No .. I haven't dropped off the face of the Earth ... yet!

Howdy y'all ...

I know it's Feb. and I haven't posted a blog in forever. 20 lashes with a wet noodle for me!
So what's happening?
We are preparing for our VIP party at Road to the Horse next weekend. Pretty stoked about that.
Made a new horsey friend ... which is my most favoritest thing about the magazine. Jamie Massey is a morning DJ on 94.9 The Bull. That's a country station in Atlanta that ROCKS. Jamie works with Cletus T. Judd. She is such a horsey girl ... we are doin' an interview and pictorial for the next issue. Y'all are gonna love her. She's more worried about her horse bein fuzzy and dirty than she is herself ... which to me is the ultimate testament to having the horse disease so far gone, there ain't no cure. Here's to Jamie's photoshoot where "Demure" looks like a Rockstar and Jamie looks like the rest of us ... dirty shoes, grimmy fingernails, hay in the hair and a goofy grin that says "I love horses more now than I did when I was 6!"
Ride on cowgirl, ride on!
K- went to Texas back in Jan. Stayed at Chris' (Cox ) one night. Almost got paintballed right when I got there. Silly boys! Chris got engaged to Barbara. Sorry girls! Barb is really really nice, so there will be no hating her for snagging one of the last single - good looking cowboys. Besides, she says he's pretty grumpy in the morning anyway! Just kidding. Chris' place is nice y'all. Pretty sprawling but it is Texas. Loved meeting Barb's folks and the CCHC staff. Kacy, Brenda, Kelly, Diane ... awesome ladies. Mike and Crystal too. Had a ball! Dang it was cold thou!
Cooked everybody lunch before I left - spaghetti carbonara. Thanks for puttin me up Chris ... and puttin up with me!
Headed from there to Noodle Texas ... yep Noodle.
Tootie Bland that produces Road to the Horse lives in Noodle. But Noodle is a 4 way stop with a closed down Cotton Gin ... that's all. Wade (oldest boy) asked me if I was seeing any tumbleweeds ... not till I got to Noodle.
Tootie lives in this pretty rock house that blends so well with the big flat pastures and cattle that dot the landscape. It looks solid, not big but substantial. Tootie's creativity was apparent even in the cold washed out colors of a Texas winter. Colorful tiles along the path up to the covered porch.
Tootie likes bright colored fancy cowboy boots, she's been wearin' wild ones since before she could walk. Her house is a total reflection of that personality. It's alive with her personality ... but sad with her loss. In her office is a huge wall covered with photos of Steven ... her sweet hubby that "left" (he passed away a couple years ago, suddenly and unexpectedly) ... the long landscape out the windows seem to suggest he'll be riding back up anytime. I've wished for a lot of things in my life but if I could wish something and have it come true, I'd wish Steven Bland would ride down out of the clouds and pick his tiny blonde wife up in his arms and made her whole again. Somethings you just can't understand or rationalize no matter how hard you try. Somethings, just ain't damn fair.
I'll be writing about Tootie and Steven and their life in the next issue of HorseSouth. It's our 8th Anniversary ... don't miss it. It'll be the best one yet!
The first time I talked to Tootie I knew right off that she'd be one of those people that you stay up late listening to tell these amazing and captivating stories. I was right. We sat by the fire and laughed and cried and laughed at the fact that we were crying. When I was growing up I was always better friends with boys that girls. I think it was because the girls I knew in school ... weren't cowgirls!
Sending you happy thoughts Tootie ... I love ya!

Y'all go to bed ... it's late!

Tess