Mr. and Mrs. Snowman

Here's a cute couple that I made out of paper mache', vintage buttons and cloth.  The arms are made out of live oak twigs.  Mrs. Snowman's hat is a burr oak acorn with red berries and a nice little vintage glass pin.   Mr. Snowman's wreath is made of grapevine with a tiny redbird.

You can find this sweet couple at Witherspoon's Antiques in Granbury, Texas.

I hope everyone is having a great Christmas season!  It is my favorite time of the year...

remember my orphan calf Lobo?

Last Sunday, we had to work the cattle.  That means calling them all up, sorting them and making sure they are all healthy.  The older calves are separated and are sold.  (it breaks my heart every time!)
We had 15 "teenage" calves to sell.  My orphan calf. Lobo, that we saved and bottle fed was one of them, under my protest.  But that is part of ranching life that I have come to accept.
The next morning the calves were loaded up and taken to the sale barn.  After they were unloaded, Steve got a receipt for them and there were 14 accounted for.  He said there should have been 15 calves.  He and the receiver went back and counted again, sure enough there were only 14.   Steve thought he either left one in the pens or unfortunately, one may have wandered to the back of the pens and died.  It worried him and hope that the latter wasn't the case.  He went straight back to the pens to check....no calf to be found.  Maybe he miscounted......

Steve went back to the very back pasture and guess who was standing there???
LOBO!   He had managed to push through a chained gate, squeeze through two
barbed wire fences to get back to his herd!    Steve couldn't help but to laugh and admire his will and perseverance.   The poor little thing almost died at birth,  got sick at 1 month old and nearly died. When we put him out to be weaned, he found a mama to take care of him.  Then when it was time to sell him,  he did not want any part of that and escaped in the night...  Lobo will be around for a while....

So the moral of this story is...you make your own destiny, no matter what others have planned for you...

a few handmade cards..

I had a chance to try out my new art studio this past weekend. It is nice to be able to spread everything out.  
 I have so many projects that I want to work on that it makes my head spin.   But this past Sunday, I just wanted to slow down and do whatever came to mind.   These two cards are what I created.   I used an old recipe card for the rose card with a few different flower cut outs and transfers.   I covered the collage with old tissue paper, added vintage lace and french ribbon.   The bird card was made in a similar fashion.  I hope the recipients of these cards enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them.

Good bye to a loyal companion....

There are things that happen  in our lives that make us slow down, take a look around and appreciate all that life has to offer.   During this busy time of year when our calendars are full, way to many obligations, undue stress we often forget what is really important...our family, our friends, our pets....

I have been so very blessed with many loving, loyal pets in my life.  I really won't even call them pets, they were more my companions, true friends, confidants.   I loved each and every one of them and when they passed on, it was hard to say good bye.

I lost another true, sweet, big brown eyed friend yesterday.   My dog Samantha passed away.  It was time. She had not felt good in a long time, her hips were bad, her hearing was going and she wasn't her sweet self anymore.  She tried to tell me many times, but I wouldn't listen,  I was selfish.  But yesterday, I heard her.
Samantha is now running free of pain, playing with her old friends and making new ones.  Her favorite thing to do was swim, so I am so hoping she has a huge, crystal clear lake to swim in until her hearts content.  I will miss her riding beside me in the jeep, doing her "alligator roll" when playing tug of war and just sitting quietly beside me, protecting me.   She was a damn good dog. 

But I will not grieve too much,  she made my life happy, made me take a walk when I didn't want to, barked at scary strangers that got too near and comforted me when I needed a friend.  So her job here on earth was served with pride and loyality.   and for that I am thankful....I will miss her, but I know I will see her again...along with the rest of my pack...

So today,  just take a minute to remember that there are more important things in life than buying presents, getting presents.  The only present that is really required is very basic...just live your life full of grace and dignity...just like Samantha did...

my heart is full....

A heart rock I found on the bank of the Paluxy River

My heart is so full of love this Thanksgiving.  My whole family came to my house to celebrate.  It was so much fun to have them all here.  We celebrated Thanksgiving in my new studio that my mom decorated with fall decorations, including a beautiful wreath made of foliage found around the farm.  It was a cold day, but we were warmed by the fire in the outdoor fire pit.  

We had a good old fashioned organic dinner, baked sweet potatoes, grilled corn on the cob, fresh cranberry salad, green bean casserole and of course the best turkey and dressing ever!  My dad and good friend Ruby made delicious pies.  It was all topped off by a nice glass of brandy by the fire.


I am truly blessed and thankful to have such a close knit family and trusted friends.   


They are slowing leaving going back to their own homes and lives.  My house will be quiet again and I will miss them terribly, but my heart will remain full of great memories, big laughs and tight hugs.  

Happy Birthday David

My stepson is 26 today.   It is so hard to believe.  .   I am truly blessed to have him in my life, he makes my life complete.  I had the best time watching him grow up into a fine young man.  From the time he was 7, he has made me laugh uncontrollably, cry when his heart was broken, pride when he accomplished what he set out to do and comforted when my heart was broken.  His heart is a big as Texas, has a kind soul and a smile that could melt the hardest heart. I could not love this child anymore if he were my own natural born son.  Happy Birthday David...I love you very much!

10 quotes

1. "Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. But today is a gift; that is why it is called the present." ~ Kung Fu Panda

2. "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit." ~ Aristotle

3. "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life's about creating yourself." ~ George Bernard Shaw

4. "Don't wish it were easier, wish you were better. Don't wish for fewer problems, wish for more skills. Don't wish for less challenges, wish for more wisdom." ~ Earl Shoaf

5. "If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in the dark with a mosquito." ~ Betty Reese

6. "Don't spend your precious time asking, "Why isn't the world a better place?" It will only be time wasted. The question to ask is, "How can I make it better?" To that there is an answer. ~ Leo F. Buscaglia

7. "A man who dares to waste one hour of life has not discovered the value of life." ~ Charles Darwin

8. "Replace the word "problem" with the word "opportunity" in all your thoughts." ~ Matthew Keith Groves

9. "Joy is the simplest form of gratitude." ~ Karl Barth

10. "You have not lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you." ~ Anonymous

(from A Bloggable Life)

Happy Halloween!

scary tree trunk down the road..

Fun times in Hico, Texas

Another great trip to Hico, Texas for the  bi-annual Antique Show.  This is my favorite antique show (just a tad higher than the Paris Street show in Denver)

I really enjoyed my time with my friends Pattie and Stephanie who made the driving trip so much fun.  I laughed until my face hurt.   I am proud of my Witherspoon Antique Mall  "sisters" who had such beautiful booths.  They had the greatest booths of all.   I meet new friends, Denis and Taylor from Lonestar Antique Mall in Fort Worth,  Brenda from the Homestead Store, Dorothy from the Shabby y and many more. And ran into my good buddies Jennifer and her beautiful daughter Shelbie.   And as an added bonus.....I met the singer Jewel!

she sat with us while we had tea and cookies. She is so stunningly beautiful and so very sweet and down to earth.  (See Denis from Lonestar Antique Mall blog..

rubygraces.blogspot.com.  She bought a vintage prom dress from him)

My friend Pam's booth, love all the cream and white
colors with the gorgeous Christmas wreath.  She is a talented
artist with an great eye for collections.

My friend Georgia's booth, great collection of everything
vintage. She can make beautiful things with anything.
I bought the large table...perfect for my new
studio!

I purchased this great typewritter..it is in perfect shape!

The Shabby Y booth, lots of fun trinkets and
whatnots..

 I am sorry that I did not get a photo of my friends Thoma Lou and Janet's booths.  They were equally as beautiful.  Both gals are very talented and have an eye for all things beautiful and antique.  


I brought home lots of things treasures.  I will be busy creating something out of them.
But the best treasure of the day was spending the wonderful, sunny fall day with my friends....

A reminder...

I saw this on one of my favorite blogs..Brave Girl

It just reminded me to be careful with my words and

and conversations.  There is way more important

things to discuss than gossip and drama.

I will try not to get all caught up in someone else's

drama because I have enough of my own to deal with!

" It is easy to get caught up in drama. It's hard to avoid it in this crazy world.

Do your best to stay out of drama induced situations that distract you from everything

in your life that is beautiful and true.

Help others avoid drama by not participating in it.  Change the subject, help others around you to see all

that is good in the world.  Look around you and make something better...

let things go...forgive people...move past volatile behaviors.

There's so much to be thankful for, so much to celebrate and SO MUCH GOOD to be

done in the world, that there's really no time for negativity, pettiness or gossip.

You already know this stuff...you are one smart cookie!  Sometimes it's just good to

be remimded...once we decide to never participate in drama...life is so much

more peaceful...and the goodness in others is made so much more evident.

Isn't that so much a happier way to live? "



A change...

I have changed my Blog name from The Life and Times of Samantha to Fat Cow Studio.  I am adding an Etsy account soon and I want all the names to match up.
I hope that all my friends can still find me!

Samantha is still fine.  She is getting older and having a hard getting around, but she is still my best friend.  She sleeps most of the day, but still has that sweet face and a wag of the tail as I walk by.  This is my favorite picture of Samantha.  I just love this dog!

My rainy Saturday creations

 It was a perfect Saturday in Texas.  A nice cold front blew through and brought rain and much cooler weather.  It was a great day to stay inside and get creative.
I love Halloween and I was in the mood to make some spooky creatures.
I made these out of sculpty clay and old wooden spools.  Each one formed into it's own personality.  

Pumpkin head and old crow

party skeleton

Not so scary cat

I have a few more to make, maybe a witch and a ghost......

Sister trip-route 66

Kim driving full steam ahead on Route 66

My Sister, Kim and I took a few days to travel from Texas to Colorado recently.  On our way to Santa Fe, we stopped at Tucumcari, NM and took the old Route 66.  It was so amazing and awe-inspiring.    These are just a few of the sites we discovered.

The Palomino Motel-Very cool

This was my favorite, Blue Swallow Motel
I would love to stay here!

Blue Swallow Motor Court

Mexican Food Cafe and old Truck

How great is this??

I loved the remains of the old hotels and restaurants.  They are reminiscent of a life when families took long road trips. Kids got excited about swimming in the hotel pool, mom's got a break from cooking and cleaning and Dad's got to shed their ties and white shirts for Bermuda shorts and crazy shirts.  It is a shame that these great buildings are falling by the way side.  They have so much character, with many stories to tell.  I hope that they are saved before they crumble, so the next generation of kids can swim in their pools and the parents can have a cocktail under the neon lights.

A sneak peek....

My sister Kim and my new brother-in-law, Dan's wedding was extraordinary.  Their special day was the most original, magical, sweet and spiritual wedding 

I have ever attended.  It was such an honor to be a part of such a beautiful event.

Here is a sneak peek at some of the decorations.  I will post more as they become available.

Groom's table, vintage truck with peppers,  illustration pens,
fishing reel and old "Dad's" soda bottle

Zinc lid and ball jar filled with vintage sheet music,
colander fairy garden, table number and old
porcelain robin on vintage tablecloth

.

vintage cold cream jar, silver fork
and Lemonade sign

Vintage wagon, watering can full of sunflowers and handpainted sign

"We Remember" Sept. 11 tribute

Laws of the Universe

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams!

Live the life you've imagined.

As you simplify your life..

the laws of the universe will be simpler..

(Henry D. Thoreau)


(Jennifer and Shelbie...recognize the cat??)

a few fun things I made this week...

Message pouches

domino necklaces

muslin tag with tatting
and vintage buttons

muslin tag with vintage lace
and buttons

Calm....

Photos of flowers that calm my mind....

I did not make these pictures, they are from a calendar that I had several years ago.  I love the composition and the relaxing feeling they portray.  Wouldn't you like to sit a while in the vintage metal chair and smell the sweet aroma of the roses??

swim, bike, run...dedication

swim

bike

run

This is my brother, Glenn.  A 2 time Ironman, numerous triathlons and too many hours to count in training.   His dedication,  self discipline and practice of a good healthy lifestyle has been awe-inspiring to me.  I admire his willpower and constraints.  

Glenn is my big brother, whom I have always looked up to, he looked after me in school, taught me how to fly a kite, to appreciate good books,  how to drive a stick shift and makes me laugh like no other.  Glenn has a kind soul with a beautiful wide smile. A noble and considerate man who loves life, absorbs knowledge at every chance,  gives back to others without any expectations and respects life around him. 

Not only is he a Ironman, captain of a major airline and lawyer, but most importantly, he is a wonderful father.   He has taken his son on trips around the world to see things most of us only dream of seeing.  He is teaching his son about differences people have and that we are all created equal, the history of the world, and what can be done in the future.  Glenn is a kind, devoted, understanding father who will drop anything to be by his son's side.

  I love to be outside, garden  and walk but I am not a very athletic person.  Glenn does get me revved up at times and I will workout a little harder or run a bit longer, but I do not have near the commitment to physical activity that he has. But thanks to him, I do try to do some kind of physical activity  and eat my vegetables every day!  I will live vicariously through him and I will ALWAYS be in his cheering section!

I believe....

new stuff

These are flattened spoons that I have made into necklaces. 

The Bingo necklace is made of a vintage optic lens and transfers.   I am enjoying my time creating and look forward to my bigger studio!  I sell my goods at Witherspoon's Antique Mall in Granbury.  Give me a shout if you need more info.

An update on my bluebirds,  as of last weekend I only had one baby bird that hatched out.  Hopefully when I check them  this weekend, I will have three babies..