Olathe Sweet Corn

Tonight we had olathe sweet corn for dinner. I know it doesn't seem worthy of a whole blog but it is. It is the most amazing corn on the cob ever and it's only available the first week of August. A few years ago our family was fortunate enough to go trail riding in Moab, Utah. We went and stayed with friends Nancy and John Hauer. We went riding with John up the top of a mountain and looked down. He pointed to a town and told us that it was Moab. We were probably one of the first families in 100 years to see Moab for the first time from the top of a snow covered mountain in August. (He owned the whole top of the mountain.) When we returned to their ranch, his wife Nancy had made olathe sweet corn and barbeque ribs. I can't eat Olathe corn without thinking of her and her husband's amazing hospitality. Our children had the greatest time and it was a memory that comes up in discussions on a regular basis. They lived on the Colorado river and their dog would pretend like he was drowning so water rafters would pick him up and feed him. After he ate he would jump out and swim off. Nancy died a few years ago - what a loss for her family.

Cell Phone Disaster

Today was a very bad day. I mean I'm alive - but it has been a bad day. I decided to clean out a cabinet, the shelf fell with 20 quarts of dill pickles falling with it. There was glass, vinegar, dill and pickles along with beets all over the floor and me. It took 2 hours to get everything cleaned up. I threw my clothes in the washer and went and took a shower. 30 minutes later I realized my cell phone was in the pocket.

I have to say that the majority of AT&T employees are rude, not helpful and basically imcompetent. After visiting the store and being sent to the AT&T call center and then being transfered 8 times with no one helping me, the last lady told me she did not have time to deal with my issues.

I think maybe they are underpaid - but still rude!!!

Ranch Rodeo

Last night we headed to Urich, Mo for a Ranch Rodeo. Loren competes with several other cowboys from the Jefferson City area. They competed in the rain with their highest placing being a third. It was not our best night for Ranch Rodeo. The cattle were fresh and the team in front of us scattered the cattle every time and there was not enough time to settle them before they started the timer. It was a nice evening shared with other cowboys despite the results. Loren rode his mule, Eeyore, and another guy, Wes, rode his mule. Of course they were the only mules at the event!

St. Louis Zoo

The St. Louis Zoo is amazing. It's rated the number one zoo across the United States. The best part is it's free. The facility is outstanding. We took the granddaughter yesterday and met my sister, her husband and their kids. It stopped raining, the humidity went up and we got to look at all of the active animals. Four hours later, and two cranky toddlers, we headed back home. It was a really nice family day.

Shopping with a 3 year old

Today my daughter, granddaughter and I went shopping. What a bad idea! The three year old woke up in a bad mood and stayed in a bad mood. Lunch at The Cheesecake Factory helped - but she would not eat anything. The two hour drive each way was only good while she was sleeping. Good thing she's so cute!

Chuckwagon Race Mule Races

Loren, Cole and I spent the weekend at Lockwood, Mo at the Arkansas Chuckwagon Race Association races. It was hot - but what a crowd they had. 1000's of people gathered around to watch chuckwagons race. It is a pretty exciting sport - the precursor to NASCAR. Everyone watching them circle waiting for a wreck. Cole raced his mule, BB, in the mule race. He was out front 3/4 of the way the first day and BB pulled out of the circle and the winner went on by to take the victory. The second day BB was ahead all the way until 10 foot from the finish line and she again veered outward and Gary Mathes snuck by to win by a nose. Cole's mule is faster - just not quite as controlled yet. He'll get him at the National Chuckwagon Finals in Clinton!!!! I got too much sun as usual. The chuckwagon races were good but the Ranch Rodeo had 23 teams and took entirely too long to complete. I don't think the bikini barrel race was what they had in mind. Cole decided they might want to put a weight limit on the race (typical 17 year old statement.)

Belle Fair

The community is having a fair this week. Last night Camri and the cousins went to watch the parade. The little girls spent more time looking for their candy then at the parade - until the tractors came through. Camri was extremely excited about the tractors - I guess we are raising a country girl. Camri and her mom and Rylie, Myckena and Grandma went to the fair to ride the rides.

Chores

The last few days Camri has been awake by 6:30 - ready to go out and do the chores. She wants to dump the grain in and then brush her mule Blazin Blue. By 7:15 she was ready to go swimming in her new swimming pool. the pool has a slide and a palm tree that squirts water out of the hose. She was so excited to hit the water - she jumped in, slide down the slide and then screamed as she hit the cold water. It's almost 2:00 and I still haven't gotten her convinced to get back in. She wants to throw things in it but is convinced that it is still freezing. So much for an hour blowing it up and 30 minutes filling it with water. The dogs like it though!

pictures from Shelbyville

Cori riding Hoosier Daddy and Cole riding BB

Tuesday

Camri was up by 6:15 today - hate those early mornings. She got to go to the barn and chore with Papa though. She loves that!!!! I'm sure she is not as much help as she thinks she is. Papa just goes on about his morning. The weather is warming up - typical for July in Missouri. Loren has to work at the Cuba sale barn today - it should be hot among all of those cows.

Great Celebration Mule Show

I have recovered from our trip home. Tim and Sheila Cross went with us and on the way home Tim's wheel on the trailer about fell off. We spent a couple extra hours getting it put back on. Today is being spent doing laundry.

A couple comments about Shelbyville: when the show says substitutions are allowed, they mean substitutions for riders not for mules. I think they should clarify that in their rulebook. We had to pay an extra $22.00 to take Katie out of a class already registered for and put Hoosier in the same class. I think that is silly. The show used two judges this year. I think Judge Isley did an excellent job. He stuck with the same type mule during halter and he stuck with the same english/western type mule throughout the class. He didn't jump around with what he liked. I like a judge that stays with what he views as standard and doesn't chose things based on color or size. I didn't like that the schedule put driving on two different days - seems kind of dumb.

Back from Shelbyville

There weren't as many people or exhibitors as I expected at Shelbyville. The weather was much nicer than it's been the last 7 or 8 years. There were some great mules showing. Cole won the youth keyhole, the open pylon alley and Loren and Cole got 2nd in the pantyhose race. Cori and Hoosier showed well in pleasure and english. I have some complaints about the show - will post those tomorrow.

Shelbyville

Getting ready to leave for Shelbyville, TN for the Great Celebration Mule Show. I understand the weather is supposed to be cooler than normal - I guess 90 degrees rather than 100. Loren and Cole have spent the last few days putting the hay up. I love the way the hay field looks after they're done. It's been very hot for hay - but at least we got it all put up before it rained.