Seek the Truth

And you'll be open to receiving the Holy Spirit when He comes.

           https://youtu.be/SaRTCo2Bulg         

 

Peace I Leave You

 Not as the world gives do I give it to you.

           https://youtu.be/OI8eIBTc1hs         

Joy

I have told you this that your joy may be complete.

           https://youtu.be/AwrPqKSg9Jg         

Spurs

I've never been much of a spur guy. I know they look cool, but they've usually gotten me in more trouble than they've done me good. Now, having a fuller knowledge of how they are to be used, it was time to introduces them to the horses.

These aren't your average spurs. Fr. Carl Beavers gave them to me just before he died. They are Kelly Bros spurs and are probably about 100 years old. They fit perfect on my boots, and boy do they sound good when I walk down the hall of the office. 

The purpose of the spur is not to stab the horse, but to make your intentions known. The main need I have for them is to steer the horse with my legs. We'll call this point 3, behind the back cinch. When pressure is applied here, the horse unhitches his hind quarters and moves away from the pressure. 

The center of the horse is point 2. Here's where you get your side pass. Pressure on one side and they'll shift all fours in the opposite direction. Pressure on point 2 from both sides and we're going forward. 

Point one is in the front just behind his legs. Here tells the horse to cross over his front legs, making a quick side step. If you put pressure on R1 and L3 you'll get a super quick counter-clockwise turn. 

Steering your horse with your legs is handy especially in the branding pen when your hands are pretty full.  It's fun to teach the horses new things, but I'm probably the one who learns the most. The more I learn about the horsemanship the more I realize how much I don't know. It's all attainable, though, with a little patience and perseverance. Giddy up. 

 

Communion

We know we are in communion with Christ when we are in communion with His Church.

           https://youtu.be/k_N6ZFlkD9k         

 

Good News

How would you articulate the Good News? Probably better than me. 

           https://youtu.be/Vw3zR7eIld4         

Like and Love

We don't have to like everyone, but we do have to love them.

           https://youtu.be/O0T8Qn0vDMg         

 

Ranchin in the Rain

Beings I had a wedding in Hulett today, I thought I'd drop off the last few cows while I was at it. A win win in my book.

The Lord has been blessing us with abundant rain. I'm so thankful. It's incredibly beautiful and it's fun to play in the mud.

The girls will be happy. We'll call Joe's place the Hereford Ranch this year.

Just Ranchin 

It's hard to describe all the goodness of my day. Witnessing a wedding, baptizing a couple kids, celebrating two Masses, visiting good old ranch folks, attending the Catholic school concert and going to dinner with my buddy Paul's family, as well as delivering the cows... that's just fun. 

Irrigation

It’s hard to grow a weed around Worland without irrigation. Three weeks ago we had put hay seed in the ground and it was time to get water to it. What made it a challenge is we hadn't irrigated this corner since we put the pivot in almost 20 years ago. Let's just say this was one giant leap for man, even though it was a small step on the ranch. 

Getting water to the corner was the biggest obstacle. Everything on our little place is pumped, so the challenge lied more in finding the most economical way to pipe it there. Rob in Buffalo came through with 1200' of 6" aluminum pipe as well all the fittings necessary. Super helpful. Thanks man.

We had all the 4" sprinkle pipe. But in order to get the runs we needed we had to cut the ends off of 5 joints.

The 6" hydrants also needed a little doctoring so our openers would fit on them. 

Laying the 6" pipe out was definitely a two man job.

But the 4" was a three man job. Mom drove the ranch truck. 

Simple as that.

Actually words and pictures don't do this project much justice. For years we've been wanting to plant this corner. Watering it was always the challenge. Well, challenge met and challenge conquered. I'm sure there'll be some bugs here and there to work out. But the good news is that the grass and alfalfa seed has already germinated and begun to grow. Hopefully we can nurse it along till it gets established and then start to hay. it. Good irrigation can make a farmer out of anybody. 

Prayer and Fasting

Fasting is necessary throughout the whole year.

           https://youtu.be/tzgS1HtRBE8         

Hear Him

Reading a chapter of the Gospels every day will tune you into the voice of Jesus.

           https://youtu.be/Lb_1yAetckw         

 

Cowboy Ride

Saturday was the kickoff to the branding season. I hate setting the bar so high right out the gate, but that's life. Paul and Seamus Casey invited me up to the Marchant Ranch outside of Aladdin to ride and wrestle. Super fun. Could have done without getting up at 3am though.

Seamus stole the show with his calf whispering skills.

Here must be why they call this area Oak Creek. Scrub oaks are hard to ride through. Pretty common in NE WY. 

Pretty typical round up. Nothing too exciting except for loosing my phone on the prairie. Thanks St. Anthony. 

Hitching post. 

Cody was ready to rope. He put on a good clinic. 

Wrestling calves is more about finesse than brute strength. 

Paul in an acrobatic brander. He can get right down on a calf's level if need be. 

There's just no pretty way to castrate a calf. 

Three amigos

Just Ranchin  

Seamus leaves for the Air Force Academy in a month or so. We'll miss him, but a man's got to follow his heart. Just don't forget where you came from ol' son. Sit tall in the saddle and hold your head up high. God speed.