Pasture Sale Time... Just Around the Corner

Slowly but surely we are creeping in to one of our busier times of the year here at RHD. Believe it or not, we're already making plans and booking clients for the August magazines. Last year we sent over 100 pages of ads in to various livestock publications. We've had several people calling to "get on our list" and here we are - 3 months from August!

What made me think of the August magazines (besides the fact that we're booking projects for late summer) is that the pasture sales are already starting up. I just finished up a website for Bennett Shorthorns yesterday. Many of you probably remember their ad from last summer for their Pasture of Dreams sale with a grandfather, father, and son walking through a pasture together. That ad was one of our most popular ones we designed last year — and lots of people must have liked it, considering it was knocked off by several other designers.

This year, Charlie and Tricia Bennett once again came to us for help creating the advertising for their Pasture of Dreams sale. They also hired us to create a new website for them to go along with their new ad. It's always a pleasure to work with Charlie and Tricia. We've actually known Charlie for a long time from way back when he was at Rockdale Shorthorns. Be sure and check out their new site.

Election....

As I was sitting here watching the evening news tonight, everyone and everything is about the Decision 2008. BTW actually today I'm sporting a t-shirt of MY favorite candidate....but I'm not going to say who it is as not to offend anyone ha ha. Mom, Catherine and I really love to follow the politics. We don't necessarily agree on everything - well actually we disagree on mostly everything - but it's fun to follow it and talk about the election.

So I got to thinking today, what if we had a President of the Club Calf Business?? Who would you vote for? What would our top issues be? I'm sure the issues like ethanol and gas prices would still be an important issue in the Club Calf Presidential Election. But we would have a lot of other fun ones too....

• Health Care: Dragon Lady would be our director of health care, and she'd make a national constitutional amendment that every animal would have to have a TH and PHA test on file.
• Conventions: Our national convention would have to be held at Denver Stock Show, with Brad Hook as the keynote speaker.
• Two Party System: Hmmm, would our parties be the Heat Waves and the Meyers?
• National Press Secretary: Roland .... hands down.
• Supreme Court Judges: Instead of Supreme Court judges, we'd have a panel of our favorite stock show judges. My nominees would have to be Dad, Dan Hoge, Randy Daniels, Alex Dees, Dr. Jim Sanders, Dr. Chris Skaggs, Kent Habeger, Dr. Dave Hawkins, and Bill Couch. Oh and Blake Bloomberg. Just to name a few.

So who would be the candidates? Well my personal favorite candidate would have to be PHIL of course! He's experienced, knows everyone, and travels the country representing the club calf business. Who would be his running mate? Hmmmm, I'll leave that up to you!

Full Bellies & South Texas

So as I was blogging earlier I just got back from Muhammed's. The actual name of this establishment is Primo's but the guys that owns it is from "overseas" and we did not know the name of the place when we started going there. So, Jim just started calling the owner Muhammed and the name stuck. Anyway my morning ritual involved checking recip cows at the Mullins and eating 1 egg, 2 pieces of bacon, and an order of wheat toast. I think that I remained pretty restrained when I ordered.

As our morning trip concluded Jim got a phone call from Mr. Cannon a close friend of the Williams'. First they started talking about a new web site for J-F Ranch that RHD is working on and it may be one of the best sites that we have ever done! I know that we all get excited about new web sites but this one has a format that is a little atypical and will really make it stand out. You will just have to wait until it goes online. As their conversation concluded they were talking about a trip that Jim needs to make to a new ranch in South Texas that Mr. Cannon recently purchased. I wish that I could go to South Texas every week just to piddle around. I would be going on this adventure but I have a cook out that one of my professors at school is having as an end of the year bash for his honors class. If you knew the teacher you would know that it is more of a "We’re here for the free food!" than a bash. So I am in quite the pickle now. I have talked to a few students and/or grad students (Blake Bloomberg) who said that I do not need to go, but I am not sure. It would be a 6 hour trip and a tank of gas for hot dogs and hamburgers when I could be getting piping hot plates of chalupas and tortillas the size of Blake's ego. Ha. So I will be blogging in the future with how everything turns out.

To Be Continued...

I have noticed that in the past two posts our favorite restaurant Larry's has not been mentioned. Initially I just wanted to say that I LOVE LARRY'S! Anyway another one of the simple pleasures in life is when I come down to Boling to visit Catherine, and yes this blog will revolve around food. The whole gang of us were on NutriSystem religiously up until not long ago. For me it was traveling with the TAMU Judging Team that started my abandonment. It just was not possible to only eat diet food on these trips. Well everyone always jokes that Catherine's dad and I also team together and go eat wherever we want. While this is not always the case today it is. As we were sitting around the firepit last night eating prime rib (we are high class) Mr. Jim and I discussed our morning plans. Simply it was Jim- "Hey Luke, do you want me to call you in the morning?" Luke - "Sure!" What this is really code for is "Hey do you want to sneak off from the girls and go get some good food?"

So we are about to go to our local eating joint called Muhammeds. I see the grand master mobile right now coming for me so when I get back I will give more details.

I need a clone

yep - i want a clone - of myself - only better

• LW#1 clone would be able to work 24 hours a day - never get tired - never make a mistake - and have excellent math skills. LW#1 would be able to do Dreamweaver and Go live.
• She would be 25 lbs lighter and have less wrinkles. LW#1 would be able to eat chips and salsa every meal and not gain weight.
• Having a clone would allow LW to attend Astros games, and Aggie games without any problems. LW#1 would be responsible for LW's work - therefore freeing up LW to do whatever she wants.
• LW likes her itunes too and sings at the top of her voice all day when working at the V8 office (nobody is around to hear me) ..... LW#1 would have a great voice.

I'm sure most of you wish for something. Really, all in all, being able to multi - task between RHD and V8 has been great. I love working with RHD. One of my tasks is quality control. I double check website updates for mistakes - typos - broken links, etc. I'm the one who finds mistakes - and tells the updaters. Sometime I feel badly about turning in corrections - but - it's what is best for RHD clients. Proof reading is a goofy thing - you can look at something several times and not catch mistakes.....then boom - the error jumps off the page.

Gotta run....the NFL college draft is on....I gotta watch for the Aggies who get drafted.
Enjoy the weekend.

TGIF

As we wind up the week, I'm back on my feet little by little and looking forward to the weekend! Catherine has gone up to College Station and so I'm kind of chilling out by myself.

We're really excited to announce that we have a new cousin! And she's a girl! And going to be a Brahman breeder! Congratulations to our cousins John Coleman and Salina Locke on their new baby girl. We went to see Salina and baby at the hospital this morning. Daddy (John) was back on the ranch (J.D. Hudgins Ranch) by the time we got to the hospital! Congratulations also to the proud grandparents Coleman and Regina Locke! And to the proud aunts Liz, Laura and Gayle. I'm sure all the Brahman people will get to meet her at the World Brahman Congress coming up next month.

Speaking of the Congress, I was wishing our summer 2007 intern was back at the office today (Tyler Hahn) while I was wrapping up the year-long project of the Brahman Brands of Distinction. Last year Tyler handled all the preliminary brand designs and thankfully got most of them done. Tricia picked up on that project a few months ago and has finalized all the brands as of this week. I had the "honor" of being the fundraising and organizational chairman of this project for the World Brahman Congress. We commissioned Cindy Brown to paint a commemorative painting of Brahman cattle for the poster, which will also include 100 "Brands of Distinction" of Brahman breeders around the world. The project raised over $25,000 for the Congress and the new poster will be unveiled there at the event.

I was really excited today because I got a "sneak peak" at the May 2008 National Livestock Exhibitor magazine when Laura Stewart sent in their magazine to be posted on their web site. Sorry, you'll have to wait a few days to see it! But there were lots of cool ads in there, which we'll probably discuss in a later blog.

Just a reminder to check our upcoming deadlines and let us know if we can help you with any projects. We're offering a special discount to those who get us their material for August ads in early so check the front page of the web site for info!

Reporting LIVE from College Station...

I thought that I should blog an update on the updates crew. Lacey, Kacey and I all felt a sense of relief today as we got all of the updates caught up. It may seem minuscule but when the inbox is empty we all do a little dance around our desk and let out a big WOO HOO!!! We have really enjoyed looking at the calves that our clients are sending in for us to add to their web site. If you look at some of our updates you will notice that we get to be a little creative and add a small graphic on the sales page about upcoming sales. Mostly the client requests that something be added to call attention to their update, but please do not be shy, we all enjoy a break from the normal and if you would like to add a little something to your site just ask us.

Although working for RHD is our true love, we also have to attend classes at Texas A&M University when Rachel and Catherine let us have a break. Lacey, Kacey and I are all trying to find the motivation to study for finals as they are only a week away! So please for the next week hold off on updates, just kidding. We also owe a special Thank You to Jessica in the Wharton office as she also helps us out with updates when she can.

As for me I am glad that normal classes are finally over and summer is just around the corner. I have a lot on my plate for summer and this next week preparing for the break. As soon as school lets out Catherine and I are heading to VEGAS BABY! I have always wanted to go and Catherine will be a repeat visitor. After that I will be back in the show ring again. This time however, there will not be a nice gentle Angus at the other end of the halter rather a temperamental, accident prone, weird mooing Brahman at the World Brahman Congress (what a debut). It has been quite an adjustment working closely with the Brahman cattle around the V8 Ranch but I think that I am finally getting the hang of it. Once school is out I will be working with Brette Muegge at the show barn trying to get walk-and-scratch method of showing down. I believe that the walk-and-show method was actually invented by Rachel in her junior showing days.

After the Brahman Congress is over I will be heading to Canada. As part of being High Individual at the National Western Stock Show Judging Contest in Denver, I will be traveling around Canada judging about 10 different shows including the Canadian National Jr. Simmental Show. I am really excited about seeing the cattle, meeting the people, and seeing how the Mexican food in Canada rates to Larry's.

Well now that I have rambled on for a while I am going to try to get some laundry done. If anyone around College Station would like to trade some rush updates for some loads of laundry I would be happy to negotiate.

From the web corner of RHD

I love putting up new web sites. We've got a lot of web sites in production now and several of them are close to being ready to go online to their final home. I just checked on my list and there are so many cool sites that I can't wait to get posted online and show everyone!

For any of our local (Wharton) area readers... we're working on a really cool site for the Bright Minds Scholarship Fund. This neat organization is headed up by several community leaders in the Wharton area. We're happy to be involved with the good work that is being done by the Bright Minds group and I hope to have their web site up soon for all of you to look at! Don't get me wrong — livestock sites are our bread and butter (which just made me think of — for any of you pig people who are reading this — the ad we designed last fall for Mills Brothers... Poland Chinas are their bread and butter!) but it is a nice break to get to do some non-agriculture designs. We've got quite a few non-ag sites and designs on our list, so be sure to watch for these.

More updates on Rach's injury. Today we went to lunch at (where else?) Larry's. I am happy to report that Rachel is walking with no crutches. I use the term "walking" quite loosely. She is kinda hobbling around. When she walks her arms naturally raise up (for balance, we think.) I told her today that when she walks she flaps her arms like a spooked bird. I mean that in the most loving way possible! Who cares how she looks walking though — we are pumped that she is back on her foot... or feet... whatever.

Rach said one of the things she missed most about being out of the RHD office for the better half of a month was iTunes. We listen to our music in the office every single day. Usually about half the day we listen to my music and the other half we listen to Rach's. One thing we both agree on of recent music is the new George Strait CD. We have listened to it on repeat for several afternoons and it doesn't ever seem to get old. Tricia is a big George Strait fan and reported that she went and saw him in concert several times before he was famous. Such a groupie!

Have a good Friday and a fun weekend!

Surfing other sites...

Well, when you are spending extended amounts of time on a couch, you find a lot of places to surf around on the Internet. I have tons of friends who are addicted to checking Showsteers.com multiple times daily, but up until now I've never really been one who was a repeat visitor. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE showsteers and I LOVE Becky but I just never really had the time to surf the Internet much before. So, I have to admit....I can see how people can really get into it. I find myself wanting to check it nightly, see who's got updated sites (other than the ones we've updated ourselves) and then discuss all the new photos, calves and updates with my friends on the phone.

Speaking of some cool recent updates....Has everyone seen the smokin' hot Monopoly calf that is on Matt Lautner's web site? Awesome. If you haven't seen it be sure to check Matt's site out.

Then what about the text message buzz on Habeger's site? What do people think about that? I think it's pretty cool too, and definitely something different. I'm pretty sure that's the first ad that deals with a text message. Wonder how many people will copy that now.

Granted I realize we did all these updates but still I think they are cool.

Another first for me today - I ventured into the online posting on SteerPlanet.com. I have some friends who really like this site better than some other message boards so I tried it out. I love this format and I love the fact that there is some type of accountability on here. So my topic I posted under was "Dream Matings" which suprisingly, no one posted me x Brad Pitt. Anyway, I did make a post and stated that my dream mating was Heat Wave x my sister's CF Myrtle Bo cow. My perfect mix of club calf and Shorthorns. I think Cat might go for it, and honestly I think John might go for it. Phil would like it. BUT.....convincing Jim would be a whole different story! But can't you picture those cute blue roans???

Nachos....

Well, today is Monday and marks the official start of my 4th week working from my home (a.k.a. "The Bunkhouse") on the ranch. I have been managing to go in to our actual office a few hours in the morning, followed by our typical lunch at our favorite restaurant in Wharton....Larry's Mexican Restaurant. We love this place. You know the expressions that bad company corrupts good morals, well you might call our friend Brad Gonce "bad company." Some of us from RHD eat at Larry's nearly every day, and we're so good about ordering one simple chicken fajita taco and snacking on some chips and salsa -- which is totally within the constraints of our new-found diet. (BTW, our family has lost over 100 pounds total so it's definitely working).

Anyway---- so back to the Mexican food. So last Thursday, the ultimate Brahman fitter Brad joined our group and we all ordered our tacos....and Brad ordered the ultimate Beef Fajita Nachos. Complete with chips, goo-ey queso and beef fajitas. When his plate came out, every person at the table was eye-ing his dish. So today, back to Larry's again, when Catherine announces that she wishes she could eat a Beef Fajita Nachos. I quickly agreed that I wanted that too. Then Luke chimes in with his preference. So all three of us decide that just this once -- we'll order the Beef Fajita Tacos.

Probably the person who was most delighted with this "pact" was Luann, who joined us at Larry's but wasn't in on the original discussions. So when we sit down and let her in on this revelation -- she admits she's been craving some nachos too.

Our friend the waitress was stunned when we gave our orders, because we're such regulars that we usually don't even have to tell her, she automatically knows we want our tacos. When the plates came out, we couldn't wait. We quickly dove in to our nachos but wait...something wasn't right! The cheese wasn't our normal queso and it just wasn't the same as our tried and true chicken fajita tacos. We were DEVASTATED!!! So, tomorrow it's back to the fajita tacos....you can't go wrong there.

What's new at RHD today? Well today Catherine and Tricia put up 2 new web sites, Texas Junior Shorthorn Association and East Bernard Chamber of Commerce. Tricia was really excited about the EB Chamber since that is her hometown. Luke was at the office today in Wharton and worked on a new ad for Double A Ranch (Danny and Jana Acevedo). I was working from home partially and I worked on an ad for a new Duff sire, Free Advice, who was the high selling A+ Bull in their sale this year. I also worked on a display banner for Langemeier Club Lambs in Nebraska, who are new clients of RHD. And, Ashlei was wrapping up a VERY cool ad that she was working on for Mike Clay. Be sure to look for this ad in the Purple Circle this month and be watching for his new web site coming soon too.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Progress

This past week has been a good week here at the RHD office. Tricia and I have been steadily working through the list of over 40 web sites that we have "in progress" here at RHD. Being busy is a good thing though... it's a complement to our work when we have so many people "itching" to get a web site done by us.

Tricia has been working on Classic Leather Designs' new website for about a month and a half now, and today the final site was published online. We are so glad to be able to provide Sandy Meyer with this new look to promote the excellent and unique work that she is doing at Classic Leather. Check it out at www.classicleatherdesigns.com and admire some of our (and Sandy's!)most recent handiwork.

More progress has been made here at RHD by our fearless leader, Rachel. All of us in the office got a pleasant surprise when Rachel made the journey up our stairs and came into the office for a few hours today. It was great to have her back here with us. I swear everyone's creative energy was flowing much better when she was here! We are all ready for the walking cast so that Rachel can hop on up the stairs sans-crutches. Rachel and I then went to our favorite Mexican food place, Larry's Mexican Restaurant, and had great food and better conversation. I would like to say that I made some progress on resisting chips and salsa... but unfortunately, I did not.

Enjoy the weekend!

collecting stickers

i'm not sure who reads this blog so for what it's worth...here's my 2cents

after a devastating tax day, Jim and I have driven to Jim Wells County - deep south Texas for a couple of days rest and business. We are staying in the trailer and outside my window is mesquite mots, cactus (dead and alive) and dirt....and stickers. Any walking outside results in stickers on your pants. Sam is suffering the most. He needs cowboy boots if this becomes a regular thing. We are 20 miles from Kingsville's flour tortillas and 20 miles from Falfurias hot Mexican plate and salsa. We ate the Kingsville tortillas last night and they were so big they hung over the plate. Which is exactly what will happen if I continue to eat flour tortillas - my gut will be hung over my jeans.

Jim busted out early to drive the 3000 acres - he saw deer, snakes, buffalo, etc. When he came back to the trailer mid morning - he came in - with his 'hunting whisper voice" wanting me to look outside - there were 3 buffalo grazing right by the trailer. I didn't even know it.

It's very very dry here. Not much pasture grass available. They need rain badly - but again - this is part of the Wild Horse Desert. There is no city noise here. Nothing but nature - birds and the sound of the wind blowing through the mesquite trees.

This place is surrounded by a deer proof fence - so we will be able to see alot of deer this afternoon. The bucks have already shed their horns.

OK- that's my 2cents. what say you?

Working from home...

For our first blog post, I'd like to start by thanking everyone for their care and concern over the past week. I had my surgery on Friday and am recovering nicely so far thanks to the help of my family, especially Catherine, Luann and Luke.

One great thing about today's technology is that I've been able to keep up with all my normal work thanks to the great power of a LAPTOP and a Verizon Internet card! It's nice being able to stay at home but trust me, I'd much rather be in the office! But until I can master that staircase to get to my office, I'll be couching it.

With most of our sire promotion work started, we're kind of switching gears now at RHD and starting to focus on spring pasture sales. I've been working on an ad for Wes Keller for his pasture sale and we've got several other lined up to design this week.

If you've gotten your April magazines, I'd love to hear which ads everyone liked the best. Feel free to leave your comments here of what you like and what you didn't.