Ozark – The Bless Your Heart Blog

Random Ramblings

My word, the weather was B-E-A-UTIFUL today! 71 degrees in January, are you kidding me??! It was gorgeous!

We went to work with Wrexy today. Wryder went grocery shopping with me, Sawyer stayed at the barn with daddy and then we all met up again.

Learning from the best... — Learning from the best…

We watched cows sell for a little while and then the kids and I took advantage of the weather and hit the park. The kiddos had a ball and were covered in sand from head to toe.

Riding a squirrel? Chipmunk? What IS that thing??

Wryder loved this yellow horse... — Wryder loved this yellow horse…

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We got home, unloaded groceries and decided we STILL couldn’t drag ourselves indoors so we saddled up sweet Ozark and hit the road.

Old man looks really good these days. We are so thankful for all of the days we’ve had with him and we’re praying for more…

After supper, they weren’t quite done riding horses so Sawyer volunteered.

Ride a little pony... — Ride a little pony…

It turned out to be more of a bucking bronc fest but it was good watching!

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I posted this picture of Sawyer on Facebook a day or so ago…

I love this girl’s style! She loves accessories and shoes and fancy dresses; she is all girl and I love it!

She went upstairs to grab some jammies tonight and brought down some beads for me to put on her, too.

Jewelry with pajamas?! Of course!

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With all of the nesting/cleaning/rearranging going on, Wrex and I decided that our room would officially be downstairs and the kids would each have a room upstairs. I always feel like our room gets neglected – does that happen to anyone else?? It’s the place we sleep and get dressed and other than that, we don’t spend much time there and I feel like it shows.

We used a little paint, bought a new bedspread, made some paper flowers, rearranged the room and voila – “new” bedroom! I’m really happy with how it turned out…Hoping to get lots of rest in there tonight. I feel whooped!

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It was just SUCH a good day. A REAL good day. And tomorrow…with 75 degrees as a high…I hope is even better.

Home on the Plains

It was an absolutely gorgeous day out on the plains of Colorado! I mean, don’t get me wrong, there could still have been less wind, but considering…

We went into Grant this morning for Bible study and then we grabbed some Subway and headed to the park with friends!

The kids played and played and played some more…and Wryder may or may not have fallen out of the stroller because he wasn’t buckled properly. Ahem. We weren’t moving at the time and he’s fine, thankfully. This has been one of those weeks where he’s gotten a little banged up. He fell out of a little chair on Sunday and bonked his noggin, scraped his chin and cheek on the dollhouse, cut his nose with his fingernail and then the stroller fiasco. Maybe I should put him in a padded room?! Maybe he’s just a boy…

Post park, we loaded up and headed home to play outside some more. Even the chickens enjoyed this beautiful day. They were all out pecking around and took turns playing king of the mountain.

Daddy did some chores while Sawyer and I dug in the dirt, jumped on the trampoline and “baked some cakes” in the barn. Then, it was pony time!

Be still my heart... — Be still my heart…

We rode out into the far pasture and I think the goat’s a little a out of shape. She was panting like crazy as I stopped to snap a few pics…

Sawyer has really good balance and is really comfortable on Ozark and I’m still having to pry Wryder’s little hands off of the saddle horn when it’s time to call it quits.

I'm a cowboy, baby... — I’m a cowboy, baby…

A little choke-hold is good for brothers... — A little choke-hold is good for brothers…

Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for temps in the 80’s! I’m thinkin’ we’ll be doing it all again tomorrow…

Horsin’ Around

Despite that nasty wind, today turned out to be decently nice out. Wrex spent the morning digging up a busted pipe out by the well and we spent the afternoon with this handsome fella…

Ozark is a sweet, sweet, sweet old man. Wrex’s family bought him when Wrex was around 12 years old. He stayed at their place for quite a while and then was sold to Wrex’s boss’ family in Denver. Once we got settled out here on the plains, they generously gifted him back to us for our kiddos to ride; THAT was a superb, emotional day.

We’re not sure how old he is but our best guess is around 28-30. He doesn’t have a tooth in his head and we spend a few dollars on feed each month…that then must be soaked in water so he can scarf it down…but he’s so very worth it!

He is such a good, solid guy; so calm and collected and trustworthy. (Some of the same traits as my sweet hubby, I might add). Sawyer loves the stuffin’ out of him (as do I) and I think our newest little cowboy does too. Wryder got to go for his first ride today and I’m pretty sure that it was the highlight of his life thus far! I had to literally pry his little chubby hands off of the saddle.

We don’t know how much longer he has on this ole earth but we are overjoyed and honored that he gets to live it out with us and we intend to soak it up as much as possible. Horses are incredible creatures and we’d like our kids to learn to care for him and gain some horsemanship before it’s time to graduate up to the next level.

Gettin' all the dead winter hair outta there... — Gettin’ all the dead winter hair outta there…

We learned several years ago that Phipps means “lover of horses.” I know that’s true for my hubby and I’m proud to say it’s true for our two cuties too…even though loving Ozark is pretty darn easy.

She's such a good big sister... — She’s such a good big sister…

Loving these guys is, too…

The Visitors

We have some visitors out here on the plains.

Their mommy and daddy are at Disney World with the other kids, so we get to babysit. Sawyer named this calf Cinderella way back when she was purchased…and it stuck. I LOVE big, fuzzy-eared cattle. She’s my fave.

She had a calf this past year which is named Gus Gus. Rightfully so.

This little momma’s name is Daisy. We raised her as a bottle calf when we lived in Denver. Wrex’s boss’ family showed her some and then sold her to her new home. She’s as sweet as pie. (Elise – this is the one you fed when you lived with us. You called her Precious, but regardless…)

They’re all gentle ladies. Sawyer likes to treat them (aka entice them to come her way) with a little nibble of corn.

Ozark the pony has been sharing his space with such grace. They’re constantly checking him out. They don’t have much to worry about out, though. He can’t steal their feed as he has no real teeth left. He gets a special senior horse feed which takes a special line in our budget. He’s totally worth it though. More on him some other time. He’s a dandy.

It’s been fun to have a few new projects around. One of the heifers is due to calve any day now and we can’t hardly wait. Hoping I can catch that one on camera. Wish me luck!