Family Farm Friday #73: The Sale Barn

"If you take the cowboy out of society you are going to lose people with integrity and honor and heart and love for country. You're going to lose the best of America." ~CJ Hadley, Range Magazine


Last week I got a facebook message from Cousin Kevin's "Accountant."  They were working cattle and she was trying to find out if making it 5 minutes without getting yelled at was good.  Listen folks, if you're working cattle with my family and you don't get yelled at before you get out of the truck, you've done alright.  I'm a firm believer in working cattle as a test for marriage.....check out this blog from a while back.  (No wonder Mr. Right has yet to arrive....he read that blog and ran for the hills!)

Anyway, the next update I got was that Cousin Kevin and the "Accountant" were headed to the sale barn for lunch.  She said that was the only place that would allow and appreciate the cow shit streak clear across Cousin Kevin's right leg, but she did not seem very excited about their destination.  Any place that doesn't fall into that category is unacceptable if you ask me.

Right away, Little Brother and I both started in with comments about how she was actually in for a treat and how great the sale barn is.  I guess this is one of those warped things that country kids take for granted, that city folk don't know about going to the sale barn.  So, I figured I needed to share the knowledge for Family Farm Friday.

First off, there is a familiar feeling to every sale barn in America; one that makes you feel at home.  You drive up and you'll see pick ups and gooseneck trailers lined up down the road.  You walk in and as far as the eye can see there are old men in boots, Wranglers and dirty cowboy hats.  They tip their hats and mind their language around a lady, they carry fencing pliers in their back pocket, and can tell you exactly how much rain they've had for the year.  Whether you're in Dalhart, Texas, Central California, or the hills of Kentucky, this is sort of a sale barn universal scene.  And I love that.

Second, you've got the auctioneer.  You get a good one and he'll be kinda commical and you'll be lulled to sleep by the rhythmic sound of his voice on the microphone.  I didn't realize this, but a lot of non-farm people haven't ever seen an auction in person, but growing up it was a pretty common occurrance for us.  The important thing to know, and one that farm kids learn early is that you don't make eye contact with a ringman or talk with your hands.  You do not want to have to find your dad in the sea of cowboy hats and start off a sentence with, "Don't be mad, but I think I just bought...."  Never good.

Third, and Little Brother's favorite part, is watching the bidders.  The old cattle buyers are pretty clever.  First off, just seeing how they bid and trying to figure when they are doing it is interesting.  Sometimes it's just raising an eyebrow.  Sometimes flicking a paper.  Other times you'll swear that they didn't even take a breath, but somehow they bid.  They also periodically mess with each other.  One will sit right behind another and run the bid on him, while nudging the guy in front and telling him not to quit and let that other kid win, pretending that he's not really the other bidder.  It's quite the small town entertainment, folks.

Fourth, sale barns are apparently good for romance.  That's right, y'all, sometimes you find a boy who takes you to the sale barn for a date.  My dad took my mom there when they were dating 33 years ago.  Apparently it worked out pretty well for him.  In my experience, these guys are few and far between, so if you find one, you better grab him up and hang on!  Especially if he takes a shower between loading the cattle and the date.  What?  A girl can dream, right?

Finally, you've got the pie.  I mean usually all the food is pretty good.  They'll have burgers or bbq or maybe roast.  All beef, obviously.  But you don't beat sale barn pie.  There's nothing like sitting in a room full of dirty ol' cowboys eating pie with ice cream on top and listening to them talk about life.  It's pretty close to Heaven on Earth in my book.

I know I'm like a broken record here, but farm kids are different.  We grew up with different experiences and enjoy different things.  For some people, a day at the sale barn would be torture.  But give me a building full of cattle, old cowboys and pie, and I'll take it any day!

*Linking up to Rural Thursday.

Friday Book Club: June Books

Well the fun continues and I've now officially made it halfway through the year and my goal of two books a month is still alive!  Woo hoo!!  Today I'm sharing my June Books with Friday Book Club.  (If you missed any of my prior reviews, just click here!)

The Glass Castle

Remember my love for the book Half Broke Horses?  Well the author also wrote this book called The Glass Castle, so when College Roomie recommended it and I saw it at the airport in Costa Rica (before the almost hijacking of my plane), I knew I had to buy it.  I had finished that baby within 12 hours, and I am by no means a fast reader. 

I just could not put it down.  The author writes completely candidly about her shockingly horrible childhood.  Hunger and poverty, abuse and lonliness, parents who stole from their children and squashed dreams all the while telling the kids how lucky they were.  Examples of the unconditional love a child has for a parent, and where even that love reaches a limit.  It was unreal to read, and even more unreal to know that it was true and that the author and her siblings got out and made great lives for themselves.

I do not have favorite quotes from the book, but I'm telling you, this is a must-read if you ask me.  This woman has a gift for writing and I promise you any other book that she pens will be on my shelf.

How To Find Your Soulmate Without Losing Your Soul

In general, I liked this book.  It's probably more geared towards high school/college girls, but there were certainly some great parts that were quite applicable to my life situation.  I loved the part talking about the 10 types of "Mr. Wrongs" and looking through the list only to realize that I've had crushes on 7 of the 10 types.  The 10 types are:  (1) the flip-flopper--the guy who can't make up his mind about what he wants while the girl follows him around like a puppy dog; (2) the fixer-upper--the problem child, the bad boy; (3) the walking hormone--self explanatory; (4) the smooth criminal--like the walking hormone, but smarter and ergo more dangerous, guy with all the rihgt lines; (5) the control freak--has to know where you are and what you are doing 24/7; (6) the older guy--also self explanatory; (7) the potty mouth--it's really not attractive, guys; (8) the tearful cheater--dude is a jerk but somehow talks his way back in; (9) the spiritual midget--guys who are just not interested in faith, either their own or yours; and (10) Mr.-I-Don't-Have-Enough-Social-Skills-To-Meet-Girls-Without-The-Internet--I'm not knocking online dating, it works for some people, but there are some real losers out there as well.  And just for the record, sometimes I am good enough to like a guy who fits in the several of these categories at once.  And that, ladies, takes talent.

Maybe more than the content of the book, I like the idea behind it.  In finding the person who we are meant to be with, I think that it is critically important to not lose ourselves in the process.  We have to know--and stick to--our standards, who we are, what we are looking for, what purpose (and person) God calls us to. 

A few of my favorite quotes:

"There can only be one God.  Either we call the shots or we trust what He's revealed to us."

"So much depends on having the courage to let go of what was never meant to be."

"What the world needs is for women to climb out of their shells of fear and become who God created them to be."

"Let there be no doubt that God honors those who honor Him, and that He always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him."

"Sometimes, God's greatest blessings are when He takes away something that we desparately want."

"The Lord gives us a time of singleness to serve Him and many of us either fill it up with passing relationships or spend it miserable because a future relationship hasn't unfolded according to our plans."

"You'll notice that what saved her from throwing her life away was the fact that she dreamed of something bigger and better for herself."

"At some point in your life you have to decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it."

"Give yourself permission to hope."

"One's soulmate is only visible to the person who is living in the will of God.  Otherwise you could live next door to him your whole life and never know it, unless you were living as God was calling you to live."

"When we don't trust God, we often take matters into our own hands.  It's then that we become our own worst enemies."

"The real reason why people don't stop to listen to God is not because they don't think He'll speak to them.  They're afraid He will."

What I'm Loving Wedensday #24

"Happiness is not a matter of good fortune or worldly possessions. It's a mental attitude. It comes from appreciating what we have, instead of being miserable about what we don't have. It's so simple, yet so hard for the human mind to comprehend."
~ Bits and Pieces

Happy Wednesday to you!  This means that we are halfway through this crazy week I'm having and getting closer to the freakin' weekend by the minute!  Today, I'm sharing a few things I'm loving with What I'm Loving Wednesday.

1.  This picture that Mama Rock posted of her precious baby girl.  Um....perfection.  That's just all there is to it.  If only I looked this cute when I was running, or wearing a swim suit, or just ever, really.  She makes my day.

2.  The hilarious comments I got about my mom's request to have a blog written about her oil being changed, after this blog got my dad to fix the windchimes that she had been on him about for months.  I mean I had people from like 4 different countries worried about her car!  For those of you who are concerned, said oil has been changed.  Good job, Dad.

3.  I've found two "potential future wedding songs" in the last few weeks.  I think both are beyond adorable. 

First, we have Surprisingly So by Amy Seeley.  How cute, right?

Second, we have Nothing Fancy by Dave Barnes.  Melt.  My.  Heart.  I love it!

Now if I could just find a potential future husband (or two, you know in case one didn't work out), we'd be all set!

4.  My new t-shirt.  Check it.

Oh, do I ever.  I miss everything about it.  Everyone wearing orange, the bells ringing on library lawn, parties at the Animal House, every house in town serving drinks in Eskimo Joe's cups, even the stupid hot, humid summer weather!  No lie my dream job would be something that would let me end up back in Stillwater, have season football tickets, go to my favorite church every Sunday and stay forever.  For now, I've got the shirt.

5.  This idea.  It's called a memory bank--like a piggy bank but instead of saving change you save sentimental items like notes, concert tickets, movie stubs, etc.  I'm not paying the $65 that this one costs, but I might just design my own!  How fun would it be to look back through the contents in 50 years?

6.  Last Saturday night.  I got to hang out with my cousins....we did dinner at Elephant Bar (LOVE their citrus chicken salad!) and then I channelled my inner 10 year old and hit up the water park.  Boogie boarding, water slides, lazy river, loved it!  We rapped the evening up by watching a little karaoke (couldn't get anyone to sing with me....I was up for it after what was the karaoke experience of a lifetime in San Francisco!) at the hotel bar.

Time to Get Healthy

"No matter how slow you go, you're still lapping everyone on the couch."

So while we were in Costa Rica, Cousin Swiss Mister really gave The Family Unit a speech about getting healthy. 

Although I'm not jumping on board his Paleo train, I did listen to him and decide that it's time to get my butt in gear. 

 Here are my big goals.

1.  Eating healthy.  This is something I struggle with.  Fortunately for me, I do not like fried food or fast food and I don't drink sodas.  But you've never met someone who is a better friend to a chocolate chip cookie (or any other form of sweet!) in your life.  Anyway, so in my "get healthy" attempt, I knew I had to make some changes to my fridge.  I've got three main focuses.  First, no sweets in my house.  Period.  I have no self control and I know this.  Second, whole wheats.  I swear that all the processed crap and white flower are such a huge part of the weight problem in this country.  So I'm making a conscious effort to stick with whole grain cereal, pasta and bread.  Third, more fruits and veggies.  I actually really like fruit and don't mind veggies.  It's just that I don't buy them and keep them around and accessible.  Here was my healthy food shopping trip this weekend!

2.  Exercising.  Of all of the list items, I'm the best at this one.  I enjoy exercising--running, the gym, spin class, you name it.  But sometimes when work gets crazy and I get tired, it's easy to skip this one.  No more.  Time to get serious.  And I got a good start on this last week when we had a guest spin instructor who was a complete nazi.  I burned 750 calories in her hour long class.  I usually burn 500.  I mean she killed us.  I was sore before I even got to my car!  I've also been running on the treadmill lately, which I don't like, but it's so flippin hot outside I have no choice.  I try to find something on tv or a good magazine to read to get me through it.  Also, the last two trips I have been on I've gotten out of the hotel and gone for a run outside--first around the Gaylord resort in Dallas and then around downtown Oklahoma City.  There really is no better way to see a city and you have the bonus of getting your exercise in!

3.  My Fitness Pal-ing.  So here's the deal.  I did MFP (which is just an online food diary) for a couple months earlier this year.  Lost 10 pounds.  But then Vegas happened and Costa Rica happened and the baptism weekend happened and Brett-Brett's wedding happened and sheer laziness on my part happened, and next thing you know I've gained half of that back.  MFP makes it easy--it's simple math, you get a certain number of calories a day and no more.  So if I want to eat something stupid for lunch, fine, that means my dinner is going to suck.  It's all in the math, and I know it works!

4.  Healthy cooking.  Y'all need to know that I'm NOT much of a cook.  I burn everything and sort of have a policy that if it takes more than about 5 ingredients I don't make it.  For real.  But I was reading Self in Costa Rica and saw this recipe for a healthy dish that was supposed to be a healthy substitute for fettuccini alfredo.  This girl LOVES her alfredo, so I figured it was worth a shot.  Y'ALL.  I cannot even tell you how delish this was!  I mean honestly, as I was cooking (and as I was asking someone at Whole Foods what the heck Oat Milk and Cashew Butter were), I had my serious doubts.  But once I tasted it, no more complaints from me.  It was really easy to make a super delicious.  I'd highly recommend it!

I'd love to hear your advice, recipes, thoughts, whatever. Let's get on this healthy living kick!

Thoughts from an Outsider #4: No One Cares About The Flowers At The End of the Pew

"I live every day to its fullest extent and I don't sweat the small stuff."  ~Olivia Newton John

I'm a pretty experienced bridesmaid.  I know how to sit so as not to mess up my hair during the 5 hours between the salon and the ceremony.  I've learned how to hold a puffy white dress so the bride can use the bathroom, build those little round lantern things, and to babysit annoying relatives to keep people's sanity.  I've donned long dresses, short dresses, ball gowns and tea length skirts.  I can handle major crises like talking the bride out of a freakout the night before the wedding over having to change her last name, or playing it cool when the bride got bucked off of the horse that she was supposed to ride up to the ceremony, or chasing down the limo driver in the middle of the street when the rings were accidentally left in the back seat.  (Yes, those all really happened.)  I've also been a wedding photographer, videographer and I'm a master guest book girl.

All this to say, I know a thing or two about weddings.  Given that it's wedding season around here, I thought I'd share my #1 thought (obviously from this single outsider) today:  No one cares about the flowers at the end of the pew.

Here's the deal.  My point is not really about the flowers at the end of the pew, but what they represent:  the tiny details.  The lace doilies on the reception tables.  The hand-drawn place cards that take 15 hours to do.  The particular shade of off white ribbon on the bridesmaids' bouquets.  No.  One.  Cares. 

Not only to people not care about the flowers at the end of the pew, but those dang things are what is going to cause all of the stress and fighting on the wedding day. Guaranteed. Want a fight between the bride and her mother the wedding day? Bridesmaids grouchy, sweaty and exhausted before noon? Wedding coordinator almost in tears? Have a bunch of little details to deal with.  And the worst part, all that stress is for no good reason.

"That was such a fun wedding because of the beautiful flowers on the end of the pew," said No One.  Ever.  Don't get me wrong, I understand that the bride wants the day to be perfect down the the little details.  But that's not what people are going to remember.  Weddings are fun because of the adorable vows or the great music during the ceremony or (and mostly) because of the super fun reception.  If you want people to remember your wedding, get a great band or a dj that gets everyone out on the dance floor having a blast.  That's what people remember.  That's what makes a great wedding.

In the end, it's all about the happy couple (and pretty much just the bride) and what they want.  If you want flowers on the end of the pew and that makes you happy, go for it.  But if you don't, forget it, put on your dancing shoes and have a killer reception.  And remember, at the end of the day, you're married, flowers at the end of the pew or not. 

Of course, what do I know?  I'm 28, single and working on a closet to rival that chick in 27 dresses.  Take it or leave it.

*Linking up with Miscelleny Monday and Cup Half Full!

Friday's Letters

"Think what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for a nap."  ~Robert Folghum

As I'll explain below, my whole life is sort of off kilter right now due to taking a nap.  So......we're doing a quick blog and linking up with Friday Letters!

Dear job:  I did not appreciate you making me wake up yesterday morning at 3:30 am to fly back home.  And then making me be at the office in a feeble attempt to be productive.  I did, however, enjoy the fact that I was able to leave the office at 3:00 in the afternoon to take a nap before the Thunder game.

Dear Thunder:  The aforementioned nap may have lasted a bit longer than I intended....like from 4 in the afternoon until 1:45 this morning.  This may have caused me to miss your game.  Sorry about that one.   The outcome was not what Oklahoma would have liked, but cheers to a great season.  And to learning not to foul with 5 seconds left on the shot clock for no apparent reason in game 4.  Just saying.

 Dear Kiddo: Please don't be mad at my failure to text you back last night. As you can see, I clearly needed a little sleep.  You are still my favorite.  

Dear weekend:  Hallelujah you're almost here!  I'm feeling some spin classes, some treadmill work, some pool time with College Roomie, and hopefully meeting up with my cousin and his girlfriend who are going to be in town!

Dear Mom:  Thank you for making me spit water all over my computer laughing at your comment on my blog yesterday.  "For awhile, I had asked Dad to work on the windchime because some of the pieces had come off or become twisted, etc. He had not done it yet. However, after reading this blog, he went to the tree and the shop, and now the windchime is repaired! Could you PLEASE do a blog tomorrow about your sweet memories of when you, Denton, and Dad would change the oil in my car?"

Dear Loud Oklahoma Girl:  Two weeks from today and I will be in Tulsa for your wedding!  Two weeks.  Your wedding.  HOLLA!  Pedicures, mimosas, a candy bar, and the Hard Rock.  Cannot wait.  Oh yea, for the wedding part too!

Dear Casey Donahew Band:  I know that you came out with your album "Double Wide Dream" like forever ago, but can I just tell you that it's still one of my favorites.  I've had it on repeat on my iTunes for the last week and it just makes me happy.  Good work, boys.

Dear Sister-in-Law:  Thank you for making my day with the recent Little Cowboy photos on facebook.  Could this child be any cuter?  No.  This is why it IS necessary for Aunt Tiff to send him things like slingshots from Costa Rica and extra large packs of fun dip in the mail.  You're welcome.

Top L:  Helping mom.
Top R:  I assume this is an 8 Seconds pose.
Bottom L:  Watching the rodeo.
Bottm R:  Surfing at the pool.

Throwback Thursday #58: The Music

"Memory is a child walking along a seashore. You never can tell what small pebble it will pick up and store away among its treasured things." ~Pierce Harris, Atlanta Journal

On my grandma's old pecan tree, the one growing between the pine tree that held our treehouse and the catterpillar tree in the front yard, there were old gold wind chimes. During the fall months the tree would cover the yard in pecans. The rest of the year it's usefulness was just to hold those chimes.  But it was an important job.  Because when the wind would blow, the chimes would play a perfect song, there on the front lawn. 

And there would be my Gran, standing on the front porch, wearing her old straw hat and a dress that she had sewn herself.  Pretending not to smoke a cigarette and humming a little tune, like Clair de Lune.  One that she just finished playing on the organ that sat in the piano room.  A song with no words, only music, fit pefectly for humming.

Mine was a childhood every kid should have been so lucky to have, one that included a Gran's house.  Less than 50 steps from my house to Gran's.  A place that was full of MASH episodes and old slides of trips to Alaska.  Paul Harvey on the radio, betadine and bandaids in the bathroom cabinet for skinned knees, and Kit-kats in the fridge.  A place that smelled of fresh baked cookies lots of afternoons and of popcorn on Sunday nights.  A place where my grandma became mine and my brother's best friend.  Where we would depart from to check cows, go to the bank or to pick peas.  A place that was safe and happy and full of love and music.

Memory is a funny thing.  Ask me about something I did or read last week and I'll struggle to remember any details.  But even though it's been years since I've heard my grandma's voice, or sat with her and my brother to watch the antics of Hawkeye Pierce, or heard the melody of the old gold wind chimes, I'll never forget the music.

*Linking up with Rural Thursdays.

What I'm Loving Wednesday #23

"If you let love guide you, you will never regret the story that is written about you."


It's going to be a quick blog today because I'm currently in Oklahoma City for work.  Yes...another trip.  Seriously, I'm setting some sort of record for amount of time away from home (and my wonderful own bed).  Sigh.  Oh well....on to some things I'm loving today!  Linking up with WILW.

1.  More wedding photos.  Photos continue to emerge from the crazy Texas wedding last weekend.  Here are a few of the funnier ones.  I can't beleive I am publishing some of these for the world to see.

That would be my attitude face during the "Jump On It" song.  Classic.

I think this picture of Brett-Brett pretty well sums up the reception.

Jewish chair dance thing...clearly I did not get the details...before they
dropped poor Brett-Brett.  More than once.

Conclusive proof that I have no business doing any dance other
than the two step.  Poor dude in the bowtie next to me looks confused.

2.  This blog about 25 things I want my ranch kid to know.  Love it.  Lived it.  Hope to teach my kids it one day.

3.  This quote from Modern Family.  Hilarious.  And feeling a little true these days.

4.  This song.  Moon River....one of my favorites.  I just love their version!

5.  This article about loving Oklahoma for loving the Thunder.  I love the comparison to a 20 year old yoga instructor.  Hilarious.  Oh, and Thunder, it's time to Thunder Up, by the way!  Let's get this thing back to OKC where it belongs.

6.  These articles about things that she's like to tell teenages.  I think that she's spot on with a lot of these.  Maybe I'll do my one one of these days!

What I'd Like To Tell Teenage Girls

What I'd Likt To Tell Teenage Boys

There we have it, boys and girls!  Hope everyone has a great Wednesday!

Dream Bigger.

"Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves. When our dreams come true because we dreamed too little. When we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord." ~Sir Francis Drake

I was talking to SoulMate friend a couple of weeks ago and, as frequently happens during our talks, she said something that totally blew my mind.

We were talking about life--you know, jobs, houses, plans, goals.  I was saying how sometimes I just feel like I'm not really doing enough with what I've been given.  Thanks to an amazing scholarship, the fact is that I was basically handed a law degree on a silver platter, and I feel like that must have been for a reason.

SoulMate Friend said that she felt the same way, and mentioned a speaker that she heard at a conference one time.  The guys message was one that really struck a chord with her.  He said, "Dream bigger.  Our God is the God of the freaking universe.  Why wouldn't we ask for something big?" (SoulMate Friend may have added the word "freaking" but I thought it was good for effect!)  He told people to ask God for big, great, amazing things.  Because He might just make them happen.

Oh. Holy. Moly.  I am not sure that there was a single message in the world that I needed to hear more than that one, right there.  It's easy to float along.  To do what is comfortable.  Safe.  Familiar.  It's so much harder to dream big.

But it's also so much morme worth it.  If we are to find our vocation and purpose in life, we cannot sell ourselves and our dreams short.  We have to ask for courage.  For strength.  For opportunities.  For conviction.

Yes, it's scary.  And yes, we might fail.  But so too we might succeed.  Our God is the God of the freaking universe.  What big thing do you need to ask him for today?

Even Weddings Are Bigger In Texas

"We love because it's the only true adventure." ~ Nikki Giovanni

Y'all.  Texans know how to throw a wedding.  This weekend I was in the Big D to be a bridesmaid while my best friend from law school, Brett-Brett, married Miss Texas.  They do things bigger in Texas, including weddings apparently!

Me and Brett-Brett

As usually happens with me, things got interesting in the travel department.  (Remember the recent emergency landing and almost-hijacking?)  Well this time it was a crazy cab driver.  I get in and it's a woman driving who has not shaved her legs in like months and is barefoot.  Ok....  I tell her to take me to a coffee shop, like a Starbucks, so I can use free internet while I wait for my ride.  She says, "And you want me to just like, leave you there?"  Um....since you are a cab driver, yes.  Yes I do.  After we got that straight, I asked if there was a Panera because I'd rather go there.  She says, "Let me check my Gammin" (she apparently could not say GARMIN).  Then she tells me the Gammin is named Robert after her ex husband because they were both so difficult.  Ok....  She plugs in the address for Panrea and Robert says, "turn right in one mile" and then "turn right in 1/2 mile" and the crazy lady says, "Robert, you are so single minded, just like when we were looking at buying that house!"  Ok....  By some miracle I made it out of the crazy cab alive.  Just another chapter for my book.

Friday night was the rehearsal where we practiced the art of standing in a certain spot, walking slow, and generally not embarassing the bride and groom.  Not rocket science.  Then we hopped on a bus to head for steaks at J.R.'s, where I proceeded to stuff my face.  So good!  We capped off the night with a little dancing at The Glass Cactus, a club at the resort we were staying at in Grapevine.

And then it was the big day.  I started off with a 2.5 mile run with the wedding coordinator.  At dinner the night before we were complaining about how much we ate and she mentioned she was going to run in the morning and offered to let me join her.  It was not fun getting up early, but I sure felt better afterwards.  I also learned that the wedding coordinator has lost 85 pounds in the last year doing Jenny Craig and running.  She showed me a picture, it was like a different person.  Talk about motivation!

And then it was time to head to the bridal suite to get ready for the day.  Where we spent the next 8 hours.  Holy crap....it was a lot of stress, estrogen and hairspray in that room!  But everyone wound up looking beautiful and the mimosas helped to calm the nerves.

Then it was time for the big ceremony....and it was beautiful.  A friend of Brett-Brett's who played football at UCLA with his older brother performed the ceremony and did a great job.  It was short and simple, but really beautiful and heartfelt.  I'll have to do another blog when the professional photos come back....we took one really great group shot that I think is going to be awesome!  We took pictures for what felt like hours and finally hit the reception, which had the two requirements to make a great wedding:  good food and dancing.

Best parts of the food were the mashed potato bar--I double fisted it and had regular potatos with sour cream, bacon and cheese and sweet potatoes with cinnamon butter and pecans.  Heaven in my mouth.  And to follow up all that goodness, they had cotton candy in martini glasses (you'll see the picture below).  It was awesome.

And then it was time to dance off some of the calories we had just inhaled.  I love weddings where they play tons of fun music and everyone just dances with everyone else.  It was an absolute blast!  There was even the Jewish traditional dance where we all looked confused going in a circle (except for Brett-Brett's family who led the way) and the dance where they put the bride and groom up on chairs and toted them around the dance floor.  They may or may not have dropped Brett-Brett.  More than once.  It was also during this time when the bride's mom introduced me to a little drink called a strawberry balsalmic martini.  Oh my gosh.....y'all must try one.  No lie!

At the end of the night during the last song, the groom was running all over the dance floor to tell everyone to go to the sports bar at the resort.  No need to end a good party!  So we all headed over there and hung out for a while and I let some of the groomsmen convince me to eat pizza at 3 in the morning.  Not a good plan...I still feel sick! 

Now, because I'm a poor planner, I had to get a flight back home at 9:30 in the morning.  Note the reference to pizza at 3 am above and you'll see the problem here.  So I show up at the airport wearin basketball shorts and an old OSU t-shirt, the remnants of my bridesmaid hair, big sunglasses and carrying the biggest bottle of water I could buy.  It was a hot mess situation for sure.  I get on the plane and hear, "Our flight time to Lubbock is one hour." 

Small problem.  I don't live in Lubbock.  So I have a total home alone moment where I realize I must be on the wrong plane.  After some intense questioning, I find out that the plane is going to the right place, but just making a stop in Lubbock.  (Need to do a better job of advertising that, Southwest!) 

When we landed there, the nice guy next to me points to the seatback pocket where he had the barf bag hanging out and says, "I had this ready for you just in case.  Looks like you had a fun night."  I assured him I was not as bad off as I looked.  Then while we were waiting for the new people to board, the flight attendant taps me on the shoulder and says, "Here are some pretzels, honey, I thought you might could use them.  Bridesmaid?"  I said yes and took the pretzels.  Then the guy who sat next to me for this flight offers me a breakfast burrito and says, "It might help."  By this point, I'm thinking to myself, "Just how bad DO I look!?"   I texted the story to a couple of my friends.  The Godfather says, "Maybe you just look sweet and helpless."  Blonde Oklahoma Girl says, "You must look hungry and homeless."  I figure neither was good!

So anyway to sum up my weekend...crazy cab driver, way too much food and drink, a beautiful wedding, lots of dancing, and looking like a sweet, helpless, hungry, homeless person o the flight back.  I call that a successful weekend.  Congratulations to Brett-Brett and Miss Texas, and thank you both for letting me be part of your big day!

Family Farm Friday #72: A Time To Plant

"To everything, there is  a season.  A time and purpose under Heaven.  A time to be born, and a time to die.  A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted..."  ~Eccl. 3:1-2

We've been in a serious drought back home for a couple of years.  Yep, you heard me, I said a couple of years.  When this mess all started, we had about 300 ewes or so and about 90 cows.  And then the rain stopped.  This means two things. 

First, the grass in the pastures doesn't grow, so the cattle and sheep do not have enough to eat. 

Compare 2009 to 2012

Second, it means that we could not grow the crops that we typically grow in order to feed the animals through the winter--alfalfa hay, milo, and wheat.  When you can't grow it, you have to buy it.  And it's far from cheap.

We needed rain to fix both of these problems.  And so, we waited.  And we prayed.  And we bought hay.  And my mom drove to pick up more feed.  And we sold cows.  And we waited.  But the rain gauge remained dry.  And my mom drove to pick up more feed.  And we sold sheep.  And a fire came.  And we bought more hay.  And we waited.  And we prayed.  But the rain gauge remained dry.  So has been the pattern for the last two years. 

The conversations keep getting harder.  "I know all the cows had calves, but we have to cull 10 anyway."  "We are just going to take the ewes from the lease land in the mountains straight to the sale barn instead of bringing them home."  "We'll sell another bull because he's big and needs a lot of feed."  "We've all got to pitch in to afford to buy this next load of hay."  And most recently, the worst.  "If it doesn't rain by June 15, we are going to have to sell the rest of the cows." 

And then, on June 12, just in time, the rain came.  Two inches, to be exact.  That might not mean a lot to some people, but to us, it means that the cows and the sheep get to stay.  That means we can plant the fields--full of the crops we need in order to make it through the winter.  That means a smile on my dad's face. 

To us, it means a reward for the waiting.  An answer to the prayer.  To us, it means everything.

* Linking up with Rural Thursdays.

I Love My Normal.

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are… Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow." ~Mary Jean Iron

This past weekend was the first one in over a month when I did not go anywhere and did not have anything big planned.  My month of May saw Vegas, Colorado, and Costa Rica.  Then last weekend was the big North/South football game.  All of that stuff was super exciting.  I mean once in a lifetime, bucket list, great experience kind of exciting.  And it was great.

But I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't ready for a weekend of normal. A weekend without having to lug a suitcase around or pack for another trip or be on a plane and a car.  A weekend of not wearing heels or worrying about what dress I was going to wear to dinner or trying to get to a restaurant or airport on time.

On Saturday, I slept in and then went to spin class (where the crazy  nazi spin lady tried to kill me...I usually burn about 500 calories in a class....Saturday I burned 750!).  I did some laundry and cleaned out my fridge.  I listened to my iPod and caught up on emails.  Then I hit up the grocery store, watched some Friends and made dinner.  I spent the evening doing some blogging and talking on the phone and reading a book.

Sure, it's not jet setting around the world.  It's not crazy family weddings in Vegas.  I didn't check a single item off of my bucket list.  But I loved it.  I had a wonderful, boring, normal weekend.

My friend Yoga Master (who just got back from her amazing wedding in Sonoma and honeymoon in Hawaii!) posted on her facebook status that she was glad to have some downtime, and said, "I love my normal."  I couldn't agree more.

It's easy to be happy and be thankful when things are exciting.  But it's just as important--maybe even more so--to be thankful when things are normal.  I'm happy to say that I love my normal.

North/South Football

"Don't live down to expectations. Go out there and do something remarkable." ~Wendy Wasserstein
In New Mexico, a handful of seniors are chosen as all-stars and get to play in a game.  They split the kids up and the north plays the south.  Last weekend was North/South Football for the small schools.  It was a little like the Civil War for me....I had Soldier Cousin playing for the South and the Logan kiddos, including my potential future husband (you know when he catches up to me in age and cuts back on this 10 year age difference...we're cute together in the top left picture, no?), playing for the North.  So I just cheered for all the kids whenever they did something good and spent half the game on the south sideline and the other half on the north. 

That's the thing about small town New Mexico.  All the small town kids across the state know each other.  We know each other's parents and what animals we showed and what judging contests we won.  Take my potential future husband's family.  His family and my family have been friends for three generations.  His mom played against Soldier Cousin's mom in North/South basketball when they were in school.  My mom, aunt and grandma taught his dad in high school.  My uncle and aunt are good friends with his grandparents.  It was sure fun to watch the boys play against each other!

Most of the family came into town to watch Soldier Cousin and, because it is my family, we all stuffed our faces with Mexican food before the game and had cake for Aunt Evil Kineval's birthday after the game.  And we cheered like crazy during it.   A group of people that we knew from Melrose (just an hour or so from Logan) would periodically yell, "Number 50, yea!" and our whole family would go nuts screaming and cheering. Yep.  We were those people.

The Family

Oh, and because it was Cousin Kevin's birthday, we had to give him a little shout out.  Uncle Black Belt even took his fake teeth out to hold them in the picture for the celebration.  Why?  I have no idea.  As Cousin Kevin said, "This is where reality shows come from."  Yep.  Those are our genes.

Nothing says happy birthday like a denture picture.

It was a great night for Soldier Cousin and we couldn't be more proud of him!  He's got about a month before he heads off to basic training, and this was a perfect way for him to wrap up his high school football career!

A Baptism and a Castle

"If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another."  ~Tenzen Gyatso

Last summer, I got a potted flower plant at Lowes.  I killed it in less than a week.  That's not true.  I killed three potted plants from Lowes at three different times during the summer.  I don't have a dog.  Or a cat.  Not even a fish.  I think that this makes it clear that I am unable to bear responsibility for another living thing.  Most days, it's all I can do to get myself out of the house with my glasses on, teeth brushed, hair looking halfway presentable with matching shoes on the correct feet.

Given this, when Coach A asked me to be her baby's God Mother, I thought she had lost her mind.  "She hasn't seen the flowers," I thought to myself.  Fortunately, she offered me the title before she came to her senses, and just like that, I became responsible for part of this precious baby's life.  (You might remember my blog about the trauma of her birth...)

On Sunday, GBaby was baptized in a tiny church in Colorado.  The same building, and the same priest, who baptized her mom 30 years before.  The day was beautiful.  Her family all lined up in the front pews.  GBaby looking precious in her gown.  And the God Parents doing their duties---I managed to stand in front of the congregation whilst not dropping the squirmy baby in a slippery dress and GodFather did not catch her on fire with the candle (please note my concerned look towards him with that candle in the bottom right photo below!).  We pulled it off like champs.

Fittingly, the homily given at the baptism Mass talked about gifts.  Specifically, how you can think that you're giving a gift to one person, when in reality that person is giving a gift to you.  I can assure you that whatever gift I am able to provide to GBaby as her God Mother will be, and has already been, returned exponentially to me.  Being part of this baby's life, being included in the important events for this family, being entrusted with such an amazing responsbility....those are gifts that I will never be able to repay.

Anyway, after the baptism, we headed to see "the castle" that I've heard Coach A and her brothers talk about for years.  I learned that it was built by some crazy man (who I was forbidden to talk to by The God Father before we arrived) by hand over the last 20 years.  Y'all.  This place was nuts.  If you're ever near Colorado City, Colorado, you have to go see Bishop's Castle.  So we walked around and climbed up to the top of the castle.  Now, let me make clear.  I am not scared of heights.  I am, however, scared of shoddy welding.  I'm a mechanic's daughter, after all.  When I stepped on a broken step and then crawled up onto the little ball at the top of the castle that was seriously freaking moving with the wind, I had just about enough.  We snapped a quick photo specifically for this very blog, and I hightailed it back down to the ground!

It couldn't have been a better weekend with GBaby and her family.  Clearly flowers aren't my thing. Maybe Godchildren are.

Costa Rica Re-Cap #6 (The Finale): Go Big or Go Home!

"I do not bring back from the journey quite the same self that I took."

*If you missed any of the Costa Rica Re-Caps, click here!*  Linking up with Miscelleny Monday and Cup Half Full.



People thought it might be strange, me going to Costa Rica with three people who had never met each other.  People who are different ages, with different levels of education, different backgrounds, different interests, and who live in different places.  But I wasn't worried.  I know my friends.  And I know that no matter who they are with or what they are doing, a good time is sure to follow.

And I knew we all had one thing in common:  we needed a vacation.  It had been a rough year.  Love issues, losing parents and uncles and friends, family problems, work stress....you name it, we did it.  I don't think there could have been a better trip to have some adventure, tons of fun, a little soul searching and maybe some healing.

Photo via La Mia Vita

After our 8 days together, I do not think we came back the same people as we were before. We learned to do things that scared us.  To jump off the ledge.  That being nice to people really pays off, whether that means an upgrade to first class or new friends from Ohio or Texas or Virginia.  Not to panic and to keep our heads above water when things get tough.  To stop and appreciate the scenery.  That sometimes you have to hike a while to get to the good part.  And that some days, when you least expect it, a Monkey parade appears to brighten you day.  We analyzed our dreams, our relationships, our make up products, and our diets (thank you Cousin Swiss Mister!).  It's amazing the problems you can solve when you're bonding in the sunshine after a couple of drinks containing little umbrellas!  

Early on, Cousin Swiss Mister deemed the four of us "The Family Unit."  No matter where we go from here or what we end up doing, the experiences that we had will always bring us together.  Back to that week in Costa Rica when we rode the rapids, swung like Tarzan, swam in a freezing cold waterfall, met complete strangers and hosted a party at the swim up bar, parasailed, sunburned delicate areas, and almost got hijacked on the way home.  Back to the lessons we learned and the bonds we formed.

Our trip theme was Go Big or Go Home.  I think it's clear that the Family Unit went Big.   I love you guys!