horses harnesed and hooked to the stage coach

Two carved horses harnessed to the Stage Coach

side view of Perpetual Motion Machine stands up straight

front view of Perpetual otion machine it stands up striaght

Front view of Perpetual Motion Machine This stands up straight not on side

Replica of an Old Days Stage Coach

Front End Loader and Back Hoe for Bill Bullock for all of the wood scraps he gives me the seat even turns for back hoe control

Replica of a Ripper for deep subsoiling wheels raise up and down

Replica of a mowing machine with the sickle bar up and down

Replica of a hay rake, tines raise and lower and lock up

My wooden replicas purpose

These are replicas, made from wood, of old farm machinery used during the nineteenth century.  Beginning in the spring of the year the fields had to be plowed, with the four bottom disc plow, then harrowed to break up the clods, then with the planter to plant seeds in rows, or grain with a drill (like a planter) to sew the grains, pray for rains on time so the seeds will come up, the weeds will come up also, then the cultivator will cut the weeds right up close to the beans or corn or whatever seeds were planted, pray for rains on time to make the plants grow to maturity.  The mature plants are cut by blades attached to the cultivator tool bar or a mowing machine to cut the grains and hauled to the thrashing machine in wagons and the thrashing machine separates the seeds from the chafe and the seeds are sacked for market while the chafe staked or stored to feed the livestock.  The offset disc will be to plow shallow ground or control weeds etc. as it moves the dirt one way with the front set of discs and the other way with back set of discs.

Cultivator Tractor side and front

Looking At a Horseshoe

The city dude was watching the Cowboy
While he was shoeing his horse.
He had reached the point in this chore
He was fitting the shoe of course.

He was heating the shoe in the blacksmith's forge,
Then shaping it on his anvil.
Then he laid it aside to cool a bit when
The dude was templed by the devil.

He reached down and picked up the hot shoe,
The Cowboy had just laid aside.
Faster than he picked it up he dropped it,
Cause you see it burnt his hide.

The Cowboy slowly looked around and,
Questioned him "hot shoe"?
The City dude said "nope, it just doesn't
Take me long to look at a horseshoe".

By Billy O.

Three dragons front view

Three Dragons side view

My information leading up to this blog business

I was born and raised on a farm/ranch east of Flagstaff Arizona and attended Flagstaff High School at which time I took shop class for four years and really got the woodworking bug. I never had a chance touse it much until I went to Okinawa for two years after enlisting in the US Air Force during the Korean War.  I returned home to the farm/ranch and my Dad was disapointed that I did not want to be a farmer and I could not find a job working on air planes because they would not recognize my training as a senior aircraft mechanic so I started driving truck and running heavy equipment. I woorked on the Glen Canyon Dam just as it was starting and then went to work for the Flagstaff Police Department, where I worked for two years and then went over to the Arizona Highway Patrol.  I put in ten good years there and one day I went to work as usual and got hit bay a car as I had a violator stopped and that put a stop to my career.  We moved to Calrkdale where I worked many different jobs until I got elected to the Constable's position for the eastern half of Yavapai County for eight years and then retired.  I had set up a complete wood shop for my retirement years and I have made a lot of sawdust making everything from furniture of many kinds and have done a lot of woodcarving consisting of Ball and Chains from one solid piece of wood which is a lost art shown to me by and old man who came to work for my Dad every year and he also taught me to find walking canes in trees and finiish them to be givine to needy persons.  Recently I have been making replecas of the farm machinery we used on the farm/ranch and I have just completed al I need to explain how we farmed in the old days.  I made one dragon for a friend and then maed a few more of my own design just because I can and enjoy designing something different.

A Dragon a copy lkie the bigger one and a dinasour my own designs

Four row planter and a Harrow these make the collection complete to explain farming in my days of old

The Ranch Kids first visit to town.

The Cowboy was nineteen years old,
Out on the ranch he was wise and bold,
But, he had never ever been into town.
This was the only son the rancher had,
And he was an over protective Dad. 
He had always discouraged him about going into town.

The cowboy's world was very small,
But out on the ranch he knew it all,
But, he didn't know nothing about going into town.
He could do most any kind of work.
There wasn't anything he would shirk.
He obeyed his Dad and just wouldn't go into town.

His Dad would hire some punchers for gathering.
They would ride those ponies till they was lathering.
They told the boy about what he might see in town.
He couldn't hardly believe his ears,
After being on the ranch all these years.
He just might take a chance and go on into town.

Well, he went to town to a shopping mall.
It seemed that in this one place they had it all.
Boy, this was a different world here in this town.
He'd mosey here and he'd mosey there.
There was lots of folks didn't seem to care.
He was having a hard time seeing all there was to see in this town.

This here was better than the General Store.
He didn't see no feed nor saddle nor hackamore.
He saw things he'd never heard of before coming to this town.
This one store said Victorie's Secret,
But he sure did not see where there was any secrets.
They showed things that shouldn't be showed in any town.

There was some benches out in the middle,
So you could just sit and whittle.
While watching all of Victorie's Secrets in this town.
Then there was a fancy hat store,
But he didn't see anything he'd a wore,
They had some strange looking kind hats in this town.

He finally found the kitchen.
There was a bunch of them, (boy this was bitchin) that means good in kids language.
They had foods from all over the world in this town.
The kids went into this here dark place.
It looked like they was running a race.
There was some strang noises he heard in this town.

He wanted to get him something to eat,
So he went and found himself a seat,
But, he guessed there was no Mom in this town.
He waited some good long time at the table,
Nobody brought in any food and he was soon able,
He figured out it was help yourself in this town.

He finally ambled up and asked for some meat,
He pointed at a picture that looked kinda neat.
She give him a plate full of vitals in this here town.
It was the damnest thing he'd ever seen.
They stuck the meat right in between,
This funny looking little loaf of bread in this town.

It was a full meal deal with tatters and toy.
When he got through, there wasn't much joy.
He was kinda disappointed in the food in this here town.
He went back and got himself another,
This guy at the counter called him his brother,
The folks sure are friendly in this here town.

He rode himself one more circle around this mall.
He didn't see much he could use after seeing it all.
He decided it was about time to leave this town.
He come to that bench in front of Victorie's Secret shop.
And there he dedcided he might better stop,
And take one more look before he'd leave this town.

There was some young girls come strolling by.
They had shorts cut to the top of their thighs.
They didn't have many secrets in this town.
He was having funny feelings about what he was learning,
Thinking about daddy and for the ranch he was yearning.
He found his old truck and headed out of this town.

Now the moral of this stroy is to stay out of town.
Enjoy the treasures you've grown up with and found,
Because you won't find anything better in this town.
If he had his life to live over again,
And he could go back to where he began.
He thinks he could get along fine without ever going onto town.

By Billy O. Rowland

Bob Cat four wheel dozer with three point hitch and wheel barrow

Four bottom plow that raises onto wheels and wide front end tractor

Carving vice bench in the old style foot pressure hold jaws tight no power tools When I was young an old man named John Carr taught me to carve and he had made one of these to do his work with.

Wooden disc plow with retrackedable wheels

Stationary Thrasher top view of inter workings. top is removable

Stationary Thrasher wooden back side, belt drives blower for blowing chafe to pile

Stationary Thrasher wooden with inter workings

Wooden tractor with steel wheels with lugs and hay trailer

handmade ferris wheel with swinging seats

Puzzle box with lock in lid. Manipulating slides with pins to open

Ferris Wheel wooden handcrafted

handcrafted wooden ferris wheel

Wooden tractor with dump trailer handcrafted

a wooden tractor with a hay trailer handcrafted

Fold up desk for sitting in your chair

Fold up desk side view

Top Down view

Side view folded up

Back view folded up

My Gahtering of Poetry Plus Memories by Billy O. Rowland

I write some Country Poetry.
I follow the Cowboy ways.
I record my thoughts in verse.
To express what I want to say.

I'm no longer a cowboy now, but,
I sure do like their style,
Of poetry, living and ways that is,
Let me entertain you for awhile.

Now I am an old man and totally retired, but
I have a lot of memories both good and bad,
Of being born and raised out on a ranch,
The guy that drove us hard, that was my Dad.

It seemed like we worked from daylight till dark,
And the chores had to be done both morning and night.
The cows had to be milked and livestock all fed.
Dad was a hard task master, it had to be done right.

Many times I thought it was a hard way to live,
But as I look back over all of these hard times,
The lessons I learned from living on the ranch,
Have served me well on many of my toughest climbs.

Now I can sit back and appreciate my Dad's drive,
He was just trying to make an all around man out of me.
In the latter years of my life, I could do almost anything.
At the time it was happening, this was hard for me to see.

Now, I can sit back and enjoy some of these memories,
While sitting in my easy chair and thinking good thoughts.
I will always be thankful I was born and raised on a ranch,
And for all of the comforts this hard work has brought us.

A Mean Banty Rooster  by Billy O. Rowland

I met my first Banty Rooster, I was just a curious young kid,
We went over to the visit the Rice Family, When I done what I shouldn't oughta-did.
I was out looking over the out buildings, Just being a litle bit snoopy.
I worked my way to the chicken house, And learned that rooster was spooky.
I was admiring the way the roosts were made, Only one way for me to get out.
He strutted into the house from the chicken yard, Just to see what I was about.
Well, he was between me and the only door, And I was invading his space.
He made it very plain and showed me his spurs, So I'd understand this was the case.
He was making a lot of noise and squaking, The feathers stood oout on his neck.
I started hollering real loud for my Dad, Thank God he finally heard me.
Mr Rice and my Dad were laughing so hard, I begged them to let me free.
I gained a lot of respect that day, Althought it wasn't a morale booster.
Tough guys come in all different sizes, Even that little black and red Banty Rooster.

Looking At A Horseshoe  By Billy O. Rowland
This city dude was watching the cowboy, While he was shoeing his horse,
He had reached the point in this chore, He was fitting the shoe of course.
He was heating the shoe in the blacksmiths forge, Then shaping it on his anvil.
Then he laid it aside to cool a bit, When the dude was tempted by the devil.
He reached down and picked up the hot shoe, The cowboy had just laid aside.
Faster than he picked it up he dropped it, Cause you see it burnt his hide.
The cowboy slowly looked around and , Questioned him "hot shoe"?
The city dude said, "Nope, it just doesn't take me long to look at a horseshoe."

Train carved from one 2x4 with loose balls in each car

Train with carved balls in each car, out of one solid 2x4

Overview of Clarkdale Arizona and Tip of San Francisco Peaks tiny white spot

New Addition to Old Clarkdale

1965 Kenworth Truck Tractor I restored. I drove it in the1970s

some of my ball and chains and a clock handcrafted

Ball and Chains carved from one piece of wood and Clock

Ball and Chains carved from solid piece of wood

Merry Go Rounds, Carousel, Ferris Wheel

Restored 1965 Kenworth Truck Tractor