I love my 'kid'

This is my 'kid' I am so proud of her and I probably don't even tell her that. She's always game for doing things with me...
If I want to go play in the woods, she's game.
Riding? She's game.

She's also the mom of two of the cutest grandkids I have.
Her heart?
It is huge...magnificently huge.

Here she was asking me how to put on Fred's bridle. I stepped over and dropped it on her head...and told her to let me take her picture.
[I also said I'd blog it!]

I really am one lucky 'evil stepmom'. I have one of the best 'kids' around. I tip my baseball cap to her...

and can't wait for her next visit.
Here's to yah, sweetie.

Morris's Rebuttal

It is pretty simple in my mind.

Most things are...I mean simple.
I am a dog. I am a faithful dog.
SHE went on the other side of the electric fence. A place I dare not go.
The thin little white cord stings something awful, it makes my mind go blank-er.

When SHE ignored me and got busy doing things to the tank that the big mules drink out of, I got bored sitting up by the house watching her.
[never know when those white cords will attack -- you know]

Then Mr. Farmer joined her and the both of them ignored me.
I couldn't help it, it is not my fault.
I followed my nose which led me down to the pony to see if he'd left any treats in the grass by where he is staked out.

Yum.
Something interesting caught my eye a little further up the driveway. It needed my immediate attention!

I had to smell it and leave a mark.

Understand, this is a male dog's duty, his job, his reason for life,...
to search out objects to mark.
And I am good at it.

Onward up the hill...
so many smells
so little time to mark it all...

Quickly I found myself at the top of the hill.
And I smelled HER...
Daisy.
Big, yellow, and gorgeous ... a lab.

And then a young man, who was very willing to pet me!

SHE was SO happy to see me when I was dropped off back home.

That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.

Bad Dog

Morris.

Morris.
Bad doggy.

Only I'm sure he didn't think so. He has never wandered. Until the other day...it was my fault really.
I was helping my hubby clean out the BIG water tank, scrapping and washing it. I always keep an eye on Morris and he always stays by me.
BUT
He hates electric fences, he has been zapped and it hurts.

So, I was on the other side of the fence and he sat watching me. After a while, I forgot about him and continued to clean sludge out of the big tank.

30 minutes later our neighbor's son comes wheeling down the driveway. I walk over to greet him...

He gets out of the car holding Morris, who is looking quite satisfied that he found a 'new friend' and a 'new' ride.
*Is this your dog?*

Yes. I glare at Morris who looks pleased with himself. Happy enough that he isn't really wanting to be handed over.

*He's so cute! I think he is adorable.* The young man says, petting Morris who is grinning happily with HIS new friend [who took him for a ride!]

*Mom said he was yours.*
I hear regret in his voice, maybe he liked Morris enough to keep him?
Hmmm.

*He is mine, and I made a mistake by not keeping an eye on him, I'm sorry.* I say, taking Morris into my arms.
His tail stub is going 90 mph and he is looking at his new buddy.

*No problem,* says the young man, he gets back into the car and drives back up the hill, waving...at Morris?

I scold Morris. [Morris you bad dog, darn it you don't go visiting! Bad dog, bad dog.]
Morris looks at me and hears:

Morris blah blah blah blah blah.

He is happy.

The Contender

Rarely does anyone ever bother to take a picture of ME! Here I was putting Badger away and a little child voice said:

Grandma! Stop, I'm taking pictures of you.

This is from Ariel's little kid digital camera. Let me say that I am impressed as she is beginning to learn from watching grandma and experimenting on her own.

Not only that, I like this picture a lot. It shows exactly the kind of relationship my mule and I have.

I've browsed through Ariel's photos on her camera and some have been typical kid pictures. Sometimes there is a photo of a blurred lamp...but then she comes up with some really nice ones!

Looks like I've got a contender in the family!
Whooo Hoo!

Butt Bees?

Okay, here I am out in 450 acres of woods with just my mule and NOT a soul around...except the big buck that was laying in the tree top until we were almost on top of it...

I'm riding Badger along exercising him, and getting him in shape for his upcoming endurance ride.

My thoughts are wandering [don't they usually?]

I see the Maypoles are flowering, the wild geraniums are flowering, along with violets, and several other wildflowers. I am happy and content.

BUT

I have to well you know...
I had too much coffee before I left the house...

And well you know what happens...

So I hop off Badger and he drops his head to munch while I squat to take care of business. I'm squatted there and right in front of me is a beautiful sample of a Maypole flower combined with a wild geranium.

I reach into my left jacket pocket for the ever present itty bitty point and shoot camera. I figure on doing two things at once ...

I take a few photos, and drop the camera back into the pocket, when suddenly a VERY angry bee starts buzzing my head.

Uh oh.
The bee smacks my helmet.

[I'm not fond of bees]

The bee circles buzzing angrily ... I'm thinking...

*I'm caught with my pants down! I need to vacate this area!*

Solution?

Ever see the bunny hop, shuffle, while avoiding sharp prickly things and an angry bee with riding tights around your ankles? Let's not forget to mention an amused mule who is not worried about an attacking MONSTER bee who I am pulling by the reins.

Yeah.

The mental picture?
Pretty ugly, eh?

But I am pretty talented.
Hop
Pull
Yank
Pants ON!

Remount...and off we go.

Papa, Papa!

Grandpa asks Dennis, do you want to stop riding and go home?

The 2 yr old shakes his head NO and points to the woods, he's ready for more riding. In fact he'd probably ride until he fell asleep in the saddle.
Was it because he was riding or because he was with his Papa?

Ahhh, I think it was the Papa factor.

We led out with 4 mules. The grandparents had the grandkids ride with them, while mom and dad had their own mounts. We rode for about an hour and a half which is pretty darned long to take a 2 and a 4 yr old.

So we know it is all about PAPA with DR.
We had a grand time and so did the 'kids'...all of us...
Ariel likes the rough riding the best:

Getting to be that time of year

Why do I look in the mirror and dismiss those laugh lines, creases...crinkles...and signs of age? Well, simple.
I don't want to look older, but the truth of it is. I am getting there.

52 years old is not old, but the grays in the hair, the wrinkles that I shrug off as 'laugh lines' and the crow's feet around the eyes [can my glasses hide them?] are all tell tale signs.
Gosh, I'm not as young as I used to be!

I had a doctor tell me that once. I wanted to slap her.
She said: *Well you know you are getting to be that age now.*

Exactly what is THAT age? I know, I know, there is no stopping our aging process. But I am content with being 52 [really sound like it don't I?]. After all, I wouldn't trade starting over for anything. Not unless I know all that I know now...

June 2nd I turn 52. Not a big deal, but that means I am early 50's! Eeeks!

My mind still thinks I'm a kid, and I am at heart.
As I've heard many people say, *Getting older sure does beat the alternative!*

Yeah, it does.