Birthday Memories

Does your family have birthday traditions? Mine does! My sister just had a birthday, and thus the idea for this post was born.

So, when I was little, it used to always be the same thing every year: No school, a special breakfast (in my family, a 'special breakfast' is when Mom buys sugared cereal!) that usually consisted of a peanut butter/marshmallow/Cheerios bar, or coffee cake, or puffed pancake, or muffins . . . whatever the birthday child wanted—within reason, of course. ;)

Then we'd eat the special lunch picked out by the birthday kid. Then, in the afternoon, we'd go over to our grandpa & grandma's house so mom could bake and decorate the cake! Now, the cake was a big deal. Like, we'd pick out the flavor and how we wanted it decorated, and Mom would spend the longest time decorating it just the way the birthday boy/girl wanted it. (When we were little, Kordell and I actually got our own separate cakes! Spoiled, weren't we? *grins*)

Then, we all ate a special birthday supper (can you see a pattern going here?), and afterward, all the grandparents would come over for cake and ice cream (also specially picked out, of course) and presents.

However, everything changed on my 11th birthday. Kordell and I *gasp* had our very first sleepover! I'll never forget that birthday. We each got to choose one of our church friends to have over for the night. (Kordell, remember that huge pillow fight the four of us had? I quit early because your guest hit me in the head with his heavy feather pillow. *shakes head*)

I remember one hear, I had a tea party and invited some friends and cousins over for the fun. We went bowling once. But my two favorite birthday parties were my 6th and my 17th. For our 6th birthday party, Mom went all out—invitations we handed out at church, a theme, everything. (Y'know those themed birthday parties? Yeah, we don't do those.) It was our cowboy birthday party. Everyone wore cowboy boots and hats, and some even wore bandanas! (Our grandma had actually made us kids cloth chaps awhile before that, so I felt so special wearing mine with the princess knee patches!)

Our 17th birthday, however, was much different. By then, two of our brothers were married. So there we were, all eleven of us sitting around the table eating supper (Our grandma had joined us), laughing, joking. Angel food cake with whipped cream and strawberries. Then, when Mom and Dad left to take Grandma home, the kids all split into two groups and played the Farming Game. Now, if you don't know what The Farming Game is, I'm so, so sorry. You are seriously missing out! Comparable to Monopoly, I suppose, only about five times better. We played for, like, 2 hours. It was so fabulous.

Anymore, we don't really do gifts. (My mom gave me a coat like 6 months late last year, haha!) The married siblings might give the others a bag of candy or something. Grandparents give some money. Nowadays, I listen to my friends talk about the gifts they get at their birthdays, and I'm just like, "wait, you get presents?!" But really . . . I don't necessarily miss it.

It's the memories that make birthdays special.

What are your favorite birthday memories?

Diy Scrunchies {A Guest Post by Kara}

Hey Y'all! Since Kaitlyn has been so busy getting ready for her blog tour, I decided to take it upon myself to revive the blog. That way you guys won't get bored not having anything new to look at on here!;P So, without further explanation, SCRUNCHIES!!!!!!

For this project you'll need: fabric, a needle and thread, scissors, fabric chalk, a safety pin, elastic, and a ruler.

To start out, use your ruler and chalk to measure out fabric 17 inches long and 3 to 4 inches wide. Cut  out your rectangle.

Fold your fabric inside-out and sew along the edge, longways. I used a sewing machine but you can always hand sew it. (To keep it from coming apart, knot it securely every time you sew it.)You should now have a 17 inch long, inside-out tube.

Flip it so it is right-side out. Take a length of elastic, (about the size of your wrist or a little smaller) attach it to the safety pin and thread it through the tube. The safety pin makes it easier to slip the elastic through the cloth.

Sew the ends of the elastic together. Okay, here comes the tricky part--match up the seam on each end of the tube, and stick your needle out from the inside so your knot is on the inside of your tube. Sew directly across to the other end. Staying on the same end make a stitch to the side, and sew back to the other end of the cloth. It should look something like this:

 Once you've done that all the way around the tube, pull it so you can't see the thread. (If any fray pieces are sticking out just tuck them in best you can.)

And there ya go, you've got an adorable scrunchy! The first time or two making them they might turn out a little messy or harder than you thought, but after a few tries, you'll be making them like a pro!

Have any questions? Do you love scrunchies? What's your favorite? Tell me in the comments!

Totally adorable pic Kait!:P Nice pose without your face... again. ;D

In my defense, you told me to pose, and I did. I happened to be reading.

As usual.... :D

Hope y'all enjoyed!

~Kara

The 10 Book Questions Tag {Feat. Kara}

Yep, another tag. And a bookish one, too. Doesn't get much better than that, right??

So, anyway, I was tagged by Brooklyne at Showers of Blessings for this tag (actually I thought it looked really cool so I commented on her post and she tagged me . . . minor details) for what's originally called the 20 Book Questions Tag, buuuut there's only 10 questions. So, without further ado, I present . . .

The Rules:

-Thank the person who nominated you. (Thank you, Brooklyne!)

-Answer the questions you were asked.

-Nominate at least 5 bloggers.

-Give them 10 questions to answer! 

So, before we get to the questions, here is where I will allow Kara to pop in and say hello!

Hey guyssssss!

Okay, now that formalities are over, the questions!

1. What genre do you read the most?

Originally I'd say historical fiction, but recently I've branched into contemporary quite a bit. I'm finding it hard to pick between the two anymore. ;)

I read mostly historical fiction, but I have read several contemporary series that I loved. I'll read pretty much anything with horses! ;P

2. Do you prefer books that are in a series?

Oh, yes. Especially if I love the first book. I mean, who doesn't want to read more books about the characters they fall in love with? I especially love it when the main character in one series becomes a side character in a different series by the same author, or vice versa.

Definitely. Absolutely. Completely. I love series, because you can get to know the characters better. Honestly, I'll be in the middle of a series, and I'll just start lecturing one of the characters for something they do or say in the book. Like fighting with a sibling, or complaining about something one of the other characters did— I'll just be like, "They did that to help you, ya know! Just stuff it!"... Yeah..... I have problems.

Yes, you have many problems.

3. On average, how many books do you read a month?

Ummmm . . . I used to read probably 7 or 8 books in a month . . . but lately it's probably been closer to 4 or 5. Or less. Which is a very, very sad fact. But I just joined NetGalley last month (it's amaze, y'all), and I've been reading a bit more since then.

Probably around 4 to 6, depending on how much I like the book. Once I read a series that I  totally loved, I ended up reading about 1 a day... but the books were pretty short!

. . . pfft, you never read that much. I read more than you; how do you read more books than me?!

Your books are about twice as long as mine, and I had a lot of extra time during that week, and you've been writing more than me. Satisfied? :D

Mmm . . . for now.

4. What is the last book you rated 5 stars?

*Checks Goodreads* Guyssss *cries* I haven't rated a book 5 stars since February! The closest I've come is 4.5 stars. Hide and Seek by Jeff Strueker and Alton Gansky was soooo amazing. I don't give many books 5 stars. ;)

I have never physically rated anything, but in my mind... I would have to say Price of Truth by Susan K. Marlow! *Heart eyes with drool running down my chin* This book is SOOO amazing! Guys, I just can't describe!

5. First person or third person? Past or present narrative?

Ohh man . . . I don't know! I think my favorite to read is 3rd person, past tense. But Beloved is 1st person, present tense, so I obviously love writing it. So, I mean, that's pretty close up there. ;)

3rd person, past tense. But then again, I haven't read much 1st person, or present tense.

6. What book do you relate to the main character the most?

I honestly can't think of anyone right off the top of my head except Andi from the Circle C series. Our likes/preferences are pretty much opposite, but our personalities are so similar it's almost scary. ;)

Definitely I would say Sadie from the Sadie Rose Adventures by Hilda Stahl. I'm also a lot like Andi, but I would almost say I'm more Chad. 

*Smirks* Most definitely. Pretty sure you talk more than Chad, though. Probably more than Chad and Sadie combined.

:P

7. What is the most over-used plot twist that drives you crazy?

Ughh, when two characters who hate each other and end up falling in love. Can't stand it.

Same. Especially when they fall into a life-or-death situation and realize that they can't live without each other. *Shudders*

8. Name three books that you absolutely love the cover design.
Chosen by a horse by Susan Richards, is my favorite cover. SO BEAUTIFUL! I started the book, and didn't care for it, but then again I didn't get very far into it.

From Ashes to Honor by Loree Lough. I've never read it, but I fell in love with the cover when I saw it!

I actually read From Ashes to Honor . . . not really recommended. ;P

Seek by Angela R. Watts is just... WOW!! It's simple but SO AMAZING! 

Yessss, I'm currently reading Seek and it's so good so far!!

It was hard for me to choose between Seek, As in Olden Days by Jesseca Wheaton, Dandelion Dust by Faith Potts, and Beloved by Kaitlyn Krispense... Yes Kaitlyn, your cover is beautiful.

Dawwww, thanks ^-^

Don't let it go to your head. ;P

Mmkay, sure. Anyway, now for my three favorites! (This is my favorite question of the whole tag ^-^)
First of all, we've got Fawkes by Nadine Brandes. It's so, so gorgeous, y'all. Liiiiike . . . *alllll the heart eyes*

Next up—Gunner's Run by Rick Barry! Like, seriously, what's not to like??

If they have 1. American flags 2. horses or 3. bullets or guns... they have to be beautiful!

As evidenced in your favorite covers, of course.
Now, for my third cover . . . so hard to pick! But I choose Unblemished by Sara Ella. It's so . . . well, for lack of a better word . . . beautiful. You, Squirt, might call it too frilly. I mean, it doesn't have guns or flags on it. But it's still super pretty. ;)

Or horses. Can't forget the horses.

Mmm, yeah, sure. Can't forget them.

There is just one thing that all the covers are missing that would totally blow them off the chart though. It would make them bestsellers all over the world!

Oh?

My face. :D

No comment.

9. What book series would you recommend to your best friend?
That is like asking a mother which of her kids is her favorite! I could narrow it down to—in no particular order—Horses and Friends by Miralee Ferrel, Sadie Rose Adventures by Hilda Stahl, Winnie the Horse Gentler by Dandi Daley Mackall, Circle C Adventures by Susan K. Marlow, and last but not least, Phantom Stallion by Terri Farley!

I agree with Kara. It's awful to pick just one! But, since her too long list has the series I would've said (Circle C Adventures/Milestones), I'll say the Sgt. Major Eric Moyer series by Jeff Strueker & Alton Gansky. If you follow me on Goodreads, you've heard me talk about this series more than once, and you'll hear me talk about it again. Intense. Clean. Faaaabulousnesssss.

10. A book that you liked a side character better then the main character.
Tyler from Live Without You by Sarah Grace Grzy. Seriously, y'all, I liked Ezra and all, but Tyler needs love. And I shall give it to him. XD

I'm only on my second book, but from the one I'm currently reading and the one I already read, in Sisters in Time I like side characters way better.

I hope y'all enjoyed the tag fullllll of books. Books make me happy. *grins*

I tag:
Megs
Molly
Angela
Liz
Lilian

Kara has helped me come up with questions for you:

1. What are three of your favorite book covers?
2. What is one of your favorite book series?
3. Do you prefer new books or the classics?
4. What is your least favorite book cover?
5. On your physical bookshelf, what is the 17th book in line (if you have that many)?
6. What is your favorite genre to read? If historical, which era?
7. Do you prefer paperbacks or ebooks?
8. Do you prefer matte or glossy covers?
9. What is a book on your shelf that you'll probably never read?
10. In your opinion, what object or color just really improves a cover?

If this tag looks fun, drop me a comment and consider yourself tagged, too! ;)

You Might Be a Farmer's Daughter If...{Spring Edition}

Wow, it's been a long time since I've done one of these posts. About time I wrote another!

You might be a farmer's daughter if . . .

. . . rather than everything smelling fresh, spring rains make your yard smell like manure. Very wet manure.

. . . when you hear the words "it's time to start planting corn," you know the relaxed, slow days of the year are gone until winter. (That lil' thing called Summer Vacation? Yeah, we don't do that)

. . . driving in the dark and seeing fire on the horizon isn't horrifying—it's beautiful, and that means pastures are being burned so that fresh, clean growth can spring up. (pun unintended, but you can go ahead and laugh.)

. . . trucks & trailers are a common sight on the road outside your house, hauling cattle out to the pasture.

. . . the perfect place to read is outside with a breeze that doesn't tear your pages.

. . . nearly half of the meals you cook need to be taken outside.

. . . sometimes you think summer has arrived because it's just as hot and busy.

. . . the end of school is bittersweet because on one hand, YAY SCHOOL IS OVER, but on the other hand, days are getting suuuuper busy.

. . . baby animals are one of the best things about spring.

Could you relate to any of these? ;)
(Also how's that for entertaining, Chowboy?)

Family Diversity {feat. Kara}

GUYS SPRING IS FINALLY HERE. Kansas has been clinging to Winter for far too long, and I was beginning to thing that we'd skip Spring altogether and jump right to Summer! But joy of all joys, it's here and I'm so happy about it.

So yeah, after that random intro about Spring's arrival (YAY! Have I mentioned that I'm so glad it's here?!), I will now introduce my little sister, whom you might remember from the ridiculous post I did with her last. We're hopping in as a part of Brooklyne's Family Forever Month.

Heya, Squirt (nope, only I'm allowed to call her Squirt, 'kay? You, fabulous people, may call her Kara)!

Hello Kiki

...Wow, it's been awhile since that nickname has been used. And actually, that's a good transition to our topic today: family diversity. Every family is different and unique. Some families are tall, some are short, some like sports, some like sushi . . . but diversity within the families is what really makes things interesting. Like nicknames, for example.

Ohhh I get it, like your annoying and I'm perfect right? *Halo* ... Ok uhh... Don't answer that

. . . I never know what's going to come out of your mind. And no, that's not what I mean (does that even deserve a response?). Such as . . . you're Squirt and I'm, well, Kiki, as you said. Or, as Kordell likes to call me, Pugs (I don't even know why).
There's also other ways that we're different. Such as, even though we're twins, Kordell hates reading (except Hank the Cowdog, ugh) and loves pretty much any animal, whereas I love reading (never would've guessed, would ya?), yet I'm not as much of an animal person.

Man, you sure are talking a lot for the quiet one of the family... talking is my job. But I get your point... Like I'm super extraverted and you super introverted. So much for introverts not talking a lot *Smirks deviously*

Hey, this is my blog. Of course I'm gonna talk a lot. I'm supposed to talk a lot. Besides, like I said in my post about introverts, just because I'm an introvert doesn't mean I don't like to talk. It just means that I generally don't talk a lot around people I don't know very well. Besides, you still talk twice as much as me. Ask our family.
But, I mean, talking online is a whole different ball game.

Hey hey hey, as I said earlier that's my job. And wait a minute I just realized, all those times you say, "I have nothing to say to that." or "I'm speechless." it's not because you're an introvert?! WOW!

Oh heavens no. Usually you just do render me speechless, regardless of my personality.

I tend to have that effect on people... I just take their breath away! 

Yeah, something like that. Anyway, moving on . . .
You and I both love reading. That's one thing we have in common. I, however, loved reading as soon as I learned how, and I love intense books or feelsy books (yeah . . . two different extremes, I suppose. Depends on my mood). It took me years, though, to get you into reading, and now all you want to read about is horses.

That's because not much else is worth reading *halo* and it wasn't you that got me into reading, it was myself. 

Those . . . those be fightin' words. And yes, I most certainly did! But I'll let it slide . . . for now.

We are also alike in that we like writing, but you like killing characters. I on the other hand, like resurrecting them

WHAT! I do not kill them! I only maim them . . . a little . . . but I've only killed one or two out of dozens, maybe even hundreds!

Yeah I guess... BUT STILL I only almost kill them, you make sure you get the job done

Again, I've only killed one or two. And that was yearssss ago. I'm nice to my characters now. So far.

Maybe, but I can see it in your eye, your planning another assassination 

. . . all you see in my eyes are pupils.

Actually I see some pond scum color in the center, a really cold almost white icy blue in the middle, actually it's almost a grayish color, then on the outside you have kind of almost a metallic looking deep grayish dark blue

Wow, I've never heard my eyes described in such detail. And I've never been quite so . . . creeped out by a person studying my eye from an inch away.

Author is as author does... Sometimes you need to get up close to what your doing research about (no I am not officially an author, sorry I know you were all wanting my autograph)

Good grief, Squirt, I think we need to start talking about something else.
Music! That's a good topic. We tend to have very different tastes in music. I love bluegrass (I looooove instrumentals), I don't really like country music (yeah, I know, a farmer's daughter in the country that doesn't actually like country music . . . ), and my favorite singing group is The Ball Brothers. But, I mean, I love Celtic music as well (bagpipes, y'all!), and gospel (Gaithers, anyone??), and . . . yeah. I kinda love music. A lot.

I mostly go for worded music. Andy Leftwich, 2CELLOS, and the Piano Guys [epiiiiic choices, though you should really add Craig Duncan in there . . . ] are about the only instrumentalist I really like, (although non worded soundtracks [YES LIKE MOVIE SOUNDTRACKSSSS] are amazing) Country music (specifically Country Christian) is AMAZING!!!! And I really like a lot of modern Christian music, and a lot of doo-wop. Some of my favorite bands (I have most likely only heard a few from each band) are Home Free, The Gaithers, For King and Country, Crowder, Alan Jackson, Steven Curtis Chapman, Danny Gokey, Aaron Watson, Alabama, MercyMe, Josh Turner, Rescue, and some TobyMac, the Flying W. Wranglers, and the Statler Brothers. *Currently dancing to Home Free*

. . . good grief. You have a lot of favorites. I mean, I do too, but still. I'll leave my list alone on the about me page, thanks.

Sadly, you don't have an about me page for me... so I have to say them all on here, isn't that right peeps?

Um, sure. But anyway, I'm not a huge fan of any of your favorite bands, Josh Turner (one of the very few country singers [and the best bass ever, along with Tim Foust from Home Free] that I like), the Gaithers, and Rescue being exceptions. If only you liked The Ball Brothers. *sigh*

So, all this to say . . . diversity within families can run rampant. But you know what? God made us that way. Pretty genius, huh? I mean, imagine if we both loved TobyMac! *makes face* I'll take my Ball Brothers playlist, thanks. So we praise God that He made us different, and we try to get along in the meantime. ;)

Eeek, you can have your Ball Brothers, they're too jazzy for me they only have two songs I like. (one's their only countryish song of course!) But yes God made us all unique, just ask my siblings, I'm living proof of that! ;D

Mhmm. Definitely. So, to borrow VeggieTales' words . . . God made you special, and He loves you very much. G'byyyyyye!

Memorable Decorations {Part 2}

Last time I talked about the memories behind our Christmas decorations, we ended in the front room.  I'd like to now take you over to the family room, where more surprises await.

First of all, let's hop to the south side of the house, where windows offer perfect places to drape some greenery.  And what better addition to the greenery than snowflakes?  Probably about ten years ago, my grandma patiently attempted to teach me how to do a simple chain crochet stitch, which I promptly left to do other, more interesting things.  Well, finally, a few years ago, she gave me the idea to make lace snowflakes for my mom.  I readily agreed, not knowing how tedious it would be to learn new stitches and put them to use.  But I'm quite pleased with how they turned out!

A hop and a skip away, and once again, we've got a homemade gift that the guys made probably six or seven years ago.  Mom wanted stocking hangers, and so her sweet husband once again surprised her with eight shining, gold-painted hangers.  I remember that we all gave them to her—Daddy and us kids—and though I didn't do a thing, they were still partially from me, and that was special.  Though it made my brothers slightly irritated.

And let's just take a moment to admire these stocking handcrafted by my very talented mother, shall we?  Not only are they simply stockings, but cowboy boots!  Yeah, have I mentioned her love for western decor?

Now let's take a step back from the mantle (where we put the village every year until we decided to put it on the piano this year) to examine Kordell's fascination/obsession with lights.  The dude seriously finds a new place to string lights every year. (Let's not forget that one year Birdo strung garland across the room suspended from the ceiling... but that's another story.)

******

Our house is certainly all decked out this year!  How about yours?

Memorable Decorations

Today marks the start of the 12 Days of Christmas blog party!

Come with me, I'd like to take you on a tour through our house.  Our Christmas decorations are put up, and there are some specific ones that I'd like to show you, each with a special meaning or memory. (And thanks to Kara for taking most of these pics!)

First stop is the front yard.  Looking at the house, you'll see a tree covered in lights, and then a star of lights on top of the house.  That star has been on the house every winter pretty much as long as I can remember.  But once upon a time, Mom really wanted lights on the house, and one year Daddy suddenly surprised her with a homemade star.  You can see it from a couple miles away, and it's certainly a major part of our Christmas decorations.

Next stop: front room.   Remember the Christmas tree that I mentioned?  If you turn to the right after entering the front door, you'll find that tree, laden with lights, garland and ornaments.  Have I mentioned that handmade gifts are kind of a thing around here?  Kordell made mom a box of cutout western (western decor is Mom's favorite) ornaments—bull heads, horseshoes, cowboy boots, etc., and Mom then wrote names of Jesus on them.

A few feet from the tree, you'll find Mom's grand piano covered with a ceramic village.  This village has been collected over the years, with my grandma adding to it every year for quite a long time.  It's probably the decoration us kids enjoyed putting up the most when we were little.

Next to the piano, you'll find a short chest of drawers with this nativity on it.  Us kids had our own nativity scene that we were allowed to put up ourselves.  I don't know how many pieces have been hot-glued (have I ever mentioned that hot glue is another of this family's specialties?) back together again.  So if we got to put up Mom's good brown nativity, man, we were privileged! (If you look closely, you can see that the angel's wing has been glued together... yes, we did mess up sometimes)

On a second chest of drawers around the corner lies this nativity calendar.  On each day of December, counting down to Christmas, you open one of the little doors and pull out an item to stick on the scene.  I remember calculating the number of days to see which of us siblings got to open baby Jesus on Christmas Eve.  We alternated every year, even though we argued about it every year.

These two characters are found pretty much anywhere in the house.  Pushing the yellow sticker on the mouse's foot presses a button that activates it to start dancing and playing its guitar and singing Jingle Bell Rock.  Santa has a switch to turn him on, and once that switch is flipped, he sings Jingle Bells any time he senses a loud noise, or when someone taps him.  These two guys were the best white elephant gifts ever!

******

Everyone has their favorite Christmas decorations and memories.  What are some of yours?

Also, don't forget to check out Faith's blog for all the links to the other participants in the blog party!  (Also, there's an epic-looking giveaway going on with all sorts of epic stuff like books and music and I don't even know what else.)

Fashion Advice from Guys

Greetings, everyone!  I hope y'all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
We'll ignore the fact that I'm two days late with this and just consider it extra suspense. *nods*

Now is the moment we've all been waiting for—the guys' advice about fashion!  Let's get started, shall we?  Kordell will be in bold lettering, and Chowboy will be in italics.  Actually got them to be a bit more serious this time.

Some of the questions fall under similar categories, so I've combined several of them.  So if you see your question(s) mixed in with others, that would be why. ;)

Do you approve of skinny jeans? If so, how tight is too tight? Do you think that sleeveless shirts are ok? How about tank tops? Is that going too far?

You kinda put us in a tight spot with that one

Where's your heart? What's your purpose in wearing that clothing? Why do you want to wear jeans that are tight? Why do you want to wear sleeveless shirts? It's between you and God.

I'm pretty much gonna repeat the same he said. Whats your reason for wearing it? It's all WEAR your heart is. Would you wear it if God was standing there in the same room? Cause He is.

Very well said.

Do you wear bell bottoms daily or only on Sunday? 

Well, I'm a big fan of bell bottoms. However, as a daily occurrence I'm sad to say that I don't. Or on Sundays. :( One can wish

If it were up to me, daily.  But I don't want to overdo my dazzling appearance

Are neon suspenders too edgy or should I stick to pastels? 

Go big or go home, I say neon

Depends. If I wanted to be brash, I'd go with the neon. If I was just going to a social event, I'd stick with pastels. Good question, glad it was asked.

I’m interested in crocheted sweaters - Is it best for a guy to wear a tank under them or just not worry bout it?

I'd wear something under them at least. I'd probably look for a different wardrobe.

I just wouldn't wear a sweater

What do you think about makeup?  Thoughts on jewelry? Are earrings and necklaces okay on guys? 

I don't really care.  I'm personally not a big fan of any of it

What do I think about makeup? I've never worn it. My brothers make jokes about my looks, but their recommendation was plastic surgery; not makeup.

Holes in jeans. Is that okay or not so much?

I have holes in my work jeans.

My jeans are like my golf game; I have several pairs, but I only have a hole in oneXD

Do you like high heels? Should they be outlawed?

As for being outlawed, I don't think they should necessarily be outlawed. I'm thinking if a bad dude tries to attack a female, just stomp on his foot with the high heels and that'll stop that business.

What's the point of high heels?XDXD

Jeans, sweat pants, khakis, or slick pants?

I've worn them all; I like them all; they all have their place. On the legsXD

Depends on the occasion

Are knee high dresses too short? How short can capris or shorts be? Is above the knees showing too much of the body?

Again, where's your heart? Are you wanting to be modest or not? God is with you everywhere. It's between you and God. If you think He's fine with what you wear, then go for it. But if you have doubts, why push the envelope? It's between you and God.

He said it. I agree with it. There you have it.

Thanks so much, guys!  I loved all your answers.

Fashion Advice from Guys: Q&A

Greetings, peoples!  I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed that unplanned 2-week blogging break, and I'm ready to get back at it again.

So, Chowboy & Kordell are back to expound their wisdom.  Since their love advice seemed to be rather popular, they're back with untapped advice for fashion!  

Have any fashion questions for them?  Comment below!

There were a couple of people that were a little disappointed at the lack of sincerity in the guys' answers to their questions, so keep in mind this will be much the same.  If you ask a completely serious question, you may not get a completely serious answer.  Let's have fun with this, shall we?

Leave a comment with your questions!  Depending on how many they receive, there may be some questions that won't be answered.  You have until Wednesday, November 21st, to send your questions.

Let the fun begin!

My Cattle Adventure—Part 2

So after the gates are as they were, it's time to herd the cattle down the to the working shed.  Once there, Kordell tells me to get in Jarvis's pen next door while he separates some of the cattle.  So I hop in and Jarvis moseys over to me.

Now, I say 'mosey' in the most literal sense.  He was barely walking, really.  In case you haven't gathered the fact, he's the laziest calf you've ever seen.  Plus, he's potbellied, which adds to the effect.

So I started petting him, and he thought he'd take a taste.

Well, after he determined that my skin didn't quite meet his requirements, the top of his head started itching.  I didn't get that memo, since he and I obviously don't speak the same language.  So he took it upon himself to use me as a scratching post.

"Ahh, yes.. this is the life."

He then commenced to kicking up his heels once and tearing off behind a tree.

Where's Jarvis?

Peekaboo!

And what's Kordell doing this whole time?  Getting cattle ready to go through the working shed and into the trailer.

Well, it occurred to me that Jarvis is so lazy, surely he won't run away from the flag!  So I whipped it out and held it in front of him.  If I flicked it, he actually flinched.  But then he seemed slightly more comfortable, and even gathered enough gumption to come up and hesitantly sniff the thing.  But it didn't last long.

And about this time Kordell is ready to load the cattle.  So I went out to the loading chute, as per his orders, to make sure they don't try to come back out of the trailer, and to make sure they don't get stuck in the chute.

Wait for it...

And the race is on!

So after I masterfully prevented the return of the cattle, and even got a couple unstuck, Kordell told me I could go wash off my boots really quick at the hydrant while he pulled around the yard and out of the other driveway.

So we're on our way to the other farm to drop the cattle off and load some more to bring back here. Why, exactly?  Um, ask the guys.  I just tag along with minimal questions that I don't think of until after it's happened, like now.

G'bye, goats!

Once at the other farm, Kord pulled into the yard and commenced to backing up in semi-darkness with a trailer.  Slightly impressive.

So about this time Birdo shows up and my services are no longer needed, so since I have to just stand around waiting for my ride home, I watch him take my flag and help Kordell unload.

Then they moved to the loading chute to pick up some cattle to move home.

Shutting the gate...

And then we were on our way home again!  They were going to load some more cattle to take back over, but by this time I decided Mom needed my help with supper (AKA I didn't wanna do any more 'cause I couldn't do anything to help).
And thus ends my cattle adventure.  Have you had any similar experiences? ;)