Country Lifestyle
Behind the Scenes

Hit Songwriters
By Jan Sikes
We all recognize songs made famous by the artists who sing them, but what about the songwriters, who are often behind the scenes? A good example of this is Merle Haggard’s mega-hit song, “The Way I Am.” Many people think he wrote the song. And while Haggard did write a good many of his own hits, that particular song was written by Sonny Throckmorton. That’s just one example.
A good many artists today write their own material and record it almost exclusively. But, there are other top-name performers who do not write at all and are always looking for their next big hit from songwriters’ catalogues.
I want to introduce you to some phenomenal Oklahoma-born songwriters. While you might not have heard of these writers, you will instantly recognize their songs.
Dallas Frazier was born in Spiro, Okla., in 1939 and is still alive and well in Tennessee. He is well-respected by recording artists and other songwriters alike. Frazier has quite a story. He states that his family was in the “Grapes of Wrath” migration from Oklahoma to California. The ‘40s were tough for his family. They worked cotton fields and lived in labor camps.
He entered a singing contest sponsored by Ferlin Husky when he was only twelve and won. Mr. Husky wound up hiring Frazier to work for him. At the age of fourteen, Frazier signed with Capitol Records.
Throughout the years, Frazier has written hundreds of songs, leaving an indelible mark on the music industry. He is responsible for such huge hits as “Alley Oop,” “There Goes my Everything,” “Elvira,” “Mohair Sam,” “Son of a Hickory Hollow Tramp,” and hundreds more. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriter’s Association International Hall of Fame in 1976. Another tidbit of fact about Frazier is that Elvis Presley recorded five of his songs during his career.
With a long and successful career, Frazier said in a 2012 interview, “A guy doesn’t do this just all on his own. You get breaks here and there and a lot of people gave me a helping hand in the business down through the years.”
I think that sums it up quite well. Frazier went into the ministry and pastored a church in Tennessee for many years. Now he considers himself retired.
Jimmy Webb is known as “America’s songwriter” and established worldwide recognition as a master of his trade. Born in 1946 in Elk City, Okla., he is the only artist to have ever received Grammy Awards for music, lyrics and orchestration. The first commercial recording of a Webb song was “My Christmas Tree” by The Supremes in 1965.
The following year, Webb met singer and producer, Johnny Rivers and recorded “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” which became a mega-hit for Glen Campbell. You might recognize a few of his other hits, such as, “Up, Up And Away,” “Wichita Lineman,” “MacArthur Park,” (which garnered a Grammy for Waylon Jennings), “The Highwayman,” “Galveston,” and “The Worst That Could Happen.” His songs have been recorded by artists from The Fifth Dimension to Glen Campbell and Waylon Jennings to Kanye West.
Webb was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 1986, The Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 1990 and received the National Academy of Songwriters Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993. According to BMI, Webb’s song, “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” was the most performed song in the 50 years between 1940 and 1990. Webb has written what is referred to as a musician’s bible, Tunesmith – Inside the Art of Songwriting. But, more recently, he released a memoir entitled The Cake and the Rain, where he tells the stories behind the songs.
Pick up the November issue to learn more!
Country Lifestyle
Farm Dogs & Table Scraps

What’s Safe and What’s Not?
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
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
Country Lifestyle
Summer Squash and Corn Chowder

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.
Country Lifestyle
Western Housewives – May 2025

By Summer McMillen
All my married life I have thought that when husbands all got together horseback after a hard days work they were probably rating their wives on a scale from one to ten based on their various capabilities. Did Wife A have a good hat crease? Was Wife B good help in the branding pen? Was Wife C an excellent mother? Was Wife D hospitable to everyone? Could Wife E make a decent gallon of sweet tea? Did Wife F keep a tidy saddle house?
Presumably, when Wife B did not live up to Wife A there was a fist fight followed by wife shaming of Husband B. His status amongst the cowboys immediately fell and he would be behind for the rest of his life in his cowboy career.
He would come home ashamed his wife couldn’t flambé a decent bananas foster and she couldn’t hoolihan either. He would be distraught and said wife would feel his pain.
Of course, this never happened to me like I thought it would. My husband always came home with a smile on his face and I’m pretty sure “flambé” isn’t even in a cowboys vocabulary.
Nonetheless, these imaginary fights and social rankings have plagued my brain for years. It has caused me to always be in competition with myself to be the very best at everything I did. Which I have eventually realized is a trait of women all around the world.
While we are cooking a four course meal for our families we start to think about how we actually should be practicing heading steers instead.
While we are practicing our horsemanship we start to think about how we should actually be preparing a nutritious and elaborate meal for our families.
It is a constant battle that women have created and proceeded to fight for centuries.
One day the inner battle got to me and I finally broke down as we were riding wheat pasture and confessed to my husband my guilt. I was so sorry that I wasn’t a better cowgirl. I was so sorry that the house was a mess. I was so sorry that I would never be on The Cowboy Channel. I was so sorry that I had lost his good pair of gloves. (Except I didn’t actually mean to confess that last part. Some things are just better left unknown.) I apologized again and again and told him I was sorry and he probably never wanted to bring his friends over for supper ever again.
Instead of consoling me, he just started looking at me like I was crazy. Which is what all good husbands do.
He stopped his horse and looked at me and said “Do you know how cowboys rate each other’s ranch wives?”
So many thoughts started filling my brain. Was it looks? Gentleness? Laundry speed? Work ethic?
Then he revealed their secret. “Cowboys rate each other’s wives by how well they can cook eggs for breakfast.”
His point of course, was that men don’t think about each other’s wives. As long as they get their eggs for breakfast. In another twist of irony, my husband taught me how to fry the perfect egg. What can I say? It’s a man’s world.
Since then, I have let go of my irrational fears and doubt and have simply been living life. It’s all anyone can do. I may not team rope the best. I may get my fingers when I’m trying to dally and I may not have the tidiest saddle house. But I try hard at everything I do and I do it all out of love for my family and finally, myself.
So, if you’re a woman this Mother’s Day and you catch yourself feeling down amongst life constant pressures just remember you are not alone. You can almost guarantee there is a woman in every household that needs a little pick me up. Maybe you should just go outside. Maybe you should sit down and count your blessings. Or, maybe you should have your husband fry you some eggs.
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