Cowgirl Spirit

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."

                                                                                                                -Thomas Edison

"Be in love with every minute of your life." 

                                                  -Jack Kerouac

A little Cowgirl inspiration for you on this lovely day! Even if you aren't a cowgirl, you can surely appreciate the grit and toughness of these gals who manage to do their jobs and look great all the while. And if you are a cowgirl, I hope you get a smile out of this! 

Chose Joy

   My grandmother has always been a kindred spirit to me and a hugely positive person in my life. I love her more than words can ever express. We both posses a wild and free spirit but a sense of deep compassion and caring at the same time. I certainly believe that the two main sources of my greatest qualities come from her and from horses. She is someone I very much look up to and would be endlessly happy to be like.

   She does it herself, not job is too big a job for her. I remember being 9 or 10 years old and driving to Mayo's Garden Center and picking out a 15 foot Christmas for her enormous downtown loft. We put it on the car, carried it to the elevator (which we miraculously managed to fit it in and out of) and then set the enormous tree up on out our! When I was 12, she and I completely painted and caulked my attic room on our own then carried up all my furniture and decorated it. Once when my family went on a vacation she came to our house and repainted our living room, dining room, and my parents bedroom on her own. What I am getting at is she is an absolutely amazing woman. I love her to the end of the earth and back. No project is ever to big for her! 

   She saves bugs with broken legs, freely gives away her belongings (even those with sentimental value) to people from family members to homeless people on the street. She cares so very much for everyone, she is kind, always thinking of others before herself, slow to anger, has a great sense of humor, can decorate the heck out a house, will offer you encouragement and life wisdom that you desperately needed, supports you in everything, and takes on any task with out quitting. She is the person I desperately want to become. 

   I consider myself extremely lucky to have her in my life to emulate and receive support and love from. She is a truly wonderful woman! I hope all you gals have someone in your life like this, mother, aunt, grandmother, cousin, sister, friend, coworker, boss, mentor, anyone that you look up to and see as someone you want to become. She is a source of inspiration, I see so many areas where I can improve and how to change because I have her in my life. 

  She also gives me so many words of encouragement and wisdom. I have grown up hearing her say "Don't you ever let someone ruin your day." And, "Life is what you make it, if you want to be happy, you can be happy." Things like that keep you going and are so encouraging. She also totally encourages me to pursue goals and doesn't dismiss them as silly or unattainable, she wants what is best for me and for others, always.

   I encourage all of you to live in a positive way. Be happy, be kind, put others before yourself. I promise that even though it may be hard, you will be immensely happier. Trust me, I'm sure not there yet, but in the small ways that I'm getting there, I experience immense joy. So go out and live your life beautifully!!

Western Wednesday 1

Western Wednesday: Bronc Bustin'

It's been this kind of a day for me. Hope your Wednesday was a joy!

Loves and Wants

There's a big difference between wants and needs. I think most of us know these boundaries but they are often ignored in the momment. Those beautiful boots, the boots designed in your dreams, just made to fit your feet. The saddle, crafted perfectly for your horse's back, crafted and tooled just they way you love. The horse, designed by God, inside and out, just for you. We all know what I'm talking about, those things you want so so bad that they turn into "needs".
    I'm going to lay down my wants, the big ones that look like needs, the little ones that bring you daily joy, and a few that are already part of my daily life.


Flannels.... Lots and lots of flannels

Good Tack. Well made, well fitting saddles, hand braided rawhide bosals, horse hair reins, beautiful silver bridle horse bits, braided rawhide reatas, well worn chinks and armitas, wide brimed hats, those go-to boots you live in that are beautiful but well worn and used, trusty poly cotton ropes that are long, soft, oft used, that build that just-right loop, beautifully engraved silver, ok you get the gist. I love good tack and gear!! I will do with out until I can afford quality, long lasting gear. 

S.A. Brown made saddle, can't say enough good about them!!

Rawhide Reata

H Ballantyne made chinks, love how basic, well put together chinks. On the hunt for some of my own.

Love all the gear in this gorgeous drawing!

Another drawing, LOVE it all!

The Great American West

I love it. I'm an eastern gal for now, but this summer I made my first voyage out West with some amazing friends(all riders) and the horseman I look up to the most in this world, John Niceley. In total, I rode over 120 miles within less than 10 days. It was the greatest adventure of my (short) lifetime, to say the least.

Ft. Robinson Nebraska

Ranch rodeo somewhere outside Ogallala Nebraska (notable attendees were Craig Haythorn and 5 time Ranch Rodeo World Champ). All men were admirable hands, the horsemanship and stockman ship was beautiful. The roping skills were so enviable, especially to a gal like me who ropes herself or her horse more often than a cow. 

I truly love the glory of our beautiful country, especially the West.

French Press Coffee. 'Nuff said.

Woodsy-outdoors clothes. I love flannels, cozy knits, comfy boots, men's wear, etc. If it says "I live in the woods", odds are that I dig it.

Flowers!! Sunflowers and Zinnias are some of my number one favs. But I love love love any flower!

Okay, I could go on for a long long long time, but I'll end it here with a love that comes in as one of the things I love the most. The final love.

Ghost. My dearest love and friend. My kind, gentle, versatile Thoroughbred. Before he became my ranch pony, he raced for about two years, only 13 times and won a whopping total of $2,000. He spends his days running around a big pasture and doing jobs around the farm with me.

My loves, great and small, are things I want in my life very much. Sometimes they feel like needs. Either way, I enjoy them any chance I get!