DOING THE TWO FOOT DANCE Every year there’s a bucking horse sale out in Miles City, Montana. It’s quite an event with rodeo, sale, and plenty of celebrations. A stock contractor friend of mine often goes out to watch for good horses to buy for his rodeo string. Last time I saw him I […]
Archive | All Things Western
On The Trail Grubstake & Audio Podcast
CAN YOU GRUBSTAKE ME? Ward Ferguson knows about grubstakes. He teaches school and gets whole summers off to do what he wants. He often spent that time painting houses to supplement the income as well as to keep busy. But a few summers back he headed to the higher elevations for a little gold digging. […]
Gone to Texas Western Slang & Audio Podcast
THAT OLE BOY HAS ‘GONE TO TEXAS’ A fella who owns a gas station and mini-mart down the road has an interesting habit. Every time a customer’s check bounces, and he can’t find the person who signed it, he posts the check on his bulletin board and writes across it with a red Sharpie: “Gone to […]
Gold Fever by Stephen Bly & Audio Podcast
GOLD FEVER EVERYWHERE I lived in the little town of Winchester, Idaho, population about 350, and found a surprise one day. Down at the meat market I discovered people standing six deep at the cash register. I suspected a bit of gold fever happening. You see, the meat market sold lottery tickets and the jackpot […]
Don’t Gimlet Your Horse & Audio Podcast
And Don’t Gimlet Your Faith In the Old West, one way you could measure the work and skill of a cowboy–watch how he took care of his horse. In those days, a horse provided your job, your travel home, and your net worth. And your escape route. Also, many times a horse could be your […]
Authentic Antique Old West Research & Podcast
A PASSION FOR THE AUTHENTIC ANTIQUE Being a writer of western novels, I’ve had a particular interest in authentic antique guns of the Old West. I try to make sure my readers know the difference between a Henry, a Winchester ’66, a Winchester ’73, and a Sharps. I try to make sure I get the […]
Florence, Idaho Ghost Town
Got a Ghost Town Near You? A couple hours from where I lived, there once existed one of our state’s most booming frontier towns. Florence, Idaho ghost town was settled in 1861 with the discovery of placer mines on the southwest side of the Salmon River canyon. By 1862, ten thousand people reached the settlement. […]
Time to Get Your Hog Back
Prairie Bob Trucking His Hog Back I sat with an insurance salesman at the local coffee shop when Prairie Bob came in, covered from hat to boot in oil and grease. “Ain’t got time to eat dinner,” Prairie Bob reported. “I bought that truck on Saturday and didn’t even make it home. Nossir, I ain’t […]
He’s Such a Big Galoot with Audio Podcast
A Big Galoot Here, A Little Galoot There I stared at a picture of my two oldest boys the other day. What big galoots. And it seems to me there’s one trend in our modern society that’s dangerously alarming. Yet, no one seems concerned about it. That is, every generation gets taller and bigger than […]
First Prize: Full Stamped Saddle & Podcast
FULL STAMPED SADDLE PRIZE Reed Phillips from Canyon City, Colorado sent me a charity raffle ticket for a drawing they’re having. Now it seems like a worthy cause and to tell you truth, it’s one time I wouldn’t mind winning. First prize is a genuine, handcrafted, silver mounted, full stamped, cowboy trophy saddle. HANDCRAFTED SADDLE […]
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