Friday Shoot Out- Metal

Imagine field of wild grass that begins to sway in the hot summer wind of the old west. You can see for miles across the flat land before you come across a hill or two up ahead. Off in the distance... you might hear the faint cry of a skinny Longhorn calf stuck in a ranchers muddy sloped pond, and up over the brush suddenly...






















...was the rough riding cowboy of the old west. In Texas they still celebrate the trail ride. Herding 'reminiscent' of what was breed from original Spanish cattle brought into this territory...through city streets, and into the market to sell they did come...






























Longhorns were breed to endure the long hot summer months of the treacherous western trails. They're calf were the first and often the last to stand after a drought...

Cattle ranching once dominated this land...before cotton, wheat, and citrus farming ever was tried, and often failed...

The brightness of the already hot summer sun comes through my camera lens in these shots of bronze 'Idols' of my Texas heritage, and remind me why I only want to visit now.

The life of a cowboy was not glamorous in these parts, so they honor them with through out the area...









For some reason 'Put the metal to the petal' went wheeling through my mind, and that is just what I have been doing the past week and a half! I m visiting Texas, my birth place. We have been driving all over the DFW metroplex, and when I saw what this weeks theme was a few days past...I knew I had to make these babies the main attraction.






















Before moving away in 2005, much of the north side of the burbs had already was disappearing. I learned how to drive on these old dirt roads. Now to see a farm or a ranch is a treat for me. Much of the land was used for grazing cattle. Many breeds of cows and horses dotted much of the landscape as you drove down old farm to market roads, but now strip malls and housing developments have replaced them on every waking corner.





















This makes my heart sink each time I pass what seems to be a never ending stream of traffic and huge McMansions along each FM road that has been widen to astronomical proportion. Many say "Oh Texas is so big, and there is plenty of room", but it is barely an hour and half to the state line, and Oklahoma.

Some of this area is still cheap in taxes, and rich in wild grass, so we did see a small herd of longhorns grazing in one field a few days ago. Hubby and I went back to take a photo, but they were not to be seen. I will keep trying for that shot! I wonder what will happen before my next visit. Where will it all go?






























Old Cowboys

Trails are long and windin’

Odors overwhelm my sense of smell

Horses, shit, and dusty winds

Cold nights… feelin’ hasty

Longing… and want ‘an

Your breast, your sweet face

Just days… hours from home

Long stops… long nights…lost sleep

Empty my gun for prosperity

Shot a rabbit for my dinner

Seemed like the finest meal;

that my stomach ever had

As the fire keeps me warm

Starry night sends me driftin’

Dreams… our house… kitchen

Moving through windows

Door off the old back porch

Hear… metal pots clankin’

Sunsets… evening breeze

You begin to chase… playfully

across grass… into fields

Our backyard… laundry hangs

You… my love… catch me… hit me;

falling… slowly… together…

your beautiful face… you…

dressed in soft cotton, and

with an old wooden spoon

Me… chewin on old memories,

like old cowboys do…

- © E Stelling, 2008 all rights reserved by author



If you want to join us in our fun Friday Shoot Out, all you have to do is look for the theme that will be added later, and at the end of this post, so come back and see what was picked for next week! Go check out some of the other posts below...

Reggie @ Midlife and Menopause
Patty @ Crisfield News
Rachel @ Rachel's Ramblings
Lulu @ Serendipity LuLu
Science Girl @ Science Girl Traveler
Gigi @ Gigigriffis
J9 @ J9 and Stuff!
Gordon @ Friday Shoot Out
Doreen @ Shoot Out Michigan
GirliChef @ Off Topic
Jama @ Mummy Jam
Chris @ An Instant Out of Time

and many many more... What fun way to take a look around our world!!!

The Pink Birdhouse has chosen...Rainbow Of Colors, so everyone has creative liberties with this one!