Sunday, September 28, 2025

Mead Fest and Bestie Shenanigans

On Saturday last week, I headed to New Braunfels to meet up with the bestie and Uber to meadfest! All of the meads were incredible and we had a great time! Only thing that would have made it better is if my hubby could have come, but he had to work.
20-ish years strong!
Glass included in price. The tokens are for the tastings.
Good meadery.
HOT, TOO HOT!
So many flavors. I got bitten by an ant on the toe πŸ₯Ί
Bestie didn't want her hat after a bit... I tried, it didn't last.
Liking my physique, not gonna lie.

Bestie time is so healing. She recently found an old journal from 2018-2020ish and said she found a passage from after one of our convos when I was in korea about how worried she was about me. I remember that time, and I was worried about me, too. My time in Korea was both destruction and healing. When I say I felt like I was stripped to my core, I'm not saying it just for dramatic effect. Honestly, tho we were half a world away, she helped me thru the darkest of my days. What a blessing it is to have a friend who stands by you through all the ups and downs, the light and the dark. She reminded me of my worth, told me to treat myself the way I'd treat her if she was in the same situation, and has just been so amazing thru all my shenanigans. I am so grateful that we found each other at FUS. Love to the bestie!! 

We went to a Mexican place on sat, then watched an unfortunate movie and topped the evening off with miss fishers murder mysteries. It was a delightful day. Monday I headed home to my hubbs and my Acey Face.
Scrambled eggs in Ranchero sauce and I thought there was gonna be Refried beans in there, too.
Checked out the at home store
Kinda want this guy
Oh to snuggle with a spooky skelly 😁

The work week was the usual. This week I decided to do strength training, then cardio, then (if avail) a stretchy stretchy ya ya class to relax for sleeps. 
Easing back in on tue
At least they fixed the a/c while I was gone.
YUCK!

I was quite happy with my friday weigh in, as I'm ALMOST at 25 lbs down from the wedding, I'm on track to overshoot my goal for 2025, and I'm gonna make my final goal!!! I mean, per the BMI I'll still be "obese," but BMI is BS so I'm not gonna worry about it. I'm a little salty that it took pharmaceuticals to actually make the lbs go down, but f*ck it, at least it's working. 

It has been nice to spend some time with the hubby, as we haven't been able to see each other for a good 2 weeks. A says we are still newlyweds cuz we obs haven't seen each other except for the weekends. Its still a challenge, not gonna lie.

We went out on fri night. I love the black pearl margarita. 😁

Sunday A and I are planning to meet up for margaritas and her BDAY!! Tho to me she's still just 42. 😁 

As a side note, between Ace, the hubbs, and myself, we are an extremely hairy household. I think I need to accept that unless we have air purifiers in EVERY room, we will NEVER be free of tufts of floating hair (ace) or strands of long black hairs (hubbs) or nearly invisible bits that you can only FEEL (moi). Sigh... still tho, wouldn't trade em for a clean floor. 😁
A horrified Ace during the cleaning of the floors.
The face of innocence.

Hope all of you are having a lovely Sunday. Much love from TX! 

Saturday, September 20, 2025

Ranch life

It's been nice having a short commute. I'm getting up at the same time, just to be sure that the pup gets his exercise before I have to go to work. I don't have to feed the cows in the morning, so that cuts down on the morning chores somewhat. It's a nice little country break from city life. Kinda an Alan Jackson "gone country" vibe. Back to my roots and all. It's fun for a week. 🀠
Someone wants to play! Cutie pie
The toy has been eviscerated!
Best pic of Harley

I didnt end up doing the gym, but i did bring dumbells and did a few rounds of exercises at the house. Harley was VERY confused. Lol. I'm liking the way my arms are looking. Been focusing on the Triceps and I can SEE muscles when I flex now!! It's nice. I've been going to the gym for how long now and I'm FINALLY seeing some results!
The spicy calico. I'm calling her jalapeΓ±o 
Cutie pie

One kitten was dead when i came home on Tuesday. Sad cuz it was one of the ones I really liked. Sigh. Figured it was sick when it didn't run away, tbh. Then I saw a new kitty! This one is orange and white and SO adorable!! Then wed morning I saw a new black one!! The kittens are venturing out! The sheepdogs missed their breakfast on Wed, and then k sent me a voice-mail of someone telling her Duke had been spotted down the road. Thankfully her friend is going to find him and, well, we have to put the pup in lock down. Can't have a sheepdog that abandons the sheep. Sigh. Poor thing. He's just young. But he took daisy with him, so we gotta keep him at the ranch. 
The kittens!! 
No remorse. None.
Clyde looking sharp
Bonnie on the eggs
The spoiled sheepdog
Don't have a cow, man
Baby buttercup wants hand fed
a line of sheep's butts!

Never a dull moment on the ranch. Harley found some shoes, I'm afraid, and chewed them up.
He's looking at his favorite chew toy.
The 4 I wanna bring home 😁
Happy puppy
He's so sweet!!
Daisy is feeling better after her walkabout with Duke.

I took myself to dinner at a new brewery in town. The Glen rose brewing co. The staff were friendly, the beer was good, and the brat was surprising. The kraut had jalapeΓ±o in it, and the potato salad had olives. Not exactly expected, but welcome. 
The grumpy McGregor was the beer
The helles yeah! 
 Both were enjoyed all the way to the bottom. 😁 

As my time at the ranch is coming to an end, I shall deviate from my normal posting schedule and post this on Saturday instead of Sunday. As you will see next Sunday, this is because I have traveling to do on Saturday, and bestie shenanigans are planned for Sat, sun, and a bit on mon. Frankly, there may be too much for one post. Hehe. Also, I may not have time to post while I'm with bestie. So, we post a day early. I enjoyed my time with all the animals, even with the walkabouts. Harley only killed 3 shoes, which is good since last time there were 6 total. I lost one kitten, and there were no births while I was here. Thank goodness. I'm still afraid something would go wrong and I'd need to call in reinforcements. I do love my time reconnecting with my country roots. 😁 

I hope all is well for all of you, and I send my love ❤️❤️ hugs!! 

Sunday, September 14, 2025

The Strange Side of Love

So my hubby showed me his favorite pic of me the other day. And it got me thinking about how I view myself vs how he sees me. See, I've printed him pix of me where I think I look good. A selfie from C&D's wedding last Nov, pix of him and me, pix of me and bestie... but all of these are ones where I like how I look, and are somewhat posed. His fav pix of me are ones where he's either taking a pic of me taking a pic, or this latest one, which is of me making a goofy face before we watched Shin Godzilla together. His favorite pic of me is not posed, I don't look particularly great, with a goofy look on my face, and yet... that's the pic that makes him happy. It makes me happy to know that he appreciates me in the real moments. When I'm not dressed up, have no makeup, and am being a goof... he loves me. There is something beautiful and comforting in that. Life is made up of more candid moments, after all, and I like how he still loves me even when I look like a drowned rat (caught in a rain storm).

Anyway, the a/c in the gym STILL isn't fixed, so I had some VERY hot cardio sessions this week before I went to my yoga classes. 
Ew.
Not bad
Waiting for my later class. Most are at 530 but on wed it's at 6. I'm taking advantage of my 730-330 5x a week schedule. I may not be where I want to be (weight-wise), but at least I don't have Charlie brown face.
Yoga studio screen. I love this thing.

A lot of this week was preparing to go out to the ranch on fri. Packing, doing laundry, really considering the chances of me going to the gym/working out at all while I'm with the animals, planning food (sammiches, methinks), and trying for an after work happy hour. I'm torn between looking forward to the short commute and playing with the pups and feeling bad that hubbs will be solo for a little over a week. It sucks that we live so far from everyone, but it was the only place that offered us similar commutes. And I like where we live. We have all the bonuses of city convenience (and traffic, unfortunately), but it's small enough that I was recognized at HEB by someone who goes to my church! (Not totally creepy, she remembered my feet tats.) 
When the kitty is spicy and I end up with a new background on my phone!!

As an aside, do you have any IDEA how much I can do between 330 (off work) and 10 (bed)? Gym, yoga, shopping, laundry, boiling eggs, shower, playing with the Acey Face, packing, phone call with hubbs... it's INSANE!! My work week was work, gym, home, sleep. Now it's work, gym, ALL THE THINGS, sleep. Lol. My older sis asked me how i do things after work. The answer: don't have dinner. The 3 hrs spent cooking, eating, and cleaning up really does get in the way of doing things. On a related note, I think the phentermine is working on my appetite now. I truly don't get hungry much, if at all. So... yay for 8lbs to this year's goal. πŸ€ͺ I can do it!!

On Friday I felt like a bag lady. I had clothes, books, computer, kindle, gym bag, small bag, and 2 bags of food for the week. I'm prepared for the country life! Apparently I may even have a sick lamb to keep an eye on. And all the cows are preggers and at least one sheep is, so if everyone gives birth next week, imma be HORRIFIED!! LOL. So far I've assisted in one birth... a chick. Helped it out of its shell and dunked its beak in water. That's the extent of my birthing experience and I'm good with that! Lol.
Fri night on the ranch.
Poor Harley, he misses his people.
I appreciate a pizza that says "here's what it would be if you were sharing with friends, but we both know that's not happening, don't we." 🀨😁 hehe
To be fair, its a small pizza 😁

Saturday started off slow with feeding the animals and waiting for a dude to pick up the 2 Australian Shepards. I never even saw the dude. Harley was supposed to alert me and he never did. Great guard dog.
Such a great guard. 
Me and Gabby... she can be spicy, but wasn't at this particular moment. 😁
The kitten i want to being home. Get that eye cleaned up, get it some food, make ace a big brother. Ace doesn't seem totally interested in being a brother. 

A came into town and we decided to eat at mama mias. They looked like they had good food. They were right! 
Megarita!
Nachos
Yummies 😁

We enjoyed the day and then headed out to feed the animals. When we got out to the cows, I found that the ram had broken the gate and was in with the cows. So we had to get the ram out from the cows and fix the gate. I fell twice... ass over teakettle. We shall see if I end up with a pretty bruise. I'm grateful A was there to help, and I'm pretty sure my country girl cred is validated. Lol. Also, if they ever make the ram into mutton I SO want some of him. I'm going to have him with mint sauce, and enjoy it. That ram is a pain in my butt. Any way, A got to see my kittens. And she made friends with all 3 dogs, too. I will be very happy if I don't have to chase the ram out of the cow pasture ever again. Oh, A also got some pix of the calf, buttercup. She was already here, so no worries. 

As of Sunday the gate is still good, there are no new babies, and all is well out here. I'm going to run into town later for a loaded baked potato from masseys BBQ (should take care of lunch for the next 2 days), and probably just veg out until the PM feeding time. I hope all of you are doing well and you don't have an annoying ram to look after πŸ˜† hugs and love to you from the ranch!!