Cowgirl Sass & Savvy

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Here it comes, ready or not

Julie Carter

Twenty shopping days until Christmas and then it's almost time to file your income taxes.

Right after I looked up from the dinner table on Thanksgiving, I realized that the following Monday brought the first day of December and with it, a landslide of ideas, lists, projects, events, commitments and deadlines.

As soon as I recovered from that particular mental avalanche, which was days later, I realized the first week of December was almost gone. As usual, I'm behind before I even start.

I've had my eye out for clever Christmas gifts all year, but like most years, I either forgot about it if I thought of it in March or I bought it, hid it and don't remember where.

Early gift buying has its disadvantages. While spreading the cost of the holiday throughout the year, it also increases the odds of you paying more for the same thing that will be on sale later. Or, in my case, you find out that perfect gift is no longer perfect because the recipient proudly bought it for herself about the same time you did.

Useful gifts never go out of style and every year they take on a facet that makes them a little different from last year, but still very utilitarian.

Fad colors, embroidered phrases and rhinestones turn a regular cap into something that makes a fashion statement. While the market for "gimme" caps from feed, seed and implement dealers is still quite viable, nothing says cutting edge like a cap that announces, "Jesus ropes here."

Spur straps, once just a piece of leather with a function, now come in colors, animal print and of course, more bling. Some of them are so fashionable that the livestock will need sunglasses to stop the glare.

A favorite gift among the working cowboy set is the thoughtful offering of the cowboys' favorite beverage, usually in aluminum cans but sometimes upgraded to a glass bottle. The ropers refer to it as "aiming fluid," and have determined that the proper amount not only improves their roping but makes pastures greener and girls prettier.

This year's twist is the camouflage container that convincingly offers to those that imbibe the ability to become invisible if enough is consumed.

Then there is the never-ending list of "new" ideas for gifts designed to entice the giver to give to the guy that already has everything.

My choice this season is a giant beach-type umbrella with a base that attaches over the gooseneck trailer ball in the bed of the pickup. This allows spectators to sit in the shade next to the beverage cooler, and watch the roping from the back of the truck.

In these days and times, I sometimes spot something that just won't compute in my cowgirl brain. With decades of thinking I've seen it all, always, something proves me wrong.

Recently it was seeing a big black Hummer pulling an aluminum horse trailer going south through town. The oddity of that combination left me speechless. As my son would say, “That’s messed up.”

Maybe I just need to get out more.

Julie’s new book, Cowboys You Gotta Love 'em, is available for purchase. Visit Julie's Web site for details at www.julie-carter.com.