How'd They Get the Halter on that Horse!

Aww, the crazy ramblings in my head.

The world….what a fabulous place! Millions of pictures & stories to be told every second!

The other day….

The bulls swaggering down the alley….bright blue sky with a few big white puffy clouds perfectly coloring in the sky. Always seeing pictures….stories & moments of perfection caught for a second in your mind. The title of the picture would have been “Returning Home from Battle Victorious” ….yes, I name the pictures in my head : ) The story that was being portrayed was that of triumphant rodeo bucking bulls galiantly making their way off the truck & down the alley back to tell all their friends of their victorious weekend! Much as warriors returning home to their village to tell their family of their victory.

(yes, this is exactly what was running thru my head as I opened the big log gate & the bulls trotted down the dusty alley towards me....lol)

OK…..let’s get out of my head….It’s too scary there to stay very long!

The last couple weeks have been a whirl wind! Lil’ Red Roan & Rodeos have been keeping me on my toes! Thank the good Lord above! Doing what I love & getting paid for it!

This adventure starts out heading to the CSI college rodeo! Nothing out of the ordinary…right……WRONG! I had to make my maiden voyage of 2010 in the FREIGHTLINER! Oh geez! There was a whole lot of … I think I can…..I think I can…..I think I can...being chanted along the 3 hour drive! I MADE IT…. In one piece & so did the truck & all the stock! Yay!

I ran into a team roping friend that owns his own trucking company at the Flying J truck stop. Aww, let’s just say that I was more than embarrassed when he told me he saw me pull in. : ) He gave me some helpful hints for the road. (That’s right….I was being a Lounge Lizzard, swapping stories with my trucker buddies…haha)

I’m gonna cut this story short. Overall, CSI was a great rodeo! CSI has an wonderful rodeo team. They put on a great performance & it was a pleasure to work with them. It was a priveledge to be able to be a part of their production! Also, a shout out to the amazing crew that Hoggan rodeo had there! With that many talented people gathered together, it is pretty easy to go home triumphant at the end of the day!

Without further ado….here is one story that just can’t go untold!

The HALTERED HORSE

The last performance of the rodeo has came to a close. We are getting ready to trail the horses back out to their pasture. I head out to the hill to close the gates & open the gates to the pasture. There are about 4 gates that have to be closed so the horses don’t escape. All of which are high traffic areas for timeys getting to their trailers. By the time I get the 4^th gate closed…the 1^st one I started with usually has to be double checked again. This fun lil’ game is the reason I stand guard out on the hill…to ensure that the gates aren’t opened & horses turned loose.

I holler for the guys to send the horses. My gates are closed & the pasture is open. Standing in the dark up on the hill awaiting the horses. The bucking horses not used in that performance were already out in the pasture. They made their way up to the hill to greet me. That nights rodeo horses come loping out of the building & meet with their comrades. As I look thru the herd of horses I see a……horse with a halter on it. Ugg, some timey’s horse must have gotten loose & I was joined up with the bucking horses. I make my way into the middle of this sea of bucking horses. I get a hold of the lead rope but she isn’t wanting to lead very well. Dragging me by Satin Sheets ( a beautiful blue roan bucking horse) & all but running the lead rope under her tail. I turn loose of the lead rope not wanting to get kicked by a bucking horse. All riled up by all the bucking horses, I’m sure. I slip around & get ahold of the lead rope again. This time trying to get close enough to the fence so that I can take a wrap around a post to snub her up. Thank the good Lord above I couldn’t get her close enough! She drags me across the hill top again & I start YELLING for the guys at the door for help! HELP…there is a horse with a halter on! (ugg…seriously…..I can’t even catch a stupid timeys horse) A bull fighter & a CSI roughy make their way outside to help me. (thinking I’m crazy) No, there is actually a horse with a halter on it. The three of us can certainly get her cornered up & caught. The rest of the bucking horses are tired of being ran around & head out to pasture. I set out to turn her back. ……Nope….their is no bluff in this ol gal & she didn’t even bat an eye at me trying to stop her. SERIOUSLY! Ugg….so the guys & I head out around the bucking horses afoot & in the dark. We sort of a small set of horses to bring in with her. Well, sort her off & catch her. I’m on the gate & the bull fighter is sorting. Holy mackerel….! There are 3 of us & we still can’t get her cornered up! After try after try after try….I’m fed up! Let’s run her back in the building. I run down to the building, thru the side door & holler for the big door to be opened. The rest of the crew inside….now thinks I’m crazy also. Why? They ask. Just open it! I have a horse with a halter on. They open the door & we run in the haltered horse with 2 other bucking horse companions.

Low & Behold……..This black & white mare is packing a number 4 brand on her hip (our rodeo company brand) & a 100 number brand! HOLY CRAP!!!!! This is 100 MISS LIZ…..one of our bucking horses! We run her into the stripping chute to get the halter off. This mare was not even in the short go performance! How in the heck was did they get the halter on this horse! If I was truly evil, I would make you wait to hear the rest of the story…like I did.

HOW did they get a halter on that horse?????! This question pledged me all night! It propably would have plagued me for years if it wasn’t for a random turn of events. David & I get to the rodeo grounds to load the rodeo stock & head home. Well, nice girl had parked in front of the loading chute. Her pickup was locked & no one could find her. No problem, we had to gather, sort & do a few things before we loaded. The college team was there cleaning up & a some of the kids came out to help us gather the stock. One of the guys says….Oh, there might be a halter on one of the horses. I don’t even hesitate.....before following with a ….HOW DID YOU GET A HALTER ON THAT HORSE!!!!????

He proceeds to tell us that she had got stuck in the fence the afternoon before. She was pinned with a leg thru the fence. Her hips were pinned so she couldn’t really move. They put the halter on to help get her out but once they’d freed her…..They couldn’t get the halter back off! LOL…..wow, that would’ve plagued me for life if I wouldn’t have heard the rest of the story!

I would also like to thank the college girl that locked her keys in the truck. After we were sorted & ready to load….the truck’s owner still hadn’t surfaced. After about an hours time….a group of inexperienced criminals finally perfected our breaking in skills. The trucks wheels had been left turned to the left so…we pushed the truck up hill & out of the way so the semi could back in. All a new experience for me, which I appreciated learning new skills. But most importantly, THANK YOU….because if that truck wouldn’t have been parked there….I might never have know how a halter got on that horse!

I made the trip home from Twin Falls safe & sound. My shifting has improved with every mile . ( I still don’t love it but I can successfully move forward ;) The last couple weekends, I was grateful for that trip because it made the short trips the Freightliner & I had to make by ourselves seem a lot easier! Hoggan rodeo was doubled up so everyone went their separate ways for the weekends. First & foremost I need to thank my family for helping me get ready to go & taking such good care of me. Regg is real good about making sure everything will be smooth sailing for me. Thanks for all your help Regg! You rock! McKell & Ellie were great help too! Crystal & I hauled to Leadore & got along great! Wonderful rodeo weekends! Aww, I love spring!

So I’m gonna cut these weekends tales short too. Mud Lake & Leadore rodeos went really well! Thank You to District 1 for allowing Hoggan Rodeo to be a part of your rodeo season! That being said, I will finish out with a few hilarious lines that just can’t go untold!

· Mud Lake’s rodeo went well. Survived the truck driving again. Horses that weren’t supposed to be much had there trips & just fired right out of the chute. ( I told Regg & David it’s because I’m a better flank man ;) The highlight of the rodeo however had to be when this bronc stalled….I was flanking & headed him out at the same time! It was awesome! Still not sure how that works but it was awesome!

· Being a GIRL is awesome! (It’s not everday you’ll catch me saying that” The weekend of Mud Lake, my Uncle asked me if we’d had any complaints. I said No, no one had said anything to me. Well, next weekend I would find out why……They didn’t know who to complain to! Like I said earlier….Being a GIRL is awesome! The next 2 stories, you’ll see what I mean.

· I’ve loaded the horses . My first bronc rider is just about ready to nod his head….when a timer hollers down from the announcer stand…. “WHERE’S the Flank Man?! We need a FLANK MAN?!” I am standing right there. My hand is on the flank….lol! I casually raise my hand. I don’t know where the flankman is but I think I can handle it : ) lol…made me laugh

· After we get our rough stock bucked, the pickup man & I are filling water troughs. A kid comes up & asks the pickup man who the stock contractor is? He really needs to talk to them. (Keep in mind that the pickup man & I are the ONLY ones standing there) The pickup man replies, smiling, I don’t know. I’ve never met them before. The kid rambles on about how he knows Pat O’Maley but he doesn’t know these guys. (for the record, this is the second weekend in a row that I’ve taken the stock to this Districts rodeos. I brought the exact same timed event stock as the weekend before) SO I ask the kid what he needs? He tells me that a Doggin Steer is bad & needs pulled. I tell him that I will let them know. As he goes to walk away, the pick up man says, Here, let me introduce you to your Stock Contractor. I reach out & shake his hand. The kid replies with numerous vowels….AAAA….UUUU….AAA….Oh….AAAA…Oh… all in a stammering type reply. He finishes out by saying the steer is real bad. Needless to say, my phone call to report into my Uncle David this time consisted of “There might be complaints…just no one knows who to complain to!” I loved it! Haha…what a great weekend!

Spring has sprung & a rodeo season is under way! There are a few stories from the last couple adventures! I hope you enjoy them & I will have lots more soon to come!

See You Down the Rodeo Trail!

Just What I Do When I’m Not Feeding Elk & Taking Chopper Rides

Just Want I Do When I’m Not Feeding Elk & Taking Chopper Rides

Now the last stories you heard from me were pretty exotic. Wolves, Gran Tetons, Helicopters, and Thousands of Elk! Well, the following is a look into just few of the adventures I get drug into during a typical week at home.

MOUSING AROUND :

Regg calls and asks me if I can come drive for him to feed? No problem, I reply. He’s gonna come down & pick me up. Sounds good, simple chore and won’t take long. He arrives about 10 minutes later in an old blue feed truck. We set out the back way around the block to go feed. I’m on the phone…… when suddenly…. a mouse appears right by the gear stick! I SCREAM!!!!!!! Death curdling SCREAM!!!! I don’t like mice in general but I’m really not a fan of them in enclosed areas with me! The mouse scurries away down a hole in the floor lining & disappears. Oscar is laying right underneath my feet & he doesn’t even see the mouse by his head! So much for my dog being a good mouser! Regg thinks I’m crazy…he didn’t see anything either.

My phone friend has hung up….thinking that we died in a fatal car accident while on the phone with her. I call back to let her know it was just a mouse. Keep in mind I am now sitting with both feet up on the seat underneath me. Aaaaaah! Another mouse appears RIGHT UNDER REGG’S FEET! GET HIM! GET HIM! GET HIM! I am yelling at Regg to step on the mouse under his feet! I looked the mouse in the eyes…I swear it was a different mouse than the 1^st spotting! Regg doesn’t see him at 1^st & by the time he does the mouse has crawled under the plastic floor matting that is peeling up. Regg is stopping on the floor & all about trying to get it. Hitting the gas pedals….brakes….& anything else the culprit tries to hide under!

Thank You! We are finally to the field to feed! I am more than happy to jump out of the mouse infested pickup to get the gate. I even offer to feed. Regg says if I’d know all we needed was mice for you to feed, he’d have got some long ago. ; )

Finish up feeding & I get the gate so we can head home. If I’d know we were feeding another set of horses…I would’ve never got back in the cab. I think we are headed home so I get back in the Blue Beast. Sitting with both feet on the seat….kind in a squatting position. Didn’t want them to touch my feet! We are half way down this back alley road when….Out of no where…..A HUGE MOUSE COMES RIGHT AT ME! I swear he was trying to sit on my lap! I SCREAMED…..JUMPING SIDEWAYS & using Regg’s head as a foot step to climb on! I was practically sitting on him…but that was as far away from the mouse that I could get!!!!! UGGGGG! Gross little creatures anyway!!!!!

The old wooden gate is drifted in with sand and tumble weeds & I am more than happy to GET OUT to open it! Feeding….from the back of the pickup is also no problem. When we finished I went ahead & got the gate & ….remained in the back of the pickup on the trip back to the house! I’d had all the MOUSING around I could handle for one night!

Feeding with the Tractor

Once again, I get a call from Regg. He’s feeling under the weather & needs some help doing chores. No problem, just call when you want to go. The cows get feed a concoction of goodies thrown together in the mixer. Regg is gonna load the mixer & then send me out to feed. Well, while mixing the 1^st load….the saddle horses get out. Ellie is chilling with me in the tractor so we jump out to help capture the escapee. Escapee detained & back to the task at hand. The load is ready to go & I get my directions. I fed with a similar feed last winter in Nevada so I figured I could get the hang of it ok.

Ya……I can’t even get it to move forward! Ok, we get a little more schooling & off we go. My comprehension of the gears is not real good & I bounced Ellie’s pretty little head off the window a few times. She got to hold on when cousin Mindy was driving. A few cell calls later & I had it close to under control. Didn’t even hit the fence …but came real close…& all the directions about quantity & spacing of the hay…were a waste of breathe. I was just lucky to get the hay in the manger without hitting anything!

Go get another load mixed & head out to the big bunch of cows. Oscar has been following us in the tractor. Well, when we get out to the cows….that isn’t gonna work. David’s honky ol longhorn cows are good mommas & don’t like a dog being around. They are trying to stomp him into the ground & he is trying to take refuge under the tractor. I can’t even hardly move forward without hitting a cow trying to dive in after the dog. I stop the tractor…(which is amazing cuz I still don’t think I had it in neautral….really struggled to understand my gears) & hop out to load my dog. He, conviently won’t come to me & hides under the tractor. I reach under to grab & throw him in just as a honky white long horn is headed for the cab! Dang it! Stupid dog! I bang my elbow on the step of the tractor or something. Wow….now the feeding begins. I did ok. Got a little better with my starting without knocking Ellie off of her seat ; )

Not to worry, I fed for him again the other day & I was a pro. Shifted good, ran my PTO, put it in park when I stopped….I’m pretty much awesome now : )

Ellie & I takin pics in the tractor while Regg mixes a load of feed for us

Working on a Well

Regg calls & needs help at the neighbors working on the well. The neighbor is Tommy Thompson. He is an amazing man. Super handy & can fix anything. He has helped my family out on many occasions & anytime I can do something to return the favor I am more than happy to.

Well, here are some pictures.....Yes, It's as cool as it looks :) This is a cable that we hooked to the front of the pickup & it ran up to the top of the tractor. Regg stood on top of the roof attching the cable to the well pipes. Tommy stood down in the well directing the pipes into the hole. I drove the pickup forward & backward in accordance with Regg's hand signals.

Fixing Water Lines to House

I was such good help with the well Tommy called to have me help get some water lines cleared out to get the water running in the old house behind there place. Don’t get me wrong…I AM NOT HANDY but this task I could handle. LOL…I stood down in the cold, damp well hole turning the water on & off as I was told to. I felt like I was Sloth from the goonies : )

Oscar looking down at me in the well....He did not think it was a good idea to be down there!

Cool rock walls & the pump in the well..or Sloths bedroom as I like to call it

Rockin the headlight ;)

No pictures, but throw in playing cards at Dad's, feeding with the team, dying easter eggs....add that to Well Fixer, Mouse Screamer, and Tractor driver....that's how I've been spending my spare time :) So just when you get to thinking that I might get get bored living here...there is never a dull moment with my neighbors!

Here are a few bonus pics from the last couple days.

1st Pic ~ My new shaggy puppies

2nd Pic ~ Ellie's new mode of transporation when the cows are on the fight :)

3rd Pic ~ New surprise baby...MULE at Dad's place ...lol...never a dull moment!

Day in the Life of an Un-Handy Girl

Day in the Life of an UN-Handy Girl

The day starts out with a phone call from one of my favorite cousins, Regg. He asks if I can help him. Quite a few things on my plate for the day so ask how long it’s gonna be. He confidently replies. “No more than 30 minutes. I just need you to drive a rig. They will be loaded on the trailer when you get here” K, No problem. Call me when you’re ready for me, I reply.

I get a call about an hour later & head down to the corrals. Oscar in tow, seems like the perfect time for some training. We get there…..no cows are loaded. Regg & David are in the alley sorting. Soon I’m being yelled at to come run a gate. My Dad is being bad bad bad…not listening & my helpful collar is out of batteries or something….but It’s not working! Catch him and make some adjustments…still nothing! Hmmm….dang it!

Next we head into a corral to sort out some more pairs. I’m still yelling at my dog…No…Get Out….No! Not really paying too much attention to the cows. Next thing I know, this big ol cow comes straight out of the heard at Regg! She has him lined out & isn’t weakening! I have a perfect view from behind! He’s running! She’s right behind him! He tries to zig or zag but to no avail! He is right between her horns & just hits them no matter what way he tries to go! She got him in the ribs once. He finally makes it to the fence! Wooshka! She is on the bunt now! It was awesome! She looked just like an Ol Cow in a Will James book…..cross that with a slow motion cartoon chase & you’ve got it! Dang it! I wish I had my camera! (heck ya, I would’ve took a picture…I couldn’t yell to distract her…was right behind them just would’ve made them go faster) Good thing she never out her head down, she’d have knocked him down for sure! (Just for the record, my dog wasn’t standing by Regg when he got hooked…but I definitely tied him up as soon as I could catch him so I didn’t have a Doggy Target standing by me ;)

Woo….that was pretty wild! Finally get some pairs sorted out! I’m paying attention now! That ol’ girl is still pretty excited! We repeat this process of sorting out pairs a few more times….minus the full on getting hooked. (She attempted a few more times but didn’t commit)

We are making another sort up the alley & back. I’m running the alley gate & doing a piss poor job really. Let one big horned red cow back. Ok, paying better attention now, being more aggressive. K, well, now I’ve got cows sorting to me & cows coming back from my alley wanting back in! They aren’t happy but most can be buffaloed back. I’ve got my gate closed now until the sort is ready to come to me. Holy crap! There is this twisted horned cow right there…. Maybe I’m not fooling her as much as I thought! David is yelling at me to let the sorted cow out. Ol Twisted horn has me on the gate & I’m kicking her in the head trying to get her back so I can open the gate for the sort! Geez!

Finally, we get one trailer loaded & I hop into pull it up so we can load another one. Ya, I here Regg yelling WHOA! I cut it to sharp & was fixing to take out the side of his barn. Dang it…not on my A Game ; ) Back up, swing wider, thanks for not letting me hit that Regg. Get another set loaded with little to no problems.

As David & Regg are leaving to go unload, David asks me to go get in the calves that have got out threw holes in the fence so we are ready when they come back to load. “Sure, no problem” I reply. Ellie (Regg & McKell’s daughter) wants to stay & help her awesome cousin Mindy. We head down the alley to the far pens & escaped calves. Making a wide circle, we get them all pushed up against fence on the short side of the corral & head towards the gate. Well, this fence borders the pen with the Cows in it. Shocking, but that big red longhorn is still on the fight. She is following us the whole length of the fence. We get to a water trough hole & 1 of the babies isn’t trailing & is trying to go thru fence. Instead of fighting him, I figure I can just shove him thru. Well, the fence isn’t in the best shape so I have Ellie wait back from me a few steps. I figure that Big Red Cow will be more concerned about me man-handling the calf & be right up by me. Well, the calf isn’t that easy to push threw. Finally, I decide if I throw him down…I can push him under. I have a cow right there in front of me on the other side of the fence...but not Big Red. I look over & she has her head thru the fence & is blowing snot on Ellie! Holy Crap! She must have thought she was a dog or something! Oh wow! She couldn’t get very far thru because her horns were so big but….holy crap! I get Ellie gathered up & throw my calf under the fence. Packing Ellie now, we push the rest of the calves down the alley. The alley also borders the cows corral & Big Red is hitting the fence every inch of the way! Like I mentioned, the fence is old & well…..let’s just say Visions of the “Sandlot” fence coming down crossed thru my mind….& if it did should I cover Ellie with my buddy or try to throw her to the other side. Luckily….the fence stayed up. : ) Now, I just had to get the calves back into the gate ….with the cows in it. Easy enough….well….I have two hot cows hitting the gate. Hmmm, pretty sure I’m gonna put Ellie on the other side of the alley….just in case a cow comes out. That way the 3 year old doesn’t get hooked & maybe she can go get help if I do ;) Big Red finally backs off and goes to the far end of the corral. I get Ellie on the other side of the alley. (She wasn’t happy about that. Then I opened the gate & hurried around my calves as a Cow comes out in the alley. Between Ellie crying & a little pushing from my side….we got them in & the gate chained before the cow even hit the gate again!

Yay! Gather Ellie up & give her a high five for being such help! Whew! (for the record….we are way past 30 minutes right now) Ellie & I head to the house to go see Grandma. Her Grandma Crystal’s car is parked at the house so we go looking for her. No sign of her anywhere so we finally give her a call. She’s went with Regg & David to unload. THEY ARE STUCK! Ya, pickup & horse trailer is stuck. Regg calls from his phone while I’m talking to her. Regg is lining me out about coming to get them. I ask if my car can get to him. He says “No, better bring the feed truck under the shed” The blue MOUSE feed truck???? I ask. Oh great! (MOUSE truck story hasn’t been told yet but it will be in the next installment of tall tales ;) Don’t worry, Ellie & I stopped right there in the yard & shot gunned our boots before we got in the blue beast.

We go get Regg gathered up & help him get the tractor ready to go. I HAVE to GO sign my taxes…tomorrow is due day & I’m out of time. He asks if I can take Ellie with me. That will sure help him. Ok, no problem. I stop & get her car seat. We head to my house to pickup town stuff. We haven’t been in the house 2 minutes…..DANG IT….she has an accident! So we strip down, clean up…& fashion a Toga out of a towel. Feed her some mac & cheese for lunch & head to her house to get clean clothes. For the record, it’s now 2:30 & I am no closer to town than I was an hour ago.

Regg calls, they got the outfit unstuck & are headed back for another load. Wait to drop their kid off. When we pull into grandmas...a young bull is out...& I use my car to buffalo him back down alley so I jump out & get gate. Just one of those days ; )

They get back & I head to town to take care of taxes. I called a friend on my drive to town, as I’m re-telling the “I survived the Hoggan Ranch Tales” ….Dog doesn’t mind, Regg getting hooked, almost hit barn, karate kicking cow, getting snot blown on EllieIt occurs to me….My life would be a lot easier if I was just a little handier.

Oh well, Like I’ve said many a time, I’m like having 2 good guys gone : )

BIG RED Longhorn Cow with her head down....pawing the ground. I think we will name her Peach. This is a good 2 hours since anyones ever been around her. What an honery ol hide!

(this is the cow that hooked Regg & blew snot on Ellie)

Renegade Bull we got in with the car :)

See bulls are nice..it's those dang cows you have to watch out for at our house!

Ellie & I making friends with the boys....much easier to get along with than the girls :)

These pics were taking while walking across the bull pen. Notice the proximity of these...compared to the cow pictures...& I thought we were plenty close to the cows :)

Lil' Red Roan on the road to the DCNFR

Hello Rodeo Tails & Gypsy Trail Friends,

Lil' Red Roan is packing up shop & headed to Pocatello for the Dodge Circuit Finals Rodeo! Bucking Horses & shopping....now that's my idea of a great weekend! Tons of fun new Jewelry, Headstalls, Will James Books & much more more! Come visit Lil' Red Roan & Martiny Saddle Co. at the Dodge National Circuit Finals!

What: Cowboy Expo.
Where:Pocatello, ID
Location: Red Lion Hotel
When: April 8 - 10th
Time 9 - 6:30

Special 10% at the tradeshow off all Lil' Red Roan products for Rodeo Tales & Gypsy Trail blog fans!
promo code I LOVE BUCKING HORSES :)!

See you there!

Mindy Hoggan
Lil' Red Roan

I'm so thankful for all the blessings in my life!

I’m so blessed! Just had the urge this Sunday to write down a few of the many many blessings in my life that I am so very thankful for. My cup runneth over!

1. I’m so thankful for my family & all the love & support they give me.

2. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to live close to home & be able to give back & help my family.

3. I’m so thankful for technology & being able to keep in touch with friends & share experiences.

4. I’m so thankful for the lifestyle I have been blessed with and all the amazing experiences I’m been exposed to.

5. I’m so thankful for all the people who have came before me that I can learn from their experiences.

6. So blessed to be an American. Love my country and the privilege of being free.

7. I’m so thankful for the education I have received. The opportunity to go to college & learn not only from my classes but from the amazing new people that were introduced into my life.

8. I’m so thankful for Medicine Lodge and being able to spend time in that country.

9. I love bucking horses! So thankful for the opportunity to work with amazing rodeo athletes!

10. So thankful for the rodeo lifestyle & the blessing of so many “rodeo families”

11. I’m so thankful for the blessing of true & unconditional friendship.

12. I’m so thankful to be able to do what I love & being able to offer it to others!

13. So thankful for the opportunity to work with Regg and being able to get along so well.

14. So thankful to have a HOME, such a blessing to have a beautiful space to call my own & be able to share with friends & family when they come.

15. I’m so thankful to have such a great car! Great gas mileage, dependable & fits more than enough. What a blessing to be able to travel.

16. I’m so thankful to have my computer to be able to write. What an amazing tool!

17. So thankful to be able to be able to write! What a blessing to be able to keep a record & be able to share it with others.

18. I’m so thankful for a home cooked meal! How awesome to be able to enjoy a nice homecooked meal. Even better when you can share it around a big table with your friends & family!

19. So thankful for the opportunity to be able to take pictures & capture the beauty that surrounds you at that moment.

20. So thankful for the amazing blessing of great eye-sight! The power of the human eye & the range of things that it can take in!

21. So thankful for great art! Love the feeling you get when you see a picture that you just love & it stirs something inside of you.

22. I am so thankful for all my wonderful friends. I can’t even put into words the amazing blessings that each & every one of them are in my life.

23. So thankful for the time spent with loved ones.

24. Thankful for the ride that we go on every year.

25. So thankful for the healing power of horses. The ability to get on & ride away the worries of the day.

26. I’m thankful for the healing power of Hard Work. How shoveling a trailer out or bucking bales can somehow make things so much better.

27. I’m so thankful for a great nights sleep! Love when you have a great day! Good & tired, sleep great & wake up feeling like a million bucks & ready to go!

28. I’m thankful for the sun! Love when the sun shines thru the clouds, especially in the wither months.

29. I’m so thankful for rain & the way it can clean a whole country side & make it new & fresh again. Love that smell!

30. I’m so thankful for the blessing of youth! The ability to be & go & do & the endless possibilities!

31. I’m so thankful for the blessing of kids. How they can make you smile & realize the important things in life & just how really good it is.

32. I’m so thankful for Laughter!

33. I’m so thankful for the blessing of a warm smile & the even bigger blessing of being able to give them freely.

34. I’m so thankful for beautiful jewelry! Love to create, discover, & ….just Rock….a beautiful piece of jewelry!

35. I’m so thankful for spring & the 1^st hints of green starting to make its way up!

36. I’m so thankful for GREAT music! Love how hearing your favorite song automatically brightens any day! Love how a song can also take you back to a great memory!

37. I’m so thankful for memories! Love that you can hold things from the past to enjoy over & over.

38. I’m also thankful for forgetting : ) Things that seem a major disaster….soon fade away to the unimportance that they really were.

39. I’m so thankful for great horses!

40. I’m thankful for having a good lil pup. The blessings that they bring & the great teachers they are.

41. I’m so thankful to live in Idaho!

42. So blessed with delicious cold well water! So thankful to have more than enough when I turn on the tap.

43. Thankful for the spring with fresh water at elk camp & very thankful I don’t have to pack water everyday!

44. I’m so thankful to have power! What a blessing to flip a switch & have light! Be able to wash clothes! Turn on the heater for warmth! Wash clothes & have them be clean with the push of a few buttons! So thankful for indoor plumbing! What wonderful blessings to make our lives easier.

45. I’m so thankful for glass windows! Love to be able to open the curtains & see out on all of God’s green earth!

46. I’m so thankful to know so many wonderful people. All across the country, so blessed to exposed to the finest the world has to offer.

47. I’m so thankful for getting to hear the stories of those who have gone before me.

48. So thankful for everyone who takes the time to teach me & share their talents!

49. I’m so blessed to have the parents that I do. SO grateful for the lifestyle I was raised in.

50. I’m so grateful for every experience I’ve ever had that has made me the person I am today!

51. I’m thankful for all the brilliant words & quotes that have been spoken before me! Love great quotes & the opportunity to share them!

52. I’m so thankful for a great story, great movie, great book! Love to be able to see into another’s journey for a few steps. John Wayne & Will James are definitely 2 men that I am thankful for the work they shared with the world.

53. I’m so thankful for days….that just simply go your way! Love those days when everything just works out in your favor!

54. I’m thankful for a hot shower! So blessed with the conviences of hot running water! Love that!

55. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to hook a team! So blessed to be able to learn.

56. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to drive a backhoe, or a semi, or tractor. So thankful for the skills that have been shared with me….even if I still need lots of practice : )

57. I’m so thankful for a warm beautiful blanket! Something about a beautiful handmade blanket that just warms your body, heart & soul all at the same time.

58. So thankful for the scriptures & the opportunity to read & gain knowledge from the past.

59. I’m so thankful for GREAT ROADTRIPS! Something magical just about the “getting there”

60. I’m so thankful for being able to give the perfect gift. Even if it’s just a smile, what a blessing when you can give someone something to brighten there day just when they need it!

61. I’m so thankful for Marc, Eric, Colton, Spank, Grandpa…and all the loved ones that have left this world before me. I was thinking about Marc today & all the time he spent teaching me. So thankful that in his short time here on earth I was blessed to share some of it with him. So thankful for the strength & lessons they have taught me.

62. So thankful to know that People are more important than things. Sometimes the time spent is the most valueable gift we can ever give or receive.

63. I’m so thankful to have be raised with my family and be able to work with them. So grateful for the patience & time that was spent to help me learn.

64. I’m so thankful for the great example everyone in my life is to me. So blessed with all the great role models that courageously lead the way through the choices they make in everyday life!

65. I’m so thankful to be HAPPY!

I’m so Blessed! Millions of blessings that I am thankful for, just wanted to jot down a few & needed to say this outloud today. The list is in no particular order….It’s just as random as that crazy girl that wrote it. My heart is overflowing with blessings & I just needed to say thank you.

“May today there be Peace within you. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be” ~ unknown

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