A New Chapter

Hello folks, how y'all doing??

Once again, I've been MIA, but I'm sure y'all are used to it by now. Honestly, half the time I tell myself I should can this whole blogging thing. But alas, I love it too much and therefore have started ANOTHER blog. Yes, you read correctly. Miss Once-Every-Two-Months-Blogger has started a second blog.

Don't be alarmed, The Hohman Homestead is not getting canned and hopefully will one day (soon!) be running at full-tilt again. But, I had this little (ok, maybe not so little) squishable, kissable, loveable baby about 5 months ago and well, people are demanding photo updates. So I'm here today to announce:

Russell-Mania

The posting style there will be much different than here at the Homestead, hence why I started a whole new she-bang. Each post will consist of a date, Baby H's age at that time, and a slew of photos. But NO WORDS. Making it much easier for me to get some posting done. :)

And now, on to the real new chapter. Cowboy H and I (and well, the whole entire herd) are packing up and moving out. Yup, after all the sweat and dirt (literally) and tears (not really) and hours of improvement we've poured into this home, we're moving on.

While things are going to be a little complicated at first (think 2 adults, 3 cats, 2 dogs, 2 horses and 1 baby moving into my parents' house) eventually we will be moving onto a 2 acre piece of property, complete with horse pens, a chicken coop, a pump house, a brick patio and a GIANT avocado tree just to name a few amenities. (Wow, that was a really long sentence.) The home is a 150+ year old farm house that my family has owned for many, many years. It was originally bought by my grandmother's parents (yep, my great-grandparents). My parents actually lived here when they first got married and so did I until I was about 5 years old.

The first phase of the move has already been completed; Crow and Maria have already been relocated to the back pasture of my parents house, where I'm sure they're getting even fatter. And just in time for Thanksgiving dinner, the rest of the Homestead will be snuggled closely (and tightly) into my parents' house as well.

Wish us (lots and lots and lots) of luck!

Tap Tap… Is This Thing On?

The most recent photo I have of Cowboy H and I, taken in September of last year.

Hello? Anybody out there?

Anybody?

As I begin to write my first post in, oh, seven months, I wonder if I will even show up on anybody's feed anymore. Heh heh, that's okay, we'll all gotta start (over) somewhere.

This is seriously the first time I have even logged into my blogger account in about 6 months. It took me approximately 7 tries to get my user name and password combination correct. Then I couldn't remember how to navigate my account once logged in. Lastly, I can't remember how to write html format anymore!!!

I'm surprised my account is still active…

I never, ever intended to stop blogging, but once I had been MIA for so long, I felt weird coming back. I didn't know where to start, what to say.

Then, I lost all motivation. My schedule calmed down and I actually had some time to blog, but I just couldn't talk myself into logging in. I didn't feel like a blogger anymore.

Not sure if I even can call myself a blogger anymore…

Moving on. I miss y'all!! (Seriously, is anyone still there?)

I'm not sure if I'm back for good, but I really really really want to be back. So much has happened that I haven't documented (you know, its been almost a year) that I'm starting to forget it all. And really, while establishing wonderful connections with all my readers/commenters has been a big plus, the main reason I started this blog was to record and remember the story and adventures of The Homestead.

Speaking of The Homestead…

Its still standing. It didn't get washed away or flooded out during the Southern California Christmas-time Downpours.

But that's about all that's stayed the same.

Well, the number of family members has stayed the same.

But, that too will be changing soon.

Oh yes, we are doing it again.

Only this time, the newest member won't be here till May.

And he'll have 2 legs instead of 4.

And (hopefully) he won't be covered in fur.

Tears In My Eyes

Tonight, as a parent I experienced one of the proudest moments of my life. Seriously, my heart swelled in my chest and something became lodged in my throat.

You may or may not remember, but a little over a year ago, when we rescued The Hankster, he required a major orthopedic surgery.

Poor little guy was only 12 weeks old and he came home like this:

In the months (heck, the whole year) that followed, Cowboy H and I often questioned whether the surgery did any good. Occasionally, we considered having the entire leg amputated. For the longest time it seemed, Hank didn't even use the leg. It was just there, even in the way sometimes.

Eventually we realized that the leg was shorter than the other one. In the few weeks between his injury and the surgery, the blood supply to his femur had been compromised. For that period of time, Hank's right femur did not grow at the same rate as the other, making the leg a little stumpy. We're still not sure if he'll ever use the leg normally, despite the fact that he gets quite a bit of use out of it now.

In addition to having leg surgery, Hank was also neutered the same day. The combination of not using the leg and not having the male hormones made us wonder if he would ever stop squatting to pee.

Until tonight. Tonight, while running around at the park, Hank stood on his bad leg and lifted his good leg to pee on a pole.

I have never been prouder.

Never, ever in my life.

In other news, the winner of the "Name That Photo" contest has been decided.

The Desert Rose: "Redneck woman vacuums up two dogs..."

I seriously laughed out loud, because well, I wouldn't be surprised if I actually did vacuum up a dog someday.

Congrats Desert Rose! Take your pick of one of the following:

ALOHA!!!! (Or My, Oh My, How I've Missed Y'all!)

I'm back! I'm back!

Of course, no one knew I was gone since I never bother to tell anyone anything anymore.

But, I'm back. I'm back online. I'm back to blogging (I promise). And I'm back from a whole entire week in Hawaii (with Cowboy H of course)!

I've written post after post in my head over the last several weeks and am finally going to get them published. I've got the yard project to update you on, I've got more pictures of Crow, I've got a plethora of prints from my photography class to share (and give away!), I've got the wedding recaps to wrap up, and most importantly, I've got our overdue Honeymoon to share now!

For now, enjoy this sneak-peek of the vacation and stay tuned for anything and everything else!

Spring Is Here!

At least that's what the cats are saying!

The birds have been chirping up a storm outside. Before the sun is even fully risen from its slumber, the choir is belting in full force outside. The cats are just loving it. And someone finally did something about it.

My little Indy-Monster (pictured above) caught his very first bird this morning. At least, I think it's his first. It's the first bird I've ever seen him with. I really don't like them catching birds, but seeing as how the neighborhood has pretty much been eradicated of its rodent population already, birds are really the only option. And as sick as it may be, my heart swells up with pride when I see my babies catch something. I want to go run and tell Cowboy H, "Indy caught a bird!" but he is sleeping.

Instead, I let the dogs out and Hank promptly steals the catch of the day from Indy.

It was a glorious triumph for but a fleeting moment.

The Kinda Weekend I Like

God smiled on us here in Southern California this weekend, and kept the predicted 1-2" of rain at bay. At least during the day. Okay, well not completely, I think we got 5 drops Sunday morning, but we handled it.

Both Saturday and Sunday were beautiful, crisp sunny days, with big puffy clouds drifting in and out of the sun's way.

Saturday, I trucked out to the ranch with the pupparoos and bathed Bella with her medicated shampoo while Maria burned a hole in my back with her angry stare. She was very very very upset that Bella was getting attention from me and not her. This horse kills me, I swear. She sees my truck pull up at the ranch, and stands pressed against the pasture gate fixated on me with radar until I catch her. Or more appropriately, open the gate so she can finally come out. There's really no "catching" involved with this horse.

Once Bella was scraped and wrapped up in a cooler, I rode Maria. Yes, I actually rode my horse. I'm paying for it today, but that's okay. I gotta get back in shape somehow.

After playing with the ponies, and wearing the dogs out, I trucked back home and got down and dirty cleaning the house.

Oh yeah, and sorted 8 piles of laundry. Somehow, don't ask me how, I ended up with 4 sets of sheets in the hamper. We only have 2 beds. I said, don't ask me.

On Sunday, Cowboy H was home (yay!) and after a yummy breakfast of homemade waffles, fresh strawberries (yes, they are in season here already, I know you're jealous) and just whipped cream, we headed out to the ranch again with the doggies.

Oh my, it was beautiful out there. So nice, that when the sun wasn't hidden behind the clouds you had to take your sweatshirt off.

Yep, those are our pooches in the bottom right-hand corner.

There wasn't much time to play around today; we had business to take care of. First up, Bella needed a mani-pedi. Now, I haven't directly mentioned it, but Bella just might be on her way to a new home. No, don't think anything bad, we love Bella. She is the most fabulous trail horse, has never even questioned Cowboy H on anything he's asked of her. She'll work cows, and you can rope off her, heck, you can leave her in pasture for 3 months, then drag her out and jump on her bareback. You can't really ask for much more than that. However, if you haven't noticed yet, she's a little on the small side.

And Cowboy H and I, well, we're a little on the giant side.

Plus, Cowboy H has been given another (more appropriately sized) horse from his previous boss, get this, as a wedding gift. Yes, we got a horse as a wedding gift. Anyway, that's not the point. The point is we can't afford board for 3 horses and the newly-gifted horse is a little better fit for Cowboy H. And the other point is Bella needed her feets prettied up for her potential new owners (and our big ride next weekend with The Desert Rose).

Yes, we keep our horses barefoot. One, because we're lazy; two, because we can.


The greatest dog treat ever.

While Cowboy H worked on Bella's feet, I tortured Maria by moving her around the in arena. This is the attitude I get:

That would be my halter, which I was swinging at her, in the corner.

However, as soon as I so much as drop the hand with the halter, I get this:

Mom, this is really stupid, I already know how to play these games. Why do you always make me do this?

Ahhh, she is so fun to play with. Mostly because she takes about 3 strides, and wants to fold in and come to me. When I push her out again, she gets mad, and takes off bucking, for about 1 second, then immediately folds in again. She loves me.

After currying her up, and tying her in the sun to marinate, I checked on Cowboy H and Bella. A blogger I follow (I don't remember who it was so if it was you, please say so!) recently said she would like to get up the nerve to ask her farrier is she can take photos of him working on her horses sometime. One bonus to having your husband as your farrier is you can take all the photos you want.

And, you can get up close and personal.

And, sometimes you get a kiss.

And, you can make him put his chinks back on so you can get really cool pictures.

"Nice job, Dad. Looks great. Now can you hurry up and nip so I can have the trimmings?"

I agree. Nice job, Cowboy H.

The trimmings proved very popular (as always) with the dogs.

Pretty soon the other ranch dogs gathered round.

Bella does not like dogs.

Anyway, once the pampering was over, we gave the horses a bucket of grain each and Cowboy H took a well deserved break. Hank joined him, of course.

With that, our trip to the ranch ended. We ran a few errands then headed home. Once back at the house, Cowboy H changed the oil in my truck and rotated my tires while I dug up the last 3 rose bushes I wanted to get rid of. We ended the day 5 loads of laundry down, sitting on the couch with a fire blazing, watching a movie and eating banana splits.

Just as we were falling asleep, we heard the rain start coming down.

That put the final touches on just the kinda weekend I like.

Head Spinning and Other Matters

Well, I haven't much been in the mood to blog. I wouldn't say it's Writer's Block, cause goodness knows I've got plenty of potential posts swimming around in my head, and with the new internet at home (yay!) I've been able to upload hundreds of photos. I just really haven't been in the mood to write anything. I'm sure part of this is due to my head being out of sorts.

I mentioned the other day that yes, I suffer from vertigo and supposedly migraines too. I'm not so convinced on the migraines, but the vertigo is hard to miss. I experienced my first episode in fall of 2007, when I tried to sit up out of bed and just fell back over. That time, it was a full blown spinning mess, which left me so nauseous I eventually did have to puke. I have an episode every now and then, usually not full blown, but just an "out of sorts" feeling. My physician seems to think that I get migraines, and the migraine and the vertigo feed of each other. He also seemed totally fine with the fact that I get vertigo. Me, on the other hand, wants to know the cause. Because really, there has got to be a cause. I have been fighting it off all week, and everyday after work have come home and just hid out, because I feel normal when I'm not moving, but once I move at all, my head just spins around. Yesterday, I finally stayed home sick, because I had not even cooked dinner once this week, and was hoping I could sleep it off. By the evening I felt much better, and actually cooked dinner and did the dishes, but today I'm still feeling "off" for lack of a better word.

In the meantime, the dogs keep trying to kill my precious rose bushes, which by the way are doing very well in their new locations. Bella has fungus growing all over her and needs a medicated bath very badly. Maria has decided that the itchies are back (have I ever told you about her allergies?) and needs her oatmeal bath. My floors need to be cleaned before things start growing and more rain is coming tomorrow. Which means nothing will get done.

Well, this turned into a pretty much pointless post, but oh well, I took the effort to write it, so I'll just click "Publish Post" now...

A Number Of Things

First. It's finally Friday. And I have tomorrow, a Saturday, off for a change. I don't talk about it much, but I work one full time job (Monday-Friday) and two part time jobs. One of the part time jobs requires working 2-3 Saturdays a month. So, Fridays usually don't mean much to me, but today it does. Cause I don't have to work tomorrow and my Saturday is actually a Saturday. But I do have to work Sunday. At the other part time job. Boo.

Second. Cowboy H's grandmother is visiting us from Missouri. For 11 days. God bless the woman, she pretty much raised my husband, but 11 days is a long time to hang out around someone's house, especially when those someones have to work. Poor lady is sitting around the house all day today by herself. But, she did fold my laundry the other day (thankyouthankyouthankyou). Even if she did spread the clean folded stuff out all over my bed where my cats sleep all day long. Oh, but we love her.

Third. There is daylight when I get off work. Daylight, people, daylight. And I'm talking good daylight, the kind almost lasts a full hour after I get off work. So, tonight after work, I'm picking up grandma and going to visit my horses finally. And maybe I'll get some pictures. Which reminds me...

Fourth. I have not used my camera in a week. I'm going to put my face in the corner now.

Fifth. It's supposed to reach almost 80 degrees here this weekend. Neiner neiner. Yep, that's right. I don't even feel bad about it right now. I cannot wait to feel that warm sun on my shoulders. And my rose bushes really need a little pick me up.

Sixth. Speaking of my rose bushes, I transplanted six of them last Monday. Yes, six. I moved them from one side of the backyard to the other. Please everyone, pray hard that they live. They've already got the odds stacked against them since they share a home with Hank. This was the text message I got from Cowboy H "I think Hank just killed a rose bush. My fault... Sorry". That little punk dug a hole completely under my poor unassuming bush. This one doesn't even have thorns!

Seventh. I spent yesterday morning cleaning up dog poop and puke in the house. Just so you know.

Eighth. The End.

Broken Dreams

Well, okay, maybe that's being a little dramatic.

I finally received a call from the vet's office yesterday, and sadly, they are taking back a previous tech of theirs.

Bum.Mer.

Oh well, life goes on. I'll keep searching for other options and will keep my heart open to any opportunity.

In the meantime, at least I still have a job. As much as I hate it, I have it, which is a lot more than some people have right now.

And I've also got this guy.

Which is more than I could ever ask for.

Oh Monday.

Hello, hello. Sorry I've been missing for a while. Right now, we are in between internet service at home. Ok, that's a lie. We are actually getting wireless set-up at home, so that I don't have to steal from some unknown, unassuming neighbor. Lately, said neighbor has not been logging on, so I have been left out of the internet realm. I've considered going to Borders, but there is so much to do at home I can't afford to sit at a bookstore and leisurely read some magazines while 500 pictures upload. And I can't do any of my upcoming posts (not counting the wedding ones) without all these said pictures.

ANYway, I hope everyone had a great weekend. Cowboy H and I spent about 3 hours in the saddle yesterday, gathering and driving cattle from the state park back into our ranch. Pictures (once uploaded) will be forthcoming. In the afternoon, we did some major yardwork, since the storms wreaked a little havoc on our small yard. And I finally pruned my rosebushes (please, Lord, don't let them die). I did not take pictures of my pruned rosebushes. Sorry to disappoint you, but their lifeless limbs were less than inspiring.

I'll have another wedding post up tomorrow (the ceremony!). In the meantime, here's a sneak of our weekend getaway from TWO weekends ago.

Hope you all survive the Monday alright!

Welcome To My Life, Ed. 2, Vol II

The other night, Cowboy H and I were trying to get cozy on the couch, enjoy a fire and watch a movie. I was doing something (can't remember what) and I looked over to see Cowboy H tearing the pillows and covers off the couches, mumbling.

Where the heck is the remote?

So we start looking together. Under couches, under beds, under pillows, under cushions. Cowboy H even lifted the recliner completely off the ground to check under there.

Oh well, it'll turn up eventually.

My brain was turning, however, since I really hate when I can't find what I'm looking for. I will continue looking until I find it. Even if it makes me late to something.

How funny would it be if my dog had dragged it into the backyard. Actually, that wouldn't be that funny. Do you have a flashlight?

Sure enough, there it was, sitting right smack in the middle of the backyard grass.

Welcome to my life. You should visit regularly.

Chain Reaction

Does anyone else every notice how certain things in life are the result of a chain reaction?

Think of that couple who starts dating, gets serious, moves in together, gets engaged then suddenly, all is called off and one is moving out. You ask, "What happened? Everything was going so well."

I don't know. I don't think we were right for each other. It just felt like the next move to make.

Chain Reaction.

Or that family that starts with two cats, buys a house, gets another cat, then a dog, then another dog and suddenly the wife looks up and makes an observation.

We have more than twice as animals as people in this house. How did this happen?

Chain Reaction.

I finally coaxed myself into going back to the gym for my spinning classes. That in turn made me really want to eat better, because, if I'm working this hard and sweating this much to get back into shape I should probably help myself out and eat foods that are better for me.

Speed things up, ya know?

Chain Reaction.

What's unexpected however, is how much better I feel about myself overall since making these small changes. I may not look better yet, but I feel better, partly because I'm proud that I am taking care of myself, party because the exercise and healthful food will do that for you. That feeling better part makes me think I actually look better, so I start carrying myself differently.

Which, in turn, really does make me look better.

Chain Reaction.

Has anyone else experienced a chain reaction set off by something small? Is anyone caught up in a chain reaction right now?

Monday Motivation... From YOU!

While I have plenty of small tasks to complete on my own this week, I need your help with something.

I have a full queue of past events to tell you about (and show you pictures of) but, at this point, I just don't know where to start.

So, I'm asking you to tell me, what do you want to hear about first? Or not at all? Or do you want me to mix it all up and make you go crazy? Some of these events will require a series of posts so keep that in mind.

There's this:

which I started talking about, but bailed on before I got to the good stuff.

Some of you may also remember this trip:

which I went on only 2 weeks after breaking my arm.

For Labor Day Weekend, Cowboy H and I went camping here:

which I have done every year since I was an infant. Wood cutting, sunsets, cows and the Hankster were involved.

And at some point at 5K Walk/Run was participated in,

which really wasn't all that exciting, but it raises awareness for a good cause.

It would be really great if y'all could get together and come to a consensus, that way I won't have to decide who to please first. However, I won't push it. Y'all have busy lives, I understand. Can't wait to see what I'm writing about next (or if I'm writing anything at all)!

In the meantime, I went on a RIDE yesterday!

Oh, it was fantastic. And about 80 degrees. My condolences to those of you who are snowed or rained in right now.

Hope everyone is ready for a great week!

Every. Day.

Happy Friday!!

The Tack Room Project

On a very wet, drizzly, misty, cold day last week, Cowboy H and I tackled the Tack Room Project.

I had been informed a few days prior we were getting a "roommate"; a new boarder had been assigned to our tack room. Oh crap, we'd better get our crap organized. And we'd better clean out all the crap on the floor. Honestly, our tack room was a mess. Embarrassingly messing.

I was even more embarrassed when we opened the door and saw this:

Eeek! The roommate had landed! And poor girl could barely fit her one tack trunk in the door.

We got started right away. After all, we had this to deal with:

And this:

And this:

And last but not least, this:

Yes, we had a mouse infestation. Eeek! I think we had 3 extended families living in there, nestled all cozy up in my saddles and pads.

Really.

We caught them. Wanna see?

Sure you do.

Actually, this was only about 1/4 of them. We gave them to Hank.

He "played" with them, while Huey looked on.

Please note how ridiculously wet and muddy my dog is compared to Cowboy H's. That's cuz Hank's a sissy.

Ok, moving on. Hopefully Cowboy H won't read that.

We removed everything from the tack room, piled it onto the back of my truck and swept the whole thing out.

The mice families had literally shredded the user guide for my point-n-shoot. Good thing that camera's broken and I have this nice fancy one!

We also set a few of the sticky traps in the corner. Hopefully new girl won't walk in and find one staring at her with his dead little eyes.

Yes, that is a big ole pile of grain on the floor. That is what came out of the hole the mice had made when I picked up the bag.

When it was nice and purty and clean, we put everything back in. And it looked like this:

Yes, I have an English saddle. Whadda ya gonna do about it?

As a final touch, we hung these by the door.

Oh, you want a closer look you say?

An even closer one?

Well, okay, I suppose.

And with that, the Tack Room Project was completed.

And I felt much better about my life.

And then I returned home.

And that feeling quickly escaped me.