Monday, February 9, 2009

Fun Stuff

For the past 3 years Megan and I have met her 'granny' in RC for a fun-filled weekend at the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo. This year, we talked my mom into going with us and also met up with Chris' mom. That's a lot of grandma's!!

And a lot of fun!!

After spending the day, perusing the shopping extranvaganza...we all attended the evening rodeo performance. This year, my absolute favorite 'half-time' performer was there.

The One-Armed Bandit....
In case you have never heard of him...this man performs amazing feats mounted on his horse, carrying a bullrope and guides his horse with only his feet. Even if he had both of his arms, what he does is amazing....
Buffalo? WOW!! There is a reason not very many acts have the courage to use buffalo in them. Buffalo are not real susceptable to being "trained". As a matter of fact, they are rather cantankerous. One push from those massive heads can knock a horse off of it's feet and kill a person. And they are surprisingly agile. This is why a lot of cutting horse people use them to train with. They do not burn out in the cutting pen like cattle do. My mom suspects that The One-Arm Bandit bottle-raised these guys and that they are also casterated. I'll take her word for that, because she helped my step-dad take care of the buffalo that he broke to ride and hauled to parades and rodeos for a long time. He also hauled that buffalo out to Hollywood and they used him in many movies. Those two had quite an interesting life together.

But back to the rodeo...Saturday nite's performance is always a good one to go to, because there is always a lot of the big names there. It's like attending a mini-NFR performance.
This is Trevor Brazile team-roping... They had a wicked fast-time...and an illegal head-catch...so no time.

This is a Loma, Colorado barrel racer...
She clocked the fasted time of any of the nine performances...12.35 seconds. Go Loma!!

And then it was time to shop-till you drop!! There are two levels of the civic center...filled to the brim with booths offering all the things you think you just cannot live without.
Like this combed Tibetian Lamb coat...
Oooohhhh....how this coat was screaming my name!!! It's loud and obnoxious...just like me! Sadly, it didn't get to come home to live in my closet. My mom talked me down. I don't know, something about her saying...the border collie will probably try to herd me if he saw me wearing this, cooled my enthusiasm. Ohhh well! I really have my heart set on owning a red fox coat anyway...someday!

I did find my red fox coat at one of the booths...but the $5,000 price tag on it detered me immediately. It sucks not being filthy, stinking rich-LOL!!

By the time we headed home on Sunday afternoon, this is what we all felt like....

Okay, I HAVE to show you my newest prized possessions though.
This, I did not purchase at the Stock Show. It's another purse that my brother made for me...
Buttery, soft black Ostrich. It is too die for!!
And if that did not make is wonderful enough, he lined it in raspberry suede...
Is that not just one of the most gorgeous bags you have ever seen? I got so many complements on it while I was carrying it this weekend. One of the purse vendors liked it so much that she is interested in buying some of my brother's one of a kind creations. Not this one!!! I'm guarding it with my life!!! I did break down and splurge while at the Stock Show though. It's easy to pass on the hordes of blinged out purses and tons and tons chunky jewelry but when I ran across these boots...
And tried them on...I HAD to have them!! It is so seldom that I find a pair of boots that fit my foot...high arches and a wide instep...that when I find a comfortable pair, I don't pass them up. I wore them all the next day, expecting that I would have to change back to my broke-in boots somewhere along the line. I never did. They felt as comfortable as boots I have had for years.
The $200+ price tag on these Boulet's made all of us blink rapidly, but since my "for good" boots usually last me 5-10 years...they are an investment I can live with.

16 comments:

Krystina said...

Love the boots! and the purse! Looks like you've done well lately! Glad you all had fun at the stock show, looks like a blast! We haven't gotten things rollin' out this way yet.

Train Wreck said...

He it sounds like I could borrow those boots! I have the same problem 200 isn't bad. Tibiten Lamb?? That was probably outrageous! The girl that made the boot top purses had a purse with TL on the sides, it was 300! You brother makes purses too!?? hmmm very interesting I will have to write that down, for a later use. You look verra verra sexy in that coat btw! What fun I bet you all had! Great pictures!!

SunnySD said...

The One Armed Bandit has a great act. He was in Mitchell a couple of years back at the Corn Palace Rodeo, and was great to watch. And I'm still green with envy by the way, the boots aren't helping matters - LOL!

Does your brother sell his purses anywhere accessible without lots of travel? That one is indeed pretty fabulous.

Man, I'm so there next year!!!

BrownEyed Cowgirl said...

TW-I could have gotten that jacket for a steal. People aren't buying much in the way of these 'frivolous' things...It was priced at $650-the vendor offered it to me at $400 and I bet if I had pulled out the cash, she would have taken $250. Had I not bought the boots-you can bet it would indeed, be hanging in my closet...even if I had to lock the border collie up.;)

Sunny-You have to go!! But PLAN, PLAN, PLAN ahead. It has taken us 3 years to get everything juusssttt right. The Saturday nite and Sunday Finals performances are ALWAYS sold out(except for the crappiest seats) well in advance. If you order your tickets online-do not click "best available" because they will sell you crappy tickets. Get a seating chart of the civic center and order your tickets accordingly. Plan on ordering your tickets about a month in advance. If you want to stay downtown RC, reserve your room months in advance. We stay out by the Interstate-because I take my dogs and the hotel we stay at regularly has a nice grassy area away from traffic so I can walk them.
When I lived in RC-I never shopped during the weekends...ughhhh the crowds are horrible...but they are just something you have to contend with when you are just visiting.

I think next year, I am going to see if 'granny' will come down on the first weekend, when all the horse stuff is going on. I know she likes the rodeo, but I would much rather watch a barrel racing, the horse sale and walk stallion alley. Of course, that is when I get to run across all the people I used to hang out with, so I learn all the good gossip.;)

Danielle Michelle said...

But I liked the coat! LOL - yes - very NFR-ish. I LIVE for those events, but it's good I'm far away from all of them becasue I'd be living in a cardboard box (but with very sweet assessories!)

cdncowgirl said...

That coat was killer! But a bit too loud for me, I'm much more of a quiet, don't notice me type of person. lol
Now the boots, those I would have grabbed. (high arch and wide too!)

Your brother's purses are AWESOME! Where/how does he sell them?

Leah Fry said...

I'm cracking up -- didn't get the coat because the border collie would try to herd you hahaha!

GORGEOUS purse!!!

Andrea said...

OH I can't wait until we have the Houston Livestock and Rodeo show!! I am really excited. I need to buy my tickets!! I am going twice this year. Once with out kids!! I am so excited!!

It looks like you had a blast. I love all the shopping. And I love your new boots. I just hate breaking them in!! Oh the blisters!! And that coat, girl, you NEED it! It's super cold there and you need it. Really!! :)

And I have never heard of the one armed bandit!! He sounds awesome, and those buffalo!! SOOOO cool. My hubby said he has seen him, i am so jealous. I want to see a show like that!!!

IT sounds like you guys had a blast!!

Chelsi said...

Thanks for taking us to the rodeo with you! I had fun! That horse stunt rider looks amazing! One day you will have to tell us more about your stepdad and mothers trip to Hollywood!

I LOVE your new boots! You just cant go wrong spending money on a good pair of boots. And the coat is TOTALLY you!!! You looked like some kind of queen (and not the drag type either) LOL.

kdwhorses said...

Wow that rodeo looks like so much fun! That guy is awesome! Holy cow!

That coat is so you, you rocked it! Oh but the boots, oo la la! $200 isn't really that bad though! If your'e like me I wear something till it falls apart! :O

Melanie said...

I am loving that picture of you in the big, furry coat...lol!!! You should have bought it! :)

And those boots??? Dang girl!! Think of what a statement you could have made with your new purse, your new boots, and that coat!!!

Buffalo can be rather nasty, can't they?? And hard to hold back if they decide they want to go. Glad you had fun at the rodeo. :)

Unknown said...

Hey it sounds like you had a blast! I have to say I love the boots and love the bag! You have GREAT taste. I have a thing for boots and coats - so I may have walked out of there with the boots too. There is just no where to try the nice ones on around here.

Great pics of the buffalo and one armed bandit! It was almost like a was there with while reading your post.

Laura said...

Sounds like you had a great time. I really want to go to a rodeo, but there aren't any in my area. It's not as popular here in the east(ish)...

Loooove the boots! And I can't belive your brother made that purse - very nice indeed...!

Paige said...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the one armed bandit--he is incredible. I saw him at Road to the Horse a few years ago--but no buffalo theen. He ran something else up on the trailer, but I dont remember what now--massive steers I think

Does your brother have a website? The purse is awesome and right up my alley

Rising Rainbow said...

Sounds like you had a great time. I'm totally jealous!

Cool that you drummed up some business for your brother and his purses! Sounds like that vendor has the perfect market for one of a kind purses. I hope it works out well for you bro.

Nice boots! I have a foot like yours and have long since given up on finding a slip on cowboy boot to fit me. I'll have to watch for this brand.

gtyyup said...

Fun time!! I knew it was the One Armed Bandit in the pic before I read the name...he's great! Saw him quite a few times at the St. Paul rodeo in Oregon years past. Haven't had the pleasure to see him recently...always had a great show.

Your brother is very talented...really nice work on your purse!