FALL HAPPENINGS!!

Ooooweeeeee, the thief of time has stolen again! This Fall has been moving at warp speed, but these pics should catch you up to speed on things here in Texas!

One evening, the dogs started barking, and it wasn't just the tone of bark that they usually proclaim when their conversing with the coyotes...it was rapid, high pitched and carried a "warning" overtone...I went out to see...and...off the porch...by the storm cellar...was...a............BADGER! They had him backed in the corner of the concreted storm cellar and good gracious, was he MAD! I ran in to tell Zack and of course, the "WILD KINGDOM" genes that Zack possesses instantly thrust him into the "catch and release" mode! He ran to the barn and fashioned a 1"PVC pole (long enough to stay at a safe distance from this critter) into a catch pole. He threaded a lasso's loop through the pipe and very quickly returned with a perfect way to catch this thing...

..... It was hissing and charging and clearly upset at the circumstances...

Zack slipped the loop over his neck and pulled him out into the light so that we could take a gander...never caught a badger before! WOW - they sure have long claws and a mouth full of sharp teeth!

HE WAS SOOOOO NOT HAPPY, BUT, AFTER WE TOOK A LOOK AND MARVELED AT HOW ZACK WAS ABLE TO DO WHAT HE DID...HE RELEASED THE LOOP AND USED THE POLE TO GUIDE IT AWAY FROM THE HOUSE AND DOWN THE LANE TO THE WEST PASTURE...IT WAS REALLY COOL!

Through my website, I was connected with a gal from Denver. She ordered 50 western wineglass charms for the Denver chapter FBI convention. She said they were a "hit" and sent me a couple photos of how great they looked!

Each one had a different western charm - horses, hats, boots,stars, spurs...as well as different stones to compliment them!

THE COWBOY MOUNTED SHOOTING WEEKEND has come and gone in a "flash"! I got sick during the morning of the first day of this weekend that I had waited all year for, so I didn't even have my booth and didn't even go to enjoy it! IT WAS SUCH A BUMMER! My friend had the priviledge of borrowing a horse, and a set of pistols to give it a "shot", just for practice, not for competition...but she may have been bitten by the mounted shooting bug! Here she is! She did great and the horse was amazingly perfect for her first time out!

I know this is a montage of "happenings"...teaching is going great! Here are the 4 of us that are at the east end of the 2nd grade hall! We sure have a great time together and are just like sisters! I am so blessed to work with these gals!

Mom and Dad came to visit this Fall, to see 2 of Zack's football games. I had not seen them in a year!!! (Oh, I hate living so far from them!) They got to go to one of Zack's pep rallies at the High School...everyone was in pink to support breast cancer awareness month... My school bussed the kids over to the High School, so they could be a part of the celebration! It was so fun! I am so glad my parents could be there!

Here's Zack with the team! He and Heath (next to him) were the only Freshman to be moved up to the Varsity team! It is a huge honor!! They played the entire season on the Varsity team! I am sooooo immensely proud of him!

Dad turned 80 at the end of October, so I organized and planned a big surprise party for him at my church! It was AWESOME!!!!

They headed north to Canyon, Texas to visit with Jake at college: West Texas A&M and meet Talia! They had a great, great time!

They even met Talia's horse, Zoe! Notice Jake's prank of tying Zoe's tail to the pole while she ate!

Other happenings: Zack's last team meal (the day before their last game)for the year...we served them steaks, baked potatoes, salad and dessert! That's Zack on the left in the white cap. They LOVED it! The next night, they WON their last game!!! It was AMAZING and everyone was so THRILLED!

Susie, Luanne and Iris took a trip to the Grand Canyon a couple weeks ago! They rode mules down into the canyon and spent the night at Phantom Ranch at the bottom! It took 5.5 hours each way and the trails were less in width than the mules themselves! Susie made a phenominal video!! Here they are! They had a fabulous time!!

Iris and her brand new GYPSY VANNER colt, Navarre. I have always wanted to see one of these horses...I've only seen them in magazines and they are OH SO BEAUTIFUL!!! You wouldn't believe the amount of hair these horses have!