Saturday, September 28, 2024

Pack Burro Race

 It was a beautiful day in Frederick Colorado for the Miners' Day Celebration and 10 K Pack Burro Race.


Legend holds that the races trace back to an incident in which two miners, finding gold at the same location simultaneously, raced each other to the claims office. Because the burros were too small or loaded with equipment to carry their owners, the miners were forced to run, leading the burros.



    Riding the burro is not allowed,
 though the human may carry the burro!

The first documented pack burro race was held in 1949, and was the brainchild of local merchants in Fairplay, Colorado. The race was a 22.9-mile trek from Leadville to Fairplay, and the winner was Melville Sutton and his burro Whitey. 

The race was created to attract tourists to Fairplay's Gold Days celebration, and to help boost the local economy, which had been struggling after World War II. 

  The rules for pack burro racing have remained in place since the first race, and include the requirement that the burro must wear a saddle or pannier carrying a shovel, pick, and gold pan. The weight requirement no longer stands. 

   As in horse racing, there is a Trifecta for pack burro racing held at Fairplay, Leadville, and Buena Vista. 
 
The Fairplay race is 29 miles (47 km) and counts as an ultra-marathon. It takes place in late July as part of Fairplay's Burro Days town festival. The race begins on the main street and goes to the top of Mosquito Pass.

The Leadville race is 22 miles. It takes place the first full weekend of August, typically as part of the Leadville's Boom Days city festival. The race goes to the top of Mosquito Pass, then comes back into town through the California Gulch Mining District.

The Buena Vista race is 12 miles. It typically takes place a week after the Leadville race as part of Buena Vista's Gold Rush Days festival.



The runners and burros need to be in good shape, especially for the higher elevations. As with all events and gatherings involving animals there are unscrupulous people and those without compassion for the animals with winning their only objective. All of the entrants that we saw seemed very conscientious, and proud of and totally in love with their burros. 

Donkeys/burros around the world are true beasts of burden and suffer in some very bad situations. Wild burros in America are annually and cruelly rounded up by the BLM-Bureau of Land Management. Some are killed for what is known as "hide glue" to make cosmetics especially in China. 


                                                  After the race, snack time.

I talked to my donkeys about being in a race, but they opted out because of age. Me too! 


My stories: 
Western Romance: Break Heart Canyon * Undercover Outlaw * Cowboys, Cattle and Cutthroats * A Cowboy’s Fate * Special Delivery. 
Contemporary Romantic Thriller: Fatal Recall
Medieval Romance: The Dragon and The Rose * Iron Heart                                 *Promise Me Christmas. 
Victorian Romance: Lady Gallant * Victorian Dream 
Fantasy: The Fae Warriors Trilogy: Solace * Bliss * Portence 

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Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Cowboys and camels

 In your next historical western, does your hero or heroine come across a camel? It could happen! 

  Having recently been given the surprising opportunity to ride a camel, I was encouraged to do a little research regarding dromedaries (one hump camels). 

 Their cloven hooves are huge, facilitating walking on sandy typed surfaces. I trim my goats' hooves, but these could be a challenge! 
The gear was equipped with bars to hold onto, for which I was thankful as the standing up and getting down movement of this big guy was quite tipsy. 
The folks who rescued these two camels, occasionally load them up in horse trailers and take them to Arizona for desert camping. Apparently the animals really enjoy these treks. 


   Now to the cowboys and camels part. The United States Army experimented with using camels as pack animals in the American Southwest in the mid-1800s. Their attempt to replace horses and mules who struggled in the region's extreme temperatures, became known as the U.S. Army Camel Corps, 
  Using them for mounted cavalry failed pretty miserably, primarily because the structure of the camel's nose impeded breathing during hard exertion, reducing their ability for sustained speed. Their size also made them ineffective in close-quarter situations. But most importantly, the camels were greatly disliked by soldiers and other animals because of their odor and their disturbing habit of biting, spitting, or explosively defecating on anyone who tried to discipline them. They also required constant care to prevent a very contagious and difficult to treat form of mange. 

   As pack animals, however, the camels excelled. During numerous experiments, they successfully carried packs twice as heavy as could be carried by horses or mules, more easily tolerated the desert heat, required less water and food, and were able to traverse deep streams and mountain trails with ease. However, the Union ultimately considered the camels a liability and chose not to use them. 

   The last camel mission before the Civil War broke out was directed by Robert E. Lee. This reconnaissance mission traveled over some of the harshest terrains in the United States. Still, the camels once again performed well, and none of the animals were lost.
   But the Camel Corps was just not meant to be, as everybody had more important things to focus on when the war broke out. 
    After the war was over, the camel was more or less rendered obsolete especially owing to the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869. 
    The remaining camels were sold off to private parties, or sadly  abandoned. Many of them ended up in circuses, where they entertained audiences for decades.

The Texas Camel Corps was founded in 1997 to educate the public about the use of camels in 19th century America, and sometimes visits historic sites like the Alamo for reenactments. 

  So you see, in your next historical western, your H and H could very well come across a camel.



Here is an interesting Youtube Doug Baum's Texas Camel Corp

 

My stories: 
Western Romance: Break Heart Canyon * Undercover Outlaw * Cowboys, Cattle and Cutthroats * A Cowboy’s Fate * Special Delivery. 
Contemporary Romantic Thriller: Fatal Recall
Medieval Romance: The Dragon and The Rose * Iron Heart                                 *Promise Me Christmas. 
Victorian Romance: Lady Gallant * Victorian Dream 
Fantasy: The Fae Warriors Trilogy: Solace * Bliss * Portence 

Blog   www.ginirifkin.blogspot.com

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Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Katherine Slaughterback AKA Rattlesnake Kate

   

 I've been in Colorado over 50 years. I lived in Keenesburg near Hudson, and I've visited Greeley several times, yet only recently did I learn of Rattlesnake Kate. 
   There is a museum and a huge amount of information "out there" on Kate, so I'll hit the amazing highlights, which I'm sure will spur you on to doing more reading and research. 


  Kate (1893-1969) was an independent lady, and progressive for the time. Married and divorced several time, she loved shooting guns and working hard, and had been a trained nurse and taxidermist. Rumor has it that she was also a bootlegger.
    On October 28, 1925, Katherine McHale Slaughterback  was out with her 3-year old adopted son Ernie. They were on horseback and headed toward a lake near her farm in Hudson, Colorado 
                                       (restored residence)
   She'd heard what sounded like hunters, and was riding to a pond with Ernie, to gather any wounded ducks left by hunters so they could have them for dinner.
 Climbing down from her horse to unlock the gate, she saw the first snake. Hundreds of migrating rattlesnakes followed. Kate fired her .22 Remington rifle until no bullets remained. Having disturbed and agitated the snakes, they soon surrounded Ernie, Kate and her horse.
   Out of ammunition and terribly worried about Ernie and her horse, Kate grabbed a nearby sign—ironically it’s believed to have been a “No Hunting” sign. Equipped only with this wooded weapon, she began killing the rattlesnakes, one-by-one, until all were dead.
     According to Kate, “I fought them with a club not more than 3 feet long, whirling constantly for over two hours before I could kill my way out of them and get back to my faithful horse and Ernie, who were staring at me during my terrible battle not more than 60 feet away."
 

 A neighbor saw her soon after she got home. She had blisters on her hands and her face was swollen from the heat. The neighbor went back to the pond with Kate. The battle had been a tough one, and they picked up 140 snakes collected in three large washtubs then hung on a line to dry.
    The neighbor told other people about Kate's adventure. Soon reporters came to hear Kate's experience which made her famous. Newspapers carried the story all over the world. the story was retold for many years and she was known as the world champion rattlesnake killer.
   Handy at taxidermy, Kate knew how to cure animal skins so they could be kept. She used over 50 of the skins to make a flapper style dress. You may see the dress on display at the Greeley City Museum. She also used snake skins for a pair of shoes and a neck band.
   
  But it wasn't all killing snakes and no fun out there on the prairie. There was a long distance romance in her life, the other party being Buckskin Bill Randolph, the poet of the plains.
They might not have shared the touching romance of his poetry, but they did share a friendship through correspondence that spanned almost 40 years. 
       There came a 23 year silence between them when WWII came about. Buckskin Bill married and was a guard at the Rock Island Arsenal. Kate became a Red Cross nurse stationed in Pusan, Korea and Nagasaki, Japan. Later, Bill attempted to write a biography of Kate, and seal a place for her in the history of the Wild West.
    Kate would wear the dress to many functions. She later kept it inside a trunk where curious family members would sneak peeks at it. She would not allow it to be photographed because she thought it would lessen the dress' value.
   In 2022, a play about her premiered at the Wolf Theater in Denver, and quickly became a global sensation. 
   Three weeks before she died, at age seventy-five, she left her dress to the Greeley Museum along with other artifacts related to her rattlesnake legacy. By request, she's buried in Platteville, Colorado.  

Here is the share link to Greeley museum information.                                                        
Visitors can see the original dress,
 which is kept in an air-tight, 
climate and light controlled case 
at the Greeley History Museum.
 714 8th Street, 




Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Tale of a mule tail

                              

    In military terms a Shavetail usually refers to a Second Lieutenant who is not very experienced in Army matters.  
   The saying came from the practice in the army of shaving the tails of newly broken pack mules to distinguish them from seasoned ones. Good to know an animal's ability when you were singling one out from the herd. 

Bell Sharps is another grading system, 
and another whole fashion statement!

  As the mules were trained and passed muster for performing various duties, their achievements were noted by again altering their tails. When needed, the soldier knew which animal to chose for which specific task. 
  One bell was a pack mule, two bells was pack and ride, three meant he'd pack, ride, and drive.

In this image, it appears the one on the left is training the one on the right as to the proper etiquette of driving. 

    Bell Sharps is not to be confused with Bellwether, 
               literally a whole different animal. 
                                       

   Originally, the bellwether goat would be the one to lead the other animals back to the barn at night. Today, a bellwether is a person who actively leads or establishes a trend that is taken up by others. 
   The word is formed by a combination of the Middle English words belle (meaning “bell”) and wether (a noun that refers to a male sheep or goat who has been castrated).This usage first appeared in English in the 15th century and has remained in the language ever since. 
   





                           My Bellwether, Cowboy. 
                  This big boy was rescued from a petting zoo.
                                       Miss you sweetie.


Western Romance: Break Heart Canyon * Undercover Outlaw * Cowboys, Cattle and Cutthroats * A Cowboy’s Fate * Special Delivery. 
Contemporary Romantic Thriller: Fatal Recall
Medieval Romance: The Dragon and The Rose * Iron Heart                                 *Promise Me Christmas. 
Victorian Romance: Lady Gallant * Victorian Dream 
Fantasy: The Fae Warriors Trilogy: Solace * Bliss * Portence 

Blog   www.ginirifkin.blogspot.com

Facebook    https://www.facebook.com/people/Gini-Rifkin-Author/100001680213365

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Universal link                https://books2read.com/u/3JLGMv

The wild rose press       https://wildrosepress.com/?s=rifkin&post_type=product&type_aws=true

 



Friday, August 16, 2024

Promise Me Christmas takes home the Bronze!

              

                My little romantic Medieval Christmas story won      
Third place at 
                       NATIONAL EXCELLENCE
                        IN STORY TELLING

           Available here ...https://books2read.com/u/mKVOwE

Blurb:  The nights are growing longer and the winter snows are coming—Darkenwald Castle is under siege.  

Lord Guy Blackthorne is prepared to lay down his life for his children, his wife, and all who seek his protection. But as renegades, mercenaries, and political intrigue surround his ancient family stronghold, he’s forced to stay his hand against those who would dare to attack his fortress.  

As supplies and hope dwindle, Lady Vespa fears Yule will not be one of good cheer, and the children shall have no gifts this year. At least she and Guy have one another, for that she is thankful. But there are few private moments to share their love, and every endeavor to satisfy their passion is interrupted when the enemy attempts to invade the castle. 

On Christmas Eve, when a battle to the death begins, Guy faces his greatest challenge. Now Vespa’s wish for a happy Yule celebration turns to a prayer for her beloved’s safety. 

                          


                            https://books2read.com/u/mKVOwE



                                          

Friday, July 26, 2024

Don't miss 99 Cent Sale

            

Last weekend to chillout with
Promise Me Christmas.
Colorado Authors' League finalist.
On sale for Christmas in July.
                                 https://books2read.com/u/mKVOwE

  The nights are growing longer and the winter snows are coming—Darkenwald Castle is under siege.  
   Lord Guy Blackthorne is prepared to lay down his life for his children, his wife, and all who seek his protection. But as renegades, mercenaries, and political intrigue surround his ancient family stronghold, he’s forced to stay his hand against those who would dare to attack his fortress.  
    As supplies and hope dwindle, Lady Vespa fears Yule will not be one of good cheer, and the children shall have no gifts this year. At least she and Guy have one another, for that she is thankful. But there are few private moments to share their love, and every endeavor to satisfy their passion is interrupted when the enemy attempts to invade the castle. 
    On Christmas Eve, when a battle to the death begins, Guy faces his greatest challenge. Now Vespa’s wish for a happy Yule celebration turns to a prayer for her beloved’s safety. 
****
   Promise Me Christmas is a heartwarming story of love and honor and keeping one’s promise, all wrapped in a medieval adventure sprinkled with humor and sweet romantic moments.
****
Between The Pages--Still Moments Magazine: I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book. 5 Stars Reviewed by Darlene
****
 Promise Me Christmas is a Medieval sensuous heat level romance, with a dollop of history and adventure, and a respectful nod to PTSD. With Castle Darkenwald under siege, and an enemy housed within, my characters must work together to survive, yet they are able find a bit of humor along the way. As an added twist, my hero and heroine are already married, but their love and passion for one another has only grown stronger since saying “I do”.  As Yule approaches they must outsmart the enemy attempting to take over the castle. And when a battle to the death ensues, Lady Vespa’s hope for a festive holiday, turns to a prayer for the safety of her beloved. 




Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Christmas in July 99 Cent Sale and $100 Giveaway

Chillout this July with a 
5 star Medieval Romance  
"Promise Me Christmas"

Finalist Colorado Authors' League 
best novella 2024


(Scroll down)

   The nights are growing longer and the winter snows are coming—Darkenwald Castle is under siege.  

Lord Guy Blackthorne is prepared to lay down his life for his children, his wife, and all who seek his protection. But as renegades, mercenaries, and political intrigue surround his ancient family stronghold, he’s forced to stay his hand against those who would dare to attack his fortress.  

   As supplies and hope dwindle, Lady Vespa fears Yule will not be one of good cheer, and the children shall have no gifts this year. At least she and Guy have one another, for that she is thankful. But there are few private moments to share their love, and every endeavor to satisfy their passion is interrupted when the enemy attempts to invade the castle. 

5 Stars/Mistress of Book Reviews Promise Me Christmas is a heartwarming story of love and honor and keeping one’s promise, all wrapped in a medieval adventure sprinkled with humor and sweet romantic moments.

5+ Stars N.N. Light/I love medieval romance and this medieval holiday romance spoke to my heart. Brilliant from start to finish, Promise Me Christmas took my breath away. The descriptive narration is poignant and draws the reader into the story. The setting is historically accurate. The world-building is immersive. The characters, though, are what make Promise Me Christmas a book worth reading this holiday season. Even with the threat of war, their love is unwavering. I can honestly confess it’s a gem and a reread. 

5 Stars Between /The Pages
This medieval historical romance was a captivating read. I enjoyed the twist of having the main characters married. Their lives were already intertwined, but during war-filled times, they had to always be prepared to defend their home and livelihood, which created a distance they longed to fill. The plot and characters were well-developed, giving the story a smooth reading flow. The author has a great descriptive voice that places you in the scenes. Guy listening and taking Vespa’s ideas into consideration on how to help defeat the enemy shows his love, devotion, and respect for his wife, which strengthens their relationship, and makes this story a perfect holiday read. I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book. 
  





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#medievalromance99cents
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