"Where do awards come from?"

The other day I was talking to my sister and asking her the age old question, "Where do awards come from? Who makes these awards?" She and I came to the conclusion that the blog awards are just started from one person who makes them up and then they get passed around and around. Then we were joking around about something entirely different, and one of us called the other a "ham". I was then curious to where that saying came from. Because, if you think about it, calling someone a "Ham" just doesn't make any sense. So, my older sister being so wise, looked it up. And she found out and found out that the word originated in the early 1880s from a song called The Hamfat Man. It was a black minstrel song about an awkward man. After that, people would use the term hamfatter when someone was trying too hard to be funny and not succeeding. That was ultimately shortened to the word ham. Very interesting!!

So, now we know! And now we have the Hamfatter Award!This award is given to the blogs that make you laugh. The blogs that stand out and just make you smile and chuckle. The rules are easy and simple.

1. Blog about the Hamfatter award, tell where the name came from (you can copy and paste, that is what I did!!)

2. Post the Hamfatter Award Proudly on your blog!

3. Pick 5 blogs that just make you laugh and link to them in your post!

4. Link back to the person who gave you this hilarious Hamfatter Award!

5. Let your blogger friends know they were awarded a little something!

I now will bestow the Honorable Hamfatter Award on five blogs that just make me laugh. You guys are such Hams!!

1. The Trailer Parks Farm Blog This gal will crack you up!!

2. Burried in Colorado Because girl, really what else could happen, between crazy parents to ghosts in your house!! Always an adventure!

3. Simply Undecided Only this gal can look good in a purple robe in a claw foot bathtub while wearing Stilettos. You will have to go and see for yourself!

4. Laughing Orca Ranch Okay she has the word laughing in her blog title!! But with all her animals and her twins and little girl, you are bound to get a laugh. Plus she deserves a few good laughs with her knee surgery!!

5. The Horseshoeing House Wife Because she is hilarious!! She always has something going on over there!!

Oh there are so many blogs that I read that I love, but we will start with five!! Five no more than five no less than five, The Jackson Five!! Okay does anyone remember that one? No? Okay, I am just weird. Or, I am just a ham!! So, now y'all go and award it generously and spread it around the world!! We want everyone to be the honored recipient of the prestigious Hamfatter Award. The world will be at peace when they have all received such recognition. Go forth, and be a ham!

To Train or Not to Train?

My father in law and I have two very different views on horses. He grew up riding in the back pastures of his families farm land. He tells me stories of when he bought his first horse. He paid 20 dollars for it and he walked to pick it up. Then he rode the horse 3 miles home. He always had a horse, and has always loved riding. But he never had any lessons of any kind. He just got on the horse and rode. He would read magazines and some books, but never really got into much "equestrian" riding. That is what he used to call it. Until I told him that whether you area trail rider or professional horse trainer, it's all called "equestrian".


Me on the other hand, grew up riding in a hunter/jumper barn. I had a great instructor, who taught me some wonderful foundations for riding. I then went on to go to college at the University of Findlay. There I rode with some of the top Western Pleasure trainers and rode on the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Team. I graduated with a degree in horse training and I wanted to go on to be an equine nutritionist. Some day I will finish that.


So, you can see, when my father in law and I brought our riding styles together, you could only imagine the arguments. I was told many many times, "That's not how we do things down here." And many times I would come out to the barn and he would have my horse out and he would be working with it. It took about 4 years to get things straightened out. We still have our moments, but it's a lot better. My father in law started doing one of the Natural Horsemanship Programs. Which I think was really good for him. Because sometimes he would do some really stupid things with the horses. We have about three round pen panels that are completely destroyed because of him "working" horses in the round pen. I can honestly say I have never had a horse go through a round pen panel.


So, the other day, our ideas of horses clashed yet again. He sent his 21 month old filly to a cutting trainer. It just so happens to be the trainer that I really want to send Ozzie to. But what I find rather annoying is, the filly he sent, looks really young still. And nobody is going to ride her when she gets home. My father in law wants to send her for about two or three months and then bring her home and turn her out again for about six months. Then why doesn't he wait until the summer to send the filly? I just don't get it. Here is a picture of the filly as a weanling. She was a cute little thing. But now, even though she is "two" according to AQHA, she still looks like a yearling to me. She is still extremely down hill. That was a picture I took of her about three days ago. She has a lot of growing left to do. I would understand sending her to a trainer if she was going to be shown in the summer as a two year old, but she isn't. There is not a show in site for this filly. My father in law's wife, who doesn't know how to ride, wants to just trail ride her. I just don't understand the rush. So, there she is, the 21 month old filly. Would you send her to a trainer right now? If your plans were to just use her as a trail horse?

I did start training Ozzie when he was two years old. But he was defiantly two. And this is what Ozzie looked like as a two year old. He looks a little more grown up than the filly. And I had plans on showing Ozzie. Even though I got pregnant and those plans went out the window. But I was just wondering what every one's thoughts are. Would you send that filly to a trainer?

And I should add, that this trainer is a good guy. He is all about bending and being supple. I really like him, I just think the filly is a bit young.

Lost and Found and Grounded for Life!

The other day, Little Cowpoke and I were playing. Having a grand time. When we looked outside and only saw Belle. We let her inside and called for Brodi. He was no where to be found. I figured he was off in the pasture finding rabbits or something. So, I waited for a little while, and went outside and called for him again. Nothing. No Brodi dog anywhere. He now had been gone for quite some time. About five hours. I was getting worried. He has not gone far ever since Bear disappeared. I was really getting worried. Little Cowpoke, Belle, and I went on a small Brodi hunt around the house, calling to him. And nothing. Not a single Brodi hair. It was time to shower and clean the house so, I went about my normal house chores. Then Little Cowpoke opened the garage door and said, "I found BRODI! He was in the garage!" Brodi was so happy that we found him. I really wish the dog would bark or something. Brodi was in the garage for about 6 hours and didn't make a peep. I was so worried about him. I am glad he didn't go far.

He was really happy to see us. And it was cold in the garage, so I am sure he was happy to get back inside the house. I am not sure what I would do with out my old man. About four years ago, he ran away from home for 4 days. I cried and cried. I put up posters at all the local gas stations. Then on day four a lady called and said she thought Brodi was on her doorstep. I drove over to her house and sure enough, there was my Brodi dog. 5 miles away from home, that little stinker!!

I am glad there was a nice lady who called and told me my Brodi dog was on her porch. So, not finding him the other day was a bit scary. And now on to the cowpoke who is grounded for LIFE!! This is my front door window. It's a lovely door. It's made of pure Mahogany wood and has really nice glass windows. But if you look closely, you can see a design on the glass. Well, that was not like that when we bought the door. In fact, that wasn't like that on Saturday Morning, but some how, it got that nice design pattern by Saturday afternoon. Let's take a closer look, shall we?Yes, that is defiantly broken. Shattered to be exact. Not a single section not shattered!! Let me just tell you that Mr. Cowboy and I were so mad, we didn't even yell. Mr. Cowboy said, "You are grounded until further notice! Now get out of my sight!" What do you say to that?? I have never broken a window in my life!! Come on!! I wasn't that bad of a kid. The story of how it got broken? Big Cowpoke had a spoon and a rock and let me tell ya, that spoon can really launch rocks really well. Why? Why, would throwing rocks at my house be fun? I just don't get it? Boys.........

Rocket Ship to the Moon

What do you do with an old dried up Christmas tree? Well, ours is going to end up in our pond for fish to call it home. But until the dried up tree makes it to the pond, y'all climb aboard the Rocket Ship. Destination, the Moon. Find your seat! Check your weapons to make sure they work. You never know when you might see invaders. "SHHHHHHHH.....VROOOOOOMMMM!!" Sound effects help too. Big Cowpoke is a super start at sound effects. Oh, no, look out, here comes some invaders!You must think quick, before the invaders eat our rocket ship!! And we are safe! Good team work! Next stop, the moon!(The moon was yellow because the sun was coming up and the moon hadn't quiet gone to bed yet.)

Happy Birthday Joe

I am not exactly sure of the date of Joe's birth, but I do know it was in January. We got Joe when he was about four or five months old. The kids were so excited to have him. He was more like a dog than a goat. I even found Joe in my house a few times. He loves to eat my landscaping and terroizes my dogs. Joe really is a great laid back goat. When Joe was younger, the kids would call to him and he would go running after them. It really was so sweet. Now when the kids go running Joe goes crazy. I wish I would have gotten a picture of Joe with all four legs going in different directions. I really don't know how he does it. But his head will shake and his legs will jump and he will run like the wind. Joe was so excited to have the kids out and playing with him. Big Cowpoke played with Joe on his large spools. But Joe wanted to go out and about, not stay in his pen. He ate a lot of grass and ran around a bunch. Goats are so super hard to get a good picture of. And then when Joe would pick his head up and look at me I had a Cowpoke run infront of me. But they all had fun. Joe's big ears kept covering up his golden eyes. He has some sweet eyes. Joe was really grateful for getting a chance to run around. I really wish I could turn him out with the horses, but I am affraid he wouldn't stay with the horses and wonder off. And plus coyetes can't get Joe in his pen. I think Joe was really happy to be out. I even caught a little smile on his face. He also had other looks on his face. Cute, what is that look Joe? Then I got a closer look. My little stud muffin, found somthing he liked!! I wonder if Joe ever gets sad because he is the only goat out here. But he does have some nice Cowpokes to play with. "Hey there little girl!! What ya doing? You wouldn't mind if I had a little taste of that hay you have on your head, would you?"Almost better than birthday cake!! Joe loves to nibble on my hair too. It must really look like hay to Joe. I hope Joe enjoyed his birthday fun!! And that is all there is!!The End.

Simple Sunday

It was warm today and we spent all afternoon outside! I will have to share pictures later! No school tomorrow! Yeah, I get to sleep in!! I hope it's as nice tomorrow as it was today. My boys like their outside time. Crazy Cowpokes.

That's the Sound of the Men, Working on the....Arena

Last weekend the boys brought out the big guns and got to work on trying to get our top rail up on our arena. They first had to get the roping boxes all measured out and those posts put in the ground. Then they had to finish putting the last corner in. We have decided to round our corners and that takes some extra welding time. But I think it will be worth it in the end. Little Cowpoke put on his "Superman Cape" and went out to help work. Never fear, Little Cowpoke is near! He would run back and forth, "helping" the big boys work. Little Cowpoke is always wanting to help out and get in there and get his hands dirty. He calls himself a "Working Man". It also helps to throw dirt clumps. Just look at the green grass trying to grow! Super crazy grass!! Don't you know it's January?That is my view from my back porch. I hope I don't regret having all that dust and dirt so close to my house! I wanted to be able to watch everyone ride their horses from my air conditioned house!! Whuahhahaaa!! Who am I kidding, I am going to defiantly be out there in all that dust and dirt! Cowpokette wishes she could be out in all that dust and dirt too!She is pointing to her Daddy wanting to go out with him. But she is still in her pajamas! I told her, "no", so she turned around and tried to find a way there herself. Here I was telling her, "NO!!!" and she just sat there shaking her head and saying, "Uhhh". She was going to crawl under the barb wire. Little Stinker. Then she tried to act like she wasn't interested in going under the wire. She was just sitting there picking grass. Yeah, I almost fell for that. Not quite!! See Belle? She is looking at me because I was standing there yelling, "NO! You come here right now!!" Cowpokette finally gave in and came back to the house. The men worked all day long. They were trying to get all the welding done before the rain came. The cows and one bull were all looking and wondering what in the world those crazy men were doing! I love how curious cows are. Then at about 2 in the afternoon the storm clouds started moving in. What is really cool about living in the south is you can actually see fronts coming. Can you see this one? And sometimes you can see fronts coming when you are driving, and you will be in the sun and then just ahead of you it will be pouring rain. It's really neat. But You can see the two arrows pointing to Mr. Cowboy and his Dad trying to weld like mad men? Then the rain came!!It first started sprinkling and they kept working. But that didn't last for too long. Then the flood gates were opened! And he was STILL working!!! Isn't that dangerous? Welding in the rain? I don't know too much about welding, but to me that seems dangerous. But they got just about all of the top rail finished. We have one more corner to weld and about 80 feet left of top rail. Hooray!! I am so excited. Watch out horses, here I come!!

And if y'all want to win a really cool necklace, head on over to Holly Lane's blog, Simply Undecided!! She is haveing a 100th blog post celebration and giveaway!! So, head on over there and check out her awesome blog and tell her congrats on 100 posts!!