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44 www.DesertMessenger.com COWBOYS FROM PAGE 24 The cowboys provided the entertainment with each trying to "out yarn" the others with stories about cooking, cows, rattlesnakes, cold nights or hot days, saddle broncs, girls they hoped to win or girls they couldn't keep, horses they'd ridden, dogs that were dependable or those that weren't, ornery critters, and other unusual experiences from out on the range. The cowboys outdid themselves with their genius for exaggeration. It was always "big country, big mountains, big canyons, big horizons, big men, just big everything." A big fight was described as "He lost enough hide to make his horse a saddle blanket." Another told us "I feel big enough to hunt bears with a switch." On the way home, I think I understood why the cowboys said they didn't like to go into town. Their outdoor way of life had city living beat all to thunder. After a lifetime of living around farms and ranches, my fascination has never ceased. I enjoy cowboy humor even when things look "pertineer" impossible. We have a friend who owns a ranch that he says is as big as "here to yonder." He came by one day looking hot and tired. I mentioned how hot it was and he said, "Yeah, I just saw a coyote chas- GR AN D The YOU'RE Gathering INVITED January 15, 2014 ing a rabbit, it was so hot they were cowboys that ran Scotts Ranch for "Grandma" Angela Scott, her sons both walking." Ben, Joe, Jesse, and Tommy. The Scotts gave us permission to put yards of bees near their windmill troughs at the Leadwell, Two-mile, Eight-mile, and Twelve-mile Wells. Today, I miss seeing the cattle meandering across the desert. One of my favorite picnic spots has always been out at the Leadwell where we always got a great crop of mesquite honey due to the plentiful water for the mesquites and for the bees. I'll always remember that cowTruthfully, not too long ago I saw boy dinner out near 24th and Roosa helicopter driving a small herd evelt (now Sky Harbor Airport). I'm of cows. Where have all the "real" so happy our family got to know the cowboys gone? Heck, he could have hard working ranchers, their famirounded them up on the ATV that lies, and especially the real cowboys, he rode out to his helicopter as he as did Zane Grey who could write a chatted on his cell phone. yarn every bit as good as any cowWhen we came to Quartzsite in boy's tale. 1939, we got to know the real desert TO BE The Quartzsite Trolley operates seven days a week thru Sunday, February 2, 2014! PART OF THE FUN ! 2014 Quartzsite, az © The World's Largest Gathering of GRAND Parents & Great GRAND Parents! 4 FULL Days of FUN! March 6 - 9 , 2014 th th TOWN-WIDE EVENTS: Live Music by: Rex Allen Jr., Paul Winer Boogie Woogie Blues, and Harry Luge Band. GRAND JAMboree, Antique Car Show, Vendors, GRAND Bingos, 5K/10K Walk, Town-Wide Yard Sales, Beer Garden, AVTT Vietnam Traveling Wall & Much More! SENIOR FAIR SAT. MARCH 8TH @QIA www.TheGrandGathering.com Town of Quartzsite is proud to present the new Quartzsite Trolley service, connecting visitors and residences with vendors and local businesses including Main Street Businesses, Main Event, Desert Gardens, Tyson Wells, Rice Ranch, and LTVA La Posa North. General Fare One Way $2 Hop On/Off Day Pass $5 Season Pass $45 Quartzsite Trolley operates in a Counter Clockwise loop around town. Our park and ride locations include Town Park at Senter and Plymouth, The Main Event at Exit 17 and the East entrance to Johnson's RV Sales lot at Riggles and Main Street. Pick up a brochure of the Trolley Stops at Town Hall, 465 N. Plymouth Ave. OR CALL Cash only, one way fees, exact change required (928) 927-4333 TDD/TTY: 711 www.ci.quartzsite.az.us Space donated by Desert Messenger Town of Quartzsite