Nancy J. Farrier
Dreams That Come True
Growing up in the Midwest had many advantages. Fireflies.
Fresh sweet corn. Hay rides. Ice skating on small ponds. Picking berries.
Amidst all the wonder and fun was a major disadvantage. Being too far east.
In third grade, yes at nine-years-old, I ran away from home
one cold night. You might think I did this because I had a horrible home life,
or perhaps a mean family. That wasn’t the case at all. My parents were
wonderful and provided a loving home for their three daughters. Even as a young
girl, I lived and breathed horses and westerns. I wanted to be a cowgirl and
that wasn’t going to happen in Indiana. So a friend and I hatched a scheme. I
would sneak away, go to her house, knock on her window, and she would let me in
and cut my hair so I looked like a boy. Then I would leave for Texas or parts
west and become a cowboy. I could ride horses, chase cows, and eat at the
chuckwagon. Between watching Bonanza and reading horse stories, this became my
dream.
Well, the best laid plans… When I left in the middle of the
night, the door creaked—loudly. I heard my dad getting up, so I had to leave
without my clothes and books. (I had to take books. Right?) Needless to say,
things went downhill from there. I didn’t make it to Texas and didn’t become a
cowgirl, but a few years later my dad bought a horse for me to ride, which did
fulfill one desire.
My dreams of the west faded a bit until my family took our
first trip to visit family in Colorado, Wyoming and California. I still hear
Dad’s voice as he announced we could now see the mountains. I leaned forward to
peer through the windshield. There they were in the distance. Majestic.
Breath-taking. And, I knew someday I would live where there were mountains.
That goal came true. For more than forty years I’ve lived
near the mountains. I still feel the thrill of the majestic vistas, and marvel
at the work of God’s hand. Since giving my life to Jesus Christ, my life has
become so rich and filled with splendor that surpasses any mountain grandeur.
Most of the stories I write take place in the west because
of a love for the beauty and diversity of the terrain, flora and the people.
Looking into the history of the Old West has fascinated me for years. I hope to
share some interesting historic tidbits with you in the coming months. Check
back and see what’s in the news. Maybe there will be something to encourage a
dream or two.
My March giveaway is for a tote bag and two of my books,
Painted Desert (contemporary), and Grand Canyon Brides, which includes one of
my novellas.
Thank you for stopping by.
Nancy J. Farrier
Howdy Nancy,
ReplyDeleteInstead of lunch next time, we should go horseback riding together! Love your reminiscences of wanting to run away to be a cowgirl. (Little known fact: I was appointed a Texas Ranger"ette" for the Day when I was little...does that make me officially a cowgirl?)
HappyTrails!
Bev
Howdy Bev,
ReplyDeleteI haven't been on a horse in years, but I would love to do that with you. I've never heard of a Texas Ranger"ette." That must have been fun. I'd love to hear about your experience some time. Sounds like you're an official cowgirl to me. :)
Hey Nancy ... great post! So good to meet you here on our fellow blog :)
ReplyDeleteNancy, we must be kindred spirits. My dream as a girl was the same as yours. I loved watching the westerns on TV with my dad and reading every book about a horse that I could find. I love visiting the mountains, but I'm not sure I'd like living in them. I prefer a bit warmer weather. I look forward to the tidbits of history you'll be sharing.
ReplyDeleteHi Jaime, Thank you. So great to be fellow bloggers.
ReplyDeleteVickie, I always wanted one of the horses that could do everything like the hero in the western rode. My horse tended to be very contrary at times, but I loved him anyway. I like living in the desert surrounded by mountains. I can visit the snow for a couple of hours and return home where it's much warmer.
ReplyDeleteNancy, I'm not a rider, but I do love the western mountains. Your Grand Canyon Brides looks like a fun collection. I'd love to have it.
ReplyDeleteHi Nancy, Love your running away from home story. How far did you get.
ReplyDeleteCant say I would be brave enough to do it. I lived on a farm but was scared of most of the animals. Mum grew up with mountains and it was the one thing she missed when she moved here. We are in a flatter area and in a bit of a valley with no mountains in sight.
Ruth, be sure to check back next month on the 18th and sign up for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteJenny, I probably went close to a mile to my friend's house. This was the middle of the night, across dark fields - no houses. I remember one point where I had to go through a deep gully filled with trees. I had to stop and build my courage, but I did it. After all, a cowboy would have to face dangers. lol When my daughters were nine-years-old, I had great sympathy for what my mother and father went through that night.
ReplyDeleteSo many horse lovers and country girls in this blog group. As a city girl, I've spent many hours in envy of those who live in the country on farms or ranches. Then I realized God put each one of us exactly where He wanted us, so who was I to complain.
ReplyDeleteI remember the first time I saw the Rockies in Denver. We arrived late at night and went straight to my friend's house. The next morning all I wanted to do was to see the mountains. My friend's mother opened the back door and grinned. She said, "Enjoy." Boy, did I ever. There they were in a wonderful view from her back porch.
Loved getting to know you, Nancy, and it will be great fun sharing our thoughts on this blog.
Nancy I have not had the pleasure of reading any of your books, but I will be adding you to my list of authors to read. Great blog post. Can't wait to read more from you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Martha. I still get that thrill when I see the mountains. I look forward to getting to know you too.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Deborah. I love connecting with people who like to read.
ReplyDeleteHi, Nancy! Never in a million years could I picture you running away from home at age nine. You were very brave, but your parents must have been frantic. Great post!
ReplyDeleteAlina, I can only imagine how awful that was for my parents. As a nine-year-old I didn't stop to consider that. Thanks for reading.
DeleteNancy, you wanted to run away to Bonanza, but I wanted to run away to Daniel Boone! Blessings on your writing!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cathy. Daniel Boone. :) I liked him too.
DeleteI enjoyed your story about running away. At least you got a horse : )
ReplyDeleteI can see your sense of adventure will run through your stories.
Thanks, Patricia. Yes, I love to have adventure - at least on paper.
DeleteNancy, thank you for sharing your story. I don't think I ever thought about running away. Glad your plans didn't meet fruition. Glad you get to enjoy the mountains. I love them. Haven't seen them for a very long time though
ReplyDeleteThanks, Christina. I hope not many kids think of running away. It is so dangerous. I believe God protected me because I didn't have enough sense to be careful. Thanks for all you've done for this blog group.
DeleteHi Nancy loved your story. i to am a Indiana girl. I also loved horses. I had a black stallion named her lady. I was girl always in my cowboy boots. Now married 35 years as of today. I kinda miss my horse and my boots. i would love to read your books. Thanks for giving away such a nice giveaway. fingers are crossed. I didn't see what part of Indiana you are from.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
joeym11@frontier.com
Hi Diana, My giveaway will be in March, so be sure to come back on the 18th of next month to enter. I haven't had a horse in a long time. Sometimes, I just want to hug a horse and breathe in that smell. I'm sure you understand that as a fellow horse lover. I grew up not far from Lafayette, where Purdue University is. Thanks for reading.
DeleteMs. Farrier,... I too, am a fellow horse girl! I haven't been in the saddle since my youth, but I still aspire to aquire my first mount! I'd love to adopt a retired Kentucky racehorse and give him a chance at a second life off the track! I was nestled into the Saddle Club, Throroughbred, & the Black Stallion series, so I do know what its like to want to 'run off' and join the fervor of the world of horses! I'm a city girl who wasn't afraid of mucking out stalls, and grooming horses! You know? In your last comment, that is exactly what I miss!? Hugging a horse, telling him how much I love him, and breathing in his sweet scent!
ReplyDeleteMy Mum has been West, and her stories have enchanted my dreams for years! I look forward to seeing where your Painted Desert and Grand Canyon Brides stories take us! :)
I'm thrilled to have found this blog! Cheers!
Hi Nancy, is that a Heflinger pony? He looks like our Sam. He's a seven year old Heflinger we bought to pull a wagon. We used to catch fireflies and put them in jars. I think if we had them here in Colorado, I'd be inclined to race after them again. Our TV network out here started re-runs of Roy Rogers and The Lone Ranger. Jerry and I are reliving our childhood in the house, then going outside and working on the ranch with the horses and cows.
ReplyDeleteHi Nancy,
ReplyDeleteI must be a late bloomer. I did not start to like horses or even consider to want one, until I was much older. I live in Southern California and well you know there are not that many horses around. When I visited Pennsylvania and saw horses, even experienced the fireflies. I thought, Wow this is how I want to live :) Thank you for sharing your love of horses and your dreams as a little girl. :D
strgth4yu@hotmail.com