An Assault To Your Senses....

Well here I am blogging again. I just wanted to fill everyone in on my trip to Ft. Worth yesterday. My friend Chandra and I decided to go shopping. She use to live in Ft. Worth and so I love to go with her because she knows the city. Well I figured we would do the usual western stores and such but she told me she wanted to go to the grocery store. Now Stephenville is small and sometimes you can't find exactly what you need but it isn't that small so I just kind of looked at her like she was crazy. I am not a big grocery store shopper in fact I pretty much hate it but I thought oh well here we go.

Well let me tell you this was the grocery store to beat all grocery stores. It was the most amazing place I have been and you know if I am writing about a grocery store in my blog it made a pretty big impression. It is called Central Market by HEB and is located on Hulon street (http://www.centralmarket.com/cm/index.jsp). I could spend hours in this place. If you have ever heard of it they have it.

The produce was amazing - there was every kind of fruit and vegetable you have ever heard of. I bought some freshly squeezed pineapple/orange juice - Minute Maid watch out!

Then we went to the meat part all I can say was WOW - there was the usual beef, chicken and pig but then just add fresh fish from every part of the world along with goat, lamb and every other edible creature out there. I tasted their sushi and it was amazing!

So on we go to the bread section. Now I am not a huge bread eater but this was amazing. (Almost sprung for the sourdough but remembered my diet) The cheese section had everything from feta and goat to then some. Let's just say Rachel Ray would be impressed.

Now I know that I am a small town girl but I have been to the city and I have never seen anything like this. Salt Lake City - you need a market like this!! Let's just put it this way I called Ben and told him next time we had some free time we needed to go grocery shopping in Ft. Worth. I know he thinks I am crazy but it is like going to the zoo only it's edible. So for all of you cooks out there (Steph I am thinking of you)- here is the place to shop!

The Goats Are OUT!!

If you know anything about me, you know that I have never been around goats. They were pretty much banned from the Dee Cornia ranch (with the exception of Pete's but it was pretty much like a dog). This came from the excuses of "You don't want to be a goat tyer, you will just blow out your knees" and "they are just a pain, don't bother with them we are a cattle ranch so we show beef calves at the 4-H sale." Being the athlete (HA HA) that I was these excuses were just fine by me and so you now know I have little goat experience.

Now when I married my husband I didn't realize the love for goats that he has and believe me I never thought we would have a goat herd ourselves. But lo and behold we now have quite the herd. Goats are like mice once you get one they just seem to multiply. Now I have to give my husband credit the accquiring of our first nanny was an experience I will never forget (it wasn't through the typical sale barn). I would go into that story but it is for another time. As for the rest well let me just say that the sale barn calls us every week and lets us know that they have nannies because we are such good customers. We have sold two goats so far but it seems when we take one goat to the sale we just exchange it for 4 more (along with a check lol). I have to give my husband credit though - we went to the goat sale last week and sold one and didn't buy any, not for the lack of trying.

Well onto the rest of my story...about two weeks ago at the unheard of hour of 6:30 am I hear my husband shout out "Jodi get some shoes! The goats are out!" Well as I try to awake from my deep beauty slumber and stumble to find my shoes - I realize that this is not good. Although we own 8 nannies and a billy, only one is tame - if you call it that. As I slip on my flip flops visions of us running down our county road with ropes in our hands and goats scattering everywhere run through my head, and then I hear my husband say they are just in the backyard. So I walk to our sliding door and there is the goat herd complete with the watchout goat (never knew there was such a thing) standing on top of our tractor. (See below) Luckily they had only been out just a bit and our prized tomato and pepper plants were still in tact! So for all of you wondering the moral of the story - well there isn't one except that yes a goat can climb to the top of a red International tractor.

The Goat Watcher - Spot

Dolly & Spike

My Goat - Dolly!

Painting...What a job!

I know it has been quite awhile since I have wrote but I have been very busy. From working ropings and rodeo's to painting some rooms in our house, life has seemed to be stuck on the fast forward button. The summer is flying by and I don't know where it has gone too!

I have been telling people about my painting projects and so I finally took some pics today to show everyone. The pics don't do the rooms justice but if you remember the moss green walls with bears, wolves and elk borders this is a big improvement. While Ben was gone last weekend I tackled the small room that I use and he liked it so much when he got home that he asked when I was going to do the other room. Here are some pics for you to see. Below is the my dresser that I gave a face lift to and painted it chocolate brown. You can also see the wall that I ragged. I was worried about the ragging but it turned out great. The lamp was actually brass with a green middle and so I painted it black and added my red shade that I had. I changed the bedding to brown and we bought a small desk to put in the corner so that my computer can actually have a place to reside rather than the kitchen table!!!

Here are some more pics of the other room. These walls were painted a desert rose with a border of horses and barns. The border wasn't too bad but the pink deseret rose was enough to make you puke! I used the same ragging technique and colors because I had paint left over from the other room.

All in all I thought both rooms turned out great and now we have two awesome guest rooms so I invite ya'll (texas term) to come visit!

What a week!!!

Wow what a week it was...From Reno to Randolph to Rock Springs and finally back to Stephenville. I was so glad to finally come home and not have to haul anymore luggage. Ben and I took off last Monday for Reno. We both worked the Perry Di Loreto roping and I stayed and worked the Ladies only roping. We had a great time although (I am sure you have a hard time believing this) we didn't lay a dime on the tables. I love to play blackjack but we were so busy we really didn't have time. Oh well I figure I probably saved myself some money. Instead I bought the cutest levi jacket that has zebra stripped hide on it with red stars. I love it and although I shouldn't have splurged I did.

After Reno, Ben headed to Paso Robles for the USTRC regional finals roping and I headed to Utah to work the Rock Springs roping for my dad. Although the roping wasn't quite as big as we wanted it to be, we still had a great time being together as a family. Lex, Lisa and Tess are back from New York and so I was able to spend a little quality time with my neice. Plus my dad and my brothers and I were able to rope together and although we didn't do any good togther we still had a great time. Both my brothers were on fire - their sister just missed for them.. Next time Lex we will get them!

On to the quality time with my niece. I have to brag a bit since she is the first grandchild and the apple of my father's eye. She is so cute - she is now 8 months old and will laugh and smile! She absolutely loves animals and can't get enough of Lizzie and Jack (our two blue heeler dogs). It is so funny to watch her with them. She doesn't even cry when Lizzie gives her a big old kiss! She also loved the horses and steers and was completely content watching the roping from my dad's lap. She would follow each run down the arena like an avid team roping fan. Watch out Lex you have a cowgirl on your hands - I am already scoping out the barrel horses for her although I think we should start with a pink stick horse first!!!

Well Monday morning I finally flew home and met up with Ben. It is so nice to be home and see my husband again!! We are just recovering from the week and getting ready to start all over again - what a life!

I know everyone likes pictures and so I thought I would add some of my niece - as you can tell not only is she the apple of her grandpa's eye but her Aunt is in love with her as well!