| Seldom
Heard by Dian Malouf Preface by Lady Bird Johnson. L.B.J. Ranch Stonewall,
Texas Dian L. Malouf is a gifted storyteller who recognizes a good tale when she hears one! She
has collected stories from modern cattlemen-characters all-who have shared
vignettes about their ancestors, their ranches, and their own lives on
the “range”. Many are rich in the lore of old South
Texas-and Dian has used her gifted words to brilliantly weave a tapestry
of the ranching tradition that is so much a part of the heritage of Texas
and Texans! -
Lady Bird Johnson To
go ranch hopping through the great ranches of South Texas is an experience
worth having. Dian Malouf knows the old-timers who inhabit them. Her
new book-Seldom Heard-is an easy read through 26 essays of ranches,
many of which date back 100 years in the same family. Some of these
vast spreads top 360,000 acres. Once
before, she successfully wrote about the Cattle Kings of Texas, those
people of big hats, big belt buckles, and boots who do not want to have
themselves or their lifestyles "sanitized." This time she
gives greater insight into their determination to keep the brush country
as she has known it, including one rancher who has $12 million in his
checking account but no air-conditioning in his house. Another ranch
woman, determined to have a pink toilet, sent her plane to pick it up
in Houston. When the pilot landed at the ranch, they had to chop up
part of the plane to get it out. These "Edna Ferber" stories
seem unreal until you meet the characters head-on. I
know, the land was so imbedded in Texas President Lyndon Johnson that
he would start pulling on his ranch clothes when Air Force One was over
Texarkana. Once at the L.B.J. ranch, the foreman, Dale Malechek, was
waiting in the pickup to drive the President around the ranch as he
barked out orders for irrigation and fixing fences. "Whoever
wrote that song 'Where Seldom is Heard a Discouraging Word'never worked
on this ranch," the foreman told me. I
could pick up dozens of examples of outlandish tales from her book,
but that wouldn't be fair to Dian's collection of happenings of these
land men. Don't
miss this book of authentic people who restore your faith in a world
overrun by television, facelifts and trivial pursuit of rock stars. These
rancher's idiosyncrasies' are abundant and amusing, and Dian reveals
them with surprise and humor. This is a Texas that may be devoured by
urban society in the next 25 years, so meet them while you can. The
likes of this authentic and stubborn society of individuals is worth
knowing before they leave us. Liz Carpenter Austin,
Texas Former press secretary and chief of staff to Lady Bird Johnson |
| All
of our jewelry is made in the United States. Copyright 2006 Dian Malouf
Jewelry Inc. Unauthorized use or manufacturing of designs in the US or
abroad will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. All Rights
Reserved. |