Perfect!

its raining out, and I am supposed to be helping cut hay, but we can't so I am home playin fetch with Olive. The same thought keeps crossing my mind, and it popped into my head today when Dustin walked by with a basket of clean laundry...I really am happy. like cheesey romance movie happy. Often, like Rachel, I think that I was born a century too late for my personality; a couple weeks ago, walking back from my chicken coop with a bucket of eggs just as the sun was setting and the lilacs were so smelly a skunk could have walked by and I wouldn't have smelled it... I realized that I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

Yesterday we were up weeding the garden and Dad was giving hoeing lessons, like Grandma taught him, because he found a hoe with a short handle right next to the old row marker that was in a junk pile. this row marker was the kind with an iron wheel and wooden handles and a blade that you had to push through the dirt to make the row. I felt like I needed a skirt and boots to do it properly...Anyway, Dad kept telling us about the garden he had to hoe when he was growing up. Apparently it was double the size of my current garden, which is just under an acre, I think. I want that garden! and no job so I can stay home and tend it, then put it all up for winter so I don't have to go to Royals only to find that they don't have what I want anyways!

My college friends think I am crazy. Kristin told me so when she was here for my wedding. She couldn't believe that I loved living in the boonies. She's a city kid, and hasn't had the upbringing I did. I love this farm, my crazy weenie that thinks she's a cattle dog, and my husband who is always covered in dirt and sawdust (and has turned all my white clothes red washing his dirty Torrey dirt socks with my white shirts, but thank heaven he does laundry, cause I don't) Living here has helped me realize that if I don't MAKE time to do what I want, I won't stay this happy.

I am done with over-committing to do stuff, hanging out with people who don't make me happy, and trying to fit into boxes that people think I should. I am not a Torrey hippie, despite going to the farmers market every week and wearing Chaco sandals and not wanting chemicals on my garden. I am not a redneck, despite going on the mountain camping, drinkin beer around a campfire, hunting deer and elk, and driving Dustin's big truck everywhere. I have a horse I can't ride, but I wear my boots like a real cowgirl.I am not afraid to bake box cakes and eat burgers from Chillzz and drink cheap wine, despite being a trained chef. I am going to continue doing whatever I want, because I want to, not because people tell me to! I don't want to look back and remember when I was happy, because I am going to do everything I can to STAY this happy.

I am right where I want to be.

accidental foraging!

Dustin and I took Olive for a walk this morning because she was clear full of energy and tearing up all her toys and making a great big mess... Look what I found while we were walking in the orchard...asparagus
!

There was about triple that but it got eaten on the walk home. I love how really fresh asparagus tastes like peas and is amazingly crunchy. I just eat it. I don't need any butter or proscuitto or anything to make it better...

Fun stuff!

What has been happening 'round the yard/farm this spring? I will show you :D

Missy and Fabio run around kicking and biting each other, then take naps.

We (mostly Bronson) drive the unbelievably loud GoKart around town at high rates of speed.

Even Gramma Cook went for a spin, but only because her hair appointment was the next day. Good thing.

..and the herd of weenies get to go on a lot more walks because it has been nice outside.

They were not nice to Sara last walk though...the puppies ran around a stop sign in opposite directions and Sara was stuck. hehe she won't go on walks anymore.

Smokin' hot mama!

Check out Fabio's mama! She is pretty! I bet he grows up to be quite the stylin little pony!

lazy horses and being late for Rhett's homecoming...

So I have a problem with this new fancy camera...I take pictures, then leave them on the dam camera and forget to finish the post I went out to take pictures for! whoops!

Dustin claims Fabio is the world's laziest horse. HE IS NOT! Horses lay down when they feel safe...Missy must be a really good guard-horse, because Chad evidently feels safe too.


And...I tend to sleep in so... in a true kind-of cowgirl look: Me, feeding the horses in church clothes...Dustin's sneaky picture taking almost got my awesome heels!

Welcome!

What is a kind-of cowgirl? Its me, loving my chef shoes, good wine, and designer handbags right along with my Tony Lamas, Coronas, and Carhartt stuff. So, here I am, a girl with a horse, who didn't grow up wearing a cowboy hat, but had the wranglers and boots all the time right next to my pink taffeta gowns, high heels and chef shoes.

My uncles had horses that I got to ride growing up, but they weren't mine or my responsibility. Dad's horse died when I was young, so my brother and I didn't grow up with horses like many of the people around here. Sadly, I don't exactly know what I am doing with Mr. Fabio, but it will be a great adventure. For now I will opt for earning Fabio's trust with treats and attention. (and my camera so I can show him off). I have some good help from my dad and Dustin's dad, who both grew up with horses, and my uncles, who both condsider themselves 'horse poor' and can help me get his trust, then on his back (prob not till next summer though, he's pretty small).




Mom is a kind-of cowgirl too...it also helps that Chad and Missy are complete attention whores.