Hunt and Peck

One word..

Think, think, think...

Another word...

More thinking...

The Colorado Boy now has an email account.  He reads the emails sent to him from his aunts and is delighted.  He insists on replying nightly.  But I'm about to poke my eyes out waiting for him to type in the words.  He doesn't yet know how to "type" and so every.single.word. is excruciatingly time consuming.  Of course he has to do this with supervision so I'm doing everything in my power not to push him aside and just type the damn emails myself.  I've never been patient...

Now I'm off to research the best keyboarding software for kids.  Saw a Sponge Bob program and wondered if it was any good.  Suggestions from anyone??

The CO Boy Gets Cleaned Up

This handsome boy is mine! 

Last weekend he had the honor of being in his cousin's wedding.  It was his first time to be in a wedding and he was pretty excited about it.  We traveled to Utah and enjoyed the weekend with the Roping Dummy's side of the family.

This is the RD's sis with the CO Boy.  How cute are they?

You may not be able to tell, but the CO Boy is showing his dance moves with the other younger wedding party members.  He danced all night long and fell into bed exhausted.

And now I'm off to sell popcorn in the neighborhood with 10 cub scouts!

I love this photo

Watching Steer Wrestling

This was taken at our county fair a few weeks ago.  We had so much fun looking at all the exhibits, going to the rodeo and then the midway at night.  The CO Boy and I rode all the rides and I am officially too old to do this anymore.  By the fourth ride I wanted to throw up and he just wanted to keep on going.  Also, my chiropractor was none too happy with me afterward.  Nothing like being thrown in three different directions on a big hunk of metal put together by carney folk!

I know many people don't approve of rodeos, citing mistreatment of animals.  I have very mixed feelings about them.  I grew up with them and didn't give it much thought until I was older.  That said, the boy is sort of like me that way.  He hates the goat roping because we (he and I, NOT the RD) look at goats as pets.  And for me, I still wince when they do the tie down roping with calves.  They are babies, after all.  But the bronc riding and the steer wrestling and the team roping don't seem to bother me.  That might be wrong but there you have it.

The CO Boy heard angels sing and trumpets from heaven the first time he saw the bull riding event.  He is sure he wants to be a bull rider or a steer wrestler.  I've tried to explain to him that steer wrestling is a big man's event and he is highly unlikely to grow into a six-foot-something adult, given the genes of his two parents.  As far as the bull riding goes, I got nothin'.  I just keep stressing how dangerous it is.  But that is probably part of why he likes it.  We've tried to steer him (no pun intended) to team roping but he really wants to ride bulls.  ugh.  Yes, he will only be nine in October, with plenty of time to change his mind, but still.

My hockey mom sister says, "Let's put him on the ice.  That's safer!"  Right.  Because flying on a slab of ice at double digit speeds while other guys are trying to trip you is much safer.  True, no bull involved.  But still...she's crazy, I tell you.  And if our fears are realized and he ends up riding a bull, she will be in the front seats with all the stats on the bull and the other riders.

But my boy is growing up way too fast.  I see the time just racing past and I'm a little sad.  He is such a joy to be around and I will miss these days when he is older.  Riding bullls.

The end of the road can't come too soon

Photo by Clifford Oto

I'm pretty much right here in terms of accomplishing everything I need to accomplish.  Sort of overwhelming and I'd like to just sit down in the middle of the road to be run over but, alas, one must attend to all commitments. 

School begins next Wednesday and I am beyond sad.  I do not want it to start and I mean that in the larger sense.  Everything becomes crazy once school begins:  School, homework, religious education classes, scouts, and then continuing with horses and guitar.  Somewhere in there, I'm supposed to clean my house, do the laundry, make dinner and go to work, as well as work at the tea room.  And then there's the Nissan Sentra-sized tire around my waist which needs some work, as well as the writing I long to do.

I think I need an attitude adjustment to get me through the next two months.  True, everything will still be at a frantic pace, but certain aspects of our lives, such as scouts and religious ed. will be off and running. 

I believe this will be me very soon.  I will send myself to bed and just read.  I'm due for one of those days/weekends.  A Pajama Day is coming soon.

But tonight we go to the county fair where I shall ride the rides with the CO Boy and watch the rodeo.  Sounds like fun to me!  However, I've scheduled an appointment with my chiropractor for tomorrow so he can undo the damage on my poor bones after being tossed around on the rides-:).



Learning to fall the right way and a little stunt work

The CO Boy and his papi are doing horse camp this summer.  Every Tuesday the Roping Dummy  takes a playbook out of his stuntman past and teaches the kids how to tuck and roll if they get thrown, keeping their neck safe.  Then for fun they do some old western fight stunt work.  The CO Boy is the RD's assistant and demonstrates for each group of kids.  As you can see from his grin on his face, it's all good.  So please don't call child services on us, okay?-:)

Slipcover Love

Yesterday morning I came downstairs (the RD was already up and drinking his coffee) and the scene in my living room was enough to inspire another Grey Garden's movie.

The throw which is supposed to cover the old worn green upholstery on the couch, was bunched up and hanging off the side of the couch.  The CO Boy's action figure toys were strewn all over the 1950's ranch burger designed coffee table (pictures of that will come later). And Mercer was sitting on the head portion of the couch, looking out the open back door, waiting for someone to walk by so he could run and bark.  Right about at this moment, Gershwin took his entire 13 pounds and bounded up the sofa to go for the body slam, sending the two pups off the side of the couch.

If a normal person without a boy, without three dogs, without a husband who could care less about a clean house, had seen this...they'd think my house had been abandoned and wild dogs were using it as a hang out.  Sigh.

But back to the sofa.  I love this sofa.  It was given to us by the RD's dead aunt (well she didn't give it to us but her daughter did.  She was dead already...).  The shape is pretty and for a while the upholstery was in pristine condition.  Dead Aunt was one of those folks who had plastic over her furniture in the formal living room.  You know what I'm talkin' about?  But alas, the years have passed, the couch has suffered trauma from two pups who like to romp on it, one old "pup" who thinks she's sneaky when she gets up on it at night, and then the CO Boy who does high falls off of it.

So I need a slipcover, people.  That's what I need.  What do you think of these ideas?

From Houzz.com (I think)
The pink is a bit much to commit to, I think.  But the colors in the photo were appealing to me.  Can you imagine light pink slipcovers with the pups?  Me neither.

From Mustard Seed Creations

I love everything she does on her blog.  But I really like these pretty pleats at the bottom of the sofa.  But I know how long it takes to make those pretty pleats, and I'd like a slipcover before I'm 80.

 From LJC Style

A compromise on the pleats - they're bigger.  Not as cute.  But bigger.  Doesn't this look so comfy?  Makes me want to dive into those pillows which is exactly what CO Boy would do.  Glad we talked all of this out beforehand.

I also saw an article in the Mary Jane magazine that showed how you could use drop cloths for fabric.  Mucho savings because cotton duck cloth is a pretty penny per yard and my couch is not small.  So perhaps a trip to Home Depot is in order?



Summer with the CO Boy

The CO Boy has kicked off his summer vacation with friends sleeping over, movie night in our neighborhood, and spending the days out at the stables. 

Do you remember what it was like when you were a kid and you thought summer would never end?  Well that's where he is right now.  It's all pretty joyful to him.

He asked me if I had summer vacation.  Sadly...no.  But I enjoyed my Memorial Day out at the stables with him.  Maybe I'll ask my boss about that whole summer vacation thing-:).

Birthday gifts

Gifts one and two and three...

Gift four...

And Gift five.

My birthday was this past weekend and it was just lovely.  I had lots of lovin' and lots of gifts.

Gifts one and two are our dear friends, Edgar and Dora.  They took the RD (gift three) and me out for dinner to an institution in Denver, The Buckhorn Exchange.  The restaurant was established in 1893 and proudly displays liquor license Number One in Denver, CO.  Theodore Roosevelt's train stopped there and the walls are lined with memorabilia from the famous who have come through the doors, as well as a very large number of game heads from back in the day.  The Buckhorn specializes in exotic meat and so for my dinner I selected grilled Yak at the suggestion of Edgar.  Edgar, who is a chef at the establishment, has a beautiful way of describing food and by the time he was finished, I was sold!  It was great to have him guide me through the differences in the various types of meat.  But I did have to laugh when he said some people come in and ask for a vegetarian platter.  No offense to vegetarians, but the Buckhorn is the very last place on the planet you would go for veggies-:). 

Dora and Edgar are two gifts brought to us through the network of our boys.  They play, go to school, go to religious ed. and do scouts together.  So we are all TOGETHER a lot.  It's so nice to find people you enjoy being with, especially when your kids like each other.

Gift four is my new puppy!!!!  His name is Mercer, named after Johnny Mercer, lyricist extraordinaire.  He is part Dachschund and part Shepherd or Collie.  Just beeeutiful and sweet as can be.  At five months old he is such a tiny puppy who sleeps a lot.  Gershwin (that would be our 13 lb. Doxie/Chihuahua) just wants to play with him.  But I must admit, Gersh.  is just a tad jealous of the little one.  Today they had some sort of break through while we were away.  Must have had a conversation in the mud room and agreed to be pals, because Mercer happily trotted after Gershwin most of the afternoon.  Ella (our 9 yr. old Shepherd/Collie) is still young at heart and enjoys running after them.  So I'm quite happy that they all get along!

And of course, my best and last present was the CO Boy.  He did his best on Saturday to honor the idea of my birthday and kept telling me that we could do whatever I wanted to do because today was my special day.  It's so funny to watch him be deliberate about stuff like that.

Now I'm off to bed - that is if I can find room in the bed with three dogs, one boy and the RD!

Will he dance?

Angel Corella formerly of the ABT

class at ABT

I've been telling the Roping Dummy for quite a while that I suspect one of the CO Boy's big passions is dance.  Rewind for a bit of backstory:  I love dance.  Wished I could still dance.  Introduced CO Boy to ballet at a youngish age (he was probably the only kid in the theater who actually knew the story of the Nutcracker).  He loves watching dance of any kind, but seems to gravitate to ballet.  When we watch the Gene Kelly movies some of his favorite dances are the ballet sequences.

Last night he and I were watching some dancers on Youtube and he was captivated.  This morning the RD asked him if he would like to dance and he said he would. 

You know, you make every effort to expose your children to different experiences in the hopes that they will find something to light their passion for life.  The problem with this child is that he loves just about everything, so I sort of have to use my own intuition with him.  And my intuition tells me he may want to dance.  At least for now. I say he might want to dance for now because later on, the pressures he might face as he gets older will become difficult.  Once upon a time, all you had was teasing and name calling.  Now kids get abused for being different.  And I worry.  We all know how Americans view male dancers - they must be gay or very unmasculine at best.  However, if any of them caught sight of Angel Corella in his street clothes, they might think twice! 

There is a great Boys Ballet program in a nearby suburb but the scheduling won't work at the moment.  Perhaps this summer.  I'd like to give him the opportunity to at least see if he enjoys it.

Hearts and all

Garland by Maisy & Alice

Yesterday I worked at the tea room (my sister has a tea room and I help her on weekends) and came home to a lovely dinner prepared by the CO Boy and the Roping Dummy.  The RD prepared the food while the CO Boy took control of the creative decorating.  Steak and potatoes - yum!  The ambience was perfect and thoughtful.  The CO Boy matched all the placemats, folded the dinner napkins, gathered the candles and placed framed photos on the table for me.  He then drew a card for me which was in front of my place setting.  Then we had "ginger ale in fancy glasses" (that's what CO Boy said).  It was really lovely.  The RD remembers when we had very romantic or lavish Valentine Dinners, and while I enjoyed those, this one was right up there with the best.

Unfortunately the CO Boy came down with a cold today.  I received a phone call from the school nurse who had us pick him up.  He was soooo upset.  Today was his Valentine party at school.  He'd prepared his cards and was looking forward to the celebration.  Side note:  I LOVE Valentines Day.  Next to Christmas it is my favorite holiday.  Love the pink, red and white.  So some of that must have rubbed off on him.  But perhaps you can remember what it was like to be so small and look forward to an event and have your hopes dashed. 

Now he is settled in resting and I believe we'll go upstairs and listen to music and snuggle.  A good way to end Valentines Day.

Restful sleep. Not

Sleeping Partners by Cecil Aldin

This is sort of what I look like in bed at night with the two dogs, and my guys all fighting for space.  Then I wonder why my back hurts.  I love this painting - done in pastels for a book Aldin published.  I'd love to have it.  But alas, the copies I've seen are hugely expensive for this HP Girl.

I may have mentioned before that the CO Boy and I like to draw before bedtime.  We try to do so at least once a week, but he has become quite fond of the exercise and last night he asked if we could draw every night.  Well hey, you don't have to ask me twice!  We sit in our pajamas, drawing pads on our laps, Stephane Grapelli on the CD player and quietly draw side by side.  It's the sweetest thing for me.

Last night he began to take an interest in drawing what you see.  He did his very best to copy a photo of a puppy who was pictured at a side angle with only part of his right eye showing.  Then he asked if I would show him how to use a tortillion to blend his pencil markings.  I must say (even if I'm a bit biased), the drawing was quite good for a first go.  The CO Boy is rather impatient, so I have explained to him how drawings are developed in layers and how we can't do all of it in one night, but rather, several nights.  He seemed satisifed with my explanation and we'll begin again tonight.  I'm a lucky mother to have a boy who enjoys some of the things I enjoy.

Gus and The Colorado Boy

He is a patient soul in his mid-teens.

He is many times the size of the little people he allows to lead him.

And the Colorado Boy wishes Gus could live in our backyard.

I love to watch them as he learns to ride.  Gus already knows how - many times over.  But the CO. Boy is catching on.  This was only his third lesson, and his first lesson back since the broken arm incident in September.  He had no problems remembering what Miss Kim had taught him.  Kids are amazing that way.

The CO Boy's papi pretended to be Gus as Miss Kim reviewed some basic reining with him.

Finally, some balance work and then a little trot to end the day.

The Church says animals don't have souls and don't go to heaven.  Well, strike me down if you like....'cuz I'm certain my sweet dog, Basie is saving a spot for Gus.





Why'd I switch and what's with the name?

Some of you have been with me at my old blog, LittleRuthie (LR).  I'd been there for a time, but when I decided to blog again, LittleRuthie didn't feel right (plus it's a Typepad blog, and I'm not wanting to pay up any longer.)

But also, my life has changed so much since I first began blogging at LR.  I wanted a change. 

And I sort of liked the name, "Hautes Plaines Girl".  Part of me is squarely in my world here on the Colorado plains.  I enjoy the open space and the annual county fair.  I mean, what's not to like about funnel cakes and 4H livestock judging, I ask you?  But the other part of me still wants to learn French, go to France and study and just live a life with a little less cub scouts, 8-yr. old baseball and Taco Bell.

But I'd be missing this:

The Colorado Boy's first time to sing publicly with his Papi (dad).

Or,

Colorado Boy in Utah with his papi.
And finally...

Fishing after school

So that's what's up with the name.  I'm conflicted.

Thanks Mary-Laure and Margaret for your French grammar advice.  I'm pretty sure, I'd have botched it up all on my own.  The whole gender agreement thing just messes with me.