Deb Trotter, Cowboy's Sweetheart

Remember those Creative (or Kreativ) Blog Awards that were circulating a couple of years ago? They’re B A C K !

With all the fabulous blogs out there, it was a nice feather in my Cowgirl Hat to be mentioned for the Kreativ Blogger Award by Artist & Art Licensing Coach – the fabulous Tara Reed.

Tara was nominated by Debra Cortese, a wonderful artist known for her customized nature themes and Cortese Nature’s Energy Bags. Cortese’s blog – like Tara’s – is artist friendly … fun, inspiring, and addictive.

Just as Tara Reed did in her March 15th post on the Kreativ Blogger Award – I’ll preface my nominations with Debra Cortese’s summary of the award …

I’ve become a bit of an information addict, I couldn’t do this without a little background research. I quickly found reference to the original ‘Kreativ Blogger’ post and requirements for nominated Kreativ Bloggers. I believe they have been edited and abbreviated over time and cyberspace.

Kreativ Blogger originated in May 2008 in a post by Huldas Verden as noted by Clay Garden author in this April 2009 post:
“Finally I found that it was started in Norway by a blogger named Huldas Verden.”

When the Clay Garden post was written in April 2009, the author’s Google search came up with 712 entries for Kreativ Blogger.
When I searched today, Feb 28, 2010 for ‘Kreative Blogger’ awards, Google comes up with 23,200,000 entries! Hence, the power of blogging!

The Kreativ Blogger award comes with the following requirements:
1. You must thank the person who has given you the award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link the person who has nominated you for the award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 other Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs to let them know they have been nominated.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Seven Things About Me You May Find Interesting:

1. I am a combination of my southern North Carolina roots (and accent) and Wyoming Cowgirl. I love watermelon, fried apple pies, old quilts, and the smell of dried rose petals. I also love grilled filet mignon prepared as if it was ’still mooing,’ old western towns and history, and the smell of sagebrush on an autumn day.

2. I am a romantic when it comes to Cowboys. No matter how many times people point out to me that not all Cowboys live by the ‘Code of the West’ – I stubbornly insist that the ones who do make up for the ones who don’t. My perfect Cowboys? Robert Duvall as Gus in Lonesome Dove … and Sam Elliott – as Sam Elliott.

3. I have a secret longing to one day live in New Mexico. Santa Fe and Taos are the most artfully inspiring places with the most interesting cultures.The adobe homes – the blending of religious, iconic symbols with everyday life – the laid back, easy way of living. I understand Georgia O’Keefe’s fascination with the light in that part of the country … it brings out the sun in your soul.

4. I was a high school teacher for seven years. Drama & English. Teaching was such an amazing experience – and I was good at it. Really good. I remember each and every student – where they sat, what they wrote, and how theatre gave them confidence, poise, and an enthusiasm for life. A former student once told me, “You know … we all hated to admit it … but we LIKED your English class!”

5. I feel lucky to have grown up in the 50’s & 60’s – and to have been a part of a huge and loving family. Life was different back then – it was so cool to be a kid. I walked to school every day … a total of eight miles. Oh, the things I imagined on those walks! How lucky am I?

6. I have never been afraid to try anything. I figure, jump in with both feet and paddle like a wild woman. If I should flounder, there’s always another passion to follow. So far in my life I have been: a cocktail waitress. summer resort entertainer. bluegrass singer. teacher. actress and director. volunteer for radio for the blind. voice-over announcer for ESPN. wedding director. arts council director. full time mom. and ARTIST. What’s next? Bring it on!

7. I am an incredibly proud Mom. To see my son (once so lost and challenged with learning disabilities – now so bright, responsible, mature, and happy) succeed in life is my greatest joy. Rock on, Whit!

Here Are My Kreativ Blogger Nominees …

1. Deryn Mentock “Something Sublime”

2. Kate Harper “Greeting Card Designer”

3. Angie Nelson “Ranch Dressing Cowgirl Style”

4. Seth Apter “The Altered Page”

5. Marie Otero “Lost Aussie On the Loose”

6. Brian Clark “Copyblogger”

7. Bob Boze Bell’s Blog

Thanks, Tara, for nominating me!

And you folks whom I just nominated – You are masters of creative blogs! Now, it’s your turn to Pay It Forward.

Tags: Angie Nelson, Bob Boze Bell, Brian Clark, Creative Blog Awards, Deb Trotter, Debra Cortese, Deryn Mentock, Kate Harper, Kreativ Blogger Award, Marie Otero, Sam Elliott, Seth Apter, Tara Reed
Posted in Art and Life, Blogs for Artists, Creative Blogs, The Code of The West, art licensing | 3 Comments »

“A Cowboy always helps someone in need – be they stranger or enemy.” This is one of the ‘Codes of the West.’

I’d like to think all Cowboys – or at least most of them – still abide by ‘the code.’

‘The Code’ is a sort of “Do Unto Others” creed. I see it as unspoken promise that a Cowboy is someone you can always rely on as the first one there to lend a helping hand.

Yesterday I had begun to think ‘The Code’ was a thing of the past.

I had driven up to Billings, Montana for a dental procedure (one of many these days). The city streets were still a soggy mess from a ’surprise’ snowfall the night before. A one-inch prediction had become a half-foot. The main roads weren’t fun, but the side roads were challenging to say the least … especially if you drive a Prius.

A Prius is aerodynamically designed as ‘low to the ground.’ Great for gas mileage and speed. Bad for snow.

After my round with yet another root canal I planned to stop by the hospital to pick up a prescription. Try finding a parking place in downtown Billings right after city snow equipment has plowed the streets. The roads are cleared, but the parking spots are about as heap high with snow as a country pasture is with … let’s just say, “manure.”

After fifteen minutes I discover a side street where ten or so cars and trucks were parked. I chose an empty spot, parked the Prius, picked up the prescription – and happily returned to my car, thinking how easy the whole thing had been.

WRONG. I was SO stuck.

The under-body of the car was smack dab against the snow. I was being held hostage by gunk. It would be at least an hour or two before Triple A could get to me, they had said. So – what’s a girl to do but wait? And, as it turns out – watch. Truck after truck – man after man – passed me by as I tried digging out of the snow (with a tiny, useless shovel from my ‘emergency kit.’)

I counted them. In forty-five minutes there were a total of twenty three guys who either pretended not to see me – or looked right at me as they slowly and deliberately drove on by. Ten of them (in big, honking trucks) were wearing Cowboy hats. Ten more guys parked next to me – three in Cowboy hats. Still no offers. Still stuck.

“So much for the Cowboy Code,” I thought. Right now I was just another number to Triple A. And that was that.

Then, out of the blue, a big ole rusty SUV pulled up by the Prius – and out stepped an old Cowboy. A Cowboy with a boot on one foot and a cast on the other. A crutch under one arm. And a smile as broad as the Wyoming sky.

In spite of the broken foot and crutch, he pushed the Prius out of the snow – then waved me on my way. I thanked him several times and offered to pay him for his time.

“No, Ma’am. A ‘Thank You’ is plenty.” With that, he tipped his hat and slowly made his way through the slush towards the hospital.

I thought about my Good Samaritan with the Cowboy hat all the way home – and when I crossed the state line into Wyoming, the sun suddenly broke out of the clouds as I saw that old familiar sign with the Cowboy on the Bucking Horse: WELCOME TO THE COWBOY STATE

And I knew ‘The Code of the West’ was still very much alive.

Thank you, Old Cowboy. Where ever you are.

Thanks for your help – thanks for your message – and thanks for the faith.

I still believe in Cowboys.

Deb Trotter ~ Cowboy’s Sweetheart Artist

Tags: Cowboy's Sweetheart, Cowgirl, Deb Trotter, Good Samaritan, Montana, Photography, The Cowboy Code, Wyoming
Posted in Cody Wyoming, Photography, The Code of The West, Travel | 2 Comments »