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!

Excitement?

~There is no safety out here on the plains.

If it's not the wind, it'll be something else.~

~Mrs. Colby Penn 1865~

Nope...not much excitement goin' on 'round here! I just got done with a round of Cattle & Sheep Ag Surveys...glad that's done!

I'm formulating a plan to get back on some horses...um...like Colt & Gus who haven't been ridden since before Thanksgiving. The options for indoor facilities are very few 'round here, but there are some. That's going to have to be my plan of attack...trailering the boys a couple days a week.

The conditions just aren't conducive to riding at home right now~

This photo was taken on December 29, 2010.
 After a long day of rain on frozen ground, then
 the temps dropped again...it doesn't make for a very useful training pen!

I took this photo this mornin'. Three weeks of sub-freezing temps has left the ground
with 8 inches of frozen top soil...then comes the rain with no where to go.

It's nothin' serious like a flood or anything...yet...it's just frustrating. I'm very thankful that we didn't get the 12-16 inches of snow that Burns and the surrounding areas got. They've got snow piled everywhere, and now it's raining. There could very well be some serious flooding in the northern part of the county.

What have we been doing?

My Man and I need to get a brand registered for the cows & calves. I never thought it would be so difficult to design a brand...which of course has to be unique. We need to send in a minimum of 4 brands in order of preference. When we know which one is accepted, I'll make a sketch and post it. It's a lil' exciting for us. Speaking of cows, Annabelle and Ellie May are doin' just fine...we expect them to calve between early to mid April.

I'm still getting used to my new PC and the new software. I opted to get Elements 9 and it's like Greek to me, but I've figured out how to do a few simple things in it so far. I also got a new desktop publishing program called PagePlus X5, and so far I really like that program. I've got to get started on the next Horsefly too!

Last week we woke up on Friday to faucets that wouldn't give us any water...say what? It's cold, but not so cold that the whole ranch froze up. After a visit from the water pump crew...and then the electrician guy, we find out that there's a bad connection in the buried electrical line to the well holding tank somewhere between the shop and the house...sixty feet...of frozen ground. They got us fixed up with a temporary above ground line. When the permafrost is gone, the rental place will rent us a ditch digger, so we can put in a new permanent line. We were so thankful that it wasn't something really serious. All the stock water comes from that well too!

It's still pouring down rain. Bummer.

Well, my list of 'to do's' is long, so off I go...hope everyone has a great upcoming weekend!!

Sunday Stills~The Letter W

~I want to live where it's not so wild

and I can be a lady.~

~Vera Steers 1875~

Well, Vera Steers, I've got to say that I don't mind livin' here where I don't have to be a lady!!! But, they worked a lot harder back in 1875 than we do now...progress is sometimes a good thing.

OK...

Onward to the Sunday Stills photo challenge!! This Week's challenge is the letter "W"...Which Was a Wonderful Way to Widen my Willy Way With my camera...silly me   ;~)

Wheat~

Crested Wheat to be exact...with a nice Wood background.

Windows~

Lookin' into the Window of the building of Old Princeton on
our property...it's like lookin' into the past.

This is the same Window from the inside...lookin' out at the present.

The view facing northeast...how many people stood
 or sat at this Window gazing at this beautiful view in days gone past?

Wings~

Wingin' it! We go through a lot of Wild bird seed
to keep these lil' buggers out of the chicken coop!

Thanks for stoppin' by!

Check out all the other participant's photos by going HERE!!