A Rip-Roarin' First Rodeo

Yippee-Yi-Ti-Yo, yes, that's me on the cover of "American Cowboy." My mom's idea of a cute photo project commemorating my first rodeo. Grandpa Jim, guess what you're getting for your birthday? I'm wearing your hat, after all.

It was the Coulee City Last Stand Rodeo over Memorial Day weekend, in my dad's hometown. From what I hear, it's one of the smaller rodeos, but it's as real as you get. Lots of up-close views of the animals: horses, calves, bulls, even bucking broncos. And the pretty rodeo princesses (one winked and waved at me!).

Despite all the excitement in the arena, I enjoyed playing under the bleachers much of the afternoon. But I emerged to watch the bull riding. The riders are brave or foolish, I can't decide which. I wouldn't want to ride a bull -- I might get hurt, and bad! There was an ambulance standing by just in case someone did.

My mom snapped this great shot of the bull throwing the rider. Looks like the bull is doing a handstand, with his back feet up in the air. I think this guy won the contest.

Probably my favorite show was a family of "trick riders." This guy was only seven years old! After he and his brother and sisters cavorted through the ring, my mom had the gall to ask me not to climb on the bleacher railings. Come on, I was just trying some tricks of my own!

If anyone can teach me to throw a lasso, I'd appreciate a lesson. So long, pardners! Yippee-Yi-Ti-Yay...

Have Training Wheels, Will Pedal

I've graduated from two wheels to four. Yep, my Strider balance bike has been upgraded to a REAL, two-wheeled bicycle--with training wheels.

2 + 2 = 4, right?

This pedaling thing is tricky, and I find I have to concentrate on moving my feet. When I look down too much, Dad calls out to look where I am going. I've only fallen once--luckily I was wearing jeans, so I didn't skin my knee too badly.

I really like the press-my-feet-backward brakes. I'm leaving skid marks all over our pink concrete.

I got the bike Earth Day weekend, when my Nannie and Papaw were visiting, at the grand opening of the ReCyclery here in PT. It's like the Maritime Center for bikes instead of boats.

Most of the second-hand bikes for sale were too big for me, but this one was just right. Papaw and I oiled the chain, but the rear wheel was flat, so I had to wait a few days for the ReCyclery staff to fix it up before we could pick it up. I asked about it every day. Mom said I had to be patient. She says that a lot.

My dad put on the training wheels last weekend and off I went. He and I are going to take off the stickers and paint it red and black. Won't that look cool?

You can watch me cruise along for 23 seconds in this video my mom shot yesterday. Whee!

I'm All Boy and I Can Drive a Tractor, Too

I still have many years to go until I can get my driver's license, but until then, I can practice on my grandparents' tractor.

This John Deere lawnmower is so old, my Papaw says he can't buy parts for it anymore. But it has a trailer and a water bottle holder and three speeds and reverse. It's cool!!

And they have a BIG yard. I don't know how they keep it all mowed without my help.

Several times today, Papaw told my mom that I'm "all boy," which seems pretty obvious to me. I mean, I'm not half dinosaur or one-quarter dog or part girl. Nope, I'm all me, and that's all boy!

Auntie Jill took this 38-second video of me steering the tractor BY MYSELF. You'll see Papaw signaling "no hands" to show I have total control of the steering wheel. We're towing my little car to the garage. A tractor-boy's work is never done.

P.S. I tagged this post "cars" and "motorcycle," because a tractor's a little bit of both!

Knead I Say More?

A 46-second clip guaranteed to make your mouth water for my stretchy, yeasty, crusty pizza dough!

Note that I am kneading the dough MYSELF. No help--from mom or anyone else.

Finally -- the Snow I've Been Waiting For!

This is how I feel about the snow that finally fell in Port Townsend yesterday: HAPPY!

It's the first snowfall of the New Year, and only the second snow I've seen this winter. The last was back in November and there was so little, it melted before I got outside to go sledding.

Not this time! I was right out there throwing snowballs at my parents. Watch out, you guys!



I surprised Dad with this one!

We tried to make a snowman in our backyard, but the snow was too cold and powdery to stick together. Dad says it has to warm up a little before it will roll into big balls. I listen to his advice, because he has a lot of snow experience, growing up in Eastern Washington and all, where it snows A LOT.

We have about six inches accumulated at our house this morning. When I asked Mom how much six inches was, she pointed to the table on our patio and said, "As much snow as is piled up on that table." OK, I can picture that.

The wind has blown away some of the snow on our deck, but it's still a nice view of white wint'ry wonderland, as the song goes.

I want to share a poem with you that I made up last night when my mama (a.k.a. Queen Shelly) asked me if I knew what snow was made of. Here is my answer that she wrote down:

Snow is made of wool
And little bits of glass
All mixed up
Together.

It is made of toilet paper
To make it white
And towels
To make is soft.

That's all that snow is made of.