WHEN O’BRIAN SACKED HIS SADDLE I saw Three Fingers Bob at the post office and got caught up on what’s happening to all the old timers in the area. Bob was born a mile or two down the road about 85 years ago. He keeps me up on the latest news of the older set. […]
OLD WEST COWBOY SAINTS Thousands of heads of cattle roaming through unfenced ranges in the Old West presented a powerful temptation. To some, the scene looked as profitable as bags of money lying around in the street. Besides, the actual cattle owners were often eastern bankers or foreign investors who surely wouldn’t miss a couple […]
A Cowboy’s Happy Trail Tips For Life & Leadership “Happy trails to you,” sang Roy Rogers and Dale Evans in the 1940s and 50s. If it’s true we’re all on a trail, we need a guide–to be reminded where we’re headed and to reach our destination. When we get there, we want to be pleased […]
A WESTERN TRAIL GUIDE FOR LIFE & LEADERSHIP If you’re on a spiritual trail of learning leadership, you’ll need a trail guide of some sort. You’ll need to be reminded where you’re headed, your final destination. When you get there, you’ll want to be pleased with your travel along the way. End of the Trail […]
Over The Willows Warning Well, it was getting to be springtime up in the mountains and most of the cricks and streams ran over the willows. Not that we have many willows up in the forest. But it’s just an Old West term that warns of high water. If a trail boss rode back to […]
WHAT KIND OF AN OUTFIT YOU RUNNING? A tall, lanky, slightly bowlegged cowboy stopped by to visit our church. After the service he introduced himself as being new to the community. “I jist thought I’d mosey up here and see what kind of an outfit you were running,” he explained. I’d never heard of a […]
The Lowly Nighthawk Security You know, some names just have a good ring to them. They sound impressive. Take the term nighthawk, for instance. Why, that sounds like a sleek, fast, ferocious sportscar or motorcycle or high tech surveillance equipment with infrared scope. But on the cattle drives in the Old West, the nighthawk security […]
DON’T TAKE MY NIGHT HORSE I suppose some good night horses remain around. But frankly, I don’t know of anyone who needs one. Few men in our country have to work horseback at night, in places with no artificial light. In the old days on the cattle drives, every man had a night horse. This […]
ON THE TRAIL NIGHT GUARD DUTY On old-time cattle drives, every cowhand except the horse wrangler and cook had to take turns riding night guard. Once the cattle settled in for the night and all sat down, it only took two men to watch over them. These two rode in opposite directions, circling the herd. […]
Foxfire Sunrises & Storms Outdoors you see a whole lot more of the splendors of God’s creation than if you spend most your time inside buildings. One ten degree fahrenheit morning I ran around a frozen lake about daybreak. The sunrise started out a deep purple and orange. As those colors mellowed, bright pink clouds […]
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