Monday, February 28, 2011

Happiness is......

What makes you happy?


Often people attempt to live their lives backwards; they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want, so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want.

~ Margaret Young ~


Most of you might think I'm nuts to love ranching so much. The job day to day is never the same. Sometimes the sorrow weighs so heavy you don't think you can go on, but the simple joys that happen make all the dirt, grime, physical labor and sorrow over fighting with an animal for their life keep you moving forward.

I've always said to myself and family, "Being on a farm would make my life complete." Hmmmm....two major crisis in our marriage and several minor ones made me realize happiness to me would come from within me first. And trust me those major ones would have caused most marriages to break up. Ours didn't. It didn't matter if it was something I wanted, had and didn't want or just a dream, none of those things would make me a happy person. I found I was responsible for my happiness, no one or not a single thing could make me happy. I worked happiness in reverse. When both of us became happy people inside of ourselves, our marriage and the ranch came to be. Now I live my dream, not my happiness. Now my husband lives his dream, not his happiness.

Today's simple joy at the ranch. Miss FJL Prissy is just over 60 days bred! She'll be on the trailer for the Houston Livestock Show and Star of Texas Livestock Show.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Facing Fear

Sometimes life hands you a challenge that raises an interesting fear of that challenge. When I started to scrap, my mother handed me all of the family photos. Including going back into the late 1880's. Scrapping these photos sent fear just pulsating through my body. Then came this month's ACOT Contest "Read All About It". I finally had a reason to do a layout using some of the photos. If you want to read more about my layout you can visit here.


I just love how it turned out and now I'm motivated to really get going on my Genealogy Albums. Sometimes we just have to face your fears to conquer them!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Inspire

I have really been into one word titles for my layouts and this is no exception to that seemingly unwritten rule I have of late. From my wedding, the photo of the men in my life until I met Larry who had and still do provide me a great amount of Inspiration. I am Blessed Beyond Measure! My Dad a very blessed father flanked by my two brothers. Dad has since gone to be with the Lord. I don't get to see my brothers as much as I would like. Ranching can do that to you! It's even harder to get away when you only see your husband on weekends.



I am so delighted as Larry and I will celebrate our Silver Anniversary this year! It gives me a whole different perspective on looking back as I scrap our wedding photos.

Speaking of Inspiration, check out the sketch this week (Sketch 225) over at Pencil Lines! Thank you for allowing me to play along this week! The design team is amazing and so creative! If your just a tad bit thinking about trying for a Design Team, then they have a call out right now for their new design team! Would be so much fun. No, I'm not trying out for it....have too much on my plate. Maybe next year.

As always ACOT has a hand in this layout, too!!! It is the February Theme Challenge!


Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Grandparents



1962.....a visit from Papa and Dee-Dee! I love this photo! It's that expression my grandfather would have on his face when he found something amusing!

I borrowed this sketch from the 2009 52 Sketches...52 Weeks #29. All those cuts to get them just right for the rounded corners! Gotta love my Creative Memories Patterns.

As I kept looking at the date of the photo on the bottom I had a sudden block. Some of the younger ladies would see this as a heritage layout. Well not me....I'm neither heritage or vintage yet, LOL! So I found this really cool site trying to find colors to match the time period. Early '60's were very different from the late '60's in colors. I have clearer memories of the late '60's, as I was only 18 months when this photo was taken. Need help with colors then visit Ugly House Photos. I love traveling back in time! Might be ugly by today's standards when you look at the '60's houses, but I don't think so! I picked out Lily Bee Design Lovely papers to do this layout! I love how it turned out.

Also my entry into the ACOT Feb. One Word Challenge! Come join in on the fun!

What's a Farm Without a CAT!!!

Whenever I think of a farm cat I think of a Dairyman squirting the milk from a dairy cow right into the cat's mouth. Cliche....you bet! But honestly a farm without a cat just isn't a farm. So meet our farm cat who has two homes, mine and our neighbors!

And who said one could not use Halloween Paper for just a layout of your cat! Thanks to My Mind's Eye for this great paper to highlight "Cat"!? Yep, that's his name!

Thought I would share a link to a group on Facebook!!! Want to see some ooogly papers (ugly)!? Have a laugh or two? Great page!!! Scrap-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Scrapbook Creations Group

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Ibn Zubaydahh aka Zuby

At it again to scrap our family's Arabian horses. If you have followed I've done several layouts of Zuby's dam, Zubaydahh. This is her youngest son Ibn Zubaydahh. Although a chestnut his personality, the conformation of his face and his nuisances are his mother's. He's a Tammen son.


My entry into the ACOT February Scrap you Life Challenge. This month was to scrap the simple things in your life. For me I have those simple things happen each and every day with my animals. Some of those wonderful simple moments last but minutes when you have spent hours upon hours of work leading up to the moments which last a lifetime in your mind. Thank you Zuby, for making my life full of those wonderful moments we spent in the ring together when you were a younster. I still love many years later love watching you and your friend Bogart trot across the pasture with heads up and tails curled. The Arabian horse, to be owned by one is a treasure to hold for a lifetime!

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Sir Lancelot

I really need to get some of the photos we have of the cattle in the Ranch Scrapbook. I have a number of photos which need to be put in this album and more to purchase from show wins. As ususal I turned to ACOT for inspiration. January Contest was titled January Sketch Contest. I love how the contest was set up with the beginning letter of your "nick" as the Page Maps Sketch one had to use. I had this light bulb moment of a kit I purchased from Scrapbook Kits, now sadly defunct since I loved their kits! This is the Page Maps Sketch I used:



And my take on the sketch:



This was a fun sketch using American Crafts and Nikki Sivils pattern papers! I think I succeeded in giving the impression the photo was from a county fair, 2004 Brazoria County Fair. Lynn is showing one of her senior year projects, Sir Lancelot, her steer and scramble calf project.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Coming Severe Cold Bought a Calf

Twyla in 16 short months has given us four calves thanks to Embryo Transfer. Her two youngest calves are natural calves born 363 days apart.


Severe winter weather is something my state does not handle well. Everything comes to a screeching halt. My northern friends involved in ranching laugh at us. It's ok, because they just gasp at the thought of our temperatures in the summer. Twyla seems to love to hold and hold her calves. I keep thinking, tonight will be the night. This is calf number two she delivered just prior to a bad cold spell. Just after these photos I moved the little "Bear" and mom into the barn to protect him from the high winds we would have. "Bear" shows promise as a future head sire. His sire is Wanamara Findon Royale so he certainly needs a royal name when he is registered. Yet the barn name "Bear" will stick.

Photo: taken Monday, Jan. 31st and the high temperature that day was 62 in the shade.