National Women’s Month

Wow! I know it’s been a long time since I made a post. I hope everyone is doing well and everyone is staying healthy. Things have been a bit crazy here on the ranch and at the Fire Department. Long story short, I had to have some surgery and I am in the midst of recovery, which means I am not able to do a lot of what I’m used to doing on a daily basis. Those who know me understand, it’s like putting me in a straight jacket and locking me up and throwing away the key…..figuratively speaking, that is.

Hopefully, my recovery will go smoothly, and I will be back on my feet, feeding cattle, tending to the horses and chickens, and driving my Fire Truck, lol.

March is a busy month! My birthday is in March, I have several family members and friends who have birthdays in March, Spring happens in March, and, it’s National Women’s Month! I know, I know, I waited until the LAST day of the month to post this, but hey, it is STILL March!

There are so many great women that could, and should be celebrated in this special month! Even though I’m just now writing about this great month, I’ve been thinking about who I might highlight in my post as being a woman REALLY worthy of bringing to the light.

Being a country girl and cowgirl myself, I started reading up on some of the famous women back in the old West days. I’ve always felt like I should have been born back in the Old West times, I can relate to them and have an appreciation for them. And, I’d LOVE to have to ride my horse whenever I wanted to go somewhere! There are a lot more famous women than I knew, and some pretty “bad ass”, pardon my french!

When we think about the old Wild wild west, most of us think about the Outlaws like Jesse James, Butch Cassidy and the like. But most folks don’t realize there are so many women who made names for themselves as some of the best shooters and meanest criminals, while others spent their days of the old west saving lives and helping others.

I have to say, I think the two most interesting women of those times for me are Annie Oakley, a sharp shooter at the age of 15 years old, and Senora Webster Carver, who was one of the first female horse divers! For those that do not know what that is, they literally ride a horse off of a 40′ or even 60′ platform into an 11′ deep pool of water! That’s crazy, right!? I am not aware of anywhere in the US that this still goes on. If it does, someone please message me, and let me know where! I may have to check that out!

Women play many, many roles in society these days. Women are not only in the business world, some holding very high positions in big businesses, they are teachers, nurses, doctors, lawyers, farmers, ranchers, policewomen, firefighters, construction workers, welders, race car drivers, and on and on and on. But the most IMPORTANT role a woman has is….. a mother.

A Mother. We all have one at some point in our lives. Some may not be fortunate enough to have them for long, but for most of us, our Mothers are the Root of our families. Growing up, I remember when we would get together with my Mother’s side of the family, who was the ‘Queen’ of the get together? My Grandmother!

My Grandmother, Louise Toy Siney. She was a large part of our lives growing up. She was a very strong willed woman. She had her opinions and wasn’t afraid to share them. But her heart was so huge for her family! She had 9 children, and so many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren before she passed, and she knew each and everyone’s birthday, and everyone got a card in the mail for their birthday. If you were lucky enough to be the younger ones, you may even get a couple bucks in that card. I remember my disappointment when I realized that I had reached that threshold, and the cards came only with words inside, lol.

With so many women to choose from, my spotlight today, for National Women’s Month, is MY Mother, Carol.

My Mom……gosh, where do I even begin? She’s a lot like her Mother, a strong woman. Although, she only bore 2 children herself, she has been a Mother to my half-siblings too. She is a very nurturing woman and loves taking care of her family.

One of the traits I love most about my Mom is her love for animals, obviously, one she passed on to me! I’ve heard stories from some of her sisters about their Dad getting on to her for bringing ‘another’ stray animal home! I myself, really have to restrain myself from bringing home animals, so I get it honestly! I do, however, carry a supply of dog food in my truck…just in case there is a poor soul in need.

Mom was always my brother’s and I’s biggest cheerleader in life. We were heavily involved in 4-H when we were young, and she did everything she could for us to help us succeed. Of course, Dad helped a lot too! She helped us by pointing us in the right direction, but make no mistake, we had to do the work ourselves if we wanted it! And if we got out of hand, she would ‘jerk a knot in our tails’ to straighten us up.

Mom has always been a hard worker. She worked at home, she worked outside of the home. No matter what she had to do, she did it 100 percent. I am proud to say, I believe I have mimicked my work ethic after her….and my Dad. They both were very hard workers. I couldn’t keep up with either one of them when I was young, lol.

Mom took care of my Dad when he was sick before he passed away. It takes an incredible amount of strength to take care of a sick loved one, especially when that loved one goes from working all the time, to not being able to do anything. It’s not that it takes a lot of physical strength, it does take some, but it takes an immense amount of mental and emotional strength. Mom displayed all of those.

Mom lives next door to us here at the Ranch. She’s in her 70’s now, and she still comes here to feed cattle and horses, chickens and dogs, when I’m gone to work at the Fire Station (and Hubby is at work), or whenever I’m sick or we’re gone for a short vacation. She helps me put up and mend fence, and put up hay. She’s a pretty darn good Ranch hand, if I do say so myself! We love her!

So, if ya’ll took the time to honor any women during this great month of March, National Women’s Month, please, please, don’t forget your Momma!

My Mom and Hubby John

Until next time! Be safe and be Blessed!