Country Lifestyle

Sleepless in the Country – Part 1

Published

5 years ago

March 12, 2020

Because we live at the end of a dirt road, we are forced to adopt people’s unwanted pets. Currently we have a medium sized black and white dog called Blue. I gave her that name because when she first came around she seemed very blue. She kept her tail between her legs and her head down. She most generally stayed curled up in the front yard. I had seen her walking down the road toward a neighbor’s house a few times, so I begged Gdubb not to feed her, let someone else claim her.

One day I came home and she was sleeping next to the garage, and for a week it seemed, she stayed right there. Well, of course she stayed right there, because that’s where my soft-hearted husband had placed her new food bowl. It wasn’t long until our old lab, Tootsie, had invited her to the back porch, which was about the same time Biscuit, our barn kitty, felt comfortable enough to bring up her newest two kittens to the back porch.

Blue is a real sweetheart, I can’t imagine why anyone would want to separate themselves from this little lady, she doesn’t dig, and she doesn’t chase cows, were my first impressions. Since Blue has fallen in love with the other occupants in her life, she has switched gears from sweet mild-mannered lady to aggressive protector, either that or she is afraid of the dark. At night, she barks at any little sound, and that is possibly the reason someone kicked her out of their life.

I’m trying very hard to appreciate her tenacity, because I actually caught Blue protecting the kittens. The coyote came up on the back porch trying to get the kittens and Blue came to the rescue and attacked. She then chased the coyote through our yard. The coyote saved itself by jumping on top of a round hay bale. It seemed Blue was going to hold that coyote there, so I ran to get a gun, while calling Gdubb on the phone to tell him what just happened and that I was about to shoot a coyote from our bathroom window. He laughed and then got real serious in his instructions, “Do not shoot out of the bathroom window. I can’t picture you having a clean shot with my tractors and feed truck between the house and the hay.” I assured him I had a straight shot, but I could tell he meant business when he told me to shut the blinds and step away from the window. I think he has silently regretted not letting me take the shot because night after night our sleep is interrupted with Blue’s barking. She must smell a coyote nearby.

One night I heard Blue relentlessly barking outside our bathroom window, while my Romeo appeared to be resting comfortably in a blissful sleep so I got up to check on the situation. It was not a coyote that was causing the disturbance. Blue was standing there barking and wagging her tail: she was talking to another dog a half mile down the road. I remember grumbling on my way back to bed, I have a straight shot now….

In the midst of our coyote nightmare, some friends of ours came for a weekend visit. As we were all getting ready to call it an evening and head to bed, I felt I should apologize ahead of time in case Blue disrupted their sleep. With the morning sun, I was relieved to find that Blue had a quiet night and our guests slept well. We were not so lucky the next night.

Blue began her call of duty around 2 a.m. Gdubb grabbed his spot light and disappeared out the door to check cows. The rest of the evening was fairly quiet until about 4:00 a.m. That’s when the barking began, and it seemed like Blue was chasing something around the yard. Gdubb jumped up. I listened to his footsteps and could tell he went straight to the bathroom window. He must have spotted the coyote because I could tell his hurried footsteps took him straight to the gun cabinet. The next sound was a bolt engaging. Then sure footsteps headed back to the bathroom and the window blinds made a zipping sound as they flew up the cord. The opening of the window followed. I stuck my fingers in my ears and hoped that our guests were heavy sleepers. Thankfully we didn’t have to find out, because as quick as the barking started, it stopped and Blue was spotted, tail wagging coming back to the house.

My momma called and asked me what we were doing this weekend, I told her Gdubb had just left to try to call up a coyote and I was doing laundry and had just found a new recipe for chicken and dumplings made in the crockpot. A friend of mine makes hers that way with canned biscuits. (Silence on the other end of the phone) “Have you ever made chicken and dumplings like that?” (Still silence, making me nervous, so I began to ramble) Of course I feel lazy using canned biscuits; Granny would roll over in her grave if she knew I was using canned biscuits, but it’s worth a shot, right? Mom! Are you still there?” Momma then answered, “I’m sorry hon, I’m just trying to figure out how and why George is calling a coyote!”

I went on to explain to momma that we have a coyote problem. We lost a calf to a coyote, and it is probably sniffing around for more. Gdubb has borrowed a coyote call: it’s a small megaphone looking gadget that makes sounds like mice. He strategically hides the call then sits and waits, armed and ready.

As I hung up the phone, I realized, the phrase “calling up a coyote” just flowed out of my mouth in casual conversation. I think the process of transformation from city girl to country girl has completed its cycle.

Read more in the March issue of Oklahoma Farm & Ranch.

Country Lifestyle

Riding for the Brand

Published

5 days ago

June 12, 2025

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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.

Country Lifestyle

Farm Dogs & Table Scraps

Published

3 weeks ago

May 27, 2025

bowienews

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