07/21/06 Ranching mothers

Ranching Mothers There is a new book in the works that I can't wait to be published. I'm Jeff Keane. I'll be back right after this to tell you about it. Lee Juillerat's article in the Capital Press caught my eye about an upcoming book. Writer Linda Hussa and photographer Madeline Graham Blake are collaborating on a book about western ranching families called Mothering in the West: A Literary and Photographic Study of Ranch Families. Carole Fisher is their project manager. Hussa, Blake and Fisher believe ranch families and their traditional work style and ethics are the basis for keeping our western heritage and our country's identity as Western people. You know, I just have to agree with that idea. Hussa and Blake will tell the story of six different ranching families. The one photograph that accompanied the article is what really got me interested. The picture was of a mother moving cattle, carrying one child with her on her horse and another slightly older kid on his own horse watching mom for directions. That's how we started riding and working cattle at home  riding in front of Mom on a rolled up blanket and then graduating to our own horse being led by Mom until we could "go-it" on our own. Dad would be bringing back cattle to the herd so Mom taught us how to handle and move around the cattle. Later as we got to go help Dad, Mom would make sure we looked over that last hill to find the last bunch. Shoot  Mom and my Mother-in-Law still make me look over that last hill so we get them all. I'm Jeff Keane. Capital Press 6/30/06