the cowboy & the gypsy…
have i ever told ya about mom and dad?
{mom and dad...in the courtin' days...circa 1964}
let’s start at the beginning…way back when…
DaD was born and raised in southern arkansas … waaaaaay out in the country. Where the pine trees are tall, the twang is thick, and the Little River dances through the farm.
{dad in his favorite Hopalong Cassidy pearl snap}
He was the youngest of 7 boys. Yep, that’s right…SEVEN boys…(God bless my granny’s pea-pickin’ heart)
{granny and her boys...ages 7-23...circa 1952}
{the sikes boys...uncle ray, the oldest was serving in the Army at the Korean War in this shot}
Papa was the county judge and Granny was a nurse…Papa never missed his daily game of dominoes down at the store (there was, and still is, only one store that served as the post office, general store, market, hardware store, gas station, and local domino hall).
Granny was famous for her homemade cinnamon rolls and good ole down-home cookin. At every meal, she would serve enough plates to “feed the boys and the ‘stranger at the door’.” There was no indoor plumbing, no air conditioning, and no video games…just wide open spaces, and ponds and creeks and cows and everything else a little boy needs to let his imagination run free.
It’s the place we love to be more than anywhere…it’s where we learned to put peanuts in our glass coke bottles. Where we ate orange push-up pops and where we were taught to be good stewards to the land.
{me and amie at our farm...cliffside by the LiTTLE RiVER...and yes, i'm sportin the super-stylin' leg warmers}
Where we learned how to shoot a gun…
ride a 4-wheeler, and appreciate all of nature. 
It’s about family. Love. Good times. Being free. Loving life.
Mom grew up like a texas gypsy…moving from town to town.
{little janie on a carney mule ride...circa 1951}
Mom, her older sister, and older brother were raised by a hard-workin’ single mom (that always held multiple jobs at one time).
Bargain shopping and thriftstores were a way of life and she developed a serious passion (borderline obsession) for the thrill of the hunt, bargain stores and recycling old into new. She had a wild spirit and a beautiful way of bending the rules.
She would spend her summers in Arkansas…and play with a cowboy about her age named Phillip…..
{janie and phillip (ages 6 & 7) on the Little RiVER at the farm...with her big brother and sister}
PhiLLip & JaNiE sittin’ in a tree….
By the time they both headed to their respective colleges in different states, they had spent many summer days together….baling hay, cane-pole fishing, riding horses, having fried-chicken picnics, and cruising in Mom’s brother’s convertible. Life was sweet and good.
{mom and dad...circa 1969...the year they wed}
they wed, became business partners, raised 2 daughters (whom, i would like to add, have never given mom a stress-filled, sleepless, night…ever)…and now find themselves on a series of crazy adventures as their story continues….
off into the sunset they ride with their 2 daughters, 2 grandkids, a son-in-law, a dog named birdie bluebell buffay, a truckload of junk, and no hopes for retirement anytime soon….and we think, they couldn’t be happier.
Long LiVe the LoVE story of the COwBoy and the GyPSY!!!
XOXO!!!
78 comments
i just love this post about your parents! what a great love story…
xoxox
amy
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thanks for sharing-great story!
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Great story … thanks for sharing :)
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This is the sweetest little love story I have ever heard! And I LOVE y’alls blog!! And all of your merchandise =) It’s so nice to know that there are other ‘threadbare gypsy souls’ running wild out there!
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Jolie Reply:
November 12th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
thank you! thank you sooooo much!!!! i’m sooo glad y’all like the love story! i’ve had this written foreverrrrrrr and finally decided to ‘let it free’!!! the world must know … the EPiC LoVE SToRY!!! XOXOXOXO to all y’all!!!!!
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The gypsy fairytale…..love it!
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I just love this~!
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Yeah, so this is a nice little intro, but now I’m ready for the novel, the movie, and the tv series-inspired-by-the-movie. Get on it! ;)
Good stuff y’all.
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Best one yet.
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OOOOO!!!! Love love LOVE this more than ANYTHING!!!!!! Beautiful!!!!!!!!! Love me some Janie And PHilliP!!!!!!! THis is amazing!!!
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Such a sweet post!! What a great story.
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Please tell me where your Daddy grew up in Arkansas. I am sitting here in South Central, close to Hot Springs, and am just dying of couriosity! :)
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Wonderful. So glad you posted this!
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I Luv ur beautiful story! Make my heart happy to see such a beautiful family. Thx for sharing! :)
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This is such a sweet story of love and country living….simple folks. I just LOVE it!!! A true testament to true love. Look forward to seeing y’all soon……btw, the pictures are awesome!
love y’all, Melba
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What a sweet story. My parents wed the same year! Glad to see another 41 year love story.
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AAAAAAaaaaaaaawwwwww…. I LUVED this!!!!!!!! Gives me hope that there actually is TRUE LOVE out there!!!!
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I can’t believe they knew each other as kids! I want to see more pictures…what a romance, so sweet and soooo good lookin! love, love D
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Love it! What a great story. And the pictures are so priceless. I remember those good ol ‘ days. Life was so simple and fun. Thanks for sharing.
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Love, Love, Love this story! It’s like something you read in a good chick-lit book! Just wanted to say i too have a daughter named Jolie!
She loves when I look at your website and she can see her name on it….she thought she was the only one. keep up the awesome stories.
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I fell in love with your story, long before I even knew it all! Your friend from Cowboy U-Texas.
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This is an amazing story! Would make a great book/movie! Your parents and family are an inspiration! Thanks for sharing.
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That is such a sweet, romance story. You got the beginnins’ of a romance novel! Mebbe ya’ll should publish this story?!?! This gives me hope there is true love out there for the takin! I love the pictures. I know where ya’ll get yer good looks from. Love ya! Mean it! Be p’ticklar!
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I loved your story….Honestly brought a tear to my eye. I adore a good love story. Not to worry I cry at every wedding. You have such an amazing story and such a sweet family. Keep the great stories coming…it give us corporate folks something to dream about…………..oh to live like a Gypsy.
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LOVED, LOVED, LOVED IT!!!!!!
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Awww, now that is a fairytale love…….. actually, one I wish I would’ve had! Love the story and love the love that your family shares! ;-)
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Love it, I agree with everyone this is a movie waiting to be made.
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Faith, Hope and Love….And the Greatest of These is Love! Describes this love story of the Cowboy and the Gypsy. Thanks for sharing your blessing. I can so relate. :)
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I know this story!! An actually now there is a post office in Alleene! By the way our kids love, love the tepee u guys built at the cabin. We will not let them touch for fear of them tearing it down! Love the way u told the story, an love the pics. We still go to some of those same places.
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This is so cute! I loved reading it!! Thanks for sharing it.
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Loved the story and I looooove all of your “junk”!!!
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Too flippin’ cute! I’m glad you finally got it out of your head and out there for us to read and be inspired by. Love it, and reposting!
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What a sweet story, with pictures and everything! I love love! ~Mindy
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Oh Miss Jolie…
This was the most wonderful love story ever, your Mama & Daddy looking so fine. The Gypsy & the Cowboy, the perfect ying & yang for a fabulous junkified life with beautiful baby girls & grandbaby’s to make it all the more perfect. And I want to sit on the edge of the Little River, skippin rocks, thinkin back to Granny & Papa & their 7 handsome sons. I adored the nostalgia of this sweet story & now i know why when we met you were sweet as sweet tea!
Big Hugs,
Cali vintagesusie
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Love to hear stories like this! Warms the heart. I am a gypsy girl myself!!
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Great story, thanks for sharing
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love love love this story….so many true love journeys are long gone and this story signifies that real love is true and does stand the test of time. Hope my husband and I have many many more years ahead of us just like your cowboy and gypsy. Thank you for sharing!
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I tell the young kids: Hold out for your dream guy or gal and the rest to go with it. This is inspiring for them too! It happens yet today!
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It warms my hear to read this beautiful love story. Thanks for sharing it!
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Reminded me of my own parents and their story, and tempts me to write theirs. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful love story. . .our kids need to see that two people can really make that commitment to stay together forever!
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I love the story but so admire the photography! What wonderful memories on film. They tell such a fantastic story w/o any words necessary. The photos of your dad and his family are so awesome. I just want to hug that cowboy picture w/ your dad in his snap shirt and that great fence in the background. The boys all lined up – just great, the shot of your mom on the horse – too cool for words, the boat – just fantastic. I could go on and on. Way to put it all together. Way to cherish their story, their love and some awesome photos. Keep snappin’ and keep the family memories alive. -NS
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Yes!! Love It Too, First thing I thought was the makings of a great Tee, and those great dated photos!!!
“cowboy & the gypsy” I would luv to wear that!!
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Now that is a nice simple down to the facts story bout some folks who know how to live. :) I love stories like that. Life bein lived for family and as you ride towards the sunset you know it’s just gonna get prettier. And you love that the family you built is enjoyin it too!
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Bella…bellissima… beautiful story of family love… you hope that this light goes out of family not never….
excuse my English….
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How perfect is this! If we could all be so lucky. Handsome cowboy, wild spirited princess and a white donkey too. Life in the country- no better way to grow up. I feel sorry for those city kids and all they miss. What a beautiful family you all have. xoxo Lori
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Y’alls whole life reads like a fairy tale and this proves it.
Once upon a time God had a plan and getting to read about it makes me happy. I love it when a plan comes togethere and I really love a happy ending!
Debbie
P.S. Janie’s smile hasn’t changed a smidge…maybe just bigger!
P.P.S. And they lived happily ever after.
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Love this fabulous story. My husband and I married in 1969. You have inspired me to write our story for generations to come. You are blessed with a beautiful family and hope you all have many happy years together.
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Joles—This is precious. It makes me tear up and smile from ear to ear all at the same time. I love the story and the pictures–priceless. Tell your mom and dad HOWDY for me. Thanks for sharing. Love, -A
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I love it, so sweet and romantic. Sometimes there really are happy endings! Reminds me of a little love story I know…..except it’s about a gypsy and a punk rocker!
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This is wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing their story.
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Great story Amie, I had no idea Janie and Phillip had known each other so long. I was at their wedding in 1969 and we caught a whole truckload (literally) of fish out of that river. I miss you all so much. Love Tim
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Love the story and better yet love your family!!!
Also love the fact that ya’ll are so close like our family…it is so special……Life is too short not to be any other way!!
Hope to see you all soon.
Hugs n kisses….Angela
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Jolie – reading your sweet family story reminded me of the plaque that reads….”All because two people fell in love……” Maybe you need to create one that reads “All because the Cowboy and the Gypsy fell in love….” or “Definition of a Prairy Tale: When the Cowboy and the Gypsy fall in love.” Or some such derivative……Agree with what others have said, no wonder you girls are so pretty – your parents are such a handsome couple. WOW.
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I absolutely want a story like that. Thank you for sharing!
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Wow… so cool… absolutely love it!
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Many thanks for sharing your fun’ loving story with us Jolie!
Your parents show the reason all of this Gypsy Family make it work so well sharing your love and passions with their daughters.
You are so lucky to have grown up with the lots o’ land pleasures.
Mama tried and your Pop tried and IT WORKED!
Smiles, Cyndi
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Sweetness like tea from the South. :) Peeps call my tall lanky man & me the Cowboy & hippie chick. When we met, he drove me to his piece o country paradise and before i knew it he moved way out cheer (that’s how you say “out here”); thus began my Green Acres story with the 60s twist…I would trade it for NOTHING. I hope our love story continues just as did your parents’. Also you and Amie rock. I adore you both! XOXOXO The ROOster
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It’s the little things that make life grand- such as homemade cinnamon rolls and peanuts in your bottle of Coke. This story reminds me of all the stories my Grandma Jewel told me about love conquers all and the simple pleasures of country living. A time when Mamas had seven sons and no running water and found a way to feed a stranger that was hungry. This is a beautiful love story of happily ever after. Thank you for sharing. xoxo
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Sweet Story!! Now if Miranda would turn it into a song it would be complete!!
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Jolie Reply:
November 14th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
oh my goodness gracious!!! thank everyone sooo much for your many sweet words! i had no IDEA this lil story would touch soooo many souls out there in cyber-land! we hold the farm and all of it’s stories so near and dear to our hearts and i’m so honored that y’all feel the love! THANK you sooooo much for letting me know you’re listenin’….and that you believe in happy endings…as do we! :) long live the love story! XOXOXOX!
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I feel so fortunate to have been a very small “character” in the story of this unique family. Janie and I have been BFF’s for 50 years, this year, so……needless-to-say…..we have shared tons of fun and memories together. I am looking forward to many more years of
good times with these wonderful friends! (that is if they will stop moving further and further away ) :-) Love y’all, Deb
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Girls- You have an amazing family- as you already know! Thanks for gracing our Barn on Saturday….to see all of you so close gives others the desire to connect more with their families. Your parents are amazing and a shining example of what God wanted marriage to be- I’m glad they have grandkids to show their never ending love to now as well! Long live the Junk Gypsy family!!!
love yall!!!!
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yourn story brought back many fond memories of my own childhood.thanks for sharing.just an old texan.
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It’s nice to know that the real american dream is still alive….
Thanks for taking the time to share and more so thank you for my baby girl that amie blessed me with 3 years ago. I named her Gypsy and she is my world…..
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Ohhhhh, you made me do the “ugly cry”! It’s all good.. what a beautiful story! I have always felt like a part of your family now I am very blessed to say you are truly a part of mine! (you do have Indian blood in you, right?) Love Always to MY family….
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I just wanted to say that your momma and daddy are 2 very special people and all of you are greatly missed. You guys are in some of my fondest memories! No one would ever believe the hard work that was put into what you have today. Loading that trailer ……..wew! Your mom and dad have always been so supportive and great. Truely 2 remarkable people!! Love and miss ya’ll greatly! XXOOXXOO
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Absolutely Romantic!!! Thanks for sharing a part of yalls life! God Bless Yall!!!
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Thanks for sharing such a sweet, romantic story. And, I love the photos. Beautiful family.
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What a great story. I too was raised with thrift stores/recycling old into new. Still love the thrill of good junk (I would never call it an obsession ;) Thanks so much for sharing!
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Great life. I’m originally from South Louisiana and we put peanuts in our coke bottles also. Your the first I know of that can relate. Ha! Love it. People don’t know what they are missing.
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BeAutiFul STorY….luV tHe wAY u wRiTE…..LoVE IT !!!
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Great story & the pics are priceless! A simpler way of life.
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June Simms—–My mom survived Non Hodgkins Lymphoma cancer!
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Tamara Brown= 15 year survivor of Ewing Sarcoma
Minnie Brown (my grandmother)= Still fighting it as hard as she can
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I absolutely love this I was diagnosed terminal at 16 I am now 31 and Cancer free :) I have added my name and a few other family members
Betty Ray(my aunt)= Still fighting
Buster Brown(my grandfather)= still fighting prostate cancer
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[...] told you a little about mom in the oh-so-popular post ‘the cowboy & the gypsy’… {mom and dad…circa 1969…the year they [...]
It’s always such a blessing to hear the stories of family lineage and love. Thanks for sharing with us! Those are some great pictures, too!
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Damn good story. Just what I needed to read tonight-Thank you. Thank all of you- Happy New Year! Hope y’all have it ALL!
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