THE BRANDING was today and I loved it! I've decided that I have to enjoy all the time I can out at the Ranch because one of these years its gonna be sold and that'll be great for mom and dad but oh so sad for those of us who visit and play not often enough. I can't post any pics cuz Dawn took my camera home to download the pictures, but, I'm counting on both Dawn and Tina to post some great pictures.

I think at my stage in life birthdays are not so much to celebrate growing older, as they are to celebrate being alive and having people around you who love you and support you. Cindy phoned me from the hospital this morning to wish me a happy birthday, she was in for Chemo again, her second round this month, she used to go every two years but she doesn't look at it as losing the battle but having beaten it this far. She is amazing in her positive attitude and she wanted to make sure I had someone to spend my birthday with. Thanks Dawn for the great supper and mostly for the visit and I guess I should say thanks again to Dawn and Krista for the PINK gum boots, they certainly make a statement. I bought myself a new pair of really really soft leather riding gloves for my birthday they're beautiful. I think I'll break them in at the branding on Saturday.

this is my yard today. notice the little grass UNDER the water, I've spent the last weeks diligently watering that grass so it would grow, wouldn't it be funny if it got killed by water now, not funny haha but funny sit down and cry about it. AND notice my trees too, they don't like very much water, THATS WHY I GOT THEM!!!!

had a super weekend with Michael and Jenie and family. Those kids say and do some of the funniest things. We watched High School Musical, of my gosh they know all the songs and they dance to it too. The girls do really well, I guess boys just don't get the whole dance thing cuz it looked painful. But I had a fantastic time. I just can't make it so long between visits. I miss too much. Oh one thing that they did, after church on Sunday they had a potluck. They do it I think every 4 months. It is just such a super idea eveyone stays and visits and eats yummy food, I love potlucks and the kids all play around, a great time for fellowshipping.

its 10:30 I should be fast asleep but here I sit wide awake. I came home from work today with a killer headache, I didn't get any sleep last night my mind was too busy trying to accept things, so, today I knew I'd get a headache, lack of sleep, number 1 reason for headaches. So when I got home I thought I'd be smart and take Tylenol instead of excedrin, waited an hour NOTHING but dopeyness, so then I thought maybe just 1 excedrin will take care of it, waited an hour NOTHING, so desparate for relief I downed two excedrin, headaches gone but I'm up for awhile yet. But on the up side I got my house all dusted, swept, vacuumed and floors scrubbed. I'm exfoliated, waxed, tanned and moitruized, wash is done and lunch is made for tomorrow. Oh and thanks to Dawn and Krista you can all meet Gypsy. So, now I'm gonna go play cradle of Rome for awhile and maybe read for some time.

meet gypsy

I went out tonight and spent some time with Annie and her baby tonight and just watched and saw the love that is there, its so pure and simple, she loves her baby and no one is gonna some between them. Maggie stands at the fence and is always trying to sniff at the baby but Annie just squeals and chases her off. I think I will call the baby gypsy, thanks Krista, I think its a real good name for her. I'm exhausted and have a headache gonna try to get some sleep. love to you all

This is the hardest Mothers Day I have ever had. I listened in church this morning to talks on what makes a mother. All the sacrificing we do that really isn't sacrificing because there is nothing more important or precious to us than our children. I watched this afternoon as Annie protected and shielded her new filly. When maggie would come near the fence annies ears would lay back and she'd squeal her protest and quickly herd that baby away. It's natural to protest when someone comes to take over your sacred position.

Rod brought babe and mom home tonight. I got some pictures and Gary helped me put one somewhere on facebook, but, I havene't figured out yet how to get some on here, but, I'll keep trying. She is beautiful , solid color except for a diamond on her forehead and a little snippet of white on her nose. She's pretty shy yet but she let me pet her rump. Tomorrow I'll spend lots of time with her and do alot of imprinting. She is so wonderful. I went and got Terina right after work and brought her over. She was the first kid to get to pet her and she is oh so excited then Rod and I took her to supper at Montanas then took her home. She really just wanted to stay her with the filly, not interested in going anywhere. Its so fun to see how really interested she is in the horse and everything that is going on with her. I hope she can have a big part in training this little filly.

I got some very exciting news tonight. I was at the show with Rob andCindy and Rod phoned. Early last week he'd been bucked off Annie, our very gentle mare. He couldn't figure out why she was so antsie and out of sorts lately. This morning he found out, she had a baby!!!!! We didn't even know she was expecting, she must have been pregnant when we bought her. Anyway we have a little filly, she's palamino just like her mama. Rods bring her home on Friday. So I need suggestions for a name so I can guide Terina in the naming of this little darling, cuz we all know how good Terina is at names. Oh, the show we went to was Made of Honor. cute show a real chick flick, now its 10 to 10 and I'm off to bed to dream of my new little babe.

I just finished reading Kristas blog and she made me think of the country smells and I really do love all of them. Tonight I finally got to burn some of our ditch. I even like that smell as long as I can shower before bed. Its not a really nice smell to sleep with. And thanks again to Tina for the suggestion to plant a little grass at a time. I think I could keep a litttle watered, it'll probably take all summer but at least I'd have grass eventually. I had to work today, one Saturday out of 5 we have to work so I'm really tired tonight cuz I burned till after dark, it was kinda neat. AND I finally got a yard light. Tyler was down last weekend and he put one on the barn for me. Wrong color bulb, I like the warm yellow lights but thats easily changed