Walking the Fence Line
Fixing fence is the one of the hardest jobs on a ranch. I no longer live on a ranch, but I do know what hard work is. Fences are everyone's concern, but nowadays,the "hole" is always your neighbor's side not your own. It used to be that you would respect your neighbor and mend the fence together. If their cows got in your field, a simple phone call resolved the problem. You might even saddle up your own horse and help them gather them up. We need more people who are willing to roll their sleeves up and fix the fence regardless of who your neighbor is.
There are people in this country who need to be reminded that a fence is like the way you should conduct your life. Your posts should be straight and neat. The wire needs to be stretched tight and your gate might be closed, but can still be easily opened. And most of all, we can all saddle
up together and ride the range, it won't matter if you have an Appaloosa, Quarter Horse or Thoroughbred. The cows still have to be gathered, fences have to be fixed, and the range is a wide open space of opportunity for us all.
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Potluck Sunday
Posted Sunday, April 1, 2018, at 9:00 AMIt is a very cold morning here in Missouri and Spring keeps teasing us with a promise of flowers, budding trees and intermittent sunshine. However, I am feeling blessed beyond measure as I sit in my living room drinking my coffee. It is Easter Sunday and April Fools day together again and I can tell you exactly what transpired on this day twenty-eight years ago. ... -
Five Christmas Gifts
Posted Monday, December 25, 2017, at 1:46 PMTraditions are wonderful ways to make memories with young children. This year was a little different because we had to bump up our shopping and Christmas party with our five grandchildren. Last year, I had the luxury of time to split up the kids with a separate shopping trip and individual grandma time... -
Gone to Texas-The American Spirit Takes on Harvey
Posted Saturday, September 2, 2017, at 9:30 PMThousands of individuals answered the call for help. They hooked up their boats and loaded up their horses and they headed for Texas. Everyone who has been watching the news and social media have witnessed this unique brand of courage and determination. On the Federal, State and Local levels, elected officials gained my respect by allowing those individuals to pitch in and help with the rescue efforts... -
Alum Time
Posted Friday, August 11, 2017, at 8:25 PMI used to get canker sores in my mouth often while growing up. My parent's cure for canker sores was a dose of Alum in my mouth. Alum is very bitter and immediately dries up your mouth. I can tell you that I would wait a very long time before I complained about a canker sore because the cure was almost as bad as the sore in your mouth!... -
There is Always Room For One More
Posted Monday, March 6, 2017, at 9:45 PMOur home has been filled with the happy noise of children. Five grandchildren! Five different blessings! Over the years, we have watched them grow into some rather interesting individuals. KaeLynn Grace arrived in 2006. She has grown into a tall graceful young lady. She is great company and fun to do things with. We have spent many hours visiting flea markets and thrift stores. It will be a very sad day for me when she outgrows her grandma... -
Free Range Pigs
Posted Monday, August 15, 2016, at 2:29 PMHomesteading is becoming a popular trend for those who want to get away from the trials and tribulations of the world. In theory, it should work. All you need is some land, a shelter and a few animals right? Actually on the top of that list should be common sense and careful planning. Take the time to ask yourself some pretty serious questions before you abandon all civilization to live off of the land... -
Useless Band-Aids
Posted Wednesday, July 13, 2016, at 3:42 PM2My heart breaks for the families who have found themselves in the crossfire of a world gone mad. We have witnessed terrible events these past few months. Families who have been shattered as individuals with murderous hearts have killed their loved ones without mercy and with complete brutality... -
Sorting Cows
Posted Saturday, December 5, 2015, at 10:27 AM2The past few days has created more open wounds in our country than ever before. And even more heartbreak and fear than anyone should ever feel. As I hear the conversations swirl about through the media; by the political talking heads and various religious groups and communities, I begin to think that we are asking the wrong questions on how to keep the right cows in the pen and to sort out the rest that will be relocated to different pastures or off to the sale barn... -
Giving Thanks
Posted Wednesday, November 18, 2015, at 2:47 PM2I don't think that there was ever a better person who personified the act of being thankful than Corrie ten Boom. Corrie and her family lived in the Netherlands and were active in the Dutch Underground hiding refugees. They opened their home to both Jews and members of the resistance movement being sought by the Gestapo and its Dutch counterpart during World War II... -
Changing My Heart
Posted Wednesday, September 2, 2015, at 12:31 PM3When I started this blog a few years ago, it was to honor my dad and to express my grief in a positive way. I discovered on my journey new insights to my own self. Our Dad didn't use the word accountability but he taught us life lessons in many different ways. We learned to treat a horse like we would want to be treated and that hard work wouldn't kill us... -
The Little Things
Posted Thursday, June 18, 2015, at 9:34 PM3On the 14th of May; I was minding my own business and waiting for the traffic light to change when an SUV attempted a left hand turn at the intersection and lost control of his vehicle. All I can say is that it is just like the movies. I heard the squeal of tires and watched helplessly as the back quarter panel of a Chevy Tahoe began moving toward my little economy car. The impact was both deafening and painful... -
Moms
Posted Saturday, May 9, 2015, at 9:32 PM5This year has been very difficult for some of my friends and their families. It will be the first year without their mothers and they will be a little sad. My oldest friend Glenna has recently lost her own mother. I hurt for her because I know that holidays are particularly difficult that first year... -
Thanksgiving Turkeys
Posted Thursday, November 20, 2014, at 10:27 PM4I didn't have to cook a Thanksgiving Turkey until I was well into my twenties. I am a fairly accomplished cook, but turkey can be a challenge. Everyone seems to have an opinion on temperature, length of time for cooking and to stuff or not to stuff... -
Honor A Vet
Posted Sunday, November 9, 2014, at 12:30 PM24George Washington once said this," The Willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their Nation." November 10, 1781... -
Poor Old Michael Finnegan.
Posted Monday, October 13, 2014, at 11:06 PM3I am beginning to feel like Poor Old Michael Finnegan. I have had to begin again more times than I care to count on this blog. Well, no one has broken my fingers, but my personal discipline had gone out the window. And I am struggling to find a positive perspective to the world events... -
And Then There's Maud
Posted Tuesday, September 23, 2014, at 10:47 AM2This is not about the TV Show, but a quirky piece of office equipment that our company had years ago. Maud was a copy machine that could produce an astronomical number of copies per minute. Unfortunately, Maud would go off the rails occasionally and produce skewed versions of the original or take a notion to break down just when you were needing her the most... -
One Load at a Time
Posted Wednesday, September 10, 2014, at 3:36 PM7On television, they used to portray the Maytag Repairman as a lonely soul. Supposedly, the Maytag Company made their product so well, that the repairman spent his days waiting for the phone to ring. I think that the way that we approach our laundry chores can sometimes parallel just how good or bad our lives are going... -
Horse Tails, Spurs and Curry Combs-Oh My!
Posted Wednesday, August 20, 2014, at 8:49 AM4Fair Time brings back some memories of being in 4H or participating in parades. Our dad had high standards for both his horses and his kids. Not necessarily in that order. Dad was a good teacher and I am sure that I challenged his patience on more than one occasion... -
Two Lane Highways
Posted Friday, July 18, 2014, at 9:46 PM3Road Trips can be a lot of fun. Especially, if you don't have any particular time-table or destination in mind. David and I took such a trip on the 4th of July. Our journey began in Saint Joseph, Missouri; where Jesse James had a few run-ins with the law, and if I remember correctly was fatally shot by that the dirty little coward, named Mister Howard... -
Stars or Stripes?
Posted Thursday, June 26, 2014, at 9:26 PM13Does anyone remember the Texaco Service Man Commercial growing up where he is stripped of his service stripes because he didn't perform up to Texaco's high standards? I am sure that dates me a little bit. Lately, there is some confusion in America about who is a star and who deserves to have their stripes removed...
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