I can remember growing up, my granddaddy would tell me in his most tender of voices to look up, look the world in the eye, watch your step, don't drag your feet. Listen to your surroundings, learn how the earth moves beneath a summer breeze.

It's no secret my heroes have always been cowboys. Cowboys are slow to speak and quick to listen. They can ride fence from sun up to sun down, travel a 1,000 miles or go days inside without uttering a word. But when they do speak, they'll get your attention every time. They're full of wisdom and wit, charm, and stories that are almost too good to be true. A cowboy's attire isn't for show. He doesn't care about labels or brands. They're a hard working breed for little pay, praise or fame. Fancy surroundings and big cities don't suit their style - they'd rather give you a summer sky full of twinkling stars and wide open spaces that you can see from near and far. A cowboy would give you the last two dollars he had, the shirt of his back - he'd run through hell to save you and would defend you to his death. Cowboys are a special breed, a rare find. It takes more than a tip of the hat or a jingle in the spur to make a man a real cowboy. You'll know him by the quiet in his voice and the twinkle in his eye, his faithful nature and his hard working hands.

(PS...just so you know, this cowboy was definitely my hero this day - he wasn't just standing around looking pretty...he was watching something on the ground...very next pic is of him jumping off his horse, without hesitation, and killing a snake with nothing but his rope.)

(c) Michelle A. Farley | Lost on the Horizon Photography