The Rodeo Goat

The Rodeo Goat is an incredible burger joint in the new part of Ft. Worth. I would describe the Goat as quirky, playful, and extremely well done. The burgers are tender, toppings unique, and taxidermy epic. 

The Goat's most famous desert - goat balls. Deep fried dough stuffed with cheese and cream cheese, then topped with blackberry compote and powdered sugar. Sinful. 

If you are going to Ft. Worth in the near future, be sure to put eating at the Rodeo Goat at the top of your list. 

Kevin the Bucktoothed Calf

This is Kevin. He is my favorite. He's also bucktoothed. Anyone know a good orthodontist? 

He's really self-conscience about it, so if you meet him don't stare. Kevin has a hard time getting along with the other calves, because they all make fun of his teeth. He can't help that he's bucktoothed. He was born that way. 

Look at him. He's so sweet. He just wants to be friends. When we feed the calves, he's always the first to the gate. He just stares at me with his sweet little face and adorable buck teeth. Oh Kevin, how I love you.                        

             

Lizzie, Judah, and Xena

I woke up to these beauties this morning. They're the three musketeers. They love one another, but when the morning's grain comes out, they fight like little kids.      

              

Lizzie is Dane's best calf horse. Being only seven, she's young for a pro rodeo calf horse. This girl is the most confident equine I've been around.                          

At only five years old, Xena is the baby of the group. She surprised us all last weekend when she helped Dane win the Northside rodeo in Downtown Ft. Worth. We're very excited for this girl's future! 

Hey Xena, take your nose out of the camera! I'm trying to take your picture, silly.           

Judah busts out the pinned ears when the girls get too close to his grain. He doesn't look like it here, but he's really a very sweet gelding...  

Natty Flat

Natty Flat is home to the best Texas BBQ I've tasted and some of the prettiest log furniture I've laid eyes on. If you get the chance to visit, try the smoked brisket and the baked potato salad. You will leave happy, I promise. 

Dane took me to Natty Flat just a few days after we arrived in Texas. He said he took me there for the experience, but I have a sneaking suspicion he was looking for any reason to go back.    

Before you head over to the restaurant, whet your appetite by looking around the Texas Hill Country Furniture & Mercantile. The store is rustic, homey, and warm. It was everything a handmade furniture joint should be. Natural textures and colors dominated the space. Light pops of color from old barn wood or lampshades didn't let you forget that after all, you're still in Texas. 

Gnarled wood coffee tables, cowhide pillows, and hand hewn beams draw your eye quickly from one gorgeous arrangement to the next. 

13 Things I've Learned While Living in 100 Sq. Feet

We've been here a total of thirteen days, and boy oh boy, have I learned a thing or two about living in a small space. I feel like I could comfortably meet an owner of one of those micro houses and have a heart to heart. I'd understand why they value their loft space above all else, and they'd nod knowingly when I laugh and say, "Why yes, I do choose my times in the bathroom very carefully." (Too much detail? Such is the reality of little space living!)

So for the fun of it, and because it's the perfect rainy Saturday morning to be wrapped up in a quilt blogging, here's a little list for ya. 

1. My kitchen sink is 1 sq. foot. Aka, be selective about the pan(s) and utensils I use to cook. 

During my childhood and high school years, I often cooked my family supper. They loved the meals, but my dad teased me mercilessly because I'd fill the sink to the brim with dirty dishes. He'd say, "Wow, Kel I see you used every single pot, pan, and dish we own. Good job!" (Sarcasm is his love language).  

The irony of me, Girl-Who-Uses-Many-Dishes, now cooking regularly in a pint sized kitchen is delicious. I think God gets a chuckle out of it. I love how he sets us up to always be improving upon our weaknesses. 

2. I don't need that many clothes. 

Prior to our departure to Texas, I spent a whole day going through my closet. I took my time sorting out what I'd need for the next six months based on season, weather, activities, and what I wear most often. I'm learning to embrace a more minimalist wardrobe. The challenge of fitting enough clothes for six months into two 16 inch wide closets and two plastic tubs was the perfect opportunity to get serious about reducing my closet. 

The two best resources I found are www.into-mind.com and www.un-fancy.com. Both blogs embrace a minimalist approach to wardrobe. While my style is much different from these ladies, their strategies for building a capsule wardrobe were SO helpful. 

3. Keep it clean, clean, clean. 

When living in a small space, every foot counts. The little things make a difference, aka keeping dishes washed and put away, clothes folded or hung, the bed made, rugs shook out, and floors swept. The good news is practicing what I preach is pretty simple. A small space = minimal time spent cleaning. It becomes part of the daily routine. 

4. Respect one another's space. 

While I live in a separate camper trailer from Dane, we usually cook together each night in his living quarters horse trailer. Some of my clothes are stored in tubs in his trailer too. Respecting one another's space has kept us smiling rather than frowning at one another because we both try to keep the space clean and usable for the other person. Thankfully, he's a really clean guy and keeps things in order just as much as I do.  

5. Nutri-Bullet is my best friend. George Foreman is a close second. 

These two appliances are used nearly every day. The Nutri-Bullet makes killer smoothies, nut butters, sauces, and dressings. Good ol' George Foreman grills burgers, salmon, chicken, and sausage like its going out of style. Both are self-contained making for easy and fast clean-up (which is climbing higher and higher on my priority list). 

6. We kill lots of trees. 

Sad to say, but we likely kill more trees than the normal U.S. citizen. Camper living gets along VERY nicely with paper plates, paper bowls, and paper towels. (See item #1). We use ceramic cups and stainless steel silverware, but paper goods can't be beat when it comes to keeping things clean and quick.                

7. It's possible to cook delicious, healthy food in a camper kitchen. 

I must admit, I was looking forward to this challenge long before we got to Texas. It's been an adjustment learning how to best use the space at hand, but once I cooked a couple meals the creative juices began to flow. It's much different than cooking in a large kitchen and requires a different mindset. Nonetheless, I'm having a ton of fun mastering it!

8. Showers are not long. Conserve water. There's not a limitless supply. 

9. Try not to leave the water heater on longer than necessary. Propane is expensive. 

10. Time your trips to the bathroom strategically.

When the other person is going to be gone for awhile, that's a good time to take care of business.

11. Work/life integration is the new norm. 

My work is very flexible, and I can do it from just about any location with internet. My work space is my living space and vice versa. Keeping the space clean and organized is conducive to better living AND better working. 

12. This lifestyle requires infinite amounts of flexibility. 

"Oh I was planning on taking a shower, but I'm out of water." No big deal. Go fill the tank and then shower. "Oh I wanted to work and then go ride horses with Dane." He comes to the door and says they're ready to rope right now. Ok, I'll do that and then work this evening. I'm learning to be quicker on my feet, more disciplined, and a better prioritizer. So far, the arrangement is working out famously.  

13. Less truly is more. Get rid of the excess. With simplicity comes freedom!    

The truth is, we love small space living! Just last night while at a rodeo in Ft. Worth, we marveled at what a cool lifestyle we get to live. Lots of travel, enjoying God's creation of horses and cattle, and constantly meeting new people. Dane and I are around one another all the time, and we get to take on new challenges as a team. Safe to say, it's a great match.               

                         

Southward

I’m going south today. Texas bound in fact. I’ll call the Lonestar State home until next spring. How did a Minnesota girl formerly working in a tech start-up in Sioux Falls find herself moving to Stephenville, Texas for six months? I’ve been asking myself the same question...

My good friend Erika shared some wisdom with me the other day. She said, “When you have no plans of your own, that’s when God strikes.” 

That’s definitely true in Dane and I’s story. We met when I was assigned to write an article about him. Right away, I saw he had a kind heart, loved God, and possessed an especially attractive confidence. I was in the Hills for the weekend to work, and he was home for two weeks before he went rodeoing for the summer. The timing was impeccable. God’s timing always is, right? 

Things sparked. We talked on the phone for the next couple weeks. Both of us knew it was headed in a good direction. July 5th marked the second time we saw each other. He was home for the Belle Fourche rodeo. I drove out from Sioux Falls to see him.   

We watched fireworks together, spent time with his best friend and simply enjoyed being with one another in person. The next day he asked me to be his girlfriend. Then I went back to Sioux Falls, and he went back out on the road. Another month passed. We spent many hours on the phone. He would always call late, late, late at night because he was rodeoing on the West Coast and he roped late at night. Those weeks were marked by scarce sleep and lots of excitement as we learned more about one another.   

Dane came home in August for the Black Hills Round-Up in Rapid City, South Dakota, and my friend Erin and I drove out to see him. That was a short visit, but during rodeo season, any time is better than no time. 

Fast forward through a couple more weeks of late nights on the phone. What precious times those were! We spent hours asking questions, laughing, and learning more about one another. 

My excitement was building as the second week of September approached. I had booked a flight to Pendleton, Oregon to meet Dane for the Pendleton Round-Up. Pendleton is the nation’s biggest grass rodeo and the last big rodeo of the season. It was also the first solid week would spend together in a month and half. 

After a fantastic week in Pendleton, we loaded up Lizzie (Dane’s best horse) and drove back to South Dakota. We hauled back a couple horses for Dane’s friends, and saw some gorgeous scenery along the way. The Pendleton trip was special because it marked the end of our long distance relationship. 

For the next eight weeks, I lived at my parent’s cabin in Boulder Canyon, and Dane was at his parent’s house near Spearfish. Those weeks were exceptional time to get to know Dane’s family and extended family, be around each other consistently and do the normal, daily life things together.  

I’ve learned much about my man in the past two months. He works extremely hard at the things he’s passionate about - mainly roping, training horses, and his relationship with God. While he’s not a gooey romantic, he takes care of my heart so well and is always doing kind and thoughtful things for me. He is a strong, smart man with great people skills and an enormous amount of common sense. He can lead me spiritually, and I respect him to the moon and back. These eight weeks of life in the Hills have given us the opportunity to grow deeper in love, trust, and respect for one another.  

We’ve spent a lot of time with Dane’s parents, Phil and Terri. They are incredible, salt-of-the-earth, kind hearted, and generous people. They’ve treated me like family, and both have a special place in my heart.    

Fast forward to today, November 7th. This has been the plan since late August - spend the fall in the Hills and head to Texas in November. At that time, I didn’t know where I would live or what I would do down there, but I knew this relationship was worth investing in. Dane and I both have busy and full lives that include lots of travel. So basically if we want to be in the same zip code, we need to be flexible. I work with an awesome company that allows me to work remotely, and God arranged it that I could be in a position to go to Texas.    

Want to know a secret? I’ve always dreamed about living in Texas! My occasional trips to the Lonestar State left me with a longing to try life down south for a bit. Do I want to live there forever? No, probably not. But a couple months, absolutely! Funny how God answers prayers and desires I don’t ever remember praying. Over-delivering on His promises is God’s specialty!  

The trailer is packed. The truck is ready. My trusty Mac makes up the majority of my office. We’re going south! 

Jake and Rainey Pratt are good friends of Dane’s, and they live on a place near Stephenville. That’s where we’ll be staying for the duration of our time in Texas. They have a place for Dane to park his living quarters trailer, and a small rental house where I’ll be living. What a blessing to have friends who are so kind and accommodating! 

Dane and Jake plan to rope everyday, and Dane is hungry to work hard, get better, and prepare to make a run for the NFR next season. I’m sincerely looking forward to this adventure of Texas life. I’m stepping out in faith, doing things I’ve never done before, and excited to see what God brings of it all.    

               

Answers to the Common Questions:

Is Dane going to Texas too? Yes

Are we living together? No

What will I do in Texas: Work, go to rodeos, explore the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, and keep my eyes open for opportunities

Where will I be living: Stephenville

Is the move permanent: No

Are we coming back to visit: Yes, for Christmas and the Stock Show

Do I still work with Fluxxr: Yes, remotely 

Am I still freelance writing: Yes, it's my passion and I love it!

Excited to share this journey with you,

- KB

Freeze Brands

The equines made a trip to visit Dr. Scott Camack today to be freeze branded before we head to Texas. Freeze branding is a technique which uses extreme cold to kill the pigment cells in the hair but not the actual hair follicle. This makes for a much prettier (and less painful) brand in the long run. The branding iron is placed in liquid nitrogen for several minutes and gets VERY cold. Then, you place the iron on the shaved area of the horse where you'd like the brand to go (in this case the right hip), press for about thirty seconds, and presto! you have a beautiful brand. The hair grows out white in a few weeks.

Since the branding iron is so cold (and they wouldn't enjoy the experience very much), Dr. Camack gave these guys some sleepy-time drugs. As you can see, they were pretty out of it...

The 6 over 9 brand was given to Dane by his grandpa Darrel Griffith, who went to be with Jesus last April. They shared a birthday (February 8th) and now share a brand. Dane was so proud to put his grandpa's brand on his three favorite horses. 

Lizzie's brand is a great example of what the mark looks like right after it's done. The skin swells a bit so the brand is raised. The swelling goes down in a day or two, and then you can't see the brand until the hair grows in white.  

Judah - the horse with the never ending personality. He was drugged up and sleepy, so he thought it was too much work to hold up his own head. Lizzie's rump made a nice resting place. 

Morning Glory from Bear Butte

Enjoy these panoramic pictures from Bear Butte. The lovely Erin Jones and I knocked on the door of sunrise in order to get up the trail and see this view. The sun broke over the horizon, filled the clouds with blazing light and set the prairie on fire. Well worth the 5am alarm. 

"Colorful Cowboy Crap"

Walter Piehl is an artist from Minot, North Dakota who pioneered an abstract style of Western art he lovingly calls "Western Americana." Others have called it "colorful cowboy crap." 

Piehl paints what he loves and knows. His father was a stock contractor, and Piehl grew up announcing rodeos. He tried riding broncs for a little bit, but in his words, he was "pretty sorry at it." 

Piehl loved to draw from a young age, and his affinity for painting translated into the energetic, colorful and abstract creations you see below.        

Badlands Circuit Finals

The Badlands Circuit Finals is the the National Finals Rodeo of the Midwest. South Dakota, North Dakota, and parts of Nebraska fall into the Badlands Circuit, and every October, hundreds of contestants travel to Minot, North Dakota to compete. 

I went with Dane and his parents to the Finals, and snapped some pictures from the weekend. Phil and Terri are two of the most generous and kind people I've met in my twenty-two years. The four of us spent four days in one hotel room (and shared one bathroom), and we still liked one another at the end of the weekend. That's a good sign!    

The performances were in the evenings, but our days were busy nonetheless. Dane and I visited Longfellow Elementary where Dane showed the kiddos some roping tricks and talked about life as a professional cowboy. Dennis "Denny" Halstead and the Miss Rodeo South Dakota Lady-In-Waiting joined us too.

The little boy in this picture is also named Dane. He was completely star stuck meeting "Big Dane" and loved that they had the same name.