Launching GoFundme Campaign

I have launched a Gofundme Campaign to raise funds needed to publish my Laramie Taylor Saga, beginning with Laramie’s Thunder. while I am well under way at finishing the rough draft. I am in need of funding to travel to conferences, and author events to find the right publishers to take on my project. I am asking you to my readers, supporters, fellow Western authors, and western enthusiasts abroad to Fund Laramie’s Thunder. visit http://www.gofundme.com/FundLaramiesThunder to give for this wonderful trilogy that I have pioneered from the beginning, and help me in my journey to becoming a successful author.

Thank you to all of my readers, and PALS.

Cowboy Church, Hey There Pilgrim, Grab Your Bible.

There is a new church in town. It’s a bit different than your grandmaw’s. It’s a Cowboy Church! Instead of suits, ties and winged-tipped shoes, you are likely to see buckles, boots, hats, and jeans. Our method is certainly different but our message is the same ol’ story of Jesus and His love!

The first time I went west, I ended up in Texas, when I got there, I felt I wasn’t going anywhere, and I felt I had nothing left in me.  I found myself in a little church, prayin, and askin for the man upstairs to guide me. I knew I was half good, but am I? Or am I mostly bad? Still struggling with the PTSD, I face everyday, I bring myself to my toughest of times, knowing that things are not ever really bad.
The first I ever heard this song was in that lil cowboy church in Texas, it made me feel like I was home, and finally right where I needed to be. I miss that church, and I miss the west. Only wish I’d had made it to Cheyenne.Maybe the good Lord willin, I will make it there someday, but in the meantime, I will continue living somewhere between Jesus,and John Wayne.

The Purpose of a Cowboy Church is to Impact the Cowboy Culture With the Gospel of Jesus, in hopes to keep the cowboy and cowgirl an honest fella. We continue to prey that we are “Somewhere between a cowboy and a saint, while crossing the open range, and always be somewhere between Jesus, and John Wayne.”
The Cowboy’s Ten Commandments are below, and if ya need a better way of livin’ well pick up yer bible, and head to the Cowboy Church. Live by these simple rules, and trust me, you will remember the experience forever.

Cowboy’s Ten Commandments

 

  1.   Just One God

  2.   Honor yer Ma & Pa

  3.   No Tellin Tales or Gossipin

  4.   Git Yerself to Sunday Meetin

  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 Yer Buddy’s Stuff

History of Cowboy Church, across America:

Local Christian churches within the cowboy culture  are distinctively Western heritage in character. A typical cowboy church might be in a barn, metal building, arena, sale barn, or old western building, have its own rodeo arena, and a country gospel band. Baptisms are generally done in a stock tank, or waterin troth. The sermons are usually short and simple. Some cowboy churches have covered arenas where rodeo events such as bull riding, team roping, ranch sorting, team penning and equestrian events are held on weeknights. Many cowboy churches have existed throughout the western states for the past forty or fifty years, however just in the past fifteen or so years has there been an explosion of growth within the “movement”. Prior to 1980 there were no less than 5 cowboy churches in Texas, now the number exceeds 200, and there are an estimated 750 nationwide. There has been no definitive group that established the movement; rather it seems to have had a spontaneous beginning in diverse areas of the country at nearly the same time. Some of these cowboy churches are an outgrowth of ministries to professional rodeo or team roping events, while the roots of many can be traced back to ministry events associated with ranch rodeos, ranch horse competitions, chuck wagon cooking competitions, cowboy poetry gatherings and other “cowboy culture” events.

So we hope to see ya, here or there, maybe in church, or on the range. No matter where it is, love thy brother, and treat each and everyone with respect. have pride in yourself, and never give up. God Bless Ya, all. Come on back if yer passin through Amen!

Sunday Matinee~The Old Chisolm Trail~The Ballad of America

http://borivers.webs.com/The%20Old%20Chisholm%20Trail%20-%20Michael%20Martin%20Murphey.mp3″

The Old Chisolm Trail

Oh come along, boys, and listen to my tale,

I’ll tell you all my troubles on the ol’ Chisholm trail.

(chorus)

Come a-ti yi youpy youpy yea youpy yea

Come a-ti yi youpy youpy yea

I foot in the stirrup  an’ I hand on a- horn,

I’m the  best damned cowboy ever was born.

On a ten dollar horse and a forty dollar saddle,

I goin inta punchin’ Them long horn cattle.

Started up the trail October twenty-third

Started up the trail with the 2-U herd.

Woke up one morning on the Chisholm trail,

With a rope in my hand and a cow by the tail,

I’m up in the morning before daylight,

And before I sleep the moon shine bright.

Oh, it’s cloudy in the west, and a lookin’ like rain,

And my darned old slicker’s in the wagon again.

No chaps, no slicker, and it’s pouring down rain,

And I swear, by God, I’ll never night herd again.

Last night on guard, and the leader broke the ranks,

I hit my horse down the shoulders and spurred him in the flanks.

The  wind began to blow and the rain began to fall,

And it looked by god we was gonna lose ’em all.

Crippled my Horse, an don’t know how

Ropin at the horns of a 2-U cow.

With lighnin in his eye, and thunder in his heal.

He went spinnin round like a houp on a wheel

My hoss throwed me off at the creek called Mud

My hoss throwed me off and I landed with a thud

Last time I saw him he was runnin cross the level,

Kickin up his heals, and runnin like the devil.

We rounded ’em up and put ’em in the cars

And that was the last of the old Two-U Bars.

I went to the boss to get my roll,

Boss had me figured for nine dollars in the hole.

Well me an the boss had a lil spat,

So I hit him in the face with my ten gallon hat.

Well my boss man said, “Well I’ll fire you,

Not only you, but the whole damn crew.

So I sold my horse, and I sold my Saddle,

An’ you can go to hell with your long horn cattle

And I hadn’t been home two days or three,

I put off my gal for to see.

Tammy said “you better quit that cowboy life,

If you ever want to have a pretty little wife.

I’ll sell my saddle, and buy me plow

Swear by god, I’ll never rope another cow.

Texas Confederate soldiers returning home from the Civil War found that in their absence the herds of longhorn cattle they were raising before the war had doubled in size and were now roaming the southern tip of the state unbranded. They were so plentiful that they had little value in Texas, but the industrial cities of the North were booming with immigrant labor and hungry mouths to feed. So began the era of the American cowboy and the great cattle drives, in which cattle were rounded up and herded north into Kansas, Missouri, and Wyoming. There they met the new railroad lines that could carry the meat to the East Coast.

The first trail that was widely used for these long drives was called the Chisholm Trail. By the time the trail fell into disuse in 1882, hundreds of cowboys had driven tens of thousands of cattle up the trail, inventing and singing countless verses to Old Chisholm Trail.

 

See Ya’ll here in the morning, with a little Cowboy Culture.

A Friend, A Father, and A Dang Good Cowboy.

Posted by: Ritchie White @shotgunborivers

A good friend of mine was hit by a drunk driver on November 30th in Charlton, NY. I wanted to take the time to pray for him, and wish him well, and his family all the best in his recovery. It will surely be a long road ahead for him and his family. Tom is a Rodeo Cowboy, and like me former military. He is a former Marine (RECON 3rd Batt.,First Marines, 1st Mar.Div) He lives a simple life and has three wonderful daughters, Katelyn, Jaimy and Faith, and a whole lotta family and friends that are rooting for him to get better. He lives by the cowboy’s Code and one simple philosophy. “Work Hard, Do Your Best, Keep Your Word, Never Get Too Big For Your Britches, Trust In God and Never Forget a Friend, and I am a lesbian trapped in a mans body.”

Below is the newspaper Article that was written in the Saratogian Dec. 01 2012 Edition

Dec, 01 2012 CHARLTON — A man remains in critical condition in a medically induced coma after a drunken driver allegedly ran a stop sign and crashed into his car Friday evening, sheriff’s deputies said.

Traci L. Briskin, 38, of Clifton Park Center Road in Clifton Park was charged with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, after the accident. She was later released.

Saratoga County sheriff’s deputies say Briskin ran a stop sign at the intersection of Route 67 and Jockey Street in November 3oth.

He was airlifted to Albany Medical Center with internal injuries.

Baker’s daughter contacted The Saratogian Saturday evening and reported he is “not doing well at all,” is on life support and underwent multiple surgeries as of about 5 p.m. She said Baker was on his way home from work when he was hit.

The accident remains under investigation.

**********************************************************************************************************

I have checked in with Katelyn his daughter every day since the accident to get an update on his recovery and this is what she has told everyone yesterday afternoon.

“Update on my Father Tom Baker : over the past couple of days his numbers have been remaining low and his ct scans looked decent so doctors gradually took him off sedation, a few hours afterwards his ICP’s were raising well above where we want them so doctors put him back on sedation to ease the pressure and relax his body. Although it seems like a large setback his body is just not ready and he is very anxious and stressed so they want to give him more time to rest and heal. We will be sure to inform everyone when they decide to start taking the sedation back off and the status of the long journey ahead of us. It is so nice to hear from all the people who care and love my father and I appreciate the thoughts and prayers sent our way. ♥”

Either way Tom, Get better, and remember to Cowboy Up, hang in there, and I share my Prayers with you and your family. Thanks for being a PAL Ritchie.

And remember;

Before you judge a person, walk a mile in their shoes.
That way, if they get mad, you’ll be a mile away
and you’ll have their shoes.

I am asking some good Rodeo Cowboys to drop a line and say hi, Tom fought for our country, and he deserves a fair shake.

“Whatever you do don’t let go
It’s time to be a cowboy don’t you know
If you get through this you got it whipped
But till you hear the whistle blow
Whatever you do
Don’t let go”

-Justin Mcbride ©2009

 @jstnmcbride

Battle of Wilsons Creek (Laramie’s War)

The Battle of Wilson’s Creek marked the beginning of the Civil War for Missouri and for the Taylor’s. Joseph, and Laramie were on opposing sides, brothers one fighting for the union and one for the rebels, it didn’t settle with August Taylor none, his boys fighting in a war, and Missouri his home, the third most fought over state in the country.

On August 10, 1861 Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon’s Union Troops attacked Confederate forces, under the command of Brigadier General Ben McCulloch,It would be known as Bloody Hill, which became known as the first major battle in the West, and only the second major battle of the Civil War.

The loss was substantial with 1,317 Union and 1,222 Confederate casualties (killed, wounded or captured).

Laramie Taylor a Lieutenant in the Missouri State Guard, under Maj. Gen. Sterling Price faces Nathaniel Lyon’s in his first fought battle at the Battle of Wilson’s Creek, or better known to the confederates as the Battle of Oak Hills. Coming later this month is Laramie’s accounts, his journal, and his story of fighting as a confederate officer, and his own brother a union cavalry soldier.

“Will Laramie a man raised by a code have   to kill his own blood?”

“I am taking a leap with writing Laramie’s War as a historical fiction, and rising from young adult western fiction, I personally feel it is bold, yet achievable. Nonetheless, if you read Laramie’s War you will not be let down, the facts are facts, and the fiction is fiction. enjoy.”

The Code of the Wolf: Spirit of the Wolf Native American Festival

  You usually hear me talking about the Code of the West something I live by everyday, however my Native American Heritage is also something very dear to me, and I participate in several Native American festivals and powwows throughout the summer months. I belong to the Wolf Clan an inter-tribal ban of Native American’s in upstate New York, and this weekend marks our 3rd Annual Native American festival/powwow. As head male dancer I share the responsibility with my wife and take charge of the Native circle as we dance in celebration, and celebrate our heritage to the mother earths heartbeat, the sacred drum.

There will be many festivities all weekend long including dancing, drumming, crafts, demonstrations, flute playing and a feast to follow for vendors, dancers, and volunteers that help us as we celebrate our heritage.

The wolf clan is celebrating the spirit of the wolf, as we host our Annual Native American Festival on August 25th and 26th in Broadalbin, NY. The Wolf Clan teaches a timely message for all Beings. Respect the Elders, Teach the Young, Cooperate with the Pack. Play when you can, Hunt when you must, Rest in between. Share your Affection, Voice your Feelings, and Leave your Mark.

The Public may join the Wolf Clan in celebrating the Native American heritage, Native lore, dancing, drumming, and crafts, on Aug. 25th and 26th at 29 Pine St. EXT, Broadabin, NY 12025. They will be featuring The Aztec Fire Dancers, Flute Player Robert Kunnaway, as well as Native craft vendors, drumming, storytellers, demonstrators, and children’s candy dances all weekend long.

The Spirit of the Wolf Native American Festival is open to the public and fun for all ages. Adults are $5.00 each and Children under 12 are free. The gates open Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm; and Grand Entry to begin at noon both days.

All Proceeds will Benefit Local Charities, and to Honor all of our Veterans and Emergency Responders, you are invited to join us in dancing in your honor and to thank you for your service to our country, during grand entry.

For more info: Call Betty Overrocker 518-842-6672 or visit our website at http://wolfclanny.webs.com
All Drums and Dancers are welcome to attend. Our Host Drum is Mother Earth; Vendors, Dancers and drummers wanted. Saturday evening there will be a Potluck and Trade Blanket for vendors, dancers, and volunteers.

The fact that we are the Wolf Clan is the reason we chose such a name as Spirit of the Wolf for our powwow, as we want to celebrate the spirit of the wolf, in doing so we follow that code, the Code of the Wolf, which in many ways can be filtered into, and around the code of the west. A lot of people make the mistake of a Wolf, in its symbolic meaning as to think it is fierce and brings terror to the Native People as well as associating the wolf as being a loner, hence the words “lone wolf”. On the contrary, the Wolf is an incredible communicator. By using touch, body movements, eye contact as well as many complex vocal expressions – the wolf makes his point understood. Those with totem wolf symbols are of the same inclination – they are expressive both vocally and physically. Those who have the wolf as their totem animal are naturally eloquent in speech, and also have knack for creative writing. The Wolf is a creature with a high sense of loyalty and strength, and a very social creature, friendly, and gregarious with its counterparts. Further, the Wolf possess a high intellect, and have been observed using strategies about hunting, habitat and migration. to learn more about the Wolf and its Totems refer to  Whats-your-sign.

The Code of the Wolf is simple and can be followed just like the code of the west, and can be followed by everyone, that code is;

Code of the Wolf
1.Be loyal to your friends
2.Honor all elders
3.Always leave your Mark
4. Play when you can
5. Protect your family
6. Stand your Ground
7. Take charge when others show weakness
8. Teach your young right from wrong
9. Work when you must
10. Voice your Opinion.

Sharing the Code of the West

I am sharing the Code of the west that I live by o Matt Pizzolato’s Blog today. Stop by and see why I live by the Code of the West.

Although no written rules ever existed, the pioneers and settlers who went west found one common ground, how they lived their lives from day to day. With little or no laws in the west for a man to follow, they were forced to make their own set of guidelines, a code of the west, as it was first called in Zane Grey’s 1934 novel The Code of the West……..Read More at The Western Wordslinger.

 

Join me as I Romance the west with J.J. Devine

Today on J.J. Devine’s Blog, I show the romantic side of my western writing, and the romanticism that I have for the west.

The sun rises over the Rockies, and touches your face. You long for it, closing your eyes, you suck a deep breath of dusty, sandy air deep into your lungs, and for a moment it feels like heaven. You sit waiting patiently over crackling fire for the taste of hot and steaming coffee. When the fire extinguishes, you roll up your bedroll, and tuck it neatly into the rear of your saddle. You climb up and give your only friend a soft jab to his sides, forcing him to trot off over the rolling hills looking for a freedom not yet found………Read more at Defining J.J. Devine.weebly

Sharing the Heart of a Cowboy

Today begins my blog book tour, visit krpooler.com as I share the heart of a Cowboy.

My Last Bronc Ride at Double M Rodeo in 2007

I was recently asked what makes me who I am, what is instilled inside my heart? And why did I choose the life I have, and I must tell you from the beginning that it isn’t what I chose to do, or what led me to it at all. It simply chose me; I was born with it inside of me, a fire of burning ember that continues to burn, more and more every day.

As a teenager, I discovered rodeo and found that if I took just one chance, just one ride, I would know for sure, but at the time I had no idea what was in store for me. To look back, I would have not changed a thing;……………..Read More  at krpooler.com

For more information on my book blog tour please visit http://shotgunborivers.com/book-tour/

National Day of the Cowboy Ebook Giveaway Winners

I am proud to announce the Ebook Giveaway winners for the National Day of the Cowboy Blogathon. First and foremost, all authors that were involved will receive a copy, as well as NDOC president Bethany Braley. Thank you for all of the support, and great posts this week in honor of the our American Cowboy.

How this giveaway worked was if you had commented on my blog I compiled all of your names together to randomly select each winner, however there were not enough comments to go around for the amount of winners I had selected, so I also gathered names from the facebook likes, and comments on the event, as well as western writers of America group, Western book readers, Old West, and Western Movie groups as well. If you commented on my blog you won simple as that 13 comments for 13 books. Once all other names were compiled, I recruited my wife to randomly select without my knowledge to keep things fair, 7 more names to compile the 20 winners in this weekends giveaway. If you did win you will receive Laramie’s Code as soon as I have all email addresses in.  As promised you will also receive Laramie’s War as soon as it is complete, with all of the hard work this week to make sure things went smoothly, I did not get the time to collaborate the finish of the book with smashwords. I am hoping to have it complete no later than Aug 15th. Once completed all winners will receive their copy of that book as well. I want to apologize for that delay.  It would also behoove you to leave a quick comment here listing the Ebook format you need for the book, for your personal enjoyment. So without further adieu.
Saturdays winners are as follows:
Ron Scheer, Janna Shay, John the Critter, Diane Cantara, Lakenya Kolpits, Kathy Pooler, David Morris, Virginia Cambell,
Robert Pohle, and Sierra Delis.

Sundays winners are as follows:
Jim Olson, Tricia Ann Kralik, William McGee, Jodi Lee Stewart, Paty Jager, Brenda Heirs, Bill Henderson, Kimmie Cagaanan-Vavak, Kit Collings, and Cherie.

For delivery purposes of your ebook I need the following Emails.
Ron Scheer, Virginia Cambell, Robert Pohle, Jim Olson, Tricia Ann Kralik,William McGee, Jodi Lee Stewart, Kimmie Cagaanan-Vavak, and Kit Collings. If your name is not in this list, then I have your emails from your posts on the website. If you would like, I would also be honored to add each and every one of you,  to be included in my monthly newsletter for further news on shotgunborivers.com, and my books, that is sent out the first monday of each month.