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Where the Paved Road Ends: Country Girl Problems – Oklahoma Farm & Ranch
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Country Lifestyle

Where the Paved Road Ends: Country Girl Problems

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By Beth Watkins

Moving to the country sounds like an easy transition: things are a little slower, and it’s definitely not as populated, the people are friendlier and your land is your land, you can hunt, fish, ride 4-wheelers, shoot guns and skinny dip. But, I’ve discovered moving to the country takes a little getting used to. I am experiencing what I call “country girl problems.”

When I went to the U.S. post office to set up my P.O. Box and get my mail transferred, I had a difficult time catching the U.S. Post Office open. The window hours are 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Friday. I stopped in one night around 7 p.m. to get my mail from the box. The lobby was locked. Back home the post office lobby was open all the time. If you had an account or a rented mailbox at the UPS store then you were issued a key to the mailbox lobby and had access to the copy machines.

The next time I caught the lobby open, I informed them that I did not get my key for the front door, so I could access my mail after hours. Silly city girl misunderstanding turned into Country Girl Problem #149. If you want to get your mail, the lobby hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays. If you can’t wait, call the key keeper’s cell phone and he will meet you there and let you in. That situation remedied itself last January! The lobby is now open 24/7.

Country Girl Problem #791 is when you have hand washed and detailed your truck, pulled it back in the garage and a few days later, when you need to go to town, it’s rained and you’ve got a dirt road a mile long to the paved road.

Even the sayings down here in southeastern Oklahoma are different.

While on our trip to Tulsa, I asked GW if we could go to the mall and do some shopping. I expected his usual sweet answer, “Of course baby,” but it was followed by a phrase I had never heard before, “But, I would rather pick black pepper out of a chicken’s butt!” So now, what’s a girl to do with an answer like that? I call it Country Girl problem #99 since I’m 99 miles from my mall, and online shopping is all I have.

Nights out are different down here too! Jon’s Country Corner gas station/convenience store and tire shop is the social hub of Indianola, Okla. Every Friday night they serve up the best catfish, hushpuppies and brown beans you will ever lap your lips around, complete with award-winning desserts. During dinner a few locals entertain us by a-pickin’-an-a-grinnin’. You have to get there early to get a good table by the band.

Bonfires are very popular here, also. It seems like random people smell the fire and just show up. One night I witnessed a young girl pack her lip with a dip bigger than my husband does. Her friend held her beer so she wouldn’t get it mixed up with the beer bottle she was spitting her dip inside. As I pondered things like, “Who taught her to dip, and why?” and “Does her mother know?”  My brain was screaming a phrase GW’s used before, “I have been to three goat ropins’ and a county fair, but I ain’t never seen nothing like that before!” I realized at that moment, GW’s funny sayings have found their way into my vocabulary.

Read more in the September issue of OKFR!

Country Lifestyle

Riding for the Brand

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By: Christopher Dysinger

          According to the Code of the West a man who has integrity is one who rides for the brand. If you are unfamiliar with cowboy parlance this phrase is used to describe being loyal to the outfit you work for. Cowboys were, “intensely loyal to the outfit they were working for and would fight to the death for it. They would follow their wagon boss through hell and never complain.” -Teddy Blue Abbot. Riding for the brand means being loyal and when I consider what it means to be loyal I am reminded of the words of the Lord Jesus to His disciples in Matthew 16:24, “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” To me, to take up the cross and follow the Lord is the epitome of what it means to ride for the brand.

          When you place your trust in the Lord Jesus you are signing on to His outfit, to speak the language of the West. When you called upon the name of the Lord Jesus by faith, He saved you and from this point you are riding for His brand. In taking up your cross and following Him you have pledged to be loyal, and this means you face any hardship or trial like a cowboy on the trail moving the herd. Any complaint must be swallowed in the same way you would swallow a cup of coffee. When I hear our faith and loyalty to the Lord Jesus put into these terms it stirs something within me that moves me to keep right on riding for the brand.

          Louis L’amour wrote, “Riding for the brand was an expression of loyalty to a man’s employer or the particular outfit he rode for. It was considered a compliment of the highest order in an almost feudal society. If a man didn’t like a ranch or the way they conducted their affairs he was free to quit, and many did; but if he stayed, he gave loyalty and expected it. A man was rarely judged by his past only by his actions. Many a man who came west left things behind him he would rather forget, so it was not the custom to ask questions. Much was forgiven if a man had courage and integrity and if he did his job. If a man gave less than his best, somebody always had to pick up the slack, and he was not admired.” It is the same when a person gives his or her heart to Jesus. 

          When you come to the Lord Jesus you are not judged by your past. When you come to the Lord Jesus, repenting of sin and seeking forgiveness, everything from your past is left behind. All will be forgiven. 1 John 1:9 reads, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When you place your faith in the Lord Jesus you are promising to be loyal and in return you will receive the same. He has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us. When you walk with the Lord Jesus through life you are indeed, “riding for the brand.”

          “Riding for the brand” is not just an expression of loyalty nor is it just an expression of pride, it is also an expression of love. When a cowboy claims to be riding for the brand, he is telling any other outfit who may seek his loyalty, that he cannot give it, because he has given his word to another. It is the same when we pledge our faith and loyalty to the Lord Jesus. If any would call us away from Christ we cannot go, because we are riding for the brand.

The End

This article is an excerpt from the book, The Bible and the Code of the West by Dr. Christopher Dysinger.

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Country Lifestyle

Farm Dogs & Table Scraps

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Growing up on a farm, our dogs were tough. They roamed the pastures, slept under the barn, and ate just about anything they could get their paws on—whether we meant for them to or not. I’ll admit, I never thought twice when one of our old cow dogs snatched a biscuit off the table or licked up a spill from the barn floor. I’ve even seen a dog steal a whole rib bone off a plate and trot off like he’d won the lottery. And somehow, they always seemed fine.

But here’s the thing—just because they survived doesn’t mean it was safe. For every farm dog that lucked out, there’s another that wasn’t so fortunate. Some human foods can be downright toxic to dogs, and a little bit of bad luck (or a smaller, more sensitive dog) can turn a harmless snack into an emergency.

Common toxic foods lying around the farmhouse

Are table scraps good for your dog? (Stock photo)

If you’ve got a farm dog—or any dog, really—you need to be aware of the dangers lurking in everyday foods. Some of the biggest culprits include:

Chocolate – The darker it is, the worse it is. Even a little can cause vomiting, seizures, or worse.

Grapes & Raisins – No one’s exactly sure why, but they can cause kidney failure fast.

Onions & Garlic – In large enough amounts, these can destroy red blood cells, leading to anemia.

Xylitol (Found in Sugar-Free Gum & Candy) – This artificial sweetener can send a dog’s blood sugar crashing and cause liver failure.

Alcohol – Even small amounts can be deadly to dogs, affecting their nervous system much more than it does ours.

Bones from Cooked Meat – While not necessarily toxic, they can splinter and cause serious internal injuries.

Macadamia Nuts – These can lead to weakness, vomiting, and even paralysis in dogs.

What to do if your dog eats something toxic

First, don’t panic—but don’t ignore it either. If you know your dog ate something dangerous, call your vet immediately. They can tell you whether to induce vomiting or if it’s something that requires urgent care. If it’s after hours, contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661).

Prevention is always the best medicine, so keep toxic foods out of reach. That might mean keeping the trash can secured, making sure kids don’t slip the dog a treat under the table, or just being more mindful of what’s left on the counter.

Our farm dogs might have been lucky, but luck isn’t a great strategy when it comes to their health. A little awareness goes a long way in making sure they stay happy, healthy, and ready for the next day’s work.

For more information
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control

Pet Poison Helpline: www.petpoisonhelpline.com

Visit www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/foods-your-dog-should-never-eat

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Country Lifestyle

Summer Squash and Corn Chowder

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By Lacey Vilhauer

Total time: 40 minutes

Servings: 6-7

Ingredients

  • 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled and 1 1/2 Tbsp rendered bacon fat reserved
  • 1 1/2 lbs yellow squash, chopped (about 3 medium)
  • 2/3 cup thinly sliced celery
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 1 Tbsp flour
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 3/4 cup milk (I used 1%)
  • 5 cups canned or fresh cut corn (from about 6 ears corn), divided
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 1/2 tsp chopped fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried)
  • 3/4 tsp salt, then more to taste
  • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper, then more to taste if desired
  • 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, for serving
  • Chopped green onion for garnish (optional)
  •  

Instructions

Heat 4 tsp reserved bacon fat in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add celery and onion and sauté 2 minutes then add the squash. 

Saute until tender, about 6 minutes, adding in garlic and flour during last 2 minutes of sauteing. Reduce heat slightly.

Add 1 1/2 cups milk, 2 cups of the corn, thyme, salt and pepper to the sauteed veggies. 

To a blender add remaining 3 cups of corn, remaining 1 1/4 cups milk and the cream. Process in blender until nearly smooth (about 30 seconds). 

Add pureed mixture to pot and stir to blend. Cook until mixture reaches a light boil. 

Serve warm with shredded cheese, crumbled bacon and sliced green onions if desired.

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