I've been online, just not here

Best In Show (she's got nothin' on Gershwin-:))

Life is good!

I've been blogging, but over at The Denver Tea Room.  I've done some interviews with three wonderful romance writers who will be at our Book Lovers Salon Tea on February 26th.  Should be lots of fun as nothing is better than scones, tea and books.  It would be perfect if I could wear my pajamas, but alas, they expect clothing. 

In Don & The Roping Dummies news, we have a new date set for the CD release party.  So if you're in town on March 2nd, please join us at The Cool River Cafe for fun and music.

Been busy at the tea room.  Valentine's Day was unexpectedly busy.  When the day began we only had a few reservations but then the phone started ringing with some panicked voices and we helped them out! 

Today is all about Cub Scouts.  The Colorado Boy has his Blue & Gold Banquet tonight.  The boya receive specific achievements and eat lots of spaghetti and garlic bread.  Big time in downtown Brighton tonight!

Snow Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: vmburkhardt.tumblr.com via Sylvie on Pinterest

 

The biggest storm of the year, is what they're calling it.  20 inches expected down toward Colorado Springs and about 12 inches here on the plains. 

 

Regardless, we will trek down south this evening where we will have the CD release party for Don & The Roping Dummies.  So don't let a little snow put you off if you're in town and come on out!

 

 

 

 

Roping Dummies and Kate Morton (or how I spent my 15th wedding anniversary)

The Chief Roping Dummy and I have been married 15 years today.  While we could have gone out to celebrate, we opted to stay in (it's a school night, ya know).

The RD and band members were at the house running through sets for their CD release party.  And here it is!

to listen go here.

Meanwhile, the CO Boy and I snuggled upstairs with the pups.  I was at the ever so critical part of a book - you know, when you've got, say, two chapters left. 

Man.  The ending was great.  Loved it.  While The Distant Hours, is probably still my favorite of Kate Morton's, The House at Riverton, was quite good.  Didn't see the conclusion coming until I was almost upon it!

Next up:

This is a children's mystery series I've thoroughly enjoyed.  Enola ("alone" spelled backwards) is a much younger sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes.  Raised by their Suffragist mother she lives in London, always dodging the brothers who try to get her to attend a proper girls school.  Great fun.

The Roping Dummy got a vacuum for Fathers Day

Not just any vacuum but the Hoover Wind Tunnel Pet Cyclonic vacuum.  Sounds serious, huh?  Actually we were at Home Depot and I saw it and knew I had to have it, as our vacuum has lost that lovin' feeling when it comes to pet hair.  The RD was thrilled.  Right.

Seriously, the whole Father's Day thing is something the poor man has to create on his own.  I'm the absolute worst at doing all the stuff you're supposed to do.  I mean, I birthed the CO Boy, what could I possibly do to top that?  So for his big day we went out to the stables and I rode a horse.  Yes, I rode a horse. Not him.  Just me. 

But let me explain.  I haven't ridden in oh, 15 years and I am in love with equines.  Truly, I don't really need to ride them but I do need to be around them.  So he got Miss Kim to give me a lesson today.  I've wanted to go back and learn a lot of the Natural Horsemanship methods, but with the CO Boy riding regularly, there is only so much money to go around for lessons.  At first I protested but then he made me shut up because he said I was ruining his fun.

Well, it really was fun.  My fun.

And not just fun, but gosh it was truly relaxing.  Sort of like yoga in paddock boots.  My stress just melts away when I'm around horses.  After I rode, he helped Miss Kim muck stalls and I groomed Bailey, MY horse-:).  I combed all the tangles out of her mane and her tail.  On the way home the RD says, "You know don't you, nobody else combs their manes or tails." 

Well MY horse gets her mane and tail combed.  End of story.

So my lovely husband watched me do ground work, ride and coo over Bailey.

Then I came home and used my Hoover Wind Tunnel Cyclone Pet vacuum!

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?



My Roping Dummy-:)

My Roping Dummy is in the fancy Roy Rogers shirt

This past weekend the RD's band had a gig.  This is their second time out and it was a lot of fun.  Sounded good and the audience enjoyed it.

As most of you may know, the RD used to be a big band leader.  Wore a tux, sang Sinatra, and smoked a cigarette.  Well, not so much anymore.  Now he wears Roy Roger shirts (that's what I call them), sings Gene Autry songs and no longer smokes.  Takes a bit of getting used to but it seems to be working out just fine.

And just for his wife, he's thrown in a couple of songs written by Cole Porter (Don't Fence Me In)  and Johnny Mercer (I'm an Old Cowhand).

If you are at all interested in supporting independent music, I invite you to go over to

kickstarter and pledge a few dollars to help with the band's first cd. 
I'd never been to Kickstarter before, but it's a neat idea.  If your project is approved (has to have a beginning and an end), then you have a page where people can go to invest in your project.  There are benefits for folks at various support levels.  For instance, if you pledge $25, then you get a copy of the CD.  But even if you pledge $10, it would be greatly appreciated.  And another neat feature is that your funds are not taken until the project is 100% funded, that way you're not out money if they can't raise the funds.  So go over and share in the yippee-yi-yo!

Side Note:  The reason the husband is the RD on this blog is because his band is called, "Don and the Roping Dummies."  A roping dummy is something used to practice roping steer.  Here's what one looks like if you've never seen it:

Attractive, huh?

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.