Why Grandpa?

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Here's Easter!
Just another day on the LMA!

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Poor old boy, barely getting by!
Sorry Easter, you'll just have to tough it out.

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So oneday I was talking to Grandpa.
Grandpa I don't understand something.
What's that Mike?
Grandpa evrybody in my family plays golf; bowls; are good mechanics; know everything I don't know.
Why is it that I love the horses when no one else seems to?
Grandpa- "Well Mike that is probably my fault".
Hows that Grandpa?
Well Mike, back in the day I used to be a pickup man. After the days work we would circle the cars with our lights on as it got dark.
the boys would gamble their days earnings on various sports. Bullwhip compititions; boxing, spitting; BS ing; telling various and assorted lies. You understand don't you?
Sort of Grandpa, but where does that answer the question about me, and why am I the horseman?
Well Mike, you probably got that from me.
You see back at that time they had wild horses, when we circled the trucks the boys had to ride the horses to a stand still. Many times the horses would stop bucking then take off running.
In those days the pickup man's job was to help the buckeroo bring the horse back.
You were not expected to bring the buckeroo back, if he was still mounted, good for him.
Yes Grandpa, now I understand! Thanks.

No Photos Tonight

A conversation came to me today.

. A conversation from years ago from my brother, Russ.
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He told me that he wished we were born from a higher social form.
. I said nothing.

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In my heart; I was raging!
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How could a Brother of mine not know how noble the people who got us here are?

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Poor; in money? yes. Poor in intellect? No. Poor in devotion? No. Poor in family values? No. Poor in survive ability? No!

.I would say to the generations to come: You have been given the best chance on earth to go for your own! Take it.

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Dust Bowlers!

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Back in the day! My father was born in a barn while Grandpa George was filling an obligation to harvest a Kansas farmers wheat.
Any family members who remember our history are welcome to respond, but, as it has been related to me, here it is.

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Grandpa George finished the harvest then loaded up the family to make the move too Idaho. He had a wagon and a mule.
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The Mule got tired and stopped; George said " that's once mule", then cracked him on the ass, he started moving again. Later the mule stopped again, George said we need to get to the railroad station to make our move to Idaho! He cracked the mule on the ass, "That's twice Mule" and they were moving on.

. As at has been related to me; here again; please correct me if I'm wrong.

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The mule stopped again before the family got to the railroad station. George shot the mule.

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Grandma says "why did you shoot our mule? "
George says "that's Once"

Tough Times; Tough People; Tough Love; Tough answers. They did what it took!

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I'm sorry you felt that way Russ; you were wrong!----m.

As Always-----Love from the LMA-----Mikey.

End of Jan. 2012

Last Night

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This Morning

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As always-------Love from the LMA-------Mikey.

PS---Happy Birthday Larry A.----m. I Know, just didn't post in time.
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Dead of Winter LMA Style

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Three Trees
Thank you for your strenth.
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Remember those tomatoes.
They're not doing s well now.

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Rain is pouring, old man snoring.

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JackieJo LOVES to roll in the mud.
There must be something very theraputic about a good mud bath.
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What Easter?
Yeah, I taught her that when you first brought her down here.
Ya know Mikey, I'm getting real tired of teaching you the ropes about horses.
That's OK Easter, just remember, your feed bill is going through the roof.
K.

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Bye the way Mikey, feed or not, you need to clean this mess up!
K Easter.

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And trim the grape vines too!
K Easter.

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Ya know there is a saying.
God works in mysterios ways.
I was really out of options for getting out to Two Hawks Ranch to get feed, we were OUT!
I had no answers, I was feeding the horses all my potatos, really.
Then one of the locals came by, this is Don.
Why he came by is not important, he did, then he came by this morning to help.

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$155 per scoop. +$15 per scoop per month GEEZ!

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Well no matter what, Don just happened to show up at the right time.
Thanks for the help Don.
We needed you!

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It's raining It's pouring
The old man is snoring
The horses have stopped roaring.
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Dinner is a good thing.

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As always -----Love from the LMA-----Mikey.

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LMA Tonight

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Tonight after a day of setbacks, so much worry; fear that I might not be enough to hold things together.
Then comes another sunset.
Solace and comort as I look, three trees.
Three trees have stood against the desert.
Three trees are stronger than I am.
Three trees do not complain. Three trees stand strong.
So I go to sleep dreaming of the strength of one tree.
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One tree will be enough to guide my Foot Prints in the Sand.
One tree will save me from my fear.
One tree will guide my destiny.
Others may need Three Trees.
I Don't.

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AS Always -----Love from the LMA------Mikey.

Tennis anyone?

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JackieJo's ready!


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Easter; not so much!

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AS Always----Love from the LMA----Mikey.

Bright and Cold!

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JP has a nice warm coat on, good thing.



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She really has become a lot more friendly. Not long ago she was wild as a deer.

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JackieJo has a great disposition, she's hard to photograph because I can't make her stay far enough away.

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Here she comes now, better take the shot!

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My Tractor, I love my tractor, Now if I could find that girl.

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Sure seems strange looking at these 48ft. split axel trailers. Land based barges.

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EASTER.
talk about warm and wholly.

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Anyone want to go fishing?
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The Great Pumpkin!

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Hope I don't loose my regular job, this may have to be my backup plan.
Could I back that up?---yes.

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The main thing about this morning is the sun is bright; the sky is clear; and it's COLD!
I was just so exited that my Blackberry phone has a new battery in it.
Really miss having the time to take photos, as you see getting the horses in a position can take a lot of time.
The still shots are easier, just not as unique, you can always rely on them to pose properly.
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AS always-------Love from the LMA------------Mikey.

Here comes the Light

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So every morning as I wake up here on the LMA, I ask myself ; what will I be required to do today?
What new requirements to keep the dream alive?


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My dream is not for myself.
My dream is for the family first.
Always has been.


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So I look to the sunrise; then to the sunset; then to my heart and soul; Lord what could I do better?
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Keep walking My Son you have a long way to go.

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Thank You.

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AS Always-----Love from the LMA-----Mikey.

LMA Professor

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I spend a lot of time alone. This leads to reading about the world I have mostly left behind.

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Nothing like keeping up with problems that face us all. No sense in sticking my head in the sand any longer. I did that most of my life.

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It just occurred to me that I am grooming my beard as I surf the world I bye and large have left behind. Hmm curios.

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Hey! I never in my life grew a beard!
Did I forget to shave?
I'll tell you the story about when I was in Alaska , I was 19, I started to grow a beard, the whiskers on my chin were coming in white, I decided never to grow a beard. Now, white whiskers don't seem so bad, I earned them so I don't care.


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As always-----------------Love from the LMA------------Mikey.

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January Moon Morning

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One of the times I wish for better equipment.


This was a nice surprise when I went out to feed.
Looks quite large in person.
Not often I chance on a morning where I sleep in till sunup and get to see the Full Moon.

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As always------Love from the LMA-----Mikey.

Morning Coffee

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Starting off the new year right.

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A new year is started every day, the best reason to get up early. I love to watch the sun rise with something to eat and a hot pot of coffee to work on. Every morning I check the temperature on the way out to feed. 22F this morning, very invigorating.

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Cold and clear, so glad it's dry, I can slip my moccasins on when it's dry, they're fleece lined, warm.
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Feeding is all done so I will just kick back for a while until it's warmer.






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As always------------Love from the LMA--------Mikey.

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