Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

Updated: June 21, 2020.

Judy Carlson is our Double Dutch Ranch mom. Years ago, her husband packed them up and moved to a rundown ranch in Arizona. She never once regretted it. She’s part of the reason the ranch is named the Double Dutch. Judy’s a strong, independent woman.

Today, Judy is a grandmother. In fact, she stuck around the Double Dutch Ranch after her husband passed away to help Tristan raise Destiny from infancy. She’s crazy in love with all of her grandchildren.

• Judy plays a guitar and sings country music with her band of lady friends. Character portrayal image. Not to be confused with the real person.

It’s no secret Judy caters to her youngest son when he’s around, and her two oldest boys razz her and him about it. He’s an Army Ranger. Most of the time she has no idea where he is in the world. In her mind, it isn’t like she favors him more than the others, but it’s because she constantly worries about him. When he’s home, she wants to do what she can for him because once he goes back to base, she never knows if she’ll see him again.

• No one likes this about her—she’s a matchmaker.
• Everyone loves this about her: She’s cool and a good listener.
• She’s the sister-in-law to Dolly McCutchen, our Bull Rider Series mom to Caulder. These books aren’t connected, but you may see a crossover with characters on a rare occasion. Like Christmas at Love House: A Bittersweet Interlude, Bull Rider Series #3.

Did I mention she had a guy friend for a number of years? They met in book one but parted ways on good terms in book four. Is Judy ready for love again after more than a decade? HINT: In book five, Seasoned with Destiny: A Gift of Love, two men vie for her heart. Her boys are around to make sure she chooses the right man, whether she likes it or not.

• Our ranch mom makes molasses cookies for the horses and Christmas cookies for everyone who “needs a cookie.”
• She’s full of spunk and prefers to be the boss. Hmm, it seems three cowboys are the same way.

She’ll take no lip from any of those boys who at times have given it to her. They aren’t too old to get a smack now and then!

• She’ll be the one who gets the whole town together to pitch in to help anyone needing help from a funeral to a barn raising.

It takes a while for her to trust women who attach themselves to her sons, but once she does, they’re automatically part of the family.

She treats the ranch hands like family but has a soft spot for their ranch foreman Selva Rosado who’s been with them since before the ranch became a working ranch. They’re all welcome at her table any day of the week. So are you, so get to know the family.

• She used to give riding lessons but still works with horses on the ranch, including those that are boarded at the Double Dutch. In book five, she has a donkey!
• Judy likes the look of country in her kitchen and an occasional vintage piece here and there.
• She likes the look of old things like wagon wheels, buckboard wagons, and homes, but don’t be confused… She is not old-fashioned in her thinking.
• Judy claims that her life goal is to be the best mother-in-law she can be.
• She’d give her life to protect her grandchildren if the need arose. Poor Judy may have to prove this one day.

Judy Carlson’s likeness to date the way I see her, though she’s older than this actual model. Today, her hair is this length, but she has a touch of gray here and there.

Book Character portrayal image. Not to be confused with the real person.

*Judy Carlson, our ranch mom is a real heroine! She’s had to be strong but her heart is soft.   ❤

Meet our other Heroines HERE.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Next, you’ll meet Beth Marconi from Whispers of Forever: Mending Christmas.

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Images: Pixabay. Dreamstime. Ranch Mom Image credit: Pixabay Photosforyou.

*DISCLAIMER: Images depict fictitious book characters, and are not to be confused with the real person in the pictures.