All My Heroes are Cowboys

Cowboy Jokes

2012-02-26T01:00:00.000-08:00

Win a copy of Marin's most current release or pick up the book at your favorite bookstore or online retailer...Arizona Cowboy is out this Month!

If you'd like a chance to win one of my books please submit your e-mail address in the "Follow" my blog by e-mail box. Each month I'll select one of the followers to receive an autographed copy of my current release and post the winner's name in my blog. You can also earn a chance to win one of my books by signing up for my monthly newsletter HERE. Each month I post a Wild West Trivia question in my Newsletter and choose a name from all those who send in the correct answer. And just for the month of February I'm hosting a Goodreads Giveaway. Enter for a chance to win 1 of 5 copies of Arizona Cowboy as well as LIKE my Facebook page for another chance to win!

*****

I've been burning the midnight oil…busy finishing my next book, which is due on my editor's desk March 1st. I'd apologize for the whacky cowboy post but the truth is, I sorely needed a dose of humor this weekend while I did one of my least favorite things—searched for overused words and phrases in my mnauscript. No matter how hard I try to catch these "bad boys" while writing the book, I seem to miss the majority of them. Anyway, I hope these jokes make you smile.

From bestfunnyjokes:

Visitor: Wow, you have a lot of flies buzzing round your horses and cows. Do you ever shoo them? Cowboy: No we just let them go barefoot.

The eastern lady who was all ready to take a horseback ride said to the cowboy, "Can you get me a nice gentle pony?" "Shore," said the cowboy. "What kind of a saddle do you want, English or western?" "What's the difference?" asked the lady. "The western saddle has a horn on it," said the cowboy. "If the traffic is so thick here in the mountains that I need a horn on my saddle, I don't believe I want to ride."

Three cowboys of the world are sitting around camp talking about how tough they were and the tales kept getting bigger and bigger. The cowboy from Australia says, "I wrestled a 200 pound crocodile and may it cry like a baby." The Cowboy from Brazil shakes his head and says, "I killed a 400 pound steer with my bare hands." The Cowboy from Texas just smiled and kept stirring the campfire with his leg.

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The cowboy lay sprawled across three entire seats in the posh Amarillo theatre. When the usher came by and noticed this he whispered to the cowboy, "Sorry, sir, but youre only allowed one seat." The cowboy groaned but didnt budge. The usher became more impatient. "Sir, if you dont get up from there, Im going to have to call the manager. The cowboy just groaned. The usher marched briskly back up the aisle. In a moment he returned with the manager. Together the two of them tried repeatedly to move the cowboy, but with no success. Finally, they summoned the police. The cop surveyed the situation briefly then asked, "All right buddy, whats youre name?" "Sam," the cowboy moaned. "Where ya from, Sam?" With pain in his voice Sam replied.... "The balcony."

The attorney asked, "May I help you?"
The farmer said, "Yea, I want to get one of those dayvorce's."
The attorney said, "well do you have any grounds?"
The farmer said, "Yea, I got about 140 acres."
The attorney said, " No, you don't understand, do you have a case?"
The farmer said, "No, I don't have a Case, but I have a John Deere."
The attorney said, "No you don't understand, I mean do you have a grudge?"
The farmer said, "Yea I got a grudge, that's where I park my John
Deere."
The attorney said, "No sir, I mean do you have a suit?"
The farmer said, "Yes sir, I got a suit. I wear it to church on Sundays."
The exasperated attorney said, "Well sir, does your wife beat you up or anything?"
The farmer said, "No sir, we both get up about 4:30."
Finally, the attorney says, "Okay, let me put it this way. "WHY DO YOU WANT A DIVORCE?"
And the farmer says, "Well, I can never have a meaningful conversation with her."

If you've got a cowboy joke to share, I'd love to hear it!

Cowboys & Barbed Wire

2012-02-18T01:10:00.000-08:00

Win a copy of Marin's most current release...
If you'd like a chance to win one of my books please submit your e-mail address in the "Follow" my blog by e-mail box. Each month I'll select one of the followers to receive an autographed copy of my current release and post the winner's name in my blog. You can also earn a chance to win one of my books by signing up for my monthly newsletter HERE. Each month I post a Wild West Trivia question in my Newsletter and choose a name from all those who send in the correct answer. And just for the month of February I'm hosting a Goodreads Giveaway. Enter for a chance to win 1 of 5 copies of Arizona Cowboy as well as LIKE my Facebook page for another chance to win!

*****

What would a blog about cowboys be without a discussion of barbed wire?

Here's a brief summary of the development of Barbed Wire.

At the county fair in DeKalb, Illinois in 1873, Henry M. Rose had on exhibit a new idea in fencing. It was a wooden rail with a series of sharp spikes protruding from the sides of the rail. The fence rail, patented earlier that year on May 13, was designed to be attached to an existing fence to "prick" an animal when it came into contact with the rail and keep livestock from breaking through.

This fence attracted the attention of each of the three men, Joseph Glidden, Jacob Haish, and Isaac Ellwood. Each man had the idea to improve upon Rose's fence by attaching the spikes (barbs) directly to a piece of wire. Each went their separate ways to work on an invention that would soon bring them together.

Legend states that Glidden's wife Lucinda encouraged him with his idea to enclose her garden. Glidden experimented by bending a short wire around a long strand of straight wire, by modifying a coffee mill. Two pins on one side of the mill, one centered and the other just enough off center to allow a wire to fit in between. When the crank was turned, the pins twisted the wire to form a loop. The wire was then clipped off approximately one inch on each end at an angle to form a sharp point. Barbs were placed on one of two parallel strands of wire. The two strands of wire were attached to a hook on the side of an old grinding wheel. As the barbs were positioned, the wheel was turned twisting the two strands of wire and locking the barbs in place.

During this time, Isaac Ellwood, a hardware merchant, had been unsuccessful in perfecting his own version of barbed wire. When Joseph Glidden was awarded a patent on November 24, 1874 for his creation known as "The Winner," he and Ellwood formed a partnership to establish The Barb Fence Company.

Jacob Haish also had patented his own wire by this time but had not made a serious attempt to promote and sell it. Haish, wanting the credit for barbed wire himself, didn't like the idea of Glidden and Ellwood forming a partnership and strived to bring them down. When Haish learned that Glidden had applied for a patent in late 1873, but was denied, Haish filed a patent for his creation, the "S-Barb" in July of 1874. A few days later he filed interference papers against Glidden and an intense legal dispute ensued. Even though Haish was awarded a patent first, Glidden won the dispute because he had filed his patent before Haish. Unwilling to admit defeat, Haish claimed the title of "the inventor of barbed wire." Nevertheless, it was Joseph Glidden who became known as the "Father of Barbed Wire."

All this talk about barbed wire leads me to this…My very first book for Harlequin American Romance, The Cowboy And The Bride—originally titled Barbed-Wire Bride (Really, I'm not joking!) The story opens with a runaway bride tangling with a barbed-wire fence.

The story is one of my favorites, and yes I admit the opening is a bit over the top. If you've got time, read an excerpt for The Cowboy and the Bride and tell me if think I went too far with the barbed wire.

Cowboy Church

2012-02-13T01:00:00.000-08:00

*****

Seeing how I blog about cowboys once a week on Sundays, I thought it only fitting to highlight the Cowboy Church. For those of you who've never heard of a Cowboy Church... Most Cowboy Churches are local Christian churches that embrace the cowboy culture with a western flare. More often than not, Cowboy Churches meet in barns, metal sheds, rodeo arenas or even outside in a meadow.

The emphasis is on God and not the place of worship. Sermons are usually short and simple and baptisms take place in stock tanks...yes, I said stock tanks.

Cowboy Churches continue to increased in popularity and grow in number. The national organization, American Fellowship of Cowboy Churches, supports and encourages their churches to maintain a "no barriers" model for their services. According to Wikipedia the church removes from the worship service the traditions that are believed to have no biblical basis, such as the "alter call" and passing of the collection plate. Tithes and offerings are placed in a boot, hat, or wooden bird house at the rear of the meeting area.

Cowboy Churches have a "Come as you are" dress code in that cowboy boots, cowboy hats and western wear are all considered proper attire. You are not judged based on how you look, dress or talk. The thought is that if you are welcome to come as you are, than you are more likely to come.

What appeals to me the most about the Cowboy Church is that they don't ask you to be something you're not. Come to think about it...does it really matter where you get your religion as long as you get it?

For those of you who attend worship services, would youconsider trying a Cowboy Church? Why or why not?

Male Cover Model Jimmy Thomas

2012-02-05T00:10:00.000-08:00

Win a copy of Marin's most current release...
If you'd like a chance to win one of my books please submit your e-mail address in the "Follow" my blog by e-mail box. Each month I'll select one of the followers to receive an autographed copy of my current release and post the winner's name in my blog. You can also earn a chance to win one of my books by signing up for my monthly newsletter HERE. Each month I post a Wild West Trivia question in my Newsletter and choose a name from all those who send in the correct answer. And just for the month of February I'm hosting a Goodreads Giveaway. Enter for a chance to win 1 of 5 copies of Arizona Cowboy as well as LIKE my Facebook page for another chance to win!
Congratulations to Alyssa Lynn Palmer--the winner of my January Blog Drawing!

Yesterday I attended the Glendale Chocolate Affaire multi-author book signing and the best part of my day--aside from meeting romance readers--was having my picture taken with the famous cover model Jimmy Thomas! Check out the new Jimmy Thomas calendar!

Me & American Romance author Cathy McDavid

Just for fun.......

For some strange reason the hero and heroine in Arizona Cowboy have decided they want to be interviewed. Go figure. Anyway, here is the famous couple...Clint McGraw and Rachel Lewis.

What are you most afraid of?

Clint: Losing the only home I've ever known.

Rachel: My father dying before I find out if he ever really loved me.

What do you like most about your job?

Clint (Ranch Hand): Knowing my boss values my hard work.
Rachel (Managing her father's rodeo company): Nothing.

What's your favorite food?

Clint: Steak.

Rachel: Salads. I'm not a meat lover.

Who do you hold up on a pedestal?

Clint: My boss. He took me in when I had nowhere to go.
Rachel: My aunt. She raised me when my father refused to after my mother died.

What was your first impression of the other?
Clint: I thought Rachel was bossy and a know-it-all.
Rachel: Clint was rude and his sense of "bull" humor missed it's mark.

Your idea of a perfect date?
Clint: Dinner at a good steak house, a little dancing and cap the evening off with a romantic kiss on the porch swing.
Rachel: (Before I met Clint...splurging at an all-you-can eat salad buffet and quiet conversation at a wine bar) Now...I'm partial to porch swinging and Arizona sunsets.

How many children do you want?

Clint: I already have an eighteen-year-old, daughter but if Rachel wants kids then I'm up for one more...maybe I'll finally get the hang of this parenting thing.
Rachel: I want at least two. With Clint's daughter and two of our own we'll be out-numbered, but that's okay. Clint and I will have to stick together and show a united front.

Rachel you're from the city and Clint you're from the country...where will you two settle down after you tie the knot?
Clint: You'll have to read our story to find out the answer to that question!

We all know how romance novels end….Happy Ever After. But if you'd like to see some of the obstacles Clint and Rachel must overcome to be together, pick up a copy of Arizona Cowboy available in stores February 2012. Read an excerpt of Arizona Cowboy at Happy Ever After...the Cowboy Way. Just click on the book cover.

P.S. If you get the chance to read Arizona Cowboy, let me know what you think about Curly...the runaway bull!

Happy Ever After....The Cowboy Way!

Kinds of Cowboys

2012-01-29T01:00:00.000-08:00

How many different kinds of COWBOYS are there anyway?

Cowboys in romance novels are darn near perfect, but in real life, cowboys come in all shapes, sizes and cognitive abilities. Following are a few of those Wild West men.

Cowboy Outlaw

Naked Cowboy

Calendar Cowboy

Old Buckaroo Cowboy

Real Working Cowboy

Urban Cowboy

Now that we've had an eyeful of Cowboy Candy….what is it that women find so sexy about the Cowboy Way of Life? It for sure ain't the food these guys eat.

Sonofabitch Stew

2 pounds lean beef
Half a calf heart
1/2 pounds calf liver
1 set sweetbreads
1 set brains
1 set marrow gut
Salt, pepper
Louisiana hot sauce

Kill off a young steer. Cut up beef, liver and heart into I -inch cubes; slice the marrow gut into small rings. Place in a Dutch oven or deep casserole. Cover meat with water and simmer for 2 to 3 hours. Add salt, pepper and hot sauce to taste. Take sweetbreads and brains and cut in small pieces. Add to stew. Simmer another hour, never boiling.

Okay, so maybe Cowboy Food isn’t romantic, but let's talk about COWBOY INCOME--how much do these rope-throwin' chaps make? The average Old West cowboy drew $25 to $40 a month--I can't even get a decent haircut for that amount of money. Today, a typical salary for a cowboy in New Mexico is about $1,600 a month. Cowboys may also get free housing, paid utilities, insurance coverage and perhaps some beef. I wonder if this means after a cowboy proposes he offers the lady a choice cut of prime rib instead of a diamond ring?

Knowing what you do about Cowboys, would you still give one the time of the day if he looked back after you waltzed by?

Cowboy Butts

2012-01-22T01:00:00.000-08:00

Win a copy of Marin's most current release...
If you'd like a chance to win one of my books please submit your e-mail address in the "Follow" my blog by e-mail box. Each month I'll select one of the e-mail's to recieve an autographed copy of my current release and post the winner's name in my blog. You can also earn a chance to win one of my books by signing up for my monthly newsletter HERE. Each month I post a Wild West Trivia question in my Newsletter and choose a name from all those who send in the correct answer.
Congratulations to Nancy O'Berry--the winner of my December Blog Drawing! www.nancyoberry.com

Okay, fess up!
Women love cowboy butts...especially the rodeo cowboy kind. The men who wrestle and tame vicious bulls and wild broncs have the muscles to show for it and there's nothing like a good old fashioned pair of blue jeans to show off a toned and shapely gluteus maximus.

1974: The Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association of American (PRCA) officially endorses Wrangler Jeans.

Wrangler® is a registered trademark of VF Corporation.

The popularity of the Wrangler brand grew and become more exciting in 1947 when Wrangler authentic western jeans, designed by celebrity tailor Rodeo Ben, was introduced to the American public. Professional rodeo cowboys Jim Shoulders, Bill Linderman, and Freckles Brown wear-tested the Wrangler 13MWZ and endorsed the Wrangler name for durability, quality, and authenticity. By having these rodeo cowboys support the Wrangler name, true distinction was made between Wrangler and other denim companies. Jim Shoulders, World Champion Cowboy, signed on as an official endorsee of Wrangler in 1948. He and his Wrangler jeans went to win a total of 16 world championships, including five All-Around, seven Bull Riding, and four Bareback Riding World Titles.

Need I say more....and for your viewing pleasure.....

Female Bull Riders

2012-01-16T01:00:00.000-08:00

Win a copy of Marin's most current release...
If you'd like a chance to win one of my books please submit your e-mail address in the "Follow" my blog by e-mail box. Each month I'll select one of the e-mail's to recieve an autographed copy of my current release and post the winner's name in my blog. You can also earn a chance to win one of my books by signing up for my monthly newsletter HERE. Each month I post a Wild West Trivia question in my Newsletter and choose a name from all those who send in the correct answer.
Congratulations to Nancy O'Berry--the winner of my December Blog Drawing! www.nancyoberry.com

All My Heroes are Cowboys…..well, I lied. I have a lot of admiration for cowgirls, too. This week, I'm shining the spotlight on women's bull riding. Yes, folks there exists an entire subculture of female bull riders on this planet.

The two most recent books for my Rodeo Rebels series (Arizona Cowboy Feb 2012 & A Cowboy's Duty Aug 2012) contain elements of women's bull riding. I did quite a bit of research for the books just to understand what makes these women tick. I even spoke with a Pro-Rodeo contractor who provided bulls for women's events. In all the information I came across one thing stood out—these women have worked hard and sacrificed much to earn the respect of their male counterparts.

YouTube is full of videos of female bull riders so check them out when you have time.

I also came across a blog called World CowGirl. The blogger interviewed Polly Reich, the first female professional bull rider.

According to the interview…..
Polly started bull riding when she was 29 years old, an age that many bull riders have already hung up their chaps and rope. She was working as a dog groomer in Deerfield, Illinois and raising her twelve-year old daughter when friends took her to a rodeo to get her out of the house and her mind off of a break up with boyfriend of six years. Polly had never been to a rodeo before and was not excited by any of the events until the last event of the night – bull riding. Polly was captivated by the sport and left the rodeo thinking, “I could do that” a thought few others leave a rodeo thinking. Without telling her friends or family, including her daughter, Polly sought out a mentor to teach her how to ride bulls.

The interview delves into much more detail but the following paragraph was a real eye-opener and made me cringe when I thought of of how much Polly sacrificed to blaze a trail for future female competitors.

Not everyone was excited about Polly competing as an equal with men. Some of her competitors on the IPRA circuit tried to intimidate her in very upsetting ways. While she competed on the IPRA circuit her dog, Sproket, was poisoned and died, the hood of her truck was deliberately unhinged-so it blew off of her truck while she was driving down the highway, and she was physically beaten by a group of unidentified men who ambushed her at night. If Polly was tough enough to ride bulls, she was also determined not to be “bullied” out of bull riding by her competitors. Her new teacher Lyle Sankey convinced her to leave the IPRA and ride in the more prestigious Professional Bull Riding Association (PBR) circuit instead. Fortunately for Polly the bull riders in the PBR behaved like gentlemen toward her and became some of her dearest friends.

I won't go into the gory details of some of Polly's injuries…you can read about them in the blog but suffice it to say she is one incredibly brave and lucky woman. You would never guess in a million years how her career ended….

Polly’s career ended in an abrupt and unexpected way. She was in Fort Collins, Colorado, riding her bicycle to warm up for a bull riding competition. As she cycled by the football stadium she was hit head on by a motorcycle policeman who was chasing a truck full of college students drinking out of a keg of beer in the truck bed. (There was a football game that day). He was driving the wrong direction in the bike lane with his attention was directed toward the truck and never even saw her coming. Polly’s shoulder was severely dislocated from her body because of the accident. Her career ended so suddenly and silently that there was a rumor circulating on the bull riding circuit that Polly had died.

After all my research I've concluded that women who ride bulls aren't so different from you or me…they just have an insatiable thirst for excitement and competition. And I think it's safe to say many of these women were probably told at one time or another "You're a girl, you can't ride bulls."

Have you ever been told you couldn't do something because you were a girl?

Famous Rodeo Bulls

2012-01-08T01:00:00.000-08:00

Win a copy of Marin's most current release...

If you'd like a chance to win one of my books please submit your e-mail address in the "Follow" my blog by e-mail box. Each month I'll select one of the e-mail's to recieve an autographed copy of my current release and post the winner's name in my blog. You can also earn a chance to win one of my books by signing up for my monthly newsletter HERE. Each month I post a Wild West Trivia question in my Newsletter and choose a name from all those who send in the correct answer.
Congratulations to Nancy O'Berry--the winner of my December Blog Drawing! www.nancyoberry.com

*****

Lately the heroes in my romance books have been rodeo cowboys and you have to wonder about the kind of woman crazy enough to fall in love with these guys when they risk life and limb every weekend. My book, A Bull Rider's Secret (July 2011) featured a bull-riding hero who frankly *sucked* at the sport but kept on rodeoing. (You'll have to read the book to find out why).

I love watching rodeo on TV. love the camera angles and upclose views of these powerful animals and cowboys. I hold my breath the entire time the cowboy's on the bull--can't help it!

Just for fun...here are three famous rodeo bulls

Red Rock

Red Rock was never successfully ridden during his pro-rodeo career during which time he bucked off 309. Only During the Challenge of the Champions—a 7 event matchup between Lane Frost and Red Rock that took place in 1988 was red Rock ridden afull eight seconds.

Bodacious

A Charbray bull who was commonly referred to as “The World’s Most Dangerous Bull. Bodacious was known for one particular trick that involved him bringing his rear up with his head to the ground, forcing a rider to shift his weight forward. Bodacious would then lift his head up full force, smashing the rider's face. In 1995, rider Scott Breding tried wearing a hockey mask. However, this failed to protect him adequately. Bodacious headbutted Breding, breaking his nose and bursting his eye sockets.

A few days later, Bodacious was retired from professional bull riding forever. In 1999, Bodacious was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and many know him as "the greatest bull to ever buck

Little Yellow Jacket

Little Yellow Jacket was a dark red Brangus bull He weighed about 1,800 pounds and had one horn pointing upward and one downward.He was a three-time PBR "Bull of the Year", winning the title in consecutive years from 2002-2004. His three consecutive titles have made him unmatched by any bull in the history of the PBR.

Maybe cowboys are a little "Touched" in the head to want to try and tame these beasts!

Happy Ever After...The Cowboy Way!

Famous Texas Dance Halls

2012-01-01T00:30:00.000-08:00

Win a copy of Marin's most current release...

*****

Who said real cowboys can't dance? I've lived in Dallas and Houston and have visited family in San Antonio for many years…I know for a fact cowboys love to strut their stuff and show off on the dance floor. The Texas Hill Country has some of the best dance halls in the U.S. A visit to Texas isn’t complete without experiencing the local nightlife. Here are a few Texas favorites…More can be found at Honky Tonk Texas.

Bandera Texas

Silver Dollar Saloon Established: 1930s
308 Main St.
Bandera Texas

This great Honky Tonk is in the center of "The Cowboy Capital of Texas," Bandera. Ernest Tubb once brought his Texas Troubadours to Arkey's for some great country music. Entertainer/singer/ songwriter Arkey Blue has performed here since 1968, and friend Tommy Alverson's "Buy Me a Bar" pokes fun at Arkey's lifestyle. Willie Nelson and Caesare Masse have often visited, as do local boys Bruce and Charlie Robison.

Bandera Cabaret Dance Hall Established: 1936
801 Main Street
Bandera, Texas

Numerous Country stars have played this Hall including Bob Wills, Hank Thompson, Ray Price Jim Reeves and Willie Nelson. Located on Main Street in the "Cowboy Capital of Texas" a host of charaters are seen. Many Dude Ranches are in the surrounding hills. "The Original Bandit," Larry Nolen, has played the Cabaret Dance Hall for many years.

Broken Spoke Established: 1964
3201 South Lamar
Austin, Texas

"We ain't fancy, but we sure are Country; and that's the way we're gonna keep it." This is the creed of owners James and Annetta White, and for over 30 years they've certainly lived up to that promise. The roll of musicians who have played "The Spoke" reads like an Encyclopedia of Texas Music History: Bob Wills, Ernest Tubb, Tex Ritter, Willie Nelson, George Strait, Chris Wall, Alvin Crow, Asleep at the Wheel, Cornell Hurd, Gary P. Nunn, and many, many more great Legends. This is the real thing! Inside the infamous "Tourist Trap" room is the best collection of Country Music memorabilia outside the Country Music Hall of Fame. It's worth the visit.

Cherry Springs Dance Hall Might Not Be Quite The Oldest,
but Darn Close To It,
and Certainly the Most Historical
Established in 1889
Cherry Spring, Texas

This great Dance Hall has seen them all: Lefty Frizzell, Ernest Tubb, Buck Owens, Hank Williams, Ray Price, Faron Young, Asleep at the Wheel, Patsy Cline, George Jones, Adolph Hofner with Caesare Masse, Nat King Cole and, in 1956, even a young Elvis Presley (see link). Ernest Tubb is said to have lost his son, as his wife drove from Fredricksburg up the road to Cherry Springs for the evening's show, becoming involved in an accidnt which took the life of their baby son. The song "Our Baby's Book" written by Ernest was written that night with a very different tone to his familiar vocals than his many fans had ever heard before. Every time it was sung, it was the same.
Ernest, one of the four creators of Honky Tonk Music (with Ted Daffan, Floyd Tillman & Al Dexter), often played at Cherry Springs due to its historical and lively atmosphere. Located on the old Pinta Trail, the Hall was originally opened as a stop for cattle drives with old adobe bunk houses in the rear. Herman Lehmann, adopted son of Comanche Chief Quanah Parker, ran the Hall for several years "`til he drank too much beer, got too fat.."

Gruene Hall Established: 1878
Gruene, Texas
FM 306 W. off I-35

The town was established on the Guadalupe River for the operation of the steam operated cotton gin, and by 1872 over 8000 acres were under cultivation. The Dance Hall was built by Heinrich Gruene along with a store and saloon for the local farmers. Reopened in 1979 it has inspired the entire town to be restored to its 1880’s appeal. Many young Artists from all over have played this monument to Texas Music, including Jerry Jeff Walker, George Strait, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Loose Diamonds and the Sisters Morales.
Only a few Halls such as Schroeder Hall, Fischer Hall and Anhalt Hall are oler than Gruene Hall, one of the older Honky Tonks in the entire Lone Star State. Great music all the time.

Luckenbach Dance Hall Established: 1849,

MY FAVORITE!

Saved by Hondo 1970
Luckenbach, Somewhere, U

SA The history that emulated from the Engles family and down through Hondo Couch, is still felt to those who are travel the small twisting road to Luckenbach. In 1849 Minna Engle opened a Post Office-Store-Saloon out on Snail Creek. It became a trading post for Indians and a source for supplies and entertainment for the local farmers. Back in 1970 a local farmer and a bit of a sage, Hondo Crouch, was driving by and was in need of a cold beer, but the place was closed. So, he bought it. Yep, the whole darn town, Post Office, Dance Hall, and of course, the beer joint. Hondo had a special soul with a magic touch. When Jerry Jeff Walker recorded "Viva Terlingua" live in the Dance Hall a few years later, times were revived. Twenty years later Jerry Jeff Walker returned to record "Viva Luckenbach." Thanks to JJW & Susan & the Gonzos, the old Honky Tonk & store were saved and re-souled. It's as old as a beer joint gets in Texas. Hey, it's still the Heart of Texas, and Hondo gave wisdom away. He had a true soul from deep from within his heart, and you can still feel his presence. Don't miss goin' around the corner to Grapetown and the Bat tunnel for some Hill Country history.

Do you have a favorite Boot-Stompion' Cowboy Dance Hall? If so tell us all about it!

A Cowboy's Christmas Poem

2011-12-25T01:00:00.000-08:00

Win a copy of Marin's most current release...

If you'd like a chance to win one of my books please submit your e-mail address in the "Follow" my blog by e-mail box. Next, send your e-mail address to marin@marinthomas.com and I will keep a master list of those following my blog by e-mail. Each month I'll select one of the e-mail's to recieve an autographed copy of my current release and post the winner's name in my blog.

You can also earn a chance to win one of my books by signing up for my monthly newsletter HERE. Each month I post a Wild West Trivia question in my Newsletter and choose a name from all those send in the correct answer.

A Cowboy's Christmas Prayer

I ain't much good at prayin', and you may not know me, Lord-

I ain't much seen in churches where they preach The Holy Word,

But You may have observed me out here on the lonely plains,

A-lookin' after cattle, feelin' thankful when it rains,

Admirin' Thy great handiwork, the miracle of grass,

Aware of Thy kind spirit in the way it comes to pass

That hired men on horseback and the livestock that we tend

Can look up at the stars at night and know we've got a Friend.

Don't let no hearts be bitter, Lord; don't let no child be cold/

Make easy beds for them that's sick, and them that's weak and old.

Let kindness bless the trail we ride, no matter what we're after,

And sorter keep us on Your side, in tears as well as laughter.

I've seen old cows a-starvin', and it ain't no happy sight;

Please don't leave no one hungry, Lord, on Thy good Christmas night-

No man, no child, no woman, and no critter on four feet-

I'll aim to do my best to help You find 'em chuck to eat.

I'm just a sinful cowpoke, Lord, - ain't got no business prayin' -

But still I hope You'll ketch a word or two of what I'm sayin':

We speak of Merry Christmas, Lord - I reckon You'll agree

There ain't no Merry Christmas for nobody that ain't free.

So one thing more I'll ask You, Lord: just help us what You can

To save some seeds of freedom for the future sons of man!

So here's ol' Christmas comin' on, remindin' us again

Of Him whose coming brought good will into the hearts of men.

A Cowboy ain't no preacher, Lord, but if You'll hear my prayer,

I'll ask as good as we have got for all men everywhere.

- S. Omar Barker

S. Omar Barker....Squire Omar Barker, named after his father, was born on a small mountain ranch at Beulah, New Mexico, in 1894, youngest of the eleven children of Squire Leander and Priscilla Jane Barker. He grew up on the family homestead, attended high school and college in Las Vegas, New Mexico, was in his youth a teacher of Spanish, a high school principal, a forest ranger, a sergeant of the 502nd Engineers in France in World War I, a trombone player in Doc Patterson's Cowboy Band, a state legislator and a newspaper correspondent. He began writing and selling stories, articles, and poems as early as 1914 and became a full-time writer at the end of his legislative term in 1925. He married Elsa McCormick of Hagerman, New Mexico, in 1927, and she also became a noted writer of Western stories.

He once estimated his career output at about 1,500 short stories and novelettes, about 1,200 factual articles, about 2,000 poems. They appeared in a broad range of publications from pulp magazines to such prestigious slicks as Saturday Evening Post and a varied array of general newspapers and magazines. He produced five volumes of poetry, one book of short stories and one novel, Little World Apart, as well as one western cookbook with Carol Truax. He was even a co-writer for one episode of the TV western "Sugarfoot" in 1957.The work probably best known to the general public was his poem, "A Cowboy's Christmas Prayer," which has been printed more than one hundred times, recorded by Tennessee Ernie Ford and Jimmy Dean, and plagiarized more than once. He won the Western Writers of America Spur Award twice and was the 1967 recipient of the Levi Strauss Saddleman Award for bringing honor and dignity to the Western legend. In 1975 he was named an honorary president of WWA, of which he was one of the founding fathers and an early president. Elsa also served a term as president. In 1978 he was the first living author to be inducted into the Hall of Fame of Great Westerners in the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, Oklahoma City.

Rodeo Cowboys & Superstitions

2011-12-18T01:00:00.000-08:00

It seems Blogger's gadget for "Followers" is a quirky little thing and refuses to function properly. I've removed it from my blog but I still plan to run a monthly contest. Here's what I'd like to try...submit your e-mail address in the "Follow" my blog by e-mail box. Next, send your e-mail address to marin@marinthomas.com and I will keep a master list of those following my blog by e-mail. Each month I'll select one of the e-mail's to recieve an autographed copy of my current release and post the winner's name in my blog.

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First things first….what is a superstition?

A practice or belief that is not based on facts or events that can be proven. Superstitions go back a long way in time and were used—still are used—when there is no scientific explanation for the cause and effect of things that happen like illnesses or weather-related incidences.

Following are 10 Unique Rodeo Superstitions that have been around for years and are still practiced at rodeos around the country.

1. Never Set Your Cowboy Hat on a Bed
It could lead to a major injury or even death. This belief comes from the close association of sleep with death (eternal rest, etc.) and the dangerous lifestyle of a rodeo cowboy. Instead, keep the hat on your head if you need a nap.

2. Never Wear Yellow in the Arena--Yellow is associated with cowardice.

3. Always Shave Before a Performance
Clean yourself up for lady luck.

4. Wear Different Color Socks on Each Foot
Other sports have similar superstitions to this one.

5. Never Compete with Change in Your Pocket
It might be all you'll win. Rodeo life is really a tough life. Unlike other sports competitors, rodeo cowboys do not receive a salary. Success is tied to winning and winning alone. This hard reality makes cowboys and cowgirls try to give 100% each time they compete because without the prize money you can't pay entry fees at the next show.

6. Don't Eat Peanuts or Popcorn
Eating this small and dried food can cause you to choke.

7. Never Kick a Paper Cup at a Rodeo.
Paper cups have a tendency to spook horses as they blow (or are kicked) around. This can lead to some pretty bad results.

8. Saddle Bronc Riders Should Mount Right Foot First
Medieval knights would mount from stands during jousts and would stick their feet in right side stirrups first due to the fact that the left side or sinister side was considered bad or evil. If this is the true reason for this belief, or something else is, it makes for a really interesting superstition.

9. Eat a Hot Dog Before the Rodeo

10. Never Read your Horoscope on Competition Day.
Don't tempt fate or your luck..

Do you have any strange superstitions that you practice?

2011 NFR Las Vegas, Nevada

2011-12-11T01:00:00.000-08:00

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Those of you who have read my books you know I love cowboys! My most recent series for Harlequin American Romance, Rodeo Rebels, showcases rodeo cowboys. A Rodeo Man's Promise (Dec 2011) features saddle-bronc rider, Riley Fitzgerald, whose main goal is to make it to the NFR and defend his title.

This past week Las Vegas hosted the NFR—National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mac Center on the University of Las Vegas, Nevada campus.

The best of the best rodeo cowboys competed for the coveted 14-carrott gold buckles and a whole lot of money. Bull riders went up against the top bucking bulls in the country….Outlaw, Jawbender, Devils Playground, Pimp my Ride, White Liar, Bring it and Rocket Man just to name a few.

Saddle bronc cowboys tried to best Lipstick & Whiskey, NY Mega Millions, Chuckulator, Prom Night, Miss Congeniality and more.

Bareback riders tangled with Full Baggage, Next 2 U, Working Girl, Mama Mia, PTSD Power Play, Tar Baby, River Boat Annie and more.

Why is rodeo such a unique sport? The NFR Media Guide says it best.

Competition: Unlike most other professional sports, where contestants are paid salaries regardless of how well they do at a particular competition, cowboys generally pay to enter each rodeo. If they place high enough to win money, they probably make a profit, but if they don’t, they’ve actually lost their entry fee and any travel expenses, so every entry is a gamble pitting the chance for loss and physical injury against the chance for financial windfalls and athletic glory. Also unlike most sanctioned professional sports, the hundreds of “playing fields” rodeo arenas of PRCA-sanctioned rodeos vary widely by locale. The size, shape, perimeter and roof/open top of an arena, as well as the chute configuration, greatly affect times for timed events and, to a lesser extent, scores for roughstock events. The differences are so significant that some timed-event cowboys own different horses for different types of arenas. For that reason, the most fair way to measure cowboys’ success in competition across the varied settings is by earnings. The total payout at PRCA rodeos in 2010 was $39,870,303 – a $2 million increase from 2009.

Fun facts about the NFR

For the past 20 years the event has been a complete sellout and is considered the toughest sporting event to get a ticket to in this U.S.

1200 tons of dirt (12-13 inches thick) are used to transform the coliseum floor into a rodeo arena.

Reba McEntire credits the NFR with launching her career. She sang the national anthem from 1974-1984 (10 nights in a row for over 10 years)

The Justine Sportsmedicine Team on wheels uses 3,000 miles of tape each year on the cowboys.

The 2011 NFR boasts a record-breaking 6 million dollar purse.

In one year's time the average bucking horse or bull works less than 5 minutes.

The Thomas and Mac center arena holds 17,000 people.

The NFR Rodeo entertains 170,000 people annually, uses 70,000 hotel rooms, and creates 56 million in non gaming revenue in Las Vegas.

Why do you never see a cowboy without wranglers? Wrangler jeans have no inseam—cowboys can ride and rope without the discomfort of an inseam chaffing their legs.

During the ten-day event in Vegas, NFR fans consume 75,000 beers, 15,000 water bottles, 26,000 sodas 4,500 nachos, 6,800 pretzels and 5,000 pizzas.

The rodeo animals eat 60 tons of grain and 170-190 tons of hay.

Rodeo animals outnumber the participants…..100 bulls, 200 horses, 75 calves, 120 steers and 80 flag horses

2011 World Champions!

So there you have it! The NFR is like no other sport and fan experience out there. If you've been to the NFR share your experience with us!

Favorite Cowboy Movies

2011-12-04T01:00:00.000-08:00

Be sure to "Follow" my blog each month for a chance to win a copy of my current release! Winners will be chosen at the end of the month and posted here on my blog.

One of my Favorite Western Movies is Conagher starring Sam Elliot and Katherine Ross. Katherine Ross is a strong heroine and the perfect compliment to Sam Elliot's rough cowboy ways.

BUY the Movie HERE.

The IMDb sums up the movie perfectly…

This movie is a love song to the west and to the man who made us love it too, Louis L'Amour. They got it all RIGHT in this one ... the script, the breathtaking cinematography, the casting, the acting, the costumes, the sets, the scenery, the direction, and the overall feel of the piece. And the frosting on the cake is that the book comes alive here, respectfully and faithfully transferred to film. We see the tough and solitary life of a cowpuncher as it was, the dirt, the sweat, the never ending dust, the loneliness, no punches pulled. It exudes values and ethics while never preaching, and it shows the courage of one woman alone with children in the west. It's a tribute, a slice of history, a love story, and a lesson in standing up for what's right. Mostly it's just plain beautiful.

And I agree one-hundred percent with the reviewer The Old Man From Albany...

Sam Elliot is the quintessential cowboy and this film allows him to portray the Louis L'Amour character perfectly. He is dangerous, gruff, decisive, courteous, as well as gentle and loving. He can stay in the fight after sustaining injuries that would lay-up a normal man, and prosecute the fight to the fullest extent. He can spend days on the trail, enduring the hardships, but will wash his hands before eating dinner. He is the perfect gentleman to a lady, as well as a hard-boiled barroom brawler. He always plays fair - one reason the cowboy in film history has become such an admirable personality. Sam also is able to portray "the same character" in The Quick & The Dead, with Kate Capshaw and Tom Conti, also a Louis L'Amour adaptation. The only reason not to absolutely love this picture is that is "made for network TV" picture, and there is limited to the full screen format and only has mono sound.

Do you have a favorite romantic western movie?

Cowboy Christmas Cards

2011-11-27T01:00:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Virginia--the winner of my November "Follow" this blog contest. Virginia won a copy of my December release, A Rodeo Man's Promise. Virginia please contact me at marin@marinthomas.com.

I will be running this contest again in December, so if you already "Follow" All My Heroes are Cowboys your name will automatically be entered into the December drawing and a winner will be chosen at the end of the month. My thanks to all of you for your support!

Nothing says "Merry Christmas" quite like a Cowboy Christmas card.

Christmas may be the only day a cowboy doesn't put his boots on in the morning.

"Howdy" The Cowboy way to say "Merry Christmas."

How fun to find this cowboy in your stocking on Christmas morning!

Would love to have these fellas at my dinner table on Christmas Day.

Bringing Home the Tree by Doug Prather...the quintessential cowboy Christmas image.

Do you have a favorite Christmas Card theme?"

Long Live the Bulldogger!

2011-11-20T01:00:00.000-08:00

Be sure to "Follow" my blog this month for a chance to win a copy of A Rodeo Man's Promise. Increase your chances of winning by signing up for my monthly Newsletter or Enter my Goodreads Giveway

What is a Bulldogger?

A bulldogger is a cowboy crazy enough to wrestle a steer. Said cowboy rides a horse and chases after a steer…drops from the horse to the steer and wrestles the animal to the ground by twisting its horns. This photo is of Morgan Evans, the 1927 World Steer Wrestling Rodeo Champion. Check out his feet: One cowboy boot and one low top shoe, which supposedly assures a quick dismount.

And here's one of the most famous bulldoggers in history….. Bill Pickett.

According to famoustexans Bill Pickett was a legendary cowboy from Taylor, Texas of black and Indian descent. He was born December 5, 1870, at the Jenks-Branch community on the Travis County line. He died April 2, 1932, near Ponca City, Oklahoma.

From 1905 to 1931, the Miller brothers' 101 Ranch Wild West Show was one of the great shows in the tradition begun by William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody in 1883. The 101 Ranch Show introduced bulldogging (steer wrestling), an exciting rodeo event invented by Bill Pickett, one of the show's stars.

Riding his horse, Spradley, Pickett came alongside a Longhorn steer, dropped to the steer's head, twisted its head toward the sky, and bit its upper lip to get full control. Cowdogs of the Bulldog breed were known to bite the lips of cattle to subdue them. That's how Pickett's technique got the name "bulldogging." As the event became more popular among rodeo cowboys, the lip biting became increasingly less popular until it disappeared from steer wrestling altogether. Bill Pickett, however, became an immortal rodeo cowboy, and his fame has grown since his death.

He died in 1932 as a result of injuries received from working horses at the 101 Ranch. His grave is on what is left of the 101 Ranch property near Ponca City, Oklahoma. Pickett was inducted into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1972 for his contribution to the sport.

Here's a photo of the modern-day steer wrestling event:

Bulldoggers are some of the strongest and tallest men on the rodeo circuit and make darn good romance heroes. I have yet to write a hero in one of my books who's a bulldogger. Maybe it's time I remedy that!

Whatcha Gonna Do With a Cowboy

2011-11-13T01:00:00.000-08:00

Quick reminder to my readers....

Chances to win my Book!

Now…..Back to Cowboys

Do you recall the Garth Brookes duet with Chris LeDoux...

Whatcha gonna do with a cowboy. For fun here's a youtube video

can see you got your eye on this old cowboy
And I can tell you never had one for your own
Or you never been around one
Now you're thinkin' that you've found one
Well, it might be kind of fun to take him home

You giggle every time that I say, "Yes, Ma'am"
And I get this feeling, if I held you tight
You'll be seeing "his" and "hers"
Buckles, boots and spurs
But that's a feeling you'll get over overnight

'Cause whatcha gonna do with a cowboy
When that old rooster crows at dawn
When he's lyin' there instead
Of getting out of bed
And puttin' on his boots and gettin' gone
Whatcha gonna do when he says, "Honey,
I got half a mind to stay"
Whatcha gonna do with a cowboy
When he don't saddle up and ride away

You see it takes a special kind of woman
To put up with the life a cowboy leads
'Cause his boots are always muddy
And his beer-drinkin' buddies
They'll camp out on the couch and never leave
Don't even start to think you're gonna change him
You'd be better off to try to rope the wind
What he is is whatcha got
And he can't be what he's not
And honey, you can't hide it from your friends

So whatcha gonna do with a cowboy
When that old rooster crows at dawn
When he's lyin' there instead
Of getting out of bed
And puttin' on his boots and gettin' gone
Whatcha gonna do when he says, "Honey,
I got half a mind to stay"
Whatcha gonna do with a cowboy
When he don't saddle up and ride away

Yeah, whatcha gonna do with a cowboy
When he don't saddle up and ride away

For those of us women who aren't married to "real" cowboys and can only get our cowboy fixes through reading romance novels….what would you do with a cowboy if you had one?

Cowboys to the Rescue

2011-11-06T01:00:00.000-07:00

According to Steven Tharp, DMV…. http://tharpveterinaryclinic.com/writings.html

NOT ALL COWBOYS HAVE RESCUED A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
In fact, many a beautiful woman has been rescued from a cowboy and indeed many of the women rescued by cowboys soon realize that 40 miles on the back of a horse is really no rescue at all, especially if they need to potty. And finally many rescue attempts end sadly with the rescued beauty being thrown from a green-broke gelding unaccustomed to riding double, thus the origins of the contemporary phrase: "Dumping your girlfriend."

Seeing how I write romance novels with cowboys heroes….I take exception to this proclamation. First off, A LOT can happen in those 40 miles on horseback…a picnic near a watering hole, a kiss beneath the shade of a tree and an unexpected swim in a stock tank that leads to lovemaking beneath the stars. And…most romance heroine's have bladders like camels and rarely need to use the ladies room. Second, if the heroine is "dumped" from the horse you can betcha she lands on her feet and gets right back on that horse…a romance heroine is nothing if not prideful.

So, fans of romance books how do you prefer your cowboy heroes…realistic or the stuff of fantasies?

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Win a copy of A Rodeo Man's Promise

December 2011

BUY!

I'm giving away a copy of A Rodeo Man's Promise at the end of November. For a chance to win...."Follow" my blog and I'll enter your name into the drawing!

Plus....Here's the link to my Goodreads Giveaway November 1-30th! Enter for a chance to win one of 5 Copies of A Rodeo Man's Promise . http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/16573-a-rodeo-man-s-promise

Chances to win A Rodeo Man's Promise

2011-10-30T11:36:00.000-07:00

I'm giving away a copy of A Rodeo Man's Promise at the end of November. For a chance to win...."Follow" my blog and I'll enter your name into the drawing!

Plus....
Here's the link to my Goodreads Giveaway November 1-30th! Enter for a chance to win one of 5 Copies of A Rodeo Man's Promise . http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/16573-a-rodeo-man-s-promise

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Cowboy vs. the Metrosexual...There's a lot of debate on whether women prefer a "Cowboy" or a "Metrosexual" man--you know one of those well-dressed, well-groomed guys who looks better than his date half the time. Just surf the web and you'll come across several articles on the subject.

Marti Salt Helium claims….

"The stereotypical Cowboy is far more attractive than a Metrosexual man, at least for most women. While most women could appreciate the meticulous appearance and impeccable taste that metro's are renowned for, when the tire blows out in the middle of rush hour traffic, somehow that Armani suit and Prada shoes aren't as impressive as a Cowboy pulling up in his dirt-caked Jeep, wielding a tire iron and the know how it takes to operate the tool. Deny it though they may, women like the certain unrefined crustiness that is the embodiment of man. Women like to dress well, and relish in the knowledge that the handsome man at their side can't put a matching outfit together by himself since Garanimals went defunct. It's a bit of healthy possessiveness, knowing he needs directing. And when it comes to the physical aspect, women who like men, want a man to take charge in the bedroom, not someone who is preening and wondering if he should have done those dozen extra crunches this morning now that he is faced with disrobing. A woman would much rather hear a hearty "YEEEEEEEE-HAW" than, "Does it look like I'm getting a love handle? I swear I shouldn't have had that Frappaccino! I'm soooooo naughty!"

BUY

Okay, I confess…I agree with Marti. I'll take a cowboy any day over a metrosexual man. Care to share your thoughts on this subject or put a plug in for the metrosexual guys? Don't forget to cast your vote in my poll located in the sidebar!

Cowboy Flaws

2011-10-23T16:35:00.000-07:00

Over the past few years I've learned how to write two books at one time because of overlapping deadlines or special projects that come my way. Most days I manage to keep my cowboy heroes straight, but there are times when I get them confused. So I've learned to keep track of my cowboy heroes not by their noble qualities but by their flaws....after all, most women know "perfect" men don't exist. Thinking back on the cowboy heroes I've written...here are a couple of flaws that pop into mind:

Rescues the heroine even if she doesn't need rescuing
Assumes he knows what's best for the heroine
Refuses to accept the heroine's help even though her way is the right way

What is the flaw in your favorite Cowboy Hero?

Cowboy "Will You Marry Me" Locations

2011-10-16T10:19:00.000-07:00

Cowboys might not be the most romantic of heroes but they score points for originality!

BUY!

Cowboys' Top Ten Marriage Proposal Places

1) In a Saloon

2) In a Bed
3) On Horseback
4) On a Hilltop Overlooking his Spread
5) At a Rodeo
6) In the back of a Pickup
7) At a Barbecue
8) In the Desert Beneath a Full Moon
9) During Spring Roundup
10) In a Hayloft

Have you read a romance lately where the cowboy proposed to his lady in an unusual way or place?

Cowboy Character Traits

2011-10-09T17:59:00.000-07:00

My cowboy heroes are required to possess the following traits or they won't find their way into my books.

Determination--once my cowboys set their mind to something they don't quit or give up until they succeed.

A Soft Heart--my cowboys always defend those who can't defend themselves and they never turn their back on someone in need.

A Moral Core --my cowboys hold themselves up to a higher standard. If this cowboy gives you his word...you can take it to the bank!

What character traits do your favorite cowboy heroes possess?

BUY!

The Heart of a Cowboy

2011-10-02T21:42:00.000-07:00

BUY!

Why such facination with the cowboy?  Is it the way he dresses--tight Wranglers, boots, Stetsons and large belt buckles?  Is it his "yes, ma'am"? His confident swagger?

You'll get no argument from me--the cowboy is a special breed among men.  A man who chooses to make his living as a cowboy possesses a pioneering spirit--he respects animals and nature at its best and worst. He's not afraid to take chances--win or lose. You can knock his legs out from under him and he'll stand up and come back for more.

But I think it's a cowboy's Heart that separates him from most heroes in romance fiction.  Cowboys "feel" deeply...and when a woman wins a cowboy's heart she knows it's forever.

What characterictics of the cowboy hero appeal the most to you?

Cowboys, Cowboys and more Cowboys

2011-09-26T16:41:00.000-07:00

BUY!

Well, I admit it. I have a *thing* for cowboys. As far as I can remember it all started when I was sixteen-years old and our family took a vacation out to Colorado and Arizona where I got my first glimpse of a *real* cowboy. From that moment on I was hooked on the Marlboro Man. I think it was the whole package that grabbed my attention...Wranglers, scuffed up boots, Stetson and his big ol' belt buckle. When he walked away, his swagger sealed my fate.

Of course returning to the Midwest after our vacation left me yearning for a glimpse of a real cowboy. Farmers wear Wranglers of course but I just couldn't quite accept the John Deere cap over a Stetson. The only place I could find a genuine cowboy was in a book...hence my love of western romances began, which years later led me to writing romances for Harlequin with cowboy heroes.

I think there's a *cowboy* in every man...some choose to show it through the clothes they wear or the pickup they drive. Other men embody the spirit of the cowboy in their quiet manners or take charge attitudes.

I hope you'll stop by from time to time and share your thoughts on my cowboy musings.

Happy Trails!
www.marinthomas.com