Monday, September 20, 2010

Book Festival and Cowboy Gathering

Although I have lots to do to get ready for our trip, here I am at the computer dragging my feet. It is a good thing that I work well under pressure.

This weekend Jesse and I were volunteers at a local book festival. There were over 30 authors hawking their books. Jesse took photos of the whole event while I helped with some of the kid’s workshops. There were adult writing workshops, but I did not get to attend those. I did sit in on some readings by a few authors. It was all fun and informative. The best part was just meeting and chatting with everyone. I met a retired military chaplain who had been at West Point and had written his memoirs. We had a mutual friend, which made things more interesting. I met a lady from Buffalo, NY, who had retired in OK. I met lots of other authors from all over OK, TX and KS. I helped with one workshop and author who wrote children’s books. She had the kids draw pictures and make a small book about the seasons. When the author saw a duck that I had drawn for one child, she teased me about my drawing and said that I should do illustrations. I never told her that I was an artist, because I was not sure whether she was being facetious or serious. Later I saw her books and illustrations and decided she must have been serious. I bought a book called Swift Injustice about a murder, which happened here in Duncan back in 1947. I was tempted to buy more books, but I’m a bit of a book snob it seems. The few times that I have bought books by not-well-known authors, they have been not-so-good. Being at the book festival was a bit like being at an arts/craft fair – I saw things that were very nice, but I thought, "I could do that." So I don't buy, but neither do I do – crafts or books. But, I think I could.

Jesse slipped out of the book festival and went next door to the Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum where they were having a cowboy gathering. They had several chuck wagons and exhibits including a longhorn drive and working dogs. She took some photos of the cowboys and their animals. She was most impressed with the jumping mules. Apparently, mules can be trained to jump a fence, which helps during coon hunts. Here is one of the jumping mules. We did not stay for the mule-jumping exhibit, and Jesse was sorely disappointed. Back inside the book festival, one of the western authors told us that she had heard of jumping mules – that the 20 mule Borax team had mules that were trained to jump the chain in order to make tight corners. Read about it at the link. Interesting! Jesse seemed to have a good time too - especially since she met all of the authors and took their photos. It was amazing how many told me later that they thought Jesse was just wonderful and beautiful. Of course, I knew that :)

Sunday, we worked on the house. Our plan was to finish the soffit stuff. Yep, we were one board short – typical.

9 comments:

Andy said...

Sounds like an interesting day, Lou. I'm a book snob, too...or was when I read a lot.

I don't really find time to read much anymore. Spend too much of my free time on the net, I suppose. That's "reading," isn't it? Well, not quite the same.

As to the "one board short" deal. That is a given. It's a rule in DIY, that shall never be broken.

Bag Blog said...

Andy, I tend to read more during football season - I read while my hubby watches TV. When he says, "Did you see that play?" I can look up for the replay.

Buck said...

Thanks for that mule team link, Lou. It brought back memories of Boron, Ca for me... because there used to be a Borax museum there. That's prolly Boron's ONLY claim to fame. I'm glad I was only there for a year.

So... you're going to France with the girls? I don't believe you said, one way or another. I remember a "mebbe," but no decision.

Dale said...

The book fair not so much but I'm with Jess on the Cowboy gathering! That would have been more to my liking!

Bag Blog said...

Buck, You have been to some interesting places, and some way out places. Is there anyplace you have not been that is on your list of must-sees?

Dale, at least the book festival was air-conditioned and the cowboy gathering was hot and humid with temps still in the mid 90's.

Buck said...

Buck, You have been to some interesting places, and some way out places. Is there anyplace you have not been that is on your list of must-sees?

Ya, my "to-do" list has a LOT of places on it. First and foremost is Rio de Janeiro for carnival but that's one I prolly won't do, given my reluctance to fly and general health issues. Australia is in the same class, as are many other foreign destinations. But there are more than a few US places/things still on the list... first is the Balloon Fiesta in ABQ. And I MUST get back to N'Awlins at some point!

wv: cries. As in... "he cries when he ponders missed opportunities." Heh. I'm not kidding, either... it really was my wv! Google knows all, sees all.

Jesse Baggett said...

Another friend told me that he had a grandfather that had trained his mule to jump fences for hunting purposes. He trained the mule using chewing tobacco. I guess the mule had to jump the fence to get his "fix".

Dave (aka Buckskins Rule) said...

My brother-in-law had a molly mule that cleared a fence the first time they put pack boxes on her. Something in one of the boxes clanked and spooked her. Oh to have had a video camera going.

Bag Blog said...

BR, I'm not sure that is the same kind of jumping mule, but it does prove the mules can jump:)

Buck, Do the balloon festival coming up in Alb. I had a friend who does balloon rides out of Santa Fe. I will look him up for you.