IF YOU'RE GONNA LIVE IN HOUSTON...

YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE A PICTURE ON A COW.



AND A TRACTOR.


AND MAYBE A HORSE TOO.

we have been enjoying the annual houston livestock show and rodeo for the past few weeks. i'd gone a couple of times before while in town over spring break. we would show up in time to see a couple of rodeo events and the concert entertainer for the night. now that we live here i feel like we have done a better job taking it in to the fullest.

one morning last week adelaide and i put on our best western gear and went on our way to the livestock show. we arrived in time to spend a morning with baby piglets, little calves, and lambs that were mere days old. we visited the bunny exhibit and saw rabbits that weigh more than our dog. she reluctantly pet a couple of them. we saw chicks hatching out of their eggs.

during our outing one of the very pregnant cows dramatically stands in her pen while we are next to it. the person watching over her jumps into action and announces she will probably have her calf sometime today and this just might be it. i am watching with wide eyes as the momma turns so her backside is facing us perfectly. i watch her area expand and then the most massive pile of poop comes out of it. so much for seeing a baby being born.

we wandered through the rows of livestock and one family invites adelaide to sit on their prized cow. i didn't realize until afterward that this cow had been freshly hosed off with water. the seat of adelaide's jeans smelled disgusting the rest of our time there. of course that didn't bother me one bit, because i am now a real live texan who goes to livestock shows and i should be used to the smell of wet cow accompanying us.

one night this week evan and i went to the rodeo. we got there in time to see almost all the events before the concert. i really like watching calf roping, calf scramble and chuck wagon races, but the event i love the most is mutton busting. four, five, and six-year-olds take turns riding on the back of a sheep for as far as they can go before falling off. they wear giant helmets and completely lie down on the back of the sheep during the ride. it was absolutely hilarious to watch.

after the rodeo was done for the night they brought the stage out to the middle of the arena. keith urban and his band took their places and were wonderful entertainers. during one song he came down from the stage and jumped into the stands while performing. it was a great night.

of course anyone that knows me at all, knows i would never pass up a chance for nachos. because i went twice this year, i got to eat nachos twice. and corn-on-the-cob covered with lemon pepper. and a funnel cake for good measure.

HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU!