Sierra Ranch, LLC

Where You Leave The City Behind!

My Chirstmas Present!

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OK, so this is not a picture of my Christmas present. 🙂

Allyson (kid no. 3) is now officially ours. Her mom signed the papers on Christmas and the judge finalized everything on January 2.

One of the first things Allyson asked for was a rat. EEWWW! I was negotiating for a little white mouse when one of the interns said she had chinchillas that she was giving away. So, we investigated and researched and brought home a Chinchilla to add to the zoo. The kid is beside herself. I think the Chinchilla would be happier if the cats would not hang out at her cage. But she is adjusting well to the zoo.

Allyson is adjusting to living at our house. She is having to do some things for herself that she did not do at Mom’s, but she is getting the routine. She is being a big help by feeding the horses when she gets home from school. I figure the least I could do for a bit is make sure her clothes are washed and put up. We will transition into the more independent thing. I think that part is real new to her.

Well, better get back to the real job. Have a great week!

First Picture of the Grandkid!

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As some of you remember from past blogs we gained custody of the No. 2 kid just after her mom married her to a pretty nice kid. We actually did gain custody of Ashley, but since she is married Justin really has custody.

Being 16 and 18 birth control was not something they were both thinking about. DUH! So shortly after marrying the silly couple found out they were pregnant. Great! Just what every young couple needs.

One of our boarders is their OB/GYN and got permission to give this to Rick for Christmas. Course if you look closely you will see why! It is still in the womb and has Ashley’s attitude. They keep referring to the baby as a girl, and Michelle (pleading patient/doctor privileges) will not confirm. The kids don’t ever seem to be around long enough to officially ask, so I guess we can assume. And being the not so excited stepparent I think the silly grandkid is due in June. Probably around City Slickers, but not like I wanna be there.

There was a reason I didn’t have kids. I think Ashley will figure that out. Don’t mind spoiling it as long as I don’t have to touch the silly thing until it talks. I will add more stuff later. Just knew folks were thinking about this and wanting an update. NOT!

Happy New Year!

Worst Frigging Ice Storm of the Century and now Firggin Snow Preditcted

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We have not had power since 5AM on Sunday morning. We broke out the generator and have been doing as well as can be expected with a totally electrice house. We have a forced air insert in the fireplace and have been keeping everything pretty toasty. God blessed us with plenty of frigging wood in the yard around the house, let alone down the drive and pasture.

Got up Mon. and normal 5AM to see what was going on. They activated the danged EOC at 5:30 and for some fricking reason expected ME to be there! I called in and told them that I would be at work when I could get out of my drive, and that I needed to get off the danged phone while the limbs were falling on my house! So I wasn’t in the bestest mood when they called at 10AM wanting me to do damage assement! Limbs were still falling. I am jsut thankful that we had some trimmed a couple of months back. It would have been much worse if we had not had that done.

Tues. Rick finally got the drive cleared enought to pass. He siad he flet like a rat in a trap. He would cut one tree free and two more would fall. The picture above is our driveway.Got more gas. Got wood and stuff in place so the kids could keep the fire going while we were gone. I came to work yesterday, but we had no power here and I was wondering why the heck I was not at home. Our silly building has back up power, but we are not the important folks, so I had to go down a floor to read email and such. At least today we have power and heat and internet. We ahve all those things at home, I just seem to be constantly doing things and not having time to check in here.

I have pictures I need to load on the internet somewhere. I think I will add a page to my web site and post the link here.

I still haven’t gone to the EOC. Figured that sending all my employees was enough. Well, best get back to the real job. At least pretending better to doing it. Hope you all are doing great! Sending hugss and hhhhmmmmmsss to those in need.

Conquering your fears through action

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I believe that anyone can conquer fear by doing the things he fears to do, provided he keeps doing them until he gets a record of successful experiences behind him.

– Eleanor Roosevelt, human rights advocate

Life brings with it many doubts and fears. But the unknown and the untried have held more people back than any lack of ability. Most successes are never seen because they’re never attempted. The courage to face your fears can build momentum that creates magic. Each time you overcome an obstacle, a fear or a step back, you gain confidence. Every small victory helps you feel more certain of yourself and your direction, pushing you further and faster than you ever thought possible. You can do it! What’s holding you back? True, fears are intimidating. So start small. Believe in yourself and take one small swipe at your fear today just to see what happens. If you can’t talk yourself past the “point of no return”, get a friend to help. In the end, half of the doing is in the deciding. If you stumble, don’t be afraid to brush yourself off and jump back in.
 
Another SparkPeople’s Healthy Reflections and quite appropriate to me.    Got in trouble with Rick about a week ago just because I couldn’t gather myself to ride the wonderful horse above.  Being an ex-race horse Flag is not quite good at standing still to get on him.  I really need that part since I am not so great at the get on part.  Not a bad rider after that, but the getting on is not ever something I have done quickly or moothly.  Course it doesn’t help that Flag has not carried someone as heavy as I and is not the best when he is uncomfortable.  He also has a keen sense for people being nervous and acts up accordingly.    So, having seen him run, even knowing he hates to do it now, made me a bot more than nervous and we just couldn’t get it together.  Some day are just that way.
 
Took my old horse, Sarge and my not so old horse Mav on the ride last week.  Rode Sarge since Mav never seemed to get sound.  That is unles he was stressing over not being able to see Sarge and Xan.    Super silly boy!  Oh well, the old man did quite well.  And i did quite well riding him.  Sarge is much more of a challenge than Mav.  And he tried me a few times.  He was surprised to find out I remembered how to ride him and even had gotten stronger and more agile than the last time we rode.  We had a great time.  Didn’t go as fast as Rick would have liked, but Xan didn’t seem to mind.
 
Now we are back to the same old stuff.  Work was not too piled up, but is here.  I didn’t get all the things I wanted to get done over vacation, but I figure I never will.  I have been working on the Sierra Ranch logo and might have a couple to show by the end of the week.  So I guess that is something. 
 
Hope you all have a great week and even better weekend!  You know me I will be working away. 

What a last few days!

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Well, it’s been kinda a whirlwind the last few days. Had so much going on don’t know if I am coming or going. Only up to reading Wend. emails have 168 to read and have way too much stuff to do. Hope to get some of it done in the next few hours. Who am I kidding!

Last Monday we had one of the pasture horses examined as well as Loud Forum. The vet found a mass on the pasture horse. He had been dribbling pee for a couple of months. We had done blood work and urine sample, but not a physical exam. This time the new blood work showed an increased white blood count. It just didn’t sound good and this vet didn’t have a scope small enough to go up there. They suggested we take him to OSU. So Friday, I made arrangements with the lady who had lent him to us and she agreed to met us at OSU and take him back. Everything was going fine. UNTIL…

The add coolant light came on. It was not running hot and I was in traffic talking to my boss, so I figured I would pull into the halfway point and service it. Unfortunately, the Chevy had different ideas. Just as I got on the turnpike the silly thing blew black smoke, lost power, and stopped. Just as Rick was calling. Yep, I blew up the Chevy. Luckily, Rick drives a Ford one ton and came to save me. Even though we did have to push the Chevy uphill to get it from in front of the trailer. So we get back on the road and are just a few minutes after 5PM at getting to OSU.

So we discuss on the way home what to do. The Chevy has never been something that just anyone can drive. We have either blown the head gasket or something worse as it would not start. My car is almost paid off and we had discussed getting a SUV so I could get hay or feed on the way home from work without destroying my car, but it gets such good mileage. So we decided to look at a truck on the internet.

And what do I find… The cutest truck in the world. OK, so I am weird and think that one ton dually diesel Dodges are cute. But it is really spiffy. Leather. Really sweet looking. Just to die for. So I do some checking and there is just not much out there. It is at a great price. We have credit. And if I bypass it will I ever have another. Needless to say, I couldn’t sleep Friday night. I finally got up at 3AM and finished the research with carfaxes and all. It is a sweet deal. We showed up at the dealer at 9AM Sat. We check out the other dealer we like and I finally end up with the sweet pickup in the photo above. Yeah, I am spoiled, loved, and very lucky!

But there is more! As we have all predicted the kids (16yo that married an 18yo and then got pregnant) finally figured out that they could not afford to have their own place. With tails between their legs came to us and asked to live with us. We said yes with conditions. You pay off rent in helping with the horses. You will have a contract so that things are well spelled out and your pit bull can NOT live with us. She whined and Rick finally said OK to the pit bull. I spent the rest of Sat. rearranging the back bedroom to allow the kids to move in. Make the bunks into a king and do mucho general cleaning and tossing that goes with removing all little kid stuff from the room so that these two can move in. She shows up with her dog, tosses my dog out of his yard and put hers in. Starts bossing around her sister and is being a general pain in the ass. Now, it is 9pm ish. I have been up since 3 and am not in the best mod when I am tired. She throws a wall-eyed fit and had her hubby find another place for them to live. I am not real sure why we talk to this child. She says her older sister is the drama queen. OH, PLEASE!! She can not even move in without massive drama. For some reason, she thought she could move in and rule. I just don’t get it. But at least our world is almost back to normal. I have too much to do to put it all back today but will work on it.

Back to the horses. We were really worried about Loud Forum last week. We have the vet look at him. He needs to take him into the clinic and x-ray. He has not foundered but has bruised his toes. He should be fine. Needs meds, polises (like you really think I can spell that) and hand walking for a few days. Silly horse will not get it in his head that he is retired. He just plays too hard. Oh well, it could be much worse.

And work is getting more hectic. I have dentist and doctor’s appointments this week and will b off on Friday to go to a ride so it will be even worse. Considering talking off a week in a few, but not sure if I can. I know I should and I need the downtime, but dang it. Just don’t want the massive catch up that will need to be done. It’s a never-ending story.

Well best get back to my working. Hope you all had a much less stressful weekend! If you see me and I am getting greyer then you know what is happening. Have a great week!

Are you leading for the right reasons?

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The man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his
back on the crowd.- James Crook

Everyone wants praise and attention for a job well done. But for every Kobe Bryant making news for a game-winning shot, there are a million Average Joes doing great things but receiving no credit. If you’re upset by the lack of attention you’re getting for your leadership, perhaps its time to reevaluate why you are a leader in the first place. True leaders lead to help their team, community, or office–not for fame and attention. Sure, receiving recognition feels good, but remember that you are there to lead the group in front of you, not the ones watching behind you. Spectators will soon forget about you, but those you led will remember what you’ve done even after you are gone.

 

This is another Healthy Reflections from SparkPeople.com. It hits kinda home like so many of these do. And a fitting relfection on Boss’s Day. My folks at the office did a great job of making me feel appreciated. It was pretty nice.

 

On one of my groups about weight loss I mentioned that stress seems to be making or keeping me from progressing on my weight loss journey. Someone suggested quitting doing something to make more times. Geeze, then the option would be what to quit. Can’t quit the real job. It pays the bills. Can’t quit the ranch, it needs to pay the bills. Well, at least it needs my attention to try to get the horse bills paid at least. And the other two jobs I have I really don’t want to quit because they have made me so much better at the first two jobs. I have gained mucho leadership skill or at the very least honed my leadership skills by working with the BGTRC. And I have found a love and somewhat of a talent in graphic arts working with them and the Hooves for a Cure project. Now you see my delimia. Just have too much stuff I want to do and not near enough time. At one time I did, but (as I am sure you all are tired of hearing) it just frigging won’t quit raining. Not that I am worried about that at the ranch. We needed the grass. Just should not frigging do it in Tulsa. I need to get caught up.

 

Well, since one of the most important things is to get enough sleep, I am out of here. Hope your week is going great! Already looking forward to the weekend and it’s just Tuesday.