Sydney's Buckle Design

As some of you know, I have a daughter who is 5. She is coming to an age where she too is getting into the rodeo spirit. She wanted a buckle like daddy's, and though I tried to find something that would fit her personality I could not. So I decided to have a buckle custom made.


As I've explained before, each buckle tells a story. My wife has decided to re-name the farm to MIMS Farm. MIM's being; Margaret ( her mother ), Irwin ( her father ), Margaret ( herself ), and Sydney. Knox Farm speaks for its self. The crown will also be pink, with three diamonds. Princess also speaks for its self, although her nick name is "Dutchy" as she acts more like a Duchess then a Princess. The date is the year of her birth




This is what the buckle will look like. The date in the drawing is in the wrong position. I chose this buckle for the obvious reasons. One its color, the white with the pink accents again fits her personalty. Also the position of the floral on this buckle gave me more room to design and add lettering without compromising the integrity of the space.

Rodeo Terminology /Buckle Bunnies

Aww the buckle bunny. I will admit I have ran into a few these in my time... Amirillo, TX was a crazy time... But we wont go into that right now.

A buckle bunny is a sort of rodeo groupie, a woman who seeks out rodeo performers who excel in competition. Like groupies who follow other sports and musical groups, buckle bunnies are rather famous for dressing and behaving in sexually suggestive ways, and some seek out intimate relationships with people who compete in the rodeo. While male versions of the buckle bunny undoubtedly exist, women tend to dominate the rodeo groupie community.

Buckle bunnies are named after the buckles which rodeo competitors typically receive as prizes. Many of them follow favorite stars around the competition circuit, or attempt to make time to see particular athletes when they perform in neighboring areas. A buckle bunny herself may not be able to ride a horse, but she has admiration for someone who can, and many also have an appreciation for Western culture which allows them to enjoy watching rodeo events.

As is the case with other groupies, buckle bunnies are often assumed to be extremely uninhibited and very interested in physical relationships with the rodeo stars they follow. Many of them dress the part, wearing tight pants, suggestive tops, and high heels, and applying makeup with a heavy hand. An experienced buckle bunny also takes the time to stand out from the crowd, choosing to wear flashy colors or developing a skill such as dancing to distinguish her in crowded afterparties and other events associated with rodeos.

For rodeo cowboys, an entourage of buckle bunnies is undoubtedly flattering. Many buckle bunnies also offer things like places to stay and homecooked meals, which can be nice for someone enduring the rigors of the rodeo circuit. Presumably some also offer physical companionship, although others prefer to admire from afar.

My New Lucchese's Just In Time For Rodeo Season

Rodeo season is here! So I thought I would get myself a new pair of kicks. I was looking for a nice pair of black ostrich boots and found these, on Ebay of course. Those of you who know boots know that Lucchese are one of the best around. A huge savings as the sale price was $189.00, and store marked them down to $152.00, and I had a coupon for an additional 35% off. $114.00 for a $420.00 boot. You gotta love a recession. And yes, I used a coupon. I'm no dummy.

Syd Goes To School

Well the time has finally come.. My daughter will be going to school. I will be brave, as I know this is the first steps she will take to become a young woman.

My wife on the other hand would like nothing more then for Syd to stay 5 years old, living on the farm forever. I love Syd, but living at home forever, that's even a stretch for me.

Though we live far from her school, she knows more then half of the other student's that will be in attendance. The school secretary is a friend of the family, and has known Syd since she was just a new born, so there's that comfort. I was a little concerned about where she would attend school. Our property line is in two school zones. She could have gone to Lincoln where my wife attended, however there wouldn't be any diversity in the class room. Something my wife and I strive to give our daughter on a daily basis. So we thought it would be a great choose to send her to the school she will attend.

Though the town she will attend school in is a white town, there has been an influx of Afro-Americans, and Hispanics to the town. Mostly due to Katrina; we were one of the stops for those who lost their homes, and most stayed, and the growing Hispanic population in the NWA area. That's Northwest Arkansas for those of you who didn't know. Off track for a moment..

Funny Story about Katrina, if there was any. After the storm, and bus loads of people came in from LA. I was washing my car at the local car wash, when this young couple drove up next to me. We struck up a conversation; something I always do with people, and after a while the young lady ask me "So are you going to be staying in Arkansas?" I'm like um, yeah why? Aren't you from LA? LOL, "No I live on a 350 acre farm south of town. I've been here for years." Another one... I was mailing out some packages at one of those mail stops, when the woman behind the counter, who hadn't been here more then 6 months, asked me the same question. I thought to myself, "you are new here in town, and you are asking me if I'm going back to where I came from?" I live here, have lived here for years!

Anyway back to Syd and school. I wanted nothing more then for my daughter to attend a private school, as I thought that this would be the best thing for her. Is it? I'm glad that she will have the experience of other cultures, though few. She will get to see it all... Rednecks, Hispanics, other black children, and even a few Asians. I think this is going to be a great start. What she doesn't learn in public school, I'm more then willing to teach her.

Well so much for that respite!

On Respite

Hello folks.... From what I can tell I am not the only one taking time out to enjoy this nice weather we've been having.

I will be back soon!

Thinking of Going Into Real Estate

Photo Courtesy of Random World Wallpapers

With the real estate bubble busting, or has burst depending on where you live in the country, or your point of view. There has been a plethora of home that have come on the market, yes most are foreclosure.

Long before the burst, this was my dream job. You know that job where you don't mind getting up every morning and going to. When I was a young boy, I would visit a friend of mine, David Haines who was an Architect and he would teach me the ends and outs of Architecture. Most boys my age were either on the football field, or basketball court. David is no longer with us, and I wish I had stuck with it.

My interest in Architecture led me to Interior Design which I think is why I'm so interested in homes more then industrial or office spaces. Anyhow, while I was in college, another older gentleman was in the business of Real Estate, and tried to get me involved. However I was more in tune with finishing school and moving on. This too is something I wish I had taken the time to listen, get involved, and cash in. When my wife and I got married, I stopped in to visit him. He wasn't doing so hot either. I felt that this was my last chance, and gave up the dream.

Until last year, I found out that another friend of mine was in Real Estate. He advised me on a few things I didn't know about the game, but that's as far as it went as I got busy with Windsor and put it on the back burner. Just this past weekend, we were in town for a festival, and I noticed all the buildings I had spoke to my wife about someone had purchased and refurbished. The amazing thing about it is, everything I said that should go into each of these buildings did. I even told my wife when the builder purchased one property that he was going to put in loft apartments, which he did. I even called the price he would charge for each. Although, I told my wife that he would be asking WAY to much for this area, which it was.

By chance I met the wife of the man who is buying up all this property, and she advised that they were way over their heads in debt, which I figured they would be.

Here's where they are making their mistake. They are wanting to make a lot of money. I know, I know, that's what people are in business for, which I agree. She complained that they are only making 5 to 10K on each deal, when they were making 15-25K on each deal. I mean, I'm no genius, but 5-10K on each deal is where my price point is/was, I'm not greedy.

In fact, to show that I love what I do so much. In my own personal business prospectus, I have a plan to GIVE away one house completely furnished each year. Yeah I know, I'm crazy! Don't get me wrong, this wouldn't be to just any old Joe shmoe. It would be to hard working mothers who are in college trying to get off the welfare system.

My plan is to sale homes at low and affordable prices. If I spend 125K on a home, I plan to sale it at 135K. That's so that the Realtor can get his commissions reasonably.

For me, its not about money, but realizing a dream, and giving back a little to the community. If I make a little money in the process, what's wrong with that?

Swing Time!

In an earlier post we disused roping dummies. I thought that we would touch upon some of the basic learning tools for polo.

Today we are going to talk about the wooden horse. The wooden horse is primarily used to practice ones swing. Depending on your instructor, he/she may want you to learn or practice a few swings before you even attempt the wooden horse. I must tell you folks; this is not as easy as it looks. This is done help gage your hand eye coordination. As I’m sure you can imagine, you will be moving at a high rate of speed and must be able to think fast.

Once you’ve had a few swings on your own two feet, its time to mount the wooden horse, and practice your swing. This is a great opportunity to try other swings, as you are still. Again, depending on your instructor, you may be at this for hours, and you will become frustrated, but don’t give up.

Moving from the wooden horse, to a live horse should be done as soon as possible. This will give you an idea of how much you have learned. The instructor will usually move your horse along while you swing at balls placed on the field or area. I have enclosed a few photo’s of some of the pricey, and not so pricey practice horses.

Top of the line by Racewood.
Racewood Ltd have taken these attributes and applied them to the
development of a new product in their range of equestrian simulators, The
Racewood Polo Pony Simulator.

Forget the wooden horse. I'm looking at the girl in this one.