texasplogzor

2009-05-16T14:47:00.004-05:00

At the end of April, Tinky Winky and I made our annual pilgramage to the AJRA rodeo here in our county. I love watching young people rodeo, and our local park is such a nice place to go. I hear it's their favorite venue.

2009-05-16T14:32:00.000-05:00

Widdle cowpunk waiting to go in

2009-05-16T14:28:00.002-05:00

This is Meagan, the daughter of cowboy roper well known local, Tommy-Mac B. This is her proud grandpa, George,who is the retired president of our bank. George's daughter is Meagan's mother.

2009-05-16T14:27:00.000-05:00

Hanging out on the other end of the arena, watching the cowpunks, I don't doubt.

2009-05-16T14:25:00.000-05:00

A young champion.

2009-05-16T14:24:00.001-05:00

She said, "But this isn't my doggy." That's ok because you are so cute together.

2009-05-16T14:23:00.000-05:00

I think some of the older boys must have ridden these guys. Ugh. Too dangerous.

2009-05-16T14:18:00.003-05:00

This young man had a proud Daddy. He also had a string of horses! This is his barrel horse. His daddy liked it that I took a photo of him. The nice thing about digital, is the instant result. Anytime any child posed, I showed him the picture. You know, these kids have got so much self confidence.

2009-05-16T14:17:00.002-05:00

I think he must have used this little horse for goat tying, too, and he was practing here.

2009-05-16T14:14:00.001-05:00

Coming home.

2009-05-16T14:11:00.002-05:00

Here's Thane, a local EMS person. He also goes to my little church. He's a wonderful young man. His hero father is one of the local volunteer fire fighters.

2009-05-16T13:31:00.002-05:00

I can always count on seeing my friend, Kathy, managing the can chasing. You can see my pictures of her daughter in my last year's photos of this rodeo.

2009-05-16T13:30:00.000-05:00

Smile for the camera, Kathy. I just love that gal.

2009-05-16T13:27:00.003-05:00

I have a friend in England who always enjoys seeing pictures of Tommy-Mac B., who lives in our county. Years ago, Tommy Mac was my farrier too. He's got a young family, and despite his young age, I consider him a Texas True. His oldest daughter, Meagan, can ride the hide off a gorilla. His youngest son is now roping. Merry, in England, these photos are for you!

2009-05-16T13:24:00.001-05:00

He's always a steady fixture at these rodeos. His children are much involved.

2009-05-16T13:22:00.001-05:00

Tommy Mac making sure his son's hat is right.

2009-05-16T13:21:00.000-05:00

Off the little guy goes with Daddy's send off.

2009-05-16T13:19:00.000-05:00

These kids learn to focus before their rides. Miss Pretty in Pink.

2009-05-16T13:18:00.000-05:00

Practicing. The hat has already fallen off.

2009-05-16T13:16:00.000-05:00

I always enjoy looking at the cowgirl bling.

2009-05-16T13:15:00.000-05:00

Bling.

2009-05-16T13:13:00.000-05:00

I have no idea what this stood for.

2009-05-16T13:12:00.001-05:00

What a wonderful little vehicle.The next time I saw here, she was fast asleep.

2009-05-16T13:10:00.001-05:00

Can you believe it? What a lovely little pony. But for those of us familiar with ponies, approach with caution. A little boy came along and asked the owner about a ride, and she said something to the affect of, "Do you really want to get bucked off?" Some people have a different spelling for Shetland.

2009-05-16T13:08:00.001-05:00

So here's the brave one who doesn't worry about getting bucked off. The pony has met his match.

2009-05-16T13:07:00.000-05:00

Exercise time. Good for his soul.

2009-05-16T13:05:00.001-05:00

Backside.

2009-05-16T13:03:00.001-05:00

Cowgirl bling.

2009-05-16T13:00:00.002-05:00

Helping the calves a long. This young man is also a bull rider. I don't like bull riding, except maybe on the tv, and even then it's hard to watch. I had a farrier who was once a bronc rider. He's kinda held together in pieces now.

2009-05-16T12:55:00.002-05:00

Beautiful rope boxes. Surely a young cowgirls. Cowgirls do get to put on the bling.

2009-05-16T12:52:00.003-05:00

When I first arrived, this was the first horse I met. His name is Wrangler. I figured from his build that he was a stud, and he was. His owner, a rancher, told me he was only 5 years old. He was so quiet. The owner said he'd always been like that. He'd been used in some ranch horse competitions and of course, roping. God, Wrangler was a beautiful hunk of horsecake. I fell in love instantly. Of course, this is a young people's rodeo, so the man's grand son would be riding him.

2009-05-16T12:49:00.003-05:00

Here they are getting ready to do break away. Five years old. This stud is five years old with an 8 or 9 year old child on his back. There are pissy mares around, and he's not taking notice. This is what good horse management can produce--a good work ethic in a horse. But then the owner said, "He's always been like this." Yes, but this rancher has managed this horse well.

2009-05-16T12:47:00.001-05:00

Fixing the string and the dally. Grandpa is so proud of his horse and his grand son. Who can balme him?

2009-05-16T12:44:00.001-05:00

He's practicing his swing. God, I love this horse. I can't quit saying that. I have a weakness for good looking horses. This stud is wonderful!

2009-05-16T12:41:00.001-05:00

In he goes.

2009-05-16T12:38:00.003-05:00

You can't see it here, but this horse had beautiful butts. They shown like an Akal Teke's. I think he missed his calf. Remember: this is break away roping, so the string breaks as soon as the calf hits the end of the rope.

2009-05-16T12:37:00.001-05:00

Here is the same father from earlier with his son on his roping horse. I fell in love with this little horse. Uh, no brainer here. See the Ay-rab blood? Looks like a little Egyptian Arabian.

2009-05-16T12:35:00.001-05:00

Daddy standing by with a steady hand.

2009-05-16T12:33:00.000-05:00

And he's off! I don't think he got his calf.

2009-05-16T12:32:00.000-05:00

Wee folk practicing his swing.

2009-05-16T12:30:00.001-05:00

This was an awesome dude on an awesome buckskin or line back dun, depending on what you want to call it.

2009-05-16T12:29:00.000-05:00

Tinky was anxious to see me again, but I had more thing I wanted to photograph.

2009-05-16T12:26:00.001-05:00

I saw 3 little girls playing a game of riding aorund the trees, as if they were practicing their barrels. I thought, how cute! How fun! What good memeories they will have. I had a feeling that the little black horse had some Arabian in it because of the way it moved.

2009-05-16T12:23:00.002-05:00

One last photo of round the tree.

Kissable Tinky Winky

2009-02-17T11:29:00.004-06:00

Often times when I've been outside riding or doing something out of doors, this is what I come into find on the back of the couch--a sweet, soft and brown little person that I find irrisistable, and she knows it. She loves to be kissed.

2009-02-17T11:27:00.002-06:00

I cannot resist her and give her lots and lots of kisses, especially on those soft spots by her ears.

2009-02-17T11:25:00.000-06:00

Of course she is in submissive posture.

2009-02-17T11:20:00.003-06:00

I finally got her out of the submissive, kissy posture.

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-12-03T09:57:00.003-06:00

I love Thanksgiving. I love it when my family comes home. My daughter, Sharilynn, and her family were in Alaska, and we missed them very much. Joel's girl friend, Alia, brought her mother, Lolly, and they were just like family. Alia brought mashed potatoes and a lovely winter roots casserole. This picture of Joel and Jordon was taken the day after. Work day is part of Thanksgiving also. "OK, boys, put on your coats. Let's go build a barn."

2008-12-03T09:54:00.003-06:00

Every year, Joel brings me fresh Brussel sprouts for my birthday. This year, he brought me a whole stalk. It was beautiful. Whoever grew these must have been very proud. After the sprouts were removed from the stalk, the boys used it as a weapon. I don't know that sibling rivalry ever goes away.
By the way, Jordon took most of these photos.

2008-12-03T09:53:00.000-06:00

Out Jordon's window. Don't let the view fool you. It was a very warm day.

2008-12-03T09:51:00.004-06:00

Joel working on the Brussel sprouts in the kitchen. He steamed and sauteed them in olive oil. Umm-mm...green bon-bons. A family tradition.

2008-12-03T09:51:00.001-06:00

Jordon working on his camera.

2008-12-03T09:48:00.002-06:00

Max and Tinky-Winky waiting. Tinky is always nervous when we have company, but she could also smell all the wonderful smells.

2008-12-03T09:46:00.000-06:00

What is left to do?

2008-12-03T09:44:00.001-06:00

The giblet gravey is ready as is Joel's spicey sweet potato and apple casserole.

2008-12-03T09:42:00.002-06:00

The persimmon pudding is done. Every holiday, Max makes a persimmon pudding.

2008-12-03T09:40:00.000-06:00

Can we please sit down?

2008-12-03T09:37:00.001-06:00

Ready to eat. Can you tell Alia loves her mother?

2008-12-03T09:35:00.000-06:00

Getting ready to say Thank you, Jesus. I'm sorry Jordon wasn't in this.

2008-12-03T09:30:00.000-06:00

The aftermath.

2008-12-03T09:29:00.000-06:00

Max headed for his workshop. I call it Papa's Frame Factory and Woodblock Printshop.

2008-12-03T09:28:00.000-06:00

When it's cold Max builds a fire. I love going in here because it is so my husband.

2008-12-03T09:27:00.000-06:00

Some men have a study or library as their retreat. My husband has his workshop.

2008-12-03T09:25:00.001-06:00

I had switched clothes frome jeans to shorts. Shorts on Thanksgiving day. I still had my apron on.

2008-12-03T09:23:00.001-06:00

We found a piece of snake skin in the yard. They shed their skin in the fall. I added it to my natural collection.

2008-12-03T09:19:00.002-06:00

No visit home for the holidays would be complete without some target practice. They brought a bunch of cans this time and built a pyramid. Alia told me the other day she is saving up more cans. I stayed inside. My ears are delicate. They were using big guns, not the 22. They used the deer rifle and Jordon's Mauser. To me, anything bigger than a 22 is a rocket launcher and hard on my ears.

2008-12-03T09:17:00.000-06:00

Alia makes a lovely sharp shooter.

2008-12-03T09:12:00.002-06:00

Boom! Look at the bullet casing. One of my favorite photos of all times.

2008-12-03T09:08:00.001-06:00

Joel taking aim.

2008-12-03T09:07:00.004-06:00

These are a wonderful series of photos that Jordon took of Alia. Ready.....

2008-12-03T09:06:00.000-06:00

Aim....

2008-12-03T08:58:00.001-06:00

Fire! Boom! Look at the effects on her arm muscles.

2008-12-03T08:55:00.000-06:00

Gun kicks like a mule.

2008-12-03T08:53:00.000-06:00

Final photo surveying her shot.

2008-12-03T08:52:00.001-06:00

That evening, Max was in his workshop working on a wood block print. Isn't this a wonderful photo that Jordon took?

2008-12-03T08:48:00.002-06:00

The next morning, Max, aka Papa, got up with a job he needed help with. He needed to unload some monster cedar beams from a trailer in the barn as he needed the trailer. These beams are what I call Papa sized. So the guys all put on their gloves, and they headed down to the barn. This is Jordon and Max on one end.

2008-12-03T08:47:00.000-06:00

Jordon and Max on their end.

2008-12-03T08:46:00.000-06:00

Joel on his end.

2008-12-03T08:45:00.000-06:00

Trying to guide the beams into the right area.

2008-12-03T08:38:00.004-06:00

Gyp-dog, everyfaithful, watching. Gyee-up!

2008-12-03T08:37:00.001-06:00

After the beams were unloaded, the guys climbed aboard for a ride back up to the house.

2008-12-03T08:35:00.000-06:00

I know the sibling rivalry in their heads was hoping the other would fall.

2008-12-03T08:34:00.000-06:00

Heading back up to the house.

2008-12-03T08:32:00.001-06:00

The guys dug up some weeds in the yard, brought up an old iron pot from the barn, and had a burn party in the yard. Jordon took most of these pictures because I can't handle smoke. Joel had a smile on his face the whole time.

2008-12-03T08:30:00.000-06:00

2008-12-03T08:29:00.000-06:00

My view from inside, away from the smoke.

2008-12-03T08:27:00.001-06:00

Lastly, the fire. Good image, Jordon.

Was this a murder scene?

2008-09-29T10:45:00.004-05:00

While feeding my horses one morning, I looked down to see this. What was that sticking out of a lizard den? The Mexican whip tail lizards dig holes for dens in the soft sandy soil. I pulled it, broke the connection, so I put it back like this to take the picture. I knew my children would be interested in my latest specimen finding.

2008-09-29T10:41:00.002-05:00

When I pulled the rest out of the lizard den, this is what appeared: a lizard skeleton! I thought of it as a murder scene. Who had done this deed? Are lizards eaters of other lizards? Had the lizard been injured, sought shelter, and the ants cleaned the carcass? I took the carcass and poured vinegar on it to try and clean it up for my specimen colletion, but it kind melted. I do still have the little tail bones though. I love bones. I wish I could look at it with a microscope.

2008-09-29T10:18:00.004-05:00

Back at the beginning of the summer in June, a friend called me to ask if I'd heard about the rescue horses here in our town. I said no, but was curious. My friend didn't know much, but she said she'd heard there was an Arabian in the bunch. I have an Arabian, so this made me very curious. I did some more calling around and learned that it was actually a herd of Spanish mustangs that a local lady had, about 27 in all I think. They weren't all Spanish mustangs, but the majority were. In fact, she didn't live but a few miles from us, and we often passed her place going into town. As it turned out, she was not a mentally well person, didn't feed the horses enough, the water was broken, and the horses often went days without water. Our local animal control officer, a real hero, after trying to work with the lady to take care of her horses, finally organized a legal rescue. It was quite an effort. From what I understand, the owner had bought a herd dispersal, never had the stud cut, and he ran with the mares. It was very hard getting him loaded into the trailer. Most of the horses weren't used to being handled. I learned where the horses were being kept after the rescue and decided to go take a look. This mare was close to the fence by the highway. She was obviously beat up. The pen they were in wasn't that big, but it was the only place available to keep the mamas with new babies. The other horses were in other pens. My heart went out to her. I came back a few days later and went into the pen and offered her some hay pellets by hand. Baby was about a week old. I came back again with my husband. The mare remembered me. She allowed me to halter her, she lead a little, let me pick up her feet. I volunteered to adopt her. It was not until 3 months that the litigation was over and I was allowed to bring her home. I decided to name her Dover for her white eyelashes. I took her because I thought I could make her a part of my herd, that she wouldn't be a mean dominant, pissy mare. Dove is about 5 years old. I named her colt foal Max, after my husband. I like to say his name, Max.

2008-09-29T10:18:00.001-05:00

Her hide was all bitten by the more agressive mares.

2008-09-29T10:14:00.000-05:00

This was as close as we could get to the baby.

2008-09-29T10:06:00.003-05:00

This is the next morning, day one, at my place, 3 months later on Sept. 11, the day before the hurricane Ike hit the Tx. coast, after I brought them home. I brought them up into the yard to graze for a little while. Her skin looked dehydrated. Although getting food where she was after the rescue, she was lowest on the herd pole and stressed. Her coat was rough. She'd been wormed twice. She loaded and unloaded just fine getting her to my place. I have been keeping her in a large corral that I have so I can do some work with her and gentle baby down. He was very shy. You can imagine what a new adventure this was for him, having been born at the livestock yard and then kept in a pen with 6 other mares with young babies--no room to run and play, pissy mamas biting his mama. Isn't he cute? I have to remind myself each time I go into the corral to assume calm, assertive energy to work with him. It is so satisfying now to be able to handle him, thanks to the feed bucket. I started out holding his own little bucket by mama, touching his muzzle with one finger. If he wanted to eat, he had to submit to being touched. What a mile stone when my husband started touching him with his whole hand. He gentled down quickly. Still a little shy, but that's ok. He's not been here even 3 weeks yet.

2008-09-29T10:04:00.001-05:00

At first baby Max stuck like glue to Mama, but the feed bucket would soon tame him down. I can now put a halter on him, and with the help of the feed bucket, he is learning to lead, back, move sideways. So far, so good. I do keep a close eye on that hiney. I do not trust foal hineys. Do you?

2008-09-29T10:01:00.003-05:00

Dove relishing her own bucket. No competition. So far, she's been gentle at feed time. Even though Max gets a small amount, it takes him a while to eat, so she usually finishes before he does. But if I push her away, she respects it and doesn't get pushy. I appreciate this about Dove. She may change over time, but I hope she stays gentle. She's ignorant, but I think that will improve with time. I had a new farrier out to do her feet on day 10, and it was bit of a rodeo. He was firm but patient, and she ended up submitting to having her feet done. Her feet could be a lot worse.

On the other side of Dove is my friend, Erica, a refugee from Hurricane Ike. She called from Houston the morning of Sept. 12 to say she was coming to stay with me after deciding not to ride out the hurricane. She loaded up her Prius with important stuff, including her 18 year old cat, Hecate, and she came to the TX hill country to stay with me for 5 days. It was wonderful seeing her after so many years (my college room mate) and sharing the new horses with her.

2008-09-29T09:59:00.001-05:00

One day we went to town in Erica's Prius. When she went back to Houston, she didn't use the air conditioning, and she said she used under $10 worth of gas. Now, if they could just transfer that to a truck, wouldn't that be great?

2008-09-29T09:57:00.001-05:00

Tinky with her yum-yum getting ready to go to town with us. Tinky's favorite place to eat is in my truck going somewhere. A Prius will do in place of a truck.

2008-09-29T09:55:00.000-05:00

Here come Erica and Gyp up from feeding the rescues.

2008-09-29T09:54:00.000-05:00

I had this one set on my desk top last week.