Ranch Truck

Anything mechanical is going to break down. White Horse has been given me fits for a while now. Something sporadically keeps telling it to run rich and makes one side of engine misfire. I've changed O2 sensors, fixed exhaust leaks, reset codes, and then some. All with no luck. She'll run good and then she won't. So, I decided to leave her back home and let a real mechanic take a look at the problem.

Needing a ranch rig to take her place, I turned to Ranch Truck. She has scarcely been off the ranch in the last five years that we have re-owned her. Knowing she was ready to run, though, I took time to outfit her before I hit the trail.

Spare tire is a good idea, considering the rubber that is on her.

Got to have a tool box of sorts. We just zipped down our old welding box. 

Should work.

The inside just deed a good farmer dung-out. 

Then set her up with the essentials: halters, wool hoodie, and two lariats. 

Let's ranch.

I bought this truck in 2004 and got her all set up for work. After heading to the seminary in 2008, I gave her to the Carmelite Monastery to run around Carter Mountain with. In the winter of 2021, after having been decommissioned by the Monks, we went back and got her to use the flatbed. Deciding not to go that route, we got her running and put her back to work, instead. Despite a few repairs here and there, Ranch Truck has been handy to have around. Hopefully, she'll serve all our Catholic Cowboy needs in Johnson County until White Horse is back on her feet. We'll find out!

Setting Posts

Having some vacation time back home, we took the opportunity to get some posts set on our 1/4 mile stretch of fence. Fun stuff. 

Plan your work and work your plan. First step, cut the brace posts. We needed to set three H-braces with 2 7/8" and a corner post network with 4 1/2" dill stem. Easier to cut up top rather than down below. 

Then we hauled them down with White Horse. 

Dad ran the 4230 as we pounded in the 2 7/8". 

Once we had the corner posts set, we got busy pounding in the T-posts. Old posts, 12' apart. 

The stretch we are working on is along the lane, right below the rising sun. The field is coming on nice. 

This is the northeast corner of the ranch. Good place for a solid corner post setup. 

Before we could drill these guys in, we called for a line locate. There is an 8" high pressure oil pipeline running right through the middle of our field and close to these corner posts. Jeff found it for us and stayed on site while we dug the holes with the hydraulic auger. 

Once in set in position, we concreted in the 4 1/2". 

After they were set solid, we cut and welded in the horizontals. 

Money.

There is plenty more work to be done on this 1/4 mile section of joy. But, I think we are now on the down hill side. Better not slow down, though. The cows are going to need to come in here within the next month. That's all for now. Gotta get back to the parish. 24/8. 

Jelly Belly

One of the great perks of living in Buffalo, is that the local grocery store has a Jelly Belly distribution center. Wanting to have a little color in my life, I like to keep some on hand. 

Other jelly beans really don't compare to Jelly Belly. How they get all those flavors to taste just like the names they give them, I don't know. I do know that I like them, though. 

DJ's on Fort St. is where the Jelly Belly aisle can be found. I like to let my buddies know when I'm walking down this sugar lane. Here's my spring pose.

With summer attire. 

Falltime. 

And with my winter regalia. 

People know that I like Jelly Belly's, so I'll often be given an assorted bag for Christmas. 

And Easter, after I've given them up for Lent. 

They are nice to have on hand at the office, for guests that stop by or a pick-me-up in the afternoon. 

During the Easter Season, I like to carry a few in my pocket to help me experience the joy of Christ's Resurrection. 

Good stuff, literally. St. Ignatius would say that non-spiritual consolations, like Jelly Belly's, can help one return to spiritual consolation if they are experiencing a bit of desolation. Desolation or not, Jelly Belly's are good for the soul. I'm grateful that DJ's carries them and thankful to God for making them. Ranch on. 

John Chick Jr.

Here's to you, brother. Keep ranching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLMUC6Y5E68&t=486s

Independence Rock

Having a gig at Wyoming Catholic College in Lander, I took the scenic rout around WY 220 and checked out Independence Rock along the way. Good stuff.

I've been to this site before. So much westward expansion history along this river. 

The Sweetwater got its name in comparison to all the alkali water that the travelers had been encountering in Wyoming. 

High desert is what we call land like this.

Still west.

DeSmet stopped by.

Lot of history. 

Still here for the world to see how times once were. 

It is a massive rock that you can climb up on. 

My basic understanding is that, if you didn't reach Independence Rock by the 4th of July, don't go any further. The mountains ahead of you will eat your lunch come November. Happened to many folks. Wild times.

Very interesting.

I tip my hat to all pioneers. Makes me wonder how my great-great granddad got out here. Life wasn't easy not too long ago. Times sure have changed in a hurry. I cover ground in two hours that would have taken our four fathers two weeks. God bless America. Ranch on. 

Sojourn

Communion and Community.

           https://youtu.be/iFbfR8MXf1Q         

Seventh Calf

Our seventh calf came sometime during our last spring storm. Since they have been calving with such ease, I haven't been keeping too close an eye on them. On Saturday morning, I came out to find this little guy.

Nice little bull calf.

Spring sun is calling everyone to sit and soak it in. 

69 is our biggest heifer cow. Gentle giant. Good mother. 

We walked them away from the other cows to calf. 

Tall, like his mom. He'll do well in life.

Go forth and prosper. 

Good stuff. Starting to get into the second cycle of calves. This couple kicks off our last string of calving. Only four to go, now. Let finish strong and ranch on!

Backhoe Back

Last summer, our backhoe on the back of the dozer sprung a leak. Thinking that was the last straw, we parked it on the north 40. After we thought about it, though, we thought we could bring it back to life. Sure enough.

This old backhoe has a hydraulic steering motor rather than individual cylinders. It's been problematic in the past.

During some heavy digging two summers ago, we blew a seal on the bottom half of this motor.

Once we had it off the unit, we split the motor to see what we could find.

Sure enough, a shot o-ring.

This thing is impossible to find parts for. So we figured out the diameter of the o-ring and went to town to see what we could find. 

Money! We found the right o-ring in little ole Worland WY. 

Once put back together, we bolted it back up to the backhoe.

Ranch ready.

This dozer and backhoe combo have been a labor of love. The hoe attachment we fabbed on almost 20 years ago. Since then, we have fixed a lot of hydraulic leaks, like the one today. It's a contraption, but worth its weight in digging power. Definitely worth the $3.95 o-ring to keep it around the ranch. Now we just have to find something that needs dug up. Bring it.