The second of our Cowboy & Cowgirl code series posts: please welcome guest blogger John Brand of Buckaroo Leather.

THE COWBOY SOCIAL WORLD

Over time, the cowboys of the American West developed a personal culture of their own, a blend of frontier and Victorian values that even retained vestiges of chivalry. Such hazardous work in isolated conditions also bred a tradition of self-dependence and individualism, with great value put on personal honesty, exemplified in songs and poetry. Over the years many of us have developed a romance with old west songs, poetry, stories and movies…

I have many fond memories of my grandfather Del, and father telling me family history and stories while taking me fishing and hunting. And not realizing until later in life when it was time to teach my children the values of the code of the west and the cowboy way, how much I had learned from my fore fathers. Important things like how to treat animals, respect guns and their use, and other people. Guns have become a big social issue because it is easy to blame the gun and not the core reason of the person using it and their upbringing…

My grandfathers family the Bradford’s homesteaded in Hemet, California in 1903 in a tent raising cattle and dry farming crops relying on mother nature.

After time and hard work they were able to afford to build a shack and my grandfather was born in 1912.

He had 2 sisters and 2 brothers who all learned family values while doing their many daily chores.

(Plowing in Hemet)

As now in tough economic and social times it becomes more apparent how society would benefit from parents and kids of our future taking to heart the values of the code of the west and the cowboy way to the core of their everyday lives. Here is one of my favorite hero’s-

HOPALONG CASSIDY’S CREED FOR AMERICAN BOYS AND GIRLS-

1. The highest badge of honor a person can wear is honesty. Be truthful at all times.
2. Your parents are the best friends you have. Listen to them and obey their instructions.
3. If you want to be respected, you must respect others. Show good manners in every way.
4. Only through hard work and study can you succeed. Don’t be lazy.
5. Your good deeds always come to light. So don’t boast or be a show-off.
6. If you waste time or money today, you will regret it tomorrow. Practice thrift in all ways.
7. Many animals are good and loyal companions. Be friendly and kind to them.
8. A strong, healthy body is a precious gift. Be neat and clean.
9. Our country’s laws are made for your protection. Observe them carefully.
10. Children in many foreign lands are less fortunate than you. Be glad and proud you are an American.

DOES A CODE OF THE WEST STILL EXIST?
Self reliance continues to be a Western trait. For the first time since the Civil War, the federal bureaucracy is being seriously challenged. Washington is being asked to prove why it is a more effective trustee of Western lands and their resources than the locals who live, work, and play on those lands. I think welfare especially rankles Westerners because of its implied insult — that men and women are incapable of earning a living on their own, or are unwilling to help those temporarily down on their luck to get back on their feet. In the West I believe there remains a willingness to trust a person rather than trust fine print. Unquestionably, the Westerner’s symbiotic relationship with the land has never been lost. The value placed on the region’s traditional industries, like ranching, has never diminished, even among many urban Westerners. The West was as much a state of mind as it was a historical phenomenon. And the Code? Like I said, it’s unwritten, how are you to prove it still exists?

Quote by: William H. Forbis. The Old West: The Cowboys Time-Life Books. 1973.

I heard about a lot of this after the 911 attacks…

BEING NEIGHBORLY

The story is told of an elderly couple approaching the night clerk in one of Philadelphia ’s older hotels. The man indicated that he and his wife had been looking all over town for a room, but because of a convention, none was to be had.

The night clerk had pity on the couple and, although there was no vacancy in his hotel, offered them his room for the night.

The next morning while the elderly couple was eating breakfast, they asked to see the night clerk. When the clerk arrived, the gentleman astonished him by asking, “How would you like for me to build a big, beautiful, luxurious hotel in the city of New York and make you the general manager?” Astounded, the clerk simply responded, “Wonderful!”

The elderly man introduced himself as John Jacob Astor. The Waldorf-Astoria was built, and the night clerk became its first manager.

Be a good friend and neighbor. It can be a reward to everyone.

At Buckaroo Leather American Made is not just a sales slogan, standing tall behind our Buckaroo logo is honesty, hard work, dedication, sacrifice and integrity. In our journey of the last 30 years we have met many amazing artists, business horseman and women , craftsmen and customers who still live, as us by American Made. Our family has been dedicated for 30 years in serving the Western Horseman the safest most durable Quality
American made leather horse tack.

Thank You, John Brand – BuckarooJohn
Cell #530-545-0139
1-800-873-0781 Fax #888-652-6621

Twitter: @buckaroojohn

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This is how we humans should live with our fellow Brothers and Sisters of Mother Earth.  This woman is truly Walking The Red Road and living in the light of White Medicine.

AHO

I promised hot cowboys, fast horses, and top notch ski talent in this post well here you go…

I want to take him home.

Warming up for the races while the morning snow falls.

More warm ups…  right in front of the Stellar Bakery and Pizzeria

On looker Mike G. one of our towns acclaimed musicians. He’ll be playing at the Velvet Lounge (in the Villa Dallavalle) tonight. You should drop in and put in a request for some Buddy Holly.

Happy mom’s pulling happier children in toboggans.

The races are on!  The horses seemed to love the run too!

And I mean they ran!  This was one very VERY fast horse!

Setting up for the last jump!

Pam (on right) and her good friend Diane watch as a team rushes by! Pam is my friend who runs the  Villa Dallavalle Bed and Breakfast and Velvet Lounge.  For you Twitter folks you can find Pam and the Villa Dallavalle B&B at ( @VillaDallvalle ).

Our handsome cowboy and his steed streaking up Blair Street while skier literally  flies through the air right in front of the VillaDallavalle Bed and Breakfast.

And another competitor puts in his bid on the last jump.

One of  Heathers best friends, Audry came to town to watch the event.

And Audry’s husband Kyle, one of our volunteer Fire Fighters!

End of the day, another handsome cowboy cooling down his horses right along Green Street!

And in case you didn’t get enough of that handsome cowboy dude in the beginning of the  post…

Sigh…..

Like so many of us  my very best friend Krissy has been struggling with a debt. She has always been focused on having good credit and doing right by her lenders.  But  the economy hit and her debts started growing.  We have all been there, if not we will be at some point in our lives.  For the past few months she has been researching how to settle her debt. After much thought, she was able to find a settlement that made her feel good about herself and she is free and clear.

I’m so proud of her!

Well I had a goal set, I had hopes it would happen and it did.  I’m happy I can come on my trip to see you and be free and clear of this headache of a debt. I will be happy when I get my next massage it will feel great and there will be little to no stress. Whatever is left of the stress will be washed out and taken away…those nasty toxins…gone!

Krissy: my Thankful Friday!

Let Krissy give you hope. Do right by others, do right by your debts – it will flow back to you.

From Tashunka Witko

Please visit Tashunka Witko’s Facebook page to read the entire Dine’ (Navajo) Creation story.  Tashunka Witko brings to fans and friends collections of histories, stories and videos insightful of Indigenous People of our lands.  Be sure to  check out the  supporting links to this story. They are located at the bottom of story on Tashunka Witko’s Facebook page.

The people next emerged into a Yellow World (Niholsoi), meeting other animal beings: squirrels, chipmunks, mice, turkeys, deer, spider people, lizards, and snakes. The people still had their problems and quarrelsome behaviors. Eventually the men and women separated and began to live on opposite sides of the river. During the time of the separation of the sexes, the men survived by hunting and planting; however, the women did not fare as well–they were not skilled hunters and did not tend to their fields. After four years the women were starving and begged to return to the men. After the sexes were reunited, Coyote stole the Water Spirit’s baby. As a result, the Water Spirit got very angry and caused a great flood.

The people escaped the flood by climbing through a huge reed, led by the locust. The last animal to climb out of the reed was the turkey. It is said that as he was climbing up, the foamy water of the flood was rising and lapped at his tail, thus creating the white-streaked tail feathers of the wild turkey. The beings emerged at a place called into the White, or Glittering, World–the present world. Some stories say this place of emergence was in the mountains of Colorado, near Durango.

At this point, the small group had grown to include other holy beings, including insect beings, bird beings, and animal beings–each being contributing to the planning and organization of the world. First Man formed four main sacred mountains from the soil that was taken from the lower worlds and these became the sacred boundaries of the Dine world. Each mountain was fastened to the earth in a unique way and given special adornments and empowerments.

Although each mountain was given specific natural endowments, nevertheless, all of the mountains were also endowed with all of the natural beauties and powers of the universe. The complexity of understanding nature through relationships and interrelated processes of all things is the basis and foundation of the Navajo view of the sacred mountains. The deep natural communication that is ongoing in the universe can be expressed through many concepts. In this case, it is expressed through the four sacred mountains.

So much in this story rings true to me. I can see how the people expressed the lives of their elders, for-bearers. How the story of the beginning of Mother was translated through them.  Things like the great flood (rising of the oceans, melting of glaciers). I’m guessing memories from all around the world remember some catastrophic event that changed lives forever.  Also its speaks to the spiritual nature of the Four Corners areas that it became the Dine’ homeland.  Sends chills (thrills) all through me.  The story tells of how the Dine’ people struggled to understand how disease, poverty, dispositions and responses to life effected them on deep personal levels and their survival as a people.  Much like today, as we battle against new diseases, societal difficulties, and survival of our nations. I’m thinking we have not learned much. Recreating the wheel so to speak. We could learn so much from people like the Dine’ if we would just listen and act upon the lessons received.

When I speak of White Medicine and finding its healing powers in the San Juan mountains I speak of the sense of a deep spiritual relationship with Mother.  A lifting of burdens is the result. Much like what it must have been like for the Dine’ when they discovered this perfect place the call home.

AHO