I am a bit late with posting this but seems life right now is a bit fast and crazier than I want…today is a very special day of honoring our Dad’s.
This is my Dad…he was an amazing man…he lived with a left stiff leg from a football injury during his senior year in high school. Yet not once did he ever complain or make excuses for his life. Instead he fought to live a normal life and he did. I saw it and was witness to it…Dad was the real deal when it came to being a cowboy and a great Dad!
Dad with his horse Jingle across the road from the house in the 1940’s.
Dad roping in the 1950’s…
Dad in the 1970’s running one of the biggest cattle ranches in the state of Oregon. One of the very last cattle ranches in the state to drive their cattle down from the mountains in the late fall to the winter pasture. It was a 90 mile cattle drive with 800 head of mamma cows.
Newspaper Article On The Juniper T
Yearly Fall Cattle Drive
Cows headed home…we drove the cattle every fall for almost 30 years and by the time we did it the last year…it was a piece of cake. They knew where they were going…home.
Dad looking weary on the drive about half way through. This is my Dad…his horse Bucky…his dog Blue. He was pretty much John Wayne to me and Mom and kinda scary to Wild Bill:)
Oh come on WB Dad does not look scary here!!!
“WB are you gonna marry my daughter?”
“Yes sir….I am!”
“She is our little girl…and our only child…so I am watching you!”
“Don’t worry Dad…I am good with WB.”
I have so many good memories of growing up riding with Dad and working cows…but some of the best ones are when Dad took me fishing or when he taught me how to drive a four speed Scout up in the mountains…he was the solid comfort in Mom’s and my life…and he always kept a going.
Dad, you gave me the gift of life and horses:)
Happy Father’s Day…I learned everything I could from you about life and living and I miss you and Mom so very much.
I thank God for giving me a cowboy Dad like you!
Hotrod Cowgirl headed on down the road with horse power and horsepower:) Over and out…see ya on down the dusty trail!
Hot Rod Cowgirl 
Jun 27, 2013 @ 13:51:21
I enjoyed your story of a wonderful father and also, read so many comments. You are blessed with great memories, some gifts he passed on in the way of character and talents, too. Thanks for following my blog and now, it is mutual! Smile and see you around!
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Jun 28, 2013 @ 23:27:21
🙂 Thank you my friend:) I treasure the memories and love to share them by writing an also photography…growing up with good parents an living a lifestyle that was different in that we were so isolated from the world…and also I thought everyone ha cows and horses…when I came to realize that having cows and horses is very different from the normal life….I began to write even more to share the stories and memories. Being an only child, I am the only one to carry on with the stories of old and memories of gold:) I am looking forward to reading more about you on your blog:) Thank you for your support:)
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Jun 16, 2013 @ 10:52:45
Never to late for this!
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Jun 16, 2013 @ 14:39:45
Thank you so much:) Hugs:)
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Jun 16, 2013 @ 09:16:06
Your Dad loved what he did–he loved his life. That says a lot when so many people just trudge through life angry and unfulfilled. As always, love your photos. The black and whites are really good. In the 10th photo, he resembles Ronald Reagan. Ya’l have a great day, hear?
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Jun 16, 2013 @ 14:38:50
Dad loved life hugely and always kept his smile and positive outlook on life, even when it was so full of lemons that we had to make lemonade:) He loved riding horseback and loved his Black Angus cows…I was so lucky that I got to ride with him every day in the summer and if it rained we took salt blocks around to all the various pastures and salted, checked cows and I opened gate:) He had me on a horse before I could walk so I would have pouted hugely if I had to stay home, some days if we rode out from camp at daybreak, Mom always packed us lunches in my saddle bag, we would put on 30 miles horseback moving and checking cows by the time we returned that evening for dinner…I thrived on it and loved helping Dad. It is sad that people spend their lives being angry and unfulfilled and I have seen that too…Dad could have done that but instead he chose life and to live his life as best he could. He was a football star and was headed to college to play and halfway through the football season when he was a Senior, he developed a bone infection on his knee. He almost died and spent a year in Portland, 200 miles from his home and family in a body cast. In those days they had not invented penicillin, so they had to open his leg several times in order to scrape the infection off of his bone…did I say Dad was seriously tough? He made it through and when he got home, he had a stiff leg and the infection was always around in his body waiting to flare up again…and it did a few times but by then they had penicillin and Mom would give him shots when I was growing up…a few times he ended up in the hospital. He kept going and was determined to live his life and so he did…all the way up to the end of his life when he was in a wheelchair and our last walk as he called it, was down the road to look at the cows…and he was pointing out various stars to me…he was one of a kind and so was my Mom…I will write about her one of these days too… I was blessed by God that He chose my parents:) And he did go to college anyway, graduated and married my Mom…thanks for stopping in as always it is good to see you. God Bless and Hugs:)
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Jun 16, 2013 @ 07:58:28
What a wonderful tribute to your father.
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Jun 16, 2013 @ 14:22:45
Thank you so much for your comment and support:) I was happy to share the Dad I knew with all as he was the best Dad I could have ever hoped for. I am thankful that I have so many happy memories…Dad taught me lots about how to live life as he demonstrated it daily, and always with a either a smile or a positive outlook. I went with him out to gather cows everyday in the summer months…sometimes when we rode right from our cabin we covered 30 miles by the time we got home for dinner that night. I miss my parents tons but I have so many great memories to carry me forward:) Hugs from me:)
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Jun 16, 2013 @ 07:54:19
Wonderful tribute and you’re so lucky to have these memories. I believe I’ve read this before but it resonates more than ever. Perfect for Father’s Day!!
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Jun 16, 2013 @ 14:16:48
Thank you so much:) Yes I wrote it last year and was going to write more today but then I thought what I wrote last year was and is so much my Dad….and how he was not just my Dad but my friend and how he always found the good in situations or with people…he was an awesome Dad. I do have lots of memories as I went with him just about everyday in the summer as we gathered cattle and rode many miles together. Wishing you a wonderful Father’s Day too:)
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Jun 15, 2013 @ 21:48:17
Reblogged this on Hot Rod Cowgirl and commented:
This is my tribute to my Dad, who was my hero. I wrote this a year ago in 2012 and it pretty much says it all. I will never forget you Dad…Happy Dad’s Day With Much Love and Gratitude! I have a feeling that you are still horseback gathering cows up in heaven…keep my horse saddled and Wild Bill’s too…and give Mom a big hug from us. I miss you both! Love, Your Cowgirl Daughter
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Jun 26, 2012 @ 17:56:31
You’re such a good girl, and this is such a sweet post, full of respect and affection for the father who brought you up, that I’ve decided not to offer you any reward… but to tip my hat to the father you loved… and listen quietly to what else you’ve got to say.
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Jun 27, 2012 @ 08:22:01
Thank you so very much for your kind words and support, your words truly blessed me. I feel vey blessed that God chose the parents for me that He did, they were so very loving and we had lots of great memories when we moved to the cattle ranch on the last day of school for the year usually June 1. It would be just us three for the summer…no phones or electricity or running water etc. I miss those days no TV or cell phones or computers…someday I hope to write a book of our life on the mountain cattle ranch:) Have a wonderful day!
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Jun 23, 2012 @ 07:42:06
You gotta br very proud of your father too!
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Jun 23, 2012 @ 11:08:53
Oh I was….and still am:) He accomplished so much with his life…in High School when he was injured in his senior year playing football he ended up with a bone infection as they did not have penicillin yet….the only way to treat it was that he spent a year at a large hospital in a cast and several times they would operate on his left leg to scarpe the bone infection off of it and out of his body. So he ended up with a frozen knee joint and stiff leg. He spoke about it to me several times that it was not easy but he kept going and you would never know he had a bad leg. He would chase off after a cow on the side of a mountain and if need be would swing off his horse onto the left leg and run after it if he roped it. He was a very tough strong man who set a beautiful example for me growing up:)
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Jun 22, 2012 @ 18:15:05
Reblogged this on Missi Boness~Artist and commented:
More Father’s Day Love!
Check out these amazing pictures and her wonderful tribute to her Daddy.
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Jun 22, 2012 @ 19:26:37
Thank you so much:) You are awesome to do this….truly:) Nice to meet you and now I am going to check out your blog too! Happy Weekend!!!
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Jun 20, 2012 @ 11:20:53
Just so you know, I’m in the process of nominating you for a “Lovely Blogger” award! You deserve it. This is a truly lovely blog.
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Jun 20, 2012 @ 13:39:14
Thank you so much for the nomination and your support:)
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Jun 20, 2012 @ 08:10:44
Such a wondeful post about your father…great to have a Cowboy as father:))))
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Jun 20, 2012 @ 08:13:08
He was the best:)
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Jun 20, 2012 @ 01:51:17
I sill haven’t written anuthing about my lovely Dad! He will get a post.
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Jun 20, 2012 @ 07:46:49
🙂 I will look for it:)
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Jun 19, 2012 @ 19:13:18
Beautiful story that made me cry. I loved your photos and your narrative. Your dad would be proud. 🙂
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Jun 19, 2012 @ 21:05:18
Thank you:) Means tons…I miss my parents so much…I was so blessed….
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Jun 19, 2012 @ 16:21:08
Nice.
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Jun 19, 2012 @ 18:20:41
Thank you for stopping by and for your support:)
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Jun 19, 2012 @ 14:51:28
Fabulous! What a Dad. And wonderful photos. My Dad was very different (of course) and never rode a horse, but I miss him and Mom so much, every day. Thanks for sharing!
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Jun 19, 2012 @ 18:20:18
Thank you much:) Our parents may have been different but they blessed us both with memories and life…mostly love. I know often my mind wants to believe they are still here and I can feel the soft memories….yes we will always miss them….but that is good:)
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Jun 19, 2012 @ 14:42:21
Reblogged this on Versatile Blogger Award and commented:
Just a lovely story of a father along with some great photographs displaying the history of love…
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Jun 19, 2012 @ 18:17:25
Thank you so much…my Dad was a true father, husband, brother, great friend but mostly a man’s man…he always looked out for Mom and I and his family. He accomplished so much in his life and yet he told me one night towards the end of his time here that he wished he had spent more time with Mom and I…he wanted to know how I was going to live my life here…I told him how proud I was of him and how much his life had meant to me…we both choked up and he told me “no…I didn’t do that much really”…he did and I was very proud and honored that he was my Dad and yet he had a very humble heart. We were with him here at home as Mom and I kept him here…and the night he stepped into heaven thankfully Mom, Wild Bill and I along with the hospice nurse were with him holding his hands. Thank you for sharing my memories and the story of my Dad:)
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 21:33:10
Hello,
I have just nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award For details on what to do go to my post: http://randpphotoalbums.wordpress.com/2012/06/19/we-just-got-nominated/
Congrats! 😛
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 21:41:58
Thank you so much:) I was nominated by Cat Protectress too so I will get on this tomorrow:) Wowzers for two nominations:) I am humbled and very appreciative:)
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 21:43:33
Thank you so much:) I was nominated by Cat Protectress too so I will get on this tomorrow:) Wowzers for two nominations:) I am humbled and very appreciative:) And Congratulations for your awards x two as well:) I love your blog and enjoy hearing about NZ!!! Keep up the great work:)
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 21:46:23
Haha your welcome! Thanks, and I will! 😀
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 21:47:35
🙂 Have a Happy Tuesday!!!
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 17:06:17
What a great way to honor your Dad! I loved the pics. Thanks for letting your Dad into our lives 🙂
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 18:58:52
I was very blessed to have my Dad…he taught me so much and was always there. I am glad you enjoyed the pictures:) Wishing you a perfect night:)
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 19:03:38
Thank you and I’ll try my best 🙂
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 19:30:06
:):):)
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 14:31:32
This was beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 15:12:17
🙂 I am glad you stopped in:) Have a great Monday!
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 10:04:17
You really come from a cowboy (and cowgirl) family. Great post about your father.
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 10:52:59
Thank you:)
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 06:38:12
He was, as we’d call them, a real “man’s man” — cowboy and horses and dog named blue. Sounds like just a wonderful guy, MJ
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 08:33:14
🙂 Yes:) WB is one of them too but I know that type of man is getting harder and fewer between…I was very blessed to have a Dad who took life in stride and always kept a good attitude:) I miss the days of just riding our horses as cowboy and daughter. Blue was our third Blue Heeler and was very much loved…and boy could he go after the cows who loved to get into the brush or the bulls that insisted on getting into the boggy brush!
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Jun 21, 2012 @ 06:33:52
Hello beautiful Cowgirl .. I gave you an award today.
Enjoy!
MJ
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Jun 21, 2012 @ 14:54:45
Hi MJ….you are so very sweet to bless me with an award:) I was nominated for this award three times the last week and just did the thank you post today…..I will also do a thank you post on this award too:) I am honored and humbled….you made my day:)
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 06:29:25
I have tears in my eyes here! Why’d you go and do that?! Lovely, lovely post. You know I love pictures and I love all these here but the first one? It’s over the top wonderful. I can’t even pick out what I love about it first. Just priceless. And the second one…dang….*Nice* horse that Joker! Sounds like your dad was quite the man. One can’t help but see some of it shining through these images.
Thanks for sharing them.
~d.
p.s. I can now smell warm horse, dry grass and pine trees! Ahhhh.
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 08:29:57
I know I had tears in my eyes as I was typing it…in fact I had to correct a few typos this morning…I am so very sentimental and soft hearted…I miss those days when we lived in the mountains and all I had to do each day was get up and catch the horses,then Mom packed us a lunch and off Dad and I would go to move cattle or check cows or salt or find springs and develop new water holes for the cows…Dad was excellent at developing them…life was so simple then:) I miss it and miss my folks…thanks for stopping by:)
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 04:30:35
A Wonderful tribute for Father’s Day! The photos are just beautiful! I really enjoyed reading about your ranching life. Thank you!
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 06:10:38
🙂 Thank you for stopping by:) I am lucky to have so many good black and white family photos…the photographer who took them was very good…
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 03:23:46
A really beautiful Father’s Day tribute post……I can tell you feel the same way about your Dad as I do about mine…..I may be in my 60s now but I’ll ALWAYS be “Daddy’s Little Girl”……..lovely photos!!
Pam
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 06:07:46
I think we will always be Daddy’s little girl:) Lots of good memories…it has been almost 15 years since we lost my Dad and I miss him! We were very blessed and loved:)
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 06:39:36
Indeed….and memories keep our hearts warm always.
Pam
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 08:33:24
🙂
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 03:01:51
Your dad sounds like a wonderful person! Thanks for sharing with us.
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Jun 18, 2012 @ 06:03:40
Thank you Dianna:) He was one of those honest kind of men that loved his family and truly had a good heart.
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