Cowboy tidbits and more!

Check out these amazing COWBOY tidbits and more! 🤠 🐮 "Cowboy" actually comes from the phrase "a boy who tends cows". In the 19th century, cowboys originated from the Vaquero traditions of Mexico. 🌟 The term cowboy was initially used as a slang term for men of color, while cowhand was used for white men who tended cows. 🍳 The camp cook was considered the most crucial person, cooking three hot meals a day and marking the direction of the North Star for the cowhands each night.

🐎 During a Cattle Drive, a dozen or fewer men could move 3,000 head of cattle 15 to 16 miles daily. Any more miles would make the cattle underweight.

⚔️ Many cowboys were actually Civil War soldiers, coming from various backgrounds such as freed slaves, immigrants, Mexicans, and American Indians. 🤠 Cowboys were resourceful, using their hats to scoop up water for themselves and their horses.

Also, check out these stunning photos from our day at Canyon Lake in the Superstition Mountains! It was an unforgettable experienc

Give Me A Sarsaparilla

 

 In the rugged landscapes of the Old West, sarsaparilla emerged as a beloved beverage, cherished for its unique flavor and purported medicinal properties. Often served in dusty saloons and rustic frontier towns, sarsaparilla was more than just a drink; it was a symbol of camaraderie and a respite from the harsh realities of life on the frontier. Derived from the roots of the Smilax ornata plant, sarsaparilla was brewed into a dark, effervescent concoction that offered a refreshing break from the arid climate and dusty trails that characterized the Western territories.

Sarsaparilla's popularity soared during the late 19th century, coinciding with the peak of the Old West era. Its flavor, reminiscent of root beer but with a sharper, more herbal profile, made it a staple in saloons where cowboys, miners, and travelers alike sought refuge after long days under the sun. The drink was often served chilled, poured from barrels or bottles that lined the rough-hewn bars of frontier establishments. For many, sipping on a cool sarsaparilla was not just about quenching thirst but also about momentarily transporting oneself away from the ruggedness of everyday life on the frontier.

Beyond its refreshing taste, sarsaparilla was also believed to possess medicinal qualities, with claims ranging from blood purification to the treatment of various ailments such as rheumatism and skin disorders. While the scientific validity of these claims was often dubious, the perception of sarsaparilla as a health tonic added to its allure. This belief contributed to its widespread consumption and ensured its place as a cultural icon of the American West.

Today, sarsaparilla remains a nostalgic nod to the Old West, evoking images of dusty cowboys lounging outside saloons with a frothy mug in hand. Its legacy endures in modern interpretations of root beer and craft sodas, preserving a taste of the frontier that continues to captivate imaginations and taste buds alike.

 Sandra

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cowboy Kisses News ~ Julie Lence

 Hello Cowboy Kisses! Can you believe we're already into July? 2024 is chugging along at a rapid pace, and with that pace comes changes to the group. I'm sad to report that Nan O'Berry and Raine Rochelle have moved on from the group. I wish them well with their future endeavors and hope they remember to come back for a visit. 

At this time, I'm happy to report we have 2 new authors to the group, Reggi Allder and Cali Black, both writing western romance. Reggi is taking over Nan's 4th Tuesday slot, beginning July 23rd. Cali has slid into Raine's 1st Friday slot and hopes to have her first blog up next month. Please say hello to each and be sure to check out their author pages (listed on the right side bar) when you see them. 

Welcome Reggi and Cali. We're super-excited to have you as part of the team. 

Julie      

Who would you pick...? by Rhonda Lee Carver

 Which HOT cowboy would you choose to spend an afternoon with?

Father or Son?

Clint vs Scott Eastwood

While I have your attention...

I have a new pre-order! 

Purchase here!

Wild Roses grow in unexpected places, and the sisters of Sagebrush Rose have a hankering for forbidden romance.

Sam Rose knew exactly what he was doing when he gave his daughters an ultimatum. Marry and calm their wild ways or he was writing them out of the will.

Full of vinegar and passion, Liberty will show her daddy! How dare he treat her like a child and meddle in her love life. She'd show him by marrying a ranch hand and Wyler Ranks is the perfect choice!

A surprise turns the fake marriage into something real.

The last thing Wyler wanted to do was fall in love with his wife. Yet here he was. He'd agreed to the "fake" marriage because he saw a chance at running his own ranch, but he didn't expect that his life would be turned upside down. He's never chased a woman before, but he's willing to chase Liberty and prove to her that he is the cowboy for her.

He will face danger to protect his new family.

Little do they know that flowers, and love, can grow in the least nurtured soil. Read this captivating novel of Liberty and Wyler's unplanned emotions and a gift neither saw coming.

Connect with Rhonda Lee Carver

Facebook: www.facebook.com/rhondaleecarver.author/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/RLCarver

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Amazon: www.amazon.com/Rhonda-Lee-Carver/e/B00CQLXKTO

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Preserving Our Heritage

Earlier this year, I took my mom to see her family in Arkansas. We drove by her late parents' land and saw the state of their houses, one my grandfather built in the 70s and the older one next to it, built in 1910. Both had fallen into disrepair. The older one has been so covered by vegetation it is barely visible.

I stayed in the 1910 house several times as a young child, when we would visit in the summers. It had a large wraparound porch. Many of its rooms had fireplaces, and one bedroom had a quilt frame that could be lowered from the ceiling on ropes. I wish I could walk through it and see the interior again.

It always hurts my heart to see old buildings deteriorate and history die with the people who experienced it, without having their stories recorded for posterity. I told my mother that I want her to write down things she remembers from the past and gift the journal to me. I'd rather have that than just about any material possession I can think of.

~

Below are some places that preserve history. 

High Plains Western Heritage Center: 

https://www.westernheritagecenter.com/about-us

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum: 

https://museumswest.org/national-cowboy-western-heritage-museum/

Chisolm Trail Heritage Museum: 

https://chisholmtrailmuseum.org/about-western-heritage-museum/

True West Magazine: Saving the West – Top Western Museums 2022

https://truewestmagazine.com/article/saving-the-west-top-western-museums-2022/

Getting the Bug

Making History

I never liked studying history when I was in school. Ironically (or fatefully?), the college scholarship I was awarded required that I take one history class every semester and pass it or I would lose the money (and my college tuition). Like a good soldier, I chose a history course every semester, and grumbled about it. Sometimes I passed it by the skin of my teeth because I really didn't like reading the books, writing the essays, and memorizing those dates. The only portion of history I actually found interesting was the Civil War and that was only because I loved "Gone with the Wind."

As the years passed and I became a novelist, I wrote contemporary stories until the fateful day when I read a LaVyrle Spencer novel and was entranced. It was an historical. After reading several more Spencer books and getting encouragement from my agent, I embarked on researching and writing my first historical romance.

Folks, I was hooked!

To this day, I love writing historical romances and -- gulp! -- I love researching them! I have not only become engrossed in history, I have stumbled onto undiscovered countries in myself. I discovered that I knew a lot about farming, ranching, and cowboys, but where did I get this information that came pouring out of me? I'm a city kid!

Finally, I realized that those many, many hours of sitting before a TV watching westerns with my family had served me well. Listening to my mother and father recall their childhood on Missouri cotton farms had seeped into me, too.

I now believe that, for most of us, we must begin making history before we can actually appreciate it. Once I was in my 30s, the past was no longer boring because I actually had one! When I hit my 40s, I started wondering about my ancestors and began researching to fill in my family tree.

Now I have to make myself STOP researching and START writing a novel. Just when I think, I've finished researching, I find something else that's fascinating. It becomes a chore as to what to put in a novel and what to leave out!

I'm glad history finally beat me into submission. I am now a devoted student of it and I'm happy to pass on what I learn in my novels.

July 4th, 1876

Post by Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

I found this short article in the July 5, 1876, Rocky Mountain News. I found it fascinating. I haven't found out if this actually took place., Yet the historian in me would love to see something like this. Can you imagine what stories you would find as people celebrated the Centennial of the Declaration of Independence? 

We now have digital versions of many newspapers, but seeing something like this would be so exciting. 

What would you like to see from 1876? Can you imagine 2076?  2026 is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration. That is not that far in the future.

Until Next Time: Stay safe, Stay happy, and Stay healthy. 

Doris