Dad's Saddle...

I'm feeling ever so much better!  Today Linda and I went and bought some "old rusty junk" from a gal in Eagle.  We'll be having a big farm sale later this spring - can't wait!

Yesterday, a guy from Hidden Springs that I just love came in to the Merc while I was working.  He's retired from the BLM wild horse program.  He asked if we had come to the Merc Saturday night for the Cowboy Poetry fundraiser for the old farmstead.  I said I hadn't and he went on to say that Sam Mattise, the cowboy poet was also retired from BLM and lives just around the corner and down the hill a bit from our house.  Sam had asked Jim if he knew who had built the house on Cartwright.  Jim told him and said, "I think you knew her dad."

They started talking and Sam mentioned that he had borrowed a saddle from another BLM guy for the cover of his new CD "If Old Saddles Could Talk."  He then went on to say that the saddle on the cover of his CD belonged to dad.  I don't know if dad gave the saddle to the guy from BLM or if he bought it, but I couldn't believe it.

As kids, we all played on that saddle as it sat on an old sawhorse in our garage in Garden Valley.  We all have very fond memories of that wonderful saddle.

I emailed Sam and he gave me Steve's email address.  I sent him a message and asked if it would be possible to come and see the saddle and take some pictures.  I haven't heard back yet, but I'm hoping he'll be willing to allow us to do that.  I will also be sure to tell him that if he ever decides to sell it, I hope he'll allow the Pogue family first option to buy it.  How awesome is that?!

We think this is it...