Riding Through Life One Horse At A Time…Courage Is Being Scared To Death But Saddling Up Anyway!
16 Jan 2012 Leave a comment
in Photography, Storms, Weather, Winter Tags: Life Scenes, Photography, Weather, Winter
Snow update in Juniper Canyon. Here we go…the clouds were serious with the “Impossible Snow Mission.”
Yep…the snow has landed here in Juniper Canyon finally this 2012 winter.
One last shot…it is still coming down…snow from heaven…tonight we are under a Winter Storm watch for the next several days…I will keep you posted.
May you be blessed by God tonight…snuggle up and sleep well.
15 Jan 2012 Leave a comment
in Clouds, Lifestyles, Photography, Storms, Weather, Winter Tags: Lifestyles, Odd beauty, Photography, Weather, Winter
Sunday’s fabulous snow follies did not show up as predicted…snow? What snow? Winter storm warnings….where?
This is what we woke up to…hmmm…Sunday sunshine and clear blue skies!
Tucker is sunning herself…she likes keeping her tan spots nice and tan year round:) She is quite a Diva around here too…she is Queen Meanie at times…the Boss…don’t cross her.
Ah-ha! The cast of characters are slowly beginning to mix things up a bit for a change around Juniper Canyon.
Clouds began to roll in on a mission impossible. The snow assignment had been accepted as their mission and it was going to go down.
Slowly the clouds snuffed the light of the sun out…it was time for the sun to take a nice winter nap.
And then…the onimous “Big Guy” showed up above…of course I was out with my camera clicking happily away with the ever changing shapes and rather threatening eerie light…perfect for photography.
“Little Buck” here comes the snow instead of here comes the sun.” If you look close you can see his rear end across the road. He is a Buckskin and blends in with our scenery.
Melody is still truly wondering what Patio Horse is up too…why does he keep hanging around anyway?
And Kiah agrees…and wonders why am I shooting pictures in the cold…cuz I am obsessed Kiah and you are cute…kind of scary cute but cute.
Until next time…have a great Sunday night.
10 Jan 2012 12 Comments
in Heritage, Juniper T Ranch, Photography, Ranch History, Ranch Life Tags: Heritage, Juniper T Ranch, Photography
Simple times in a simple country girls life in Juniper Canyon can be interesting…always changing…certainly not boring. What is it like where you live? If you were to ask me what is it like here, this is what I would say…
Amazing views because you can see forever…ever changing incredible light for picture taking nuts like me…you never know what living scene of daily life you will see or experience.
Most mornings you wake to a beautiful sunrise…filled with a revered quiet…stillness that fills you with a sense of God and peace for the new day.
Equally beautiful sunsets kiss your face each night and never fail to put on a chromatic color scheme of pure country beauty.
Solitude…looking into forever…not seeing another person…just you and the stillness of the land.
I know that horses will be in heaven because God made them and He loves to ride them…I feel like I am already in heaven when I ride Melody…she makes my heart rest and my spirit go ahhhhhhh.
A warm winter’s night that feels like spring…it was incredible to look up and see two jets overhead in the golden evening twilight.
One of our resident hawks taking off to hunt for dinner. I then convinced Wild Bill to hike up on the hill as I was hoping for some moon shots.
Even after living here forever I never get tired of the views and knowing that the ground I walk on has been in my family for over 100 years…that speaks deep to your soul. I thank God for our home and this land everyday.
Here is a bit of history…the old clubhouse that we made for our kids and eventually became our grandkids. It has been everything from a rocket ship to a fort to a tank to a spaceship. In real life though it was an original tractor cab way back in the early 40’s. It kept the weather out and some of the dust…if only it could talk the stories it would tell.
And then…the moon peeked out from over the hill….perfectly blessed:)
Wild Bill agrees the hike was worth it!
Country beauty…country blessings.
Always interesting and intriguing.
As we headed for home we passed the stand of old trees that my Dad planted way back when. The weather and harsh winds take a toll on them but they have an enduring beauty of their own.
Hey Little Buck Buck…he is enjoying his evening hay dinner.
One last Juniper moon shot.
I hope you have enjoyed a small…very small part of our simple life here. May you be blessed where ever you are.
07 Jan 2012 2 Comments
in Family, Ranch Life, Storms, Weather, Winter Tags: Family, Photography, Weather, Winter
Where oh where is Ms. Madame Cold Winter? I want the winters that I remember in my heart and soul.
Winters of being snowed in out here…incredible times of sledding down hills…crazy snowmobiling times of taking off from the back door…off we go over them thar hills all eight miles to Helix and back…by the time we got home we had at least 35 miles on our machines:) Yee-Haw cowgirl style:)
I want this kind of winter…snowed in…not going anywhere kind of snow!
Ask Miss Hobby Horse…she knows about snowy Juniper white stuff.
Tuck Tuck remembers the white stuff too…it was up to her belly.
Our 100 year old farm house remembers the snow and cold winters…it can tell you lots of history and stories of past winters.
Miss Melody was laying on top of the third rail of the log fence as we had so much snow a few years ago.
“Hello Ms. Madame Cold Winter Snow Person.” “We need snow…rain and moisture…not to be greedy but we also need some cold temps to kill the bugs and all of the things that hurt our wheat…please gf:)”
And Ms. Razzy says yeah…winter…snow…what is it…I am only two?
We need snowed in type of snow and cold…drifts and lots of white stuff…where oh where are you Ms. Madame Cold Winter?
It should be like this…when we bought our first Chevrolet Blazer the first 1500 miles were solid snow floor out here.
“Ms. Madame Cold Winter Snow Person…please come see us again…you are always welcome…we have lots of hot chocolate and blankets…flashlights too:) Love you girl and want you back:)”
“Happy Birthday Mom…My Mother My Friend.”
“We miss you much!”
06 Jan 2012 Leave a comment
in Holton Secret Lab, Hot Rods, Photography Tags: 68 Cougar, Custom Cars, Ford F-100, Holton Secret Lab, Hot Rods, Photography
Hot Rods and Secret Labs….what does that sound like but Holton Secret Lab!
“Should you accept this mission?”
I decided last weekend that no matter that it is cold out, it was time for another HSL photo shoot to let you know what we are working on…we have many various projects going currently.
By the way…all you car people out there…you can click on all these pictures and they will blow up and fill your screen…makes them look very nice!
I love the shot of the “53 F-100″…it sits right and looks bad to the bone…it is parked in front of “The Secret Lab.”
Currently we have been working on two F-100 Ford pick ups.
We call this “56 F-100 The “Chrome One”…the paint and all the chrome make it shine beyond belief! It is like a mirror…and shines like a wild thing…it is going to be a show stopper this year.
It has a big heartbeat…yah-yah! Can we all say…incredible…awesome and fast!
When you see this F-100 in person…it is jaw dropping and ver cool.
Can you say “Zoom Zoom?” This belongs to a “68 Cougar” that we have built a new suspension for among other details….if this car pulls up next to you at a stop light…forget it…it will blow your doors off!
The ever changing scenery in the lab…I never know what I will see on the rotisserie…here we have a “54 Willy’s” cab on one end and a “35 Dodge” cab on the other end…getting ready for priming.
We spend hours customizing each customer job to their specifications…from a louvered firewall…
To a custom dash and interior as most customers would like to have more gauges and air conditioning installed as well as satellite radio etc.
Another custom touch…a back light on a “35 Dodge Belt Line.”
It takes many shop hours…labor along with talent to create and fabricate hot rods into outrageous and outstanding rides.
This “48 Ford Coupe” is in process right now…it is getting a new heart and suspension.
This is a “46 Ford Tudor ” that we built and if you look close at the two vehicles you can see that we customized this Ford a lot.
Here is my “36 Ford Pick Up Cab” sitting on top of the paint booth…”Hey…wait a minute Wild Bill…I want my pick up finished!” I used to own a 35 Ford Pick Up that got sold…arggghhhh!
On any given day this is what I see…
Cool stuff…nice stuff…custom delight stuff and yee-haw…oops…sorry…the cowgirl got the best of me:)
Cragers…wow…unfortunately you do not see them as much now…when I met Wild Bill they were the only wheel to have…I loved them then and I love ’em now!
And Bella Bel-Air!
And this very cool F-100!
This was just a very brief look at “Holton Secret Lab” as there is much more to showcase.
“Hang on and check back with us”.
“We deliver the unexpected.”
“Burn ‘Em and Enjoy The Ride or The Drive!”
Until next time…”Your mission is complete.”
This brief will self destruct in 5 minutes…over and out!
12 Dec 2011 4 Comments
in Horses, Lifestyles, Photography, Weather Tags: Christmas, Lifestyles, Odd beauty, Photography
Winter wonderland has transformed Juniper Canyon into a twilight zone of frozen earth and frozen air.
For several days now we have had heavy fog and frigid temps.
The landscape has become a monochromatic world of frozen tundra.
While the trees are clothed in a whiter shade of pale…and gray.
The heavy frost is slowly transforming ordinary things into weird shapes and images.
The trees though held captive by the bleak grayness are beautiful in their own way…if you look for the beauty amidst the stark contrast with the sky.
Both man and animal alike is feeling humdrum from the gray days…as evidenced here from Melody to Patio Horse…. “What are you staring at me for?”
This kind of weather wears on you after a while and yet…there is still an odd beauty to the frozen days…our lone evergreen shrub looks frozen yet festive for Christmas!
My log fence is dressed for the holidays with its white garland…can you say brrrrrrr.
Melody is still not sure about “Patio Horse”….”Annie did you see that weird horse over on the patio….I tired to talk to it but it just looked at me with its frosty glare and icy hair.”
” Patio Horse” is a bit threatening with its eyes staring at you.”
Ooooops the grayness and surreal twilight zone pulled me into a warped sense of reality for a moment…sorry for the lapse…ok moving on to decorations….let’s forget weird and dreary for a minute!
This is one of our traditional decorations…not sure where my Mom got this Moose but she loved it and I dig him out every year.
And this is my Christmas Angel that I have had since I was little. She is one of my keep sakes and yearly traditions…the first decoration I get out right after Thanksgiving.
“Wild Bill” brought the tree home last night on “Melody” who was not thrilled as you can see by her look. I am hoping to get the tree decorated tonight!
The front porch wreath is up to welcome visitors…with a cherry Merry Christmas!
However our handrail looks a bit hairy and icy today and not too welcoming.
One last tree shot…despite the mundane days if we look hard there is beauty to be found all around us:)
Could not resist this fun shot…Happy Monday!
Last report I heard was that “Patio Horse” was running wild….keep your eyes open for him!
08 Dec 2011 4 Comments
in Heritage, Juniper T Ranch, Lifestyles, Photography, Ranch Life Tags: Heritage, Horses, Juniper T Ranch, Lifestyles, Photography
Crazy…fast and furious…unpredictable life filled with many great blessings…I often experience a mix…and even though it is fast and furious I find myself grabbing on to the important seconds that tick by….filing them away in my heart and trying to see every little detail of God’s world that we live in.
Prince was my first horse and best friend. Prince carried me for several years all over out here where I still live…a heartful of memories in a young cowgirls life.
I grew up behind my Dad’s back…where Dad went on a horse I went too…that was life to me…being on the back of a good horse…riding behind my Dad…and I miss his back.
Cows and horses or horses and cows…how I grew up and what I saw daily, normal everyday cattle ranch life…my history filled with many memories.
I am sure you all have those early life memories of daily life with your parents and where you lived…how you lived and what your life was about…moments that will live on forever and yet often, only live on in your memories.
My life was growing up here…on the Juniper T Ranch…various family and friends were around during early summer when we moved the cattle up to the mountain ground and again during the fall gathering. Three of my Aunt’s are in this picture…and this is where my Mom cooked for 20-30 men every day on a wood cook stove in this log cabin…no water except hauling it by bucket…that was life back in the late 60’s for this redneck girl.
With this post I am writing about life chapters…old times and new times…old memoreis and new memories.
A glimpse of the special moments.
Experiences of a lifetime…Hobby and I playing with a cow.
She was just learning to hook on here.
And then she got it!
I loved the feeling of a horse under me moving and dancing with a cow…nothing quite like it! Hobby I miss you girl…miss you lots.
From work to play on a simple warm trail riding kind of day. Sitting on top of the Blue Mountains…the best place to be on a horse around here in the summertime!
Life with many adventures and well-worn chapters in the book of simple times.
Chapters of buying a new horse and bringing her home…our time getting to know each other….Melody you are the song in my heart:)
Turning golden worn pages to another chapter of life…grandkids and fun times with friends at the beach.
Moments with our sons…ocean views…happy times…family memories.
Special birthday times with our youngest son who is a “Moose”…Hot Rod Cowgirl is 5’9″….youngest son is a “Giant” at 6’5″.
Snap shots of a funny moment of “Jagged and Wild Bill”…silly, crazy times!
Of course “Smart Alec Times”..I think Hot Rod Cowgirl is picking on Wild Bill:)
Birthdays and grandkids helping me celebrate…two granddaughters…lots of resemblance in our eyes and mouth…you can see that we are family:) Ok guys you can close your mouth…Wild Bill…Natalie…Becca…ok I know the cake is looking yummy and all but come on for the picture…close your mouth like me and smile big:) Oh Becca…where oh where are you??? Come back to reality girl.
An ordinary life filled with times such as this with family…love…happiness…that incredible moment when time stands still and you know….this is beautiful life.
Life takes you to places you have been before and places you have never been before.
Like “The Portland Roadster Show” in 2006 when we took three customer vehicles and won three Best Of Class!
And snow storms that drift and give you great photo ops!
Christmas is coming sooner than we expect…and before we know it…less than three weeks!
Just ask Ms. Minnie Mouse:) She likes sleeping under the tree when we put it up…now on to decorating it.
Christmas with Grandkids:) on our antique red sofa…long story for another post….the sofa is 1940’s vintage red leather and I love it!
Good Night where ever you are…it is super cold here tonight…snuggle down with your loved ones and remember to look for those special memories and moments in your life…may you be blessed by the season at hand.
24 Nov 2011 Leave a comment
in Breast Cancer, Clouds, Lifestyles, Photography, Storms Tags: Life Scenes, Lifestyles, Photography
Today was the first day that I have actually felt the first breath of winter…artic cold wind…and dark clouds.
We were out this afternoon worming our three horses.
It was cold with the wind blowing out of the North…the outside lights were on at 2:45 in the afternoon and it looked like it would either snow or rain any minute.
Melody and Annie were good with the wormer…I am sure it tastes like ick…but once it was down I gave them treats..and lots of rubs and luvs.
Here at our house our horses…dogs….cats…are our kids and we love them 1000%.
Buck was great with his shot and then the wormer too….he is so polite and quiet.
As soon as we were done, I hot footed it back to the house…brrrrr.
It snowed here a year ago on November 21st…so will it this year too?
I wrote this a few weeks ago….was going to shoot more pictures and get it posted…I know if I am going to blog I need to do it once a week at least or more often..then I got busy and did not get this posted.
I have disappeared the last few weeks from the blog/web world. Where have I been? This was the last picture you saw of me taken in October.
I had surgery in Portland last week at Oregon Health Science University so I was a bit detained from my computer! I picked up something way too heavy for me to lift and ended up with a hernia.
Some of you know that I am a breast cancer survivor and almost have six years under my belt now…I went through lots of surgery in 2006…20 hours in one week and then another 5 hours four months later. We had been very proactive as I was high risk and when they caught it on the mammogram it was the size of a small orange…the Dr. recommended a mastectomy.
Wild Bill and I had already discussed this as I had 8 biopsies from 2001 through 2004….had one year off and then was diagnosed in January of 2006. It was wide-spread but not yet invasive and caught early so I feel I was lucky. We chose to take both breasts and at the same time do the reconstruction with a double free tram flap as it was the most proactive thing we could do for my survival. The first surgery was 16 hours and then 48 hours later another 4 hours. It was a miracle…no infections and yes the healing time was six months but I came back good as new….I was working out at the local athletic club with a trainer at five months.
This is me today…I look the same…but I have to be careful and not lift over 10 pounds as now I have a mesh screen in my belly as a tram flap is using your own belly tissue and muscle for the blood flow for the new tissue to form new breasts.
I was afraid I would puncture implants doing ranch chores or riding horses. Out where we live it is a different life…you do what you have to do when you have to do it…if you have never lived in the middle of no where or the country that may not make sense.
As it is, I ended up with a hernia from lifting something when Wild Bill was not around…I know stupid on my part…but seriously I do not think and I forget…this has been a new normal for this country girl.
Here we are coming home from OHSU after the surgery last week….I love the city but I am always thankful when we get on I-84 and we are headed for Eastern Oregon…..home.
Ok well forget November 21st on the snow…this is November 16th…oh what a fun drive we had.
It went from a bit of snow to…
Serious snow…I am not thinking this is looking good…I was not worried about us as we had four-wheel drive and are used to driving in winter conditions etc. but being on the freeway with lots of traffic is not good with icy conditions.
Oh great!!!!!
And then…we finally broke out of it as we hit the edge of Eastern Oregon.
Biggs Junction and Maryhill…they have excellent wines at Maryhill Winery.
And then…God smiled….and brought us home to Juniper Canyon…with peaceful views and the blessing of “home.”
Melody and Annie said hay hay hay! Mom’s home…we missed you…come see us and give us some luvs…rubs and apple asses:)
Minnie missed me too…she and I have spent the last week on the sofa under the quilt recovering. Of course I have my laptop and a new phone to play with…which is fun of course…and lots of well wishes and my hubby who has been awesome to be my nurse and my cook:) I have several weeks yet to go with recovery but we are on the road.
I am thankful to be here and to be healthy…to have life and years yet to live. Please be sure to take care of your health and know that your life is your life and your health is your health…do all your yearly exams and be aware of your body and of your health. I am living proof of doing that as with the cancer I had you could not feel it…and yet the area was the size of a small orange. Both Wild Bill and I saw it after the biopsy. My Doctor did not want to wait on doing a surgical biopsy as he wanted to get it out…so six days later after the mammogram he did the biopsy in his office where I was fully awake. Seeing the size of the lump, and yet I could not feel it, helped me understand that you may not always be able to feel a lump with breast cancer. Doing your yearly exams and in my case a digital mammogram saved my life.
Moving on to Holton Secret Lab News….as soon as I am feeling a bit better I will be updating the new web site.
The Portland Roadster Show is coming…March 2012. This is a picture of our display at the Roadster Show…10 Customer Cars…12 Awards.
What’s that sound? It’s a V-12 1928 Dodge Coupe…”Jagged!”
Holton Secret Lab…need I say more? Check out…www.holtonsecretlab.com
Come see what is so dang secret about “The Lab”…You Will Not Be Disappointed!
Happy Thanksgiving 2011…From Hot Rod Cowgirl…Wild Bill and Holton Secret Lab LLC.
Hot Rod Cowgirl 
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