a birthday Cake

It's my birthday, I came home to homemade cake! 

Thanks, Sweet Youngest Daughter for the yummy surprise.
Thanks, Sweet Oldest Daughter for your beautiful words.
Thanks Sweet Daughter in the Middle for the birthday song from a small boy.
Who could ask for a better gift than that of gifted daughters and a Kindle?

happy heart Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

a piece of Paper

Betula papyrifera (paper-bearing)

Because of its resistance to water and decomposition, birchbark  has been used as a medium to write on as far back as ancient India where bhurja, the Sanskrit word for birch,  was deemed suitable to contain the text of sacred poems. Several of the oldest existing manuscripts are written on birchbark.

not from Denver

bronco

1850, Amer.Eng., "untamed or half-tamed horse," from Sp. bronco "rough, rude," originally a noun meaning "a knot in wood," perhaps from V.L. *bruncus "a knot, projection," apparently from a cross of L. broccus "projecting" + truncus "trunk of a tree."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper 

 

This critter is from the "rough stock" herd, her job is to send a bareback cowboy sailing. She really looks quite friendly-like waiting for the rodeo to begin.

savannah's Song

Art Class, Friday

a frontside and a Backside

One of my overwintering geraniums decided to throw out a random blossom. I gave it a little fresh air and sunshine the other day when it was in the 60s. Now it is in the 20s, so it is back in its sunny spot in the foyer. It was an end of school gift from a student 3 years ago, so it is a favorite of mine. 

is this her Gander?

Old Mother Goose,

When she wanted to wander,

Would ride through the air

On a very fine gander.

a signature Piece

curlicue (noun): an ornamental, fancy curl or twist as in a signature. Word origin: English,1843. 
curly + cue ( a braid of hair)

This is the signature of woodbine in the winter.

the moth and the Turkey

Phalaenopsis or Moth orchid

As I was rearranging photos in my Photoshop files, the computer serendipitously put these two side by side.

If there ever was a random Beauty and the Beast kind of deal, this might just be it.

pussycat, pussycat, what do you See?

what would it Take

To get you to climb on the back of one of these beasts, come out of the chute and hang on for a mere 7 second ride? Not enough money in any bank that I know of to convince me to accept their invitation for a dance in the arena!

Groundhog Day!

Johnny Chuck, illustration by Harrison Cady, circa 1914

Happy Groundhog Day to my siblings, and my daughters who know just who Johnny Chuck is!

some Folks

are just a little more serious about barn chores than others.

do you ever feel Hobbled?

This is what it looks like for real in cowboy territory

Meanwhile, back at the Stock Show...

hobble

c.1300, hoblen "to rock back and forth, toss up and down," probably related to its Du. cognate hobbelen. Transitive sense of "tie the legs of an animal" first recorded 1831, probably an alteration of 16c. hopple, cognate with Flem. hoppelen "to rock, jump," related to Du. hobbelen. Sense of "hamper,

 hinder" is c.1870.    (www.dictionary.com)

cyclamen Pink

Cyclamen pink cyclamen

Cyclamen pink Rose-breasted Cockatoo

Just who is mimicking who?

we didn't need a little birdie to tell us...

we already knew it...Happy Birthday, Bessarie

the Educator

Elise, the red-tailed hawk, one of the education birds that visits school kids as part of the Black Hills Raptor Center's outreach program. She has been to over 1000 classrooms throughout the region so far. She was ruffling a few feathers and causing birdy freak-outs among some fellows at a bird show hosted by my favorite greenhouse. Stay tuned

boots and Stirrups

If you have this many styles of stirrups to choose from...

you better have plenty of different kinds of boots to fit them!

Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo

 

End of January every year the Civic Center and other venues are taken over by the annual Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo. We welcome hundreds of cattlemen and women, rodeo contestants, horses, cattle, bison, baby farm animals, sheepdogs and spectators. It is an a huge event and a welcome break from winter time ranch chores for people.

Today was the first day for events, featuring a large horse sale and auction. A few photos from the sale when I checked in after school.

3 horses waiting

3 cowboys watching

3 + 4 Palomino braids showing

on a winter Day

a summer Porch