"King Ranch Tough!"

Last Spring at the end of our desert season...I had convinced my LOVING HUSBAND that after 17 years of owning horses, I was ready to own my own trailer. It was not the trailer that was the issue...but more the "vehicle" to tow it! Several years back I had a "Range Rover" that I adored. Then later a BNW x5 both of these vehicles my husband hated to drive even though he rarely had too. However neither of these SUV's would tow a trailer. So.....Last spring shortly after we arrived back in the PNW I went looking for my new vehicle to tow the horse trailer... I did not own yet! My 1st option for a trailer was for a 2 horse slant and my choices were easily narrowed down because of the weight restrictions that most SUV's had. However...there were 2 vehicles that caught my eye. One was the Cadillac Escalade and the other was the Ford Expedition... that I had just learned came in a "King Ranch Edition"! I have coveted a King ranch truck since seeing it in the "King Ranch" catalogue but knowing my loving husband was not a 'truck" kind of guy would never be able to have one. But now that I knew both our needs could be met... maybe, just maybe the King ranch would be mine after all! After driving both and loving how the Expedition back seats layed down at the touch of a button... I made my choice!

Of course you all knew what it was!!!

Each seat made from a single cowhide with the "King Ranch running W" brand!


Leather and chrome console!

Chrome "King Ranch" running W brand logo wheels!

Only "King Ranch Tough" was good enough for this cowgirl!

Your Desert Rose!!!

JESSE AND THE ROSE KID!

Last weekend when our west coast grandchildren were here we had a stables day! We started at the day at brunch with the daddy and then went home to put on our "cowgirl" outfits!

We get to the stables and The Rose Kid is very helpful in getting Jesse ready to ride. She leads him from the stall, groom him, and picks his feet! When Jesse is ready we go to the stables office to borrow helmets for both of the girls and Spanky gives us a ride back in the golf cart!

At first all Jesse wants to do is follow mom...but Zsa Zsa tells the Rose Kid not to let him get away with that and pretty soon she can keep him on the rail!

The Rose Kid and Zsa Zsa pose with Jesse!


Stella's turn with Jesse!


Jesse and Stella both take advantage of the photo opp!!!


Your Desert Rose!

PINES TO PALMS!!!

As you all know I have had a PONY COUSIN of my own down here in the desert to play with these past 2 weeks. She has been "in the saddle" more in one week than she is normally in one month, actually...more than 3 months.......if anyone could call THAT normal! Okay...Okay I know you all can't be in the saddle all the time as I am! Because the weather has been "iffy" to down pour here in the desert we have had 2 rides rained out that had been scheduled with The Bossman and other than a "brief encounter" ( got you all thinking about that....didn't I!) they had not gotten to spend much time together. However both Bronco Betsy and I wish to thank The Bossman for so graciously lending "Little lady"to us for all of our rides so that Bronco Betsy could ride Jesse!

I should tell you all now...up front, that this will be a LONG POST...as it was a LONG RIDE! Cousin B gets to my house at 6:30 am so we can get coffee and get our "shit" together!

We drive by Jesse's stall slowly so he can poke his head in to say "Mom...what the hell are you doing here at 7am??? " Cousin B and I unpack our "shit" from the car, drop off coffee to The Bossman and Bigfoot and get Jesse out and groomed. Well...cuz B grooms while I pack our saddle bags for the day! The Bossman has Little Lady saddled already for us and she is back in her stall finishing her breakfast. Here is our "shit" all packed up!

Another view with cuz B and Jesse in the back ground! But...what is he doing???

Cuz BB has Jesse eating out of her hands!

Yup...because Jesse had not finished his breakfast either Cuz B is giving him 3 cups of his Strategy as a treat because of our LONG RIDE today!

We load up the horses and off we go on our 45 minute ride up the Mountain to our PINES TO PALMS staging area! The Bossman drives and I do have to say...it was a ride form HELL! Man did that Bossman haul ass up that big Mountain! I kept yelling back to Jesse...brace yourself the Bossman is on a mission! Of course once we get there...we have to... unload our "shit" again!

Oh....and the Horses! They also get unloaded!!!

Of course while we are getting our "shit" together the Bossman is tending bar!!!

Here's to "Happy Trails"!!! Cuz B does not complain about the fresh OJ Mimosa's...!

Bronco Betsy proudly wears "The Desert Rose" chinks! Just before mounting up we take a potty break and Bronco needed a bit of help getting out of the precarious position she choose to pee on my chinks! I tried to help her...but was a bit over zealous and pulled her almost over. Unfortunately...she broke a nail and quite frankly, I did expect more from this cowgirl. But I was even more shocked at The Bossman siding with her when she told me to ^&*(%# off!

Guess when it comes down to it we all find out who our friends are in times of crisis. She "pees" on my chinks...I laugh. I break her nail and the "Hell Bitch" rears her head up!!!

We hit the trail at 9:30 am!!!
Last chance to reach out and touch someone...and wouldn't you know it would be The Bossman that would try to touch....someone!Cuz Bronco B and Jesse at a sign post!

Clean, cool water for all!!!

Cousin Bronco Betsy in the stream after Jesse's big drink!!!

Never let The Bossman hug you unless you can stay in the saddle!!!

Cause sure as shit...he will pull you off and you will be in the water faster than you can say what the fuck??? (25cents in the cuss jar)

Little Lady follows Jesse up the hill!
The Bossman takes time out for a training session!

Who's gonna win this one???

Sure hope you put your money on The Bossman!!! This is not SLICK THE STALLION, it's Sunny Doc the stable owners horse that fits The Bossman's MO! (Black/White)

Every time I turn around...The Bossman is still there! Maybe because we lost him once ( yes, on purpose) on this trail he stickes to my hind end like glue! Ya...bad joke!

The Desert Rose is on a Quest for the Crest!!! We will ride this trail soon!

Cuz BB has a little nip! What's the penalty for drinking and riding when your hubby's a Sheriff???

Cousin BB maneuvers the trail!

The lunch stop rock is very comfy!!!

The rock view around our lunch rock!

Oh Oh...Jesse is in trouble!!! Mom to the rescue....please!

This predicament that Jesse has gotten himself in reminds me of the silly mare photo!!! He had himself wrapped around the tree!!!

Auntie Desert Rose always packs a great lunch for the kids! Little Lady luvs apples carrots and cookies!!!
After lunch we mount up and hit the trail again!!!

Look very close...what do you see??? Yes, that is a long horn stray...The Bossman cautions me he may charge if we get to close! But I am confident Little Lady can run fast!!!

The Bossman celebrates the almost end of the trail!!!

The last watering hole!!! Yes...BB was TIPSY, this is not a camera error.

The ride back to the stables from a stables Buckaroo!

I must tell you all how proud I am of my Cuz Bronco Betsy for riding the Pines to Palms trail with us. 7 hours in the saddle and 20 miles!!! She never once complained about anything...except her damn finger nail! It is because of her "cowgirlthefuckup" (25 cents in the cuss jar!) attitude that I award her the...
You've Earned Your Spurs Award!
This Pony Cousin has passed every test that Jesse and The Desert Rose put before her and other than the finger nail incident, passed with flying colors!!!

Your Desert Rose!

Lily LOVES Oliver!

This last weekend our East Coast grand daughters were visiting us in the desert for 4 days. Lily our 6yr old fell in love with Oliver and he was gentleman enough to let her drag him around even though he is 18 years old. He makes her look small!!!

Every night at bed time...I would read them a story and Oliver would lay in bed with her. She also loved Suzy Q....but Suzy was too fast for Lily and she ran and hid!

Also from now on Lily has chosen to be know as "The Rose Kid"! In any future posts she will be called, The Rose Kid!

Am I a lucky Zsa Zsa or what??? My life is blessed with wonderful grand children.

Your Desert Rose!

Cowboy...Homemade!!!

You may remember the "HANDMADE" bridle and rein set that was given to me by a wrangler buckaroo in thanks for the TVs they received when we made replacements in our desert house. Well...here are his "own" Chapaderros" and matching knife and cell phone holder for all to see! This is his original design!


The "Flame" Tappaderro's

Close up of the flame tappaderro's!

Matching knife and cell phone holder!

Anyone interested in purchasing any hand made goods, let me know, this cowboy can do it!!!

Your Desert Rose!

NOT...For Pony Girl!!

This weekend I made a very quick hop in and out of the PNW for my daughter, The Rosebud's baby shower! She already has 2 boys and we are now getting a FILLY! My mother, and sisters, Dusty Devoe and A Cowgirl's Grace came with the Pirate Princess and my niece Horse Dreams also was there. The Rosebud had many of her great friends in attendance as were several on my friends. It was a lovely event and I am so glad so many of my family members could be there. However there is one member of my family that could be a bit jealous of one of baby Wille Mae Jane's gifts from her Zsa Zsa!

Wille Mae Jane's 1st Breyer Pony!!! WITH SPOTS!

Your Desert Rose!