Runaway feeling

I was coming in this morning from feeding and heard a loud hummmmmmmm. I followed it and saw purple sage was in bloom, thick with purpley pink blossoms. As I got closer, I saw it was also a bee buffet. There were large bumbles, small bumbles, honey bees all over it. The buzzing was amazing. I stepped back to see that many of the blossoms had fallen on the ground creating a pink path through the yard. From under the feathery leaves of the mesquite tree, it looked like a fairy path. I dreamed for a moment that I could walk down that path and enter a new beautiful ethereal world.

I grabbed the camera, captured the scene and went inside.

Later, my son wanted to hear Pat Metheney's "Last Train Home" on the way into work this morning. The song's main groove sounds like a train. I could just image watching the countryside passing by as I looked out the train window.

As the song played I drifted off into my imagination and wondered about running away. Just not going to work. packing some clothes and driving until I saw a place that looked interesting enough to stop and look around. Not taking highways, just back roads through small towns. Not telling my family where I was going, maybe leaving while husband was out of town. I think I'd like to take my son. We would have this adventure together.

I have this fantasy often. I imagine the panic as people try to find me/us. I imagine the peace of having no schedule or responsibilities. Of course I would need money but that is just too practical to dream about.

I need to run away.

AAHhhh Sleep

Husband went out of town yesterday. I am excited that I will be able to get un-interupted sleep. There is something to be said for separate bedrooms, especially when one partner is dealing with allergies or a cold.

Husband is not a nice person when he is half asleep. The other night I went to bed stuffy. I swear I was still awake when he told me I was snoring. I am awake, how can I be snoring? You were, trust me, he said. I rolled over onto my stomach and drifted off.

SMACK! His arm, like a catapult, flew up and his hand smacked my back. WHAT! Okay maybe he had an involuntary sleep moment or bad dream. I drift off again. THUMP! the hand hits my back again. Geez....This went on a few more times in the night.

At 4am he leaps out of bed with an annoyed " Geeezus Christ! " and stomps into the bathroom. "what?" says a confused me. "was I snoring?"

He comes out and pleads that I see a doctor about the snoring. He gets back in bed and I lay there afraid to go to sleep and afraid to breath. I decided to go downstairs to the guest room where I get another 3 hours of un-interupted sleep.

So what I wondered was, why can't he be sympathetic to my illness and lovely go quietly downstairs himself to sleep? That is what I do when he is sick. The next night I slept in the guest room again and he seemed upset about it. Not sure why because he got a good night's rest as well as me!

Smitty's BBQ Lockhart

Lockhart, Texas- Hungry neighbors descend upon Lockart BBQ joint buying all the brisket and ribs. Customers leave sad and confused as the place closes due to the sell out.

Okay not really, but it did feel like that as husband brought a pound of brisket, one sausage link, 2 ribs and one pork chop to the table. He plunked the paper wrapped meat on the table, grease seeping through. Fave friends from the 'hood came over with about the same amount. They also got sides. I didn't want to waste space in my stomach with potato salad or slaw, just a lite beer to wash it down. Kiddo stuffed his face with juicy meat and soft white bread.

I started with the pork chop. You need to eat that when it is hot before it gets dried out. Then I had a small taste of brisket but went on to demolish the ribs. The meat pulled right off the bone. It melted in my mouth. Now for the brisket. We once made the mistake of buying shoulder which has less fat but is not as succulent. WE got REAL brisket today. I leisurely cut my meat and savored each bite.

The only interruption in the feast was to get up to get kiddo a chocolate ice cream cone for a buck. Got him set up and had a bit more brisket. Smitty's was dead on today. The meat was wonderful.

We all piled into the hot car, slipped into our food comas and were pretty quiet the whole ride home.

We could not help but notice a bit of bad luck for Kruetz's. They are building an over pass over the railroad tracks. This make the highway bypass Kruetz's somewhat so you really have to know were you are going to get there. Fortunately for them, the building is so huge you cannot miss it, you may pass it but you will not miss it.

Another OMG moment

The phone rang late Thursday night after I just told our neighbor that husband and I were going to have this exciting photo shoot the next morning.
"OH MY GOD, " exclaimed the wife of our neighbor, " You are going to actually get to meet Robert Earl Keen?"
"Yep," I relied with a smile as big as the state plastered on my face.


So Friday morning, we all got up early and prepared to drive to the small country town where we were to do the shoot. I hardly slept the night before and had 2 dreams about REK. Husband was so keyed up that he had to run at 5am to get some of the energy out.
We drove separately because I had to take kiddo in into school. I met husband and his partner on the project at the small dance hall where the shoot was to happen. The hall looked so different without all the people and the tables in the middle of floor instead. The plan was to get all set up and if husband was not set up in time, I would do a mini interview to get audio for a multi media project. I had not written down questions and figured I would wing it as usual. I have had so many imaginary discussions with REK that I was pretty sure I could come up with enough material.

I was standing watching husband do some tests when an attractive blond woman wearing a black sleeveless dress and heels walked into the hall. She walked toward me and I smiled. She introduced herself and I recognized her as REK's manager. Her emails had been short and her phone manner professional. She told me she had Robert in the car. They would be in shortly. Looking back on the morning, I think he was sacked out in the car because he came in looking very sleepy and not quite awake. Polite introductions all around.

They went to the middle of the room and got ready. I was humored by the way REK changed his shirt in the middle of the hall, no reservations, just like... Let's get this show on the road. Melissa explained that we were going to do a little audio for our multi media project while husband finished setting up. He nodded and we went to a table to sit down. I was actually going to have a real conversation with a song writer/singer whose work I really admire. I warned him that I was not a professional music critic, writer or interviewer. And begged that he not laugh if I asked anything silly. I think his may have scared him.

We had a great talk which I will post once I transcribe the audio. He was insightful, funny, and very easy to talk to. I could have gone on for awhile but I knew husband was probably ready. I wrapped it up. When the mich was off. He complimented me by saying I was better than many professionals who had interviewed him. I may have blushed and thanked him saying I have seen him perform many times and had gotten curious about some things.

He went on to the photo part. We had asked him to bring a cowboy hat and guitar. He also brought a mandolin which looked well worn. We ended up using that. While the shoot went on, Melissa the manager and I talked. She is a wonderful person. We had tons to talk about from golf, to music, to kids, all the while she kept an eye on REK to make sure he did not need anything or was getting bored. I could tell she is very good at what she does.

It was getting hot in the dance hall. They had some sort of AC but it was still warm. Husband was sweaty, other photographer was sweaty and I was damp. It was time to quit. I quietly asked M if it would be okay if we had our pic made with REK explaining that I NEVER ask this. M said it would be fine, and REK would not mind at all. Husband scowled at me when I asked REK because in our world it is unprofessional to show that you admire someone and want your picture made with them. REK was cool. In the pic he looks happy, husband looks uneasy and I look like a smiley fool. I wish I could have controled myself better. REK has a very solid arm on you when he poses for a pic.

After we had finished the employees at the hall got pictures and autographs. He was polite and kind to them. They loaded up and headed out. He is off to Italy for vacation. We just kept talking about the shoot. We were still high on the experience. This is not the first time we have been in contact with someone "famous" but it was the first time we had the admiration we do for the person we met.

He was just a nice guy. I will have more on this later. But I wanted to get the memory down now asap before it fades. The pictures were great. I know everyone will love them.

Little Stallion

Dewey is trying so hard to fight for his place in our new little herd. Bailey has decided to let him eat next to him, Sahil still chases him away and Sahil has the scars to prove it. They are constantly fighting for the #2 spot. I am not sure who has it yet.

I was planning on waiting to get Dewey snipped in the Fall when the weather is more favorable for an operation. Cooler, fewer flies and recovery is easier. I am not sure I can wait though.

I was petting his forehead the other day and he decided to be playful and take a nip at my arm. He connected with the delicate underside. Hurt like a MOFO!! I put ice on it but still ended up with a bruise larger than a poker chip that folks keep mistaking for a tattoo gone terribly wrong.

Last night I was feeding them after a pretty hard rain. (YAY RAIN!!) Dewey is last to be fed because he is the baby and needs to learn his place. Not sure he likes this very much. In the process of dumping his feed in his pan, he stepped to left and onto my right foot. I body slammed him off of me and smacked him for getting in and on my space.

"You are getting cut very soon....very soon" I muttered all the way back to the gate.

It's a Beautiful DAaaayyyyyyyy

I opened the door this morning to surprisingly cool temps. What a difference it makes feeding the horses at 6:15am instead of 7am. They greeted me with a chorus if whinnies, nickers, and Sahil's trademark scream. If I had one more horse, I could have a barbershop quartet. Bailey is the bass, Dewey is the tenor and Sahil the soprano. I just need an alto.

Got them fed and checked for new scrapes or bruises on the young ones. Treated Bailey's thrush with this purple stuff that looks like my pen exploded on my hand. Counted the hay, I have 33 bales left. Since we are having a drought, I need to figure out how to conserve and plan. I have 50 bales on order and I get alfalfa from Rachel's supplier. That should get me through at least 35 weeks.

Finished up and headed back into the house. Saw four roadrunners playing in the side yard. I wondered if it was momma and daddy teaching youngsters how to catch food. I have been seeing 4-5 of them together for a few days now.

Noticed that Daisy was chewing on something on the front lawn. It didn't look like a stick and she looked like she was actually eating something. Upon closer inspection I found that she was in fact eating something. It took me awhile to figure it out but it looked like a rabbit sans head and skin. I kept saying we had fat bunnies and that we should be hunting them. I guess Daisy (the coyote dog) had the same idea. I wondered if this is what the dogs caught when they went out last night at 3:30am.

I went inside and told husband. He noted that we had a Warner Bros. cartoon, except the roadrunners were being left alone by the coyote, who was dining on Bugs Bunny.

Sahil is Home!

Sahil, my 4 yr old Arabian is home from Rachel's house. Rachel, my BFF (funny to use that when you are over 25 yrs old) and horse trainer, has been putting so much work into him to make sure he is a safe ride for me. I used to have a HUGE buckskin dun that she swore would kill me if I didn't sell him. She was so worried about it that I did.

She gave me Sahil for my birthday a few years ago. He came home after being gone about 4 months. Things had changes since he was home, namely Dewey. The two met in the pasture. Dewey immediately went up to Sahil and started being a pest by nudging and sniffing. Sahil reacted with a swift kick to Dewey's shoulder. He got a few more kicks in before Dewey decided to keep his distance. Bailey, the old grump, played the diplomat, siding with with neither. He allowed both close but would not be involved when the others were sparring.

The next morning I went out and both the young horses were soaked in sweat. They must have been running around all morning. I might have suspected the nasty humidity but Bailey was dry.

Rachel and I rode Sahil and Bailey (respectively) around the 'hood Sunday night. Bailey was slow, as usualy and Sahil was looking around so it was good Rachel rode him. We just did a shorty. My order from her was to ride Sahil as much as possible, even if it is just around the yard.

We did that last night. He was pretty happy to have the attention. Freaked a little as some low branches hit my helmet and made a funny noise. We rode around them and the went back to that area again. He was better. We ended on a good note and then I fed him. Maybe he will associate riding with dinner. That would be good.