Baby Belly Laughs!

Baby Rosa Jewel and papa spent some fun time together in the desert during her visit. They laughed...And laughed...

AND LAUGHED!!!

The Desert Rose!

THE PONY COUSIN GUEST ROOM!

In our desert home we have 2 guest rooms that are booked out in advance by reservation by our family members on a first come first serve basis! One of our guest rooms has a King bed, rocker and ottoman, flat screen TV, and private bath. It is very decorated very lovely and usually the 1st choice when family members book a room for their vacation.

However...there is a "NEWLY DECORATED" bedroom in town that will surely be a PONY COUSIN"S 1st choice when booking a room at " The Rosa Hacienda"!

With new plush carpet, new "Zebra" print sheets and throws...this lovely double queen bedded suite is just itching for PONY COUSINS to spoon, 2 to a a bed!

When making your reservation you must specify...window view or mirror closet view, and remember...you are sleeping with a PONY COUSIN, mirrors would not be the preferred booking!

New art work and plush pillows to set the mood!

A few small personal touches to help you feel at home in your PONY COUSIN"S desert home!

Check out the "native" pillows the Rosebud helped pick out at "cowboy Xmas"...just for the PONY COUSIN GUEST ROOM!

Guess all we need now is some "reservations"! ( Oh, and a credit card deposit!)

Your Desert Rose PONY COUSIN!!!

Saddle Sore!

Most cowgirls are not as lucky as the Desert Rose to be able to spend so many hours in the saddle. But...that has not always been that case for me. 17 years ago when we first bought "George" I was doing a lot of arena riding because of the cold, wet weather in the PNW. My stables only had a few "trails" to ride that was really just riding along side orchards, through Christmas tree farms with a few logging roads scattered among them. At the longest you could ride one hour out and one hour back! When I bought "George" I had my stepson's Circle Y Trail saddle, a man's size, that he had given me with his former "polo horse"! (That is a totally different story I will share someday). This saddle was fine for the arena and for the short trail rides I was able to take. However...after a few years it became to heavy for me to throw over "George" and I downsized to a Cordrua Saddle. Again...this was fine for my needs. But when we got Jesse my rides gradually became longer and tougher. This was a problem because after 2 hours in the saddle...I was in agony! Even my "real sheep skin" tush cush only helped for a while. Finally for my (big) birthday I decided I wanted a new saddle. Now this was a huge dilemma for me...diamonds or a new saddle??? All my friends said... SADDLE!!!! YES... I CAVED!

So...I took the COWPOKE with me to the "cowgirlthefuckup dream store" (25 cents in the cuss jar) a 3 hour drive away to help me select the perfect saddle for me and Jesse. The COWPOKE at that time was still a bit wet behind the ears... barely old enough to legally "drink and ride" but that didn't stop him! The COWPOKE did know a thing or 2 about horses so when I asked him to help a cowgirl in distress he stepped up to the task. Now Jesse is a big butt Quarter horse and almost anything will fit him...my but... is a bit more delicate and only the best would do for it! The COWPOKE must have lifted 100 saddles for me to try before we finally narrowed it down to 2. Then, so we would not have to make the trip back for all the accessories we matched bridles, reins, cinches and anything else we needed for 2 complete "saddle outfits" for me to try.
The "dream store" says I can send anything I don't want back and they will credit my card!
Now that we have accomplished our mission...we are off to buy a birthday gift for the COWPOKE! He chooses a cowboy hat...BLACK FOR AN OUTLAW! We see chinks for a great price, I buy him those too! Then we pick out saddle pads, I get boots to match my saddle, I buy the COWPOKE a PINK western shirt...cause there is nothing sexier than a man in a pink shirt! I tell him it will help get him girls...not sure he believed me. Add some horse treats...fly spray... and some new riding gloves and the credit card pooped out on us. Good thing cause we could have done some serious damage!
Now the part you have all been waiting for...what kind of saddle did I get???

The picture has been "tweaked" so if you can't make it out...It's a MARTIN BARREL RACER!

Chestnut Martin Basket weave with Wyoming Flower, Copper Flower Concho's, with Cameo boarder! I was not looking for a "bling saddle" and would not have put this one together quite this way but my "butt" knew at once...this was the one for me!

Suede mocha seat that I have ridden in for 7 hours and did not get "saddle sore"!

Deep seated cantle...I always feel "in the saddle" not on it!

Matching headstall and hand made romal reins ($$$$$)!

Jesse models his bridal!

And Breast Collar!

Wish you could all come and ride the "HAPPY DESERT TRAILS" with us!

Your Desert Rose!

In Memory!

Hay all you Cowgirls!
If I knew how....I would post a picture of her...instead I will just lift my glass of Lemonade to her... I believe she will appreciate this more from me. NATASHA RICHRADSON... I loved your work and loved you!
Your Desert Rose!

"The Honest Scrap Award!"

Yes...I do believe that Palomino Girl from "Life on the Farm" really just wants all my "TRAIL BOSS" secrets and that is why sent she this award over to me, The Honest Scrap Award! Honestly...I have been sooooo busy with all the little colts and filly's running around me that I could not get the post together till now. I do thank Palomino Girl...and may give up a trade secret or 2!

Here are the rules, if you have been chosen:

1) Write a post (on your own blog), announcing that you have received the Honest Scrap award. Be sure to mention the blog that conferred the Honest Scrap Award upon you. Add the Honest Scrap Award graphic.

2) Choose at least seven blogs that you admire. List these (with links) in your Honest Scrap Award blog entry.

3) Visit the blogs you have selected, and leave comments to let the floggers know you have chosen to honor them with the Honest Scrap Award. Include a link to your blog post in each comment.

4) Visit the blog that offered you the Honest Scrap Award, and leave a comment with a link to your post.

5) List ten honest things about yourself. Try to have fun with this one, and include facts others may not already know about you.

6) Display the Honest Scrap Award proudly on your blog sidebar.

I hope by now everyone KNOWS that I am not that technically gifted and do not have "Sares" here to help me like she does for my "TWIN" Sissy's, so will not be able to add links ect!

1. I was amazed at how "Mother Nature" just stepped in and helped me find myself as a Zsa Zsa. I already had 5 grandchildren that I love dearly...but the fact that the Rosebud became a mommy seemed to put me in the natural order of things. I went from a Mom to Zsa Zsa in the "circle of life". I have even gone to the grocery store with out make up on...once! Jesse, however would "spook" if he ever saw me without make up!!!

2. I am very blessed to be married to my "Loving Husband" who taught me it is better to give that receive!

3. Sometimes my health issues become overwhelming and I just have to take a day off from the world. I have stopped feeling guilty or lazy about it. I try very hard to listen to my mind and body's signals! I could do more I am sure to manage my symptoms...but even when I am very good, I usually don't feel any better.

4. I tend to be a "LONER"!

5. The older I get, the more I don't want to spend time with people or things that don't interest me. There have been too many requirements in the past that I was obligated, invited, and yes...guilted into doing. I allow less of these things to take up my precious energy!

6. I know that before I lost my first horse George in a tragic accident...I had never really known what a broken heart felt like!

7. I am happy with the results of any task I do as long as I know I have done my best at the time of doing it. I do not look back and cry over spilt milk, I can not change the wisdom or skills I had in the past, only the future!

8. I do not get to see my parents as often as I would like too. I wish I lived closer to them so I could run over for a cup of coffee with my mom....or have a glass of whisky with my dad! I hardly ever get to spend time alone with either one of them and I do miss that!

9. I believe we are all connected by our energy. Some people have good energy...the ones you look forward to being with, others have bad energy...the ones that drain you. I am careful around the draining energy so as not to have the negative flow attach to me. I bask in the positive energy and soak it up while I return the favor to it's giver.

10. When I am an Old Woman I will ride with my sisters and remember our childhood with laughter, remember our children with joy and our husbands with love while we blaze the new trails ahead of us!

I pass this award to:

Cowgirljlyn

Lovelieghtreasures

jane Augustein

A cowgirls life

Paint girl

Heart of Cowgirl

Amamda's Veranda

I look forward to learning more about you!

Your Desert Rose!

Your Desert Rose!

No More Bunny Slope Trails for This Cowgirl!

When my PONY COUSIN Bronco Betsy was visiting in the desert we had many rides together! However this Pony Cousin does not have a fear of heights or drop off cliffs...she has a fear of stumbling!!! All the trails that I would consider the "bunny slope trails" she was anxious on! I then take her on a trail that scared me for years...and she loved it! No rocks for stumbling on...just switch backs, drop off and cliffs!

Starting up the HARD TRAIL!

Bronco Betsy having fun!

BB and our trail guide for the day! Jesse threw a shoe his am ride with The Bossman so we had to rent Jack!!! A few PONY COUSINS MAY REMEMBER JACK! I do know who has ridden Jack....will the Pony Cousin's remember??? If you have ridden Jack, please comment on this post and identify yourself!!!

New rule AT the stables this year because of insurance clause...no rentals go without guides!!! This is a difficult rule for me because if I KNOW my guest can ride I used to be able to take a rental without a guide. I have ALWAYS taken a guide when I am unsure of my guest riders but now have to take one EVERY TIME...unless The Bossman or the Cowpoke are with me!

See my boot in the lower left hand side of the picture??? This drop off was NOT an issue for BB!!!

Anyone recognize this picture??? It was one of my 6/6 pictures!!!

BB rides to the top of the Mountain!

Little Lady and The Desert Rose ride drag!

This is the hill we just came down!
The bottom of the trail winds around beneath some very fancy houses so BB takes some pictures!

This trail is not for the faint hearted and Bronco Betsy did great!!!

The Desert Rose!

INTRODUCING, THE ROSA & THE ROSA JEWEL!

A few posts ago one of our east coast grand daughters wanted to be known on my blog as "The Rose Kid". This means she would be listed on The Desert Rose Buckaroo side board. Her little sister Stella declined a blog name but Lily's request got me thinking about "future names" for our newest, and soon to be born grand daughters also...and one for Stella when/if she decided to join up with the Buckaroos! I was telling this to our daughter Rachel who was visiting us in the desert with her husband and 2 month old daughter Alexa Jewel. I explained how my daughter was "The Rosebud" and that the grand daughters would also have "rose" some way in their name. Our oldest grand daughter is "The Grand Rose"! And to my surprise... and delight, she also wants a "rose" name!!!

So...I am proud to introduce to ya' all

"The Rosa" and her daughter "The Rosa Jewel"!!!

Your Desert Rose!

LOOK WHO'S BEEN SLEEPING IN MY BED!!!

Once upon a time there lived a Papa Bear and a Zsa Zsa Bear. They lived in 2 little cottages on the west coast. One day the Zsa Zsa Bear went to a ladies luncheon far away from the Papa Bear in the cold PNW! When the Zsa Zsa Bear went to bed that night she said..."Look who's been sleeping in my bed"!

Meanwhile in the desert... the Papa Bear said...Look who's been sleeping in my bed"!

The moral of the story is...if the Papa Bear and the Zsa Zsa Bear can't sleep together...sleep with a grandbaby or 2!!!

Your Desert Rose!

Jesse's "Manolo" Shoes!

Jesse has bad feet. Not just just bad...but probably some of the worst feet you will see. When we first got him seven years ago he was a neglected, underweight, shaggy scared little 2 yr old gelding. And he was anemic! THE DOC gave him shots for 3 months until his blood leveled out. Who knows how long he had been anemic before we corrected it. At the same time I was also anemic and getting iron infusions to correct it. My hematologist told me that a sign of anemia was thin, ridged, peeling nails. At the time I had "faux" nails so could not see that after 4 years of being anemic...that is how my real nails looked. Although no vet will confirm this I believe this has attributed to his poor hoof condition. And because he is also a "snowbird" changing farriers every 6 months has created these terrible quarter cracks.

The chip in the front is because he lost a shoe out on the trail and took a small piece of hoof with it!

Heavy clamps on the front.

Another view!

All of these cracks come from the top...down. However there is an eighth of an inch grow out without any cracks that is good news that we are on the right track!




Poor baby!!!

Jesse's custom made steel toed "Manolo's"! We call them "Manolo's" because you could buy a pair for what Jesse's shoes cost! Jesse's "owey" toes have almost disappeared because of them. Of course...we are also very careful not to ride trails that may cause him to have issues again.

And...The Desert Rose has made a very difficult decision, I will not be taking Jesse back to the PNW with me at the end of our desert season but instead leave Jesse here in The Bossman's loving care and give him a full year with his desert farrier. It is only right that I give him this opportunity to get healthy hooves.

However...The Desert Rose is a "horse addict" and The Bossman knows that nothing would be worse than a "redhead" going through withdrawals...even 2000 miles away from him! The Bossman has graciously volunteered to loan me "Little Lady" for the PNW season!!!

As you all know...I luv her bunches and have known her since she was born here in the desert. She was just days old the first time I saw her in her little hot pink halter being led with her mom for some arena play time! Jesse has ponied her from the time she was 6 months old and they think they are siblings. I am very grateful and thankful to The Bossman for his generosity!!!

Your Desert Rose!!!

TOO MANY 6/6's

I have been tagged with the task of posting my 6th picture form my 6th folder!!! My niece Lovelyleigh Treasures and Jane Auggenstein both tagged me...and I think there was another tag but can't remember who and where it was. I have been on Zsa Zsa duty for about 2 weeks and did not have the time to get the post together. And then...I had an issue about how to do the post correctly because I can access my photo's 4 different ways and they all list the files differently!!! I asked JANE about this and she said post all of the pictures!

So...here are my 4... 6/6 pictures!

Cousin Bronco Betsy and I pose on her first "cowgirlthefuckup" ride! (25 cents in the cuss Jar!)

My new chair and ottoman for my PNW office. It is on the ship making it's journey to me and should be in the PNW when I get back home at the end of the season. I am sooooo excited to have it!

This photo is from my summer rides 2008 in the PNW! Yes it is the SAME red shirt...the chinks are different!!! The last photo. This is how you KNOW that I did not cheat! This was picture was in a folder for a post idea I had and now....I can't post it. And...there were only 5 photo's in that file so technically this photo is 6/5!!!

The Desert Rose!

The Desert Rose is Rounding up a Posse!!!

Some of you may have noticed Jesse's Limo "King Ranch Tough" on my side bar and all of the PONY COUSINS know that I drive a Ford Expedition, King Ranch series! The "KING RANCH" is one of my fav catalogs, and they have a great web site too. They make all kinds of "King Ranch" logo merchandise and one of the things I bought was a running W brand hitch cover which is the KING RANCH brand!

The other day... I notice that it was GONE from the back of my truck!!! The Hitch pin was still there but no running W Brand Hitch cover!!!
So...The Desert Rose is rounding up a posse to go get those bandits that stole my "King Ranch" hitch cover!

The qualifications required are listed below!

1. Must have own mount...or borrowed horse meeting exceptional trail horse standards.
2. Must be ready to trot and lope at a moments notice.
3. Must have own saddle and cantle bags for saddle.
4. Must be able to drink "lemonade" when water is not available.

5. Must be able to eat hot dogs on the run and baked beans from a can.

6. Must be able to be without a cowboys arms around her for days at a time.

7. Must not be afraid to use her spurs.

8. Must be ready to kick her horse like he was her husband not her boyfriend.

9. Must be "dressed to kill".

10. Must be able to to "cowgirlthe fuckup" (25 cents in the cuss jar) at a moments notice.

Only qualified cowgirls need apply!!!

Your Desert Rose!!!

THE "HANNIBLE LECTOR" HORSE!

WARNING...This photo may even scare "Silence of the Lambs" fans!!!

I been neglectful in reporting back to ya' all about Jesse's appointment with the "heart Doctor"! We have had sooooo many grand babies requiring Papa And Zsa Zsa servicing that we have not had time for much else. That is the price we pay for being "snowbirds"! We don't get to see our babies as often as we would like....but instead get a big dose to last us till we need another fix!

If you remember, Jesse was having a difficult time recovering from any hard work this season. The Bossman and I finally could find no excuse to explain it this late in the season and called in THE DOC to check Jesse out. To our dismay, THE DOC also discovered issues he was concerned about and sent us to the nearest horsey "Mayo Clinic" to get Jesse check out. THE DOC did blood work so that they horsey Mayo Clinic would have all the results when we got there. The appointment was scheduled for a Thursday at 1:00PM. I knew that I was not interested in hauling Jesse's Limo an hour and 1/2 away to a town I had never been too in LA type traffic and was going to hire one of the wranglers from the stables to drives us. However when I mentioned this to The Bossman he said "Just wait...I hope to take a vacation day!". Well...who better to go with us but The Bossman who luvs Jesse and could answer and ask any questions about his health. And because The Bossman is responsible for Jesse's daily "requirements" it would really great for him to have 1st hand info from the heart Doctor. After several emails back and forth... as always for the Bossman and I to get a plan, that works for me...the plan was set.

He would drive the "KING RANCH" hauling Jesse's Limo, that I would hook up! I would get us a sack lunch and coffee and be ready to leave at 10:30 am for our appointment factoring in getting lost time. I arrive to the stables at 9:30 ish. I get the Limo hooked up first try!!! Things are going great. I walk around the trailer as Spanky taught me to do and as I pulled out the last wheel block, something just did not look right.Then I see....the flat tire on the back left side. Can you believe it??? Here I was trying to show The Bossman that I could "cowgirlthefuckup" (25 cents to the cuss jar!) here was something I could NOT do! I have never changed a flat tire in my life...let alone on a horse trailer!!!

Time is moving too fast now and I do the only thing I can think of...cry for help! Fortunately, the owner of the stables took pity on me, calmed me down and had the tire off, and the tire store alerted to my crisis as The Bossman pulled up to the trailer. The Bossman and I raced to the tire store and in 20 minutes were on our way back to the stables. With all of this going on...we pulled out of the stables at 10:30AM sharp with Jesse thinking we were just going for a ride happily eating his 2nd breakfast in the back of the limo.

Now those of you who are seasoned bloggers would be posting a picture now of the flat tire and of it being changed! Alas, I was in such a state that I did not even think about it until 30 miles down the road. And a good thing too... as later in the trip I discovered that I only had memory on my camera for 11 pictures!!! Now this is as we call it in our household, a "CATASTROPHY"!

The Bossman and I get to the horsey "Mayo Clinic" with 20 of our getting lost minutes to spare. The Heart Doctor made us wait till 1:00 exactly, but then strolled up to us and review Jesse's case. Both The Bossman and I shared info with him then he had his staff take Jesse to the round pen for a work out. At first they had him on a long line and I explained to them that he will free lunge for them pretty easy cause the Desert Rose has "seahorse sickness" and I can not lounge him on a line. Jesse did a wonderful job of following the staffs instructions and before long the Doc said to stop him and he would listen to his heart and watch his recovery.

The "heart Doc" is in the stripped shirt and has an apprentice vet (girl) on the other side also listening to Jesse's heart. Sometimes she does everything 1st and tells him what she thinks...then he does it all over and tells her what he found different or the same. They confer that Jesse does have a 4th heartbeat and now will do the next test! Mean while I look for The Bossman and find him doing what he likes to do best!

The Bossman always seems to find a pretty lady...even when his attentions should be elsewhere...like with Jesse and me maybe???

The staff takes Jesse to another area where they are going to simulate his breathing after a workout by limiting his oxygen.

Jesse exhibits recovery issues!!! So on to the next test.

Monitoring Jesse's "scope" test of his lungs! The tube went up Jesse's nose to his lungs and we could then see his lungs on the TV monitor. It was a real long tube!!!

The "heart DR. ultra sound specialist"! ( yes...another DR!!!)



One of nine 3rd year vet students listening for Jesse's 4th heart beat!

If you look close you can see 4 stethoscopes focused on Jesse and a big poop pile Jesse left for them!!!

After 4 long hours and many procedures and tests including a lung x-ray and both front feet x-rayed , Jesse was given the following diagnosis.

1. An extra heartbeat that he has probably always had and shows up after exercise. It is not an issue of concern. Many race horses have this same condition.

2. "Horsey Asthma"... which is being treated by a serries of steriods.

3. Bad hooves...but no disease showing up in ex-rays.

Jesse, Mom and the Bossman arrive back home at the stables...and very relieved at the Dr's report!

Now... you all saw everything that Jesse went through at his visit to the "heart Doc". He did not make one... not one single protest at all the poking, prodding, tubing or ultrasounding, although the DR. instucted all of his vet students to do an ultrasound on their own heart as homework because of how uncomfortable/painful it can be for a Quarter horse. They are so muscled up in the chest that you have to push really hard to get a good picture of the heart but yet Jesse was a terrific patient!!!

In the outside hall from us a "warm blood" was brought up for an exray of his lower leg area. After 4 trys the satff asked the DR. if they could sedate the horse. The Dr. said yes and a droopy horse then got his x-rays taken. It was NEVER even considered for Jesse as he acted like you were just picking his hooves or some other grooming task, even when at one time I counted 13 humans around him watching and listening to his heart ultra sound! Did he "cowhorsethefuckup" (25 cents in the cuss jar) or what???

Your Desert Rose!