Marcy J. Miller
P.O. Box 4231 * Cave Creek, AZ * 85327-4231
Adventures
February, 2010
Here's the product of my attendance in John Bianchi's holster-making class at the Wickenburg leather conference (sponsored by Leathercrafter's and Saddler's Journal):
John Bianchi and co-instructor Matt Whitaker are tremendous and gracious instructors. Thank you both for the opportunity to learn more of the art of leathercraft from you!
Contact Marcy now to arrange for an autographed copy of either of her books as a special gift the recipient will remember forever. In this day of mass-produced, disposable, Walmart-quality gift-giving, a personalized and autographed book remains a special and thoughtful offering. The horse lover on your list will love Miller's Horse. The avid reader will relish Crossroads.
Check out Marcy's new leather-craft site, www.IronwoodLeather.com, featuring custom-made western leather products. Hand-made leather goods include western accessories, tack, and more!
June, 2009
We're back! We (Russ and Marcy) just returned from the Old Chisum Days Cattle Drive in Roswell, New Mexico. Hosted by Kim and Patricia Chesser, the cattle drive gave us the chance to gather and drive a hundred steers from their ranch to the area of the Roswell Rodeo Grounds. Experience your own authentic western vacation by visiting the Chessers -- start with this link: www.Burntwellguestranch.com.
Left -- me on my horse Concho, who was an absolute gem on this ride. Right -- a visitor to camp. Pronghorns were abundant, and as a special treat it is baby season -- the fawns hide in the tabrosa grass until you ride right up on them, and then bolt off in a medley of long legs and white rumps. You'd think, looking at this vast, flat plains, that there isn't anyplace to hide, but jackrabbits, antelope, rattlers, skunks, and a variety of rodents and birds are watching us long before we see them. Neither is the land as flat as it appears. Studded with badger holes and rodent villages, tufted with buffalo grass and cactus, it requires your horse's constant attention.
Having that cup of tea at the end of the day, courtesy of the amazing Wally Roberts and his High Country Trail Rides chuck-wagon services, always erased the day's discomforts ... If you've braved the New Mexico wind, you know how welcome that first sight of the chuck wagon is, and Wally's wagon can't be beat. That wind -- constant and harsh -- brought our tipi tent down upon us one night -- a big fallen souffle of canvas, and us in the middle.
Scenes from the branding (which also includes ear tagging, castrating, inoculating, and de-horning the calves). The calves are stronger than they look, and the work is physically demanding -- yet our lot is far easier than that of the calf.
Driving the herd alongside Roswell Airport ... note the jets in the background
Stock dogs such as Willow, shown here, know their jobs and save a lot of pony tracks when put to work. We were so impressed by the dogs' intelligence and work ethic, we adopted Earl (shown below) the day after we got home. Earl is a McNab Stock Dog / Border Collie cross.
* These rides are addictive. Buy my books ... support a starving cowgirl!
May, 2009
We did it again ... the 2009 Billy the Kid's Last Ride! We (Russ and Marcy) just finished riding 150 miles from Fort Sumner to Lincoln (New Mexico).
Day 1 ... we've just crossed the Pecos River.
A view of the Capitans from the Block Ranch.
