The Ranch Woman’s Manual

At our annual FMCHE Book Sale, a friend  came up with this book.  THANK you, Karla W., for this gem.  She was SURE it had my name written all over it!  Of course, once I saw the title, it went into my ‘purchase’ pile. 

‘The Ranch Woman’s Manual’ (first published in the 70’s) was written by Gwen Petersen.  When the book was written, she lived in Montana with her husband and an assortment of animals.  In fact, she still writes and has a few other books based on her ranch life experiences.  Anyway…

It’s hilarious!

Here’s the description:

A handy guide and aid to those women choosing to spend their lives as RANCH WOMEN.  Contains really helpful, practical, useful tips and hints to keep the Ranch Woman from going berserk.

Over the decades of rural living, Ranch Women have been helpmeets to their men.  With remarkable courage, incredible stamina, and splendid insouciance to the rawer facts of nature, the Ranch Woman has shaped the nest surrounding that hard-workin’, cow-wrasslin’, bull-throwin’ son-of-a-farmer.

Because farm and ranch life is necessarily divided and marked by the seasons of the year, The Manual will attempt to follow a similar pattern.  Our hope is to provide an understanding reference volume (developed in secret women’s conclaves*) (see footnote) for the dauntless ranch/farm wife, couched in language not necessarily comprehensible to men.

*Conclaves: referred to by ranch men as “gab-sessions”.

 

See!  This woman speaks to my heart and mind.  She’s been where I am.  If you should want your own copy, it’s for purchase at numerous online sites.