California Cowgirl

Good news all the way around

2012-01-25T23:25:00.000-08:00

Here is Remington- Rem or Remmy... formerly known as TC or The Colt.

He has been gelded and his teeth pulled out. The mouth looks so much better.

I took my Dad out to see him, but he wouldn't get into the pictures..yet.

I didn't ride him, but we lunged a bit. He was a punk about it too!

Didn't want to go clockwise! Of course he eventually did go- but sheesh.! I'm sure hoping this was just an anomaly!

Horse shows are in the middle of April and Jaq says he will be ready to go show. I'm ok with that. I have a whole new pack of big girl bloomers!

He'll get new shoes next week, and I'll ride him next Tuesday. I wish I wasn't two hours away right now, I want to be with him everyday!

In the meantime, I am working with Slick. He stands perfectly still when I brush and clean his feet. He's learning to get on the bit, and round his back. I still have to take him into a larger paddock to ride, but I don't have one available- it's turned to mush with the rain we just received.

He's just going to make someone a super nice horse- he is so sweet and loving. Two more months and I hope I'll be able to put up an ad.

In other news...

I've been writing!

And about to set forth on a big-really big- art installation.

He's MINE!

2012-01-19T22:31:00.000-08:00

Remember this guy?

Skipin Out West

WELL, HE'S FINALLY MINE!

YIPPEE!!!

After a visit to the vet, we finally made the deal!

Boy, I've never worked so hard to own a horse!

He was gelded the very next day.

He's recuperating nicely back at Superior Quarter Horses.

A BIG THANK YOU

Jacqueline Burke

for your hard, hard work, and your unwavering faith that this was going to happen.

It would never have been possible without you!

Thanks to my GF

Deniserita, the Unpaid Ranch Slave

for your clear headed thinking and your

VERY valuable opinions.

(I really do listen to you!)

And

Thanks to

Lil Mama

for your calming demeanor when I am going haywire. It's so nice to have you 'mother' me once in awhile!

Here I go again!

The List

2012-01-12T00:17:00.000-08:00

****** It seems that of you who have responded, mark Temperament and intelligence at the top of your list, with 6 stars.
**** Second comes confirmation,personality and then good legs and feet-soundness.
***    Prettiness marked higher than breeding** and health. *
**    Intelligence,and Breeding have two stars,
*      Whether they had been saddled or bridled, whether they showed courage or jumping ability, Height or talent only have one star.

I must say I am a little surprised. Temperament as Numero uno!

If this list is any indication I will be able to sell Slick very easily. He has an amazing Tempermnet, he is very intelligent. ( I'm teaching him tricks!) He's pretty- at least a pretty color, and he is healthy. His conformation is a little upright, but some folks like that. PS- He's fast! He's well bred, and has been ridden, trailered, washed and clipped.

His big problem- spooking at bicycles doesn't seem to make much of a mark on this survey. Most think you can fix that. ( Yeah You!) Even though he is only 142hh, he appears bigger. An optical illusion to be sure!

Now to get him muscled up, standing straight and perfect for Halter/Showmanship and ride him so he won't spook.
Any of you know someone who would like to buy a nice horse? I might even deliver!

Has Spring actually Sprung?

2012-01-07T23:18:00.000-08:00

For three weeks the weather here in the Bay Area of California has been cold. Not 'North Dakota I'm in Hell Cold'- but in the 30's. There has been little rain since the day I was stuck on the Freeway two or so months ago. While I'm not complaining now, I probably will later.
It was nearly 70 degrees here for the last three days! Balmy and Spring like!
It was such good weather, and since there is only one horse to ride, I have no real job again and time to kill I decided to make up jobs for myself.
Painting my Trail Poles was what I came up with. I guess in retrospect is is also a way to keep my dream of riding a good trail horse alive.

I bought the paint and set out to the barn.

Coming around the corner to the barn, and not seeing the familiar blaze face of Desi standing there waiting for me was kind of a hard moment. Here is a picture of Desi and his new family, Tracy and Mike. They look good don't they!

I swallowed hard and put it behind me.

This is what the trail poles looked like. They didn't get any paint last year.

I let Bob out into the arena where I was working. Lil Mama has been sick with the flu so I was helping her out , but it turns out he was going to help me!

He started by picking up the paint brushes and the feed bag tarp- so I had to put him back in his pen.

I painted everything in a creamy off white.

Then I painted the ends Red, and the middles yellow.

I painted the short poles too, and did alternating red stripes and yellow stripes. I painted the pole braces yellow and red too. When it is all together in a pattern it will be so cheerful! And the colors will make it easier for me to mark where I need to ride across the poles.

I let Milo out on the second day. He ignored me mostly.

As I was taking my paints and brushes out of the arena, he was actually asleep in the warm warm sun.

But by time I got back, he was up and nosing around the almost dry poles.

Can you see why I said 'almost'? He had to see what I was up to and now his nose is covered in yellow enamel paint!
SIGH***
Linda wasn't too upset. It should wear off soon.

I went out and rode Slick today. No pictures, but I'll post some new ones soon.
Slick is losing weight, and he feels very frisky! Our ride yesterday was quite spirited! His shoulders are getting more free, and he's beginning to understand that his neck need to be lower, that he needs to be on the bit. I'm only getting a stride or two before his head is popping up like a weasel at lunch time, but he is starting to get it.
There were lots of Bicycles out today, and he only spooked at one of them. And that spook was just a straight up and down, no sideways movement. I changed his bit to a heavy slow twist, and he sees to be responding a little better.
So every day I am getting the 1% that I strive for.

Yippee!

Tomorrow is Annex auction day! Stay tuned for cool stuff I'll be posting all day on FB!
See something you like and go to www.michaans.com to bid.

And still no new horse. Long story. Share later.

Ride your ponies and kiss their noses!

A Perfect Horse

2012-01-05T00:33:00.000-08:00

Is there a perfect horse?
I'm scanning the online ads again. TC may or may not be coming home with me, so in the meantime I'm beefing up my search. As I read the ads, I have a set of questions in my head. A lot of owners, me included put a lot of thought and information into their ads. Their horses will do almost anything...but....insert bad quality here.
After going through it with Desi for nearly a year, a year I will hardly forget- I've come to the conclusion that buying a horse in this years market is unlike any other horse market....ever.
Here's why...
Growing up we (the collective we) all had horses. We paid little for them and rode the snot out of them, then bought another. We asked if they were broke- that meant ' has he had a saddle and bridle on him?'. That is it. That is all.
Then we all learned to listen to horses, to whisper to them and to play games with them. We came to expect that every horse was worth a million dollars and was perfect. And if it wasn't- well we could go to any number of clinics to make them perfect- to fix our flaws as owners and riders. It's always the owners fault.
Now the market is flat as a pancake- unless you have a high dollar horse- $10,000.00 and up-and then there is just a slight swell in the market. Horses, through no fault of their own are being sold. And people who feel sorry for the horses, or always wanted to have one and now they are cheap, or die hard idiots like me that just can't breath unless they have a horse in the paddock waiting on them, are looking for mounts. And they want the perfect horses they have been promised.
uh oh!
Perfect practice makes perfect. But what if you haven't practiced? What if your horse isn't perfect?
What IF your horse is nearly perfect?
What if he's horrible! What then?
In one ad today , and I paraphrase "...this is the greatest horse, but he only has 15% vision in his eyes because of.....but he don't let that upset him, he just carries on bravely!"

eegads....He's cute but blind ain't perfect.

Or this one " He's got one foot shorter than 'tother, but with correction shoes he should go sound,"
Again. Not. Perfect.

My TC has a mouth issue. Not perfect.
I rode him and as I was trying to get him to lope he bucked pretty good - not perfect. As I was checking his legs in back, he kicked me- not perfect!
BUT I am not as picky as most everyone else. My question is still " Has he had on a saddle and bridle, has he been ridden much?" For TC I am also asking if his mouth issue is going to be a real problem or just an annoyance.

My particular line in the sand is feet and legs. If they aren't good- I don't go any further. If his conformation isn't balanced, I don't go any further. If he has a really bad attitude, I don't go any further. TC is balanced, he's quiet legged, his personality is great- he just needs to be gelded soon! I can cure a kicker if that is his issue.
So- what is your line in the sand? Where will you draw the line? What can you live with?
What is the perfect horse?
As I am next planning to find Slick a good home, I would like your input. High headed -ness, quick legs, a winning personality, trail miles, show points, beautiful coat, does tricks, easy to handle, not afraid of dogs... give me a list of your most important traits to find in a horse, and the most important ones to stay away from.

Keith and his perfect horse

Regan and her perfect pony

Four perfect horses with five riders

The perfect size horse

Not so perfect- has a fit doing his ears

Perfect mare- would do anything you asked of her

Not perfect- but I loved him anyway

working on being perfect- but for whom?

TC- He looks perfect here

And he looks perfect here

see his little crooked smile? Not perfect, but cute!

Krissy's perfect horse

I'll make up a list and post it here.

Pots and pans and big sticks

2012-01-01T00:32:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!
If I'm not the very first to blog on this New Day I'm pretty darn close. As I sit here I am hearing gunshots, firecrackers,M80's and of course the original noisemaker- Pots and pans and big sticks. Or maybe they are wooden spoons.
As a kid I would wait up with my very own Momma to ring in the New Year. It was such a struggle to stay awake for the midnight hour- but when ( and if) we did Mom would get her Revere ware pot, a big wooden spoon and we would go on to the front porch and bang away like fiends. We'd hoot and holler and laugh. Then it was a quick egg nog toast and off to bed we'd go. Little wonder I still hear that familiar sound over the other larger noise.
It seems like this year- this NEW year of 2012 - is being heralded a little more fervently than 2011. And why not.
First off- it is a even numbered year! Always a crowd favorite.
Secondly - it can hardly be worse than the last year. Though I suffered no long term illness or trauma I know plenty of people that have. I don't consider my yo-yo like financial status anything to compare to that.
And B- We are all gonna be dead this time next year- but there will be no next year. The Mayan's predicted it you know. How wrong could they be?
It is starting off on a good note anyway. For those of you that are keeping track, I sold Desi today.
Yep.
The last person on the last day of the last year. Prophetic? We'll see.
The woman and her boyfriend who came and took Desi home with them seem like a lovely couple. She's a Natural Horse trainer, he's a gentle but firm intermediate rider. Desi really liked him! They brought their trailer so I guess they meant business all along. I wasn't actually prepared emotionally to sell him today, but that is usually when things happen don't they? When you least expect it? It was probably- no it WAS- better this way. NO time to get nutted up about it. I loaded him in the trailer and petted his nose. After they disappeared out of the driveway I allowed myself a small mournful sob. But not to worry- I am looking forward to the future and the new Showing Year. I am going up to see TC again on Monday and if it is meant to be- it will be.
So Lock and Load friends! Happy New Year out there!

Things I've learned this year. Or should have

2011-12-27T00:26:00.000-08:00

NO resolutions this year. I made a few last year and wound up hearing God laughing through most of them.
Instead here are a few 'truths' I've figgured out for myself. Call me Captain Obvious if you will, but here they are in black and white.

10. Never try to find a BART Space at the main stations anytime between 8 and 10 AM. You won't find one.

9. Always make sure you have enough return money for a trip back to the BART Station from where ever you are in SF. If you don't have it, borrow it. Sure as shootin' you're gonna need it.

8. The day you decide to dress a little down is the day the Boss notices you.

7. Never ever leave the house with out looking in the mirror, front and back. You may have a pair of static electrified underwear plastered to the back of your sweater.

6 . If you are over 50 , never ever put on make-up with out your glasses. Trust me, You can thank me later for that little tip...

5. If you bid on an item on a whim- make sure it is a whim you are prepared to live with and pay for.

4. Nothing in life is a sure thing.

3. When you start thinking that the Universe has forgotten all about you- it hasn't. It's just biding time to give you what you need.

2. Learning to live with a fully grown daughter in your home is the greatest gift I've ever received.

1. Whoever said that Grandchildren are the fountain of youth was right! I sleep like a baby after he's gone, Cry like a baby when he goes away and Drink like a fish in the time in between!( so the metaphor is flawed- sue me!)

What wisdom's have you learned this year? I'd be so happy to find out!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2011-12-23T23:15:00.000-08:00

Good or Bad

Happy or sad,

you've all been there

literally and figuratively.

Merry Christmas all you Bloggers and Lurkers

What fun 2012 will be!

OMG! I must be crazy!

2011-12-23T01:05:00.000-08:00

I must be crazy.
For the last week I have been working back in San Francisco at Heritage.
If you ask me why I would say because I want to be helpful and I know Sweet Janice needed me.
I do love to be helpful.
Plus I need the dough to send Desi to camp.

This week we are moving~ about 14 blocks to the north, at the base of the Trans America pyramid. It's at the edge of the Financial District and in the Antique District which is also called North Beach. It is also just to the left of China Town and below Broadway which is the infamous Barbary Coast of SF legend. Google it.
In other words- Chi chi! Their shit don't stink. They dress way up to go to work. There are no bums to step over getting to work. The trees are continually dressed in bright white twinkling lights~ not just Christmas. We have many very nice and tasty restaurants to choose from for lunch.Our space is equally lovely, with high ceilings in a Victorian looking building, hardwood floors and windows fore and aft...

BUT- you knew this was coming... BUT

This is my space ( when I work, which is probably not going to be much)

It is a dungeon. It is also a good thing I am a munchkin, because my head does not touch the low rafters- which I won't be able to say for most of my co-workers including my darling John.

But the shipping dept is just a piffle- of course. The Art Dept gets the choice of building spaces, and the rest of us just have to make it work.

So yesterday was moving day.
Art Dept Girl was no where to be found. One of the CD's was MIA too- and I'm a little miffed about that.
First let me say that I am not a young woman. I have issues and my butt isn't as trim as it used to be. I am at the edge of exhaustion at this point after working ten days straight. Here is the story...

John and I have been slaving away to wrap and pack and get the biggest collection away to Dallas, and the secondary collections to Dallas and then the rest of the materials and values wrapped to send to Jackson Street ( the new digs). My Sweet Jan and Darling Laura went to Jackson to meet the movers, the rest of the crew stayed behind. Me to supervise, and John to help load when needed.
All of a sudden one of the movers hollers-" Elevator is stuck!"

Our building is a SF landmark. With it's big Coca Cola light up sign on the top and its beautiful open floor plan, it is a old treasure with an old temperamental elevator that I would not call a treasure on most days.If you don't center the load, the floor tips and the elevator stops.
So I go to the edge of the elevator shaft which has a wooden gate to keep someone from falling down the shaft and I see that the elevator IS stuck and has three items inside that have tilted to one side and are pressing against the up/down button. And there is no one in the elevator. The mover had tried to send it up sans operator.
So to him I say " Ok, you're going to have to be a monkey and climb over the gate from the second floor and reshift that load."
He looks a bit baffled, but I take him by the collar and haul him up to the second floor.
I pull a stool over to the open elevator with the solidly closed gate and point to the two foot gap between the bottom of the door and the top of the gate. The elevator is stuck between floors, probably about 10 feet down. He stand on the stool and he is so heavy he cannot get his leg over the gate. So the next guy goes and stands on the stool, but he's so old and rickety that he just hangs his head over the wooden gate and says,
"Oh I don't think I can do that."
"Get a ladder" I say. We put the ladder up to the gate, I wait for one of the guys to begin the climb. and I wait. And wait. They stand around shuffling their feet and worrying about what they are going to do, and say things like, " I don't know" "that looks dangerous" "I don't think I can get over it, man"

"Oh, fergawd sake! " I finally blurt. "We don't have time for this!" I climb the ladder, swing my leg over the bar and lower myself at least five feet down to the top of the five foot cabinet jamming the elevator. Then I have to turn around and haul myself down from the cabinet. Then I have to manhandle the load until it is centered and the elevator begins to hum, finally depositing me onto the dock platform.
See picture: I have a hard time describing it, so I drew a simple map. I am sure it will eventually help in those therapy sessions I am going to need.

Then I am recruited to go to Jackson Street. I need to tell them where the desk and all the tables are going to go. On the way over in the Car, Sweet Jan gives me a pep talk about how one CD is not listening and wants everything he had in the old space. When I get there I am shown the Dungeon. I bite my lip to keep from bursting into tears. I trip down the first step, catch myself on the rail and wonder how many times I am going to save myself from a hideous fall before I finally miss and tumble.

And the bottom floor is dark, and dank, and all of the lights don't work...but there is places for storage, and I start in restoring order. One by one, the other CD's come to me and ask me to speak to the other and to also speak to Sweet Jan about this and that- so finally they are all sorta satisfied. No one got exactly what they wanted, so I consider it a success.They got what the needed and a bit more. I got George the Antelope hanging on the wall, but he has to go upstairs near the kitchen closet.
Luckily I was able to restore some organization, I stuffed a bunch of boxes in one niche, another hundred in another and managed to get the 'good' tables brought down and set up for a 'wrapping' and' lay out' table.
But of course they can't use me next week, but I can come in on the 2nd to organize the rest of the Shipping Dept, before being laid off again.
On my way home I had pretty much talked myself out of this job, but today I feel better, got some rest and chocolate. I'll do it a little bit longer.
But once more I say " I must be crazy!"

Run for The Roses

2011-12-16T21:39:00.000-08:00

Oh, just to have a little fun at Martha's Expense!

2011-12-16T08:34:00.000-08:00

Conan O'Brien interviews Martha Stewart - watch more funny videos

I have never fed my horses parsnips, or Barley. I bet her beautiful Friesan horses have the best of everything. I saw the inside of her stable on a tv show once and it was awesome. She has ultra comfy stalls and people to tend all of the animals (of course). When I come back in another life, maybe I want to be one of Martha's horses!

I am still wondering about that bull whip that Conan was foolin' with though- could he be right?

Words for thought on Horse slaughter

2011-12-08T09:39:00.000-08:00

I am sure quite a few of my followers think that horse slaughter is just bad, bad, bad. I am going to tell you all, I am not one of them.
As a life long horse owner, and a realist, I was dismayed when the ban on horses slaughter plants in America came into effect. I could see the writing on the wall, and so could a lot more of my horse owner friends. What I feared has happened and the backlash of that is what we are all feeling right now. Weather you support the ban or not, you will be affected by it financially in your horse lives.

http://markamerica.com/2011/11/30/reality-check-horses-and-slaughter/

This blog was posted on FB, and at first I wasn't going to read it. I figured it was some one ranting on how bad the ban will be and why we should uphold it, and quiet frankly, I have enough people in my area that have a dreamified view of horse ownership that will give me that grief to my face.

But I did read it and this guy has hit the nail on the head on every point. It's the same thing I have been saying for the last five years, though I am sure I was not quiet as eloquent. His number figures will vary, of course, across the country. Right now hay in my area is nearly $20 a bale and co-opt mixed grains- the cheapest grain you can buy- is about $22 for a 50 lb bag. Shoes for a horse range from $100-$200, vet costs are going up because gas prices are going up. Board in this area is cheap at $400 a month. There is very little pasture boarding. If you need the services of a honest trainer the prices are from $550 -$1000 a month. In other words, it makes horse ownership a real commitment and it makes taking a rehab or a rescue into your fold nearly impossible.

I have taken a horse to slaughter. When there was a plant within 50 miles of me, I did load up an evil horse and have him become chicken food. I didn't feel badly about it. I used the money to feed one that wasn't evil. Some horses are just so damaged that they cannot be rehabbed and need to die before they hurt someone.

But I have had many horses euthanized. And I have stood there when the cocktail was given or the bullet was fired. I have seen them fold and fall. It wasn't noble. It was wrenching.But I did it because it was the right thing to do, I had an emotional attachment to a horse that had given his best and I was able to give the final gift.
I realize that not everyone has the resources to pay for such a gift, and the fact they shouldn't own horses won't ever change that fact. There will always be backyard breeders, and horrible or ignorant or irresponsible owners. Rescue organizations will always be needed. They can still go to the sales and buy whichever horse they choose. The only thing changing there will be that the horses not bought at the sales will not be shipped overland in cramped cars with no food or water. The un-chosen horses will be humanely destroyed. To me that will be a win.

As horse owners we should all be advocates for the welfare of the horse as well as the industry.We advocate when it is fun ( teaching your neighbors to ride) and when it suits you ( going to the Rodeo and passing the PETA fools). We go to the Movies, ( WAR HORSE and SECRETARIAT) and buy the books (SeaBiscuit). Now we need to advocate in the face of ridicule, anger, ignorance and fear. The industry needs the plants back.
Please read this very well written blog.

http://markamerica.com/2011/11/30/reality-check-horses-and-slaughter/

Want to give the best gifts and save money? Read this blog today!

2011-12-02T01:24:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine just posted on her blog that Black Thursday is taking away the thought and intent of Thanksgiving. I agree wholeheartedly.

My girls say I'm turnin' into a scrooge. No celebrating Christmas until Dec 1!

Well, I'm not really turning into a scrooge, but I am avoiding shopping in the mall.
This year, like last year, I shop in my own little quaint downtown or I order online. But there is another better option opening, and it will do you and your heart and especially your pocketbook a whole lot of good! That is shopping at home with your friends and not on the computer or the shopping channel!

The trend is called Home Shows. It's been around for years- you know it best as Tupperware, or Avon or Mary Kay. But laugh not ye of little faith- the Home Show is the All American way to spend your dollars this year and I will tell you why. You can thank me later!
More and more young women are forced out of the work force due to having and caring for their families- having these home shows allows them to keep up the pace of their family, make some money, learn a lot of new skills and to bring you and your friends, lots of wonderful holiday ( and not holiday) items. Not just candles, and perfume, but makeup, skin care, Home accessories, House wears, shoes, purses, wallets, even Horse tack! And it is fun. All your friends around you trying stuff on , playing games, drinking wine or punch and eating cake~ sounds like heaven to me!
If you are still shopping for your family call one of the representative in your area right away. They would be glad to book a show for you immediately- plus you usually get some killer price off the items you wish to buy( sometimes you even earn free stuff!)
Another tip is ETSY. What a great site to buy from craftsmen, artists or vintage hounds like me. You get unique items that will tickle your Secret Santa's fancy and can put a few dimes back into the ol' piggybank.

Last tip- your blogging buddies are a bunch of interesting and talented people. I'll just bet that you can find someone to draw that picture, make that calender, braid the bracelet you want or write you a book or a tune. Last year I bought calenders from a few good bloggers- will again this year too! And that money goes directly to them- no middle man- and I like that- A LOT.

So keep the car in the drive, invite your girlbuds over along with the hostess of a new product. Everyone wins and your Christmas's will be stellar!

You can thank me now!
http://kalistania.com/premier-designs-jewelry-review/
http://kalistania.com/premier-designs-jewelry-review/

December already!

2011-12-01T06:47:00.000-08:00

So many of you have such beautiful Christmas cards showing your families, horses and dogs. I tell ya's, I don't know how you guys do it!
I can hardly get my family in one room for any length of time!
I can hardly believe it is the first of December already. It seems like 2011 flew past. Good or Bad, it was at the very least a wild ride. And although I always dread December, this year I am just happy it is nearly over and I can start fresh in 2012.
Starting in 2012 I am sending the still unsold Desi to Trail Camp for 30 days. Although I used to ride the trails every day , now I do not, and with no real wish to do so. But it seems everyone who has come to see Desi wants a 'trail broke horse', and I cannot in good conscious say he's trail broke. Thus the Camp. It will be good for him. Even if I don't sell him, on my visits to see him I will ride the trails, which are private, thus more enjoyable.
In 2012 I plan to do more showing.
I plan to have a job I can count on daily or weekly or monthly.
I plan to finish my latest book.
I plan to do more travelling with Hubby.
I plan to do more with my friends.

So with all this planning, maybe I'd better start by planning a great big Christmas!
I may not get a fantastic picture of my horses, dogs and kids all together, but I'll get a big tree put up for my grandson, a big dinner planned for my Hubby, great gifts for my daughters and a Happy Holiday smile for everyone else.
So Merry Christmas Everyone! Let the Party begin today!

It really is a 'horse' life.

2011-11-22T16:25:00.000-08:00

I'm not a shy woman.
I can talk to most anyone about anything. And if I don't know about the subject, I am a good listener, which makes people think I'm a good conversationalist. And if I'm 'feel'n froggy' sometimes I will make stuff up to see if anyone else notices.
And sometimes, I just don't talk at all. I've found that saying nothing is sometimes the best option
But the one subject that I will talk about for hours,sometimes to the exclusion of all else, is of course, horses.
I'll bet a few of you are the same.

It doesn't take much for me to hear the word 'horse', or be asked a simple question about horses and I am off and running. It is my favorite thing to talk about.
Keeping horses is the only reason I work. It is the reason I get up in the morning and the reason I lay down at night. I read,write,draw,photograph, breathe and exhale horses.
So when I see an article that reminds me that I am not alone in this weird way, I want to share it. And when I want to share- I want to share with all of you!
Horse.com puts out this newsletter and it is full of great stuff.
I particularly enjoyed this article. I hope you like it too.
And if you want to talk about horses- I know a gal....

http://cs.thehorse.com/blogs/horse-sense-and-sensibility/default.aspx

Check out the new blog I found!

2011-11-13T18:54:00.000-08:00

If you look at my Blog Remuda you will see a few of the Blogs that I like and follow. I found a new one via the photo editing site Picnic. It is called Zooborn.
Check it out!

GRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-11-12T12:38:00.000-08:00

Once again my job has really let me down!
I am so frustrated!
Evidently working hard, showing up on time and giving it your all just isn't good enough any more.
Heritage has decided that they don't need me.
To them I say HA!
Ha! Ha!
You will need me!
And I won't be there!
So now I have to regroup and punt ( as Snoopy used to say).
Job Hunting again...sigh***

So in the meantime, I'm selling beautiful and interesting things on Etsy. See the link at the top left of this blog.

Disaster Averted

2011-11-04T20:11:00.000-07:00

Trying to take advantage of the late spring weather and my only day off, I rushed out to the barn and saddled up to ride. As I put Desi's bridle on I noticed a 'funny' looking loose strap. I almost didn't take the time to really look at it, I just wanted to get on the horse.

But something, intuition or instinct, made me drop the bit and look again.

Boy, I'm glad I did. I had lost a Chicago screw! As a matter of fact- I had lost two.

I could so easily have not gone back to look at that 'funny' looking loose strap...and the outcome of that would have been a dropped bridle at a most inopportune time.

I'll bet most of you don't check your gear daily either.

Oh we SAY we do.

We mean to...

but there is always one more ride and then....

Today was a good lesson for me.

There are other places that I DO check regularly

like...

the slobber straps,

...and the off side billet. (That one I buy new every year. It's just my own weird little quirk..)

And of course I check the rigging plate on the near side, and the latigo. You can see that my saddle needs a few new stitches! ( But the copper brads are in good shape.)

The most overlooked places to check are the ones you don't readily see-

Under a buckle you will want to check for missing screws or ties. Under the fender you will want to check the blevins buckles and hobble straps.

On your bridles you will want to check all of the straps for wear,cracking or rotting.

In some places it has already begun raining or even snowing, so now is a good time to really go over ALL of your gear and check it for wear.

And if you find something that needs repairing or replacing- do it right away. Your riding is probably on hold due to the weather anyway. A few hours out of the saddle won't matter but a missing Chicago screw or a few thin stitches will.

It is just too important to put off!

How do I look?

2011-10-29T23:29:00.000-07:00

Here are just a few pictures of Slick taken a few days ago. Does he look any thinner? I finally got a weight tape and I think it is defective. It says he weighs 982 pounds. I'd a sworn he was more!

He is smaller than I thought though-about 14,2hh, I can stand next to him and put my arm across his back and rein him back if necessary.

He had his best work out yet today. The area where this picture is taken is a round pen, and it has great sand footing. The boarding operator moved some branches that had fallen into it, so now it is available to use. Yippee!

Slick is friendly- in fact he is one of the friendliest most lovable horse I've ever worked with. BUT he has NO work ethic.

Why would he?

He hasn't had to work in a really long time.

But all that has changed.

After the clinic with Jaq I decided to use some of the showmanship tips with him.

Hmm... can you say respect the chain?

It didn't take Slick long to figure out where to put his feet. They aren't perfect, but they are getting close. He stands like a statue- unless another horse comes by. Then he gets goggle eyed and wants to gaze at them longingly.

**Sigh**

Can't say I blame him, after being alone for so long- but it is still unacceptable. It almost breaks your heart to see him try to pay attention to me and yet keep one crazy eye on the passing horse.

Today I saddled him up and rode him with spurs in the round pen. He zigged and zagged around, didn't want to track along the wall of the pen.

So remembering what Sandy Collier always says, you change their direction to change their minds.

Every time he lifted his head to look around, he got pulled into the center of the pen and we changed direction.

The railroad tracks run alongside the road next to the pen too ( oh joy) and when the locomotive came chugging down the tracks, hissing and snapping, he lifted his head... and got checked into the middle of the pen and changed directions.

When a car drove into the driveway, slinging gravel and blaring the radio, he spooked sideways, got checked into the middle of the pen and changed directions.

All this time we never quit trotting, as fast as he wanted to go, as long as he tracked along the pen and didn't drop the inside shoulder. After twenty minutes, he was puffing pretty hard.

So was I!

He never offered to buck though- which is a blessing!

Then it was time to work on Whoa.

I said whoa. Nuthin'.

So I said whoa and squeezed my legs. Still nuthin'. So I said whoa and squeezed my legs and pulled him down to a stop, then backed him up repeating whoa,whoa whoa, changed directions and trotted off.

A few more of those repeats and Slick was listening for that wonderful 'W' word.

Whoa! He lifted his back,got his legs under him and stopped. We did it a few more times, just to make sure he was getting it.

I think that he did great! I can't wait to see how much of it he remembers tomorrow.

+++

On the other pony front though I am very discouraged.

Still no one has bought Desi.

I've even dropped his price radically.

I have never in my life had this much trouble selling a horse!

I can't buy TC until Desi is in a good home.

I'm still trying, marketing him to other horsemen and putting him on websites, but with winter just around the corner it seems like a long shot.

I am really depressed about it.

Such a nice horse, and broke to death, and no one is buying.

Desi is too nice to just give away.

And since I've tried to separate myself from him ( emotionally) now I feel like if he doesn't sell I'll have to try to fall in love with him all over again.

I know that sounds totally stupid.

I feel totally stupid too.

And yet, I just can't give up on the idea that TC should belong to me.

And that there is a perfect girl out there just waiting for a nice horse like Desi to be her one and only.

I'm not getting much sleep, my mind keeps running schemes in my head.

Like The Mask said,

"Somebody Stop Me!"

When is a Clinic not a clinic?

2011-10-24T19:26:00.000-07:00

Answer...When it is given by not only a wonderful horsewoman but a personal friend!
Jacqueline Allen Burke , owner of Superior Quarter Horses in Clements Ca, came to the Dolittle Ranch in Loma Rica and gave a few of us 'show-girls' a real informative and hands on riding clinic. We didn't just do ONE thing- we did EVERYTHING!

Darryl and his new best friend Roxxy.

Remember the gelding I posted here named Darryl? Well, a friend of mine bought him for herself and she brought him to this clinic. Boy he's grown and gotten a whole lot redder. But the best thing - he is perfect for her!

Ms Jaq riding Ms Mel's dun filly

We started the morning on Saturday with English Hunter- Quarter Horse style. She had those gals posting and posting. I remember now why I don't ride English!
Sheesh! What a lot of work!

Then we went to Western Pleasure. This is where I got to ride TC. He is soooo smooth to ride, even as a growing colt. And cute! Man o'man! Jaq worked on our leg positions, our hand positions, working the corners of the arena, how to position yourself on the rail to optimum advantage, when to school and when not to school. More info in that hour than in any other clinic I've ever been to. Makes a cowgirl hungry!
So we had to have some fantastic pulled pork sandwiches for lunch.
One thing about the Dolittle Ranch~ the chow is unbeatable!

After lunch, Trail, and Horsemanship- finishing up the afternoon with Cocktail Showmanship.(Which is way more fun than regular showmanship!)
The nice thing was, you could ride any of the segments or just one or two. Of course you learned a lot by even watching and listening. I used some of the Showmanship info on Slick today!

I feel particularly lucky because Jaq brought The Colt- the little QH stud I'm trying like hell to buy- and I got to ride him a lot of the day. He was especially good at Trail even though he has never been anywhere before, was surrounded by mares and was asked to pay attention ALL DAY!

Jaqueline and TC ( The Colt)

Aside: I thought I had Desi sold, but the young girl backed out. My frustration level at people right now is at the top end. I'm sure Jaq feels the same way about me trying to purchase TC.

Desi waiting his turn

Ms Linda in the Cabana

Any how- after the riding portion of Saturday was over, we retired to The Cabana for Cocktails and Hamburgers...

...then to the fantastically relaxing hot tub! (Sorry no flash photography there! EEGADS!) The stars were close and bright, the October weather was balmy and the company was more than excellent!

Krissy on her new horse Xena.

The next morning we got up and saddled, warmed up with Jaq coaching and then Big K ran some BIG calves into the arena to work. Desi got a little snorty at first, but then he figured out what I wanted and he started getting under himself and turning when they turned. If I could work him on cattle more frequently, I'd bet he'd be great at sorting. Too bad the nearest sorting is once a month, on a Sunday, in the evening, about 100 miles away!
Big K has just bought a big grey gelding to work cows on. He was freshly gelded, and is only two- but he was sure cute! Did the Trail obstacles, and really went to work on those calves! I like him bunches!

Big K's new Colt (freshly gelded) Shasta.

Remember Darryl? Here he is!

Jaq and TC. Looks like he's smiling doesn't it?

A beautiful morning in Loma Rica.

Jaq was great, and Deniserita and Big K are the most gracious host you could imagine!
We can safely say that a good time was had by everyone!
Thanks D and K!

Best quote this year!

2011-10-19T19:50:00.000-07:00

“History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats.”
Bertie C. Forbes

This was extracted form the first Horse Training Tip on this website.

http://horsetrainingchannel.com/tip1/

I know it's hard to persevere, it gets harder with the bad weather, your age, your ability, or what ever else ails you.
I know- I get discouraged too.
But I keep at it.
Some people call me a cock eyed optimist.
But listening to other people who have trials helps me stay the course.
I hope this website and especially this quote, helps keep you motivated.
Ride happy!

Sometimes it's the small things

2011-10-12T22:53:00.000-07:00

Working where I work, I run into little bits of History every day.

Some times it is easy to see the historical significance of an item; like Hitlers Chair, Mussolinis' wool coat or a weapon used by a famous outlaw.

But sometimes the significance is hidden.

Such as this cavalry spur.

It was in a lot of other stuff- non horse related, in a manilla envelope marked, "Important Spur".

Of course I had to peek.

I found an English type spur, brass colored with a broken and rusted rowel.

I closed the envelope and went back to work.

But I kept thinking about that spur. I had to look again.

I took it out of the envelope, setting it on the table.

It seemed unimportant at first glance.

Attached to the side of the item was a small typed note:

" Confederate Cavalry soldier's spur. Killed in the Battle of Gettysburg."

I thought about that for awhile.

This spur, this one lonesome little item, was a battle scarred veteran of The War Between The States.

Some young man had strapped this spur to his boot and ridden into battle.

This spur had touched the hide of a war horse, urging it into a charge.

This spur, with its rusted and bent rowel had lain on the bloody Gettysburg field.

The battle had lasted three hot days in July.

So many men were killed, horses too.

As I held this spur, images flitted through my mind, heroic and horrific.

One little brass spur.

Still here.

Still with a story to tell.

Who will listen?

Re-ride

2011-10-10T16:53:00.000-07:00

No, we are not getting ready for a parade! But he's cute enough!

After a week of getting to see and hear and smell other horses and people, Slick was ready for his first lessons.

Actually I was ready to find out just what he knew.

I've rehabbed horses before- mostly when I was wearing a younger woman's clothing- so I wanted to be a little careful.

First I needed to see if he knew how to longe on a long line.

He didn't.

So we spent the first day learning about going, and staying, on a large circle. He was a little worried about it, but with some encouragement, he finally figured it out.

Whew! He was so relieved!

The next day we did it again. Again- worried!

But he got it a little bit sooner, both directions, and he's starting to 'understand the words that are coming out of my mouth'.

Walk, Trot, Whoa!

Then it rained and he got his first taste of outdoor weather in nine years!

I was more worried about it than he was!

So I put a blanket on him.

He stood for it, but he didn't know what it was.

This weekend I decided to put the bit on and longe him.

I usually take the reins and just run them back to the cinch rings, and then over the saddle seat. It doesn't put a lot of pressure on the mouth, but gives a little contact if they lift their heads up too high.

He was really worried about it!

We started out at the walk, and he kept getting his tongue over the snaffle.

"Figgr it out" I said.

He walked and fooled around and finally he did figg'r it out.

Then I asked him to trot.

And when his head came up- he hit the bit,

and went straight back and down.

He whipped his head back and around and jerked my shoulder something fierce.

But I eased him back on the circle and kept him going forward.

He kept wanting to raise his head just a little too far-

he sat back and jerked himself down three times.

Forth time, he started to do it again- remembered and with a little more encouragement- he moved forward, flexing and dropping his neck just a tad.

Yeah Slick!

We did the exact same thing the other direction. It took him only two times around to figg'r it out that time!

Woke up today with a HELL of an ache in my shoulder. Ouchh!

But had to go back out again today of course, I only have three days in a row to work him.

Saddled him up, tied his head like before,

around and around he went!

Walk,trot and lope. Stop and back.

No flinging himself!

No jerking my arms!

Fantastic!

I decided I would step up on him.

Took off the long rope, untied the reins and tightened the saddle- actually I call this particular saddle

"The Barcalounger" because it is heavy but comfy.

He wanted to walk around and not stand still, so we just walked in little circles - I actually hopped- until he stopped.

Then I swung up.

And there we are.

I got up and down several times. He quit the circling after the third time. When you're this fat it is just too much trouble!

I just sat there. lifting on one rein until he turned his head to it, then back to the center.

Then the other rein, and then back to center.

Then we walked around in a few circles. He's sooo stiff in the ribs.

But if I press my inside leg hard, he will step away from it and cross his leg over- and that is a good sign.

He spooked once, but not too badly, and we kept going around.

Finally I let him stop and just stand.

He was sweaty!

So was I!

So I think our first three days of lessons went extremely well.

I found out~

He gets worried early but with encouragement he relaxes.

He tries to please.

He remembers from lesson to lesson.

He stands without being tied for everything

He loves cookies.

The Further Adventures (and Humbling) of Vaquero Girl in the Bay Area

2011-10-03T23:04:00.000-07:00

It rained today.

I wouldn't even mention it, but being in California and all, we don't see a lot of pre-sip.
But it rained today- the first rain of the season ( just before Cow Palace as per usual) and today it sucked more than usual.
Some people like the rain. I don't.
It grew dark and the warehouse was clammy and cold. The people didn't come and the day just dragggggged by.
Finally it was time to drive home- via rush hour traffic on Hwy 80 and Hwy 24.
If you have ever driven in rush hour traffic in the Bay Area, you that there is NO Rush to it at all. It should be called Slow Crawl Hour or This Sucks So Bad Hour.
There I was... doing the Slow Crawl towards home. It had been a super slow day at the Auction House because of the aforementioned rain, and I was looking forward to a glass of wine and a chicken breast;
Then...
BAM!
Something blew up in the engine of the BMW.

Smoke and Water Vapor poured out and the damn car just DIED in the second lane. I was able to finally get it started ( First Thank you to my Big Guardian Angel) and pulled over to the middle median. Luckily during Slow Crawl Hour everyone goes at a slow crawl. People shook their heads in pity and joy that it wasn't them pulled over in the median.
And contrary to belief- there are a few Good People left in this here world. Even though THREE tow trucks passed me by, several motorists of all persuasions rolled down their windows, in the rain, to ask if I was ok and did I need them to call for help!
Bless all of you people!!
I called 511 which is a free service in the Bay Area that will help stranded motorists. I was at the edge of Oakland and that is a poor place to be, anytime of the day, but especially in the glowing twilight. 511 did send a tow truck and Bless his little Heart, he hooked up and pulled me off of the freeway.

As he did , I realized that had I driven just four more minutes I would have been inside the long, dark no shoulder, no median length of the Caldecott Tunnel. ( Second Big Thank You to my Guardian Angel).

The Tow Truck driver took one look at my sorry , wet, OLD, blonde, self when I asked, in a small voice, " Will I be SAFE in the part of Oakland you have to take me?" before he tucked me about a mile closer to the tunnel, on a frontage road that was easier to access and MUCH safer instead! ( Third BIG Thank You to that Guardian Angel!)
My cell was nearly dead ( of course).

I managed to call Hubby and had him call AAA Towing to come and get me and the car and take us home. Thanks AAA PLUS plan!

My old friend Jerry who is a retired CHP and knew me and my Step Dad heard my name on the radio. He called my cell to make sure I was ok.

Then while I was waiting for the 2nd Tow truck another CHP came by and checked on me. What a little cutie pie he was and a nicer young man I have yet to meet.

The AAA Tow Truck Driver just happened to be around the next bend and he showed up in about 30 minutes.( Fourth Big Thank You to the Guardian Angel, in case you are counting!) He got me safely home, parked the car in front of the house and refused the tip I offered him.

So even though my day totally sucked- the forces of the Universe that I insist exist- formed around me, not only to protect me in body, but to renew my spirit and faith in the humans that live and work around me. And to make me feel lucky and to count the blessing that the Universe has heaped up on me that I have a tendency to forget.

A hard lesson, relearned once again.

I am humbled.

Meet Slick

2011-09-30T18:29:00.000-07:00

Here are a few first pictures of Slick. Actual registered name- California Ink Spot. He's actually a half brother to Denesirita's little paint mare Anne. Too bad he isn't the Hair Farmer she is! He has no top knot at all and a very flimsy tail!
But you can see by the pictures that he was enjoying his run in the arena.
He's a real sweetheart too- a 'in your pocket' pony fer sure.
And though he was a little unsure about lunging on a rope in a circle, he figured it out right away. A+!!
Also, he moved away from my hand pressure, stepping nicely over his front feet in a pivot- which will be a plus for halter or showmanship!

So all in all we had a good first day!

You may be right, I may be crazy...

2011-09-25T19:32:00.000-07:00

You know sometimes people do all the right things, but it still turns out wrong.

The story here is Slick. He is a black and white tobiano gelding, 13 years old.
His owner was a slight and non robust man, but he loved Slick. Unfortunately he had a bad scare on the horse and even though he made sure Slick had his shots (right ) and his feet shod on a regular basis ( right) and he was kept in a nice stable (right ) and he was fed all the yummy alfalfa he could eat ( not so right), he didn't get Slick out of his stall. (Wrong.) Poor Slick has been standing (mostly) in his 12x12 metal stall with only one small window to peek out of for the last five years.
You would think that any horse asked to spend his life in nearly total isolation would be territorial and mean. You would think that his poor horsey mind ( never a strong point in any horse) would be totally fried.

I tried to buy Slick a few years back. I kept Desi in the stall next to him, but the stalls were like ovens in the summer(literally) and I had to get Desi out of there. The owner said he wanted to sell him, but he refused my offer. I moved Desi out and for the last three years, when the temps would soar, I would be haunted by the thought of poor Slick standing sweating in that hot box.
I got an e-mail from one of the boarders of that barn a couple of weeks ago. She wanted to know if I wanted Slick- the owner had finally been convinced to let him go.
Now, usually when someone offers me a free horse, I say Thanks but No. Free horses are NEVER free.
But I said maybe this time and went out to meet the owner and talk to him.
I warned him that some people come to get free horses and then take them to the killer, and to be careful. He said he understood. I told him that everyone knew me and to check around and be sure he felt comfortable giving me his horse.
I didn't hear anything for while. I heard through the grapevine that the owner had sold Slick to someone else.
Ok, that's fine. I hoped the horse got a good home. Then two days ago,out of the blue, the owner called me back, said I could have Slick- for $1.00.
I picked Slick up today.
He got right into my trailer, and when I got him to the temporary digs he was so happy! Imagine seeing the sun and feeling the fresh air in your mane after being in solitary for years!
He has a buddy- Charlie- in the paddock next door.
Evidently the owner tried checking into the background of the other people and found out that they didn't have the stables they had said they did, and some other shady type stuff, so he nixed that deal and called me.
I'm glad I warned him to check things out.
So now I have a project horse.
Slick is about 150-200 pounds overweight.
His mind is not fried- as a matter of fact he's a sweetheart. Flapping bags, other horses, trains whistles- nothing has phased him yet.
I'll put him on a diet and start doing some basic ground work. Then we will see how he reacts to riding.
Hopefully he will be as willing and happy as he was when he saw his new paddock today.
He's not taking place of The Colt- oh no- I have my heart set on that. But hopefully I have rescued Slick from a unhappy situation ( for him) and can find another good owner- but one who will use him as he was intended, as a riding partner and friend.
I'll post some pictures in a few days.
Crazy huh?

A Burning and Important Question

2011-09-15T19:55:00.000-07:00

My Hubby and I were travelling this week, going through beautiful rolling California countryside.

We pass acres and acres of pastureland, usually inhabited by cattle.

Cows of every shape and color.

As we rolled past, my hubby, a non-cowboy, asked me questions about cows.

Such as,

"What are they all doing out there?"

" How come they all face the same way"

"Will they fight off a coyote or a dog?'

"Why can't you ride them?"

" Do only bulls have horns?"

" Will bulls really try to hurt you?"

...and of course,

" What kind of cow is that?"

Here are a few of the kinds we saw~

(And I know that some of these pictures are not cows- but bulls)

Black Angus

Belted Galloway

I always called them CHP cows 'cuz they look like a California Highway Patrol car!

Coriente

Guernsey

Hereford

Polled Hereford

Holstein

This particular breed is very popular in the region we were passing through- it is Dairy country!

Jersey

He recognized this breed from the "City Slickers" movie.

Limousin

Red Angus

Texas Longhorn

Highland

Simmental

This is a Simmental too- isn't he purty!

Here are a few we didn't see- but they are so darn cute I had to add them...

Miniature Belted Galloway's. They come in three colors!

Watusi

I saw one of these up close and in person at the Grand National Livestock Show about ten years ago. The size and scope of these horns are awesome to behold!

Doesn't looking at this just give you a headache?

Yak

And Now....

The Burning and Important Question....

Drum Roll Please.....

What breed of cow is this?

If anyone has a PROPER name for this breed,

I'd sure like to know...

I've NEVER heard anybody call them anything but

Black White Faced Cows.

Seems like a real long moniker for the most common type of cow in the pasture, doesn't it?

For all my cow- girl friends

2011-09-11T21:06:00.001-07:00

The Deal

2011-09-09T14:33:00.000-07:00

Before I tell you which horse I have decided I must have, I have a question for you all.

I've been buying and selling horses for a lot of years... since I was about 11. I learned how to buy and sell from my Dad who used to take me with him when he bought and sold. I don't know how much he really knew- he wasn't raised around horses, but hey- I was little, thought the sun shined because he said so and took it all in like a sponge takes up water.
I read books about horse trading and hung around every old crusty cowboy ( and a few young saucy ones) that would allow it. In the course of my hard knocks education I learned a few things about buying and selling.
The world has spun around a few times since I was 11, and I'm not selling as many as I used to. It occurred to me while looking for a new horse that things have really changed in that aspect of the world.

Then- read a paper or hear about a horse to buy from someone.
Now- scour the internet websites.

Then- drive to the barn and see the horse.
Now- Ask to see a video.

Then- Saddle the horse and take your chances
Now-Ask what discipline the horse has been trained in. Twirl a stick and play a few games before asking to ride.

Then- Use your eyes and ears and hands- Feel the legs, the back, the shoulder, look in the mouth at the teeth, under the tail, around the cinch area.
Now- Get a vet to cert the horse. Get x-rays.

Then- peel off a few bills and load the horse into your trailer.
Now- get a cashiers check, ask for payment options, have one trainer deliver to another trainer. Get a guarantee.

OR
Then- Have Dad buy a horse at the auction, bring it home and let the kids ride until it was too tired to move.
Now- Tell your trainer how much you want to spend and what style of riding you are going to try.

Of course I am exaggerating just a tiny bit ( only the ' now' parts) !

Here is the Question- What do you do differently NOW when you are ready to buy a new horse?

Ok- The Deal isn't quite finished yet. I still have to find Desi a great home before I can complete The Deal, but it is going to happen.

BUT....

The horse that I MUST have ( and I am trying not to fall in love with him yet in case I can't pay for him) is

SkipinOutWest

The Colt is 2 years old, red roan. He's just started and has a great temperament. I've had my eye on him all summer, but they didn't want to sell him. Then they changed their minds, but I didn't want a stallion and he was a lot more money than I thought I could afford. The trainer had sent him home, but now she has him back. I went out and rode him about two weeks ago and I really like him a lot.
We are still working out The Deal- and that is one thing that I have never had to do before. But I am down with it, and as soon as I can I am going to make this boy my new show pony.

Here is the trainer riding him for me. He has about 30 days riding here. Note the draped rein and the flat kneed scopey way of going.... the cute head and ears.... think we'll be noticed in the ring? You betcha!

And here is Lil Mama riding him.

No one ever takes pictures of me riding!

At the September Auction- goodies galore!

2011-09-08T21:40:00.000-07:00

The auction was Tuesday and Wednesday. I was lucky enough to work Sunday for the preview. Usually they put me in the Gallery for Sundays and I don't get to see this stuff until Tuesday ( auction day) and I never get a chance to bid.

Of course, I have to bid absentee- company rules- so I fill out my form with the maximum amount I am willing to pay. There is no chance for me to raise my bids, I have to stand by my original amounts.

There was so much at this auction too! Over two thousand lots over two days! I worked my little hiney off!

I was so busy that I didn't get a chance to listen to the auctioneer so I don't know what the hammer price was for most of these items.

Here is just a sample of what was in the auction....

This is a cute pine corner cabinet, hand painted!

A Devils Mask. Hand carved wood. There was also had a Cheetah mask in the lot.

Loved this Queen sized Pine bed. It had matching side tables.

The best red leather chairs. I really wanted these but I knew they would go high- and they did! $250 for the pair ( Totally worth it too!)

A nice set of silver and white porecelin dishes. It was all there too- plates, cups, cream and sugar set and a serving bowl and meat platter to boot!

There was also a buffet table of dark wood, a 14 inch hand carved Kachina of a Clown eating watermelon and a huge lot of kitchenware.

I bid on all of it !

AND

got none of it!!!

Probably for the best... still putting money away for "The Deal".

Oh... haven't I filled you all in yet?

Mmmwwwhahahah!

It will have to wait until tomorrow!

I know how this guy feels!

2011-09-02T13:24:00.000-07:00

I had to giggle when I saw this video. I sure know how hard it is to be a bystander when your kids are out there showing. But really...

Tying up loose ends-

2011-09-01T18:41:00.000-07:00

I am going to try and tie up some loose ends today~ Things that I have been too busy to sort in the last week or so.

1. I am so glad that any of you blogger buddies living on the East Coast have survived Hurricane Irene!

2. I have not cut my hair. It is longer than ever and just as hateful.

3. The filly I blogged about earlier is ok. She is older than the picture showed, a leggy yearling now. She isn't being starved, but she was a little thin and maybe a little wormy. I didn't buy her because I am saving my resources to finish~

4. ~The Deal. I have made a decision about which horse I am going to buy. Thus- The Deal. As soon as it is all said and done, I will let y'all know which one I've chosen.

5. I haven't been able to post anything on blogger because the browser I was using sucks. I'm changing to Google Chrome and we will see if that makes a difference....

6. Auction's this week! I have a new phone with a better camera so we shall see if the pictures are more alluring...

7. And though I hate the end of summer worse than a visit to my GYN- I hope you all have a safe and wonderful holiday weekend.

This speaks for itself...

2011-08-24T15:36:00.000-07:00

2011 AQHA filly.$500. Guess where this ad was...
I'm tempted just to rescue her...

The Thumprint Walker

2011-08-20T21:18:00.000-07:00

Gallery Before

This is the Greg Martin and Heritage Gallery in San Francisco. We have been getting ready for a big preview of a collection of rare and valuable Colt Firearms and other Fine Antique Arms and Armor.

Gallery After

Our warehouse is on the second floor and is usually just a big open space. We have worked hard transforming it into a Show Gallery.

I forgot to take some 'Before'-before pictures, so the 'Before' pictures are really 'almost there' pictures... but I think you can get the idea of what we had to do.

The green curtains and scrolls on the red columns are added for the event, as are all the cases.
You would have thought that we were getting ready for a Cotillion or something, the way our Consignment Director fussed over the curtains and the rugs and the food!
But since we had over 6 million dollars worth of firearms to Preview, I guess it was a worthy effort.

Oh, I heard you all go "WHAT! SIX MILLION DOLLARS! FOR GUNS?"

That's a conservative estimate- I assure you. BTW- these firearms are now on their way to another Preview in Beverly Hills and then on to New York City before going to the final destination of Dallas Texas to be auctioned.

These are some of the finest and rarest of Colts Firearms. The first and most expensive (with a low Estimate of $700,00.00 ) is called the Paterson Colt. It was a giant leap from the cap and ball firearm to a revolving cylinder. 30% of the first ones blew up, so finding even one is rare- finding one that is intact with all of the accoutrements is amazing. (Most of these remaining firearms were Presentation gifts from Sam Colt of various people.)

To see more of the collection and to hear Greg Martin talk about it, click on the link, then go to the Sept 18th Arms and Armor auction.
http://www.ha.com/c/index.zx

We also had suits of miniture armor, knives, muskets, shotguns and of course no fine sale is complete without a cannon - or two. Ours are bronze and they sat on the bottom of the ocean for over two hundred years before being brought up. Then they sat in a special 'bath' to kill the bronze disease for two years, before being brought to GMA to put in this auction.

Gallery Before

Gallery After

And that brings me to the famous Walker Colt.

Colt 'Thumbprint' Walker

They call it the Thumbprint Walker because during the case hardening process a workman left his thumbprint on the wedge, just under the cylinder. Maybe it dosen't look that impressive, especially after looking at some of the fancy engraving on some of the other Colt's, but the human-ness of that thumbprint makes it my favorite piece in the auction.

It was certainly special to see this collection, amassed by Mr. Al Cali over the course of fifty years, all in one place. There will never be anything like it again. Quite a few of these pieces will end up in Museums, the others will go into private collections, which are seldom put on display.

So Thank you, Mr. Al Cali, and Thank you Mr. Greg Martin. This was a spectacular display, and I am proud to be a very small part of it.

I am a Victim of Profiling- or Driving the Beemer

2011-08-17T22:45:00.000-07:00

It is insidious really.
Beginning simply enough...
First they stare over the passenger seat right at you.
Then they just seem to dip a little into your lane- like tipping your toes into the ocean knowing that there might be a carnivorous fish in there.
Before I know it, they are IN my lane, and have done a little half wave in my direction- a flittering of the fingers,a tiny lift of the chin, as if somehow we know each other and it's okay.

I was confused.
I DON'T know these people. These commuters in cars...
My brain went into overtime~ what on Earth could make these people think they could cut in front of ME in rush hour traffic? This has never happened before, at least not in this half friendly, half knowing way.

And then it strikes me like a bug on my windshield- these people are reacting, not to ME driving- but WHAT I am driving. The BMW.

Hold on there Scout! Vaquero girl is driving a CAR and a BEEMER at that? Has the Universe stopped spinning on its axis? Is it the End of Days?

Almost.

1. The car is on loan to me by my cousin who is living for a few years in China.
B. I have decided that driving into my J.O.B. in the City is a better way to transport myself there. It cuts my time away from home by 45 minutes!
#. The Beemer is better on the ol' gas tank than either of the trucks- although I do still drive Big Blue into work on some days.
And that is where the rub lies. Big Blue is a Chevy halfy,4x4 with duel pipes that rumble like San Francisco in April. When it comes down the road, piloted not by a cute little girl ( which I used to be) but an eye- glassed granny with an attitude, people stay out of the way. There is no cutting off Big Blue- there is only debris in his wake.
Evidently I didn't get the memo about civilized people driving Beemers. Seems there is an unspoken code that says that a little past middle aged Grannies in sunglasses and driving BMW's are expected to adhere to polite mores and let other drivers cut lines. Everyone knows this- except me.
Harrumph!

I'm being profiled!

Blonde lady in a Beemer is civilized, same blonde lady in a truck is scorned.
This somehow gives me a strange feeling of empowerment over the other drivers. They look and see one thing, but actually I am the opposite.

Maybe I will be that shark in the water, that "Little Old Lady from Pasadena " that they have all heard about.
Maybe I'll be Gretchen Wilson....

Perhaps it's a good thing my insurance is paid up!
Go Granny! Go Granny Go Granny Go!

Still on the Hunt~ But getting Closer

2011-08-12T23:46:00.000-07:00

Still haven't sold Desi- as evidenced by my last post- but that dosen't keep me from looking for another mount for next year.

Here are four that I have seen lately. Actually I haven't seen Skippin Out West in the horseflesh yet, but I'm planning to go up in two weeks to ride all of them ( lucky for me they are all in the same town- two hours away).

Watch these videos and let me know what you all think. My own opinions are at the end of this blog.
PS- I have a video of Dewey but I haven't been able to get it off my cell phone and onto the blog- so I'll have to 'splain it to you....

Dewey

Deweys whole self

Ok
So-
Skipin Out West. He's a stud horse, but I have no problem in gelding him. He's a little thick through the throatlatch, and Jaq thinks he will be heavy in his shoulder as he matures. She is probably right. That might hinder him from looking good over trail obstacles or being able to lift himself for a pretty lope. Right now he is very upright in his head set- but I know that Jaq dosen't fool with their heads for the first few months of riding. She lets them get used to being ridden, she lays down a good foundation for leg cues and stops and backs. I think he will be able to get his head level enough to look pretty in a W/P or Trail Class and he is flat kneed enough. But he's not so scopey that he'll knock poles. His legs and feet look good in the video, but I'll be able to tell for sure when I see him in person. It remains to be seen if he is too hot, or sensible or resistant. I like that he looks like he could go down a fence ( as if I would!) or be safe on a trail.
He's the right size and will remain so and I love his color.

The Bay gelding ~Rich N Art.
Really nicely bred and I am totally in love with his looks ( bad Vaquerogirl!) His head set is natural, he's scopey and flat kneed and mellow. She's only been riding him a short while and has just put him on her for sale listing. He is appendix and he is HUGE!
Problem: I do not show English. ( Oh Vaquerogirl- you can learn!) HA!!
Problem: I am SHORT-saddling this guy would involve Bigge Cranes ( Oh, that is a good reason to learn English- the saddles are smaller!) HA!! Ha!!
Bonus: Lil Mama could show him in the English classes. And he already pulls a cart ( not that there are a lot of cart classes around here, but it is an AQHA event and is popular in the World.)
Problem: I don't know what they are asking for him.
( I will not fall in love, I will not fall in love...)

Red gelding- When I'm Good and Ready
AKA Darryl
You have seen stills of this guy before. He's really sweet minded and I love his full sister. His neck looks a little short and he dosen't have the elegant self carriage of the Bay Gelding. He is going to mature at 16 plus and here we go with the crane again..
He has good feet and legs. Jaq hasn't been riding him as much as the others because he belongs to her ( you know the story) but she is in a postion to deal on him and I could buy him and keep him there all winter for her to ride. ( If she was getting paid to ride him she would) He would be ready for the 2012 season then.
Problem: he is BIG.
Problem: He is green
Problem: Do I have the money to keep him or any of these guys in training for the winter ( I would have to!)
Bonus~ He's affordable right now, even without selling Desi yet.

Dewey
This guy is as sweet as a horse can get. Big soft eye, cute face and tiny ears. Laid back like a surfer dude in Malibu. His Sire is a World Champion. He has great legs and feet, he's the right size and the right temperment.
Problem: He has a 'pleasure' lope- the kind that goes up and down and dosen't get any where. I don't know if that can be undone. His trainer has shut him down to get to that artificial slow lope that WP people seem to think is acceptable. I saw him at the Gold N Grand , but I did not ride him there. I want to go see him and see how he lopes ' at will'.
Problem: He's expensive.

So there are my current dillemma's!
It's a lot to contemplate.

"And Now ...WE RIDE!"

2011-08-09T23:36:00.000-07:00

" What do we do now Rango?"
" Now...WE RIDE!"

The Summer Gold N Grand Show in Rancho Murietta turned out to be just the thing I needed to do with Desi.

Unlike the March show, the weather was perfect. Cool in the morning and warm in the afternoon.

I practically put my Hubby in the cardiac arrest room at the loony bin by insisting on driving our 5th wheel trailer and parking it myself. I did great( and I only had one scary moment at a yellow light!) But my learning curve is very steep and I was perfect after that! ( Plus I didn't tell him about that little incident so shh... we'll keep it between us good friends!)

I got Desi into the Trail pen on Thursday to Warm up and he looked around and decided it was gonna be okay. We rode there for about an hour and I put him away.
Next morning, the warm up for the Trail was in the scary little covered arena. We went in there to warm up as directed- but that was the worst thing that I could have done.
He pitched his tanty all over again! I finally got him listening to me, and someone comes in and says- "Hey they are calling your number!"
DRATS again! The ring Steward had insisted that we could hear them call us from inside that arena, but ya know what? Hun- un! You couldn't! So I felt a little rushed going in to my first class. I bumped him into the bit and got through the class. He clicked the very first object, slowed a little bit going into the jog right up to the gate, but he zeroed the gate ( good) and nailed the back up chute. Still I only placed 8th that day.
The second class was 1st and 2nd year green horse (I had felt particularly optimistic that morning evidently.) He started off great, zeros on all obstacles- UNTIL he heard the flag pole wires banging at the end of the arena. His head went up and he reared and whirled away from the pole, bucking a little bit. I caught a glimpse of the judge putting down her pencil and picking up an Emory board.
SHIT! I got him loping through the next obstacle, and as we got to the opposite side of the arena, the photographer stood up from a crouch and took our frigging picture! FLASH FLASH! Spin and buck! I double handed him through the last obstacle, turned and nodded to the judge who had just finished writing a letter to her mother. I left the arena in shame.
Next morning, I got up early, saddle and dressed and was the 7th one in the arena. NO waiting and no photographer. NO flapping flag pole strings, and no loping- I scratched that class to focus on the Walk Jog. Desi held it together and we placed 5th.
Last morning got up and saddled and went to pick up my new shirt- Designed by Tish at Elegant Show Styles. It is purple Flames with a million sequins and matches exactly a purple pad I had in the trailer. I bought it at four on Saturday and Tish had it ready for me by 9 on Sunday. That girl is something else! Thanks Tish!

Everyone had gotten with the program by now, so I had to wait an hour to show, but I didn't warm up much. I just went into the arena, bumped his sides and sat back. Desi jogged along, turned on cue and stopped when he was suppose to. We aced the walk over,~ nary touching a one~ but our loops were a little flat sided, not as pretty and round as maybe they could have been. I placed 6th in that class. So with an 8th, a 5th and a 6th, I did not win a buckle by one point.

But the good news is Desi was 100 percent better than the last show. I handed out flyer's to a few people, and had a call afterwards, but again, the people are looking for a solid lesson horse for beginners. As gentle and loving as he is on the ground, you have to ride this horse- no lolly gagging along.

So I'll keep working him and I am going to go sorting on him too, There is one close by in Woodland that takes beginners and will help find you a partner that is a little bit better than you.

I also got a new headstall for my birthday. Here it is on Desi, it seems to fit him better anyway.

Lil Mama had a variable ride on Big Bob too. First day in the warm up he was relaxed and happy, but the minute he got into the show ring we was ' a carrying the mail'. Next day, he was as good as gold and he placed 4th. Third Day Gin had a bit of a hearing problem and she missed hearing a gait change and she went loping along only to discover that they were suppose to be jogging! She placed 7th in that class- so no buckle this time for her either. But she did have a good time and she felt Bob was mostly good.

I guess the highlight of the trip was when her father ( my ex) came to see Lil Mama with his wife and his mother- AKA Nonnie. One big Happy family. We all had dinner and were so civilized... no really... we are.. We've been divorced for ages!

Oh yes- The ACTUAL Highlight was one of our Friends - a Trainer who had a bit of DRAMA in her barn- was awarded not one... not two... but Three buckles with her youngest client. A thirteen year old girl that has only shown twice before this! They won the open Circut Award for the Class! Good job Syd and Jaq!

Thank you to all of my supporters out there! I kept you all in mind as I rode around the grounds, remembering each of the stories you have told me about persevering and courage. It really helped me focus.

And I found a cute gelding that I am going to go look at closer. His name is Dewey.

I'll have that blog up tomorrow.... or the next day...

Tarweed memories

2011-08-03T22:26:00.000-07:00

It comes in the mail, that little folded flyer with a staple in the middle holding all the excitment you can fathom inside. I've been getting these since I was about 6 or 7, and they send a little thrill right through me every time.
I'm sure that the Horse Show staff dosen't know that these little scraps of paper hold a world of dreams. But they do- even today.
As a kid I would pull them from the mail and go immediatly to my secret stash- a can with pennies and dimes and some dollers to count up the entry fee. Sometimes I already had it, sometimes I would have to go door to door soliciting babysitting and ironing jobs.

I'd mark the date and start planning.

I'd have to wash and starch my jeans, polish my boots and the silver on my bridle. I'd have to clean my old saddle and wash the cinch and stretch it. A day before I would ride my horse into my backyard and wash him with head and shoulders shampoo ( cause no one would miss it), and I would take Whisk and scrub off every bit of tarweed from my bald faced horses head and legs.I'd use Baby No More Tears on his tangled mane and tail, and brush him until he shined. Because I didn't want him to go back into pasture I would keep him in my suburban back yard and I would sleep outside with him. I remember listening to him move around the back yard, hoping he wouldn't step on me in my sleeping bag in the night. But he didn't. Just about false dawn he'd lay down too, quite near me and strech out to sleep. I'd lay there awake and marvel that he trusted me enoguh to lay down to sleep.
At dawn we would get up and I would put my best pants and an ironed shirt of my brothers into a paper sack, tie my lunch into another sack and off I'd ride to the show. Sometimes the show was close- 5 miles or so. Some times it was closer to ten. Usually at the bottom of someone's pear orchard. There was usually a snack shack that sold hot dogs, REAL Frito boats and cold Coca Cola or Koolaid in paper cups.
We'd tie up to the pear trees to wait our turn in the ring.
The thrill of riding to the show through town on suburban streets! People would come out of their houses to watch a horse walk by. I liked waving at everyone.
I usually rode alone. Sometimes a friend and her mother would ride with me. I wish I had pictures of those early days, but my parents never went to the shows, so I had no one to take my picture.
Once when I won first place in a gymkahna show I rode home with my trophy, so proud. But no one except my loathsome step sister was home so she took a picture. I still have it around. My hair in a messy braid,I'm sunburned and freckled, but the proud look in my eye is there. I was wearing braces and full head gear that year, I was about eleven. I remember my sister taking the picture and then laughing " You have more metal in your mouth than your horse has in his,' she quipped. To this day I hate that picture.

But now I am grown and the dull scissors have been replaced by state of the art clippers. The horse shoer comes a few days before. My saddle is cleaned, and my headstall new. I have an array of outfits to match the weather and my mood, all hung neatly inside my house trailer. I have more than one hat. I have practiced and practiced and been learning new methods for a long time. One would think that the thrill is gone.
One would be wrong.
I still get the excited prickle up the back of my neck.. I still run to my 'Cococola money'stash to see how much I have saved. I still wash and brush and primp and preen, still look forward to showing off a bit, hoping to bring home the trophy.

And even though my horse is not in my backyard, I'll bet I won't sleep much tonight.

Learning and Unlearning How to Swear. (Not for the faint of heart)

2011-08-01T21:00:00.000-07:00

When I was five I had a black Shetland pony. One day as I was riding her through our pear orchard she managed to drag me off under a tree branch. Then, of course, she ran up the road to the barn. I was so mad! I walked up the hill to our house then went to find my dad.
"That son of a bitch bucked me off!" I declared pointing in the direction of the loose pony.
My dad tried hard not to smile, but then he got stern.
"Sister Girl, don't you swear. It isn't ladylike."

I can't remember swearing too much after that, although I knew what the word Fuck was. Shit was probably used when my Mom wasn't around. My brother was a butt head, my sisters were dorks.
That was before I became a Teamster in 1978.

In Teamster land every other word was Fuck. Fuck was a noun, an adjective and a pronoun.It was a state of being. It was used to emphasise a point or to scare someone or to tease someone or to relieve stress or pain or to put the fear of God in someone. We didn't use many other swear words, that one seemed to do it all.
I was a Teamster for a very long time, and my Dear Hubby was one for twice as long.
Some times people will say that they were raised by wolves to convey that their upbringing was lacking in social graces- my kids apologize by saying they were raised by Teamsters.

There is a study that states swearing help alleviate pain-kinda like a dog yelping when you step on his tail.
I agree. Nothing makes me feel better than a sharply voiced swear word when I stub my toe or bark my shins.
Of course what you consider swearing and what I consider swearing might be two different things. In Shakespeare's time Zounds was considered the ultimate horrific swear word! It was short for 'Gods wounds',which was a direct slap in the face to our Savior. Actually most swear words didn't deal as much in bodily functions and insults as they did in sacrilegious behavior.
During Victorian times the word leg was scandalous. One just didn't talk about a person's appendages!
All this I tell you so I can confess-

Hello. My name is Vaquerogirl and I swear. It has been seven days since I last uttered profanity.

It's not that I enjoy it. It's just that I can't help myself. It's a downward spiral. I guess I haven't hit bottom yet.
I'm trying not to swear. Now that I work in a smaller office, with a few folks more 'prudish' ( read not ex teamsters) than I.

It's one ~~fucking~~ step at a time.

~~Fucking~~ Let go and let God.

The ~~fucking~~ program works if you work the ~~fucking~~ program...

No dirty jokes, no witty remarks with profane punchlines. I can't even use the un PC verbiage for an idiot anymore. Saying that I am a mentally handicapped individual just doesn't ring as true as my usual - 'Gosh I'm a fucking ~~retard~~.'

Saying 'Oh Fudge Caps' and 'Silly Water' just does not strike fear, loathing or envy in ANYONE! And it certainly does not relieve any stress.

I'd take up smoking to cope- but you know how that would turn out.

Z'OUNDS!

You may be right- I may be crazy

2011-07-27T22:58:00.000-07:00

I have not sold Desi yet. What with the horse market so bad, and the EHV virus hitting just as I posted his ad, well,I had only one person come out to ride him, and he was definitely too much horse for her. A few other called, but he was too much horse for them too. They were all over fifty and beginning riders.

People- when the ads say gentle but needs a confident rider that can lead- please take the owners at their words!

What you all want to see in an ad are the words ' bomb proof; Husband safe, super quiet, and Old.'! Those are the horses you should go to look at and choose to call upon.

And is there anything more exciting, dangerous and terrifying than riding a horse that is for sale?
You don't know these people, but you have to trust that their tack is clean and in good repair, that their horse is as they say, gentle, rideable, no vices, sweet.

You have to concentrate on not falling off, on proper mounting skills, dismounting skills, keeping your hands low, or high, not pulling too hard, or pulling not hard enough. Keeping away from any obstacles in their arena so you don't injure yourself or others, all the while trying to calculate if this is a good buy and how can you get a better deal.

Do you have the money in your account? and how much will an unfamiliar vet cost? Not to mention that you have to speak nicely so they will let you ride their little horsie- no matter if he pins his ears and flashes a few pearly whites your way. Avoid the sharp ends and try to keep in the middle of a saddle that doesn't fit you in an arena that is too muddy, or dusty or dark. Then pretend to listen to their trainer try to tell you how to ride, listen to your friends tell you ' You look good up there!"

Then you evaluate him from the ground. Are his feet good, and can you keep from getting stomped upon. Are his back legs full of scars, or will he kick you to the moon when you run your very benign hand over his hocks? Can you tie him up, or will he fling himself backwards? Can you run your hands all over his body, his face and belly, fending off questions from the owner meant to sway you or distract you from that bog spavin.
And if you like him, do you LOVE him? Do you need to love him? Can he do his job- the job you want him to do? Do you have the time to devote to bonding over this particular horse?

Sheesh- no wonder its a difficult decision! There are so many variables. That is why I usually buy babies and start them myself. That way no one has messed them up too badly. I install the buttons, and I install the mistakes. Sometimes I can't install them- but that is a different blog.

And so I have not even gone to look at any horses for sale. I still have one to sell first.
And here is the crazy part- WHAT? You thought THAT was the crazy part? Huh!
The Crazy part is that I am going to another show. Yep- the Spring Summer Gold N Grand. Back to the scene of my most memorablyhorrible show of all time. Only this time it is going to be hot, not rainy. I like hot.
HOT makes quiet horses.
I haven't ridden as much as I should have to get ready for this show, and I can admit toyou , and you only, that I am a little bit nervous about showing Desi. It isn't cheap, and he has all the potential to be a Ass7%&*!
But this is the way I figgure it- I can re do the awful show and make it right- in my head and heart and ride Desi like I stole him with no cares.
Or I can hide and cry and say I'm never going to show this horse again, it's not worth it, it's too much money, blah blah...friggin blah,
So I'm goin;. Lil Mama is going too.
All I want is a decent ride. A quiet ride. A quiet horse. Anything else is cake.

Luck anyone? I need it!

Summer Reading...****ahhhhh!

2011-07-24T09:51:00.000-07:00

I love summertime reading. No matter where you go, you can (almost) always find time to read a little bit!

Not every Mystery has to be solved by a cat or a detective agency. Not every Romance is a bodice ripper. Not every Horror story has horrible monsters. These are a few that are just darn good reads!

The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard is light summer reading at it's best.

When Jody Linder gets word that the man that killed her father twenty five years ago has been released from Prison she is understandably upset. Her mother disappeared the same night, and has never been seen again. Now her home, Rose, Kansas is going to get even smaller as the murderer returns to his family, bent on revenge and full of hate for the powerful Linder family that put him behind bars.
Tortured by the disappearance of her Mother, overwhelmed by the overbearing of her Grandparents, Aunt and Uncles, Jody unwillingly begins to sort through the history of those days with the eyes of an adult. Through the unravelling of the past, Jody also begins to build her future. The surprising climax of the story is well done and satisfying.

Also read in the last few weeks-

The Help by Kathry Stockett
This has been made into a major motion picture but I really enjoyed the give and take of this story as written. Three women- two of them black and considered 'invisible' because they are The Help, one of them a disappointing debutante with a mystery of her own to solve, makes this a 'can't put it down' read. Civil rights aside, this is the story of courage in the face of fear, love through thick and thin and everything bad in between. The Help is just that- Women helping other women, families helping families and mostly helping yourself.

The Coral Thief by Rebecca Stott
Languorous Paris directly after Napoleons fall. The essence of mysterious and dangerous Paris as seen through the eyes of a fresh faced young man. When a beautiful woman steals his precious objects as well as a controversial manuscript, he is determined to get them back. He plunges headlong into a seamy world he knows nothing of. Seeking to hold on to all he understands to be true- the very origins of Man through Divinity- he reluctantly is drawn by his other love- Science- to his own new truth.

Under the Dome by Steven King
The story is compelling and I see that Mr King is making the invariable comparison of life in our world and the ecology that we take for granted. He populates his Dome with horrible monsters that we all know- people who are our neighbors and friends put in dangerous and powerful situations. The Dome represents it all, power,love,redemption and greed. In true King fashion he uses Pop references to punctuate the story and the characters- it almost becomes like a game. " Oh that is from True Blood, that is from Giget, that is from the Dirty Dozen..." How many can you find? Not his best, but a good read just the same.

Swan Song by Robert McCammon
Post Apocalyptic story of the remaking of our world. Harsh, unrelenting and violent it is the story of how a group of people reshape their world after 'The Bombs Fall,' actually commentary about civilization throughout the ages- read it if you have a strong stomach and a thirst for gore. It does have some redeeming values to impart- the Circle of Jewels and the Prophet Swan. Don't compare it to The Stand, enjoy Robert McCammons' writing- which is brilliant- and you may finish it changed but unscathed.

Boys Life by Robert McCammon
Actually my favorite read. The 'boy' is from Smalltown USA, and his troubles should be small too- unfortunately they are not. But magic, love and faith, defeat darkness, death and fear. I found if full of hope as well as bittersweet sadness for the transitions found in life. This is one I will read again.

Leonie- A Woman Ahead of her Time, memories of Leonie Von Zesch
I am fascinated by history, especially women's history and most especially San Francisco History. This story is actually the memories of Leonie Von Zesch-written down by her over 100 years ago, then forgotten in a trunk in an attic until her niece found them and had them published. It is full of pictures of the 1906 earthquake from Leonie's POV, as well as other photos of her taken through her life. It seems that she was the first woman dentist in San Francisco in 1906, as well as a dentist in Alaska and Arizona. Leonie had a fascinating and worldly journey doing things that modern women would never think of doing today. A must read!

Georges and Jewels by Jane Smiley
Written for a younger audience, this is still a fun read for us grown up girls that still love horses. Jane Smiley tones down her usual adult vocabulary for simpler themes, but it is still sterling writing. Easy to finish in an hour by the pool, you and your pre teen or tween should love it equally. About a young girl whose father is a horse trader, he uses her to sell the horses- all named George or Jewel so she won't get attached-to families that want kids horses. When she runs into one George that won't confirm she wants to give up. The teachings of a old horse trainer that uses gentler methods helps her to see that all things aren't just Georges or Jewels, but there are unexpected satisfactions to be found in treating each horse like the individual it really is.

This ought to spur you all into your local bookstore or onto your local website or even (GASP) the Library!
I hope your days are soft and warm, your hours long under the shade, and your words chewy and full of juice!

End of an Era

2011-07-20T22:45:00.000-07:00

You never know when an Era begins. It could have been today or yesterday~ or it may be tomorrow or next week or next month. But when an Era is over, you know.

The definition of 'era':
1. A long and distinct period of history with a particular feature or characteristic.

2. A system of chronology dating from a particular noteworthy event.

The Era to which I am referring began about 1980. A noteworthy year to be sure. Lil Mama was two- that's how I judge time- and I had purchased a beautiful younf buckskin mare. Soon after, I met some people who would be my boon companions. They were, and are still, my best friends- Denesirita, Tericita, and Rustinella. We had all purchased young horses and for awhile, we boarded them at the same place.

Oh, we were young and full of vinegar in those early days! Riding anything, laughing at everything and hauling those youngsters around and around. Tericita took Oak Mielle on to an Open reining Championship. Rustenella excelled with Blues in Dressage. Denesirita showed Dr. Drewlittle in reining and then because of a hoof problem retired him to her ranch in the California foothills. I turned my little mare Somebodys Streak into one heck of a family horse for my kids and myself.

But time marches on.
I put my little mare down when she was 26.
Terecita put Oak down two years ago at 27
Rustenella put Blues down a few months ago 28
And sadly Denesirita put Drew down a few days ago ~ he was close to 30.

But we are not crying! ( Well maybe a little bit!)
No, we can all be proud of our horses and our accomplishments with them! Proud that we didn't ever let them suffer. Proud that we didn't sell them off as their usefulness waned, but pampered ( Drew most of all!)and cared for them like the royalty we imagined them to be.

I was lucky enough to see Drew on the morning of his demise. He was galloping across the early morning pasture, his coat still wet from dew. He wasn't lame or stiff in his joints, although he didn't hear well and his eyesight was failing. He bossed the mares and the little gelding that were with him, flashing heels and threatening to let them have it. Denesirita and I stood watching a few moments, marvelling at his age and fortitude.
It was a few hours later that she called to let me know he had twisted his lower intestine and was in so much pain that she was forced to make the ultimate decision for him.

I like to think that China, Blues and Oak- as well as a few others that have crossed our paths- were waiting for him, eagerly nickering, " What the heck took you so long to get here!"

And as one era ends, another shall begin. Or maybe it already has.....

Best Birthday Party EVER!

2011-07-11T18:11:00.000-07:00

Yes, It was my birthday!

It happened that my Double Nickle Birthday fell on the same day as the Annual Dolittle Ranch Slip and Slide Party!

Lucky ME!

I packed up Dogs, Daughters and Husband and made my way to The Ranch.

It was HOT!

All the better for Slip and Sliding, My Dears!

And there is absolutely no better place to be than the Dolittle Ranch.

All kinds of fun and excitement ensued!

There was the Bucking Bull.

He won every round!

No one ever rode him to a standstill- though a good many tried!

This is Denesirita the Unpaid Ranch Slave giving it her best shot.

Though she is one of the best rider-

the Bull won.

Best friends hanging together for the whole weekend. They taught me how to use my phone to Twitter. ( #LOOK OUT!)

Mimi gave the bull her best shot.

The Bull won.

Enough of that- lets slide down the Slip and Slide!

You know, with enough irrigation water, visqueen and Adult Party Beverages, everyone can have a great time.

I brought my home away from home with me. This is how great the Dolittle Ranch is- they put in a place for me to hook into the septic while I am there! Awesome Friends!

Jr took it all in. He was in the pool more than he was out of it. I think this is one of the only times he was dry.

His swimming outfit is padded with floatation devices front and back.

Makes him look a little like a SuperHero or a Ninja Turtle.

With this thing on he was able to go in the water and paddle around like a 'polly-og'.

That is Lil Mama in the pool waiting for him.

" Doctor Livingston, I presume?"

He found this pith helmet and wore it around all afternoon.

Big K put on the chaps over the shorts- a particulary good look- and rode the Bull- or tried to.

The Bull won.... Again.

KBG is half fish. Do you think she was having a fun time?

This is my Birthday Present!

Not Really...

A girl can only dream...

Even the dogs were having fun on the slip and slide.

Lil Tater Tot would not get out of the water. He had won the Championship Mutton Bustin' at the nearby Rodeo the day before. He was one tired little Cowboy!

Here is a short clip of what the slip and slide party looks like.

Yes, that is the music we were playing....

No one got hurt in the making of this video...

but casualties happen...

This is one of my girlfriends- I'd like for her to remain nameless- but you can clearly hear her name in the voice over! (Ignore the voices in your head here!)

She really 'let down her hair!

Go Girl!

Thanks to the Dolittle Ranch for throwing such a wonderful shin-dig!

Or maybe it was a Hoot-N-Nanny...

...how does one tell the dif?

But it sure was a fun party!

I know it wasn't specifically for my

B-day

but it sure felt like it was!

It was the best!!!

Update!

2011-07-06T23:05:00.000-07:00

Alright! I can never win! Someone else came to the auction and knew what the heck the bits and saddle were worth! I bid $550 and thought that it would be the highest. Monday was slow and the holiday weekend kept a lot of folks away.
But the bid on the saddle, the Visalia and Molina bits, mecates, hacamore and Garcia bull nosed taps went to......
$1200!
Geez! It was totally worth that- but man- I didn't think there were that many savvy folks about Western stuff in Alameda this week!
I may have still been high bidder for the little saddle made by Sleitzer but I won't know until tomorrow. My 'mole' didn't write down the price realized for that.
On a different note-
I've been super busy at work and that will be a whole new post tomorrow.

Happy Forth of July!

2011-07-05T20:09:00.000-07:00

Remember your first sparklers?

Magic!

Happy 4th at the Auction

2011-07-05T07:14:00.000-07:00

So much good stuff at the Auction today!

These prints are ink on silk and are so beautiful. There were four different fish. The detail was amazing!

Anyone care to guess what these are and what they do?

I am crazy about this old scale. The face of the scale is red and gold.It's been hiding out in a barn for years, and now someone has a chance to use it and love it as an object d'art instead of a tool.

This is a handmade, rawhide core used and soft. The mecate is hand made, rolled from mane hair. There are two of them in this lot. Plus a few other choice items. Of course I am bidding on it!

This is a close up of the work. I know it must be a local California maker, because all of these items came from a barn in the upper central Valley. Collectable cowboy gear often comes from this california area and in this era. Could be Garcia or someone like him...

This is a different lot. It has Model A wheels, and a trunk full of old buggy parts and old auto parts. It is a super heavy lot, chains, and an anvil stand and bits and pieces of machinery, but it is really cool and has had a lot of interest.

Here is another 'Can you guess what that is' moment in this blog!

Well, care to hazard a guess? You might be surprised! I'll tell you it was for commercial use and it is barely used.

Aren't these sweet? There are Vernon ware and pretty collectible. They are in perfect codition.

This horse lookes a little like BOB, don't you think?

My date from the last prom...Put a tie dyed shirt on him and he might look like someoe I know...

There sleigh bells have all different sounds, high and low. They are on leather that is still in wonderful shape. Care to guess the hammer price on these?

Tower of saddles! They are all just thrashed and the leather is broken up. Several horse collers on the bottom, and there is a pack saddle or two in there as well.

This is in the lot I am bidding on. It isn't marked, but I think it is Baumann. Silver on the side of the cheekpiece.

It is also in the same lot as this bit, a marked Viselia with braided rawhide rommel reins. Very cool!

And this is one of the saddles I'm bidding on too. It was made between 1904 and 1929. I hope I get it!

I'm bidding on this too- it is in the lot with the bits and bosal. I forgot to take a picture of the whole thing.

Both saddle marks...

These bull nose taps are included too....

I can't be there at the auction this week either, so now I have to wait to see if my absentee bid is the highest. I put in a really high amount! I really want this stuff!

Stay tuned after Wed to see if I'm laughing or crying!

Happy Forth of July!

Tourist Season

2011-06-24T23:59:00.000-07:00

I arrive in SF about 8:30 each morning. Since I'm riding BART the cacophony of the City is a welcome relief from the incessant whine of the train. Today The City smells amazing- cooking beef, roasting coffee and surprisingly, the sweet smell of Jasmine. Tatters of fog slide above the building spires taking the dirt and grit with it, at least for an hour or two.

Street people hang out on the Plaza, staring, whispering, singing laughing. The day promises to be a good one. I wait for the light and cross Market, checking the tall clock that hovers over the Chronicle Building. I have fifteen minutes to walk the mile and a half, I don't have to hurry, but I keep a steady pace anyway. Others are walking to work along the same sidewalk. Women in pencil skirts balancing cups of Starbucks and cell phones, men in suits on bicycles, kids on skateboards, fat men, skinny women with babies in tow,we all are on our own personal missions. I cross over alleys named after whores- Minna, Clementina,- step around dog shirt, vomit, and road work. I am careful to check over my shoulder before stepping off any curb. But it isn't all bad. I keep my chin up, admiring the two story murals and advertisements.Bright orange and yellow nasturtiums, blue green Aloe plants taller than a man and scattered patio pots of vivid red geranium add the note of humanity that we all crave- even in the canyons of The City.

Reverse the route and I head home. This time I pass orange and black clad Giants fans heading toward the park. They are tourists, holding hands,keeping their dark glasses on, bumping into my shoulder in a mad dash to make the first pitch. They aren't the only ones. I hear snippets of conversation as people pass me, German, French, Russian, Spanish. I see cameras slung around fat necks, hear the slap of feet in thongs as they scuffle along, necks craned back to see what little bit of sky there is to see on Market,as if the skies over San Francisco are somehow different than any other sky. And over it all I hear the tinny ringing of bells. Cable car bells calling the crowds. And they come...

My life- welcome to it!

2011-06-20T06:43:00.001-07:00

It's finally Summer around here!

2011-06-19T14:27:00.000-07:00

When I went out to the barn today it finally smelled like summer. The grass has dried up and turned golden ( even though we had late rains) and the aroma of hot bay trees, oaks and grass was strong in the cool of the morning. I was able to go out and ride yesterday and today~ I'm lovin' it!. Of course I have to work the next whole week- so I probably won't get to see the pony until next Saturday, if then.
You see- it is going to be Jr's third birthday!
Remember when he was a little mite and we drug his tiny little bundled up body out with us to the barn?
Well we still do!
Today he asked to ride Bob! So we put hm up there, I walked next to him and Mom led Bob around in a circle, over poles and around cones. Jr loved it.

This and That

2011-06-12T12:02:00.000-07:00

Just catching up on a few loose ends. I wanted to post a few pictures of things I find cute or interesting.

Tripps sleeps with his paw over his nose. He's really a goof. He weighs about 150 lbs right now and still growing!

Lil Mama's first Jewlery Party at my house.( Thats me in the mirror:) She is doing well and having a fun time selling this really nice jewlery. And she's so pretty too!

These are just a few of the horses that I am considering in my quest to find another Show Horse. I relly like this top gelding, and they have been showing him in the classes I want to compete in- a bonus. I haven't seen him in person, he is way down in San Diego and I'll have to fly there to see him. Still have to sell Desi though, so nothing is settled.

This pretty little mare ( yes I know, I don't want a mare) is closer- just an hours drive. I like her graceful neck and feminine face, but I'm not digging the angle of her fetlocks. She might just be set up wrong for the picture, which also might account for the downhill slope of her back. Her hooves look like different people have shod her- but if I like her enough I'll have my farrier evaluate her, then my vet. I do like those golden horses...

I liked Darryl too. This is my friend KBG up. Darryl is only two, and this was maybe his fifth ride. He tolerated it, and Lil Mama, the trainer and me, all on a windy and cold and awful day. He's in the top three too. I know he will grow into himself, but he is already almost 15.2HH- so I'll have to really like him for me to buy him. Us short old ladies can't throw our heavy Western saddles up that high!

And of course my best boy! He actually wanted to sit up on Desi the other day, and he didn't want to ride Bob with his Momma! He did like trying to crack the whip though- typical!

He will be three in a few days!

June Auction Time!

2011-06-11T00:56:00.000-07:00

June was a super busy month- I am working two different auction houses and loving it

But boy, am I tired.

Does anyone recognize this little ( big) gadget? There were actually three of them in the auction this month and they all sold very well!

This tasty item is a porceline stove.

Am I the only one out there that can appreciate a good working oven? Even though I don't cook, and my plan is to turn my stove into a planter- this would be a nice stove to actually turn into a planter! All the drawers and parts were there, except the Salt and Pepper shakers. Went to $ 250 but now they have to move the dern thing!

I finally won an auction! This lot was two standing mirrors. I bought this one for Lil Mama and a nice Venitian Glass one for Mimi!

Aww, what a sweet folk art angel. Hand carved and so detailed! Hey wait a minute! What is that under his foot? It's a head! Is it...SATAN?...

Same idea from a differnt part of the world. I guess to dominte the world you have to step on a lot of heads! This guy looks like he escaped from the Blue Man Group playing nearby!

Oh yes, the little mountain goat came back. This time they really did sell it though! One of my collegues actually stuffed it in someones back seat! $300!

The Room where all the magic happens...

I really wanted to bid on this lot, but I figured two mirros were ok- but a bunch more mirrors were just too many! Although I did like the Bakelite one there on the top. It was really heavy, the glass was perfect and it had beveled around the edges, ( you never see that) Plus all the other mirrors came with it. I think it sold for about $40 bucks.

My friend Terri! How did that get in there! She relly liked that giant c... er I mean rooster...

This was a pretty Navajo type rug.. I don't think it was really woven by Navajo, even Jamison who works there and is a Navajo didn't think it was truely done. HOW ever it was nicely woven and had pretty red yarn throughout. It went for $300. A Yei rug 3x5 went at the Gallery on Sunday for about $1000. Yei are special and very collectable.

You all know I am crazy for dishes. This pretty green and white set was missing a lot of pieces, but it was so sweet! I think it was about $50.

I put in a bid of $200 for this French Style Oak cabinet. I missed it by $25! The people who bought it bought ALL of the cute stuff I liked! Their shop is up in St Helens- I may have to go visit!

And last of all- the Musk Ox. He was big and soft and massive. Can you see this over your bed? There was a Cape Buffalo with a full stand on the other side of the room that was intense! I didn't get a chance to photo that thing but believe me- it was huge! And frightening looking. I kept imagining it walking through the showroom, bellowing! Hahah!

So ...there is more

I finally signed my contract with the Auction House that has merged with Greg Martin Auctions. Heritage is run from Dallas Texas, but they have store fronts in Beverly Hills and New York too. Now they will have one in San Francisco. It was touch and go as to weather they would keep me on, but the gang rallied behind me, and I was hired officially today. Boy what a relief! The vibe has been a little off in the office, but that is to be expected. Now there are all men and ME in the back, and only one girl in the front, I have to go up and just gaze at her once a day to get my girl fix on, Those boys can really take it out of ya- they are like old women! Worse than I have ever been! Not that I dont like them- I do, but really men- no wining!

This whole process really threw me for a loop- so I've been keeping my stories close to my vest, There is lots of work to do, problems to solve and so forth. But at least I have a job that will last awhile.

Thank you LORD!

It's Still Raining and It is June!

2011-06-05T06:47:00.000-07:00

You know I live in California for a couple of reasons.
One is the weather. It is balmy and beautiful here most of the year.

Not this year.

It has been cold and raining since October! And it continues to be cold and rainy and now it is JUNE!
MiMi informs me that it last rained here in June 1947! C'mon! That is just wrong!
It rained so hard last night that water in my street ran like a river, gysering and gushing against the tires of my truck.
And the clouds were swirling and black... Did I mention that there have been tornadoes nearby?
I pay a good chunk of change to live in California. I want to know who has changed the weather! I want a refund! If I have to put up with Midwestern United States Weather I want Midwestern United States pricing on everything! I want houses for under $100,000. I want Diesel for $3.00, I want a ton of hay for $7.00 a bale! I want Chicken and Waffle Houses, Great Rib Restaurants and looser gun laws.
If this keeps up I'm gonna move to Texas!

What does one pea brain come up with when let loose with a camera?

2011-05-23T17:47:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=2Hv_hc3EUFM

Here is todays video try. Thanks to my very good friend LM who spent the whole afternoon helping me shoot this video, and also lending me the software and adding her bigger brain to my smaller one so that I could get the dang thing on youtube.
Thanks for the suggestions Mia- I hope this is better.

Some catching up to do!

2011-05-22T15:16:00.000-07:00

I haven't been gone, but I have been super busy. But aren't we all?

First- there are changes in the wind for one of my jobs. That's all I can say about it, but I'm a little spooked. So I feel like I'm walking a razor wire (through no fault of my own) and that is not a good feeling. More on that little topic much later when things are settled.

B- Will winter EVER end? My garden looks like H E double toothpicks right now and it is clouding up and looking like we might get more rain today. Everytime I look out my back door I feel discouraged. But today rain or shine I'm going out there and planting something!

Three- After a long and very emotional soul searching- and many many weepy evening- I have decided to sell Desi and find another horse to show. After the wet and rainy and wild GNG show, I finally realized that he isn't happy- AND NEITHER AM I! Like a very bad relationship, I kept making excuses and trying to 'fix' it. But there isn't any fixing to be done. He's a great horse but he wants a job that gets him out of the arena and I want him to have a job IN the arena. He is on Dreamhorse and on Bay Area Equine Network (Bay Desperado) and I've had a few inquieries. Of course he won't go to just any ol' body- it will have to be the right home. I still love him after all and want him to be happy! The very hardest part was the decision to let go ( isn't it always). As a younger woman I would have ridden the snot out of him and been perfectly happy to find him that other job- but I'm not as full of vinegar as I once was- another hard pill to swallow-and I don't want a horse I am fighting and picking on all of the time. I want to go to the horse shows. My goal is to make it to the AQHA Select show, and I won't make it there with Desi.
I know in the long run he'll be happier and so will I.

Here is the video Lil Mama made today- it isn't very good. Jr is in the back ground chattering away, there are motorcycles going by and dogs barking, and someone put their horse in my pen which made Desi's head go up. But here it is anyway... There will be a better one on YouTube soon.

And just for fun, here is a video of Jr and the barn cat Tiger...

An Icon of America Right in my Own Backyard.

2011-05-16T00:07:00.000-07:00

The Most beautiful Bridge Ever Built

The Golden Gate Bridge is only about 30 minutes away from my very own house. How Lucky am I?

The Approach to the Bridge

In the commission of my job I was sent across the Golden Gate Bridge into Marin. I wasn't driving my own truck, but the vehicle of another employee- so I was a little nervous.

I made my way through the mean streets of San Francisco, which actually weren't so mean after all, and onto the Bridge.

It was amazing, it's tall orange spires rising above the road, the glittering city on my right, the chopping green bay below. The day was brilliant, no fog in sight which is weird for San Francisco.

I made it to Marin, and on the way back I was able to sneak my camera phone ( that trusty damn camera phone!) out of my bag and take a quick couple of pictures.

As I was marvelling at the construction, the style and the color of the Gold Gate Bridge I remembered the last time I had travelled across the Bridge.

It was in 1974.

WHAT!

Yep

1974, I lived in Santa Rosa going to school. One of my boyfriends and a couple of other friends decided to travel down to San Francisco, and tow a Volkswagen mini bus home. Yep, with a tow bar and chain.

We were eighteen - or so-.

As we travelled down the road, it was a pretty steep incline with a dog leg to the left, my boyfriend looks out his window and comments " Oh, look, there is a bus just like mine going past us."

We all looked over to the fast lane and fer sure there was an identical bus flying past us going about 80.

Then we looked behind us.....

only to discover that the bus that had passed us was the bus that we HAD been towing.

It was unoccupied, no driver and the wheel wasn't tied off or anything, so it continued past and when the road did that dog leg- the bus ran straight, right over the guard rail and down the small embankment.

To say we were shocked would be an understatement.

Yep, it sure would.

The girls and I hitched a ride back to Santa Rosa, and the boys stayed to pull the VW up out of the ditch.

I laugh today about that bright green and white bus flying past us!

And that ,my friends was the last time I had a chance to cross that bridge!

Why? Because I live in the East Bay and the Bridge is in the north Bay. I get into San Francisco by crossing the Bay Bridge, or going under the water in the BART Train.

So back to the Bridge.

It was completed in 1937 for 37 Million Dollars. The project was only 5 months later than the deadline and the came in under budget by a million and a half dollars. The Designer and architect was named Strauss and he received a Million Dollars for bringing the project in so well, as well as a free for life toll pass. I'd sure like to have that pass now- the toll to cross is $6.00

My husband's Grandfather Brooks came to America from England to help build this very bridge as well as the Bay Bridge that we travel over. Grandpa actually had to make his own tools to be a carpenter/mason in the early 1930's. One morning he actually fell from the Bay Bridge- fell thirty feet into the rocks and water. He wasn't a swimmer, but someone hauled him out of the water. Unfortunately his tools went into the drink with him and they were not recovered.

He went to work the next day using borrowed tools.

View from the Truck

There have been many suicides that have jumped off the Bridge, but in the last two months two teenagers, at different times, have jumped off the bridge and survived! That is practically unheard of. The Bridge is not only high and wide, it crosses some of the most treacherous and cold waters known to man. If the drop don't kill ya, the cold or sharks or current probably will. Both kids were reported by surfers in the water ( can you say crazy?) and one surfer actually pulled the first young man onto his board until the Coast Guard got there. The second, the girl was pulled from the water within five minutes of her going in. Amazing.

The Bridge has a distinct color Orange and it is painted non stop. By time they finish it is time to begin again.

The Navey wanted to paint it yellow and black, so it would stand out in the fog!

The roadway has been expanded since 1937, but there are no physical barriers on the bridge- The lanes are change twice a day for the commute. See those little bitty markers on the left of the picture? Those are the lane markers, Cars whizz past you going 65- it's a trip! Luckily at noon when I was on the way back to SF the roads were a little less busy and I took these pictures.

The towers have an art deco look to them, and it fits with the semi goth scene of the Ancient Precedio all around it, especially the Military Cemetery.

I was also stuck by the feel of theNorth Beach neighborhoods. It looks and feels a lot like ever other beach town on the California Coast. The building have a glaring whitewashed look to them, the streets seem to be laid out in the same kind of way. Surfers still stand on the shore assessing waves. The air feels clear and salty- just as I like it.

So though I have been under the bridge several time in the last forty years,and flown over it once or twice. I wont let it be another thirty before I cross this beauty again.

Dangerous -yes.

Thrilling- Yes!

Worth seeing- YES!!!

First things first...

2011-05-15T09:16:00.000-07:00

First things First... The May Auction in Alameda...

I know I have been remiss in my duties! I mean to say that I am so sorry that I didn't publish these auction goodies sooner. They are great and they have all been sold- as a matter of fact, the auction is nearly set for the June event and there should be some great old 'barn' items in it including saddles and shafts of an old cart.
But these caught my eye and they didn't go for too much this time- although a couple of pieces of Ivory scrimshaw from the early 1800's did sell for over $2000.

This adorable cabinet from 1910-30 sold for $75.00. I think that is a real bargain because it is solid oak and it was in perfect condition ( even though my picture is fuzzy). It had an interesting cage type shelf on the upper left, and a glass front on the bookcase. These were made a lot of the time by Sears and sold through a catalog.

This beauty went for about $350. Solid Oak with a black and white marble top. The mirror was beveled, but the struts that held the mirror to the base were a little bug eaten. Still, that would be an easy fix. A dealer bought this and he'll have it in his shop for at least $1000.

I don't need dishes, lord knows I don't have any room to store them, but I really thought about bidding on this complete set.It had creamer and suger with lids, cream soup bowls, a pedestal petit four standing plate, gravy boat, platters and dinner size dishes. So sweet! I think it went for under $100.

A Tiffany style lamp, beautiful leaded glass shade and metal base. $100!

Print of a watercolor under glass with a great framing job! Not a Tim Cox, but similar- it went for... wait for it....

$25.00.

So there it is in a nut shell. There was a lot of good stuff there this time and the prices were pretty good for the buyers. I didn't get as many pictures as I'd have liked but they have given me a little more responsibility at the Auction house- I'm managing the Preview Staff and some other stuff- so I am a little more ' under the glass' theses days.

At the Auction today~

2011-05-05T06:43:00.000-07:00

This guy bought all this stuff and then like many- didn't know quite what to do with it!

Auction Days this week!

2011-04-29T07:19:00.000-07:00

I've been so busy 'keeping the beat' that I haven't had the energy to write this week, but I wanted to let you all know that the Michaans Auction is Sunday! Its always full of great jewlery and furniture and some pretty spectacular artwork too!
I'll post pics when I can of the weird and unusual stuff that runs through on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Annex Auction!
And now that GMA has joined my list of jobs, I'll be blogging about those Auctions too- and you won't want to miss them- the first one is fancy schmansy wine, the second is great guns and knives and some Western momorabelia-the third is a great group of Smith and Wessons and other assorted weapons that have been donated to the NRA. It is going to be a wild summer- hang in there!

What next- Easter Bunny with Fangs?

2011-04-23T16:35:00.000-07:00

I know that some of you may already know and be aware of this info- but for those of you that this hadn't occured to- LIKE ME- this is good to keep in mind.
Of course we have Rattlesnakes in California too- lots of them in fact- but we don't have as many kinds!
Keep Easter fun!

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Keep the Beat

2011-04-21T06:45:00.000-07:00

I've talked to so many people lately that tell me that they just want to be Happy.
Happy?
Happy!
I wondered why people think they aren't happy. Is it because they aren't happy every minute of the day, or do they just not notice the good moments that come to us and only remember the bad moments?

I love the video I am sharing today. I can watch it over and over. This little guy plays the drums like Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa...better than Peter Tork or Ringo Starr. His rythem is amazing, his skill with the sticks belies his four year old hands.

Watch his little face-he looks bored...but his feet keep the beat and he keeps playing.
Why is he there? Where are his folks? He must be doing this for them.
He looks around, he's cool, he's four and there are a lot of people looking at him. But he keeps the beat.
He stumbles, and keeps the beat.
He makes a mistake, smiles a little to himself, recovers and keeps the beat

And then he sees something or someone - and his face lights up, he digs down and brings up something else- something good just for himself! He smiles and his little eyes twinkle. And he keeps the beat ...

If you aren't happy that is okay. You don't have to be happy. But I think that if you want to be happy then you just need to keep the beat. Keep playing and looking at the crowd. Do what you do well and if you can't do it for yourself, do it for those around you.
Keep the beat.

Smooth as buttah...

2011-04-12T19:54:00.000-07:00

Alarm going off on time- check
Papers in order- check
Driving through traffic to BART- check
Commuting with about a million other people- check
I didn't get off the train too early. Didn't get off the train too late.
Located North from South.
Didn't mind the bums and they didn't mind me.
Arrived to work EARLY- CHECK!

Whew- I feel like such a grown up!

They gave me the tour. Also because it is an auction house the doors are always locked so they gave me the keypad combo. Check.
Went to the back and learned my new job. Left the back area and tried to get back in. Forgot the combo. ERK!
They gave it to me again.
Had to leave the back area again, but this time I remembered the combo! Whew- those Ginko pills must be working.

I found a few mistakes that the regular guy made. Why do I always feel like every question might be some sort of a test?
Good news- didn't do anythng really stupid.
Ate lunch by myself.
Walked the mile back to BART.
Caught the right Train. Didn't get off to early or too late. Drove home from the train station in ten minutes.

BEST NEWS OF THE DAY- the company is going to move 5 MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE SOON!

Hubby was so pleased that I went back to work he bought me a new purse- with a shoulder strap that I can sling over my shoulder like a bandolero- all the girls on the train are wearing them...
Whew! I Am Tuckered!
Early to beddy and do it all again tomorrow.

Money for horses...money for horses....money for horses....

California Cowgirls Big Adventure

2011-04-11T21:28:00.000-07:00

I begin my new job in San Francisco tomorrow. I'm taking public transport- called BART. And then I have to walk several blocks.
I'm a little nervous, truth be told.
Nervous that I won't get the right train, that I will get turned around and head out the wrong way, nervous that I won't like the job, nervous that I will!
I am going to miss my pups and my garden now that the weather is finally getting nice.
But I am going to be glad once I start getting a regular check.
I keep saying over and over- money for horses- money for horses...and other stuff too.
Say a prayer for me!
I'll check in tomorrow and let you all know how it went!

Ghost Hunting in San Francisco

2011-04-10T00:22:00.000-07:00

This is my youngest daughter, Mimi and her friend Lil'C and of course Lil Mama.

For Mimi's 27th birthday we took her into the Big City- San Francisco- on a historic Ghost Walk.

We began our walk at the Queen Anne Hotel. It was built as a school for girls in the late 1800's. The ghost that haunts this beautiful old hotel is benevolent. She tucks people in with a blanket in one particular room. Sometimes when you take pictures in this hotel you will get 'orbs' of light or energy. This is Lil C and Lil Mama in the dining room.

Here is our Ghost Guide. This fellow was well informed and quite a showman. He told us fascinating stories of ghosts that inhabit parts of San Francisco as he ushered us through the Pacific Heights neighborhood. In one particular spot he had a old key to one of the Mansions that would rotate when held in the palm of a hand- no matter who held it or which direction they faced. Very odd indeed!

This is the third floor of the Queen Anne Hotel. That piece of furniture to the left is an old pulpit. This property was given by its owner in the early 1900 to the Episcopal church, and this is a remnant of that time. This is the floor that is most inhabited by the friendly woman ghost who ran the school for girls.

As I came up the stairs I hit a cold spot on between the second floor and the third floor. I let the rest of the large group of twenty souls romp on ahead of me and hung back a little. I turned to one of the girls and said, I feel it here. Of course she smiled and moved on. The Ghost Guide had given another person a special meter. Supposedly when an energy source came near it, all the lights would flash orange and green. Just moving it towards another person wouldn't make it go off. As they came up the stairs, the meter began flashing. As they moved away from the spot, toward the forth floor, the meter went dark. It didn't flash anywhere else, and it didn't flash on the way back down.

Lil C sat on the chair on the third floor, with nothing happening.

Lil Mama was alert, but mostly we were just in awe of the beauty of the restoration of the hotel. Furniture in the hall ways was period too, as you will see in another photo. I want to go back and stay in the hotel so I can see the rooms!

This is the second floor, taken as I came down the stairs. Everyone else was still on the forth floor. To the right, on the table is a potted plant, but in front of the plant is a weird 'thing'. It is hard to see in this photo, but if you enlarge it, there is no a reflection of it, just the reflection of the plant. Could be nuthin- or....

Outside was windy and clear and cold.The famous San Francisco fog was holding just off the coast, so the stars were out( a unique thing in SF for sure). This is a sample of the kinds of houses and neighborhoods we were walking through. Of course it is nighttime, and there were no flashes allowed, so some of the pictures look a little blurry. These 'Painted Ladies' were very impressive and expensive. One of these houses just sold for 1.9 million dollars. Now that's hair raising!

This is the lobby of the Queen Anne. Beautiful and cozy. It was a nice and welcoming room. I could have sat in there all night!

The streets of San Francisco~

The Atherton Mansion. Weird and wonderful stories were told about this fantastic Victorian! It has a Baccarat crystal chandelier that you could see through the window from the street. See the cars? No I'm not crooked, the street is steep!

This is a kind of creepy picture. Those glowing things look like eyes, but I don't really remember anyone looking like this. That is Lil C and Mimi in the dark foreground. (((shiver)))!

Mammy Mary Ellen Pleasant was a famous woman in San Francisco. In today's money she would have amassed over a Billion dollars.

Born a slave, she was educated by one of her owners, became free, became a student of Marie Levau in New Orleans and learned about Voodoo. Coming into California as a free woman, she worked hard, bought businesses and helped fund the Civil War. She was an important woman, and the site where her house once stood has an eerie feeling about it. Six huge Eucalyptus trees still stand on the corner where her house had been ( now a Holistic Healing Center- it is California after all!) and if she doesn't like you, the story goes that she will throw the Eucalyptus seed pods at you.

She must have liked us, because as windy as it was, no seed pods fell on us, plus the wind seemed to die a little bit as her story was told.

So that is the extent of our Ghost Walk. I don't feel like we were touched by a ghost today, but we had a great time, had a lot of laughs and were all together.

And if you want to hear a ghost story- I have others to tell- just not about San Francisco.

The American Dream

2011-04-07T18:12:00.000-07:00

I live in California.....and California is broke.
Busted...
No Bread...
So the good people of California have elected Jerry Brown to 'govern' them. He's done it once before...
Lets just say..... I'm not a fan.
Lets just say it.
JB wants to have a special election to raise taxes. He wanted it to happen in June, but the GOP won't hear of it so now he has decided to push the 'special election' back until September. Maybe he thinks someone will die or change their mind...
I'm not going to go into all the political mumbo jumbo and how I feel about it...
What I do want to address though, is today's newsworthy statement from good ol' JB about wanting to give us Californians The American Dream.
Of course he NEVER specifies what he means by that.
The American Dream. THE AmeriCan Dream- theamERicandream... sheesh!
Maybe he means that because we are Americans we can dream? Or it is a Dream that we are Americans? Or We are Dreamy Americans...
...anyway you cut that statement it stinks.
Who is he to say what the American Dream is?
Your Dream and my Dream might be polar opposites.
Maybe I don't have a Dream.
Maybe I have my Dream already and don't want anyone to try and take it away.
Maybe I want to get my own Dream with out any bogus help from some second rate hack of a Governor.

Early in the history of America the 'Dream' was Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. It's in the Constitution (and that evidently is open for debate now nearly 200 years later).
Then the Dream was for for open land- a place to call your own. Fifty acres and a Mule ( if you were one of the lucky few).

With over 10% unemployment in California, (and that is only counting the ones that are accepting Federal or State assistance. Anyone not 'official', (and there are legions of them), don't get counted, ) maybe the Dream is simply to have steady work. That is my Dream.

So what I'd like to know is what do you think The American Dream is these days?

Finally- something I can sink my teeth into.

2011-03-30T19:33:00.000-07:00

First of all, thanks for your encouraging words about my recent disaster post. I have warmed up and dried out and I see that things aren't really so bad...

NOW-

I have gotten another job ( in addition to the auction house) and it is at another auction house just across the Bay. It is an auction house that specializes in firearms, mostly antique but modern too, and weapons and western artifacts. gregmartinauctions.com I am super excited! Of course I'll have to go into San Francisco three days a week, but it is something I know, I'm good at and will enjoy.

So I can continue torturing myself, my friends and my family by going to those horse shows on Desi!

A Good Time was Had By All... nearly....

2011-03-28T21:57:00.000-07:00

I'm finally recovered enough to write this post!

Sorry the pictures are in weird order- I'm still just too tired to figure them out.

Thursday started out raining- actually it poured! And the wind blew. And it was cold and muddy. But we had paid our entries so we packed up our gear, our horses and pulled on our big girl panties. We headed out early and boy it is a good thing we did. We were able to get good places for our RVs and get the horses into the stalls.

We waited and waited and waited for the rain to stop...... but it didn't.

Show management decided to condense the show and put all the classes into the two indoor arenas. Of course that meant that the first day all classes were double judged and we only showed for two days instead of three. I hate double judged because if you have a bad day, you have it with TWO judges eyes on you. Of course the warm up area was also crowded into one arena- the smaller of the two, as the reining classes and their warm-up were happening on Friday and Saturday in the bigger main arena.

I finally couldn't wait any longer for the rain to stop so I saddled Desi up and went into the small arena to ride.I knew it was going to be a battle, there were lots of horses, rain, wind and bleachers on one side- a busy road on the other. I had to get him into the arena so he would be at least a little acclimated on Friday when we were going to show. It took a long time but he finally calmed down and began listening and after a few hours I put him away.

Next day (Friday) was show day. I got up at 5, fed and saddled and went into the warm up. Another wild ride, but I got him around.

Then I trudged through the rain back to the RV and gussied myself up.

Went back into the warm up where we stayed for another two hours before our turn to show.(Point being that we were in that arena a long time!)

Early Warm up

BUT

now we were in the 'trail' half of the arena and the judges were sitting in a table right on the rail with two big silver heaters flanking them.

All went well at the first obstacle. And the second and most of the third and fourth obstacles, but as he turned the corner he saw the judges and the heaters -

Whoop!
Up went his head and he stopped dead in his tracks to look at them. I spurred him forward through our pattern until it came time to jog past the judges and up to the gate. But Desi didn't want to jog past them, he shied and balked and bent. He tried to stop,he threw his head and shook his neck. We got to and through the gate obstacle, barely, finished the pattern and left the building.
Dismal.

I have to tell you that my score with those two judges was not only the worst score we have ever had with out being disqualified- it was the worst score I have ever SEEN!

Desi was worn out, so he took a nap.

This is Deniserita's Horse Sonny's Guns Array.

He had his jammies on for the night too.

I didn't have to show on Saturday, but I got up early, saddled and rode Desi anyway. He bucked and was broncy, but I finally got him calmed and working before I put him away.

Deniserita and Lil Mama showed on Saturday. It was still raining. They warmed up and both horses were a little 'big'. But even though Sonny isn't a veteran, he remained under control even in that crazy warm up and through the rain. Sonny placed well in her three classes. Lil Mama was in two classes and she did well too, marking fifth both times under both judges.

This is Kiki the barn mascot. He belongs to D's trainer Jackie. What a good dog Kiki is- and she's smart too! Does tricks that I didn't get pictures of.

It was Denise's Birthday on Saturday too. Her Stud Spud had the announcer give her Birthday wishes when she was still in the line up! Some of her other friends bought her a cool Birthday hat. It had flashing green lights! She wore it over her English Helmet all day long.

I also met another of Jackie's customers. ( Jackie is Deniserita's trainer) "Yoko' bought the cute little mare that I saw last year-called Nother One.'Yoko' calls her Ava. Nother did a great job in her class, long sweepy stride, ears up, going along like she had done it forever.( She's three and has never had an English saddle on before Saturday!) Nother placed first and second in her class!

To ease my disappointment about showing poorly we decided to go shopping. I bought earrings and a new burnt orange pad. Denesirita bought Lil Mama a new 'used' Hunt coat and shirt. Yoko bought a pair of brown suede chaps.

Yoko tried on a cute brown and white leather jacket. It fit her nicely, but not perfect. For the money- you want perfect!

'Yoko' and the jacket.

Dale Chavez was there with lots of beautiful saddles. This one had loads of crystals. Every piece of silver was encrusted with them!

This saddle was beautiful too. All the black on it is really 'tarnished' antiqued silver. The pattern is called Morning Glory. Can you imagine putting these saddles on your horse!

This shirt was just so awful I had to get a picture of it! Peace Out!

It rained so hard that the ditch behind my RV flooded. It was up to within ten feet of my RV, and the water was nearly 3 feet deep! It finally receded on Saturday.

The sun came out for a few moments Sat afternoon. Then it rained some more.

Denesirita and Lil Mama trotted between the rain drops, back and forth from my RV to hers and fixed us a scrumptious dinner. We consumed some adult beverages and hit the hay early.

This is the only picture of me in the arena. P'rolly a good thing.

Sonny

Nother Ava

On Sunday I got up at 5 and didn't even feed. I saddled up and went to the arena. I was determined that Desi was not going to even look at the judges or the heaters. It was not a pleasant ride. He bucked and reared and acted like a total jerk. I lined him out and we loped around and around for nearly an hour. Finally he decided to give up and give in. We rode around a little more and as the morning came we headed back to the barn. I was pretty confident that he would be alright in the class.
BUT
Show management threw us a curve ball. They decided to have the Trail classes in the bigger arena and they had sectioned the arena off into three parts. Western Pleasure and English classes were at the 'far' end, the area in the middle was for 'waiting' and the Trail was held at the 'near' end.
WHAT!
The big arena has bleachers on one side, all the vendors with their tent awnings and peoples heads just visible over the top was on the other side. Plus at the 'trail end' was a raised lobby with umbrellas and people leaning and walking and shopping along it.

I scratched the class.

I had spent all morning just getting to listen and not look at one scary object. Now here was a plethora of scary stuff. I think I did the right thing. If he had buggered out on me in there it wouldn't have been a good thing. I would have had to fight him all over again.
I wasn't in the running for a buckle so ....
This way at least we ended on a positive note. Our early morning 'training' session went my way, not his.

I know he should just go where he is suppose to go and do what he is suppose to do and listen to just me.
But he doesn't.
I was VERY disappointed and it was hard not to show it. Thankfully my daughter and my friends are super supportive. It made my disappointment bearable.

The Sunday show was great for Lil Mama and Denesirita and Yoko. They all placed high enough in their classes to win buckles! Hurray for all of them!
They worked hard for those buckles and they deserved them.

Denise's Birthday Hat

So even though we were damp, soggy and cold and my big girl panties were a bit bunched, the trip was a success and a good time was had by all!

This Beauty Queen was no sissy.

2011-03-24T18:29:00.000-07:00

I heard just today about the 25 year old Beauty Queen that fatally killed an intruder in her home with her PINK GUN.

The gun was a gift from her fiance.

The intruder was a convicted felon with a long history of burglery and other assorted crimes.

The intruder knocked on the door at 3 AM. The BQ answered the door where upon the intruder attacked

her and tried to drag her upstairs.

The fiance heard the scuffle and jumped on the intruder, giving the BQ enough time to scramble away , get her gun and shoot the guy five times.

Why only five?

That was all the bullets that were in the gun!

The BQ and her beau believe that the man had been watching them, working as a pizza delivery man and had targeted them to rob because they are wealthy.

The BQ and her boy friend made a few mistakes.

Maybe when they buy pizza they shouldn't use $100 bills to pay.

Maybe they shouldn't answer the door at 3 AM - or at least not without the gun in her hand.

But she did do one thing right- she kept firing until the bastard was pushin' up daisies.

I'll bet that guy didn't think that a 25 year old Beauty Queen would be carrying a gun- pink or otherwise!

You can read the whole story here.

I just can't make this stuff up!!

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/22/armed-beauty-queen-fatally-shoots-intruder-florida-home-invasion/

Hell AND High Water

2011-03-24T08:22:00.000-07:00

Today is the day....

Of course it is raining cats and dogs, pitchforks, golf ball sized drops and every other metaphor you could come up with. Plus it is windy!

But we are still on our way! Wish us luck!

About the clipping and the mane thing...

2011-03-22T15:53:00.000-07:00

I clip Desi's mane for two reasons. First- his mane is dense and thick, it does not lay prettily on his neck, which has a tendency to be a little thick around his throatlatch anyway.

Second- He rubs it off in the middle of his neck- always, No matter what I do. He will get down on his knees to reach under the fence for a tiny tidbit of grass and rub his mane off. Or he will stick his head through the pipe panels and rub it off. It looks awful!

And D- I'm lazy. It is easier and most efficient to buzz it, it looks great makes his neck look more graceful and no one really even notices.

I usually wear just a tank top and a long sleeve sweatshirt to clip. Then when I come in the back door I strip it all off into the machine to wash all that hair away. Of course it is into the shower for me too. But it always seems like I have a few cribbets of hairs stuck somewhere in the corner of my eye or lashes. Still- I do like the way he looks with a roached mane!

I think everyone should do it too!

A Milestone.

2011-03-22T15:44:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, I just looked at my stats and discovered that I have posted my opinion 300 times!

Wow!

Actually those that know me are right now shaking their heads and saying something like : Only three hundred opinions... Sheesh.. who put a muzzle on HER!?"

Thanks to any and all followers. You have become like BFFs to me- except we don't go out drinking or to the movies together. And I have never picked one of you up at the bus station nor have we drunk dialed each other. And I don't know the color of many of your living rooms or kitchens.

BUT- I know your innermost thoughts and fears- rejoice in your triumphs and cry over your failures.

So there is still some learning to do and opinions left to give....

I hope to be with you for at least 300 more!

Voila! Sort of...

2011-03-20T17:25:00.000-07:00

It poured all day yesterday, but today the wind and rain died down a little. I rushed to the barn to do the clipping thing.

This is the before picture. You can see I did his legs already.

See his zebra like mane standing up? His way fuzzy ears? Hairy muzzle...

This is the after picture. His ears and face are nicely clipped. His mane is shaved to the skin. I like to leave his forelock alone, but I did shape it a little bit(underneath) so when I put a rubber band in it, it will lay flat.

Here is is whole body. See all the hair on the barn floor! Shaved his feet and all his white parts ( and the hair on his sheath too!) He is still hairy, but at least his silhouette will look less fuzzy - and at least it looks like I tried! Tail still needs washing, but what the heck... it's going to rain like crazy anyway!

*************************************

And on a different subject-

Remember this cute little guy? This was Captain Tripps at three weeks old.

Here he is today at 11 months old.

He's such a handsome boy!

For all the writers out there-

2011-03-18T23:09:00.000-07:00

Check out the two new blogs on my bloglist remuda- Copyblogger and Karen S Elliotts Blog. They are both chock full of tips, information and encouragement for all. I feel like staying up all night to read through their blogs and then stay up all day tomorrow finishing that novel I've been stuck on.
I know a good percent of you out there are writers also so this is a spring time gift for you.

Go here and you can thank me later

.http://www.wordharvest.com/

Day six..

2011-03-18T16:06:00.000-07:00

Though yesterday was sunny and warm- today it is raining again and cold. The wind is blowing and my hubby swears that there has been a tornado alert for San Francisco. ( I just think he didn't want me and the girls to go there tonight) So since I couldn't ride today, I decided to go out and try to finish clipping.

The wind and the rain had nearly flooded the roads, but I got to the barn about 10:30. I'm thinking, 'OK, so it's wet- I'll just close the barn doors, turn up the radio and have myself a grand old time clipping Desi's mane and face.'

WRONG!

The girl that lives over the barn is moving back to Florida- and the movers were there doing what they do- move stuff.
Big heavy stuff....
....Big and heavy and scary looking stuff....
.........Big and heavy and scary looking stuff down the two flights of wooden stairs that end at the barn door.
So when I get there I saw the truck. It looked like it was nearly full. Ok- no big deal.

WRONG again.

I got Desi out of his soggy pen, took off his muddy blanket and tied him inside the barn,just as one of the workers walked through the half open door carrying a big flattened moving box and tape gun. Without a word he starts flapping the box around, and rolling the tape gun -the tape screeching off the machine as they are want to do.
I asked him to stop until I got my horse turned to face him- which he did.
Desi snorted and tensed, but I kept talking to him and he was okay.
Then...
Bam bam bambambambambam
Desi -bless his lil pea pickin heart- started jumping straight up and down. He didn't pull back, thank goodness- the floor is cement and he might have slipped and fallen. He just jumped straight UP and then down- UP and then down. His little eyes were bugging out of his head as he goggled the big white mattress that suddenly appeared at the barn door.
So that's when I started thinking that I should have figured the movers weren't done and I was seriously questioning my powers of observation.
And I decided I could either put Des away and come back later (no chance),
OR
I could use this as a desensitizing tool and work through it.

I started rubbing on Desi's favorite itchy spot, and talking low and easy. He quit jumping, and then he sighed and relaxed , his body language saying... Well.Ma, if you aren't bothered I guess I won't be bothered either.
I groomed for about 45 minutes before giving him a cookie and putting him away.
Needless to say I didn't get the mane clipped today- but I feel I did accomplish something; we built a little trust, had a little adventure and no one was maimed in the process.
Suppose to rain again tomorrow- I wonder what other challenges lay in store?

The countdown begins!

2011-03-17T20:22:00.000-07:00

Seven days and counting.

Seven days to turn this hairy brumbie into a show horse.

This is Bob in his paddock- he hasn't been clipped, his mane is long and his whiskers are still whiskery~

First things first. This is the hardest thing to do-obviously. Bob turns into a giraffe~

Then he wants to take the clippers away.

Lil Mama finally gets an ear, and swipes it quickly.

Then his legs get done.

I'll have more pictures of Bob when she is all done. It takes a day or two!

This crazy guy had his legs done yesterday, and since it was finally sunny today- and likely to rain in monsoon fashion the whole of next week- I opted to ride today.

I'll have pictures of his transformation as it goes along too.

The Century Club

2011-03-15T19:35:00.000-07:00

Mary Grace Davidson has done something that I have always aspired to do- and I didn't even know it!
At the age of 81 she is the 6th person in California to join the Century Club.

The Century Club is achieved by adding up the age of the horse and the rider. You'd have to be at least 75 and your horse 25 to make it- or any numerical equation thereof.
Read about Mary Grace Davidson in our local newspaper here:
http://www.contracostatimes.com/

Unfortunately this is only recognized in the Dressage Community! I say that we- as horsemen and women- should acknowledge the Century Club in all aspects of riding. I know of a few people that would have qualified already- My father included.
In the small community that I live in, you usually hear about other horsemen. ( I use that term to mean all equestrians) I have never heard of or met Ms. Davidson, but I sure would like to. Her achievement is spectacular. The last horsewoman I met close to that age was 92 years young and her name was Dorothy. She was still riding in the NOTRA ( National Old Time Rodeo Association) Barrel racing event AND riding as the NOTRA Queen. I believe that she passed away five years ago, in a fall from her horse.

Good for you Mary Grace Davidson! We should all live as long and as well!

Signs of spring-finally!

2011-03-11T18:14:00.000-08:00