a cowboy's hat can tell many stories...
this hat for instance belonged to a man that i *love* dearly..
and miss terribly...
the sweat ring comes from years of being a steward to a land...
a land his great-grandfather worked and cared for...
from trying to live for the cattle that had been trusted into his work worn hands...
a dirt patch tells of the day he dusted his daughter off when she tumbled from a frisky colt...
another of the grueling day of trailing 1000 head of cattle over a slick rock trail with a 500 foot drop on your left...
that day a calf fell off that trail...
this hat and it's cowboy were lowered over the side of the sheer drop off by lariats tied together...
the cowboy rescued that baby calf that day simply because that is how this cowboy lived...on the edge...
the red sand embedded into the grains came from the year he took his daughter on her first views of the only free roaming buffalo herd in the united states..
we ran with the buffalo that day...
the sounds of their thundering hooves keeping time with our quickening hearts and our horses long strides...
the water droplets were left behind on a day where his most trusted horse, and friend moved on to greener pastures...
the round burn marks were left behind by the dying embers of a camp fire...while he sat listening to the coyotes howl at the full moon rising over the snow capped peaks of the henry mountains...
among the dirt is patches of flour....this hat watched over the cowboy while making many of his famous sourdough biscuits...there has yet to be one made that sticks to your ribs better than what this cowboy made...
the crimp in the brim came from a day full of anxiety...the day that his first grandson was born...
....this daughter is blessed....not only can i gaze at the life of this cowboy each day....but i am able to hear him in the breezes that sway the grain fields...i am able to hear him in the lone coyotes howl...i am able to hear him in the crackle of the camp fire...i am able to feel his love in the land that i work with my hands...
we love you dad and miss you so...
24 comments:
Oh Krisin, What a very sweet tribute to your father!!! I dare anyone to get through this post without a tear in their eye...
So sweet are our memories!
Beth
what an awesome tribute!!!
So very lovely and touching! An amazing tribute to an obviously amazing man and father.
Wow, you are amazing! Such sweet words for your dad. Thank you for sharing:)
Wow. Kristin you just brought me to tears. Thank you for sharing this today. Very sweet and kind.
**love** this post....
great post! I love the thought of a cowboy life! I'm so far removed from it that it sounds like something of a movie to me.
Kristin...that is one beautiful post...love, love it! What amazing memories and how wonderful how much you did and do and got to experience...You are one fantastic woman!
I think we lived the same childhood. Baby lambs without their mother's and now this post. I have tears in my eyes. That hat looks just like my Dad's. Thank you Prairie Girl, for keeping our past alive. Lots of hugs!
Oh Kristen
You got me crying with this one. Sniff.
Kelly
Second Hand Chicks
Beautiful & Poetic...
I miss my daddy too...your words stirred up deep memories to the surface today...I will reflect and cherish them.
blessings,
Cindi
I need a hankie...sweet, lovely story. Thank you for sharing!! I LOVE the hat...I feel the same way about my dad's firehat:)
Happy Weekend,
Kristin
what a precious tribute to your father.
i have two of my grandfather's cowboy
hats. when i told my three year old that
his great grandfather was a bonafide
cowboy, he asked, "how many injuns
has he kilt?"
Awe Kristen, you made me cry! You express your thoughts so beautifully... How can one little gal have so many talents? LOVE the photo of your dad's hat. L.O.V.E it! You amaze me.
Hello Kristen,
I don't think that I have read anything more beautiful than your tribute to your cowboy Dad.
So sweet and poignant.
hugs
Sissie
Add my tears to everyone else's...what an eloquent tribute!
Regards,
Veerle
Beautiful. How blessed you have been. Theresa
This tribute is so beautiful, it did bring tears to my eyes, for I too have lost my dad. But I love the wonderful memories.
Thanks for sharing, very touching.
That was beautiful. Thanks for sharing what's in your heart. :)
You made me yearn to be a part of those times with you and your father.
What a great man he must have been and what a great daughter he raised.
God bless you...
Great tribute to your dad. My wild rag is full of tears from your memories...
Oh my goodness Kristin.
This morning was my first visit while having my coffee, and this post took my breath away.
Our fathers sound just alike.
I will be back- I am now a follower,
Laura
White Spray Paint
kristin! oh i love everything about this post. the picture the story and the feelings i got from reading it. faun told me i had to come over here and read your lovely words. :)
What a heartfelt post you have posted today!!!
Blessings,
Jo
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