Purple! Because Ice cream has no bones!

Redmeadow Knives said:
Proud moments of Dadhood:

My boy saw a paint tray at the store the other day and decided it would make a good sluice box for his gold mine. Told Mom he needed to make 2 dollars to buy it (he already has money he's earned but wanted to earn more to buy it, awesome). She offered to buy it but he refused. Spent two days doing extra chores. Took his money next time they went in town, took the tray to the counter and paid for it by himself. This was all unbeknownst to me until he brought it home. I was a mess at his age, couldn't be prouder of him.

He had the plan all figured out and asked if I'd drill some holes in the bottom so the dirt would flow out. He said the deep part would trap the gold and everything else would wash out. For a 7 year old this was a pretty good plan but I had my doubts. He got it all set up but I'll be damned if it didn't work out perfect. He dumps the trap after he runs the dirt and pans it out. The picture below is after running probably a quarter of one of the 5 gallon buckets I loaded up with "gold".
View attachment 1820960
View attachment 1820959

They've panned 9.58 ounces of gold so far. It'll be interesting to see how much they get of the 14.9 ounces that I put in there.
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John,

I dropped off a box of silly s**t at the post office today, bound for Cut Bank. I included a little something for your chid’rens.

It’ll probably get there Monday or Tuesday. The tracking number is in the car and I’m being lazy so I’m guessing. 😉
 
Rupestris said:
John,

I dropped off a box of silly s**t at the post office today, bound for Cut Bank. I included a little something for your chid’rens.

It’ll probably get there Monday or Tuesday. The tracking number is in the car and I’m being lazy so I’m guessing. 😉
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Crap! Did you send a creepy clown lamp too?
 
Thanks Chris, looking forward to what kind if doodaddery awaits! Should be back in town Monday. Clowns are creepy, midget clowns even creepier!

I'm hiking around some big ass rock right now.
20220520_190237-01.jpeg
 
I'd mentioned when we were discussing May birthdays that the wife's, (Nichole), 50th was this month. Mentioned that there were big doings going on. They were and they were all surprises. The great thing was we were able to pull them all off. Worked out great. So on Wednesday surprise #1.

We have a son in the Army and he's stationed in Florida. He was able to take some leave and flew home here to California without mom finding out. Our daughter lives and works down the hill and so she was able to make sure she was off that day. I get a phone call that the package is received and heading up the hill. She picked Josh up at the airport in Bakersfield and was heading up here to Tehachapi with him. That morning co conspirator and confidant Mary Kay, had taken my wife down the hill to do a little shopping and lunch. Girls day, Costco run etc. So our daughter, Alyssa, had even mentioned to the wife that she would be coming up Wednesday afternoon and spending the night as she had a hair appointment Thursday and so the wife wouldn't be too surprised when she got home and saw her car here. Good decoying. So Josh and Alyssa arrived here safe and sound and we sat on the front courtyard and visited for a while. Jawing quite a bit on how we were gonna pull #2 off. Then I called the wife to see where they were and they were back in town. So we moved inside to hide a bit and ya should of seen Nichole's face when she walked in carrying some groceries and there was Josh leaning against the kitchen counter. Bam surprise number one, big hit! No, HUGE HIT!! The rest of the groceries waited a lil bit till they got carried in.

Nichole's favorite singer by far is Dave Stamey. For those unfamiliar with him here's a link to perhaps one of my favorite songs:


Out of time for today I'll continue in a bit.
 
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Horsewright said:
I'd mentioned when we were discussing May birthdays that the wife's, (Nichole), 50th was this month. Mentioned that there were big doings going on. They were and they were all surprises. The great thing was we were able to pull them all off. Worked out great. So on Wednesday surprise #1.

We have a son in the Army and he's stationed in Florida. He was able to take some leave and flew home here to California without mom finding out. Our daughter lives and works down the hill and so she was able to make sure she was off that day. I get a phone call that the package is received and heading up the hill. She picked Josh up at the airport in Bakersfield and was heading up here to Tehachapi with him. That morning co conspirator and confidant Mary Kay, had taken my wife down the hill to do a little shopping and lunch. Girls day, Costco run etc. So our daughter, Alyssa, had even mentioned to the wife that she would be coming up Wednesday afternoon and spending the night as she had a hair appointment Thursday and so the wife wouldn't be too surprised when she got home and saw her car here. Good decoying. So Josh and Alyssa arrived here safe and sound and we sat on the front courtyard and visited for a while. Jawing quite a bit on how we were gonna pull #2 off. Then I called the wife to see where they were and they were back in town. So we moved inside to hide a bit and ya should of seen Nichole's face when she walked in carrying some groceries and there was Josh leaning against the kitchen counter. Bam surprise number one, big hit! No, HUGE HIT!! The rest of the groceries waited a lil bit till they got carried in.

Nichole's favorite singer by far is Dave Stamey. For those unfamiliar with him here's a link to perhaps one of my favorite songs:


Out of time for today I'll continue in a bit.
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Really cool. Happy belated birthday to her.
 
Horsewright said:
I'd mentioned when we were discussing May birthdays that the wife's, (Nichole), 50th was this month. Mentioned that there were big doings going on. They were and they were all surprises. The great thing was we were able to pull them all off. Worked out great. So on Wednesday surprise #1.

We have a son in the Army and he's stationed in Florida. He was able to take some leave and flew home here to California without mom finding out. Our daughter lives and works down the hill and so she was able to make sure she was off that day. I get a phone call that the package is received and heading up the hill. She picked Josh up at the airport in Bakersfield and was heading up here to Tehachapi with him. That morning co conspirator and confidant Mary Kay, had taken my wife down the hill to do a little shopping and lunch. Girls day, Costco run etc. So our daughter, Alyssa, had even mentioned to the wife that she would be coming up Wednesday afternoon and spending the night as she had a hair appointment Thursday and so the wife wouldn't be too surprised when she got home and saw her car here. Good decoying. So Josh and Alyssa arrived here safe and sound and we sat on the front courtyard and visited for a while. Jawing quite a bit on how we were gonna pull #2 off. Then I called the wife to see where they were and they were back in town. So we moved inside to hide a bit and ya should of seen Nichole's face when she walked in carrying some groceries and there was Josh leaning against the kitchen counter. Bam surprise number one, big hit! No, HUGE HIT!! The rest of the groceries waited a lil bit till they got carried in.

Nichole's favorite singer by far is Dave Stamey. For those unfamiliar with him here's a link to perhaps one of my favorite songs:


Out of time for today I'll continue in a bit.
Click to expand...

just listened to the song, very interesting as it is a ballad and draws you in to experience it. Thanks for sharing. Dave, do you like cowboy poetry too? I remember a few cowboys reciting their verses on the old Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
 
Horsewright said:
I'd mentioned when we were discussing May birthdays that the wife's, (Nichole), 50th was this month. Mentioned that there were big doings going on. They were and they were all surprises. The great thing was we were able to pull them all off. Worked out great. So on Wednesday surprise #1.

We have a son in the Army and he's stationed in Florida. He was able to take some leave and flew home here to California without mom finding out. Our daughter lives and works down the hill and so she was able to make sure she was off that day. I get a phone call that the package is received and heading up the hill. She picked Josh up at the airport in Bakersfield and was heading up here to Tehachapi with him. That morning co conspirator and confidant Mary Kay, had taken my wife down the hill to do a little shopping and lunch. Girls day, Costco run etc. So our daughter, Alyssa, had even mentioned to the wife that she would be coming up Wednesday afternoon and spending the night as she had a hair appointment Thursday and so the wife wouldn't be too surprised when she got home and saw her car here. Good decoying. So Josh and Alyssa arrived here safe and sound and we sat on the front courtyard and visited for a while. Jawing quite a bit on how we were gonna pull #2 off. Then I called the wife to see where they were and they were back in town. So we moved inside to hide a bit and ya should of seen Nichole's face when she walked in carrying some groceries and there was Josh leaning against the kitchen counter. Bam surprise number one, big hit! No, HUGE HIT!! The rest of the groceries waited a lil bit till they got carried in.

Nichole's favorite singer by far is Dave Stamey. For those unfamiliar with him here's a link to perhaps one of my favorite songs:


Out of time for today I'll continue in a bit.
Click to expand...
Nicely done Dave that's awesome.

I'm back in the saddle, had a great trip. Was able to visit an old friend I hadn't seen in about 10 years. The kids rode a pony around all day while we chewed the fat.

Had a lot of fun in Deadwood, my daughter saw a sign that said "Escape Room" and her eyes lit up once I told her what it was. She loves puzzles, clues, mysteries, things like that, the moment I told her that they lock you in a room amd you have to find clues to escape she was all in. It was a lot of fun, watching their adrenaline rush as the clock ticks down was a blast. Could have spent another day in Deadwood, the gunfights in the street weren't as cheesy as I thought they'd be, they put on a good show.

Devils Tower was more impressive than I imagined, with sporadic snow rolling in it was a nice hike around the rock. We planned on doing the 3 mile hike around the tower but with the snow rolling in and out we didn't want to take our chances so we took the shorter mile and a half hike. The kids had a blast climbing around.

Obligatory annoying family vacation pic:
20220520_175837-01.jpeg
 
Redmeadow Knives said:
Nicely done Dave that's awesome.

I'm back in the saddle, had a great trip. Was able to visit an old friend I hadn't seen in about 10 years. The kids rode a pony around all day while we chewed the fat.

Had a lot of fun in Deadwood, my daughter saw a sign that said "Escape Room" and her eyes lit up once I told her what it was. She loves puzzles, clues, mysteries, things like that, the moment I told her that they lock you in a room amd you have to find clues to escape she was all in. It was a lot of fun, watching their adrenaline rush as the clock ticks down was a blast. Could have spent another day in Deadwood, the gunfights in the street weren't as cheesy as I thought they'd be, they put on a good show.

Devils Tower was more impressive than I imagined, with sporadic snow rolling in it was a nice hike around the rock. We planned on doing the 3 mile hike around the tower but with the snow rolling in and out we didn't want to take our chances so we took the shorter mile and a half hike. The kids had a blast climbing around.

Obligatory annoying family vacation pic:
View attachment 1827044
Click to expand...
Really cool pic, sounds like a grand time. Of course have to ask, did you have a cowbell on your belt?
 
cbach8tw said:
Really cool pic, sounds like a grand time. Of course have to ask, did you have a cowbell on your belt?
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Had my Serrano on crossdraw. I still need to make myself a Cowbell! I considered pulling one from this lot for myself, maybe I will if demand slows down. I didn't like the idea of takin one for myself while folks are still waiting.
 
cbach8tw said:
just listened to the song, very interesting as it is a ballad and draws you in to experience it. Thanks for sharing. Dave, do you like cowboy poetry too? I remember a few cowboys reciting their verses on the old Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
Click to expand...
I'm not a huge fan of the poetry but it is a thing. There's lots of it. There is a National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko Nv. every year. This has been going on many years. In fact in 2010, for the 25th year of the Gathering, Western Horseman the magazine, used a close up shot of Nichole, horseback on our ranch, for a full page ad/congratulation in the Gatherings program celebrating the 25th anniversary. We've got a framed copy up on the wall here in the office.
Redmeadow Knives said:
Nicely done Dave that's awesome.

I'm back in the saddle, had a great trip. Was able to visit an old friend I hadn't seen in about 10 years. The kids rode a pony around all day while we chewed the fat.

Had a lot of fun in Deadwood, my daughter saw a sign that said "Escape Room" and her eyes lit up once I told her what it was. She loves puzzles, clues, mysteries, things like that, the moment I told her that they lock you in a room amd you have to find clues to escape she was all in. It was a lot of fun, watching their adrenaline rush as the clock ticks down was a blast. Could have spent another day in Deadwood, the gunfights in the street weren't as cheesy as I thought they'd be, they put on a good show.

Devils Tower was more impressive than I imagined, with sporadic snow rolling in it was a nice hike around the rock. We planned on doing the 3 mile hike around the tower but with the snow rolling in and out we didn't want to take our chances so we took the shorter mile and a half hike. The kids had a blast climbing around.

Obligatory annoying family vacation pic:
View attachment 1827044
Click to expand...
Just so cool and a great pic with the fam!!

jlauffer said:
View attachment 1826045
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So surprise #2 certainly had some Hannialblesqsue planning for sure.

So we established that Nichole is a huge Dave Stamey fan. So what do you do for a special birthday for a fan like that? Do you buy her any of his catalog that she might not have? Nah, besides I think she has it all already. I know let's find out where he's playing and we'll make a trip, ya know a weekend deal. Nah, kind of pedestrian... I know.... what about a private concert here at the house?

Alyssa called me the first part of April and suggested it. My concerns was its late timing he's probably booked already and I had already commissioned surprise #4 and it was pretty dang spendy. Also, Alyssa herself is getting married in August so we've been hemorrhaging $$$ all year already for that so I just didn't see how we could pay for it. Well lo and behold. Alyssa contacted his assistant and yeah he had been booked but they'd had a cancellation he could come that weekend, Now how to pay him and also we'd need to provide a hotel room for him. Alyssa had the idea of having everyone coming kick in to a kitty. No presents just kick in. I figured we'd cover about half of it that way so I was still digging around thinking of where I could get some significant $ and still keep all this as a secret as Nichole pretty much handles all the finances for personal and the two businesses (the ranch and Horsewright). All of this has taken way more phone calls from Alyssa to me then we would normally have. Nichole is getting suspicious. I tell her Alyssa is just asking for a little fatherly advice. Nichole says she doesn't want a party she wants to go fishing. She almost made reservations at a campground.

So I gotta go feed. More later.
 
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Redmeadow Knives said:
Nicely done Dave that's awesome.

I'm back in the saddle, had a great trip. Was able to visit an old friend I hadn't seen in about 10 years. The kids rode a pony around all day while we chewed the fat.

Had a lot of fun in Deadwood, my daughter saw a sign that said "Escape Room" and her eyes lit up once I told her what it was. She loves puzzles, clues, mysteries, things like that, the moment I told her that they lock you in a room amd you have to find clues to escape she was all in. It was a lot of fun, watching their adrenaline rush as the clock ticks down was a blast. Could have spent another day in Deadwood, the gunfights in the street weren't as cheesy as I thought they'd be, they put on a good show.

Devils Tower was more impressive than I imagined, with sporadic snow rolling in it was a nice hike around the rock. We planned on doing the 3 mile hike around the tower but with the snow rolling in and out we didn't want to take our chances so we took the shorter mile and a half hike. The kids had a blast climbing around.

Obligatory annoying family vacation pic:
View attachment 1827044
Click to expand...
That's a great family picture John.
 
Horsewright said:
I'm not a huge fan of the poetry but it is a thing. There's lots of it. There is a National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko Nv. every year. This has been going on many years. In fact in 2010, for the 25th year of the Gathering, Western Horseman the magazine, used a close up shot of Nichole, horseback on our ranch, for a full page ad/congratulation in the Gatherings program celebrating the 25th anniversary. We've got a framed copy up on the wall here in the office.

Just so cool and a great pic with the fam!!


So surprise #2 certainly had some Hannialblesqsue planning for sure.

So we established that Nichole is a huge Dave Stamey fan. So what do you do for a special birthday for a fan like that? Do you buy her any of his catalog that she might not have? Nah, besides I think she has it all already. I know let's find out where he's playing and we'll make a trip, ya know a weekend deal. Nah, kind of pedestrian... I know.... what about a private concert here at the house?

Alyssa called me the first part of April and suggested it. My concerns was its late timing he's probably booked already and I had already commissioned surprise #4 and it was pretty dang spendy. Also, Alyssa herself is getting married in August so we've been hemorrhaging $$$ all year already for that so I just didn't see how we could pay for it. Well lo and behold. Alyssa contacted his assistant and yeah he had been booked but they'd had a cancellation he could come that weekend, Now how to pay him and also we'd need to provide a hotel room for him. Alyssa had the idea of having everyone coming kick in to a kitty. No presents just kick in. I figured we'd cover about half of it that way so I was still digging around thinking of where I could get some significant $ and still keep all this as a secret as Nichole pretty much handles all the finances for personal and the two businesses (the ranch and Horsewright). All of this has taken way more phone calls from Alyssa to me then we would normally have. Nichole is getting suspicious. I tell her Alyssa is just asking for a little fatherly advice. Nichole says she doesn't want a party she wants to go fishing. She almost made reservations at a campground.

So I gotta go feed. More later.
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I saw some of the videos you posted on Instagram, what a great day for her that was really cool. You've got a keeper for sure.

Dopic1 said:
That's a great family picture John.
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Thanks Scott, I'm a happy kind of guy but a picture of me smiling is rare Most think I'm a grouch until they talk to me, then they realize I am a grouch, but a happy one!
 
Redmeadow Knives said:
I saw some of the videos you posted on Instagram, what a great day for her that was really cool. You've got a keeper for sure.


Thanks Scott, I'm a happy kind of guy but a picture of me smiling is rare Most think I'm a grouch until they talk to me, then they realize I am a grouch, but a happy one!
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Thank ya sir! I get some of the same stuff on pics. "Look Dave's smiling ya can see teeth! Quick take the pic!"

Well we did get er all done. #2 came off with out a hitch. Josh, (surprise #1) coming home took some of the pressure off. It was like that was the surprise. So it made our scheming just a bit easier. Sat morning Nichole's mom calls and says she's coming up and spending the night since she has to work on Nichole's actual birthday. Alyssa and her fiancee are here too and a couple of close friends come by so I take out 4 lbs of ground beef and toss em in the sink to defrost for burgers that afternoon. Little does she know that the day prior I'd snuck 10 lbs to her best friend Mary Kay to defrost cause the plan is tacos after the concert but its about 50 people not 6 or 7. Mary Kay had also bought and prepped all the fixings for the tacos too. Barb, Nichole's mom gets there and we're showing her the new colt down in the horse pens. This allows Alyssa and her best friend Carina to quickly clean up the house and mop etc, while we have Nichole occupied and distracted. Dave Stamey is set to arrive about 2. We get up to the house bout 1:45 and we have Nichole start to make salsa. She does make the BEST salsa on the planet and it would of been highly suspicious to her if we had folks over and she didn't make salsa. I go out into the shop to grab a beer and Alyssa is there, she's talking to Dave on the phone giving him some directions. He'd just driven by and missed the place so she was having him turn around and I see him coming over the hill. Carina and Nichole are pumping the music in the kitchen and I can hear that one of Dave's songs comes on the playlist. Carina is asking Nichole about the song in the kitchen. Alyssa and I are in the driveway talking to Dave and I can hear Carina say Mom show me that leather duffel bag ya just made. Dave, Alyssa and I walk around to the front door and Dave rings the bell. Looks like this:

www.instagram.com

Horsewright on Instagram: "Dave Stamey coming to the front door to surprise Nichole for her 50th birthday with a private concert. @davestamey #horsewright #davestamey #reels #reelsofinstagram #westernmusic #cowboy #cowboystuff #cowboyconcert #cowboys

475 likes, 26 comments - horsewrightclothing on May 24, 2022: "Dave Stamey coming to the front door to surprise Nichole for her 50th birthday with a private con..."
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com

Pulled off #2.

#3 actually was flawless too. In retrospect having the decoy of the 4 lbs of beef in the sink defrosting, really helped pulled that off. Couple of times Nichole had asked me if that was enough for burgers for everyone and I'd count folks up on my fingers and make a show of it and say yeah thats plenty. So Carina and Alyssa take Nichole back into the master suite to get her dolled up for the concert. Again they start pumping the music, we can hear it throughout the house. This gives us plenty of time to help Dave set up and get him to his hotel to check in and change and get back as well as all the folks started to arrive. So Nichole starts walking out the back door of our bedroom and there is a bunch of people not just the 6 or 7. Surprise #3 was complete.

#4 was the actual gift that I had commissioned some time earlier. And this will probably be of interest to folks here interested in handcrafted items. There was a small table next to Nichole's chair and on the shelf of the table underneath the main top was a small plain paper wrapped box. After Nichole sits down I get up and give a little introduction of Dave and then tell Nichole about the box and that she should probably open it. Now the back story. Thirteen years ago come Aug 1 was my 50th. Nichole presented me with a bridle bit for my horse. It was handmade by our good friend Mike of Taps Bit and Spur Shop. Whats unique about it besides his usual unbelievable craftsmanship is that on the inside of both cheekpieces is inlaid in silver the number 50. What is really special is how he did it. Instead of inlaying silver in a normal manner he flowed it. This is extremely difficult and only a few bad ass bit and spur makers can do this. The temps of the steel and silver have to be just right or it won't work. Anyhoo figured it was her turn. Kinda looked like this:

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So thats the four surprises of the wife turning 50. The intro:

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Nichole with her bit:

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Alyssa, Nichole, Josh and Barb:

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Dave stayed for tacos and ended up playing bout 40 minutes longer than he was suppose to. A great guy as well as a performer. Ended up we did some trading, it's a cowboy thing, and he presented Nichole with a thumb drive with his entire catalog of 197 songs he's recorded on it.

Pics of the bit:

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Redmeadow Knives said:
I saw some of the videos you posted on Instagram, what a great day for her that was really cool. You've got a keeper for sure.


Thanks Scott, I'm a happy kind of guy but a picture of me smiling is rare Most think I'm a grouch until they talk to me, then they realize I am a grouch, but a happy one!
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Horsewright Horsewright That was pretty cool:thumbsup:

Same here John, been called a grouch all my life.
Before and After. 😁
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