Good Morning, Monday!

Good Morning, Friends! We are having a glorious Monday in Kansas. We've had alot of rain and some more expected today. But the rest of the week should dry up with fall-like weather! This is my favorite time of the year - I took a walk last night right before the sun went down. It was cool and quiet.

Today is Rick's first day at his new job. I told him this morning that I had butterflies for him! I haven't shared much, but the company that he worked for was sold to a very large insurance brokerage and he was not guaranteed any type of position. All was "up in the air" as they say. Being a man of action, he started looking for a new position right away. He interviewed with our county's department of mental health for a chief financial officer position and they called him two weeks later and offered him the job. He's wanted to get into "non-profit" for quite some time and this is a good move. Drive time is less, not necessarily shorter, but since he doesn't have to deal with Wichita rush hour traffic, it takes him about 15 less minutes.

I'm really excited for him because he'll have about 12 people that report to him and he has his very own assistant! I can remember being an assistant to some one and whenever the wife called, she got sent through right away . . . I wonder if I'll get that priority! (smile)

On to other news . . . when you have horses and kiddos on the horses, your heart tends to go pitter-patter much faster then normal! Rick and Bo were roping and Bo's horse just did not want to get-up-and-go. So he and Dad had a conversation about the spurs on the back of his boots and how to use them. On the next run, coming out of the box, Bo gave Blackie the 'ol yeehaw and Blackie gave Bo the pitch of his life! I saw my boy fly about two feet above that horse's back and then gravity took hold and I watched my boy hit the dirt like a sack of potatoes! Dad took off and roped that horse like he was a wild mustang and I got back down the arena to Bo. Trying not to make a big deal of the whole thing, we checked him over, cleaned the dirt out of the nose, ears, and mouth - checked the shiner that was going to be on the cheek and he climbed his little hiney back up on that stubborn, mule-headed horse. Got back in the box for another run and gave that 'ol cus another yeehaw! The boy and the horse have a whole new relationship!

We had Bo convinced that Blackie just crow-hopped and it wasn't any big deal. But he had a chat with his sister and she quickly told him that he had been soundly pitched! We are proud of him, though. He got back on, didn't allow fear to grip him, and continued to rope - really well, I might add!

My sister, Leah, lives in Kentucky and has twins also - her boys have gone to college so she has gone to a fabric shop for a part-time job. Pictures will be coming of the adorable pillow cases she has made my kids! When she gets in the sewing mood, no tellin' what the mailman/woman will be bringing to my door. I definitely do not mind either. She has always been a really good seamstress!

We've got birthday's coming. Bo's turnin 10, the K's are turnin 4 and I'm looking at 40 and trying to decide if I'm going to accept it! I've started walking in hopes that the 20 pounds hanging on to my hiney will drop off rapidly! We'll see . . . I'll keep you posted!

1 Peter 2:16-17: Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone; Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the King.

Blessings~
P.

Funky Weather

I am posting this just shortly after it happened and am still breathing heavy, sweat trickling down my back! I figured posting would be good therapy for the post traumatic stress disorder that I am sure to relive from this harrowing experience!

I heard a crack of thunder and thought - GREAT - we have a horse in the round pen! So I took off toward the barn, another crack of thunder made me run a little faster and then I look over my shoulder at a lightning bold wanting to fry me like chicken! Suddenly . . . with a burst of youth, I ran even faster!

I got the horse haltered and headed to the barn - of course - he only wanted to walk - he has NO CLUE that we were about to be cooked in our skin! We finally got to the barn, I got the stall closed and look out the door and thought - God in heaven, have mercy on me today - do not strike me down for all the naughty I've done!

Then I ran back to the house like a 20 year old track star! But, I am almost 40. I think I set an Olympic record for racing lightning! Unfortunately, I only have pix of the clouds!

Imagine my fright, relive my terror . . . you are breathing heavy, your pulse has quickened from the adrenaline rush this post is giving you . . .

















Okay - so the pictures aren't telling this story, I am!

STUCK AND MUDDY!

Someone help me understand the male species! What was he thinking . . . that this would just slip on and off like a T-shirt? It slipped on like one, but did NOT come off like one. Fortunately, he laughed through the whole thing! We finally got it off with much tugging, pulling, twisting, yanking, etc.















And Muddy - Bailey babysits three kids, Shelby, Trey, and Riley everyday before and after school. Last Friday, they had an early out day so the pond called their names!
















Bailey is demonstrating an "All Country Mud Facial" - suprisingly, all blemishes are gone!














Kash is displaying his wild side - let me tell ya . . . he can get wound up!

Clean Team Roping Run

Simple Blessing ~

Is this blog-worthy? Probably not, but I painted my front door and I am just so happy with it that I thought I would share it with you.

From a real estate perspective, if you are planning to sell your home, paint with neutral colors that are in the trend. However, if you aren't planning to sell then paint what you like! Its taken me a while to find my "style" and put the colors together - plus that all requires moolah! I love seeing pictures of my blogger friends creations and decorating projects. Gives me inspiration and starts the creative juices flowing.

I found this can of blue paint in the house when we bought it and just put it on the shelf for "later." For those of you who don't know me that well . . . I LOVE to garage sale. I found this little yellow wreath for 10 cents. Waalaa! Blue door, yellow wreath! Money spent . . . 10 cents! How good is that! Thank you, Lord, for little blessings!

And many blessings to you!

P.

The Broken Y Arena

Good morning in Kansas! We still aren't sure what is happening with our weather. Note the sweatshirt and jeans in the morning and I will shed those by noon and be in shorts and a t-shirt! Our high today is about 85 degrees and I am not complaining. I've had the windows thrown wide open and have been enjoying the breeze!

I'm headed out to fill the water tank and throw some pellets to the steers. I'm not looking to make a fashion statement and I'm definetely NOT America's next top model! We're so funny at my house . . . my men will go out in public in just about anything that they've cleaned the barn in, built fence in 100 degree temps or hauled hay all day in. I will look like this at home . . . but WILL NOT go out looking like this! So . . .count yourselves among the priveledged! :D



Here is the long view of the arena. It's about 150x250 and is completely portable. Should God ever call us to another location, a couple snips of wire and we can take everything with us. The funny thing about this picture is that we leave these barrels standing every night and every morning they look like this! Makes you wonder what those crazy steers do at night while everyone else is sleeping!





These are the boxes where the header and heeler put their horses to come out once the steer has been released out of the chute.














Before we even begin to rope the steers, they are herded into the holding pen which is at the end of the return alley.

We push 'em up into the loading alley which tapers down to about 2 ft. Once we get them single file into this tapered alley, they turn the corner . .

and move into this alley way, single file, while they beller and carry on, knowing they are getting ready to load into the chute. Klay is demonstrating how they could possibly stand while waiting!

The K's are fascinated with the chute and all the bells and whistles that come with it. They are demonstrating how the loading gate pulls out so the steers can step into the chute (with a little assistance).











A better angle of the action that takes place!














Now this doo-dad looks like a garage door opener, and yes, its a garage door opener! The header or heeler has the remote clipped on a belt loop and pushes the button when they are ready. The chute gate flies open, the steer flies out, the horses charge and hopefully the header will catch the steer by the horns or neck, turn him to the left and the heeler will come in behind and try to catch two feet for a successful run. If the heeler drops a leg there is a 5 second penalty.






This is the view from the boxes. The steer is going to run directly to the strip chute at the end of the arena. Hopefully, the steer will go nice and straight to it and not try any fancy tricks like running straight to the fence on the right or make any screwing turns to the left.








Once the boogers are caught for a time, they are allowed to run to this strippen' chute where the ropes can be removed without getting kicked or hooked.

The steer is then let through into the return alley to be herded back up to the holding pen. Only to start the craziness again!








Here is a different view of the strip chute. I had two visitors this morning who just sat there and let me look at them. Once the steers came in for food though, they were gone!










Here are the boys . . . one girl . . . I think . . . I haven't actually gotten a good look at all of them but . . .we call them the boys.

We don't have a feeder set up yet, so they are getting their pellets off the ground. Hey . . . this isn't Texas Road House . . . however, I am known to throw in a line dance or two while feeding.

These steers are the Coriente breed. Steers that are bread in Mexico and are super sturdy. We'll be doctorin' them tonight. They need dewormer, some B-12, and their horns need to be cut back.

This is not a job for the faint at heart because there is a blood vessel that runs the length of the horn so when you cut a couple inches off, its like a water pistol. We have some powder we put right on the horn to stop the bleeding and they're good as new!

When we rope, we have horn wraps that go on their horns and buckle under their chins. This protects their ears from any burns by the nylon ropes.

These steers bring us alot of pleasure but we take their care very seriously. As well as the care of our horses. We do not abuse the animals that God has created but make sure they are fed and doctored properly.

The boys are a little scrawny but with a week or two with us, they will be at a good weight for roping and we'll maintain that weight while we have them.










When we aren't roping the live steers, the practice dummies are where the time is spent.

This is "Charlie" - He's been with Rick for quite a while now. This is what he practices heading on.










Here is "Linus" - he was one of my dad's saw horses. I gave him to Rick when we first started dating so Rick has been practicing his heel loop on Linus for about 20 years. He falls apart every once in a while but we just put another nail where needed and he keeps standing tall, a faithful friend, spending hours with Rick.






And finally . . . Introducing "Hottie"

He is a HotHeels that is pulled behind a 4-wheeler. I've gotten pretty good at simulating a run so that Rick can come in behind and rope the feed that are swinging back and forth like a real steer would when being pulled by a horse.

He's given us hours of practice and this is what Bo has learned to rope on. He is now graduated to live cattle!

So . . .this is what our arena looks like, where we hope to have cowboys and cowgirls over to rope and run barrels and where, in the midst of dirt and dust, Christ is glorified!

Come on over, we'd love to have ya!

PS - I've included a link of a successful team roping run off to the side.

Big Cow / Little Cow

Karma - The Big Cow/Little Cow post is coming today! I'll have lots of pictures for your viewing pleasure!