Junk Drawer February 2024.

I did a thing.  I am finally confessing, I think I am a horse girl.  For those that know me, you know that I like to learn new things.  I also do not like asking for help.  Horse has been a new challenge, as I have no idea what I am doing.  I have taken some lessons and many of the trainers are available for help, but I do like to be able to figure out a few things on my own.  I found this trainer that I really like.  It so happens that he is from Australia, but lives in Paso Robles, near where I went to college.  He offers a monthly subscription to a training library that I have found super helpful. It has helped me step way back and start from ground zero.  He has a step by step approach that he demonstrates on many different horses (not just the broke horses).

As part of his membership, he does a monthly zoom call.  I recently sat in on one, thinking I would just observe.  That being said, I did have a question, as Levi has been doing a bit of something strange lately.  As it turns out, I was the third question he answered.  I loved it.  He is super chillax and asks a lot of probing questions to get to the root of it.  He is super non judgmental and just meets you where both you and your horse are.  Yep, fangirling for sure!

Sid and Bailey taking a break from vacuuming.

Another perk of pulling through Dutch when Kendall is working is that she writes nice messages on the lids of our cups.

Sidney made 100 flash cards to study for her civics exam.  She aced it in no time flat.  This girl has proven time and again that she has what it takes.  So, she cannot figure out why I expect her to get A's.  She thinks C's get degrees.  Yep, for some, but not for her.  She has what it takes to do well.  Of course, I am going to push her!

Bella on one of our walks on a spring like day.  

These dogs basking in the sunlight.  Spring keeps teasing us!

The Possee-ettes.

Jayde and Sidney have joined a drill team together.  It is called the Possee-ettes.  Their first performance will be at the Idaho Horse Expo.  They have been having so much fun practicing and getting to know this group of people.

They got stopped by a train on their way to one practice.  After a long 20 minute wait at the tracks, they were able to make it to practice.

Yep, apparently there was plenty of time to jump out of Jayde's truck and take pictures.

The coach, Rae Marie, is awesome and loves having the girls on the team.  She said they just came out of nowhere and have been such a pleasure to coach.  Rae Marie is the mom of Cathy Jo, the current Bronco Girl.  Cathy Jo is also on the team.

Here are a few pictures from one of their recent practices.  I am excited to watch this group perform for the crowds.

Dutch Mafia February 2024.

I just love going through Dutch to see my favorite Bro-ista!

Sidney also loves pulling through to say hi to her sister.  She and her friends will often just pull through for water and a chat.

Kendall seems to love going to work and hanging out with her co-workers and visiting with the customers.  Kendall's co-worker, Shelby, invited her over to watch the Superbowl.  They fan girled over Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce together.

Kendall...laughing to the point of crying.

Girl's shift and a BeReal moment.

On a 'shark attack' drink...

The crew's straw tossing game gets a little out of hand...

Out With the Mud, In With the New.

It sure has been a muddy winter.  Truth be told, it is probably muddy every winter.  However, it is the first winter that I have been actively outside at the ranch.  Sabrina and I tried to move Levi to a bigger paddock, with less mud, but he barged through the vinyl fences.  So, back to his other stall he went.  One sunny weekend, Sabrina recruited her husband, Bob, in helping us de-mud his paddock.  My mom was out there and jumped in to help as well.  

Bob hauled out over a dozen tractor loads of mud.  

After he hauled the mud out, he brought in some 3/4 inch rock mix.  My mom and I spread it out.  Sabrina had cut her hand pretty badly that morning, so she stuck to things that did not require her to have a tight hand grip.

  

After the rock, Bob hauled in a layer of sand, then we put the panels back together.

It was a lot of hard work, but so much fun!  We could not have asked for a more beautiful day to be outside.

What were Levi and Lester doing while we fixed up their paddocks?  They were in the round pen having the time of their lives!  I have never seen two horses play so hard.  It was like watching Bailey and Bella wrestle.  So many of the other boarders came by to watch their play time.

They were both covered in sweat and ready for dinner by the time we got everything back together.

Maize the Wonder Horse.

Noel has been giving me a few lessons on Maize.  She has also told me to get out there and ride her as much as possible, so that I can get some seat time and gain confidence.  I love this horse.  Maize is super broke, but fun.  She is not going to do anything crazy, but she also likes to put me to the test every now and again.

I trotted during my last couple of lessons.  That is SO much harder than it looks.  I am so completely out of control when I trot.  Finally during the last lesson, I had a trot that just felt good.  Apparently, it is half art, just learning to find the rhythm and ride the trot.  Here is a picture of one of my trotting moments where Maize was going wherever she pleased.  I think we almost took Noel out.  Either that or Noel is doubled over with laughter.  I think it is probably a bit of both!

Sidney is a tough coach.  She does not take no for an answer and had Maize and I going up little hills and over large logs.  Again, small things for most riders - huge things for me.  I am just glad to have Maize as a teacher.

Toby Mac.

Sidney is becoming quite the little concert go-er.  She and Hannah bought tickets to the Toby Mac concert.

My mom made this super cute clear bag for Sidney to take.  Hannah was kind enough to pack it, strap seen below.

They showed up early to get settled.  It was reserve seating and they had pretty good seats.  Honestly, there really aren't bad seats in Extra Mile Arena.

I got to see lots of videos of them rocking out during the concert, super bad karaoke voices and all!

I think the only thing Sidney talked about for days was this concert.  She already has tickets to the Lauren Daigle concert that is coming up.

Austin, Broken Toe and All.

Gah!  I have been treating my left foot terribly.  First the block of ice, then I literally broke my little toe.  Rather, Bella, broke my left little toe.  Who knew that a little toe was so useful?  I guess you do not know, until it is screaming at you!  Despite a broken toe, I had a work trip to go on.  I borrowed Sidney's black tennis shoes, because they are a size bigger than I normally wear and off I went.  

Kendall is my resident Uber driver.  I love that she drops me off and picks me up at the airport.  It makes it all worth it.

We stayed at this really fun and funky hotel in Austin.  My room even had a corded old fashioned red phone.  The room keys were wood.  

Apparently this tree was required to remain during the construction of the hotel, so they just build around it.

Janelle and I took our selfie.  We are squinting as it was 90 degrees in Austin.  I definitely was not prepared for that, but I am certainly not complaining!

Galentines 2024.

The girls and I exchanged valentines gifts this year (somehow I forgot to take a picture, again).  My mom brought me this beautiful bouquet of flowers.

Kendall and Sidney took this cute polaroid of them and their Dutch bracelets.

The girls and Hannah had a Galentines food and craft night.