Cowgirl Things

I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t drawn to horses. I don’t know that I can even explain what the attraction is. That they are beautiful goes without saying. Their strength is obvious. Their intelligence is sometimes overlooked.  Riding, for me, was being one with...

The Coca-Cola Dolly

The only memento from my daddy’s shop that I had the foresight to keep is a cast-aluminum loading dolly  I do so wish I had kept a few more things, like the squatty aluminum Igloo-brand water cooler that always held ice water for Frank, George, Bob, and Daddy, and...

Muleshoe’s Uncle Sam

For as long as I can remember, Uncle Sam stood watch and welcomed visitors to Muleshoe and the Art Loft. After the Art Loft ceased to be, Uncle Sam continued his vigil on American Boulevard. But you may have recently noticed that Uncle Sam is gone! Over time as Uncle...

A Christmas Nativity Memory

Boxes full of Christmas decorations came out of storage after Thanksgiving, and the process of creating holiday twinkle and shine commenced. I dug through one box and took out a Christmas memory that hasn’t missed many Christmases, my very plain, plastic, worn-out...

The LA Times Comes to Town

I had a call from Ryan Kartje, USC (University of Southern California) Beat Writer for the Los Angeles Times, requesting a visit to learn about Muleshoe and its native son, Lincoln Riley, who, as you may be aware, has become the new head football coach at USC. I told...