We had fun on Saturday afternoon at the rodeo, mostly because it's such a treat to be together. Nova kept everyone entertained and seeing the world through three-year-old eyes makes you stop and think. Every word she hears, every answer she's given, every action she sees is stored away in her bright, fresh, impressionable mind.
I've always liked western rodeo, although parts were hard to watch. Mostly I can appreciate the work training horses to do things against their nature: roping, backing up, chasing wild bulls, running around barrels. Unlike our spoiled city horses, these animals worked hard for hours and I doubt there were many carrot treats afterwards.
In the bull-riding event, one of the enormous bulls refused to enter the narrow chute (who could blame him?) and seeing him thrash around was an ugly, dangerous sight. Then an old cowboy just rode up on his Quarter-horse and pulled him in with a rope tied to the saddle. You have to admire the guts and strength it takes for a 1,000 pound horse to pull an extremely irritated 2,000 pound bull backwards.
We had quieter entertainment on Sunday at the Shafer Museum in Winthrop. It's a wonderful place with old restored buildings to explore and displays of pioneer life.
Nova's favorite was the Methow Valley homesteader's cabin. We told her four people lived in that little room all winter, and she thought that would be just fine. The door was just her size although dad had to seriously duck.
Here's Nova and her pretty mom-to-be...
A future rodeo queen...
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