Wyoming Catholic Cowboys

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Labor and are Burdened

God leads us through trials and suffering.

https://youtu.be/z60wmjga9qw

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Where's your Carmel

Where do you experience God in an intimate way?

https://youtu.be/iinrYrD8_YY

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Truth and Love

You can't have one without the other.

https://youtu.be/ezS1oleD89M

Monday, July 14, 2025

Lord knows I like to have a good time. Such re-creation fuels a man's drive for mission. Theoretically, this need can be served by watching a movie or going for a walk. However, my idea for a good time usually involves a lot more dirt.

In the summer time, I'm all about the outdoors. When it's 90 degrees out, a fire pit isn't too appealing. But when the sun goes down, it can light up the night. Knowing that Dave had a fire pit he wasn't going to use, I asked if he wanted to donate it to our cause. Sure enough, he did.

So Dante and I jumped in White Horse and ran over to Gillette to get this concrete work of art.

Once we had a game plan, we hoisted her on back with a little mechanical muscle.

Dave even threw in a little fire wood to fuel our fun. Thanks, pal.

Once back at the ranch, we backed in the backyard of the rectory to find a resting place for her.

Probably going to be here a while, better make it level.

Giddy up.

Let's see if she'll hunt.

I like the old boy scout stackaroo.

One match is all that's needed.

Nice.

To celebrate, we grilled up some American goodness.

Meanwhile, the flames settled into a fire.

Life is good.

Thanks Dave. Little prompts good conversation more than a wood fire. Talk about the old days as well as new ideas and spiritual musings, natural arise as one watches flames dance freely. It's not so much the heat that fire puts off that makes a fire pit so fun. But the environment they create that makes the time spent around them so good. God bless America for the freedom she ensures. Such a sacred gift allows a man to spend time in leisure so that he is refueled for mission. Bring it.

Unity

Following Christ can divide, but it can also unify.

https://youtu.be/prEzEDJrQXo

Sunday, July 13, 2025

As Yourself

See yourself in someone else.

https://youtu.be/dtVwIdNdC5Q

Saturday, July 12, 2025

Gate Relief

I consider it an act of justice to repair faulty gates. Dysfunctional gates slow down progress and disturb people's peace. They must be rectified!

I got the call from Dave this spring that his poorly hung yard gates were causing him to loose sleep and affecting his marriage. He asked if there was anything I could do to help. I assessed the situation and affirmed him that there was hope.

So I gathered my gear and headed east to Gillette. Note to all aspiring welders out there: If an acetylene tank lays on its side for very long, it needs to be stood up for a good length of time before you can use it. Otherwise, the unsettled gas molecules will take its toll on your regulators.

Problem number one: On one side, both hinge brace posts were broken or cut off from the ground. This allowed the 12' gate to sag something terrible. Consequently, dragging was the only way to open it. Unacceptable!

For the back post, we hammer drilled in a length of angle iron to re-weld the post to.

The front post already had a new anchor. However the gate clearance was too low for my standards. So we jacked it up and welded on some good gussets.

All worked well, until we swung the gate to the side. Though it has a wheel on the end (which I'm not a big fan of unless necessary), it still sagged and had too much pressure on the end. So we hammered in this diagonal brace post. Problem solved.

The second hangup was this guy. It was more or less hung stout enough, but its range of motion was minimal. Making more trips in and out of the truck than were necessary. And as every cowboy knows, the fewer times you have to get out of the drivers seat, the better. To help save Dave's sanity, this gate needed to fold back tight on the fence.

This knowledge was nothing new for Dave. He had pondered over a solution for years. My advice to all gate builders out there, make the brace post the hinge post also. Instant 345 degrees of motion.

So we cut off the connecting point to the existing hinges and offset them toward the alley, jacking them up 2" as well.

Doing so allowed the gate to fold back flat like we wanted. However, the other direction is now only limited to 90 degrees. Not a problem in this situation.

Mission accomplished. The gates now hang well and swing well.

I could see the stress leave Dave's face as we shared a victory beer.

I'm happy to help. In the spiritual life, we call this second level consolation. St. Ignatious was clear that our physical circumstances affect our interior disposition, for good or ill. What is the dysfunctional gate in your life? Fix it and life will suddenly look a lot better. Ranch on.

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Doyle Creek Drive

135 years ago, Wyoming was officially made a state. No better way to celebrate that gift than with a cattle drive in the Bighorn National Forest.

Doyle Creek would be our destination.

At 5:00am, Richard and Patty Tass met me in town, and Chief and I followed them up to Muddy Creek, above Crazy Woman.

Here the riders were getting mounted up. This is not your average ranch. The Tass's operate a guest ranch in conjunction with their cow/calf operation. They basically give guests from around the world the opportunity to take part in real ranch activities, like driving cattle up the Bighorns.

Two days ago, they moved the cattle from the ranch to the base of the Bighorns. Yesterday, they pushed them up the mountain. After everyone rested over night, we set out to drive them to their summer range.

After everyone's horse was watered,

We set out. Not a walk in the park, but close to it.

The cows knew where they were going and wanted to get up high where it's cooler. In the distance are the Hazelton Peaks.

Being Nation Forest ground, there's a lot of campers around. You can pretty much camp anywhere, a certain distance from the road. Also, you can leave you camper parked in the same place for up to 14 days. Consequently, many people take advantage of this beautiful campground.

About an hour into our ride, Hank joined in.

We came up Billy Creek Road where it tees into the Hazelton Road. From There we headed south.

Eventually, our group got stuck with the stragglers. You're only as fast as your slowest cow!

Many cool cabins around this area.

Popular sheep country too.

Eventually we met the rest of the herd at Doyle Creek.

Time for a drink.

And some lunch.

Before we all mounted back up for the final push.

Nice drive through the gate to their summer home. Enjoy girls!

Fun stuff. Beautiful day and way to celebrate the anniversary of the 44th state of the Union. God bless American and Wyoming in particular! Special thanks to the Tass's for letting me tag along. It is very generous of you to share this wonderful way of life with guests from near and far. Keep on ranching in a free world!