My Sweet Rodeo Man

It was a hot morning, which would make for a hot afternoon

Heels and sundresses for church, - Praying that no one would get hurt

Jeans and boots for the rodeo

It was “call me when you are close, will meet you at the entrance,…I miss you”

Sitting in the bleachers – watching the boys as bull flanks are tied and riders mount

Pulling gates, bulls and broncs bustin’ out of the chutes

Climbing fences and busted knuckles

Dust, grime, sweat, blood, sunburned faces and smiles

Then it was back in the shade waiting for the next round

Talking with the men, the fighters, pickup men and stock contractors all friends

Shooting the bull and drinking cool beverages in the mid day heat

Talking and laughing about rank bulls and broncs of the past and rodeos to come

It was being pulled over to the pickup truck, “I’ve got something for you,” 

Picking up a bouquet of bright flowers from the rodeo gear in a makeshift soda bottle vase

Saying “I love you, Happy 6^th Month Anniversary”

Sweet kisses away from the “guys”  

The flowers wilted by the heat, given by hands that were bandaged and bleeding

Hands that held mine, my sweet Rodeo Man.


By MM


The above describes our weekend.  Wade and I celebrated 6 wonderful months of marriage! 

This weekend - Wade worked at one of the high school rodeos.  He works for the stock contractor, so when he calls, Wade is on the road to help.  Typically he sorts stock, works chutes, and is aspiring to be a pickup man. 

The above photo is Wade (on the fence) and his best friend Tom.  Tom is a bull fighter.

Tom was one of Wades' groomsmen!  FYI he is a dancing fool! :) 

Tom at it again. 

One of the junior bulls and a junior high rider 

One of the bronc riders 

Breakaway Roping  - Loved her horse! 

Last Bull of the day! 

P.S. I'm linking up with Cowgirl Up! Linky Party!  Thanks girls! :) and Rural Thursday Blog Hop

Cowboys Love FAT Calves...

This has been fun - writing about calves!  Wade and I have been very lucky - we haven't had too many wild calving moments. Below is one of his stories.  It was his most difficult calving experience to date.  

He was riding his horse and checking the heifers.  There was one - a small frame red heifer that was due to calve any day.  They were paying extra attention to her cause they were expecting trouble.  She was getting close – her bag had dropped and she was springing. 

He found her in a wooded draw.  There she was laying down having a bit of a time.  Wade could see legs and the nose.  He thought he could pull it there in the field but as he tried, there was no headway made.  So he called his dad to give the heads up that he would be driving the heifer up to the corrals.  Slowly he got her up and marched her back to the corrals.  Making sure the nose didn’t slip back in; if it did the calf would have suffocated.   Luckily it didn’t and he was able to make it to the corrals without any trouble.  

What's up? 

At the corrals he threw a rope around her neck and tied her to a steel post.  Wade’s dad was coming home and stopped at the corrals.  That’s when they realized the pulling chains were not in the truck; but they did have some bailing twine.  Using the twine they made a loop and put it around the two front feet and began to pull.  With a little bit of elbow grease they were able to pull the calf.  

                                                        Checking the "newbie" out 

It was huge bull calf, there would have been no way for that little red heifer to birth him alone.   It was lucky Wade had come upon her.  As soon as the boys let the heifer off the rope she went to mothering up and licking the calf clean.  Wade and his dad stayed until the calf sucked and was up and going.   Just another day in the life of a cowboy I guess – making do with the supplies on hand.