Peanut, Our Old Man

We have now had Peanut for 5 months. He has found his place in the herd and feels comfortable enough to come into the barn to eat. At first he was afraid to come in the barn to be fed, but now he comes trotting in and actually stands at the feed room door looking in the window just waiting for food. He really enjoys being fed. We have been trying to get some more weight on him. I make him a wet bran mash type thing. I wet a scoop of bran with a scoop of 12% pellets and then he gets a half a scoop of Horse Chow 100. It's a 10% complete feed. I just started to give him the half a scoop. I think I might change him all the way over to the Horse Chow. It's an awesome feed that doesn't give horses too much protein and a lot of needed bulk. That is what's so wonderful about a complete feed. I have also thought about feeding him a senior feed. The man at the sale barn said that Peanut was about 17 years old. But his front teeth are pretty short, so I think he is probably more like 20 of not older. My father in law said if he is 20+ that peanut might not gain more weight. Well, I just want Peanut to gain more weight up along his backbone. Peanut gets fed his hay separate from all the other horses. I want to make sure that he eats all that he gets. The other horses eat their hay out in the pasture. I am afraid once Peanut looses his fuzzy hair that he will be a bit ribby. He does have an apointment for his shots coming up and I am going to have his teeth floated. He doens't drop any grain, but I just want to make sure that is not the reason for him not getting as round as I would like him to. He is only 14 hands, if that, and so I wouldn't think, that for a smaller horse, it would be so hard to get him to gain a little weight. I don't want to start riding him a lot come spring time and have him loose a buch of weight. He is a neat boy. And I can never imagine someone wanting to just get rid of this horse. He was just dropped off at the sale barn. The Kill Buyer was bidding on him when my father in law convinced his horse trading buddy to bid on him. The horse sold for 225 dollars. But you all know that story, so I won't go into detail. The kids all have really enjoyed having him here too. Yesterday Big Cowpoke and Little Cowpoke were arguing about who's horse Peanut was. Big Cowpoke told Little Cowpoke, "Peanut is my horse, I just let you ride him." We all love Peanut. Even Cowpokette can't get enough of him. Every evening when we feed horses, she has to go and sit on him. Peanut puts up with us messing with him. At first he wasn't too sure about all the attention, but now he doesn't mind. As long as he has food in front of him, you can't get him to budge. I am not too into letting Cowpokette ride quite yet. It makes me super nervous. But she really does like sitting up on the horse. She moved her hips back and forth because she wants to go. It takes a lot of concentration to pet him on his neck and tell him good boy. I think her tongue helps her out with balance. Pure Joy. I just might have my horse lover child after all. I really hope that Peanut can stick around a lot longer to take her places. Because you know she is going to have to keep up with her big brothers. She thinks she can do everything they do.

But if any of you have any ideas for up keep on an older horse, let me know what you feed. Peanut has free choice pasture and gets hay too. I don't want to feed him something that will get him hyper, my kids ride him. So, nothing that will make him too hot. I welcome any suggestions!!

I Heart Photoshop

The other evening I wanted to take some pictures of the horses and of the kids. I got some of the horses, but it started getting dark when it got time for the kids pictures. But, despite the darkening sky, I took pictures anyway. Nothing can stop me, not even a little darkeness. I really do not like flash pictures. I have issues with the flash and the funky way it makes people's faces "glow" and how it gives everything a shadow. So, I don't use it much. That was one of the main reasons I wanted a Digital SLR, so I could focus myself with out a flash. When I downloaded my pictures to my computer. I noticed that all the pictures I took of the kids were funky looking. Here is Big Cowpoke. This is the "straight of of the camera" shot. You see how pink he is? The sun was setting and giving everything a "red" huge. I was sad because it was a good picture, and it seemed unusable. Is unusable a word? But anyway, I put the picture into Photoshop Elements 5. I am too poor to own the real deal. I got Elements 5 at Wal Mart and I love it. It does just about everything that the full blown Photoshop does. Just about everything. But today, I found a cool new tool. The "Adjust Smart Fix". It's under the "Enhance" menu. I love it. I used to play with the "Levels" option all the time to fix my colors, now all I have to do is "Adjust Smart Fix". Can you see the difference?Pretty cool huh? And all I did was move the little dial over to about 88% and that was it! I am in love. I also then took and "De-Saturated" the photo a little bit to see if that made any difference. His lips were a bit pink. But that kind of faded the picture a bit too much. But I think it's okay. I think I like the brighter colored one better, though. But his lips were still a bit bright. So, what did I do? I went and got my "Lasso" tool and out lined his lips. Then I could "De-Saturate" just his lips and keep the color in his cheeks.Better, No? Well, I think it's better. I think I could make the picture pop just a little bit more. What do you think?So, here it is. I made a second layer and used the "Soft Light" option and changed to opacity to 50%. How many of you are totally confused? That is my first out of the camera shot and the second one with the "Adjust Smart Fix".Then I "De-Saturated" the picture and thought it lost too much color. So, I then used my fun layers and gave the color a boost with my "Soft Light" option with the opacity of 55%. See, it's easy!! Which one do you like the best? I think I like the last one. I may have to go back and get the pink around his eyes a little less. There I think that is it. I have taken the red out and if I was a Photoshop Super Star I might be able to know how to make skin look smooth. So, if anyone knows, please let me know!! I may have to go look over at Pioneer Woman's Photography website and see if she has any pointers. I think she just did a thing on smooth skin. She has some cool actions, but I can't use actions in Photoshop Elements. I would really love some actions. They are really easy to use. They are a one stop use, instead of me having to do a bunch of this and that. Elements is fun to use and I learn something new everyday.

I am a bit obsessed with Photoshop. My sister has taught me everything I know. She still knows a lot more. I need to pick her brain a bit more for some more pointers. So, for all of you who think my camera takes good pictures, haa haa, I had ya fooled, it's really just Photoshop. Okay, 80% of it is the camera, the rest is all Photoshop Elements.

Late Night T.V.

So, last night I got all snuggled into bed and started flipping through channels to see what was on. And I came across RFD-TV. I like to watch the horse shows they have on there. It's interesting to watch the different training techniques. Plus, I could watch horses all day long. Well, I started off watching Clinton Anderson working a 6 year old Thoroughbred gelding from off the track. That was pretty interesting. Plus, how can you not like watching Clinton Anderson? And his accent.......sigh.......but anyway after Clinton Anderson, was Chris Cox."Hey, How YOU doin?" I could watch him all day long. Any man that can ride a horse and wear Cinch jeans like that man can does, will have my attention. You see, Mr. Cowboy looks pretty darn good in a pair of cinch jeans too! But back to my late night t.v. watching. I sat back and watched Chirs Cox talk to a bullrider instructor, the name escapes me. They chatted for a bit about how well bullriders have to be balanced and sit right, and blah blah blah. Then they introduced us to three bullriders. Their names totally escape me. I am sure if I could have woken Mr. Cowboy up he would have known them all. I recognized their names, I just can't remember them. Well, anyway, they all chatted for a little while and then they did a bullriding demo. It was neat to watch. Then after that was all said and done. Chris got them to get on a horse bareback and on a lung line. All three bullriders rode bareback pretty well. I was impressed. My butt probably would have hit the ground. I haven't ridden bareback in years. Maybe I should take that up this summer? Well, after they were done lunging, they went to a Hunter/Jumper barn. This is where it got entertaining!! Oh dear......There was none of that fancy rope work at the hunter/jumper barn. No sir! They had the barn's trainer do a quick jumping demo over some fences (with out a helmet) and then the three bullriders got a turn to jump too, with their cowboy hats on! That was too cute. The first bullrider to go was such a good sport. He got left behind and his hands were all over the place. The poor horse did really well though. Such a cute jumper. The same went for the second cowboy to jump. Then the third cowboy asked how he could keep his hands more steady. The jumper trainer gave him some pointers and off they went. Oh, dear, it wasn't much better. But I give those cowboys credit. They were sure trying hard. And you know what? I would never get on the back of a bull, and they were more than willing to try riding a big horse in an English saddle.

One of the cowboys said, "Wow, that's a lot harder than it looks." Then the last cowboy to go asked if he could do it bareback. He said he doesn't ride bulls with a saddle so he wanted to see if he would do better with out a saddle on the horse. The hunter/jumper trainer said sure. So, the cowboy went for a line of three jumps. And he did so much better than when he had a saddle. Now that was impressive!! I defiantly would have slid right off that horse.

Then Chris Cox was given this huge gray horse to ride. That horse was super springy. It looked like a jack rabbit going over the jumps. Chris rode it in a double bridle and probably jumped 3 foot 6. The horse really didn't round pretty over the jumps. My guess is that it some big time show jumper and wasn't used to jumping small jumps. But Chris did awesome! I was impressed. Then the show ended. It was entertaining. It was fun watching bullriders ride horses in English saddles over jumps. And Chris Cox wasn't too bad to watch either. Hee Hee.

I don't know if you can watch old episodes online, but if you can, last nights was great! Well, for the entertainment value. I am not sure I learned anything new, but it sure was fun to watch.

Sweet Dreams

What does a 25 pound bulldog puppy look like at 1:30 am when you wake her up?"What ya looking at?""Seriously, I was sleeping. Stop taking my picture!""Don't make me come over there and bite that huge camera you have connected to your face!"

"Ughh, it's too early to argue with you. You are going to take them whether I want you to or not. So, go ahead and take them.""But seriously, stop, I want to go back to sleep.She finally gave up on giving me dirty looks and fell back asleep. She and Mr. Cowboy could sleep in "their" chair all evening long. Don't get too comfy girl, you sleep in a kennel, and don't forget that.

My Diva

This morning I was out in the front yard pulling weeds. With this warm weather weeds have been popping up everywhere. I dug out some landscaping rocks and pulled weeds. It was very therapeutic. And all this was before 8 am. Such a productive morning. Then, I got to take a quick shower before the Cowpokes woke up. We have had a rough last couple of days.

Cowpokette has had a fever. She has not been sleeping well. She will wake up in the middle of the night and need me to hold her and rock her back to sleep. She is my first child to absolutely despises medicine. If you walk up to her with the medicine and a dropper she will start gagging. I can hold the bottle up to her and she will shake her head and push the medicine away. Drama Queen. It takes Mr. Cowboy holding her down and plugging her nose so I can give her some penicillin. If we are lucky she won't throw up. It's really all a mental thing, well at least I think it is. She gets herself all worked up. Before, when I have given her medicine, she took it just fine. But now, when she sees me coming with the pink stuff, boy does she get upset. She is my little Diva. Drama, drama, everywhere. Don't be deceived by her appearance. She really is a terror when the medicine bottle is around. "Who me? I looovvee to take medicine. I don't give my Mom or Dad any problems *cough cough*" Good thing she is so cute. Yep, that is just about the face she gives me when I am approaching her with the bottle of the pink stuff. Then her head starts to shake "no" and her hands start waving the bottle away. She is such a little stinker.Oh sure, now she smiles. She sure didn't look like that when I was there a minute ago. I will have to take a picture, or even better, a video of her tonight when I approach her with the medicine bottle. I sure do not think that it's funny. I really do not know how to get her to like taking the medicine. Maybe she will just grow up being my little Diva. Cowpokette even has some Diva eyes. One sure looks bigger than the other. It must have been the angle I was sitting at. I also haven't quiet got the hang of getting my camera to focus in two places. I only got the left eye in focus. I guess one of these days I will have to get out the book that came with the camera and learn how to use my new toy. I don't only have a Diva Cowpokette, I have a Diva Little Cowpoke. Little Cowpoke is at the stage where he likes to have his picture taken. He also loves to pose for the pictures. And yes, he was wearing a "muscle" shirt in January. I am telling ya, it was 77 degrees here yesterday. My tulips are starting to come out of the ground and I am going to have to cut the lawn before all the clover takes over. It's out of control. So, the weather and my little Diva are both acting strange.

Sucker Winner(s)!!

I was so excited to read about every one's New Years Eve plans. I am happy to know that I am not the only lame one that sits around watching movies and eating junk food until 11:59 pm. We went to a friend's house in Baton Rouge. It is always a great time over there. Then we got to go to Houston on Saturday to pick up Big Cowpoke. That was fun. I always get so excited to pick him up. So, finally today, I had some time to draw a winner! I know I have you all just sitting on the edge of your seats......Little Cowpoke reached his hand in the cowboy hat, moved the papers all around and pulled out the name........Erin, over at My End of the Rainbow. You are the winner. She really deserves a little sucker break with her five boys!! But then Big Cowpoke was throwing a complete fit. He wanted to draw more than one winner. And because I am a sucker (ha ha get it? Sucker??) for kids throwing fits, he got to draw a winner too. Big Cowpoke moves really fast. He is a tough one to photograph. Not to mention he was in a bad mood. He quickly picked the name and put it on the kitchen table. The name he picked was...........Jenn, from I Hate Wine. I just know she will love these. She is expecting her fifth child!! I really hope you like these suckers!! But the fun doesn't stop there. Little Cowpoke wanted to go again. He loves to pick winners. So, he reached in the hat again, and........I am not too sure what happened with this photo, but it's living proof that I really do stink at taking photos!! I am sure there is some kind of white balance messed up or something. Oh, yeah the next winner is..........TJ and Mark over at The Ranch on Salmon Creek. Hooray! But, WAIT, there's more!! It's like one of those info-mercials. Big Cowpoke came by again for another drive by drawing, and he chose two more names. He had them both in his had, so I could not turn one down. So, the two other winners are.........Lacy a mom and horse lover, over at Carroll Farm and Sarah Skarda a super crafty mom who can make the coolest stuff over at The Skarda Family!! I hope you all enjoy your suckers!!

So, to my five winners!! Please email me your mailing address and I will ship to you a fresh batch of multi flavored suckers, courtesy of Mr. Cowboy. And keep a look out for another sucker giveaway this winter. We only make these suckers in the winter due to humidity and heat, so I will try to do this one more time before it gets too hot.

Horse Play

I was testing out my zoom lens yesterday. I found Ozzie and Prince playing in the pasture. I stood on my back porch and zoomed in as far as my lens would go. Ozzie and Prince play just about every morning. I think it's more of a male dominance thing. Ozzie tries to let Prince know who's the boss. Prince won't be two years old until May, so Ozzie has to tell him who's the boss before Prince gets any bigger. It looks all innocent at first. And they have to check to make sure that nobody is watching them. They go back to getting all sweet, and then Ozzie tries to break out the big guns. Who ever can put their head up the highest and bite the other horse wins. But I think Ozzie is just a tad bit shorter. Poor guy. Then they are off. Who ever is the fastest wins. I think all the mud and water was slowing them down just a tad. Yeah, running was not a very good idea. Once last face up to determine who's the boss. But I think Prince was a bit fed up with Ozzie's games. Prince reared up and I think he smacked Ozzie in the muzzle. Let me zoom in a bit on Ozzie's face there a bit. Yeah, Ouch! I bet Rocky never felt like that! Ozzie didn't have to be told twice. He will have to try for alpha gelding some other day. I think these two act like this because they are the only two geldings in a pasture full of mares. I hope that one day Ozzie will just give up the fight for head honcho. Oh, and the arena is almost done. We just have to do the two short ends and the roping boxes and we are finished. Hooray. Oh, and this is totally off the subject, but my sister in law gave me the coolest purse for Christmas. Well, it really wasn't for Christmas, it was just because. My sister in law said she thought it was too big. But I love it. I am using it for a diaper bag and purse. I was so excited. She is the best!! And that bad holds a lot. I have diapers, wipes, infant Tylenol, Cowpokette's shoes, socks, wallet, makeup, pens, and I still have lots of room. Not to mention it has the cutest eggbutt snaffle bit I have ever seen. So, when the bag is all worn out I can just cut that bit out and use it on a pony!! Fantastic!

Oh, and I have not forgotten about the sucker contest. We just got back from Houston today. I got to go and pick up Big Cowpoke! We are so excited to have him back home. So, I will do a drawing Sunday night. I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year!!

Oh, and one more thing. If any of you want some free toffee, Lori, over at A Cowboy's Wife is having a toffee giveaway on her My Wooden Spoon blog. It's a super easy to enter and there will be 7 winners!! So, if you didn't get any toffee or would like some more, head on over to her blog and leave her a comment!!