Blog Share Sunday: People I Want To Punch In The Throat

I think sometimes I portray an image of myself on here that I'm so happy , carefree, my life is so lovely and perfect... yeah well reality sometimes is not the case.

I have been quite the grouch ass this week.

I'm tired of rude people thinking that it's my fault they have to pay their bills. Apparently everything wrong in their life is my fault.

It seems like that it is one of those weeks where everything goes wrong... for example:

On Tuesday when it was raining I wore my rain boots to work so  I wouldn't get my tennis shoes or the bottom part of my pants wet. I had to park about a mile away from the office (of course) because everybody got there early to get the good ones so they didn't have to walk very far. Geniuses.

I was running a little late because my brainiac of a dog went for a nature hike that morning and I had to hunt her down , in the pouring rain, to put her back into the house . Awesome.

Getting out of the car I stuffed my tennis shoes half ass in my purse so I could run to the front door and then I would put my tennis shoes on when I got to dry land. I get up to the office and set my purse down and there IS ONLY ONE SHOE!!!!!!! UGGGHHHH!!

I retrace my steps only to find the shoe in the middle of the parking lot getting RAINED ON!!! UGGHHH!!

It was soaked. This day is just ooooozzing with awesomeness.

I had to clunk around the office for a good couple of hours with my rain boots on while my one shoe dried out long enough for me to put it back on and not have that nasty soggy foot feeling.

My lunch came out about 3 minutes before I had to get back for work after waiting for almost an hour. Then I had to scarf it down in no time and I had a lovely attack of heart burn directly following it.

You know, just little piddly crap like that all week long that's just enought to piss you off but not enough to make you blow your top. That was my week.

So, the reason for this blog share is that I felt the need to read it this week. I have been following this blog for just a little bit and it is always funny but it's even funnier when your good and ticked off.

I would love for you to go visit People I Want To Punch In The Throat because it's a little comic relief when your day goes to the dogs.

P.S. Dont read it this blog if you are easily offended.

P.S.S. Sorry I said ass twice. Well I guess 3 times now. I can't promise it won't happen again

5 Things Friday

Instead of writing a blog about everything little single thing that happens in my life, I have decided to start "5 Things Friday" to give you the skinny. Here we go!

1. This is my second week of kickboxing and every time I go, another body part is sore.

Not just a little achy sore, it's more like you have to just let yourself fall on the toilet to go to the bathroom because your legs are so sore that your legs quiver everytime you bend your knees and you feel like you just might collapse. How embarassing would that be? To be laid out in the bathroom at work, especially in the middle of trying to go to the bathroom! Think about it!  REALLY embarassing!

Like you don't want to get out of bed because your husband makes fun of you for how long it takes and then you look like an old granny and need a cane sore.

Like you can't even lift your hair brush up to your hair to comb sore.

BUT, that means that I'm working hard and burning fat so I LOVE it! I wish I could marry kickboxing I love it so much!

On Chalene Johnson's blog she always talks about finding your soulmate workout because if you are exercising in a way that you love and are happy doing it then it doesn't seem like a chore and you don't dread doing it every day.

Basically what I'm saying is that kickboxing is my Clint to exercizing.

2. I am so excited to go see "The Hunger Games" movie today! For all of those people that I scoffed at their frenzy and waiting for hours in line at the theatres to see "Twilight", I get it. I totally get it. Sorry for making fun of you.

3. I made this Italian Cream Cake from my new Pioneer Woman Cookbook for the girls and guys at work this week and it was a SUPER hit! It was absolutely delicious. A big ol' cake was gone in a day and a half. You should make one today.

4. I want a chicken coop!

After going and buying the little chicks last weekend for pictures and taking them to their new home at Ron and Beth's house, I REALLY want a chicken coop!

You know one of those really fancy ones with the laying boxes and the big enclosed yard for them to roam? Yep, I want one of those. Maybe if I start saving now, I will be able to get one when I'm 63. There's something to look forward to!

5. We are moving!!! Wahoo!!!! We get to move out to the ranch that Clint works on. I am so excited I want to do a cartwheel right now, but I'm not going to because I'm too sore.

I will be so glad to look out my window and see pastures with horses and green grass all over the place! I'm so happy Blaze has a big place to play and not worry about cars.

Everything happens for a reason! Life is good!

And that my friends, is this week's 5 Things Friday!

Chicks

This past weekend I went to the feed store to buy a few baby chicks so I could take Blaze and Cooper's pictures with them over at our friends Ron and Beth's house. Cooper is Ron and Beth's new grandbaby that was born in December. Ron and Beth are two of my favorite people.

This is Beth with Blaze at his 1st birthday party. Beth is a sweetheart to the core. If I'm an animal lover, she is animal lover times a thousand. That's alot. She's my go-to gal for questions about cooking, gardening, canning, baby raisin', antique findin', decorating and everything in between. Everybody needs a Beth in their life. I'm glad she's in mine.

All of her animals that she has are rescues or dogs that were dropped off that she took in. I think it will take me a whole blog post to introduce you to her animals. They have 3 dogs, 6 cats, 3 horses and 2 calves, one coriente and one hereford. All of her animals, including her cows are the tamest and loving animals I have ever seen in my life. That's a testament on how much love she shows them. She grew up on a farm and very compassionate to all of the animals needs. When I die, I want to come back as one of Beth's animals.

I just knew that when I showed her the baby chicks she would want to keep them. She did. She has already drawn up plans for their chicken coop when they get ready for it.

This is Ron playing with Blaze in the grass. Both Ron and Beth treat Blaze like he is their own. Ron is very endearing and has a witty sense of humor. He is a hard worker and a provider to so many. He calls us his "young friends" and Blaze is his "youngest friend".

Ron is always accepting and nuturing to Beth's tender heart and always bringing needy animals home to one that shows them true love and care.

Ron loves his motorcycle trips with his friends and his son. He likes fixing up old muscle cars and gardening. He was kind enough to share his garden with me this year so I can get my feet wet and he can teach me the basics before I venture out with a garden of my own.

Now that you've met Ron and Beth, it's time to meet the new member's of their family. We are in the process of giving the 4 little chicks names. I hand-picked these little chicks. I took a lot of time with watching them and holding them. I wanting nice chickens so the ones that let me hold them and pet them, got loaded up. The chick box said, "Handling your chicks often will ensure friendlier chickens." There is no doubt in my mind that Beth will have the friendliest chickens known to man.

Look at those precious little things! Everybody loved the chickens. Blaze had to make sure they were ok on the ride home. Once I got them home, Charli had to make sure they were eating and drinking like they were supposed to. Even when Vegas came home, he stood guard to make sure no one would bother them.

I think I want to name this sweet little angel, Beatrice.

Charli had to show the chickies some lovin.


There will be more chick pictures coming your way because we had quite the "photo shoot" wih Blaze and Cooper with these sweet little chickies!

Do y'all have any ideas for names? We like to go with names that start with a "B". Comment with your ideas below.

-Kaci

Word of the Week: Vernal

What an appropriate Word of the Week since yesterday was the first day of Spring! Did you know the first day of spring is not always the same day?

Spring (vernal equinox) is defined by when the tilt of the Earth's axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, the center of the Sun being in the same plane as the Earth's equator. Although the word equinox is sometimes understood as "equal day and night" that is not always true. In most parts of the world, there are only 2 days out of the year when the day and night times are actually equal.

Don't you just love sping? Spring brings the sense of renewal, fresh starts, and happy times. I think of spring cleaning, getting in shape for summer, and spending time outside with my little guy.

Back to the Word of the Week:

vernal \ VUR-nl \ , adjective;

1. Appearing or occurring in spring.

2. Of or pertaining to spring.

3. Appropriate to or suggesting spring; springlike.

4. Belonging to or characteristic of youth

What do you like or dislike about spring?

lifeaskaciknowsit@gmail.com

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things: Dollbirdies

On my quest to find the perfect camera accesories, I came across the ever so adorable Etsy shop Dollbirdies.

She has amazing camera bags like this one....

And oh so cool camera strap covers like these...

Wristlets like theses....

And bifold wallets like these!

Adorable diaper bags like these! Watch out expecting friends! I think I found ya a gift!

Ipad, Kindle, etc cases like this one!

Passport pouches like this! It makes me want to book a vacation just so I can buy one!

Boarding pass wallets!

Pacifier pouches! Hello cuteness!



I love this shop. I want one of everything in every color, please.

I emailed Jerri at Dollbirdies to ask her permission to share all of her great items with you because I didn't want to be rude and not ask and then get a cussin' later.

When she emailed me back, she told me that she doesn't ordinarily let blogs link to her Etsy shop but that she cruised around on the blog and she saw that we share the same love of horses and that made her decide to give me permission to share her shop! What a gal! She even used several of the "Words of the Week" in her email! Triple brownie points for her!

Go check out all of Jerri's items in her shop. The styles you have to use from go from adorable to chic, cutesy to mature, pretty to sleek.... you get the idea!

You will get a great, stylish product for an affordable price and that is why Jerri's shop Dollbirdies is on my favorite things list!

Go check out her shop and tell her I sent you!

Peace & Blessings!

-Kaci

You've Got Mail!

Tuesday when I came home, I found this on my door step...

Getting packages is one of life's greatest surprises. I know, I'm lame. But I will take all the surprises that come my way, that's for sure!

I open up the box and find this...

How awesome of a mother-in-law do I have? She got me the new Pioneer Woman cook book I have been raving about!

I didn't call her and tell her it was on my wish list, she just knew that it would be a great treat for me. She ordered it and made sure it was delivered on the day that the cookbook released.

I called her as soon as I opened the package and squealed in her ear about how excited I was to have The Pioneer Woman Cook: Food From My Frontier.

It just donned on me that I own all 4 of The Pioneer Woman's books! Does that classify me as a stalker? I'm going to say it classifies me as a lover of amazing things. You should check out her other books too:

Black Heels to Tractor Wheels: A True Love Story

Charlie The Ranch Dog

and my first cookbook love:

The Pionner Woman Cooks: Recipes From An Accidental Country Girl

I opened the package and tried to sit down to read through it but I had to start the creamy potatoes (which are a recipe from the first The Pioneer Woman Cooks) because we were having guests over for dinner.

Oh, and I made the Chocolate Sheet Cake from the first cook book for a friend at work for passing her nursing exam and it was a total hit!

The cook book is beautiful just like the first but packed with a bigger variety of recipes. I absolutely cannot wait to dig into and make deliciousness from it. Here are just a few pictures that I took of it before I had to go cut up some taters.

Iced Coffee! Yes please!!

Beautiful photgraphy

Do you have any Pioneer Woman cook books? Would you like for a certain blogger chick host a giveaway for her new cookbook? Hmm...

Peace out,
Kaci

Vegas

Vegas. What a dog. His mannerisms remind me so much of Zipper.

Vegas has in no way replaced Zipper, but he sure has filled a void in my heart that was missing since Zipper was.

Vegas was born on September 10, 2011 and that is 3 days before Blaze's first birthday. They are both little Virgos. Both his mother and father are pure bred and trained border collies. Their intelligence was passed down to Vegas as he is extremely smart.

He is a good listener when he helps Clint work cattle. He likes to chase dirt. (You'd have to see it to believe it.) When he comes home, he races in the house to find me to say his hello's and get his lovin's.

He is quirky in the way he does things. For example, he likes to sit like a human in Blaze's kid recliner. He will let me hold him like a baby and love on him eventhough he is the size of a full grown dog. He knows that the one slow steer that is always bringing up the rear in the pack needs a little slack so he won't give him as much hell. When it's feeding time around the barn, he likes to ride on top of the hay in the feed truck while all of the horses get their evening alfalfa.

Clint tells me I am going to ruin Vegas one day of being a good cow dog if I keep loving on him and treating him like a lap dog but I think he knows the difference.

As you all know, all of my pets are considered part of the family. I have never been known to have an animal and not feel that way about them. The love I have for them probably warrants psychiatric help. I don't care though.

Here are a few pictures of my handsome boy.

That is concentration at it's best.

Silly dog. I've even seen him climb on top of the truck.
He has impecable balance.

I want to hear your love and admiration for YOUR 4 legged family. Feel free to comment below or email me at lifeaskaciknowsit@gmail.com . I love forward to hearing from you!

Love,
Kaci

Martha

I would like to introduce everyone to Martha. Martha Mixer is a good ol' gal and we have become to be pretty tight lately. She came to me at Christmastime needing a home, so being the one to never turn down a friend in need, I offered her a spot on the kitchen cabinet to stay forever at.

Martha is beautiful in all her silver, industrial glory and she has never let me down. She always does her job when called upon and asks for nothing in return. Together we have shared many dishes and desserts together. She can stir, mix, whip and beat. That Martha is a pretty talented lady.

You will be seeing Martha frequently on this blog as she has many recipes to share with you guys! Everyone make Martha feel at home here!

If you were wondering, yes I do have a strange attachment to inanimate objects and give them names. I'm weird, I'm aware. Nevertheless, welcome Martha with open arms despite my weird habits.



-Kaci

Where I Need To Be: Chapter 1

** I am re-posting this blog from when I originally wrote it back in September 2011. Sorry for the long delay but I will soon be adding more chapters very soon.**

A strange feeling of nostalgia comes over me and I feel the need to write these thoughts in my head down. Oddly enough, I have a notebook in my car. Isn’t it crazy how life works out that way? At the weirdest times you get what you need.  A notebook and a pen was what I needed on this rainy Friday afternoon.

As I begin to write, I’m surprised of how many things I remember, both good and bad. I guess this is what you get when you sweep 27 years worth of thinking under your brain rug.

I laid down all the back seats flat in my Durango so Blaze and I can stay out of the rain and have a little play area. Thank God it’s raining because we and all the creek beds have suffered through a summer’s worth of 105 degree heat with not a drop of water. They say it will take at least 5 years to recover from this drought, not to mention the thousands of acres that has burned up due to it being so dry. 

Tears well up in my eyes each time I see the neighbors pull out of their driveway with a trailer load of cows to take to the sale barn. All of that hard work, all of the early morning feedings, working the baby calves, vaccinating, and the overall maintenance to keep cows on their ranch just gets loaded down in a sale barn chute and auctioned off at a fraction of what they are really worth. The horse sale barn reached a history record of the number of horses up for sale last week. Horses around here are going for $200. That's just sad.

That's these rancher's last resort because all of the grass has burned up and all the stock ponds have gone dry. Hauling in water is too expensive and hay prices have skyrocketed. It seems like every prayer I overhear, I hear the people pleading with God for his mercy and to send some rain our way.

Blaze just turned 1 last week and being a mother is the last thing on Earth I thought I would add to my resume before Clint and I found out we were expecting. Clint is my husband of 3 years. We will get to his role in this whole thing later. But let's talk about this Blaze character.

Blaze is the most wonderful creature I have ever laid eyes on. If his icy blue eyes and wheat colored hair don't make you fall in love with him, his personality is sure to get ya. He is the most easy going little human being I have ever met. He only fusses when he's hungry or sleepy. It's rare that I see him without a smile on his face or that concentrated look of gears turning in his head. I know everybody thinks their baby is smart and I'm no exception. It is crazy to me how much he pays attention to things. He never meets a stranger. He loves everybody that gives him the chance to. He loves to swim and already an animal lover, that's where I see myself in him the most. He opens my eyes to the simple things in life. He has completely changed my life and he doesn't even know it.

 We have lego’s, trucks and Goldfish snacks scattered all over the car. Being that it's Friday, my brain gives off a buzz from the last 5 days. It's the residual buzz of all the stress, phone calls and dealing with rude people of the week. I find myself letting that stress follow me into the weekend as I get a little frustrated that I look away for 2 seconds and Blaze turned the entire bag of Goldfish upside down and little orange fishes lay in a pile. Then I look at Blaze in the face. He thinks this is the funniest thing he has ever seen. He turns the bag upside down to make sure he didn't leave any fishies out. All of the whole fishes along with all their crumbs lay in the coarse grey material of the car's interior.

I see him not giving two hoots about the fact that we are in the back of my car or that it's raining. He is happy in this moment. Completely content. He has snacks, toys and his loving parents close to him and that's all that he cares about. And that right there ladies and gentlemen, that little moment of innocence and purity from the second person to shake my world to the core, is the reason for this epiphany.

The radio is turned on an old country station, the type of old country that was made well and made to last. Coincidentally enough “Rockin’ With The Rhythm Of The Rain” is on. I think the radio station knew what they were doing when they played this song because they knew most of the residents of our rural community are rejoicing that we are finally seeing rain again. We didn't think we would.

I do my best Wynona Judd impression and Blaze looks at me right in the face and gives out a good laugh. I just love his toothy little grin. I’m not sure if he’s laughing at me because I’m not the rock star I think I am or he’s just having a good time with the music and picking up Goldfish and putting them back in the bag again. In my mind, I’m going to tell myself that he’s just having a good time so my dreams of one day becoming a rock star can live on and my ego stays intact.

We have the back hatch open so we can watch the roping. We decided to ride along with Clint to get out of the house. When it's this hot, you go outside only if necessary. Clint is flagging this one because he's not quite back to competing yet after his shoulder surgery two months ago.

When I say roping, I mean team roping. It's a partner sport to where you have a header and a heeler. Each person is mounted on a horse and each have a rope. Each person is in their own box on either side of the chute, and a steer is in that chute in the middle. When the header knods, the steer is released from the chute and the time begins. It is the header's job to chase the steer and rope the steer by the horns and turn the steer to the left so the heeler can come from behind and try to rope the back feet of the steer. When and if the header and heeler rope their respective ends and are facing each other, the flagger gives the signal for the time to stop. If the heeler only catches one foot, 5 seconds is added to the time.

Team roping is a sport that I'm all too familiar with. A sport that I can't help but remember how it fully engulfed my childhood. A sport that I tried my hardest to stay away from since becoming an adult. A sport that was destined for my future.

**** More in Part 2. Coming soon***
Thanks for reading!
Love,
Kaci

A Chick with a Bow

Clint walks in the house the other day just as I was about to drift off for my Sunday nap. Don't you hate it when that happens? I do. Nap time for me is a very sweet and very precious time, especially since being a mother, they are exponentially very sweet and very precious times. Naps are necessary to keep up with the limitless amount of energy my child possesses. Sometimes I think he has an extra battery pack implanted in his body somewhere. What demented person implanted that battery pack in my child? They better hope I never meet them in a dark alley somewhere. Just kidding... kind of...

I was hoping Clint would see me with my eyes closed and let me be... but he didn't.

He said, "Come in here, I got your birthday present!" "What is it?" I grumbled back because in all honesty, I didn't give two hoots about what he had, even if it was a present, well unless it was going to be a bob-tailed kitten that I asked for. I trudged into the living room to see him holding a hunting bow and a set of arrows.

"Oh... Wahoo... you got yourself another bow. Happy Birthday to me..." I said in my very exaggerated, very not-impressed voice and turned around to go flop myself back in bed.

"No, it's yours! I got it so we can go hunting together."

I stopped dead in my tracks and tried to scan my brain for any memory in my life that I told him that I wanted a bow so I could go hunting with him. I dug deep, really deep, in my brain but came up empty. Did I tell him that in my sleep? I talk in my sleep alot.

Don't get me wrong, I totally appreciate the gesture. I will gladly accept gifts, unless it is a snake. Don't ever give me a snake, unless you want a dead snake. I was just having a hard time figuring out why my request for a bob-tailed kitten was ignored and he took it upon himself to think that a bow is what I really meant. I don't know about you but a bob-tailed kitten in no way, shape or form should translate into a bow.

I forced myself to paste on a smile. The last thing I want to do is hurt my sweet husband's feelings. I told him how cool it was and how I can't wait until hunting season starts so I can wake up at 3 am, take a shower and wash with no scent shampoo and soap, and then put on my camo gear, trek out to the deer stand in the freezing cold, sit on a little bitty chair in the deer stand that my butt is sure to feel oh so comfy on, and be quiet for hours until I see something to shoot. That = fun. Not.

Just when I thought I appeased him enough so I could get back to my nap he said, "You wanna go shoot the target?"

"I would love nothing more." I said convincingly. I think I said it convincingly. I hope I said it convincingly.

So I pulled my shoes on and when I went outside he had the target all set up and my bow ready to go.


I strapped the release on my hand and clipped it on to the pull string, or whatever it's called. I put the arrow into the whisker biscuit. Now I know that it's really called that. I can't help but giggle everytime I hear that. It sounds like something you would call your sister. "Stop wearing my clothes, you whisker biscuit!"

I pulled back on the string and then reality hit. I could barely pull back the bow. Am I that out of shape? Yep!

Clint told me, "You better get a grip because I can't turn it down any lower." Awesome. After about 20 tries (seriosuly) I finally got my rhythm down to where I was able to pull that sucker back. I put my lip to the kisser button (This is a real thing too, I'm not making it up. All these names are a clear indictation that a man gave them their names.) Look through the sight and let 'er rip! I hit the target dead on where I was aiming.

From that moment, I was hooked. I have shot guns before and I love it. There is something about firing a gun that is powerful and stress-relieving. I didn't think there was no way I would get the same feeling with shooting a bow.

I loved shooting it so much that Clint made me come inside from shooting at the target because he said my arm would be really sore the next day if I didn't stop. It was. Really sore. Like can hardly put my purse over my shoulder sore.

I have officially caught the bow hunting itch! I want to go to Cabela's and buy up the whole store to get my pack prepared. I can't wait to go buy all of my camo stuff, and face paint, and no scent smelly stuff. My only fear is that I shoot something just bad enough to injury it and it has to gimp around and be hurt. Then I will feel awful. I hope that doesn't happen though.

It's not a bob-tailed kitten, but I think Clint did a pretty good job on picking out my birthday present! Thanks honey! I don't know how he does it all the time but he picks out the best gifts.

I guess now you can be expecting hunting stories and pictures on the blog in the future.

Do you hunt? I want to hear a funny or entertaining story from you. Don't forget that the blog now has it's own email address: lifeaskaciknowsit@gmail.com Whoop whoop! Big timin'! So email me or comment below with your stories. I can't wait to read them!

Over and Out!
Kaci

Word of the Week: Remit

Here is another helpful word that we can all use in everyday conversation!

remit  \ ri-MIT \

1. To slacken or relax.

2. To transmit money, a check, etc., as in payment.

3. To abate for a time or at intervals, as a fever.

4. To refrain from exacting, as a payment or service.

5. To pardon or forgive a sin, offense, etc.

Quotes:

It matters not that we remit our attention, at times, to the pain or the pleasure; these are always in the background; and the strength of the appetite is their strength.

-- Alexander Bain, Practical Essays

If I were satisfied that you were not intending to make an exhibition of yourself I might be prepared to remit the fines.

-- Henry Cecil, Independent Witness

Origin:

Remit is derived from the Latin roots re- meaning "back" and mit meaning "send," so it literally meant "to send back."
 
There is your useful information for the week! Well, from this blog anyways!
 
-Kaci

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things: XcessRize

Since purchasing my new camera, I have been searching for the perfect accessories for it. You know, you gotta have a cute camera bag and of course you have to have a cute camera strap. Duh!

If I thought I was bad about being totally obsessed with researching, picking, and buying the best camera so much that I probably gave myself stomach ulcers and needed medication, then I haven't seen anything yet!

Just when I thought the hard part was over, I click on over to Etsy because it is my very favorite website to look for .... well... anything. Etsy is a  online marketplace for people to sell their handmade goods.

I've even set myself up a shop but it's in such a wreck at the moment that I don't dare share a link with you on that! Plus I kind of promised my husband that if I took up photography then I would stop trying to make EVERYTHING I saw on Pinterest. Don't get me wrong, he means very well because our house looks like a tornado ran through it when I start to crafting. I need his help quite often to rein in my boundless, hopeless do-it-all syndrome.

Hey! I think I just found my new diagnosis! Hopeless do-it-all syndrome! Don't y'all be copying me now!

So in my scavenger hunt for totally awesome camera accessories, I was blown away by the talent and creativity some of these people have. I'm blown away so much that I'm going to go ahead and make my appointment for the gastroenterologist in advance because just picking one camera bag and one camera strap is definitely going to give me ulcers. I want them all!

I found so many talented people and so many cute shops that I felt the need to share the goodness with you all. I am going to dedicate a blog post to each of my favorite shops because each one is so unique and awesome that they deserve it.

First up is an Etsy shop called XcessRize. The shop owner, Jackie is a Texas girl so that gives her some major brownie points right there!

In the camera department she has: camera bags, camera coozys and camera strap covers. But that's not all she has in her arsenal of sewing abilities! Oh no! She also has hobo bags, messenger bags and are you ready for one of my favorite parts? Are ya?? YOGA MAT BAGS!!! YES!! [Insert screams and squeals as you feel necessary] I love yoga and how cool would it be to walk into class with a cool mat bag!

Without any further adieu, here are some of her items...

An adorable camera bag that looks like
 a beautiful purse! I L-O-V-E it!

Very cool camera strap cover!

I want this one too!

Hobo Bag! I SO need this!

YOGA MAT BAG!!!!! EEEEEEE!!!

Go check out Jackie's shop right now before everything is GONE!

Am I the only freak out there that HAS to buy something because you are afraid they will sell completely out and not a trace will ever see the Earth's surface again? No? It's just me? Figures..

Hope you enjoy her shop, XcessRize because it is one of my faves!

Love,
Kaci

P.S. This is not a paid advertisement for XcessRize. I just love her stuff!

T-Bone, Gravy, Edgar Allen Pooh, and Roping Steers

This past weekend, Clint and I were childless. My mom took Blaze to visit his cousins in east Texas so for all of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we really didn't know how to act. It was a nice break but I sure did miss my boy.

I took this very rare, scarce, hardly existent, unknown to Clint and Kaci Johnson weekend and made the most of it.

Friday after I got off of work, I went and took pictures of Replay (which you saw some of those already), the roping steers, tried to take pictures of the neighbors donkey (But she is shy and not ready to make her debut on camera quite just yet. Did I tell you that she was just wandering down the road? Homeless. Hungry. Sad. Obviously needing someone like me to love her. But the neighbors road was the first she went down or I would be introducing y'all to a new member of our fam right now.), our horse Gravy, Lizzie, Vegas and Charli.

If you are wondering what the heck I am talking about, here is a little background info. Clint, my husband, trains team roping horses and he works for Clay. Colleen is Clay's wife. They are pretty much a part of our family. Blaze calls them Uncle Clay Lo and Aunt Colleen. Lizzie is Clay and Colleen's very long, very characteristic basset hound child. And of course you know Vegas is our border collie pup and Charli is my Yorkie girl dog. I say "my" because I haven't quite convinced Clint to sign her adoption papers. I do however see them snuggled up on occassion. Clint will deny it though.

Clay's business is Logan Performance Horses. They train horses for the everyday hobby team roper, they show horses in AQHA horse shows all year to qualify horses for the World Show in October for people, and they even train horses for PRCA cowboys that make it to Las Vegas every year for the National Finals.

We call the ranch "the barn". Now you know what I'm talking about when I say, "we were at the barn" or "'so in so' came to the barn today" or "my husband lives at the barn."  

Ok, enough background for today.

I am really enjoying my new hobby of photography for a couple of reasons:

1. I have always had a passion for photography.

2. Photography doesn't clutter up my house like some of my other hobbies do. Like sewing, jewelry, etc, etc, etc. I say etc so many times because if you would ask my husband, I have a million hobbies. I have cut my hobbies down to photography and just some jewelry making. I feel lighter already!

3. It gives my brain such a wonderful creative outlet, without the clutter, but I guess we already covered that.

4. My walls need some decorating.

5. I like making lists.

So here I am sitting down in the front pasture where our horses and Clay and Colleen's horses live, hoping the horses would just act as they normally do so I could get some real life pictures. I sit there for a good 20 minutes. I make a few good snaps of the camera. I'm minding my own business, being very still and very quiet. When here they come!

Now most of the horses that are in team roping training here at the barn are not wild. They are broke, tame, and trained. They aren't like wild mustangs or young colts that act on instinct and stay as far away from humans as possible. Oh no! They think when they see us that they are about to get a treat, or about to get exercised, or especially when they see me coming, about to get a good rub down.

Before I know it, T-Bone (one of Clay and Colleen's horses) is trying to knock me over with his nose to get some lovin'. I try moving a little farther away and they all just follow me. So I had to share a couple of photos I got from this day of T-Bone, Gravy, Edgar Allen Pooh and the roping steers.

This is Edgar Allen Pooh closest to the camera
and Clint, mine and my Dad's horse, Gravy
in the background.

Look up "cow chewing cud" in the dictionary.
You'll find this picture.

This heifer was quite curious of the camera.
She really is a heifer. I'm not trying to insult
anybody here. This is a bully-free blog.

And then here is T-Bone trying to rub on me.

Rustic. I swear I didn't stage this photo! Ok! Fine! I did
find the horseshoe in the pasture and put it on the fence.
But hey, it made a nice picture. I sacrificed my integrity for
this photo. Hope you like it!

If looks could kill.

I warned you earlier that if you hated pictures of livestock then you were going to hate my blog while I'm sharing pictures. So if you hated this blog, you can't say I didn't warn you!

Now y'all come back now, you hear!
-Kaci

Movin' On Up!

I have a few updates for you blog followers of "Life As Kaci Knows It".

1. "Life As Kaci Knows It" now has it's own email address so you can email me questions, your thoughts, any recipes you would like to share, articles that you wrote that you would like to guest blog on this blog, or whatever your heart desires to write. The email address is: lifeaskaciknowsit@gmail.com

2. See that little "like" button on the right-hand side? That there button is linked to "Life As Kaci Knows It" Facebook page. How cool is that? Thanks to generous techies and their tutorial blogs, I'm learning new things everyday to catch up to the other blogs technology wise. If you click the "like" button, it will automatically "like" the Facebook page and you will get all of the updates and news.

3. Because the "Life As Kaci Knows It" Facebook page has over 50 likes, it can have a website address! Wahoo!!! So to find the facebook page all you have to do is go to www.facebook.com/lifeaskaciknowsit 

Well.... I guess that's all I have for you today. Hopefully, next time I have an update it will be something REALLY cool like I'm giving away cute puppies as a giveaway, or that the blog has a gabillion followers, or giving away new cars! But until that happens, all you get is an email address and a "like" button!

Peace & Blessings!
-Kaci

Word of the Week: Appertain

Oooh! I like this one. This is a Word of the Week that I can actually use in casual conversation and it make me sound really smart! Remember, illusion is everything! Haha!

appertain \ ap-er-TEYN \ , verb;

1. To belong as a part, right, possession or attribute

Quotes:


Natural rights are those which appertain to man in right of his existence. Of this kind are all the intellectual rights, or rights of the mind, and also all those rights of acting as an individual for his own comfort and happiness…

-- Thomas Paine, Common Sense and Other Writings

In all matters of discovery and invention, even of those that appertain to the imagination, we are continually reminded of the story of Columbus and his egg.

-- Mary Shelley, Frankenstein

…and since Phillotson's success in obtaining at least her promise had become known to Jude, he had frankly recognized that he did not wish to see or hear of his senior any more, learn anything of his pursuits, or even imagine again what excellencies might appertain to his character.

-- Thomas Hardy, Jude the Obscure

Origin:

Appertain stems from the Old French word apertenir which meant "to belong." The prefix ap- is a variation of the prefix ad- which means "toward."
 
Thank you Word of the Day for expanding our brains for Word of the Week!!!
 

Replay

Replay is one amazing horse. He belongs to Clint's bosses, Clay and Colleen Logan of Logan Performance Horses.

Replay is a roan gelding with quite the personality. He is bred to the max and has several accolades under his belt including winning the heeling at the World Show a few years back. He is such a great horse that anybody can ride and rope on him. He gets ridden by Clay and Colleen of course but he's been known to pack around my nephew Kutter and even a few rodeo pros.

 He has recently become a celebrity while posing with the girls from CMT's Texas Women for a Gypsy Soule photo shoot. Of course they had to glam him up a bit for this and he got some pretty cool horsey hair extensions.

I took this as a opportunity to snap a few shots of him with my new camera. Here is what I came up with.




I just love this picture. There is something I just love about the
tenderness you see in a horse's face.

 

Replay would rather eat than take pictures. He managed to get a
full mouth fulls in before I made him stop so his mouth wasn't
full in every single picture, though. 

I just love how his mane is blowing in the wind.
[Insert oooohhs and aaahhhs here]

Now that's a fine specimen right there!

Replay is so serious. Probably because he is mad I took
his grub away.

One of my loves is a ranch brand.

Of course he has to show his personality.

I'm going to apologize in advance if you don't like pictures of livestock because you are about to get a good ol' dose of it here on the blog. I will try to keep things new and exciting so you don't leave me, though!

Over and out!
-Kaci