Long Time, No Post....

Well - it has been a solid few years since I last posted.
So much has changed - so many adventures have happened. I have returned to Wyoming and the Pryors a few times, I went to Nashville to see the Opry, the sights and Jake Owen last April. Last summer, I made it to Vegas to see Mr. George Strait belt out all 60 of his number ones. I took a last minute trip to the Pryors to clear my head last August.

BUT - my favorite thing that I had happen was meeting Jake.

Jake - it was love at first sight. We connected instantly. Oh - by the way, Jake is a horse.

Jake came to me from the person who had been boarding Scooter at the time. A family friend of hers had been leasing land to someone for numerous horses and that person just stopped paying and left the horses. Eventually, he went through the process of making the horses his legally and my friend went in to see if any of them could be useful.

She brought back 6 horses and a mule. These animals had not been handled in over 4 years.
The first encounter I had with them - I just walked into the group of them. Eventually - this big blue roan came right up to me and just buried his face against my body and wanted love. At that second - he had me. I told my friend that if she could get on him without his freaking out, I would buy him if she wanted to sell him.

I have now owned him for 6 months. 

It has been interesting. It has been challenging. It has been rewarding.The more I get to know him, the more I am figuring him out. I know nothing about his past life. He can stand tied for hours. You can get a saddle on his back no problem. He seems a bit clueless with a bit in his mouth, He trailers like a pro. I suspect he may have been a pack horse.He has a large, deep scar on his rump. he can also be a bit nervous about things behind him. Something spooked him once and he remembers.

When I first got him - he was easy to catch, handle and get a halter on. One day in the big pasture - his rival charged us as I was haltering him. After that, he started to swing his rear end at me in protest. I have been working on that and it has dissipated. When I moved him to the new ranch - he was great to catch in the quarantine pen. We worked on his stubbornness on the lead rope. After he was put into the general population, catching him and haltering became a nightmare.

It's funny - I can get him isolated from the herd quite easily. He will follow me. When I need him to come to me - all I have to do is crouch down and he will come to see me.He will follow me into a pen and that is where I would work with him to get the halter on. A few times - it was hard. The last 2 weekends, I was able to just slip the halter on with no resistance at all. When I ca do that - I am so proud and happy. Every small accomplishment I have with him is a huge win. I feel that he is trusting me more and more.

I am guessing him to be somewhere between 10 & 15.

When I bought him, I had his feet done right away.. They had not been done in years. He was nervous but he did well. I had one of the best guys I know trim him.
After I moved him, I decided to use the farrier that the ranch uses. I admit - I was quite nervous about how he would react, especially considering his sudden change in behavior. I tell you - I could not have been more proud of him. And 
fella who trimmed him taught me a lot and could not have done a better job. He said that he could tell Jake had a good mind and that he should be easy to work with. I was happy to hear that from someone who has decades of experience working with horses. My optimism is through the roof. I wish I was able to go more - but I am having to board them fairly far away due to my old guys special needs for winter feeding.

Another reason I felt good about buying Jake - he and Scooter hit it off immediately. After that mare I had - who I clearly sold - I think he was happy to have a brother who likes him. There was one of Jake's buddies that didn't seem to like Scooter. The day I introduced Jake and Scooter over the fence - that horse was getting a bit snorty and huffy at Scooter. Jake just bit him on the chest and chased him back from the fence. Then he and Scooter touched noses through the bars on the gate and squished their nostrils together.






I can walk them together like dogs - and I am hoping to be able to pony Jake off Scooter - that should tell me if he was a pack or trail horse.
I spontaneously decided to put a saddle on Jake - and a put a bit in his mouth and I took him to the round pen. It was windy and we didn't do much but regardless - and work with him is progress.
I have no idea what I am really doing - but I am learning as I go. And the first ride I take on him will be the most rewarding part of this whole experience.

Welcome To My Little Herd Montana!

So... I was CASUALLY thinking about looking for another horse... or donkey or mule.

There was a potential donkey... but that fell through due to some very sketchy circumstances.

Then I spied a mule on a Facebook group. The list before me was a mile long. I threw my hat into the ring. Alas... he was snapped up.

A few days later I was messaged by a gal who runs a rescue/rehab for horses suggesting that a mare that she had might be a good fit for me after a friend of mine mentioned it to her. We chatted some about her and then decided to go see her.

So on Saturday - that same friend of mine dragged her trailer down to Alix Alberta with me to see this mare.

Montana is a 10 year old Percheron cross. Crossed with what - I have no clue. She is green broke but has the fundamentals and the right attitude and a willingness to please. She is friendly and well mannered... except when we went to load her. Haha. Had a little bareback ride on her in the round pen. She was a bit hesitant and I was a bit clueless... and nervous having 2 riding instructors watching me. But in all fairness - we were new to each other and the trust will take time.

SO.... needless to say the trailer didn't come back empty! Meet Montana! Looking forward to learning and growing with this girl!

Bird Nerd

I love birds. It's always a treat when I can photograph them!

Here are some adorable chickadees from the farm last weekend!

Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf

So I made a meatloaf.

I have done this one before and it is a popular one with the male population.

It's a miracle if you eat it without having chest pains. So if you are a health nut, this is NOT a meat for you!

 

Wanna know how I make mine? Keep reading!

 

 

Here is what you'll need: 

Approximately 1lb lean or regular ground beef

 Approximately 1lb lean ground pork

1 package of bacon

1 cup bread crumbs

2 eggs

A few handfuls of grated cheese of your choice - I use marble

6-8 good sized mushrooms - I prefer crimini - coarsely chopped

1 shallot - or you can use onion - finely chopped

4-5 cloves of garlic minced

1 package of powdered grave - I used a mushroom one

Salt and pepper to your liking

Sprinkle of basil

Smoked paprika - if you smoky flavor

Water or milk. I used water

 

Line a casserole dish with bacon. I use a round one because that's what I have.

Use whatever is big enough to hold everything, but I wouldn't go too shallow. 

 

Heat up  some olive oil on the stove in a pan. Sautee the garlic, shallots and mushrooms and season with a little S&P, until they look done. Remove from heat.

 

In a large bowl, mix the meat, eggs, bread crumbs, basil, sprinkle of the paprika, handful of cheese, powdered gravy, a bit of salt and pepper and your sautéed mushrooms and whatnots.

Mix together either with your hands or a wooden spoon. I use a wooden spoon because it's cleaner.

 

Dump meat mixture into the bacon lined casserole dish and sprinkle the top of the meatloaf with some more grated cheese if you'd like and then fold the bacon over top.

 

Bake on 350*F for about an hour and a half. If you are using a thermometer, it should read 155*F when done. As you can see - I had to cut into mine - BEFORE I took the picture - as I don't have a meat thermometer. I am going to buy one. Haha!

 

Now - for sides - one thing I like to do is make mashed potatoes.

So make your favorite mashed potatoes. Mine are usually with white or Yukon golds - but last night I used red... Because I am cheap. Haha!

I boil the potatoes to the point of being ready to mash.

Drain them and leave them in the colander in the sink.

Take a good heap of butter - as much as you and melt it in the potato pot.

Add a ton of minced garlic and cook it down.

One thing I like to do sometimes is get the butter to the brown point. That one you have to watch like a hawk. The second that butter turns brown you have to remove it from the heat.

I didn't do I that way last night though.

When the garlic is cooked - add your potatoes back in and mash them.

I like to add sour cream, but I forgot to get some yesterday.

Because why should the potatoes be any less unhealthy than the meatloaf? 

 

NOW - the gravy.... At some point during cooking - maybe more than once, pull the meatloaf out of the oven. As it is cooking, it is releasing juices and fat and shrinking in the dish. Use a turkey baster to suck out all of those juices.

Put them in a pot.... add some water if you'd like - and a package of powdered gravy. Yes - I cheat.

Gravy - again - make it to your liking. Add some pepper or herbs. I added a bit of starch to thicken it because I wanted more gravy than what the package would allow. Buy two packages if you want. You can use flour... I added more of the meatloaf juice as I went along. Really - just make your gravy. There's no right and wrong way!

 

Finally - pick your favorite veggie to serve with it as well so you don't feel too guilty about all that bacon and meat and cheese and butter... and VOILA! Bacon wrapped meatloaf just happened.  

 

The beauty of meatloaf is that is - just like my pasta sauce - is a blank canvas. Don't be afraid to tweak it... don't be worried if you aren't accurate with measurement... I rarely am unless I am baking.

Cooking is like art. You can express your creativity through food.

 

ENJOY!

My Day With The Pryor Mustangs

What can I say about the day I spent amongst the Pryor Mountain Mustangs?

It was one of the most incredible things I have ever done. The whole trip was fantastic, but there was something so incredible about those horses.

I went with Steve & Nancy Cerroni of the Pryor Mountain Mustang Center and 5 other folks - 4 from South Carolina and one from Ohio and I don't think I could have shared that experience with a better bunch of people!

We managed to see 118/120 of the horses up there - which was a one day record for them! The weather was beautiful, as were all of the wild flowers that were in bloom up there. They smelled so amazing - I wish I could have bottled that scent and brought it home with me.

Of course - we saw Cloud. I got a little bit of a lump in my throat when I laid eyes on him for the first time. Having watched him grow up as I grew up, it was truly an emotional and magical moment.

He is certainly showing his age - battle scars and all. But he is still spunky and full of life.

The horses are so trusting and accepting of people coming into their home. That makes the experience that much more special. I was sitting on a little rock ledge just watching Cloud graze. It was like sitting in my own yard watching my horse graze. He was close enough to walk up to and touch.

Watching them interact and just BE horses was so fascinating! They truly are majestic creatures and it was so mumbling to watch these guys in person.

NOW - before I even got this posted - I ended up with 2 extra weeks off in between quitting my job ad starting at my new one so I decided I was going to go back to Cody. Then - I asked the folks at the center if they had any room for me to go and they had ONE spot left for the 23rd. I said "I WILL TAKE IT!!". So - back to the Pryors I go!! I cannot WAIT!!

 

One More Sleep....

Less than 24 hours to go now!!

The place I need to be in Lovell on Monday to go on my mustang tour is 2.1km from the motel! It is overwhelming to think that in 3 short days, I may be laying eyes on one of the most iconic wild horses to ever walk the earth. Fingers crossed and double crossed that I can be so lucky to see him.

The weather where I am going looks to be good. A far cry from the snow I encountered last year when I went 2 weeks earlier. Mid 20's to mid 30's seems o be what I am looking at. Maybe I can even out my tan lines from last weekend!

I have been scoping out places to see and eat at in Deadwood, The Mount Moriah cemetery is a short walk from the hotel I am staying at - and on my list of things to see. It is where Wild Bill and Calamity Jane are buried. I need to see that. The eating establishments look pretty fantastic as well. I think I am going to eat a lot of steak... Haha!

Stay tuned.... photos to come!

8 Sleeps!!

So close now!!! It has barely even sunk in that I am going on this HUGE awesome trip! I will be rolling into Cody 2 weeks from now... Cody is my happy place and I need to be there to recharge!! I am burning out and need to go clear my brain.

I am so thankful that I get to do things like this. Life is amazing and I want to enjoy it while I can. I was almost thinking about going to Texas for 5 days for my birthday too! We will see though....

Anyways - here are a few more photos from the Farmer's Day rodeo in Stony Plain! I am STILL working my way through them and will be for a long time I imagine!! :)

RODEO!

So - I managed to get some GREAT shots at the rodeo in Stony Plain, Alberta at Farmer's Day! Please enjoy!