Western Hearths: Cowboy Chuckwagon Meals

June brought hot days and endless miles for cowboys driving cattle across the plains. Life on the trail could be difficult, but they could look forward to a hearty meal at the end of a long day. For cowboys, a meal provided more than fuel. It gave them the chance to sit around the fire and swap tall tales or sing songs.

The Heart of the Cattle Drive

An authentic chuckwagon that accompanied cowboys as they drove cattle across the dusty plains of the early American West. (public domain image courtesy of Carol M. Highsmith via Wikimedia Commons)

Outfitted with a simple stove, storage for provisions, and a generous supply of coffee, the chuckwagon was the heart of a cattle drive. The cook, often nicknamed Cookie, was highly respected. Besides turning dried goods, salted meat, and basic staples into filling meals, the cook kept spirits high and tempers cool.

Chuckwagon staples included:

• Beans and bacon
• Biscuits or cornbread
• Coffee (often strong and black)
• Bacon, salt pork, or jerky
• Occasional canned or dried fruit
• Simple desserts when time allowed

Cowboys spent long hours in the saddle, and the chuckwagon’s provisions needed to sustain them from dawn until dusk. Many a cowboy hit the trail with an extra biscuit and jerky in his saddle bag.

Chuckwagon Skillet Beans

You can’t get more traditional than a pot of chuckwagon beans with bacon and onions. Easy to prepare over a fire or stove, this simple supper serves up a taste of the open range.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked beans (pinto or kidney)
• 2 tablespoons bacon fat, lard, or butter
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2–3 slices of bacon, diced
• ½ teaspoon salt, more to taste
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• Optional: a pinch of chili powder or paprika

Instructions

• Heat bacon fat in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat.
• Add diced bacon and onions, cooking until bacon is crisp and onions are translucent.
• Stir in beans, salt, and pepper (plus optional spices).
• Cook until the beans are heated through and flavors meld, about 10–15 minutes.
• Serve with fresh biscuits, cornbread, or flatbread.

Variations

For extra flavor, add a spoonful of molasses or brown sugar near the end of cooking—cowboys often enjoyed a touch of sweetness with savory dishes. You can also turn up the heat by adding chopped jalapenos or other peppers.

Bringing the Trail to Your Table

Recreate this chuckwagon meal to honor the cowboys who shaped the American West. 

As you eat, picture them gathered around the fire sharing food on the open range or mounting their horses at the start of the day.

About Janalyn Voigt

Janalyn Voigt fell in love with literature at an early age when her father read chapters from classics as bedtime stories. When Janalyn grew older, she put herself to sleep with tales "written" in her head.

Today Janalyn is a storyteller who writes in several genres. Her Montana Gold historical romance series is based on actual historical events. Montana Gold explores faith, love, and courage in the Wild West.

Learn more about Janalyn, read the first chapters of her books, subscribe to her e-letter, and join her reader clubs at http://janalynvoigt.com.

The History of Cowboy Boots

By Jennifer Uhlarik

 

Happy November, readers! In just a few days, we’ll celebrate Thanksgiving! Are you ready? What are you thankful for?

 

Perhaps it seems silly, but beyond being immensely thankful for family, friends, and the usual things people say, I am thankful for our nation’s unique heritage. We have such a melting pot of cultures…with so many nationalities and cultures represented across our land. But one of the decidedly American things about our country that grabbed my heart as a little girl was the cowboy culture of the American West. This part of Americana has spawned me to write and publish fifteen stories about the Old West or parts of that culture, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it! So, I thought I’d explore another piece of that culture today by looking at the history of iconic cowboy boots.

 

The Roots of Riding Boots

For centuries, riders have needed sturdy footwear to protect their feet while working around or riding horses. Of course, just as with the rodeo and the cowboy’s large belt buckles, the Vaqueros provided the basis for the boots that would eventually evolve into our modern cowboy boots. 

 

The Vaqueros were livestock herders who rode horses while performing their duties. Originally from Spain, they came to Mexico and Florida and worked their way up into the area we now know as the American Southwest. They needed sturdy footwear that would be easy to get in and out of the saddle stirrups, as well as that could keep their heels from slipping through the stirrup. (Such a mishap could prove deadly if the rider was thrown from the saddle with his foot trapped—as he could be dragged by the horse with no way to rescue himself). Also, they wanted to protect their legs from thorny plants, snakes, and other such dangers. So these men developed a style of boot with a tall shaft and a heel to prevent their feet from becoming stirrup-bound. They were basic cowhide, sometimes made in the colors of their respective ranches.

 

Wellington and Hessian boot styles

The military also adopted a tall boot with a heel. Hessian Boots or Wellingtons (the leather precursor to the rubber rain boots we know by that name today) are two such styles—first worn by cavalry troops in 19^th century Europe. These were often made from a single piece of dark-colored leather, with a rounded toe, a slight heel, and a tall shaft, they made for a sharp accent to the military garb, and they served to protect a rider’s feet and legs from the problems mentioned above. 

 

Evolving Styles

In the post-Civil War America, many men made their way to the western states and territories. Particularly in Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma, cattle ranching was big business, and boots were in high demand. It was then that these utilitarian styles began to change. In some cases, the boot makers took the typically rounded toes and made them pointier, to make it easier for the wearer to slide his toes in or out of the stirrups. In other cases, the height of the stacked-leather heels was shortened to make walking in the boots over longer distances easier. Still others added decorative stitching to the shafts of the boots or created cutouts or patterns with different colors or materials—purely for ornamentation. Those cowboys who could afford two pairs of boots often kept one pair for work and a second, fancier pair for going to town.

By the 1930s and 40s, the cowboy boots took on an even more decorative style, since they became an iconic image of the American cowboy in movies. The point of the toes became more pronounced, and the patterns of stitching or inset leathers became more colorful and noticeable. Then, in the 50s, rodeo stars who competed in roping competitions asked for changes specific to their particular contests. They needed shorter shafts, rounder toes, and more of a block heel to help them dismount quickly and safely and be able to run. Thus, the “Roper” style was born.

 

Modern Boots

Today’s modern cowboy boots aren’t just for cowboys anymore. They’ve become a fashion statement of their own, worn by people in many different walks of life. They come in many shapes and sizes and can be worn for work, casual outings, social events, and even in formal settings like weddings or gala dinners.

 

Depending on style, the shaft of a cowboy boot falls between eight and seventeen inches tall. The toes of the boots can be square, round, pointed, snip (a pointed toe, but with the tip “snipped” off), wide snip (a pointed toe with a wider “snip”), or other variations of these themes. The stitching styles can be a simple, monochromatic style or might include multiple colors in geometric or starburst patterns. Truly ornate patterns may have elaborate floral stitching adorning the entire boot. Other options of ornamentation are stamped or tooled leather, colorful insets like stars, playing cards, or crosses. And exotic materials like alligator, ostrich, or snakeskin are often used to make a statement.

 

And the iconic cowboy boot styles have even been adapted into shoe styles, lopping off the traditional boot shaft but keeping the pointed or snipped-toe shape of the foot. Over time, these popular styles have shifted from utilitarian to fashionable, but one thing is for sure—it doesn’t appear that the cowboy boot is going anywhere anytime soon.

 

It’s Your Turn: Do you like cowboy boots? Do you own a pair? 

 

 

Jennifer Uhlarik discovered western novels at twelve when she swiped the only “horse” book from her brother’s bookshelf. Across the next decade, she devoured westerns and fell in love with the genre. While attaining a B.A. in writing from the University of Tampa, she began penning her own story of the Old West. She has finaled in and won numerous writing competitions and appeared on various best-seller lists. Besides writing, she’s been a business owner, a schoolteacher, a marketing director, a historical researcher, a publisher, and a full-time homemaker. She lives near Tampa, Florida, with her husband and fur children.

 

 

Love and Order: A Three-Part Old West Romantic Mystery

Wanted: 

Family, Love, and Justice

One Old West Mystery Solved Throughout Three Short Romantic Stories

Separated as children when they were adopted out to different families from an orphan train, the Braddock siblings have each grown up and taken on various jobs within law enforcement and criminal justice.

 

Youngest child, Callie, has pushed past her insecurities to pursue a career as a Pinkerton agent. Middle child, Andi, has spent years studying law under her adoptive father’s tutelage. And the eldest and only son, Rion, is a rough-and-tumble bounty hunter. 

 

When the hunt for a serial killer with a long history of murders reunites the brother and sisters in Cambria Springs, Colorado, they find themselves not only in a fight for justice, but also a fight to keep their newly reunited family intact. How will they navigate these challenges when further complicated by unexpected romances?

 

The Pony Express in a Nutshell By Donna Schlachter -- with Giveaway

Poster advertising for riders

Most people know a little about the Pony Express, but few realize it only operated from April 1860 through to November 1861. The first ride left St. Joseph, Missouri heading west, and from Sacramento, California heading east, on April 3rd, 1860. 

The idea for a Pony Express was conceived in the minds of its owners because of the possibility of winning the contract for the overland US mail. Another company, Butterworth, was running a southern route that took up to three weeks to deliver to the west coast, and Majors and Waddell thought they could beat that time by taking the shorter northern route.
The irony of the matter is they never won the contract; instead, they merged with Butterworth to form the Overland Mail Company, and closed with the Pony Express over $200,000 in debt.


From idea to the first mail run took less than six months. First they identified the easiest and shortest route; then they contracted with stagecoach stops, mercantiles or other businesses in small towns and cities for the home stations, where a rider lived and worked, making his runs about a hundred miles east and west. For the relay stations, where horses were changed out, the Pony Express contracted with ranches, outfitters, and ordinary folks to stable three to six horses and have somebody on hand with a saddled horse for the incoming rider. These relay stations were fifteen to twenty miles apart, depending on the terrain. Sometimes they had to start from scratch and hire somebody to build a barn, corral, and cabin to be in the right place at the right time.

For a period of about six weeks in the Spring 1861, the mail run was halted due to unrest between settlers and the native peoples, and while records aren’t clear, it appears no rider or mail bag was lost during the eighteen months of its operation. However, there are stories that talk about a horse shot out from under its rider and the mail bag being stolen, only to be recovered a year later.

As with any great piece of history, there will be myths and stories told. Among the famous legends are that Buffalo Bill Cody rode for the Pony Express. Records and recollections vary and contradict each other, but it is possible he rode for them for a short time as a young boy. Another great story is that women disguised themselves as men in order to sign up, but again, records are not clear whether this is true or not. However, it is documented as fact that women did sign up as soldiers in the Civil War, so it could be true.

Riders were hired for their ability to ride, endure the elements, as well as perform other necessary tasks around the home stations. Posters that advertise for wiry orphans are not completely true, but no doubt orphans could have been preferred. The pay started at around $25 a month plus room and board, which was a lot of money in those days, particularly for a teenage boy. However, along with their horsemanship and ranch skills, they were also exhorted not to drink, not to cuss, and not to shoot people without cause. At their swearing-in, each took an oath to act like a gentleman, and were issued a handgun, a rifle, and a Bible. Most carried their rifle in a scabbard, but often left the pistol and Bible in their bunk to reduce weight.

The time period, 1860, fascinates me as there were so many changes happening in America. The train is a near dream; the cross-country telegraph is nearing completion; the country is brewing for civil war; women are campaigning for voting and civil rights. In just a few short years, cameras will photograph the first war ever; telephones will be installed in people’s homes; electricity will light our lives into the dark of night. Despite the changes, one thing is sure: the Pony Express lives on in our hearts and our folklore much longer than it actually ran.

In my story in the “Pony Express Romance Collection”, Echoes of the Heart, both characters are running from bad situations, which mirrors the thinking of the day: go West and start over.

Leave a comment, and I will draw a lucky winner of a print copy (US only) of “Pony Express Romance Collection”.

Donna writes historical suspense under her own name, and contemporary suspense under her alter ego of Leeann Betts, and has been published more than 30 times in novellas, full-length novels, and non-fiction books. She is a member of ACFW, Writers on the Rock, SinC, Pikes Peak Writers, and CAN; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; ghostwrites; edits; and judges in writing contests.

Echoes of the Heart: http://amzn.to/2lBaqcW
www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com
www.HiStoryThruTheAges.com Receive a free ebook simply for signing up for our free newsletter!
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DonnaSchlachter
Books: Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ci5Xqq and Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2gZATjm About Echoes of the Heart:

Catherine Malloy, an orphan girl running from a compromising situation in Boston, answers a personal ad in a magazine, on behalf of her illiterate friend. Through his letters, she finds herself falling in love with this stranger. Benjamin Troudt is crippled and illiterate, and knows nothing of this ad. His route supervisor, Warton, who was helping Benjamin with the paperwork, has been given only a short time to live, and knows Benjamin needs help, so he places the ad. Can Catherine overcome her belief that the God of her parents has abandoned her? And can Benjamin allow God to open his eyes and his heart to love?

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!

* * * * *

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!

* * * * *

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?

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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 Facebook, Twitter, GoodReads, and LinkedIn.

Old West Manners + Book Giveaway!

By Tiffany Amber Stockton

Last month, I shared about the "iconic timepiece." If you missed that post, you can read it here: http://www.hhhistory.com/2017/07/the-iconic-timepiece.html.

* * * * * * * * * *

In July, I celebrated not one, but TWO new book releases. So, I'm going to do a drawing of TWO winners from the comments on today's post, and you'll have your choice of an autographed copy of either book. Covers and summaries are at the bottom of this post.

* * * * * * * * * *

Time is always passing, and it's always required when attempting to accomplish something. For instance, drilling manners into my children requires fortitude and a grand abundance of time to knock this kind of sense into them. *grins* It IS encouraging, though, when I hear the "please" or "thank you" or the very rare "yes, ma'am" or yes, sir" even though I answer them with those all the time. I thought it might be fun to share some rules from days gone by. Perhaps we'll realize how good we have it today.

OLD WEST MANNERS

WELLS FARGO RULES FOR RIDING THE STAGECOACH

Adherence to the Following Rules Will Insure a Pleasant Trip for All

• Abstinence from liquor is requested, but if you must drink, share the bottle. To do otherwise makes you appear selfish and un-neighborly.
• If ladies are present, gentlemen are urged to forego smoking cigars and pipes as the odor of same is repugnant to the Gentle Sex. Chewing tobacco is permitted, but spit WITH the wind, not against it.
• Gentlemen must refrain from the use of rough language in the presence of ladies and children.
• Buffalo robes are provided for your comfort during cold weather. Hogging robes will not be tolerated and the offender will be made to ride with the driver.
• Don't snore loudly while sleeping or use your fellow passenger's shoulder for a pillow; he or she may not understand and friction may result.
• Firearms may be kept on your person for use in emergencies. Do not fire them for pleasure or shoot at wild animals as the sound riles the horses.
• In the event of runaway horses, remain calm. Leaping from the coach in panic will leave you injured, at the mercy of the elements, hostile Indians and hungry wolves.
• Forbidden topics of discussion are stagecoach robberies and Indian uprisings.
• Gents guilty of unchivalrous behavior toward lady passengers will be put off the stage. It's a long walk back. A word to the wise is sufficient.

Cowboy Hat Etiquette

• Remove hat when eating.
• Removed when the national anthem is played. Hold your hat in your right hand, over your heart. This applies to women, unless their hat is held on with hat pins.
• Cowboys tip their hats to ladies when out doors, remove them when being introduced, and remove them when entering a ladies home.
• Men never tipped their hats to other men in the Old West. It was akin to calling them a woman. A nod was a common greeting when not shaking hands.
• In commercial or public buildings it's not necessary to remove your hat - but should be when entering a private office. It is generally considered polite to remove it in a private home, unless other people are wearing their hats.
• Wearing a hat to a theatre is fine but should be removed if it blocks anyone's view of the entertainment.

Chuckwagon Etiquette

• No one eats until Cookie calls
• When Cookie calls, everyone comes a runnin'
• Hungry cowboys wait for no man. They fill their plates, fill their bellies, and then move on so stragglers can fill their plates.
• Cowboys eat first, talk later.
• It's okay to eat with your fingers. The food is clean.
• If you're refilling the coffee cup and someone yells "Man at the pot." You're obliged to serve refills.
• Don't take the last serving unless your sure you're the last man.
• Food left on the plate is an insult to the cook.
• No running or saddling a horse near the wagon. And when you ride off, always ride down wind from the wagon.
• If you come across any decent firewood, bring it back to the wagon.
• Strangers are always welcome at the wagon.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

* What is one example of manners drilled into you from a young age? Did it stick?

* Which rule(s) above do you wish were still commonplace today? Why?

* Which rule above did you find the most humorous?

* What is 1 fascinating fact about today's post which caught your eye today?

GIVEAWAY

Leave answers to the questions or any feedback on the post in the comments below to be entered into the drawing. Please also include your email address (email [at] domain [dot] com, net, us, etc.)

Comments with "please enter me" will not be qualified.

The winners will be announced on this blog and contacted privately by the 18th of August.

Don't forget to come back on the 9th of September for my next appearance.


The Second Chance Brides Collection: Nine Historical Romances Offer New Hope for Love

From a Distance (novella #8)
Trevor Fox is on a quest to get away for a while from his job as financial adviser of his father’s company in New York. Working at a horse ranch just outside of Breckenridge, Colorado, affords him anonymity and solitude—until his fellow ranch workers decide to play a joke on him which blows out of proportion and names him as the most eligible bachelor in town. Distraught at the endless line of ladies all of a sudden vying for his attention and risking his true identity being revealed, Trevor seeks out an average girl showing no interest in him and decides to pursue her affections. Anna St. Claire always lived life in the shadow of her older, and more beautiful, sister. So she let her sister accept all the offers and didn’t give them a second glance…except for one, and he didn’t even know she existed. After taking her inheritance and moving to Breckenridge, she is shocked when Trevor walks into her life again and makes her an offer she can’t refuse. She pretends to live like an average girl in an attempt to sway Trevor’s affections. Her plan backfires, though, when he discovers her ruse, and she faces the possibility of losing him all over again.

Magic of the Swan: A historical retelling of a classic fairy tale (Love Everlasting Book 6)

Elenora Caldwell and Trevor Davenport had been thrown together since they were children. As the years passed, a deep friendship developed. Now, as heirs to their respective family fortunes, they each attempt to find where they fit into life’s grand puzzle. When Elenora’s father dismisses a man from his employ, the man threatens to seek revenge. Charmed and fascinated by a new magician in the city who studied under the Great Houdini, Elenora sneaks out to attend a performance, but ends up a pawn in a vile scheme by the magician to take control of Caldwell Enterprises. In order to save Elenora, Trevor must first defeat Cravatta. How can he match wits with a master illusionist? And could his reunion with Elenora be the key to a brand new life?

** I only recently realized both heroes are named "Trevor." Guess I must like that name. This is also what happens when you're working on more than one book at a time, and more than a year passes between finished novels and more recent ones. **

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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 anti-aging, health & wellness, and personal development industry, helping others become their best from the inside out.

She lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, in Colorado. They have one girl and one boy, and a Retriever mix named Roxie. She has sold twenty (21) books so far and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.

Cowboy Clothes That Made The Cowboy

Nobby Snakeskin Boot

 Anyone remember the words to the old cowboy song, “Streets of Laredo?” One of the verses stated, “I see by your outfit that you are a cowboy.” First published in 1910 and also known as “The Cowboy’s Lament”, it was sung around campfires and on the trail for many years before that.

For the old-time cowboys, clothes defined who a man was. For himself and for others. Working cowboys tended to wear long sleeve shirts, usually some faded and stained shade of white, with the collar buttoned. This kept the dirt out when they rode down the trail or behind a herd of slow moving cows. White buttoned shirts, an old beat-up Stetson, and often yellow cigarette stains on the fingers became the norm. 

Most old trail and ranch cowboys were also crippled up a bit, had lost a few teeth and a lot of memory too. However, they never lost their cowboy pride. Or forgot a friend, a horse, or a pretty girl. That was considered the cowboy way.

They had a word for fine, expensive clothes and especially boots. That word was ‘nobby.’ Severe pointed toe nobby cowboy boots didn’t gain much popularity until after WWII. Then they were used only on dress-up occasions. Or by wanna-be cowboys trying to impress.

In the 1950s, the most nobby cowboy clothes could be found at a store called

Nudie's Store Poster

Nudie’s in North Hollywood. Nudie suits were flamboyant cowboy outfits that country-western singers first began to wear, inspired by the singing cowboys in the movies. Rhinestones, bright colors, and intricate embroidery were all hallmarks of a custom-made Nudie suit.

Nudie suits were named after the man who made them -- Nudie Cohn, a North Hollywood tailor who became the go-to clothier for country-western stars. Elvis Presley’s gold lame tuxedo had one of the biggest price tags of any Nudie suit: $10,000. It appeared on the cover of Elvis' 1959 album 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong. Hank William's most iconic outfit was a white Nudie suit with musical notes stitched along the sleeves.

Elvis Presley Gold Lame Nudie's Suit

Nudie’s business boomed in the flush years after World War II, when people weren’t afraid to flaunt their wealth. Superstars like Bob Dylan, Cher, David Byrne, John Wayne, and John Lennon all loved his wild outfits—the gaudier, the better. Nudie's closed down in 1994.

My late husband Stephen Bly bought a cowboy hat at Nudie’s in 1979. A plain, beaver felt, XXX, dark brown Resistol to which he added a horsehair hatband “wore well” for him.  With a 7 7/8 hat size, it was tough to find one that fit.

You can tell a lot by how a man puts down his cowboy hat. Crown down, he’s the real deal. Brim down, he’s faking it. And if he tosses his hat on the bed, he’s never competed in a rodeo. That’s for sure and certain, some say. Or it could depend on the region you’re from, the lifestyle conditions, and the season of the year.

Stetson Cowboy Hat

Here’s nine general Cowboy Hat Etiquette Rules:

1. Don’t mess with a cowboy’s hat. Never touch without permission.

2. Never wear a cowboy hat backwards.

3. Wear felt hats between Labor Day and May and straw otherwise, depending on the weather.

4. Never handle your hat in such a way that flexes or bends the brim or crown.

5. When traveling with an expensive cowboy hat, pack in a hatbox with handles. With less expensive hats, either carry them by hand or protect with a plastic bag.

6. Take the hat off when entering a building or sitting at a table for a meal--unless there’s no place to safely lay it down.

8. Keep a hat on when eating at a counter or out on the range.

9. Touch the brim of a cowboy hat by moving the hand away from the holster to signal a greeting of friendly intentions.

Cowboy For A Rainy Afternoon

As a rule, to ask a man what outfit he rode for was common courtesy in cowboy country. However, in the scene below in the 1950's from Cowboy For A Rainy Afternoon, it was a derogatory remark to indicate they knew this stranger never worked on a ranch. In this case, the clothes didn’t fool them.

The bent brass bell tinkled when the oak and smudged glass front door of the Matador Hotel swung open. A weak-eyed man with pointed toe cowboy boots and a wide brimmed, rain streaked white Stetson sauntered across the lobby to the registration counter. Quirt Payton reached for the grip of his old single action army revolver. I had to lean forward to peer around the large plaster pillar that blocked my view. All six cowboys fixed their eyes on the intruder. Coosie Harte coughed into his bandanna and called out, “What outfit you ride for, son?” ... When the man shoved his hat back, his ears pushed out and there was no tan line on his forehead.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Janet Chester Bly

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Janet Chester Bly has written and co-written 32 books with her late husband, award-winning western author Stephen Bly. She and her three sons completed Stephen’s last historical novel for him, Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot. Read about the story here: http://www.blybooks.com/category/finishing-dads-novel/.

Recent release Wind in theWires, Book 1, Trails of Reba Cahill, is her first solo adult novel. It’s a contemporary western mystery. It’s a road adventure with a touch of romance. It’s Cowgirl Lit.

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The American Cowboy: Truth and Legend

By Amy Lillard

Hardly anything is as iconic as the American cowboy. Even today, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone in the world who doesn’t acknowledge that the cowboy hat is a symbol of America and the Western world.

There’s just something about a cowboy. He sits tall in the saddle, sometimes facing danger, often times alone. He is one man, brave and true, fighting against nature, injustices, and outlaws. Is it any wonder that he has become a folk hero? A half-real, half-legend icon of the American West.

I live in the land of cowboys. (Lucky me!) It’s nothing to be at a diner and someone come in with spurs jangling, jeans half-tucked into the shafts of their boots, bandana, hat, the works.

But there is more to the cowboy than sometimes meets the eye. And this all-American symbol is actually a mosaic of many ancient cultures as well as the Spanish. Their dress may be easily identifiable, but it is also extremely practical.

Buckaroo is thought to be a variation on the word vaquero (pronounced ba-‘kero) which is a derivative of the Spanish word for cow. So let’s take a look at how the ancient and the Spanish came together to give the world something so uniquely American that it is known the world over.

The Cowboy Hat

In the early days of the Old West it was the bowler hat rather than the slouch hat, center crease, or sombrero that was the most popular among cowboys. Seems strange to think about, but the bowler was less likely to blow off in the wind. By the 1870s, John Batterson Stetson had changed all that. In 1865 he created the very first Stetson hat.

Stampede strings were added to prevent the hat from blowing off when riding

fast. They were long strings typically made from leather or braided horsehair. Usually, the string ran halfway around the crown, then through a hole on each side. The ends were knotted to hold them in place and secured under the chin or around the back of the head to keep the hat in place or from blowing away completely.

Cowboy hats protect the top of the head from the heat of the sun and shade the cowboy’s eyes from the sun's glare. They keep rain off the cowboy’s face. But they have other uses as well. They can be used to wave to a friend, smack a slow horse on the rump and are useful as a cup to scoop up water or folded over for a pillow.

The Bandanna Handkerchief

Though some might believe that the bandanna is just for show, they actually have many practical uses. Bandannas come in a variety of bright colors to make the cowboy more visible in bad weather. They block the hot sun to prevent sunburn and can be used to wipe sweat from the brow. They keep the dust out of the mouth and nose during dust storms and warm the ears in cold weather. They are also used as washcloths, tourniquets, and blindfolds to lead horses out of burning barns.

Cowboy Boots

There is a classic style to the cowboy boot. Heels are best if they are two inches high and angled. They need a tall shaft that reached at least to mid-calf and ‘mule ears’ which are the loops at both sides of the shaft to help a cowboy pull them on. The boots are pull on, traditionally with no laces. A smooth leather sole is best and most cowboy boots are designed with a narrower, rounded toe.

All of these feature serve to help the cowboy work safer and better.

The angled heel and narrow toes are used to help the cowboy ride. The toe and the slick sole give the cowboy easy insertion into the stirrups. While the angled heel help him stay in the saddle by pushing against the stir-ups and holding the foot in place.

There was a high risk of the cowboy

being unseated by his often-times unpredictable horse. When this happened there was a chance that the cowboy’s foot might get caught in the stir-up and he would be dragged. But the smooth shaft of the boot allowed for the foot to slip out and the cowboy to remain on the ground while his horse galloped away.

The shaft also protected the cowboy’s lower leg and ankle from brush and thorns. While dismounted, the shaft helped protect from rocks and rattlesnakes. The high tops also helped prevent the boot from filling with mud and water, during wet weather and creek crossings.

Cowboys could spend as much as a month's salary to have their boots custom made. The only cowboys who wore ready-made boots were either greenhorns or those who saved their money in order to have a new pair made.

The Saddle

The stock saddle’s design traced all the way back to the Moors of North Africa, having come to the American cowboy by way of the Spanish and Mexicans.

Chaps

There are two main types of chaparejos, or chaps: the skintight shotgun chaps and the wide batwing chaps. Different styles developed to fit the local climate, terrain, and hazards. The time of actual appearance of the garment on American cowboys is uncertain. By the late 1870s, however, most Texas cowboys wore them as the cattle industry moved north.

The Lariat

A well-known tool of the American cowboy, a lariat is also referred to as a lasso, riata, or reata (all from Spanish la reata). It’s a loop of rope designed as a restraint. The looped end was tossed around a target and tightened when pulled.

Lassos are not only part of North American culture. Huns are recorded as using lassos in battle to ensnare their adversaries around AD 370. And relief carvings at the ancient Egyptian temple of Pharaoh Seti (built c.1280 BC) show the pharaoh employing a lasso.

General Clothing

The collarless shirt and trousers the cowboys wore were nondescript and made of flannel or wool. A vest was also worn. It added some protection against the cold winds and had a number of useful pockets which were used to store things like tobacco and cigarette papers.

Cowboys often stitched buckskin across the seat and down the inner thighs so the pants would not wear out from rubbing against the saddle all day long.

But even with the practicality of their everyday dress and the borrowed items from so many cultures, the American cowboy is undeniably just that—American. An icon of justice and bravery. How can you not love that?