View o' the Dude

I See By Your Hat You Are a Cowboy

This One's for Gretchen!

Apart from attending the occasional royal wedding, not many people wear hats now a day; except for the intrepid cowboy.  To a cowboy, their hat is a part of them and defines them as a person.  Without it, they feel naked and vulnerable.  An old saying goes: “It’s the last thing you take off and the first thing that’s noticed.”  Plus, nearly everybody looks good in a cowboy hat!

When I was a teen, I had an old brown Stetson that I wore all the time.  I just loved it until I discovered boys. When removed, my naturally curly hair would form a sort of Bozo the Clown arrangement that refused to adopt any other style until washed.  So, the hat went by the way side.

Local Colour??

Fast forward 40 years and while I still have the curly locks, I no longer care about my hat head…too much.  So on the first trip to the T Cross while in Jackson Hole, Robyn and I each purchased cowboy hats.  Hers is a stylish wool felt, foldable model with a gorgeous jasper stone hat band that looks just perfect on her.  Mine is a straw hat with a tiger eye stone hat band.  I got straw because in Georgia, straw works any time of the year, and I figured felt would cause a brain melt in our hot weather.  We wore our hats proudly as we wandered all over Jackson.  When we stopped in the Million Dollar Cowboy bar to wet our whistles, it occurred to us that tourists were taking pictures of the two of us sitting at the bar on our saddle stools.  This was very humorous to me…one day in Wyoming and we’re practically natives!

I got to wondering about the history of cowboy hats.  How did this particular style of headgear come into being and despite the fickleness of fashion, remain a fixture of western styling today?  Prepare yourself for a history lesson!

John Stetson

Tom Mix

The Stetsons used to have a picture inside the crown of  a cowboy dipping water out of a creek in his Stetson for his horse.  This advertising ploy was meant to show how essential the Stetson was to the everyday life of a stockman.  The hats were, and are today useful for all sorts of things in addition to protecting against the elements;  like fanning a camp fire, signaling somebody, and of course, watering your cayuse.  In addition, a cowboy could bend and crease the hat to make it suit their style.  It used to be that you could tell where a fella hailed from by the way his hat was creased.  Sort of like a cowboy license plate.

Hats on Display at Windy Knob

Anyway, cowboy hats are pretty cool, and you will not feel out of place wearing one on the T Cross.  It’s normal attire.  But I must also warn you, the hats can lead to some commentary.  One year, there was a wrangler who hailed from eastern Wyoming where, according to him, the only authentic buckaroos exist.  He wore a straw hat that had seen better days.  It was sort of lopsided, with an off center crease, and hole in the very, very wide brim.  He also pulled this hat down so the tops of his ears lopped over.  One of the guests nicknamed him “the Mexican” because of the hat’s sombrero affect.  This wrangler didn’t take to this teasing well because he saw it as questioning his authentic buckaroo heritage.  We would all hide a grin when “the Mexican” tugged down his hat.  A funny thing happened when he rode in the bareback bronc event at the Dubois Friday night rodeo.  He came bucking out of the chute and on about the third hop he went straight up in the air and came straight down.  When he landed, he discovered his boots had come off, but by some miracle, his hat was still on his head!  My theory on this event is that his hat acted just like the Flying Nun’s headgear, and the lift he caught under the brim picked him up out of his boots and saddle and that was the end of his ride.  Lucky for him he didn’t fly off to parts unknown!

Another time, Robyn and I were riding with Gretchen’s folks, Ken and Garey Neal.  We had stopped to rest a few minutes and one of the dudettes with us wanted the Neal’s to check out Robyn’s cool jasper stone hat band.  She went on about it for several minutes while Mr. Neal quietly studied it.

Ken Neal in His Stetson With Nibbles

Then he spoke saying “That sure is a cheap hat.  Why didn’t you get a better hat to go with that hatband?”  I didn’t know whether to be shocked or amused, but I was actually more afraid he’d critically assess my straw hat next!  Robyn didn’t bat an eye and said this was a starter hat and that she had plans to upgrade one day.  That satisfied Mr. Neal, and on we rode.

There is also the matter of stampede strings.  To wear, or not to wear?  Robyn and I got them, and I can say that without that stampede string, my hat would be  lying in a pasture somewhere in northern Montana by now.  But, it is one of those things that distinguishes, I suppose, the dude from the real McCoy.  Mark and Mr. Neal would not be caught dead with one.  For now, until I eventually get promoted to T Cross wranglerette, I’m keeping mine!

Ella

Springtime out West is a time of renewal.  Snow melts and the sun warms the earth prompting new grasses and flowers to sprout.  And all variety of animals are giving birth to progeny conceived months ago.  Cattle are an integral part of ranch life. And who hasn’t stopped by a pasture filled with cows and their new born calves to chuckle at their antics as they revel in the lush grass and try out their new moves.

Another part of ranch life is that sometimes cows have difficulty birthing, and now and again, face peril in the process of creating new life.  So it happened one day Mark and Gretchen were headed back to the T Cross when Gretchen noticed a cow in obvious distress.  Now here’s where new fangled technology really paid off.  She sent a text message to the neighboring rancher to alert him, and because of this the rancher was able to save the calf, but unfortunately lost the cow. 

To repay them for watching out for his herd, the neighbor gave the Cardall kids the orphan calf to raise.  And so, Ella came to live at the T Cross.  She is kind of a latte colored calf and took to them like a bee takes to honey.  Mark kept her down by the corral in the equipment shed and the kids bottle fed her for months.  Ethan in particular grew attached to Ella.  Ethan has been “ranch raised” and knows that the ultimate destination for cattle is usually the dinner plate.  One day when he and Mark were feeding Ella, Ethan said “Dad, I don’t think we can ever eat Ella.”  He’s my kind of kid.  Not that I don’t enjoy beef; but I could never eat a cow or steer I knew personally either!

On this particular visit, at the Sunday night “get to know you” dinner, Mark was relating the story of Ella.  There was, as with many T Cross events, more to the story.  Mark told of how one day Frank went into the shed and harassed Ella. Mark described with some detail the beating Ella took because Frank just wouldn’t back off,  with the end result being that Ella broke her leg.  Now as Mark was telling this story, I noticed the eyes of a couple at our table getting big as saucers.  They were, I was sure, trying to imagine who this Frank was and how anyone could be so brutal to a little baby cow. And, I think they also wondered if Frank was still working at the ranch and whether they had made a huge mistake booking this vacation!   I quickly interrupted Mark’s story to clarify that Frank is Mr. Neal’s (Gretchen’s Dad) dog.  They laughed in obvious relief.

Anyway, Mark employed his veterinary skills and set Ella’s leg using a length of PVC pipe and tape.  I am happy to report her leg is straight and true; you would never know such disaster had beset her.  And of course, this just further imprinted her to Mark and the rest of the family.  She would follow them anywhere.

But, hopefully not to the dinner plate because I met her and scratched her head.  She ain’t a eatin’ cow.  Right, Mark?

Square Dancing Explained

Recently I was talking to my T Cross travel pal, Robyn and she thought I should write something about the square dancing activity.  I have noted before that Robyn is very competitive, and square dancing is no exception.  It’s not a race, but Robyn used to be in a square dancing group where I guess they were scored on how smoothly they handled an “allemande left” or a promenade.   So, when it was Tuesday night at the T Cross, she was more than ready to venture down to Dubois and participate in the square dancing event.

Most of you have probably heard of square dancing and undoubtedly have a picture in your mind of gents in string ties and ladies in dresses with big, poufy skirts that fly out like a parasol being opened when they are twirled.  I can report there was not one poufy skirt or string tie sighting.  You can wear jeans and boots. Or, if you have a poufy skirt at home that’s just been waiting for an occasion…this would be it!

What you probably don’t know is that square dancing has its roots in 17^th centuryEngland where line dances and rounds were all the rage.  (Of course, so were powdered wigs, a fad which thankfully has gone by the wayside).  As people migrated to America, the dances came with them.  Then, as people moved West, the more traditional dances were lost when rowdy barn dances became the vogue.

I myself like a rowdy barn dance, but in the late 1920’s, Henry Ford, yes, that Henry Ford became dismayed that the dances of his youth were being lost.  He found a guy that taught those dances, but unfortunately, he was under contract to a vacation spot called the Wayside Inn in Massachusetts.  No problem.  Henry bought the Inn and brought the dance instructor, Benjamin Lovett, back to Detroit with him where they established a dance program to reintroduce the traditional squares and rounds.  They even had a radio program and built a dance hall that is still in use today.

In 1926, they published a book called “Good Morning”…not sure why that title, but apparently it provided inspiration and instruction on how to square dance properly.  Lucky for us uncouth westerners, a fellow by the name of Lloyd “Pappy” Shaw, who was a school superintendent in Colorado Springs ,Colorado devoured the text and set about correcting the wild dance methods of the West.  By the time the 1950’s rolled around, it dawned on somebody that some herding was required if square dancing was to be done by the book; so, the “caller” was invented.  Then when amplifiers were invented…look out!  A caller could control a huge group of people and nobody had to really remember any dances, they only had to remember what a particular call meant for them to do!

Who could not participate in something with such a colorful history?  Even me; I am not overly coordinated and sometimes have to consciously think about which is my left and which is my right.  “Quick on her feet” is used to describe my mental abilities, but never my dancing skills.  I found myself looking around for a horse to get on to get me through this event.  Alas, this was a square dance not a mounted drill team event.  But, even with Robyn reprimanding me occasionally for mixing up direction or not understanding the “call”, it was a tremendously fun night!

The square dance is held at the aptly named Rustic Pine Tavern in downtown, metropolitan Dubois.  It is a cozy, comfortable watering hole, and they have built a big room to hold the square dancing party.  There are some locals, and a lot of wranglers and guests from the dude ranches in the surrounding area.  It is absolutely a non-threatening environment (unless Robyn is in your square) and they have experienced square dancers who help groups that seem a little more challenged in the do-sa-do department.  It is also perfectly acceptable to have girls partner with girls if there is a shortage of gentlemen, or, when the gentlemen prefer to observe rather than tackle the potential problem of swinging their partner the wrong direction.  The idea is for everybody to get a taste of square dancing and have a good time!

So, bring along some “go to town” clothes or even a poufy skirt if you have one, grab your partner and create your own historical moment!!

T Cross Gets Artsy

People who can draw or paint fascinate me.  I have a few relatives that are talented in that vein; I did not inherit that particular gene.  Despite numerous attempts, I could never get the fawn in those ads for art school to look good enough to submit!  On Saturday mornings after I get chores done and am having that first cup of coffee, I enjoy watching two shows on PBS.  Perhaps you know them; two different artists in half an hour create a painting.  Well, actually one guy gets the painting done; the other guy takes several sessions to complete a work of art.  I am entranced watching how they take a blank canvas, and are able to turn it into a mountain scene complete with a lake, a cabin, an elk and beautiful trees just by brushing on paint.  I know if I tried it, it would be beyond impressionistic…you’d really have to stretch your imagination to see the scene I was depicting!

I particularly love western art.  Paintings of western scenes and especially of horses and cowboys enthrall me, and I have a smattering of them decorating my home.  So I was really excited when renowned western artist Jim Rey came to the T Cross last fall in search of inspiration!  Jim was born and raised in northern California, and then he and his wife raised their 5 kids on a cattle ranch outside of Durango, Colorado.  He now resides in Mitchell, Nebraska.  He loves horses, and you can see that shining through in his paintings.  You may be familiar with his work and I’ve included a few here.  Some have made their way to Leanin’ Tree greeting cards, the covers for Louis L’Amour books and he was featured last June in Western Horseman (my favorite magazine)! 

He goes to various ranches to soak up the atmosphere, take photos and get ideas for his paintings.  He was in search of a place where he could somewhat control conditions and be able to really take his time to capture images with his paints.  It needed to be a place that was authentic and truly reflected the West.  So it happened that Margaret and Loyal Wilson, who frequent the T Cross, knew Jim from the Claggett/Rey Gallery where he displays his work in Vail, Colorado.  They knew T Cross would fit the bill, and Mark and Gretchen were more than happy to extend an invitation to Jim to spend some time on the ranch.

Needless to say, Jim found exactly what he was looking for at T Cross.  Aside from the scenery, the ranch itself is a throwback to simpler times.  The cabins, the pole corrals and fences, the fine western horses and the entire ambiance of T Cross spoke to Jim and gave him the inspiration he was seeking.  Now, at long last, Jim is opening an exhibition of these works at the Vail gallery.  “Shadowland: Paintings from the T Cross Ranch” opens today, March 17, 2012!  Check out the teasers and the video in which Jim tells his inspirational personal story of the path he took in pursuit of his passion.  As a bonus, the video shows him create a painting featuring Latch, a good looking bay roan from the T Cross remuda.

It is so wonderful to know the legacy of the T Cross will live on through these remarkable pieces!  I am going to start saving my pennies so maybe I can acquire one of them for myself!  Gee….I wonder if he painted Idaho??

The Lone Ranger Had it Right

I grew up in western Colorado; as did my dad, granddad and great-granddad.  The culture of the West is bred into me.  When I was about 4, we got our first television set, and we could tune into the one TV station on the western slope, KREX.  I can recall quite clearly watching Roy Rogers, Wyatt Earp, The Lone Ranger, Gene Autry, Rawhide, Wagon Train, Gunsmoke and Bonanza through my youth.  There was also The Cisco Kid, Palladin, The Big Valley, The High Chapparal and of course, The Wild, Wild, West with that hottie Robert Conrad in his sexy britches! 

 The theme in all of these shows was that good always won out over evil, crime never paid, families stuck together, friendships were forever, and of course, you rode a good looking horse everywhere.  I don’t watch much TV these days, but I do enjoy it when I can catch a rerun of one of these. It strikes me that the “good guy” theme is a rarity in today’s programming.  So, lucky for everybody that there is not TV at the T Cross!!

Instead, if you have any energy left after supper, you can practice your conversational skills with new and old friends by the fire, play a card game, read a book, watch the stars, or just collapse into bed to dream about the next day’s adventure.  The T Cross is sort of its own reality show, but the “good guy” theme is always present.  It comes from Mark and Gretchen, their kids, the girls and guys who keep people fed and their rooms maintained and tidy, and from the wranglers.

I got to thinking that it’s because of what many of you have probably heard about or maybe read about:  The Code of the West.  It takes on many variations depending on who’s doing the telling.  I ran across this version recently, and I think it’s the truest, and certainly the one that has application in today’s crazy world.  But most of all, it’s the one you’ll see alive and well everyday at the T Cross.  Enjoy.

The Lone Ranger Creed

I believe that to have a friend, a man must be one.

That all men are created equal and that everyone has within them the power to make this a better world.

That God put the firewood there, but that every man must gather and light it himself.

In being prepared physically, mentally and morally; and to fight when necessary for that which is right.

That a man should make the most of what equipment he has.

That “This government, of the people, by the people and for the people,” shall live always.

That men should live by the rule of what is best for the greatest number.

That sooner or later…somewhere…somehow…we must settle with the world and make payment for what we have taken.

That all things change, but the truth and the truth alone lives on forever.

I believe in my Creator, my country and my fellow man.