Custom Made

I've been told one way to tell a real cowboy from a "dime store" cowboy is by what they wear. Cowboys often prefer to have custom, handmade items. They want something unique and that will last for many years.

Handmade spurs are a must. Antique spurs are also a hot collector item for cowboys.

No real cowboy would be caught wearing a store-bought belt buckle. Most are crafted to show what event they have won or to reflect their personal style.

Boots need to be designed to take heavy use. Handmade boots are made to endure the rigors of ranch life.

The cowboy's hat is the first thing you notice, so it has to the right style. It also indicates what kind of cowboy/cowgirl you are. For example, a bull rider's hat is formed differently than a team roper's hat. Never buy a cheap cowboy hat!

A finely crafted saddle is an absolute necessity. Saddle makers are highly skilled artists. Check out my friend Paula Gauthier's brother's saddle shop at www.boothillsaddlery.com

Do any of you have any handmade/custom items? Someday, I would like to have some boots made.

Saddles

There are so many different kinds of saddles. The kind to use depends on what you want to do on a horse.

For pleasure riding, the western saddle is the best.

The English saddle is for jumping/steeplechase or polo.

This is a roping saddle.

For cutting horses, use this saddle.

Barrel saddles look like this.

Jockeys use a saddle like this one for racing.

There are many more kinds of saddles. Each is designed to help the rider perform their best on the horse.

Are any of you horse lovers? What kinds of activities do you like to do with your horse?

Planting Potatoes

I had a great time planting potatoes.

First, I tilled 2 rows.

Then, I put the potatoes in the rows about 2 feet apart.

I brought out the compost I had been making since fall.

I put a scoop on top of each potato.

Next, I covered each potato with dirt.

Finally, I watered each potato.

That was lots of fun. Have any of you planted anything yet?

Tuesday Giveaway

The winner of last Tuesday's Giveaway is Hegberg who wins a $10. gift card to Amazon. Congrats! Email me at loriwilde@aol.com to claim your prize.


Today's giveaway lasts all month. Emily March is having a March madness giveaway. Here's the details.

Emily's March Madness is back.

Join me along with Christina Dodd, Karen Hawkins, Kristan Higgins, Jayne Ann Krentz, Susan Mallery, Teresa Medeiros, Mariah Stewart, Lori Wilde, Sherryl Woods and more in a 

31 Day, 31 book giveaway!

Plus, a chance to win $500.00 for your local dog rescue organization! 

My beloved Fightin' Texas Aggies aren't going to make it to the "Dance" this year, so in order to distract myself from my college basketball disappointment,  I'm turning my attention to two other loves in my life: reading and dogs.

I'm mad about novels.  I love to read and I love to talk about books with my friends. For the month of March, I'll be giving away at least one book a day--both my books and those of some of my favorite authors.  Thirty-one days, thirty-one books. I'll post the day's prize each day on the home page of emilymarch.com.

Visit Emily's website @ http://emilymarch.com/contest/march-madness/

Guess Who Has a Birthday Today?

Why, the best-selling cookie of the 21st Century, of course, and it's 100 years old.

  

On March 6,1912, the very first OREO rolled off the line at the Chelsea Market Bakery in Manhattan.

Sometime during all those years, OREOs became closely associated with milk.

 Kids just could not get enough.

OREO dunking was in vogue; special sousing tools were used. 

Bakery execs called for BIRTHDAY CAKE OREOs in limited edition to mark the 100th Anniversary. 

  

A regular birthday cake will be provided. But it's symbolic. Everyone will eat OREOs.

And "Happy Birthday to You," will be superseded by...

Are you an Oreo cookie fan? I love them!

Snoring

Do you snore? I do. Everyone does sometimes.

Dogs snore.

Cats snore.

Mice snore.

Hummingbirds snore.

Why is it when I snore, it's not so cute? lol

Former Student Does Good!

Five years ago I began teaching Romance Writing Secrets for Ed2go. One of my first students was Kathy Schindler. She was so eager and excited to learn. She worked very hard and I'm happy to feature her here on my blog celebrating her success with The Writer's Digest Short Story contest. Welcome Kathy! Here's her story.

I was in total shock when I received the email from Writers Digest saying, “Congratulations Kathy Schindler! Your short short story, One Lone Soldier, has won 22nd place in the 12^th Annual Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition.” I immediately contacted my critique partner, mentor, writing friends, family and close friends to share my news before telling the entire facebook and twitter world of my great accomplishment. 

As a writer we tend to write the things that are near and dear to our hearts.  Supporting our troops has always been very important to me especially when you personally know soldiers who have served or who have loved ones currently serving. One Lone Soldier is a story about an army soldier who comes home from Afghanistan but had no one there to greet him when he arrived. Unfortunately, there are soldiers that don’t have family to send them care packages or welcome them home. I was able to make that dream come true by telling my story.

Winning this competition is an accomplishment I am very proud of because I was picked out of nearly 5,000 entries. If anyone would like to read One Lone Soldier, it will be published in the 12th Annual Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition Collection which will be published in spring 2012.

You can find Kathy at kathyschindler.com on Twitter, Facebook and Blogspot.

Congratulations, Kathy. All your hard work is paying off!