It is soo exciting to learn new things and to start letting your mind have some fun with the things and ideas around you! I've been a little crafty growing up. My Mom taut me to sew and quilt by the time I was 7. And I've always loved art, sketching out my favorite dreams and catching something with pencil beings I didn't have a camera. I also love poetry, truly a way to really get down deep into my soul. I may be married up and a momma now but I still have that wild fire that can get out with a good poem or writings. I have many great friends who are super handy at making decor, clothing, music, and tack..pretty much can cover anything I'd need. I have been a house wife and mom for a little over a year now and being 80+ miles from town sure can make you think a lot! I've tried my best at keeping busy as a new mom and I love to help on the ranch, but like now we are expecting again and so I'm a little closer to the house and "am not allowed to do certain things around the ranch." So I have been trying to be crafty again and bring some of my own income in and also something to make me feel accomplished as a little family support, and trust me I need it. This is the first time I haven't had a full time job since I was 14! So my new and fast advancing little journey is "Pretty Westy" hats and etc.. I am now fixing up our cute caps with some personality that you can bring to the branding pen or to a fun dance. Heck a lot of us girls can fix a hot hair mess with a pretty hat cover and you'd be dressed up without having to run a brush though your hair. Well that's my fancy idea! Plus I will continue to make some jewelry and also some flowers and hat bands for our cowboy hats. I am very excited and so far I've had lots of hits! I am planning on hitting some craft fairs and I'll also be taking them along to rodeos and upcoming shows. So if your wanting to take a peek just let me know I'll keep hats on hand!

My Past had caught up to me and the lifestyle I love

Something about that punchy buckaroo lifestyle kinda makes me feel like life is vintage glamour...Start out a day with glitter and curls and finish it with au natural dusty lashes and a sun kissed tan.. You walk into town with ur worn tinged hat and an old cowboy will compliment "It's nice to see a girl around these parts that actually wears their hat" as it's covered in that days branding dust.. With my old Calvary silver tapped bridle I'll ride off and away and beside my flat-topped cowboy my heart will stay..- c.kelly

I honestly love my life. I have in the past year..Been blessed with the most adorable, cuddly, handsome son I could ever ask for. A marriage to my soul mate, best friend, and handiest cowboy I know Junior. I have become a full time ranch wife and mommy, no longer having to spend the majority of my time around town. Now I've had to cook home made meals and craft things to keep my self busy..I've fallen inlove even more with this lifestyle. I used to work near town where I felt like just another pawn who was driven everyday to and from a place where everybody else was, I had no independence I felt. I was so used to waking up and seeing the sun rise and than watching the sunset. Where I was in my life as that pawn I wasn't happy. Some days I didn't get to breathe fresh air. I would be there 12 hours a day with some people that didn't know what I had done in the past or what I really dreamed of doing instead of sitting in a lunch room with some who had never even set foot outside of a "city life", when I was thinking about inside..the joy a horse could give you after he's done a hard days work, what miles I had driven across the Horse Heavens and along the coast, through the mountains of northern WA ID and MT, down in the deserts of NM and hwys of TX. Some of those people didn't know what a range life job or lifestyle entailed. I was hurt at some points by myself. Thinking why had I started this? Why I had put myself in this position. But it was a learning experience. It had taught me about myself. It had driven me to find my happiness again. That happiness I had riding colts and covering country down south of Bench Creek and Dixie Valley or in the wintery hills of Tuscarora, the deserts of the Great Basin, and learning and laughing in China Town and Boney Lane. I had been driven back to my cowboy and where now we have a family raising it in the way of life we love. Our lil boy who is just now 1 but would rather play with his rope and head out the door than be around others. I have been blessed with a son who is just like his parents. He will be a go getter of his dreams. I will be standing there giving him that look....the one of approval everytime he says "Mom, this is my dream"..I look forward to the years to come, the new blessing that will be joining us soon, and the horses that will carry our dreams on their backs.

A reply/comment to a LVRJ Article. As others' comments were posted I hope they except mine.

A reply/comment to this article : http://www.lvrj.com/news/wild-horses-wealthy-rescuer-creates-eco-sanctuary-135817543.html#blogcomments?submitted=y

 My Friend and I have been bugged by some peoples' comments to this article..We were a lil stirred up by the news this morning and "Picken's"..Just thought I had another place to share. And feel free to comment. I know most who will read this will be full of understanding due to your way of living and knowledge of this issue..
 Here is our comment:

"I was born and raised in NV, working and living at several different ranches. The wild horse is an obvious icon in our state. During the news this morning they spoke how people need to compromise in order to deal with the population of the horses. I don’t  feel that the ranchers are close-minded and want to do away with all the wild horses. They  enjoy these horses but their overpopulation threatens not only the beef industry that feeds more than half of America but also threatens the health and value of these horses. The wild horses are inbred, malnutritioned,  and unable to thrive because of the vast numbers in relation to the land available to them. Millions of your dollars are being spent by the government to feed and maintain the "wild" horses in feed lots and areas where they are hidden from the public. These majestic horses are also adopted out across the nation where people struggle to keep a job and keep their own families fed. These animals are mistreated and starved when their meat could be used to feed American families and starving people throughout the world. Rather than spending millions of tax-payers' dollars to keep these animals alive in a feedlot, why can't we put them to use or manage them more efficiently. For those of you who are against the horses being ran by helicopters, seeing a horse skinny and not able to “make” it. If the amount of horses were managed there would be enough feed on the range to provide for their health. The government is flying these helicopters over a vast amount of range that has enough feed for maybe half of whats being bred out there. People unhappy about others who “interrupt” the “wildness” of these horses are some who can afford to feed their “pets” in their backyard. They see the charm and beauty of horses but do not think thru their actions when it comes to the land they are living on. This is the Great Basin, which is a desert, it takes far more acres to run an animal in NV than it does in most places around the nation. Those of you who eat beef, I hope value the fact that ranchers raise cattle to provide you with food.

                A reply to a post above: I have been an employee of Mr. Ole Olson in the past,  who some have spoken negatively about. I had been to a horse sale every weekend, riding horses he had bought from people who could not afford to feed them or could not handle them. He created usable horses as these animals were meant to be and had dispersed them to people who could afford to enjoy and provide for these animals, as well as  earn a living for themselves riding them. Yes I admit this “old” man is set in his ways and has an opinion about almost anything, but deep down he has a heart for the horse like a 6 year old girl obsessed with a pony. He does buy horses at sales and from people that are going to be “canned”. He would sit there and ask my opinion on most if he should send it or not. If the horse was able to walk, was kind enough to be trained, or he knew it had a future home, he’d keep it and find it a home. I had asked him if he enjoyed selling horses one day, He said he had spent his life doing this to make a living. Right from 15 years old when he rode away from his Dad’s horse ranch in WA with 15 head of horses behind him headed to a sale and has continued to do so. Making a living actually just like any person that works in an office or behind a counter.  

When the slaughter bill was passed to shut down the plants in the United States, it made an impact on the horse industry. I do understand people when they think it’s inhumane to slaughter horses. I love horses with every piece of passion I can obtain. But I can understand when a horse is on its last leg and no one to care for it, being as it cannot be cared for due to money or an issue with its health or injury. How is a person to disperse of an animal without taking a loss on what they’ve put into it. Some people make a living on horses, they breed, feed, and manage these animals supporting not only their families but also others with their high-quality animals. When these horses that they’ve put money into become injured beyond repair, are too old to survive a winter, or are maybe too much for a person to handle what is to happen? Should the States open a pit where you can dump a horse’s body after it has been “euthanized” and let it fill up taking up a chunk of land where nothing is being accomplished?

Just make a compromise. The ranchers are already required to maintain their cattle numbers to a certain number. What would be the harm in establishing a manageable number of horses as well? The government could provide jobs for those capable of training the wild horses that they gather wanting to keep the numbers down on the range. Some of you may thing that the mustangs are beautiful, wild, and majestic, but they actually compare to a runny eyed two headed cat.  Because of inbreeding the mustangs have various diseases and the conformation is compromised. If high quality stallions were utilized and the herds dispersed to inhibit future inbreeding the animals would be worth looking at.

I had lived on a northern NV Indian reservation where hundreds of horses run on the desert and are gathered during the winter. Some have brands some are slick. The branded horses are turned over and brought in by their owners and the slicks are caught and given or sold to others who are looking forward to starting them for using ranch horses. But these horses are managed. If they aren’t worth a penny to be used than they are sold to be sent south or they are turned back out. But they are bred to be good horses. They aren’t a run of the litter. They are provided with some good studs or mares thrown in on top of “mustangs” where they can survive on the northern NV desert in the summers and winters. If only the government and those of you who want the “wild mustang” to thrive in the West still could see that you can’t just let an animal run free in this day and age anymore and take action to make sure we still have a wonderful animal to dream about and love. Why can’t anyone take affirmative action and step up for what’s smart economically and humanely right?"

This Time

For some reason around me things are changing fast. If not for me, but for others. May it be good or bad, true love or heartbreak, or just natural evergoing ways. It is time that has unraveled. I have had a very eventful year. I've had amazing blessings and true love become even more powerful. I have made choices to make my life happier even if it made it harder. I'm finding a soul that is burning to just let loose and be wild.
If you've ridden across the desert and have just let your horse truly do the walking. Let the sage tug on your feet a lil and let the "wild" things make your horse a lil skittish...that's the world..Let it pull on you and push on you, make you tense up right when your getting settled..Your trusting your friend to carry you safely, yet never knowing what he'll do next..It can be forgiving or non..But you'll know when you can settle again and your soul will be carried..by faith and believing..Believe that time is always there but what you burn is what has passed..Time can heal, can conquer, can lift and Bring you to yourself. I've always felt that tug and push but I'm coming to that understanding that patience is a virtue when I never was before. I was the horse sprinting across the desert instead of that one who let's a lil tug and push show me that everything is going to be ok for the only thing that can hurt me is what I allow.

If a stud doesn't want to be bridled in the prettiest silver than maybe he's meant to be wild and untamed.

A heart can stretch a million miles, yet be a barren desert. Let your soul be the spring that flows across that desert and fills it with life.

"Owyhee"

He may be the best looking under that dark hat but don't let that dance take your breath away until you know how he sleeps.

That guy who smiles at you when you walk thru the door, the one who reaches for you before anyone else, he may argue a lil, and say ya instead of no..well that's the son in him..and God couldn't have made him any less.                  

"Brody Blevin"

You know that colt who has the furriest lil legs, the one who can barely see thru his forelock and everytime you look he freezes and hopes that you aren't looking..that is what she is inside..and that may be the key to her happiness is finding herself in him.

My lil Buckaroo

Hello All, I haven't been here to blog in ages.

Been to happily busy with my new lil boss, Brody Blevin Kelly. Born March 24, 2011 at 7 lbs. 8 oz. 21 1/2 inches long with Daddy's hair and Momma's eyes.  He is the most amazing blessing. His lil bright eyes, silly giggles and Mr. Squirmy moves are the best. I truly now know what my own Mom feels, There must've been a huge hole in my heart before he came along, cause I can feel it all swelled up since the first moment I heard his cry.

To let you see the lil man from birth to now Here's some photos..

 Bright eyes since Birth..

^Daddy's hair^

 BathTime!

 First Smiles

 His CradleBoard

 Grandpa and Brody were peeking around the house..

 2 months old.

His afghan from his Great Aunt Dawn>

And his first mocs from his Great Grandma Tay.

Just a glimpse at what I get to love. Our Baby boy Brody Blevin

XOXO

So Excited!

I'm getting way anxious and excited to meet my lil boy. Had a fun time at my baby shower and Thank you everyone who could make it!! :)

My First Diaper Cake made by my sis-n-law Gina!

1 of the very many cute outfits I received!

Lady before a Cowboy and which Hat to wear?!

So my Mom has me looking up photos to put on her fancy, new digital photo frame..I'm at wit's end because there's way too many! I laugh at my brother's pictures and think of funny things I can do to make them any funnier..

Than I see me as a lil blonde girl with a Pink hat on, totally a play hat but at the time, my world!

I love hats, maybe too many in my collection. I have visors, ball caps, and many cowboy hats. I remember my Eddy Bros RED cowboy hat. Was so excited for a new hat, I had been wearing a black one that was soo droopy anymore it could cover my eyes. The Red hat came because of a parade in AZ. My best friend and I were red, white, and blue for American Family Insurance for the Lost Dutchman Day's Parade. Teamed up on our steedy ponies we were as I might say adorable..(Not sure why I turned out the way I am now). So as I grew up I went thru many hats! The straw ones never could survive, not sure if it was me or the horses, but of course I blamed it on my horse. Hat's mean so much to a personality I found out later on in life.

I've worn pristine, shaped, and perfectly clean hats for Rodeo Queen, which was a pain in my rear! I'd always have to worry about what was going to happen to my hat when my horse acted up. For surely, I was not the most picture perfect after a rodeo. Later that pretty hat was reshaped to a flat hat and given to a lil buckaroo boy. Who pretty much wore it till they decided he needed a new hat, because it was not so clean and well, wearable anymore. As I traveled around the states going to a horse sale every weekend or even one everyday of the week, I noticed people really looked at who you are and where your from by what kind of hat you wear. I was wearing my flat-top palm leaf and was more than once asked if I was from Nevada.

Well that hat gave me the name, "Ms. Nevada Buckaroo Girl." from a few friends who auctioneer at sales up north. We'd see the same auctioneer at about 5 to 6 sales a month. It really was a laugh to me because I realized I could wear kind of hat after that, but that first impression showing set in their minds where I was from.

I started dating a buckaroo boy, who is my one and only, a few years back and well every hat I owned he took care of for me.Which I forgave him after I realized how great they looked.
 One went from square-top to rounder with a flat brim. (See Below)

and another to a flat-top which no longer fit so went to that lil buckaroo boy as I mentioned before. lol.

 I really have had many great stories that go along with my collection and wish I could print them into the stitching of everyone of them. But really the only way I know where they've been is from the dust and the sweat that's worn into them from being out under that scorching sun, or blizzarding snow, pushing cows, running barrels, chasing "shitters", being caught under a bad colt, traveling the states, and even sitting in an arena surrounded by the show world. I'd like to know some of the ones from the cowboy's you see sitting around the bar after a fair event or Silver State get-together. The years of when the YP crew would head to town for the weekend, or when a cowboy won a championship buckle for being the best bronc-stomper that night..How did that Blossom Ranch horse really feel?..Or from the girl's and women who are right along side or ahead of those men..The women who can tend a stove and kids all year and still outrope many of the practiced-up at the end of the summer branding competition. Those hats cover many great stories, and maybe one day I'll be able to hear some. Until then, I'll be making my own as I watch my own lil cowboy work his way thru hats, and if he's anything like his father..

I best invest in a hat company!

"You should be a Lady before your a cowboy, course every girl should have some glam in her life, just depends on which hat looks prettier."

Mooo-Glamourous?