Mary Mary

Life in the Real World: Yep, she's MY friend.

Oh, just one of my very best Friends in the world..... Mary!!

This will make more sense if you go read Mary's Blog Post......Life in the Real World: Yep, she's MY friend.

I will pay you later for saying all that good stuff about me.................. 
By paying you back it wont be in cash.....
maybe in a person to person visit....
you know the kind where we can see each other......
 the kind where kids aren't begging for me to get off the phone and help them saddle a horse.......
yes the kind you and me, me and you...
maybe over lunch or a cold beer...
Talking about life, not about what medicines to give what cattle and what kind of shape the grass and water are in our country....
you know about stuff that girls talk about ( I hope you know what that is because I don't)...

okay enough of that fancy life stuff, who are we trying to fool.....i may just have to pay ya back with a simple phone call with in the next 6 months.....you know that will work for us, that's just what kind of friends we are.......

                Mary, Thank You for saying I could do it, anything I wanted to do.....

You were the one who told me to chase the Cowboy, to be that young Mom, and to stay true to my self....and to remember to follow my own Dreams...... Well guess what my friend,

 Dreams Come True......Thanks for helping me with ME and for being YOU!!!

Seein' My Father in Me....

Yesterday as we were processing a couple loads of cattle I got to watching Colton work.......Someone once describe him as a young "Manager"....(that special someone was Papa).  Always looking for a way to make things run better, faster, and of course smoother.......His ideas always start with "It'd be better if you take them through that gate, down that ally"......" You can figure out the rest of the story....haha

Well yesterday we didn't have time for a new idea, it was already late evening and we had 175 to process before dark. Not to mention the chores, homework, baths, and supper that had to be done as well.  Everybody went to their position. I always run shots on off side, Fred cuts ear tags out, Chris runs the chute-brands, and Colt pushing cattle keeping the chute full at all times, no matter what he has to do Chris better not EVER say "More Cattle Boy"....Colt takes great pride in that job and of course making his Dad proud. We all do whatever needs to be done at the moment, whether its your job or not......

As I looked though the chute to double check the safety of my babies (just like any good ole Momma Cow would do) I couldn't help but to notice my little man. Running the chute, branding the cattle, keeping the tub full, when the steer was done I heard him say "outside" and on to the next one we went.......it hit me like a ton of bricks....HE IS GROWING UP....and in just a few years he will be off making his own adventures in Life. I wondered to my self...'What kind of man will he be? Husband? Father? or just an ole drifting Cowboy traveling the land'.   I have no doubt in my mind no matter what he does in life he will be good at it and will love it with all his heart. He was grown up watching his Dad do this to so many things and he doesn't know any other way. For a young mother this can cause great heartache when you combine sadness and pride all in the same beat.

 

Colton Branding



Chris Branding



    20 Years Difference.....



This summer Colt has really stepped up from a small boy to good hand....Driving trucks here and there, roping cattle on his own, and of course making Dad proud. After a morning of helping his Dad doctoring cattle I heard him taking off his boots on the front porch.."Mom, guess what I did?......I rope 2 head and tied them down all by my self"................Chris came in the house and just in time to say "True Story, Mom"....After hearing all about the sick cattle and how many they roped, long story short they had 5 to doctor. Colt took 2 down to the bottom, roped and tied them down while Chris stayed on top and doctored the other 3. Once again proud Dad..................and Mom.

Working together flanking calves at good friend David Chambers Ct Ranch

I hear this song every once in a while on the radio and it brings a warm feeling to my soul

Yeah, I'm seein' my father in me
I guess that's how it's meant to be
And I find I'm more and more like him each day
I notice I walk the way he walks
I notice I talk the way he talks
I'm startin' to see my father in me

To the two men in my life I am most proud of........

Possum Soup

Miss Carlee and Her Fine Catch....

At few years back the kids asked for Coon Cages for Christmas. Well that Spring they caught alittle bit of everything from Smoke the Ranch Dog to Wild Cat the Barn Cat.........After this Big Scary Ugly Monster was caught one afternoon she freaked out......Telling us all about its eyes, its long nose, and it no hair tail we came to the conclusion it wasn't a Monster, it was a Possum. Daddy explained that Smokey would take care of it as soon as we opened the gate, not trusting her dad with the life of her very Best Friend "Smoke" she looked at me and begged not to turn him loose....

Well once again that hero she calls Daddy was right.....Smoke got a hold of the big Monster and showed him who was in charge of this Ranch Outfit.....Not thinking much more about the whole ordeal I went back to doing whatever it was I was busy doing when the monster scared her 15 minutes ago.....

  

Smokey the Ranch Dog

Little cowboy boots stomping on the front porch echoed by the jingle of a dragging spur was music to my ear on a daily basis......And "Momma, Momma" was always soon followed, unless it was "Honey, can you...."......well this time is was "Momma, I need some baggies"

Trying to figure out what in the world she need baggies for I turned to meet her at the back door......Oh My......There stood my little 4 year old cowgirl, no shirt,  brother's shorts on, boots for shoes, and a opened pocket knife................. blood from her fingers to her boobies....not just blood, but hair from some wild mangy animal was stuck all over her. 

"Miss Fred, What in the world have you gotten into and What in the world do you need baggies for"

Well that was the question...... and a CowKid like her with a good Ranch Dog always at her side, she didn't have much time for details....(she gets that from her Dad, you know that Hero from earlier, ya him....lol).

"For the meat, I cuttin up that Possum, going put it in the freezer, take it to Grandma Neice and she goin make Possum Soup"

Really.....you have got to be kidding, and of course the first thing that came to mind was......."I sure hope that Possum is dead and not just playing Possum,  hoping Smokey would stop playing with it for a while".........

After explaining a few things she looked at me kind of disappointed......



Fred, all dressed!



For one thing, you need a better knife, this roping knife is not a good one for cutting formats into our next family meal

Second, Grandma Neice doesn't like to cook.....and I'm thinking Possum Soap isn't her best dish....

Third, Little girls like her need to be wearing a shirt....

Fourth, Take you and that so called Ranch Hero Dog out side to the garden hose and get washed up!!!

Needless to say....we never bagged up meat or Grandma Neice to make Possum Soup for the Family

Hope you enjoyed the Wild Adventure of the Cowkids and the Ranch Dog................Stay posted for the "Milk Cow Preg Checking Story" .....yes of course the Cowkids and the Ranch Dog took care of that story too!

The Windmill Man

Life here on the Ranch is Fun and Exciting........

When Chris came back in the yard this evening after a short ride on a colt, we got to looking at the old windmill in the front yard. I LOVE windmills, but this one is old and not too pretty to look at and it is right on display in the circle drive. 

"I think I can knock it down with the tractor"........said the Cowboy!

Well it wasn't as easy as he thought it was going to be.....After almost falling the wrong way, having me and the kids move to safer ground, he realized that pulling it would be a much better plan. So let the Farmer Tractor Driver revert back to the western way of doing things, the Cowboy Way...........

        "GET A ROPE"

"Honey, lift me up there so I can put a rope on it"..........said The Cowboy!

Me asking....."You trust me to control the tractor with your life riding on the front?" (I do promise you he was a little nervous about the conditions....lol and looked over his shoulder a couple times to make sure my hands were off the controls and to give me one of those looks)

It only took the longest rope he could find in the barn, a little lift from the tractor, and a few loops to judge the strength of the wind...........Oh how the Kids went wild when he caught it......and I'm not going to lie, I was a little excited myself!! I whispered to my heart this was as close I was very going to get to a "Cowboy Roping the Moon"......hahha

It came down with grace and the Cowboy was kinda proud of a job well done, never underestimate a Cowboy and a Rope!

Well there ya have it, just 1 evening of a Rancher's Wife.......And as always blessings from Our Brand to Yours!

Oh we can make it....

How many more miles Potter?..........

I'm not sure how many times I heard Michelle ask me that from Tyler Tx to Oklahoma City.....So this is the Crazy, Fun, Fast, but Successful Road trip we had!!!

Last August... the Rockin P girls were chasing the Year End Saddles pretty hard so we had to go to each and every rodeo to pick up points. Tyler Tx, it was a Saturday afternoon rodeo that started at 1.

But for Me, Michelle and Bobbie we had bigger and greater plans of getting together in OKC at the WRCA Range Round Up Ranch Rodeo on Friday to watch some friends and drink a few beers. Michelle always works the rodeo by caring the flag and pushing cattle, for years I made fun of her for it but I stopped once I found out she got paid and a free motel room......so that is a Great Fun Free Weekend for the Cowgirl, laughs are on me now.....So the plans worked out for once and we all had a great time Friday night, and were loaded and ready to hit the rode by 7 am Saturday Morning....



Fatty, Me, Michelle, and The Nice Sub that had never been to a

 ranch rodeo.....but she hung with us!!



I'm sure you are wondering about our 4th person??? Well Kelsey (our team mate) had something come up last minute and we planned to rodeo with the 3 of us, but Michelle got a hold of a friend and we picked her up East of Dallas on our way! Just so happened when we loaded her horse my truck died (which was the feed truck if you could imagine...Dallas, backed up in traffic, feed truck and the WRCA trailer....look out Tyler here we come) The gas gauge didn't work, so I'm guessing we need diesel, Thank God it started and we burped it over to the pump. After the Dodge got a drink and we all went to the "potty" as Fatty calls it, we were back on the rode. At this point Michelle calls back to OKC and tells them that she will be back for tonight performance at 7:30 pm....I'm sure I gave her some kind of look when I heard her say that.......Are you kidding me?......its 5 hours at least from Tyler to OCK.....our rodeo starts at 1, it will last 2 hours....that puts us in the City by 8.....at the earliest, which is after 7:30 dork!!!!

"Oh Potter, we will make it"........(let me remind you I'm driving, not her)

Well....we started thinking how in the Hell we were going to make this work.....Just so happened that we pulled into Tyler 30 minutes before the rules meeting so we decided to fill up the Running Machine, that would be one less stop we would have to make on the way home......And this is when Fatty comes up with the master plan.....



Here we are, not at Tyler.....but some where coming up
 with some kindof a Master Plan!!!



She had a guy friend coming up to watch the rodeo and planned on going back to the WRCA rodeo in the city afterwards.....Bingo!! We were saddling ponies when the poor guy drove up......"Ok here are your Choices 1. You drive the Feed Truck and Trailer back to the city for us and we drive your truck or 2. You pull our trailer back for us so we can drive the Feed Wagon faster"......after a strange look on his face and "Hi, nice to meet ya" he pick option #2!! Wonderful, it was all looking great....not to mention that when I checked us in I begged the book keeper to make us first in the last event!!! So as the rodeo went on things were great, and the nice little sub that Michelle found us fit right in the mix.....(I'm sure she thought we were Crazy)!! After we tied our steer down the the Muggin, Michelle and I ran to the trailer, went to unsaddling horses but the teammates assured us they would take care of it and to get our buts on the rode. Fatty's nice guy friend had already unhooked the trailer, so we were free to head for the City. At the rodeo we talked to a few locals and found a way back to the interstate that cut off 20 miles for us (at this point 20 minutes was gold)....and it was only 2:45!!!!! Just out side of Dallas the team calls to let us know we won the rodeo and Michelle had won Top Hand and Top Horse.....(of course they had to jack with her a little first and tell her somebody else won it....lol which was funnier then shit to she the look on her face when they told her who...lol)!!

 Well we made it at 7:28.... 2 minutes to spare....after fine calculations on miles per hours and construction, we knew we had to drive 85 all the way to make it......so I drove 90 just to make sure!! Michelle had a horse saddled and waiting on her in the tunnel and the Grand Entry was fixing to start......everyone looked at us kinda funny when we rolled out of the truck.....I still had my tie string in my belt and Michelle still had on her leggings!!! And for the other girls, they dropped off the sub, Fatty and they guy friend had a nice long trip home having a flat tire on the trailer and all.......needless to say they missed the Saturday Night Performance of the Range Round Up!!!

Well there ya have it.....The first of many exciting Rodeo Trips we have made over the years!!!

Oh ya....we won those Saddles we were Chasing.....but there is more to that story later!!

Meet the Girls of the Rockin P.....

Being a Cowgirl is something I dearly love…..and growing up in the rodeo arena during my childhood has made me very competitive and really close to the rodeo family that I have come to love very much. For the past 5 years I have been showcasing the ranch industry through the Women’s Ranch Rodeo Assoc (WRRA). This is something I have grown to love and enjoy it very much, there isn’t anything better than a group of girls that make Cowboying look easy…..so here is a short but sweet introduction of the girls on the Rockin P Ranch Rodeo Team…..I wanted to give you all a face with the name, I am sure I will write about our life on the rodeo road in many upcoming post!!

Bobbie…..we all call her “Fatty” as you can tell we have a very hard time keeping her off the buffet line and out of the Dairy Queen……don’t let this pretty face and tiny body fool ya….she is tough and will put her life on the line to chalk a steer when needed. Bobbie is a full time Cowboy for the Chain Ranch in Western Oklahoma and like I said she is tough, not everybody could handle working with a full crew of men. A couple of years ago she wrote a story for the Western Horseman magazine about being a Ranch Hand, if you haven't read it go look it up!!  Fatty and the girls…..Bobbie is always mounted on nothing but the best and has a couple of really nice mares she drags around with her, they are her best friends and traveling partners.   Last summer Bobbie got me a spot in a Western Movie, we had a wonderful time together…..….this is a blog post all by its self….which she has promised to help me write. Bobbie is a great assist to the team, and it never hurts to have good looks on our side either…… haha!!

Melissa…..I have called her “shorty” from day one which was over 20 years ago. Melissa and I are both from Central Kansas and grew up on the same junior rodeo circuit. Her folks and mine were good friends and we all grew up together, all the way up to high school rodeos and on to the college level also. Now that we are mothers, wives, and cowgirls we still have a great friendship and a ton of things in common. Shorty works in town at a Doctor’s office, but helps her husband Andrew out a lot on the ranch. They live and work for a back grounding yard in East Central Kansas, where they spend most of their time laughing at their 2 daughters Mattie and Adley…..which are cuter then shit and I love just like my own!!! The best part of rodeo is the families you meet…..If it wasn’t for the rodeo arena we would have never met and our kids wouldn’t have the best friends that they do. I love her just like a sister, I know everybody says that…but really she is the kind of friend you can be honest with and they will be honest right back.

Michelle…….we just call her Michelle…..lol.  Michelle has been on the team for 4 years now and we have become great friends.  Michelle is a “hand” to say the least; she ropes really well and makes awesome horses. Her and Jared (husband) live in Southern Oklahoma, okay almost Texas!! Jared works for a local ranch and Michelle is the secretary for the schools, ya I had a hard time believing it too….but she does have this cute little voice she answers the phone to, but don’t flatter yourself she still wears pearl snap shirts, wranglers and boots…..lol. In the summer months Michelle day works a lot and rodeos full time. Up until we got her hooked on the WRRA, she Women’s Pro-Rodeoed and was very competitive winning titles left and right. This week they welcomed their first baby into the world….Mr. Ace…which I sure am excited to meet. Michelle was pregnant at out WRRA finals last October but wanted to tell her family at Christmas so she keep it from us girls as well….I never did get to see her in the “big” belly stage and wish I would have. There is a “life on the rodeo road” blog post coming up that is about Michelle….stay turned and I’m sure of many funny stories ahead as my 2 and Melissa’s girls teach Ace all kinds of good tricks of becoming a Cowhand!!

And of course there is Me……they call me “Potty Mouth Potter”……ya well I guess it fits me good…..hehe!!

Well that is the team….between the 4 of us and a few subs here and there we hit as many rodeos as our busy lives will allow us. I’m thankful every day for the great friendships that rodeoing has brought in to my life!

2010 WRRA Year End Champs.....after a long road!! More on this story later!

Spring Processing with the Crew......

It's that time of year again......green grass, fresh cattle and Cowboys that are eager to get out of the winter feed truck life and get their butt's back in the saddle. After a long winter of the same ole day in and day out of stringing yearlings on a feed line and pulling sick cattle......summer prowling is always something to look forward to.  Before cattle can be turned out to summer pasture they all need to be processed, sorted and shaped up. Time is very valuable this time of year so everything must run smooth and steady.....and this is how it goes.

The gather.....Me, Chris, Josh and the bigger kids headed out for the back side (not mine of course because they had to go to school which they were not happy about, but the Drummond kids are regular hands for workings because they all are home schooled).   Once everybody was back to the herd with the cattle they found in their country we headed to the pens with them.  At the pens the work began.

Step by step we worked 200 head and hour....and this is how we did it.......

 



Tim Kill...... who has put in 15+ years cowboying for the Drummond's is in the back keeping the pens full and moving cattle around, but his most important job is to keep the little boys in line and their little bodies busy, which can be a full time job on it's own.....Both kids and traditions are very important to the ranch.



Tim Drummond and Chris.....Tim being one of Chris' bosses was to help Chris keep the snake full at all times and keep cattle pushed up to the Chute Girls......which were Alex and I (Alex is Ladd and Ree's daughter).....She would keep the snake tight and pushed up, and I would make sure there was always a head going in and a tail going out.....with out a steer in the chute at all times progress would be slowed down.

My view all day!!

Then there is the crew in the front......Josh (bub) is a young single Cowboy that has worked for Drummonds for 10 years or so.....he was running the chute today. His job is just as important as the rest of us......and while running the chute he was giving wormer (all cattle got a shot of wormer to deworm them allowing them to gain more weight). 



Hallie....doing her job!

Then there is Hallie.....Tim's daughter.....her job was to keep the syringe full of LA 200 (a medication given for bad eyes) It was hard for her to pull the medicine and hold the syringe all at the same time, but she got creative and figured out what worked for her and by using feet and everything else.. lol......There were several bad eyes from the ash off the burnt grass, so she stayed VERY busy!

Next is Ladd, Tim's brother and Chris' other boss (Ladd is married to Ree, The Pioneer Women).....his job was to implant, which is a small pill like tablet that is put in their ear and absorbs for the next 90 days making the cattle grow and gain weight at a faster rate........this also is a VERY important step to the processing. 

Pete!!

Last but not least is Pete....not sure how long Pete has worked for the T Apple brand but he is a big asset to the ranch.....I love to listen to Pete sing, and he always has some kind of burrito for all of us to eat on.  His jobs was to fly tag, each steer got a fly tag to TRY and help keep the flies down this summer! When steers are not knocking off flies, their heads are down and eating.....so once again this is to help with the gain...

Well when you put all that crew together with all the right tools we can process 200 head an hour.......that is alot of bovine......but when you have thousands to do every year, you get pretty good at it!!



Chris and Hallie kicking cattle out to Summer Grass!!



Seeing all the Fence............



Taking Cows to Summer Pasture with Uncle Jim



Going to the Back Side.........here in the Flint Hills there are still Cowboys who gather cattle the "Old Fashioned Way"......with only horses and cowboys, leaving all motorized equipment at the House!!! After getting dropped off and your point of direction from the Lead Off Man, there is nothing but rocks and tall grass to look at while picking your way through the country looking for a few head of Bovine.  To settle my wondering mind I make sure to see all the fence, rest a sure not to leave a single head behind. In the Cowboy world there is nothing worse then having another Cowboy bring in a straggler from the country you just covered.  While on my tour to the Back Side today I found my self in a deep thought.......

Going to the Back Side of a Pasture is a lot like Life in general.....

In Life we get in such a hurry just trying to keep up with the daily "Rat Race" that we often forget to take our time to do things correct and efficient.  Look back on your own Life....has there ever been a time that you didn't see the fence, or didn't see the other side of the hill and now wish you could go back and make that memory you might have missed.  I often ponder myself on the "what if's" and the "wish I had's" but trying not to waste my time on the unchangeable and remember to make less of those moments.  Living every day to it's fullest is hard to do when you get in a routine or get caught with too many irons in the fire.

Time spent making wet saddle blankets and swore butts as you put the miles on a young horse is all in the makings of a loyal partnership and a nice ride.  During this awkward stage of bonding there can be several chances for wrecks to occur. Once you trust your horse to pick him self out of the wire on the ground and he understands that you will help him out as much as you can when everybody is wrapped up in a rope with a 1000 pound cow at the end of it looking for a reason to climb in the middle of your saddle.  After you gain each other's trust the miles get smoother and more enjoyable for all.  I look at a marriage of man and wife no different, with all the small things in life that can ruin a relationship,  its the long gravel road drives on a sunny day that makes the heart grow.
Remember to enjoy your ride of Life, not be afraid to ride that extra mile to see all the fences (chances) in Life.........You never know what you might find waiting for ya there!!!

More then just a Gold Buckle

Over the years and the miles I have been in alot of rodeos in my young age, everything from Junior Rodeos to World Championships.  Winning all kinds of prizes from saddles, to buckles, spurs to tack  and of course the money. With each and every rodeo I enter, I put my heart and soul into it not only for myself or my horse, but for the team.  One rodeo that sticks in my heart is a men's ranch rodeo in Stillwater Ok the OSU Rodeo Team put on. Our team wasn't stacked up like the others.......we had 2 girls and 2 guys.  Of course it was me and Chris, good friend-neighbor Joyce, and Chris' long life friend Joe. With odds against us we went to them.

Not remembering the order of events now that it it has been 5 years, but one event was the Trailer Loading. Unlike any other way I have ever done it before, trailer was packed in the middle of the arena with gate open. The teams were to sort their 3 head out and load them in the trailer with using nothing but your horsemanship skills...........Kick Butt!! We were the only team to get a time in that event (out of 20 teams)!!! Next was the Doctoring, they turned 2 steers out and however you chose to get  them roped and tied down was up to you. We decided to split up, Joe-Joyce and Me-Chris.  Chris roped ours at the end of the arena where all the Cowboys were gathered. Not giving the rope enough time to get tight, I was off my horse and mugging the steer to the ground. The second Chris thought I had it under control, he was off and headed my way to tie him down. Bt that time the steer had taken back alittle control of the situation, before I knew it I felt my teeth chatter in my head and All the Cowboys had heard it. In the end we got both steers tied down in a good time. Last but not least was the Cow Milking, each team got 2 loops to catch her. Joe chunked a big oh "shitty" loop and missed, I happened to be the closest one to her for the 2nd loop.  Lining her out, trying to make everything just right, I hear......"Don't Miss, Its Our Last Loop" .......I wasn't going to miss for the word.... I roped the Big Longhorn Cow and after the boys mugged and Joyce milked we put up a great time.

After the rodeo we were waiting for the annoucment of the Winners........figuring we got 2nd and excited about it we were sitting around waiting for a check........"Top Hand goes to....... Amy Potter".....shocked to say the least, I road out in the arena to get my Prize, sleeping baby in my saddle and all. Looking back now I don't even remember what the prize was. Come to find out there was 2 judges in the crowd and each team voted on it as well, so to know the other Cowboys had voted for me was worth the Whole World.   Riding out of the arena I received a lot of "Congrats" and "pats on the back"...........................but the best thing I ever won was the feeling of making my Husband Proud!! He isn't the best about sharing his feelings but as I rode by, I over heard him tell a Cowboy friend....."Thanks, I'm proud of her.....One thing about it, If you are going to get beat by a girl, I'm glad she is my Wife not somebody Else's"........Man did my heart melt causing a dirt tear to run down my face. Making him proud was the best prize I could ever Win, and the Song from Chris LeDoux reminds me of it often!

I have rodeoed on the circuit

for nearly fifteen years

To reach the top

it took alot 

Of blood, sweat and tears

I finally won the title

I finally gained the fame

But, honey, it don't matter

if the whole world knows my name

Of all the things I have ever done

I have to tell you true

The greatest Prize I ever won

was the Love I won from you

Colt 45

Spitting image of his Dad.....never having much to say but always having that little shy smile on his face. Cowboy at heart, Gentlemen because mom makes him, and Hard worker because that is all he knows.  Saddles, Bits, Spurs and Pocket Knifes are his trades, never try to get the upper hand on a good knife trade with Colt. A good friend of ours called him 45 one day and its his trade mark, its on everything he owns including the cow herd him and little sister operate.

The Piss Head

That's right, he already knows the down fall of being a Cowboy and that is having to ride all the horses, not just the good ones. He has always had a good one in the pickings but there has also been a colt or "piss head" there for him to ride also. A couple years ago Chris, Colton and Tyler (a good friend/day worker) were at Drummonds doctoring on some yearlings. Tyler had brought a young horse that day, he didn't know much at all and tracking cattle was not one of his good skills. After Chris would line out the sick one and rope him, Tyler would attempt to heel it as his horse would run by never seeing the cow. As Tyler is training on his new ride and trying to get him pulled back around to head back to the action, Colt trots 'Paint' (good ole faithful) over and heels the steer like there is nothing to it. It didn't just happen once, but all day long. When the trailer gate closed for the day Colt looked at Tyler and said..."Why don't you ride a horse you can get something done on and leave that piss head at home?".....Tyler just laughed because Colt was 6 years old and said it like he was the ranch manager. Chris over heard the little boss giving orders but didn't say anything.............But the next morning he picked out Colts mount for the day.....yep you guessed it.....a piss head!!! A young horse that didn't know a single thing!!! They loaded up and met Tyler in the same pasture as the day before excitement had happened. Dragging his feet with his head hanging below his shoulders Colt made it to the back of the trailer to unload his prize ride for the day. Tyler was waiting for him there with a smile on his face......."Morning Colt, what you riding today?" (Tyler knew exactly what it was).  Colt looked up at Tyler with a tear in his eye and said "A piss head"..............well as you can imagine the day went along with Chris and Tyler roping all the cattle because Tyler followed the boss's orders and rode a broke horse. Poor Colt he spent his summer vacation pulling piss heads around!!!

 

 The best part of the story is the unspoken words between two shy cowboys. Chris never had to tell him about talking to older cowboys with disrespect, and Colt will forever be grateful of a broke horse!

Miss "Fred"

  



Carlee Jo "Fred"



Cowgirl all the way through........High maintenance I must say. She would prefer the pink hand made tall tops over any other boots or shoes for that matter. Only the best for her horse "Molly" which she saved bottle calf money to buy.....Molly has it all: Handmade Bit on a headstall that Fred won at the Junior Ranch Rodeo Finals and a Saddle custom made by Matt Hunn tooled with  flowers and butterflies.

Fred, is no different then any cowhand......depending on the duties for the day or rodeo, makes a difference in the horse she picks from the Rockin P string. Molly would be the everyday ranch work choice, for she is calm and has a lot of cow. As for the rodeo mount she picks "Sorrely". The good ole faith full, never letting a cow by!!!

I am so proud of this girl, she is a better horseman then I could ever be (she must get that from her daddy). Balance is a natural thing, and skill is something that is easy to learn for her. But Heart is something that couldn't ever be bought or taught!!!

This is her story:



Day After!!



July 2009, one hot evening I was cooking dinner and Chris was shoeing a shoe in the front yard.  Her Daddy had put a halter on Sorrely and threw her up on his bare back to ride around the yard like she did on a daily basis.  I grabbed a glass a tea and took it out to Chris, as I was walking back inside to check on the cook stove I heard a scream.....Whoa Whoa Whoa.....looking up I saw her hanging on for dear life as he was running full speed to the barn. After a duck and dive between pick ups and barns, he lost Carlee in the concrete steps. Everything was slow motion from there......Chris ran to her, picked her up and from the look in his eyes....something was way wrong. Running as fast as I could, screaming, and freaking out trying to get there fast........She wasn't awake, but was trying to come to and catching her breath..... her eye/forehead was swelling fast!!! Before we knew it we were all loaded up in the truck headed to town......We started to think she was fine when she looked in the mirror and asked "Is my eye always going to be like this?" The small town hospital sent us on the Bartlsville. In just a few minutes they had her in a CAT scan and found 3 fractures in her skull!! Waiting for Doctors to come in....reality hit Chris and I. Trying to remember if I turned the oven off,  remembering that horses were still tied to the fence waiting to be shod, and of course Sorrely was still running around somewhere.  Trying to find the strenght to call a friend and ask them to take care of what we left behind, Chris lost it. All he could say was...."I almost killed her, I'm so sorry. Its my fault, I should have never have put her on him". I was doing good until that point....When Chris cries you know is it bad.  With in minutes I was on my way with Fred to Tulsa St. Frances Children's Hospital by ambulance and Chris was dropping Colt off with Papa and heading our way. After a long night in Trauma and ER, we finally made it up stairs where they watched over her the next 12 hours and decided that she was tough and good to go home.  We no more made it through the ranch gate and she asked her daddy to catch the horses show she could ride......Chris told her we better not push our luck and she needed to take a few days off.  Staying off her horse was the last thing she wanted to hear, but didn't argue the fact.  Two years later you would never know what a wide ride she took that night, until you look real close at her. Her left eye is starting to sag just alitte.....with time the doctors will decide whether it is something that needs to be fixed or just left alone as a reminder of the blessing from God!

Well that is the scary story of Miss Carlee......I promise the next story about her will be on a happy and funny note as we all know what kind of a crazy hearted Cowgirl she is!





Carlee and Sorrely at the 2010 WRCA Finals, Ranch Horse Show



The Husband



Chris, Husband, often called Honey. Have you ever heard people say they married their "Best Friend"? I can!! Our story isn't like most, but does have a happy ever after.They say opposites attract.....well that is us. Our Wedding Invitations said: He whispered "will you marry me" and I screamed "Yes".  He is a  man of few words and I'm a chatter box.  Growing up in a small town in Kansas, new faces in town were always welcomed. And a big Welcome if they were a Cowboy.  Funny thing is I had seen him around town just a couple times when going back and forth from high school, work and the arena.  One day his Aunt Debbie introduced us and of course that shy little smile of his gave me butterflies. With a little push on the back from a couple of friends, I stopped by and asked him to go out sometime.....Who would have thought he would have taken me up on the date?

 It was all over from there....we were together from there on out.  Until he went on the semi with his dad for a week and I was lost with out him. Yes Me, little Miss Independent I can do anything and don't need anybody.  Boy was I lost, but to add to it I left for High School National Finals the very next week and he was just as lost with out me as I was with out him.  After only 6 months of dating we were fixing to find out what life was all about, we were going to be parents. Scared, Excited, Ummm a little bite of each and every emotion was running through us. Two kids later and almost 11 years together we have grown so close it is crazy.





 I have to brag just a little....I know I'm proud and could brag all day as I sure hope you could brag on your husband too. I have a friend, a provider and a best friend all in one.  Chris is a hard worker having several jobs, just because he loves to work. He runs this 6,000 acre ranch by himself on top of shoeing 60+ horses on a six week rotation. Anybody who knows Chris knows he takes pride in everything he does from work, family, training horses, and riding Broncs. I could go on and on.....but most importantly he is a GREAT Dad. Taking time to teach the kids the cowboy way, the right way, and the respectful way of doing daily skills. 



I love that it has been several years and a lot of tears along the way and I still get butterflies when he winks at me across the room.  So this is for him, I could never Thank God enough for Blessing me with such a soul mate.  I pray everyday that I can be half the spouse to him that he is to me. Well that is a piece of the pie I call Love....there will be many more details and stories as I share my life with you.