Julie Lence's Blog, page 5
January 6, 2021
Welcome to a new year at Cowboy Kisses
Greetings Cowboy Kisses readers!
Despite all the rules and social distancing Covid has brought to our lives, I hope everyone had a wonderful 2020 holiday season. For me, the holidays weren’t much different than past holidays. It’s usually hubby, kiddo, and me since most of our family reside in New York, unless you count the real Christmas tree. We haven’t had a real tree in 30 years because I hate the mess from the needles, but hubby and kiddo wanted one so I gave in. (I really had little choice since Fed Ex delivered a tree stand from Amazon, lol.) But now that the celebrations are behind us and the decorations are put away, I’m ready to dive back in to writing, and part of that includes Cowboy Kisses.
In 2020, Cowboy Kisses said goodbye to some authors and welcomed others. Currently, we have tremendous talent on this blog and I urge you to get to know our team better by checking out their author pages.
In other news, if you haven’t already, I invite you to join our Facebook group. Membership there grows almost weekly, and everyone enjoys the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday prompts for all members to participate. Our Facebook link is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Cowbo...
We’re also on Twitter and you can catch our tweets here: https://twitter.com/CowboyKisses1
The Cowboy Kisses authors will continue with Excerpt Sunday, which is also located on our Facebook page. We will also host our annual round-up this fall. Last year we held the round up on our Facebook page and it was a success. Unlike the previous year, guests were able to comment without encountering Facebook issues, so we will again hold this year’s party on the group page. And last, but certainly the best, the Cowboy Kisses blog passed over 1,000,000 hits in 2020 since it’s conception. That is a thrilling milestone and one we certainly couldn’t have reached without you, our loyal readers. The Cowboy Kisses authors and myself Thank You for your support and your loyalty, and we look forward to sharing another year with you.
Hugs,
Julie
Despite all the rules and social distancing Covid has brought to our lives, I hope everyone had a wonderful 2020 holiday season. For me, the holidays weren’t much different than past holidays. It’s usually hubby, kiddo, and me since most of our family reside in New York, unless you count the real Christmas tree. We haven’t had a real tree in 30 years because I hate the mess from the needles, but hubby and kiddo wanted one so I gave in. (I really had little choice since Fed Ex delivered a tree stand from Amazon, lol.) But now that the celebrations are behind us and the decorations are put away, I’m ready to dive back in to writing, and part of that includes Cowboy Kisses.
In 2020, Cowboy Kisses said goodbye to some authors and welcomed others. Currently, we have tremendous talent on this blog and I urge you to get to know our team better by checking out their author pages.
In other news, if you haven’t already, I invite you to join our Facebook group. Membership there grows almost weekly, and everyone enjoys the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday prompts for all members to participate. Our Facebook link is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Cowbo...
We’re also on Twitter and you can catch our tweets here: https://twitter.com/CowboyKisses1
The Cowboy Kisses authors will continue with Excerpt Sunday, which is also located on our Facebook page. We will also host our annual round-up this fall. Last year we held the round up on our Facebook page and it was a success. Unlike the previous year, guests were able to comment without encountering Facebook issues, so we will again hold this year’s party on the group page. And last, but certainly the best, the Cowboy Kisses blog passed over 1,000,000 hits in 2020 since it’s conception. That is a thrilling milestone and one we certainly couldn’t have reached without you, our loyal readers. The Cowboy Kisses authors and myself Thank You for your support and your loyalty, and we look forward to sharing another year with you.
Hugs,
Julie
December 2, 2020
History of the Candy Cane
Today’s red & white stripped candy dates back to 17th century Europe when pulled sugar was popular. Most historians agree the treat came about when a German choirmaster gave his singers sugar sticks to keep them quiet during the Living Creche ceremony. Some suggest he was the one who crooked the top of the stick to resemble the shepherd’s cane. Others believe the crook was added (also in Germany) to hang the sticks on trees alongside fruits and other treats.
The original sugar stick was white and debuted in the United States in 1847 in Wooster, Ohio. German-Swedish immigrant, August Imgard decorated a blue spruce with paper ornaments and the crooked sugar sticks. From there, the candy cane appeared on Christmas cards in the early 1900’s, with the red stripes and peppermint flavor added around the same time.
Atlanta’s Bob McCormick is credited in the 1920’s as being the first to give candy canes as special treats to his family and friends. The treats were made by hand and labor intensive until the when Gregory Keller (Bob’s brother-in-law) built a machine to mass produce candy canes. Greg’s company, Bob’s Candies, has been producing and distributing candy canes worldwide for over 80 years.
Many believe the red and white striped candy cane has a religious meaning. The red stripes represent the blood of Jesus and the white stripes represents the purity of Jesus. It is believed the 3 fine stripes are the Holy Trinity, while the J shape of the cane represents the name Jesus. The hardness of the candy represents the foundation of the church and peppermint flavor is believed to stem from the herb hyssop, which symbolizes the purity of Jesus in the Old Testament.
Today, over 1 billion candy canes are produced in the United States. They come in different sizes and flavors, but red & white remains the most popular. Personally, I’m not one for the taste of peppermint, but I think they’re pretty and hang them on my tree.
The original sugar stick was white and debuted in the United States in 1847 in Wooster, Ohio. German-Swedish immigrant, August Imgard decorated a blue spruce with paper ornaments and the crooked sugar sticks. From there, the candy cane appeared on Christmas cards in the early 1900’s, with the red stripes and peppermint flavor added around the same time.
Atlanta’s Bob McCormick is credited in the 1920’s as being the first to give candy canes as special treats to his family and friends. The treats were made by hand and labor intensive until the when Gregory Keller (Bob’s brother-in-law) built a machine to mass produce candy canes. Greg’s company, Bob’s Candies, has been producing and distributing candy canes worldwide for over 80 years.
Many believe the red and white striped candy cane has a religious meaning. The red stripes represent the blood of Jesus and the white stripes represents the purity of Jesus. It is believed the 3 fine stripes are the Holy Trinity, while the J shape of the cane represents the name Jesus. The hardness of the candy represents the foundation of the church and peppermint flavor is believed to stem from the herb hyssop, which symbolizes the purity of Jesus in the Old Testament.
Today, over 1 billion candy canes are produced in the United States. They come in different sizes and flavors, but red & white remains the most popular. Personally, I’m not one for the taste of peppermint, but I think they’re pretty and hang them on my tree.
November 4, 2020
Sarah Josepha Hale and the Thanksgiving Holiday
Sarah Josepha Buell was born October 24, 1788 in Newport, New Hampshire to parents who believed in education for males and females. Her growing up years she received an extensive education and married lawyer, David Hale. The couple had 5 children, but sadly, David died during their 9th year of marriage, leaving Sarah to raise their children. To earn an income, Sarah began writing poetry, and penned the famous, Mary Had a Little Lamb. She teamed with Reverend John Laurie Blake and helped establish American Ladies Magazine, taking on the position of editor. She moved to Boston and remained there until 1837, often using the magazine to promote women’s issues such as education, child rearing, and reinforcing a woman’s domestic role. She didn’t support the suffragist movement or women entering politics because she believed both would limit a woman’s influence in the home, that women shaped the morals of society and encouraged them to write morally uplifting novels.
Louis A. Godey bought out America Ladies Magazine in 1837 and changed the name to Godey’s Ladies Book. He offered Sarah the editor position. She accepted and moved to Philadelphia, where she remained editor for 40 years. During that time, she championed civil rights, secured funds to preserve George Washington’s home and to construct the Bunker Hill Monument, both of which are still open today, and helped found Vassar College for women.
Throughout her childhood, Sarah celebrated Thanksgiving. She published Northwood: A Tale of New England in 1827, which included a chapter on the Thanksgiving celebration. Many areas in the northeast part of the country celebrated Thanksgiving, but at the time she was editor for Godey’s, Thanksgiving was not a federal holiday. Hoping to rectify that, she began lobbying state and federal officials to pass legislation to make Thanksgiving a national holiday, going so far as to set the holiday on the last Thursday in November. Her requests were mostly ignored, nor was she the first to suggest such a day of thanks. George Washington called for a national day of thanks after the Revolutionary war, and both John Adams and James Madison issued their own proclamations. Nothing was ever done until the Civil War.
Confederate president, Jefferson Davis, issued Thanksgiving Day proclamations in 1861 and 1862. Abraham Lincoln called for a day of thanks in April 1862 and the summer of 1863s, and Sarah continued to lobby for a national holiday by sending letters in September to Lincoln and William Seward, who was Secretary of State. She firmly believed a national holiday might ease the tensions between the north and the south and finally realized her hard efforts when, one week after receiving her letter, Seward drafted Lincoln’s official proclamation making the last Thursday in November an official day of Thanksgiving.
A true pioneer for women, Sarah retired from Godey’s 1877. She died two years later in her Philadelphia home at the age of 92. She’s buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery and a blue historical marker resides at her home on Spruce Street.
Louis A. Godey bought out America Ladies Magazine in 1837 and changed the name to Godey’s Ladies Book. He offered Sarah the editor position. She accepted and moved to Philadelphia, where she remained editor for 40 years. During that time, she championed civil rights, secured funds to preserve George Washington’s home and to construct the Bunker Hill Monument, both of which are still open today, and helped found Vassar College for women.
Throughout her childhood, Sarah celebrated Thanksgiving. She published Northwood: A Tale of New England in 1827, which included a chapter on the Thanksgiving celebration. Many areas in the northeast part of the country celebrated Thanksgiving, but at the time she was editor for Godey’s, Thanksgiving was not a federal holiday. Hoping to rectify that, she began lobbying state and federal officials to pass legislation to make Thanksgiving a national holiday, going so far as to set the holiday on the last Thursday in November. Her requests were mostly ignored, nor was she the first to suggest such a day of thanks. George Washington called for a national day of thanks after the Revolutionary war, and both John Adams and James Madison issued their own proclamations. Nothing was ever done until the Civil War.
Confederate president, Jefferson Davis, issued Thanksgiving Day proclamations in 1861 and 1862. Abraham Lincoln called for a day of thanks in April 1862 and the summer of 1863s, and Sarah continued to lobby for a national holiday by sending letters in September to Lincoln and William Seward, who was Secretary of State. She firmly believed a national holiday might ease the tensions between the north and the south and finally realized her hard efforts when, one week after receiving her letter, Seward drafted Lincoln’s official proclamation making the last Thursday in November an official day of Thanksgiving.
A true pioneer for women, Sarah retired from Godey’s 1877. She died two years later in her Philadelphia home at the age of 92. She’s buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery and a blue historical marker resides at her home on Spruce Street.
October 7, 2020
Female Outlaw Pearl Hart
Pearl Hart was born in 1871 in Canada, with the birth name of Pearl Taylor. One of several children, and her parents of French descent, she was raised in a middle class home and sent to boarding school when she was 16. While at school, she met smooth talker Frank Hart, who filled her head with romantic tales of an exciting life in the wild west. In reality, he was nothing more than an abusive drunk, but Pearl fell in love with him and married him. The two left Canada and eventually landed in Chicago.
Chicago was a changing point for Pearl. She attended the 1893 World’s Fair, featuring a Women’s Pavilion. A large array of females spoke on the Women’s Suffrage topic and Pearl took to heart that she could be more than just a wife, as her upbringing taught her. She also attended a Wild West show featuring Annie Oakley. Pearl was in awe of Annie’s shooting skills, and accompanied with the what she learned at the fair, she got up the gumption and left her abusive, unable-to-hold-a-job husband. She landed in Trinidad, Colorado, but soon found out she was pregnant and went back to Canada. After giving birth, she realized the lure of the west still beckoned and lit out for the states, leaving her son with her parents.
Pearl met up with her husband again and took him back on his promise that he was a changed man and capable of holding a job. For a while he held a maintained the positions of bartender and manager at a hotel, but all too soon, he and Pearl began partying, with Pearl learning to drink and smoke and use drugs. Problems arose between them again, and Frank left shortly after she gave birth to their daughter and joined Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, stating home life wasn’t for him. Pearl traveled back to Canada again and left her second child with her parents.
She found her way to Arizona and worked the mining camps as a cook, taking up drinking and opium use and not finding the romance and excitement of the west she longed for. Rumors suggested she tried to commit suicide several times, but was always saved by the miners, one of whom she formed a partnership with. Joe Boot was from German descent and he and Pearl began working their own claim when Pearl received a letter that her mother was gravely ill and needed money for the doctor’s bills. To acquire the money, Pearl and Joe thought to rob a train but decided to rob a stagecoach instead. Pearl cut her hair, dressed in Joe’s clothes, and together, they held up a stage. They came away with over $400 and the guard’s revolver and took off on their horses. But not knowing the land, they rode for two days then made camp and fell asleep, and woke to a posse surrounding them.
In Jail, Pearl became an instant celebrity. A lady bandit was rare. Remembering everything she learned from the Women’s Suffragette talks in Chicago, she began spouting she wouldn’t be tried in a court of law under rules men made and not women. Signing autographs and posing for pictures from her cell, the press loved her, and so did civilians. Ed Hogan was so smitten with her, he helped break her out of jail. She was found and brought back, and eventually went to trail. The jury found her innocent, especially after her defense lawyer brought into play she’d never been in trouble in the past and the only reason she robbed the stage was because of her mother’s health. The judge was furious with the decision and tried her on charges of stealing the guard’s gun and unlawfully carrying of a weapon. She was found guilty and sentenced to 5 years in Yuma. Joe received a 30 year sentence to Yuma.
Pearl became an even bigger celebrity and legend while in Yuma, earning the nickname Lady Bandit. The warden liked her and gave her a larger cell, and she again posed for pictures and signed autographs. She was released after serving 18 months and moved to Kansas City. Her sister wrote a production based on Pearl’s ‘Lady Bandit’ persona of which Pearl was to star in, but it never really caught on and Pearl disappeared from the public eye. A few years later, she was arrested for purchasing a stolen can of food. After that, she disappeared again and surfaced in 1924 at the Arizona courthouse she was tried in. She remarked to the attendant that nothing had changed since her last visit. He asked who she was and she replied, Pearl Hart, the lady bandit.
Rumors have abounded as to what happened to Pearl after this. Some say she died in Kansas City after operating a cigar shop. Others hint she lived in San Francisco until her death in 1952. A third suggests she married a rancher in Arizona and died under the name Pearl Bywater in 1956. She is wrongly credited with being the last person to rob a stage. The last stagecoach robbery was in 1916 in Jarbridge, Nevada. She is also not the only woman to ever rob a stage. Jane Kirkham was killed robbing a stage between Leadville and Buena Vista, Colorado in March 1879.
Such and interesting woman, and such a hard life Pearl led.
Chicago was a changing point for Pearl. She attended the 1893 World’s Fair, featuring a Women’s Pavilion. A large array of females spoke on the Women’s Suffrage topic and Pearl took to heart that she could be more than just a wife, as her upbringing taught her. She also attended a Wild West show featuring Annie Oakley. Pearl was in awe of Annie’s shooting skills, and accompanied with the what she learned at the fair, she got up the gumption and left her abusive, unable-to-hold-a-job husband. She landed in Trinidad, Colorado, but soon found out she was pregnant and went back to Canada. After giving birth, she realized the lure of the west still beckoned and lit out for the states, leaving her son with her parents.
Pearl met up with her husband again and took him back on his promise that he was a changed man and capable of holding a job. For a while he held a maintained the positions of bartender and manager at a hotel, but all too soon, he and Pearl began partying, with Pearl learning to drink and smoke and use drugs. Problems arose between them again, and Frank left shortly after she gave birth to their daughter and joined Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, stating home life wasn’t for him. Pearl traveled back to Canada again and left her second child with her parents.
She found her way to Arizona and worked the mining camps as a cook, taking up drinking and opium use and not finding the romance and excitement of the west she longed for. Rumors suggested she tried to commit suicide several times, but was always saved by the miners, one of whom she formed a partnership with. Joe Boot was from German descent and he and Pearl began working their own claim when Pearl received a letter that her mother was gravely ill and needed money for the doctor’s bills. To acquire the money, Pearl and Joe thought to rob a train but decided to rob a stagecoach instead. Pearl cut her hair, dressed in Joe’s clothes, and together, they held up a stage. They came away with over $400 and the guard’s revolver and took off on their horses. But not knowing the land, they rode for two days then made camp and fell asleep, and woke to a posse surrounding them.
In Jail, Pearl became an instant celebrity. A lady bandit was rare. Remembering everything she learned from the Women’s Suffragette talks in Chicago, she began spouting she wouldn’t be tried in a court of law under rules men made and not women. Signing autographs and posing for pictures from her cell, the press loved her, and so did civilians. Ed Hogan was so smitten with her, he helped break her out of jail. She was found and brought back, and eventually went to trail. The jury found her innocent, especially after her defense lawyer brought into play she’d never been in trouble in the past and the only reason she robbed the stage was because of her mother’s health. The judge was furious with the decision and tried her on charges of stealing the guard’s gun and unlawfully carrying of a weapon. She was found guilty and sentenced to 5 years in Yuma. Joe received a 30 year sentence to Yuma.
Pearl became an even bigger celebrity and legend while in Yuma, earning the nickname Lady Bandit. The warden liked her and gave her a larger cell, and she again posed for pictures and signed autographs. She was released after serving 18 months and moved to Kansas City. Her sister wrote a production based on Pearl’s ‘Lady Bandit’ persona of which Pearl was to star in, but it never really caught on and Pearl disappeared from the public eye. A few years later, she was arrested for purchasing a stolen can of food. After that, she disappeared again and surfaced in 1924 at the Arizona courthouse she was tried in. She remarked to the attendant that nothing had changed since her last visit. He asked who she was and she replied, Pearl Hart, the lady bandit.
Rumors have abounded as to what happened to Pearl after this. Some say she died in Kansas City after operating a cigar shop. Others hint she lived in San Francisco until her death in 1952. A third suggests she married a rancher in Arizona and died under the name Pearl Bywater in 1956. She is wrongly credited with being the last person to rob a stage. The last stagecoach robbery was in 1916 in Jarbridge, Nevada. She is also not the only woman to ever rob a stage. Jane Kirkham was killed robbing a stage between Leadville and Buena Vista, Colorado in March 1879.
Such and interesting woman, and such a hard life Pearl led.
September 2, 2020
Colorado Attractions
The ‘wild west’ isn’t just limited to days gone by. There is so much for current generations to see and explore this side of the Mississippi, and Colorado has something for everyone. Whether you prefer driving in a car, sitting in the saddle, or hiking, explore the Centennial State and have a rip-roaring good time!
Pikes Peak: Towering above Colorado Springs at 14,115 ft., Pikes Peak is one of the most famous mountains in the United States. Home to Santa’s Workshop and the Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb, outdoor enthusiasts can hike to the top. The AdAmAn club hikes to the summit every December 30th to shoot off fireworks New Year’s Eve. Not a fan of hiking, travel by car on a paved road. Along the way, stop at one of the lakes to fish or enjoy a picnic lunch and be sure to visit the gift shops. Currently, the famed donut at the top isn’t open. It’s been torn down and a new one is currently being built.
Garden of the Gods: Not a fan of heights but love to hike or horseback ride, then this park is the perfect place for you. With several trails to walk or ride from the comfort of a saddle, explore the red rock formations, catch sight of a variety of wildlife , including deer and bighorn sheep, and visit the gift shops located at each end of the park for hidden treasures and lunch. Garden of the Gods Park is open all year round and truly the best place to spend a morning in Colorado Springs.
Royal Gorge Bridge: Suspended over the Royal Gorge, the Arkansas River flowing along train tracks still in use today, the Royal Gorge Bridge is definitely not for those who have a fear of heights or for those who suffer from motion sickness. But if you don’t, get out in the middle and soak up nature’s beauty. The gorge is truly something amazing to see, and the bridge itself is awesome. Constructed in 1929, when a wildfire tore through the park and surrounding area, the bridge remained intact. Other buildings in the park perished, as did Buckskin Joe’s Western Town before the park entrance. While Buckskin Joe’s didn’t rebuild, the park did, and even added a zipline. With an abundance of wildlife, helicopter tours over the gorge, and camping areas, Royal Gorge is definitely a must-see on your visit to Colorado.
The Continental Divide: Small towns to tour and shop (Leadville, Buena Vista, Salida), plenty of lakes to fish, camping, rafting on the Arkansas River, horseback riding, hiking and skiing Monarch Mountain, the divide offers something for everyone. The scenery is breathtaking, and if you’re wanting to hike some of the 14-teeners (what we locals call the peaks over 14,000 ft.) or drive over them to the western side of the state, do so while the weather permits. Independence Pass and other areas close for the season. Many times the date depends on the weather itself. Autumn along the divide is the prettiest time of year. With the Aspens in peak, the foothills are dotted in bright yellow and green, something worth viewing.
Black Canyon, Gunnison National Park: Are you a fan of the Grand Canyon? If so, this is the place for you. Gunnison National Park’s Black Canyon is a deep gorge with breathtaking views of the rock formations and water at the bottom. The south end of the park, located just outside Montrose, Colorado, offers a paved road for cars and bicyclists, places to pull camp, parking areas with trails leading to the gorge, and a visitor’s center to learn about the creation of the gorge and the wildlife that is native to the park. There is also a paved road leading to the bottom of the gorge, where you can park and walk along the water. After viewing this rim, get back in the car and travel about 0 minutes to the other rim, located just outside of Gunnison. Here you can fish, boat, or camp Blue Mesa Reservoir, hike along the sage dotted landscape, and tour this side of the canyon. As beautiful and breathtaking the Royal Gorge, I highly recommend spending time in Black Canyon.
Ouray and Silverton: These 2 old mining towns are perfect for those who love the outdoors. Situated on the side of the mountains,(Ouray’s backyard is literally the side of the mountain, whose jagged peaks and crevices are breathtaking) and not too far from each other, folks can explore the mountains via hiking, bicycling, or on a Jeep tour. With plenty of places to shop or eat, these quaint western towns will quickly steal your heart.
***Note*** I have been to all of these places. Each is spectacular and offers its own beauty to Colorado. Colorado is truly a wonderful place to visit, or live, and if outdoor life isn’t your cup of tea, Colorado Springs, Denver and Pueblo are our biggest towns and offer plenty of activities that don’t involve hiking, fishing or camping.
Pikes Peak: Towering above Colorado Springs at 14,115 ft., Pikes Peak is one of the most famous mountains in the United States. Home to Santa’s Workshop and the Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb, outdoor enthusiasts can hike to the top. The AdAmAn club hikes to the summit every December 30th to shoot off fireworks New Year’s Eve. Not a fan of hiking, travel by car on a paved road. Along the way, stop at one of the lakes to fish or enjoy a picnic lunch and be sure to visit the gift shops. Currently, the famed donut at the top isn’t open. It’s been torn down and a new one is currently being built.
Garden of the Gods: Not a fan of heights but love to hike or horseback ride, then this park is the perfect place for you. With several trails to walk or ride from the comfort of a saddle, explore the red rock formations, catch sight of a variety of wildlife , including deer and bighorn sheep, and visit the gift shops located at each end of the park for hidden treasures and lunch. Garden of the Gods Park is open all year round and truly the best place to spend a morning in Colorado Springs.
Royal Gorge Bridge: Suspended over the Royal Gorge, the Arkansas River flowing along train tracks still in use today, the Royal Gorge Bridge is definitely not for those who have a fear of heights or for those who suffer from motion sickness. But if you don’t, get out in the middle and soak up nature’s beauty. The gorge is truly something amazing to see, and the bridge itself is awesome. Constructed in 1929, when a wildfire tore through the park and surrounding area, the bridge remained intact. Other buildings in the park perished, as did Buckskin Joe’s Western Town before the park entrance. While Buckskin Joe’s didn’t rebuild, the park did, and even added a zipline. With an abundance of wildlife, helicopter tours over the gorge, and camping areas, Royal Gorge is definitely a must-see on your visit to Colorado.
The Continental Divide: Small towns to tour and shop (Leadville, Buena Vista, Salida), plenty of lakes to fish, camping, rafting on the Arkansas River, horseback riding, hiking and skiing Monarch Mountain, the divide offers something for everyone. The scenery is breathtaking, and if you’re wanting to hike some of the 14-teeners (what we locals call the peaks over 14,000 ft.) or drive over them to the western side of the state, do so while the weather permits. Independence Pass and other areas close for the season. Many times the date depends on the weather itself. Autumn along the divide is the prettiest time of year. With the Aspens in peak, the foothills are dotted in bright yellow and green, something worth viewing.
Black Canyon, Gunnison National Park: Are you a fan of the Grand Canyon? If so, this is the place for you. Gunnison National Park’s Black Canyon is a deep gorge with breathtaking views of the rock formations and water at the bottom. The south end of the park, located just outside Montrose, Colorado, offers a paved road for cars and bicyclists, places to pull camp, parking areas with trails leading to the gorge, and a visitor’s center to learn about the creation of the gorge and the wildlife that is native to the park. There is also a paved road leading to the bottom of the gorge, where you can park and walk along the water. After viewing this rim, get back in the car and travel about 0 minutes to the other rim, located just outside of Gunnison. Here you can fish, boat, or camp Blue Mesa Reservoir, hike along the sage dotted landscape, and tour this side of the canyon. As beautiful and breathtaking the Royal Gorge, I highly recommend spending time in Black Canyon.
Ouray and Silverton: These 2 old mining towns are perfect for those who love the outdoors. Situated on the side of the mountains,(Ouray’s backyard is literally the side of the mountain, whose jagged peaks and crevices are breathtaking) and not too far from each other, folks can explore the mountains via hiking, bicycling, or on a Jeep tour. With plenty of places to shop or eat, these quaint western towns will quickly steal your heart.
***Note*** I have been to all of these places. Each is spectacular and offers its own beauty to Colorado. Colorado is truly a wonderful place to visit, or live, and if outdoor life isn’t your cup of tea, Colorado Springs, Denver and Pueblo are our biggest towns and offer plenty of activities that don’t involve hiking, fishing or camping.
August 5, 2020
Interview w/ Lydia Tyler from Lydia’s Gunslinger
Thank you for joining us today, Lydia. Let’s jump right in with the questions.
Where is home? Austin, Texas. Mama and Papa have a grand city house, with a cook and two maids. Mama enjoys socializing with her circle of friends and helping at the church. Papa works closely with the governor. Actually, he and the governor share a relationship akin to brothers. I’ve referred to the governor as my uncle most of my life.
What is your family like? It’s just Mama, Papa and me, and the servants. Mama is very sweet and has a kind heart for everyone. My growing up years, she and I had tea every afternoon when I came home from school. She taught me to appreciate fine silks and satins, to conduct myself in a manner befitting a lady, and to never look down on someone else.
Papa works long hours and is often called away on business. He’s like Mama in that he has a kind heart and goes out of his way to help those in need. Regarding me, he’s strict, but he’s also loving and indulges my every whim, including my latest quest to find suitable homes for 4 orphans.
What brings you to Revolving Point, Texas? I have failed the children miserably. I asked everyone I know, and could not find homes for them. They are such sweet innocents. Ben’s almost a man. His sister, Abby, is pretty and as kind as Mama. Their little brother is adorable, and Lacy clings to me so much that I fear even if I did locate suitable parents for her, she wouldn’t go with them. Which got me to thinking that maybe they could stay with me. Not at Mama and Papa’s city home. There isn’t room. But an orphanage, with plenty of bedrooms and a long table to share meals…
I’ve scoured Austin for a lot to build an orphanage, but I again failed. Then Papa suggested I didn’t have to build in Austin, that Texas is home to several towns that have space to build an orphanage as grand as I envision. I traversed Texas and settled on Revolving Point. The Rio Grande flows just behind town. I can teach the children to swim, and the land I chose has apple trees and room for horses… a more perfect area doesn’t exist.
What did you think the 1st time you saw Roth? That he was in desperate need of a haircut. His stringy hair touched his shoulders. Worse was the guns he wore. I detest guns and violence.
How would Roth describe you? I’m sure he’d say I’m uptight and snobbish, maybe even a prude, and too outspoken, but I have little choice but to present a strong façade. The children are of the utmost importance to me, and I will do whatever is necessary to ensure they have a home… to ensure they know they are loved, even if that means ruffling a few feathers. Now, if I can rid myself of the annoying Mr. Cooper, the headmaster Papa hired to help with the children’s education, I just may succeed with all of my plans.
How would you describe Roth? Now that I’ve had time to get to know him, he’s definitely a menace… on the outside. On the inside, he has a heart worth knowing, worth loving. He cares greatly for the children and abhors Mr. Cooper. If only he’d hold me close to him…
How do you relax? I don’t. The children and overseeing the building of the orphanage take up so much of my time, as does Mr. Cooper usurping my authority. If I had to venture a guess, I suppose I’d answer with a hot cup of tea at the end of a long day, with my feet propped up on a stool, but those times are rare.
What is your biggest fear? That Mr. Cooper will ruin all of my plans for the orphanage. From day one of Papa hiring him, he’s tried to wrestle control from me, and has succeeded on a few matters. Most recently, he had a wall built to divide my office inside the orphanage into two rooms. Blessedly, Roth tore down the wall. Guns, danger; he really is a good man.
What is the best advice someone gave you? A long time ago, Papa told me if something was worth having, then I needed to work extra hard to obtain it and keep it. Roth is worth having, and persuading him to agree a union between us isn’t a bad thing is a challenge I intend to win.
Sounds like you know exactly what you want and how to get it. Thank you for joining us today, Lydia. It was a pleasure chatting with you. And thank you for leaving us with an excerpt I’m sure readers will enjoy.
To purchase Lydia’s Gunslinger, please visit Amazon here:
www.amazon.com/dp/B007873DIE
Excerpt:
He ducked inside the mercantile and waited for his sister to finish with a customer. The woman left and Debra stepped out from behind the counter.
"Where have you been?" she asked, approaching him. "You need to get upstairs. Lydia's waiting for you."
His gut hit the floor at that. Lydia knew he'd left town for a few hours. She wouldn't come here looking for him unless something was wrong. "What happened?"
"I'll let her tell you." Debra touched his arm. "Don't lose your temper, Roth. She's upset and needs your help."
He scrambled out the door, down the side of the building and up the stairs, where he paused and took a deep breath before quietly opening the door and stepping inside. Lydia sat at the table, with her fingers wrapped around a cup and her head bowed.
He shut the door behind him and crossed the floor, gently touched her arm. "Lydia?"
She looked up at him. Tears swam in her cat eyes. "He means to have Papa and the governor take my children from me," she whimpered.
"Who?" He hunkered down beside her.
"Mr. Cooper. He saw me leave the livery with you and said people will question my morals if I continue a relationship with you."
"Sonofabitch!" Roth slammed his fist on the table.
"I can't lose them, Roth." She shivered. "I won't lose them."
"You're not gonna lose anyone." He stood and pulled her into his arms, held her close and petted the back of her head to ease her trembles. "I'm the deputy around here. Some folks respect that. Others…" He shrugged. "I'll stay away. Make things easy for you."
"I don't want you to stay away." She leaned back in his arms and looked up at him. "I want you to pummel Mr. Cooper. Hard."
He couldn't help but grin. She hated his guns. But she wasn't too adverse to him pummeling someone when the need suited her. The thought floated across his mind that he should kill Cooper and put an end to her troubles before they got any worse. But something hinted a bullet wasn't what she needed most from him. "I can beat Cooper to within an inch of his life and run him outta town, but it'll only make matters worse for you." He caressed her cheek.
"You like punching people."
"When I know that will solve the problem. Cooper isn't like that. I shouldn’t have told you he was. He'll take the beating. And then he'll heal and come back." He sat on the chair and pulled her onto his lap. "Short of killing him, the only way to get rid of him is to take away what he wants most."
"My money." She frowned. "I'm not giving up my trust fund. I need that for the children and the orphanage."
"You don't have to," he soothed. "Marry me. You wouldn't agree before. Agree now. Listen," he instructed when she started to object. "We'll move into the orphanage with the tots. Once Cooper realizes he's lost your money to me, he'll strike out against me and then I can pummel him for you." He threaded his fingers through hers. "I'll sign that paper, Lydia. I don't want your money. Or anything else you own. You'll keep everything after we divorce."
She quieted a moment, looked at her fingers laced with his and Roth wondered what she thought.
"Your plan to dismiss him and hire someone else won't work. He'll only make more trouble and force your new headmaster to quit." He tipped her chin up. "I ain't the quittin' kind."
She swallowed hard and searched his features. "You're offering to do this, but you get nothing in return."
I get to see you morning and night. "I get to make Cooper's life a living hell like his uncle made mine." He grinned sadistically.
She smiled softly and touched her palm to his cheek. "You would enjoy that. I would, too."
"Then you're agreeing?"
"I don't know, Roth." She sighed and looked away. "A marriage in name only doesn't seem… satisfying. It seems like a prison sentence. For both of us."
He perused her heart-shaped face and green eyes. "Men would go to the calaboose willingly if women like you were there."
She emitted a small, pitiful laugh. "Somehow I doubt that."
"I don't." He tucked his finger beneath her chin and brought her gaze back to him. "You detest marriage. You told me. But this is the only way to get rid of Cooper."
"I detest being a divorced woman more than I detest marriage." She slid off his lap and onto another chair. "Society doesn't care if a man is divorced, but a woman is shunned and gossiped about as much as those girls you have working for you at Miller's. If I earn the respect of the townsfolk now by marrying you and then lose it later when we divorce, the children will be made to suffer." She entwined her fingers around her cup and stared at the tea. "I won't have my children ridiculed because of me."
Roth sat back in his chair, folded his arms across his chest and thought about what she'd said, and what she hadn't, as he studied the slump to her shoulders and the frown hugging her lips. She cared a great deal for her tots, but they weren't the reason behind her hesitancy. "What's giving you doubt, Lydia?"
"I told you, the children will suffer and–"
"Bullshit. Something else is on your mind. Spill it."
Where is home? Austin, Texas. Mama and Papa have a grand city house, with a cook and two maids. Mama enjoys socializing with her circle of friends and helping at the church. Papa works closely with the governor. Actually, he and the governor share a relationship akin to brothers. I’ve referred to the governor as my uncle most of my life.
What is your family like? It’s just Mama, Papa and me, and the servants. Mama is very sweet and has a kind heart for everyone. My growing up years, she and I had tea every afternoon when I came home from school. She taught me to appreciate fine silks and satins, to conduct myself in a manner befitting a lady, and to never look down on someone else.
Papa works long hours and is often called away on business. He’s like Mama in that he has a kind heart and goes out of his way to help those in need. Regarding me, he’s strict, but he’s also loving and indulges my every whim, including my latest quest to find suitable homes for 4 orphans.
What brings you to Revolving Point, Texas? I have failed the children miserably. I asked everyone I know, and could not find homes for them. They are such sweet innocents. Ben’s almost a man. His sister, Abby, is pretty and as kind as Mama. Their little brother is adorable, and Lacy clings to me so much that I fear even if I did locate suitable parents for her, she wouldn’t go with them. Which got me to thinking that maybe they could stay with me. Not at Mama and Papa’s city home. There isn’t room. But an orphanage, with plenty of bedrooms and a long table to share meals…
I’ve scoured Austin for a lot to build an orphanage, but I again failed. Then Papa suggested I didn’t have to build in Austin, that Texas is home to several towns that have space to build an orphanage as grand as I envision. I traversed Texas and settled on Revolving Point. The Rio Grande flows just behind town. I can teach the children to swim, and the land I chose has apple trees and room for horses… a more perfect area doesn’t exist.
What did you think the 1st time you saw Roth? That he was in desperate need of a haircut. His stringy hair touched his shoulders. Worse was the guns he wore. I detest guns and violence.
How would Roth describe you? I’m sure he’d say I’m uptight and snobbish, maybe even a prude, and too outspoken, but I have little choice but to present a strong façade. The children are of the utmost importance to me, and I will do whatever is necessary to ensure they have a home… to ensure they know they are loved, even if that means ruffling a few feathers. Now, if I can rid myself of the annoying Mr. Cooper, the headmaster Papa hired to help with the children’s education, I just may succeed with all of my plans.
How would you describe Roth? Now that I’ve had time to get to know him, he’s definitely a menace… on the outside. On the inside, he has a heart worth knowing, worth loving. He cares greatly for the children and abhors Mr. Cooper. If only he’d hold me close to him…
How do you relax? I don’t. The children and overseeing the building of the orphanage take up so much of my time, as does Mr. Cooper usurping my authority. If I had to venture a guess, I suppose I’d answer with a hot cup of tea at the end of a long day, with my feet propped up on a stool, but those times are rare.
What is your biggest fear? That Mr. Cooper will ruin all of my plans for the orphanage. From day one of Papa hiring him, he’s tried to wrestle control from me, and has succeeded on a few matters. Most recently, he had a wall built to divide my office inside the orphanage into two rooms. Blessedly, Roth tore down the wall. Guns, danger; he really is a good man.
What is the best advice someone gave you? A long time ago, Papa told me if something was worth having, then I needed to work extra hard to obtain it and keep it. Roth is worth having, and persuading him to agree a union between us isn’t a bad thing is a challenge I intend to win.
Sounds like you know exactly what you want and how to get it. Thank you for joining us today, Lydia. It was a pleasure chatting with you. And thank you for leaving us with an excerpt I’m sure readers will enjoy.
To purchase Lydia’s Gunslinger, please visit Amazon here:
www.amazon.com/dp/B007873DIE
Excerpt:
He ducked inside the mercantile and waited for his sister to finish with a customer. The woman left and Debra stepped out from behind the counter.
"Where have you been?" she asked, approaching him. "You need to get upstairs. Lydia's waiting for you."
His gut hit the floor at that. Lydia knew he'd left town for a few hours. She wouldn't come here looking for him unless something was wrong. "What happened?"
"I'll let her tell you." Debra touched his arm. "Don't lose your temper, Roth. She's upset and needs your help."
He scrambled out the door, down the side of the building and up the stairs, where he paused and took a deep breath before quietly opening the door and stepping inside. Lydia sat at the table, with her fingers wrapped around a cup and her head bowed.
He shut the door behind him and crossed the floor, gently touched her arm. "Lydia?"
She looked up at him. Tears swam in her cat eyes. "He means to have Papa and the governor take my children from me," she whimpered.
"Who?" He hunkered down beside her.
"Mr. Cooper. He saw me leave the livery with you and said people will question my morals if I continue a relationship with you."
"Sonofabitch!" Roth slammed his fist on the table.
"I can't lose them, Roth." She shivered. "I won't lose them."
"You're not gonna lose anyone." He stood and pulled her into his arms, held her close and petted the back of her head to ease her trembles. "I'm the deputy around here. Some folks respect that. Others…" He shrugged. "I'll stay away. Make things easy for you."
"I don't want you to stay away." She leaned back in his arms and looked up at him. "I want you to pummel Mr. Cooper. Hard."
He couldn't help but grin. She hated his guns. But she wasn't too adverse to him pummeling someone when the need suited her. The thought floated across his mind that he should kill Cooper and put an end to her troubles before they got any worse. But something hinted a bullet wasn't what she needed most from him. "I can beat Cooper to within an inch of his life and run him outta town, but it'll only make matters worse for you." He caressed her cheek.
"You like punching people."
"When I know that will solve the problem. Cooper isn't like that. I shouldn’t have told you he was. He'll take the beating. And then he'll heal and come back." He sat on the chair and pulled her onto his lap. "Short of killing him, the only way to get rid of him is to take away what he wants most."
"My money." She frowned. "I'm not giving up my trust fund. I need that for the children and the orphanage."
"You don't have to," he soothed. "Marry me. You wouldn't agree before. Agree now. Listen," he instructed when she started to object. "We'll move into the orphanage with the tots. Once Cooper realizes he's lost your money to me, he'll strike out against me and then I can pummel him for you." He threaded his fingers through hers. "I'll sign that paper, Lydia. I don't want your money. Or anything else you own. You'll keep everything after we divorce."
She quieted a moment, looked at her fingers laced with his and Roth wondered what she thought.
"Your plan to dismiss him and hire someone else won't work. He'll only make more trouble and force your new headmaster to quit." He tipped her chin up. "I ain't the quittin' kind."
She swallowed hard and searched his features. "You're offering to do this, but you get nothing in return."
I get to see you morning and night. "I get to make Cooper's life a living hell like his uncle made mine." He grinned sadistically.
She smiled softly and touched her palm to his cheek. "You would enjoy that. I would, too."
"Then you're agreeing?"
"I don't know, Roth." She sighed and looked away. "A marriage in name only doesn't seem… satisfying. It seems like a prison sentence. For both of us."
He perused her heart-shaped face and green eyes. "Men would go to the calaboose willingly if women like you were there."
She emitted a small, pitiful laugh. "Somehow I doubt that."
"I don't." He tucked his finger beneath her chin and brought her gaze back to him. "You detest marriage. You told me. But this is the only way to get rid of Cooper."
"I detest being a divorced woman more than I detest marriage." She slid off his lap and onto another chair. "Society doesn't care if a man is divorced, but a woman is shunned and gossiped about as much as those girls you have working for you at Miller's. If I earn the respect of the townsfolk now by marrying you and then lose it later when we divorce, the children will be made to suffer." She entwined her fingers around her cup and stared at the tea. "I won't have my children ridiculed because of me."
Roth sat back in his chair, folded his arms across his chest and thought about what she'd said, and what she hadn't, as he studied the slump to her shoulders and the frown hugging her lips. She cared a great deal for her tots, but they weren't the reason behind her hesitancy. "What's giving you doubt, Lydia?"
"I told you, the children will suffer and–"
"Bullshit. Something else is on your mind. Spill it."
July 1, 2020
Recipes for 4th of July backyard cooking
The beginning of July always brings the same question in my home: What are we cooking for 4th of July? Sometimes, it’s a whole chicken. Other times, it’s ribs, and if we’re joining friends, I’m tasked with bringing the pasta salad. In the stories I write, on the occasions my characters take time off from ranch work to enjoy a picnic or the 4th of July party, they usually enjoy beef roasting on a spit, fried chicken, and some type of sweet. I’m sharing recipes from those old-time days that can be prepared for this year’s celebration.
Glazed Ribs:
Ingredients:
4 lbs spareribs
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 7 oz envelope onion salad dressing mix
¼ cup vinegar
1/4 cup light molasses
2 T. salad oil
1 tsp dry mustard
1 cup water
Directions:
Place ribs meat side up in open shallow roasting pan. Heat remaining ingredients to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir for minutes. Pour sauce mixture over meat. Roast in oven at 350 degrees for 1 ½ hours or until done, basting 4–5 times.
Ranch-Hand Cobbler
Ingredients:
½ cup butter
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup milk
3 cups fresh fruit (1 cup each of blackberries, blueberries, peaches or apples)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Melt butter in a 9 inch square baking dish in oven. Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and milk. Pour over butter. Add fresh fruit on top. Do not mix. Bake 40 minutes. Serve warm. (serves 6)
Fried Chicken… The Only Way For those feeling really adventurous: (After reading this, I believe this last recipe is to be cooked over an open fire.)
Select a young chicken between 2 ½ lbs and 3 ½ lbs. Remove wings, legs, thighs. Cut remainder in pieces. Split the breast in half then cut in half again if the chicken is large. Carefully dry each piece.
Beat 2 eggs with 2 Tbsp of water. Dip chicken in egg (salt and pepper to taste) and then roll in flour. If each piece is not thoroughly coated, repeat process. Place on paper towel and let stand. In frying pan, place enough butter or lard, using half & half, to make fat in the pan 1 inch deep. Set on a good brisk fire and put chicken on to fry.
In order to cook the chicken in good shape, it will have to be watched constantly while it’s frying. Turn often so it doesn’t burn. Keep fire hot, yet not so hot that the grease will smoke or burn. After chicken is cooked, place on paper towels to drain and dry.
Note: Do not, under any circumstances, steam this fried chicken or cover the pan while frying. This should only be done in the event one is frying an old, tough chicken. An old, tough chicken will never make a good fried chicken regardless of how you cook it.
***Note: I have not tried any of these recipes, so I cannot give an opinion on the taste. They, along with several others, are found in: Original Cowboy Cookbook by: “Wild Wes” Medley, Rodeo Champion. Available at Amazon
Glazed Ribs:
Ingredients:
4 lbs spareribs
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 7 oz envelope onion salad dressing mix
¼ cup vinegar
1/4 cup light molasses
2 T. salad oil
1 tsp dry mustard
1 cup water
Directions:
Place ribs meat side up in open shallow roasting pan. Heat remaining ingredients to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir for minutes. Pour sauce mixture over meat. Roast in oven at 350 degrees for 1 ½ hours or until done, basting 4–5 times.
Ranch-Hand Cobbler
Ingredients:
½ cup butter
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup milk
3 cups fresh fruit (1 cup each of blackberries, blueberries, peaches or apples)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Melt butter in a 9 inch square baking dish in oven. Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and milk. Pour over butter. Add fresh fruit on top. Do not mix. Bake 40 minutes. Serve warm. (serves 6)
Fried Chicken… The Only Way For those feeling really adventurous: (After reading this, I believe this last recipe is to be cooked over an open fire.)
Select a young chicken between 2 ½ lbs and 3 ½ lbs. Remove wings, legs, thighs. Cut remainder in pieces. Split the breast in half then cut in half again if the chicken is large. Carefully dry each piece.
Beat 2 eggs with 2 Tbsp of water. Dip chicken in egg (salt and pepper to taste) and then roll in flour. If each piece is not thoroughly coated, repeat process. Place on paper towel and let stand. In frying pan, place enough butter or lard, using half & half, to make fat in the pan 1 inch deep. Set on a good brisk fire and put chicken on to fry.
In order to cook the chicken in good shape, it will have to be watched constantly while it’s frying. Turn often so it doesn’t burn. Keep fire hot, yet not so hot that the grease will smoke or burn. After chicken is cooked, place on paper towels to drain and dry.
Note: Do not, under any circumstances, steam this fried chicken or cover the pan while frying. This should only be done in the event one is frying an old, tough chicken. An old, tough chicken will never make a good fried chicken regardless of how you cook it.
***Note: I have not tried any of these recipes, so I cannot give an opinion on the taste. They, along with several others, are found in: Original Cowboy Cookbook by: “Wild Wes” Medley, Rodeo Champion. Available at Amazon
June 3, 2020
Hilarious Housekeeping Hints
In most homes, women tackle the cleaning and the laundry. We have our favorite mops and soaps, and somewhere between the scrubbing and folding, we long for a self-cleaning house. But compared to the housekeeping grind of the 1800’s, today’s philosophy and methods are simpler. Take a gander at some of the humorous logic from back then, courtesy of …And You Think You’ve Got It Bad. I’d wager you wouldn’t wish for a self-cleaning house again, but I’d be lying.
Cleaning Tips:
While painting, keep the room well ventilated and eat acid fruits. Any woman with a mechanical turn of mind can paint.
To rid your home of moths, take common lamp-oil and wash the floor all over. It smells “loud” but will be gone in about two days. So will the moths.
To clean a papered wall, cut a large loaf of two-day old bread into eight pieces. Blow dust off wall with a bellows, rub a piece of bread down the wall in half yard strokes. Begin at the top of the room until upper part is cleaned then go around room repeating process until all has been gone over.
Laundry Tips:
According to …And You Think You’ve Got It Bad, wash day is Monday, and should be completed by 10 a.m. One should prepare the wash water Saturday night. Soft water works best, but if you don’t have soft water you can soften a barrel of well water by pouring a half-peck of boiled hard-wood ashes (and the water used to boil the ashes) into the barrel water. You’ll know enough has been added to produce the desired effect when the water takes on a curdled appearance and soon settles to perfectly clear. If milky in appearance, add more ashes and lye, but not too much as it will affect your hands in an unpleasant manner.
To stiffen linen cuffs and collars, add a small piece of white wax and one teaspoon of brandy to a pint of fine starch.
Clean a silk dress by first brushing with a velvet brush. Grate 2 potatoes into 1 quart of water. Let stand to settle, then strain it off quite clear. Sponge dress with potato water.
After reading these hints, I think I’ll stick to my All laundry soap and Snuggles fabric softener and hire a painter when needed.
Cleaning Tips:
While painting, keep the room well ventilated and eat acid fruits. Any woman with a mechanical turn of mind can paint.
To rid your home of moths, take common lamp-oil and wash the floor all over. It smells “loud” but will be gone in about two days. So will the moths.
To clean a papered wall, cut a large loaf of two-day old bread into eight pieces. Blow dust off wall with a bellows, rub a piece of bread down the wall in half yard strokes. Begin at the top of the room until upper part is cleaned then go around room repeating process until all has been gone over.
Laundry Tips:
According to …And You Think You’ve Got It Bad, wash day is Monday, and should be completed by 10 a.m. One should prepare the wash water Saturday night. Soft water works best, but if you don’t have soft water you can soften a barrel of well water by pouring a half-peck of boiled hard-wood ashes (and the water used to boil the ashes) into the barrel water. You’ll know enough has been added to produce the desired effect when the water takes on a curdled appearance and soon settles to perfectly clear. If milky in appearance, add more ashes and lye, but not too much as it will affect your hands in an unpleasant manner.
To stiffen linen cuffs and collars, add a small piece of white wax and one teaspoon of brandy to a pint of fine starch.
Clean a silk dress by first brushing with a velvet brush. Grate 2 potatoes into 1 quart of water. Let stand to settle, then strain it off quite clear. Sponge dress with potato water.
After reading these hints, I think I’ll stick to my All laundry soap and Snuggles fabric softener and hire a painter when needed.
May 6, 2020
Wagons & Buggies
The old west’s primary source for transportation was the horse. But not everyone knew how to ride, nor was traveling long distance on the back of a horse comfortable. And farmers and ranchers couldn’t strap a pile of lumber or a cookstove on to a horse’s back and haul it home. Conveyances other than the horse were needed for comfort and to help with chores. Below are some of them.
The Stagecoach: Though not as comfortable as today’s automobile, the stagecoach was more comfortable than sitting in a saddle for long periods of time. Able to seat several and stow luggage on the roof, the American made coach was tall and wide and incorporated leather straps for suspension, making for a smoother ride vs. a steel suspension.
Buckboard Wagon: Used by farmers and ranchers, the buckboard was made with simple construction. The front board served as a foot rest and protection from the horses’ hooves if they bucked.
Conestoga Wagon: The Conestoga was large and heavy and constructed to hold up to 6 tons. With a floor curved upwards so items wouldn’t shift in transportation, the Conestoga was used as a freight wagon before the development of the railroad. Eight horses or twelve oxen were needed to pull the wagon, which was not used during the westward expansion as the Conestoga was too heavy for the prairie lands.
On average, the Conestoga was 18 ft long and 11 ft high and 4 ft wide. The seams of the body were caulked with tar, enabling the wagon to cross rivers without leaking. With tough white canvas stretched across the top, the frame and suspension were crafted of wood, the wheels were iron rimmed and a brake was located on the left side where a teamster walking alongside the wagon or the driver could easily pull the lever. The Conestoga is credited with the U. S. custom of driving on the right side of the road.
Prairie Schooner: Similar to the Conestoga, the Schooner was the most popular wagon used in the westward expansion and typically carried up to 2,000 pounds. Lighter than the Conestoga, the Schooner had a flat body and the sides were lower. Like the Conestoga, the top of the Schooner was covered in white canvas and pulled by teams of 6 yoked oxen or 12 mules or horses. Convoys making the trip west traveled about 20 miles per day, with the overall trip taking about 5 months. (In my current WIP, I learned that when using oxen to pull a Schooner, one did not sit in the driver’s box and guide the team with the use of reins. One walked alongside the oxen and guided them with a whip and spoken commands.)
The Buggy: The buggy was the main mode of transportation around town or between home and town, as horseback riding required more skill and wasn’t as common as it is today. (Horsemanship was more common among the military, scouts, and western pioneers.) The bodies on most buggies had low sides and side-spring suspensions. Sometimes they had a suspension of a pair of longitudinal elastic wooden bars known as sidebars. A buggy with 2 seats was a double buggy. The Stanhope buggy had a high seat and a closed back. Cities and towns used larger, railed buggies for public transportation of the poor and lower middle class. Middle class folks used the double or the Stanhope and the rich had their own elegant carriages.
***Note: The two I incorporate most into my stories are the double buggy and the buckboard.
The Stagecoach: Though not as comfortable as today’s automobile, the stagecoach was more comfortable than sitting in a saddle for long periods of time. Able to seat several and stow luggage on the roof, the American made coach was tall and wide and incorporated leather straps for suspension, making for a smoother ride vs. a steel suspension.
Buckboard Wagon: Used by farmers and ranchers, the buckboard was made with simple construction. The front board served as a foot rest and protection from the horses’ hooves if they bucked.
Conestoga Wagon: The Conestoga was large and heavy and constructed to hold up to 6 tons. With a floor curved upwards so items wouldn’t shift in transportation, the Conestoga was used as a freight wagon before the development of the railroad. Eight horses or twelve oxen were needed to pull the wagon, which was not used during the westward expansion as the Conestoga was too heavy for the prairie lands.
On average, the Conestoga was 18 ft long and 11 ft high and 4 ft wide. The seams of the body were caulked with tar, enabling the wagon to cross rivers without leaking. With tough white canvas stretched across the top, the frame and suspension were crafted of wood, the wheels were iron rimmed and a brake was located on the left side where a teamster walking alongside the wagon or the driver could easily pull the lever. The Conestoga is credited with the U. S. custom of driving on the right side of the road.
Prairie Schooner: Similar to the Conestoga, the Schooner was the most popular wagon used in the westward expansion and typically carried up to 2,000 pounds. Lighter than the Conestoga, the Schooner had a flat body and the sides were lower. Like the Conestoga, the top of the Schooner was covered in white canvas and pulled by teams of 6 yoked oxen or 12 mules or horses. Convoys making the trip west traveled about 20 miles per day, with the overall trip taking about 5 months. (In my current WIP, I learned that when using oxen to pull a Schooner, one did not sit in the driver’s box and guide the team with the use of reins. One walked alongside the oxen and guided them with a whip and spoken commands.)
The Buggy: The buggy was the main mode of transportation around town or between home and town, as horseback riding required more skill and wasn’t as common as it is today. (Horsemanship was more common among the military, scouts, and western pioneers.) The bodies on most buggies had low sides and side-spring suspensions. Sometimes they had a suspension of a pair of longitudinal elastic wooden bars known as sidebars. A buggy with 2 seats was a double buggy. The Stanhope buggy had a high seat and a closed back. Cities and towns used larger, railed buggies for public transportation of the poor and lower middle class. Middle class folks used the double or the Stanhope and the rich had their own elegant carriages.
***Note: The two I incorporate most into my stories are the double buggy and the buckboard.
April 1, 2020
Outlaw Bill Tibbetts
Outlaw Trail wasn’t exactly a trail, but a string of hideouts stretching from Montana through Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas and into Mexico. Robber’s Roost is probably the most well-known of the hideouts, and less famous outlaw Bill Tibbetts knew that part of Utah well.
James William (Bill) Tibbets was born on March 23, 1898 on the south side of the Utah’s La Sal Mountains. His parents, Bill and Amy, were ranchers, and as luck would have it, Amy went into early labor while Bill was out on the range. Amy’s brother, Ephraim, rode to a neighboring ranch to fetch a female cook to help with the birth, but the woman was gone and wouldn’t return for a few days, thus Ephraim delivered his nephew.
Bill Sr. filed for the homestead where Bill Jr. was born in the 1880’s. He picked a prime piece of land and hired Amy Moore from Moab to cook for him. She was 20 years his senior, something that wasn’t uncommon in those day. They fell in love, married and started a family. Bill Sr. was known to help his neighbors, including a woman whose husband repeatedly beat her, but the last time Bill intervened, the woman’s husband killed Bill that night. Amy wanted to keep the ranch, but with two small sons and debts she didn’t know Bill had, she was forced to sell and move back to her family home in Moab, where she remarried. Bill Jr. grew up missing his father and hating his stepfather, who was strict and didn’t’ hesitate to whup Bill for his disobedience.
During his younger years, Bill earned a reputation of the toughest kid in school. Fighting and intimidation became the norm for him, as well as working his grandparents’ farm. There he became an accomplished horseman and hired on with Moab based Murphy Cattle Company at a young age. Through working on the range for the cattle company, Bill learned how to dig out water holes in the desert and how to make small earth dams to catch runoff water for the cows, the layout of the land and how to live off of it, all of which proved beneficial in his late teens when he and some friends decided to round up horses left behind in the Robbers Roost area. Rumors abounded the outlaws were gone and the teens made money selling the mounts to settlements in Iron County. Later, he enlisted in the Army, returned after the war and partnered with his mother and uncle in the cow business.
Bill tried to run his cattle in the canyon lands. They were open lands for anyone to use, but bigger outfits running their own herds on the open land didn’t welcome Bill, or any other newcomers. Bill spent many years waging war with these outfits and running from the law when framed for crimes and atrocities he didn’t commit. Sometimes, he was successful and out maneuvered the bigger outfits. Other times he lost, and through it all he earned himself a notorious reputation.
Later in life, the law finally caught up to him and he was thrown in the Moab jail alongside his friend Tom on a series of charges, some legit and some not. The two had their say in court and lost, and were sent back to jail where they escaped into the canyon lands of the Colorado River from the help of friends and Bill’s brother. With supplies left at various locations, they drifted along the Colorado to the Green River, but the sheriff and small posse caught up to them. They were able to take cover in Standing Rock Canyon and held off the sheriff in a round of gun fire. Under the cover of darkness, they stole the posse’s supplies and the next day Bill convinced the lawmen that the heat and mosquitos wasn’t worth them staying and trying to arrest him and Tom. For whatever reason, they agreed and left.
Bill and Tom enjoyed a few days as free men before the posse returned. Low on supplies and food, forced to eat grasshoppers, Bill and Tom were able to lead the posse on a merry chase through desert and canyon land, with Bill knowing every crook and crevice. They made it to Elaterite Basin and found the supplies uncle Ephraim was known to keep hidden. Since the lawmen didn’t know this particular area of Robbers Roost, Bill and Tom were able to escape to a cave, where they spent the winter. (It’s this cave that hikers accidentally happened upon years later and found Tibbett’s carved name.)
Bill eventually left Utah and married Jewel Agens. They moved to Santa Fe, along with Tom, and both mend found work with the New Mexico State Police breaking horses. No one with the police department suspected they were fugitives. Eventually the Statue of Limitations attached to their names expired, and Bill and Jewel moved back to Moab with their sons. Tom opted to stay in New Mexico. So much in love, Bill and Jewel bought the Horsethief Ranch in 1959, which was special to Bill because he and a friend had been the first to discover a spring on the property back in 1924. Sadly, Bill and Jewel were killed by a drunk driver south of Moab in 1969.
I’ve only scratched the surface of Bill Tibbett’s life and the canyonlands of Moab and Robbers Roost. To learn more, read Last Of The Robbers Roost Outlaws by Tom McCourt. Bill’s was a fascinating life and something everyone who adores the old west should know.
Mr. McCourt’s book is available at Amazon.
www.amazon.com/dp/0937407151
James William (Bill) Tibbets was born on March 23, 1898 on the south side of the Utah’s La Sal Mountains. His parents, Bill and Amy, were ranchers, and as luck would have it, Amy went into early labor while Bill was out on the range. Amy’s brother, Ephraim, rode to a neighboring ranch to fetch a female cook to help with the birth, but the woman was gone and wouldn’t return for a few days, thus Ephraim delivered his nephew.
Bill Sr. filed for the homestead where Bill Jr. was born in the 1880’s. He picked a prime piece of land and hired Amy Moore from Moab to cook for him. She was 20 years his senior, something that wasn’t uncommon in those day. They fell in love, married and started a family. Bill Sr. was known to help his neighbors, including a woman whose husband repeatedly beat her, but the last time Bill intervened, the woman’s husband killed Bill that night. Amy wanted to keep the ranch, but with two small sons and debts she didn’t know Bill had, she was forced to sell and move back to her family home in Moab, where she remarried. Bill Jr. grew up missing his father and hating his stepfather, who was strict and didn’t’ hesitate to whup Bill for his disobedience.
During his younger years, Bill earned a reputation of the toughest kid in school. Fighting and intimidation became the norm for him, as well as working his grandparents’ farm. There he became an accomplished horseman and hired on with Moab based Murphy Cattle Company at a young age. Through working on the range for the cattle company, Bill learned how to dig out water holes in the desert and how to make small earth dams to catch runoff water for the cows, the layout of the land and how to live off of it, all of which proved beneficial in his late teens when he and some friends decided to round up horses left behind in the Robbers Roost area. Rumors abounded the outlaws were gone and the teens made money selling the mounts to settlements in Iron County. Later, he enlisted in the Army, returned after the war and partnered with his mother and uncle in the cow business.
Bill tried to run his cattle in the canyon lands. They were open lands for anyone to use, but bigger outfits running their own herds on the open land didn’t welcome Bill, or any other newcomers. Bill spent many years waging war with these outfits and running from the law when framed for crimes and atrocities he didn’t commit. Sometimes, he was successful and out maneuvered the bigger outfits. Other times he lost, and through it all he earned himself a notorious reputation.
Later in life, the law finally caught up to him and he was thrown in the Moab jail alongside his friend Tom on a series of charges, some legit and some not. The two had their say in court and lost, and were sent back to jail where they escaped into the canyon lands of the Colorado River from the help of friends and Bill’s brother. With supplies left at various locations, they drifted along the Colorado to the Green River, but the sheriff and small posse caught up to them. They were able to take cover in Standing Rock Canyon and held off the sheriff in a round of gun fire. Under the cover of darkness, they stole the posse’s supplies and the next day Bill convinced the lawmen that the heat and mosquitos wasn’t worth them staying and trying to arrest him and Tom. For whatever reason, they agreed and left.
Bill and Tom enjoyed a few days as free men before the posse returned. Low on supplies and food, forced to eat grasshoppers, Bill and Tom were able to lead the posse on a merry chase through desert and canyon land, with Bill knowing every crook and crevice. They made it to Elaterite Basin and found the supplies uncle Ephraim was known to keep hidden. Since the lawmen didn’t know this particular area of Robbers Roost, Bill and Tom were able to escape to a cave, where they spent the winter. (It’s this cave that hikers accidentally happened upon years later and found Tibbett’s carved name.)
Bill eventually left Utah and married Jewel Agens. They moved to Santa Fe, along with Tom, and both mend found work with the New Mexico State Police breaking horses. No one with the police department suspected they were fugitives. Eventually the Statue of Limitations attached to their names expired, and Bill and Jewel moved back to Moab with their sons. Tom opted to stay in New Mexico. So much in love, Bill and Jewel bought the Horsethief Ranch in 1959, which was special to Bill because he and a friend had been the first to discover a spring on the property back in 1924. Sadly, Bill and Jewel were killed by a drunk driver south of Moab in 1969.
I’ve only scratched the surface of Bill Tibbett’s life and the canyonlands of Moab and Robbers Roost. To learn more, read Last Of The Robbers Roost Outlaws by Tom McCourt. Bill’s was a fascinating life and something everyone who adores the old west should know.
Mr. McCourt’s book is available at Amazon.
www.amazon.com/dp/0937407151
