It’s Cowboy Poetry Week!
Posted on April 22, 2020 by prairiemoonquilts in Prairie Moon RanchAll week this week.
Usually, local libraries get in on the action, but they’re all closed this year. But that shouldn’t stop you from looking it up online and getting a little taste. Their web site, cowboypoetry.com, has lots of info, and their Facebook page has lots going on, especially this week. Or visit their blog for all that’s going on most recently.
This year’s poster image is a painting by Teal Blake, called “Ranch Water”:
“Ranch Water”, ©2019, Teal Blake
I’ve made some wonderful connections with a few really nice folks this way, and I even met a wonderful award-winning cowgirl poet/quilter — Yvonne Hollenbeck! Go check her out.
Meanwhile, here on our ranch, My Cowboy has been having good days and bad days. We just take them as they come, and hang in there. I’m sure it’s harder on him than me, but I’m a worrier, so my nerves take a hit on the bad days. He did manage to get his horse saddled and go for a short ride yesterday, but that usually makes the next day a bit more difficult. As long as he keeps his sense of humor, I know he’s pretty much all right, tho.
Yesterday morning, he had his first Telehealth video doctor’s appointment for a routine checkup. We spent some time Monday getting my iPad all set up for him to do this.
Before the appointment, he had to weigh himself and check his blood pressure. I thought he’d never get done checking his blood pressure until he had a number he was happy reporting in with! I kept telling him, “You have to sit still and not talk while you’re checking it! And hold your arm in the right position.”
And he was really happy that he had lost 8 pounds since his last check, meaning either my cooking is worse than I thought, or that he’s not retaining as much fluid around his heart and lungs. Hopefully, he’s losing the fluid!
We decided that the best place for him to sit for this Telehealth event would be at the desk in my office, so he climbed the stairs ahead of time. Bad decision.
As I looked at him, huffing and puffing after that effort, looking highly uncomfortable in my office chair, I realized that he’d have to be sitting there for nearly an hour, because you have to log on ahead of time, and then also sit through the appointment itself. So I asked him: “Are you gonna be able to sit in that chair for an hour?” He quickly retorted: “I can’t sit in ANY chair for an hour!” (His spinal degenerative arthritis makes sitting or lying or standing in any one position or place for very long impossible.) So we had to change plans.
I said, “Well, you have to log on 30 minutes ahead of time, so you need to pick a spot for the next 30 minutes.” His answer . . .
“The only chair I’m gonna need in the next 30 minutes is the round white one with the hole in it in the bathroom. I et oatmeal fer breakfast!”
While I still haven’t stopped laughing from that, we did decide that he could sit on the edge of the bed for a few minutes while waiting, and then when the appointment started, he could prop himself up in bed on pillows for the duration of that. So that worked. It was pretty handy to have his appointment that way, and it sure beat doing all that driving to get into the city and back for an in-person appointment!
So I guess we’ll just keep plugging along for now, hoping for more good days than bad. It’s a good thing he’s Cowboy Tough.
I’ll leave you with this photo of My Cowboy in his much younger days, doing things he probably shouldn’t have been doing even back then!
Can’t see him? Here’s a hint:
Do you see how high in the air that horse is??? If he was still doing things like this, my nerves would be totally gone.
After suffering his first heart attack at age 18, he always says: “If I’da known I was gonna live this long, I might have taken better care of myself!” But no, he wouldn’t have. He’s a Cowboy — it’s a rough life! And then they’re harder on themselves than they even have to be.
Here’s a photo I took of him a few years ago, doing what he loves best, movin’ cows around:
And if you’re in the mood for a good laugh, you can go check out all of My Cowboy’s sage advice and Cowboy Wisdom HERE. Don’t snort yer coffee out yer nose!
He is staying on the horse awesome. Liked the Cowboy Wisdom,
oh my. My Indian name is…. lol. how funny
LOL! Your Cowboy’s page was hilarious! Thank you both!
xx
Life in general is difficult right now. I pray for you and your cowboy. I love reading your posts. Take care of yourself, my friend.
So glad your husband is doing better. Most dr. appointments are via internet or phone nowadays. Stay safe and well.
I sure hope it’s fluid dropping off too, and I hope he makes a full recovery soon!
Prayers for you both. Trying times for sure
If you haven’t heard of Glenn Ohrlin, a cowboy poet, a rancher, feel free to Google his name.
We first saw him in Mt View, AR over 30 yrs ago. Had made his home there for years. He performed at the Ozark Folk Center , but we enjoyed him mostly, on summer nights, when he came to town & would sit in the yard by the music store. He would share poetry, but the stories he told were fascinating. Prob a large % true. Glenn passed away in 2015, age 89.
Love you and enjoy your posts. Praying for peace and strength for you and your cowboy.
In my family we say “It is better to burn out than rust out.” And we have the bruises, scars, aches and pains to prove it! Husband just had 5 staples removed from the back of his head yesterday…
Thank you for posting your cowboys wisdom. I really needed that good laugh today!
I love all your posts, Shelly, and hope things calm down over there soon. Tell the Cowboy to keep up those clever sayings, but I can only read a few at a time. It’s embarrassing to be sitting alone and snorting with laughter. Even the cats are looking at me strangely.
Your Cowboy’s wisdom did have me snorting tea out of my nose. So worth it for thang chuckles and giggles.
We spent many a year attending Cowboy Poetry Gatherings and our girl started writing and performing it at age 6. She just had a knack for it. She could even recite “The Man From Snowy River” from memory and that’s a long poem.
Wishing more good days than hard ones for ya’ll. A little time in the saddle is the best medicine for a cowboy’s heart! Keeping ya’ll in prayer too.