The Lucky Spur

Have you ever known one of those people who just seem to light up a room when they walk in? 

If you haven't, you should meet Jennifer....




 Jennifer owns The Lucky Spur in good old Spur America. Her shop is full of jewelry, clothing and decor that will make your mouth water. She also travels to ranch rodeos and other events with a booth full of fabulous merchandise. 

She's full of life and attitude and has a heart the size of Texas. 

And she makes a mean salty dog, this one does.

So if you ever venture out toward Spur America, hit up the Lucky Spur and tell Jenn that Whit sent ya! :)

Peace, Love & Lucky Spur,

W

Snakes & Snails & Puppy Dog Tails...

Becoming a mother is something I've always dreamed about. I always kept in mind that being "mommy" wasn't all about smiles and cuddles and cute little nothings. I knew about the dirty diapers, the up-all-nights and all those other not-so-fun parts of mommyhood, But I never cared.  I still don't care to be honest. I can NOT wait for this adventure.

 BUT.....
         I am also scared senseless. Will I be a good mom? Will I know what to do? Will I know what to say when their world is crumbling around them? Will I remember words to songs they should learn? Will I be a good example? Will they be smart? Will I make the right decisions for them before they are able to make their own?  Will I find a new job that will provide for our family properly?  Will I find a new job AT ALL?  What if I don't want to go back to work?  Is this the worse time ever to consider getting my masters?  Is everything okay? Will everything be okay?  And so forth & and so on....

I know worrying will get me no where, I am usually not a worrier, but with all the added stress of losing my job and having had such an "uncomfortable" pregnancy thus far, I have literally worried myself in to sleepless nights and crazy crying fits. I have become a raging lunatic (just ask Kam)! :)  

And then....
          Yesterday we made our way to Dr. Lampkin's office and found out that this little miracle is a boy!  Immediately, half of my worries disappeared. All I could think of was hoping he loved horses as much as I do and fishing as much as his daddy does...and how blessed we were to be told how perfectly he was growing. We laughed at his touch-me-not ways (just like ME) and noticed he already has his daddy's nose.   And the questions went from "what if's" and "will i's" to "I wonder's" just like that!

I know I still don't know what the future holds, but our futures are held in God's hands, not our own. And I SO often have to remind myself of that. Yesterday was one of those reminders.  I'll find a job, our baby will be happy and healthy and things will be just as they are suppose to be...I have faith.   I doubt this will cure my raging lunatic ways right now and I'm still going to catch my self worrying, but hey...it's all gonna be just fine! :)  


So here's to snakes & snails & puppy dog tails....   


....and fishing poles & little spurs & four wheelers & babysitter horses & football helmets & shetland bronc ridings... 

(this kids gonna be busy..heeheehee)



Peace, Love & BIG Dreams,

W 

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