Second Time 'round

~If you don't like what a feller says,

than pay no attention to it.~

~Suti Barns 1920~

Now that Suti Barns is my kinda gal...I bet she was a pistol in her day!

You've heard the saying "If first you don't succeed try, try again." Well, that's what we're gonna do.

It's been a couple of months...and time has just gotten away from me, but remember the 2 year blogiversary giveaway?!?  Well, the rule (and I like to stick by rules to make it fair) was for the winner to contact me via my email to claim the $25 gift certificate at Heart of a Cowgirl. The winner never claimed her prize...so it's only fair that I draw again!

Nothin' fancy this time...I just went over to Random.org and plugged in the total number (56) and it spit out a new winner...

...and the winner is KatyM! Congratulations!!

Stickin' by the rules, Katy needs to send me an email at gtyyup at wildblue dot net. If the certificate isn't claimed in 30 days...we'll draw again!!

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What else do I have...how about some goofy night photography of Colt 'n Gus playin' in the snow! These were both taken back in November, and it was just getting dark while I was feeding the herd.

Gus is turnin' on the gas! (check out the moon above Hat Butte in the background)

I was just dinking with the settings on my camera to see what I could get. The above photo of Gus was with a flash of course.

The below photo of Colt...well I don't know what happened camera-wise...but I do know that Colt was NOT inside the round pen! I guess I would call the photo a 'blooper' but you know, someone would probably intentionally try for a shot like this...who knows!

~Colt the Phantom Horse~

Happy Friday everyone!

And the Blogiversary Winner Is...

~I don't have any more room on my face for another character line.~

~Amanda Davis 1887~

Hey!!! What fun!! Thanks to everyone who entered the give-away to help me celebrate my two year blogiversary!!!

A very special thanks to Heart of a Cowgirl for her generosity in helping me with this give-away...she's got some awesome stuff doesn't she?!?

I put all the entries into a spreadsheet...a total of 56...

Then I went over to www.random.org and used their nifty lil' "True Random Number Generator" and in two seconds I had a winner!!!

And it is Luck Number 13!!!

Now that's spooky!

Rhandir...that's you!!! Congratulations!!! Looks like you're gonna get to have that Lapis Running Horse Bracelet that you like!!  Send me an email to gtyyup at wildblue.net, and I'll let you know how you can redeem your $25 gift certificate with Heart of a Cowgirl!!

Thanks again to everyone...I sure wish I could make you all winners today...maybe I'll win the lottery...and I'll share!!

Happy Friday and have a great Halloween weekend!!

Two Years~A Blogiversary Give-Away!!!

~I learned not to be lonely by talking to my

horse and the ranch animals.~

~Geraldine Bartley 1901~

The above quote is very fitting for today...I talk daily to my horses, dogs, the cat...even the chickens and the cows because sometimes the only person I'll see for days on end will be My Man (not that that's a bad thing) and it does make the loneliness go away...

...but technology has given us new ways to talk...and travel the world...without leaving our home! The friendships that have been created over the past two years with this blog of mine are awesome to me to say the least!

The blog has come a long way from this very first post two years ago. Blogger has new, fun templates and ways to make the blog look unique...like each of us are!





As of today, the two year blogiversary, there are 200 public followers (of course there are tons of visits from internet browsers), there have been 61,881 visits (from some date that I don't know, but quite a long time ago), and I've done 366 posts.

What it boils down to is that I've had blast writing the posts, learning better photography to share my pics with everyone, and the best of all is making friends...from everywhere in the world!!

We should celebrate...don't ya think?!?!?!?!

So, here's what we're going to do. I'm giving a $25 gift certificate for fellow blogger Heart of a Cowgirl, Rustic Cowgirl Jewelry Shop, to one randomly drawn person, to spend on whatever their lil' heart desires.

To enter the drawing:

1. Leave a comment on this post that you would like to be entered for one entry. 
2. To get an extra entry become a follower. 
3. To get another extra entry in, head on over to Heart of a Cowgirl's Etsey Shop and come back here and leave me a comment on this post of what your favorite piece of her lovely jewelry or accessory is.

On Friday, October 29, I will choose and post the winner using Random.org, so make sure you come back and check to see if you're the winner (I'll tell you how to redeem your certificate)!!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you

for being the greatest blogging friends ever 

and for helping me celebrate!!

Cheers to the years to come!

We've got a Winner!!!

It's a day late, but we have the winner for Oregon's Living Legends wild horse book!

First, I've decided that I was a deprived child...I never (and still haven't) read the book by Marguerite Henry...or any of the other books that my commenter's listed. So, my list of books to read has grown! Thank you all for telling me about your experiences. They were very fun to read!

OK...on to the drawing...

 I found this cute lil' wood basket at a thrift store

and have yet to figure out what to do with it...

I couldn't pass it up at the time.

But it's perfect today for drawing a winner!

All the names were put on paper, folded up, and

tossed around in the basket.

Without any trick dogs, horses, burros, cows, calves, cats or chickens...I pulled a slip of paper from the basket with my eyes closed...honest!!!


And the winner is~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rain!!! A fellow Oregonian who lives on the wet side of the state!

Congratulations Rain! Email me your snail mail address, and I'll get your book off to you ASAP. (my email is at the top of my page)

Thanks to everyone who entered the drawing which celebrated my 300th Post as a blogger. I value all of you as readers and bloggers.

If you're interested in purchasing the book, just head on over to Andi Harmon's website and you can order it on line: Oregon's Living Legends

You can also join her FaceBook page here.

Thanks for supporting the wild horses of America!

It's Official~Coyote Kid and Give-Away Last Chance!

Well, it's official...

Coyote and Colt seem to be saying goodbye...did they
know something I didn't?
I alway call them the big and lil' of things 'round here.
Colt's not small, but Coyote made him look small!

Our big, handsome Coyote has found his new forever home...He charmed everyone he met during his trial period and was the perfect gentle giant. Congratulations to Rose and Patrick; we couldn't ask for a better home for Coyote!

We expect to see Coyote again...ridin' the trails somewhere...so we look forward to that time.

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Just a reminder...if you haven't gotten into my 300th Post Give-Away...go do it now! Time's a slippin' away...comments on that post must be in by 9 PM tonight, Friday June 4th.

Thank you to everyone who has entered to win Andi Harmon's new book on wild horses, Oregon's Living Legends!

We'll be pickin' the winner tomorrow!

Post #300 Give-Away!!!

300 posts?!? I think I've got a lot of hot air!!!

When I started this blog back in October of 2008, I'd have never dreamed how much fun it is to blog and how many friends you can make...and some to actually meet! Without the blog I wouldn't have ever met you all. And living where we do, the blog is actually a major form of social activity for me. Blogging has definitely enriched my life.

I value everyone that reads my dribble, and I'm glad to bring you some photos of our life here at the Rough String Ranch. Comments are always nice and really brighten my day, but I know how many blogs we are all trying to keep up with and there isn't always time to leave a comment.

But for this monumental occasion, you'll have to leave a comment on this post to be in the drawing for this:

This wonderful new book, Oregon's Living Legends, authored by my friend Andi Harmon has 253 pages of wonderful information and stories about Oregon's wild horses. Me and Rohan are even in the book!! There are tons of photos, maps, and artwork by our dear friend Michelle Severe. I'm very proud to offer up this copy (signed by both author and artist) for my 300th Post Give-Away!

I have a confession to make...I've lived in Oregon all of my life, born and raised here...and until 10 years ago, I didn't know that wild horses roamed our public lands. In the late 60's and early 70's when all of the struggle was happening over the protection of the wild horses, I wasn't even aware of it...and all I did was live and breath horses!

So here's the deal, to enter this contest, leave me a comment on this post telling me about how you first knew about the wild horses in America. Short and sweet is fine...or a nice long story is great too!

Contest deadline is Friday, June 4, at 9 PM. The winner will be picked randomly on Saturday, June 5.

Thank you all again for being such great followers, readers and friends!

And the Give-Away Winner Is~~~

This give-away thing has been a lot fun!! I've met bloggers who've never left a comment before and that was very special. I really enjoyed reading everyone's comments...and learning their coffee likes and dislikes!

AKPonyGirl gets the story teller award for the best story! Wouldn't we all liked to have met her grandpa?!?

LatigoLiz gets a high five for the most adventurous...I now know what a Faceplant is!

Sydney gets the most desperate award...I've never tried to get my truck and trailer through a drive through...you go girl!

Jocelyn is a cowgirl after my own heart...Pendleton Coffee...black and strong...YES!

Some like it sweet...some liked it REALLY sweet...and others had to have the white stuff in it...of many varied flavors!

Lots of stuff added for specific tastes...cinnamon, alcohol...oh boy...lots of alcohol flavors...yum! Ice cream? That was a new one to me, but I'm going to have to try that one!

Mugwump had the strangest additive. Salt to cut the bitterness...that's a new one to me too. But, I'm not too sure if I'm going to try that one ;~) No offense mugs...I promise to make your coffee just right when you get out here for the wild horse inventory!

Of course coffee mugs are not only for coffee. We've got hot chocolate, Diet Pepsi, hot apple cider, egg nog, Dr. Pepper, tea...lots of tea...how 'bout a Margarita with Laughing Orca Ranch Lisa? I could do that girlfriend!

Well, after all that fun stuff, we come down to the draw...

Everyone who told me their favorite

drink got their name on the paper...

The names were cut and folded over once...

and placed into the big basket.

I held the basket as My Man assisted me...

...and he drew the winning name...

Andrea at Mustang Saga!!!!

And the crowd goes wild!!!!

WhooooHoooo!!!

Congratulations Andrea!!!

Send me an email with your snail mail address and I'll get your package of goodies off to you next week! My email is at the top left on the blog.

Thank you everyone who participated. You made this a really fun give-away!

Don't forget to turn your clocks back an hour tonight...ahhhh...an extra hour of sleep. I can do that!

Happy Trails everyone~~

1 Year Blogiversary Give-Away!!

Yep, one year ago October 25 it all started!

And it's all because of my good Dogster Mom friend Kathleen at Life Earth Sky. Her Rat Terrier pup Cloud is one of Cindy Sue's best pup furiends on Dogster.com.

Kathleen is a wonderful artist and does totally amazing animal portraits, among other great stuff. She showed us the link to her blog to see the progress she was making on her latest portrait of Cloud. BTW...Cloud has his own blog now...you gotta check him out...he's one funny pupster!!

Well anyhow, after seeing what she was doing...I decided it might be fun and a way to meet more people...never in my wildest dreams did I think that friendships would blossom and blogging could take me virtually all over the world!!!

Hi, my name is Karen and I'm a blogger.

I'm hooked...so are you!!! Otherwise you wouldn't be reading this!! LOL!!

To celebrate this milestone and show how much I appreciate everyone's friendship, enjoy all of your comments, and just give thanks to all my followers I'm going to do my first give-away.

'bout time huh?!?

These cute cups were a find at the Pendleton Roundup this year and they started my collection of items for the give-away. Everyone can use a lil' bit of Cowboy/Cowgirl in their home!

I know that many readers aren't active "horse" people, so I've worked it out. I've got a stash of stuff for "horsey" folks and a stash of stuff for "non-horsey" folks. Either way, the cups are going to be part of the stash for one lucky winner.

Here's what ya gotta do: leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite coffee drink. Leave the recipe too if you want! If you're not a coffee person, just tell me your favorite beverage that's going to get poured into these cups!

That's it!

Entries close at 9 PM on Friday October 30. The winner will be drawn and posted on Saturday, October 31. SPOOKY YES?!? Nah...I promise not to put any spooks in the package!

If you leave an anonymous post, please leave your name at the bottom of your post.

From the bottom of my heart...Thank You everyone for a great year!!

Happy Trails and Good Luck!