It seems as if it is that time of year again - time to visit the In-Laws in Texas!
Sunday, December 30, 2012
That Time Of Year
Ah yes...
It seems as if it is that time of year again - time to visit the In-Laws in Texas!
It seems as if it is that time of year again - time to visit the In-Laws in Texas!
Reindeer
Reindeer flowers from my family in Colorado! :) hope everyone near and far had a merry Christmas!!
Workin' on the Holiday
Texas and I fed the cows this holiday season. Double teaming it definitely makes the morning go by faster! We went to check on our beef cows and found a little Christmas Eve surprise... A new baby girl! She decided to get herself stuck in the slop, so we helped her get to her mama.
My New Toy
My much needed new barrel saddle!! Custom made to order from our local saddlery. Hand painted tooling, silver pistol conchos, and the best part - a seat that fits my butt!! Was definitely swimming in my last one. Jade also appreciates that this saddle fits her back WAY better.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
More Than Four
At the time this picture went to press last week, I only had four baby beefers. Last night, Texas and I got to watch my final and fifth baby angus come into the world.
Not sure great timing considering its supposed to rain cats and dogs all weekend and be pretty windy. That'll just make for a tough calf after the storm, I hope. Not ideal to have our calves in December, but hopefully next year we will be seeing more calves drop in the fall.
Not sure great timing considering its supposed to rain cats and dogs all weekend and be pretty windy. That'll just make for a tough calf after the storm, I hope. Not ideal to have our calves in December, but hopefully next year we will be seeing more calves drop in the fall.
Friday, December 21, 2012
A $20 Christmas Tree
This beautiful gem was found a few miles down the road from our house. Pictures don't do it justice - she is so beautiful and full!! We walked down the $19.95 price aisle at the Make shift Christmas tree farm, and this tree outshines her peers by a long shot. I had Texas grab her before someone else discovered this treasure!
Sunday, December 9, 2012
2 For 2
Checked on our beefers last night. Looks like I'm a proud granny again - 2 for 2 so far. Nice little bull calf hit the ground, and I think I'll call him Rex. :) No picture of this one yet - Texas and I were in a big ol' hurry to look at the herd last night before the dark and fog left us blinded.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Two
Today marks the two year anniversary of my dad'd death. It is crazy to imagine my life two years ago. It feels like yesterday when Texas came into my work to deliver the bad news. To think of how much my life has changed, it is incredible. While I miss my dad, I am so thankful for the opportunity Texas and have even given to work for my family. I have accomplished tasks that I never thought I could do.
Missing you today and everyday Dad, and I hope I'm making you smile. :)
Missing you today and everyday Dad, and I hope I'm making you smile. :)
Back In Action
My little, or perhaps large 16 hand, lady is back in action. After four weeks of doctoring abscesses, and one week of rain, we are back in training and conditioning for upcoming races. Over the past 5-6 weeks, I have been dreaming of the way I should be riding Jade at races. She has all the potential in the world to win some races, in my opinion. I just need to get my act together and not lose my head when I get in the arena when it counts. It's definitely hard to expect everything to go perfect when asking her to run fast away from home when I can't practice at speed on our own turf.
I've just got to learn how to compete on the horse that I've trained. She's such a laid back, may I even say lazy, horse at home. She could pass for a western pleasure horse. When it comes down to getting into the arena and seeing three barrels set up, she cannot deny her barrel racing lineage. As her rider, I need to learn how to ride her at home and I competition. She's two different horses when it comes to riding at home and running for money. I'm excited for this months and the barrel racing opportunities we have going on close by - as long as we don't encounter rainy weekends or abscesses. :)
I've just got to learn how to compete on the horse that I've trained. She's such a laid back, may I even say lazy, horse at home. She could pass for a western pleasure horse. When it comes down to getting into the arena and seeing three barrels set up, she cannot deny her barrel racing lineage. As her rider, I need to learn how to ride her at home and I competition. She's two different horses when it comes to riding at home and running for money. I'm excited for this months and the barrel racing opportunities we have going on close by - as long as we don't encounter rainy weekends or abscesses. :)
My First
The moment I've been waiting for since October 2011 has FINALLY arrived!!
I'm going to be a grandma to (hopefully) 5 healthy angus beef calves.
Last October, I invested in 5 Angus heifers with the intention to breed the heifers and sell the offspring. I thought it was a promising, yet risky, way to see some of my savings grow - literally.
The beginning stages of my investment proved to be frustrating. The new bull our ranch had purchased for our growing beef herd was having some 'malfunctions'. After a few months of seeing heifers still coming into heat when they should have been a couple months along, a semen test showed our big man on campus had very high quality sperm - he just didn't know how to use it. Another new bull was brought in and my heifers were confirmed pregnant shortly after.
Much to my surprise, my first calf dropped 2 1/2 weeks earlier than the vet predicted. I'm now the proud mama of my first Angus pair. As for the other four, they are bagging up with each passing day. I'm on pins and needles waiting to see another black dot on the horizon when I look out across our pasture.
I'm going to be a grandma to (hopefully) 5 healthy angus beef calves.
Last October, I invested in 5 Angus heifers with the intention to breed the heifers and sell the offspring. I thought it was a promising, yet risky, way to see some of my savings grow - literally.
The beginning stages of my investment proved to be frustrating. The new bull our ranch had purchased for our growing beef herd was having some 'malfunctions'. After a few months of seeing heifers still coming into heat when they should have been a couple months along, a semen test showed our big man on campus had very high quality sperm - he just didn't know how to use it. Another new bull was brought in and my heifers were confirmed pregnant shortly after.
Much to my surprise, my first calf dropped 2 1/2 weeks earlier than the vet predicted. I'm now the proud mama of my first Angus pair. As for the other four, they are bagging up with each passing day. I'm on pins and needles waiting to see another black dot on the horizon when I look out across our pasture.
A Little Wet
Well, it seems as if this winter will not be as dry as last winter.
Hooray!
Texas and I have been waiting very impatiently for some rain here over the last year and a half. Last winter we saw less than a handful of spitting rainstorms. Pretty pathetic.
Since last weekend, we've seen about 4 inches of rain drop here at the ranch, and the surrounding foothills saw much more.
While I have had a couple barrel races canceled due to the weather, I am thankful to see grass growing in December. We've been able to cut back on the hay and will hopefully make our supply last a little longer.
We are feeling very fortunate to receive the recent moisture and are excited for more to come!!
Hooray!
Texas and I have been waiting very impatiently for some rain here over the last year and a half. Last winter we saw less than a handful of spitting rainstorms. Pretty pathetic.
Since last weekend, we've seen about 4 inches of rain drop here at the ranch, and the surrounding foothills saw much more.
While I have had a couple barrel races canceled due to the weather, I am thankful to see grass growing in December. We've been able to cut back on the hay and will hopefully make our supply last a little longer.
We are feeling very fortunate to receive the recent moisture and are excited for more to come!!
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Tractor Derby
Lately, it's been a tractor derby around here...
It's pretty much a race to find out which tractor is going to break down by the end of the day. That's what happens when ya have some ol' equipment!
This day happened to be the day that the trusty red tractor broke down and the 50's model that Texas just got running last week (after ten years of being broken in the barn) had to come to the rescue.
It's pretty much a race to find out which tractor is going to break down by the end of the day. That's what happens when ya have some ol' equipment!
This day happened to be the day that the trusty red tractor broke down and the 50's model that Texas just got running last week (after ten years of being broken in the barn) had to come to the rescue.
Saturday Morning Cartoons
Ok, so maybe Saturday mornings at our house don't involve cartoons....
But I bet you can count on a furry creature that is willing to lay on you for an hour or two while you sip on coffee and read.
But I bet you can count on a furry creature that is willing to lay on you for an hour or two while you sip on coffee and read.
3
This was taken last weekend while we were out wine tasting. Just so happened to fall on the weekend of our three month anniversary of being MURRIED!
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Missin' My Lady
For the last two weeks, Jade and I have taken a break. Not willingly, might I add. I ran Jade at a barrel race two weeks ago last night.. Two days later, Jade seemed nearly crippled in her hind end and was stumbling around the pasture. A trip to the vet, some small fortune later, her lameness was still a mystery. She had been fine after the race and the next day, too. She literally broke herself overnight!!
After nearly a week of pain meds and waiting, I was greeted with a welcome sight of... An abscess! Normally, I hate these things. However, since I had just spent the last 5 days thinking my horse was crippled for life, I was ecstatic to find that her problem was treatable.
I've been doctoring her TWO abscesses in both hind feet for over a week now. She finally seems like she's not in pain. After some rock picking in our arena, I'm hoping to avoid abscesses in the future. We've already missed two races and will miss another next week.
Things like this always seem to happen when there are a ton of barrel races close by... Ugh!! Hopefully, this rest will prove to be a good thing, and Jade will come back with a vengeance!
After nearly a week of pain meds and waiting, I was greeted with a welcome sight of... An abscess! Normally, I hate these things. However, since I had just spent the last 5 days thinking my horse was crippled for life, I was ecstatic to find that her problem was treatable.
I've been doctoring her TWO abscesses in both hind feet for over a week now. She finally seems like she's not in pain. After some rock picking in our arena, I'm hoping to avoid abscesses in the future. We've already missed two races and will miss another next week.
Things like this always seem to happen when there are a ton of barrel races close by... Ugh!! Hopefully, this rest will prove to be a good thing, and Jade will come back with a vengeance!
We Love Gnocchi
A few weeks ago, we got adventurous and decided to substitute gnocchi for pasta. We made a scrumptious pesto gnocchi dish il with bits of bacon, onion and Pinot. :) Not to mention our tasty side of spicy lemon garlic shrimp!
Creamy Brocolli Cheddar Soup
Just discovered a new way to be creative in the kitchen - homemade soup!! 
We Be Gangstas
Stoney can't decide if he enjoys warm ears or if he's too embarrassed by his gangsta hat.
Homemade Junkfood
We had a lovely visit from a dear friend this last weekend, and to show her how much we missed her, we decided to go all out - Texas and I made a plethora of homemade Junkfood!!
Mozzarella sticks, fried chicken bites, Queso, Kajillion layer bean dip, Foccacia Pesto bread.... It's safe to say that we overestimated our eating capabilities!
Mozzarella sticks, fried chicken bites, Queso, Kajillion layer bean dip, Foccacia Pesto bread.... It's safe to say that we overestimated our eating capabilities!
Best Way
The best way to drink wine - out of a mason jar wine glass!! Thank you Julia and Alex for an awesome wedding gift! :)
Sunday, September 23, 2012
An Early Rainstorm
A few weeks ago, we had a very light rain shower.
The almond growers were racing to get their crop harvested, in fear of an early winter.
We barely got a sprinkle.
But I sure enjoyed the cooler weather and cloud cover!
Banana Almond Cranberry Muffins
I made some of these a few weeks ago with some leftover Banana bread batter. First time using our muffin tins that we received as a wedding present.
I'd say these were a success! I used the Banana bread batter I had leftover, mixed in some dried cranberries, and poured the mixture into the tins. Then, I topped the gooey deliciousness with a sprinkle of sliced almonds and brown sugar. Before we ate them, we made sure to drizzle some Agave Nectar over top. Yum!!
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Wedding IPhone Pics
Thank you Carly for these wedding picture sneak peeks. I hope I can do the same for you one day. ;)
The Road to Marriage
Most weddings go straight from the ceremony to the reception...
Not for these crazy folks!! We had the coolest photographers that we're up for anything. Texas and I drug them and our entire 11 person wedding party up a mountain near the ranch we worked at. A few hours and champagne bottles later, we definitely made some photo history... So excited to see what our amazing photographers come up with. The weather was perfect. A storm passed over the valley we were standing over (overlooking from a cliff) which made for an incredible dark backdrop on the mountains and a nice breeze.
Texas and I loved our little afternoon wedding road trip.
Not for these crazy folks!! We had the coolest photographers that we're up for anything. Texas and I drug them and our entire 11 person wedding party up a mountain near the ranch we worked at. A few hours and champagne bottles later, we definitely made some photo history... So excited to see what our amazing photographers come up with. The weather was perfect. A storm passed over the valley we were standing over (overlooking from a cliff) which made for an incredible dark backdrop on the mountains and a nice breeze.
Texas and I loved our little afternoon wedding road trip.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Homemade Deliciousness
Pioneer woman's homemade donuts.. AMAZING!! The 16 hours in prep work?? Not so amazing..
My Loves
Our little kittens are doing well. Only one has taken an accidental truck ride.. Must take after his older brother, Dos.
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