Trailing to Fields of Gold

Trailing to Fields of Gold

As we all know, Trailing horses is the world’s most funnest thing to EVER! When Dad started calling people to trail on Friday I was pretty excited! Ya….I never got a call. So Friday comes & goes. I ask Dad what he was doing Saturday & He tells me trailing horses. “You might as well come” Ha! The invitation! I play coy… “Hmmm, Maybe I’ll let you know” The next morning arrives & I get a call from lil J2 saying they have “The LEGEND” for me to ride & I better get over there. Well, The Legend just happens to be one of the horses that I bucked at Mud Lake & some other rodeos this summer. Out of 40 some horses…he wasn’t in my 1^st 30 choices to ride if I “Had To” gather on something.

Well, Being Pea Hearted & having a lot of “I survived the Hoggan Ranch Self-Perseveration “ I decided to opt out of my favorite pass time & stay home. Well, there is no need to miss a chance for a good photo shoot so I dig out my camera & Oscar & I head up to the Sheep Station. I get there in time to scope out where I needed to be…or so I thought. Somehow it was more like “In time to get lined out by my Dad” I thought it was my idea to go take pictures but by the time got there I was starting to think it was Dads!

A dark line begins to appear on the horizon. The line fades away as the outline of a hundred horses moves down country. Crisp blue skies and fluffy white clouds set the scene for the western romance to unfold.

Here is a brief glimpse into the day.

Horses on the Horizon

Rocky walking the line

Catching a few to take home

Right here, Omar gets the horse heeled & Dad hollers for me to come up to get ahold of the rope so they can get shortened up. I'm bundled up in a big coat, snow pants & have my prize camera in hand. (picture the little kid of a "Christmas Story) So I clumsily flounder down thru the snow trying to get my camera in my coat pocket. Finally getting to the rope, held tight & the Omar gets shortened up. LOL....Omar says, I wasn't sure what you were doing...neither was my horse! I was afraid for your life! .....hahaha....ya, apparently my life was in danger but I was so worried about my camera, I never knew. Ignorance is bliss I guess ;)

Omar - the "CATCH SPECIALIST

Field of Gold - Glorious Belly Deep Grass as far as the eye can see



Even though I went to take pictures I ended up trailing for the 2nd half out to the pasture. Unfortunately for you, none of the boys had cameras so you will not get the pleasure of seeing me rock snow machine pants, pink wild rag & a long stocking hat with strings & a ball on the end of it. I definitely won the fashion contest, hat blowing behind me as I loped thru the snow. Oscar, my cute shaggy pup, (whom you are yet to be formily introduced to) also made his biggest day following behind my horse in the deep snow. He did pretty good.

A special thanks to Omar, Houston, J2 & Dad for the great day!

CAT HOUSE

The “CAT HOUSE”

When I moved to Hamer, with in the first night I caught 4 mice…..1 of those was actually caught with by trapping him under a garbage can. Needless to say, I spent the night at my Aunt Nancy’s house. Even though the traps were empty I kept getting the smell of “dead mouse” in my bedroom. I was starting to think I was crazy. Well, come to find out…the mice can get into the heating system & ….wait for it…..there is not 1 not 2 but 3 sticky traps in the vent under my bed & there were 2 dead mice in my heater vent!!!!!!!!!

Well, needless to say…..this was a great motivator to launch an “anti animal campaign” in the house. Can Foam and Steel Wool for the holes, Bar Bait under the trailer, Bug Bombs in the house, Electric Plug Ins to bug the mice (send some sort of annoying sound out that is supposed to detour the mice), and last but not least an arsenal of 20 some good ol’ fashion traps…..this is serious business! J

The cute place that I am renting is on the corner of a field & the house sits right out in the center of that. The weeds hadn’t been cut all year & it was a rodent haven. Even once they swathed, there was still an abundance of inviting places for unwanted company. Time to bring in the troops! My Aunt Crystal got me 3 wild little kittens & I started the task of trying to convince them that my corner should be there new permanent home. Well, I did a pretty good job. 1 was really sweet and always loving up on you. Hmm….wait wait wait….this ends tragically & ends with Me flipping out, yelling at my Dad & his Dogs digging under my shed to get my kittens. This is not the point of the story….& just thinking about it gets me on the fight again.

Moving on, the neighbors had a nice black & white cat that needed a new home. The herd begins again! Not long after, a big Yellow & White stray started visiting every once in awhile. The herd has doubled & leave it to me to have PAINTS!

Oscar is a good dog. He is reprimanded if he harasses the cats. The Black & White will sleep in his Dog House & rub up on him. I can get after Oscar but if the cat puts his head in the dog’s mouth…I can’t cure stupid! In search for a refuge for felines….I brought home a CAT HOUSE! It’s pimp! Hinged door so I can put their milk & cat food inside & reclose it. Once closed, it has an arched door just big enough for the cat’s to get in. It’s awesome! The cats still like to sleep in the dog house but….it’s gotta help right.

Well, after helping Dad all day with the teams (yes, the day mentioned in the last story). We get a phone call that J2 needed to be picked up from a Boy Scouts. He is the last kid left there & she is just going to take him to her house until I can pick him up. I get there & they ask if I want another Cat. Wait, back up…..I need to set the scene a little. As you drive up the road to the house there is a sign that says “Forget the Dogs. Beware of the Kids!” The youngest boys are two of the toughest kids I’ve ever seen in my entire life…..seriously…Cowboy Kid…. Country Raised…TOUGH! Well, 1 of them catches the cat for me & says “She bites” Not 5 seconds later the other kid comes out & says….Oh she’s mean! She bites! Wow!!! (these kids saying she is mean….ahhh, not a good sign!!!) I’m holding the cat now….ahhhh! Tracy gets a box so we can put the Cat inside long enough to get it home. Cat in. Duct tape, duct tape & more duct tape….safety 1^st J

J2 & I get into the car. The door is barely closed on the car & J2 is screaming “If that cats gets loose….Just Let Me Jump” ….as he is clinging to the passenger side door! I’m reassuring him that he’s not jumping out & it will be fine. We used duct tape! Meanwhile the cat is violently thrashing around in the box. The road to their house is probably ½ mile long. We aren’t even half way down it when….mrrrrowwww mrowww shriek roll…AHH!!!! I head, I see a head! AWWWW! The killer cat is loose in the back seat! J2 is screaming & jerking on his door handles! Thank you for Child Locks!!! Ok, ok, he’ll stay in the back….I no more say this & he is on the prowl! Headed straight for the front seat via the console & right in the middle of J2 & I! I don’t want a Crazy Cat to be bouncing off the walls of my car. I grab him, kindly but firmly. Oh wow, screaming little brother, Cute shaggy puppy & biting mean cat all in the front seat of my Pontiac G6! Snowy roads ….& smiling “nice kitty, nice kitty”! Oh wow, we finally made it home! Cat in hand, J2 is out the door before I even come to a complete stop! Aww, a little warm milk & straight to the CAT HOUSE! That’s right, we all survived & I now have THREE Kitty Cats for my CAT HOUSE !

Lol….ya, I just spent minutes of your life talking about a CAT HOUSE but if you can visualize J2 clinging to the window trying to get away from the cat….It’s all worth it!

You just never know where these Gypsy Trails will take you!

TEAM WORK ~ January 2010

TEAM WORK: Dad has been hooking teams of horses this winter to get ready to feed elk with. Some for the very 1^st times. We used to hook horses all the time when I was young but….then I went to college….moved away….& basically forgot everything I’ve ever know J Now, J2 (the 10 year old) is telling me what to do. Hahaha…ya, I know….it’s humorous.

Well, Dad invited me over yesterday to help him hook some horses. …..seems real nice like quality father daughter bonding time……really….he just can’t hook them by himself. It’s a good trade. He gets a little help….I’m realistic…I’m not much better than no help. Anyway, I get to learn how to hook the teams again. The horses he has now are pretty nice. That being said….I think anyone of them would paw you on the head if you looked at them wrong.

The 1^st set of horses hooked & ready to go. Runners are frozen down & Dad has to loosen them. Dad hands me the reigns & we’re off! It’s a little tough in the yard & the horses have to dig a little bit. A little riled up….& a herd of Dogs barking & biting at the teams head’s…..Hoo Waa! It’s a little wild…mainly cuz my driving isn’t that great ;) We blow left…look out borrow ditch…...right…another ditch….Barbwire fence straight ahead…..a little left…I finally get them shot across the road into a field & down the trail we go. About half way around the field they were working together pretty good. About that time Dad mentions that…He was a little curious as to what way I was trying to go when I left the yard. J We finish our loop & head back to the house. Load a few bales to go feed. I hop in J2’s plastic sled dragging behind the sleigh & play a fun little game of picking up strings while Dad works with the team on side passing. When we head back to the barn I ask Dad if he was really worried when we left the yard? He says “No, I was worried I would have taken the reigns”

It went well. My driving improved a lot…I thought. For the next set of horses I call Mckell & Ellie to see if they want to go sledding behind the team. Good times to be had to all…right ;) Well, we get them hooked. One of these horses has only been hooked 1 other time. He was a little more difficult but we got everything done up & were ready to head out again. McKell & Ellie positioned in a good spot to hold on. I’m at the reigns & we’re off……in a blaze of fire! Holy Crap! Horses blowing everywhere! Dogs Barking! Dogs Biting! Screaming at Dogs to get out! I’m pulling every which way put together! Dad’s yelling DRIVE! Left….Right….iy Yi Yi! Too much every direction….& way to fast! Dad is yelling to give him the reigns….oh ya….that’s not a good sign…. ! By the time he gets the reigns we are in the middle of the road….close to jack knifed & 1 horse down. Yikes…! Mckell….. “How did I let you talk me into this” I’m trying to act real calm….like oh, It’s fine….as I am screaming at the dogs to get out & trying to gather up the strings which are now scattered all over & under the down the team. Whew…we get everything straight & are off again. I run & jump on the sled. Dad gets us back out of the yard & headed down the road at a high rate of speed. He gets them changed over into the field at the next gate. (To be quite honest, it is pretty impressive how well he handles the reigns…but I don’t tell him that ;) I take the reins & out around the field we go. They worked well. The new horse was soft so he got aired out pretty soon. They were good enough that I gave Dad back the reigns & Ellie & I headed back to the sled to have some serious fun!

I drive that a little better….lol….mainly cuz I only had to keep Ellie & I in the sled. I kneeled & Ellie sat on my lap. We had a blast….tucked sagebrush…..rode the waves (aka…dips in the trail)….laughed until we were silly & only got bucked off a few times J

All in all, it was a great day! More Hamer Highlights coming soon :)

p.s......Anyone in search of a unique arm work out....just let horses pull on you for a few hours....works muscles you didnt even know existed...oh wait...maybe that was the problem in the 1st place :)

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Afternoon Delight

Monday, September 21, 2009

Afternoon Delight Afternoon Delight ~ Seriously.....it might take you all afternoon to get thru this ;) I have no idea where this month has gone! Before I knew it August was over & we are rolling right into my favorite month…September! Yay!.... Let’s skip to Wednesday Sept, 2: The Lovely Miss Melina Melina & Gus Gus came for a visit. We had a delightful night of drinks, movie, girl talk & laughing until we were crying! It was outstanding! ;) Thanks Melina! You are the bestest!.... Filer, ID.... Thursday brought the 1st stop on rodeo tour I was about to begin. Team Sankey was in full force at Filer, Idaho. Some of my favorite people in the world: Bob Marriott, J2 Brown Family, Ryan, Ike, DeeDee, Rowena, Will, Hot Joe & of course Miss Melina Melina! It was a perfect night for rodeo! The light of the Ferris Wheel, smell of carmel apples looming on the breeze, crisp fall air & a County Fair crowd all cheering for a bucking horse riding! Melina & I helped Bob with his pickup horses, best seat in the house! Thanks for letting us help out Bob. It was great to see everyone! .... As I went to leave, Ike was talking with a some of the crew at a trailer. I told him that They’d done a good job tonight. Keep up the good work & I was off to keep the Dillon crew in line J …I think I’m hilarious ;).... Hamer, ID .... The next morning Melina Melina helped me load up a pile of furniture….the big move has began! Wowzer…you just never realize how blessed you are until you go to move all your stuff! ;) Thanks Melina! I couldn’t have done it without you..... That’s right, I’m moving back to Hamer, Idaho! Pretty excited! Thank you to Regg, McKell, Nancy, Mom, Dad, & everyone who has helped with the big project! 2 loads down…unknown left ;) .... ….I had skipped straight to the Dillon stories but then remembered….the hunting expedition. 1st night at the new house, unpacking things. I hear a scrambling sound coming from the master bathroom. Oh no…..a mouse! Aww….where is a Stoecklein book when I need it! (I wish this line had been added for dramatic effect..no, sadly enough that thought crossed my mind!) Hmmm…..I run into the kitchen frantically looking for a weapon! Awha! I grab the garbage can…dumb it out on the floor & capture him underneath it! Yay! Caputre……oh wait…now I have a mouse under a garbage can….hmmm. I go to the kitchen & two other mice show their beety little faces….& I only have 1 garbage can. So…I leave & go stay at my Aunt Nancy’s J .... Regroup the next morning, visiting the hardware store for a Mouse Arsenal! Wish me luck!.... Dillon, MT.... Anyway….let’s get back to fun, friends & rodeo! Dillon, Montana bound….YAY!!!!! I LOVE DILLON! Mr Wade Sankey is awesome & put on a good little rodeo. Matt Twitchell was picking up so Rita, Rugger (Kelly Jennings son), & I helped with his horses. Getting to ride great horses while watching bucking horses in Dillon, MT! Really does it get much better than that! (lol, I laughed as I said that….I don’t think I have any surpressed desires to be a pickup chic…but maybe ;) Mr Kelly Jennings & Mike Anderson were bull fighting. Oh & don’t forget about the amazing Billy Ward family! Even if no one else had been in town the crew alone would have been a blast to hang out with! It was like a Christmas! Not only was there an amazing crew….It was Dillon Labor Day weekend & lots & lots of old friends had came to town to play! Tate Else & Olie Belles, always a delight to see! It was like a UM-Western Rodeo Reunion! Jason Olson, Clay Martin, Cowboy Stovall, Shane Moran, James Irish…..oh I couldn’t even begin to list all the amazing friends that I got to see. It was like a trip up to Olie’s office in college…big hugs being handed out everywhere! For about an hour Sunday night the Metlin even had a brief moment where it felt like the good ol days in the Club with all the old crew!.... No matter how much fun was had, It’s never the same without my girls! Tiffany Marie Wagner, Brittani Brusett, Angie Hucke, Carrie Hayes & Melina Melina….You were all greatly missed!!!.... As much fun as I had, no stories that I can think of that were blog worthy. If I was worried about my upcoming birthday, I’m certainly not now. Pretty sure no one over the age of 22 tried to take me home, always great for the ego…lol. (fyi~ I went home alone ;) .... Thanks again to Wade for letting me hang out & Mr Matt Twitchell for letting us help with his horses. Great rodeo weekend! Also, a good way to be EXHAUSTED for the next two days of rodeo I still had in Idaho.... Monday morning rolled around & after a night of partaking in the sauna of good times to be had on the dance floor I was ready to head south. Oh wait, not quite….Olie calls & I’m silly enough to answer my phone. She needs people to ride the Western Rodeo float in the parade….seriously! Me in my Dirty Rotten Buckers Hoody, unbrushed hair, and no makeup…….doing the princess wave & throwing candy! Lol….OUTSTANDING! I’d forgotten how much fun throwing candy at people is ;) Thanks Olie! Surprisingly enough, I had a great time!.... Idaho Bound.... Idaho Bound, for real this time! I barely get home & Dad is calling to sort horses….ugg….stop bugging me people…I just need a nap after sleepless nights in Dillon! J2 is a horse back & I go out a foot to block a hole or 5 in the fence. Wowzer…J2’s chubby sister had forgotten just what sorting horses in Hamer is like! Drifted sand piles, wind blowing in your face and running in slow motion! Once we finally got in the sorting pen, J2 needed some help so I step in to hold one side of the herd. Wow….I’m a regular cutting horse…maybe an out of shape cutting horse…but I had some moves ;) Sorting for the finals & Dad is ever so helpfully telling the horses I can take the next weekend. (seriously, Dad…I’m tired…I barely remember my own name right now & I dang sure am not going to remember the list you are rattling off to me right now….just sayin ;).... The Eastern Idaho State Fair & ImPRA Finals! Yay! Fair food, yay! Seriously, that is my favorite part of the whole fair. Ummm, Love the Bread barn!!! The rodeo went good. Lots of bosses & not very many workers but what can ya do. Reggarooni is outstanding & 1 of my very favorite people to work with! I love our horses! They had chosen a solid set of bucking horses from us & everything performed well. I love that set of mares! We have been blessed with some amazing horses! .... Boys are silly. I have a kid come ask me if I know Jay’s horses. I tell him I should know the horses that are here. He tells me what he has…I give him a funny look & ask “Are you sure you haven’t had her before?” He assures me he hasn’t so I go to my book to look her up. Hmmm, just as I had suspicioned…He had her over the 4th of July in Hailey & it was 1 of the best bareback rides of the summer….Silly boys! Well, He goes out & the click real well again. Places on her & maybe wins the round…cant remember for sure…but it was good! As he walks back to the chute…He says to me “She bucked better with me this time…more kick” I reply…Oh ya, ….this coming from the guy who didn’t remember her at all 30 minutes ago! ….silly boys! J .... Congratulations to my Aunt Nancy for getting the Timer of the Finals! You rock! Thanks for letting me stay at your room too J Also, congrats to Trevor Fuhriman on being the pickup man of the year! We are all so proud of you both!.... The next couple days were spent making messes & packing more furniture to move. A huge thank you to my Mom for all her time & help. You rock Mom! Love you!.... Eric Hoggan Memorial Rodeo.... Rodeo time again, I can’t believe that it is that time of year already! Dubois, Idaho….fall rodeo! Even more unbelieveable…the 14th annual Eric Hoggan Memoorial Rodeo! Wow, 14 years, how time flies and stands still all at once..... Dad & King’s had 3 other rodeos so I was sent to Dubois & I wouldn’t have it any other way. David & Regg brought a hand full of horses & all the bulls. Thanks for trucking the stock Regg. You are a huge life savor. Little J2 & Richard gathered for me. J2 is a stud & such good help! I couldn’t have done it without him! A huge thank you to each & every person who donated their time to make that day possible! .... My Montana boys came through for me in the bronc riding! Brian Dawson passed a sign up sheet around in Dillon Labor Day weekend and brought me a truck load of bronc riders…even if they did call to enter at 2 in the morning J It was a great rodeo! Dad let me take a jam up set of horses. Bucked off all but 1 bronc rider. As it turns out…the horses the bronc riders didn’t deem good enough to go to the finals..they were pretty jam up! 6 bronc, 13 Stock Saddle and 9 bull riders, we had a good little rodeo! Also, an improvement from the last rodeo I did….I didn’t get knocked out..lol. Thank you to Joe Slagowski for faithfully running neck ropes! ;) .... One of the funniest parts of the day had to be when David turns to me & says… “Who flanked that horse?” Regg & I turn & look at each other….not us….ya, No one! Lol….he still bucked ok….but they had started the Stock Saddle Bronc riding with out us….lol. .... The chutes in Dubois are old school wood on the back side. Well, one of the top planks felt loose. A bronc rider & I leaned on it at the same time & I felt like we might fall in the chute. His buddy was actually hold on to 1 side of it. Well it just so happened that this chute drew a chute fighting & the chute lost. Big Bird is the horse. He is really really tall. You can’t roll him once the saddle is on our he will rip the horn off. Well, they are having trouble getting out on him. I give the guy another horse cuz Big Bird is being a pig…laying down, flipping over & smashing up his saddle. Jaron Downs wants a horse & says he’ll get out on him. I have to give Jaron an atta boy! He got him saddle & got out on him! Big Bird had knocked the top planks off the chute….I thought I might need to sit down to flank him. I was standing right next to the horse….just 1 board left down by my lower shins…It was weird & I’m sure even funnier to watch ;) Jaron cowboyed up & got out on that big clammering pile of horse flesh. I was impressed. .... Again, thank you to each and every contestant that entered, the Dubois Committee & Community, Kings & Hoggan Rodeo & everyone who donated time to make the 2009 Eric Hoggan Memorial Rodeo a success. After the best steak dinner known to man, Regg, J2, Houston & I headed over to load the semi to head for home. J2 rode with me. He is talking NON STOP! (shocking…must run in the family ;) He is telling me wind westy’s with not even an once of truth in them….that is inbetween telling me to turn up the radio so he can sing along to Taylor Swift! He’s such a dork. .... He askes me about what I’m going to use a room for at my house. I tell him it will be a guest room. I’ll decorate it with a cowboy theme & that is where he can stay when he comes over. He gets real excited & says Oh Awesome! I can bring over all my stuffed horses from my bed & keep them at your house! IT WILL BE LIKE HAVING THEM ON PASTURE! Seriously, that kid cracks me up! .... J2 asked a lot of questions about Eric on our drive home. It’s funny how he askes about him…never actually knowing him…only what others have told him…& some of those didn’t even know him. I guess all any of us really have left are our memories and most have selective memories at that ;) After all this time, I still miss him. Pendleton The season winding down, I text Jake to see when they are up in Pendleton? Wednesday, wanna go! The answer to that would be an overwhelming Heck Yes! ;) Jake points out that this is the last trip of the season & I haven’t even went with them once this year! Ridiculous, I know! Jake & Jesse show up Tuesday night with dinner & a movie! What studs! Always a good time! .... 7:30 am on the road & home by 11:30 that night! Quick trip but action packed every step of the way! Pendleton, Pendleton, Pendleton……AWWWW, Bucking Horses on Grass! I LOVE IT!!! The entire rodeo is amazing! Even the team roping is awesome on the grass & the barrel race is 2nd to none! Some of my favorite people in the world are there. Ike Sankey has put together an All-Star crew & it shows! Some of the handiest pickup men in the world! It was fun to get to see crew from different outfits that I hadn’t seen all summer! Hugs, hellos, queen waves & thank you all for coming! Ms Kacie & Ryan Sankey & myself made our way to the stands for a rather grand time. Kacie & I ordered 2 large waters before the rodeo . I gurauntee you …a lot thought it was vodka because the 3 of us girls hooped & hollered the entire rodeo! How could you not….pickup men….pickup men & more pickup men…Jake…..Jesse…..Keith Isley….Jake Wade….Colin McTaggart…..just sayin….there were a lot of things to hoop it up about! ;) .... It was great to see everyone! Thanks again to Kacie & Ryan for letting me hang out with them. Great great great to see everyone! Miss Becci Glover & Ben Londo, also adorable & super fun! What a fun little trip! All time highlight had to be riding in the back seat on the way home. Jke & Jesse are sitting in the front. We’re watching Anchorman ….the song Afternoon Delight comes on…..Jake & Jesse…in unison …..sing along in perfect harmony to the entire thing! Hilarious!!!!! Thanks again for letting me go with ya guys! You are awesome! Love ya!.... Insert Pendleton Pics Wow, I know…it’s a lot to take in J Hope you had fun on the ride. Western’s College Rodeo in Dillon, Montana is the next venue lined up on the agenda! Hope to see ya there! .... Have a great week!.... Love ya, .... Mindy .... p.s. Thoughts to ponder ~ .... How can you talk for hours with someone you have very very little in common with & then after 5 minutes of conversation have nothing to say to someone who you have everything in common with!?! Yes, I know it seems like I talk a lot but there are some people that after I get off the phone with them..I’m quite certain I’m incapable of caring on a conversation & a social misfit!....

They Rodeo'd Off Into the Sunset

They Rodeo’d off Into the Sunset

I’ve completely lost track of the days….if there wasn’t a rodeo…I just don’t know! J ....

Tremonton, UT ~ August 27^th~ Jesse stops by after an all night drive to grab a few hours of sleep. Tyrell arrives a few hours later…maybe on the way from Kennewick (I don’t remember) They are headed to Tremonton, UT & then parting ways. I hop in with Jesse cuz who doesn’t love a fun lil road trip J ! Thank you for letting me tag along Punkin! I had a great time! Quick trip filled with tons of friends: Lovely Miss Melina, Jake Hayworth, the talented Matt Twitchell, Bob Marriott, John Wright, Mindy Clark, & the entire Reeder family! It was a blast! I’m even sharpening my video skills…aka..trying to push record when they go & not get every bronc ride but Jesse’s ;) ....

I was so proud of myself…well…Jesse gets a re-ride. Ya, the pressures on now…I have to not miss his ride twice (this coming from a girl who drove all night to Salinas & missed his bronc ride) Anyway….I’m in position & ready. He’s about to nod…the screen is black…just as the thought crosses my mind the lens cap….a Nice Young Man from BEHIND the Chutes yells…MINDY You have to take the Lens Cap off! Oh, wow! I got the ride but…seriously…how embarrassing! J lol Atleast I got the bronc ride!....

Mr Tyrell Smith was kind enough to let me catch a ride home with him on his way back to …some rodeo that direction ;) Thanks again to Tyrell & Jesse for stopping. Always great to see you! ....

Insert pics

Salmon, ID....

Friday morning….much later than a person should be getting up for the day, the next adventure is well under way. John is entered in Salmon Coeur d’ Alene (or however you spell that blasted town) We load up in the cute lil Blue Pontiac G6 & head up the road! What a great drive…until you hit Challis & the winding river front road begins! We made it in good time. Perfect actually, because the best hospitality food in the world was hot & coming off the grill! Tri Tip that was to die for! A huge atta boy to the Salmon rodeo committee, OUTSTANDING! ....

(When walking over to the hospitality tent, a guy hollered at John & I to say hello. They were a little ways back & I honestly didn’t recognize them. It was one of my dearest friends from college & an ex-boyfriend. Funny how only a few years ago there voice would have made my heart stop beating & I didn’t even notice them today. Time is a miraculous thing I guess)....

Mom & Jim had a few bucking horses out so instead of just being a trophy girl I threw on some work clothes & pretended I wasn’t helpless & helped behind the chutes. J Rodeo went ok. Got to see Enrique (a stud Dad sold at NFR sale a few years ago) in the broncs. He was ok but still prefer him in the bares! Lots of Montana guys entered up there. Always fun to see the old college crew! ....

We are behind the chutes & John is waiting for his horse to roll in. This kid has John cornered and is talking his leg off. There is a clown act with a rodeo queen (queen is between 18-23 probably) & a dating contest. She askes the 5 contestants questions to choose who will be her date for the night. At the end she chooses the youngest guy, maybe 10 or 11. He has the choice to go on the date or get a free t-shirt & water bottle….He chooses the later…hahaha….funny funny…Moving on with the rodeo. Well, John & this kid are standing behind me. My back is towards them. This kid says to John…Oh Boy! I’d would have choosen the girl! By Golly! I’m probably too old for her though….I just turned 18 last week! I almost peed my pants laughing…still turned away from them (I could have been laughing at the clown act…John wanting to kick me as he choked back the laughter J Hilarious! I’m probably to old…just turned 18....

Hamilton, MT....

Careful not to let any grass grow under our feet, the rodeo trail was calling our name. Headed back down the road. We made camp in Hamilton, Mt for the night. Much to our dismay…No 4B’s Tomato Soup in Hamilton anymore L We were up in enough time to do a little shopping that morning! Love that cute little town! ....

Coeur d eAlene, ID ....

The road to Coeurd’alene was construction filled..which is better than the other Montana season alternative which is…winter ;) We still made great time. He could have been entered in the bareback riding if he wanted we were there so early! Hanging out at another delightful hospitality tent. The theme was gambling & there was big dice out on the tables…that kept us entertained for quite some time….funny…everytime I rolled 6’s the stakes were always a lot higher J Chase was entered there too & came over to visit for a bit. The Amazing Mr Keith Isley even graced us with his presence for awhile. So lucky to be surrounded by so many amazing people! ....

Rodeo time~ oh, wow….sometimes I forget what the rodeo spectator experience is like. It was jam packed! You had to sit sideways on the bench just to be able to breathe. A big guy almost sat on me…my life kinda flashed before my eyes J It was an awesome crowd, full of Enthusiasm! Jill Frazen Schrock was doing the music. Along with Mr Keith Isley, they were rockin the crowd, on fire! John rode a bucker & most everything out in that perf was nice. Great rodeo, even if we did leave after the 1^st section of Broncs ;) Our next engagement was quite a few miles down the road. Lol…livin the dream ;)

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Dillon, MT....

If you roll up to Dillon, MT at 2 in the morning, It’s hard not to stop into the Long Horn Saloon for a bite to eat J Oh wow, it did not disappoint! The 1^st Saturday night out on the town since the college had been back in session & the town was bustling. I even ran into some rodeo guys getting some after bar breakfast. ....

John & I are sitting at a table for 2. Across the walk way from us way a group that had been partaking in all that the night had to offer & possibly over served ;) There is a girl that is fairly vocal & quite an interesting array of topics were spewing from her mouth. She is talking to John from across the isle. (while she was talking to her sister at the same table, pretty sure she said something about his girlfriend being hotter) Well, I go to the powder room & the 1^st thing I hear when I come back was “ You’re girlfriend has NICE EVERYTHING”….Wow, I’m not sure what I just walked into! LOL Upon hearing more of the story…it got even funnier! While I was gone she had apparently forgotten that John was dining with someone. She says she needs to get out more & they should meet up there every Thurs, Fri, Saturday. Then I returned & she continued with….But you’re girlfriend is prettier than me….with the up & down look…She has Nice Everything! :0 Hilarious! Pretty sure she would have taken us both home! (FYI: we went home alone ;)....

Hamer, Idaho bound the next morning. We stopped for a few hours, picked up Dad & J2 to head Pocatello. Running to grab a bite to eat before our meeting. Lil J2 & I are fighting about what restaurant to eat at. We pull up to the exit & he leans forward & says “How’s this gonna work if you don’t do what I tell you to! (SERIOUSLY!) That kid! I reply with a “You just sit back & watch! The bad thing was that my restaurant was closed so we went to his anyway! Dad thinks it’s great cuz he says J2 is the only one that keeps me in line. In fact when we left, Dad told John “Good Luck…You’re gonna need it!” ....

We were in Pocatello for the ImPRA finals stock selection meeting. (I know sounds like code word for big huge fight) It actually went pretty well. Ok atleast, they took a nice solid set of mares. I’m looking forward to the finals & even more excited for the Eric Hoggan Memorial Rodeo because I get to take anything they didn’t deem worthy to go to the finals!....

After the meeting, I loaded the crew up for icecream. We tried Cold Stone but it was closed so we hit up Wal Mart’s freezer section & ate icecream out bags of salt stacked on the sidewalk. J We’re those people ;) (I told John that & He replied ..he’d never seen anyone buy icecream & eat it on the side walk out side Wal Mart ;)....

On the road again, a vehicle swap in the mix, pick up with horse trailer in tow. Cruising down the road, low & behold a fabulous Idaho sunset! Thank you to John for letting me tag along for a great rodeo weekend!....

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