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Howdy Joan,
It feels like spring is here in northern Montana. I sure hope so. The cows
are calving like crazy and the weather has been mild, so that's a great
combination. Richard Anderson of Gordon, Nebraska is the name
that came out of the hat this month for our monthly giveaway. Here's
what's going to be in Richard's mailbox:
1. "The Way the
West Was Herd" a great CD by my ol' buddy Eli Barsi. Here's Eli's
website:
www.elibarsi.com
2. An
autographed copy of our latest book of almost all true cowboy stories, "Shootin'
the Breeze, Cowboy Style".
3. An entire
year's subscription to "American Cowboy Magazine compliments of the folks at
www.americancowboy.com.
4. An autographed
copy of "Honky Tonk Town", authored by Montana historian, Gary A. Wilson.
Things have been
busy and exciting for us both off the ranch and on. Our song "Montana
Lullaby", co-written with Wylie Gustafson, is still in the mill to become
the "Official Lullaby of the State of Montana". Wow, is that exciting. It
has passed the House of Representatives by a two to one margin, and just
cleared the first reading in the Montana Senate. It's currently before their
Education and Cultural Resources committee, with a hearing to be scheduled
any day now.
I think this has
been the biggest honor I've ever been blessed with. The movement was started
by Disc Jockey Hall of Famer, Lonnie Bell of KGHL in Billings because of the
number of requests he's had to play it on his program.
I had the
opportunity to perform it before the Montana House of Representatives last
month, and the possibility of having it become the very first official
Lullaby in the nation has led to appearances on several national talk shows
and a nice write up in USA Today as well as a lot of in-state coverage.
Here's the link:
http://www.kenovercast.com/Press/USA_Today/USA%20Today%202-15-07.pdf
A busy week coming
up, with the Western Collectable's Auction at Pacific Galleries in Great
Falls on Thursday, and then also performing again at Western Heritage
Artist's Show on Saturday and Sunday. Both events are tied to the big
Charlie Russell birthday bash. There are probably more Western Art and
Collectables shows and events in Great Falls this week than anywhere else in
the nation..... ever! If you've never made it there to look things over, you
sure need to take the time.
I've got some
calving heifers that need checkin'. Here's a little story for the heck
of it.
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Meadow
Muffins Dancin' With the Dirty Shame Girls
C 2007 Ken Overcast
Diversification.... now, I'm convinced that's the key to a successful
ranching operation. That old guitar in the closet is the best piece of
ranchin' equipment I ever bought. Although I've somehow talked my way onto
stages all over the West, my show biz career hit a real highlight a month or
so ago.
I've always had a
secret dream to share the stage with some real live gen-u-ine dancin' girls,
and by George I finally got 'er done. (Please don't tell my Mom that's been
one of my goals..... I don't think she'd understand. I'm pretty sure Dad
would, but it's probably best not to bring it up..... out of self
preservation he'd almost certainly deny it.)
My dreams came
true in Wolf Point, Montana about a month or so ago. The Dirty Shame Girls
from Scobey were in town, fish net stockin's and all. We were down at that
Cowboy Hall of Fame get-together. I'm thinkin'
those gals are
really going to put Scobey, Montana on the map.
I wish I was a
little better at puttin' words down on paper, because they looked and danced
WAY better than I can ever describe here. Holy Cow..... they were dancin' in
a line and kickin' over their heads with those little short red dresses of
theirs and the diamonds on their garters would put your eye out. (Nope,
that's not what happened to mine.... my story isn't near that good.)
"The only thing
those gals need to really go places is a good manager," I thought to myself.
"You know, someone to drive 'em around from town to town and take care of
all the details.... like holdin' that shoe horn to help 'em into those tight
little dresses."
Apparently they're
as good at mind readin' as they are at kickin' over their head, because it
seemed like they avoided me all night.
Then I got to
thinkin'..... here I am at the very pinnacle of my singin' cowboy career; on
stage with the best lookin', highest kickin' chorus line in the State of
Montana..... and then I remembered that I'd run off and left my little wifey
at home to calve the heifers and it was at least ten below zero. I got to
feelin' a little guilty..... you know what I mean?
There are times
when having a conscience comes in handy, but this dang shore wasn't one of
them. It wrecked my whole night.
It isn't that I
haven't worked hard to get my singin' cowboy career to this point, 'cause I
sure have, but now that I've finally arrived, my thoughts reluctantly
drifted back to that freezin' shed full of calving heifers and my little
Carhartt darlin'.... wollerin' around in the manure.
Boy, how I tried
to get that picture out of my mind. I had plenty of mental images kickin'
high right in front of me, without something like that sneakin' in the back
door of my brain, but for some reason I just couldn't seem to shake it.
So..... out of
gratitude, just to show my little sweetie how much I appreciated her, when I
got back home I spent more money on her Valentine's present this year than I
ever have. You should have seen it..... it was perfect. I got her a
perfectly color coordinated red steel post driver to go with a pair of brand
spankin' new matching red handled fencing pliers. (You know how sensitive
those girls are about colors.)
I REALLY must have
surprised her, because she was absolutely speechless. In fact while I was
telling her all about the chorus girls, she didn't say a word the entire
time. She just kept staring at her new gift. I told her that I was really
thinking about her 95 pound muscle mass when I picked out the thirty pound
driver, because it took a lot less down pressure when she was driving those
steel posts in the frozen ground. Again..... she was so astounded at my
extra thoughtfulness that she just looked at me in amazement, and didn't say
a word.
It's no wonder
everyone calls her Mrs. Lucky. Some gals can't even imagine what it would be
like to have a loving and considerate fella like me around ever' day just
showering 'em with presents. It's been a couple of days now since I gave her
that special gift, and she's still speechless. In fact I don't think she's
said three words to me since.
I had an awful bad
dream last night. I don't remember what it was; I just remember that it was
bad. I didn't wake up this morning until the sun was already way up in the
sky, and I've got a terrible headache for some reason. I think it might have
something to do with the big knot on my head just above my right ear. I
don't have any idea where that knot came from, but for some reason Mama's
new post driver is on the floor right beside the bed.
Doggone it..... I
can't seem to find her around here anyplace. I s'pose she's probably just
down checkin' the heifers. Funny thing though..... all her clothes are
gone.
Keep Smilin'...
and don't forget to check yer cinch.
Ken Overcast is a
recording cowboy singer that ranches on Lodge Creek in North Central Montana
where he raises and dispenses B.S.
www.kenovercast.com
| This story
reminded me of the yellow fence stretchers that Abbie Dear got me for my
birthday one year! He could have at least had a big Diamond or
Ruby inlaid in the handle or engraved my name on it somewhere! ha
This year he got me real pearls! Must be coming up in the world!
ha Two of the young
bulls we clipped today! Andy and Pick, butting heads! They
sure cleaned up good! After a day at the barn beauty parlor we look like
we need a bath and groomed too! |
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