| Tom and Donna Hatton: Home for the Holidays. ~<>~ Debra Coppinger Hill will be appearing on these dates at the following locations: *December 20 - Private Event * Feburary 14 - Three Day Horse Fair, Duncan, Oklahoma, Love of the West Taping. To Contact Debra for an appearance at your event or for Poetry & Publicity Education Seminars: Old Yellow Slicker Productions PO Box 348, Chelsea, Oklahoma 74016 918-789-5288 oldyellowslicker@yahoo.com Read Debra's Poetry and Stories at: http://www.cowboys-n-cowgirls.com/DebraCoppinger.html For CDs, tapes & books of Debra's Western Poetry: http://www.SilverCreekMusic.com/DebraHill.html or http://www.oldyellowslicker.com or check out her horses for sale at http://www.4dhranch.com ~<>~ Catherine Devine:Home for the Holidays. ~<>~ Cactus Cowboy Corral: For a full performance schedule go to http://www.cactuscowboycorral.org ~<>~ Our Texas Pal Buck Helton will be appearing on these dates at the following locations: * The Gene Autry Christmas Parade on Dec. 20th New Year's Eve is open for booking. * Jan. 17th Fort Worth Stock Show Parade *Jan. 26-27 For Worth Stock Show Cowboy Tales End of January Begining of Feb. Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo!! Check the CnC Calendar for More up and coming events! |
| Christmas Eve we invited our town bound friends to come up to the ranch. It was 10 degrees and snowing those big fluffy cloud like creations with a full moon peeking through. The children were running back and forth trying to catch "angel wings," excited with the anticipation that only comes with Christmas! A silvery throated note peeled though that crystal night air. Parents grabbed tiny hands and gathered close and then voices hesitantly, softly began to sing "Silent Night" as the procession seemed to float across the snow in the wavering light of a candle lit lantern. We crept into the corrals and headed for the milk cow stalls...through cracks in the walls shadows danced on the snow, inside, in the manger, lay a baby, waving his arms as he smiled at the visitors. The children filed in wide eyed with wonder, only the sounds of the animals mixed with the smell of hay and manure to perfume the night, creating a musical counterpoint to the lullaby to that child. The years have passed, but those children have returned time after time and now tell their children of that precious journey on a Holy Night. It has become a family tradition of the "Night Before Christmas," to share as we gather to begin a trip to the manger and we kneel in wonder at a newborn King. |
| A Cowboys Praise I’m a cowboy, Lord, ain’t real good at prayin’, Yet, I got a few words that sorta need asayin’. Now, they ain’t fancy words like city folks would be a'usin’. They’s just simple words of my own pickin’ and choosin’. They’re mostly words of thanks an’ praise an’ honor, ‘Cuz, if it wasn’t for your lovin’ care, I’d long ago been a gonner. Like when that horse I’s ridin’ took that ter’ble fall. I’ll never know why I wasn’t more badly busted up an’ all. Or when I’s doctorin’ a calf, an’ his momma had an awful fightin’ spell. Yes, that was a close ‘un, but all she done was kinda rung my bell. Come to think of it, Lord, many times your helpin’ hand has pulled me thru. But, there’s more reasons than that why I should be praisin’ you. Such as the beauty of the sunrise comin’ over the horizon’s edge, Or the joy of lookin’ down on a herd of cattle from a rocky canyon’s ledge. Then there’s the thrill of gallupin’ a horse across a grassy plain, And the soothin’ comfort in the smell of a summer rain. Lord, I enjoy watchin’ a brand new calf get his first taste of milk, And seein’ his momma lick ‘im off til he’s clean an’ dry an’ soft as silk. So, I don’t know what else I’d ask. Got might near everything I need, As long as the crick runs water, an’ my cows has got feed. I got clothes on my back an’ a hat on my head, Boots on my feet, an’ some blankets for a bed. I got a horse to ride an’ you as my friend, A promise of a home in Heaven, an’ a life without end. John Schaffner © 12/18/98 |
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| December 2003 Page 3 |
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| "Cowboy Gazette" |
| Copyright 2001-2003 © Cowboys-n-Cowgirls.com / And or Authors or Agents All Rights Reserved |
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| ~ COWBOY CHURCH ~ John Schaffner |
| John Schaffner (R) with his friend Michael Martin Murphey at North Platte, Nebraska. Photo by D.Enise |
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| To read more visit John's Pages here on CnC |
| ~ CnC's Newest Columnist ~ A Christmas Story "The Barn" by Donna Hatton |
| ~ CALENDAR OF EVENTS ~ |
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| Well That's it for this edition of "The Cowboy Gazette"!! We hope you enjoyed our News Letter Click here if you would like to subscribe to CnC News Letter ! |
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