A gathering of stories and recollections by Ann and Charlie Loughridge of life on the Diamond A Cattle Company duriing the late Forties and early Fifties.

The 54 page book is a compilation of stories told by Charlie and Ann Loughridge of their time living on the Diamond A Cattle Co in Wagon Mound, NM.

There are four woodblocks by Leon Loughridge in the book as well as photos taken by Ann and Charlie.

Memories of the
Diamond A

Published by
Dry Creek Art Press,
the book is available
in an edition of 64
with 2 Printer’s Proofs.

Excerpt from the book:

TOLOUSE

In that herd of short horns was one little dark red bull with his legs all bent that we named Toulouse Lautrec. Toulouse was just as wide as he was tall, weighing about eight hundred pounds on those crooked bowed legs. He used to stand by the fence near the cattle guard, hanging around the gate and never out looking for the ladies like the other bulls.  

Blas and I went down to a corral by the farm to water the short horns early one morning. There were about eight bulls, and, somehow, they had gotten together and started fighting. By the end, they had torn those corrals up, and most of the stable walls as well. The first thing we had to do was separate the bulls, and the main trouble maker was Toulouse. We roped him first and tied him to a post. We left him there screaming and making racket, while we went off to try and separate the others. I went into the stables and was going through this hole that one of the bulls had made in wall. Blas was on the other side, coming around the other way. Just as I started through the wall, Blas threw a little hand axe at me. I thought, “What the heck, he's trying to kill me”. Well, there was a rattlesnake there, and Blas hit it with that axe. That's when I got to know Blas.

AVAILABILITY:

The book will be available exclusively from the Coors Western Art Exhibit and Sale from 1/6/09 to 1/14/09.