Friday Fill Ins

1. I just had to do it, I had to!

2. That's just the way it is.

3. The third sentence on the 7th page of the book I'm reading: book, what book? I'm at work! I do have Twilight with me...so here goes...... "Mom's fine. It's good to see you, too, Dad."

4. An amazing horse, a great class, and a fancy ribbon tickles my fancy.

5. I was walking Duke last night, and he's doing sooooo well!

6. Watching Duke, my 80 lb lab, and Missy, my DH's bugle.....i mean Beagle play together makes me laugh!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to not knowing what the plans are, tomorrow my plans include a Victoria photo shoot with a cute couple and Sunday, I want to play with Peetie at the pound!

Greensburg, Ks - Tornado rescue!

I don't know what group/person this is....but they are doing a wonderful thing here. I couldn't help but pass this along!

The story begins with the rescuers finding this poor little guy they named Ralphie. Someone had already taken him under their wing but they weren't equipped to adopt.

Ralphie, scared and starved, joined his rescuers.

I wouldn't think anything could live thru this.... but we were wrong.

This little lady also survived that wreckage.

Here she is just placed in the car - scared, but safe.

and then..they are no longer alone!

Add two more beagles found after that .. the more, the merrier!

Oh boy, a new traveler to add to the mix.. (Note: the cat coming over the seat needing shelter...) Now just how is this going to work? (and remember they are all strange to one another)

It's going to work just fine, thank you very much!

Wow! The things we learn from our animal friends... If only all of mankind could learn such valuable lessons as this. Lessons of instant friendship. Of peace and harmony by way of respect for one another -- no matter one's color or creed. These animals tell you... "It's just good to be alive and with others." Yes, it surely is.

A bit off regular topic here......

I know, for the MOST part I blog about horses.
Today, however I'm going to blog about 2 things that often go along with horses.......boys, and dogs.

I'm going to start on a positive note! Let me tell you about my dog Duke.
What? You didn't really think I'd use the word positive when talking about boys did you? Please!

Duke is a yellow lab. He's a rescue. We rescued him off of main Highway about 45 miles from our home. He had an injured leg. A trip to adopt a pet to get fixed and few vet bills later and Duke is a very happy, bouncing, playful lab.
Did I mention Duke has NO MANNERS? Yeah. Being a dog we just 'picked up' off the street....we have no idea what he was taught, or not taught.
I've been wanting to take him to some classes for a while now. BUT, the only thing I knew of local was Pet Smart. I took Cheyenne, one of my Catahoula's there last year. We had a great time, and enjoyed it. BUT, you have to go to a class a week for x amount of weeks.....and I'm so busy right now I can't commit to that....so, I've been hunting other alternatives!
I found one! While in TSC two weeks ago I saw an ad for a local dog trainer. How awesome! Then, about 2 days later I heard an ad for that same trainer on one of the local radio stations! OK, I thought, this person is SERIOUS about this...serious enough to put an ad on radio! So, I got on the website and checked it out! Check out Biscuit Eaters K9!!! Rayna is awesome! We set up an appointment after a few emails.
I met Rayna at designated area Sunday Morning. I was a bit apprehensive. What if I didn't like her? What if she didn't like me? What if she didn't like Duke? What if she told me Duke was stupid and would never learn anything? ohhhhh gosh!
Well, none of that happened! Duke was Great! Rayna was AWESOME!
Since Sunday AM I've been working with Duke for at LEAST 5 mins in the evening and 5 mins in the morning. He's soooo smart! He's catching on very quickly! I'm very impressed!
Rayna has also agreed to help out our local animal shelter too! Thanks Rayna!


Now....onto the 'other' part of this post.
* Disclaimer * If you are having a good day, and the above paragraphs made you happy and you wish to stay that way DO NOT continue to read! There will be complaining and complaining and complaining ahead!

OK, now that we have THAT out of the way.....
What in the HECK is up with guys? I mean what? Why are we wired soooooo differently?
We are organized, THEY ARE NOT.
We are considerate of others, THEY ARE NOT.
We remember that on the 2nd Tuesday of the month they have a meeting with x group and therefore go out of our way to make sure that happens for THEM, THEY DO NOT!
When is it our turn? When is it our turn to be on the receiving end of all that STUFF we do for them?
Do we do tooooo much?
Do we need to let them fall on their faces a few times? Would that make them realize just how much we do?
How do we get them to do more?
I'm about it my wits end here people....and I know there are others of you out there that are too! I'm usually a positive happy go lucky kinda gal.....but lately...I find myself slipping!
Help! There's a pond full of alligators below!

Mot Much.......

Not much going on over here......

Still waiting on income tax (come ON UNCLE SAM, it's MY MONEY!) so that I can get Casper gelded......then I can bring him home after 2 more weeks at Mary's and start riding!

I have come to a not so great revelation though.....Cas has been at Mary's getting WESTERN PLEASURE training......DRESSAGE is about the polar opposite! I can't bring him home and "mess" him all up like that can I? Would that even be fair? So....I'm thinking Cas will just HAVE to be an open show horse. There is a show at Sienna Stables....nice facility, nice horses, nice people....that I wouldn't mind taking him to....so....maybe that is where Cas and I will play! Any thoughts?

4-H Article!

Wooohoooo! Go Kelli!

Kelli's article in the local paper!

Lola B's Paris Giveaway!

Lola B is giving away some GREAT items from her recent trip to PARIS!
Check out her blog, check out her trip.....and SIGN UP by tomorrow at midnight!!

Lola B's BLog!

ThankfuLLLL Thursday???

Everyone take min to check out these photos....and be thankful it's not US over here dealing with this terrible act of mother nature!!!

Volcano Pictures

Holly

© 2010 Chastain Photography

Friday Fill Ins

1. I'd like to think they are strong enough to handle it, but I know they aren't.

2. One of my most favorite romantic memories is drawing hearts on fogged up windows.

3. Last night, I had pineapple chicken, rice, and corn for dinner.

4. Sorry for the way my dog behaves, it's our fault he has no manners!!

5. Can we please have our income tax refund now?

6. One of my worst temptations is ....... one? I can only list one? ; there are so many that are too hard to resist!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to to, to, to.....I dunno, tomorrow my plans include getting hay, getting truck tire fixed, picking up blanket, 'visit' Megan, and maybe market days, and Sunday, I want to go to a horse show with Connie!

..............

4/10/10 - Multi District Judging Contest

5:30 comes a BIT to early when you go to bed at 11 or 11:30, huh? YEAH, it does!

Got the kiddos up so we could be dressed and out the hotel door by 6:30 for breakfast.
6:35 we walked out of the hotel room, truck re 'packed' with all our 'stuff'. Good deal!

Breakfast....hummmmm...yeah..........should have been described as 'small town' instead of continental!!

Headed out to the judging contest about 7.......found it easy enough with good directions and the GPS.

Arrived at 7:25 and got the kiddos checked in, sat down to go over patters, wrote patterns in our judging sheets and wished them well. The weather was bit chilly....kiddos we lucky enough to be wearing blazers! As this was the MULTIDISTRICT contest there were a LOT of kiddos there. Parents/Coaches usually get the last set of bleachers, but only got 1/2 of the bleachers this time as we had to move down to make room for the kids. THE NERVE!

(we interrupt this post for a special news bulletin - co-worker brings her scanner to work....we get to hear local county calls.....guy got pulled over....has 2 warrants....cop taking him in. Guy wants to cop to call 'friend' to come get his car so it's not towed. Guy gives dispatcher a number.......dispatcher calls...no answer....... Guy gives another number......no answer..... guy gives ANOTHER number.......dispatcher gets someone on the like....we'll call her Veronica.....dispatcher advises officer SHE DOESN'T HAVE A LICENSE!!!! OMG, how STUPID is the 'guy' in question?? Gives one final number, and if I were cop/dispatcher I'd be tellin 'guy' he ran outta phone calls, gets someone who says they will try to come. Is that stuff crazy or what??)

We now return to our regularly scheduled blog post

So, we sit through 3.5 hours of judging. MOST of the horses we nice. There were some obvious show horses, and some back yard ponies. The halter classes we performance halter, not 'halter halter' and the kiddos, believe it or not had a tough time with that. Out of 8 classes I got 4 100% correct. The other 4 were a mix of one off.....and a lot off! Jr and Intermediate kiddos were supposed to be dismissed while Sr kiddos had to stay and prepare reasons. OR SO WE THOUGHT! They then announce that DISTRICT 11 INTERMEDIATE kiddos have to give reasons! WHAT? no one told me anything! Only 1 of my 3 intermediate kiddos had even practiced reasons!! OK, whatever. They all stayed up there and toughed it out. Good Job Girls! And, believe it or not....the 2 that had no idea what they were doing placed WELL in reasons! WOW! :)
1:30 rolls around and the younger kiddos are done. I'm still waiting on my Sr. The 2 parents that were there decide to take the younger ones off to get lunch and bring back something for Sr member and me.
So I wait......
and I didn't have to wait long and my Sr came strolling out of the arena. She felt confident she did well....not great....but well. That, was good!
I started checking http://www.judgingcard.com/ for results.....nothing......nothing...nothing....and still nothing!
FINALLY........the FFA results were up (they don't do reasons). If nothing else I could get official placings off there to compare against my kiddos.
Got 'em. Sr did well. 4 classes perfect. Others just a bit off........
So...we wait....and we wait......and lunch gets back.....and we eat....and we wait....and we wait.....
3:30 rolls around. I look at one of the parents (my co-coach on the Victoria Team) and tell her that I hate to do it...but I'm going to have to leave soon. DH left early that morning for class and I have critters who have been penned up for hours.....need to leave by 4 at latest....probably should have left already....
so we wait a bit more......
4pm rolls around......other parent and her kiddo head out.....I decided to do the same. I felt bad that the kiddos wouldn't get ribbons right there......but I'd given a lot of my time for this event and had to head home to take care of critters.
I'd 'lent' my tailgate to some folks looking for a place to sit. I walked up and told them 'sorry but we need to head out'.....they moaned and groaned in good humor and hopped off the tailgate so I could shut it.
I had opened the truck door, and had my right foot up in the cab....I was about to hoist myself inside when our District 11 Truck pulled back in. DRAT! I should have tried leaving sooner! Frantic call to the mom who'd just left got her turned around and headed our way...she was only about 5 mins out. She got back just in time for the awards to start.
Team awards first.....neither of my groups were a full team.....although we'd signed the Victoria kiddos up as a team....so....they placed as a team! They got 3rd!
Neither of the JR or Intermediate kiddos got individual awards. They placed JUST out of the ribbons.....
My ONE AND ONLY Senior on the other hand.......she won the District 11 High Point Individual Senior award. She was SHOCKED, I was proud! And she didn't just win by a point or two...her score was 467 (out of 500)!!!! The 2nd place Sr....score of 418.......my kiddo won by like 49 points!!! It was a great end to a long day! There are 2 other counties that usually beat my kids. They have been doing it much longer than we have. It was nice for her to win for a change. I know it's not all about winning, but it sure feels good when you do! Glad they got to get their awards in person, it's soooo much nicer like that!

Congrats to all my kiddos!
We headed home, and made it back to Victoria around 7, putting me home at 8.
What a day!

Not Much Going On here.........

It's been a busy weekend.....with some blog-worthy stuff going on.

Some stuff going on with my in-laws....but nothing that I can blog about....it's a bit tooooo personal. SO, that stuff took up Wednesday and Thursday.

Friday was a pretty normal day at work.....but I left early to take 2 judging teams to a horse judging contest.

Left P.L. about 4:30 and got to C.S. around 8. I LOVE driving......NOT!

Contest was Saturday, so we all had to get up early and throw some food down our bellies and head to the arena. - I will blog in detail tomorrow.

Sunday I threw all the furniture out of my living room and steam cleaned the carpet there and in the hall.
It looks better!!!!
Cleaned the kitchen too!

What a weekend! Nothing horse related though!!

Houston, we have a........change

a BIG change.

I'm NOT talking about a Political Change, or a change in Religion, or even a change of under garments (which I promise happens every day).

I'm talking about a Change in Equestrian Discipline.

It has been my dream since I was a young child to ride at the AQHA or APHA world show and win the garland of flowers, and the trophy, and the medal and all the hoopla that goes along with it.

However. I've learned some HARD lessons as I've gotten older, and wiser. Horse showing at the 'majors' is A - Political and B - Expensive and C - up to individual opinion!

I have a problem and A and C. I can understand B. All hobbies are expensive! So, since I don't see winning the lottery in sight so that I can go drop 20k PLUS on a fancy horse, 5k on a show saddle, another K plus on outfit, hat, boots, bridle and all that other 'stuff' that is required......I'm going to take a different route.

My Options?

Speed Queen. This is comical! Speed Queen I am not. Maybe if I were 12 again, and fearless. BUT, riding all out and a 1/2 crazed horse around 3 cans or around 6 or 7 poles is NOT my idea of a good time. Count ME OUT

Cattle Barron - ok....so.... There are a couple options here.

Roping - Swing a rope WHILE the horse comes BUSTING out of the box and try to catch heels or horns. NO thanks! I don't think I'll enjoy giving a little bitty ole calf whip lash! And, again, the SPEED factor......no thanks!

Cutting/Working cow - Chase the cow, Chase the cow, Chase the cow......turn the cow, turn the cow, turn the cow.....circle the cow, turn the cow, circle the cow....DONE! Ummm yeah....I don't think I'll take the chance of the horse TRIPPING over the cow! No thanks, AGAIN.

Open Shows - For sure an option. Spend lots of time/money running around to 'local' open stuff for........what? A tiny ribbon? A cheaply made year end saddle if you pay dues, work for the group, and spend all day (8 am to 10pm) showing in every class imaginable so you can 'chase the saddle'. No thanks. I know some nice people who show at open shows....but I also know there are soooo many very NOVICE horse owners who don't know the first thing about showing or proper show turn out at those shows. They THINK they are doing the right thing and won't listen if you try to offer help. The 'back yard' type, if you will. I know that sounds mean, but I'm NOT going to put myself or my horse in an arena with a novice rider who can't control their mount. NOPE. Sorry. Nothing doing!

Jumpers - Did I mention I'm afraid of heights? Yeah, I am! a 16h horse is tall ENOUGH without going over a 5 foot Oxer with a 6 foot spread! NOPE

Eventing - 3 phases - Dressage, Stadium, and Cross Country - I like dressage, and once I get back in the saddle, get in shape, lose some LBS stadium and cross country might be a possibility. I'm going to keep this on the back burner.

I know I'm leaving out things like endurance racing, extreme cowboy race, reining, polo, and some others.....I just can't write about them all!

So......what have I decided to throw my equine energy?

Dressage! Yep, it's true. I feel ANY horse can do your basic Dressage. No reason I can't get through Green as Grass, Into, and Training with one of the horses I have now. Now, when I am ready to move on to 1st level plus.....I may need to move on to a different mount. BUT, until then.....I'm Dressage arena bound. I'd better brush up on my alphabet too!

With Dressage, you are judged on your ride, ALONE. You aren't in the arena with a horse that may move better than you, or a rider who may have a more glam outfit. You are judged on how well you ride your test, period. YES, there are maneuvers you are supposed to perform, and as long as you perform them well, your score will reflect that. There are judges that are tougher than others.....but that just takes showing to then a time or two, or asking around and finding out who those tough judges are......and then not taking a lower score to heart!

And YES, when I get my bootie back in shape, I full intend on getting in a hunt saddle and starting to hop over fences. That may require a new horse....as Casper doesn't JUMP.

My GOAL? Get in 2 or 3 schooling shows this year. It's only April....should be do-able! Get in the arena, get a few shows under my belt......and then....

Next year? Go for a schooling show championship :) at Green as Grass/Intro level.

So.......anyone else contemplating a change in the equine adventures? If so....I'd love to hear about it! What's making you change? What are you changing to?

I hope no one is mad for the use of their photos! Thanks!

Friday Fill Ins

Since I didn't do mine LAST Friday....here are LAST FRIDAY's fill ins!


1. The right word is not always the first one that comes to mind.

2. OPEN and shut the door quietly, please.

3. Up up and away says my pony as we clear the fence!

4. Enjoying my long weekend is where you'll find me.

5. Ooh! What is that on the clock, a 5? Time to go! (I wish)

6. Swapping the Work Week and the WEEEKEND is a good idea.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to My HUBBY not having school, tomorrow my plans include work and Sunday, I want to Chillax!!!

Cooking 101, 202, and 303!

Soooooo....I've found myself feeling very "domestic" this week. I know, how funny is that!
I use to love to cook! I'd cook for all 3 working students at the Barn I managed in MD as long as they'd clean up! Hated clean up!

I've gotten OUT of the cooking habit lately. I'd stop and grab something on the way home...or throw a pizza in oven when I got home....mac and cheese with hamburger meat (dh loves that one)......but NO real COOKING!

Let me see if I can recreate my menu this week for you all to try....

MONDAY - Homemade Chicken 'helper'
4 med ckn breasts
1/2 bag no yolks egg noodles (yum)
1 can cream of mushroom soup w/ 1/2 can water
Seasonings you enjoy
I use - Krazy Jane and Mrs Dash

Cook ckn in pan with olive oil and set aside when cooked fully!
boil noodles
drain noodles
Put noodles in deep frying type pan with a bit of butter and add soup/water and blend well
add chicken when well blended
season to tast....and viola! YUMMY!
I also warmed up some veggies.....corn I think!
It was good!

TUESDAY - Pork Loin, Green Bean Casserole, Brown Rice
Oh My Gosh...i didn't know this was going to be SOOOOO yummy!
Sunday night I took out a Pork Loin I'd gotten on sale from the freezer. Wasn't quite thawed out Monday...so I left it in the fridge and made Ckn stuff above! Tuesday however....Pork time!

Green Bean Casserole
2 cans green beans
1 can cream mushroom
those funky 'onion' things
Mix soup with 1 can water in glass baking dish - then add beans and mix well - add in about 1/2 c onion things - bake at 350 (i think) for about 25-30 mins - then top with about another 1/2 to 1 c of onion things and bake about 15 mins
I hated, HATED this when I was little....now I LOVE IT!

While that's baking take

1 Pork Loin
Seasonings (again, Krazy Jane and Mrs Dash's sun dried tomato and basil this time)
1 skillet on low/med heat (4 on my electric range I think) and some olive oil and the seasonings
I covered the up side of the loin with seasonings
I cooked it on low in the skillet turning every few minutes so it didn't get burnt
about 35-40 mins into cooking i cut 3 slits in the bottom and cooked 'bottom side' up for about 15 more mins
It smelled soooo good that I couldn't wait for DH to get home at 11pm to eat dinner...I had to have some!
It was sooooo moist and juicy...WOW!

Rice
ok......I'm going to tell you.....
I CHEAT when it comes to Rice!
I use the uncles Ben's microwave bag......tastes GREAT ready in about 2 mins in my small takes forever to warm anything up microwave....

What a good meal....super YUMMY!

Wednesday - how in the heck do I top Tuesday?
MEXICAN FOOD!

Meat
1 lb 93% lean ground beef
1/4 c chopped onion
1 garlic clove
krazy jane and mrs dash (can you tell i LOVE them?)
brown in skillet and leave on low to keep warm

Rice
UNCLE BEN'S SPANISH STYLE
MICRO when ready to eat

Re fried Beans
1 can - warm - add seasoning to taste

I also made home made PICO
1 tomato
1/4 c onion
1 clove garlic
and some Basil
salt/pepper to taste
crushed red pepper

DH loves PICO...I do not....he ate it....said VERY good :)

and.....drum roll please.....
Avocado Dip - I loves this stuffs!
2 ripe avocados pealed and pitted and put in food processor
I added some garlic - salt/pepper - and some mrs dash to season
topped with a little bit of diced tomato

Don't forget to warm up those tortilla before you eat....
FOLKS......SUPER YUMMY!

What on the menu for tonight? I have NO IDEA!
Let me know if you try those....or have any awesome recipe's you'd love to share!