Everyday Cowgirls

This collection of poems and stories is on my nightstand.
 It is my next read.
I am looking forward to reading this book. Many women contributed their work. I know I will be inspired.

Lisa sent her Everyday Cowgirl, "Bill", photograph from when she was little. It seems to me she always knew just who she was. When I look at this picture I am reminded to be just who I am. I am inspired to be authentic. Lisa and I met through our blogs. She is a gardener and a lover of birds and an amazing artist. Her watercolors are gorgeous. I am not a painter nor can I draw but I admire Lisa's talent.  I like how we support each other in the spirit of cooperation.

Carol was a young woman on the Kansas prairie
when this photograph was taken. Carol and I have been friends for over 40 years. When I first saw this photograph of Carol and her pony I gasped. The contrast between the pretty young girl and her darling pony and the desolate countryside was so apparent.
Carol remembered the day this photograph was taken.
She remembered "putting on her best".
Now when I look at this photograph I am reminded
 to "put on my best".
Even if I am only sitting at my desk writing.

If you want to be part of the
Everyday Cowgirl Inspirational Card Series
just send me a photograph of yourself
and let me know how your photograph inspires you.

Epiphany Cowgirl Style

A westerly breeze brought warm air. The sky was once again a gorgeous ,clear blue when we walked in the afternoon sunlight.

An amazing day.

It is easy for my Cowgirl to be mindful.
It comes naturally.

My Mother-in-law brought over her late husband's Stetson.

My husband will take take of his old hat.

I have been stooped in my tracks by this book.
I am taking notes.
Johnson makes reference to many books I want to read.
I have requested Leaning into the Wind: Women Write from the Heart of the West from my library.
 Johnson states that this book " makes clear that Western women's independent spirit has always derived from their connections to nature and its animals-to wind and the weather it fetches, sun and moon, pines, birds, horses, piglets, wild and domestic blurred together like birth and death. There are now  more cowgirls of one type or another, with or without cattle than ever before...."

Life changes.
A year ago we had snow on the ground
and more fell through out the day.

One year ago I was sad.
The way the American Indians were treated by
the white man has always made me so very mad and sad.
This year I decided to find the fun in life
and so I embraced the Spirit of the Cowgirl.
I am empowered by her spunk.
In a bold move I asked my husband if we could have a day of
reconciliation.
I wanted a day to wipe the slate clean.
I wanted a day not only to ask for forgiveness
but to offer forgiveness.
I needed a day to put the past as my history, never to forget the lessons, to move forward.
I needed a day to begin living in the now.
We choose today.
We choose the Epiphany as our day of new beginnings.

A Cowgirl Moon showed herself at dusk.
I live in real time.
I am living mindfully.