Blooming In The Night

Cactus flowers are some of the most beautiful yet amazing flowers I've seen.  They call some of the worlds most harsh environments home.  They lead a hot, dry existence that certainly is not conducive to plant life.  They're spiny, poky, mean and tough.  If you can make it past the tough exterior of the highly evolved plant, beauty and sustenance await.

Many species of cactus are forage-able.   If you know how to collect them, Nopales can be very tasty indeed.  Cactus fruit makes excellent jam, syrup or juice.  There is a species commonly referred to as the Honolulu Queen, which is a night-blooming cereus. They are almost always white, large and usually fragrant.  The flowers open just after nightfall and by morning are already wilting.  I think this is positively fascinating!  Really all I wanted to do was share some cool pictures, but I thought I should probably write something too.

XO Loves,

Me

Night Rains

Tonight as I sat in my room watching Netflix while my parents were watching The Voice, it started to rain.  We desperately needed it and thankfully it came in between cutting fields. 

The sky was dark and the rain fell steadily, bouncing off the tarps on the dog kennels outside of my window.  The crickets were chirping, night birds singing, the toads were amass on the patio, my pup was ruffing at sounds unheard.  When I went outside the smell was amazing, wonderful, refreshing and so many more adjectives I can't even think of.  There's no real way to describe the way the world smells when it rains.  It just is.  Whether you're in the city, the desert, the rainforest or anywhere in between it's still the best smell you'll ever smell.  Maybe it's the fact that rain or water itself is life giving and as animals we rely more directly on it than any other resource available. Whatever the reason, it's amazing.

I've been living in the high desert and I love the smell of wet sagebrush, but tonight was a scent long forgotten.  It hasn't been terribly long since I've been home in the rain, but it's been quite sometime since I've been home for a summer rain.  And it was fantastic.  The smell, the sounds, the quiet, the darkness, all of it means I'm home.  The place I'll always call home no matter how far I stray. 

XO Loves,

Me

I Want

I want to go places I've never been, and some I already have.
I want to be a truck-stop waitress in Baton Rouge, a feed store clerk in Nebraska, a range rider in the Dakotas. 
I want to live in upstate New York in the fall, Maine in the winter.
I want to dive in crystal clear waters, climb an Incan Pyramid.
I want to ride into the Grand Canyon on the back of a burro.
I want to step foot in every U.S. state and territory, and keep a souvenir from each.
I want to party with the locals in Tijuana.
I want to see a midievil castle.
I want to sing mournful songs at the edge of the sea in Ireland.
I want to travel to places no one thinks about traveling to.
I want to feel the love of a good man, have a passionate affair with a European.
I want to learn to read Latin, and become fluent in a foreign language.
I want to travel to that country and put my hard work to use.
I want to attend mass at The Vatican.
I want to help the less fortunate and be ever so grateful for the life I've been given.
I want to ride beautiful horses, go moose hunting, meet a famous person.
I want to learn to fight well.

There's so much I want to see and do in this life of mine.  The thought of being tied down, restricted to living in one place forever, makes my soul ache.  I may not achieve all of my dreams, but I'll sure die trying :)

XO Loves,

Me

The Bay Filly's First Time

The sky was getting darker.
Heavy Clouds were blowing in with the wind.
The 2 fillies fidgeted, swishing their tails.
The old mare dozed idly by.
The little bay filly loped lazy circles, licking her lips.
She stopped, turned, facing her rider.
Following her movements.
She was taken outside and saddled.
A little jumpy on the off side.
But still a quiet eye and a low head.
Standing quiet.
Off again to the arena.
With only 15 rides, the bay is coming along nicely.
Tighten the cinch, pet her head down.
Snaffle easily accepted, halter hung on the fence.
The girl and the horse move around, all is quiet and calm.
Left hand on the reins, right hand on the horn.
Left foot in the stirrup.
Right leg slowly swung over her back.
No monsters here.
Right toe slipping into the stirrup when all is no longer quiet and calm.
The bay filly breaks in two.
The girl sucks her legs into her, but the tighter she grips the harder the filly bucks.
One rein is gone, the short backed filly jumps one way then the other.
The girl is all over the place.
Knowing the ground is coming soon with only 1 stirrup.
Finally she gives up, falling on her shoulder and head.
Was she stepped on or kicked?
She doesn't know.
Dazed from impact.
Th filly continues her trashy onslaught.
Stepping on the reins, jerking herself to a stop.
The girl calmly approaches.
The filly lets her slip the bridle off.
Barely had she stepped away before the filly wildly takes off again.
Seriously offended and light on her back end.
There's a first for everything and the little bay made her first fit a good one.
Hurt and foggy the girl looks at her dog, thankful there's only 1 more filly left to ride.

XO Loves,

Me

One of One

Things have been crazy hectic lately for me, 5 midterms piled on at one time, moving across town and the stress of mis-managed time. Thankfully, there's only 6 weeks of school left, and then Summer.  I wrote this the other night, when I was feeling quite caught up in it all.  I'm just me, love me or hate me, I'll always be me. 

I like big horses, quality leather and fancy silver.
Good dogs and black hats with silver binding.

I like cold beer and Huckleberry Vodka.
Bright colored scarves, gawdy jewelry and too much make-up.

I have too many shoes and too much nail polish.

I hate scuffing new boots, and cow sh!# stains that never come out of jeans.

I like the sound of a Swiss cow bell and a bawlin' calf.
A cool breeze on a hot and sweaty day.

The taste of fresh mountain spring water.
It's just better.

I like the sounds of the mountain when you have patience enough to sit and listen.

I don't like dirt in my teeth, or the choked feeling of buttoning the top button on a shirt.

I like the smell of chap leather and the way my chinks fit perfectly. 
.I like a horse with no quit, one who will give all it's got.

I love a fresh rain. 
The dangerous clap of thunder, from a lightning strike too close.
The electricity left behind.

I like the trust and faith of it all.

I don't fit into any mold.  Beautiful, wild, loud and true.

I'm just me and I like it....

XO Loves,


Me

Kentucky Derby 2013

Well, as we all know the Kentucky Derby is quickly approaching.  Louisville, KY, Churchill Downs, $40 General Admission ticket.  The 139th Running of the Roses, 1 1/4 mile, 20 horses battling for the win of their lifetime.  Big horses, big names, big money and big hats.  Who are your favorites?  Will you be betting this year, or even better do you get to go?!
Check out The New York Daily News for their top picks.  Or visit the Kentucky Derby  official page for information on all of the Derby contenders.  You can actually watch races already run by each horse there too.  Horse Racing Nation is also a great page to check out.

Revolutionary seems to be the #1 pick

Will Verrazano take the top place back as the day approaches?

XO Loves,

Me

Photos from the Past

I was looking through some old pictures I had, and thought I'd share some.

Some waterfalls we did a group project on in a Recreation class at OSU. I think they were outside of Salem.

These little guys lived in a pond by Burger King and were very friendly.

Puss lookin for some goodies LOL

My cat Bug and my friends bunny.

Loved it!

Biscuit Rock, somewhere in SW Colorado

Chimney Rock Ranch, Ridgeway, CO

My favorite stud on the Hawke's Ranch in Olathe, CO

Found this little guy in a gulch while walking fence.

One Awesome little nephew.

Oh yea, these are still in motel rooms. Motel we stayed in for a college rodeo in Ellensburg, WA

Little collection of random.  It's always fun looking through old photos.

XO Loves,

 

Me