Showing posts with label Friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friends. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Easter Weekend

Easter weekend was a few days of swing set building, checking cows, family dinners, Sunday School program, hiding Easter eggs, and being grateful.


I hope your weekend was all that it was meant to be for you.


Like finding eggs in a haystack.  ha.  ha.  

Everyone hides eggs in/by their farm machinery, right?

Also normal to hide eggs in the field?!

Look close, they found the Easter Bunny while out hunting eggs!

My aunt & grandma, beautiful ladies!

Rockin' the taco hat!  She makes that hat look good!  

Another snapshot of 'there I was...'

Beautiful ladies before their Sunday School program.

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!  Now, honestly I love the thought behind Mother's Day.  But truthfully, good bad or otherwise, it's usually just another day.  Now don't get me wrong, I don't forget to acknowledge my mother or grandmother, it's just that we don't do fancy dinners, or day the spa or any of those things that Hallmark and tv commercials tell us we have to.

Growing up, most of my Mom's Mother's Day were spent either at a rodeo, branding, going for a ride through the calving pasture, or we helped her get the garden ready.  Now, there were gifts, or fresh crocuses plucked from the pasture and presented to her in a old cup found in the garage.  We would make cards.  It's just the way it is and was.

Now that I am a mom, I really don't expect or want much.  We are usually farming, of course still calving and what ever else needs to be done around here.  Hubby will usually make me biscuits and gravy for breakfast (my fave) if time allows, or I get an IOU.  I am ok with that.  Last year when I was asked what I wanted for Mother's Day, I informed my family of 2 things.  1 was that Tally and I could go for a horse ride and 2 was just to spend some time and go tag calves together as a family.

I thought I would take a few moments of your time and introduce you to the Mother's in my life.

Now of course there's my mom, Mother Tracey.  She's tough, strong, stubborn and bossy, and still with us.  She has lived 12 years longer than any doctor gave her when she was first diagnosed.

Mother Tracey and Mother Marilyn
Mother Marilyn!  In no way is she related to our family, but when her and her husband became friends with my parents....she became Mother Marilyn.  She's been there through the good times, bad times, fun times, wedding, baby times.

Me and Mother Marilyn, wagon train circa 2009
My mother in law, Canova.  I have said many times that I won the lottery when it came to mother in laws.  She's a great friend, great mother, great mother in law and an awesome grandma to my children.

Ruth Ann was one of the first neighbors my parents met when we moved to North Dakota.  I spent so much time at her house through grade school and high school that she probably disciplined me as much as my parents.  Her oldest son is one of my best friends, and was a part of my wedding.  Ruth Ann also made a beautiful cake for our wedding.

Now that I have children there are 'mothers' in my kids' life that I would be lost without.  They have given me advice, helped with babysitting, given me advice.  They've laughed at me whenever I tell whatever recent shenanigans  my kids have pulled, and are just there whenever needed.  Most have kids way older than mine, and some didn't even have kids when I had my first.  The saying 'it takes a village to raise a child' is so true, and I have come to believe and rely on that.

Laura, friend, babysitter, and everything else.  
Me and Tam.....there's nothing we can't talk about or bitch about when it comes to life and our kids. 
No matter what you do or how you do it, thank your mom tomorrow.  Thank those moms that treat you like one of their own.  A simple phone call or text is worth a lot.

Lauri, she's takes my kids, helps me out and lends me her daughter to take on road trips to babysit.  

Pamela, a great friend, cousin, and god mother! 



Uncle Jess, (no that's not a typo, kids same the darndest things).  Sister in law, god mother and she's got my back when I need help or a babysitter.  Thank God she moved closer and is willing to help with my crazy kids. 


Wild Bunch.  These gals rock and have been and are awesome to my kids.  They help. they discipline and they give this mama a break.

I am truly blessed. 



Happy Mothers Day to all my Mom's and every other Mom out there.





Disclaimer; there are plenty more other mom's out there that help me out that I didn't mention or find pictures of.  All help me tremendously to help make my world keep going around and my kids happy.  

Friday, May 9, 2014

Adventure, Part 2

Well, I survived the plane rides.  We made it to Cabo and home in one piece.  The sun was amazing down there!!  We saw lots, drank lots and soaked up the sun lots.

I am a few months behind on posting these pictures, but still wanted to share.  Fun in the sun


Toes in the water....


What a blast we had on this ship.  Drinks, dinner cruise, live entertainment.  If you find yourself down in Cabo, I highly recommend an evening on The Caborey

It was prime whale watching season.  

Drinks in hand, again!

The third most photographed place in the world, Lovers Arch

I absolutely LOVE this picture of Lovers Arch

Lovers Beach

Being photo bombed my a spring breaker!

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Beauty Swap

I seem to be suffering a little bit from the winter blues.  I blame Mother Nature and the fact she keeps throwing extremely extreme cold temps our way with out any forgiveness.  When I noticed that Crystal Cattle and Cowgirl Crush were teaming up for a beauty Swap I signed up thinking it would be fun and get my mind off of our freezing temps.

Some of my friends shook their head and were confused, me and a beauty swap??  Didn't seem like something for me.  I agree, I am not the biggest makeup user, but I like to learn and try new things.  Though I'm not huge makeup wearer, theres something about painted toenails (that no one sees but me) and mascara that can lift my spirits and turn an attitude around.  That being said, I am not going to admit how old I was before I was able to properly apply and wear mascara!

I was team up with Jenn, from New Mexico.  It was fun getting to know her through email and what we did and didn't have in common.  She sent me a fun box with products that I was interested in, products I hadn't heard of and things I never seem to buy for myself.



Through our correspondence, Jenn and I learned about products we like to try, need and want.  She sent me two different pore minimizers that I am excited to try.  Having kids really messed up my complexion and pores being one way.  She sent me 'The Pore fessional' and Maybeline's Baby Skin.  I have started using the Maybeline Baby Skin, and love the way it feels on my skin.  

Also included was some fun vibrant colored nail polish and lip gloss!  After doing my toes the other night, I hid the polish from my oldest daughter as she was on the prowl to steal it!  It's fun and I can't wait to use it for when I head to Mexico next month.

Some Garnier Fructis Glossing Spray was included in my goody box also.  I used it last night before we headed out to the basketball tournament.  Where has it been all my life?  Loved the results.

Rounding out my goody box was 3 different makeup brushes.  Score!! I received an eyeshadow brush, defining eye brush and a brow brush.  I was in need of new brushes.  I often wonder why it's so hard for me to buy new makeup brushes.  

I had so much fun with this Beauty Swap.  I enjoyed shopping for Jenn, researching different things and getting excited to send it her way.  Thanks Crystal Cattle and Cowgirl Crush for letting me participate and can't to wait for any future swaps.  



Wednesday, October 24, 2012

My Prize


Here a few posts ago I wrote that I had won a giveaway from The South Dakota Cowgirls blog. Well I received my prize in the mail the other day and its awesome. 


 I received the journal that she published that is full of her wonderful photography and lots of pages for me to write down my thoughts, dreams, prayers, and lists.





The South Dakota Cowgirl also has a 2013 calendar, collection of note cards and Christmas cards for that feature her photography from around the ranch.   I've been following her blog for a long time now, and enjoy her writing, her photography and her jewelry.





I apologize for the photos below and they are just taken with my phone and don't do the journal justice.  My internet is down, again.  The day I have reliable internet service I am going to dance like noone is watching!



Thursday, July 5, 2012

The Devil is dancing in Gods country

The devil is doing in fire dance in Gods country but we shall prevail. Fire rages on in south east Montana terrorizing many ranching friends and family of mine. The Ash Creek fire has been a raging inferno for many days now and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. As of yesterday, July 4th, the Ash Creek fire was 1/3 the size of Rhode Island. That's incredible. And sickening, heartbreaking gut wrenching and down right sad.

To me the country on the Powder River and Tongue River in southeast Montana is Gods Country. It can be a harsh, unforgiving land but is a land that will take care of you, embrace you and holds a beauty not everyone sees. Its a country rich with history, full of tradition full and of families that would do anything for their neighbor.

I am actually finding it hard to come up with the right words to do justice in describing what and how I feel about that country, the damn fire, the pain I feel for my ranching friends fighting to save their lives. Below are some pictures of the Ash Creek fire courtesy of my friend Glo.


Monday, January 30, 2012

New Blog, New Fun

A Friend of mine has started a blog of her own.  I am not really sure if anyone even reads my blog anymore since I have been horrible about posting lately but thought I would give you a link to her blog anyway.

Dirt Road Dreamer    Check it out.   Whitney is funny, shoots straight from the hip, smart, tough, and to top it off has one of the cutest Corgis ever!!!

Enjoy her blog and her ranching stories.  I know I will!


Saturday, January 28, 2012

Fall Work

These pictures/this post was scheduled to be published last October.  Somewhere there was a hiccup and it wasn't.  I find the pictures too cute not to post now.  So here ya go, better late than never.

It's October in Montana which means fall gathering, shipping calves, and working cows.  One of my favorite times of the year.  I missed out on a lot of gathering and fall work this year because I have a sweet 10 month old baby girl to take care of.  Such is life.  
Last weekend our good friend was gathering his herd and planning on running his cows through and working them.  The forecast called for an unseasonably warm day with no wind.  Let me tell ya, no wind in Montana is call for celebration!  Big T was at preschool with Grandma scheduled to pick her up.  So Baby T and I loaded up and headed out with Big D to go help Uncle Charley.  Baby T and I waited as the rest of them gathered the herd.  She actually caught a good nap, and I got caught up on some reading.  

Then came the sorting and the working and the visiting.  So what else was I supposed to do.  We backed the pickup up next to the chute, and threw the jumper/exersaucer on the back and  Baby T got to take in all the action!

Checking out the herd.

Smiling for mom.

Some may think it's wrong.  I think that there is no such thing as too young!  The weather was great, and she was happy!  And like it or not this is her life until she is 18 and gone!  :)  Besides, it's fun to watch all the cowboys (young and old) interact with a baby when the baby is on there turf!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Branding 2011 Part 2

We finally got our calves at home branded.  It's been a long spring.  We had a nice night and great friends helping.

Jakob helping his mom vaccinate

The roping crew:  Travis and Jordan

Tally helping Papa Loren

Hard Working Crew!

Jordan.  Fishing??

Tally and Jakob were busy decorating the corral fence.

Getting the work done.

Roping calves.

Branding is a favorite time of year for me.  I love the work.  I love the weather.  I love getting to help neighbors.  I love getting caught up of friends.  It gives you quite the feeling of accomplishment.  But I always sigh a sign of relief when our branding is done.  

Monday, July 11, 2011

Branding 2011

Branding has been a long drawn out process this spring/summer due to rain, farming and everything else Mother Nature has thrown at us.  We finally got Schledewitzs' done the other week, and the day after we got ours done.  


The old wooden post, woven fence round pen is not the easiest to rope out of, but its tradition


A shot of the branding stove and irons

The Boss

Getting the job done

Ragtag Crew.  Jakob, Tally and Tenley.  Tenley was a trooper all day long.