TRAIL FROM YESTERDAY

When five-year-old Cole Howard was taken during an Indian raid he not only lost his family, but his white heritage. Seven years later, soldiers came, sending his Indian family to the reservation and him back to a world he no longer belonged in. Lost between two lives, he turned to cattle driving to outrun the past and maybe find his future.

Cowboy Poetry and Fun - Deer Lake Designs

TEN COMMANDMENTS
TEXAS STYLE

Reaching out to those people who feel far more comfortable in a saddle than a pew.

Some people in Texas were having trouble with all those shalls and shall nots in the 10 Commandments. Folks there just aren't used to talking in those terms. So, some folks out in west Texas got together and translated the "King James" into the "King Ranch" language:

Ten Commandments, Cowboy Style posted on the wall at Cross Trails Church in Fairlie, TX

1) Just one God.

2) Honor yer Ma & Pa.

3) No telling tales or gossipin'.

4) Git yourself to Sunday meeting.

5) Put nothin' before God.

6) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal.

7) No killin'.

8) Watch yer mouth.

9) Don't take what ain't yers.

10) Don't be hankerin' for ye buddy's stuff.

Year 2011

Whew!! 2010 has been a busy year. My New Years resolution is to keep this blog updated.
I promise that I will post at least once a month (if not sooner).
Happy Trails,
Carrol

Annie Oakley

My friend, Maria, gave me this skirt. It is the one that Gail Davis wore in the old Annie Oakley T.V. show.

I wore it to a book signing in Canby, OR. and it was a hit.

Lee Shaw, Preston Gorbett, Jerilynn Garry and myself did well with selling our books at Bazzars this last holiday season. We had a great time.

We are now headed into a new year with new books.

FUN!!!!!!!

COWPOKE DAY

This summer has been really busy, Between working, running a small farm, writing, and my volunteer stuff, I've hardly had time for myself.

I did have fun doing COWPOKE DAY for the Molalla Community school. There were about 10 little buckaroos ready to learn about saddling a pony and milking a goat. Willie, the mini horse, was provided by the local Junior Court. They taught the class how to put on a bridle and saddle. They explained the different parts of the horse and taught a little roping. I brought my mini nubian goat, Airplane Ears, for the milking lesson. Airplane Ears, however, had other ideas. We had us a little goat rodeo before my husband took her home. We did manage to get in a little milking. I had brought homemade goat cheese and fresh goat ice cream that was a big hit. Then we all headed into the conference room in the library for crafts, singing cowboy songs and story time.

We ended the day with singing: HAPPY TRAILS.

Colony Days in Aurora, Oregon was a blast! I did a book signing at the Aurora Museum and talked history to a lot of vacationers and locals. I love to talk about history and genology while I sell my books. It was a perfect day for me.

The time has come for my husband and I to relax. It's Vacation Time! We are leaving on our packed down BMW Motorcycles and headed to Nevada. We plan on camping for a week in remote places and capturing a little bit of the old Cowboy and Indian atmosphere.

Happy Trails

Allie Jo

I believe my book has been doing fairly well. It was written for children ages 9-14 (middle grade). However, I am finding that the adults like it too. I am being asked for volume two (which is in the writing process) from the people who bought volume one, "Trail to Tomorrow".

My Brother's Granddaughter dressed up for the- Allie Jo look- and I think she did a great job.

All of this is great and wonderful and I feel that I am on top of the world. But my world is small. I have not ventured outside of my small community where I am loved and supported by my friends, neighbors and family.

Now comes the hard part. I have to go out into the world where nobody knows me or loves me and market my book. Out in the big world I know that I am nothing more than another author trying to peddle my wares. My nerves quiver at the thought of beating the streets, so-to-speak, and having to COWBOY UP. And that is what I'll have to do. I will put on my hat and boots and my cowgirl outfit and hit the marketing streets.

TRAIL TO TOMORROW is being sold at Amazon.com, Target.com and Geri's Little Book Club in Molalla, OR. Also, my book can be found at the Aurora Colony Museum in Aurora Oregon where I will be doing a book signing and storytime on Saturday August 8, 2009 from 11am-4pm. It is during the Aurora Colony Days Celebration. A big event for Aurora.

HERE WE GO! WISH ME LUCK!

MY BOOK IS DONE!!

TRAIL TO TOMORROW

My book Trail to Tomorrow is now at Amazon. com.

Westward Ho!

When Allie Jo's family sets out to move to New Mexico, she finds her dream of being a real cowboy isn't quite what she thought it would be.

Trailing in the drag position behind a herd of Longhorns, she learns about dust, tedium, storms and stampedes.

But none that is as hard as keeping her secret from a young cattle drover.

Allie may be riding as a boy, but her heart is still all girl.