'Crazy'

Summer time!  Love it........but OMGosh, could it be any busier right now?  Haying season is in full swing.  Swathers are running 12+ hours a day, raking night and morning...and Shannon's bayling like crazy.  Last week was Austen's, our oldest son, college orientation.  He's headed to William Jessup University this August and we couldn't be prouder.  This week is football camp for Colten (our middle boy).  So, momma's running all over the state getting these kids where they need to be...whew.  I think we have something planned just about every day this summer, whether it's work or, if I'm really lucky, Fun!
For all of this busyness, I'm so thankful.  We've had a few tragedies lately, a cousin who was in a horrific one-vehicle accident, who is - Praise God - recovering like the miracle that he is, and our son Austen's best friend, Andrew, who was in an awful head on collision.  Another Miracle Boy!  It's amazing that both of the boys made it thru their accidents, I believe it was only by the power of prayer and their will to live.
so, yes, it's crazy busy right now...but a good crazy.

Monday, Monday.....

What is it with Mondays....for some reason we seem to dread the day rather than celebrate the day.  I think we should turn things around and start getting excited for Mondays!  Sound Good?  Are ya starting to feel it? hhmmm, maybe not.
Well, we could start with the anticipation of Friday.....that might work.
See, I knew I shouldn't blog while on narcotics.  Yes, I have a legitimate prescription.  Hurt my back so I was prescribed some muscle relaxers.  "do not mix with alcohol"....do that put that on their to "tempt" us?  "I wonder what would happen if I did have a glass of wine?".... to me it's sorta like telling your child "you better wait a half hour before swimming now that you've eaten that lunch"...weren't you tempted as a kid to see exactally WHAT would happen if you DID jump into that pool?  I know I was.... I'd get in the water and wait.....and nothing.  Yep, nothing ever happened.  So, if I do decide to have a glass of "Ellen's Apple Wine", I wonder what might h...a...p...p....e....n....zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Praise the Lord and Pass the Peas....

okay, don't ask about the title.  I have no idea where it came from, just sounded good to me.  besides, I hate peas.

Life on the ranch is good.  Sorta a slow time right now, just feeding our heifers some hay in the morning.  The cows are out on the refuge right now, so that helps as far as feeding goes.

The two youngest kids are in full basketball mode, and Austen (our oldest) is trying to figure out which college to attend this coming fall.  Austen's a great kid, and has always been good at whatever he tries.  He was in the top 4% of California Seniors and because of that is automatically accepted into any UC he applies for.  Hopefully he'll get some good scholarships.  He's leaning toward UCDavis, either that or William Jessup University, which is a private Christian college.  He wants to either be a psychologist and/or pastor.  We sure will miss him, he's a great kid and a lot of fun to be around.   As I've said before, I really like my kids!

Lately my back's been flaring up.  Miserable.  I feel like a sloth.  I'm not in the best shape either, so that doesn't help.  This week I head to my doctor to talk about my weight and my back issues.  It's sorta like going to the dentist, you hate it, but know you have to do it.  What makes me so mad is that I am so active here on the ranch, I really should weight 100 pounds....but it doesn't work that way. hehe

anyway,,,I do praise the Lord for all he's blessed us with, but I still don't like peas.

Peace, Love, and Football....(and wet dogs)

Once again, busy busy busy....not complaining, mind you, but life here on the ranch has been pretty darn hectic.  My boyfriend (aka husband) is the assistant coach of our football team, and I think I've said before, our two oldest boys play on the team, and our youngest, Lizzie, is the stat girl....so needless to say, we're on the go a lot right now.  I like it though, because the fall is pretty much our only slow time at the ranch.  So the football and volleyball games are sort of mini vacations for us!  Our closest game is an hour and a half drive from us, the farthest is about 5 hours from here!  AND...we're going into the championships, so we'll probably travel farther than that!  Have I mentioned that I do love this though!?!  lol

Fall is finally here though and I'm loving this weather.  It stayed warm a lot longer than usual, so finally the leaves are falling and the nights are cool.  However, fall weather means some moisture, some moisture means WET DOGS!  ugh.....I sooo wish I had a mud room that we could lock them in at night, instead of my house!  oh well, such is life.....

Where's Waldo? (or Tracey for that matter)

hhhmmmm...what excuse can I ponder up for why I've been away from my blog for so long.  "I'm such a busy mother and housewife that I forgot", no. "I now have THREE kids in high school and I just forgot", no. "We were so busy this summer putting up hay and entertaining company, I forgot", no.  "The dog ate my homework", aaahhh No.  Okay, no excuses, the simple fact is "all of the above".  We all know how life gets away from us, and I've learned that lesson to the extreme lately.  Our family lost a much loved uncle last week and a couple from our small town were killed by a drunk driver last week.  Life got away.   I think things like this tend to make us want to slow down and savor the gifts.  Gifts like our children, our spouses, our homes, our jobs, our pets, our health....everything.  So, I pledge to slow down.  (don't have a heart attack, I'm really going to try). 
So!  For starters!  Today is Tuesday, I will go to town with my boyfriend/husband, pick up a repaired tractor tire, fit in a much needed "date" lunch, purchase the last of the show supplies for fair, get a new can of hairspray (a girl can't go to Fair without some Good Hairspray), get some more dog food, remember to purchase stock in the dog food company when I get home, and maybe tan (brown fat is SOOOO much better looking than white fat)!  Then I'll come home, fix dinner, do the dishes (no dishwasher in this house), finish the daily laundry, help the kids finish fitting their fair steers, jump into bed with my boyfriend and lay in bed and think about what's going to happen tomorrow.......UGH, exhausted already.

George, Reba, and Lee Ann, in five days......Woo Hoo!  We're taking off Thursday after school for the Big City of Portland, Or!  It'll take us about 6 hours to drive there.  Friday night we're going to "THE" concert and I'm so excited!  I'm not excited for myself (although I am hoping to get a nice toush shot of the Big Guy), but I'm excited for my kids.  Colten (16) and Lizzie (14) have always loved the Big Guy.  Colten swore up and down, when he was a wee one, that when he grew up he was moving to Texas to work on George Strait's ranch....LOL.

Ya know, I've been thinking.....I know that we'll be only a couple of fans in a huge venue - but we do count.  I can imagine that so many of the people that will be there have a "story" about George.  "I saw him in Tahoe when I was in College", "Remember when he had to cancel his appearance at our county fair", "You can't beat a classic George song when you ask your honey to dance", and my favorite "I love his wranglers".  I wish that there were some way that we could convey how much it means to us "civilians" to be able to witness such an awesome event.  Now I know that this isn't like the Presidential Inauguration or anything....but to us simple country folk - it's even Better!  I'm breaking out my best pair of cute jeans, getting a new shirt, and polishing my boots for this one!  (while during the election coverage, I sat on the couch in my pj's, flipping between CNN and "House Hunters" - No Comparison)

Any how....excited to go see my guy.  But will definately miss my boyfriend (aka husband) while I'm gone.  "Take care of the cows Honey, Momma's going to town!".....