Some excitement,,,,some laughs

My golden sage plants are doing nicely and the smell wonderful! They are growing with some Spearmint. My tomato plants have been transplanted into the raised bed with the squash and sweet red peppers. From the seeds that Phoenix sent me, I ended up with two Beaver Lodge, 1 Russian Black, 1 Oregon Star and 4 Cherokee purple. The veggie stealers got the broccoli and spinach, so I have re-started those and some Seneca Corn.

The deer are just too cute. They watch me watching them and move closer to my veggies. I step out on the deck and they stop. When the realize I am not going to leave, they head across the road. So now I am patrolling my garden area early mornings and at dusk. The baby is growing like crazy and is still beautiful. They are growing on me...LOL. The corn plants I started are primarily for them. I also threw some tomato plants (I picked up from a lady down the road) up on the ridge for them.

Last night got real interesting at 1:30 in the morning as we were going to bed. I was doing my door and window check and two mountain lions decided to start vocalizing LOUDLY right outside our bedroom window. So the two of them (mama around a 100 lbs. and baby about 70 lbs) raised cane and finally took off across the street to my neighbors. So I woke her up at 2 am to let her know so she did not walk outside early morning without looking.

Workouts are going well but my progress is not. I have lost 2 pounds..grrrrrr getting weight on me is a nightmare. But I am just going to eat more, lift heavier and do less cardio. I have almost a year to get the weight on.

Well off to the gym for tonight's workout.

Gardening and updates

I have been getting boulders moved, raised bed finished, tomatoes transplanted and working out. Not to mention a 10+ mile hike across the river and into the mountains. These beautiful wild ruffle leaf lilies are growing everywhere are my house and they are gorgeous.

I have just hired a trainer who will start training me after his show in mid-July. So with his help, Hubby's help and the grace of the Creator, I will be ready for the Emerald Cup in April. So far so good, I just came through a major cutting cycle and trimmed off 18 pounds...15+ of which was fat. So not back to bulking...which is always fun because I do love food.

Cheyenne has graduated the fourth grade and is excited about the upcoming year at the Dome School. They learn their basics like math and spelling and etc but they also learn alternative education subjects....hikes in the mountains learning survival, recognition of native plants, different wildlife signs, holistic health care, organic gardening, alternative power sources and other skills necessary for living in this environment. Most importantly, she loves it and thrives in the environment.

So, off to bed and tomorrow is a new day!

Good Day and Media Sucks!

As hubby is still recently retired from the Army, I still think like a military spouse and I am so strongly against the media right now that I think the constitution should be changed to gag their stupid butts! They spend so damned much time telling 1/4 of the story and only half of that is true. I cannot believe that the citizens of this country are so stupid as to believe the crap they read and hear from these lying morons. And then on the flip side, the media personnel have no sense of common decency whatsoever. Case in point is the latest reporting on the young soldier who has been missing for a couple of weeks along with two commrades, his body was found floating in the Euphrates River. They could not stop with merely saying there was speculation of it being a US Soldier...oh no the heartless weasels must print that he was wearing a US military uniform, had been shot in the head and chest, had whip marks on his back and a tattoo on his hand. Now back here in the states, some mother is reading this and knowing it is her son...thank you reporters...that is one hell of a way to tell a mother her son has died. The reporters, newspapers, news stations and all of them make me totally sick! They basically use the constitution as a shield to be over paid liars, drama queens and bad news mongers. One day you will answer for your actions...you may say it is just your job...well for your sake, I hope the Creator sees is that way. Personally I think you are screwed when that day comes.

Now on a happier note...workouts and eats are going great. The weekly mini-challenge of 100 lunges per day is going great and my butt is feeling it. Tomorrow yowza andother great workout scheduled...so time for a hot soak and relax a bit for sleep.

More later.....

Decisions Decisions...always interesting

The weekend is over, the new week started and there are decisions to be made. I am still fairly hacked about a situation that just does not sit right with me. Why can a person get so caught up in their personal insecurities thank someone and then turn and snipe them. Granted misunderstandings happen and miscommunications occur, but that is the case for everyone not just 'the other person" or "someone else" but whatever. They can either wake up and smell the coffee and realize that life is too short to cause a stir over a picture that anyone can get and a statement made from miscommunication. Well, life is too short to me, to continue wasting my time on the matter. I have other pressing matters in my own life.

School is almost out for Cheyenne, this is her last week and still the child's father has not made her flight arrangements to go to Florida. I still have to meet with the oncologist and see if surgery is possible yet, schedule some dental surgery and manage my workouts and volunteer stuff.

Daily grooming and such of Samson is ongoing and will most likely continue through the next show in late August. My son is having some trouble in NC and I need to figure out what is going on with him, He was struck by a car a couple months ago and I need to get on the phone and get on some cases.

Time to go catch some shut eye and in a few hours I have gardens to get put together and planted, housework to do and a play at school to go watch...and DH's medical appointment.

Night night...more later

Tournament of Knights done...

Well the event is over and it went really well. As anytime you work with animals, there are always those moments that require improvising. Today was no exception. Lady Nightmare, while looking beautiful in her yellow blanket, had a moment. LOL. The first show went well and in the second show she decided that she would not charge my husband standing holding a shield. She has such wonderful manners and she just would not 'hurt' someone...so halfway down the run she put on the brakes, did some side prancing and said "Nope...not gonna do it". LOL.

Now we focus on the big 2-day event in August. Live steel sword fighting, spear fighting, archery, horseback archery and 12 Knights from 4 states jousting it out for a cash prize. Well, I can think of worse ways to spend my birthday other than on horseback. Sounds good to me.

I am exhausted and going to sleep...more later...

Wow Long day and trip!

Well Miss Cheyenne has made a new friend and he loves seeing her show up everyday. Siberius is the German Shepard of Sir William and Lady Edie. When we show up to brush and feed, Knightmare and Samson, Sib is right there ready to play. So they do the throwing sticks and fetching, chasing each other and of course TONS of hugs and petting goes on. LOL. She really misses Ben...the taco bell beast is okay but she misses being able to grab on to a big dog.

It was a LOOOOONG day...I feel like I have gone around the world in 1 Day! But everything that needed to be done was done. I talked to my mother at length today and it is going to be awhile before she is able to fully accept the loss of her brother. Today was also his birthday and that just made matters so much harder for her. But she is a strong woman and will get through it.

Meanwhile, practice, preparations and running around getting ready for Sunday's three shows is still ongoing. But, we all have our period clothing ready, I am putting the final touches on the script for the show, Edie is finishing the sewing on Knightmare's blanket...when I last talk to her she was getting ready to sew the black squares on it. So, I will check with her tomorrow morning and see how she is coming along. Then I must run to Grants Pass to pick up printer cartridges, a rubber chicken and anything else the guys think they need. Then it is off to the printers to copy the script for everyone, then over to check on Samson, exercise him a bit hopefully, if not, groom him and make sure his tail and mane are conditioned really well for the braiding.

Sunday the shows are at 2 pm, 4 pm and 6 pm and then we can all rest Monday and get back in the swing of things. We have plenty of time for the slow planning and preparation for the 2 day medieval event in August. That will give us more time to get Samson up to a good charge and dealing with the long lance leading him. He is not too pleased at having this long lance out in front of him. But he is a good boy and very eager to learn so he will do fine...he just needs more time and practice to get really comfortable.

So, now it is time for to read emails and catch some winks before the start of another busy day. More later.....

Not a good day but not a bad day...

Well we were hopping all day. Numerous telephone calls with my mother, rushing to the gym, rushing to pick up cheyenne from school, rushing to the field for practice for Sunday...I am frazzled. I did not ride Samson today, we got a late start. So I groomed him and did the kissy face thing with him and did his most favorite thing...gave him food. LOL. He is such a sweetie...massive but gentle. Now if I can somehow convince him that he can go faster than a trot...all will be good. He is 16 years old but has no clue about neck reining...he only plow reins. he was a carriage and pulling horse...so asking him to charge down a jousting line is just not something he understands...he fast trots and can lope down the line but he must get that mass up to speed. Knightmare on the other hand is just the perfect lady for the job...she will charge that line at full speed and is very menacing looking in the process. She is a prissy picky girl...a beautiful Friesian who is all about William. He is the "Knight" that rides her and owns her...she totally loves him too pieces. She likes Cheyenne coming inside the fence to give her attention and brush her...I do believe that feeling is mutual on Cheyenne's part...she just loves Nightmare. Although she was brave today and wanted to sit on Samson. LOL.

William's wife, Edie, is making a beautiful yellow blanket for Knightmare and we walked out into the enclosure and were in the process of trying the blanket on Nightmare for size when Edie's horse, Fancy Doll, decided she had just had enough of Nightmare and Samson getting all the attention this week....so she walked under Knightmare's neck and just stood there, tried to pull the blanket off nightmare, then tried to chew on Knightmare's mane and basically demanded attention. Cheyenne led her away a few feet and brushed her. LOL.

Tomorrow is run a couple of the boys to Grants Pass to pick up their costumes for Sunday, get some large enough envelopes to mail the packages to the BuffMothers, get ready for a long trip, rush to the gym, rush back and give Samson a workout and then I think collapsing is in order. I think next Monday I am taking the day off and doing absolutely nothing more energetic than walking from the bedroom to the living room...unless I want to. LOL.

More later....

The weekend in Portland was a lot of fun. We had the opportunity to see how the competitions operate here in the NW, the show was nice but the women competing were not very impressive at all. I was shocked to see clearly out-of-shape and overweight women competing in the bodybuilding divisions. They were very unprepared. The men made a much better showing. Although, the judges seems right on target with all but one of their decisions where the women were concerned, they were not as on target with the men.

We enjoyed ourselves though and Cheyenne had a great time with Summer and Steven. She took the train downtown and went to the mall and a huge open air market. She of course found a pet shop that had two beautiful black n white rats...as she stated "they were fat squishy boys". I think I will talk to her dad while she is away this summer and see if we can talk him into letting her have a pair of male rats for Christmas. They are great pets, and while not being for everyone, she really loves them. She misses Kittsipimi a lot since he passed away in November. She has done excellent in school this year and I think she has proven she can focus on her schoolwork and maintain some responsibility to getting another pair of rats is not a bad thing.

Week 2 of the Consistency Challenge has begun and it is also the week of cutting bread from our diet...well the clean eating, workouts and water will be a breeze but giving up my bagels proved TOUGH. I did not succumb to the bagel, cream cheese and lox but the craving was certainly there at every vacant moment.

Workouts are going well, I am up almost 3 lbs and I am sure I will lose most of that but that is okay...I will keep bulking and growing so I can handle burning the fat too. At least I will not have as much to cut later.

We are gearing up for the big equestrian medieval event at the fairgrounds this weekend. Tonight was archery practice, riding "Samson" the massive Percheron, working on costumes for Cheyenne and I. Tonight I have been working on the Itinerary for the show...minute by minute. So, it is down to the wire and getting the knights ready, the archers, the swordsmen and the fine details....wow. But it will be great, the big show is in late August and that one will take tons more organizing and planning.

Well, it is off to bed soon, so more later.

Back and Traps Oh My....

Wow what a day and workout. My wonderful daughter surprised me for Mother's Day with a really sweet gift of sorts. She really can be a sweetheart when she is not being a prepubescent nightmare. LMAO.

My eats were really good today and frankly they were constantly it seemed. I was starving all day. That is a switch for the better. Hubby and I made it to the gym about 5:00 and we were working back and traps. He stuck to his plan and lift heavy for a few exercises and I went totally nuts because I felt good and felt like lifting. So I ended up lightening the weight a little and hitting everything...pulldowns, deadlifts, rows, upright rows, bent rows, DBs, BBs and machines. It felt great. I am a tad sore around my right shoulder but not at all in pain. We will see what tomorrow brings.

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day...run everyone and drop them off, do some laundry for the weekend trip, get our stuff packed and then head to Portland in the late afternoon. My Mother's Day gift this year is tickets to the Oregon Ironman so it is going to be a busy weekend but back home Sunday.

Off till later....

Wednesday Cardio & stuff

Wednesday was cardio only...I hate cardio only days. But I got some work done outside, had a great day of good eats and did a bit of shopping. I went to the Midnight Oasis and bought a new bikini...it is this cute little silver thing with a thong back. I also picked up another two piece which is black with pink flowers and has little boys shorts for the bottoms. Love it. And for grins and giggles, I bought a pair of undies with smiley faces on it...that glow in the dark. HAHAHA

My legs are so sore today from Tuesday's leg workout that I have felt like a feeble old woman. So it was a good workout. As they say LOVE THE BURN.

I have got to get busy and decide what I am sending my mother for Mother's day...I think a nice bouquet of flowers is in order. I cannot wait to see them in August when I go out to pick Cheyenne up. And I will get to spend a couple of days with my grandson too. YAY I miss that boy.

It is getting close to bed time so a nice hot soak is in order. More later....

Great workouts....

What a fabulous few days...the weather has been beautiful! It has been nice and warm so going outdoors and doing some yard work has been great! I am preparing to transplant my little veggie plants to an outside bed. So I have gotten the top soil, steer compost, potting soil and all I need know is mulch. I also have to move the rocks off the ridge down to the bed area to line the bed, I have given up trying to make the bed with all the rocks in the ground here so I am making a raised bed. I also have to get some tall fencing to try to keep the veggie stealer and her baby out of my veggies. I am going to take some veggie plants up on the ridge for the two of them along with their salt/mineral block.

Meanwhile, Hubby and I have been having great workouts. Our eating is clean and on par with our schedule. The new contest in the Rally Room with the BuffMothers began yesterday..so for the next 10 weeks the word is "Consistency" ... that is the challenge. With consistency we can all make major changes and get closer to our goals. I have been very fired up about this challenge and this new workout cycle for me. I am aiming for the cup next April and will make it.

We have had a major mountain lion problem and are in desperate need to find it and kill it. It has killed goats, cornered and elderly woman at her patio, attacked and killer a little doggie and it is just too brazen and dangerous to take chances with it around our kids and older people. This thing is huge too and has become too comfortable with walking right up onto some one's patio. So the game warden has had so many calls about cats on our road that he cannot keep up with them all or track them all. He knows of three nuisance cats and suspects there is more. So, I keep a loaded 30-30 with me whenever I am outside doing yard & garden work, I make sure Cheyenne is in the house by 5:30 pm in the evening and not outside alone before 9:00 am.

So we go on and keep focused on daily life, our fitness goals and our family time. Hubby is taking me to the Oregon Ironman this weekend for a little Mother's Day getaway and he has arranged for a sitter so we can have an evening out together. Plus, we will get to visit with friends in Portland. So it should be a fun weekend and we will be able to workout while we are there to.

A Conservative Celebrity Comment...how odd

While not agreeing with everything about this war, I am very supportive of our troops and wise enough to realize that one man does not hold the blame...we have a government and individuals who relay information to the head of the government who then must make decisions based on the information he has...but celebrities have been asses about their ridicule of our President for the most part...so seeing these comments from Jay Leno surprised me but made me feel better about celebrities. While being a conservative in many ways, I am not a fanatic about it..but this made so much sense.

By Jay Leno:

"The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.

So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What we are so unhappy about?'' Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough.

Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings.

Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes , an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have , and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled u ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks?

The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells , and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another.

Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane! Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage.

Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative." "With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

Jay Leno

I Love Derby Day!

Today was the 133rd Kentucky Derby...and what a Derby it was! Even with the loss of the fabulous Barbaro, last year's Derby winner, the atmosphere was electric as always. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were in attendance which was a first and also added the air of excitement.

I had chosen my horses as always and settled in to watch. I picked Curlin, Street Sense, Hard Spun and Imawildandcrazyguy. Well it ended up being a fabulous win by Street Sense followed by Hard Spun who led the entire race until the last 1/4 mile, followed by Curlin who got slowed up and crowded at the start from the 2 slot and the long shot Imawildandcrazyguy blazing into fourth. It was a thrilling race!

Street Sense dropped back into 19th place at the start of the race and he headed for the rail. From there he just slowly moved up to about 17th. As the hit the pole marking only a 1/2 mile left, Street Sense kicked on the afterburners and ran the rail so close that Jockey Borel's silks were touching the rail. He ran up to take over fourth place and seemed trapped behind Hard Spun and Curlin...a slight opening opened up and instinctively, Street Sense charged through the opening and around Hard Spun ... he won it by about 2 lengths. The only horse that did not run that I was so hoping to see was "From Rags To Riches"...the big red filly. They pulled her from the Derby and ran her in the Kentucky Oaks at the Downs yesterday...which she won with ease and no one near. I will be looking for her on the field at the Preakness in two weeks.

I called my daddy and we chatted about the race...just as we have done since I was 3 years old watching my first Kentucky Derby with him. It was a fun jabbing conversation as always...he telling me that he had the winner picked the whole time...knowing full well he did not. LOL. It is days like this that I really miss being a little girl with my daddy. :)

Meanwhile, I am gearing up for the new contest and challenge issued by BuffMother ... 10 weeks of consistency. I took my measurements and "before" pics this morning and completed my first Consistency POA...so now I am ready to begin first thing Monday.

More later....

Deer and Veggies

Well the mama and baby deer spent the entire day outside the house today. Mama comes up on the deck and looks in the sliding glass door and baby is coming real close now too. My poor baby veggie plants will not stand a chance if I do not figure out a way to keep them away from them. I am going to plant some of the veggies on the hillside and put their mineral/salt block out for them and hopefully that will buy them off and keep them away from the veggie plants. Meanwhile, I have the beds all designed and will be picking up the top soil, potting soil and compost to make the beds and prepare them for transplanting the babies to it.

Workouts and eats are going great, although I am battling getting in the calories I need each day. I just have no desire for food or an appetite during the warm weather. But I am forcing it down as much as possible.

Well time for bed, another appointment for hubby tomorrow courtesy of the VA so we are going to hit the gym on our way home from the appointment.

More later....

Excited and Setting Goals

I am totally fired up about my workouts, meals and the Emerald Cup next year. I can do it and I KNOW IT! I was searching for more motivational things and I came across this beautiful one-piece posing suit. Oh I just love it and I want it...so, this is one of my new motivational items. I will own that suit and make it look good!

Workouts are going fabulous, eating is clean just not as much as I want, and life is looking great! Husband is excited about this new goal also and he is fired up over it. He has been hitting the weights heavier and hard also. We just sorta feed off each other's excitement and it works fabulously.

I am in the midst of planning our path to this event. Husband wants to take classical dance lessons, I want to attend a posing clinic and a good butt busting boot camp of sorts, I want to get my surgery scheduled for as soon as possibly practical so I have time to heal without affecting my progress. Cheyenne is even getting excited about this...she was looking at posing suits online and sending me pics of them. Too Cute.

So for now, all is flowing along and the plans are being worked out and our plan laid out. It will be great to see it written and start the countdown to the 2008 Emerald.