Tom King's Monthly Column
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If you have, or know of, a magazine, web site, or newspaper, and want to enhance it for
your viewers or readers, then talk to Tom about running his column - bi-weekly or monthly!
An introduction, some great Cowboy Poetry, and a cartoon to boot.
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Complete with an Eldon Walls Cartoon, Tom's columns are based on the lighter side of
rural life. Tom now writes for the Olds
Albertan, in Olds and the Central Alberta Farmer, in the Leduc, Camrose and Wetaskiwin
area. He also writes a monthly column for a magazine called My Pets in Belfast Northern
Ireland. If you are interested in using this column just
Send Tom an Email or give him
a phone call or fax at: (403) 638-5241
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Here's the May Column!
I have always been drawn to old farm buildings and well painted pictures
of these old buildings. For me, there seems to be a story in every board
or log and I often find my mind wandering back in time and trying to
envision what it must have been like to live in the 'old' days. Old barns
and sheds can be a virtual 'walk down memory lane' for me and I think it
stems from my childhood in Dawson City,Y.T. where we would often take the
ferry across the Klondike River on a Sunday afternoon and spend time
exploring the remains of abandoned miner's cabins and homesteads. I had
a great imagination as a kid and I think it's still there sometimes when
I see an abandoned old barn or a well done painting of an old shed or
building.
The only thing I wanted from my parent's estate was an original oil
painting of an old wagon shed slash house by an artist by the name of
Penman. That painting is now hanging on our living room wall and I
really enjoy looking at it and reminiscing about those days in the Yukon.
I am also privileged to have an original winter scene of an old shed that
was painted by the very talented Helen Lyle who lives right here in
Sundre.
A few years ago, when I was still able to walk, I went on a trip to
the States and toured a bunch of ghost towns and was totally enthralled
as I wandered around the old buildings checking out the livery stables,
blacksmith shops, old boarding houses, jails and hotels. We even stopped
and poked around an old stage stop in South Dakota. It was cool! And we
think that we've got it tough! I do love the modern conveniences but I
think I could have done okay 100 years ago.
I wrote a poem a while back about an old barn that is southwest of Sundre
on the Bar 75 Ranch. The barn is probably 100 years old and was part of
the original Bar Seven/Square S Ranch which is now known as the Bar 75.
My good friend, Steve Werdal, who himself is a very talented artist,
painted the following picture of the "Barn on the Bar 75" and I would
like to share the following poem with you all as well.
Have a great spring!
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Barn on the Bar 75
If it could talk I'm wonderin' what this old barn would say.
Would it speak in voices thunderin' or in a softer way?
It's stood here now a hundred years, well, give or take a few.
It's laughed with folks and shared their tears, has witnessed all things new.
It's seen the coming of the wire, seen cars replace the horse.
To shelter all it's one desire, from nature's mighty force!
Dimly lit with coal oil lamps back in the early times.
It's housed the steeds of cowboy camps and graced its share of rhymes.
The hand-hewn logs are fairly sound, the ceiling's bowed a bit.
With newer buildings all around it doesn't seem to fit.
But stately yet it stands alone and harbors mem'ries great.
Some awesome stories would be known if it could just relate!
But it's just a barn that can't converse and share what all transpired.
The stories grand and tales adverse with it will be retired!
Artist Steve Werdal's Barn on the Bar 75!
Click to enlarge
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Tom King
Box 15, Site 104, RR3
Sundre, Alberta
T0M 1X0
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Phone or Fax Tom at:
(403) 638-5241
or Email him at:
dktk@xplornet.com
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