The Ranch Finale

Or Beauty and The Beast



When we last visited Beauty at Rawhide Ranch, she was just settling in to her first day of ice cream ranch life, and being a full time cowgirl. 

There were horseback riding jaunts down the dusty trail on her horse Foxy.

But.....there were also plenty of ranch chores to learn and perform.

Like feeding the ponys........

And then taking them for a walk, just like Grandma J walks JJ.

Learning how to vault and do other tricks in preparation for the Big Rodeo

All kinds of work goes into being a Rodeo Star

Beauty practices for the Big Rodeo on a real horse.

They say practice makes perfect....

TADA!!!

Beauty's hard work paid off with a second place ribbon!!  That's my cowgirl!!

xoxox  Grandma J

RAWHIDE RANCH, starring Beauty

Every year, the second graders at the school where Grandma J's grandkids go, get an opportunity to go to a real live ranch for four days.   It's an authentic ranch in the rural mountains in Bonsall CA.

 Students start hyperventilating about going to Rawhide Ranch from their first day of kindergarten.  It's a long road to haul, waiting for second grade, and then,  that day in May when you show up at school with your ranch gear, and board the bus. 

Beauty's brother has been to Rawhide ranch, and she thought the day would never come.
There was a whole plethora of things to do, things to buy.....so many preparations.

For Beauty, it all starts with the boots.  She really wanted the white with pink trim, but the only pair in her size that weren't already scuffed were the pink ones.   She could live with that because......

There was a matching hat in the works.    Grandma J has no idea what the problem was, but having been in second grade once herself, she can relate to an occasional fashion meltdown.  Actually, just yesterday Grandma J had one when the drawstring on her pajama jeans broke.

 Once she got to school, and was able to  hang out with her BFFs, she seemed much happier.

And.....by the time they all got together for a group shot, Beauty was flaunting them pink boots all over the place.

 Once they arrived, this happened.   Grandma J doesn't have any additional info related to this picture so you get to use your vivid imagination!

Here's Beauty kicking it up big time in the corral.   Grandma J made that *kicking it up* part up because she has no idea what Beauty is doing besides looking cute with them pink boots!

Grandma J was so proud of all the ranch type things Beauty learned in her first day....like zapping bugs.  And, how cool that she has an upper bunk?

In case you were wondering, Rawhide Ranch is a real honest to goodness working ranch.  Flaunt those pink boots, Beauty....you go girl.

When the morning chores are done, it's coffee break time!

There's nothing like a nice camp fire at the end of a long day working on the Ranch.

xoxox  Grandma J

Survivor...Island Princess Style

As you recall, last Friday Grandma J fled  The Great Flood of 2011 town, heading down the highway to seek refuge along the muddy Red River in Louisiana.  

Well, while she was living it up at the blackjack tables drowning her sorrows, her granddaughter, Beauty, whose official Indian Princess name is Little Dancing Dolphin  was having a similar water type weekend with her dad, whose official Indian Princess Dad's name is Big Laughing Shark.

Little Dancing Dolphin  and  the rest of the tribe, headed 26 miles across the sea  to the island called Santa Catalina, or just Catalina for short.

The back side of the Island is where all the camps are, and the place where Little Dancing Dolphin's   Indian Princess Tribe travels for their annual Survivor Camp.  OK, so Grandma J made that part up.  She knows there has to be an official name for this excursion, and she thinks Survivor Camp fits the bill.


So, while Big Laughing Shark  and the other dads do whatever Indian Princess Dads do, the Princesses fill their three days with exciting adventures........

Like befriending snakes.....

And enjoying some quality time with sharks!!

You can't be a well rounded Indian Princess if you aren't a good markswoman.   Little Dancing Dolphin  hit her mark!

So, I suppose you wonder how Big Laughing Shark  and the other dads passed away the weekend?  Well, of course they had some adult competitions, and Little Dancing Dolphin  was so proud of Big Laughing Shark  because he won the most important competition all weekend...

Are you ready for this?

Can you tell Grandma J is overwhelmed with pride for  Big Laughing Shark?

That's right....As part of the initiation for being next year's Indian Princess Chief or now PC Circle Navigator is the traditional belly flop competition. Big Laughing Shark  won!


xoxo Grandma J

St. Baldrick's Heros

They did it to raise money for a cure. 

 Andrew's Cub Scout buddy's joined him at the St. Baldricks Day event.   What great friends!


They did it to stand toe-to-toe with those still fighting for their lives

Andrew loves Zoe.  He knows there is no cure for her cancer....another  reason to support St. Baldricks.

They did it as a reminder that too many kids get cancer

And because they love each other more than you can imagine.

She did it because....

She  wanted to let her brother know that she too wanted to make a difference....

......and with no regrets!   

Grandma J suggested that this beautiful sister is mature enough to get her ears pierced.....and shouldn't have to wait until she's a teenager.  Her parents agreed!!!

They did it again, and again, and will never forget

Angel legend and Baseball Hall of Famer, Rod Carew lost his daughter Michelle to Leukemia 15 years ago.   He continues to raise funds and awareness, claiming to have gained many more children in the process.  I'm sure his daughter is proud of him.

They did it for love

The saying, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree",  couldn't be any truer!   Dad has always been a supporter and advocate for finding a cure through fundraising. 

He Ain't Heavy....He's My Brother

Grandma J had a really  funny slap-my-fanny post for you....it was all ready to publish....in the can, as they say in the business.  But.........

Here I am, climbing on my Proud as Peaches Platform!

I just found out that my granddaughter Beauty, decided that she wants to do something special to honor her brother Andrew on St Baldricks Day.

That's right....this adorable eight year old is stepping up and offering up  her golden locks to the shears of a barber.  She's getting her head shaved this Sunday to honor her brother Andrew.  

If you are in So CA, and don't have plans Sunday, stop by and cheer all the kids, and grown ups on as they show off their bald heads to honor survivors, memorialize those who earned their wings, and those still fighting the good fight.

And no....I couldn' t be prouder, as I step off my Proud as Peaches Platform.

Spring Has Sprung

It's that time of year when God's little creatures start setting up house around here.   Grandma J has a feeder for her hummingbird friends,  and some cute little bird houses for any little birdies that would like to hang out or nest there.   A warning to any yellowjackets....don't even cruise on by withing ten feet of here! 

The cute little green, pumpkin shaped bird house was made by one of my CA granddaughters.  When I was out there last October, we all went to the Bass Outdoor Sports outfitters store , or whatever they are called and they had a nice project for the kids to make these bird houses and paint them.  I was fortunate to be the recipient of this one.....painted green to make the birds  happy.

My sweet granddaughter, Beauty gave me the cute bird house. I know it's been a while since I've posted about her, so you might be a bit surprised at how grown up she's become.

She loves karaoke, and spent a good portion of her cruise vacation doing just that.

On Assignment

Or in other words,  Grandma J got her ticket drawn and she won first prize in "who's going to babysit while mommy goes to Napa for a week".

So off she goes to California.  First she has to take a puddle jumper to Dallas, then she gets to go on a real big plane to Orange County.   It's an all day event because why would anyone syncronize flights to coincide with each other.  We all know four hour layovers are preferred by most travelers.

One nice thing about catching a plane from Texas before the rooster crows, is arriving at your desination while it's still daylight.   Grandma J  spent her whole life never paying much attention to palm trees.  Now when she visits they make her smile because vultures don't live in palm trees. Did Grandma J ever mention that the Turkey Vulture is the Texas State Bird?   Well, if she didn't mention it, it's because it's not, but should be.

A little bit of rain, like twenty inches   is all it takes to make everything green again in January.

Even though Grandma J's main purpose for coming to CA to hang out with three kiddos while mom is away, she did have another more important reason to show up.

Beauty turned seven!   And the one thing Beauty loves more than anything is shopping.   She does not take after her grandma because her grandma hates to shop.   Well, that's unless she takes Beauty to buy new clothes and shoes.   Did I mention shoes?   Because if I didn't, Beauty made sure I got her new shoes in the picture. 

And while we are on the subject of shoes.....Beauty told Grandma J that Nordstroms has the best shoes in the whole wide world!   Really?  No sh*t kidding!

Nothing says,  look at me, I'm seven, like a nice pedicure.   Of course that's what she asked for at age four! 

And yes, her Grandma took her for her first pedi at age four.   Did Grandma J ever tell you she had her first pedi after she turned 50?

That capped off Grandma J's first day in California.  

I have been catching up on my fellow bloggers, but haven't had the time to comment yet.  I will, but until then I will say four Hail Mary's and an Act of Contrition.......amen!

The Pause That Refreshes!

Sometimes we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and forget to stop and smell the roses. But even when Grandma J stops to buy flowers every week smell the roses and plethora of flowers in Walmart the garden, nothing can make her smile more that a picture received on her cell phone........



Especially when it's a picture of Beauty proudly showing Grandma J her gorgeous smile minus her two front teeth. So today I want to share my smile, and Beauty's with you.

And of course it would be hard to not notice Beauty's big brother, Andrew, lurking in the background now, would it?

MORE FUN IN THE OC

My social calendar is ready to burst.....it's like fitting a whole year into a couple of weeks. My head is spinning and reeling from all the alcohol food, fun, people, animals and hot humid so unlike Southern California weather.

Remember me telling you about my meeting with Jason, Hula Hank, and Pumpkin Delight? Well, I neglected to mention the hootenanny I went to the day before. By hootenanny, I mean a poolside luncheon with some lurker and non-lurker friends from when I worked as a Public Servant at the County.

Francis is not a lurker.....but Francis loves Grandma J.


Then yesterday, my son's father in law dropped off my grandson after school....

Yep, he picked him up and dropped him off in a real live, honest-to-goodness, vintage fire truck. Every year, this retired fireman...being my son's father-in-law, picks up his old fire truck from the 13th century, and spiffy's it all up by spit shining it for an upcoming parade.

Then he let Grandma J go for a spin....

It's his big thing every year. One year the high school cheerleaders rode on top, another year the football team rode, and the Boy Scouts another year.....but always, always, his grandson rides...and his 90 year old father!

Last night, I took Pooper and Beauty to a special birthday party at a RainForest Cafe.

Not just any RainForest Cafe, it was the one at Downtown Disney.

Here they are singing Happy Birthday to the birthday boy, who we will call Wheel...because he's not a tire.

They all had fun and bonded...can you see the bond?

Then we roamed around Downtown Disney listening to music.....

And being so totally silly....

We ended up at the Lego store where you can spend a zillion dollars for a Lego kit to build yourself a vacation home...at the beach.....maybe.