People wonder, when Jesus fed the 5000, whether the two fish were bass or catfish.

People grumble about Noah letting coyotes on the ark.

The preacher says, “I’d like to ask Bubba to help take up the offering,” and five guys stand up.

Opening day of hunting season is recognized as an  official church holiday.

A member of the church requests to be buried in his 4-wheel-drive truck because, “It ain’t  never been in a hole I couldn’t get out of !”

Prayers regarding the weather are standard practice.

The choir group is known as the O.K. Chorale.”

Four generations of the same family sit together in worship.

There is so such thing as a “secret” sin.

THIS IS MY PERSONAL FAVORITE:  Baptism is referred to as a “branding”

There is a special fundraiser for a new septic tank.

Finding and returning lost sheep isn’t just a parable.

High notes on the organ can set the dogs to howling.

Ok, so I thought those were pretty funny. Mystery and I had sat down and I pick this newspaper up. It was filled with all sorts of “interesting” stuff???  One story was about how satanism is on the rise with young Iranians. Huh?

I am so tired, but I thought I would entertain with an article. Hope you got a good laugh too.

I will be taking photos this summer to put into my first sellable calendar. I’m excited to do this for Tattered Cover.

I just picked up a writing job. It’s freelance, which is right up my alley. I can work as much or as little as I so choose. Cool huh?

I did so my fence work this weekend at Mystery’s Farm/Ranch. I am so sore and sunburned now. The top of my head even. On Saturday I was invited to a spectacular ranch inside the Comanche National Grassland. What I saw of it was so cool and I didn’t even get to really see too much of it. They are located where Picket Wire Canyon is located. I didn’t have time to check out the area, but I was invited to come and stay at this beautiful ranch. How cool is that? I had only met the owners that day, and being around the family was cool. I had only been there for 10 minutes and was invited. I just can’t believe how cool that is for me. Great people too. I got soooooo many great shots to look at. Check out Picket Wire Canyon at   http://www.santafetrailscenicandhistoricbyway.org/pwdino.html

I have many hours of catching up on sleep that I need, so good night.

I pretty much have this day off……..work is SLOW today. I went to my favorite hang out in Denver, which is the Denver Public Library. I really want to write some children’s books. I know I have it in me. I’m not quite sure the process, so I went and got some helpful books along with some cookbooks, cactus books, etc. I could spend hours there. SERIOUSLY! I was actually trying to find a certain computer book, but I don’t think they would publish it. Oh Well! I can find it on google I’m sure.

I have seriously been feeling weird about facebook lately. I hate how old asshole boyfriends can just friend someone you know and then they and creep on you. I don’t want to even see this guys face, much less one photo of him on a page I would be on. Yuck! You know who you are too. You know? It wouldn’t bother me if he wasn’t such an asshole, but he is ……….and he knows it. Oh Well…..not much I can do about it. It’s just so wrong though.

I think the Bug is finished with her 2nd year of college today. She should be getting all A’s except for one class Spanish she will be getting a B. Her Minor is in Spanish which is something I pushed with her. It will open soooooo many more doors in her life. She is so smart, and the fact that her gorgeous boyfriend is Mexican, and fluent.

I miss the Bug, she is so busy with two jobs and full time school.

I think the last time I was there, could have been one of my first branding photo shoots I attended. I was so happy that I could do something so fun. I realize that my “fun” can be so different than most other peoples idea of fun. I really do have such a cool life (in my own opinion). I really do love just being around ranching. I know there are few people out there that do what I do, but I think I have more fun……because the people I work around MAKE it fun. Quite the characters! I love them!

Kelly has opened many doors for me in so many ways. He makes my job so easy in some respects. His branding was on Friday the fourth. I sort of need a place to stay since there is another branding on the Saturday after that one.

I just finished uploading my photos onto another website I have for the ranchers to view and for people to order off of.

I REALLY need to work on this website more than anything, but I need the time. That brings me to the whole tired, tired, tired heading. I have been non stop on the go for months now. Saratoga hot springs was a break from work, but not the best get away. It was expensive and to say the least. The Bug and I had so much fun though. Loved it. I went on a few walks and di quite a bit of soaking.

We have had several heart to heart conversations over this past week. Living together, marriage, work, etc. It’s conversations we should have had, but haven’t. I feel much better about where we’re at, and with my choice of man. He is such a manly man too. Good looking! MMMM! I think I have posted a photo of him before, but here it is again.

I think he’s sooooo good looking. We have so much fun together too. Our communication skills with each other are getting better too. I love that. He has been ripping and plowing a field for another farmer in Blanca. The dirt was so compact that he broke several pins that are supposed to break away instead of hurting equipment. Then today he starts working on a neighbors field across the road from where he lives. Plowing and such.

We talked this morning about me learning to drive the semi trucks he has. If I can learn that I can make some good money hauling. He has let me drive it a few times already to get the feel for it. Very cool!!!!!!! We could be a good team hauling crap across the country. Semi’s are super expensive though, and diesel prices are freakin nuts.

Work has been good. I have such great clients too. I love them. Just last week, one of my clients works for a yoga clothing and climbing gear company out of Boulder and she brought me 3 pairs of shorts…all different styles. I love her. She only wanted a bang trim in exchange.

What else???? Oh! I got Kaiser Insurance a couple of weeks ago. I feel like I won the lottery. I love it already. I have a mammogram to do next week, then I start physical therapy for my lower back.

I have to run!

They are harmless, and if needed someone would always have my back.

The ranch I’m going to is down by Lamar. It’s on a ranch I think I’ve only been to once. I took a photo of this guys Dad when he had super bloody hands, and decided to take a chew. I didn’t know his hands were so bloody, until after I took the shot. I sent a copy to his mother. I doubt it shocked her.

I had a nice weekend with Mystery. I always have fun when I’m with him. Today I pruned a few trees, and it took me most of the morning and afternoon to cut them all up and got them in nice little piles. I didn’t have time to stack them all. Mystery needed help with this huge piece of farm equipment. It wasn’t spinning like it should, due to the face that it had twine wrapped around several parts and it was keeping it from spinning correctly. I can’t remember what the machine is called, but it is like a HUGE rototiller. Bingo! All that worked great when he took it apart and cleaned it all up.

Then, I put in an alternator in his huge Ford tractor. He had it rebuilt. It quit on him the other day when he was chiseling a friends field. I learned that now a days alternators go in much easier than they did years and years ago when I was working on cars with my Pop. Mystery told me they make them so easy to install, because they realize that farmers need to get back in the machine as quick as possible.

I decided to volunteer my time to an organization that takes soldiers and their families on retreats up and Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby. I will be cutting hair for them.  There is a 800 person waiting list for this program. Below is something I copied off of their website. They won a national award a few days ago, and that got me interested in how to help. I can’t do enough to thank all the men, women, and families of our service. It means so much to me.

When a serviceperson is deployed a family goes to war.

Statistics published in December 2007 at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs indicate that 21 military veterans per week commit suicide. RAND Corporation estimates that approximately 300,000 troops deployed are suffering from depression or post-traumatic stress from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Oh I almost forgot. I planted about 12 Hop rhizomes this weekend. Mystery did most of the labor though. I am excited to see what happens. I hope they grow well. I’m crossing my fingers.

Iam tired as hell and need some sleep. Have a great week!

Saratoga Hot Springs Weekend

I thought I would start off my week with a photo of where the Bug and I went for the weekend. I love Saratoga! This was a fun, but interesting weekend. We had a suite which was nice to stay in when we weren’t soaking. Shelby picked these springs since she had never been there before. I have been there several times, including one time I pretty much had the resort to myself.

If I owned Saratoga Hot Springs and Resort, I would do a few things differently. I would expand the resort to about 3 times the size. I would make so many more pools to soak in too. They range in temperature from about 97 degrees to 106 degrees. I like the hot 102-106 range. There is only one spring that is out in the open the rest are covered up with Teepee’s. The Teepee’s are nice, since they block out the strong Wyoming winds, but I really love to see the stars at night and the place is lit up pretty well.  :  (   I have a thing about light pollution.  I HATE IT!!!!!! I really don’t understand why people need to light up the night sky when they are sleeping. Farmers and ranchers are some of the worst too. They have to light up there place for some reason. I could understand in some emergency they should be on, but why when you’re sleeping? Motion sensors work just fine and dandy. Bad dogs work even better if someone wants to cause damage or harm.

Back to Saratoga. The Bug and I sure got some soaking in. I love the fact that I float perfectly in the water without effort. I could fall asleep, but I wouldn’t. Every breath I take it rises me up in the water some (mostly my boobs) Very relaxing, but it tickles the inside of my ears.

There were some crazy drunk people who showed up on Saturday night. A guy and a girl. They decided to go against the rules in every way possible. First bringing beverage outside. That’s a no-no there. Birthday suits are no allowed either. Someone had already reported them by the time even found out about them. Trust me I am all about the birthday suit, but I try to follow rules as much as possible at all times. Speed limit is not one of them.

Then one the management got wind of these two, the owner/manager?? came out with her flashlight looking for the two. She didn’t make it there, due to the fact that she biffed it pretty bad missing a step. I ran to see if she was ok. It took her awhile to get up. She was a pretty big lady. She was escorted back to the office. She told the couple in a loud voice that they had 10 minutes to get out and get there clothes on…that the police were on their way.

Man did they get extremely pissed!!!!!!! Mind you there are kids there for Easter weekend. They have a Easter Basket Decoration Contest, an Easter Egg Hunt, and then things for adults also. If you looked online what so ever, you would know kids are allowed along with drunks.

This guy and girl used every cuss word known to mankind. Screaming cuss words. My favorite was the lady screaming “Why would anyone bring their kids to a RESORT on EASTER? Resorts are for people, not kids!!!!!!!!”  Like kids aren’t people??? Hmmm? No one can see them really, because their in the Teepee. They were egging people to come and fight them etc. Nuts! ALCOHOL!!!! Quite the couple though.

There was a member there that was keeping an eye on things and said he hoped Officer (whoever) would show up, since he liked to use his Taser. I would love to see that. The cop finally showed up and they said a few more choice words, got dressed and were escorted out of the resort. Never to be allowed to come back. They sure were made for each other. I love when that happens. Two drunks hooking up. How much better can it get?

We had a fun time…regardless of the weirdos. I didn’t take that many photos. Just wasn’t feelin it so much. I took some nice walks every day we were there. The North Platte runs right by the resort. They also have a gold course that looks nice. Cool housing development around the greens too. I would take any one of the houses there. Nice spot on the Earth.

I didn’t want to come back. I need to make some more money though. Funny how that happens.

OHHHHH! I’m so excited. I am going to try to start some hops this Summer. I FINALLY found out who to talk to at Coors in order to get some free rhizomes. I like their little gift. They send you two rhizomes free of charge. I got a lot of my friends to order them too. I hope to start with 12 or so rhizomes. Mystery has a place in mind although I believe they should be closer to the house. He wants them out by a water source. I would rather have them closer to have a wind break of sorts from the tress that surround his place. They need about 20 foot high poles to grow on. I think I’ll be good at growing them ………or should I say I hope Mystery is good at growing them. I’m only down there 2-3 days a week. Not really enough to keep tabs on them.

I also ordered 3 different types from a place up in Washington State. I have them in my refrigerator.

I’m excited for the Summer, but I’m not looking forward to the heat.

The other missed shot was when I was on a motorcycle ride with Mystery. I was on the back of his awesome bike. We were around Durango….. I think, and there was some Hereford Bulls that were on this ranch. What a ranch though. They were by a little cabin. And around a little lake. So pretty!

I missed not having my card in my camera when I saw a big bear on La Veta Pass. I thought I took about 30 shots, but I realized I didn’t have my card in when I got back into my car to check out the photos. Waaa!

The Bug and I are getting ready to spend some time together. I really try to keep some things in my life private for certain reasons, and I have learned along the way what NOT to write about. I have had people mad at me. I try to stay safe also. I try to express myself and not step on toes, but I have. I still enjoy writing though.

I haven’t uploaded photos in soooooooo long in my portfolio. I have been putting it off, thinking I was going to be sheep herding up in the Mogotes, but that fell through due to too much snow where I would set up my camp. I was so excited to do that too. I looked up Mogote and I found this:

MOGOTE

While the Spanish word mogote can mean “knoll” or “hummock,” in south Texas it refers specifically to patches of impenetrable thorny brush growing in clay-loam soils mainly along the coastal prairies, and especially in Cameron and Willacy Counties. (The Spanish use of mogote for knoll is found on the American landscape at the western edge of the San Luis Valley in Colorado—Los Mogotes.) Mogotes serve as ideal bird-nesting areas and are the primary habitat for endangered ocelots and jaguarundi. A small patch of this ultrathick brush is called a mogotito. Occasionally, the word is used to describe a stack of corn. In A Vaquero of the Brush Country, John D. Young and J. Frank Dobie write: “Here are mogotes (thick patches) of the evergreen, stubborn, beautiful coma with dirk-like thorns, and, in season, with blue berries which the Mexican dove likes so much that it constantly coos—if we are to believe the Mexican folk—comer comas, comer comas, saying that it wants to eat coma berries.”

— Arturo Longoria

I wanted that time to watermark photos. I need to protect my photos more. I”m learning.

Ohhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! I am going to start growing Hops. I am soooooo excited! Mystery is giving me what ever space I need to grow and I have ordered some rhizomes from Washington State and I got in on a deal on Facebook through a Colorado made beer. They were giving some out for free, and I got some of my friends in on it too. I told them they can have free haircuts for ordering some for me. I think they made a run on them and they ran out. It’s time to plant them anyway. I seriously am so excited. Mystery will build anything I need to help me with my little adventure too. I love him! He is so good to me.

I find him so damn attractive too. Yummy! He is built like a freakin horse, can build anything, fix anything, is an incredible lover, and loves to cook for me at times. He spoils me pretty bad, although I spoil him more. He helped me so much when my father was in such bad shape. I let me cry, and most of the time he cried right along with me. My dad really liked Mystery. I miss my ol’ Pop. I try to always think of the good things it’s make me more happy, since the end was so horrific.

I need to go eat so good food somewhere. Adios!

My vision is pretty good though. I am going to get one contact for my left eye. My right is is dominate, which is sort of interesting since I shoot both right and left handed. But when i go to pick up a gun it’s always with the right hand. It feels more natural since I’m right handed, but I love to be able to shoot with both.

I wouldn’t mind buying a hand gun soon. My rifle is more just for sport/target practice. I like it because it’s a little lever action rifle. I need to practice more. I haven’t shot for awhile now. I get lots of practice in the summer months hanging around Mystery’s place.

OK, back to my eyes. I found this eye care place through one of my clients. What a great deal too! The place was packed….standing room only. My friend/client works there. I loved my doctor too. Really young guy who was very nice. He will give me the one lens to see things up close and leave the other alone, to be able to see distance. He put the lens in my eye and brought me a magazine to read. I could read it perfectly. I think it’s so cool. I love it! I have to go to a “How to put contacts in” class before I can actually pick them up. It will be a couple of weeks still. Only because I have some things coming up next week where I can’t get over there. Dang!

I’ve been pretty busy with work lately. I love it! The bug and I are going to go up to Saratoga Hot Springs soon for a few days. I really try not to be too specific about where and when I leave and what I am doing……you never know who is reading???? Ya know???

I better get going I have lots to do today.

I was so excited to start doing body work on a 55 Ford that Mystery bought for us to work on together. I get to do the body work and he does the engine.

I started working on cars when I was 3 with my pop. He was so skilled and loved making extra money for the family that way. There were no boys in my family, but I made up for that somewhat. My pop never really let me work on engines, because I would get too dirty. He had me only breathing in the horrible dust from sanding.

I didn’t do too bad this weekend. I had a little face mask and then a bandana over that. Gloves and a hair tie……I was good to go. I worked for 5 hours today on it. I did maybe about the same yesterday too. You can for sure see my work. I am surprised at how good the body shape is actually in. One shocker though…someone painted over rust. I can’t get my head wrapped around that one. I found a cool disk sander that is made to fit on a drill, that is made for removing paint or rust. Well what do you know? I had both that needed to come off.

I kid you not, there was bondo that was a quarter inch thick, if not thicker in spots. I can really do a great job with this truck I think. I just hope we can both agree on a cool color. I tend to like metallics myself. I want something flashy. : )

I seriously thought of my pop so much. I really miss him. He knew that Mystery had bought that truck and he wanted to see it. I think he told me he had a 47. Something like that. It made me feel so good connecting like that with him. He would be so happy to work on it too. His body couldn’t quite work the way he wanted. Poor guy.

I didn’t take one photo this weekend. But I did have a therapy session with an owner of a local restaurant down there. She told me quite a bit about her relationship and work, and kids, and such. She wants to party with me at the stock show next year. That would be fun.

My favorite night ever in the history of Frankie was when I was single and at the stock show. I had guys fighting over little ol’ me. Pretty funny actually. One kid about 18 or so, wanted to make out with me. I looked at my watch and told him I only had 10 minutes. That was funny!!!!!

I met a really cool guy that I danced most of the night with. He changed my life in some little ways. He was the first guy who told me that any cowboy would be honored to have me. He thought I was it!!!! I loved it! It really did change my course of life to some extent. I was open and ready for what was coming my way.

I’m so tired! Long weekend! Great fun with the Ford though. I was in heaven.

Have a great week.