Dinner at the Cabin

When the weather is right, we like to have Thanksgiving dinner at the cabin. Such was the case for this year. A good time was had by all. 

The cabin has to be Mom's favorite hang out. After all, she was the instigator in buying it back in 2011. 

Located just north of Deerhaven Lodge on the western slope of the Big Horn Mountains. 

Sometimes by now, the snow pack is too much to get in. Not this year. Tensleep Creek is just starting to freeze over. 

The road in was snow packed, but not impassable. Another storm or two and Dad will have to bring his snow cat up to get in and out. 

I bet there are about 50 cabins spread out along this area. All of them on leases from the National Forest Service. 

There's four places down our lane. We looked to be the only folks braving the winter this Turkeyday. 

Home sweet home. 

Mom and Dad have been up here for a couple days, warming the place up and cooking. 

Luke and his family came up to chill and eat as well. 

Just the looks and sound of the fire keep you warm, let alone the heat. 

Then it was time to dine. 

No instant potatoes here. Just down home goodness. 

And after all that, dessert. 

Then cards for the kids.

While the rest of us took our rest. 

Fun. There's much to be thankful for. God's blessings, of course. Family and food, as well. But also Mom and Dad's cabin. It would have probably been a lot easier to have dinner back home. But there is just something special about a warm meal in the cold woods. Thanks for all the work you two did to make our Thanksgiving so enjoyable! Ranch on. 

100%

Give thanks 10 out of 10 times.

           https://youtu.be/CchtUyIhmZQ         

Testimony

Is good for all. 

           https://youtu.be/LabZW9znegU         

Judgement

Think about the seeds we sow now. 

           https://youtu.be/UGTBu3JCrd8         

Lamb of God

Our King is a lamb.

           https://youtu.be/BvffMuhjUB4         

Breakfast Sandwich

With having more time free on Sunday mornings, I have been able to exercise some culinary creativity. Such is the case with my latest creation, the Breakfast Sandwich. 

This bad boy is easy to make and delightful to eat. Watch and learn. 

Cooking with gas is a new experience for me. But this 1957 gas stove top continues to get the job done. 

I like to use some cooking spray to keep the surface slick. Then crack two farm fresh eggs into a heated up pan. Then cool the heat a bit. 

In the meantime, get your toast toasting. 

This is probably the hardest part, the flip. 

Once cooked on the bottom, flip the eggs to sear the top of the yokes. 

Immediately, put on your chopped ham lunchmeat and a slice of cheese. 

Then cover it with a lid. 

Once the cheese is melted, it's ready to serve. 

I put a piece of toast on top of the cheese while still in the pan.

Then just give a flip onto the plate. 

Cap it with the other side of the sandwich and roll it over so the cheese is back on top. 

Bon appetit. 

Beautiful. Being creative in the kitchen is nothing new to me. I've been coming up with cowboy concoctions for years. This, I have to say is one of my more practical creations. The Breakfast Sandwich serves a good purpose. It adds to the solemnity of Sunday, while keeping you fueled until lunch. Feel free to share this recipe with others. I remain dedicated to feeding America. Ranch on. 

Mystery

 The Church is the presence of the Kingdom of God in Mystery. LG

           https://youtu.be/PLqCavZF5Co         

Rescue Mission

Over the years, Dad has come to my rescue in many and varied ways. This time, the tables were turned. I got a call Thursday afternoon that he was stranded at the cabin. He drove in, and his pickup wouldn't start when he went to drive out. There was no rush as he had plenty of accommodations. But that evening, White Horse and I hit the trail.

We borrowed our new ranch partner's tilt bed. I think this relationship with Jack is going to be a real win-win. 

We stayed the night at the cabin and when we went to load up in the morning, Dad's pickup started. So he headed for town, only to make it a mile or so down the highway before she quit. We were suspecting the fuel pump. So we jumped it on the trailer and completed the journey to Worland. 

Beautiful drive down Tensleep Canyon. Fun to take it slow for a change. Lots to see. 

Once back at the ranch, she started and ran enough for us to get her backed off the trailer and put in the shop. 

This is an interesting tilt bed trailer. It's got a lot of pivot points and latches.

Before it was said and done, one of those latches jumped up and bit me!

Nothing Dad couldn't fix with a blue shop rag and a little black tape.

Then we went to cleaning out his bed. Our mission was to pull the truck box off and expose the fuel pump.

Six bolts hold the bed on. 18mm. 

Then remove the fuel-fill set up. 

Unhooking the lights was probably the hardest part. 

Then, with the help of a cherry picker and a couple of hands that are working on the house, we pulled the box back and rested it on the tires. 

Thus, exposing the top of the tank and the fuel pump assembly that rests inside of it. 

After unhooking the lines and wires, we pulled the culprit out. 

Then slid the new one in. 

Rehooking all the lines and wires again. She fired right up. 

Then restocked the tool box. 

And went back to work.

Mission accomplished. A rancher's truck is his lifeline. Without it, he's lost. With it, he's ranchin! Breakdowns are going to happen, but woe to poorly manufactured parts that cause them! This is the third fuel pump that has been put into Dad's truck. This time, I think we got it. We put in a good quality pump and are pretty confident that it was done right. A lot of guys will drop the fuel tank to change the pump. That works if you have a hoist and an empty tank. We had a full tank of gas and no hoist. Pulling the box was our only option. Worked good. Dad is now back on the road and the world is a safer place because of it. Dad is used to rescuing others, but it doesn't hurt for a guy to have to get rescued himself. Keeps you humble and compassionate. No time to waste, though. There's miles to cover! Let's ranch. 

Discipleship

Mary was closer to Jesus as His disciple than as His mother. 

           https://youtu.be/mat1sLnqkiQ         

Horse Update

Usually around this time of year is when I put the horses up for the winter. I'd enjoy riding again, but the opportunities to do so are definitely fewer. Regardless, it's a good time to make sure they're ready for the cold and reflect back on the year. 

Buck still rules the roost at the Marton Ranch. Having a mare around seems to have breathed new life into his old bones. 

Red finally made it back home to my brother. I had a couple guys put some more rides on him as he needed more attention over the summer than I was able to give him. He's all yours now, Luke. He left a brumby and came back a saddle horse. 

Mollie gets the tough horse award this year. When I needed her most, she came through with a willing spirit. Glad she's on the ranch. 

Overall, Chief had a good year. Put on a show for the school kids, drug calves around, let all sorts of folks ride him, and went on round ups. But his lameness concerns me. Seems to be in his front right leg. Likely it's down low, but maybe in his knee. I'll probably just let him rest until spring and see how he looks. I don't foresee it being too serous, he's only 12 and has had a pretty easy life. He probably just twitted an ankle when Buck was chasing him away from Mollie. 

Definitely going to take some time to get all the cockleburs out of his mane.

After a solid freeze is a good time to deworm a horse. Some people do it often, but I only do it in the spring, after the frost comes out. And in the fall, when the frost goes in. My preferred dewormer is the cheapest one on the shelf. 

I give a whole tube to each horse. Open wide!

It takes them a minute to swallow. Not sure they enjoy it, but they seem to be tolerant.  

Let 'er buck!

Good stuff. It's been an up and down year in horse world. At times I wonder if the work is worth the handful of times I get to ride. But each time I do ride, I'm reminded that it is worth the effort. Horses keep you humble. They keep you grounded in creation and alive in spirit. The best thing for the inside of a man is the outside of a horse. Ranch on.