Oh Santa Baby!

You know...I always love seeing a well dressed cowboy cleaned up after a long hard day on the trail. So imagine my surprise to run into this guy at NFR COWBOY CHRISTMAS!

I would have thought that he was to busy to travel before Christmas...let alone be gone for 10 days to the NFR held in Las Vegas. However...Cowboy Santa surely must know,

 "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas"

Even with that in mind...I knew that I just needed to reassure Cowboy Santa a teeny weeny bit... that I was a good Cowgirl the rest of the year!

Think I over did it??? Oh Santa Baby!!!
Your Desert Rose!

COWGIRL HUMOR!

Guess this Cowboy...should not have pissed me off!
Your Desert Rose!

Cavalia!

My Loving Husband saw an ad in the N.Y. Times this past summer for one of my favorite shows in the world to see...CAVALIA!!! Unfortunately our schedule was so jammed packed it did NOT look like we would be able squeeze in a trip to N.Y. However...where there is a will, there is a way and my Loving Husband got our airline tickets, our hotel room, the CAVALIA tickets and tickets for 2 other Broadway shows just so I could see CAVALIA again...yes it was our 3rd time to see it!!!

I wish there was a way for you to see the show because I can not describe it well enough to do it justice. The  most amazing thing about the show is the connection between the horses and the trainers. They are truly partners in their performance. Since I could not take pictures during the performance I will share some of the life size posters inside the reception hall.

All I can say is...if CAVALIA ever comes with in a 3 hours drive of your hometown...GO!!!
Your Desert Rose!

MY HAPPY PLACE!

 Our PNW house features an art gallery. Oh... but not just any art gallery, these beautiful creations have all been made by my grandchildren.I had them professionally framed and now they hang in the hallway leading from our kitchen to the bedroom hallway. I must make 50 trips a day past them and I really look at them every time I pass by! They make me happy...I have 2 new creations to add...Toby & Jed have recently gifted me with 2 of their new works of art!!!
Your Desert Rose!

Cowboy Shopping!

The National Finals Rodeo was again...perfect! The shopping has always been the real reason for my trip...let's face it, I could watch the NFR on ESPN. This year however I was pleasantly surprised to find that a new shopping experience was available for those Cowgirls needing an upgrade from their current model. The  cleaver merchandising of this product showcases all of the products best features and allows views from all possible angles.

The product was willing to position himself for a closer inspection for any flaws!

And the product was even willing to demonstrate some of his more popular features!

You'll just have to guess what that feature was!

I do have one complaint about the merchandising technique...it does not allow for a "HANDS ON" inspection. This is one product that I recommend a "HANDS ON" experience before taking the product home as your new upgrade!

I am totally satisfied with my current model and have no plans to upgrade...but it never hurts to window shop!

Your Desert Rose!

The Pain in the Ass Rain!

My last ride before heading to the PNW for the Thanksgiving holiday was...at the very least, unexpected! Hello...the reason I became a "snowbird" was to...get away from the snow and RAIN! However there were 2 very good things about the ride...ok 4.

1. It was the 1st ride that I have had with the "GHOST RIDER" in a few years...boy did we get into trouble in the past...maybe that is why she stopped riding with me??? NO...medical reasons, not me & the trouble!

2. Cowgirl was with us...The Ghost Rider is her mom and I have sure missed her beautiful, smiling, yellow lab face!

3. The Ghost Rider has a new horse...a Peruvian Paso Fino and he and Lady were absolutely perfect on this very windy & wet ride!

Little Shanna Lady Rose is wet and shivering before our ride. Her eyes seem to be saying...MOM, did you forget that you melt in the rain??? Or was it MOM did you forget that I may melt down in the rain???

And just look at that saddle!!! Do you think I am gonna put my dainty little ass in that wet thing???

Well...yup I did and we rode the Fern Canyon/Vandeventer/Palm Cayon trail, over 3 hours of drizzle and on every corner heading Northwest the wind just about blew us off our horses!!! We voted it the 3rd windiest ride we had had together!!!

I have yet to mention the 4th reason the ride was so good...

Yup...we almost won the pot of gold lottery!

When we finally got back to the trailer our little butts were colder than a witches tit...it felt like we had peed in our pants! We wisely decided to eat our lunch back at the stable in the comfort of my dry tack room.

Your Desert Rose!

Rock Peeing...Do Not Try This At Home!

WARNING: Graphic Images Ahead!

As terrific as trail riding is and that I love it so much...there is one aspect that I really hate! PEEINGONTHEFUCKINGTRAIL!!! (25 cents in the cuss jar) Most trail heads have restrooms or at least honeybuckets for a pee before mounting up. Then there's always the horse trailer in the case where no other option is available before hitting the trail. However sometime before the 2 hour in the saddle mark...I need to stop. I do ride a few trails in the desert and PNW that do have a honeybucket at select spots on the trail...however the majority of the trails I ride have "nofuckingpowderrooms"!( 25 cents in the cuss jar) That leaves only one option...in the PNW, you hand your horse over to a riding buddy to hold while you pick a big tree for cover because you already know that if you take him with you as you are squatted down...he will nudge you until you fall over to the ground with your pants down around your ankles. Been there done that...no thanks! However in the desert...99% of the time...there are no trees...and you search for a large bush or rock to hide your bare bottom.

All this being said...there is a trick I will share with you about dodging the inevitable river of pee that will chase you no matter how carefully you have tried to place your feet. This is not a worry for my boots but there is one rule I try never to break. NO PEEING ON THE CHINKS!!! When squatted down the fringe drags the ground and is impossible to contain both sides of fringe while in this humiliating position. A friend shared the trick of finding a rock or log to sit on. Doing this will help control any river of pee and splatter that comes with peeingonthefuckingtrail ( 25cents in the cuss jar)

I am sure you have all heard the expression  "Does A Bear or Cowgirl Shit in the Woods?"

To be continued in the near future after one too many shots of COWGIRL COURAGE!!!

Your Desert Rose!

LUCY LU!

No longer do we have an empty nest... 3 yr. old Lucy Lu has captured our hearts amazingly quick! Adopted from our desert area animal shelter less than 2 weeks ago...Lucy has settled into the household routine including our crazy sleep issues like a trooper.

Look at the gorgeous gold of her feet and belly.

The perfect stripes on her body and head! I think she may have a touch of exotic blood line going on... her nose is almost cougar like.

She tries to herd us to the bed...but wants us BOTH to be there! She has begun to sleep in my arms some of the night now...she has the softest coat I have ever felt and purrs as I stroke her. Miss Lucy Lu is a real sweetheart and we are so lucky to have found her!

Your Desert Rose!

MY HAPPY PLACE!

There are certain items in my house that take me to "MY HAPPY PLACE" evrytime I see them. So I have decided to make a weekly post showing a picture of a item...or group of items called "MY HAPPY PLACE". Over the years I have collected  many items that are really special to me for a number of different reasons. Do you have your "HAPPY PLACE" items around you too???

Your Desert Rose!

Beauty...and the BEAUTY!!!

I just gotta say...I think Mason is the real beauty here, don't you???

Your Desert Rose!

Fly Me to the Moon!!!

Just how many airline miles do you think it would take to earn a free ticket to the moon??? Oh but wait...what about an upgrade to first class, after all the moon would be a long trip and you would certainly want to be comfy. Well since I am a wuss when it comes to taking trips...my husband really has to work on me to agree to taking one and he knows to sweeten the deal with an upgrade to first class! Because we go back and forth to the desert/PNW alot and we put absolutely EVERTHING on a credit card to earn miles we were able to nab to 1st class seats on Alaska Airline's partner...British Air! We have flown with Britsh Air before and have had nothing but great flights with them so even though the trip would be long...at least I knew I would be comfy.
Usually my Loving Husband and I fly side by side...but this trip my seat was behind his. He was told that the side seats had more room...and they did have more room for my stuff although I think the seating area was the same size. Here I am stetched out in my seat that will eventully be my bed for the night!

Shortly after we boarded the plane and were seated...our steward bought us each one of these cute little dopp kits!

With oh so many fun little jars of potions all designed to make your flight comfy!

Inside we found...an eye mask, ear plugs, snuggly socks, tooth paste/brush, mouthwash, lip balm, eye gel, hand/body lotion, and radiant face cream!

Then once we were in flight...the steward came to ask me what size sleepwear I would feel most comfy in??? Someone has trained this guy not to just bring you the extra large!

After dinner the steward suggested I slip into something more comfy while he made up my bed for me! Well...I don't get that offer too often, so off I went to the lavi to change. When I returned this is what I found he had done for me...

There was a mattress pad beaneath a down comforter sleeping bag!!! Of corse there was a down pillow to go with it and a beautiful cashmere blanket in case I got a bit chilly!

You can see my own little down travel pillow that I take EVERYWHERE with me...it's in the striped case.

To the right of my bed is my "nightstand" table with purse, bottled water, wine, and espresso. My ear phones are on the comforter and my own little TV/ movie screen is at the far end of the "nightstand"!

All settled in for a good nights sleep...with the stewards promise to wake me up in 6 hours for breakfast! You know...I could get use to having him around! ;)

Your Desert Rose!

Leaving...on a Jet Plane!

Everytime I see a 747...I just can't believe it will be able to lift off and get off the ground!!!It is just "waytoofuckingbig" ( 25 cents in the cuss jar!) to do that...and I have to have some Cowgirl Courage before take off.

This big bird will be wisking my Loving Husband and I off on a trip we have planned...then postponed...then replanned for 2 years! It does now coincide with our 20th anniversary year which is really lovely to have a special event to celebrate this milestone.

More later about where our trip is taking us...

Your Desert Rose!

(By the way...sorry if you too are now singing, "I'm leaving, on a jet plane... don't know when I'll be back again... leaving...)

Stars & Stripes...PONY COUSIN STYLE!

We pledge the allegiance...to the bra
from the Victoria Secret catalogue
2 boobs...under wire
with cleavage and support for all.

YES...one Pony cousin "misplaced" a certain striped garment at our recent PONY COUSIN STAMPEDE. And in spite of her constant interrogation of the younger cousins, her constant wondering, then searching for said garment...it failed to "turn up". That is until it "showed up" Sunday morning, the day of our rodeo! Yes...those younger cousins had kidnapped the favorite bra, and held it hostage before running it up the flag pole to wave ever proud with "Old Glory"!

As if the humiliation of the entire population of ranch guests viewing the garment waving at them in the gentle breeze was not enough...the above "pledge" was recited by all of the PONY COUSINS before the start of our rodeo!

I personally think it was the stripes that gave those younger cousins the idea...

Your Desert Rose!

Like the First Day of School!

Those of us who have children know what it is like to send your child off to his/her 1st day at school. There is a mixed flow of emotions full of pride... and anxiety which of course, can produce...TEARS, even from a rough, tough cowgirl like myself.

Here is Baby Doll...getting Shayna Lady Rose all groomed up.

Ooppps...she heard the camera click and now wants to POSE...

Lady's butt is sure looking big here...I'm just saying.

Newly initiated PONY COUSIN... grooming up Jesse...with a bit of help from A Cowgirl's Grace!!! (my Sissy)So...as a mother...you all know how I felt, watching my babies leave camp with out me...for the very 1st time. Ok ,Ok not counting the Bossman and Dear Friends rides with them!!!

That's them...the last 2 horses...Lady and Jesse...I am so proud to be the human partner to these 2 magnificent equines!

Your Desert Rose!

The Joke's on YOU!!!

Most of you know by now that the PONY COUSINS sure to love to have fun whether on or off their ponies! But...did you know that we are considered MASTER PRANKSTERS??? We come by this trait naturally...from our PONY COUSIN side of the family. We grew up watching our aunts & uncles playing pranks and jokes on each other as adults just like they did in their childhood. For the most part...our PONY COUSIN pranks in the past have been fairly mild, short and sweet kinds of things...until last year when the CUZETTES waged war on their mothers & aunts! These young and perky cowgirls got it into their heads to scare the living daylights otta one innocent sleeping cabin...by sneaking into it in the dark and jumping on the beds of the unaware occupants. Since that time...there has been an ever increasing lack of trust between the generations within the PONY COUSINS that seems to have taken on a life of it's own.

Case in point at our recent 2010 PONY COUSIN STAMPEDE...the 6 Cuzsettes in attendance this year decided to play a practical joke on our dear sweet Cousin E who would never even harm a horse fly. They took advantage of her wonderful nature and plastered her true love heart's contents any and everywhere they could in her cabin. I was able to capture this sick act on digital film as proof of this demented prank!!!

This is NOT recommended viewing for the faint of heart!

Oh what wicked Cowchildren we have raised!

Your Desert Rose!

Blessings!

What a wonderful PONY COUSIN STAMPEDE we had. I am sure we will all be posting soon about our recent family gathering where we were blessed to initiate a new PONY COUSIN!!!There will be more on our new cowgirl soon but for now I am thankful for all the blessings in my life...loving family and friends whom I cherish!

As for these 2 beauties...I could not ask for any better companions out on the trail than Jesse and Shayna Lady Rose! ( yes...she earned her Rose name this trip)

Your Desert Rose!

Go Ahead...Make My Day!!!

You see this...all you equicuz's that are trying to steal my PONY COUSIN STAMPEDE CROWN??? I am not yet ready to give up my tiera...and will fight to the end! I will run the barrels, and breeze by the poles. I will roll back the keyhole so fast I may lose the Desert Rose...

I am planning on being the "Cranky Horse" of the day...in heat...ready to defend my Crown!

This is my CRANKY FACE!!!

Your Desert Rose!