One of many things which we take for granted in our modern society, is that we can walk into the house flip a handle and a stream of pure clean water will flow out for our use. But it was not the case for those pioneer settlers who came west. In many cases, the search for water was a matter of life and death. And but the ranchers found that they could use the wind they could harvest the wind and use windmills to produce that life giving water.

This poem is titled Wind and Water.

When the pioneers came west, and as conditions grew hotter,

at stake was life itself and the endless search for water.

In their quest for new lands and the destiny of their dreams.

They came west along the rivers and stayed quite close along the streams.

But when they settled down to farm and find a place to dwell,

it was essential that they find a productive waterwell

for watering the livestock and as domestic needs were asked

a windmill was important to meet these vital tasks.

In a machine shop in Connecticut. One Daniel Halliday

designed the type of windmill that is still in use today,

with a fixed vein and blades that could adjust to the wind

and pump the life giving water on which their hopes were pinned.

There was no electric power or gas engines for the well.

So the windmill was a godsend as a pioneer would tell.

Some 6 million windmills were installed across the nation

until there came gas engines and rural electrification.

But it's possible to find where such a relic still remains

the windmill of the West, a sentinel of the plains.

Happy trails!

I'm a big fan of the cow horse the Quarter Horse as a working cow horse, but there was another equine that was very important in the settlement of the West. This is a poem about the draft horse.

He's the workhorse of the species who pulls the heavy load,

he can haul a load of freight or a wagon down the road.

He is mighty, he is tall, perhaps 19 hands high.

He has a build for pulling and is willing to comply.

He is a strong and gentle giant and when harnessed with a mate

has ability to pull a huge amount of weight.

In the history of our nation, his massive feet shoulders and bone

pulled the wagons and the plows from which our nation's grown

now the engine and the tractor have come to take his place,

but some people have preserved them. A memory time will not erase

these horses and their purpose we want to reinforce

so today we pay tribute to the mighty draft horse.

Happy trails.

As we've been in the pandemic and working from home, it seems like I'm on zoom calls all the time. There's so much zoom and so much social media that I developed a a new Kansa state song in honor of the state of Kansas. with apologies to Dr. Brewster Higley, the author of the original Home on the Range, this poem is called zoom on the range.

Zoom zoom on the range where the virtual pictures display

where you will not be heard if your mute is incurred

and the dad gum zoom calls go all day.

How often at night when my screen is still bright,

and I look at websites from afar have I sat with eyes glazed to see videos praise

while I wish that my phone had more bars?

Oh YouTube videos sure can make some good shows

as I work with my webcam

and mics and my day is complete when I Facebook and tweet.

I just wish that my posts got more likes.

So zoom zoom on the range where the virtual pictures display

where you will not be heard if your mute is incurred,

and the dad gum zoom calls go all day.

Happy trails.