Wedding Wrap-Up
Bridal bouquets have become as individual as the bride herself. Style has moved away from the foam holder set-up and moved to the gathering of open ended stems, giving a canvas to an entirely new stream of creativity. Stem wrapping is taking the world of wedding flowers to new heights, presenting yet another means of adding the personal touch to your bridal flowers and those of your maids. A more rustic wedding, on a ranch, a cabin, a barn, or outdoors in the mountains or lakeside can feature bouquets wrapped with burlap or leather strips and “fastened” with antique jewelry charms, vintage buttons, or a pounded silver and turquoise brooch. The tack on your horse drawn carriage can be decorated to match your bouquet wraps and your groom and groomsmen can wear boutonnieres bejeweled with the same vintage jewelry or buttons. These bouquet wraps will bring a sparkle to your walk down the aisle and that sought after wow factor in your photographs, and the high country pop the discriminating bride is looking for.
Ideal Wedding Seating
If you’re looking for fresh ideas for your mountain wedding, you’ve come to the right place. At Pine Country Feed we are loaded with great mountain wedding ideas. If you’re getting married in the mountains – you’ve made a great choice. The Colorado Rockies are known for tying knots that last. The best reason for getting married in the mountains during the warm weather is that it is warm, not hot. You can seat your guests outdoors under the rustling Aspen, or in an open field and not worry about them fainting dead away in the heat, but the sun can be piercing. At issue is the seating itself. You’re outside, absorbing the better part of nature, and somehow plastic chairs don’t seem suitable. New hay bales, firmly packed, covered in white linen with nosegays tied on the corners make a wonderful seating presentation. Add white umbrellas spiked into each bale you won’t have to worry about Aunt Fran getting sunburned. Set the bales around the edges of a portable wood platform and you can dance the night away under the stars. After the wedding you can donate the bales to a local horse rescue. Romance and recycling in one fell swoop.
Bulldogging Baby
Baby Doll Combs, owned by steer wrestler and Rodeo Champion Willard Combs is thought to be the best Steer Wrestling horse, or “bulldogger” that ever rode the circuit. During her seven peak years of rodeo competition from 1953 to when she died in 1960 she earned over $400,000 in prize money, which in today’s dollars would amount to around $2,965,000. In 1957 Willard Combs won the Championship Steer Wrestling title on Baby Doll, and that year, the cowboys who took second, third, fourth and fifth in the standings were also riding Baby Doll. Famous Rodeo Cowboy, Bill Linderman said that Baby Doll knew bulldogging better than some of the cowboys who were riding her. When she died at a Kansas Rodeo in 1960 from a ruptured spleen, Willard Combs had her shipped back to his ranch in Oklahoma to be buried. Standing at the graveside, when she was laid to rest were many of the cowboys who had ridden her. Baby Doll was inducted into the PRCAHall of Fame in 1979 with their very first class of inductees and is remembered as one of the greatest Rodeo horses of all times.
Ready to Rodeo
Evergreen Rodeo Drill Team (Photo credit: oddharmonic)
We are ready to kick up our heels and spend some time getting immersed in our western roots. We’re looking forward to some breathtaking bull riding on Friday night, an event that is sponsored by Pine Country Feed. Bull riding is all about the thrill, which is right up our alley. There is nothing quite like the cool mountain air, stars in the sky, hang on until the buzzer goes evening that you can only find at the Evergreen Rodeo. Come early and stop by the Pine Country booth where you’ll find the sassy style you have come to expect from our store. The Evergreen Rodeo is the official beginning of the western summer, so put on your hat, pull on your boots and get your fist around a turkey leg – it’s rodeo time!
How ‘bout Them Cowgirls
George Strait, at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
She don’t need you and she don’t need me, She can do just fine on her own two feet
And she wants a man who wants her to be herself, And she’ll never change, don’t know how to hide
Her stubborn will or her fightin’ side, But you treat her right and she’ll love you like no one else
Yeah, how ‘bout them cowgirls.
George Strait
Cowgirls are really just women who have decided what they want and figured out how to get it, without pretense or politics. They have it over so many other women because they learned a long time ago that if we really want to win, there will be a whole lot of people walking with us across that finish line, because winning isn’t something you do alone but with a crowd of people who have run right alongside us from the first lap to the last. Join some of the greatest cowgirls in the world at the Evergreen Rodeo this weekend, and stop in at the Pine Country Feed booth to take home a little piece of cowgirl for yourself.
Beat the Buzzer
Father’s Day weekend is legendary in Evergreen, Colorado; the weekend everything comes to a halt and residents become remnants of a bygone day, when there was nothing better than a night under the lights at the rodeo. Sit in the front row where you can feel the breath of the champion horses as they race past, carrying cowboys and cowgirls in their best show time regalia. We love the thrill of the ride, hoping the eight second clock will buzz before our cowboy flies into the air, wanting just one more bull rider to challenge the timer and beat the beast at his own game. It is the fun that reminds us we are Americans and we live in the west, where everything is a little wilder and a little more challenging and a lot more of what we love. Saddle up and wave your flag, you are about to enjoy a great chunk of Americana.
Day to Remember
Memorial Day Commemoration 2008 (Photo credit: davidyuweb)
We call this day Memorial Day because we are meant to remember the people in our lives who have been lost to death. We deem remembering so important, in fact, that we have set aside a whole day, for thinking of the people in our lives who have crossed the threshold into eternity. The day seems to be spent, often with family and friends, cooking outdoors, sharing some pre-summer sun, perhaps working in the yard. All of those things are worth doing and we wish everyone safety and fun in their endeavors, but we wish everyone something else. If on this day you have a lost someone you are thinking of, we hope that your thoughts will be filled with joy, with memories of all they meant to you, with laughter for all the funny times that life throws our way, with tears for the days you wish you could talk to them just one more time, with contentment for knowing that you have loved someone enough to carry them in your heart always. Pine Country Feed wishes you a happy and memorable Memorial Day!
Colorado Moms Matter
If you’re getting ready for mother’s day, and you certainly should be by now, plan for mom’s day like she has done for you so many times in your life. Make it all about her with breakfast in bed, time on the deck to read a book or thumb through those magazines that are stacking up by the sofa, the DVD player with the old black and white movie that always makes her cry, her favorite dessert on a China plate, and a gift that is truly just for her. The jewelry, belts, bags and watches at Pine Country Feed are not something you’d buy off a wall at a department store. They are individual works of art so that you can choose the one for mom that says you know who she is and you’re proud of her, the one that tells her you realize that every woman has her own personal style and you think hers is pretty great. Mom deserves the best, the thoughtfulness of a family who thinks she hung the moon. Pine Country Feed wants to wish every mom a day of true delights and perfect joy!
Chick Days
CHICK DAYS ARE HERE! Starting today and going through the weekend you can fill your coop with some of the fluffy stuff, and the amazing thing is – they all grow into egg laying hens! Choose from Araucaunas, California Whites, Buff Orphingtons, Rhode Island Reds & Plymouth Barred Rock, and we’ll even have a few ducks. This is a favorite time of year at Pine Country Feed, so stop in for the party!
Definition of a Hero
Today we are reminded that we live amongst people who sacrifice every day for our good. The Volunteer Firefighters of Elk Creek, Indian Hills, Inter Canyon, Platte Canyon and Evergreen have all joined the Volunteers from the North Fork Fire District in an effort to fight a bigger than average foe. Wild fire has come to Colorado and our mountain area volunteers will put in many exhausting hours in the days and nights ahead to do what they can stop the burn. Two people have lost their lives and thousands have been evacuated or are on evacuation alert from their homes and at this point there is no containment. We are praying today for the safety and comfort of these families, and the protection of our Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services. We are indebted to them and thank them for their sacrifice. Heroes are people who do what they can whenever they’re needed regardless of the possible outcome.
Let Me Call You Sweetheart
Image via Wikipedia
We’ve been anticipating its arrival and now it is upon us. Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and you are feeling that great sense of panic, because it is a widely known fact that men are not the only people who leave their shopping for the last minute. Take heart, we’ve got you covered. We have cowboy hats, denim dusters, spurs, bolo ties, knives, animal hide throws and some rockin’ signs that will help him bring a little of the ranch to his stuffy old office. There is a lot to look at and inspire you because we believe in romance at Pine Country Feed and we can help you get yours in place without even breathing hard. So stop in and we’ll get you saddled up for your best ever Valentine’s Day and a refreshing recharge for your epic romance.
She’s Got Legs
Girls! Girls! Girls! The Pine Country Feed Cowgirl Boutique has the latest in leg wear – graphic tights and stockings, with socks that match or not so much. It is the newest rage in fashion chic and perfect worn with a skirt, or shorts and chunky boots. Pair the look with a belted sweater and you are on the fashion forward track to comfortable, “can’t get enough”, style. There are piles of colors and patterns to choose from and they are made to be mixed to suit your mood. They provide a great break from the usual winter garb, and what a fun way to show off those fabulous legs of yours without getting frost bite. Pass this along to your Valentine and let him know that we are giving free, yes FREE, gift wrap on Valentine’s purchases, and we promise, while he’s here we’ll make sure he sees our stunning jewelry, watches and handbags, also gift wrappable and perfect for the girl of his dreams.
V-Day
If you haven’t thought about it, it’s time you did. Valentine’s Day is February 14th, like it is every year, and that means it is coming quickly. Since it is indeed the same date every year, there are no real excuses for forgetting. People who forget anniversaries or birthdays are thoughtless, but the ones who forget Valentine’s Day have no excuses. They are mean. The great thing about this holiday is that it doesn’t revolve around how much you spend but rather around the fact that you thought of another person, be it your grandmother, your best friend, the guy who runs the toll booth, or your sweetheart. Treat your loved one to your creative genius by giving a handmade card with glitter and ribbons. Bake heart shaped cookies and frost them with pale pink icing – put them in a basket with a half pound of your favorite coffee blend. Give your spouse one heart shaped item for every year you have been married and it doesn’t have to be expensive – soaps, candles, notepads, earrings – can all be found in heart shapes, and placed in a tissue lined heart shaped box, they will be a treasure. Try to remember that there is nothing worse than not being thought of on the day Americans set aside for love, so remember them all. The best Valentine you will ever receive is the one you give yourself when you show that you care.
Presidentially Speaking
Some of the most sensible beings ever to grace the White House grounds are the horses of the Presidents. When the country was just beginning, horses were the best means of transportation, and many of our presidents have been land owners, country folk, who loved a daily ride for the exercise and the chance to clear their heads. George Washington started the tradition by bringing his horses to his presidency, always white horses and always six. He kept them in gleaming condition and was even known to brush their teeth. Thomas Jefferson was said to love to ride, but he never mounted a horse before wiping its back with his handkerchief to remove any unwanted dirt. All of the presidents who rode during their time at the white house paid for their own horses and their feed, and purchased their own riding accompaniments. Ronald Reagan may have been the greatest lover of horses in modern times. He was partial to Arabians and he and wife Nancy rode at their California ranch whenever they broke away for a vacation. There is something about a leader who understands the value of a horse. Winston Churchill once said, “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” He was a smart man.
War Horse
The recently released film, War Horse, directed by Steven Spielberg and adapted from a children’s novel written in 1982 by Michael Morpurgo, tells the story of a horse loved and raised by a boy in England prior to and during World War I. There is always a fear in animal movies that the film will endear a creature to the audience then snatch it away in a poignant ending scene. There is a tendency in film makers and some writers to believe that children need to face the harshness of life by dealing with the death of a pet. This hopelessly shortsighted philosophy has ruined many a novel or movie over the years for those of us whose hearts are shredded most easily by the suffering of an animal. It is our pleasure however, to inform the hesitant movie going public, that though the story of the War Horse named Joey, does take the gallant creature through seemingly endless difficulties, facing the full onslaught of a devastating war, the audience is rewarded with a victorious ending, which makes it worth the price of admission. There is nothing more gratifying than beating the odds, and Joey’s story lets us beat them soundly.
Come the White Horse
Say the word thunder and an image of skies flashing and clouds crashing come to mind, but around here, in Bronco Country, say the word Thunder and an eleven year old white Arabian, and the mascot for the Denver Broncos comes into view. It is only natural that Denver would name their team the Broncos, which refers to “bronco busting,” which is when a cowboy deliberately seats himself on the back of horse that does not in any way want him there. The goal is to stay on the horse for eight seconds, not a long time, unless you’re being tossed in the air by a twelve hundred pound animal that is literally frantic to land you in the next county. This image works both for Colorado and the Broncos because we are all about taking chances, thundering hooves, muscled chests and flaring nostrils, and when we think of Thunder we think of the white, sleek Arabian that races out of the portal on a Sunday afternoon to the roaring crowds of Sports Authority Field. Thunder represents that undying belief that lives in the heart of every Bronco fan, that regardless of last week’s outcome, we are winners and we will again be on top, because that is what we do in Colorado. We change the plan, get creative, believe like a bunch of kids, plant both feet firmly on the ground, work it like we mean it, knowing that tomorrow is another day and we’ll be there, ready to win, and happy to shout about it. Saddle up, Thunder, we are ready to ride!
My Valentine
Valentine’s Day is the time to celebrate how much you love the people around you. It is for love between sweethearts, best friends, families and even our favorite fur covered friends. It is the day for telling the people in your life that you are privileged to know them, that their affection for you makes every day better, that your love for them is bigger than the sky and twice as bright. Do something this Valentine’s Day that reminds your loved ones, and you too, that with all the busy days we live, and all the hours we work, and the many times we feel we might be in over our heads, it is the ones we love, the ones whose love we are blessed to share, who make each day worth the effort. Sharing the joy of our hearts with the people we love brings health and strength to our lives in ways that nothing else will. Loving someone is better nourishment than the finest fruit, and greater exercise than the longest run, because it gives our insides the chance to set our own cares aside and focus on the needs of another, and that is life lived best.
Love Your Cowgirl
Be brave this Valentine’s Day and refuse to get your sweetheart the typical box of chocolates and bouquet of roses. Those are fun, and traditional, but what your cowgirl darling really wants is a glitzy set of spurs, or a turquoise and onyx encrusted bracelet watch, or a cowboy hat that she can wear to her dressiest occasion, or a jean jacket to throw over her great spring dresses. If you’ve fallen into a rut of flowers delivered to her office, send the flowers, because we all want our co-workers to know that we are deeply loved, but have a kickin’ pair of boots waiting for her when she gets home. Valentine’s Day is all about telling the one you love that you know her, you understand what makes her tick, and better than that, you understand what brings her joy. Your cowgirl is an amazing woman. Show her that you realize it by making her Valentine’s Day the greatest day all year.
The Real Runway Week
So the National Western Stock Show is in Denver as it is every year at this time and though they would like us to think it is all about the livestock and the roping and wrangling competition, we know it is actually about the fashion. You will never see so much true country beauty in one place and it all looks glorious. There is a chic that only a real cowgirl can wear, because regardless of how many barrels she has rounded or how many torsos she has curried she still looks great – fresh and a little wild. The right jeans are imperative because they must be the perfect combination of fit and fashion, no drooping allowed, with a belt that really grabs the western spirit to top it off and a shirt or jacket with fringe and some boots that will equip the wearer to stomp the life out of badger are in order. The real key to the outfit however is the hat. The cowboy hat, worn by a true cowgirl is a thing of beauty, perfectly shaped and full of sass. Pine Country Feed has something for every taste, offering only the highest quality of head wear, and a lot of must haves. Stop in before your trip to the Stock Show and round up the best western fashion in these hills!
Stare
He thought perhaps he had seen her before, but he couldn’t be sure and now, he couldn’t look away. She moved with the confidence of a cat, unaware that anyone was watching, intent on reaching her goal. Her jeans were like part of her skin and her ropers had been long time favorites. There was something about the look in her eyes that said she had worked hard to get where she was and she had no intention of losing ground, but at the same time she could laugh harder at herself than most. Sureness was part of the picture, but it was framed in a mild discontent that drove her to know more, understand better. She lifted her saddle into the back of her 1950 Chevy pick-up then climbed up into the cab. When she backed away from the front of the barn his eye caught hers when she looked over her shoulder and shifted gears. As she pulled towards the gate she stopped in front of him and put her window down. He looked up, ready to get his head bit off, then she smiled. “I’m going down to Cactus Jack’s for a beer if you feel like some conversation.” She put up her window and turned out onto the road and he was pretty sure she was giggling and he had to laugh himself as he got in his truck and headed for Jack’s.
Love a Parade
The Tournament of Roses Parade, a New Year’s Day spectacular, did not disappoint this year with its bigger than life floats, the best marching bands from across the country and a full round-up of horses and horse people, doing the west proud in a big way. The parade, since its inception over 100 years ago, has always been focused on just those three areas – horses, bands and floats, and every year the bar seems to be pushed just a bit higher with better bands, astounding floats and horses that look like they are ready for the Red Carpet. The horses that are chosen to appear in the parade prance along as though they were made for the show. They are beautifully groomed with intricate braids and bejeweled harness, saddles that could double as artwork, and riders that are decked out in gala attire, and strangely, the horses seem to know that this is their moment. They walk in formation, tipping their heads to the crowd, not hurrying but soaking in the applause and the glory. Of course there is always one or two who decide that they are not getting the attention they should so they suddenly fall out of line and face backwards, circling with their nervous rider, showing that they really are in charge despite appearances. Much like any celebrity, they clearly have to act out from time to time. Stardom has its price.
Resolution
So if you’re making a list of “possibles” for your New Year’s Resolutions consider narrowing it down to just one. Resolve to “get your cowgirl on” in 2012, which encompasses a lot of things. It starts with liking yourself for who you are and continues by confidently doing what you know is right regardless of what others think, realizing that actual thinking is a rare gift. It is loving your horse for more than just the ride, and letting your husband know that you are proud of him. It is being kind to someone who is often overlooked, taking time out of your day to call home, saying thank you and leaving a great tip for the waiter who is on his second day on the job. Wearing your cowgirl with pride is knowing that jeans and boots are entirely appropriate for church and preferring a Ford pick-up to a Lexus is admirable. Resolve to live 2012 with the heart of a cowgirl, strong, joyful and brilliant.
Do it Right
The right pair of jeans is similar in importance to the right hair cut. They have to fit properly, and comfort is a must, and it is best if they have that little something extra that says “now that’s a pair of jeans”. Pine Country Feed gets the whole “jeans are my life” way of thinking and they carry a fabulous selection of just right, soft as butter denim duds that will put you on the cover of “got it goin’ on” magazine. There are only a few things in life that can actually turn your attitude around in an instant but slipping into that perfect fit, with just the right amount of flair is one of them. Pair your jeans with a perfectly feminine, astoundingly stylish cowgirl designer top and you will be ready to bring in the herd or go out on the town, or both. Get out to Pine Country and see if you don’t fall in love, over and over again.
