The Mutton Busting Champion!

Cambria wasn't kidding when she said, "We do rodeos" a few weeks ago. She ended up being the Spanish Fork Fiesta Days Mutton Busting Champion!

All geared up and ready to rodeo.

While waiting in the stands, Cambria recorded a message for me. (I am glad that she "likes" me. That made me laugh.)

As her event got closer, she was called down to put on her helmet and other protective gear. You can just see the excitement on her face. 

 And then more waiting in the stands for her turn to ride.

She had a fantastic ride and earned 82 points! That ended up being the best ride of the day.

Cambria was presented a championship belt buckle...

... and had her photo taken with all the rodeo queens and her dad.

A family portrait with the champion.

I am so proud of my little mutton buster!

My PenPal, Pepper - Bedridden

Hallo, Mom!

So, how is your summer going? Lynn tells me that Dad had hand surgery and that you were a big help to him while he recovered. I send licks and wiggles to you both! Oh, and the kitties and Ursula, too.

I have another puzzle for you. Lynn and Craig have a new term that they use around me. They smile when they say it (sometimes they even laugh), but I am not sure what it means. Can you help me? The term is "bedridden."

Here are some examples that may help you figure this word out for me.

 When I am upstairs in the spare bedroom and jump onto the bed like this (kong firmly in mouth), Lynn will say, "Oh, Pepper! Are you bedridden again?"

 When they find me stretched out on their bed taking a snooze in my COMFIEST position (on my back, legs akimbo, kong by my side), Craig or Lynn will shake their heads and go, "Yep! Bedridden again, aren't you, Miss P?" (That's one of my nicknames. I have a lot of those.)

It was a double Kong moment when Millie and Molly slept over while Lisa traveled.  I tried out each of their beds and they tried mine. We played Goldilocks all night, but how come I am the one that Lynn and Craig called "bedridden?" 

And when I choose to nap on the floor next to my bed in Lynn's office, Lynn asked me, "Why aren't you bedridden in one of your many beds, Peppermint?" Gosh, can't a girl choose the floor now and then, Mom?

Nacho (swoon!!) has a chaise lounge in his enclosed patio, and when he offered it to me, of course I was polite and climbed up. He also let me play with his gigantic donut. Not only did Lynn remark on that being donut #6847 for me, she told Kathy that this was an example of me being "bedridden." Can you see why I am a little confused?

There is a chaise lounger on our patio, too. Honestly, no one ever sits in it; I have heard Lynn tell Craig that it's too low for her. So why shouldn't I climb up into it, then? No one else wants to use it. "Bedridden, again, Pep!" I hear.

 I hear that word when I stretch out on the single bed in Craig's office.

 And when I am relaxing on the princess and the pea bed with my kong.

Using Lynn as a pillow in her our bed?  Bedridden.

Perhaps I am worrying too much. After all, I can tell they are not really unhappy with me when they say that word. As a matter of fact, they are always smiling, and often I hear, "Oh, Pepper!" and get a good ear scratch or belly rub after it's said.

Perhaps you could gently share with Lynn and Craig that it isn't my fault that there are four doggie beds, a single bed, two queen sized beds, a king sized bed, and a chaise lounge in our home. I'm just putting them all to good use, right? And, it might be good to remind them that I don't get on the couches. (Well, usually I don't.) 

Anyway, I'm going to focus on the fact that they always smile when they say "bedridden," and I guess it doesn't matter if I know what it means or not.  YAWN. I'm feeling kind of sleepy, Mom, so I'm going to sign off now. 

Off to snooze on the closest bed, I remain,

Your Peppermint

Riding on the Fourth of July

Cole and his family came up from Nashville to spend the July 4th weekend with us. One of the things Julie, Kate, and Susie most wanted to do during their visit was ride the horses.

So, early Saturday morning we headed out to the barn. We had quite a crew: Lisa, Curt, Vanessa, with Ian, Mila and Lukas, and Cole, Emily, and their family.

Since I was horse wrangling, I didn't get any photos, but Vanessa did and put together this video. The horsey part is the first part and goes to 2:30; after that it's video of our family enjoying the holiday. 

Hokey was an absolute gentleman with the kids and we had a terrific time, although Susie was a little disappointed that there were no pigs. (How she got the idea that there would be pigs is beyond me!)

After our ride, Kate enjoyed helping me fill the trough and while we waited, Aunt Lisa snapped our photo since we were both wearing horsey tee shirts! 

"We Do Rodeos!"

Pony Pal Cambria and Cowpoke Titan are ready to rodeo!

The sewing and shopping are done,

 Belts and belt buckles have been selected.

Pink and silver hearts for Cambria, buckstitching and bull riding for Titan.

 The shirts and boots fit and are ready to go. (Sigh of relief from me on that!)

We've accessorized with hats in a coordinating color

 as well as in natural straw.

July 24th cannot come fast enough for these two!

 Because, as Pony Pal Cambria happily crows to anyone who will listen,

"We do rodeos!"

Jessica & Andrew's National Parks Aprons

Jessica had wanted a National Parks apron like the one I made in May for Sarah, but the fabric shop was out of the fabric. She was disappointed, but life went on.

I checked back about a month later and they had some more in stock! I bought enough to make both Jessica and Andrew aprons.

Then, like a doofus, I forgot to cut the first apron out on the fold and had to piece its front together matching the golden brown lines so that it looked okay.

Lesson learned - the second apron was cut on the fold. I tried it on for a photo, but it isn't tied behind my neck and waist so it looks big. Trust me, it will fit them just fine.

I mailed them to Jessica with the rodeo shirts - she has no idea that they are coming. I can't wait to hear what she sys when she finds them!

Julie, Kate, and Susie's Nature Bags

In anticipation of Cole's family coming to visit for the July 4th weekend, I made Julie, Kate, and Susie nature bags.

Using the leftover fabric from Susie's quiet book for the shoulder strap and top of the bag, I stitched three bags that they can use while out hiking and enjoying nature.

I hope that they are strong enough to hold what they find - I triple stitched the seams on the netting. Fingers crossed!

It Was a Snap!

The rodeo shirts are done! And you know what? Once I got the hang of the snap pliers, it wasn't so bad. (You could even say that it was a snap! Haha!)

 Pony Pal Cambria's shirt.

Cowpoke Titan's shirt.

Since I can't go to public places yet, Craig took them to the post office for me later in the afternoon. They should arrive the middle of next week. I can't wait to see Cambria and Titan wearing them with their new cowboy boots!

Just the Snaps!

I am determined to finish Cambria and Cowpoke Titan's rodeo shirts today. I sewed Titan's Monday and then yesterday I sewed Cambria's. I ran into a problem right away with the unicorn appliqué (unicorns are ALWAYS problematic, right?) 

I consulted with Jessica about how it should be stitched. It was so large that if I put it straight on the yoke, it would interfere with the collar and sleeve seams. Jessica told me that Cambria absolutely would not mind if it were at an angle.

Once that decision was made, then I was able to finish the shirt that afternoon. There is just one more thing to do.

Add the pearl snaps to the pocket flaps and the front of the shirts. And I am procrastinating this step big time.

 I've laid the snaps out on the shirts so that I know where I want to place them.

 And I've decided that five snaps going down the front is better than four. 

But still I procrastinate. Frankly, I am intimidated. It has been a LONG time since I put snaps onto a garment. (I used to sew my kids little rompers that could be unsnapped for diaper changes. Cole is 32. Yep! A long time! )

My experience was not always the best - I've used the spool and hammer method mentioned in the directions on the snap package above, and I've used snap pliers, too. (Old ones from years ago; I did buy new snap pliers for this project.)

It didn't help when I opened my new snap pliers and out tumbled a whole bunch of brightly colored parts.

 And the large, full color sheet of instructions that was front to back.

I was already intimidated; this served to raise my apprehension level through the roof.

I need seven pearl snaps for each shirt and I have two packages of twelve. There is enough to practice with on scrap fabric before actually applying them to the kids' shirts.

Wish me luck.