Saddle Up Your Horses

We've got a trail to blaze....wah, oh, oh.

Does that song line bring anybody else back to the early 90s??

This post has nothing to do with riding our horses, but I am finally going to show picks of Casa de Riley with our goodies in it. Our street does have the word 'Saddle' in it....

Here goes it:
Paved driveway from our front gate to the house. No more dirt roads and muddy tires for us!!


View from front porch


View from porch take 2. That's our outdoor toilet...kidding. It's our well house. Fancy, eh??


The most relaxing spot. Heaven.



Come on in and I'll give you a tour!


After entry way you can go straight to living room or right to office or left to hallway. So many choices!
Living room goes first on this tour








Back to the office






The hallway I previously mentioned leads to guest rooms and bathroom.


















Now on to the kitchen:












Behind kitchen is the utility room:






And the master bdrm



Yes, that TV appears small but we don't watch much in there














There you have it! That's most of the place. Please, no judging on my decorating skills just yet...we've only just begun. There are rugs to buy, curtains to hang, artwork and nicknacks to come!!

Hope you like it as much as we do!

Some Like It Hot

You might think this post is going to reiterate the fact that it's hot outside, but nope I've got something even HOTTER.

**viewer discretion is advised. Some pictures may be seen as graphic**

About 8 weeks ago Travis and I were invited to spend the weekend with our friends at their family ranch in Goldthwaite. We jumped at the opportunity to spend the weekend with our dear friends and soaking up the summer on the banks of the Colorado River.

It was all fun and games until I, Natalie not so graceful Riley, miss-judged the hitch on the back of the Mule (4 wheeler) and my left leg came in contact with the exhaust for almost 45 seconds.

I didn't realize my leg was burning until I got up and saw a big patch of white and some charred skin. I immediately ran into the house and washed the burn. (side note: our friends parents were there and thankfully Mrs. McKenzie is an ER nurse and she knew just what to do). She removed "cut away" the dead skin, applied aloe, and a silver based burn cream.

Turns out I'm now a 2nd degree burn victim.

Below are pictures of the burn as it healed. Like I previously mentioned, some may seem graphic but it's real.


Day 2: most of what you see is the burn cream


Day 3: starting to dry out


Day 4


Day 5


Day 6


Day 7


Day 8


Day 9


Day 10


Day 14


6 weeks later


As you can see it had improved over time, but it appears that I'll be left with a scar. I'm using Vitamin E and loading it with sunscreen anytime I'm outdoors.

I'm not going to lie, it was the most painful injury I've ever had. I was laid up in bed for 5 days after the burn, because I could barely walk without pain.

I'm so thankful that it wasn't any worse and that it healed without infection.