Five Greatest Joys in Nature

I was tagged a VERY LONG time ago by my wonderful blogger friend Celeste at Celestial Ramblings. She lives in a high rise in Chicago...how far away from rural SE Oregon is that?!? A long away!!!

But, I love her blog! Her photos, stories, and wildlife knowledge keeps me going back for more~~

So, this meme asks me to name MY Five Greatest Joys in Nature. It took me a long time to figure out my answer. Then it dawned on me how simple the answer really is.

I haven't visited exotic places or seen any of the greatest natural wonders of the world...but, I have everything I want or need right here...which gives me the greatest joy I could ever imagine.

The Joy of Sight

Gazing into the trusting eye of a
best friend is truly amazing.

The Joy of Smell

Every horse's nose smells different...true!!!
Have you ever had the privilege to
sniff noses with a horse?
I am truly blessed...I do it daily...

The Joy of Hearing

Hearing nothing~~

Or hearing chaos...it's all good...
just a day in the life.

The Joy of Taste

There's nothing better tasting than
home grown food.

The Joy of Feeling

Feeling your friend, a warm fire,
and the love of your soul mate.

~~~~~~~~~~

I'm not going to tag anyone in particular, but I'd love to hear what your five Greatest Joys in Nature are.

If you'd like to play, please do!! Just leave me a comment, 'cause I don't want to miss it!

I've been Tagged~~

I've been graciously tagged by Jane Augenstein~My World In Pictures! Thank you Jane for the honor. Jane's got a couple of beautiful horses and the cutest lil' spotted donkey, Pokey...he's a charmer!

So, I'm supposed to list 6 random things about my self and then tag a few other bloggers to do the same. So here we go...

1. Knock on wood...I've only broken one bone in my life...when I was 5, we were playing with the neighbor kids, and they thought it would help me to learn to ride a bicycle by propping me up on the said bike and send me down the front lawn. It had a nice slope to it...with a big ditch at the bottom. I was supposed to steer the bike over the 12 inch plank that crossed the ditch and onto the road on the other side. Well, I'm sure you can see where this is heading...yep, right into the ditch. I broke my collar bone. But, didn't tell mom until we had driven all the way from Oregon to Minnesota on vacation.

2. I'm kind of on the petite side like my mom; 5 ft tall, 105 pounds.

3. I have 2 brothers, one 3 years older then me, and one 3 years younger than me. I also have 2 half sisters who are 15+ years older than me. None of them have the horse bug. My younger brother does enjoy riding with me when he comes to visit.

4. My mom tried to support my horse disease as a child, but when I would ask her to hold my horse, she would say "Ok, but if it moves I'm letting go." Thanks Mom!!

5. As a child, my parents bought me dolls to play with as any normal parent would...I kind of played with them. But, then I got a stuffed dog...I immediately became the best veterinarian in our part of the county! Good-bye dolls...

6. My Man and I bought a nice SilverLite 3 horse trailer with living quarters 4 years ago; we'll have it paid off by the time we retire. Our plan for retirement is to load up a couple of good trail horses, travel the west and ride all the trails we can find. But, by the looks of our current retirement funds, we'll have to work until we're 100 to be able to afford to retire...I hope I can still get on my horse when I'm 100.

There you have it...now, I'd like to find out more tidbits about:

Heather at Ramblings of the Shy and Insecure who I'm sure really isn't as shy as she says she is!!

Julie at Oregon at Heart ~ who is a new blogger and one of my best friends from high school...I'm sure she has some tasty tidbits that I don't know about ;~)

Heart of a Cowgirl ~ This sweet gal has beautiful horses and makes fantastic cowgirl jewlery.

Fresh-Squeezed Lemonade Anyone???!!!???

Lemonade??? In the middle of winter??? Maybe we should be doing a Hot Chocolate Stand...well, we'll just dream some more about summer...Hey, I'll even put an umbrella in your drink!

There ya go...how's that taste?!?

Well, this cute lil' award has been going around, and I've received it today by two great bloggers...the pretty -Jen over at Tales From The Henhouse ......AND.......one of the best recipe bloggers I know Country Whispers (oh, you've got to try her simple to make buttery sour cream 'n chive potatoes...yummmmm)!! This award is their first blogger award and both of these gals are country from the heart...gotta love that!!!

Now, recipients of this award are bloggers who show Great Attitude and/or Great Gratitude in their blog. Thank you ladies for the honor~~

So, here's how this cute lil' Lemonade Stand award works...

1. You must add the logo to your blog or post. (yep, got that)

2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show Great Attitude and/or Gratitude. (yep, see below)

3. Link to your nominees within your post. (yep, see below)

4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog. (yep, done!)

5. Share the love and link this post to the person from who you received your award. (yep!)

Here's who I pick to pass the Lemonade Stand on to~~~~~~~

1. Javas Barn

2. Jane Augestein-My World in Pictures

3. For the Love of a Horse

4. Ramblings of the Shy and Insecure

5. Mustang Dressage

6. Amanda's Veranda

7. Cheyenne

8. There's a Horse in My Bubblebath

9. Just Another Day on the Prairie

And last...but never least...

10. Cowgirl Up

Now, many may not like to play along, and that is fine...please don't feel obligated. And, if you've already received it...just consider yourself extra loved!!

Cheers!!! Enjoy your very own Lemonade Stand!!

The Newest Blogger Virus

Ha!!! My new friend Tracey (frantically waves at Tracey) over at Mustang Diaries gave me the newest Blogger Virus...achewwww...'cuse me!

Ok, here's the deal...answer the following 5 questions and pass on the virus to some other unsuspecting soul...ummmmm...blogger friend! Tag a few more if ya a mind to!

1) Where did you go riding this week?

Absolutely NO WHERE!!! Nota...nothin'...That's what I get for inviting my 2 brothers and their spouses for Thanksgiving...all I've done is clean, clean, clean...well I was also selling and building ads for my new publication....but I'd rather be ridin'!

PS...I gave everyone lots of hugs 'n nose kisses...does that count for anything???




2) Your most embarrassing moment on horseback.

I had to think long and hard on this one. I guess I tend to dwell on the good things. But...

I had the opportunity of a lifetime back in the mid 1980's...I attended a Tom Dorrance clinic . I took my good ol' steady Toby. He was just 3 then, and I really didn't have any issues with him. He was just a typical green horse that tried to everything that I asked of him...I just couldn't get him to pick up his right lead (rider error most diffinately).

At that time, the "natural horsemanship" was just coming out into the open in my area. I just couldn't follow what he was trying to tell me. I really feel that I was blocking it out...just not listening. Absolutely NO excuse for an ol' dog learnin' new tricks...I was 20 something!!! I was in tears of frustration...if only I could have opened my mind up just a little bit more...sigh.




3) What's your favorite piece of tack?

Just one????!!!...sorry...can't do just one, but I'll keep it to two! I absolutely love my handmade ladie's "Wade" saddle. Clay Sharp was the maker on this one. Bless my dear Mother; when she passed away, I took a bit of my inheritance and had a saddle made. I do ALL of my riding in it...well, except for the new colts; I use an old beat up saddle for them. But I cut, rein, gather, barrel race, trail ride, show...I do it all in this wonderfully comfortable saddle. I can get away with that here in Harney County!!! LOVE IT!


Ok, my other piece is my absolutely favorite pair of reins....3/4 inch x 8 foot weighted split reins...I only use them on Colt or someone who I know won't break them! I have little hands and these are prefect. They're nothing fancy...just nice and thick and I keep them oiled with olive oil...oh so soft!




4) Do you collect anything horsey?

The question to me should be "do you collect anything that isn't horsey"!!!! Everything in our home is horses...from John Wayne toilet paper to metal art, pottery, photos, creamics, wood burned coasters & trays to barbed wire decor. The exception is a few sentimental items from my Mom and from my childhood.




5) What's your least favorite aspect of horse ownership?

This is really a tough question!!! I love everything...even shovelin' shi_ !!! Stall cleaning is considered therapy in my book.

I guess my answer would be paying the bill to the vet when the occasion arises. We do most all of our horse upkeep ourselves...shots, hoof trimming, training, etc. The vet bills are just astronomical to us when we need their services. It's hard to swallow...but we know our limitations.

Ok, I've got my questions answered.

The next step is to pick fellow blogger's to tag...being the Thanksgiving week and all, I'll let anyone who wants to post their answers on their blog to do so. Please let me know if you do; I'll love to read your answers!

God bless you and your families on this wonderful Thanksgiving celebration!

Hold Onto God

My sweet friend Kathleen at Life Earth Sky posted this lil' game on her blog, and I thought it'd be fun to play!

I'm not going to tag 10, but if you want to play, leave me a comment so I know that you played the game. I'd love to see your answers!

DIRECTIONS:
1. Put Your iTunes on Shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write down the name of the song no matter how silly it sounds!
4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.
5. Tag at least 10 friends.
6. Anyone tagged has to do the same, because fun pointlessness spreads like a virus.
(I'm gonna put the artist just so you know I'm not lying)

Here we go...

If someone says, “Is this okay?” You say?
Abilene Town (Sons of the San Joaquin)

How Would You Describe Yourself?
Prairie Girl (Sons of the San Joaquin) ~~ Who'da thunk it!!

What Do You Like in a girl/guy?
Wolves (Dan Roberts) ~~Oh my!!! LOL!!

What is Your Life's Purpose?
Pert’ Near Perkins (Waddie Mitchell) ~~Yep…pert’ near got one

What is Your Life Motto?
Home of the Blues (Dwight Yoakum) ~~No…LOL

What Do Your Friends Think of You?
Always Late with Your Kisses (Dwight Yoakum) ~~I’m such a bad girl!

What Do You Think of Your Parents?
When the Work’s all Done this Fall (Red Steagall) ~~Well, Dad was a farmer.

What Do You Often Find Yourself Thinking About?
Casey Tibbs (Ian Tyson) ~~Shhhh…Don’t tell John!

What is 2+2?
South Wind of Summer (The Flatlanders)

What Do You Think of Your Best Friend?
Tennessee Stud (Michael Martin Murphy) ~~Well, John is my best friend…LOL!!

What Do You Think of the Person You Like?
He Just Can’t be Seen From the Road (Sons of the San Joaquin) ~~Most likely true!

What Is Your Life Story?
Running Out of Sunsets (Red Steagall) ~~ hmmmm…

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Things We Said Today (Dwight Yoakum) ~~ That’s about right!

What do you think of when you see the person you like?
Whatcha Gonna Do With a Cowboy (Chris LeDoux & Garth Brooks) ~~YEP!

What will you dance to at your wedding?
Smokey (Red Steagall) ~~It’s a great song about a good horse and it’s a Waltz!

What will they play at your funeral?
Orejana (Waddie Mitchell) ~~Good choice.

What is your hobby/interest?
Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues (Dwight Yoakum) ~~What? LOL

What is your biggest fear?
Shot Full of Love (Chris LeDoux) ~~Really?…hmmmm…

What is your biggest secret?
I Hear You Knockin’ (Dwight Yoakum) ~~Who’s there?

What do you think of your friends?
The Code of the West Hasn’t Changed (Red Steagall) ~~Excellent answer!

What will you post this as?
Hold Onto God (Dwight Yoakum) ~~Every day~~Amen~~