Pard's Homepage

Howdy Ya'll. Thanks alot for stoppin in to get acquainted. You have either arrived here thru my main business website Broken Spokes Mfg. ,or one of my kids sent you here to see pictures of them. Either way, I'm glad you're here. First of all let me tell you. This site is loaded with pictures (some are linked to the larger versions). So please be patient. I've broken it up into several pages to speed things up a bit. If you've ever been to my homepage before. I'm sure you'll see it looks different. I needed to update it as my little family has been growing. On November 19th, 1999 I became a grandmother. The kids are all growing and new folks (mostly guys) are joining the family. And I just felt like updating it. So this is my online family album, and I'd like to share it with you. So, here we go.


Well, this is me, Pard. Not quite what you expected is it? Amazing what a bit of make-up will do. (this is my husband's favorite pic) 1995	A bit closer to the truth. 1995

I'm from Carlsbad, New Mexico. Grew up here. Went to school here. Class of '79. You do the math. GO CAVEMEN! Was active in both 4-H and FFA. Worked in my folk's feed store thru high school. Moved to Wyoming and married a farm boy. I have been involved with farming and ranching my whole life. Up until 1996. When I talked my hubby into moving me back to Carlsbad. It was a hard transition for the Wyoming Farm Boy. He was used to the cool weather of the north. I couldn't handle the cold and snow. Man! Its good to be home. But I do miss the farming and cattle.

Lets go back to the beginning......... I had been doing crafts my whole life. I started in 4-H with leatherwork. Then moved on to ceramics. Later taught myself beadwork. Then came the metal work. I had seen some metal silhouette lamps and asked Dave if he could make me a set. You should have seen the look. (You wives of mechanics and carpenters can relate.) He said "I suppose" not to enthusiastically. Then added "You know its not to hard. I could teach you how to run the plasma and welder." He looked real surprised when I said okay. Then I proceeded to hound him till he did. I already knew some of it as I had the basics in welding in Ag. class in High School ( Many thanks to you Mr. Johnston). Then I went to town. Building till I didn't have room for anything else.

Then he suggested I sell some of this stuff before I made anymore. So I did. Then my Mom said you should be doing this for a living. Hey, thats a good idea. So I started Broken Spokes about 6 years ago. Basically for lack of jobs in the area for someone with my qualifications. Being of the agriculture persuasion I had many skills. I could ride, work cattle, do vet work, drive a tractor, drive a truck, pull a windmill, stack hay, fix fence, run a combine, and many other ag. related tasks. But getting a foot in the door was another story. Wrong gender I guess. So with a push and some coaxing from my Mom and Dave, I started going to Craft shows. What a joke. Don't get me wrong. Craft shows are great for country crafts. But let me tell you. There is a wide line between country and western. I stuck out like sore thumb. I was ready to give up after the first year of packing, drivin, settin up, packing, drivin. So I'm ready to give up. Thats when Dave suggest the internet. Shoot I couldn't even type a letter let alone operate a computer. But he got one anyway. Now I spend at least 30 hours a week in front of this darn thing. I have several websites and run a monthly drawing. As well as a Redneck Trivia Game and Chuckwagon Recipe Contest.

Since then Dave had been an oilfield welder, then a plant welder for United Salt Corp. out of Houston, Texas. And as of the March 1st, 2002 he is Mr. Mom. I never could have done any of this with out his support. I bought a 2002 Dodge one ton and a Lincoln Commander 500 welder. And have branched out into the field service. One of the main projects now is doing the frame work for straw houses. As well as my internet business. It has been a fun experience and I've made lots of new friends. be sure to visit the Broken Spokes Mfg. site to see pictures of the truck, straw houses and a bunch of other projects. Plus the online stuff.

With that said. I'll let you get on with the pictures. And thanks again for stoppin in.