And speaking of breaks……..Happy Anniversary to my Arm!!  Twenty-two years ago I feel off a horse and got a nasty break.  This was the year that you, dear Boo, that you got your heart’s desire.  Your very own horse!  His name was Spotty and that pretty much describes his performance.  Spotty.   The Buffalo County Fair is the end of July, so with lots of lessons from Mary under your little 4-H belt we entered you in both barrels and pole bending.  The “read” on Spotty was that if he did good with the pole bending, he would blow up on barrels.  And if he did good with barrels we could count on him going nutsy on pole bending.  It was always a gamble.  That day sitting in the grandstands watching you perform my stomach was in my mouth the entire time.  You loved doing the speed events and I was a nervous wreck.

First was pole bending.   You were scheduled to be about the sixth competitor.  I crossed every finger, toe, leg, hair, whatever I could cross I crossed.  The announcer called your name and you and Spotty shot out of the gate.  You raced past all the poles to the very last one. He zigged when you gave him the command, he zagged when he felt the reins, never missing a pole!  You made the last pole with a tight go-round and started back.  Again, he zigged and zagged on command and you just flew back through the gates!  Hallelujah!  I have no idea of your time – all I know is that you were safely back and all in one piece.   Here is a video I found on YouTube.  It’s not of your race, but it shows a pole bending event.

Whew……….now I could rest my stomach and nerves until your next event.  If possible I was even more nervous, as I knew what was coming.  Spotty was going to be a total poop in the Barrel Racing event.  I so wanted to withdraw you from the event, but that was not the right thing to do.  As Mary told us, you had to learn that you were in charge in the arena and Spotty had to learn that lesson also.  However, Mary did go out in the outdoor arena and raced Spotty around trying to get out his energy.

Here is an example of a sweet little five year old girl doing barrels.  Now THIS is the speed I wanted to see you and Spotty race, but did you do as I wanted????  Heck no!  Once Spotty got through the starting gates it was “Katy Bare the Gates” he was a mad demon possessed.  He shot out of the gates like a green grass through a goose!  From my point of view all I could see is your hands holding tight to the reins, that darn horse running full out, past the barrels and just running around the arena and almost running over the judge.  You were determined to make that nasty little buggar do the barrels correctly, even though you were DQ (dis-qualified) at this point.  All I knew is that I needed to save my baby!!  Look up in the sky, its a Bird… its a Plane… No Its SuperMom. Faster than a speeding horse, more powerful than a locomotive,  able to leap six foot fall fences in a single bound. Who disguised as a suburban housewife, mild mannered Mom for a local 4-H Horse Group,  fights the unending battle for life, limb, and the keeping her baby safe.  I never knew I could move so fast!  I was up and out of my seat and into the arena ready to throw a body block on that nasty little buggar as he shot past me.  However, once he saw the look in my eyes and my determination he gave up the fight.  You were crying your eyes out, I thought in fear.  Your father picked up the horse and all but head butted him into the horse trailer (not really, but I wanted that to happen!).  As we were walking out of the arena you were finally able to tell me that you were not afraid, but were horribly embarrassed that you were not able to finish the competition – and it was your first one.

Fast forward to three weeks later, when I was riding the Appaloosa horse that your father had given to me for my birthday.  Darn it all if the spotted horse got us again!  This buggar was not that well trained and was feeling his oats that afternoon.  He crowhopped up the first hill and peed and peed and peed every twenty steps.  I was very frustrated and did not know what to do when the crowhopping started.  Gus, that was his name, just hated to be the last horse in the pack, so after he was done peeing he would run to catch up with everyone.  And I do not like speed.  I do not like to go fast, so I was pulling up the reins trying my best to get him to slow down.  As we were going down a hill fast to catch up with the others both of us became frustrated with each other.  So, Gus decided that he would just spin in a circle to try to show me who was boss.  While we were spinning I could see that I was not that far off the ground, so I let loose and let go.  To the ground I went and using my hands/arms to help break the fall.  What I did do was to break my right arm in two spots and shatter the majority of bones in my right hand.  That night I had surgery to put an external fixator device into my arm.  Not fun, not fun at all.  The boys in your kindergarten class called me “The Terminator”, as I guess I must have looked like him.  Oh well, we both survived that summer.

Here is a tasty treat we like to have for “BLD” (break-fast, lunch dinner).  So many ways to mix it up, change out the protein, the veggies, the cheese.

It’s a fun and fast way to clean out the refrigerator or to try out new veggies.  Joy Rising!

BLD  Quiche

Skill Level:    Easy

Bake Time:    350 degrees     15 minutes to blind bake shell,  30-35 minutes for filled quiche

Ingredients:

• 1 pie crust (I cheat and use the ones in the dairy section of grocery store, but you can make your own
• 3 eggs
• 1 c cream
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 c cooked meat
• 1 c of chopped veggie
• 1 c of second chopped veggie
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 c shredded cheese  (cheddar, swiss, greyure, whatever you have on hand)
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Place pie crust into 9″ pie pan and “blind” bake for 15 minutes.  (You want to blind bake so that the bottom crust is not soggy.  To blind bake after you line pie plate with crust place a sheet of aluminum foil on top of the crust.  Then place layer of uncooked beans or rice to help weigh down the foil.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.  Take out of oven and remove the foil and bean/rice. )
2. If your meat is not already cooked, place in skillet and cook until browned.  (I either used whatever leftover meat we have in the fridge or I fry four slices of bacon cut into 1/2 pieces.)  Or you can omit the meat and have a vegetarian dish.
3. In same  skillet saute your veggies until translucent.  (I always use onions, as we like the flavor, but you can omit the onions and I use the grease from the meat to help flavor the veggies).  Depending on what veggies you use this could take six or seven minutes.
4. In bottom of pre-baked pie crust layer on the veggies and then the meat.
5. In bowl mix together the eggs, cream, milk, nutmeg, salt and pepper.
6. Pour egg mixture over the veggie/meat mixture.
7. Sprinkle the cheese over this mixture in the crust.
8. Place in 350 degree oven and bake until knife inserted into center of quiche comes out clean.  This should be 30-35 minutes.
9. Cut into slices and serve with a nice green salad or fruit salad.