Cowboy Beans by Rhonda Lee Carver

 What was it like for cowboys back in the western times?

I'm guessing that when most people think of cowboys, they picture tall, rugged, tanned men with whiskers and brooding eyes in a wide-open pasture, dramatic sunsets, and horses. Thanks to western movies, shows, and romance novels, the "cowboy" has become a larger-than-life symbol for freedom, ruggedness, and mystery.

But what really was it like to be a cowboy back in the day?

The truth is, cowboys lived a harder, lonelier, less adventurous life than what legends are made of.

In a career where life was brutal and the work physically demanding, cowboys were so much more than leaning against a fence post and flashing a charming smile. They spent days herding cattle across miles of land through scorching heat, freezing rain, treacherous winds, and combating stubborn cattle. Many times, cowboys were hurt doing their day-to-day chores. Imagine spending nearly all day, every day, in a saddle. Eating simple meals. Sleeping on the ground. Dealing with snakes, stampedes, injured cattle, and dust so think it covered every inch of their bodies.

And the stink...

Bathing wasn't frequent. Clothes were dusty, worn, and smelly. Most cowboys were poor, earning small wages. It could be lonely, and only the toughest could endure the solitude.

So was there any romance at all?

There can be something undeniably amazing about endless skies, warm campfires, riding a horse at the speed of wind, and seeing the fruits of hard labor.

What do we find so appealing about cowboys?

Freedom. Rugged strength. Simple way of living. Honor. 

I want to share my recipe for "Rugged Cowboy Beans". Every time I make this, I get great reviews, and just like the life of a cowboy, it's simple and good.

You'll need:

(Ingredients can be adjusted for a larger, or smaller, crowd). What makes this recipe so easy? I never need to measure.

1 pound ground beef, browned

2-3 slices bacon, cooked (I like mine crispy)

1 onion, diced

1 green pepper, diced

Brown sugar (I use around 1/2 c)

1 large can, or two small cans, pork and beans (Remember, it's not about measuring)

Worscestershire sauce, 3-4 good dashes

Mustard, eyeball it

Ketchup, again, eyeball it

Barbecue Sauce, your fave, about a Tablespoon

Soy sauce, a splash

Garlic, use as much as you like

Salt and pepper

Hot sauce (optional)

Throw everything into a 13 x 9 in pan. Stir. Bake for about 45 minutes at 350 degrees. It's just that easy!!

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Popular Poetry from the Past

 Post (C) Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Image (C) Doris McCraw

April is National Poetry Month. In honor of this, it seemed appropriate to share some of the more popular poems from the 1800s. 

Christina Rossetti is a favorite of mine. Here is her poem 'Echo'

Echo

Come to me in the silence of the night;

   Come in the speaking silence of a dream;

Come with soft rounded cheeks and eyes as bright

   As sunlight on a stream;

      Come back in tears,

O memory, hope, love of finished years.

Oh dream how sweet, too sweet, too bitter sweet,

   Whose wakening should have been in Paradise,

Where souls brimfull of love abide and meet;

   Where thirsting longing eyes

      Watch the slow door

That opening, letting in, lets out no more.

Yet come to me in dreams, that I may live

   My very life again tho’ cold in death:

Come back to me in dreams, that I may give

   Pulse for pulse, breath for breath:

      Speak low, lean low,

As long ago, my love, how long ago.

 

Of course, you can't talk about 1800s poetry without mentioning Emily Dickinson. Here is her poem: 'Sometimes with the Heart'

Sometimes with the Heart

Seldom with the Soul

Scarcer once with the Might

Few - love at all.

Anytime you speak about poets of the 1800s, you usually include Tennyson. Here is a poem some of you may recognize:

Lullaby - Poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson

Sweet and low, sweet and low,

         Wind of the western sea,

Low, low, breathe and blow,

         Wind of the western sea!

Over the rolling waters go,

Come from the dying moon, and blow,

         Blow him again to me;

While my little one, while my pretty one, sleeps.

Sleep and rest, sleep and rest,

         Father will come to thee soon;

Rest, rest, on mother's breast,

         Father will come to thee soon;

Father will come to his babe in the nest,

Silver sails all out of the west

         Under the silver moon:

Sleep, my little one, sleep, my pretty one, sleep.

Image (C) Doris McCraw

I will leave you with a favorite of mine from Helen Hunt Jackson:

Last Words

Dear hearts, whose love has been so sweet to know,
That I am looking backward as I go,
Am lingering while I haste, and in this rain
Of tears of joy am mingling tears of pain;
Do not adorn with costly shrub, or tree,
Or flower, the little grave which shelters me.
Let the wild wind-sown seeds grow up unharmed,
And back and forth all summer, unalarmed,
Let all the tiny, busy creatures creep;
Let the sweet grass its last year's tangles keep;
And when, remembering me, you come some day
And stand there, speak no praise, but only say,
" How she loved us'! 'Twas that which made her dear! "
Those are the words that I shall joy to hear.

Here's to the beauty of poetry. When you get a moment, stop by and read some of the other poets who were creating pictures and emotions with words. Poetry was enjoyed by many, and you might be surprised by who was writing and what they wrote about.

Until next time.

Doris Gardner-McCraw

Author, Speaker, Historian

Specializing in Colorado and Women's History

Cowboy Kisses News ~ Julie Lence

 

Due to work issues, Amanda A Brooks is taking a leave of absence. She will return to blogging June 8th. Should something change, I will let you know. 

Thank you, 

Julie

The “Tin Kitchen” ~ D. K. Deters

A pan of biscuit dough rests inside a small tin oven, propped carefully in front of the flames. There is no stove, no kitchen—only ingenuity and necessity. For many early settlers, this simple device, known as a reflector oven, made baking on the frontier possible.

While browsing the Internet for information about cooking tools early settlers used, I happened upon the reflector oven. Curious, I had to learn more.

The portable tin reflector oven appeared in America during the second half of the 1700s. Also known as a “tin kitchen” or “tin oven,” it was likely adapted from European open-hearth cooking. These ovens were typically made of tinplate or sheet iron and had three enclosed sides, with the fourth side left open to face the fire. They came in various sizes, depending on what the user wants to cook.

During Westward Expansion, the reflector oven was ideal for settlers, traders, and soldiers because it only required a campfire. With it, the cook could bake breads and cakes on the trail.

By the mid-1800s, reflector ovens were a standard part of rural American homes, and their design became more refined. Innovations included folding sides, multiple racks, and polished interiors to improve heat reflection and usability.

The tin kitchen represents the resourcefulness of early American settlers. This oven was especially popular in Appalachia, the Midwest frontier, and logging and mining camps.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, as cast-iron stoves became more widely available, reflector ovens fell out of everyday household use. However, they never fully disappeared. Today, their continued use by campers and backpackers connects modern outdoor enthusiasts with early American traditions.

Based on historical sources about early American cooking tools.

https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object/nmah_309723

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflector_oven

https://www.nps.gov/places/beol_kitchen.htm

Lewis and Clark

 

On this day in 1805, the Lewis and Clark expedition left its camp among the Mandan tribe and resumed the journey West.

The Corps of Discovery had begun its adventure the previous spring, and arrived at the large Mandan and Minnetaree villages along the upper Missouri River (north of present-day Bismarck, North Dakota) in late October. 

Once at the villages, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark directed the men to build a sturdy log fort. The following winter was a harsh one, but the expedition had plenty of provisions. The two captains made the best of their enforced halt, making copious notes in their journals and preparing maps of their route. Most importantly, they met frequently with the local Native Americans, who provided them with valuable information about the country that lay ahead.

One of my favorite places to learn more about Lewis and Clark and their expedition was at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center located at Cape Disappointment on the Pacific Coast.

     

 Almost at the top of the hill, the first thing visitors see is the decommissioned military fortification that served as a military base during the Civil War and World War II. Following the trail to the very top of the hill offers a spectacular view of where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean.

         In November of 1805, the U.S. Corps of Volunteers for Northwest Discovery, led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, reached the mouth of the  Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean. "Great joy in camp," Clark wrote in his journal, "we are in view of the ocean, this great Pacific Ocean which we been so long anxious to see." Cape Disappointment was already a notable landmark in the Pacific Northwest, named before the Lewis and Clark expedition arrived. The first known documentation of the area was in 1775 by Spanish explorer Bruno Heceta, who named it “Bahia de La Asuncion,” or Bay of the Assumption.  Then in 1788, British trader John Meares named it “Cape Disappointment” when he mistakenly believed that the mouth of the Columbia River was only a bay. The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center stands high on the cliffs of the state park located at Cape Disappointment. A series of mural-sized timeline panels guide visitors through the journey of the expedition, using sketches, paintings, photographs, and snippets from journals written by the Corps members.  The center also has a nice short film presentation about the Corps, a glassed-in observation deck with incredible views, as well as various maritime and military displays. It took us almost two hours to go through the whole thing and look around outside, but it was time well spent.   

This early map of North America fascinated me. I can't even begin to imagine what the people who journeyed west into the unknown must have felt when they began their expedition.

   

 This journal entry from Meriweather Lewis made me smile. I think I would have also been heartily tired of the national hug.  

Also, thank goodness for modern medicine. It truly was so interesting to read the details shared and get a much better idea of what the people who made this trip experienced. There are also some wonderful artifacts on display too!

Do you have any favorite museums you've visited to learn more about their journey?

USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield grew up on a farm where her childhood brimmed with sunshine, hay fever, and an ongoing supply of learning experiences.

Shanna creates character-driven romances with realistic heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”

When this award-winning author isn’t writing or testing out new recipes (she loves to bake!), Shanna hangs out at home in the Pacific Northwest with her beloved husband, better known as Captain Cavedweller.

Prairie Falcons

 

By Kristy McCaffrey

Prairie falcons are medium-sized falcons similar to peregrines located in Western North America. They might be better called desert falcons from their need for open space and arid dry habitats.

They’re scrappy survivalists, with females much larger than males. They don’t like human interaction much but are considered an entry level bird for falconry. They're smart but don’t catch on to routine well if training has been lacking. But when trained well, they’re incredible hunters—aggressive, agile, and determined.

Prairie Falcon
(courtesy of Deposit Photos)

Proper training includes providing abundant food (to avoid developing the habit of screaming for food) and extensive "manning" (close contact and handling). Unlike the peregrine, they do not respond well to training with the swung lure, as missing the lure brings out their impatience. Teaching prairie falcons to climb and "wait on" to stoop on game is best accomplished by a reward system of flushing game or serving live birds such as pigeons for the falcon to chase when the falcon has assumed the proper position several hundred feet or more above the falconer.

The prairie falcon's eagerness to hunt and chase requires it to be patiently taught that when it assumes the proper waiting on position the falconer can be trusted to reliably flush game. As the falcon comes to understand this, it learns to hunt as an effective team with the falconer.

* * * * *

In my upcoming book, The Falcon, the heroine is trying to raise a prairie falcon she found as a fledgling.

The Falcon by Kristy McCaffrey
Wings of the West: Book 12

Coming July 3, 2026

Mexico

December 1899 

Josie Ryan’s connection to Texas runs deep, from the land to an almost preternatural kinship with the animals in the wild. This bond has led her to the edge of life and death, from saving a boy caught in a fire when she was eleven years old to being struck by lightning to a mountain lion attack that almost ended her life. The discovery of an abandoned falcon chick leads to a fierce attachment, but with only intuition to guide her, Josie struggles to train the wildest creature she’s ever encountered. When she learns of a man who could help, she’s determined to gain an introduction. 

Mateo Almirón, El Halconero—The Falconer—and Argentine gaucho, is tasked with delivering two prized purebred Criollo mares to Matt Ryan, a man whose reputation casts a long shadow. Years ago, Ryan saved the life of Mateo’s father, and the horses will settle the longstanding debt, but when the exchange goes wrong, Mateo is entrusted with protecting Ryan’s daughter, Josie. Now Mateo and Josie must hide in the mountains of Northern Mexico where stories abound of Josie’s mother, a woman who lived among the Comanche and rose from the dead. 

But in a place alive with superstition, Josie and her untamed falcon will give rise to a new legend …

Josie is the youngest child of Matt and Molly from THE WREN.

* * * * *

Available for pre-order from Amazon, Nook, and Apple Books.

(It will also be available at Kobo, Google Play Books, and in paperback on release day.)

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Time Travel Triggers: What Sends Love Through Time?

 

Every time travel romance needs a catalyst:
a magical, mystical, or completely unexplained force that rips the characters out of their timeline and drops them into another.

Why did I decide to write time travel?

Because Time for Love by Constance O’Day Flannery kept me up all night reading. A woman gets dental work done inside what used to be a train depot. A mysterious force ignites, and suddenly she’s in 1876 and mistaken for a mail-order bride.

I was hooked.

Years later, after plenty of research, I wrote Time to Save a Cowboy. My heroine travels back to 1890, triggered by two things: an antique garnet ring and an old locomotive.

Time Travel Catalysts in Romance

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
While wearing an antique jeweled watch, the humming stones of a Scotland ruins pull Claire back to 1743.

A Highlander for Hannah by Mary Warren
A love spell meant to find “the one” accidentally summons an 18th-century Scottish Highlander.

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
A hidden compartment in inherited furniture transports the heroine to seven years in the past.

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams
A magical Harlem garden and a haunted piano bring a handsome Renaissance man across time.

Why I Love Writing Time Travel

My favorite part—the history.

For Time to Save a Cowboy, I chose 1890 Hesperia, California and went deep. I discovered that the hotel had running water, rare for the time, and learned about the Los Flores Ranch. I even visited the land while it was still a working ranch.

In the past few years, that property had been replaced with houses.

Time may move on … but in stories, love always finds a way back. 💕