A Texas Girl Talks - Life… from a decidedly southern perspective!

Send us a textHey Ya’ll, welcome to the latest episode of A Texas Girl Talks!  My guests today are R Shane and Barbee Beer, a couple whose lives have been cast by western culture and Shane’s Native American heritage. Sculpted by grit and dreams, horses, cattle and art, their path meandered across New Mexico and Texas, eventually culminating in a quiet and reclusive life on their ranch outside of Hico where Shane writes and creates art in between tending to the demands of ranch life in Texas. Half Native American and all cowboy, Shane's heritage is evidenced in his artwork and the books he has written. He began his artistic career more than fifty years ago and his bronzes and story papers are reflective of the narratives he has written. He also hand crafts beautiful silver beads, buckles, and other unique items.Barbee is a tiny woman with a long red braid who can outwork most men I know. She spends her days working with the horses and cattle and making sure the genetic lines they have developed over the years stay true.  Sometimes you can find her running a piece of heavy equipment while clearing the land of cedar and prickly pear. She is Shane’s greatest encourager and inspiration when it comes to his writing and art.I met the Beers a couple of years ago, when Shane decided it was time to immortalize his stories in audible format. I’m sure glad he did, because that's how I entered into the Children of the Horns cast of characters as the voice of Sairy.  Children of the Horns is a book series that follows the life of young Mr. Davis and his family, and Sairy, the girl that lives on the adjacent ranch and becomes the audience for his stories when they meet up on the 30 mile fence that divides their worlds. Shane's work is inspired by nature's stillness and his Native American heritage. He believes that art and creativity are essential to our lives, and he's passionate about sharing his work with the world. "My artistic career began in 1969. I had instruction and direction from Native American Potter, Dawna Gatewood, and Native American Silversmith, Clarence Sousa. Through their ancient eyes and those of my family I called the “brown people”, I inherited a unique perspective on life and the experiences to come. This unique perspective enabled me to capture the essence of the land and my people’s culture in artwork. My artwork reflects my experiences and people’s culture. My pieces are inspired by the land, my people’s history and my own journey." - R Shane BeerTo learn more about Shane and Barbee Beer and to view and purchase his artwork and the Children of the Horns audiobooks, visit:https://rsbeerart.com/Thanks for stopping by! Remember... Your life is a story. Make it a good one!Find Lorena at:https://atexasgirltalks.com/https://www.instagram.com/lorena_belcher_voice_over/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558534989633&locale=ms_MYhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/lorena-belcher-vo-b04ab1151/

Send us a textBars From Behind Bars is a ministry founded by Joshua Johnson, a seven times convicted felon, whose life was changed when he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. As Josh adjusted to life as a believer living "behind the walls", he recognized that having an avenue to express creativity that inspires change was, for himself and others, an integral part of healing and change.  During my interview with Josh, he shared some of his own preferred medium of expression which is spoken word poetry combined with his long-time passion for Hip Hop. His writing has evolved over the years, reflecting the changes in his heart and mind. The mission of Bars From Behind Bars is "To give the worldwide incarcerated population a voice and platform to create content that inspires change".  It's a big vision and Josh is planting a seed of faith in the prison yard with the confidence that God will grow it into a mighty tree with branches reaching far beyond those walls.  To learn more about the ministry or to reach out to Josh, visit https://barsfrombehindbars.com/ . You can also find the written lyrics to Josh's Poetry and view a variety of creative expression from other incarcerated artists.  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564671054749&sk=abouthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-johnson-224189283/Thanks for stopping by! Remember... Your life is a story. Make it a good one!Find Lorena at:https://atexasgirltalks.com/https://www.instagram.com/lorena_belcher_voice_over/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558534989633&locale=ms_MYhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/lorena-belcher-vo-b04ab1151/

Send us a textPapa Davis had loved all kinds of game birds and a pair of Peafowl hung around the driveway beyond the yard fence. The flashy male would strut and call out as he spread his vivid tail for the benefit of his plainer mate. She was not the only one intrigued by the display. I just knew a thing of such intense chromatic delight would be much more satisfying to hold than a brown chicken! Stephen and I hung over the rock fence and watched them as temptation simmered in my soul. The rule was, “stay in the yard unless you have permission to leave it.” The problem was, the birds had a much larger range than I did and they were currently outside of it. The solution was to either lure them into the yard or come up with a reason to leave that would be acceptable to my mother, should I not make it back into the yard before I was seen. Not having anything on hand that would tempt the birds to fly over the wall, I  studied the male until I was sure that he had a slight limp and had probably injured himself in some way. Since I planned to become a veterinarian when I grew up, it seemed only reasonable that I should check him out and alert the adults if he needed medical attention. Telling Stephen to stay put, I shimmed up one side of the wall and down the other, and slowly approached my target. He didn’t seemed especially alarmed, simply lowering his tail and walking slowly away from me. But the more I closed in, the faster he walked. Experience had taught me that a chicken, once it realizes it is caught, will go very still and let itself be carried around with a kind of resignation. This encounter would teach me that not all Peacocks are not at all like chickens.Papa’s absence left a big hole in my joy. I found comfort in touching his things, digging through the contents of the big roll top desk he used to sit at as he figured books and going with Dad in the old Willis Jeep to check the livestock. We were all a little lost, I’m sure. Mom had not planned on raising a family in the isolation of a remote west Texas ranch. She had enjoyed their life in town where friends and conveniences were close at hand. Dad was trying hard to earn a living teaching school while keeping up with the constant demands of dipping, shearing and feeding the sheep and goats, mending fence, spraying prickly pear and a multitude of other demands of ranch life. Mama Davis never recovered her joy after losing Papa. It was like her last candle was snuffed out and she had not intention of looking for a flame capable of relighting it.I wonder if she thought of those early days as she grieved. Of the times when the future looked like one big, glorious stretch of open road taking them wherever they decided to go. Did those memories take the edge off the pain or hone it to a finer cutting edge? Was she able to cover over the recent memories of Papa’s final excruciating days as the cancer chewed it’s way through his pancreas and she spoon fed him baby food from a jar because it was the only thing he could get down? I hope she got there. To the place where the grief had softer edges and the good memories developed a sharper focus. Thanks for stopping by! Remember... Your life is a story. Make it a good one!Find Lorena at:https://atexasgirltalks.com/https://www.instagram.com/lorena_belcher_voice_over/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558534989633&locale=ms_MYhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/lorena-belcher-vo-b04ab1151/

Send us a textAs a child, I never stopped to wonder about what my grandparent’s lives were like before I came into the world. A kid’s perspective is shortsighted and naturally selfish; the walls of my perception hadn’t expanded beyond the boundaries of my wishes. In my eyes, my grandparents were suspended in time. They had always been and would always be exactly as they were, even as my brother and I celebrated birthdays and the pencil markings on the door frame testified to our growth. As an adult, long after they had both passed from this world, I stumbled upon a door to the past in the form of a bundle of letters, tied with a faded pink ribbon and buried in the bottom of Mama Davis’s cedar chest. The story of how the chest came to me is for another time, but it was the catalyst for the stories I’m sharing now. This dusty chest had quietly stood sentinel over a collection of memories and family records that bore tribute to the resilience and faith of the family I am descended from. Scrapbooks and photo albums, trinkets and journals gave up information long forgotten.  The particulars blended to form a documentary of their lives in my heart and soul. Walter Lee (Tom) Davis began courting Buena Vista Irene Hogget in early 1919. At this time, she was in Arizona, although she lived in Junction, which lies about 58 east of Sonora. I do not know the story of how they met; the scene opens for me with the first preserved love letter from Tom to Buena.Mama and Papa Davis began their life together in one of the most tumultuous years in our nation’s history. I believe they learned early on that life is to cherished and appreciated and that good times and terrible times come to us all,  forming us, as we allow them to, into good or terrible people, depending on Who and what we lean on in those times.Thanks for stopping by! Remember... Your life is a story. Make it a good one!Find Lorena at:https://atexasgirltalks.com/https://www.instagram.com/lorena_belcher_voice_over/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558534989633&locale=ms_MYhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/lorena-belcher-vo-b04ab1151/

Send us a textVisiting My Ancestry - The Story of Tom and Buena Davis, part 1For me, it began with a love story. But not a romance. It was a story about the love that a child has for her grandparents. Over time, the story evolved into an investigation of the history of these people who had been the bedrock of my childhood…the when and the where of it all. And even more recently, an exploration and analysis of the psychology of my ancestors. The what and why of the life they carved out for themselves.  And very, very often, the “HOW”. An attempt to understand the cloth from which I’m cut, so to speak.I knew my grandparents first as my retreat, my place of joy, my earliest treasure, those whom I revered as flawless.  I’ve come to know them, posthumously, as mortal beings, just like myself, prone to mistakes and missteps, capable of love and hate, joy and misery, grief and gratitude. They fell in love, married, had babies, lost children, survived the great depression and the drought of the 50’s. Tom and Buena Davis faced tragedy and grief that would lay most of us out flat in this day and age.  The grit of their ancestors flowed through their veins. I hope some of it has passed down to me as well. Their story is the prequel to mine. And over the next few months, til the well runs dry, I’m going to dip deeply into the waters of the past and share my cup with you. To learn more about Sutton County and Sonora Texas, visit these sites:https://www.sonoratexas.org/https://www.historicsuttoncounty.com/https://www.facebook.com/suttoncountyhistoricalsociety/https://www.instagram.com/suttoncountyhistoricsociety/?hl=enhttps://www.sonoratexas.org/attractions/historic/museum/Thanks for stopping by! Remember... Your life is a story. Make it a good one!Find Lorena at:https://atexasgirltalks.com/https://www.instagram.com/lorena_belcher_voice_over/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558534989633&locale=ms_MYhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/lorena-belcher-vo-b04ab1151/

Send us a textWhen I think of Tenacious Texas Women, Marlo Ondrej immediately comes to mind! Great, Great granddaughter of Frank Lacy and a direct descendent of Daniel Boone, Marlo played a pivotal role in preserving the Blue Lacy Dog  breed and securing its official designation as the State Dog of Texas. Today, Marlo oversees the Lacy Game Dog Registry and together with a community of like minded breeders, trainers and trackers, holds training seminars through the Texas Lacy Game Dog Association.Marlo is a United Blood Trackers Board Member, Game Recovery Expert, Dog Trainer and award winning real estate agent. She is an avid hunter and advocate for the Blue Lacy Dog breed.  And like any fabulous Texas female, she can do it all with impeccable hair and nails! To learn more about the Blue Lacy Dog and how to contact registered breeders, visit  https://bluelacydogs.org/tlgda/For more information about the Texas Lacy Game Dog Association:https://www.facebook.com/groups/869413089752075Follow Marlo on her social sites:https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlo-ondrej-a64a96a0https://www.facebook.com/p/Marlo-Ondrej-At-Keller-Williams-City-View-100085207137318/?locale=ms_MYFind Lorena at:https://atexasgirltalks.com/https://www.instagram.com/lorena_belcher_voice_over/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558534989633&locale=ms_MYhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/lorena-belcher-vo-b04ab1151/Thanks for stopping by! Remember... Your life is a story. Make it a good one!Find Lorena at:https://atexasgirltalks.com/https://www.instagram.com/lorena_belcher_voice_over/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558534989633&locale=ms_MYhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/lorena-belcher-vo-b04ab1151/