A Cowgirls Adventure.

I wanted to share a little closeup about me and a peek into my life.?I grew up here on this farm in the mountains of Oregon. It was a beautiful place to grow and play in a forest where it is easy to feel the step back in time. The air quiet and peaceful, filled with songs of birds in spring. The mountain whispers to you to come out and join in the celebration of freshness. With these invitations we would walk the trails and explore our beautiful world. Giant Western Red Cedar and Douglas Fir forests grew the whole mountain along with Madrone, Dogwood, Alder, and Ash trees. The forest floor is covered in ferns and moss then sprinkled with wild mountain flowers and mushrooms. The length of the steep canyon is tree filled except the bottom. This bottom land, a long meandering pasture full of grass that is home to our creek. Times and seasons are marked by a sea of Trilliums in the spring to Asters and butterflies before snow fall. ??

The entire mountain held us safely almost in protective hands, while the land nurtured and sheltered us in a most special way. Deep in the center stood our old, weather beaten, barn with sidekick chicken house and pig pen. To a child this was the heart of the farm, the place where little girls left dreams stored up. The old barn was my treasure box where I dreamed of raising herds of horses and cattle.

I fell in love for the first time standing in the creek not far from the old barn. I remember seeing the horses grazing. We were little enough, there was no need for much clothing when in the shallow creek bank playing. Our mamas nearby looking after us and so were the horses. They must have changed me from inside too out, because from then on, I have loved them.

My Grandpa was born in Wyoming and grew up moving between Wyoming and Colorado. The family had ranches in both states and they raised many horses and cattle. My Grandpa made sure I was not a foot and got me my first and second horse. My other Grandpa came from, Humboldt, county California. His family were loggers in the Redwoods using horses. I believe both my Grandpa’s put a spell on me, I loved them almost as much as they loved me. They each left me with a rich history of family stories to cherish forever.

I have always loved to hear the stories of old timers and before I knew it, those stories were lodged into my spirit. People of courage, the generous poor, with fearless leadership and against all odds vast numbers of Americans held on and lived off what the land provided. I wanted to see more of it all.

My love of the old west and adventure lead me to move to Wyoming. The rich ranching history filled with cattle and horses, cowboy and native arts plus the outdoors were a perfect fit. I love the character depth of the people and the colorful lives.

I am sure you understand what I mean, when I say the land is part of one’s heart and soul. I guess it is because the earth gives us everything we need to live, then cradles our bones in death. The mother of all living, she has no limitations to race and color. We leave behind a trail of laughter and tears from generation to generation yet the earth holds them forever. What an amazing gift we have been given.

My grand adventure in this journey of life has given me perspective of what is worthy to keep in your saddle bags and what you should never pack again. Dead weight only gets heavier and you will soon get sick of being galled. My limitations have always come from some useless burden that I chose to put into my own bags. ??

Many years later I decided to start a business from the tools and skills I had gathered thru the years. One of my favorite tools is passion. Passion allows me to take all the elements of what I love then create something new and exciting. I represent my friends who are western and native artist. I design something creative, unique, and new to showcase their art pieces. I love color and will pair things in warm and cool tones just like a dance with nature. Color should be free and wild, I never corral color. Nature is unlimited and gives us beautiful stunning combinations. Pink, orange, and turquoise are wonderful examples in sunrise or sunset.

In the photos I am wearing a garment I created out of a painting by Sheridan Wyoming, cowboy artist Sam Iddings. Sam painted a winter scene of Indian tipi at forest edge. Sam Iddings always paints in a very colorful style that adds excitement. I love designing with his art. His colors are as explosive as the broncs he paints and often are vibrant yet tranquil in the same brush stroke. A quiet tipi on the river’s edge or a cowboy gathering longhorns holds a historical rhythm and story lyrics in a Sam Iddings’s painting. Sam is no stranger to riding wild colts or handling cattle giving authenticity even down to the Indians he paints from his time around the Crow and Cheyenne.

The Background of the old barn where I grew up as a child seemed the perfect backdrop. Her soft weathered barnwood went with the garments warm lighting, playing off the winter colors. The tipi poles can be seen on the back as the lodge wraps around the leg with tree on other side. Merging everything into something I love. From my passion of the old west too writing an advertisement for a garment, I find I love the expressions of my own heart. I hope I leave others feel a genuine connection to people and the earth. ?

In the end no matter what color or race, religious or political view our lives are temporary. Our bodies are like a tipi in the snow. There is a season to life and it must be cherished. There is no need to pack bags of hate. We are told there in no good purpose in filling a storehouse so full it needs torn down to build bigger. But a barn on the other hand is a place where life begins and sadly sometimes ends. It is a shelter and a fortress in the storm for those weary and who need to be warm.

If the barn could give us some wisdom for next year this would be her message. Pull your horns in and don’t be on the prod. Live big wide and open, taking in those who need your help. Stand tall and brace yourself in the times of bad weather. Don’t get upset when you see kittens in the manger. Don’t worry about becoming silver. Greet everyone Joyfully, especially the first people you see every morning with a merry thankful heart. But most of all cherish the memories and the dreams of others, they are the seeds of the next generation.

Please accept my invitation to HatTosser.com??