He May Be A Little Young......

But he has figured out his job!

The Act of Flirting.....

can start at an early age. How well do you flirt?

Cowboy in Training

It is amazing what you can learn by watching and listening. I love learning new things - wouldn't it be fun to assist individuals in different professions for an entire year? There is guy that recently did that right out of college. What professions would you choose?

Getting Prints Made for Christmas

This is photo I took of a friend's horse when I was on the east coast a few months ago - I know its a bit soft and I wish it were sharper. I still haven't sent her a print! She has been very patient waiting for this photo and it is ready to go to the post office along with the winners from my contest. The most interesting thing is it practically reared on command! Though "Red" doesn't know how to shake hands like Dudley! I wouldn't ride this horse - would you?

Just waiting for Mary & Joseph -

Hope everyone is getting ready Christmas! Happy Birthday Jesus! Does your family have any traditions you would like to share? I'd love to hear from you!

Looking for a Unique Gift

I don't have a green thumb and I don't like to garden. But I receive daily emails from wordsmith.org - the magic of words, language and quotes. I don't subscribe to many listservs but I do enjoy this one - sometimes I know the words like topiary but most times I don't. Yesterday's word topiary got me thinking if I liked gardening I would not only have a huge vegetable garden but some sort of topiary menagerie of animals. The menagerie would include a herd of horses, a giraffe, elephants - so many critters that word would spread through the Southwest - people would want to come visit from miles around and the media would call often and want to do stories about my topiary! But no topiary for OneCowgirl!

Farewell to Summer

I had many a great ride in two countries wearing that huge "sombrero" as seen in the banner photos above. Girlfriend Fredrica the professional photographer referred to as my Martha Stewart hat - it was time to say goodbye!

Imagination....

Welcome to the first giveaway from OneCowgirl!! I am looking for a unique title, phrase to accompany this photograph. Give it your best and I'll draw a winner. The winner will receive a OneCowgirl original photographic print of a horse - suitable for framing! Times Up!

I am a Quarter Horse

Dudley will be happy to know I am a Quater Horse. What breed of horse are you? Find out!

Some go to the Gym

others climb on cattle trucks!

Rainbow.....

Perhaps it was the Thanksgiving ham in the oven that was calling him but this was a beautiful rainbow and quite the photo op but Hollywood refused to indulge me!

The Drug of Choice!

How many of you keep these little 8oz. Co - Colas in your fridge? They are absolutely addictive. Growing up my grandmother always kept these gems in her refrigerator and no doubt on every visit to her house I would have one. They are hard to find but well worth having on hand!

Intimate Conversations.......

What on earth could they be saying to each other? Hollywood, "This generator better start this time!" Smiley Dog, "I know you'll get it started you can do everything! Did you change the spark plug? Check the oil? Spray starter fluid on the choke?"

The Obsession.........

My Father, the man than instilled in me the love of travel and maps has decided he would like to visit every county in the United States - then he found this bizarre website where he can actually track it! My father is the champion of marathon car rides - his obsession with driving lends itself to many inside jokes in our family. He went to Iceland a few years ago and sent me a postcard of the country - I called my brother to see if he'd gotten the same postcard - and he had - we took bets on whether or not our father had driven the road that went all the way around Iceland - its called the "ring road." Sure enough he had! Well he's not driving his Morgan but the blue counties above represent which counties he's visited so far. I'm glad my mother is such a good sport!

Morgan: A Car or a Horse?

When I was a mere tot (not that many years ago!) - my Father told my Mother (the woman that instilled the passion of horses in me) that he had planned a trip to England and they were going to buy a Morgan. To her surprise the Morgan was a sports car not a horse! I know nothing about Morgan horses and saw this billboard in some airport a few months ago - don't you just love it? What would add quality to your life besides a Morgan?

Meet the New Addition Squeky!

Lone Cowboy.....

Movin On Without the Babies!

So quiet.....

Confession!

OneCowgirl wishes to apologize to her blogging buddies for letting you think this was Dudley! Even my mother called concerned. Here is the link to the article with the mishap and it has a happy ending! The horse survived with only a broken jaw! Smart Filly.

Dudley Thinks He is Pooh Bear!

OneCowgirl I"ma in TROUBLE.....Get me out!!....lov, Dudley (don't call me Silly Filly!)

Looking over the Fence......

Watch This!

My girlfriend over at Lucchese to Luis Vuitton posted this video about a precious American Cowgirl. Quite an inspiration.

Monday Morning

I went riding in the North Carolina Mountains - isn't this an idyllic spot? This photo was taken by a dear friend and tweaked a bit in photoshop! More of my travels to follow.

Lookee Whate 1cowgirl Did??

She pppainted me to lookee like a zeBRA! I'm furiousosy! Nowse, I knowse I loooke likee a great zeBRA but really whate ise she thinkin? First, there is my nemesis and now THIS! Perhapse shee should just see me when I'm runnin out the gatee and never to returen! She even cutted my mane! What do you thinke I should do to her? Nowse, don't say bucker off - I would nevere do such a rudee thinge - Studley Dudley does have mannerers! So, whatse the verdicete?

Doesn't this Bull Look Friendly!

Well, you are most likely wondering why is OneCowgirl showing me a pic of her saddle bag and a pic of a bull! Well, its because last time I pulled a bottle of water out of my saddle bag it was covered in dirt! Why? Well a few weeks ago - Hollywood had left me alone to move a bull while he went back for another. We had found the bull hiding out way up a canyon - for over two hours he had picked his route more or less in the right direction - for the most part he'd been fairly cooperative. As you know, its a heck of a lot easier to move bulls when they are traveling with female companionship and he had none! When we picked up the second bull - that's when the trouble started - Hollywood yelled at me to make sure the first bull didn't run back into the
Poisen pasture. Well my bull took off with a vengeance headed straight to the poisen pasture behind this tank. I got him stopped thanks to Studley Dudley that is after he got into the poison pasture - then he became very uncooperative. Sometimes, you got to chuck a few rocks at a bull to make him move - some cowgirls and cowboys are brave enough to do this from the ground but NOT OneCowgirl. So, once I got the bull stopped - I dismounted and filled my saddlebags with rocks. I am sure the bull was happy that I have never excelled at softball - he was tired and cranky - I finally left him there for the night after we played ring around the mesquite tree and I threw lots of rocks in his direction! I moved him the next day - it was much easier because we found some cows to travel along with him but thats another story!

One Room School House

I am amazed at the number of folks in the blogesphere that home school their kids. Somehow, as much as I love my mother I couldn't imagine her attempting to wrangle the kids and home school us. It is a job she would not apply for. Now, I realize there is wealth of resources available today that were not available in my day (notice I didn't say the number of years ago!) so, maybe some aspects of it would be easier for her. For a variety of reasons, I believe the home school parent is much like a one room school house teacher. I love hearing stories about one room school houses and home schooling. Life is an adventure - the curriculum and life experience that home schooling provides is phenomenal - from traveling the world to working cattle some home schoolers are living the life!

Difference in Time

Have you noticed the light changing as fall approaches? Or spring depending on where you are? It is always interesting to see how weather, time of day, light effects the landscape -

Treats for Me!

Jet loves carrots and anytime you go in the tack room he peaks his head in hoping you will open the fridge and bring him a carrot. If you don't have a fridge in the tack room I highly recommend it for not only for carrots, medicine but also for refreshments! If one is not careful two of the horses will actually come in the tack room both of which can manage to turn around in the space above! As you know, Jet got hurt a few months ago and Studley Dudley reported it. Jet has recovered nicely and actually has been sold but not picked up. Though he doesn't have shoes I am supposed to put the first ride him "since I'm lighter than Hollywood" and see how he does. Wish me luck!

Love Clouds!

Cumulus clouds really do make for a nice picture or stratus clouds - though stratus clouds are difficult to capture without the right kind of backdrop! Thank you to everyone for all your kind comments and compliments about my photography. Here is a link to a little cloud game to help you learn your clouds!

Rainbow at the Ranch

Could you hear me singing? In case, you want to sing along.....

Isn't This Classic?

I snapped this photo in Northern New Mexico. I just had to stop the truck and take a picture!

Look at the New Horse I Bought!

Isn't he fancy? Dudley is already sulking. Just kidding. This is a childhood friend that did really well in the NRHA finals last year - I believe she was second in the novice horse division. Don't you love the look of concentration on her face!

Wide Open Spaces.....

I think Duck is saying, "Now where did you park the trailer? Should you paint it pink so I can see it better? Well at least this pasture doesn't have any hills!"

If Things Could Talk....

Have you ever wondered if objects, horses, cats, dogs could talk just what would they say? What would this old tree say What would Duck say? I sometimes say things that I would expect to hear Dudley say for instance "One Cowgirl you just missed the turn to the barn.. this ain't the way home..haven't we done nough today..I am not chasing anymore bulls"

Cattle Drive 101

Dudley is still whining about not having a passport. I told him I will inquire next time I'm at the post office. I think he only whined because two of us moved so many cows on Fri. & Sat. and he was thinking an international vacation is in order. Saturday would of been easier had there been more than two of us moving cows but there was loads of country- over 100 pairs- many places for the cattle to hide and the cattle decided to spread out! It was tricky gathering them together and keeping them all moving at the same time - I'd get part of them started and then ride upto Hollywood then ones at the other end where I started driving them would stop...at one point we'd got started again and lo and behold its a mtn. in the middle of their path - some decide to cut right, some cut left, some decided grazing up high on the mtn was the answer to not going any further - we just split 'em down the middle and off we went pushing them on either side of the mtn...it was alot of riding but I had fun.

Destination Beijing

In case you are like me and love watching here is the main NBC link to the Olympic Equestrian Teams!
Here is an interesting article of how the horses are transported - and best of all here is one of the slidshows of globe trotting beasts! They actually have horse passports. Dudley is already ringing me asking me when is he going to get his. How many of you have horse's that have passports? Here is an article about a 67 year Japanese man competing in the Olympics! A true inspiration - remember girls we will never be too old to ride!

Mask in the Mudroom

My mother has a huge collection of masks from all over the world - eclectic and exotic. Now, the mask above I picked up in Ponce, Puerto Rico years ago when I was working on a project there. The mask parade every year in Ponce is Puerto Rico's answer to Mardi Gras.
The vejigantes are the undisputed stars of this show, but what, exactly, are they? In a word, they're demons. More to the point, the vejigante is a figure straight out of a centuries-old folklore that blends African, Spanish, and Caribbean cultures. The name originates from vejiga, which means "bladder" in Spanish. The traditional vejigante costume requires three basic components: mask, cape, and suit. The mask is the most iconic and colorful of these essentials, and even it has rules and regulations: The vejigante mask has a conflagration of teeth and horns. Just like mine! Like Mardi Gras, the carnival has its roots in Catholicism. The vejigantes, armed with their vejigas (inflated cow bladders), go around whacking children and other innocents, ostensibly to beat away any evil spirits that are lingering around them. However, given that they are known to target attractive women, these spiritual motives might be suspect. The festival ends with the Entierro de la Sardina, or "Burial of the Sardine." This mock funeral, complete with dummy-laden coffin, is in honor of the coming season of lent. Coffin and dummy are set on fire, to symbolize the burning away of the sins of the flesh. If you are planning a trip to Mardi Gras or Rio de Janerio for Carnival you may want to consider Ponce instead!

Sea of Cows

I just love it when we get to move lots of cattle but you all know that already. Its even better when the cattle know where they are going!

OPps!

Stud Dud here. Boy OneCowgirl is madd at me. Seems thats my eare in the picture! Sometimes I just get tired of her snapin here there ande everwhere. She pulls up on thosey reins (steering apparatus as we horses call 'em) and expects me to stop so she can take a picture. Well I got her - I just raise my heade and put my ears in her pickture. Pretty clever don't you think?

Rain

It is absolutely amazing what a little rain can do for this country. I won't bore you with cow moving stories today.

Reuniting......

I love it when you can re-unite a momma with her baby. My task was to go move two pair out of the riparian area (it’s a major no no for cattle to be in this area) and into one of the adjoining pastures. Seems the momma’s had escaped thru one of the water gaps with all the recent rains. I saddled up Studley Dudley and off we went with our small task to complete. The first pair took off running when they saw me and then another cow joined them in the run. The mesquite was thick and I am wondering where on earth is second the calf. The pair and the lone cow took off across the dirt road and upto the fence line of one of the pastures. I followed to make sure I knew which direction they where going hoping they were headed toward the closer gate. Then I circled back to look for the calf - thinking well maybe momma has her stashed under a tree for a morning nap. But no sign of the calf. I go back to the cows thinking maybe she’s dry and doesn’t have a calf. Nope she’s got a big full udder. Then I notice momma is near the fence line bellowing out to all the cows and calves in the pasture as if she really has a lot to say but one little calf seems somewhat interested in her bellowing. So, I think well if I move momma down the fence line maybe her baby may follow and then I’ll know for sure if it’s her baby. I try to herd momma toward the other pair and she wants nothing to do with moving away from this particular spot on the fence line. So, I have at least confirmed her calf is on the other side of the fence. Of course, there is not gate nearby and I’ve got to move her down the fence line. Finally, after much conversing with momma – the baby calf follows momma down the fence line. The calf had to cross a ravine which was difficult for the little bugger but he managed – Studley Dudley was incredibly tired of the ravine since he got to cross it multiple times on his side of the fence in the process. I got to the gate, go off and opened the gate, remounted and pushed the pair & caring momma thru the gate!

Moving Cows

Have you ever had the pleasure of rounding up and moving a herd of cows? I must say it is one of my most favorite things to do in the whole wide world. Even if it is nothing like you expect and the cows don't cooperate. At times it is very unpredictable. Ok, there are few things I that might choose to do instead like a 10 day African Safari on horseback but other than that I can't think of anything else at the moment. I often wonder if I'll ever be able to just ride a horse for pleasure again without having a mission of some sort ...like riding fence line, checking water lines or hunting for stray cows.

Rain Finally!

Its not often that we get to move cows through water on this ranch! Well there is one small creek behind the house. Can't you tell Hollywood looks really concerned that we may not be able to get all the cows across this raging river! It was the morning of the babysitters club so keeping track of the number pairs was a bit difficult. You do know what a babysitters cow club isn't don't you? Seriously, momma cows will go off and leave with their calves with one momma cow to watch. The largest baby sitters club I've ever seen in one cow and six calves. I think she was licensed.

Phone Booth

Hollywood doesn't like to do phone but this is his phone booth. If he parks his truck just so by the cattle chute he can sometimes get a signal.

Smiley Dog Rules

This Shadow - she earned her name because she follows you around like your very own shadow. I call her Smiley Dog because she likes to show her teeth.