Happy Happy Birthday, Kammerdammer

Happy Birthday to my crazy, handsome, funny, sweet, tempermental, fishing-crazed, green eyed man!!!

You're one of a kind, my love!

Peace, Love & More love,

W

How Great Thou Art

I know most everyone has probably seen this video, but if you haven't, take a few minutes and LISTEN. 

All I can say is...What an amazing performance by two amazing artists. 

I am not usually a big fan of Carrie Underwood, she's beautiful and talented, yes...but I am not a big fan of her music or some of her views.  Vince Gill on the other hand is an amazing talent and has had so many great musical moments.   The two together on this amazing, soulful hymn will bring you to tears and make you feel God's presence for sure.   

Enjoy!

Peace, Love & Soul shine,

W



Seniors 2011...

I haven't shared any photos lately, so I thought I'd share a few shots from the 3 seniors I photographed this year - I was so surprised when I was asked to take them and I so very much enjoyed photographing and meeting all 3 of these seniors!  I wish them lots & lots of success in college & beyond! 

So meet Brandon, Kameron & the beautiful Miss Taylor...

Peace, Love & New Beginnings,

W

One of those days...

I would like to preface this by saying that my parents raised me to be a hard worker. I grew up riding colts, working cattle, building fence, cleaning house, cooking for cowboys and anything else they found for me to do or needed me to do. They raised my sister and I to care about our jobs and to take pride in all we do.

Today, I sent a request to a company to hold off on any more shipments until next week because we are full up on loads for the next several days. Mind you, we deal with 30 + companies between myself and another guy.

So, my company contact emailed me back telling me all sorts of lovely things and pretty much saying I wasn't doing my job...o and he used $#&%^! symbols a time or two...just to get his points across...I'm pretty sure cussing in a work related email embodies the term "unprofessionalism" whether you use the actual word or spell it out with symbols.

I did nothing wrong here. I was polite, professional and understanding, but then he took a strike again at my work ethic saying I didn't get his paperwork to him on time --- NOT TRUE --- AND that "unfortunately, you are the only person I get small grain from , so I guess it's my loss."  

My McNeely temper flared.  I informed him he could call and discuss this with me or my boss if he was not satisfied with the way I was handling my job, that I did the best I could for his company and had since I got here 4 years ago. I also told him I spent a large portion of my time dealing with his company's requests, but "lucky for him, I'd be out of a job in a few months and he'd be rid of me and my "poor customer service"."

I am still upset. I am still fired up. I did nothing wrong. I simply asked that they hold off because our warehouses are full, we are short handed and they have 12 loads set up for the next 3 days...plus all the other companies' loads we have set up the next few days... 

Why do I feel so guilty? Why do I feel like I did wrong  when I KNOW I haven't done an absolute thing wrong? UGH...

I've had two company reps call today for different things and tell me they appreciated my hard work for them. Then one of our logistics guys called in saying he wished he had a spot for me in his office... I guess 3 to 1 isn't so bad. I guess I should take the 3 for good and ignore the 4th...but I can't. A shot at my work ethic and my character is something I don't take lightly.

I just had to vent....I guess today's one of the days when I'm glad this place is closing and I'll get to start a new chapter in my life...


Peace, Love & New beginnings,

W

Return to the Sunny Slopes of Long Ago...

As I look back on my short life, the things that run clearest in my memory are the fun things we did, the work we put in, the laughter...

My hours spent horseback, our hide-out in the dry riverbed out on Macy's, the days spent swimming at the waterfall on Kirkpatrick's, me & Laura Lou's "island" in the horse pasture at the OBs, playing in the Colorado River when it came down behind the house on Muleshoe's...Listening to Momma sing 'Blue Kentucky Girl' while her & Daddy strummed their guitars, playing checkers with Great Grandaddy, painting nails with NaNaw, feeding horses with Pa, sewing with Gran Gran, fishing in the stock tanks with TaTaw, smelling roses grown in Great Grandmother's garden, sitting on the porch with Aunt Mattie Belle, the faint memories of TaTaw Bull that I long to be stronger than they are...the horses I've rode, the dogs that stole my heart...swimming in the springs with Kylia after working cattle all day at Indian Canyon...the day my saddle slipped, the day Daddy rode like the man from Snowy River, the day Wendy came off Ten and broke her tailbone behind NaNaw & TaTaw's and me & San Dee high tailed it for help...watching Daddy and Big Roger high step it across the arena after mugging down a mean ole momma cow to become the "World Champion Wild Cow Milkers of Garza County"...my Momma winning the sugar booger back up...me falling off Earl in front of the whole crew, flanking calves with Desert Dan, jabbing a needle in Mickey's leg twice in the same day, falling asleep on Sueno while we were gathering a pasture, watching my sister fly around the barrels on Dumplin...the wars we had with the fruit off of the bear grass - loping through the pasture chunking them at each other, jumping mesquite trees and dodging flying fruit (when we shoulda been watching the cattle we were pushing...). 

The laughter, the joy...they are what really matters.

There are bittersweet memories too - the day Ten & San Dee died, Sueno, Choppo, Earl, Prissy, the day Buddy waited for me to tell me good bye...finding out we had to leave the ranch...Dumplin...Sam killin badgers and Wanda fighting bulls...Lucy protecting me, Jack who was around for 17 years of my life, he was the ever faithful friend...

I could go on for hours...for days...

Maybe I will someday. Heck I could write a book on the things I've seen, the cowboys I've worked with, the horses I've rode and the dogs that ran at those horses' heels....o the stories. 

I'm feeling a little reminiscent today, if you can't tell.   So here's to the sunny slopes of not-so long ago...



Me on Uncy & Wendy on Dumplin'

 Peace, Love & Memories,

W

Books

I love to read.

It's something I don't make enough time for anymore, but I still love it.

I'm currently reading a historic fiction about the life of Etta Place.  She was the Sundance Kid's right hand lady and girlfriend...and some say she was his wife.  Any way, noone knows exactly who she was and there are only 2 known photos of her in existence - very intriguing story, if you ask me.  And the fun thing about her being such a mystery ... it leaves the mind to wonder, imagine & dream!  Check it out!

ETTA


Now, I'm really hoping this little one of ours has a love for reading too. I've already ordered 3 books for him or her!  

I found them on http://www.amazon.com/ and can NOT wait til they arrive!  Here are the covers to the books, I think they are going to be adorable!

I've heard great things about 2 of these books and the B is for Buckaroo, well who can pass up that awesome cover art?!  Too cute! 

Here's hoping our Baby Baker loves books just like Mommy does!

Peace, Love & Story Time,

W

Nursery projects...idea stage numero UNO

I know we don't know what we are having yet, but I've already decided on a color scheme - turquoise, deep red & brown.  Of course, if it's a boy, there will be less turquoise and if it's a girl, MORE turquoise! But either way, I can't wait.

My first project is a rocking chair.  We found one on craigslist that needed a face lift and are suppose to go pick it up sometime this week!   

I'm going to paint the chair turquoise and have my sister (who has awesome artistic abilities that I definitely LACK) add some lyrics to one of my favorite songs to the back...  ~Rock Me Mama Like a Wagon Wheel~ will be written across the back rest and on the back side of the chair, it will say, ~Hey Mama Rock Me~!  On the arms, we're going to stencil red and other color floral patterns with a Spanish vibe and I'll recover the seat cushion with an awesome coordinating fabric!   And add a pillow or two for good measure!

I can't wait to get this little project complete and post pictures.  It's my favorite idea yet! And it's gender neutral! :)

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We got the crib ordered Monday. They call the color "cappucino" but in the description, it's listed as more of a rustic honey tone. It has lots of personality with knots and imperfections in the wood to give it a certain appeal.  It's also a shorter crib - I'm only 5'3", so I was pretty pumped that it was a little lower to the ground than some of the others we've looked at!  Here's a picture! I can't wait for it to arrive!

As far as the rest of the furniture, we are using old antique pieces that belonged to my Pa's family. We are painting them and antiquing the paint to get the old funky feeling, just the way I like it! We'll probably paint these pieces red and I'm going to replace the knobs on all the drawers with funky knobs found at Hob Lob, Main St. Mercantile, etc. I really want to find a tall book shelf too, but we shall see!
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My mom and I are making the bedding, curtains, etc. together, we are just waiting to find out what direction we need to go as far as fabric, patterns, etc.  I'm really excited to do this with her, it's been a long time since we've sewn together and we always have fun doing it!

She is such a talented woman - but it does run in the family. My aunt is one of the most amazing quilters I've ever met and my Gran Gran, her quilting and her embroidery are beyond amazing. My Gran Gran has always said her family has long been known for their needle work and seeing some of the pieces from her mother and from her, I sure believe it! I can only hope to be as amazing (in any area of life) as these women are!

I can't wait to pick out fabrics and decide on patterns!  I'm thinking paisley...but we shall see!

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My only other statement for today is:  THERE WILL BE NO RUFFLES in this nursery! :) 

Peace, Love & Nursery Rhymes,

W