The Milk Bar

Let There Be Hot Water

Lookie what got installed at my house today...

Yep, a new hot water heater. The husband noticed the old one was leaking while I was gone last week. After inspection, we decided it best to buy a new one.

So today, the husband installed it all by himself! That is quite the feat around here. And the only extra damage caused was this...

He took his POCKET KNIFE to the wall when the pipe wouldn't fit properly. Luckily, sense kicked in before he cut up the length of the wall! Realized he couldn't cut through the outside wall and decided to get some elbow joints.

I noticed the enlarged hole in the wall when I got home but didn't say a word. If that was the worst of it, he actually did very well. Later, he mentioned it to me. I asked if when he was cutting the wall, did he ever hear my voice in the back of his mind say "remove your pocket knife from my wall!" He said no but he did realize he should stop. Hey, we are making progress!!

Good Enough To Share!

The last few days have been pretty exciting around here. The day after I returned from El Paso, we received our monthly Texas Neighbor newspaper. It is published by the Texas Farm Bureau. I had entered a photo contest a few months back and the results were in. I didn't win BUT they did publish my photo! Out of hundreds on entries, they only published 12 in the paper. Mine was under the "Just Good Photos...thought they were well worth the sharing." How cool is that!




Then the husband and I went to the local craft gallery to rent a booth. We painted it on Friday and stocked it full of stuff this morning. It's 3'x4' which turned out to be quite small once we started to put everything in it. But I think it turned out good.

Sorry the picture's not very good, I had to use my blackberry. Can you believe I didn't have a camera with me?! Geez! There are also framed prints on the left wall. I have notecards on the ledge and mouse pads hanging in front. Let the buying begin!!

Drum Roll Please....

First let me say, I LOVED all of y'alls horse memories. They were great. Now on to the important stuff...

The winner of the horsey necklace is....

foxterriermom!

Brenda send me an email!

For everyone else, you can blame the husband for not winning. He drew the name!

I'm Back!!

So did you miss me? Did you even realize I was gone? At least you got a nice little vacation from me for a few days! I, on the other hand, did not have a vacation. I travelled to the lovely city of El Paso, Texas for training. Was beat up for a couple days and returned home. Beat up you ask?? Yes, I am a defensive tactics instructor at work. This was my training to continue being a trainer. Anyhoo, I only took one pic in El Paso. Here it is....

A palm tree at our hotel. Impressive, huh!

The travel home was the worst. The flight from El Paso to Dallas is suppose to be 1 hour and 45 minutes, however, there was a storm over DFW. So we were in a holding pattern for about 20 minutes before the pilot said we were low on fuel and had to go to Abilene. Abilene is a very small airport. They don't fly big airplanes in and out. So I had my questions about the runway length! We landed and they fueled us up. This was my view from the window.

As they fueled the jet, this lone firefighter sat patiently waiting for us to explode.

After getting enough gas to get us back to DFW, we took off. I swear we peeled out on the runway.

A very nice man from Kosovo sat next to me on the plane. He entertained me throughout the flight. Showed me every single picture he had ever taken on his digital camera. I swear there were HUNDREDS. I know all his family, his inlaws, how the wedding turned out for his SIL, saw the last two birthdays for his children, he loves casinos and standing in front of fountains for pictures, Kosovo is very lovely, and he has a relative that is single and if anyone knows of a man, let me know...

We finally made it to DFW just in time for me to catch my connecting flight home. I ran the terminal to the gate B8. Yea! Then right before the it was time to board, I noticed the city name on the gate had changed to Madison, WI?! So I went to the big departure board and saw that I was now 13 gates down the terminal. It's so nice that they told us, right! Geez. So everyone is making a mad dash to B21. Get there and it says our flight is delayed and oh yeah, now you need to go to B17! Get to B17, the flight was delayed even later on that board. OMG!! The flight had originally been set to depart at 8:35p and we managed to leave a little after 10p. The worst part about it....it's only a 20 minute flight!

So I made it home safe and somewhat sound! The husband and all the critters were happy to see me. And I was happy to be home again.

Crazy M Photography...That's ME!

So how did my table do at the sale barn? Well, let's just say, men don't buy pictures to hang on the walls! LOL! It was worth a shot though, right?! We did sell one print to the lady that runs the cafe. She's a friend of ours and bought one of the husband. Went straight back into the cafe and hung it on the wall!

I took my lunch hour to run over and sit with the husband. Had a guy look at the prints. He was just amazed I took them. Kept asking, "you took these? You took all these? Really?" Geez! I know I may not look like I have talent but come on!

Anyhow, let me tell you what the husband did the day before all this (without my knowing). He loaded up all my prints (framed and unframed) and went all over town to various stores showing them off. Can you believe that he sold 11 to two stores? I have TWO stores carrying my photographs. One even told the husband not to go anywhere else cause she wanted her store to be the only one around with them! The other store said they thought they were going to sell very well. And if they did, then they would give me an ENTIRE display! HOLY COW!

Then people starting asking if I would do weddings and family portraits. The husband said he would have to check with me. I told him no way, that's too much pressure. So he tells people I don't do "posed" photography. I will, however, come out and spend time with you while you are working with your horse or playing with your kids and take your picture.

So how cool is that! Plus I have a shop in the Panhandle that I plan to sell in, I am getting a booth at the local craft gallery and I'm thinking about having a booth at a huge barrel racing come September. I think I better get out and start taking some new pics!!

My husband is the greatest, huh! He believes in me and makes my dreams come true. I'm a lucky girl.

A Penny for Your Horsey Memories...How 'bout a Necklace Instead!

So I'm thinkin' it's time for another giveaway. So what will you win this time?


How about this horsey necklace?

When I saw it I thought, "oh, that's cute" and "I bet my blogger peeps might like it." So I had the husband buy it! LOL!

Plus, knowing me the way I do, I will probably throw in some other goodies as well!

To enter, leave a comment telling me your favorite horse memory. Let's see, mine would be when I would ride all over by myself as a kid. Just saddle up and take off down the dirt road or across the field, no worries about anything. Those were the days! Okay, so tell me yours!

And if you didn't have a horse, maybe you had a my pretty pony or something. Or just tell me your favorite animal memory!

Deadline to enter is Friday, June 26th at 6:00 pm (CST). The winner will be randomly drawn by the husband.

New Summer Do

This is how I usually look on the weekends or any day I'm not at my "official" job...

wearing a baseball cap with my hair in a ponytail. And it has been SOOO hot and humid here. 100 degrees and humid is not a good combination. I finally had enough of the long hair and decided to cut it off. I announced to the husband that it was coming off. He looked at me with a sad look but decided best to say okay, whatever you think. He's learned so well over the years.

I didn't tell him when the appointment was and came home after the "deed". He came home after me that day. He walked in the house and started talking to me while I was in another room. I came out during the "Oh Sh**!" moment of his story. I thought he was referring to my hair. But he went on talking and walking thru the kitchen. Then he stopped in his tracks and said "you cut your hair. I really like it." Phew! He thought I was going to go real short so the length I settled on was a relief.

So here's the new do...





I'm really diggin' it.

I'm a Neurotic Mess

Wanted to show you what I've been workin' on. The husband has decided to take my prints out to local businesses and set up a table at the local sale barn to see if he can sell them. I have no confidence in myself to even try to have people buy them. I told him he could handle all the business part of it cause I get nervous just thinkin' about it. This Friday will be the first day at the sale barn. I plan on helping set up the table then leaving. Can't stand there and watch, too nerve racking!

So here is a sample of what I have (please don't judge my photography by my horrible pictures of the pictures!)...

Plus many more. I am selling the prints (11x14) unframed or framed. Just hopin' someone might like them enough to throw down a few bucks!

A Bit of Trivia

How many bullriders does it take to plow a field?

Hmmm....let's see a closer view.

Yep, that's what I thought.....

It takes TWO!

Thirteens All Around

Well, 13 was our number yesterday. June 13th, we drew the 13 hole and finished 13th! LOL!

Stubby lost his footing when he turned back and that caused him to lose points on his score. We're still proud of him though. It was 100 degrees and humid as all get out! I was just sittin' in the stands and was sweatin' like a pig!

Here's his video. I started it a little early so you have to sit through them gettin' him ready before the action starts.




We are gonna try him out of the right hand delivery next time to see if that will help him keep his feet. The husband is gonna work with him, running him out of the chute, to get him used to turning. Hopefully that will help him figure out his feet. Next futurity is July 11th.

Today's the Day!

We are gettin' ready to head to a bull futurity with Stubby. If he places high enough today, then he qualifies for Vegas! We drew hole number 13, which is good cause it's our lucky number!

If you follow me on twitter, I will give updates thru-out the day. Plus, my updates appear on my right sidebar here too. Hope I have good news to tweet about!

Thoughtless Thursday

He was having flashbacks of the good ol' days!

Wordless Wednesday

Cowboys at Work

Now that you've seen all the pretty faces, let's see them get down to work!

We headed out early in the morning to gather the cows and calves. (Can I just say, I never knew how hard it was to lope on a horse thru mesquite trees trying to take a picture.)



Once we got them up in the pens and sorted, the work really began.

We have several ropers horseback draggin' 'em to the fire.

Where they get stretched out, branded, ear tagged, and vaccinated.

This lil darling didn't seem to be enjoyin' the festivities.

And I thought this one was gonna lick that cig right out of Dean's mouth.

Look at Bullet. He was overseeing the entire event.

And lastly, here's the group picture after everything was done. Quite a group of cowboys and cowgirls.

Rodeo Royalty

I am lucky to know many rodeo greats. And several of them were at the ranch on Saturday helpin' out. The ranch belongs to Bob Wilfong. Bob rodeoed for 30 years and is now a well known and respected stock contractor. He is quite the character.

Then we have the fellas in the photo below.

Of course that is the husband on the left, Sandy Kirby in the middle and Dean Wilson, my rent-a-husband, on the right. The husband doesn't claim to be royalty. But in my eyes, he is. He rodeoed with the best of them and did really well. Bad shoulders did him in however.

Sandy is a Texas Rodeo Hall of Famer. Started qualifying for the NFR in the 70s on bareback horses and bulls. He's won the average in both events at the finals. He schooled the husband and rent-husband on their bullriding ways.

Then there is Dean. He and the husband were traveling partners and bestfriends. He qualified for the PBR finals a couple times. The last few years you could have seen him on tv on the back of the chutes as a PBR judge.

Then we have Cavin James. His bullriding career included winning the Texas Circuit finals.

And we have Jim "Razor" Sharp. Do I really need to list his accomplishments? Okay, let's see...World Champion Bullrider, first man to ride all ten bulls at NFR, and considered to be one of the greatest bullriders of all time.

This is Buddy Lusk. Y'all enjoyed his backside on the earlier post. He is an all around cowboy with great bullriding talent. Seems he's just never hit a good lick though. In the practice pen, he's ridden Mossy Oak Mudslinger and Copperhead. For those of you less knowledgeable in the bullriding world, that's very impressive.

And lastly, we have the younger guy, Logan Knibbe. He won the Texas Circuit Finals and qualified for the NFR in bullriding. He's a guy you need to keep an eye on!

Aren't I a lucky girl to know all these very talented handsome bullridin' men. But of course, every royal family needs a princess!

Some Eye Candy

The husband and I helped out at a friend's ranch yesterday. We gathered and worked the calves. I plan on posting lots of pictures. But until then, I thought I would give y'all some teasers....

Enjoy!

Out of Control

How many a$$es do you count?! Bwahahahaha! I couldn't help myself.

Just a Glimpse

Miss Itty Bitty was being shy, hiding behind her momma. She could hardly see over her and Daisy was laying down!

Can Someone Pass the Mouthwash?

I skipped the gym this afternoon to come home and help the husband stretch some wire. He planted sorgram in the back pasture a week ago. We haven't had any rain so he was surprised to see this...

So we needed to fence off the pasture to keep the cows from uprooting the new growth. Of course, the husband does most of the work while I take pictures. I really like this deal we have goin'!

He was running to both ends of the stretch. Good thing it was a short one!

But then he cracked the whip and told me to get to work. I needed to clip it out. He grabbed the camera and said he would take a "photography" break.

You can see from the expression on my face, my body does not take well to manual labor! And Pepper can't believe it!

This is why I don't work like this. Hello! The dogs even know it's bad for me and I need lovings to get thru it!

But her breath smelled like butt and she wouldn't stop kissin' me. And Zena had to join in.

After I managed to get them off, I finished up my duties. I could still smell the butt breath on my face when I looked up to see Pepper eating cow crap. Argh! Why must she share her cow crap kisses with me?

I can't resist puppy love but maybe she could chew on some mint leaves next time....I'm just sayin'!