Winter Wonderland

Dad was saying yesterday how much he was able to get done outside. I told him I hope we get some moisture soon. Careful what you ask for.

The roads were pretty clear when I left Gillette at 6:00 this morning heading for Hulett. But about 10 miles outside of Moorcroft it turned it on. I like a good challenge, but visibility for a while there was pretty tough. It really drove home John the Baptist Sunday with a light shining in the darkness. 

On my way to celebrate Mass in Wright this afternoon, I swung by to feed all the critters. With good hay and a winter coat the horses will be fine. 

Cows are even tougher. With that black hide and the amount of fat they have under it, I've never seen weather so cold they couldn't handle. Like the horses, they have access to feed 24/7. 

What these pictures don't show is the wind. Every snow storm I've seen in CC comes in sideways. It was a full on ground blizzard heading south.

The smell of LB beef in the roaster was sure welcoming when we were able to finally call it a day.

I love it. I hardly need an excuse to go frolic in the snow anyway. But to feed the People of God and the horses and cows He's entrusted me with... Just try to stop me.  

Soul Searching

Let the light of Christ take you to the deeper recesses of your heart this Advent.

           https://youtu.be/n7FAklvQB34         

Out on the Town

Who says Campbell County doesn't have culture? Saturday evening Doug and Daniela Gerard invited Sr. Carol and I out for a pre-Christmas dinner party. A good time was had by all.

I knew we were in for something special so I broke out my Carmelite coat. 

Every year the Gillette Chamber Singers put on a few day show at the Prime Rib. It was hard to tell what was better, the choir or the food. Both were excellent. 

They basically roamed around the rooms singing Christmas carols while we dined. 

My two favorite songs from among the ones I'd never hear before were Joseph had a Bundle of Straw and I want to Stare at my Phone with You.

But the Buffalo ribs and all the rest of the entrees were pdg too.

I've really enjoyed getting to know Doug and Daniela. We've had some great conversations over some good food. It's nice to be in an environment outside of Church that still keeps Christ in Christmas. Campbell County knows were their blessings come from and they aren't afraid to sing about it. 

 

The Catholic Cowboy Way

For the past couple years folks have been telling me about a cowboy priest in South Dakota that I need to meet. Try as I may, our paths never crossed. Finally he gave me a call and we made plans to hang out. No better way to get to know a guy then over skinning a cow.

  

Fr. Zane Pekron grew up on a ranch near Philip SD and went to seminary right after high school. He never quit wearing his hat though. 

I first heard about him from some mutual parishioners of ours who told me that their priest from Belle preg checked their cows for them. I knew from that moment on we'd get along.

This was also Johnny's debut. She did real well. Raised ole 40 up nice and high.

Tragedy struck though when I jumped out the back of my pickup. Rolled ole lefty pretty good.

Nothing that a cowboy cast can't fix though.

I love the Catholic Cowboy Way of life. Hanging with Zane just stoked my fire. Without a doubt the Church needs more cowboys. And furthermore, She could use a few more cowboy priests too!

Eternal Rock

 Trust in the Father's will. We'll be fine.

           https://youtu.be/MePFT5kGxBw         

Gone Fishin

First discipleship - all in with God. Then apostleship - bringing others to Christ. 

           https://youtu.be/89ZRSbvGNgk         

 

Mixin it Up

Advent is an opportunity to not become complacent.

           https://youtu.be/pnYPDKo31aY         

Save Me

Our Lord is coming as our savior. What is it that you need to be saved from?

             https://youtu.be/6FnOJzjr5ws           

Pivotal Project

Back in 2005 Dad had a pivot sprinkler set up on our 30 acer hay field. However, when the guys installed it they put the pivot point in a spot that made the last tower hit the neighbor's fence. Beings it was springtime and we needed water, we just dealt with it. 16 years later, it was time to move it to it's proper location.

Pivot sprinklers dominate the Big Horn Basin anymore. 25 years ago, it was almost all flood irrigated. On our place, Grandpa irrigated mostly with hand line. The new pivot location wouldn't be far, 30' to the south and 20' to the west.

As is the nature of farmers, we decided we'd do as much of the work as we could ourselves. 

There isn't a level piece of ground on this homestead. 

Fortunately, Luke is pretty handy with concrete. 

The new pad would be 12' x 12' x 6" deep. We went 12" deep around the perimeter and measured carefully where the anchor bolts needed to be.  

4 1/2 yards of concrete later, she was set. 

After the pad was poured we planned to have the pivot guys come out and do the moving. However, they encouraged Dad that we could do it ourselves. Don't tempt me with a good time. 

The Friday after Thanksgiving looked to be the right day.

We built a 50' 3 phase extension cord so we could operate the towers as we moved it.

Then called in Luke with his trackhoe.

The idea was to get the towers perpendicular with the new pad and then just walk it over.

Half way up we discovered we were going to land above the pad. So we kept the pivot point stationary and backed the towers up a bit. 

The second shot did the trick. After burning up all our daylight getting there, she sat right down on our anchor bolts. 

Much better. 

This is only the beginning. Now with her set we'll have to plumb in the power and water from the old site. That'll be a good job for the spring. But what's even more fun is getting to build new corrals. Grandpa's old wooden ones were shot anyway. Now with a permanent location for the sprinkler, we can bring on the pipe. The plan is tubing and continuous fence. This move will also allow us to farm some ground that was previously not much more than a weed catch. A little farmer ingenuity can get a guy a long ways. 

Future Profit

 Listen to our Lord's words even if they don't apply to life right now. They will.

           https://youtu.be/ns6SMoediag         

Whole Livelihood

St. Cecilia, pray for us.

           https://youtu.be/TrT7rLDhR-U         

Beauty

 Beauty is a participation in the Kingdom of God already.

           https://youtu.be/QiAOiIvgQK0