Catholic Cowboy Pizza

I'm all about expanding my culinary horizons. To aid in this, some of the laddies from Church hooked me up with a homemade, personal pan pizza kit. By the third go, I had it pretty well dialed in. 

Premade dough/crust, pizza sauce, pepperoni, and shredded cheese. 

I like to first baste a bit of olive oil on the crust-to-be. Really enhances the Italian flavor. 

Then spread a liberal amount of pizza sauce. 

I find putting the pepperoni on before the cheese to be the best bet. Put plenty of them on there. 

Then scatter the cheese. 

Finally, place the pie directly on the oven rack and cook at 400 for 12 minutes or so. 

While you're waiting, enjoy a little Catholic Cowboy appetizer. 

I like to cook until the crust is browned, the cheese is melted, and the sauce is bubbling. 

Cut it in quarters. 

And enjoy. 

Fun and simple. Tastes good, too. Sure, you can pop in an already made frozen pizza. But where's the love in that? The laddies who gave me this kit wanted to make sure I was not only well fed, but also well loved. Thanks moms. I can taste the goodness. Ranching with class. 

Intentional

Let your yes be yes and your no be no.

             https://youtu.be/1pB06itOLMo           

Dry Run

With such an open winter, it is hard to think about snowmobiling. But with days starting to get longer, we knew that it was now or never. So, John and I jumped the sleds in the trailer and headed for the hills.

We arrived at Deer Haven just as light was leaving the sky.

A short little ride and we were at that cabin.

Where Ole Faithful had a fire going and burgers on the grill.

After dinner we killed a little time playing rummy. 

The next morning, we hit the trail. Not what you want to see at 8700 feet in February. 

This hillside is where we have crushed the powder for the past five years. Not this year.

But the Lord did provide us a few meadows to play in. 

I can smell a drift that needs busting a mile away. 

For John's first time out, he didn't hold back. 

Here's what you have to watch for in a light year, rocks. If you ride gingerly, you can avoid them.

If you open a gate, close a gate. Usually we ride over them. 

Having fun.

Giddy up! Good work, pal.

Top of the world.

Fun stuff. No snow doesn't stop us from snowmobiling. It may not have been the hardest riding I've been in, but it was still worth the trip. Mountains just do something to a man's soul. Frees it from the confines of town, I guess. Special thanks to Mom and Dad for the cabin, and Jack for the extra sled. Ranch on. 

Whole Hearted

Own it.

           https://youtu.be/ZqpF-YkSLc8         

The Catholic Cowboy Way Podcast

Last fall, Catholic Rural Life reached out and asked if I wanted to host a podcast. Hosting a podcast has been a desire of mine for many years. However, they take a lot more work than running a blog. The beauty of this opportunity with CRL, is that they will do all the editing and publishing. All I have to do is visit with folks I know, and those I'll come to know, about living the Catholic Faith. So, with the Bishop's blessing, I committed to hosting a weekly podcast for the next five years. Bring it.

In like fashion of most things I do, creating the studio was a happy thought. Being a child of the 90s, I knew a neon sign had to be part of it. Ranch on. 

So Darin and I set out. I brought back some old corral lumber from the homestead for the backdrop. 

While I was at it, I brought back some old tack, too. And breathed new life into it with some warmed-up neatsfoot oil.

A rather unique enshrinement of our Blessed Mother, a draft horse pulling collar. I think she likes it. 

Should work. It's great corner of the basement for a studio. If we have a live guest, we can 1/4 turn the desk, pull out another mic, and have a conversation for two. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nUkZd5Px50

Here's our first episode with Bear Woznick. Every Wednesday morning, from here on out, we'll post a new episode.

I'm excited about this initiative. It has great potential of encouraging everyday people in their walk with Christ. No doubt there will be a learning curve, but the only way confidence is gained is through experience. Let's let this podcast buck and we'll learn to ride along the way. Stay tuned. 

Christian Mysteries

Our Lady of Lourdes, intercede for us! 

           https://youtu.be/iYh1tRXGjjo         

Ora et Labora

Contemplatives in action. 

           https://youtu.be/TFl3prTFC8w         

Sacraments

Are physical encounters with God.

           https://youtu.be/k2Y0MxwaCFw         

Humility

Let your light shine.

           https://youtu.be/O1uiBUuRowo         

Ruth's Handrail

Second to my dislike of dysfunctional gates are loose handrails. I visited Ruth Straessler the other day, only to discover that both of her handrails were rusted off at the concrete. Unacceptable. 

So Darin and I came over and got to work. We pulled one off at a time and fixed it, so no one who came to visit was without a rail to grab. 

Here's the problem. The square tubing set in the concrete rusted out the metal. And on this side, broke the corner of the step off too. 

Tubing almost always get's moisture trapped inside of it. If it has nowhere to go, it'll bulge the metal out when it freezes and eventually rust away. 

Our answer: replace the rusty tubing with some pipe and make a mounting plate with a hole in the center so the moisture inside the tubing has somewhere to go. 

Tack on the pipe and then the mounting plate. 

Then weld them up. 

While we were at it, we cleaned the old rail up. 

And gave it a fresh coat of Hunter Green. 

Then hauled them over and remounted them to the deck posts. 

Mounting to the concrete was the main job. Good hammer drilled holes and some self tapping screws and they were set. 

On the broken side, we just kicked the rail over a bit and still got three good screws in.

Everyone's happy. Especially Ruth.

The Lord says, "Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father" (Matthew 5:16). Ruth does so much for our Church, it's time we do some good for her in return. Little does as much good for the Kingdom of God than somebody joyfully using their gifts to serve God and one another. Ruth Straessler is a master at that. We're just following her example. Ranch on. 

Dependence

On the Lord.

             https://youtu.be/uYsqlASmKZQ           

Box

Don't box me in!

             https://youtu.be/HLQ3MZeRyWU