Spring Cleaning

With some miles to put on this spring, it was time to give White Horse a good cleaning. 

Winter can be long and hard. Which, makes it difficult to keep a pickup tighty.

First stop was to the carwash. I like to hit it with soapy rinse first. 

Especially after winter, I like to scrub it down.

Then rinse it again. Buffalo water is pretty spot free in itself. 

Then the big chore, dung out the inside. If the back seat of your pickup doesn't look and smell like a tack shed, you ain't no cowboy!

Little vacuuming and straightening up, good to go. 

Front seat, needed the same attention. 

Ranch truck to the full. 

ArmorAll is tough to beat. These wipes are sure handy.

New again.

Ready for another 350.

Let's ranch. 

Giddy up. 

I had a buddy who used to say, “Life looks better through a clean windshield.” True that. Not only do trucks run better when they're clean, but we also feel better driving a clean pickup. I’m thankful for the goodness White Horse has been to me. I do my best to treat her right in return. Ranch on. 

Light of Life

Follow Christ by following our conscience.

           https://youtu.be/4aRiwrMnyI8         

Teaching Compassion

Compassion moves forward.

           https://youtu.be/8EkQuHb6oPo         

Canal Repair

If my dad has any fault, it's being too loyal. Dad has sat on the Bluff Canal board of directors for the past 10 years or so. He's not paid. But if it wasn't for his fidelity and expertise, a lot of crops south of Worland would go unwatered.

For being a short canal, the Bluff system has a lot of pipes and pumps. This part of the Upper Bluff network has been a thorn in everybody's side for the past few years. 

Last year, in the middle of this field, the old concrete pipe sprung a leak.

So, they dug it up this spring and cased it with new concrete. 

The entire pipe probably needs replaced, but that's for another day. 

On the front end is the bigger job. On this side of the draw, lie the head of that pipeline, which has been springing leaks for the past few years. Replacing the first 500' of line is the first phase of replacing the entire stretch. But to do so, they had to get trucks across this draw. 

So Dad fired up our ole JD 450.

And went to work. 

Not bad for a country boy. 

This job is for the experts. Lots of depth and lots of dirt. 

Here's where the old line sat. 

It will drop off this bank and head to the dual pump system. 

Plenty of digging yet to do. 

As they pull all the old 10' sections out.

And make room for these 50' x 24" polly joints. 

Dad will make sure the job gets done. Some may criticize him for working too hard in a volunteer position. But I admire him. When Dad signs on to a project, you know you are in good hands. Keep riding for the brand, partner. Your loyalty is ensuring the growth of a lot more than just crops. 

Feeding Cows

It's gonna be a while before grass is ready to graze. In the meantime, we're just going to keep feed on the cows. Well, today they ran out. 

Critters of this age, you can pretty well keep as much hay on them as you want. Especially if it's grass hay. 

This is all the hay we have left from last year's little crop. Good opportunity to feed it up. 

Little squares should top off what's left in the feeder. 

This round bale feeder works great. But there comes a point, with tightly baled bales, where cattle can no longer reach the feed. 

So we just forked it around while the cows looked on. 

There was still a lot of hay left in those round bales. It just needed broken up. 

Then we threw the little squares on top. 

When cutting twine on little squares, I like to hold it on one side of the knot and cut it on the other. Trying to drag the knot all the way around the underside of a bale can be enough to make a preacher cuss! 

Best to keep track of all your twine and tie them in a knot before pitching them in the shed. 

Everybody's happy. 

It won't be long and grass around the ranch will green up. Then we'll kick the girls to pasture. Until then, we'll keep hay on them. Ranchin. 

North Forty

The real purpose of a rectory is to be a place of solace and renewal for the priest. Many times this is already the case. Other times you have to do some work to make it so. With a little love, our rectory now serves this end well. 

The rectory in Buffalo serves many purposes. Being built in 1953 or so, the Church obtained it around 1967. Since then, it has served as both office and rectory. With such a set up, you definitely need some designated personal space. Behind this door is the Cowboy Priest's North Forty. 

The entire house has been well kept over the 70 years of its existence. Before moving up here from the basement, it was a good time to refreshen everything. 

In the bedroom we gently restored the floors and painted the walls. 

Then put in the bed and new blinds. 

A couple reminders of home and she's ready to go. 

The bathroom was totally functional and straight out of 1973. 

I can hardly remember the last time I took a bath.  

For this job, we hired a contractor. New drywall, vanity, and flooring. 

And a walk-in shower!

The chapel we pretty well left the same, with the exception of a cool old light from the church. 

Both my predecessors had an Eastern vibe. Works. 

This was the old pastor's office, next to the bedroom. Last fall we moved that office into the designated office space. That left this room wide open.

So we did the same as the bedroom. 

And made into a cowboy corner. 

Giddy up. Just as a monk has a cell to retreat from the world. So a parish priest has a rectory to refresh his soul. This is a beautiful rectory and I thank God for all the hard work that has gone into keeping her strong all these years. With a little updating, she's now ready to serve the next batch of priests that cross her path. Let's ranch. 

Father

Jesus and the Father are one.

           https://youtu.be/mVAKBiFLTrg         

Greater

Jesus is fullness.

           https://youtu.be/tOgyKQEVuUQ