the horse whisperess

Otherwise known as the photo shoot that pretty much wasn't.

Last weekend, I called my favorite photo sidekick to see if she was up for a few pictures. She was game, as always, so armed with my camera and a very particular idea of what I wanted to accomplish, we set out for my in-laws place.

My father-in-law was just getting ready to load up the feed truck when we arrived, so we set off into the pasture ahead of him.

I started booking down the field, carrying an armload of stuff, when I realized Montana's Next Top Model wasn't coming with me. I turned around and saw this.


It turns out hungry horses are friendly horses.

We'd go a little further, they'd come along, and by the time I got my camera turned on, she was surrounded again.




They were especially fond of nibbling on her ponytail....no surprise there...and the fringe of her scarf.

Note to self. Check equine feeding schedule before planning next photo excursion.

This time, we really thought we had ditched them. I took a shot to test my exposure...


and voila...


just like magic, here they come.


I asked very politely if they would leave us alone for just a few minutes, and this was the response I got.


Nice.

With my brilliant plan thwarted, and a much colder day than we were expecting, we went to a very quick plan B at the barn.




Dear Horse Whisperess,
Oh my goodness, are you a good sport! I can't imagine any other teenage girl that could possibly be more fun to have as my photo buddy than you. Please keep taking my phone calls....I promise next time it will be warmer, and I'll make sure we don't have any extra friends following us around. By the time you're a senior, we should have this picture taking thing figured out.
Thanks for being my go-to photo girl.
You're the best!

inside color and outerwear

Since the Junk House made it's debut here several months ago, I have had quite a few paint color requests. I am more than happy to share, but there's a small problem...I almost always mix my own. Oh sure, I start out with a bucket of what I think is the perfect color, but we all know that paint never, ever looks the way we think it will once it's on the wall. A 2x3 paint chip just doesn't do the job, so I usually end up getting out my kitchen whisk and playing artiste with all the other close but not quite right cans I have in the closet.

There is an obvious downside here - what to do if I run out, or need to touch up, etc. So far, it hasn't been a problem, but I'm sure that day will come.

Yesterday, I finally made it to Lowe's to pick up some chips that will get you close.

Here's what I came up with.

The dining room.


I found this color in the "Lowe's Creative Ideas For Color" display.
Tranquility CI 183
It also says "Valspar Signature Colors" on the back.

I picked up this chip on a whim....I really thought my color was much darker, but I think my white woodwork really sets it off and makes it appear much more colorful.

The kitchen.


This is an "American Tradition" color.
Parisian Mist 7005-6.

I'm liking these names....can you even imagine the job of making up paint color names?

Now, it is kind of a dreary day, so I couldn't really get a good photo of it compared to my actual kitchen color. I would say my green is maybe just a half shade brighter. Not much though. This is pretty close. And once again, this is much lighter than I would have thought.

Keep in mind, my house is very light and bright, so light colors have a pretty big impact. Every color is different in every lighting situation.

Dining room china cabinet.


This one's pretty close, but more on the yellow side than mine.
Once again, "Creative Idea's for Color", Valspar.
Katydid CI 240

I totally missed the boat on my blue dining room buffet. I realized my blue has quite a blackish tone to it, so next time I'm at Lowe's, I will try again.

I hope this at least gives you a starting point, and don't be afraid to be your own color mixologist!

In other going to the city news, for years and years I have been looking for a nice spring weight jacket. These cuties are the first thing I saw yesterday when I walked into Eddie Bauer, and while a trench isn't quite my style, they were pretty tempting.



But then...then I spied the perfect jacket. I love navy, and I love nautical. And I love this jacket.


It was worth the wait to find something so very me, and as there are very few spring like days here in Montana anyway, (we usually go straight from winter to summer), it hasn't been too desperate of a situation anyway. But when that sixty degree day hits, I'm ready.

i like....

Primroses in winter, because they give the promise of Spring....


Cruddy clay pots, waiting to be filled....


Plants that, in spite of neglect, still manage to live...


Old garden tools, especially awesome blue ones....


And dirt.

You know you're a gardener if a picture of dirt makes your heart pitter patter.


Dear Spring,
Please, please be on time this year. I will be eternally grateful.
Sincerely,
Meadowbrook Gardener

the meadowbrook farmer

I have been blogging for four months now. In that time, you have learned a little bit about me, you have met my boys, and you have seen my pond approximately four hundred and eighty six times. But so far, someone has been missing from the picture.

That needs to change.

Meet the Meadowbrook Farmer.


He pretty much makes everything you see on this blog possible.

He is the original reason we moved to the country. He wanted out of the rat race and he wanted a change. He's smart that way, even if it took me a while to catch on.

He is the farmer in every sense of the word. He takes care of the cows no matter how cold it is. He moves the irrigation pipes in the summer, even if he gets home after dark. He is the dictionary definition of "making hay while the sun shines". He fixes fences, catches skunks, empties mouse traps and does pretty much every other job no one else wants to do.

He laughs extremely loud and often. His laugh makes me laugh...most of the time.

He rolls up the hose for me after we water the greenhouse. It's the little things, you know.

It goes without saying that he loves his family.


Side note...this is the one and only time we have ever had family pictures taken. Ever. It's criminal.

He listens to all my ideas, and balances me out (or tries) when they are a bit too crazy.

Hiking is his current favorite pastime. He goes for days, just him and his faithful dog, Ellie, and hangs out with wolves, moose (mooses/moosen?) and bears. I don't pretend to understand the allure, but he loves it.

Just this very week, he received the hardback special edition Cabela's catalog in the mail. That right there speaks volumes about the man.

His life's passion is to do what God wants him to do with his life.

We've been married twenty five years, and I wouldn't trade him for anything.

He's a keeper.


I love you, Meadowbrook Farmer!

january snapshot

1. I think the pond might be making an appearance in every month end collage. I'm getting quite partial to the tree as well. 2. A sweet little face. 3. A gorgeous sunrise. 4. Snow dusted crab apples. 5. Snow Bunny's mama wanted to wait for snowfall to take her Christmas pictures, so here's Christmas in January.

I found a really cute Christmas frame at Target and a plan immediately hatched in my head to create a photo that matched. I have an alarming number of plans that hatch in my head. Amazingly enough, the weather cooperated perfectly with high clouds as a light filter, and the mountains beautifully showcased in the background. I worked with the photo a little bit, first with my still favorite action, "seventies" from The Pioneer Woman's action set.


I love this one, the pink tint with the pink loving subject, but it's not what I was looking for in this particular scenario.

So, I tweaked the sky and blanket to match the colors in the frame.


With that, you have taken a little ride on the crazy train in my head. And while most of my ideas never make it across the finish line, this one did.

Kinda fun.

snow bunny

Most of my photography efforts this week have focused on documenting the mayhem in the greenhouse, but I was very happy to take a break from all the glorious aphid death, and play in the snow with my little niece.

A good time was had by all, with special emphasis on the adults being entertained at little missy's expense as she tried valiantly to walk in the snow in a snowsuit and boots. It's harder than it looks, but she was a trooper and quite proud of herself.


I love snow bunnies.

an update and cheese

Here's a little before and after.


Within twenty four hours, this is what the ladybugs have accomplished.

Ladybugs are my new best friend.

On a different food for pests note, my sister sent me an email last night regarding a little sound heard under her floorboards. She is also a country dweller, and as such the occasional mouse visits her. We have a special misery loves company bonding moment whenever either of us is graced with a furry friend. (I have been mouse free for quite some time now, but the very act of uttering those words pretty much guarantees that I'll have someone under my sink by tomorrow.)

Sister mentioned that she had no cheese for the trap.

How can that be? How can someone related to me by blood, not have cheese? Say it ain't so.

I immediately rattled off ten kinds of cheese I knew I had in my refrigerator. It required no mental effort at all. That prompted my son to instigate a full cheese inventory.


Swiss and cottage cheese are hiding behind the sharp cheddar, and if you count two types of cream cheese, Velveeta (I know it's hard to count Velveeta as cheese, but it's a must for the chili cheese dip), two different types of Parmesan, and that pathetic little partial slice of provolone, we total twenty one.

My current fave is the Pecorino Romano.

Any recommendations for a must try?

Ladybugs and cheese make the world go round.