Grandma Got Ran Over By a Reindeer ~ Remembering Grandma Hoggan

Grandma got ran over by a Reindeer………

Christmas 1990 was fast approaching.  Apparently, my brother Eric and I were starting to doubt Santa Clause.  Well, this Christmas Eve would change all that.  As we were tucked in our beds downstairs….we heard a sound coming from outside.  Sleigh bells were ringing!!!!  A flash of red light from Rudolph’s nose!    The next morning we would see Santa’s large man foot prints coming up to our window outside to see if we were in bed.  No foot prints lead away….he most have flown with his team of reindeer!
When we saw Grandma……we would never doubt again!  GRANDMA got RAN OVER by a REINDEER!!!! 

Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer

All a mess, hoof prints all over her clothing!  She looked like a rodeo bull had got her down in the alley and really worked her over!  After seeing what a rouge reindeer could do, we never doubted Santa again! 
December 26, 2014…..Grandma would have her final reindeer run in and return to her heavenly home. 

Today, I am going to share with you some Grandma Stories. 

Grandma used to have cute magnents on her fridge.  A few I remember were…

* If Momma ain’t happy aint no body happy
* House Rules
1. Mom is always right
2. If Mom is wrong, refer to rule 1

This rang true thru all areas of Grandma’s life.  She knew what she wanted and she got it.  Everyone was usually better for it too….Here are some prime examples of her will power & determination

Pictures……
There isn’t hardly a group picture I can remember that wasn’t Grandma’s mandate.  Even with an entire rodeo crew full of big tough cowboys….if Grandma wanted you to get a group picture….that is what you did.  Same with our family photos too.  Seems like we wouldn’t have any pictures without her orchestrating them.  Now those pictures serve as one of the greatest gifts she has ever given us.  Time spent and capturing those moments in time to have for years to come. 

 

 

 Nursing…..
The stories that have poured in the last couple days are overwhelming & such a testimant to the life that Grandma lived.  Just yesterday,  a family friend was telling me about how Grandma had helped their family.  They were new to the area and didn’t speak much English.  He said that if it hadn’t been for Elaine, we wouldn’t have got our shots.  She cared and made sure we got what we needed.  I will always hold a spot in my heart for her. 
I am hearing more stories like this all the time.  Grandma really did CARE and made sure that people got the care they needed. We could spend days just recognizing all the good that Grandma accomplished & services thru her nursing career.   I would like to invite anyone who would like to comment below and  share their stories.

Here are some prime examples of “ Because Grandma Said”…..  Packing flags, leading mini bulls in parades.....


*****
Rodeo Queen… Island Park Queen – Grandma was very proud of carrying the title of Island Park Rodeo Queen from the early years of the rodeo.  At the 50^th year anniversary she was honored again with the title and proudly took a lap around the arena on her stick horse, waving to the crowd as she went!  

Grandma and Mindy Marie

Erickson Jay Hoggan and Grandma Elaine

TIME SPENT….Grandma made each one of us feel like we were her favorite.  They many throughout the community & rodeo world that called her Grandma Hoggan were a testament of that.

 Here are some special traditions that Grandma shared with us.

Sunday Tea Party….  Grandma would get out her fanciest red crystal dishes and host the funnest tea parties gathered around the kitchen table.  Dressed up in her fancy tea party hats too!  Grandma was animated, full of energy and fun!  You always believed you were at the best tea party ever held!  Sunday Tea was a simple mixture of Evaproated Milk, hot water, honey, sugar to taste and love. 

Sunday Tea with Annie, Grandma, and Mindy

Family Reuinons….Grandma LOVED the Crystal family reuinons.  She would load up any kids that wanted to go and camp for the weekend.  Grandma was the life of the party.  She always kept auctions, water fights, and camp fire meals exciting.

Pippy-ru-hiss….Grandma would always bring us back a little something from a trip she had taken to let us know she was thinking of us.  It was called a “pippy-ru-hiss”.  I could be a souvenier, a rock, a present, post card, or just a wonderful surprise.  Loved when she would call and tell us to come up and see our pippyruhiss from her latest adventure.

Fruit  Cakes…Grandma and her friend Kathy Taylor had an annual tradition of making fruit cakes for the holidays.  Many family members got to join in on the fun day of making.   Even tho I didn’t love to eat the fruit cake….time spent together, making food from scratch and with love was a valuable lesson learned.  Grandma loved to make fruit cake and even more to share it with others. 

Riding to Grandmas House….One of the blessings of being raised in Hamer, ID is that we were riding distance from our Grandparents.  Growing up, the rodeo stock and loading chute were at Grandma and Grandpa’s house.  You saddled up your horses and rode through the fields to gather, sort, and load stock for the rodeos. 
Grandma always kept the freezer stocked with icecream.  Sometimes you would just ride up to have an icecream with Grandma.  On a hot day, there wasn’t anything better than a drink of COLD water from the back porch sink,  ice-cream and sitting in the shade visiting with Grandma

Riding in Medicine Lodge:
Growing up I was terrified of heights and hated going to the mountains to ride with my Dad.  I would cry and cry and beg to stay home.  One fall I’d came home from college to help gather the cows in Medicine Lodge.  Dad, Grandma, and I went to drop down off the mountain.  I was certain that my Dad always picked the steepest part to go down….just to torture me. 
I wasn’t a little kid anymore and  I was going down the way I wanted!   Grandma was scared of heights too and we decided to find our own way down.  We were following a nice little draw down out…..until we hit a set of rock crevices.  It was steep, tight, and not solid footing.  I had to get off my horse and climb down thru.  The horses could barely fit and had to slide sideways through one spot.  Grandma was so scared.  ( I had got us in a way way way worse spot than Dad was taking us down ) There was no turning back tho!  After we made it to the bottom….I think we both thought my Dad was a little smarter .   

Grandma Elaine in Medicine Lodge, Idaho

 Birthday Cakes:  As long as I can remember, my Grandma ALWAYS made such a special day of my birthday!  Even when I went to college, Grandma would make Grandpa drive her to Dillon and bring me a cake to the rodeo to share with all my friends!  It became a tradition of sharing birthday cake at the college rodeo. 

J2, Mindy, Grandma, Kristen Hill

Shopping….
Shopping was one of Grandma’s favorite past times.  She was a POWER SHOPPER!  She would load up all her grand daughters and go on grand shopping trips to Salt Lake City, getting us all a new school outfit. 
Three Horse Ring:  One of Grandma’s proudest shopping finds was a ring.  Grandpa and Grandma were on a trip in New Mexico.  They had went shopping and she found a beautiful ring.  It had diamonds down the center and stunning opal framing them in on both sides.  She loved it but it was so expensive!  Grandpa bought it for her anyway. 
When she got home and was showing he girls her gorgeous new ring, she said…we can’t tell the boys how much it was. 
Well, how much was it they asked???  Grandma replied, It costs as much as THREE really really good horses. 

 

 
Dancing & Joyful -----“ I love you very much!  I always have and I always will” …..Grandma made me promise that I would tell you all this at her funeral.  In her last days, Grandma would slowly loose her vocabulary and power of speech.  One of the last words Grandma I ever  heard my Grandma say was Love....
Unconditional Love – would be one of the greatest lessons Grandma would ever teach us.    

Every week my Aunt would load Grandma up and go to town for prescriptions, dinner, and groceries. One night I had the opportunity to go in with them. As we went through out the nights activities Grandma told people I hope you know I love you...always have, always will and You're so Pretty! From the waitress down to strangers passing in the grocery isle. It is especially fun to see the smile on a young woman's face when a stranger tells her that she is pretty. The only thing better is when she tells one of her burly bearded boys how pretty they are. :)

Regg said it best, "Grandma doesn't know who you are she only knows that she loves you"

What an amazing example of unconditional love!

I don't know that I will tell my waitress I love her but the next time I go somewhere I will definitely try to SMILE, give sincere compliments, commend the good in people, and try to live up to the example set for me.

Mindy, Grandma, Rita at the Dillon College Rodeo

THANK YOU Linda Jacobs ....this sums up Grandma Perfectly!

Remembering David R. Stoecklein

Ripples....

Do you ever really appreciate or realize the affect someone's life has on you?  Even loved ones...who you tell often that you care for and are grateful for.....can you ever really conceive how big of an impact they have on your life.

Dave has been a family friend since I was small.  Photoshoots, horse ropings, hours spent in the saddle shop visiting.  All I really knew was….Dave was a picture taker guys and I saw pictures of my family on magazines, books, and calendars.  He always sent cool Christmas presents.  (Seriously, I still have a cheese slicer from one of those fancy meet and cheese baskets)

After college, my first real job was for Dave, working as a rep for the Stoecklein publishing company.
This job would make such a big impact on my world.  Dave and his family were always so good to me and treated me like one of the family.  During this time I would also get to see and learn so much more from this amazing man.  He was still a picture taker guy, family friend, but I got to see a small glimpse of the passion and vision that drove him. 

People…..relationships…..time spent…..new friends…old friends….It is AMAZING the human connections that would come into my life because of my Stoecklein time. 

Stoecklein employees….the gallery, the warehouse, Denver markets, store owners all over the west, booth neighbors (seriously…after 2 weeks next door….we were all besties!  Cocktail hour always drew a crowd) , models, cowboys, cowgirls, photography students, family, lol …..I even had a boyfriend or 2 from my Stoecklein travels. Dave definitely screened more boyfriends that my Dad ever has!  Hahahaha….Dave probably met more of them than Dad did too. 

Even existing friendships were strengthened.  While traveling, I would often schedule my circles so I could stay with friends along the way instead of hotels.  It is amazing, as everyone goes there different directions in life…….Taking the time to stay in touch….really matters. 
Time spent is the most valuable gift!  Grateful for time spent loved ones!

Another amazing gift, Dave’s passion was preserving the Spirit of the West!  His photography and moments he captured are such a gift to the world.  Personally, the family photos captured in time Dave’s work, I will be forever grateful for.  Being able to open a coffee table book and take a trip back down memory lane.  Those moments made even more precious when the loved ones were no longer there to take pictures of anymore.   

 It’s funny the moments you remember

•  Peaking out from my bedroom into my Mom’s saddle....I think they were doing interviews for a book or looking for the next Marlbro Man...I was supposed to go be in bed I'm guessing....but who could resist all the excitement.   
•   Photo shoots were you rode a pony and where told to stay out of shot because you were wearing red pants ( I still think they were “cool” at the time 
•  Photoshoots were you are wearing your Mom’s high top boots that are too small, a weird leather vest, and a scarf….I swear it was 90 degrees.  Running horses back over the top of the camera…over and over …and over.  I was in 7 th or 8 th grade…. The whole time I was just mad because I was missing the church dance in Dubois.   
•  Photoshoot in my favorite shirt and red gloves
•  Photoshoot ….. You get told you  look like a boy. True.  I didn’t know I was going.  Hadn’t showered and was rocking 2 awesome braids like a little girl and wearing my Dad’s coat. 
•  So cold and riding in a cowboy hat.  Sweat is FROZEN on the horses as we are trailing in.  I remember Dave telling me to smile. hahaha.....pretty sure my face was frozen in position and I was drooling.
• 
•  First real job out of college (ok, ok….only real job since college) 
•  Always donated to my college rodeo auction books and pictures 
•  Calls to check in and see how I was doing.
•  Places I’d never been before…..Travel that didn’t involve a rodeo grounds…..Houston, Denver, Vegas and WEEKS in those big towns!  
• The time we talked 2 nice English men into helping us tear down the PBR booth.  We became friends and later one would come to Idaho to have fullfill a life long dream of Riding a Bull :http://rodeotalesgypsytrails.blogspot.com/2010/09/life-long-dreams.html
•  First veal dinner…with Dave and Jack Goddard after building the “house” we called a booth for the next 2 weeks 
•  Surviving his crazy driving from the show to make it to the Thomas and Mack in time for the rodeo 
•  Rancheros Party at the top of the Hilton
•  Cocktail hour at  the Vegas booth and the great stories
• Always letting me stock chocolate milk in the cooler : ) 
•  Fans…how people flocked to him.  Magnetic personality….they could see a glimpse of his vision and wanted to be in the glow of his brilliance 
•  Amazing LOVE he had for his family!  The way Dave spoke lovingly of his wife and the time he dedicated to being with her.  The pride and love that he had for his boys.  When he spoke of them, you could see the gleam in his eye.  
• Special way he had for making people feel important and included.  
• Photography workshops…patient, supportive, encouraging….even when I literally didn’t know how to turn my big camera on… 
• Treating me like family <3 comment-3--="">The entire Stoecklein family has always been so good to me and my entire family.   GRATEFUL for their friendship and the priceless gifts given throughout the years

Eatin Rainbow Stew - My Spicy Sausage Tortelini Soup Recipe

"Eatin' Rainbow Stew in a silver spoon, underneath that sky of blue ..."
A little music to cook by ;)

Doesn't that song just make you smile!  This is a recipe concoction that came together last winter.  Great for days when there is a chill in the air.  First recipe was made with random leftovers from fridge and I spent the next 3 times trying to re-create it. 

Rainbow Stew ~ My Spicy Tortelini Soup

Ingredients:
1 package Pork Sausage, well browned ( I used Jimmy Dean, regular)
1 brick cream cheese (cubed)
1 Jalepeno Pepper (Finely Chopped, I used a hand crank chopper from Tupperware)
http://order.tupperware.com/coe/app/tup_show_item.show_item_detail?fv_item_category_code=10004&fv_item_number=P10113229000
(Omit if you don't like spicy flavor)
1-2 cups Fresh Spinach chopped (I grabbed a large handful)
1-2 cups frozen brocolli ( you guessed it...I just eye balled it ;) )
1-2 of carrot slices (honestly I forgot to put these in this batch, they will take longer to cook too)
1-2 Cups fresh sliced mushrooms (Yes, I pretty much use what is in the fridge ;)
2 small cans of tomato paste ( I was out so used 1/2 can of spaghetti sauce)
Couple shakes of Garlic Powder
Couple Shakes of Onion Powder
1 box Rainbow Tortellini Noodles ( this is the one this I recommend not substituting, they don't have to be colored but other noodles I tried just weren't as good)
2 cups Chicken Broth
2 cups Beef Broth
2 Cups Water (Soup tends to cook down & I always seem to be trying to stretch it to a few more guests that show up.  Just add to consistency you like)

As you can already tell, recipe is pretty flexible.  You can make it in a crock pot or a pot on stove.  I use the stove method when I'm making a batch bigger than my crock pot.
Directions:
Brown sausage (drain fat) .
Combine cooked sausage and all ingredients except noodles. 
(Cook time will be longer if using frozen brocolli & spinach)
Simmer  for 30 minutes to an hour
Add Noodles & cook for another hour
Cooking slow helps the flavors to soak into everything



Scoop into your favorite cup or bowl.  Top with freshly grated Ballard's Parmaromao Cheese!
Serve and enjoy!!!
(Click here to learn more about Ballard Cheese: http://rodeotalesgypsytrails.blogspot.com/2014/06/say-cheese-ballard-cheese.html

Thank You so much for stopping by the Rodeo Tales and Gypsy Trails!
See you again soon,
Mindy

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Bucking Awesome BACON Jalepeno Popper Dip

BUCKING AWESOME BACON Jalapeno Popper DIP

2 Reasons I am sharing with you.....
1. I LOVE YOU
2. I LOVE this recipe and by sharing it on the blog I have it at my fingertips when I need it ;)

B.A. BACON Jalepeno Popper Dip
Party Guests Needed:
-2 bricks cream cheese, softened
-1 cup mayonaise
-3 Jalepenos ( I cut ends off and blend them whole in a food processor thing.  If you want less heat...seed them.  I tell myself that hotter....keeps me from eating as much ;) )
 -1 small can diced green chiles
-1/2 cup Mexican Cheese (grated)
-1/2 cup Motzerella Cheese (grated)
*** 2 Confession:  1. For the top two cheeses....I use whatever cheese is in my fridge.  LOVE Pepperjack & Cheddar too. 2. I rarely measure.  Don't like extra dishes so I just grab a handful of each. Probably closer to a cup of each. 
-1/2 cup Parmesean Cheese (grated)
- 1 Package Bacon (cut into small pieces)

This recipe is fool pretty hard to mess up. 
In a bowl Mix following: (Tip: if you use a glass bowl you can cook in, you don't have to wash a mixing bowl & hold heat really well.  If taking to a party, a disosable pan works too)
Mix: Mexcican Cheese, Motzerella Cheese, Chiles, Jalepenos, Cream Cheese, Mayonaise


Put mixture in cooking pan (9x9 size  or close to that....If you do a longer pan like a 9x12, dip will be thinner ...I think that is my favorite because cheese is crispy on top & bacon is spread farther)
Top with Parmesaem Cheese
Place in oven and BAKE at 375 for 25-30 minutes

Over stove top, cook bacon pieces until crispy.
(I place mine on a paper towel & plate to drain extra fat off)

Sprinkle Bacon over top of dip.
(If sending to someone for "Take & Bake" Dip.  Put Bacon on before cooking, cover dish with aluminum foil and remove foil 5-10 minutes before finished cooking so bacon doesn't get too crispy) 

BUCKING AWESOME BACON Jalapeno Popper Dip

Serve and Enjoy!
Awww..................This is so dang good!!! (Seriously.....having a hard time focusing!  I may or may not have dripped dip on my computer while trying to taste test while typing....just sayin

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A great day to be THANKFUL

 GREAT DAY ....to take a ride

....to trail some bucking horses....to laugh until you cry

.......to be silly .....to spend time with loved ones.....to be thankful

Today I am THANKFUL!!!!

• Thankful to be alive!
• Thankful to be healthy!  
• Thankful for GREAT weather today!  Not to hot or to cold....it was just right for a cozy coat and wild rag! 
• Thankful to be able to ride! 
• Thankful for gentle broke horses you can trust and just enjoy riding!
• Thankful for a herd of bucking horses to trail!
• Thankful for RODEOS and a job for bucking horses!
• Thankful for pastures full of feed!
• Thankful for fall rains that soften the feed and green grass popping up! 
• Thankful to be crammed in a semi sleeper with loved ones! 
• Thankful for the laughing and play that occurs in tight quarters and on road trips.
• Thankful for hot meals and cold drinks!
• Thankful for always having more than enough!
• Thankful for a great car and the freedom to go anywhere! 
• Thankful for little brothers leaning their head on your shoulder. 
• Thankful for cameras! So grateful for moments caught in time and the love captured in a memory
• Thankful for my phone! Thankful for pictures and texts and calls from people you love.  At any moment, if has the potential to carry a message from people all over the world!
• Thankful for a 2yr old pooping in the tub.  At the time...had a hard time seeing the silver lining ...BUT it Did GIVE me the motivation to scrub my entire tub.  It is shining, spotless and beautiful! ( That is a rarity here...I never clean.  Confession...Clean to me = you can see the floor of the house in every room)  
• Thankful for GREAT SADDLES!!!  So honored to be able to ride a Harwood saddle.  Reguardless of how often it gets used.  Always feels like royalty when you get to set in the seat. 
• Thankful for Kilgore and the simple beauty of every view. 
• Thankful for Good nights & I love yous 
• THANKFUL for THIS DAY!!! 
  
  So many more blessings I could list....so much to be thankful for it will take me more than a lifetime!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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     Rodeo Tales & Gypsy Trails
    

    is proudly brought to you by
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    THANK YOU for shopping small! You, our loyal customers, are the driving force behind our small business. Thank you for your patronage and continued support. We are honored to be able to provide quality goods and look forward to serving you again in the future. ~ Mindy
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Spills, Thrills, and Wagon Trains!!!!

I must apologize.  This was a FABULOUS day and it took me over a year to share it with you.  I don't know why because I told it and re-told it in preson and on the phone. When I set down to write I just didn't know where to start.  Finally, I got the key pad moving! Hold on!  It is a wild ride!

Spills, Thrills, and Wagon Trains............

Grand Adventures…..that is the best way to sum up time with my father. 
You can almost guarantee…regardless of what he says…it will be an ALL DAY event.   Always dress for ANYTHING.  Protective clothing like boots and long sleeve shirts recommended. 

This very adventure would be right along those lines.  Dad stopped in at the house.  He was going to help some friends hook a team of horses…2 across and 2 deep.  (Keep in mind…he’d never done this before but he was going to help them) Now, Dad does have a lot of experience with teams.  He uses them to feed help every winter and now even as part of his summer employment. 

He offers the invitation to go and I accept.  Let the adventure begin.  I have a new big camera and this seems like a GREAT opportunity to use it. 

We arrive and I quickly notice that I am a party crasher : ) This is a “guys club” day.  I only know a few of the guys.  They are all so excited, conversing about the best ways to go about hooking the horses.  I sit back soaking it all in.


  They were very kind and let me tag along…camera in tow.  (hahaha…I don’t think they knew what to think about me…especially when I jogged ahead of the team to get the shot I wanted)

Ok ok!  You know my Dad is notorious for wrecks and I know you are anxiously waiting to hear about the wreck the unfolded when they took off with the team.  I was too!!!  I walked a LONG ways away  to get starting pictures just so I didn’t get ran over.  (I didn’t get my “I survived the Hoggan Ranch t-shirt for nothing)   Well, much to my surprise…..they started off like seasoned professionals, not even a bobble!  Well broke horses and well mannered as could be. (No, I am not accustomed to this kind of horse ; )

Taking Off

That's right...they hooked 4 up and they started PERFECTLY!!!!  Drove out through the desert like they'd been doing it everyday. That's right....4 head of horses....5 cowboys...and 2 Wagons.......and it went smooth as can be!  See.....

About now you are wondering…..Mindy.....really….why are you wasting my time right now.  You had a great time with cool guys…..great but….really?!?!?  No, “Hoggan Wreck”??? 

Ok….you got me!     

Changing of the guard and heading home.  Drivers swapped around.  Everyone took a turn being part of the legendary day. 

The lead horses tuckered out from the jog out to open country.  They've made quite the trek today.  One minute we are cruising along like a Sunday Drive.....and seconds later we are messed up like seven days from sunday! 

Tangled in a mess of leather lines and horse flesh, the guys jump into action!  The paint is down and crushing the wagon tongue.  They work quickly to get everything up right and in working order.  (We are a LONG ways from home to have to walk ;)  I hop down to help also but before I do...I very carefully take off my fancy camera.  Incase, I get pawed in the head or something.....I don't want my camera to get hurt. 
Luckily, I'm with a very capable crew!  Horses are up right and safe in moments.  The tongue is bent back into shape and horses hooked again.  They switched the set of lead horses to the fresher set and once again we are headed home. 

As you can see, the lead horses are fresh and ready to go.  Dad and Pat are each driving a team at the lead wagon.  I am standing up at the front with them. The rest of the crew is sitting in the second covered wagon. Both wagons are equipped with brakes.  We cruising along at a decent pace across the desert road.  Pretty soon....we are gaining speed....and more speed and more speed.  Dad has me on the brake by us...soon I am full on standing on the brake, for all I'm worth.  Dad's eyes are getting bigger as he's hollering for the back wagon to give us some brake!  However, the guys in the back just think we are fine because Dad is still smiling and laughing.  (Yes, it was more of a scared laugh....like Whoa....we are in trouble boys)
Soon we resemble an amusement park ride blazing across the rocky desert road!  The wagons are bouncing up and down wildly!  We are headed straight for a narrow steel post gateway.  (Sidenote...on the way out before...I thought...This is a narrow spot to get through with such a big set up. Increase are speed by ten fold....I was pretty sure it was going to be real bad!) Mach 9....wagons flailing through the air....we make it through the posts.  Our load of hay bales and passengers are being tossed about.  Hay bales bouncing higher than my head and off out through the brush behind us!  Out of the corner of my eye....I see MY CAMERA fly off the wagon with a load of hay!  I hop off the wagon at probably 35 mph chasing after it!  I find it lying back on the dusty trail.  The lens has came off and lying a ways away.  (I gathered it up and I'll tell you what I told the guys....I don't want to talk about it)

They got the team back under control and we continued our trip home.  By the time we got back to roads, everyone was being a model citizen.  Horses were tired and working like well mannered professionals again.


All's well that ends well right ;) ....such an amazing day!  A day spent with true LEGENDS!  So grateful for time spent.  Oh ya....my camera survived too!  Little dirt in my zoom of my fancy lends but the camera body was good!  So lucky and grateful!!!
Moral of the Story = Memories are PRICELESS.  That being said, whenever you are with Dad there WILL BE a good photo op.....and You should NEVER take your big camera...it is not safe!

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  is proudly brought to you by
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  THANK YOU for shopping small! You, our loyal customers, are the driving force behind our small business. Thank you for your patronage and continued support. We are honored to be able to provide quality goods and look forward to serving you again in the future. ~ Mindy
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• p.s. Here is a few more of my favorite things
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• Sortin' Pens