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On Tuesdays

Author Archives: Dallas

My Lot In Life

Painting to me equals genuine enjoyment! Although there are times when painting can be toilsome. Other times my work is like a jigsaw puzzle, snapping perfectly into place with ease as it comes together. As my painting takes shape, it reflects my mood becoming a part of me. As for me, I become a part of my painting, feeling the emotion of the moment.
Outdoor painting, also known as plein air, is a wonderful experience for me. The beauty of my surroundings, God’s Creations, are so stimulating to my brain, filling my mind with colors, shapes, and textures that I must touch them with my hands. The landscape moves and changes with the movement of the clouds, leaving one part of the land saturated in light and the other in deep shadow.
The freshness of the outdoor air is so exhilarating allowing  me to enjoy my surroundings. The birds along with the dancing wind in the cottonwoods is a symphony [ ]

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Who Am I

Hi there, my name is Dallas Mayer. You may wonder how my name came about. Well contrary to popular belief, I was not named after the city! My parents knew a family in Idaho with two beautiful children long before I was born. The children’s names were Zane and Dallas. Dallas was a pretty little girl that was a delight, and her brother Zane was a husky little guy. When my only brother was born before me they named him, Zane. As the fifth of their seven children, my parents blessed me with the name of Dallas. My name is unique, and I always tell people that I am the Mayer of Dallas so they will remember my name. That works most of the time.
Living on a ranch has always been my life. I grew up 14 miles from where I live now. I have a deep seated passion and [ ]

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Springs Promise

It has been many years since we enjoyed a spring with an abundance of wildflowers. Our moisture has been sadly lacking here on Mayer Ranch. Wildflowers express beauty in the simple landscapes that become grand when appreciated.
Oklahoma panhandle is host to many such rare beauties. My joy as a ranch lady is our pastures are my flower gardens. The delightful profusion of colors entertain my vision as I ride through the wild beauties. To be a firsthand witness when the dainty daisy’s make their debut, puts joy in my heart. The sandhill plum blossoms appear in early spring. The fragrance is so sweet and the blossoms so fragile. Around the middle of May through the first week of June, my husband, Jim charms me with the earliest yellow cactus rose. We have a variety of cactus roses with a hint of pink and orange in the color of the petals. [ ]

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The Day Dallas Outran The Pickup

Mean and ornery cows are a challenge any day of the week, this day was no different than any other.
My brother, and sisters and myself would load up in the back of the pickup, that was driven by my dad, Howard, anytime there were cattle to be gathered. We would head to the pasture to gather the renegades. They were always at the backside of the pasture in the roughest draw. When the pickup would get close, our systematic procedure was to jump off the tailgate and hit the ground running. Dad would barely slow down for us.
This particular day, it was dusk and getting darker by the minute. The cows that we were after, I knew well, we had history together. I had a feeling that we would be darn lucky if we were successful. Being quick and brave was part of my challenge for the task at hand. [ ]

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Message Delivered

Merry Christmas everyone!
Christmas is a special time for most of us. Christ was born, creating quite a stir in His day. Can you imagine without the use of cell phones or social media, that God sent his angels to deliver a timely message to the shepherds, “The Savior had been born in Bethlehem.” Why was that? Why did God think it important that the shepherds be part of the good news of the Christmas story? I think it was because they were the most far flung people out there. They should have been the last people on earth to know, but they were among the first. The shepherds were receptive to the message, whereas if the people at the Inn would have received the message, the scoffers in the crowd would have downplayed the message, diluting it with rumor and speculation.
However the shepherds, were in a secluded quiet setting, [ ]

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Visual Analysis

I was riding my horse, Dolly, while bringing a few stray pairs out of a deep draw and onto the flat.  This was the spot we had predetermined the herd would be gathered. I instantly saw the other riders; some were still a quarter of a mile away or more. I recognize the visual shape of each man, how he sets his horse, his posture, and the horse’s gait, each with their individual defining silhouettes. Through all of the dust and atmosphere my mind takes in this visual image in a split second, and I realize my husband is missing. This is my sub-conscience taking in and transferring visual imaging of fine detail of what I am seeing; the shapes and tone being more important than the image.
The laws of visual analysis and thinking, in terms of composing a drawing of a visual image, is what I ponder as [ ]

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A Colorful Journey

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day to day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we forgive everyone that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen Luke11:2-4 KJV
Thus started the lunch time hour at my little grade school. Lifting my bowed head, I waited my turn to line up in single file following our 3rd grade teacher to the lunchroom. We would march by the other classrooms who were also waiting to go to lunch. On this particular day the 6th graders were standing against the wall waiting for the little kids to go first. As I walked down the hall that day, I remember a certain cowboy that caught my eye. He was tall for his age compared [ ]

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Gentle Cattle

Today I was left in charge of checking the water for the twenty month old heifers. They were lounging about in the sun soaking up the last nice warm day that we will have for a while. When I was opening the gate to walk down into their pen, they all looked my way wondering what I wanted. When I approach cattle I do not make any eye contact, because direct eye contact only seems to threaten them. So I walked through the gate with my head down being very careful to take very slow steps. The little heifers just laid there not bothering to get up. It is powerful walking through lounging cattle to where they feel at ease, it is an amazing feeling.
Gentle cattle are worth every bit of time and effort that we put into them. My son, Tyler Mayer is working to gentle down his herd [ ]

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Her Price Is Far Above Rubies

My Grandma’s house always welcomed us with the smell of good food, love and open arms. Her name was, Alta May. She was the eldest child of her family of five. Grandma taught us many things, she was a blessing to her family. Titus 2:4-5; to be sober, to love our husbands and to love our children. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good obedient to our own husbands, and that the word of God be not blasphemed. For all of these I am thankful. I believe that Grandma modeled her life after Proverbs 31:10-31, Who can find a virtuous woman?…for her price is far above rubies…She riseth also while it is still night, and giveth meat to her household…Her children rise up, and call her blessed, her husband also…I love the fact that my Grandma gave our family a Christian heritage! What a blessing.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of [ ]

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Cowboy Artist

Oklahoma City, is where the Cowboy Artists of America, 48th Annual Exhibition is on show, at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. My husband, Jim and I saw the show last weekend. There is a new artist work that I had not seen before. His name is, Jason Rich, he is a darn good artist. He lives in Utah, but grew up in Idaho. Another artist that I enjoyed is R. S. Riddick. He painted a cowboy out riding line through a bunch of blooming chamisa. His cowboy is featured surrounded by a cloudy sky with big puffy clouds. I love this painting. Bill Owen passed away this past summer and his art was featured. He was a great artist and cowboy. His painting,”Caught A Little Deep” is striking in person. Go see the show, it is worth it. You have until January 5, 2014.
The Small Wonders Show was [ ]

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