How Much Is That Horsey In The Window?

Me, “I’ll hold her for you.”

I know I’m in the car y’all.

The girl, “I just need to get something.”

Me, “Ok.”

The girl, “It’s hot out here.”

Me, “Take your time, really.”

The girl, “Thanks for the money. I’m hungry.”

Me, “It’s okay, I’ve got all day.”

And then they got a sandwich. It’s just what moms do.

August 2, All In The Family

This is Zepp, short for the mega rock group Led Zeppelin. He’s trying to figure out what these other little creatures are that moved into his house. He was really gentle with the chick though, a big lug indeed.

Please show me a photo of what family means to you! You can win a 16 x 20 canvas from the wonderful people at Hello Canvas. Find out how here.

Posted on Tracey’s Best Shot Monday.

My Girl & Her Six Brave Brothers

Do you see the snake?

There it is! It was huge…huge…

We (the parents) found a rope swing on an adult boat ride. We thought the kids would like it and we brought them back that evening. The girl and three of the boys jumped into the water and excitedly made their way to shore…

…until they saw the snake and screamed like little school girls – the boys that is. The only girl in the group stood her ground and waded closer to get a look and try to scare the snake away. At least I think that’s what she was trying to do.

Two of the boys swam back to the boat and crawled in. Mr. Chris said he turned around and LCAT Eric was standing behind him. Uh huh…

LCAT Kegan’s curiosity got the best of him and he backed up enough to get behind the girl.

The other three boys in our boat taunted them from safety of 15 yards away. I want to tell them that taunting is really not a very nice personality trait, especially if you can’t back it up.

I just thought this photo was funny. LCAT Kegan gettin’ out of Dodge as quickly as he can, all the while screaming, “We got your back (girl), we got your back!”

The snake ran (slithered) away and the girl called the all clear. At which point, six 16 year old boys then jumped into the water. My father used to call that type of behavior “chicken —-.” He swore a lot; it always made me cringe even as a little girl.

I know I just made you cringe.

But before they could swing, the girl had to get the rope up to the boys. Whenever I witness the girl’s quiet toughness, I wonder how society is run by males. It’s just not possible.

All clear boys!

I was proud of the girl and very afraid too. We had no snake venom antibodies with us you know? Anyway, someone told me that snakes cannot bite under water because if they opened their mouths they would drown. Nice to know.

You enjoy your swing little girl. You saved the day.

I just love her.

The Pet Parade – Sheba Style

I’ve been waiting for the Pet Parade! I’m playing along with my good friend Gayle (who I just love) and the talented ELK over at Shutter Sisters. It’s a family affair!

My doggie of choice is Sheba, our neighbor for the last 7 years. Seven years for a dog is a long time and Sheba was a young pup back then. Now she’s an old dame. Gray, slow, and calm.

She watches over the kids. A much younger and more energetic dog has moved into her house…poor her. But she’s taking it well.

What a good old dog…

Please enter a photo in my Hello Love – Family contest! You can win a free canvas for your photo. I would love to see all your submissions…

What Deer?

I don’t have the most observant dog.

Lets face it, if I quit my job and stayed home every day, I would drive you crazy.  Still resting I am.

The Horse Whisperer…Corner View “Me”

Update: I’m playing along with Jane at Spain Daily (very  jealous of where she lives) on Corner View, theme is “Me.” I really don’t like being in front of the camera but I guess this post will fit the bill.

While the boy has been occupied all summer with his schedule, the girl has been busy as well.

She declined to go to camp with the boy again this summer. Instead, she is spending her days at the farm, attending and working at horse camps.

She and her horsey friends attended this jumping camp last week. The next Sunday, they all had a major horse show.

Beth-girl looks more like me than the girl does I think. She reallly could be my daughter, skin color and all…

As a result of all this activity, the horses were all pooped out. They had to really be encouraged to work during the show. It was hot, they were tired from all that jumping the week before and they just didn’t wanna.

I know how they feel, minus the jumping part.

I had the girl walk Ella up to the food stand so she could eat.

Look Ella, grass…

Ella was walking really really slowly. She’s a very laid-back horse, and coupled with a very laid-back girl, the combination is like watching ice melt, or molasses in January. Whatever. All I know is that I was walking faster than Ella and I only have two legs.

It was hot, I know.

So the girl dismounts and leaves Ella in very capable hands. I can make her do anything I want her to.

She respects me.

It got to the point that the girl decided to take a drastic step – spurs. Along with the crop, she and Ella were Reserve Champions in the next event, after having came in dead last in the first one.

I would have used sugar myself.

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

AND…I’m play over at ishouldbefoldinglaundry today at Beth’s.

These are my three favorite places to play!

Measure Twice, Order Once…Think Thrice

This is one of my favorite all time photos of the cat. He just looks so content and somewhat stately. I love that my wallpaper was in the photo so when I found out about Hello Canvas and realized what a wonderful product they had, I wanted to order more.

I needed a piece of art to go above my headboard. My bedroom is mostly black and white so I thought the cat would be a great addition. It would be a really personal touch.

So I put the cat to canvas and it’s beautiful – and huge. His head is about three feet across.

I measured, I did.

But for some reason, my sense of proportion was waaaay off.

As cute as he is, I don’t k now if I can wake up every morning thinking that he’s going to eat me.

I think that a canvas this big would be really great with different content, one that doesn’t make one feel like they are being stalked for food.

I think that a smaller canvas would have looked great. It’s just that it’s so big…

The husband saw my post last weekend and he called very excitedly and said, “I know the perfect place for this!” I cringed a little bit, hoping it wasn’t anywhere in the house, much less the bedroom.

But he does have the perfect place. And when it’s up in its place of honor, I’ll take a photo and show you.

So Hello Canvas, you do beautiful work. I’ll place another order soon. This one will be for a very, very, very small horse.

Separation Anxiety

When I pick up the girl at the farm, I usually sit in my car and text her, “I’m here.”

Since she’s such a big girl now, I don’t stay at the farm with her anymore and thank goodness. I don’t have the time or the patience to stay there for hours…and hours…and hours…

But on this day, I was a little early so I wandered down to the main barn, right smack into Operation Separation. It seems that in order for Limerick to be ridden again, she has to be separated from her baby. It was the first time the girls tried it.

There was a lot of crying on the baby’s part. It literally sounded like a human baby saying, “Mama, mama don’t leave me!” It cuts to the heart of you.

Limerick found it very difficult to walk away. She kept turning around and refusing to go forward.

Finally the girls brought Limerick back to the stall. Kelly girl said they would try it again later that day. I hope it’s not as traumatic as this first time.

It reminded me of the first time we left the boy with a sitter other than his mama-san. Some friends of our insisted we go out to dinner and they would watch him. We were gone exactly one hour. Nothing against our friends and the boy was fine.

But I know how Limerick feels…

Welcome To The Neighborhood Frau Greta

This is a sad story…so if you are feeling particularly tender today, don’t read anymore.

But for those of you tough folks with great intestinal fortitude…well, go ahead, live dangerously.

I was walking the dog as I am wont to do every morning that I’m semi-awake. Every morning I pass by Neighbor Vince’s house and on this particular morning he was outside with a wheelbarrow and shovel. He looked up as I walked by and he threw his shovel down and turned and walked about 20 paces away from me and started to sob.

These weren’t just tears, they were body racking sobs.

The dog started walking to him and I followed. I was greatly concerned and a little bit befuddled. After all I hadn’t had my tea yet (my compassion can be overwhelming at times.)

Neighbor Vince knelt down and hugged the dog and buried his head in hers. My thoughts immediately went to the worse case scenario. It’s the way I am.

“Is it Mikey ?” I ask. I immediately think of the kids…it’s my worse nightmare.

He chuckled/sobbed and said, “No it’s not Mikey.”

“Is it Teri?” I ask. I wasn’t leaving until I found out what it was, whether he wanted to tell me or not.

“You’re not a very good detective are you?” he says.

At which point, I looked at the ditch he was digging and I thought, “OMG, he’s going to bury a body.”

And right behind my fence too.

At which point, he put me out of my misery and said that Bubba, his Chesapeake Lab was in a bad way. And that he was going to bury him. I was alternately relieved and horrified…it’s wasn’t his kids or his wife, but it was his dog! There’s no love lost between Bubba and I but I have to say, I felt so badly for him.

I gave him a big hug and told him that I would get the husband to come out and help him dig. He said no.

I guess a man really has to do some things by himself.

The other night Neighbors Vince and Teri came by with this…their new puppy! She’s from the pound…and absolutely adorable! There’s no better way to heal than to pour your love into another being who needs it!

So now we – I mean they – have to name her…they want to give her a cute feminine German name. Does anyone know of one?

I think Greta…yeah, Greta. It’s a step up from Bubba I think.

Posted on Love Thursday. What a love story huh?

June 3, The Comb Over

Have you ever seen someone who was losing their hair and swept all of it to one side in order to cover up the fact that they were losing their hair?

For some reason Ella mane reminds me of that.

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