chocolate with raspberry filling.
As you can tell, the cake and frosting was
much enjoyed.

When the cake is all gone, what's a girl to do?

Well, one may eat the plate, of course!

It has been an extraordinary year
getting to know this future Pony Cousin.
So far, we really like what we see.

And the fun has just begun!

What a year!

Hope your New Year is full of blessings!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T20:18:00.000-08:00

Christmas Greetings

from our hometo your home.

Rodeo Princess Gracie
and
Saddle Mountain Rider

send our best wishes to all
our Pony Cousins
and friends
on this Christmas Eve.

God bless.

A Skywatch from Me!

2009-11-27T12:54:00.000-08:00

Sky Watch from SMR

I was inspired by a photoshot from our friend Cactus Jack.

I looked at that gorgeous photo and then, thought to myself,
"Self, i think i have a Skywatch photo that i can blog."
So i looked through the latest batch of photos that i had uploaded
and - there it was!

On the last part of the Labor Day Weekend, my husband, Honey Lips,
took me and Rory (my assistant) on a trip north to travel the North Cascades Highway.

On our first evening, we stopped at the Scenic Area overlooking the Vantage Bridge.
The sun was going down and i caught the last rays as a backdrop.

When i say last rays, i mean LAST RAYS because just a moment later ...

Ole HL and Rory were in the dark!
(There's some irony in that statement, if you think about it.)
Arent they sweet?

Well, the 3 of us had a grand trip.
I think i should throw out a photo from time to time
to show you all what we did.

And there have been a number of other adventures for HL and me, lately,
which i really should share.

This is one of the adventures:

Some of the other adventures involve these characters:

There's a lot to tell - on another day.
Because my muppet is due to wake up any minute now.
And Nana has to get out some eating supplies
and a Christmas book to look at after eating and clean up.

So ... ta ta for now!

Pony Cousin Carousel Award

2009-11-05T21:46:00.000-08:00

I love Pony Carousels.

I have a fascination with the carousels of the midways and amusement parks.
I have reached for many brass rings at the Spokane Carousel.
The very small community of Bickleton built a simple facility
to house their prized antique carousel.
The Yakima State Fair showcases another beautifully refurbished carousel.

I have a small collection of carousel statuettes and music boxes,
Which i guess i should do a blog on sometime.

But the reason for this blog is for me to express my admiration
for a Cousin who has much artistic talent.
This Cousin has one of the most beautiful and elegant blogs
i have ever seen.
She goes by "Sares" and i look forward to all of her latest photos and layouts.

I would like to award her this "Pony Cousin Carousel Award" for her art.

What really impresses me is when she gathers together everyday odds and ends
and arranges them in the most creative ways
that range from the "cute" to the "oh my".

I am doing some make-over work in my home
and i have wished over and over that i could get Sares to my house for a weekend.
I'll bet that she could take my stuff and really make a showcase.
I have odds and ends and i have seen what she can do with odds and ends.

So, dear Sares, this award is for you and your wonderful blog.
Please continue to inspire those of us who recognize art,
but find it hard to duplicate it ourselves.

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T13:33:00.000-07:00

Happiest of Halloweens, my Pretties!

I am about to fly out the door to see about frightening children
and taking their candy

But, before i go zooming around on my broom tonight,
I am going to take some time to partake in a little witches' fun.
It's called "Cat Bowling" and i have started out with some pretty weak scores,
so i will need a little practice.

I would like to invite you to join me.
Just click on this website and it give it your best shot.(No kitties were harmed in this game.)

I betcha get hooked!
It's spooktacular.

http://www.bravozulu.com/content/includes/cat.swf

Corn Tepees

2009-10-18T22:27:00.000-07:00

The blogs of my cousins have inspired me to accept the fact that fall is here.

And, because those cousins have blogged so eloquently and with great, artistic fall flourishes,
i feel that i must, and want to, do a fall blog page.
In doing so, i would like to focus on another one of our inspirational family members.

The Pony Cousins share a special aunt who was quite clever at writing poetry.
And, from the time that "The Little Cousins" were old enough to sit and listen,
Aunt Virginia would recite her poems to us.

She wrote poems of new love and lost love.
She wrote poems filled with imagery and memories.

Many of her poems were published in the Tacoma Tribune
and others included in the Clover Collection of Verse,
which is in the Library of Congress.

Before her death (at age 97),
she had her poems collected and published so that our family could always enjoy them.
We treasure the volume.

One of our favorites was one that The Little Cousins called "Corn Tepees",
because that seemed to be the image of the poem that we remembered most.

Autumnal

The mountains bask, a bluish band,
Red maple mock the sun

And everywhere corn tepees stand;
The scarecrow's work is done.

The tipsy bees work slower now,
Their hives are honey-stored,
For apples blush on every bough

Whose blooms the bees explored.

The goldenrod like tapers stand,
Blue asters smoke the plain

To blaze the message of the land,
Autumn is here again!

Pony Cousin News

2009-10-06T01:18:00.000-07:00

Skyler Has a Girlfriend!

The Golden Boy picks a winner!

In our Pony Cousin Rides this summer, we found that Skyler
has attachment issues with none other than the beautiful
Arab Paint ...Brandy.

This was the very pleasant view that Skyler and i had in our trail rides.

Notice that Brandy is scrubbed and brushed; her tail is nicely braided.

Brandy was a source of confidence and comfort for Skyler.
Our Boy does not have many trail miles on him
and there are a lot of new things out there on each ride.
He does pretty well about accepting most challenges and being able
to follow behind a trail-wise mare was a boost to his confidence.

I was very impressed with the team work that Paint Girl had with her Brandy.

Isnt this a great action shot from the barrel race?
I like the flexibility and agility that Brandy shows as she bends her body
and plants her front foot, swinging her hind end around to dig in
for the big turn.
Paint Girl's leg pressure is moving Brandy into position for the turn.
That's team work.

Paint Girl is a great example of what it takes to be a Pony Cousin.
Skill and love of her ponies is part of it.
But what makes Paint Girl a true Pony Cousin is exemplified
by the assistance that she gave to ole SMR during all of the summer rides
and especially at the Pony Cousin Stampede.

From the first hour of the Stampede Weekend,
Paint Girl stepped in to help with my ponies.
I pulled into the ranch a little before 1:00 in the afternoon.
It was an easy trip with the 2 ponies, but i was by myself.
Palomino Girl would drive to the ranch after getting off work.

When i pulled in, i spied a welcome sight.

Paint Girl and Pony Girl were already there and had their ponies
pretty much settled into their pens.
Although they had just finished a long drive themselves,
those girls jumped right in, grabbed my 2 ponies,
and had them unloaded, loosened up, and in their pens
before i could finish my first swig of whiskey.

These Pony Cousins did everything they could to make sure
that i had what i needed during the course of the whole weekend.
That's the kind of cousins they are.

I think that the world would be a much better place
if everyone had just one cousin like these.

A favorite Pony Cousin celebrates a birthday.

2009-09-28T22:00:00.000-07:00

Cousin Eeeeee! has a birthday!

Witty, fun-loving, thoughtful.

This Pony Cousin will take in any Cousin who needs a place to stay.
Let's just say that she puts up with a lot of "hoo-rah"
and says that she likes it.
She will mix any drink that is wanted.
She will whip up the best salsa and pesto.
She cooks good ole downhome foods that are soooooo tasty.
She makes sure that ole SMR is very comfortable when i get to come over.

And last year, for her birthday, i sent her a card that i made.
On the outside, the card was all buttons and bows...
and...
on the inside was this picture....
I wrote: "Hope your birthday doesnt blow."

Sometimes i am just a stinker.
But it made her laugh.

I love this cowgirl to pieces.

Happy Birthday,
Dear Blue-Eyed Cousin

Pony Cousin News

2009-08-02T10:23:00.001-07:00

Skyler Has a Girlfriend!

Disorderly Conduct Award

2009-08-01T20:23:00.000-07:00

At Cousin Eeeee's home, a small group of the Pony Cousins
met for a brief meeting to finish up the plans for the upcoming
Pony Cousin Stampede.
At the conclusion of the business meeting,
an iniation of a new Pony Cousin was performed.
(More on that later)

Then it was time for the entertainment!
The "skit" was brief; but, oh, so funny.
Therefore:

Disorderly Conduct AwardFor conduct outside the norms of propriety in most circles,
but well within the norms of the Pony Cousins,
this award is given to :
The Divine Ms C
and
The Desert Rose.

I cannot, in good conscience, describe specifically
what they did to entertain us, however,
just know that no one was hurt or arrested.
And we all laughed until we cried at their antics.
All in good Cousin fun.

I love you, Cousins!
You two have still got it!
(And you are still my favorites - inside joke)

I wish i could tell you all about it, but there are "pinky swears" involved.
I am laughing again now, just thinking about it.

Right smart a fer piece...

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

It's that time of year for the Cousins to gather with the whole dang family.

We tend to "scare up" all of the usual suspects:
relatives, shirt-tail relatives, in-laws, outlaws, and people who wish they were related.

And, believe it or not, i look forward to seeing this bunch of hooligans again.

We will meet at the "home town" for visiting, card-playing, storytelling, laughing,

and for meeting new family members.

There will be taco soup waiting for us on the first night.

On Saturday afternoon, the big potluck will be spread over long tables
in the clubhouse.

One of the Cousins usually makes Grandma's recipe for "cabbage cigars".

One of the Aunts can be counted on to make the family favorite, "West Virginia green beans".

It seems like every year, someone has a new recipe to try on us.

Fried chicken, baked ham ....
fresh fruit, a colorful array of salads ...

And then ... there is a whole table just for desserts!
Ya gotta love it!

My favorite part is sitting down with my dear Aunts and Uncles.
I love to hear the remembrances of their lives.
Some of the best stories have been told to us since we were children.
I treasure the moments that i have spent with each one
of my father's brothers and sisters.
The spouses of these brothers and sisters are truly special folks, as well.
They have led interesting lives and, one might say,
that the spouses have enriched the lives of all of us.

Some folks have asked how far i have to travel to reach the family campout.
I would have to respond in the words of my great-grandma:
"It's right smart a fer piece."

But it is worth every mile to me.

Thank the Lord for Farmers and Mini Coopers

2009-07-15T20:04:00.000-07:00

The Farmers' Market opens early on Saturday mornings

during the growing season.

My girlfriend and i spent a busy morning at the Farmers' Market.
We procured some pretty tasty-looking seasonal veggies:

small onions, just cut;
zucchini squash, just right for grilling;

baby carrots, pulled that morning;

red peppers, smelling sweet and looking shiny;
and the last cutting of the fresh asparagus.

We started the morning by planning our attack of the merchants
and their wares over an iced latte -
it being quite warm, already, at 9:30 am.

We determined that it would be prudent to hit the bakery booth early on,
since last time, we missed out on "the best stuff".

My girlfriend suggested that we tell the bakery staff, that, in the future,
they should plan to bring more of "the best stuff",
since they always run out early in the day.

We decided, however, to make it over to the booth a bit earlier on our quest
and we were prepared to push and shove other shoppers out of our way
if there appeared to be a shortage of "the best stuff".

I reminded my friend that one of our best ploys of the previous season
of the Farmers' Market was to bring along my assistant, Rory.

Rory loves to meet new people, and, let's face it, she is adorable.
While Rory and i distracted the shoppers at the head of the line,
my girlfriend quietly eased herself into the space at the counter.

Hey, i know it sounds like a dirty, rotten trick -
but you need to try this bakery's "best stuff"!
Anyway, our ploy worked, and none of the other shoppers
were even aware of what happened.

Well, we did not have Rory with us on this day,
but we were resolved to bring her next time.

We grabbed up our lattes and dashed down to the bakery counter,
where the line was short and the supply of "the best stuff" was even shorter.

We were able to snatch up a couple of our favorites,
without pushing or shoving anyone,
although one reeaaalllly slow woman reeeaaaalllly tested my patience.

With great sighs of relief, we proceeded down the row of booths,
filling our canvas bags with some of the best looking products of the early season.

My girlfriend bought some lavender plants
and i bought some homemade puppy biscuits
for the aforementioned Rory and her "homeys".
A couple of stops to say "howdy" to friends, and, we were done.

One might conclude that my girlfriend and i attend
the Farmers' Market just for the amusement of it.
But, oh no; there is a grand purpose for this particular trip to the market...

We need supplies.
We are going "Girl Camping"!
We are leaving our husbands at home to work.

We are celebrating the first days of summer -
-we will eat girl food
- we will talk girl talk
-we will drink girl drinks
-we will do whatever the girl in us wants to.

There are 3 requirements for "Girl Camping":
1. Refrigeration
2. Blender
3. Microwave

At first my girlfriend and i discussed the possibility of camping near Leavenworth.

But that seemed like too much work and a long drive.
Besides, this was the maiden voyage of the summer
and we didnt want to spend our time driving and stuff.
I know that it isnt that tough,
but we decided to stay closer to home.
Girls can do that - you know - change their minds.

We decided to camp at a lovely park on the Snake River.
We planned simple meals, simple accommodations,
simple projects, simple magazines to read,
and we planned complex, complicated, blended drinks.

Of course, alcohol is forbidden in this park,
so we decided that the rule meant that we would have to be discreet.
They didnt really mean that "we" couldnt have our blended drinks.
That would just be wrong - and mean.

We talked about going to town for an afternoon,
but once we got settled in,all we wanted to do was watch the river go by.

This park has another funny rule:
-we could park as many vehicles in our spot as could fit;
but no wheels can touch any blade of grass.
My girlfriend had driven her mini cooper to the park in case we wanted to go to town.
The rules say that if we park the mini cooper in an adjacent (empty) spot,
we have to pay to rent the space.
We could, conversely, park the mini at the complete opposite end of the park,

near the boat launch and the office.

Neither of us was inclined to take what amounted to a 50 mile hike
to park the mini and then retrieve it when we needed it.

We studied on the situation for a few minutes.
We knew that we could circumvent these inconvenient rules
if we put our heads together.
Let's just say that we have done such things
in previous and similar situations.

It didnt take very long and we came up with this plan:

We backed the trailer in as far back into the space as we could.
We carefully "eyeballed" the remaining space
and we were sure that if we parked the mini cooper
in a perpendicular position,
it would just fit on the apron of the parking strip
and would be completely off the roadway.

I stood next to the suburban and close to the open window of the mini
to give direction to my girlfriend behind the wheel.
With my judgment of distance and angle and with my girlfriend's
expertise in maneuvering her vehicle,
we were able to make good use of every available inch.

This finite parking was completely in just 3 passes.
As you can see, one could not slip a grasshopper's leg in between the 2 vehicles.

The park hostess stopped by to admire our parking capability.
She was quite impressed.
Later that day, she brought another park official by our way to marvel at the scene.

My girlfriend and i were pretty nonchalant about the whole situation.

Apparently, these people, who make these "special park rules",
are not prepared to deal with a couple of "broads" like us!
They can make all the silly rules they want;
We will find a way around the rule and it is no big deal.
They just dont know with whom they are dealing!

After all - this is Girl Camping.

"The love for all living creatures is the noblest attribute of man." ~Charles Darwin

2009-07-10T02:35:00.000-07:00

There are a few things about people, in this world, that i will never understand.

*****************************************************

My girlfriend and i look forward to summertime.
We both have busy year-round schedules,
but, in the summer, we make time for doing things together.

We like to meet at a reasonable hour in the morning
to head out to some shop we havent been to lately;
we enjoy making a Costco stop;
we visit galleries;
we locate attractions that are new or novel;

we have lunch in places we dont often frequent;
and we scout out a winery here or there.
(There are scads of wineries we still havent visited.)

Every once in a while, we find some real treasures.

Such was the case a few days ago.
We had a great outing - we even ran some errands
that our husbands wanted us to do!

We had a nice lunch at a cute little cafe, which was new to us.
We made a quick stop at the Big R to pick up some beet pulp for the yellow pony.
Then it was time to head home.

When we reached my home, we started to transfer her treasures
from my town car, to her mini cooper.

She had just washed it and the mini was as bright and shiny
as a new nickel in the sunshine.
I remarked that it probably didnt even take 10 minutes
with a small rag to wash it.
and she probably didnt even have to move her feet -
she could just wash the whole car while standing in one place.

Washing my town car takes a little more than 10 minutes,
but only if it there is a crew of 3 or 4 teenagers tackling the job.

About that time, my girlfriend said "Shush".
"I think i hear something".

I thought, "fine - I'll be quiet about washing your smelly old car."
But then i heard something also.

It was a meow - definitely a meow.
And i thought,

"that isnt Fabio's meow - it isnt "whiny" enough."
(Yes, Fabio, i said "whiny" - you really sound that way some times!)

And the meow was definitely outside, while Fabio's domain is in the house.

I suggested that the sound came from one of our huge bushes.

Another meow and we both went over to see if we could see anything.
As we approached the bush, the cat made a big hissing sound.
I said that the cat should make up its mind - did it want us to help it or not?

My girlfriend pulled some of the branches of the bush,
but neither of us could see anything.

Not knowing what to do, we left it alone.

That night, i asked my husband, Honey Lips, to check on the cat in the morning.
Honey Lips is a good sport and he said he would.
The next morning, he did check on the bush and the cat,
but he didnt see anything or hear anything.

This is a bush that my mother planted in 1962.
In 1962, the bush was just a few sticks about 18 inches in length.
Now, it is 15 feet high and about 25 feet in diameter.
The sticks that now form the branches of the bush have grown quite tall.
The bush is much taller than my son's basketball hoop.

The branches have intertwined themselves as they grew,
to the point where they are thickly woven
and nearly impassable by anything of any size..

Late that afternoon, Honey Lips was moving sprinklers and he heard a meow.
He came into the house and said that he needed me to help him;
i was to look in as he was tearing branches out to see if i could spot the cat.

Honey Lips started clipping away at the lower branches with the pruners.
He cut a tunnel that he could crawl into to take a look.

We thought that we could see pretty far into the center of the bush,
but the cat was silent and we were not sure what direction to continue.
I suggested that we make another tunnel from the other side,
because it was so dark inside.

We went around to the other side and HL started pruning away.
He stopped and said this would take forever.
He went to the garage and the next thing i hear is the chainsaw.
He looked at me and i looked at him and i said,
"The cat appears to have been in the bush for several days -
it must be stuck or too afraid to come out.
I dont want to go to bed tonight knowing that it is stuck in there
and suffering.
Cut the bush out - do as much as you need to."

So cut, he did.

He cut on the 2nd tunnel and he went back and cut on the 1st tunnel again.

Then the cat meowed.
The sound was off to our left.
So HL started the 3rd tunnel.

I was trying to get the cat to meow again.
HL cut deeper and deeper into the bush
and i couldnt believe that we couldnt see any cat or any movement.

I went into the house and put Stella, our Yorkie-poo, on a leash.

I thought i would have HL take Stella into the tunnel to see if she could locate the cat.
Stella is a mighty hunter.
But we never actually tried that.

Just as HL stopped the chainsaw, we heard the meow again.
HL said he was afraid that he would saw the cat in half with the saw.
He reached for the pruners and crawled deep into the tunnel,
chopping away.
We had been at this for 2 and 1/2 hours!

I took Stella back into the house and got an old towel
because i just knew we had to be getting close.

Finally, HL said the words i had been waiting to hear!
"I've got him!"
I said, "Here! wrap him in this towel in case he's frightened
and tries to scratch you."

I was expecting, based on the meow, a full-grown cat.
What HL wrapped in the towel was a very small black kitten.

HL said, "No wonder we couldnt see him, he's very small and very black."

Where in the Sam Hill did this tiny thing come from?
It is a heckuva a long way from our neighbor's house (or anything else) to this bush -
how did it get there?
And how did it get stuck in this bush?

The poor thing had been in there for days.
I got some water and touched its mouth with some drops on my finger,
but it wouldnt open its mouth.
I figured that it was too frightened.

The kitten was covered in dirt, but its eyes were bright and clear.
I snuggled it into the towel and located the small kennel
that we sometimes use for the "poos", Stella and Rory.

I put the kitten in there with a bowl of water and left it in the utility room
where it wouldnt be bothered by the other pets.
I checked on the kitten before i went to bed and i saw
that it had drunk most of the water.
I fixed a small bowl of bread crumbs and milk and left it for the night.

The next morning, the dish with the milk and bread had been licked clean.
I gave it some kitten chow and some water
and it crawled out of the towel to eat and drink hungrily.
I put my hand in to pet it and, at first it stiffened, then went on with its eating.

That night, i decided to see if i could wash the dirt off,
so i put on one glove in case it tried to scratch.
I was pleasantly surprised when the kitten accepted the lukewarn water
and seemed to be soothed by it.
The kitten really enjoyed being dried off with the clean towel and i sat down to caress it.
The kitten's fur was silky and, all things considered, it appeared to be in good health.
-Except that it seemed to drag one leg and the paw on that leg"knuckled under".

This kitten started to purr as i stroked it.
It was alert, looking around the room with its ears forward.
It was perfectly content and rolled over on its back when i stroked its tummy.
It was so relaxed that it stretched its front legs out and then played with my finger.
I figured that the kitten was about 8 weeks old,
and at that age, i wasnt sure of its gender.

I ended up holding and petting the kitten for hours that night.
I finally put it back into its clean kennel, leaving it more food and water.
The next day, i had several business matters to take care of in town.
I got home in the afternoon and called the vet to see if i could
bring the kitten in on an emergency basis.
The answer was yes, so i wrapped the little tyke in a towel and drove to the vet.

The kitten was a bit frightened, but i hugged it close to me and it didnt try to get away.
The vet, Joanna, examined the kitten closely and determined it to be female.
Joanna thought the bloated tummy might be because of worms or due to food and water deprivation during her ordeal in the bush.
She watched the kitten move and noticed that it couldnt hold up its tail.
She noted the leg that was being dragged and said that the kitten
might have a pinched sciatic nerve.
And i said, "That's just like me!"

Joanna said that she couldnt tell about damage to the pelvis and leg
without an x-ray.
I asked about the cost and she said for 2 views it would be over 90 dollars.
I thought "Holy Crap!", but i agreed to it because there was no fixing it
if there was no diagnosis.

So Joanna and the assistant took the kitten and i went to the waiting room.
About 20 minutes later, Joanna called me in to look at the x-rays.

On the screen, she pointed to the leg and it showed a complete fracture.
The bones were side by side.
Joanna said, "This is the leg the kitten was trying to walk on."
I had my fist in my mouth.
Joanna continued, "There appears to be no feeling in the other leg and the tail,
because the pelvic bone is pushed up against the spine."
She said, " i can put a little pin in that fractured leg,
but the surgery to the pelvis and spinal column would have to be done in Pullman
(the vet school) and it could cost up to $3000.
If the kitten doesnt have the surgery, it soon would lose control of its bowels
and would have to be euthanized.
If the kitten has the spinal surgery, chances are that relief would be temporary
and the kitten would have to be put to sleep anyway."

I told Joanna how the kitten fought to survive and how it must have dragged itself
to safety from some remote distance.
I told her how the little tyke purred through its pain as i washed it and dried it.

Me stroking; it purring; neither the kitten nor i knew
that it had no chance for healthy, happy life.

Joanna said that the kitten's injuries were consistant with being thrown out of a moving car
and i had already guessed that someone had dumped it off on us - let's just say that it has happened many times before with many other animals.
We have spent a bundle placing these abandoned animals at the Humane Society Shelter.

As much as i wanted to give this little survivor a chance,
i couldnt let it go through all these surgeries, just to see it finally suffer some more.
Also, i dont have $3000 laying around.
Joanna thought it best to put the kitten to sleep and it broke my heart, but i agreed.

A week later and this still haunts me.
This is a long story and i wont blame any of my readers if they just skim it,
but it has been cathartic for me to write about it.
I had the kitten for just a couple of days, and got really attached to it,
but that's not why it haunts me so.
I think that the irony of the whole situation struck a deep chord in me.
A tiny little spirit with a great will to survive...
-what made it meow so loudly?
-it must have been terribly frightened, but the final meows
from the center of the bush were made so that we could locate it.

-But in the end, it didnt matter that we even found the tiny black kitten at all,
because the kitten's fate had already been sealed by people that i just dont understand.

Some "firsts" for Rodeo Princess Gracie

2009-07-05T22:21:00.000-07:00

My Angel: My Gracie.
My little bug is growing up waaaay too fast.
At 6.5 months, she sits up by herself, she crawls, she pulls herself up, and (sniff!), she stands up!
Apparently, she doesn't need us too much any more.

On this 4th of July weekend, little Gracie experienced some pretty cool milestones.
She attended her First Parade!

Sitting in the shade in her adorable green gingham sunsuit,
Gracie saw all of the usual elements of the parade:
Firetrucks, marching bands, old cars and floats.
She stood with her Mama and Daddy, Nana and Poppie
when the large group of veterans proudly presented Old Glory.
She loved the colors, the noise, and the action.
There were many ponies pointed out to her by Mama and Nana.
There were pony carts; there were children on tiny ponies;
there was one tiny girl (not much bigger than Gracie) on a huge draft pony;
there were real Rodeo Queens and Princesses riding ponies that carried
showy bouquets of flowers behind the cantle;
there were proud vaqueros on dancing horses that shined like new glass;
there were Indians with brightly colored blankets on their ponies;
there were cowboys swinging ropes over the heads of their ponies;
and one of the cowboys threw a lasso so large that his pony was completely encircled.

But with what was little Gracie most entranced?

-The ice cream cart on the sidewalk.
-And sucking on the various parts of her stroller.

Gracie is also learning to eat food with a spoon.

After one particular episode of Nana feeding Gracie her sweet potatoes,
Nana sent Gracie's Mama (who was at work) the following text:
"Feeding your daughter solid food is like loading a wheelbarrow with frogs.
Give me 15 minutes before you try to call me back -
have to "hose off" baby, baby bib, baby chair, dining table, and me."

I am not exaggerating when i say that the kid had sweet potatoes
all over her head and body.
At bath time, Gracie's Mama was a little surprised to find
a bit of sweet potato in Gracie's ear.
This was accomplished by her turning her head to look at something every time
i got the food near her mouth.

I dont know if she actually swallowed any of her lunch that day
- there is no proof of it.
But i would hope that she could get her nutrition in the same way
that plants and flowers get their nutrition
- through osmosis.

Join the fun at the Pony Cousin Stanpede!

2009-05-02T23:29:00.000-07:00

Okay, Bloggers:

There is way, way too much sadness going on in our blogging world.
There are illnesses, injuries, re-injuries, stress, and you-name-it.
It is time for Ole SMR to liven things up.
And what better way to get a little rowdy than to throw a

Pony Cousin Stampede!

And you are all invited to enter!

There will be:
- a "Howdy Trail Ride"
- a Rodeo
- a Rodeo Queen and 2 Princesses will be selected- and will be announced at the Pony Cousin Campfire.

So, all of you Honorary Pony Cousins out there,
(you know who you are!)

It's time to Saddle Up!

Pull together your best riding outfit -
Do you remember how the Pony Cousins ride?

-That's right-The Pony Cousins ride with flair!

If you think that you dont have enough "bling",
check in with
Pony Cousin Desert Rose
or
Pony Cousin Pony Girl

They have some blogs that will help you select everything from boots to blankets!

Or, you could check in on one of my favorite shoppers:
Meg at Lucchese to Louis Vuiton!
She knows all about flair!

First:
The Howdy Trail Ride.
1. Tell us your "Pony Cousin Stampede Name"
(mine is Whistlin' Jack)2. Tell us the name of the pony you will ride.
( i will ride Okie)

We will start our ride with the Pony Cousin Prayer.

PC Desert Rose will fill everyone's champagne glass
with either a mimosa or a orange juice so that we can toast our participants.

Then, all of the Pony Cousin Stampede participants will mount up for a 2 hour trail ride
on the "pertiest trail" in the Northwest.On this trail you will ride through emerald meadows and tall timber.
You will ride beside trout-filled streams and ponds.
The trail is cleared from fallen logs; wide, and easy to follow.
The climbs are few, but the vista is magnificent.
Keep your eye out for wildlife!
The time will fly by on this ride and before you know it, we will be back at camp.

Bronco Betsy's Chuckwagon
will be waiting for all of the hungry trail riders.There will fresh drinks of all kinds, fresh fruit and vegetables,
a hearty dinner of beef steak or salmon,
and a freshly-made mountain berry cobbler to top it off.

The Pony Cousins will have a rousing Campfire Program to entertainus all until it's time to hit the sack.
It's been a full day - lots of fun tomorrow - you'd better get your rest.

The next day the Rodeo Events begin.
Select 3 Rodeo Events in which you want to participate.
Just 3 - I know ... You can do more ... but, just 3, please.

Choose from the following events:
(The Pony Cousins do this Rodeo in the NorthWest style.)

- The Okanagan Stump Race (Barrel Race)
- The I-5 Obstacle Course
- The Rattlesnake Hills Wineglass Challenge
- The Willamette Valley Lodge-Pole Bending
- The OHop Bob Flag Race
-The Chief Joseph Spotted Pony Travois Race

What are these events?

- The Okanagan Stump Race (Barrel Race):A regular barrel race - 3 barrels - timed.

- The I-5 Obstacle Course:
The obstacles are: walk your pony over a bridge and onto a tarp;
jog to a mailbox, where you take out a rain slicker and put it over your saddle horn;
walk your pony to the fence where you put the rain slicker.
Pick up a sack of cans; carry the sack of cans to a barrel and place it there.
Back your pony around the 2 barrels in a "figure-8 pattern.
Jog your pony to the first plastic cactus; remove the ring from the arm;
Jog to the next cactus and place the ring on the arm.
Walk your pony to the poles which are on the ground -
sidepass in either direction.
Jog your pony to the center, take the flag from the steward and
Take a victory lap!

- The Rattlesnake Hills Wineglass Challenge
Each rider will be given a glass of wine.Upon given commands, the rider will walk, jog, or lope their pony.
At the end of the required time, the wine glass of each rider will be checked
to see who has the most remaining liquid in their glass.
Pony Cousins are cautioned not to be tempted to drink the wine, thus causing automatic elimination.

- The Willamette Valley Lodge-Pole BendingRegular pole-bending pattern - timed event.

- The OHop Bob Flag Race
Flags are placed in 2 barrels. Riders pick up a flag in 1 barrelthen ride to the next barrel to place the flag there.
Regular flag race pattern - timed event.

-The Chief Joseph Spotted Pony Travois Race
a special event for those Pony Cousins riding spotted ponies of any kind:
Appy, paint, dapple, or freckled.
Riders will pull a travois (2 long poles with a blanket across)in a figure-8 pattern around 2 barrels.
Timed event.

That's it for the list of events -
which 3 are best suited for you and your pony?

In the comment section,
1. give us your Stampede Name
2. the name of your pony
3. list the 3 rodeo events you will ride.

When all of the Pony Cousins are entered,
we will begin the competition.
We will actually list the competitors in each event;
then, I, and my assistant, will throw a set of dice - one die per entry -
the total score of the dice will be recorded;
the highest total will win the race.
The scores of all the races will be added up and the finalists will become the royalty.

There will be a prize for the Rodeo Queen!This lovely plaque of stained wood will be yours.
It has a hanger of black wire, crafted to look like barbed wire.
The graphic shows a herd of ponies
with the caption: "Horse Lovers Gather Here".
It is suitable for tack room or home display.

Plus, you will have the honor of joining Pony Cousin Paint Girl
as Pony Cousin Rodeo Queen!
The 2 Princesses will join the Desert Rose and Palomino Girl
as Royalty.
In case you didn't know - this is pretty impressive company!

So, come on, Bloggers!
Show your Pony Cousin Spirit:
Sign Up for the
Pony Cousin Stampede!

Don't Worry, Be Happy

2009-04-29T00:27:00.000-07:00

****This isn't a tribute to Bob Marley!!****

There is a lot of worry and stress in every day life.
There seems to be a "ton" of it in the blogs that i read.

A month or so back, a young man wrote an article
about "Worry" in his Facebook.

I would like to share it with my readers.
He said that i could.

Lately I have felt compelled to share my thoughts about worrying because I see so many people around me that struggle with it.
I can't say that I have always completely controlled my worry, but I have found peace with it and hope my experiences can help someone out there.

Webster's defines worry as:
to move, proceed, or progress by unceasing or difficult effort : struggle
to feel or experience concern or anxiety : fret

Whether it's worry about an upcoming test, being in debt, or the health of a loved one, I don't think worry is a healthy part of life.
But I think the bigger issue of worry is struggle.
It is inevitable that we will have struggles in life.

People may ask, "Well why do bad things happen to good people?"
And my answer would be that if we didn't have bad things in life, we couldn't appreciate the good things.
Making mistakes is key to growth.
A loss makes you learn a lot more than a win.

This is where faith in Jesus Christ kicks in.

I CAN'T say that being a Christian makes my life easy.
I have struggles.
But I CAN say that being a Christian makes me more capable of dealing with struggles, and therefore dealing with worry.
I don't have to rely on myself to deal with issues in my life because I have a Savior that has my best interests in mind.
The peace of mind that I get from Christ is mind-blowing!
I know that His will is perfect, and his plans for me are for my benefit and prosperity (Jer. 29:11).

In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches about worry.
He states "do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?"
He goes on to ask, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"
Jesus emphasizes in verse 33, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
And I think the key verse is 34, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own."

So next time you begin to worry about worldly issues, give it to God in prayer.
I once heard a quote, "When God sends us down stony paths, he provides strong shoes."

I thought this was worth sharing.
This young man helped me put things into perspective once again.

I asked the young man if i could share his words
and he said, "Sure."
He is not a show-off or one who usually seeks the spotlight.
He can be rather quiet at times, but he is also a lot of fun.

You see, I know him pretty well.
This Facebook piece was written by my son
and i call him Tyler Mijo.
(pronounced: Mee-Ho)

He invited me to read it a while back and i thought what he wrote
was pretty astute.
But then, he is my son.

On the occasion of his 24th birthday this week,
I went back and read the piece again.

After catching up on all the blogs,
I knew that i had to share it.

This is Mijo, doing something he loves.
He is playing in a volleyball tournament at the college.
He is the one way above the 8 foot net, spiking the ball.

I have to say that I have been blessed by God with 2 fine kids
and Tyler Mijo has been a daily reminder of God's gifts.
Happy Birthday, Mijo!

Cowgirl Spirit

2009-04-26T20:59:00.000-07:00

The Pony Cousins take, very seriously,

these inspirational words from Cowgirl Heroine, Dale Evans:

Cowgirl Up

"Cowgirl is an attitude, really.

A pioneer spirit, a special American brand of courage.

The cowgirl faces life head on, lives by her own lights, and makes no excuses..."

-Dale Evans Rogers, Los Angeles, 1992

The Pony Cousins celebrate the “inner cowgirl.”

We know that we have the cowgirl spirit inside of us

and we use that spirit to lead us into doing things

for which we have a passion.

Our passion is to live our lives with our ponies and our families.

We love our families, but we celebrate our independent spirit,

as our mothers, aunts, and grandmothers have demonstrated to us.

We have a zest for life and enjoy the world around us,

as it is a gift from our Creator.

The Pony Cousins have been blessed to be able to lead this life,

while knowing that these ponies are, also, a gift from God,

here to enrich our lives and to bring us together.

All of my cousins are special, wonderful people.

I have mentioned many of them in my blog.

Today, i would like to nominate these particular Cousins

for a special Pony Cousin

"Cowgirl Spirit Award".

First Cowgirl Spirit Award Winner is

She Who Paints Fabulous Ponies

This artistic and clever Pony Cousin is a fabulous hostess.

She has, again and again, hosted the "Goodtime Cousin Weekends"

as well as the "Pony Cousin Council Weekends".

Always with a smile and wonderful "eats".

Rare is the Cousin who doesnt look forward to her "gunpowder coffee"

first thing in the morning.

And the special cousins get to smear tablespoons of her

tasty frozen raspberry jam on their toaster muffins.

Her home is lovely and welcoming and all of the visiting Cousins are made

to feel important and special.

Cowgirl Spirit Award Winner

She Who Rides With Dreams In Her Heart

This Cousin must have big dreams, because she has a big heart.

She also has a lot of courage, as she is determined

to learn about riding trails and arenas.

It is inspiring to me that she is taking lessons

and is learning to care for her magnificent pony, Albert.

She admits that some of the work with the ponies does cause her concern,

because she has not spent much time being around them.

I admire her because she faces her fears and works her way through the obstacles.

She is learning a lot about ponies very quickly because she works at it

and knows how to ask questions.

She is practical and clever and we all just love her.

Cowgirl Spirit Award Winner

She Who Rides the Copper Pony

If the Pony Cousins ever needed an "official hugger",

this Cousin would be the hands-down choice.

No greeting is complete without a dandy hug from her.

And, any Cousin who ever needed the comfort or support of a hug,

would find that this Cousin gives the best ones.

This Cousin has "grit". Faced with life's many challenges,

she wont lie down and give up.

She has always been a hard worker

and will pitch-in to help anyone who needs it.

Her only fault may be that she has a habit of stealing grand babies.

Cowgirl Spirit Award Winner

She Who Rides the Black Beauty

This Pony Cousin is so special, i cant even say...

She has more than earned her title as the "Divine Ms C"

through her fabulous spirit and her drive to live her life on her own terms.

The stories of her amazing exploits are often repeated as part of our family "lore".

I talk about the Cowgirl Spirit when i speak of my Cousins

who are learning about new things at this stage of our lives,

but let me tell you about the Cowgirl Spirit of the Divine Ms C:

In her youth, she was a wanderer and a dreamer.

But when she awoke one day and found herself to be the single mother

of 2 beautiful daughters, she became determined to take action

on beginning a better life for the 3 of them.

She enrolled in college, and with her baby girls in tow,

began the journey to her teaching degree.

But that's not the whole story.

As difficult as that was, she was able to graduate -with honors-

and her teaching degree was in - special education.

The Divine One has dedicated her teaching career to help

children with special needs.

Her students and staff love her and

she is loved and adored by all of the Pony Cousins.

My Cousins are the grand daughters of pioneers

and we have heard the family stories of their courage and spirit.

That is why the statement by Dale Evans is special to us ...

"The cowgirl faces life head on, lives by her own lights, and makes no excuses…”

I love you, my dear and special Cousins!

Thank you for our special cousin-time this weekend.

And thank you for your love and support.

Adventures of Gracie and Nana

2009-04-16T23:09:00.001-07:00

Gracie and Nana get to spend all of every Monday together.
It is our time and we make the most of it.

A little work out is a good way to start the day.

We must have puter time to keep up on our blogs and email.

More fitness time as we "jumpy jump" to songs like
"Rockin' Robin" and
"Twist and Shout".

Nana gets pretty tuckered in the afternoon and
Gracie is real good about letting her rest a bit.

And when the parents get home in the evening,
Gracie and Nana pretend that they have been "kickin' back" all day.

Silly parents still dont know about all the fun we have
while they are at work.

Tribute to the King of the Cowboys

2009-03-24T09:54:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking of some of the influences in my life

and i would have to say that i have never thought of Roy Rogers
in this way until he passed away in '98.
But, let's face it, kids across the nation tuned into his TV show every week and there he was, in his improbable lifestyle of ponies, cowboys, and jeeps, fighting the bad guys. He fought fair and always gave the other guy the chance to do the right thing. He stood up for women and children, as well as those who couldn't fight for themselves. His show taught us American values and that to do the right thing was most important.

Born: 5 Nov 1911
Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio
Died: 6 July 1998 (Congestive heart failure)

Roy Rogers was called the "King of the Cowboys" during his long career

as the popular singing hero of movies and TV.

He was an original member of the cowboy singing group,

"The Sons of the Pioneers".

In 1937, he signed on with Republic Pictures, replacing their departing star, Gene Autry.

He starred in more than 80 westerns with titles like The Arizona Kid (1939) and In Old Cheyenne (1941).

He made his debut in "Under Western Stars";

not only did it introduce Rogers as a new star, but also his horse, Trigger.

Trigger was born on a ranch in San Diego, California.

The manager of the ranch was a man

named Roy Cloud, and the name originally given to

Trigger was Golden Cloud.

His sire was a thoroughbred and his dam was an unregistered mare sometimes described as a cold-blooded mare.

At around the age of three Trigger, or Golden Cloud, as he was known at the time, was sold to Hudkins Stables

of Hollywood, California, a stable that provided horses

for use in the movie industry.

Golden Cloud's first use in the movies was as a mount for Olivia de Havilland for her role as Maid Marian in the 1938 movie "The Adventures of Robin Hood."

Later the same year (1938) Roy Rogers, a young singer

who was becoming an actor, was preparing to star in his

first Western movie, "Under Western Stars."

He requested that the Hudkins Stable bring 7 or 8 horses to the movie lot for him to try out for use in the movie, including Golden Cloud.

Golden Cloud was the third horse that Roy tried out. Roy was later quoted as saying "I got on him and rode him 100 yards and never looked at another horse.”

Soon afterward, a character actor named Smiley Burnette,

who played a sidekick in the movie, commented

"Roy, that horse is sure quick on the Trigger."

Roy liked the comment so much he quickly

changed the horse's name, and one of the most famous movie and television duos in history was born.

As Roy Rogers career soared to superstardom, Trigger carried him along for the ride,

becoming just as much an American icon as his human counterpart.

Trigger continued to be the movie rental horse until Roy purchased him in 1942, for his own, for $2,500.

In all of the feature films that they did together, Trigger got top billing, right along with Roy.
Trigger was known to be able to perform a long list of tricks on cue,

including shooting a gun, walking on his rear legs, and untying ropes.
Roy worked really hard to become a good horseman
and he spent many hours with Trigger to perfect his tricks.
Trigger had a great temperament and Roy Rogers was openly sentimental and loving toward his famous horse.

A long-term contract with Republic Pictures followed the success of the picture, "Under Western Skies", and for the next 13 years, Roy Rogers was one of the studio's mainstays, rivaling and later surpassing Gene Autry at the box office.

By 1940, Rogers was successful enough to approach Republic with a request for a salary increase.

The studio was notoriously reticent on such matters, and he was denied any raise. But in lieu of the request, he extracted a much more valuable concession -- the rights to the name Roy Rogers and all merchandising that went with it.

The early '40s saw Rogers turn into a national institution.

His Westerns became even more popular and accessible once they were taken

out of the "historic" West of the 19th century and moved into the modern West,

which allowed for more freedom in plotting and dialogue.

By 1944, however, the movies and records represented only

a small part of the success that Rogers had achieved.

The merchandising of Rogers memorabilia and other items --

not just toys, but cereals and electric ranges -- coupled with a syndicated radio show made him one of the most familiar figures in popular culture throughout the war years.

In 1944, with his first teaming with featured actress Dale Evans,

the next major element in his screen success would be in place.

Dale was a Texas girl, who had a singing career, having moved through Nashville to Chicago. She was pretty as a picture and sang like a bird.

Herbert Yates, head of Republic Studios, was inspired by the successful stage play Oklahoma, and decided to expand the female lead in westerns and adopt this format for one of his biggest stars, Roy Rogers.

Since Evans was from Texas, Yates figured she could surely rope 'n' ride.

Rogers had his own doubts. "I guess the studio thought, her being from Texas, that she could ride a horse," he later recalled. "Well, she couldn't."

Nevertheless, the picture was a success. Before 1944 ended, Rogers and Evans had been teamed in

"Yellow Rose of Texas," "Lights of Old Santa Fe" and "San Fernando Valley."

Their relationship was, at first, purely professional, but their chemistry on screen was undeniable, and Republic was soon pairing them up regularly.

Success had placed Roy Rogers at the forefront of the entertainment business.

But, all of this success, and the whirlwind of activity surrounding it, was negated by the death of Rogers' wife, Arlene, the mother of his first three children, from an embolism following the birth of their son, Roy Jr., on November 3, 1946.

Rogers continued making movies and recording, along with his personal appearances and radio broadcast.

In the course of their work together in pictures, he and Evans (who had already been designated "The Queen of the West" by Republic's publicity office) became ever closer.

Finally, on December 31, 1947, the two were married.

The marriage proved a long and happy one.

In the book "Happy Trails," Evans explained the way they worked together:

"Roy is steady and dependable; I am hasty and impulsive ...

But the differences between us were all to the good;

we each had strengths that were good for the other one."

Despite their solid relationship, their marriage did have its trials.

Evans, who withdrew from motion pictures after the wedding,

found that Rogers' children resented her new role as their stepmother.

She would later say that this turmoil, coupled with her sense of guilt

for how she had raised her son, Tom (from a former marriage), left her "shaken, frightened,

on edge and at a loss for how to handle it."

Her son suggested they attend a Sunday evening worship service.

A week later, she returned to the church and accepted Jesus Christ into her life.

Rogers also became a devout Christian.

Roy Rogers' success in films, radio, television, on records,

and in personal appearances was offset by a long series of tragedies.

The death of his first wife, Arlene, was just the beginning of the tragic circumstance for Roy and, later, for Dale.

Robin, the only child born to Rodgers and Evans, suffered from Down's syndrome and died shortly before her second birthday in 1952.

Rogers and Evans eventually adopted four children from different ethnic and social backgrounds, only to lose two of them tragically.

Debbie, an orphan they adopted from Korea, died in a church bus accident.

Their son Sandy, who had suffered some brain damage due to physical abuse before being adopted by Rogers and Evans, died while serving in the army.

Each of these losses took a tremendous toll on Rogers and Evans, but the couple’s religious faith sustained them.

Their positive outlook, as they confronted life’s challenges, only added to the public's regard for them.

And mine.

And that is the reason that i came to appreciate the role that Roy Rogers (and Dale Evans) played in my formative years. It is easy to idolize the movie actor, singer, and horseman. But to know of these personal challenges, and to see how this couple were sustained by their faith and how they trusted and supported one another through the really tough times, is to see how we should all approach those challenges.

The couple made movies together for the remainder of the 1940s,

until the market for B-Westerns began to disappear with the advent of television,

Rogers followed the lead of Western star William ("Hopalong Cassidy") Boyd

and devised a television series of his own.

The Roy Rogers Show, starring Rogers and Evans

and co-starring Roy's "Sons of the Pioneers" replacement,

Pat Brady, went on the air on NBC in December of 1951,

beginning a seven-year network run that introduced his work to yet another generation of fans.

His theme song was actually written by Dale Evans because she felt that he needed a song that was all his own, not one "borrowed" from someone else. The song was the now famous tune: "Happy Trails to You."

Their partnership became ever-stronger over the years and they celebrated over 50 years of marriage.

For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Roy Rogers has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1752 Vine Street, a second star at 1733 Vine Street for his contribution to radio, and a third star at 1620 Vine Street for his contribution to the television industry.

Roy and Dale were inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1976 and Roy was inducted again as a member of the Sons of the Pioneers in 1995.

Rogers was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame twice, as an individual in 1988, and with the "Sons of the Pioneers" in 1980. He is the only individual to do that.

For her contribution to radio, Dale Evans has a star on the Hollywood Hall of Fame at 6638 Hollywood Blvd. She received a second star at 1737 Vine St. for her contribution to the television industry.

Crowned "Queen of the Cowgirls," Dale Evans, today, is recognized as the most powerful female presence in cowboy culture throughout the 20th century.

Besides adopting several children, Rogers and Evans were also well known as advocates for adoption and as founders and operators of children's charities. Both were outspoken Christians. In Apple Valley, California, where they made their home, numerous streets and highways as well as civic buildings have been named after them in recognition of their efforts on behalf of homeless and handicapped children.

Roy was an active Freemason and a Shriner and was noted for his support of their charities.

All of the great characteristics that were modeled by this cowboy are the things for which we should strive to have in our lives.

But, all you PONY GIRLS out there:
God love him, he wore the coolest boots!
There are just no real cowboys out there who could carry off those western shirts!

And, like the Pony Cousins, Roy Rogers and Trigger rode the trails with flair!
Just check out the gear on our dear old Trigger - now there is some serious bling!

Where could any cowgirl find a better role model and hero?

All those who remember his TV show will remember Roy's well-known farewell:

"Until we meet again, may the good Lord take a liking to you."

My Pink and Green Friday

2009-03-20T15:45:00.001-07:00

Finally, It's Friday!

Friend Meg at Lucchese to Vuitton
and Pony Cousin Pony Girl
have posted a "Pink and Green Friday".
So i decided to try it.

Help yourself to some champagne.

Have a green apple martini.

For my pink and green Friday,
I have been saving up some of my favorite spirits:

My dear friend, Jack, will be visiting tonight.
Why? Because it is Friday, of course.

Pink and green, you ask?
Get serious.

I have a special bottle hidden away, just for me.
And, i have a vicious guard dog,
who has been keeping an eye on the bottle all day,

It would be nice if you could join me, but,

I will have to settle for a drink to your health.
And here is a list of those healthy souls for whom i will have to drink:

(I'd better start early)

Palomino Girl
Pony Girl
Paint Girl
Dusty Devoe
Cowgirls Grace
Desert Rose
Melanie
Latigo Liz
Cactus Jack
Callie
Trail Riding Cowgirl
Victoria
Mrs Mom
Browneyed Cowgirls
TrailBoss
SunnySD
Glowing Ember
A Cowboys Wife
Leah Frye
Trainwreck
Laughing Orca
Meg
Grey Horse Matters
Stephanie
AllHorse Stuff
Photogchic
Nuzzling Muzzles
Portraits de Chevaux
Esther Garvi
Crazy Horse Woman
California Cowgirl
Jenn
7MSN Ranch
Steve Holt
Adventure Girl
DesertHorses
C-ing Spots

If i listed you twice, you probably could use an extra toast.
If i didnt get you listed, sorry, but,
how much do you think i can drink?

Love and kisses to all -
It's gonna be a long night!

Ride the Happy Trail.

More Adventures of the Herd of Wild Stallions

2009-03-14T02:45:00.000-07:00

The Cousins had many adventures to act out in the roles they played
as the wild and free Herd of Stallions.
The 7 - 10 year old Cousins, with the 5 year old tag-along,
who was referred to as "Tony the Pony",
each, had selected a favorite color of Stallion to portray.
There was the Appaloosa Stallion,
the Black Stallion,
The White Stallion,
The Palomino Stallion,
The Pinto Stallion,
and the Bay and the Grey Stallions.
As each magnificent stallion got back into character,
the Cousins developed richer stories to dramatize.

Grandma's hill embraced a wealth of trails and small, fallen limbs.
And the Stallions got to know each bend of the trail
and each of the limbs that could be easily jumped.
But, alas, familiarity became "safe", and the unexpected,
the adventure, of new trails was desired.

The stallions did not usually foray into the area west of Uncle Dan's barn,
as it was not as familiar to us.
But, being the brave, adventurous stallions that we were,
it was inevitable that we should stray there.

Cousin Cherie came up with the most ideas. As the Black Stallion, she had the most adventuresome spirit.
She wanted us to explore a new trail,
which was slightly out of the bounds and to the west
of where we usually roamed.

The Black Stallion convinced the herd to follow her to a piece of land
behind Aunt Anna's garden.
It was unfamiliar territory and the Stallions stayed at a walk,rather than the usual trot and gallop.

There was a narrow path through the timber
and each fir tree was surrounded by nettles of various kinds.
One of the nettles was of the stinging variety
and the Stallions moved cautiously when near those,
so as not to let one touch our bare legs.

The path wandered and led the Stallions to a small creek,
which was easily leaped by each of the Stallions,with the exception of the smallest, Tony the Pony.

The White Stallion was the first to realize the hazard
of the little one jumping the creek,and called out for the Stallions to return to the opposite side.
Each Stallion now attempted to jump the creek in the most magnificent
"Stallion-style" possible.

It was concluded by all that the Black Stallion had the most incredible
"stallion-leap", and it was as artistic and grand as one can imagine.

With a whinny and a snort, the Black Stallion began the approach
with a collected stride.

Just at the edge of the bank, there was a terrific gathering of powerful legs.
Then one front leg moved out in front with knee raised
and the foot stretched a mighty stretch,
causing the Black Stallion to leap far over the creek,
landing lightly on the other side, a good 3 feet beyond the bank.

All of the Stallions celebrated this feat with a series of whinnies and nickers.
Then each Stallion had to try, once and twice again, to equal or surpass the leap.

After many attempts, the Stallions realized that the Black Stallion
was, indeed, the master of the "Stallion-style" leap.

The numerous leaps over the creek had brought the Stallions
farther away from familiar territory.
As each one turned around to look at the surroundings,
an unexpected sight caught their attention.
There was quiet in the ranks, until one Stallion gasped,
"That is the most beautiful place i have ever seen!"

The Stallions looked to the west side of the creek,
which was in open ground, like a meadow.
And, at the edge of the timber, there was a magnificent rock wall,
some 10 feet high - an outcropping, as it were,
which created a backdrop for an amazing array of shades of grey and green.

There was an intriguing design of moss on the rockand, with the sunlight shining into the space, there was a mystical feel
to the area that touched each of the Stallions.
(Except for Tony the Pony, whose attention was on a beetle that he found.)

Enchanted by their find, the Stallions spoke just above a whisper,
and moved slowly toward the rock to touch its cool surface.
The touches were gentle and more like stroking as the Stallions
traced the design of its grain with their fingers.

The Palomino Stallion suggested that this particular location
must have never been discovered by any other beings,
because it was so far (in our heads) from anything we knew.
And, besides, it was so beautiful, if someone knew about it,
they surely would have let it be known that they owned
the most beautiful place in the whole county.

The Appaloosa Stallion suggested forming a pact to keep the place
a secret from all others, so that it would be our "special place".
The Pinto Stallion surmised that if some people knew about the location,
they would probably ruin it, somehow, with trash
and other "eco-unfriendly" substances.

It was determined that each Cousin would swear to an oath of secrecy and allegiance.
One Stallion suggested that an oath of this magnitude required a blood ceremony.
Cooler heads prevailed, or, one might say, that none of the Stallions was prepared to cut themselves on the hand to provide the blood.
So, there was much spitting on each other's hands, in its stead.

The Black Stallion suggested that we come up with
our own special name for our secret place.
And her idea was to name it after a popular TV character of the season.

The character's name was Stoney Burke, a rodeo rider,
and the Stallions thought it was wonderful because the name,"Stoney" incorporated
the word "stone", a major feature of our location.
And Burke was quite similar to the other feature, the "brook".

The Stallions spoke excitedly about plans for future games to be played at the location
and plots were laid to keep the older Cousins from following us to "Stoney Burke".
About that time, a little cry from Tony the Pony got our attention.
The Stallions feared that he had found a garter snake,
but the Buckskin Stallion bravely went to see what the Pony had found.

Peering over the shoulder of Tony the Pony, the Buckskin saw the object,
and sadly said, "Ohhhh. It's a dead bird."

Tony the Pony looked at us with very sad 5 year old eyes.
All of the Wild Stallions gathered around the bird and wondered
how such a thing could happen to a creature that could fly.

The Grey Stallion asked if there was something that we should do about it.
The White Stallion, who is known for her tender heart, said that it wasnt right
to leave its body there for some other animal to destroy.
The Palomino Stallion noticed that the gray of the bird also had highlights
of an emerald green, giving it a royal appearance.
The Appaloosa Stallion reported that, when our puppy got run over by a car,
we buried it in a special place in our back yard.

It was then determined that the Stallions could not leave the bird there
and that a burial was called for.
There was some discussion concerning where the burial should take place.
The Black Stallion remarked that the family cemetery was on a knoll,
just up the road from where we were presently.

Agreement was reached by the Stallions that the family cemetery
was the most logical place to hold the burial.
There was a brief discussion as to the type of ceremony
that would be proper and fitting for the burial of the bird.
Again, agreement was easily reached, when the Buckskin Stallion suggested
an "Indian Burial", however, none of the Stallions was familiar with what that entailed,
but it sounded more fitting with the natural surroundings.

A slight hitch in the plans turned up when it was discovered that
none of the Stallions actually wanted to pick up the carcass of the poor dead bird.
The Appaloosa Stallion asked if someone would carry it,
if the carcass was placed on a piece of wood or rock.
That seemed more agreeable to the Herd and they set about
finding suitable materials to carry the bird.

A lovely piece of bark was located, and, using a stick to push the bird onto the bark,
the Stallions were happy to see that the bark curved around the body of the bird
and made it seem almost comfortable.

The Black Stallion led the procession to the cemetery,
followed by the Buckskin Stallion, carrying the bird on the bark.
On one side of the Buckskin Stallion, marched the Palomino Stallion,
and on the other side, singing a Sunday School song,
was the White Stallion.Next in line, were the Pinto Stallion, then the Bay and the Grey Stallions.
Taking up the rear was the Appaloosa Stallion,
who had the duty of convincing Tony the Pony to leave his beetle behind.

The path to the cemetery was enticing to the Black Stallion,
who had to be reminded that trotting and prancing might not be appropriate
in a funeral march.
So the Stallion in the lead conjectured that prancing while marching
certainly was appropriate, but promised not to trot.

Tall Douglas fir and tamarack surrounded the cemetery plot,
which had a freshly mowed grass field where the graves and markers were.

The Stallions selected a site near the edge of the field and the timber,
where there was an 18 inch high fir tree, a couple of stones,
and a grass that had some sort of red clover mixed in.

The Black Stallion recruited the Pony to help her find a couple of small sticks;The White Stallion found a long-stemmed dandelion and used the stem
to wrap around the small sticks to form a cross for the grave.
The Buckskin stallion set the bark and bird gently on the grass
and began to dig a small hole with a stick and a rock.
Tony the Pony picked the stems of the grass to lay in the bottom of the grave
and the bark and bird were placed in it.
The Bay and the Grey Stallions picked grass to lay on top of the bird
and the hole was filled in.

Each of the Stallions was given a chance to speak a few words, asking God
to accept the little creature into the Greater Kingdom.
The Pinto Stallion selected the song for the occasion
and it was one that each of the Stallions knew:
"Jesus Loves Me",
and was sung as the little cross was placed on the grave.

To this day,
I dont know how there could be a better send-off from this world.

Under Pressure

2009-03-12T23:24:00.000-07:00

I need to blog right now.

I have been under a bit of pressure lately
and i need to get in touch with my creative side to get back
the balance in my life.

And, i must say that i always feel better
after i have checked in on my favorite bloggers.

And, i have to tell you, that the chuckles that i get from all of you "kids"
on the comments posts,
take a lot of burden from my shoulders.

Let me give you an example of one of those chuckles:
I was reading the post by Dusty Devoe (one of my personal heroes),
about the visit of her "Cowgirl Princess".On the comment section, Cactus Jack Splash said...

"It is always nice when royalty comes to visit."

Now, for some reason, that just cracked me up.
It still does.

Something else that cracks me up?
When i click on to one of your blogs and there is some random graphic: staring me in the face.

This is enough to send me into the giggle zone!
But what really cracked me up is the blogger who posted it!
You all probably saw it before i did - but -
it's our dear Melanie - who knew?

Then there are the posts that make me smile - been there, done that.
Mrs Mom has a way of tickling me with her stories of her kids.
"How To Train Mommy" is a post that brought back memories of my own.

Have you ever noticed on the TV show "America's Funniest Videos"
that the funniest clips are usually the ones we take of our pets?To watch the clips, one would think that Americans take a great deal of pleasure
in putting our pets into funny situations so that
we can take photos and video clips of them.
So, in visiting a popular blogger, one of the first things that i notice is that
Leah proudly posts a photo of her 2 "angels" wearing reindeer antlers!It cracks me up that, in the photo, she is all smiles,
and the ponies are looking like,
"Oh, geez, i hope the ponies down the road dont see this."
Look at the way the ponies' ears are laid back!
Every time i look at the photo, i just laugh -
and try to think of what the ponies are thinking!

And then there are the bloggers who take lemons and make (Lynchburg) lemonade.
I chuckle with Laughing Orca as she is doing her physical therapy on a stationary bike.
(It was just a year ago that I was doing the physical therapy.)
But what tickles me is that she is being entertained by the traffic
on the highway outside the window.
But I guess that if i saw the Oscar Mayer Wiener truck drive by my window,
i would also be entertained.
Heck, i would probably fall off the danged bike!But Laughing Orca says, "Nothing like seeing a giant hotdog covered in mustard,
driving down the highway to make you smile."

She is absolutely correct.

Smiles. Sometime when i am going into the grocery store,
i make a point of smiling at someone coming out.
I want to see if i can make them smile back.

Especially if the people coming out have children with them.
I know what they have just been through.I like to look at the children ... smile ... and say,
"Arent they precious!"
And then i watch for their reaction...
(oh, it helps to know that i am crazy.)
I have seen a range of facial expressions,
everything from pained smiles to hysterical laughs.

These are the kinds of things that make me smile and laugh in the blogs.

There are several blogs that deliver smiles, chuckles, and hysterics.
Punchy always delivers.
Fashion, celebrity, designer coke bottles ...i never know what i will find.
Her motto, alone, cracks me up:
"Pretty in pink; wicked in spurs."

Punchy is sassy.

But do you know who is the "Princess of Sassy"?
I know. I have lived with her for many years.
Those who know her best, call her "Princess Sassy Pants".
And she cracks me up.
This is Palomino Girl and if you have read her blog,
you know just what i am talking about.
She actually takes the time to sass me in her blog.

My thanks to these and the many more bloggers who lighten my day,
give me a better picture of the different aspects of the pony world,
and share the world around them.

And now, my thanks to SunnySD and Palomino Girl,
who have shared this award with me.

In accepting this award, I get to select 7 blogs that i admire.
This is hard, because i admire dozens of blogs, for varying reasons.
Some of these are really new bloggers.
Some have been at it a while and have a unique approach.
Some i enjoy reading because of the special connection
they have with their ponies and pets.

The 7MSN

California Cowgirl

Adventures of a Horse-Crazed Mind

A Cowboy's Wife

Cowgirl's Grace

Teachings of the Horse

Dusty Devoe

Now, 10 things about myself? Yikes!

1. I have always loved sports.
Of course, there were no girls' sports around here as i was growing up, besides tennis.
And i loved it.
As soon as women's sports came about, i played as much as i could:
softball, basketball, volleyball, and a little tennis.
I spent the decade of my 20's engrossed in sports.

2. I rode polo ponies for a friend while i was in college.
My Montanan girlfriend and i spent many weekends exercising them
on the trails and hillsides of our friend's neighborhood.
It was heaven.
Except for the time the friend planned a big trail ride
and wanted us to go with her and some other friends.
All of the experienced horses went to other riders
and i got to ride the beautiful sorrel quarterhorse that they just got off the track.
They put a rubber bit in his mouth and my McClellan cavalry saddle on him
and off down the trail we went.
I thought i would be killed.
The pony had no whoa and the friend always liked to lope at a wide spot on the hill.

3. I'm glad that i had my kids when i was in my early 30's.
I got to play the sports and if i had the kids then,
i think that i would have resented missing out on something i always had wanted to do.

4. My kids were really easy to raise and i had way too much fun with them.
When the youngest went to college, i hated the empty nest.

5. I love cars. I love old cars. I love new cars.

6. For my mid-life crisis, i would like to have a Mercedes Benz sportscar.Of course, i dont want to give up my big car,
because this convertible is really impractical for where we live
and i must have my comfort.
But i would like one just for cruising.
A midlife crisis should not be wasted on something that is not impractical.

7. I looked into buying a used limousine.
I think it would be fun to have to ride around to all the wineries with my friends.
I think it would be fun to load up the Pony Cousins
to visit all the tack stores.
The used limousines are too expensive.

8. My uncle has played golf for 65 years and last fall, at age 87,
he hit a hole in one.
Of course, the man looks and acts like he is in his 50's.
He is one of the "coolest" uncles you would ever find.

9. I dont remember ever tasting beef until i was about 14 years old.
My folks had to purchase half a cow one summer
when we ran out of the deer and elk meet that my dad always provided for us.
Yes, he was a hunter and that was the life he knew.

10. When we were kids, we looked forward to a summer visit
from our aunts, uncles, and cousins.
The cousins got to sleep out under the stars in our sleeping bags.
My mom would fill a canning kettle with her homemade potato salad.
We would gather fresh tomatoes, corn, carrots, beans, and potatoes from our garden.
The elk roast left over from the big dinner the night before,
made great sandwiches the next day.
We would lather my dad's buttermilk pancakes
with homemade jellies that my mom had put up.
We played ponies; we rode ponies; we brought ponies into the yard,
under the tree, to play on, play under, and over.
In the evenings we would play "kick the can" or "sardines".
(Sometimes we would "forget" to look for my little brother.)
We told stories and made up new games.
The afternoons were sunny and hot, and sometimes the simple request
from the parents to move the sprinklers,
turned into a full-fledged water fight.
It was the best of times.

Here are the rules, if you have been chosen:
1) Write a post (on your own blog), announcing that you have received the Honest Scrap award. Be sure to mention Saddle Mtn Rider, the blog that conferred the Honest Scrap Award upon you. Add the Honest Scrap Award graphic.

2) Choose at least seven blogs that you admire. List these (with links) in your Honest Scrap Award blog entry.

3) Visit the blogs you have selected, and leave comments to let the bloggers know you have chosen to honor them with the Honest Scrap Award. Include a link to your blog post in each comment. (Click here for instructions on making simple active-links for blog comments.)

4) Visit the blog that offered you the Honest Scrap Award, and leave a comment with a link to your post.

5) List ten honest things about yourself. Try to have fun with this one, and include facts others may not already know about you.

6) Display the Honest Scrap Award proudly on your blog sidebar.

Isnt it great to catch up with old friends and to get to know new friends?!
Dont you just love to chat with pony-lovers across the country
and around the planet?
Thank you, Bloggers!

Pony Cousin Stampede Costumes

2009-02-10T00:38:00.000-08:00

The Pony Cousins ride with flair!

What fun to dress up our ponies and ourselves in costumes to go riding!

At the first Pony Cousin Stampede, we found lots of ways to have fun,
and one thing that we tried to do,
even though the weather made it difficult,
was to ride in costume.

Here's what we did:

Indians Gather Around the Teepee.
A popular dress-up for the Pony Cousins, was the Indian costume.

This Indian looks fabulous in her coordinated turquoise outfit.

This Indian maiden must have been a "white" captive,
or,
a real Indian who found a bottle of peroxide.

The faraway look of an Indian maiden...
she doesnt even know how great she looks in those chinks.

This young Indian maiden looks delicious in her red backless tank top.
Note the leather pouch on her saddle and the fringed stirrup covers.

The crème de la crème: a real headdress and a short skirt.
The all-around favorite.

Saloon girls and Drovers
Brave Pony Cousins wore skirts and strapless tank tops on a trail ride.

The cattle drovers came to town and rode off in vintage western wear.

Pretty in Pink
The Pony Cousins dedicated a trail ride to Breast Cancer Awareness.
The ponies did their best to wear the brightest of pink accessories.

And we think that they look mighty handsome.

SMR and Palomino Girl really decked out their ponies.

But Pony Cousin Missi even found pink contest ribbons to show off on Zoe.

Okie and his "devil-may-care" look
and his hot pink and metallic accessories.

The Pony Cousins selected pink tees and tanks to decorate with the Pony Cousin logo.
Yes, the back does say, "Untamed and Unashamed."
(What can i say? - We are wild-at-heart Cousins.)

For the sake of classy couture,
we probably shouldn't show this photo of the Pony Cousins
wearing their shorts and cowgirl boots.
But i think it is a sign that we spend too much time in the barn.

I wish that i had pictures of the costumes we wore for the routines to music!
-Bronco Betsy wore a flowing skirt with an off-the shoulder top.
I remember the light green material fluttering beautifully in the breeze
as Zoe did her moves.

The Desert Rose was bright and daring in her red and black western wear.
Her red chinks were amazing
and when Jesse zipped along the fence line in his routine,
the whole outfit was a blur of bright color.

SMR and Okie did a routine to "Pinball Wizard" and wore black and silver.
SMR actually hauled out the sewing machine to make a silver metallic vest for herself
and a hip drop for Okie.
Okie's headstall and breastcollar were a match
in black leather and silver ferrule beads.
With my grey helmet, we looked like pinballs.

Pony Girl was cute as a button in her outfit;
her western shirt tied in a knot at her waist,
her cowgirl hat tipped back just a bit from her face,
and a lot of bling on her western belt.
As you all know,My Boy comes highly decorated in his birthday suit.

Atticus: a perfect example of how some Cousins could
throw on a flannel bath robe and win the "Best Looking Contest".
(It's not fair: some of us have to work mighty hard
to make ourselves and our homely ponies look good.)

For the upcoming Stampede,
the Pony Cousins may not have as many dress-up events.
But we voted that we do want to have the Pink Pony Ride again.
But what should we do for another costumed ride?
We have done cowgirls, saloon girls, and Indians.
We need ideas for easy-to-assemble costumes
for our ponies and ourselves.
Do you have any ideas for us?
Is there something you have done or seen in a costume
that you could share with us?

Please leave a comment if you have ideas for the Pony Cousins.

Pony Cousin Dreams and Daydreams

2009-02-10T00:28:00.000-08:00

Sometimes i have trouble falling asleep.
Sometimes i have trouble falling asleep with happy thoughts.

I try not to let everyday concerns, worries, and anxieties creep into my mind
as my head hits the pillow.
Sometimes it just happens.

I choose to spend my days in an upbeat mood.
And I want to be able to drift off to sleep with positive thoughts and images in my head.

It's not always easy.
Sometimes everyday life creates challenges to my upbeat mood
that carries over into my night time thoughts.

I figure that i do not have to fall asleep with those kinds of concerns.
Those anxious thoughts do not have control over me.Those thoughts are just baggage that i do not have "to load into my chuckwagon."

I figure that if i can come up with certain kinds of thoughts and images,
I can "lick" this problem.

So i keep a "Night Time File of Happy Thoughts" in my head
to use on those occasions where needed.

I would like to share some of those images now.

First, and foremost of Happy Thoughts:A spouse - a lifetime partner - who has given my life a means of happiness.
It is not enough to say that he has brought joy into my life.
He is my joy.

Next, to give my life more meaning:
- a couple of amazing kids, who have brightened my life
since the day they were born.
I have spent the years of their lives enjoying their company,
their activities, achievements, and their friends.

Now, with a charming and handsome partner of her own,
my daughter has blessed me with the most special gift of all:the future Rodeo Queen, Gracie,
who, in just 8 short weeks,
has conquered my heart and soul.

These folks have provided me with huge file folders of Happy Thoughts.
But as if all that were not enough,
there are stacks and stacks of file folders of extended family and friends.

It is well known that i have a deep appreciation for the large family of which i am a part.I think that what you must realize, now, is that this large family
is such a unique set of "characters",
that i should never have to rely on any other providers of Happy Thoughts!

But, wait! There is more!
Family, friends and all of the fun times we have, is great ammunition for "Bedtime Blues".
But then, i can always take a look at the fun of having a pet around.
I think of the pleasure and company that our pets provide us.
My Rory epitomizes the image of a devoted companion.

When i think of all of the pets i have had over the years,
i realize that, while i have provided them with security, the basics of existence, and love,
these critters have given me so much more.Their company, alone, provides me with Happy Thoughts,
as they follow me from room to room.
They are "my posse" and we roll "high and phat".
And, of course, we cant forget their entertainment value.
It's probably just as well that our pets dont know that,
yes, we are laughing at them, not with them.

Sometimes our larger animal friends supply us with the same entertainment.

Okie does his part to make us wonder how much entertainment we can stand.
We learn to enjoy his antics, such as, untying himself so that he can
come over to where we are for more attention.
Getting into Sissy's grooming tote to spread its contents all over the corral.
Leaning on a gate until it falls over so that we can wander off into the dark.
Picking up the blue tarp in his mouth to take it with him.
Playing with anything left near his fence.

I've had quite a few memorable ponies since i was a child,and sometimes an understanding Cousin
will have to listen to endless diatribe at bedtime as i recite the names and qualities
of each of the ponies we have had over the years.Really, though, what else has she got to do?

Right now, what consumes my thoughts at night
and many times during the day,
is the planning that is being done for the Pony Cousin Stampede,
which is coming up later this summer.
During the daytime, images will flash through my mind
of the ponies, the trails, or the games we played.
All kinds of thoughts are occurring to me
of how we can make out time together
More fun for everyone. (If that's possible.)

At night, i drift to sleep with thoughts of the joy i felt
on our first trail ride together last summer .
As we rode away from the ranch house,i realized that our dream of a Stampede weekend had come true!.
After all of the discussion, planning, organizing;
after all of the compromising, logistics, and problem-solving;
We Did It!
13 Cousins, 9 ponies, all of the gear, trucks and trailers -
we pulled it all together.
That was an accomplishment.

And now, in the dead of winter, our thoughts turn
to pulling off another event like that one.
My Happy Thoughts are about individual events of the Stampede.
I fall asleep picturing saddle blankets matching shirts.I picture Okie wearing bling to match mine.
I make a mental note to bring a small ice box and a large icebox
to be dedicated for the sole use of beverages.
(That's going to be important to remember!)
When i hear certain songs, i picture how it would go
with one of our routines to music that we do with our ponies.

There is a bit of a problem, though, with the Stampede Happy Thoughts:
I get so excited about the plans for the Stampede that
now i have trouble going to sleep because of that.

So, as you can see, that is quite a long list of Happy Thoughts
that i can rely on to break up those night time bummer thoughts.

And, do you know what?
If you suffer from the same Bedtime Blues Syndrome,
you can break it up with the same thing that i do.

I am going to give out the secret
for accessing all of your own Happy Thoughts,
so that everyone may share in the simple process.

All i have to do
to kick my Happy Thought images into gear,
is to say these words:

"Dear Lord,
Thank you for all of the blessings in my life."

and poof!
Happy Thoughts!

I like lemonade, too!

2009-01-29T16:31:00.001-08:00

My dear Pony Cousin, The Desert Rose, has nominated me for this fine award.
And i must thank her profusely because it is in the rules: i.e. number 2, below.

Also i must thank her because she is an awesome Pony Cousin.
You see, this Pony Cousin spent hours and hours (and used up a lot of cowgirl lemonade) to come up with the details for the rides in the last PC Stampede.

All of the arena equipment that can be seen in the pix of the Stampede, Desert Rose brought.
That includes barrels, poles, cactus, and apparatus for the Obstacle Course.

All of the details of each trail ride, Desert Rose thought up.

The Desert Rose spent much time in selecting costumes to wear in each event.

She made sure that there were ribbons and trophies for each event and for each Pony Cousin.

She orchestrated the order of events and rides, and, more importantly,
when the elements were just unmanageable,
she was flexible.

She tried her best to meet the needs of each of the 12 other Pony Cousins,
as she switched things around and came up with some solutions.

The Desert Rose is one big reason that the Pony Cousin Stampede was such a huge success.

But wait, there's more:
In order to ensure that the Pony Cousins and the Equicousins were ready for the Stampede,
The Desert Rose hosted the PC "Saddle Up Weekend".We met at her barn, which has an indoor arena, an outdoor arena, and trails to ride.

She worked with the new riders, the new ponies, and the old ridersuntil all felt comfortable about the expectations of the Stampede.
All this, she did with patience, a kind heart, and several cups of Starbucks' finest.

For this, and for all that she brings to the Pony Cousin Gang,
i nominate her for the "Pony Cousin Cowgirl Up" Award.
Whatever the task, large or small, the Pony Cousins know that they can count on
The Desert Rose.

And, thanks again, Cousin for the Lemonade Award.

It is known far and wide that SMR enjoys an occasional nip of Jack Daniel's.

And one of my favorite ways to enjoy it on a warm summer afternoon,
is in a delightful concoction called a "Lynchburg Lemonade".
-So named for the location of Jack's Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee.
-A community that will always be close to my heart.
(Pause here to show reverence.)

Here is my idea of a refreshment:

Lynchburg Lemonade
1 part Jack Daniel's
1 part triple sec
1 part sweet and sour
4 parts (diet) spriteThat's the official recipe.
I, of course, have improved upon the specifics
to make myself a "cowgirl up lemonade":
-where it says "4 parts (diet) sprite": i make it 3 parts.
-where it says "1 Part Jack Daniel's": i make it 2 or 2 and a half.

-Mighty refreshing-

Now, back to the "Lemonade Award".

Here are the rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.

2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!

1. Callie, at midwesthorseblog.
Great gal; great blog; great spirit!

2. Trailridingcowgirl at all things horses.
Here's an example of why she needs this award:
It's 17 degrees outside - this cowgirl is sore from a fall on ice -
she goes out to ride her pony anyway.
She has a great time.
I dont know if this award is enough for her.

3. greyhorsematters. I just love her photos and
she is an inspiration for me, because she does all this
and takes care of her grand daughter 3 days a week.

4. the wowfactor, a cowboy's wife: one of the most creative blogs.
One of the first that i ever read.
One of the first i look to open.

5. latigoliz at cowgirlup: this gal has a spirit much like the Pony Cousins.
I love her sense of humor, which, apparently, comes in handy
as she has to deal with, what i surmise to be, a "goofy cat".
(Catch the photos of a kitty named Sunday, in her blog.)

5. leah at barndoortagz: i have enjoyed her blog since i first started blogging.
She seems like one of those gals with whom you would enjoy
visiting at home or around the campfire.

6. trailboss : without electricity for 10 days and all she can do is take amazing photos of the surroundings!
I think that i would be stark raving by then -
or, maybe ...
she has lost her marbles and the photos are part of her "craziness"! Yikes!
I still love her blog.

7. Mikey at horseshoeinghousewife: i think she is amazing, not just because of her skills and knowledge about horses, but because she is a rattlesnake wrangler.
If you are squeamish or are squeamish about rattlesnakes,
stay away from her latest blog!

8. school of life with horses: her love of quarterhorses matches my own.
Her blogs are notes of interest that she comes across. Be sure to check her archive.

9. mrsmom at horsefeathers: she sounds like a no-nonsense kind of gal,
but her blogs show that she can find the humor in everyday stuff.
She's got the cowgirl spirit.

10. browneyedcowgirls: this blog is so informative.
Be sure to check out the archive.
Grab your cup of coffee and sit down to read up on all kinds of things.

-more rules for this award -

3. Link to your nominees within your post.

4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and link this post to the person from whom you received your award.

That would be the Desert Rose!

and remember: if you cant find your happy trail -
you are gonna need to cowgirl up!