Mosquito bites and sunburn -

Rusty's forlock is so thick and pretty. She did not much like having the camera that close to her nose. Yesterday I did braid it and tuck it under her halter. She did not like that either.

This is what a saddle did. This was about after half an hour. Bob put a lead rope on her finally and she settled down. She did wear the saddle all day though and then was a spooky looky this evening when he took it off. Bob will have to do it again tomorrow and every day. That girl can buck.

Bob on Pepper bumping her around. She finally did get leading down better. Bob just dallyed the rope around the horn, Pepper put his shoulders into it and she lead like it or not. Maybe she will work better with me now.

The unhappy horse. She lost that round and was disgusted. She did let me walk up to her though and take her picture and she ate a treat out of my hand. That was the first time she has accepted one.

It was a long day, mostly spent tag teaming Rusty until we got to this point. I put a saddle on her first after working her like I have been. If I could have been quicker and got another inch on the cinch she would not have been able to dump it but I didn't and she did. So, we could let her get away with that so the war was on. Consequently I got sunburned where my tank top wasn't. Not bad, just a little itchy. It isn't enough to peel thank goodness. I do get pretty brown. I forgot sunscreen though today so am not surprised.

This evening we took our recycle stuff to Medical Lake and went thru the hospital grounds to look at the deer. Some of them look like you could walk up to them. Some really heavy does that look like they will have their babies pretty soon. While at the recycle place the mosquitos were in swarms and I got ate alive. They affect me like bee stings on most people. I need to take some benedryl or I won't sleep much.

My suitcase is packed. It is raining there. I really wanted to swim in her pool but who knows. We aren't planning any big adventures. Just want to sit and hold her hand and talk to her. Tomorrow we will go to church and then take flowers to the cemetary to our childrens graves. They are very close together. I thought about Scott today. Remembering his big smile. Later in the day we will go to Toms for our grandson Seth's birthday party. His birthday was Wednesday but we will have a family celebration tomorrow.

May your Sunday be full of blessings.

Friday

An OK day. Had errands to run, go to the bank and get some money for my trip, ect, ect. ect. Came home, took a little nap and went out to tackle some time with Rusty. She actually let me come right up to her and attatch the rope. I don't know why she turned the corner and thinks I am at least tolerable but she seems to.

We just lunged a while changing directions and practicing whoa. Then I picked up the stick with the plastic bag attatched and we worked with that. After a little tantrum to start, it worked pretty well on her right side. Started out just tapping the ground with it beside her. THEN we went to the side that everything might eat her on and that took a while longer but finally she let me touch her body and neck with it and stood on a loose line. So then getting braver, I got the dreaded saddle pad and we waved it and rubbed her with it and flopped in on her back - OK on the right, took longer on the left but not near as bad as I thought. Then I started patting the pad and off and on and off and on on both sides. So we just left it on and we practiced leading. She really did not do bad at that. Back to the plastic bag and we got on both sides under her belly over her face down her legs ect. I was so proud of her. Will work her tomorrow again.

This evening we went to dinner at the Mexican Restaurant in Airway Heights. Very good food, just lots of it. I ate way way too much but it was really wonderful. After dinner we went and looked at a four year old mustang that we are going to take in for training in a week. He is beautiful. His name is, believe it or not, Coyote Ice Cream. I will call him Cody. His owner sent him to a trainer for 2 months for 800.00 a month and he bucked the guy off and he never got back on him. Same song another verse - hes just a mustang get rid of him. He is timid, about 14 hands. If any of you have seen pictures of Andi's Karma that she sold to Jill, he is that color. Very unusual. I will start on him when I get back from Tennessee. I will have pictures of him later when he gets here. It was too close to dark when we were there.

Am about packed to leave on Monday AM. Just a few this and thats to put in. I am just taking a carry on bag. Am very anxious to see my sister. Its been over a year.

Hope your Saturday is all you want it to be.

A Wahooooooo Day

Bob told me to bring my camera and come with him. This sweet nest is about 6' off the ground next door. Mama Robin was not happy about the photo shoot so we left her to take care of her very pretty eggs. Notice the one egg is so much larger than the other. I will be watching it as close as I can.

My sweet little Isaac. After his big brothers quit jamming. He does pretty well considering he is four. All last week I went to sleep with him watching me with his big blue eyes. He asked, are we going to sleep now.

Five of Nikki's six boys. From l - r --Lane, Bryant,Tyler, Lane Dustin. The big boys cooked my birthday dinner. Dustin is the oldest. Joel, the only one absent lives in Spokane.

And, now for my Wahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo day. I was outside puttering and I thought enough, Rusty, I have never hurt you and this is silly. So, I got the 12 foot working rope, walaked out into the pasture and she ran up to "her" spot. I just walked up to her slowley , petted her neck, and snapped on the rope. She did not think she wanted to lead and that took some time, patience, and some more of both to get her to lead but finally she did come with me. I would not say she leads, but she followed me attatched to the rope. I took her thru her pen and on to the round pen. We worked at lunging both ways and on whoa. That was not extremely succesful but she was much better by the time we quit. I picked up one front foot and she let me hold it but the otherside was not so good.

She did pull back once and jerked me pretty good. I got her back under control and then Bob took over. My neck and shoulder can not take that just yet. He got both front feet and then he began with a saddle pad. One side was great but the other side was going to get ate. She finally accepted it. Then Bob led her back and we gave her a treat. So I was glad about my time with Miss Rusty.

Had a doctor appointment and he wrote me a prescription for some Physical Therapy for my neck and shoulder. I know this past week was stressful so maybe that is why my neck hurt today.

If anyone is interested, go read Tracey's blog - Mustang Diaries. She puts into words so much better than I why we are so passionate about our mustangs and why we work so hard as volunteers for the BLM. I could not put it any better.

I was watching Craig Cameron on RFD TV this afternoon and he all girls Extreme Cowboy Race. Wylene Wilson (I think thats her name) is riding her Makeover Horse that she did well on in a Make Over Challenge. His name is Filthy Rich. He gave mustangs a big plug.

Hope your Friday is grand.

A long Wednesday

I am home safe and sound. I checked in the Camry, Bob picked me up and we went and got my Kia. Kind of like a tuna can after that roomier Camry. Oh well, its fixed and looks nice. Bob thinks it drives OK. I thought it did too. Its a nice car but I do think we will trade it in when I get my settlement.

I walked around and said hello to all the critters. The horses were too busy eating to be bothered with me. The cows too. Posey will be calving before too long. Oliver, the goat, took a dislike to Skeeter who was with me and put his head down and roller him over. Scared my puppy. Bob showed me a birds nest he found with 4 pretty blue eggs in it. Will be watching it.

My very own bed is calling me. I won't have any little blue eyes laying there watching me tonight. I hope Isaac sleeps well too. He liked sharing his room with Grandma. Last night I asked him to snuggle me because I was going home today and he said with that sweet way of his - Grandma, even if you're not here you will be my Grandma forever.

Blessings for your Thursday.

Thankful Tuesday May 19

Today I am very thankful for life. My life in particular. For some reason I never thought I would live to see my 70's. Don't know why, I just didn't and here I am 71, still loving my horses and riding every chance I have. I have survived 6 children and several pregnancies that ended in miscarriages. I have survived a near heart attack and heart surgery. I survived a stroke with no lasting effects. I survived a bad case of viral pneumonia. I have four loving adult children with children of their own. I have 17 grandchildren that love me. I have four sweet great grandchildren. I have a loving sister who cares about me unconditionally. I have an adoring husband of almost 52 years that still calls me Baby in the most loving of ways. I have a sweet little dog - a poodle- that gets excited when I come home. I have 2 daughters in law that love me for just who i am. I could go on and on. That is my thankful day. No gift could be greater than that.

Drizzly Monday

Disappointing - the weather. Yesterday I wished I had brought some tank tops, today I needed a sweater. It was 81 at home. Carmen told me I would want to come back here after I went home because it would be hot and NO WAY. I am ready to hot.

Nikki is good. Not doing anything which is just what the doctor ordered. She forgot she had anti nauseaous meds and she needed it today. She has lay down a good portion of the day and that has been good. Tomorrow I leave my 70th year and start #71, I never thought I would make it this far.

Take care, and have a good Tuesday.

A Sunny Sunday

Nikki came home about noon today and it has been a very nice afternoon. Even the loud music off and on has not bothered me like last night. I think I had kind of a melt down. I hope my grandsons have forgiven me.

It is beautiful here today. Dustin has been working in his garden in the back yard. He is a funny young man. Party hard but come home to mom for dinner and have his garden in their back yard. He is 25.

I think i will sleep better tonight with other people in the house except me and the little boys. The big boys did not come home until the sun was coming up and that made me a little nervous.,

A great Monday is in order for you all.