EverY gIrL

Well she was born in the morning late October San Antone
Aw she’s every girl I’ve ever known

Well she was born in the morning late October San Antone
Aw she’s every girl I’ve ever known
She don’t talk about religion she talks about the stones
Oh she’s every girl I’ve ever known

And her tongue is like the Devil when she tries to concentrate
She says she don’t want marriage but she still believes in fate
And she stands her ground to defiantly but cries when she’s alone
Oh she’s every girl I’ve ever known

Now her voice it is a melody that sings just like a bird
Oh she’s every song I’ve ever heard
And her heartbeat is a rhythm that commands her every word
Aw she’s every song I’ve ever heard

She reflects the world in happiness and echos all the pain
Her smiles the world of sunrise her cries to make it rain
And she hides the truth discretely you’d have to take her word
Aw she’s every song I’ve ever heard

She’s a sober Sunday kitchen conversation with my dad
Aw she’s every friend I’ve ever had
Well we never failed to cut a trail whenever times were bad
Oh she’s every friend I’ve ever had

She’s a flighty good time buddy in the corner of the bar
But she’d fight the Devil for ya just for being who you are
And she’s the last to cast a stone though she’d love to leave you mad
Aw she’s every friend I’ve ever had

Well she was born in the morning late October San Antone

(Turnpike Troubadours)

BreNN hiLL supports his CattLe Industry with mOrE than BeautiFuL MusiC

~UPDATE~ (previously posted 12/17/10)
Brenn Hill extended his offer to donate $5 from each CD sold on his website to the US Cattlemen's Association all the way THROUGH the END Of JANUARY, 2011! There is still time so head over to his website NoW to purchase one of his GrEaT cds OR purchase all 7 cds for just $100 w/ free shipping...those mp3 sites we know so well can't even beat a deal like that!;) I'm checkin' out riGHt now with my purchase of EQUINE...I just couldn't get over the beautiful title track song & had to have it:) With 16 SONGS Mr. Hill certainly understands the value of the dollar!
Check out these links to view Brenn's performance at Ellensburg's Spirit of The West Cowboy Gathering here. It's no surprise Ian Tyson stated, "Every time I see and hear Brenn Hill, he just keeps getting better and better. His love of the west shines through in his music."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Not every day one of the famous folk gives a nod to our cattlemen, so when a savvy singer/songwriter like Brenn Hill is sending a chunk of his change to support our ranchers we all best take notice! 

Mr. Hill is saying "thanks" in December to the people who put food on his table by donating $5 from the purchase of any of his albums to the United States Cattlemen's Association (USCA).

"This organization represents the folks across this country who take care of the land. I feel that USCA fits the fundamental values of my music, so working with this group seemed to make perfect sense," said Hill. "I find myself thinking sometimes about how I can help ranchers and farmers, and I thought this would be a small step toward letting them know how much I appreciate everything they do."

Brenn knows that farming and ranching isn't easy...it's one of America's most critical businesses and ways of life...plus each and every day it takes organizational advocacy to ensure that the U.S. Cattle Industry remains profitable and viable...Brenn has dedicated the widely acclaimed "Into the Wind" (click here to listen to a portion of the song) to all of the hardworking ranchers across the country...Into the Wind is the rallying call for ranchers to continue their successful operation, and it's the rallying call for USCA to champion the issues affecting the U.S. Cattle Industry...

'Equine' Album

During the month of December, purchase ANY Brenn Hill CD, and Brenn will donate $5 from each sale to the US Cattlemen's Association! Good music, a budding icon that will one day be a singer/songwriter legend, and a chance to support the cattle industry, doesn't get much better than that! Not sure what Brenn's sound is all about? Just sample a few tracks on his website then jump to his music section for a quick and dirty purchase! 

(Information compliments of USCA, all photos from Brenn Hill website)

A crOOkeD roAd

I walk a crooked road to get where I am going
To get where I am going I must walk a crooked road
And only when I’m looking back I see the straight and narrow
I see the straight and narrow when I walk a crooked road

I sing a lonesome song to anyone who’ll listen,
To anyone who’ll listen I ‘ll sing my lonesome song.
And when I hear you singing too, the sorrow sounds so hopeful
the sorrow sounds so hopeful, when I sing my lonesome song.

And a lonesome song will be my true companion
When all else has abandoned for singing of their own
And a lonesome song will fill my days with gladness
Make joy out of sadness when I sing this lonesome song, to you

 

I love with all my heart, there is no way of stopping,
I have no way of stopping I just love with all my heart.
Through the broken and the beautiful, the bad news and the good news,
The bad new and the good news is I love with all my heart.

And a loving heart will be my true companion,
When all else has abandoned for loving of their own.
And a loving heart will fill my days with gladness,
Make joy out of sadness when I bring this loving heart, to you…

 

I long to be a happy man, in this life that I’ve been given
In this life that I’ve been given I long to be a happy man.
When the noise turns to stillness, I see I have the makings.
I see I have the makings to be one happy man.

And a happy man will be my true companion,
When all else has abandoned for happy of their own.
And a happy man will fill my days with gladness,
Make joy out of sadness when I show this happy man…

And a happy man will be my true companion,
When all else has abandoned for happy of their own.
And a happy man will fill my days with gladness,
Make joy out of sadness when I bring this happy man, to you… 

I walk a crooked road to get where I am going,
To get where I am going I must walk a crooked road
And only when I’m looking back I see the straight and narrow,
I see the straight and narrow when I walk a crooked road…

A Crooked Road by Darrell Scott. 

Darrell Scott played all instruments while recording this album of the same name...listen to the song, only regrettable if the moment passes you by ;)

BreNN hiLL& the CaTTLe Industry Make QuiTe the PaiR

Not every day one of the famous folk gives a nod to our cattlemen, so when a savvy singer & songwriter like Brenn Hill is sending a chunk of his change to support our ranchers we all best take notice! 

Mr. Hill is saying "thanks" in December to the people who put food on his table by donating $5 from the purchase of any of his albums to the United States Cattlemen's Association (USCA).

"This organization represents the folks across this country who take care of the land. I feel that USCA fits the fundamental values of my music, so working with this group seemed to make perfect sense," said Hill. "I find myself thinking sometimes about how I can help ranchers and farmers, and I thought this would be a small step toward letting them know how much I appreciate everything they do."

Brenn knows that farming and ranching isn't easy...it's one of America's most critical businesses and ways of life...plus each and every day it takes organizational advocacy to ensure that the U.S. Cattle Industry remains profitable and viable...Brenn has dedicated the widely acclaimed "Into the Wind" (click here to listen to a portion of the song) to all of the hardworking ranchers across the country...Into the Wind is the rallying call for ranchers to continue their successful operation, and it's the rallying call for USCA to champion the issues affecting the U.S. Cattle Industry...

'Equine' Album

During the month of December, purchase ANY Brenn Hill CD, and Brenn will donate $5 from each sale to the US Cattlemen's Association! Good music, a budding icon that will one day be a singer/songwriter legend, and a chance to support the cattle industry, doesn't get much better than that! Not sure what Brenn's sound is all about? Just sample a few tracks on his website then jump to his music section for a quick and dirty purchase! 

(Information compliments of USCA, all photos from Brenn Hill website)

Coal Miner's Daughter

Tough to find a better song that so perfectly highlights one's hardships without ever disrespecting the players involved....Enjoy~

where do YoU gO?

 If you're pouring, I'm drinking

You got me thinking,
Pretty girl what's on your mind

something's got you down for you to be wearing such a frown

Your too young for your old lady eyes

you need a break from everyday

I want to call you up and say

Where do you go when you get lonely

Where do you go when you get scared

Where do you go when you get lonely

Let me know and I'll meet you there

I've been screaming at the top of my lungs

No one seems to hear a word I've been saying

and I've been talking to Heaven

It sounds more like begging

I need a break from everyday

I want to call you up and say

Where do you go when you get lonely

Where do you go when you get scared

Where do you go when you get lonely

Let me know and I'll meet you there

There's an airplane flying over me 

Wonder where its going, wonder if I know anybody there

But if there's nothing there for me
There ain't much for me here either

I hate flying to get me in the air

Because I'm tired of toiling over chords

and I'm sick of trying to talk in rhymes

Where do you go when you get lonely

Where do you go when you get scared

Where do you go when you get lonely

Let me know and I'll meet you there

"Where Do You Go", Matt Powell

Listen to the FULL song for FREE here

CrazY cowBoy DrEAm

Crazy Cowboy Dream

“The miles that I have traveled, the places I have seen

Just won’t let me put a saddle on this Crazy Cowboy Dream”¹

          

A few days ago I took my niece up on the invitation to join her at school for “hot lunch”. When your nephew and nieces range in age from 13 down to 7, it is easy to see the GIANT handwriting on the wall. Those pending teenage years have the possibility to make those invitations a thing of the past ! A scheduling conflict resulted in the need to move our original lunch date from the coveted “salad bar” day to a standard “hot lunch” day. Have no fear, this school brought it’s noon hour A-Game. My nephew and nieces attend a private Catholic School in Yakima. Most of the teachers recognize me by now as I have been picking up at least 1 child a year for going on a decade! Despite what most folks would consider a less-than-friendly locale, the school proves friendly & welcoming to the weary lunch maven or afternoon courier. On this recent voyage I found myself likening their school to a small, rural town. The kind of town where the lunch is hot, the smiles are warm, & crazy cowboy dreams are still dreamed.

Back at the cafeteria my small town euphoria was kindly interrupted by a sweet voice, “Aunt Jenna, would you like milk?” Don’t tell the health officials, but typically the only time I reach for milk is when it comes served as a double in a tall glass with ice, a few choice ingredients, and a name that sounds suspiciously like a famous handgun!  On this day, nostalgia won as chocolate milk beckoned its way to my tray. As I found my way back to a table surrounded by 11 year old girls and not a boy in sight, I found myself wondering when that fateful day arrived so many years ago that took away the choice of chocolate milk and took our crazy cowboy dreams right along with it.

One of the great blessings life throws our way are the times when a philosophical theme of one kind or another takes residence in our mind. This philosophical battle invokes pondering that may last for days, weeks, even months. As we drive to and from the kids’ school, ride through that group of pairs, or fix the familiar fence line we may not even realize what our brain fervently ponders day after day. If we are lucky we will reach the pinnacle of all great pondering…the much lofted after revelation. Cattle ranchers are blessed to be an intricate part of nature that includes few others. They are able to take in the wide open spaces, fresh air, understand the delicate balance of all life that surrounds them. All that oneness with nature is great but let’s face it; 'em ranchers are slightly scant on human interaction! It has been a long time since they saddled up to a lunchroom table with their chocolate milk, unless you count those bi-yearly trips to the sale barn cafe!  However, this lifestyle makes them far from short on philosophical ponderings or even a profound revelation now and again. Rather than send our ranchers to “Mingling 101” down at the local Eagles, let’s keep them out on the range & tap into that pondering mind. How intriguing it is to sit down at the lunch table and hear a group of folks whose crazy cowboy dreams may very well be alive and kickin’.

My penchant is strong for anything that takes me back to a time when the worry was less and the “living and doing” was more. Typically that means a great deal of enthusiasm at every 2/$1.00 candy rack where the packaging hasn’t changed since Reagan was in office. However, if you look beyond the Cinnamon Bears, Bubbletape, & Slurpees you just might catch a glimpse of the “good ole days”. The Good Ole Days are not limited to the 1880s or the writings of Laura Ingalls Wilder. We all have our very own version of good ole days. That school lunchroom with its choice of “white milk or chocolate” is just one small peek into our glorious yesteryears. Those days when our minds were full enough to be present yet empty enough to dream.

Someone reminded me this week of the saying about doers and dreamers. My personal rendition goes something like “There are three types of people in this world: Dreamers, Doers, and those that let others do the dreaming and the doing.” I believe we cannot successfully do until we have successfully dreamed. When is the last time you let yourself dream or even turned those dreams into something you did? We all know that no one has successfully ever kept us down without our consent but sometimes it takes a good hot lunch, carton of milk, and a kickball game to remind us to start living our crazy cowboy dreams.

“....The miles that I have traveled, the places I have seen

Just won’t let me put a saddle on this Crazy Cowboy Dream”¹

(¹ Robert Earl Keen. “Crazy Cowboy Dream.” Bigger Piece of Sky. MP3. Koch Records, 2004.)

Originally published in WCA Ketch Pen November 2010. 

Just an old chunk of CoaL, but I'm gonna be a DiaMonD some DaY

The greatest part of modern technology is the ability to have the possibility of interruption to one's own thoughts now and again! If you are like me those thought interrupters tend to just encourage more head-scratchin thinkin'. While I was pushing the ol mower around the lawn turned pasture this evening I found company in the shuffle mode of my MP3 player. Some days the shuffle feature alone is enough to get my mind to wandering crazy, insanity filled bits just on the overwhelming gratitude I possess towards the talented soul who invented SHUffLE! Tonight my mind was more entrapped by the musician himself. Shuffle landed on a tune by Billy Joe Shaver from his Storyteller album recorded live. "Just an old Chunk of Coal" would be played four more times before it was settled this bittersweet tune efficiently would sing September to a close.

My blogging habit has proven my attention span well....short-lived! ;) My last hiatus from posting comes from the sudden surprise of another Ketch Pen article already due, an interesting situation I found myself in...ok not interesting but about the only polite thing I can call it, as well as an impromptu trip to Texas..YES another one:), and a very poignant one year anniversary that has been annoyingly never far from my mind throughout the year. This tune's timing in my ears may be far from fate but it is not far from being exactly what my heart needed to dance to.

I'm just an old chunk of coal now Lord

But I'm gonna be a diamond one day

I'm gonna grow and glow until I'm so blue pure perfect

I'm gonna put a smile on everybody's face

September 18th was the day my father made his debut at heaven's gates & the Lord's feet last year. September 26th was the day I led my family up the aisle of a church with one hand gripping my mom's and the other gripping my niece never so aware of the need to present myself with the tallest posture I was capable of. "Successfully" not allowing one tear to slip by until after the words I needed to speak in front of 400+ had been said and my well-heeled feet had taken me back to my pew. I do not believe I have ever been so aware of being alone until I stood watching my one emotional link to "family" lowered in the ground. Less than a half mile from our home & standing in the cemetery our ranch surrounds, the day I was most fearful of had arrived. Everyone surrounding me had a hand to hold, a shoulder to lean on, and I just stood...once again as tall as my 5'9" posture could stretch. Last week, I had a second interview for a job I never wanted more in my 26 years. I was asked what I still think to be a peculiar question, "What is your biggest fear?" Honestly I wanted to wrinkle up my face and say with every bit of attitude I easily possess;) , "Umm Seriously? Believe me...you do not want me to really answer this question!" Right, wrong, or indifferent I proceeded to tell the nice man interviewing me the only way I knew how to PROPERLY answer: honest but still withholding what I so very much wanted to unload..."Well, if I may be incredibly honest, the very things that feared me most, it seems life has brought me face to face with over the last decade. I guess the only thing that remains to be afraid of is something I've been chiseling away at this last year: waking up one day or even ending my life without achieving true peace or contentedness within my soul." ........YEP...that was my answer. Trust me, I will not be giving Interviewing 101 lessons...EVER! Fortunately I believe we have a truly & astoundingly merciful God....and I will now be employed by that interviewer;) Back to subject at hand: Coal. 

When you think of coal you might think of Santa Claus? I think of something that people don't really see a whole lot of worth in...its dirty, its mined dirty, it burns dirty, its just blghh. When you might think of diamonds, you might think of something you yearn for or even something you think is neccessary for happiness. Diamonds don't really appeal to me I won't lie...but diamonds do sparkle. Whats so significant about sparkle? I hear that word and think of a person...not any person...that person. I don't think of the status and love that women tend to joke or perhaps seriously think comes from Diamonds. I think of the analogy this song so beautifully paints. To me, sparkle might just be one of the most awe inspiring words used to ever describe someone. You can't buy sparkle, you can't curve it up or skinny it down, you can't paint a face on it...you just can't spruce sparkle. To sparkle so bright that others can see it, sense it, feel it, and be encouraged by it...can you imagine? So when Billy Joe Shaver sings about being an old chunk of coal and he's gonna be a diamond one day, that's a whole heck of a lot of sparkle he gives a gal hope in;)

I'm just an old chunk of coal now Lord

But I'm gonna be a diamond some day

Oh I'm gonna be the cotton pickin rage of the age

I'm gonna be a diamond some day

 

TravELinG heart & A side of Home-made RooTs

Boy, I have had lots of things itchin' to get posted on here...but alas...time has got in the way...or perhaps it is more the management of my time! ;) Ahh yes, that is probably much more accurate. I have had some pretty niFTy experiences over the last week but I leave those ponderings for another time. Today...is all about a wishlist. It should come as no surprise my undying ML loyalty (uhh Miranda Lambert folks keep up!). Now as you all should know;) ML has a song titled, "Airstream", with this song bred a bedazzled-out Airstream compliments of Junk Gypsy's super nifty decorating skills!

Super SweLL!! viz www.junkgypsyblog.com

Enter the rationalization of owning an Airstream becoming a NECESSITY of my daily existance:) .........

~ToP 10 trUTHs I nEEd to owN an AiRstREAm~

10) Home-made curtains...

 9) Its a bright, shiny object...bound to hold my attention! 

8) BerNICe tHe bEAsT totally has the raW beaSTliNeSS to tow my home on wheels...a lil V8 & heart all ya need!

7) RETRo...

6) Location options=limitless

5) Encourages outdoor rugs, lawn furniture, sitting outside...all must-have FaV's

4) PersonALItY*...'nough said!

3) Small surface area to furnish...double bonus since most of my furnishings were sold or donated w/ that pesky anticipated move south;)


2) Epitomizes living with less without losing your ever-so-important ~FlArE~

1) Shall a move south ever still remain in my whimsical future...a saSSy Silver home on wheels will no doubt be received with a big ol' welcome!

Gonna Get There SOMEday

Well its been a year and there so much to tell
been doing alright in spite of myself
just wish i could stop feeling bad when i pray
But I know I'm gonna get there someday


Got that job I was dreaming about
sometimes its tough traveling around
but who i wanna be still seems so far away
but i know i'm gonna get there someday


glad i told you all i meant to
while i had the chance
cause every moment i had with you
made me who i am


by the way, i met someone new
and wouldn't you know, she's a whole lot like you
still i ain't ready to settle down in one place
but i know i'm gonna get there someday


well i guess i'll be movin on
i'll just leave these daisies by your stone
and momma, i still miss you every day
but i know i'm gonna get there someday


when that'll be, guess only God can say
but i know i'm gonna get there someday (Dierks Bentley)

Covered in weeds, grass, and who knows what else I decided showering off prior to hopping in a bed with *clean* sheets would be a wise way to start off my week this evening. I started up Pandora on my phone and the song above was the last song to play. Although I can't relate to ALL of the lyrics (got that job I was dreamin about, met someone new, hasn't QUITE been a year....you get the idea), that song hits me hard every time he sings, "glad i told you all i meant to while i had the chance cause every moment i had with you made me who i am". If God ever lays it on your heart, gut, mind, etc to spend time with someone....do it. Go out of your way to do it, you won't ever regret missing a movie, a party, a workout, but you definitely will always regert or remember what you chose to do instead. The one and only thing I may have ever got right in my life was choosing to spend the last 9 months of my dad's life driving home almost every weekend...taking care of him for his last 3 weeks straight...those moments I could soak up his love, knowledge, faith, or even help him through extra company, jokes, or in the end just plain nuturing. 

On another note...I write with a heart that is no longer heavy, i'm pretty sure its emptied and drained completely by none other than the big guy above. I had a week of crazy closure regarding my TCU Ranch Management program among all other things. It amazes me that God has completely wiped my heart clean when I thought it couldn't go through many more cleanings & changes. Well...I'm excited but really just wiped for a little while longer. I mean God has emptied me of all of so many world focused desires I always focused on (I'm far from perfect so its a minute by minute struggle;>) & he also cleaned up some of my sinful shame that I wasn't willing to dig out & just ask for forgiveness...the only way I can vaguely begin to describe it...he is preparing to fill his desires, wants, wishes, orders, & love in all those crevices of my heart that I never even knew existed.

The last few weeks I have had a hard time smiling, let alone laughing...those forced smiles aren't typically "me"...but there are always moments to be grateful for and there were some grand ones sprinkled throughout! 

~A Good Friend came to spend the night saturday night, even though it was a 3.5 hr drive AND she had to leave the next morning at 4:30 am! We sent her home w/ the dog bed seen below which her dog obviously loved, some food, & other "family" items;)

~I moved bedrooms and didn't have to move all the furniture by myself upstairs...my brother *actually* helped me & we didn't fight;)

~The same day I officially sent off my official "goodbye" to the dream I had for the last year...I was given a blessing in the form of one of my oldest friends I hadn't seen for quite awhile...He brought me Miller High Life and we set off for the top of the valley so he could sight his rifle! I got to hear about the work God is doing on his heart...an unexpected convo that still stuns & humbles me...Heck we even discussed Fireproof as he watched it with his girlfriend...now that is God's work & THAT makes me grateful...

you NEVER know what God is working on and WHO he is working on:) In the midst of my own melodramatic downer days I still couldn't turn a blind eye to the amazing work God is doing all around me and all of us...we just have to live our face enough to see it!

The LiGHter siDE

Since the last few posts have been pretty heavy, something random and light is in order...perfect timing to break up the week!

As I was listening to a definite favorite song of mine I thought of adding "Song of the Day" whenever I jump on here! While I am at it I think Word o' Week will suffice as well. I'm trying to work on my vocabulary so indulge me if you will. :)

Song of the Day: 2 since I couldn't decide and its the first day!
-The Way I Am by Merle Haggard (Miranda Lambert & Jamey Johnson sing haunting renditions so I've posted a video of ML below...of course;>)
- Bring the Rain by Mercy Me...yep its awesome



Word O' Week:
REPRIEVE-to give relief or deliverance to for a time
During the summer months, many families head to the mountains to seek reprieve from the daily demands of life .

Heck while I'm at it Movie of the week would be the Blindside...I haven't turned on the TV in our house in at least a month but The Blindside has been on my mind for the last 2 days, if you need some hope and some "get up & go" then do NOT delay in watching this movie...it didn't change my life since a lot of this movie's theme already was heavy on my heart..BUT..not a week goes by I don't think about this true story and wanting to live my life doing God's work in whatever small, big, private, public, or anonymous way He wants me to...just showing one more person love they needed that day! Ok, I'll push Pause on my love of this story:)

A few more "Randoms" just because I LOVE Random!
-Gratitude...I have been trying to jot down at LEAST 3 things I'm grateful for on days I remember to throw it in my journal (another 1st for this year...a lifelong vendetta against "journaling" that I'm slowly conquering) I try to shoot for 7, sometimes only get 3 but as little or big as I throw em down on paper...the little things in life sometimes mean surviving a day or burying your head in the sand! :)


Today's lil pieces of gratitude:
*Garlic...Butter...popcorn...all in one;)
*Otter Pops (it tends to make the list often!!)
*Sunshine
*My dog Jess...beautiful Blue Heeler Pain that she can be but LOVE she is not short of:)
*My Nephew and Nieces: Henry, Anna, & Mary
*Finding my new car "Bernice the beast" aka Silver Haired Fox!!!!
*Push Lawnmowers...Cheap Therapy

Anna posing with "Bernice"