Ramblings of the Middle Age Queen Dork

Again...

2009-06-09T10:27:00.000-07:00

Well goodness I really want to play with this blog but life sure gets in the way of talking about life ;) I am working on the photoshop thing and doing some beginner design stuff. I am finally out of work for summer...wooo hoo. I am walking like a mad dog trying to loose some of this cushion (FAT). I am really trying to up the game in the barrel pen. Oh I am also reading Eat, Pray, Love. I know it has been out for a long time but I am fianally mentally ready to read this great book.

Have a happy day!

Time Flies!

2009-04-04T09:13:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh I have posted nothing in months! Well duh! You can see that. We are fixing to come up on a break and I wan t to redo the whole blog, with new graphics and everything. I took a class and am ready to dive in. I am going to sign up for another class next month. Gosh having a full time job sure gets in the way of doing all the cool stuff.

Oh books! I have been reading the cheesey but fun and easy Alex Rider books. They are teen level for sure but super fun and a great escape from the every day. Goodness I never go any where with out a book, good or otherwise.

Have a happy day....I am off to a barrel race!

Did you vote?

2008-11-04T09:08:00.000-08:00

Psst...I am secret blogging here at work...shhhh. :)

Hubby and I voted today on my way to work. I whined and he drove me to work today, I wanted to make sure we both voted and did not put it off and not get it done! It does not matter who or what you vote for, just that you get it done. So we did. I was on the phone this morning with both kids nagging them to get to their polling places and get their vote counted too.

Oh my gosh! I finished "The Host" this morning, all I can say is wow. There are so many words between the lines. I really enjoyed this one, just as my hair lady told me I would. What would we all do with out hair ladies? Hmmm. lol.

Have a great day all and VOTE!

My Nose is Burried Again!

2008-11-03T14:29:00.000-08:00

This is my latest read. I am getting close to done. We went to a barrel race on Sat. (won more money!) and then I spent all of Sunday in my jammies. I read and read and still didnt finish. This is really a great read, it is futuristic, normally not my style. Stephenie Meyer is a true artist with a pen! In one year I have read 4 vampire books and now an alien book, who woulda thunk? lol.

Oh Dear

2008-11-02T14:49:00.000-08:00

So much has happened scence I have posted last.

We had a beautiful 25th wedding aniversary party give for us by our sister in law and daughter. It was so nice!

I have really started hauling my horse to some barrel races and have won a few coins along the way! WOO HOO!

Here are some photos.

I have retained my title of QUEEN DORK! I was walking around in the parking lot at the grocery store the other after a day at work and picking up dinner. I was also on the phone...I could not find my truck! I looked up..it was right in front on me..yes I am the Queen of all Dorks. lol.

FUN FUN FUN!

2008-09-22T20:10:00.000-07:00

I have got to go dig the camera out of the pick up and get snapping some pictures! Hubby is trying his hand at roping and I am so loving having a riding partner. He is riding with me in the evenings, not only do I have company but that only leaves 2 for me to ride. Woo Hoo! Now I get to go shopping for more bits and hubby needs some new spurs and oh gosh, what ever else I can find (reins!). I will try to remember to take some pics this week.

I am still immersed in "Breaking Dawn." Silly books, but oh so fun to read.

My passion with books

2008-09-21T09:03:00.000-07:00

I have a voracious appetite for books! My latest find is the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. I am on the fourth book of the series, Breaking Dawn, oh my gosh no wonder I have a sink full of dishes staring at me!

It has been little more than 2 weeks since I became involved in the lives of Bella and Edward in Forks Washington. It is a nice diversion from reality and a lovley romance. I have never been one to be into books on vampires and then written by a sweet Morman girl. What a hoot. Well I think everyone should pick up Twilight and escape for the day!

Today was rough

2008-09-20T19:09:00.001-07:00

Hubby and I attended a very difficult funeral today.

Today Cary Simms was burried by her dear husband and two beautiful children. What a wonderful loving family this woman created with her husband. It was so heart wrenching and sad. She was a beautiful woman who thoroughly believed in Christ and the path that he has laid for us. She was lost to her 18 month battle with cancer.

Please cherish every moment with those that you love! That is the IT we are all looking for.

Cary you were loved and admired by more people than you realize! Gosh the parking lot must have had over 20 fire engines in it. There was NO parking it was incredible the love that this lady has spread through our community!

Well...

2008-08-31T17:21:00.000-07:00

Since my last post I have gone to a barrel racing clinic and have been to 2 cattle sortings, worked a bunch and learned a bit more about myself. Life is a journey to be appreciated! I had the best Saturday of my life last weekend. The Lyndee Stairs clinic was just incredible! Scooter and I have jumped up another level. We still tons of room to improve but I love gaining more skills. That night we went to the first cattle sorting of my life. I had a blast. We went to the same sorting last night too. It was fun but I was really disappointed in myself! My other teams mates were letting cows through and I was a brat and wanted new team mates. I really need to not be so childish. Crap it popped through. I know how much words hurt and I was careless and mean. I did not intend to be mean but gosh I thought about how would I feel. Can I have a do over? I did get an impromptu cutting lesson from a local trainer and I had a great time and learned some more about the horses that I love so much. So next week I need to keep my mouth shut and slow down.

The Road Very Traveled

2008-08-17T19:16:00.000-07:00

I went on my 4 mile walk this morning. I am loving it, my walk centers me, at least for a couple hours. :) As I was walking I was seeing all the tracks left by the wildlife from the night before. It is truly remarkable at how many different animals live here and travel the same road we do. I don't always notice all the traces of activity left from the night before when I am in my pickup zooming in and out. Before I ever hit our gate I see horse, sheep, deer, snake and dog tracks. After I went out our gate I saw bunny, insect, skunk, coon, bobcat, bear and another snake. Oh I also saw the track left by the bull pine cone as it rolled into the road. I saw all those tracks this morning! I think our road is actually a wildlife freeway. As I have said before I love my home.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE!

2008-08-16T20:54:00.000-07:00

Today is our daughters 24th birthday! We are so proud of her. She has turned into a beautiful woman both inside and out and is finishing her last year of college. She is my idol! WE LOVE YOU HONEY!!

Back to Work

2008-08-13T18:56:00.000-07:00

I do love my job! It has been a hard working last 3 days for sure. I have been handing out schedules to our students and parents. It is fun, trying at times and just plain exhausting. I dont get back to my desk for my true calling until Monday, I can not wait.

I went shopping last night for some more work clothes, talk about depressing. I just hate it! I am sticking to buying everything online from now on. Those dressing rooms are mean! lol. Every clothing maker has their own version of a size 12, medium and large. UGH. My beautiful daughter came to my rescue. I gave birth to my own personal shopper, thank goodness.

Back to the couch to watch the olympics.

In the Day and Life of a Dork

2008-08-01T09:05:00.000-07:00

Well we took our children out to dinner last night, it was a combined birthday dinner. We went to Claim Jumpers and I am still full this morning. Yum Yum.

Well I was very concerned that I was going to have to leave my crown of Queen Dork behind because I have not noticed any Dork like events from myself lately. Well I am very proud to admit that I have not disapointed myself, I am truley a dork. lol. Now the story... well I was preparing to go to work at the tack store in hopes of supporting my tack habit and I had decided to wear my pink plaid flip flops. The flip flops were dirty so I had the idea that I would put them in the shower and wash them off when I took my shower, it worked great. Then I thought oh gosh I will just dry them with the hair dryer (they are fabric) while I was drying my hair. Great idea! Worked great...but...as I am bent over in my panties (white cotton, nothing cute..lol) and my bra (very plain middle age bra) in all my middle age over weight wonder drying my flip flops with the hair. Little did I realize that the phone man was walking up to the front door with the door open and only the screen door closed. You can see just inside the bathroom for the the front door. OH GOSH. But here comes my white knight in shinning armour, also called hubby to save me from pure embarrasement! He comes in and tells me to go get some clothes on, I ask who is here? We lived wayyyyyyy out of the way and you can always hear someone comming down the road to our house and I had not heard anything. I did not even hear hubby coming home until he came in the door (probably because of the flip flop drying). So I go in my room to add to my attire and he starts laughing and tells me that the phone man is working on the phone line and was walking up to the door and well you know the rest. lol.

I have earned the title Queen Dork yet again ;~)

Life

2008-07-29T18:10:00.000-07:00

I realized that I had not really shared the 4 legged loves of my life with everyone in quite awhile. I truley love my bay ponies. Above is Heart in her gear ready to ride. Her training is progressing so quickly this summer. I am having a ball! The second photo is of my wonderful hubby and his bay pony Ricky Bobby, yes Ricky likes to go fast. :)

Things on the fun train are picking up around here..finally! I worked the tack store today and will again on Thursday. I love working at the store because I get to see people I have not seen in years and I get to meet new people too. This weekend I get to help at an NRCHA event which going to be great fun. I might even get to meet some famous horse people, always exciting. I am also getting ready to attend a Lyndee Stairs barrel racing clinic later in August. I am having quite the horsey month.

I came across a fun blog contest when I was browsing the net this evening at http://twobarkingdogs.wordpress.com/2008/07/29/contest-you-cajuncreole-cooking-challenge-me/

What a fun blog!

More Fire!

2008-07-28T08:46:00.000-07:00

Well we have a huge fire in Mariposa, which is about 20-30 minutes from us. The travel time depends on the how many CHP are out on the highways and byways. We are safe from the flames where we are but we are not safe from the smoke. The fire has grown to over 20,000 acres. The fire fighters are working so hard and this is a tough one.

Our Springs

2008-07-27T16:26:00.000-07:00

We have springs that feed our home with water. Yes, even in 2008 do people rely on spring water. Here are some pics of the creek which is right below the springs and a pic of the actual water line. It can get frustrating when it freezes in the winter or air locks in the summer but it is pretty cool!

My New Discovery

2008-07-27T08:12:00.001-07:00

I have been shopping online for work clothes...work starts back in August. I came across http://www.myshape.com/ I love it! You just take a little time and take your measurments and put them in and then it creates your own "Shop" with the clothes that will fit you. No more trying to get the right size, who knows if it is an 8 or a 12, the Shop does it for you! Another great find was www.anntaylorloft.com there are great prices at this site.

I also came across this tack website www.lancasterswestwear.com This is a great place to get good prices on Classic Equine products!

Happy shopping :)

Summer Reading

2008-07-26T07:15:00.000-07:00

I have been reading a little bit this summer! The book I am currently reading titled "Brave and Other Stories" by Steve M. Matthes. He was a very well know Lion Hunter in California back in the 60's and 70's. It is a great collection of stories about hounds, hunting, lions, bears and Mr. Matthes' experiences with all of the above. I am having fun reading this great book. Hubby got a hound this summer from his brother, Uncle Jimmy the Bear Hunter and with the dog came the book for us to read. It turns out that the dog hubby got is a decendent of the hounds in this book. Pretty cool!

I have also read "Girls in Trucks" by Katie Crouch.

This was a good read although pretty intense. It is the tale of the journey of a woman from childhood to womanhood. Although I am not sure the main character actually reaches adulthood. She had too many obsticles in front of her produced by her own actions. I got lost toward the end with her self sabatoge. It was a good read as a whole but not one of my favorites.

I will cover more books later.

Morning Walk

2008-07-25T12:05:00.000-07:00

This morning on my walk I found bear tracks! Just a reminder that we still live with wild animals. I sure love where I live though. One of the dogs also found a skunk and was sprayed during our walk...to much fun!

Words

2008-07-25T07:54:00.000-07:00

It is interesting to me how words affect other people, myself included. They can uplift you and keep you going for days or they can bring you down for days. Why is that? Is it not a choice within our selves how we feel inside each day? The human condition is an interesting one for sure. Is is more important how others perceive us than how we perceive ourselves? I have had an interesting last couple weeks and have experienced both the ups and downs from words spoken by others and I pride myself on being able to choose my own emotions. Well apparently not. :) I have been very mindful of my words so that I don't hurt feelings or bring others down, but how many times have I done this without knowing?

Another thing that peeks my interest is the internet voice. When we read the written word on the net it is heard differently by different people. It is viewed from our own windows so to speak. Some will come away with a chipped shoulder and other with a positive response. Very interesting indeed.

June Fire

2008-07-23T17:41:00.000-07:00

We had a dry lightning storm in June and these are the pics I took of the fire closest to our house. It was a little un-nerving but all was fine. It did get smokey for a while but it really wasnt too bad.

Summer Days

2008-07-23T10:45:00.000-07:00

The weather has been beautiful the last week here in the Central Sierras. Hubby has been busy but got a hitch in his giddy up on Monday. He broke his foot in 3 places. Poor guy. No surgery though, thank goodness. I have no idea what lesson we can be getting from all this but I am looking! lol.

No introspective thoughts today! Just looking for cookies..lolol.

Wow!

2008-07-21T07:35:00.000-07:00

What a summer! It has been nothing I have planned but fun none the less! I have been riding and walking nearly every day. The horses are really doing great. The 3 year old is actually getting broke...lol. Raymond hurt his only eye my first day of summer vacation. He has regained most of his vision back and is doing well. At least he wears his glasses all the time now. This injury was really scary for us. We took CPR together..lolol...I passed sooner than Raymond...lol. He thought he had it licked and I beat him! We went to an Oakland A's game, courtesy of Butch and Brittany. That was really cool. Kate is ready to start her last year of college..yippeee...for us and or her! Butch is doing well.

Off to walk! :~)

2008-06-04T16:15:00.000-07:00

It is the end of the year at the high school I am working at and there are many end of the year events going on and I find myself reflecting alot...lol..imagine that! lolol. Well I was at the end of the year rally today and WOW the energy that I felt. The loud music was playing (gosh I will never out grow the love of loud music), the kids were chanting their class slogans and you could just cut the energy and enthusiasm with a knife. I love the honesty with ones self and the youthful energy of working with teenagers. This means I can too, carry those traits on my shirt sleeve! As we were watching the end of the year video it was very evident who the favorite teachers were and they all have a couple things in common. They are youthful in thier personalties. By youthful I mean they are comfortable in their own skin, they can laugh, they are honest and they just be! I am very happy and comfortable with the people I work with, both the students and the staff. I love going to work and being able to stay true to myself and be myself. lol.

I find this carries over into the other parts of my life. I am becoming comfortable anywhere I am. It might just be too, that I am in my 40's...lololol. Gosh I love the 40's!

Until next time...Hugs

Being Brave

2008-06-03T06:25:00.000-07:00

How do you just let go? How do you forget everything and leave it all out there?

My obsticle is trusting my horse and going fast...not almost fast but fast. We are stuck in almost fast, but not even close...lol. I was out last night trying to improve my speed on the barrel pattern, I did a couple practice runs, I thought we were doing really well. I thought we added quite a bit of speed and I was on my way to make a real run...yeah right. I'll give you a hint, never look at the video! lolol. I suck!!! I so totally suck!! We where not very fast at all and there were so many mistakes. How can that be, I ask? The wind was blowing through my hair, I was really going! I know it! I was trusting my horse and he was really going...NOT! lolol. Well back to the drawing board. And I think I will leave the video camera in the house. lolol.