Give me a home where the buffalo roam.............

A week ago I helped host a group tour with members from across the U.S. One of the stops was a preserve that has a small herd of bison/buffalo. The herd is cared for by a local rancher and we were told that the buffalo recognize the feed truck the rancher has.  Well apparently its a Dodge. As we started to drive through the pasture the buffalo started running toward us.  

I was a little bummed that I was sitting in the middle and couldn't get as many or the quality of pictures I wanted. 

I think they would have eaten out of our hands, they came right up to the windows....very neat. 

 I mite have been more excited than some of the visitors in our group. 

This picture looks like its straight out of "Dances with Wolves" doesn't it?

Game Day Kicks

I spotted a pair of OSU cowboy boots in Stillwater 2 years ago. They were awesome, great tops, nice detailing, and the perfect toe, yes it seems the south is always ahead of the game. Then I started seeing posts on Pinterest, websites, and finally saw a post on Cowboys & Indians. I'm not sure why they can't make some awesome K-State ones, but in my opinion they are failing. I would like a nice square toe,(not needle point) with some flashy purple and silver tops.....is this too much to ask?! I think not.

K-State by Nocona

Gameday  Boots is one company that makes boots for certain schools. However, they don't have K-State they have that other school down the road, ugh. Not sure why they don't have the school in Kansas that actually has a rodeo team and is a land grant university?!? (Not that my ranting and raving will make them start producing K-State ones)
Here is the only decent pair they have:

I might have to resort to buying men's boots, check these out:

Getting closer........................

Best of the Barns

There is a little contest ya'll should check out. This is the second year they have had this friendly little competition. I know a couple people who are up for nominations. First head over to Crystal Cattle for a fun little give away and then  head to Best of the Barns and vote.

Oh someday for me to be in that league.

2011 AAW Convention Highlights

My longest post EVER, but definetly worth the read. Come to Wichita!!!

When you arrive in Kansas, follow the Yellow Brick Road.  There will be Yellow Bricks to lead you to the Registration Desk and the meeting rooms.  It will be easy to find your way around OZ!

Each day will have a theme reflecting “America’s Harvest”.  On Thursday, the Meat, Greet & Wheat theme will be carried out with donated and sponsored meat products (jerky).  You will greet all your AAW colleagues and get to take home a gift of genuine, authentic Kansas wheat!

Friday will be carried out with Food, Fuel & Flight.  As you fly in to Wichita, known for its contribution to the flight industry (no. 1 *****), you will be welcomed by Kansas farmers who feed 128 other people and you (we have signs to prove it).  In addition to using fuel to tour several great places in Kansas, attendees will fuel themselves from the items contained in an up-cycled feed bag (food for livestock) that serves as a centerpiece at each table.   You’ll want one of these to “carry” the theme throughout the convention.

Saturday will culminate with the place where all bountiful harvests are shown off…the County Fair!  Everyone will be a Blue Ribbon Winner at this event.  Each attendee will take home their own prized canned goods and an apron to use as they prepare their entries for next year’s fair.  No County Fair is complete without a style review and grandstand entertainment.  We’ve got both of them!  Don’t forget to enter your up-cycled garment for the Style Review.  

Multiple opportunities will be provided for your very own photo moment.  Whether you choose to join the cast of the Wizard of Oz, appear on the cover of “Progressive Agriculture”, or gather your friends in a Kansas wheat field, you will have plenty of backdrops for your picture to be taken – all inside, in one place.

Scrapbookers and stamping folks don’t have to stop their hobby while they are at convention.  There will be a Make-it and Take-it Center in the Hospitality Room.  This cubicle will be set up with stamping supplies throughout the convention.  If you would like to design a handmade card(s) and send it home to friends and loved ones, we will provide the stamp!  Just come to the Hospitality Room and be creative!

To increase the enthusiasm for the up-cycled items donated to the silent auction,  there will be an Up-Cycled Viewer’s Choice Award.  Each attendee will be provided one ticket and may vote by depositing their ticket in the container beside each donated up-cycled item.  The item with the most tickets in the container will be the winner.

As professionals, we know communication is critical.  There will three tools to help participants communicate with one another:

Ø A geographic map will be displayed for each person to pinpoint their home town .  When registering, be sure to get your marker so you can identify your place on the map.

Ø A Message Board will be up at all times.  If you need to post a message for another attendee, pass on information, or simply pick up a Daily Newsletter, you can do it at this site.

Ø A Ride Board will be up throughout the convention.  If someone needs a ride to /from the airport or to/from a shopping spot, you can make the connection on the board. 

There will be a Daily Newsletter to keep all attendees updated and informed.  Important contact information will be listed on every newsletter for quick reference if a participant needs to contact a convention coordinator or has an immediate question.  There will be a section devoted to schedule details and brief bios on each speaker for the day.  Another helpful section will be a summary of the activities from the previous day’s agenda.  Participants that may arrive late or have to miss a portion of the agenda, will not feel like they have completely miss out if they read the newsletter each morning – they will feel informed and connected.  Additionally, there will be a fun, educational section for attendees to learn Kansas facts and trivial information about agriculture.  Finally, there will be a lost and found section where items can be listed and easily recovered.

The Hospitality Room is just that…a place for Hospitality!  The Wizard of Oz will be showing, there will be tornados-in-a-jar, you can join in a game of Twister, or put your name in the raffle for a Land of Oz souvenir.  Daily themes will be carried out with lots of good food, good beverages, and good fellowship...especially on Thursday evening when everyone can warm up and “exchange on the range”.  There will be a Hot Cocoa Bar and an exchange of mugs and t-shirts.  You  won’t go home with what you came with!  You will exchange what you brought, with someone else.  To participate, you need to bring a mug, or for collegiate members a t-shirt, that depicts your home state or some aspect of agriculture.

The Kansas version of Chippendales will be serving you at the President’s Reception.  Kansas’ “John Dears” will be Farmers-In-The-Dale  and happy to serve your champagne.  Bring your money ladies, the guys will have their garters on!

Cowboy Gathering

With a title like that how can you go wrong?!

A week from today I am attending the 1st annual Flint Hills Cowboy Gathering. Friday will consist of a concert and Saturday will be a fun filled day with poetry, music, and vendors. Laurel Hill & 2Chick Couture will be one of those vendors :) I'm really excited to finally set up with a place that focuses on the western lifestyle. Chunky jewelry and blinged-out caps should be a hit.

I feed the World....What's Your Superpower?

Last night I was fortunate enough to be invited to speak to.....well more like "with" a group of young ladies with a passion and interest for agriculture. The group was diverse in their backgrounds and  current involvement with agriculture. An added bonus was that America's Heartland a a weekly series that airs on PBS stations around the country and on RFD-TV had sent a man to video tape the evening. The show is featuring 2 farmers from McPherson county. I will keep you posted on that!

My personal goal for the evening :
1)Leave them with a confidence that no matter your profession or age you can always be an advocate for Agriculture

2) Encourage them to educate themselves to better be able to deal with a variety of situation regarding the rural lifestyle

3) Have them teach me something new

I really hope I succeeded! I know that #3 can be checked off.
When we talked about the frustrations of being in Ag production one that really seemed to stand out was the late hours for their husband. Understandable, however those husbands are out there working hard to get a field planted or harvested or...... Then it came to me. "Your husband is out there producing not only to support your family but also to support families across the world." So the saying came, "He's out feeding the world"  One of the ladies said, "I guess I can take care and feed the 2 kids at the house, cause HE'S OUT FEEDING THE WORLD."

I believe we each should look at the positive we are not only doing for ourselves and family but for the world.

More posts on this great experience of mine.

Wedding attire?!

I wish this was a simple post saying what to traditionally wear to a wedding. I received an invitation to a wedding reception. I was totally confused on what to wear. It had been 90 degrees and then all of the sudden it was 45. I thought this wedding is outside. How do you dress for that. Then I think about the couple. I have been friends with the groom for years and more recently met the bride and we get along great. He is a cowboy through and through. She is spunky and fashionable. So do I wear boots jeans and a fun shirt? Do I wear a skirt and boots, do I wear a dress? I didn't know. Then to add to the complicated mess it started raining the night before the wedding. I wasn't sure, so I called up my best friend Abby that was going as well and we made a strategy. This way we both looked "the same" and if we were too hot, too cold, of felt out of place we would be in it together.
Plan of action:
Cute nice jeans (I wore trouser jeans)
Fun going out sleeveless top (incase it was 90)
Dressy Cardigan (incase it was 45)
Anderson Bean boots (for dancing)
Lots of great jewelry and a good hairdo


Well turns out we were perfect, some of the cuter gals there, if I do say so myself. A showed up late (but he apologize 100times) he had been shipping cattle, getting panels,...you know the drill. We definitely made up for it by dancing almost non-stop. The 2 of us ended up being the last couple off the dance floor and walked out with the DJ.


Wanted to share my wedding gift I made. It matched their rustic chic wedding motif.

The bride told me she got quite a few of her wedding reception decor ideas from Pinterest. After Abby heard this, she joined that night!  The reception was held at a B&B. They moved it into the barn because of the cold weather. Take a look.

Stocktanks held the beverages.

                                                    CONGRATS to the newly married Oleens!

Customized Cowboy Boot Ornament Tutorial

I know that Christmas is months away and I am the type of person that hates when stores have any holiday decorations up 6 months before the actual holiday.        However, I have a good excuse. I was asked by a ranch in South Dakota  to make a Christmas ornament(s) to hang on the state Christmas tree in the capitol building. The decorations have to be to the capital by October 1^st. The theme for this years tree is-western family heritage. So I decided to make a cowboy boot with the ranch’s brand on it.  My business partner introduced me to this amazing felt that looks like tooled leather-LOVE IT! Lucky for me when I went to Hobby Lobby it was on sale.

First I looked for a boot pattern, I found one here that I liked.

Then I pinned the cut out pattern onto the felt.

 Cut out 2 pieces. Remember to flip the pattern so that the” tooled leather” is on the correct side for the front and back of the ornament.

I did the same with the brand. I made a free hand pattern. I used the lighter brown for this part.

I placed the boots wrong sides together and top stitched around the edges with my machine. Leaving the the top of the boot open to stuff with batting.

After I filled it I placed a piece of brown ribbon(for the hanger) in the top and sewed it closed. Then I took the brand and glued is securely with fabric glue.  The other ornament I am hand stitching on the brand. This brand was too narrow and I thought the stitching might be distracting.

TA-DA!!

I am making a few other ones in various shapes, belt buckles, stars, etc for presents. I think that stitching in turquoise might be kinda cute too. The possibilities are endless.  Id love to hear from you if you end up making a similar item or have a great idea for this WONDERFUL felt.

I have an obsession.....

Anderson Bean Boots!

I can't stop looking at them or wanting to buy another pair. It all started one fall in Stillwater OK. I found my first pair of square toe ABs. (This was before square toes were cool) The tops were denim with an embroidered Texas star. So it started. Naturally, black was needed next. The wonderful guy in my life at the time searched 1/2 of TX to find women's black AB square toes...(again, difficult since square was not all the rage) He succeeded and so the collection began.  I believe others should be cool and fashionable too so I have since bought my mom a pair. My grandpa will be getting a pair for Christmas ...ssshhhh!

ABs are all the A will wear now. Except his have to be tall stovepipes. [See below.] Again, boys and their fashion ;)

Old and New

I had a couple of round toed, a black and an elephant hide pair. My mom got those. I wore them for awhile, but they were just too big and I sold them on ebay. I do have one round toe pair left. They are more of a recent purchase, because I love wild and different shoes & boots.Here is my total "collection" Check 'em out..............

Honestly, I'm kinda embarrassed of the condition they are in. No matter the foot-gear or their purpose, I still try to take care of them. I'm definitely polishing these 5 after seeing this picture.

I'm hoping to get a pair of Rios of Mercedes to round out my collection. RoM are a close cousin or like  GMC is to Chevy. So, if any of you are looking for me last minute birthday gift, *wink, wink*

Farm Theme Baby Shower

I hosted, along with another gal a Farm Themed Baby Shower. This was for a good friend of mine from college. Anna, is a country girl and so a farm theme was a given. Anna and her husband decided not to find out the sex of the baby so they decorated the nursery in primary colors. I really enjoyed hosting this shower, and  think it turned out pretty well.

Guest Book

Gift Table

The Food Table

Food:

Pretzels=Straw

Green Grapes=Cactus Buds

Corn Nuts=Chicken Feed

Animal Crackers=FARM animal crackers

Relish Tray=Veggie Patch

Water=Watering Hole

Combos=Hay Bales

We had Cowtail candy & jolly ranchers too

For the centerpieces. I took a mason jar wrapped a bandanna around it and tied it with a stripe of denim. My good friend Abby cut wildflowers on her way to the shower for me!

Cowtown Days!

Last weekend I ventured west to Ellsworth again for Cowtown Days and the El-Kan Rodeo. It was a great weekend, meeting new people, catching up with others, and enjoying the western lifestyle.

Friday night I went to the rodeo, it started storming and then had a down pour. The show went on but I started to fade. All the pictures of the rodeo I took didn't turn out...A would be glad, I don't think he wanted to think about how his ride went. Justin one of S's friends ended up getting a 75 and winning  Saddle Bronc.

Saturday was the parade and an amazing one at that. They throw out some of the best things. We joked that we got, food, jewelry, and purses. Ok, the real story is tootsie rolls, Mardi Gras beads, and reusable grocery totes. However, I've never been to parade that gave out so many other things besides candy.

Then we went to the reinactment of the shooting of Sherriff Whitney. A and his brother were gamblers in the saloon for the "play" and carried off Whitney after he was shot.

It was an interesting story so also an educational weekend. More can be found about the event here.

The afternoon had vendors, food, mechanical bulls, games, kids rides, and much more. I thought one of the funnest things for the kiddos was the large pile of sand where the bank barries quarters. This kept the kids entertained for hours,not sure the parents loved the mess though.

That night was the final rodeo performance.

A & John as the official scorekeepers and judges of the Muttin Bustin.

Much better than the night before with the storms. There were some great rides and runs. Although, one of A's friends that I know got bucked off. He was knocked out, they called the paramedics into the areana, he didn't move for about 5min. One of the scarier moments I've had lately.  Clint ended up being "ok."  The guys said he was a little out of it for the rest of the night. Because of that A ended up running the chutes, which made him have a few close calls too.

It was a fun weekend. I took tons of pictures over the weekend most of them had A's niece and nephews in them. Not sure if the fam wants them out there for the world to see, but I HAVE to share my favorite with you!

Dressed like Uncle A, oh his parents will have their hands full!

Fabric Banner Tutorial

I just finished making a fabric banner for my friends western/farm themed baby shower tomorrow. It seems like all of the event planning and party websites have a fabric or paper banner in the pictures. I decided to make a western one that I will reuse many times.

1. I first picked the fabric. I'm all about recycling so I decided on denim (my old pair of jeans), bandanna print, and black & white cowprint. I bought the cowprint &  bandanna print as I didn't have enough actual bandannas to use. * Prewash your fabric

You also need to think about what you are going to use to hang the banner. I used red ribbon that I have about 5 spools of. Denim strips or jute would be cute also.

2. Make a patter. I've seen triangle or scalloped banners. I went with triangle. Grabbed a piece of scratch paper and made my own pattern.

3. Trace pattern on BACK side of fabric.

4. Cut desired number. I cut 6 of each. This will depend on how long you want your banner.

5. Begin sewing them together. I measured down the ribbon about 2 feet as to allow enough to tie the end of the banner. Then I placed the ribbon on top of the fabric and began.

6. I left about 1.5 to 2 inches in between each piece. For those of you who personally know me, will know that I didn't measure. I'm more of a guesser or eyeballer. Then my mom can't believe how it came out the same. I just go with it!

7. Once they are all sewn. I left enough ribbon on the other end to tie.

And here you have it!

If you have any questions let me know.