Country Lifestyles
Crooked Fences
By Bryce Angell
Every year, each spring, my job was stretching up barbed wire. And every year I’d dream that we could put it up for hire.
I like to call it stretching wire but it’s really fixing fence. And we never bought new posts and wire. Wouldn’t meet the farm expense.
The worn, and rusty, coarse barbed wire would break with every bend. So, we stitched the wire right from the start until the very end.
One day I mustered courage. Said, “It’s time to buy new fence. It’s like patching up Methusala. It don’t make a lot of sense.”
My father always listened. He gave credence to what I’d say. But never did I dream he’d buy new fencing on that day.
So he drove our ‘69 Cornbinder, two-ton flatbed truck to Cal Ranch for new posts and wire, I guess to my good luck.
That night I dreamed of fixing fence with not an end in sight. When my sleep was interrupted barely 6 o’clock daylight.
My father hollered loud enough to soundly wake the dead. “It’s time to get a movin’ because people die in bed.”
I’d heard him yell a thousand times ‘bout people, death and bed. That was our morning ritual before we all got fed.
He said, “We’ve got some work to do up by the north-end gate. But I need to be away in town, so build the fences straight.”
My dad was kinda fussy ‘bout his fences straight in line. He said, “The fence that’s crooked sure ain’t no fence of mine.”
Back then we had no auger that would drill a fence post hole. You used a bar and shovel, kept your cussing in control.
That day I dug near 20 posts but held back all my brag. ‘Cuz looking down the fence my posts were planted in zig zag.
Well sure enough my father said, “Your posts have character. Were they drunk or did they suffer from a genuine hangover?”
His laughter was contagious and thank heaven he weren’t mad. He never showed his anger. He was that kind of Dad.
And then the 20 posts were pulled along with all my pride. But my father helped replant ‘em. He was right there by my side.
So then I wore new glasses. They were bound to be my fate. But they didn’t solve the problem ‘cuz my fence line still weren’t straight.
By: Jesse Kader of Jesse’s Jewelz
Happy September!
Do I dare venture to say that we are thinking about fall clothes? I know it seems that sometimes fall takes longer to arrive in Texas (or Oklahoma) than anywhere else, but it will get here eventually, and we will be ready when it does. As we start switching out our closets and tucking away our summer looks, I urge you to keep an eye out for a few pieces that may be staples for the up and coming season. I feel this year will be a year of classic timeless looks. I see neutral colors being popular with soft color pallets. A great collared pinstripe button up will definitely be a necessity. Layered looks with sweatshirts and sweater vests are my current favorite for the classic cowgirl look. These pieces will allow you to make subtle statements.
By: Lacey Vilhauer
Total Time: 3.5 Hours | Serves 10-128
Ingredients:
1 1/3 cup milk
1 package of instant vanilla pudding mix 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk 3 cups heavy cream
1 tsp. vanilla
1 box vanilla wafers
4 bananas, sliced into coins
2 tsp. sugar
Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, combine milk, vanilla pudding mix, and sweetened condensed milk. Whisk thoroughly, breaking up any lumps and refrigerate for at least 5
minutes, or until set. In another large bowl, combine heavy cream and vanilla. Beat until stiff peaks form, 2-3 minutes. Set aside half of the mixture for topping the dish. Fold remaining half into the pudding mixture.
Cover the bottom of a 3-quart trifle dish with vanilla wafers. Top with one-third of
the pudding mixture. Cover with another layer of the wafer cookies–you may want to also stand some cookies up vertically, sou can see the full circle along the edge of the trifle dish. Top with an even layer of banana slices. Continue layering the pudding, wafer cookies and banana slices until you reach the top, ending with a final layer of banana pudding.
Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or overnight. Sweeten the remaining whipped cream by adding the 2 teaspoons of sugar and stirring to combine. Just before serving, dollop on top of the banana pudding, then sprinkle crumbled wafer cookies on top.
By: Annette Bridges
Being Remembered By A Cow
You have no doubt heard the expression “an elephant never forgets.” I can confirm the same is true about a cow, especially one you have raised from birth.
Various health problems kept me away from helping my husband feed and move our herd to new pastures for a couple of months. I was so very happy to get back in the groove of our old beloved routine.
To read more, pick up a copy of the September issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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