Author: Freda Van Winkle

Bill was our show horse. He was a gaited horse, a beautiful racker. He had five different gaits, or manners in which he lifted his feet, that made him a smooth rider. The rack was his best: a fast, flashy, … Read more

During his lifetime, my husband Roger was a scuba diver, and built himself a ski boat. He was also an excellent photographer, and built his own airplane, from which, for farmers, he took aerial photos of ditches. He also toured … Read more

As you ramble on through life, brother, Whatever be your goal, Keep your eye upon the donut, And not upon the hole. Many years ago, these words hung above the counter in our local café. I have read that the same prophetic words … Read more

One memory of my teenage years is the spring my dad shipped in a thousand sheep by rail from Texas. With our hired help on horseback, we herded them off the train, down the main street of our small town, … Read more

"Red" was the horse we used at the rodeos to run in competition racing. Once the race was over and he left the track, he behaved himself, going down the main street of our small town. But as soon as … Read more

My horse, Mabel, was the answer for a small boy's broken heart and cry for comfort. Little did I realize, the night I sold her, what a significant role she would play in the small lad's life. Oh, of course, … Read more

During the years that we wintered in the desert southwest, I volunteered four days at holiday time as an escort for the Salvation Army. The generosity of the wealthy to those in need was overwhelming. For example, one businessman donated … Read more

My first job, when I was very young, was as an orthodontist assistant. The office was in the basement of a building owned by an alcoholic who lived upstairs. From downstairs, we could hear the verbal abuse and the arguments. Even when his … Read more

I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow-creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.| – … Read more

My son had received much recognition for pitching a "no hit, no run" Little League baseball game the previous week, so for him, pitching was far more important than piano. Consequently, we were the last to arrive at the chapel of a … Read more