Been missing ........

Really I have not been missing. Just busy, busy.....work has been incredible, and by the time I get home, I have been dead on my feet.

We left Thurs for a 3 day trail camping weekend. I will post pics on Thurs and tell ya all about it.

Rode the new horse Rio (the one I have been showing) and I think she will be my new trail mount. She was awesome. Actually put Jag up for sale today.....(boohoo), but heck I am sending Chick to the trainer in December and I can't ride 3 at a time...LOL

Anyway - been watching you all and reading, and I will get back in the swing of things soon

Have a show this weekend.....so should have some good posts for the next couple of weeks anyway

Until then
Jamie

Trail ride at Seven Springs

Weekend before last, we went on a camping trip to Seven Springs in Tuscumbia, Alabama, about a 3 hour trip from our house.

We had a great time riding, with a couple of bad experiences. Bees and tying up.

Got there on Friday night about 6:00, after working 1/2 day and packing up.

Started setting up camp, and took Jag and Chance to their designated stalls.....as soon as I put Jag in there, he started going nuts-o-la....I noticed that wasps were stinging the crap out of him. I grabbed the gate and just let him loose. He ran around camp for a minute, then came right to me. Bless his heart.

Got the owner and he sprayed where they were and all was fine.

Got finished setting up and Janet had already cooked a big crock pot of Sloppy Joe's for everyone. Ate, and then walked and listened to some kareoke....(oh my....those poor people that think they can sing....LOL.....no really some were pretty good)

Went to bed, woke up early, fed the horses and cooked a huge breakfast.

Got tacked up, and off we went.

It was gorgeous. Had lots of rock formations, some indian burial grounds, etc. (I forgot my camera, but the pictures are what Valarie took - I hate it when I forget my camera)

Very pretty yellow flowered covered fields....

This is Bear and I coming across the field.

Very nice ride, until...........we found the yellow jackets....or they found us.....I only got stung once, Janice got 10 stings, Bear, Chase got stung once, and Janet got it about 3 times. I am sure the horses got stung as well, but could not really see any bad places on them.

Ran into some great people on the trails, from 4 year olds to 60 year olds. Everyone was enjoying themselves, but almost everyone talked about the bees, so I think they were in more places than just where we were.

We rode for about 5 hours, and it was very very hot, nicer in the woods, but still humid and all the horses were very tired and sweaty.

Got back to camp, and everyone but a couple of us decided to nap. (no me - I am not a napper)

I went in after a little bit to change into some shorts, and there was a hard knock on my camper door.....I opened it and someone was saying "your horse is down"......scared the poop out of me.

I ran to Janet's camper (she is a vet-tech) freaked her out - she almost came out in her panties, grabbed a couple more friends from their sleep.

Jag was down in his stall. It took about 6 of us to get him up....he was almost cast in there, he had cut his nose and was bleeding a little bit. I just thought he had tried to lay down and got caught. But as soon as I got him up and out....he started going down again.

We listened to his gut and he had great gut sounds. He was very tight in his belly and chest. He was tying up (well heck - with all the bee stings and the hot and hard ride - I felt horrible). We gave him 10cc of banamine and then gave him some JC's X Ty-Up. Girls, buy some of this now !!! He was so much better in about 30 minutes. I continued to walk him for about 45 minutes to an hour, but he started trying to eat grass, and wanted to be back with his buddies.

I have never been so scared in my life (except one time when I had a horse choke for about 3-4 hours - even with the vet there working on him)....I check on him all night long, but he was fine.

We did enjoy some more kareoke and heard it got a little wild after we left....glad we did. I would hate to break out my booty shaking and pole dancing for strangers...but I would !!

Needless to say - we did not ride the next day as planned - we just packed up and came on home.

I did have a great, relaxing time.....except for the moments of craziness.

Resting on the trail

I am the one in front of the girl in blue.

We found this on the trail, and Chase just had to get off and get a picture made with it.

It is amazing what people will just throw away on our horse trails. Although it is good for desensitizing. LOL

We really had a nice time......just hanging out with my friends. I hate that Jag got sick, but was so thankful for Janet taking care of him. I wish she would go to vet school....she is so good and smart.

Going at the end of the month to KC Ranch in Double Springs, Alabama. One of my most favorite places to go and pretty much where "Seatbelt for my Saddle" originated - the name that is. I have had about 3 accidents there....hopefully not one this time.....and I will not forget my camera.

One last thing.......Tonya at There is a Season sent me an award......and it was so very sweet of her. I am glad to know that I can make her smile.....She has been going through some tough times with horrible people making terrible comments on her blog. She thinks she knows these people and Tonya is such a sweet Christian woman - I cannot believe anyone could be so mean. Thanks T....you make me smile too - especially that Baby Bird over there - who is one gorgeous baby !! And I "got-yo-back" anytime someone wants to rumble with you !!!!

I am supposed to tag five people.....now how can I do that. I smile at each and every blog that I read. So you are all tagged !!!!!!!!!!!! If you read this - copy this and put it on your blog....I will be looking !!!!! And know you are making me smile !!!!!!

Happy Trails...

Jamie

Playing "Catch Up"

I have been here, I promise....some of you have seen my comments I have made on your blogs, so I have been reading, just have not had the chance to blog.

After the sister crisis, being off work so much, then Labor Day, I have just been trying to play catch up at work - which is mostly when I blog (don’t tell). When I get home each day, I have to take care of the animals, the Bear, return farrier phone calls, wash clothes, cook, clean up, etc.... You all know the drill. By the time I could even get to the computer.....my eyes are crossed. Anyway - just giving an idea of why I have been away.

On to bigger and better things......I have a meme to fulfill and an award to claim. I think I will claim my AWARD first.

Trailridingcowgirl over at All Things Horse bestowed upon me the "I love your blog" award
....I am so excited....see secretly I have always wanted this one.....I mean first of all it is pretty, and second it means someone does love my blog....

When I first started doing this, I just compared myself to the others I had been reading, those who have been doing this for a long time, and I sucked !! LOL But now after getting comments, awards, etc. I have realized I just need to be myself, tell my stories and the rest will come naturally.....and with a little help from my BBF’s, who have helped me along the way.

There are so many blogs out there who I love to read, so I don’t want to overlook anyone.
But here are just a few (all you others I love you too!!)
I know some of you already have this award, and you don’t even have to mention that I gave you another one - just know I love you !

Oh Horse Feathers - one if my first bloggy friends

The Horseshoeing Housewife - who I missed badly when she was gone

Cowboys, Kids, and Sunsets - I love your photos and artwork (I have one !!)

Nuzzling Muzzles - Your horses are gorgeous

Laughing Orca Ranch - one of my newest bloggy friends

You guys can pass it on it you would like...(I say no rules for this one!)
There are so many more out there that I read, and you all know because I try to comment as much as I can.

I am so lucky to have made friends with all of you.

So now - still catching up.

A week or so ago - TrainWreck tagged me with a Meme.....to tell 7 Strange Characteristics about myself.....Well not sure if these are characteristics or flaws....LOL
But here goes. I am not going to tag anyone else....but please feel free to "Tell us all !"

1. I too, do not eat chocolate (like TrainWreck), in fact I pretty much do not eat sweets. Now, I love candy (anything gummy), but pies, cakes, etc....just do not have the "like".

2. I love beer. I would rather drink a beer than a softdrink. I am not an alcoholic, but I do have a beer or two a couple of nights a week - I like the taste !!

3. I have a belly ring that I do not wear anymore - I have gained too much weight and it gets lost...LOL....I also have a tattoo of a heart with a rose going through it on my right shoulder. I really really want another one!! I want a tramp stamp on my lower back.

4. My two dogs sleep with me everynight....in the bed. I have a boxer and a weenie dog, and they sleep between Bear and I. He hates this and it gets a little hairy when we fool around..LOL

5. I love to skinny dip. I have a pool and it is pretty much hidden from the public. But I also like to skinny dip in the lake or river......I just feel free !

6. I have 2 jobs. The one I have been doing for 15 years (Office Manager) and for the past 5 years I have been Bear’s "do-aller". I schedule all his appts (he is a farrier), I return all phone calls, I answer questions about abcesses, founder, etc. I do his books also. I am a very tired person.

7. Last but certainly not least......I hate underwear - panties I mean. I have to wear a bra. But I do hate panties. They bind....they hurt. I do wear them when I wear a skirt or dress, but with shorts or jeans......I go Commando !!!!!

Well that is about it.....don’t judge !!! LOl

Please feel free to take this own over to your blog and tell all !!

I am getting another post ready, we went to Seven Spring Lodge this past weekend, and it was an adventure......it was gorgeous....but we got in bees, and Jag tied up....so it was scary. Will try to get that one done no later than Monday.

Again, thanks for all the support and prayers for my sister....she is home now and doing great !
Love to you all
J