tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71603392257091295602024-02-06T19:35:23.540-08:00Little Apple SeedsThoughts and opinions as they filter in and outlittle apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-56831485045930629772011-11-11T11:37:00.000-08:002011-11-11T11:55:09.088-08:00Veteran's Day ThoughtsApple Seeds - <br />Living near an Army base, and having lived here the majority of my life, I am constantly aware of the military presence. We lost our family farm to the expansion of the army reservation. Not the best of memories but one I came to terms with a long time ago. I consider that our sacrifice, just like veterans have made their sacrifices. Well, not just like but in a parallel fashion. <br /><br />I've seen the military experience take so much from veterans.... limbs, life style, lives. For us, our farm and childhood home. But I've seen the military experience give back so much..... protecting us of course, but building exemplar individuals of young people, giving us all a tremendous sense of pride and patriotism, not to mention the important part they play in the local economy here in our community. <br /><br />I believe so strongly that we have a tremendous responsibility to select the best leaders we can to lead and utilize our military men and women in the best possible way, and not put them in harm's way for unjust causes. If I am ever critical of decisions we have made, it is because I love and respect our military men and women and want them led in the best way possible. Not an easy task, I know!little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-21891901354350481892011-10-21T15:59:00.000-07:002011-10-21T16:16:39.465-07:00Straddlin' the fence.... as usualThe pressures to "believe as I believe" are being hurled at us from all sides. Gives me pause to wonder, Just what DO I believe.<br /><br />The unhappy conservatives are so full of hate. They want their freedom to make it or die, at any cost. Less government, less interference. Now I can buy that. Let me compete, go for it, maybe become a rich woman on my own. Don't tell ME what to do. <br /><br />But wait, why is it under that system the rich got rich and the rest of us got.... unemployed? Or foreclosed on? As much as I want to be free to fail, I don't want to fail because I was handed a loaded deck. I've been lucky. I have a job. But what if I didn't have one and couldn't find one. Don't tell me that letting the big corporations have free rein will create more jobs when I'm unemployed. I don't see any proof that that works. <br /><br />Still, I know that hand outs do not a self reliant people make. And someone has to pay for them, they just don't fall off trees.<br /><br />Can you see where I'm going here? We're damned if we do and damned if we don't. <br /><br />All of that aside, I don't see how being hateful and disrespectful is getting us anywhere! What ever happened to the old fashioned Christian value of love thy neighbor! <br /><br />Oh my!little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-79870510325774225932011-05-09T14:57:00.000-07:002011-10-25T11:26:14.040-07:00Some random thoughtsApple Seeds <br />I haven't blogged in so long, its been ages and ages. <br />I guess I can blame it on getting hooked on Facebook. I find it fun to communicate with a lot of folks on a daily or more often basis without getting too deep into things.<br />But today I want to make a few comments that may be too much for good old casual facebook commentary. <br />Fact is, I question whether I should even put my neck out but I feel a need to get a few things off my chest or out in the open or something.... Guess I can always delete them if I feel I should.<br />Some observations - <br />At the time of 9-11, I remember a woman being interviewed with some others. Her husband or boyfriend was missing and presumed possibly killed in the towers. As far as I could tell from later findings, I believe he had died. I think he was a waiter or something in a restaurant up high. <br />Now remember, we did not yet know who had done this horrible thing. Her comment was that if he was dead, she was fairly certain that he would say that he did not want others to die because he was killed. That such would not avenge or requite his death. I was so surprised that this woman could be so together at this time of unbelievable sorrow to think that thru and utter such a thought.<br />I also thought that there was no way such a thing would not happen. It seemed to me our need to defend coupled with an eye for an eye mentality would explode and indeed it did.<br />Once we determined that the perpetrator was centered in bin Laden we went after him. But for reasons I didn't understand (or more correctly think I do understand) we went after him not where he might be, but in another country. <br />Now, after what, ten years, and how many lives, we finally have killed the s.o.b. I do not mourn his life. But I do mourn the many who have died because of him on and since 9-11. And I mourn all those who have yet to loose their lives because of him. <br />Should we hav gone after him? Of course we should have. If a varmit raids the chicken house or the lamb pen, you don't just leave it to continue its horrible habit. But could there have been a less destructive way to have gone after him? I have to wonder. <br />I do not intend to disrespect our military men and women with these thoughts. They continue to give their most and sacrifice their best to protect me. But I have to wonder if the direction they were sent was the most prudent.<br />I wonder what that woman who lost her man in 9-11 now thinks?little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-87696981489576916612010-04-06T14:21:00.000-07:002010-04-06T14:33:38.474-07:00Easter means project viewingI got to visit the youngest daughter and crew for Easter. We went to her in-laws for dinner. Its always wonderful! Makes me feel guilty that I don't manage to have family gatherings like that!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirv9Q-w-bs2WM-nD6Q7xj1uvGueyPLLAiQgQI4n07Jai9d_FDrSLO57KqcvexDg-tAAlXixpE8kVpcN40Y6q3_n0YbP8RJ2xlET-z5ev3ijsti5i7S8pDYfGXG0-as-Y5Qxia16qP5nVWt/s1600/Brody's+goats.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirv9Q-w-bs2WM-nD6Q7xj1uvGueyPLLAiQgQI4n07Jai9d_FDrSLO57KqcvexDg-tAAlXixpE8kVpcN40Y6q3_n0YbP8RJ2xlET-z5ev3ijsti5i7S8pDYfGXG0-as-Y5Qxia16qP5nVWt/s320/Brody's+goats.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457139583947270690" /></a><br />Besides good food and good company, I got to see the boys' animal projects, at least some of them. Brody loves his goats. Coy gets involved too but not as much as his big brother, at least not yet. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3-RaCB9zv_FVrk74iFo1UyV86KSdJNjNifDAtEnrhuJiG3UzDRhK4cxjvHsVTrDwvFDzg-Y_S5GTlmEvuCEgEX3dJw65jatT4JGCBRjsqiDy7IWNUXpV_EgBvaglNNO71-kYBKy-Ngct/s1600/Driving+Pig.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3-RaCB9zv_FVrk74iFo1UyV86KSdJNjNifDAtEnrhuJiG3UzDRhK4cxjvHsVTrDwvFDzg-Y_S5GTlmEvuCEgEX3dJw65jatT4JGCBRjsqiDy7IWNUXpV_EgBvaglNNO71-kYBKy-Ngct/s320/Driving+Pig.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457139585912166178" /></a><br />We also visited the pig pen. It was hot and those little porkers were complaining about it mid afternoon. Got a shot of Brody trying to persuade one of them to go get on the scales. Behaved like a typical woman about that! <br /><br />Fair time will be fun this year, that's for sure!little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-41184671435264865402010-04-02T12:39:00.000-07:002010-04-02T12:50:29.431-07:00Maundy Thursday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTG0CVL7FFZGEApuvgD9S1__lvSwsjP-NaUTiUd87_0xLyxumOFRcC-n4ITRlC4hlEBolsogvpCZ_dFlI2_CALPhpfU2tek6CumYcGEdTcQwnja5Ar_bQgqRaGJ_mCcgrIpuCPAnD4h6oR/s1600/Maundy+Thursday+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTG0CVL7FFZGEApuvgD9S1__lvSwsjP-NaUTiUd87_0xLyxumOFRcC-n4ITRlC4hlEBolsogvpCZ_dFlI2_CALPhpfU2tek6CumYcGEdTcQwnja5Ar_bQgqRaGJ_mCcgrIpuCPAnD4h6oR/s320/Maundy+Thursday+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455629214806136306" /></a><br />Maundy Thursday services at our church are my favorite service all year long, I think even more than Christmas Eve. That one is so special but full of twinkling lights and lots of music and people dressed up, at least some of us. Lots to catch the eye, ear and mind!<br /><br />But Maundy Thursday is so simple, so focused and without distractions! Our pastor does it alone even to playing the keyboard for the singing. Two hymns, gospel scripture about the last supper, prayer and simple communion. Broken loaf and the goblet of wine on the table at the front of our little sanctuary. Everyone goes forward when they want, alone or with a family member, breaks the bread and dips into the wine. No music, just silence! Time to really think about what it all represents without any disruption. <br /><br />I took the photo as I was leaving the parking lot! Really caught the radiance of the moment I think!little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-58000979832914306262010-03-11T12:31:00.000-08:002010-03-16T06:58:48.736-07:00The ABC's of MeThe ABC's of Me.<br />I'm a sucker for these things. Someone was playing tag with it among bloggers and I just couldn't resist.<br /><br /><br />A- Age: Satchel Page said something about how old would you be if you didn't know how old you are? Well, some days I think not so old, other days I think ancient! Age is a state of mind but its certainly affected by the hard facts of aging.<br /><br />B- Bed size: Queen.<br /><br />C- Chore you hate: Washing - dishes, clothes, just about anything.<br /><br />D- Dog's name: None now, Tuff was my favorite.<br /><br />E- Essential food/item: Potatoes. I love them, and they love me, all of me. My waste, my hips, my butt, my.....<br /><br />F- Favorite color: Purple today, Go Cats! Beat OSU!<br /><br />G- Gold or silver: Silver, or white Gold<br /><br />H- Height: Like I'm vertically challenged and horizontally extended but I get along.<br /><br />I- I am: old enough to know better, but it doesn't stop me.<br /><br />J- Job: handler of numbers, keyboards, computer stuff.<br /><br />K- Kids: Two<br /><br />L- Living arrangements: Nice walk-out basement apartment secluded in the country yet close to town.<br /><br />M-Mom's name: Elsie Mae. My bro nicknamed her Lamela Camela for LC. Get it?<br /><br />N- Nickname: Was Sarge way back when, now maybe Grams?<br /><br />O- Overnight hospital stay.....Having children, everything else so far has been outpatient.<br /><br />P- Pet peeve: I cannot tolerate intolerant people! (I've always loved this oxymoron statement. Its right on.)<br /><br />Q- Quote from a movie: sort of a paraphrase. I think George C. Scott asked Faye Dunaway's character, if you had your pick would you have the organ that goes out or the one that goes in. Her reply, Both! Then I wouldn't need a man for anything! Movie - Oklahoma Crude.<br /><br />R- Right or left handed: Right.<br /><br />S- Siblings: 2, the twins<br /><br />T- Time you wake up: Between 5 and 6, the time I get up that is. And its not really by choice.<br /><br />U- Unique thing about your car: Its mine.<br /><br />V- Vegetable you hate: Can't think of one. I'm not real fond of squash but I'll eat it. And brussel sprouts are my favorite!<br /><br />W- Ways you run late: Waiting for whoever I'm going with. I seem to travel with a lot of run-late folks.<br /><br />X- X-rays you've had: Can't remember them all. Chest, neck, teeth, who knows. But no appendages that I can remember.<br /><br />Y- Yummy food you make: Sweet and sour pork.<br /><br />Z- Zoo favorite: Oh, that member of the giraffe family, okapi I think its called. Absolutely beautiful!<br /><br />That;s the ABC of me! Think I should work on some of these, see if they can be more interesting! Or rather I can be more interesting.little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-33873321527376278872010-02-03T11:13:00.000-08:002010-02-03T11:28:32.342-08:00Keats Lions ClubLions President Joyce Troyer presents Lion Darrell Westervelt with his lavaliere for being a 25-year member. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSuBq-OrDgYS2v4ZllxGkAC_DtW77syEKYbzOkyflF3mjXtJh1gW6FUoUcImGDceo9Ov_tKtcYurkyE0isCWGG5vOGFJP3i8MoHvqIWy5-OvLVTrsVM-lHkahWCbON-VYYqBk0w_Yp9Zb/s1600-h/100_0072_2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 314px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSuBq-OrDgYS2v4ZllxGkAC_DtW77syEKYbzOkyflF3mjXtJh1gW6FUoUcImGDceo9Ov_tKtcYurkyE0isCWGG5vOGFJP3i8MoHvqIWy5-OvLVTrsVM-lHkahWCbON-VYYqBk0w_Yp9Zb/s320/100_0072_2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434100061262000018" /></a><br />I belong to the Keats Lions Club. We are small but mighty, at least in terms of boosting our own little community. We have supported the building of the local park and its improvements — a nice shelter house, a fitness trail, playground equipment, a basketball court, flagpole and flower gardens, trees, benches, you name it, if we haven't done it, we've been giving our encouragement and support to those who did. <br /><br />Other things we support are scholarships for local high school seniors to get them off to higher education, funds for the KSDS service dog program at Washington Kansas, a community Christmas dinner co-hosted with the Keats Methodist Church, local highway cleanup along with the Wildcat 4-Hers. We provide the 4-Hers with recognition of their annual achievement winners. The annual Easter egg hunt will be coming up soon. Our annual consignment auction at the beginning of June raises funds to be used for community activities including a fall festival the 4th Sunday of September. <br /><br />Not bad for a little group of 16 members! And we have a lot of fun doing it!little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-49865927658185752452009-12-25T09:06:00.000-08:002009-12-25T09:29:33.814-08:00Holidays 2009My holidays 2009 have been most unusual! I've spent every day more or less from Thanksgiving to Christtmas sick. Got the flu (probably H1N1) the day before Thanksgiving. Stayed home. The landlady brought me some turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans. That was the last meat of any consequence I ate for several weeks. Food became a chore to eat but necessary to cushion the meds. Still got sore digestive tracks. And cough! A necessary and uncontrolable evil, or was it God sent. The flu resulted in pneumonia. So much for pneumonia shot.<br /><br />The only good thing to come out of it was to have my eldest daughter come and spend a week with me. Cleaned my apartment. Waited on me hand and foot. It was almost worth getting sick..... almost. <br /><br />Finally managed to put in a few hours at the office over the last week. I had gotten so sick of day time tv. And I normally love tv. <br /><br />I managed to get to youngest daughter's on the morning of Christmas eve before the storm moved in. Not sure when I'll make it back home. The big Chrristmas event here is that the 4-H gilts are farrowing. One litter on Christmas eve day and signs anotther will farrow sometime today, Christmas day. Grandson #1 is a very watchful hogman. Spends a lot of time in the farrowing shed. The smell comes in on the clothes and its not the most wonderful smell in the world. Smell of money? We can hope. We'll have to remember this at fair time. Its the boys first experience with farrowing so I'm sure it is worth it regardless of the financial outcome.<br /><br />Christtmas eve services were canceled. The boys had speaking parts. They're to do them Sunday morning so I will probably stay until then. <br /><br />I hope others are having equally unique, safe and entertaining celebrations of our Savior's birth!little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-78540210455085801382009-11-23T12:31:00.000-08:002009-11-23T13:11:42.108-08:00Busy month<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMuEJ6HMoz05X6Y_gq3UaUZOwOrkmQDaNT4BcTAat-y8T50LCsRAg5fUBfoN41WJvhFNMjr-N3aqsciDzPnQznFmPxbwJLSeV1wnyo0SZu50e-73YlE2a8alZrLywEEUvQSf5Ba5sGe7d/s1600/100_0062.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMuEJ6HMoz05X6Y_gq3UaUZOwOrkmQDaNT4BcTAat-y8T50LCsRAg5fUBfoN41WJvhFNMjr-N3aqsciDzPnQznFmPxbwJLSeV1wnyo0SZu50e-73YlE2a8alZrLywEEUvQSf5Ba5sGe7d/s320/100_0062.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407409768201985186" /></a><br />Goodness me! I see I haven't posted since the 12th of Oct. It has been busy, busy!<br /><br />Mid-October I went to Cheyenne by way of Colorado to a college rodeo. The family and I stayed at The Plainsman Hotel, an old hotel in downtown Cheyenne. The younger granddaughters didn't like that it didn't have an indoor swimming pool but I thought the nostalgic atmosphere was great fun. I roomed with the granddaughters other grandma, who remembered there was a Jimmy Stewart movie about a place in Cheyenne, The Cheyenne Social Club. Seems Stewart was a cowpoke who inherited a brothel...... This couldn't have been the place.......<br /><br />The granddaughter competed well, made the short go in 2 events and ended up placing 8th I think in the breakaway roping. She went for it and were it not for that calf being about 3 inches slower than you would want, she would have won that event. Rodeo builds great character!<br /><br />Since then I went to Washington DC for the work convention. Spent my free day walking in the rain to see the WWII memorial. Also went to the new American Indian museum, part of the Smithsonian complex. Wow! It is most definitely worth seeing. They have a food court featuring foods related to native people in varying areas of the country. I ate salmon from the Northwest. One of my office mates ate buffalo sandwich from the Plains area, and the other had rabbit pot pie from the Northeast. Good food served in a beautiful setting.<br /><br />My daughter BK, gd Annie and Annie's friend Mikki stayed with me 4 nights and saw a good portion of DC. Their favorites included the old post office building, Ford's Theater, and who knows what else. I met them at the airport the first night and we had a limo tour of DC back to the hotel. The only trouble was it was raining (rained most of the time we were there) and the windows steamed over. <br /><br />Because I had to be in DC, I missed out on going to my sister-in-law's funeral. The other daughter attended for all of us. She took the youngest g-son who is 6. While at the cemetery she showed him his grandfather's grave (my husband). Bob was a farmer and a fisherman, thus his gravestone has a shaft of wheat and a leaping fish on it. Coy looked things over, then said, "So, a fish killed him?"<br /><br />Its been an especially pretty fall here and I almost had time to enjoy it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOBYxSsjd5FxaDOfl9BqQy19TXCy16UzKaacnnuico6cZKgB6jWluZjsIVn-UoWZhHWZjQISSAOGuDmS4JMlYKGDu2tHWRwKOR3tpd0Tphl0HEPAcAy-pRCKKtzw56l7uzauN9KAkkXIU/s1600/100_0063.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOBYxSsjd5FxaDOfl9BqQy19TXCy16UzKaacnnuico6cZKgB6jWluZjsIVn-UoWZhHWZjQISSAOGuDmS4JMlYKGDu2tHWRwKOR3tpd0Tphl0HEPAcAy-pRCKKtzw56l7uzauN9KAkkXIU/s320/100_0063.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407409119853508210" /></a>little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-36707467500377833312009-10-12T14:47:00.000-07:002009-10-12T14:54:42.259-07:00Ladybug and the Boys<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrARsYjUeNcjGbNXuxDHDF76YTHOiEHmjZW1FBBylVNLYKaOQXSuScYvyfxLdSJW96MaRPADb3uBkhvwlrGSOwSAlKmftfDx1H-z6X1VUKiIik3e46pyVx2yuWvN8A03nOg_1B_Q3kf8pv/s1600-h/LadyBug_092609__0004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrARsYjUeNcjGbNXuxDHDF76YTHOiEHmjZW1FBBylVNLYKaOQXSuScYvyfxLdSJW96MaRPADb3uBkhvwlrGSOwSAlKmftfDx1H-z6X1VUKiIik3e46pyVx2yuWvN8A03nOg_1B_Q3kf8pv/s320/LadyBug_092609__0004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391834787488922242" /></a><br />The boys have a new little mare. She's been to some rodeos so we're anxious to see what she can teach the boys. And how much fun they can have learning! Hope she enjoys teaching, it will make it a better experience..... for her and for the boys!<br /><br />The picure was taken the day they brought her home a few weeks back. Sure wasn't taken this weekend. That photo was a summer shot; now it would be a winter one. With coats and even gloves. <br /><br />Anyway, welcome to the family, Ladybug!little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-82653360604123061602009-09-30T14:51:00.000-07:002009-09-30T15:07:12.985-07:00Homecoming Attendant<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7c04IEglSvn609oLkqpGleavKaFrWJKODwbP01_JZKFboSFqc4eOpSih-_wCOtX1xdJeiM6AnjkdDuInt8eSvP9xMzMZJ-VtI10bjMxuizrhuQX7YPn84aBjjwoizhGUQrZ3dxdrGF4yk/s1600-h/100_0040_2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 139px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7c04IEglSvn609oLkqpGleavKaFrWJKODwbP01_JZKFboSFqc4eOpSih-_wCOtX1xdJeiM6AnjkdDuInt8eSvP9xMzMZJ-VtI10bjMxuizrhuQX7YPn84aBjjwoizhGUQrZ3dxdrGF4yk/s320/100_0040_2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387383518096765410" /></a><br /><br />Went to see youngest grandson Coy serve as crown bearer at the Washington County High School homecoming last Friday night. He did his job quite well! His mama, dad and grandparents all almost busted their buttons they were so proud. <br /><br />I called Colorado on the way up and Annie answered the phone. When I told her what was going on, she reminded me she once did that. I made her a blue satin dress for it. I didn't get to go see her do her thing back then but got to see a photo or two. Unfortunately, I don't have one at my fingertips.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVeDZkhpRRvyUSbCxBx-6Vy6CZlPKBnlgOgNizbKhVsUsUMUNYG27wEgD_KIjUqJxV95nEJfUuD1TvJoSW_FG0wHd7iNLcqUH5H5I1RWcscmj7kuM4qRXu9UhMjbOFtjDhRwoyPzTU-rK/s1600-h/100_0042_2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 227px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVeDZkhpRRvyUSbCxBx-6Vy6CZlPKBnlgOgNizbKhVsUsUMUNYG27wEgD_KIjUqJxV95nEJfUuD1TvJoSW_FG0wHd7iNLcqUH5H5I1RWcscmj7kuM4qRXu9UhMjbOFtjDhRwoyPzTU-rK/s320/100_0042_2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387384108640914818" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOblVJc0VJ88IBEy8xEOvtzEtE6F9uwMhQ40dcF9wsQnvt845VJzRVAJiMneiz8HOHmsGeUhQX7HKaeANHzz5F_4soA7VeBOM0kBB1q8bksnWd2sd1WT0wtkZyOMezFYkek6VUNh1mUaQ4/s1600-h/100_0041_2_2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOblVJc0VJ88IBEy8xEOvtzEtE6F9uwMhQ40dcF9wsQnvt845VJzRVAJiMneiz8HOHmsGeUhQX7HKaeANHzz5F_4soA7VeBOM0kBB1q8bksnWd2sd1WT0wtkZyOMezFYkek6VUNh1mUaQ4/s320/100_0041_2_2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387384098471249842" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkSsIUEtRVNdOf1zDI4S88brLv7oYMCgqgwbRoqnN6KLIWUsJWNKd97_vc5-xObEsuai0vMbGz-LLNF5gaEpJF5Vj47bZfVAd9mKBWeuDAKNxKQ7_JgdP5mRHT9c91pkfl9R1MZX6iC8a/s1600-h/100_0043_2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 173px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkSsIUEtRVNdOf1zDI4S88brLv7oYMCgqgwbRoqnN6KLIWUsJWNKd97_vc5-xObEsuai0vMbGz-LLNF5gaEpJF5Vj47bZfVAd9mKBWeuDAKNxKQ7_JgdP5mRHT9c91pkfl9R1MZX6iC8a/s320/100_0043_2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387384118373988626" /></a>little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-43679859755075321602009-09-24T15:12:00.000-07:002009-09-25T10:12:21.109-07:00K-State BandKSU Band Day is Saturday. My big strong nephew is one of the tuba players. There are 22 of those big things. The horns I mean. Most of the players are big, too, but some are sweet little gals who are also strong. You've got to be to haul one of those dudes around and do all the dance moves they do with them. <br /><br />The tubas not only anchor the band with their big bass sound, they anchor it physically with those big horn bells above everybody else, turning and bowing and just generally making a big splash. Love em. When nephew-the elder was in K-State band, he was in the drum line and I thought the drum line was the anchoring force. I still do as far as the beat that guides everyone but for physical beauty, love them tubas. <br /><br />The band has brand new uniforms this year so that is special. Number over 300 I think. They are a sight to behold and a sound to move you. <br /><br />To kick off the season, the band did its annual breaking out party so-to-speak in Aggieville. After their marching in and playing in the street, they were treated to sandwiches or ice cream or something in Varney's. So the section lined their horns up on the sidewalk and took turns standing guard. My sister had the idea to take a photo of them with her cell phone and I became the copycat and took one, too. Quite a sight!<br /><br />Go Cats!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTHnYfQfPPB9J9QdchQ9twkNtAO0vfOlkXpxaJoEDPjknvwB0oaCkEEYNV-naxfE3rkROo-Z74iOzE1Pwd9nE8vchhLnn58qWHMU9UEcuFEN90WD5wFq-90o-W0LdoiW0ADgJanZ9EQPJ/s1600-h/Tuba.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTHnYfQfPPB9J9QdchQ9twkNtAO0vfOlkXpxaJoEDPjknvwB0oaCkEEYNV-naxfE3rkROo-Z74iOzE1Pwd9nE8vchhLnn58qWHMU9UEcuFEN90WD5wFq-90o-W0LdoiW0ADgJanZ9EQPJ/s320/Tuba.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385164942568999426" /></a>little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-79855262181556583502009-09-18T09:37:00.000-07:002009-09-18T09:40:50.696-07:00Wayne Dunafon, Ks Cowboy Hall of Fame<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaHhgyKnRY5Ws-po2nOmQGPXcokiS5XC7-KIYUX8BbrPPfJLJh-knGqFCynpYSwOqUNf41t62jdSNm7zsLFRrfLPdFIPkD91uDc1sSDaThhlk_uHqW90Zshtfjpeg1h3n-AKngLWcwypZ/s1600-h/Dunafon+KCHF+photos.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaHhgyKnRY5Ws-po2nOmQGPXcokiS5XC7-KIYUX8BbrPPfJLJh-knGqFCynpYSwOqUNf41t62jdSNm7zsLFRrfLPdFIPkD91uDc1sSDaThhlk_uHqW90Zshtfjpeg1h3n-AKngLWcwypZ/s320/Dunafon+KCHF+photos.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382848300181934178" /></a><br />The Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame Induction was last Saturday. Its held at Dodge City at the Front Street Museum. There were five inducted - 3 who are living and 2 posthumously. The categories are Rodeo Cowboy, Working Cowboy, Rancher/Stockman, Entertainer/Artisit and Historian.<br /><br />I was particularly pleased to be able to support the induction of the late Wayne Dunafon in the Rodeo category as he was from my area of the state. Wayne, born in 1919, died in 2001 after a full life that included riding in the Turtle Cowboy Association, the Rodeo Cowboy Association and the Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association over many decades. While most pro rodeo cowboys specialize in one or two events, Wayne did them all. He won a lot of saddles, buckles and the like.<br /><br />Wayne's other claim to fame was what he did to promote the cowboy image to everyone, not just to the Western life lovers. An ad agency picked him out at a rodeo back East and made him a model. He represented Lee jeans but is more well known for being one of the Marlboro Man fellas. He also worked in the movies some. But back home he was a down to earth rancher.<br /><br />Wayne was inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2005 and is now in the Kansas one as well. I wonder how many other states have such a thing?little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-56503847940025009792009-09-15T14:12:00.000-07:002009-09-16T15:02:52.844-07:00My trip to my other hometownSeems I've been so-o-o-o busy, that I haven't had time to write. How can that be? I don't have a live-in family to take care of. Or a farm or any animals. Just me. My job. My couple of projects. Trips to the dentist, doctor. <br /><br />Lots of weekend travel. I went "home" to Oberlin for an anniversary celebration and to see some friends. All was good. I only embarrassed myself a couple of times at the celebration by not knowing people I should have. And I didn't feel too bad since they didn't all recognize me at first glance either. <br /><br />Staying with my good friends Mar and Jerry is always a treat. We have so many things to catch up on. Seems we talk non-stop from the time I walk in until I walk out. Mar keeps a beautiful home. Its like staying at a bed and breakfast. Always makes me feel guilty since its a talent I am lacking. I should also give Jerry credit because his woodworking talents are fantastic! He has redone both the kitchen and the bath to something akin to what you would see on HG channel. <br /><br />We drove around and saw the sights.... who lives where and who's moved. The feedlot is much larger than the last time I looked at it. Not a lot of cattle in it right now but lots of space to put them when...... I am still in love with the wide open space. But they could use some of the trees we have in Manhattan area.<br /><br />Looking over a small town makes me chuckle. When I moved back to Manhattan, everyone in classes and what-not referred to Manhattan as a small town. Give me a break! They don't know what small town is. Small town is where you know the names of everybody you see, who they're related to, where they work, and all the interesting (and boring) stuff about them. And they know all that about you. I'm not kidding. <br /><br />When I first went to Oberlin, some people moved into town but didn't stay long. The woman didn't like that people spoke to her and called her by name and knew who she was. I took it as a compliment, she felt she was being intruded upon.<br /><br />But some things are the same no matter the size of your small town. Manhattan has its development projects that have people supporting and people opposing. Well, Oberlin has the same thing. The similarities of town politics struck me as uncanny. I guess the same could be said for national politics right now. Its just the volume of the yelling that gets bigger!little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-52954059665541963822009-08-17T12:24:00.000-07:002009-08-18T06:22:34.124-07:00Sharon's school for student doctorsDoctor's appointment this morning! Nice new student doctor lady saw me before my regular doctor got to me. <br />Oh, how I'd like to stop these kids and say, hey, who do you think you're talking to? Someone who just got off the boat?<br />It went something like this.....<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">So how long have you had diabetes?</span><br />Forever! (I smile.) Well, since the '80s.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">And what medicine are you currently taking for it?</span><br />I rattle off the list.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Are they keeping it under control?</span> <br />My thought - you've got the records right in front of you, you can answer that as well as I can. But I don't point that out, I just make a nice comment about it doing pretty good. Then I make the mistake of saying the Byetta isn't working as well at controlling weight as it did at first. I see the flags go up. <span style="font-style:italic;">We'll have to look into why that is.</span><br />Next point - <span style="font-style:italic;">Do you exercise?</span><br />Not as much as I should.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">What do you do for exercise?</span><br />Walk.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">How much do you walk?</span><br />From parking to my office every day and this on a campus with a major parking problem.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Could you walk some in addition to that?</span><br />Well, my back hurts if I walk too far. (It does. I wish it didn't but it does. And while I'm into no-pain, no-gain to some extent, I'm also into if it hurts, there must be a reason, so stop it. More often than not the second premise outranks the first... these days... for me...)<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Do you smoke?</span><br />(Where the h... did that come from? Do I look like I smoke? Do I smell like I smoke?) No, never have!<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Oh, that's wonderful, that's so good, especially for a diabetic!</span> (She is practically leading cheers. Why does this offend me? This is no great accomplishment. Its not hard to never have smoked. Now, I believe it is very difficult to stop once you have but come on!)<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Has anyone in your family had any heart problems? </span><br />(I'm beginning to get peeved. My doctor knows all about my family history of heart problems. I know all about my family history of heart problems. If you read the charts you would know the same thing. But why should you? You aren't my regular doctor.) Yes.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Who? What? </span>(She is getting excited; she's made a huge discovery here. Like no one has ever explored this before.)<br />I explain the history. <br />She's listening to my heart, asking if I ever feel any chest pains. She seems quite let down when I say no. <br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Well, diabetics need to really be careful especially if there's any history of heart problems in their family.</span><br />Well, duh! I've never heard that before. Good grief! I'm thinking I probably know a lot more about this problem than my sweet little MD.<br />Next question: <span style="font-style:italic;">What have you been eating this summer?</span><br />I am completely dumbfounded. I sit with my mouth hanging open trying to decide how to answer that. <br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Fruits and vegetables?</span> <br />I'm still searching for the appropriate answer to this. I may have muttered a Yes, when I'm thinking Yes, and anything else that comes my way.... Well, not literally. At least not everything that comes my way. But whatever is the food for the day. Its not that what I eat isn't important, but what I don't eat is also important and they never bother to ask that.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Do you check your blood glucose regularly? </span><br />Now we're into a touchy subject. Do I argue the point that it is my choice whether or not to live a perfect lifestyle and poke my finger every 8 hours to learn that I've been bad or maybe not so bad after I've already done it? Do I let her continue to push me? Or do I try to let her know that her patients, at least some of them (like me) will be more apt to poke their fingers if she cajoles or suggests or plants an idea rather than paint you as the dumbest person to have come to her office.<br />Student doctors need to be told that many, most of their patients know all the things they are going to be told. They could write the book. They are not going to take orders from a smart new whipper snapper. They actually are more apt to try to change their llfe styles for the better if they are treated with a bit of respect and empathy. As a promising young doctor is it possible they could have a lot to learn from their old patients?<br />Fortunately, my real doctor has lived long enough to know these things. But I suppose she once was a new save-the-world professional straight out of school too!<br /><br />Post script to any student doctors who might read this: I'm sure YOU're not that insensitive! Sorry if I was rude!little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-6855049069241747502009-08-07T13:02:00.000-07:002009-08-07T14:24:39.185-07:00The big week in PuebloWell, its been 5 days and I'm still not sure I can write about the week in Pueblo at National Little Britches finals. Partly because I can't do it without bragging and partly because its hard to sum up the disappointments! I know, a strange mix isn't it!<br /><br />I traveled out with younger daughter, her hubby and 2 boys who lives in Kansas to see elder daughter and family who live in Colorado take part in the national finals. <br /><br />First, about the rodeo! What a three-ring show it is! I would not have believed it if I hadn't seen it. Some 800 kids (and their support teams- dad, mom, etc) brought upward toward 2,000 horses (I think they said) to town for 11 performances - 2 go-rounds and the short-go - over 7 days, and longer if you were in the queen contest which middle grand daughter was. The set-up is three simultaneous arenas at once being covered by a couple of announcers trying to cover all of it. If you sit high up in the middle of the grandstand you can watch it all.... sort of. You've got to stay on track to not miss what you want to see. And keep your head on a swivel. I'm thinking a regular one-arena rodeo is going to seem sort of slow after this.<br /><br />Some heavy rain mid-week before we Kansans got there made for an uneven but interesting playing field. If you drew up on a muddy perf, you were competing against those who drew up on the fast ground that developed later. But that's what rodeo (and life) is all about. Luck of the draw!<br /><br />My g-daughters had great hopes for the week, and it wasn't just based on wishes or pipe-dreams. Both the girls had proven themselves this summer and were not being big-headed when they dreamed of winning big! However, it was not to be. To win big against kids of this caliber you have to have a little good luck along with your skills, and this was not to be. But they gave it their all and were good sports and of course I'm really proud of them. <br /><br />It wasn't all in vain! Oldest grand daughter won a buckle in break-away in 1st go and got to come back for Short-go. A barely broken barrier and a loop that jumped off instead of on stopped a couple of runs in the 2 second range. Wow! If only......<br /><br />Middle grand daughter was name Miss Congeniality in the Little Britches Queen contest. She was so gorgeous! And that smile! How could she have not won the whole thing! But then I'm sure there are other grandmas who can explain to you why that was.<br /><br />I didn't get my camera out.... I knew that others had theirs and I didn't want to miss anything because my eyes were behind a piece of equipment. However, for those of you who are still reading this, and really care, you can see proofs of the professional photos by going to Cowboy Images. http://www.cowboyimages.net/search.aspx<br />Put Moyer in the Search box. There are a couple of photos of the queen contestant from Kansas that are mislabeled - her horse has sunflowers - but the rest are my girls. Do you think I'm a proud grandma?<br /><a href="http://www.cowboyimages.net/search.aspx"></a>little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-79556579489185071122009-07-27T13:21:00.000-07:002009-07-27T14:08:53.658-07:00Cowgirl Takes a Fall<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2h8-6sKt6WFSFk9VQI22MJO5S1oX-MEBTyN8iZUlliqgN0B3aAjlsyVZNhn85bmryb0xTTJmdT-ZA74EOepXu9jUkzFSfl4Yd12Ot9nvhEq-FHPOaXNZNWdhSyeLc87u44JcsYIbhyVX/s1600-h/Char.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2h8-6sKt6WFSFk9VQI22MJO5S1oX-MEBTyN8iZUlliqgN0B3aAjlsyVZNhn85bmryb0xTTJmdT-ZA74EOepXu9jUkzFSfl4Yd12Ot9nvhEq-FHPOaXNZNWdhSyeLc87u44JcsYIbhyVX/s320/Char.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363238241199424274" /></a><br />This is my sister Char. She has been secretary of our local PRCA rodeo committee for so many years I've lost count. She loves the sport, and the people associated with it, but her appreciation of the animals is purely hands-off, visual, not physical if you get my drift. <br /><br />Friday night during slack she was to one side of the back area beside where the horseback contestants come and go. The fans leave to one side and need to be reminded which area belongs to the animals and which is for pedestrians. So Char was there, in place, directing foot traffic and trying to keep everyone safe.<br /><br />Enter a man on horseback. Who and what they were about we are still trying to discover but for some reason the horse exploded. Decided he wanted to be a bronc instead of a performance horse. Char says she ran, but couldn't run fast enough. After throwing his rider, the bronc bucked across the asphalt knocking our rodeo secretary to the hard surface. Result: a shattered right elbow requiring a plate and seven screws, two skinned knees and a sore rib area.<br /><br />They didn't know it but Char took the bullet for a good number of fans she had just directed away from the area. <br /><br />My hero.<br /><br />For sure, it is one rodeo we won't forget.little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-52746665412559117272009-07-16T13:04:00.000-07:002009-07-16T14:09:38.961-07:00County Fair Time<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQvs9WRqx2h0yYPEjZLFrkJ5Gm2j-31xtIH4-Tl-U-3hjtRcBMD-kxdsb683s7uMk9GjVh3KGqIpS6GetOhczv_kLSjfbKFxK1g1PNbenMb7yADxOq-LHHp4ACURE_hHHhakzziplqi1d/s1600-h/Brody.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 246px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQvs9WRqx2h0yYPEjZLFrkJ5Gm2j-31xtIH4-Tl-U-3hjtRcBMD-kxdsb683s7uMk9GjVh3KGqIpS6GetOhczv_kLSjfbKFxK1g1PNbenMb7yADxOq-LHHp4ACURE_hHHhakzziplqi1d/s320/Brody.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359152111041244690" /></a><br />I got my first taste of county fair for the season yesterday at the Washington County Fair!<br /><br />I didn't get many photos - the ones I took during the livestock shows were too far away from the ring, and besides that, I haven't figured out all the settings on this little piece of junk camera that I bought. Still, I'm happy with this photo of GS and his commercial breeds heifer. Can't remember what he has named her, but while other kids' (not all of course but many) were trying to manage big animals that jumped and yanked and were generally a pain, GS had this sweet lovable little gal who just went where he wanted and stood and waited for him to set her up. In fact, the judge had to explain to him about keeping slack out of the lead (this was his first time showing a big beef). He didn't need to pull slack as far as control was concerned; she was controlled. The greatest thing about it is that he did all the taming and training of her himself. And she wasn't a bucket calf either but came off the cow.<br /><br />The other first yesterday was attending my first goat show of any size. GS showed several Boer meat goats. They're trimmed sort of like a poodle leaving a poof on the end of the tail but taking most of the hair down for a clean look. They use a chain collar affair. GS did well on showmanship in both goats and beef, especially for not having too much experience in either. He's shown bucket calves but that's not quite the same thing.<br /><br />Oh, and GS2 who is a Clover Bud showed one of the goats in showmanship. They don't get judged but have the experience of being out there. Needless to say they were beyond cute! But then, that's just GM speaking. I've worked over the poor quality photo of him so you can sort of get the idea. Photoshop to the rescue.... somewhat!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonsWgVvS5m7T6D5xWRSLVWHSlCp6l1J29tcFGuXfw70MlrGMrO6GhuoLGbDFevhjI9PnGG1SNB6jBsetuT1ppK5zXO2zYdNyydDpEiPc9o_p8FbSm3A7BLSGzgImW9cjNfBXMU6nJXyq-/s1600-h/Coy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonsWgVvS5m7T6D5xWRSLVWHSlCp6l1J29tcFGuXfw70MlrGMrO6GhuoLGbDFevhjI9PnGG1SNB6jBsetuT1ppK5zXO2zYdNyydDpEiPc9o_p8FbSm3A7BLSGzgImW9cjNfBXMU6nJXyq-/s320/Coy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359167930902733282" /></a>little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-51864045811457464112009-06-09T10:22:00.000-07:002009-06-12T10:23:54.189-07:00Saddle Up, CowgirlNo pictures, just braggin' words! <br /><br />The past three weeks have seen my two oldest granddaughters each bring home a saddle from rodeo winnin's!<br />Memorial Day weekend saw Annie win All-Around over three performances at the Kit Carson Little Britches series in Burlington, Colorado! This was competing against some tough cowgirls, including her older sister! And she left no doubt as she was All-Around at every performance!<br /><br />And speaking of older sister, Kaylee brought home the all-around saddle this weekend from a three performance series at San Luis Valley, South Fork, Colorado. This meant besting a whole raft of good cowgirls, including little sister plus a lot of competitve girls who usually miss Little Britches to go high school rodeo. <br /><br />I'm being encouraged to come to Pueblo for the Little Britches Finals the last week of July. Think I'm going to have to consider it highly!<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />Attended a very memorable farm wedding on Saturday. The bride was absolutely beautiful! The ceremony was on a knoll up the hill from the homestead at the edge of the hay meadow in a walnut grove. Everyone was gathered there at four o'clock, when dad delivered the beautiful bride in her long white dress as she stood on top of a platform on the bale fork on the back of the John Deere tractor! It couldn't have been more impressive or appropriate!<br /><br />The ensuing celebration was in the hay shed! The day was humid and hot with plenty of wind throughout the afternoon... in other words, typical Kansas! The groom's family were from England, Scotland and various other parts of the world. I can't imagine what they now think of our not-so-fair state but they were jolly good sports and honored the couple by making the most of the festivities! I'm sure its one neither they nor the happy couple will ever forget! And that's what weddings should be!<br /><br />Congratulations, Sarah & Nigel!little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-47998134311046951072009-05-28T10:48:00.000-07:002009-05-28T12:06:51.309-07:00Half a Century<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5u6uGkqPsvBcL_lMsB64nIFN67s-euYLQsT2_xoAdR_vnAHLFh59mWoAJPfPxtFbioblatbxG2ntF_4VP66sSoS4Td-qweQIxqRrcKNtNfMzhNz3NT6WGaXXl4ChQNKMBv-Vuum_8PpTt/s1600-h/100_0020_2+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5u6uGkqPsvBcL_lMsB64nIFN67s-euYLQsT2_xoAdR_vnAHLFh59mWoAJPfPxtFbioblatbxG2ntF_4VP66sSoS4Td-qweQIxqRrcKNtNfMzhNz3NT6WGaXXl4ChQNKMBv-Vuum_8PpTt/s320/100_0020_2+copy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340951623712166002" /></a><br />Barbara, Wayne, Art, Wava, Willard, Sharon, Larry, Dick<br /><br />It was a great week-end! I saw classmates I haven't seen since we graduated. Some I didn't immediately recognize, and some didn't immediately recognize me, so that came out even! Some of us had changed a lot, some not so much as far as physical appearance. More interesting, if you found it, were the stories of where we'd been and what we'd done and how that had changed our personalities and character. A lot of that hides deep and is not so easy to get to in just a few short hours. But there were enough clues to make it interesting. It was obvious to me that all had matured into fully developed citizens who have had very meaningful lives and who are still going strong. I think you could say we're still developing, right?<br /><br />I was sorry I didn't get to see all my old classmates. Let's see. Of 17 who graduated together, 3 have died. Ten of us made it to either the small visit gathering on Friday night or the big all-school banquet on Saturday evening. An additional attendee on Friday was a girl (well, I guess we are now women) who attended with us for 2 years before moving away. One class member could not come due to physical limitations, another because his wife was to have surgery. One lives in Idaho and chose to go wall-eye fishing. (Humm.. stood up by a fish! Whatever!) But it is quite a distance to come. Never mind that the Sr class pres came all the way from the east coast, and another drove up from Texas. But probably most questionable was why the final remaining one couldn't be troubled to drive the 15 miles from Clay Center. <br /><br />Still the ten of us who did gather seemed to really enjoy seeing one another. And its always fun to bring up the old memories. On Friday evening we met at a church for the meal, then went to the museum where we reminisced about old times; the teachers and the ball games were favorite topics. When we parted ways Saturday night, we were all saying we should do this again sometime. I hope we do, and not in another 50 years either.<br /><br />Sharon, Barbara, Wava, Carol, Sandy<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwmrCAdFIhGXisOpDhQAXfVrhvNz9CmssWb_SilgzryFgU9kuliPyV9TOh8DCO9w6WD9x4FYvuSK-2B47pC_SXYyGuWhevnk9H04PUyXue8oE6zBZCHya0DLm6UxUBpJAUnY-Rzg2X1YM/s1600-h/2+Women+%231.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwmrCAdFIhGXisOpDhQAXfVrhvNz9CmssWb_SilgzryFgU9kuliPyV9TOh8DCO9w6WD9x4FYvuSK-2B47pC_SXYyGuWhevnk9H04PUyXue8oE6zBZCHya0DLm6UxUBpJAUnY-Rzg2X1YM/s320/2+Women+%231.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340942074470500626" /></a><br /><br />Richard S., Art, Richard"Dick", Larry, Wayne<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuPk-k74eVtfjiM9H01PnYwz6m7MXMnL-n_lHfvMUcmjaA6rLTijFA9obLYQlnbk-2YqXa52-I58hwJWDK7bSHhmfFHlVocQUbC6pvGKBc8WB_SWepRMHQd9wOgtSIYMYZ4YHoTEftshu/s1600-h/1+Men+%231.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuPk-k74eVtfjiM9H01PnYwz6m7MXMnL-n_lHfvMUcmjaA6rLTijFA9obLYQlnbk-2YqXa52-I58hwJWDK7bSHhmfFHlVocQUbC6pvGKBc8WB_SWepRMHQd9wOgtSIYMYZ4YHoTEftshu/s320/1+Men+%231.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340942445668711554" /></a>little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-83404835261249506062009-05-11T11:01:00.000-07:002009-05-12T08:08:52.610-07:00More grandkid funThis weekend saw me at a Swine show. Hog show if you like, but D2 says its a Pig Show since they are too nice and lovable to be called Hogs. And this coming from a horsewoman!<br /><br />Grandson Coy started off the morning in PeeWee Showmanship. Try to imagine, some 20 or so little kids in a pen with the equal number of pigs going in all directions. At this level they are mostly concerned with keeping track of which pig is theirs and following them around the ring. Its called driving your pig but I can't say there was a lot of driving going on. Coy actually had that bored look on his face which surprised me. He sometimes gets into this pig thing.<br /><br />The big deal of the day was Brody winning the Junior Showmanship Championship. He really did a nice job but I was a little surprised he won it because it didn't seem the judge looked at him that much. I'm not sure how many there were out there.... 15 or 20, maybe more. I think the judge was watching out of the corner of his eye. Of course I think the judge was really really good.<br /><br />I did get a nice picture of Brody. I'll try to figure out how to post it here. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMc6O6Sk11pRIfRzuYNUMS_93jQmixAYyG5BUUDimt1sGZS9BwmSFHqV8r0bdXYqGa2HUuopCGT67T226V9yR30FWCCUEUGNXZuwAB4LIDgsBeERL8sbA1k0fq9KUef0NpXSEJH0Nb5v_B/s1600-h/Brody+pig.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMc6O6Sk11pRIfRzuYNUMS_93jQmixAYyG5BUUDimt1sGZS9BwmSFHqV8r0bdXYqGa2HUuopCGT67T226V9yR30FWCCUEUGNXZuwAB4LIDgsBeERL8sbA1k0fq9KUef0NpXSEJH0Nb5v_B/s320/Brody+pig.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334953848222374658" /></a><br /><br />Coy's picture is not so good.... him and half his pig.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEO6-MMFRCiKQlo1os8YzxzYAiWe-2SpAN8jAkNTPxI7TWxRpf8oYRmz01b_dW6QKgzwVDSwDn41kbdpXZcIpL-uvdROqjG65Xg1W8MEDseF6TVxpDuGfFdfhAiN5R7JOFesyRurOelPM0/s1600-h/Coy+pig.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEO6-MMFRCiKQlo1os8YzxzYAiWe-2SpAN8jAkNTPxI7TWxRpf8oYRmz01b_dW6QKgzwVDSwDn41kbdpXZcIpL-uvdROqjG65Xg1W8MEDseF6TVxpDuGfFdfhAiN5R7JOFesyRurOelPM0/s320/Coy+pig.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334954478415411698" /></a><br /><br />Next weekend its back to junior rodeo for the boys, with another pig show the following week I understand. I'll have to see what room is left on my dance card.little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-32442291515143981882009-05-07T13:45:00.000-07:002009-05-07T14:14:34.300-07:00Owning a horseOne of the blogs I follow is Life at the Rough String http://jksroughstring.blogspot.com/ Sorry, I can't figure out how to get the link to work.<br /><br />She recently had the experience of putting a price on her horse, having someone take her up on it, then missing her horse big-time. The second chapter is that the colt didn't work out for the new owner, so Rough String got 'im back and was tickled to death it worked out that way. You got a be careful when you put a price on something you really like! Somebody may just take you up on it.<br /><br />Caused me to think of some of the axioms I've heard / developed and maybe lived by over the years. <br />-It doesn't cost any more to feed a good one.<br />-Good ones lay down and die just as easy as cheap ones (maybe more so).<br />-If they think he's worth that much, maybe I should keep him.<br />-If they don't think he's worth more than that, why would I want to keep him.<br />-If they think he's worth that much, I'd better put it in the bank.<br />-Three- and four-wheelers don't eat when they're parked.<br />-He deserves someone who will make the most of his talents.<br />-It takes a good one to make up for what I lack in the saddle.<br />-I hate to waste a good horse with me on top.<br />-Horse version of the grass is greener concept - The horse over there must be better than the one I have here.<br />-Followed by - Should have kept what I had; I at least knew what I was dealing with there.<br />-And my favorite, I seem to follow it a lot! - Buy high, sell low!little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-35879643080640565192009-05-05T18:42:00.000-07:002009-05-12T08:03:23.274-07:00Being a fanWow! What a week-end! Had a ball!<br /><br />Thursday, I threw a few things in a bag, filled the gas tank and took off for Colorado. Got to an arena in northeast Springs in time to see my two youngest grand-daughters Annie and Laramie Jo take part in a Little Britches rodeo. It was cold, cold, and the girls weren't either one having a great night but it was fun jut to see them do their thing. I got to see son-in-law being the bull-fighter as he protected young rough stock riders. And daughter was high in the crow's nest announcing not just one arena but two, thanks to a walkie-talkie. I got to climb up there and it was worth it because the view was fantastic and it was not so cold, But the adrenalan rush of the whole weekend for this old fan was when I tripped on the top step of the stairs while looking down through the big gap between step and deck. All this while experiencing a bit of sway under hand and foot. Oh my! Who needs carnival rides when you can get spooked over climbing the crow's nest stairs!<br /><br />Friday morning the five of us climbed in my trusty Rondevouz and headed for Laramie and the U of Wyoming college rodeo. G-daughter Kaylee is on the Eastern Wyoming College rodeo team at Torrington. Friday afternoon found her in slack in break-away roping. I thought for sure she would be in the top ten, looked fast to me, but her horse Havoc did a itty-bitty hesitation moment before she caught, hardly enough to notice but enough to keep them out of the money. Still pretty amazing for a self-trained girl (for the most part) on a family trained horse. Neither one is a finished deal in this event but are getting oh, so close.<br /><br />Friday night perf had them in Goat Tying. Results: a smokin 7.5 seconds. I think she was in 3rd at the end of the evening. Following the Saturday perfomances, she was 5th and set to come back in the Short Go on Sunday. This meant we all stayed instead of going home. Seven of us in a nice motel room with two, yes two big tv screens. <br /><br />Sunday morning we checked out of the motel, loaded up and got to the arena for the last half of Cowboy church. It drives me nuts to be late for church but when you have six girls and one good sport dad in a motel room, we did well just to get us all out of there before noon. I'm sure the Lord will know we were doing good to get there at all. <br /><br />Kaylee's event led off the Sunday afternoon performance. The top ten girls were all fantastic of course. Kaylee's goat turned as she went for it and I thought for sure it was going to cost her too much time. But when all was done, she tied in 7.3 I think it was, and won the short go and the average, winning her first Champion buckle at the College level.<br /><br />I'm so proud of her of course, but not because she won. I'm most happy because I know how hard she worked to get there. She decided to go the extra distance to reach this goal. Will winning make her a better person? Probably. But more important is the work ethic, the time management, the dedication, the goal setting that she exercised getting there. Those are skills she will use all her life. Even if she had not made it to the top, she would have won from the road she's traveled to try for it. And the smile muscles she got to exercise at the end were good too. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5NkxOncP7uJd1GWewaO_saSywJYl-0b1_eAl2mXxye68y5zSArC0595mw4Xg-qv1JPsickOLJR9R86S4wUlz4jKJZqoiCYRV_hBAtitOHdQE2jT6lzVRNfbA8uLxFOi9f521D1AvdA8b8/s1600-h/trailer+goats+and+orange+outfit+061.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5NkxOncP7uJd1GWewaO_saSywJYl-0b1_eAl2mXxye68y5zSArC0595mw4Xg-qv1JPsickOLJR9R86S4wUlz4jKJZqoiCYRV_hBAtitOHdQE2jT6lzVRNfbA8uLxFOi9f521D1AvdA8b8/s320/trailer+goats+and+orange+outfit+061.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334952911889783266" /></a><br /><br />Way to go Kaylee. <br /><br />The girls surprised me with an early Mother's Day present - a beautiful necklace and earrings set. I was so surprised, I don't think I did a good job of expressing my appreciation. It knocked me speachless. <br /><br />We ventured back to the Colorado ranch Sunday night across Colorado backroads I'd not seen before, one of my favorite pasttimes. Monday I headed for home. Wish the distance was about half as far. But it was a good trip. I really missed being able to drive cross country when my eyes were bad. Thanks to a great surgeon, I can now handle long distance driving again. Its the greatest feeling, being that independent!<br /><br />It was a great extended week-end. I must watch that I don't put off doing things like this. Life is too short!little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-7976960350054276462009-04-20T13:08:00.000-07:002009-04-22T14:14:13.238-07:00Time to Blog about Finding Family<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This will not be news to bloggers but it has become abundantly apparent to this writer that if you are having life experiences that might be worth writing about, you do not have time to write about them. And of course the opposite being that if there is time, what is there to say!</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">If you follow my blog at all, you can tell I have been having lots and lots of life experiences this spring...... or none at all..... since I haven't written about a thing lately.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I'll admit to being really busy but will try to focus on just one thing. Just got back from a business trip to Phoenix but was lucky enough to have one free day to pursue my own interests. And I chose to look up and visit some long lost relatives that I had never met in person...... my father's first cousin Gertrude who is 95, and her son, an amazing artist. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">First I'll talk about visiting with Gertrude. She has spent most of her life in the Phoenix area but did visit Kansas relatives for long periods of time as a young girl and young woman. She was able to tell me tidbits about my paternal grandparents (who were gone before I was born) and great-uncles and great-aunts of that era. Things you'll not find in old newspaper articles or the census reports. I was thrilled. And I hope it was a good experience for her as well. She lives in her own home but has some health issues so has an attendant person who was very friendly. Having artists for children, her house is a virtual gallery. My two hours with her were not nearly enough to take it all in. And of course I thought of more questions to ask after I left. Her hearing is not the greatest so I'm not sure how comfortable she would be with me asking them over the phone. Perhaps I can write.... an old-fashioned paper and ink letter, for a change.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">One of the things she talked about was my Great-uncle Vernon who was a doctor and had a big house on the beach in California. I never met him. When she was a child she said the Arizona summers were so hot, it being before air conditioning, that they spent a lot of time visiting him and other relatives in California. Aunt Eddie Hines (my grand-father's sister) and her husband Frank also had a house there at that time. Aunt Eddie is one I've never know much about so it was like meeting a new set of people I'd never known. She talked about staying with Aunt Eddie in Manhattan as a young child but the household was uninspiring for a youngster.... no other children to play with.... restrictions to certain parts of the house. There were two staircases and Gertrude was not to use the front stairs. She much preferred to go to the farm where Aunt Bertha had children she could play with. And she said Aunt Eddie seemed happy to have her there as well.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">She said others in the family didn't care too much for Eddie's husband, Frank, probably because he was very successful. But Uncle Frank liked Gertrude and treated her with a coin and a wink whenever they met. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">About Gertrude's son, my second cousin Ed Mell. He is a well-known artist in Arizona with a <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">distinctive style</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;"> that is easily recognized. His work is in large oils and in sculpture, and can be found in the galleries of Scottsdale's art district among other places. There are posters of his Grand Canyon Music Festival work available at art poster places. I stumbled onto his work when browsing thru a museum bookstore back in the '90s. Saw this art book with work I found to my liking but I didn't know the artist. While leafing thru the pages, what should I see but the mention of his mother Gertrude Sargent. While I did not know the person, I certainly knew the name, as my parents had talked of her and her brother when I was growing up. Closer inspection showed a photo that includes my great-grandmother who, to my knowledge, I had never seen in any photo before. Its taken me over ten years but I've finally gotten to meet Ed.... both a relative I didn't know I had, and an artist whose work I admire.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">A bonus of the day was getting to visit Ed's studio and to meet a friend of his, another artist Gary Smith from Utah, a very nice gentleman as well. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Ed's brother Lee is deceased and brother Frank is in ill health so I've waited too long to meet them.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I suppose there should be a moral or something to all this. I guess it would be.... if you're at all interested in the people of your grandparents generation, don't put off visiting those who knew them, back when. And there might be a bonus in meeting some very interesting relatives of your own generation as well. What a thrill it is for me... maybe it would be for you as well.</span></div>little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7160339225709129560.post-37575853842605912442009-03-05T14:08:00.000-08:002009-03-05T14:56:53.580-08:00Thinking 'Bout History<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I'm mildly interested in local history, local being a lot of Kansas. I'm a member of True West's Blog Page or whatever they call it. I got there by way of following Bob Boze Bell's personal blog, which is a story for another day.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">A lot of the blogs and entries there are in relation to Western history. Which has caused me to revive some of my own thoughts on the subject. I own land in northwest Kansas that was part of the site of Kansas' Last Indian Raid in 1878. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">When I first heard that Oberlin was the site of that raid, I envisioned the Indians (native Americans if you will) in a concentrated group sweeping down into a small little town. It wasn't that way at all. They rode down in small groups from the south following various draws to the Sappa Creek, southwest of Oberlin some 8-12 miles, attacking the settlers on their individual homesteads and ranches. I've often tried to imagine as I fixed fence or baled hay what it was like to be out working in your fields and lots (it was late September, harvest or late haying time I would suppose) and have riders come down over the hills. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I understand some settlers escaped trouble by hiding in wild plum bushes on the banks of the creek and in brush piles. At a ranch on the creek near my property several women were taken captive and "ravished" as the reports put it. One account told of choking the baby to silence it, not enough to kill it, just until it passed out, only to have to repeat it when it started to regain its ability to cry out. Not pleasant thoughts! But not movie plots either. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Being out on the land where you can be removed from many signs of "progress", no electric lines or roads if you position yourself just right, you can try to imagine what it was like. All told, some 40 settlers were killed, but scattered out over a fairly large area. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Two men were killed on creek hay ground I once owned so I was close to that happening when I baled. My big pasture which is further up Colvin's draw from the main creek was not noted for any killings, only the land below it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I was told an interesting story about that place (my pasture) but have since been told it probably didn't happen. Still it makes such a good story.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">There is a square 2-story stone house there, since falling down but still standing when I went to NW Kansas 40 years ago. Supposedly the man of the family was gone but the wife and children boarded themselves into the lower level kitchen. When she heard one of the party climb onto the roof to cover the chimney and smoke them out, she knocked the stovepipe aside and fired the rifle up the chimney, shooting him through the hand. They rode away.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I understand however that this story is told about raids in other locations. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">A bit of background as I have read it. This was a part of the Cheyenne's effort to return to their homelands from the Oklahoma reservation they had been taken to. I have heard but am not certain, that no settlers were killed until the Indians got to Sappa Creek. It seems that in 1875, one of their groups had been camped on the Sappa in what is now Cheyenne county, west of where my land is some 20 miles I think. They were attacked at daybreak and killed indiscriminantly including women and children. It was thought the attacks in '78 were in retaliation for that unfortunate incident.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Reading actual reports of those times that are available at the museum in Oberlin make it much more real, more so than seeing a movie I think. They are the words of people who were really there.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">A recent comment in the True West blogs said a lot of places don't convey their history, that the old buildings and trappings of the West are swept away. Which is somewhat true I guess. But it seems to me you have to seek out history, study it, then try to find the spots where you can re-enact it in your mind a little. It won't be buried in the present day downtown where today's people are trying to make a living. But you can still find it out in those draws and hills.</span></div>little apple tallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12300360969514367100noreply@blogger.com0