Can you say HECTIC

Running here-
Running there -
Painting this-
Drawing that-
Chasing kids-
Riding horses-
Teaching-
Cooking and Cleaning(sporadically)-
and amongst all that trying to sleep a little.

The last few weeks have been so busy - but also rewarding.
If you click on the link to Lindsay's sight you can see the cool mural we have been doing at my school. It has been a LOT of WORK , but oh what an experience.

Working with the teachers, the kids and all the staff in a different way has been amazing and made me appreciate what a wonderful place that I have had the opportunity to be apart of - Way to go ROCKY HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL!

I will stick in my own pictures of it later, but haven't had time to get behind the camera. Look for us all in the paper too and if you are interested please come to the
ART AUCTION
where this will be sold on April 5th.

Still excited

This weekend was pretty darned good...

To begin with you need to read the last post to know about my office and then...

I went to a barrel race yesterday - I didn't win any money, but I did have a great victory!!!!

Annie - my new horse - ran a 17.9!!!

Ok... on Daisy that would be a dissapointment, but on Annie this is such an accomplishment. Before that the fastest we had been was an 18.3 and it was a struggle.

The last run was so smooth, and easy and she has so much more to give...

I am just so LUCKY!!!!!

Daisy did well too, but slipped on her second and hit it.

She is as awesome as ever and I can't wait to

RODEO!!!

Hey, needing a fuel sponsor if anybody is interested... Ha!! Ha!!

I'm so excited

Oh - boy - oh - boy!!!

In December I bought this wonderful new computer and for the last couple of months I have been balancing it on my lap surrounded in piles of junk in the room I called...

THE HOLE!!!

Hated to do any kind of work in there and so -
the hole grew worse and worse!

To add to the frustration of the hole I also had three pieces of expensive hardware that were not functioning correctly - my scanner , my old computer, and my printer! My aggravation mounted daily; as I had projects that needed completed, and could not be ended without these vital tools.

Today is a new day....
Growing weary of borrowing my mother's scanner and printer I bucked up, headed to Office Max, and purchased one of my very own!!!
This was the beginning of the end of the hole!

Out with the old and in with the new...
three garbage bags,
one cupboard,
an old scanner,
an uncooperative printer,
and a bug ridden computer later...

the hole is GONE!!

Completely rearranged or Fungsheid (not sure how to spell it, but it sounds impressive)...
Ready to be a productive part of my world.

YEAH!!!!

Plumb Lucky...

That's me... I am just lucky! I have been blessed with so many things and I thought I should make a list. Always good to do this so you can check it on those days when you find yourself wallering in self pity!

I have...

• two eyes to view the numerous splendors of every day.

• one husband who is scared to death of horses, can't hardly draw a stick figure, but always supportive of everything I do;



• two beautiful, healthy, intelligent and caring children;



• one beautiful, organized, always honest mother who I can count on to take care of me, my kids, and my business - plus she will always tell me when something I do stinks;



• two amazingly talented horses who are going to win a ton for me and always do their very best;



• one beautiful home in a safe and quiet neigborhood;



• two jobs, one that pays the bills so I can live, and one that I live to do ( hopefully this one will soon take over... crossing our fingers);



• one talented brother who I know loves me even though he never says it



• two sets of grandparents that also love me and do say it;



• one adorable dog with floppy ears, matted fur and an oversized heart;



• two computers to work on (one is definately better and I am all that more thankful for it)



• one tough truck that can haul me to my many destinations;



• many friends, and family that I can depend on,



• a multitude of artistic talent that I am learning to expand on every day,



• but, most of all a loving God that has blessed me in so many ways that I can never say thank you enough!

This is the shortened an condensed version of my list, but even at this I am sure you can see why I am so DARNED LUCKY!!! Hope you all have half as much luck as me!

New belts... with matching buckles soon to come!

I am always trying to come up with something new for my customers.

Here are my latest accessories your wardrobe can't be without!

All the belts are genuine leather with sterling silver conchos

and lots of blingy Swarvoski crystals!

Please click on the pictures to see them up close and large!

Steer belt and running horses belts size M.
(both are available at this time in size L)
$119 each

Black Guns and roses belt is size (M) Very showy, but will not fit through belt loops! ($169)

Brown lucky horseshoes with roses and barbed wire is size (L) also ($169).

More edgy roses with barbed wire - no matching buckle at this time - Size (S) $150
Matching buckle can be ordered.

All star rodeo cowgirls are kickin' it up on this cute belt. Size (L) - $119

Another wooly ride is featured on this belt with matching conchos accented in pink crystals -
Size ( M) - $119

Cute kickin' it cowboy boots and daisies - always a classic - size (L) $119

Whimsical steers will stir up lots of attention on this belt - Size (XL) $119

Also... soon to come - buckles to match the belts... Don't miss them!!

All my belt designs are Kickin' It originals -

Please respect my work and refrain from copying my images.

Any of these belts can be ordered in other sizes or colors.

Please feel free to e-mail me with questions or orders. - hawkinsm@eotnet.net

Goofy things I think are cool!

Since I discovered the new view from behind my camera I have found a lot of goofy things that can look really cool. Wish I could have it with me at all times, but such is life.



An old metal hose hanger... Bare naked trees...

old buggy wheels and... even a rusty manure spreader!

So many more things I would like to share, but my computer patience is beginning to wane.

So till I pop up again... have a kickin' it good time in all you do!

Back in the saddle again...

Okay... maybe I have been back in it for a couple of months now, but it had been 5 months since I last ran my horses at a rodeo or barrel race. Given that length of time off of the barrel pattern, inclement weather conditions, and a busy life; I was completely tickled with my first race of 2008.



I have been working on getting together with my newest addition, Annie, and feel that we are finally making some headway after a change in headgear. At Christmas, upon restarting her exercising, I had an epipheny that maybe part of Annie and my conflict revolved around the bit in her mouth ( so cliche' I know... all barrel racers blame it on the bit). Anyway I decided to get rid of the bit and went for what most barrel racers would consider a non-traditional approach - a hackamore. For those non-horsey people out there - a hackamore consists of a nose band with cheek pieces, but no bit. Generally considered ranchy and fit only for teamropers and such. This seemed to be an instant success... Almost immediately the head shaking ceased and slowly her attitude has turned from sour to sweet. So last weekend I took her in a time only... too cheap to dish out the big bucks for competitive run, but next time I will. She was great. I have a "NEW HORSE"!

Daisy my "old" horse ( only because I have had her the longest ) returned to the course in her true Daisy fashion. How could I expect anything less. I placed 5th in the 1D on her and no there were not only 5 girls entered! There were 100 to be exact - pretty amazing turn out for the middle of February.

The day was an overall success!!! I was completely tickled after a 5 month lay off. The weather was beautiful to boot! Sorry no pictures at this time