Cowkid Entertainment

Well, in Kansas, we've had some awesome weather. Yesterday was high 60's and we were outside all day.

Today, we had a strong north wind and 40 something.


It was cold!

But . . . that doesn't stop the cowkids around this place.


Kash has the hoodie on and Klay is letting the wind freeze his ears!






This is my MIL's house that we moved on our place this summer. This is working out really well. She is adjusting nicely to country life. AND the kids are thrilled to have her out here!










You can see in the background some burned hay - this is debris from a barn fire we had in September. A large amount of hay and equipment were destroyed. It is amazing how quickly hay and straw can go up in smoke!








Whatever it takes to keep 'em happy!

Blessings~
P.

Road Trip

My dear friend, gal-pal, and kindred spirit, Leslie at Cow Pies and Mud Pies and I hooked up together around 7:30 this morning and headed out for Harper, Kansas!



We had to see what these gals have been up to!



Many of you may know them as Michelle at City Girl Turned Country and Jen at Country Girl Living.

The Grand Opening of their shop, The Rhinestone Cowgirls was today and it was priority that we get there early and support their efforts! AND SHOP!

We had a fun time looking at all the great purses, belts, jewelry, Cowgirl Tuff clothing, and then munching on the cookies and drinking some coffee while we shopped. The shop is in an old victorian home that has alot of charm and character.

We spent about an hour and half just shopping, talking, laughing, and having a good time with these sweet girls. We met Michelle's mom and son, and got a glimpse of a hubbie - we weren't sure who he went with since these gals married brothers!

It is clear that they have put alot of their heart and soul into their shop and our prayer for them today was that the Lord would bless their efforts, He would shine down success on their business and they would be a blessing to each person who came through the door.

I had a wonderful time!

Have I mentioned how much I love this gal? She is an absolute doll!



Thank you, Jen and Michelle, for being such fabulous hostesses today. We had a wonderful time! May the Lord bless and keep you, both!

Ya'll have a great rest of the weekend!

Blessings~
P.

10 years? 10 years!

My friend, Dee is an absolute doll! She is the office manager at my real estate office and she will literally bend over backwards to help anyone get anything accomplished. She is a 5 ft., 100 lb. ball of fire!

Dee and her husband, Tom, received news that Tom has Type A, Non-hodgkins Lymphoma. A cancer of the blood cells that has inhabited the bones also. Fortunately, it is only in the bone and has not traveled to the body tissues.

It has been a difficult wait for the diagnosis. They have both been in a state of shock. You see, Tom is 59, very active. He raises bucking bulls for the PBR and is also a train conductor. He is a busy man and has provided well for his family. This news just set him back on his haunches.

The doctors have determined that 8 weeks of chemo should slow this train down and should give Tom ten more years.

When Dee told me ten more years, we both went, "What? Only ten more years?" Tom said, "Ten more years!!" He had already begun preparing for them to tell him two more years, or less.


Psalm 100:1-5 -

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever,
his faithfullness continues though all generations.


So, this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for TEN MORE YEARS!

Have a wonderful week. Please keep the Bertrands in your prayers. God is good and His love does endure forever.

Blessing~

P.

A Father and His Son

Rick and Ricky. . . what can I say?

Ricky, a.k.a. "Bo" has worked by his Dad's side ever since he could toddle around. I've called him my Man-Child several times because that is what he is. He can work a full day with his Dad, hauling hay, building fence, doctoring steers, team roping, doing just about whatever his Dad does around the place.


But . . . there are days when the Man-Child, becomes a child again . . .






And just needs to be held by Dadda.















How sweet is that?



Blessings~
P.

Sleepy Cuteness

This is Kash-man. I just love it when he is still sleepy and Mommy-needy.






Have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings~
P.

Ggggrrrroooooooooooosss!

This was brought in from the arena. I wonder if my cowboys drank out of that without wiping off the top?






Blessings~
P.

Turn. Burn. Cure.

Bailey ran in an American Cancer Society Relay for Life Barrel Race to benefit Breast Cancer Research and Awareness!

She ran in honor of our friend, Jennifer Schmidt - a 38 year old mother of four attacked with one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer. Jennifer is 2 years in remission and fighting with all her strength!




Here we are in our Turn.Burn.Cure. shirts! If you can't read Bailey's, it says . . .


Fight Like A Girl - Ride Like A Girl





We had a good time, the weather was beautiful, and the Lord was Praised publically at this barrel race. How sweet can it get!

Blessings~

P.

The Happy Birthday Wall . . .

Whenever the K's have a surprise for me, they sing "Happy Birthday for you!" It doesn't matter if it is May and my birthday is in October. They sing this song for me.



I came home from showing houses one day and they were both very excited.





"Happy Birthday For You!" They sang over and over as they lead me to my bedroom.





Excuse the hideous white walls . . . I have a plan for those walls!





All the artwork from that day . . .













Taped to my wall with my roll of painters tape!













They prefer abstract art! I believe that there are a few "master pieces" here!






I've wanted to paint my room for a while now, but can't bring myself to clean off this wall. Any suggestions on how to preserve this innocent act of love?





Blessings~
P.

Friday Favorites

The things you see in Oklahoma!












Happy Friday!

Blessings~
P.

Came Home with ALL my Fingers!

I've had such a fun time teasing Sis about needing my thumb sticking out of her bit to make a fast run! But that wasn't the case last night!

She runs every Tuesday at the Kansas Coliseum Arena. The barrel pattern is set to the official WPRA measurements so we like knowing what kind of times we pull on this size.

She's gone three weeks in a row, taking Mighty into the first barrel at a medium to high lope - not a full powered run.

Week 1 she ran an 18.39 clean.

Week 2 she ran an 18.00 (with a 3rd barrel just barely down) When I say "just barely" it means she just nudged it. Didn't plow it down, just took it out with her stirrup.

Week 3 - last night - she ran a 17.76 with the second barrel teetering and then toppling to the ground! BUMMER!! She would have finished 2nd in the 1D!

For those of you who barrel race and for those of you who don't, her coach Kristy said she isn't riding to her point before she gives Mighty the cue to turn. She's a little anxious and reaches down for that saddle horn a bit to early. She needs to ride aggressively to her point with both hands on the reins, then drop the outside and grab the horn once she's at her point. Dropping that rein is his cue to turn and she's telling him too soon.

The good thing is she is taking him straight in now, not having to lope circles at the top of the pattern before she starts her run. He's still squirrely going into the arena but as long as he's taking that first barrel with no problem, we'll work on that later!

I've been living my life vacariously through my daughter, so I told her I would start taking a horse and try to catch up to her. We'll see how it goes. I'll keep you posted!

Thanks for letting me ramble on about my Girl. She's one of the five loves of my life!

Blessings~
P.

And We're Off!

Off to a barrel race. Pray for my appendages and Sis's run!

Simple Pleasures

I'm a simple girl.


Pretty easy to please.



It doesn't take much to make me happy.



Smiling just comes natural.



So when I saw this tea cup sitting on a table at a garage sale . . .




well . . . it made me smile . . .





So I bought it!






There is just something about a sunflower that brings a smile to your face!






Blessings~
P.

We went, we roped, we shopped, and we shopped some more! That is the extent of our weekend in Oklahoma City.

Rick roped around 6:30pm, Friday night. He was heading for our good buddy, Kirk, a.k.a. Big Dog, which the K's just adore. Backed into the box and was anticipating a fast running steer because, quite frankly, when he goes to a big roping competition, he ALWAYS draws the runner. He got out clean, without breaking the barrier, and had a nice, easy, mellow steer. His horse, Big, was out and in position quickly, and Rick said he just wasn't anticipating a nice steer and being there so quick. He brought his rope up, took one swing, threw, and well . . . didn't catch. BUMMER. This is the first time in about 15 years that he has roped in this major of a competition. I think he worked all the kinks out and will do great next time.

He was scheduled to rope in the #9 on Saturday around 6:30pm and his header missed. Fortunately, his header, Wes, and his heeler, Kirk all say that there are no guarantees when it comes to roping and they don't hold misses against each other.

So, Sunday, we just enjoyed the morning shopping. The vendors were on their last day so there were alot of sales going on. I took advantage of it being my birthday week and purchased a neat purse and wallet - cowhide with rhinestones! Some jewelry and a much needed new pair of boots.

I could take a weekend to go back to Oklahoma City just to shop!

Thank you for keeping us in your prayers. It was a great weekend and a learning experience for Rick as a roper in more advanced competition. He came back ready to rope some more and is trying to get me to try a little. We'll see how that goes!

We had a wonderful time and we pray that God was glorified through our actions and words as we visited with people from all over the US.

I'm headed for a long, hot bath . . . and then on with another week. You are all so special to me. I'm looking forward to spending some quality blog time tomorrow getting caught up with all of you!!

Blessings~
P.