Working dogs!

Well, we had a fun weekend. It was nice to get things done, but also hang out.

Saturday we started with the a little bit of sleeping in, breakfast and then moved the bulls out to paradise. (In with their ladies). We pulled them off a couple months back and fed them up, now it's time for them to get back in business. They should be ready.
We took the dogs. Sage is getting her lessons in riding in the back of the truck and doing wonderful. She is so fearless. When we get to going 60+ Junior hides under the tool box. Not Sage. She has got her head hanging out the side. She is so much like Ace it is scary. (Just personality wise). She is a mess pot!

Ready to work!

Looking through the binoculars

We spent alot of time looking for the cows. We finally found them and got the bulls turned out.

This was not a very good picture, but it was a cool site to see them trailing in toward us. We have a mixture of colors with this herd. They are red and yellow, black and white and all precious in my site! Love them babies!

I also wanted to brag on my cute husband a little bit. I had a rough go at supper last night. Sometimes I just feel inadequate in the kitchen. Even though he might put his 2 cents in every once in a while, he always eats what I cook and says, "That was a good supper, thanks Mandie."
But last night, I didn't make enough noodles for the spaghetti and so I had to start another batch. Then I burnt the garlic bread in the oven. (Not to mention putting bombs in the microwave earlier at lunch, long story).  So, I through a little temper tantrum (totally called for) and then went in the kitchen to start another batch of bread.
For a side note: the dogs love when I cook. They get all the left overs and screw ups! They love my cooking!
So, to finish the story... I got supper finished and it was wonderful. The best spaghetti I have made to date. Everything turned out all right. Plus, I fell in love with my husband a little bit more. He told me after dinner, "I just don't know how you do it. You go to work and work beside me (sometimes) and then come home and cook and take care of the house."
Lets just say it feels so good to be appreciated and loved! Mmmm... he's so good!

I also wanted to show the work he's done on his spurs. He had started making a pair of spurs for the past couple of months, off and on when he has time. He has got more done since this picture (and I'll get one to update) and still has yet to put a button on. He also wants to do the silver work, but doesn't know how to do that yet. He is so talented!

We worked a little on the tile this weekend as well. We got some done, but it is still hard to see the end in sight. The weeks are just flying by so fast. It'll be tough to reach our my goal, but I so want to be in before planting season. We will get nothing done then.
It will be hard to move from our house where we are. I love the trees and grass we have going. It is so beautiful. We enjoyed Saturday afternoon in the shade playing with the dogs. Sage played in the sprinkler for 20 minutes and was sopping wet. She loves the water so much. And Bobby and I played some washers and then lay in the hammock for a little bit. It's good to just enjoy the days a little. They go by so fast.
Plus, I don't think people these days enjoy life in slow motion anymore. It's all about the go go go... more more more... for me simple is better!

Have a great Monday!

Picture Update!

Here are the pictures that I promised yesterday. They're not great, but I'm not a photographer, so what can I say!

Zeva with her 4 kittens

Sage, wanting to shake my hand

She's easily distracted



The house pictures thus far. I know I haven't posteed much lately, but I will have to go bck and see what I've left out. The outside it pretty much finished (aside from framing wood around doors) so I know I need to get a picture of the outside. I have some pictures of the painted rooms, but they are pointless since you can't really tell what color they are.



Lights in great room!

Tile.

Tile before we started yesterday. We got so much more done.

The hearth and entertainment station!

There is still tons to do, but at least it's starting to look like a house!

Goal 1: to get done with all the great room by next weekend... and maybe even bathroom floors. Definitely an obtainable goal!

Goal 2: Be done with all tile by the end of April (that includes showers, tubs and grouting!)

Here are the bride and groom!

My brother got married this past weekend and this is at the reception! She is so beautiful!

Everyone have a happy Friday and weekend!

Easter Weekend!

So, I have been a real drag lately. I did not decorations for Easter, I didn't get any pictures from the wedding and I really have no news to tell.

We had a great time at the wedding. My family and I got to stay in the Farm House at Riven Rock Ranch. Bobby and I stayed in Martha's suite. It was so nice. We ate so good, too! Rehearsal dinner was in Kerrville at Billy Gene's. It was right off of the river and the food was amazing. We had such a good time catching up with the family and enjoying the beautiful green. And then we got breakfast at their grill on site. Wonderful! There were tons of wild flowers on our drive down there, too! Gorgeous!! I told Bobby it was like a paid vacation. We had a wonderful time!

We got home and our second cat had had her kittens. By best I can tell, we have 9 kittens in all now. I am just looking forward to when they will play with us. Hopefully the dogs will be nice to them.

Sage is getting so big! I was looking at pictures from 2 weeks ago and in that short amount of time she has grown a bunch. She is so smart, too! She already knows what, "Manners!" means and will beat Junior to a sit when it's time to play. We have enjoyed her tremendously and love her so much. God definitely had her hand picked for us. She is getting braver though. She is starting to hunt a little with her brother. He loves her, too, and lets her bite and chew all over him.

Bobby has been working hard on the tile in the house. I know I haven't posted much about the house lately, but it's coming along and I'm wanting to get done with this before summer hits. We have about half of the tile done in the great room, but there are still the baths. That will be the long part, since there is showers and tubs to tile. I have been helping Bobby when I can. It sure makes it go a lot faster when there is a tiling buddy to help. Poor Bobby has been laying the tile by himself during the day. Let's just say that he appreciates me coming and helping.


We got home on Sunday around 3 and Bobby was craving a cherry pie. His favorite now! So, since I had time, I went ahead and made one for him. It turned out really good, but didn't last very long!

Hope everyone had a great week!
I promise I will get pictures soon!
Mandie

Hoops, Goals and Dreams

My last post I talked about the rollercoaster I've been riding. Well, I was on the top this past Friday. The regional MHMR and West Texas Centers put on a March Madness for all the clients in the region. I'm going to tell you, even though I went to lend a hand, those people blessed my heart so big! They were so full of life and excited to be there. Love, love, loved it!

Teams being announced!

With Mascots and all!

Lets play ball!

This #15 is my guy. Love him!

Teams Warming Up

Halftime entertainment
Grease Lightenin'

Indian Dance

My Fav.. Willy Wonka and his Oompa Loompas

Last, but certainly not least,
Baby Baby- By Justin Beiber himself

It was such a wonderful time, even if people spit food on you when they talk! I'm there next year!

My Rollercoaster

Life is has been crazy busy lately, and will only be getting busier. I haven't really had any news or any thing to say lately. I probable say this on my blog all the time, but it's true. I guess today the Lord just put something on my heart I thought that I ought to share.

I've not really had too much of importance going on in my life. I have been playing with my new pup, Sage, and Junior. I feel bad that they have to sit at home all day then we have stuff going on after work and it would be pointless if I never spent time with the dogs... why would I have them then??
So, Saturday we got home and since it was so nice we hung out outside. Bobby and I threw the baseball around and then I started pulling weeds in the yard. I turn the water hose on and get the ground soft so the weeds are easier to pull. The water is running and I'm moving it from one spot to another just working away. Well, Sage happens to love water. I look over and she is stopping in the puddle and biting at the water coming out of the hose. So, now she's got my attention and I keep watching her, Bobby and I get a big kick out of it and are laughing... A few minutes later, she has got the end of the hose in her mouth and is carrying it around. Funniest thing. We definitely miss our little Acey, but Sage has been such a sweet addition to our family. God definitely had her picked out for us. Also, She loves her brother. (And I think he likes her, too, even though he'd never admit it).
There's the update on that.

I love seeing God actively working in Bobby and my life. It's very apparent that Satan is hard at work trying to tear up the great stuff God is building. I by no means think that I've got it together (I don't), but it seems like when things start going right, here comes something else. It never fails. I was thinking back last night on how when we have something under control or peace about something, then here comes a swing from the other side. As I look back, it has been that way for a while (just recently it's been more frequent).
Bobby and I had a lot on our mind this past week. We talked and talked about it and then finally we let go of it and gave it completely to God and he pulled through like the amazing and wonderful Father he is! It was such an answer to our prayers! God is good! Then comes another blow.

With all of this roller coaster riding I've done here lately, the climbs are not near as long and the falls are not near as scary. The thing that I take away from all these things thrown in my face is what is most important, not what actually happened. I tend to focus on myself and how I was hurt or how I feel, when it's not about me. It's about how God is going to use me. Through all this I want to learn how to focus on the lesson rather then justifying my wrong actions. I can only be in control and change own actions. So, that is what I plan to do. I will not let the enemy win. He has already been defeated.

I've been reading The Help (it's been like since January when I started... I guess I'm a slow reader) and as I was reading it last night I had an epiphany. When you read this book it's you think this is about the MLK Jr. movement and rights of the blacks then and how life was in the 1960's. You get caught up in the romance and the drama and the agony of all the events, but there is more in the then you think. I don't know that it is relevant to everyone, but I'm at the part where Skeeter is an out cast and feels so empty (sorry if you have not read this or seen the movie). She got her heart broken, all her friends have abandoned her and her mother is really sick. Even though it is for only one of these reasons, but why has all her friends left her alone?? She stood up for the truth and whats right. Even though she knew what the consequences might be, she took the truths side. It was like, "Light Bulb!" No matter what the circumstances are, I want to stand up for what is correct, the truth.

In all of my rambling, I hope that this is what reigns through. That I live my life according to God's plan and purpose for my life. That I stop listening to the devils lies and keep seeking my Abba's face. I can't change Hilly's mind and make her see that she is ignorant to that truth, all I can do is continue to only believe the truth in my life.

We're starting our next bible study (We're done with James, so if anyone wants to borrow the videos they can) tonight which is Esther. I'm so excited. I love how James was bold and down to the point. You definitely have to wear your steel toed boots around him, cause he will step on your toes. But without even opening the lesson yet, I know that God is going to do great things. The title of the lesson is Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman. All I have to say is AMEN, sister!!! I know boys just don't get it!

Sorry to ramble on. I know that this post was more for growth and moving on for me, then anything else.

Have a blessed day!!

Spring Things!

Some weeks I don't have much to say, and others there are tons of things happening. This past week was spring break, which for me means nothing!! Yay! for growing up!  But, I did take Wednesday off to get stuff done. Mainly that meant working calves, but I got a bunch of stuff done around the house as well. Bobby and I had to get the bulls up. We had taken them off the heifers and stuck them in another pasture which we didn't know had the back fence down. Even though they probably never found it, it is best to get them out. One bull had already gotten out of the front (where there is a fence) and they stuck him out with Dennis' horses and Momma Cow (a very old cow who would enjoy her retirement if we would keep the boys away from her fertile self). So, we baited the other bull and finally got him on the trailer, went to Dennis' to get the other bull, broke a water pipe, then Bobby took the 4 Wheeler and rounded up the other bull. 30 minutes later brings him back and we're in business. After that we gathered our heifers and their calves (which I guess they're not heifers any more, but that's what we call them) and worked them. This was such a learning experience. Having only 2 people when it's at least a 3 person job, is always fun. We got it done, though! It was very successful and we have only 2 left to calve.
I really wanted to get pictures of us working, but when you're short handed pictures are the last priority. So, I did get an after picture.

You can tell how much he wanted his picture taken
What a Dork!

We had to take some of the heifers to the sale on Thursday and didn't get home until 10. I had to pack and get ready for the weekend. I left Friday, right after work, and headed to Brady. I picked up my new puppy and stayed the night at my parents. She is a Catahoula and I love her already. I got home last night from Houston and Bobby fell head over heals for her. He held her and started teaching her how to sit. He told me that he loves her. She is already spoiled and when I left for work this morning she cried forever in her kennel like she was being abused. Hopefully she'll get into a routine and learn that she will be in her kennel all day! Poor little thing!
We still haven't named her, but were going to wait and see what fits her instead of settling for something like Junior! hehe!!

My mom, Mollie (sister) and I got up and left the house at 4:30 Saturday morning to get to Houston for the shower. I actually drove all the way, but it was good cause we got to get caught up on our visiting. The shower was fun and then we headed downtown to go the Rodeo. This was Lyn's bachelorette weekend, so we went to the rodeo and watched Brad Paisley, then rode the Metro back to our hotel. That was quite an adventure.
Even though I had a great time with the girls, I don't really care if I ever go back to Houston, again. Some people ask me how I live out here in the middle of no where, but my question is how do people live there. I love it out here in the wide open spaces!

This was when we first got on the Metro to head to Reliant. by the next stop  I couldn't even see Lyn there were so many people.

And of course, I'm not very good with pictures so I didn't get any pictures of the rodeo or of Brad, but o-well.
After a stop at the airport, a girl's house, the hotel to pick up mom and JoAnn Fabric's, we headed back to God's country. Even though there are way too many people, the grass is so green down there and it is a beautiful spring. There were tons of bluebonnets along the road, so we couldn't resist and stopped to take our pictures in them. It was a fun trip, but definitely glad to be home with my hubby!

Spring is in the air with thunder storms and all. I love this time of year!!

My Dot on the Map

I saw this on Pinterest and I thought that is was cool. 

I've been to 22 states. I would love to make it to all of them, eventually... especially the ones you fly to!!!

Now, here is my story on how I made it to the states I have...

1. I live in Texas

2. My mom is from Wyoming, and such is the path through New Mexico and Colorado (Or Oklahoma).

3. I used to live in Nebraska and you go through Oklahoma and Kansas to get there. 

4. When I was little we went as a family to Yellowstone (in Wyoming). We stayed one night in Silverton, Montana, so I think it counts.

5. My sister went to college in Ohio. We went to look at the school on a road trip via Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and back through Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Oklahoma.

6. Mission trip to Canada. Drove from Buffalo, NY to Toronto. On the way back we got to see Canada's side of Niagara Falls. Love!

7. My last summer in college I worked for a barrel racer and we got to travel to all the big rodeos out west. First stop... Reno, Nevada. I got to see alot more of New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada. In Reno I went hiking with my cousins at Lake Tahoe and we went to California's side of the Lake... that counts right?? About all of Cali I need. (Except Avon walk in Santa Barbara!!!)

From Reno to Phoenix, AZ  (p.s. I love Arizona), Phoenix to Colorado Springs, CO via Albuquerque, NM, to Cheyenne, WY back home through Kansas.

8. Home for 2 weeks then to Oklahoma rodeo, New Mexico rodeo then to Idaho for tour finals. We went through Utah to get there and saw the Salt Lake and red dirt. That's about it.

 

I want my next trip, besides Hawaii and Alaska, to be Maine. I've always wanted to go there. Maybe it has something to do with Sarah Plain and Tall. She reminds me of my mother. Anyways...

Where would you like to go???

May God be with y'all in your travels!

Mandie