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!