ColliesHorsesArtLove

Thrill's Sheep Adventures

O ohhhhh........that's not where the sheep goes!!!!

Trailer Loading ~ Today's The Day

What I love about my hoof trimmer???? He's always game to help me with my horses other than just trimming feet. He's an all purpose guy.

I used to be able to train a horse to go in a trailer, but have lost my confidence. And, I maintained that my new Featherlite was way too high for a baby to jump in for the first time. Little did I know my all purpose guy thought that was a bunch o' crap.

He said it would only take a short time but when we got started it seemed like the 25 minutes of baby making all the wrong choices was going to turn into 3 hours. All of a sudden she just jumped in and lo and behold....found HAY!!!

YUMMY!!!! Baby was so calm and relaxed and better yet, was very thoughful and quiet backing out. We did it several times on both sides and she was just so GOOD!!! I am really excited with our new trick and pretty soon she'll be going for rides!!! My all-purpose guy is AMAZING!!! Thanks Phil!!! AND my baby is very SMART!! ♥♥♥♥♥

Mean APPS

Donna told me about an app I should download called "My Fitness Pal". It helps to tell you when you are going over your calorie limit (not that I EVER cared about that) and caculate your exercise so you can get to your target weight in a set time. I picked 1 lb a week and I am good with 6 lbs. Now I don't want to hear all that doo doo about how I don't need to lose weight because in all reality I don't think I'm fat. I just don't want to buy a size larger jean. So, something's going on.......And since I am wearing my fluffy riding pants day in and day out and T's really sick of them, it's time to do something soon so things don't turn into a NIGHTMARE. Of which I feel like I'm in one RIGHT NOW!!!! Maybe my horse will like me better but I don't know what is wrong with Donna for telling me about this cool app. Calorie counting is the dumbest thing ever!!!!!!!!! D U M B ! ! ! At this rate I will be at my target weight tomorrow morning!!! Oh O don't eat that whole package of saltines at one sitting!! You have just gone over your weekly limit of food!!! O. M. G. 

And for the record I have eaten 1 bagel, 3 (organic and beautiful) eggs with PAM, orange juice (like a ginormous glass), coffee and 1 minneola tangerine AND 5 (no 6) saltine crackers I am now at 6:15 pm and I know T's wondering what we're going to eat tonight. I think nothing. He can have warmed up pizza. I am going to drink. I have 492 calories left to indulge in before I go to sleep. What kind of nightmare is this??????!!!!!! Forever now my app is called "My Fitness Fucker". If I have two or three margaritas I will not need to eat at all tonight and then I won't care what my stupid little app says. Or my horse. Or my friend. Or T. I think I was on a 6,000 calorie diet before.......and Donna just laughs......ha ha ha he he he...

A Little Photo Essay

Cardiff on the grooming table Friday. New thing for her. So I run and get the camera because she's so pretty and cute!

Squishy is interested in something. 

Ooooohhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! Click click click!!!!!

OMG!! How can this happen???????!!!!! SUMMER!!!! What a slut!!!! How does Tahoe do THAT!!!!!???? He's a GELDING!!!!!

Aahhhhhggggggg!!! I gotta go. Foomer Doomers!!!! They are so overpowering!!!!

Ranch Life In October

I woke up this morning and the fog was settled all around the ground and trees. This was much prettier in person as I just can't seem to get a good photo in low light and also one that is CLEAR. Regardless, it was beautiful and the horses thought I was still sleeping so they didn't gallop over to the fence.

We've had the best tomatoes this year. We eat them every day. It just amazes me that anyone can eat a store bought one. They don't even taste like food.

I look every day in the egg boxes to see if the chickens are going to start laying. I think maybe in another month? Or maybe not because we're going into winter. 

Ali'i & Sabi. I love watching them play. They are so funny. They bite each other's muzzles. 

The boys playing made Aura & Khaliq wild. 

My big baby boys!

Dancing Couple ~ Hilarious!!!!

http://sorisomail.com/email/74298/como-se-danca-o-merengue.html 

Martha sent this to me. I laughed my ass off!! Who gets a dog to do this and look so happy and normal???!!!!

Scammers

I have a cell phone. It's the only phone I have. I have Verizon. It's the only service I've had for my cell phone with the exception of Air Touch who got bought out by Verizon. That was in 1999. I loved their logo.

My phone has been acting up, like shutting off when it wants, or I find it off, or the headset doesn't work anymore. So, I call Verizon today because I need to deal with this. They put me in touch with my insurance which I pay $6.99 a month for. Instead of talking to a real person, I have to push either "1" or "2" for a series of questions. 

"Has this phone been dropped? Press 1 for 'Yes' or 2 for 'No'". Hmmmmm. Is this a trick question? 

2. No. Never. 

"Has this phone been immersed in any sort of liquid? Press 1 for 'Yes' or 2 for 'No'". Another trick question. Last time I had to return a phone for not working, it did go in the toilet of my toy hauler while I was taking a piss. So, I lied to the Verizon guy and he opened it up and actually took a sniff. "This phone obviously has been immersed in liquid of some sort". Oh God. He knows.

I press 2. It didn't get wet when I was taking pictures of Donna & Lily last week in the rain. Another trick question.

"Does this phone have any damaged parts to it? Press 1 for 'Yes' or 2 for 'No'". No. Really. Just honest to goodness wear and tear.

"Has this phone been lost or stolen? Press 1 for 'Yes' or 2 for 'No'". No. I am actually talking on it.

So AssUrion Woman comes on the phone and I immediately don't like the sound of her voice. I try and hide it. She looks at my plan and tells me because I didn't drop my phone, knock off the corners in an accident, drop it in liquid or lose it, I am not eligible for it to be replaced. I almost lost myself. I must be pre-menopasal. I could hardly spit out any words without sounding like an insane woman so I just hung up on her. Should I toss the phone in the toilet in two weeks and try again?????????!!!!!!!!! This is why I drink.

I get the energy to call back Verizon. I'm ready to cry. The first lady is nice and puts me in touch with a second lady who is nice but lies.

"I am so sorry you are having difficulties with your phone". Awwwhhhh....she really cares. "We can replace your phone for you, as your phone is still under warranty". This is what I thought. "You pay for an extended warranty." I am so smart.

"Now, we can send you out a new phone and have it to you by 3 pm tomorrow." So I tell her I want the same phone. I love my phone. I love everything about it. Even the color. She tells me "I'm sorry but the manufacturer doesn't make that model anymore but we can send you an upgraded phone because you are eligible for an EARLY UPGRADE!". Oh my gosh!! Not only am I smart I AM LUCKY!!!!! I cry. I grab my face. I feel sick. And, maybe if I was with her in person, I would punch her. I go look online and see the phone. It's $149 and with a $50 mail-in rebate I ONLY pay $99!!!" What a deal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't like the phone but what am I going to do. I have a trial period of 14 days and decide I will do that. Or go in a store to see them in person. (What I really want is an LG phone that fits my 1999 wire hands-free headset. I just want the same phone.)

I ask her if this phone comes in colors. This is where she lies. "Oh no, we are sending you out the exact same phone you have, the same make, model & color". At this point I am doing silent screaming and grabbing my mouth in total disbelief and bliss. (I make a promise to myself I will take care of this phone better than I have ever taken care of any phone. I want it to last for years.) I am so shocked that I can't even ask her why is she sending me out the same phone if the manufacturer discontinued it. GOD!!!!!!!!!! It will be here tomorrow. Why does this have to be so hard?????????? Lying, scamming people who want my money. If I get a new phone, I then have to put the money into a new car charger because the 12 other car chargers I have won't work with this new phone. Maybe I am pre-menopasal but I feel like everywhere I look there is someone trying to scam us out of more money. For insurance, gas, food, dog show entries, horse food, Lana's meds................oh my stomach hurts...... 

Extreme Horse Back Riding ~ Aren't We Bragging??????

Years ago somewhere in my simple & innocent mind I thought my brothers would really enjoy endurance riding. Then Pierre and I went riding with them. My brothers don't go far but they go scary. I did not do this particular trail way back when. But, we rode one that was VERY steep. This ride was after Brian's horse bit me in the arm so HARD as I was cinching her up I though for sure I'd be going to the emergency to have my arm sewn back onto my body. It was the finger in the awning feeling x's 4 ~ or something like that! Vomitus.

I blogged a video of some of the trails my brothers ride a while back but Alan has a new HD camera and the detail is quite good. I'm sure if any of you blog stalkers would like to go for a ride Alan would LOVE to take you!! I'll put you in touch! Though, then again, he might not want to have your horse trip. What the heck does he tell your family? "So Sorry!!" Alan's horse he's riding is 28 yrs old. I know plenty of horses that trip and aren't a third of the age of "Mush".

And BTW, this is for you Donna. This is WAY scarier than the Tevis trail EVEN though Tevis is cliffy and has huge 2000' drop-offs. The difference with Tevis besides being 100 miles, only one side drops off........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goJvl1TNsMo

Tag, You're It!!

Ok. This might be too FB for me but I love Jolene so I am playing.

I got tagged and now have to tell you 5 things about me, 4 of them being outright lies. You pick which is true. Oh, also, I have to display this award on my blog, then pass it on to five other poor souls with blogs. And then they have to pass it on.

Here are the lies or wait...the "TRUE" things about myself:

1. I kissed Secretariat on the muzzle while visiting his famous home in Paris, KY.

2. I was really born in Morocco. My father came over here on a small fishing boat after I was born and found our first home. Then I was shipped over with my mother, who was really from America.

3. Vizslas are my favorite dog breed.

4. I always wanted to be a truck driver and tried out for the "Gong Show" as a teenager.

5. I love cleaning my house, especially in the middle of the night.

For this challenge, I tag:

Julie ~ Easy to Spot

Daneen ~ Her blog

DSS ~ Collies & Life (Sorry I already saw you mentioned but oh well!)

Mothersofbrothersblog

Haiku Farm

4 Days of Dog Show Bliss ~ Ventura, Ca

Ok. I jest.

Soleil won her Bred-By class 3 of the 4 days and most of the time got a good look in Winners. Things got progressively better in a matter of a few hours on Sunday (the 4th day of the shows). She got yet another Major Reserve. If I said I wanted to cry right there in the ring, that wouldn't be far from the truth. I think I heard the judge say something like "a bull in a china shop" as she handed me the ribbon smiling. (Is that like "she's a little shit"?) Anyway, the judge had an accent so she could have said "Your dog is a horrible little animal."

Soleil then won Best Bred-By by default as the rough Bred-By dog didn't show up, so I stayed for that group (of course the very last one, especially exciting when I had to drive 6 1/2 hours home) but the cool news is Soleil won the Bred-By Herding Group and got to go into Bred-By Best In Show. We did not win that, a very pretty Clumber bitch won, but I was happy to be there.

Soleil seems to be a bitch that people either flip over, or they have nothing to say. She looks amazing right now, so when I walked up to the group ring, Bill Shelton was there with his Bred-By Corgi. He was so sweet because from quite far away he said "Wow, lookin' good!!!" He got second to me and was very complimentary of Blondie, as were several people from ringside. I love Bred-By and it's always nice to get compliments on dogs I've bred. After day 4 she was pretty well-behaved too.

Here is Cardiff on the table getting socialized to all the dog show doo doo.

The other absolutely wonderful thing is Secret Service finished her blue bitch Prudence. I must say that was worth the trip. And, speaking of Bred-By, I believe all of her points were out of that class. Funna Funna. BIG Congratulations to Secret Service!!!

Cell phone pic ~ so not the best. 

I decided to bring Cardiff along for a little road trip and socialization. Good thing because her name is Entais Wild Cardiff???? It fits. I really need to train my dogs. She's VERY outgoing and thought the whole trip was pretty wild. Wild and Crazy Cardiff. Omg. I really am training my horses way to much!

One of the very coolest thing about going down this particular weekend is my bestest friend Lori was visiting her parents and I was able to see her. The reason I love her so much is she laughs at everything I say, and I believe I do the same. Years ago Lori's sister and I named some collie person a name that was VERY descriptive, except we never called her that in front of her face. Well, one day on a long dog hike Lori, who didn't know this person very well got "hoof in mouth" and called her that name by accident. Her sister and I almost fell off of the trail. Suddenly the hike was excruciatingly long. I don't think anyone said a word for miles! Anyway, the other night we were laughing so hard about that we were snorting. Ok. I wasn't snorting. She was. When I see and talk to her it's like we're never apart. 

  

Ewwwhhhhh.......what a photo!!!

It was VERY windy in So. Calif. I might miss a whole lot of things about my original home, but wind is not one of them! Only in the high desert, do you have tie-downs on your gates to keep them open while you drive thru so they don't smash your car.

  

Lori with Cardiff & Soleil. She told me she'd take Cardiff home in a heartbeat. She was pretty much in love with her. She didn't say much about Soleil. See, either love Soleil or don't say anything....

Lori's always so efficient and practical about life. Since we didn't have a long way to walk the dogs, and I wanted to tire them out before going to the show, she suggested I walk way up this little, but steep hill and we'd call the dogs back and forth between us. After about 8 trips, Soleil & Cardiff were only making 1/2 the trip. By the time I got into the ring several hours later, Soleil was all rested up and obnoxious. So, the hike just made her stronger. Like training an endurance horse.

The next 3 nights I stayed with my friend Jody & daughter Kaila in Agua Dulce. That was really fun. 

After eating at my favorite Mexican restaurant in town, the next night we had an amazing dinner that Jody cooked. We also drank. Of course.

I love chicken pot pies. For my birthday when I was probably 9 or 10 my mom asked me what I wanted for dinner. I wanted this, except it was cooked in an oven which is really different from microwave cooking.

This kind of alcohol is easy to get into. The next night I had some real wine, but there was no cork screw in the house. Luckily the landlady had one. I couldn't do a second night of Strawberry White Zinfandel!

My wine glass. It goes with everything.

Now for all you Canadian Blog Stalkers......this is suppose to be the soy sauce of choice. At least for Jody. She will not use any other and has her mother bring her a bottle every time she visits. I tried it with rice and have to say....IT WAS VERY TASTY!!! So, there ya go!! Soy sauce straight from Canada! I feel like I am becoming more Canadian every day.

Then Jody and Kaila got comfy. I forgot sweats, so had to wear jeans. I was pretty jealous. Especially when I saw Jody's fluffy pink loungewear.

And feet....

The landlady's dog was missing so Jody & I went out on the ranch looking for him. She tried to stuff her little hound doggies into a pair of cowboy boots. Hahahaha!!! The fact that she even tried made me laugh!!

Anyway, she found the doggie. He was locked in the horse trailer where she thought he was. Small little Jack Russell. Coyote bait.

After dinner we watched (a new show to me) "Freaky Eaters". Ok. That show freaked me out!!! We watched the Russian girl who lives on cola and has been for the last 15 years. (She was 20.) Some 30 cans a day. I guess she gets her fiber from twinkies, cookies & ding dongs. She did not want help. So next time I accidently down a whole box of cookies, but end it with a salad. or something like that, I won't feel like a freaky eater. Just....OMG.......I feel so  n o r m a l . . . 

Speaking of Freaky Eaters. I left Zoe home with Tony and she's off and on with her food. He was so great with all the animals and one night (might have been after the screw-top wine) he said he was cutting Zoe's raw, meaty bones into small pieces (and searing them with garlic powder & parmesan cheese). I thought he said he was chewing her bones up for her. God he's amazing!!! Hahahaha!!!!!

While I was in town, I walked my dogs twice a day at Vasquez Rocks. Oh how I miss that place!!! I used to walk there 5 or 6 times a week for an 1 1/2 hours. Kaia was a baby (3 months) when I started taking her and she's just lose her mind. She's split into the hills, I wouldn't know where she was, then all of a sudden she was right behind me, then off again. She always checked in with me constantly, then I'd see her high on a ridge chasing coyote or bunny scent. Such great memories. Punky.....I miss Punky.....

This was Cardiff's first time there. I was able to get quite a few photos of them with the sun low in the sky. 

Cardiff LOVES to pounce!!!

I love this shot of Soleil!

The moon, still up.

Fluffy little collie butts!!!

Early Sunday, I drove to Quartz Hill to watch Kaila compete in a gymkana. She is almost 8 yrs old and has qualified for the state finals. She is so adorable and the nicest child I have ever been around. And Jody says "Because I raise them like that". I know Jody well so it's not a shock to me how her child is like this. Her baby does not bitch, whine, complain or have temper tantrums. She does her chores, and always has a great attitude about virtually everything. Jody just doesn't put up with any disrespect so her child always knows where she stands. What a breath of fresh air!!! 

We had a very late ring time on Sunday, so I was able to go out and see Kaila compete. She won her first round, then got several 2 places & I think a 5th place. Kaila rides a HUGE (16 hands) horse named Brownie who they are doing a lease with, so he's virtually her horse. Anyway, here are some photos of them. I DID NOT want to leave, so hopefully I can see her again when I'm down, and am planning on seeing her at the state finals.

 

This is Billy, another horse she rides. Good boy! We walked around the neighborhood with the dogs one night.

Here she is practicing with Brownie the day before. Love this photo with the dust & sun! Look at that kid's form. Beautiful posture & leg placement for a little child!

Wild Cardiff at the gymkana. She is VERY friendly!! I have ill-behaved collies.

Here's Kaila & Brownie in their winning run. 

Little, little babies get to run also at these events but they have an adult take them thru the course on a lead. I think they call it Leadline. I LOVE this horse & tack!! That would be me if I was 3 or 4 yrs. old.

This wouldn't be me. But it's cute....isn't is???

I try and take my camera everywhere. This was funny!

This is a horrible photo because I had the setting wrong, but she's a little bay arabian that has to have Khemosabi behind her. She looked so much like Ali'i! 

Kaila & Brownie.

Aaaaawwwwwwwhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....................my trip really was blissful.................