Deb Trotter, Cowboy's Sweetheart

I got the biggest kick out of this sign – we came across it the other day on one of our obsessive road trips.

As you can see, the owner of the store has the right to determine his own hours and he does. In short, he’s open whenever the hell he wants to be – or NOT.

This sign is so thoroughly "Wyoming" in spirit. People don’t really care what anyone else thinks. They do what they want when they want, consequences be damned.

Ya gotta love it

Happy Trails.

Posted in Western Cowgirl Art | 3 Comments »

"Ride Em" Moo Notecard

Posted in Western Cowgirl Art | 2 Comments »

Posted in Western Cowgirl Art | 2 Comments »

Remember how I told you about Jerico Gallery? How it was to open last weekend? How excited I was?

Jerico did open on time. I was excited and still am, although I have yet to set foot inside.

"Ah," you say, "there’s a story there somewhere."

And how right you are. Here’s the deal.

The owner told me he hoped to open Thursday, April 12th, but if he wasn’t ready in time he would wait until Saturday, the 14th. "I’m not going to tempt fate and open Friday the 13th," he explained. (Even I, who am not very superstitious, can see the wisdom in that. Public perception can be everything – next to "location, location, location.")

So…I drove by the store on Thursday. The brown paper was still covering the gallery windows.

I drove by again on Saturday, and sure enough, the paper was gone. From my car window I could see the beautiful Italian lights beckoning from the inside. My heart, literally, skipped a beat. But I was on my way to Wally World, and not in my most attractive state, if you catch my drift. I figured I could wait until this week. But I digress…

The next day my hubby interrupted my lazy reverie (it IS Sunday, after all) with a tempting invitation: "Wanna go get a latte and get a peek at the gallery?"

"Sure. Count me in. But the gallery won’t be open today."

"Well, we can oogle from the windows."

Mind you, I am wearing my studio clothes from the day before. You know, sweats covered in Golden matte gel and layers of paint?  Plus, I haven’t even taken a shower. My hair is stuck to my head. I am in a complete state of "schlump-ville," as I like to call it.

You can pretty much guess what’s coming, can’t you? Sure you can.

We park the car in front of the coffee shop. Downtown Cody is deader than a polecat flattened by a big rig.  This was the week of "Cowboy Songs and Range Ballads" and after three big retail days, all of the stores have battened down the hatches until Monday.

I order my latte just the way I like it. Skinny, with sugar free toffee and caramel. Hubby and I mosey outside, finish our coffee in the blessed sun of an eagerly anticipated spring day, and head across the street to Jerico.

There we are, facing Jerico. Figuring on getting a closer look, I take a step up to the glass door to peer inside, and suddenly…

There in the back, standing up from his desk to get a better view of a potential customer, is the GALLERY OWNER!

OH, NO! Are you KIDDING me? Jerico is OPEN !?!?!?

And here I am, peering in the door, looking like a cowgirl who just crawled out of a nasty pile of buffalo chips.

AUUUUUUUUUUUUGH!

What do I DO, you ask?

I do absolutely the STUPIDEST thing one could have possibly done in the same situation.

In one split second, without even thinking, I jump back and hide behind the corner.

"WHAT are you DOING?" my husband demanded.

"I CAN’T Let him SEE me like this!" I shriek.

Now what?

We turn around and slink back to the car like any two low down, chicken-hearted cowards would do.

I still haven’t been back to Jerico. I haven’t built up the nerve. I KNOW the owner saw me.

The question now is, do I mention the embarrassing moment to him and hope we have a good laugh? Or do I pretend it never happened?

I don’t have a clue what I’ll do. Hopefully I’ll muster up enough courage by the end of the week to make an appearance.

Right now I’m feeling pretty darned silly.

To paraphrase Forest Gump, "Stupid is as Stupid does.   

Or…"Life is like a pasture. You never know which cowpie you’ll step in next."

Posted in Western Cowgirl Art | 9 Comments »

"Yee Ha Cowgirl Clock"

Posted in Western Cowgirl Art | 3 Comments »

"Wapiti Sunset"

Posted in Western Cowgirl Art | 2 Comments »