An Art Update?

Believe it or not, I *have* had time to draw out here. It's not much, but 20 minutes here and there certainly adds up, and being sick for the past two days has helped with the final push on a couple of drawings.

This is for EB...her horse Copper was out of commission for most of the last month, so I drew a picture of him. It turned out pretty good, methinks--now to bite the bullet and cut it out of my sketchbook so she can frame it. *gulp*

 

And then there's the Rascally horse...this one was fun. I love the markings of Appaloosas, but actually drawing them is sometimes a challenge. Fortunately this one was just fun rather than challenging.

I've done a lot of doodles and sketches (mostly of people's faces, and there's a piece of paper floating around in the barn with Remington on it), but nothing really noteworthy. I've been asked to do a portrait and another horse drawing, though--hopefully I'll have them done before the requesters leave. ^^;

There's also been a joke idea going around where I would write and illustrate a book called 'Darron-Specific Problems' that covers the issues that our very own Darron experiences (inspired by a story told by the man himself and EB's deadpanned 'that sounds like a Darron-specific problem'). That one is still in the workings; we'll see if anything actually becomes of it. First I have to figure out how to draw the goober--do you know how hard it is to draw people one knows?

In other news, I broke down and bought a Kindle Fire HD today. :3 Still have to wait for it to get here, but I'm expecting it by next week. I've never had a tablet of any kind before, and the Kindle Fire seemed to give the most bang for its buck (I've been researching and debating on this for almost a year--much thought went into it). To say I'm excited is a bit of an understatement. Heh. So here's to the first tablet! And hopefully more time can be spent on drawings and such in the future.

Week 6 Recap

I finally have arrived with last week's recap....unfortunately the circumstances are less than agreeable. I've been sick all day with some kind of upper respiratory crud, and have alternated between sleeping, reading, and sucking down tea ever since 6 this morning. However, this means that I can write and post blog-related stuff instead of racing around like I normally do!

Boom, baby. Blessing in disguise. So here we go!

Last Sunday Moriah and I were greeting all day, and let me tell you I wouldn't mind doing that again. It was really nice to be able to slow down and chat with the wranglers and ride some of their horses during the downtime.... :D

Looking onto the ranch...I love this place so much. (More after the break!)

Week 5 Recap

Lots happened this week, folks, so just bear with me. In follow-up with the last post, my back felt awful immediately after writing. I went to girls' night anyway and laid down on my back in an attempt to get things to stop hurting, and they didn't...so I kind of started crying in front of everyone. >.< Fortunately the other girls were very understanding, got a heating pad and insisted that I remain prone, prayed over me, and let me stay in the same spot for the next couple of hours on the heating pad. By that point my muscles had relaxed enough to let me walk back to staff housing without wanting to cry again, and by the next morning my back was almost normal. It's been a little sore, but nothing nearly as awful as Tuesday was.

And now, without any further ado, pictures! I didn't get any on Sunday, so most of these should be from Monday on.

A non-picture post?

Gasp! Le gasp! LE GASP THE SEQUEL!

Tonight I'm lying on my bed, icing my back, and I have no pictures to post. So instead I'll blather for a while about how things have been going.

First off, the back. A couple of weeks ago (two days before hiking Ouzel Falls) my back went out. I suspected a rib (because every time I exhaled it ached), but as it wasn't bothering me much I let it go. It never really went away, so I made a chiropractor's appointment for 3 today.

I seriously think God helped me make that appointment, because today around 2ish (after mixing up M&M cookie dough--more on that later) I was kneeling on the floor, picking up laundry for the weekly trip to the laundromat, when shooting pain went down my neck and back. It was so sudden and painful that I stayed kneeling and gasping on the floor for about a minute before struggling to my feet and asking Emily P if she could help me finish getting my laundry. She had to carry my stuff down to the Pickle for me because I could hardly move my arms, and I sat in the Pickle until it was time to go. I had to hold my head to the right and cross my arms because any other position hurt like the very dickens.

Fortunately my appointment was an hour after the flare-up, and the guy popped the rib back in with a minimum of fuss (and a little electrode therapy stuff to loosen up the muscle--that was interesting to have my arm and shoulder twitching for about 10 minutes). It still hurts, but I can move my arms and stand up straight. He said that it'll be sore for a while because it was out for so many days, and if it pops out again to let him know. I hope it doesn't, because DANG, that hurt. Now I kind of know how EB felt that first week when she tore up her knee, and let me tell you it is LOUSY. Tonight was an 'on the verge of tears' night, mostly out of frustration because I can't find a comfortable position and every exhale/cough/laugh/sneeze results in pained whimpering. (I never realized how much I laughed until I couldn't. O.e)

But on to more cheerful stuff...I made cookies today, which was a plus. There was a family last week that left us in housekeeping these huge bags of candy every day--Jolly Ranchers, Starbursts, M&Ms, Snickers, Reeses, the list goes on--and there was still at least half a bag of M&Ms left in the housekeeping shed. So I stole them (after getting permission from Moriah and the new girl Petey, of course) and made cookies for all of staff.

There was one moment during the baking period (there's an oven under staff) that a horde of girls came screaming down the stairs and tried to snatch all my cookies and I had to beat them off with a spatula. Figuratively. I got the seal of approval from Cody, Alijah, and Jason, as well as the girl-horde, so I think they were a success. (The guys' approval is hilarious, because it's all 'mmmmm's and 'oh man's. XD)

I got up at 5:45 this morning and worked out for the first time since getting here...see, I've gained at least 5 pounds since getting here. That's a pound a week, y'all. I don't need it that at ALL. So I've resolved to try to work out at least 3 times a week. Maybe more, if my back would get better. Between getting back on a workout schedule and eating better (i.e. more fruit/protein, less flour-based carbs and candy), I'm hoping to reverse the damage. I told people that I was planning on coming back svelte and lean, and I don't see it happening yet. XD Here's to getting fit and being able to breathe! The only downside is that this morning I was blinking and nodding through announcement, and while cleaning every time I stopped I would start drooping. Must get to bed earlier...which is FAR easier said than done. Sigh.

Speaking of (not) going to bed, there's a girls' night tonight. I may or may not be going...we'll see if I can sit up. That'll be a good start.

Week 4 Recap

This week has flown by, y'all. I don't even know where it all went. O.o That's not to say that it hasn't been good...it's just been extremely fast. But let's go on to pictures!

My hat on Sunday...I was on rock wall duty, so on my way to the wall I picked some wild lilacs to lace in my hat band. 

The rock wall was fun, by the by. I think it was only the second time I've ever done it, and it was a really nice way to get to interact with the guests--with my current job I only see them in passing and communicate through notes. :/

Butterfly! A little girl made it her pet at the rock wall. Also, best quote ever from this little girl: someone was going to mess with the butterfly, and she yelled, "Don't hurt it! It's NATURE!"

Another quote from the top of the rock wall:

David: "Wow, you climbed that really well!

Her: "I know--I'm majestic."

David: "That's a good word."
Her: "Yeah, I actually don't know what it means."

She was cracking me UP.

A glimpse at one of the projects in EB's workshop...they're now a pair of children's chaps for sale in the gift shop. 

Also, today I saw a bag that EB made for one of the guests and WOW. Do want. It's so gorgeous and well-made and...and.... *sigh* I'll try to get a picture sometime while cleaning.

Portrait courtesy of Ellie...I was told that I look like Maddie from True Grit. *shrug*

Another portrait...

Oh! Storytime! So Monday I went down to the barn, like I always do, to get pictures and such. The wranglers were already jingling, but by the time I was about halfway to the barn I noticed that several horses were milling around in front of the barn and outside of their pen. I took off running and managed to keep most of them from making a mad dash, but Biscuit (pictured above) slipped out a different way and decided to take off, but became distracted by the grass. Darron took off after her on the new Appy, there was much running and chaos, and Charissa finally managed to catch the runaway and lead her back with a belt. It was all very exciting...I would have gotten more pics if I hadn't been in 'catching' mode. XD

Oh yes, and then there was the elk...he was challenging the horses over the fence or something. He would buck, run around, snort and toss his head, etc. Talk about a weirdo.

Oh yes, see that cloud? That's pine pollen blowing off of the mountain. O.e Fortunately the pollen has died down this week, but last week was bad. Also fortunately I'm not allergic to said pollen (thank goodness).

Tonto's notched ear...Cody rode him up to lunch on Monday and I had to wander over to see the horses.

The work guys, bonding on the bed of Dobby (the truck)...

The columbines here are so pretty--I picked this one and then found out that they're protected or something as the state wildflower. O.o This led to a quote later while raking in the ash pit: "Colorado is a stupid state--you can smoke weed but you can't pick a flower!"

Lining up for the Olympics...

Oh yes, I got some closeups of Cam this time!

This one is my favorite. :P

Also, the dust devils last week were incredible. This was the biggest one I saw all week.

DAVID PAYNE! (We yell his name sometimes, just because it sounds kinda funny to say out loud) I was walking back to staff and heard a fiddle, so I sneaked around the side of the building to snap a picture. He never saw me the entire time. >:D

Oh yes, raking in the ash pit. It's a never-ending chore...basically a few of us go and rake sticks/rocks for a while and sing old slave songs as trail rides go by. It's very entertaining.

Our brave crew! From left to right: Ellie, me, Emily, and Amber.

We may or may not have been slightly bored on the way back--Josh (riding shotgun) stopped specifically so he could borrow my camera and get a picture or three. This move kills the legs and abs, by the way. It was awesome.

Cameron!

More boredom. XD

Dust devil!

Ooh! This is where I got my telephoto lens--I got it while at the barn, so I was able to switch out my lenses and start playing with it immediately. To say that I love it is a bit of an understatement...

Cody, forking hay...

More hay forking...

Alijah came out to help...

Charissa!

See, now I like this one. ^-^

Hay people leaving...

Darron watering one of the new horses...

Darron reciting part of 'A Boy Named Sue'...

Luke...

Luke loping... (I like this one, by the by)

Next day! This is where I really got a chance to play with the zoom--when they go out to jingle they're 100-200 yards away. It makes for some great opportunities.

Zee moon over Longs...I should make this into a postcard or something.

I like this shot, but I'm not sure what's happening with Nick...I never even noticed until later that he had been off-balance.

Lij!

Chasing a runaway!

Also rather fond of this picture of Casey. :D

The elk was back! O.e

And this time no one was happy. I must say, I was a little concerned when he kept showing up, but after a few days he quit. I haven't seen him since last Tuesday or so.

And then his buddy was standing off in the distance going 'Wait--what are you doing? STAHP'

Ready for riding...

This was our speaker's daughter getting ready to go jingle. I may or may not have been slightly jealous of her opportunity. XD

And Amber went too, in EB's place! It was pretty cool.

There goes Luke, of course. XD

Storytime! So Luke is coming back up from jingling, and Newt starts crowhopping. After the first couple hops he suddenly just starts jumping straight in the air, all four feet off the ground, as he works his way up the hill towards the barn. Then the saddle starts slipping to the right. Newt stops hopping like a pogo stick with Luke stuck to his side, and Luke walks himself off with his hands........AND I DIDN'T GET A SINGLE PICTURE. *sobs* It was beautiful, and my camera was on, and in my hands, and I DIDN'T GET A PICTURE. I may or may not be slightly upset with myself because of this fact.

Wrangler breakfast time! Moriah and I always to go see the horses while waiting for things to start.

Funny story: Remington likes poofy dandelions.

I mean, he really, REALLY likes them. Someone can pick a dandelion and his head goes up and his ears prick and his whole being is going 'please?please?please?'

I rather like this one, for some reason. Maybe because the expressions are kind of the same?

Also, getting horses to perk their ears up is like pulling teeth. Enjoy this rare photo of one with its ears up! XD

David Payne, on his fiddle again...

...and teaching a kid how to play!

Ooh yes, so there was a lightning storm Friday night. I put my camera shutter speed on super slow (each exposure was between 3 and 30 seconds) and managed to get a couple good ones. Sigh. The lightning up here is really awesome and really dangerous...but I still like it.

Oh yes, Emily P took my camera. I'm not sure what was going on here. XD

Emily P and Jake! They're tween and teen leaders, respectively, and pretty dang cool if I say so myself.

So Saturday was odd in the fact that we didn't do turnover that day...we basically had the entire day off to do what we wanted, and turnover was pushed to Sunday. We managed turnover quite well, but both Moriah and I were a bit stressed as to how it was all going to turn out, and we were rushing around doing last-minute things literally as guests were arriving. So...not sure if I liked doing things differently or not. I know we can do it, but I'm of the mindset that I'd rather we got everything out of the way and then could enjoy our time off without worrying about what needed done later.

Anyway...we have square dancing tonight (Monday--woot woot!) and I still stink of horse manure and am covered with dust from cleaning out vacuums all afternoon, so I shall sign off to go get cleaned up. I'll try to get something other than horses this week. XD