Friday, March 9, 2018

Of Wind, Tumbleweeds, and Cowboys

By Tiffany Amber Stockton



Last month, I shared about the love of pets and showcased famous dogs in TV or movies. If you missed that post, you can read it here: http://www.hhhistory.com/2018/02/for-love-of-pets.html.

Little did I know when I wrote that post, that just one week later, we'd have to make the difficult decision to say goodbye to our precious Roxie. We learned on Valentine's Day that she had developed a rather aggressive cancer in her bladder, and it combined with transitional cell carcinoma that resulted in spreading. It had come down to quality of life, and while we miss her greatly, we know we made the right decision and did the best by her.

It's getting easier with each passing day, and it won't be long before we find another sweet dog in need of our love. Now, Roxie has joined my other companions at Rainbow's Bridge, waiting until I can be reunited with them again.

I've been translating this experience into my current novel that deals with losing a loved one and life after that loss. It's been quite cathartic and healing for me. The next novel will bring me back to the west, and that leads us into today's post. Thanks so much for traveling this journey with me!

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Of Wind, Tumbleweeds, and Cowboys

If you have ever watched an old western movie or even a TV show set in the Old West, you are quite familiar with a nuisance known as the tumbleweed. Even I remarked about seeing them when I first moved to Colorado, saying, "I am officially in the West." *grins*

For the most part, tumbleweeds are shown in deserted or ghost towns, empty and dusty streets, or out on the prairie where no buildings impede their path. But, in reality, tumbleweeds are found everywhere people are, if the conditions are right.

A "tumbleweed" is a phrase used to describe various varieties of bushes that break off when very dry, and roll with the wind.

These thick matted bushes sometimes stick to each other to resemble a giant Tumbleweed, and single Tumbleweeds six or eight feet in diameter are not uncommon in the Southwest at times. They have been seen in many Western movies, but far from being "quaint," they can be both a nuisance and a fire hazard.  Sage brush creates one of the more common kinds of tumbleweed.

Where I live in Colorado, when the wind blows across town, tumbleweeds inevitably follow. And it's amazing how those buggers can get stuck under your car, then dragged for miles. People avoid them like they do an animal or debris in the road.

One of the most ironic facts is knowing the actual tumbleweed is a plant brought over from Russia.

Scientific descriptions with good photos!

History and Description: http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/tumbleweed.htm
Nice site and has bibliographical links.

Russian Thistle: Desert USA—the Ultimate Desert Resource has a very good history article, and the photo of blossoms to the right is theirs. It's beautiful. It's also larger than life. The blossoms are teensy, and when seen through a microscope, are nearly transparent at one point.

Another iconic symbol of the American West is the cowboy.

I confess. Ever since I was a little girl, I have always loved watching westerns. And the sight of a man in jeans, boots and a Stetson have always made my heart skip a beat. If that man happens to also be astride a fine horse, all the better! *grins*

Right now, I'm working on a couple of books with a western setting. In fact, the very first complete book I wrote was set in a small western town and featured a hero who was a successful cattle baron. And now, I'm returning to writing what I love...stories about horses, cowboys, ladies and ranches in the west.

So, what is it about cowboys that appeals to so many of us? Why do little boys love to don the hat and boots and swing that lasso? Why do little girls get a twinkle in their eye when they see one? What about them makes ladies want to hop right on their horse and ride off into the sunset with them? What about the way they tip their hat makes you feel that all is right with the world? Why do stories of them always catch our ear or seeing them catch our eye? And what is it about the way they drawl the word, "ma'am" that can make you weak at the knees?

Perhaps it's a desire for those simpler times when a man's handshake and his word was his bond, when men treated women with a high measure of respect and courtesy, when loyalty was a highly-prized character trait, and when you had all you could ever hope for if you had a good woman, a good saddle and a good horse.

To me? It's the love of horses and the image that cowboys represent. They might be a little rough around the edges, and they might even stink if they've been riding range for days on end without the luxury of a creek or a shower. But we love them anyway! There is just something about them that has stood the test of time, and I'm sure will continue to do so for years to come.

Before I end, I'd like to share a web site another friend sent that's entitled:

True Cowboy - The Last Cowboy Stronghold

Whether you're looking to delve into the history of the cowboy or want to scope out some modern-day ones, or even if you've got a hankerin' to don the gear and become a cowboy or cowgirl yourself, this site has it all. Enjoy!

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NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

* Do you love cowboys? Why or why not?

* So...what trademarks or icons of the "west" come to mind when you think of a western setting?

* When you read a western story or novel, or when you watch a movie or TV show, what items are required in order for the western setting to be believable to you?

* What did you like most about today's post?



BIO

Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since childhood, when she was accused of having a very active imagination and cited with talking entirely too much. Today, she has honed those childhood skills to become an author and speaker who works in the health & wellness and personal development industry, helping others become their best from the inside out. She is also an educational consultant with Usborne Books.

She lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, along with their two children in Colorado. She has sold twenty (21) books so far and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. You can find her on FacebookTwitterGoodReads, and LinkedIn.

5 comments:

  1. Who doesn't love cowboys? However, I think that we use a historical version of the cowboy in our imaginations. From things I read, nowadays cowboys do a lot of the same tasks they've always done but are not averse to using technology to make the job easier. Great post. Thanks!

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    1. Haha. That image with modern technology and a cowboy just seems so "off" somehow, but I'm sure it's true. Cowboys in the 21st century I'm sure would look far different to the cowboys from the 19th century. The historical versions might even tease the modern ones for being too "soft." Lol!

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  2. Sorry about the loss of your little Roxie.

    I think of the old westerns I watched with cowboys. They are hard working on the range or ranches, with a true spirit of America freedom and respect for ladies. I enjoyed your post. Thank you. Blessings as you continue to write your stories.

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    1. Thanks, Marilyn. Each day is getting easier, and each day brings us closer to when we will rescue another dog in need of our love.

      I'm right there with you on the cowboys and the image they represent. Hard-working, respectful, high integrity and honor, and men of their word. Definite representation of the true spirit of America. No doubt about it!

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  3. I loved this post. Twenty-two years ago, I used to go dancing on Saturday nights with two couples that went to church with my parents. The two ladies would find a guy and ask him if he wanted to dance with me. One night I spotted a guy standing in the corner and I told them to ask him. He was dressed head to toe - cowboy hat, western shirt, jeans, boots, duster - and gorgeous. They told him on the next slow song to come get me. He did and never left and a year later, a beautiful little cowgirl was born. I'll be on the lookout for your books.

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