Fall Break

Holy Mother Church gives priests vacation days for a reason. Their purpose is to refresh us in our natural relationship with God so that we can serve in a supernatural capacity as a priest. Some guys golf, other guys pilgrimage to Europe. I ranch.

On my bucket list was to get our catch pen complete before winter sets in. Mission accomplished. 

Two years ago, Gerry and I took down Grandpa's old stud run. He also had some lambing sheds set up in there. Most recently it hadn't been used for much more then catching weeds. 

Couldn't have picked a better week to be home. The fall weather was beautiful. 

If you want to have a good day of ranching you have to get started on the right foot. Thanks Mom.

Dad and I had set these posts back in the spring. 

Because this is going to be a working pen we put a top rail all around it. 2 7/8" pipe. 

One of my main missions in life is to help people avoid the near occasion of sins, including cows. We built this corral to be 5.5' tall. The idea is to not even give a cow a chance to think she can jump. Cattle just work smoother when they can't get their chin over the top or their nose under the bottom of the fence. After we had the top rail tacked on we welded the panels in the middle. The bottom rail is 6" off the ground. 

Next came the gates. I had been wondering how to go about this for a while. Uncle Chris to the rescue. We traded some 2 3/8" tubing for this 2" pipe. 2" is sweet, but its hard to find. Perfect size for gates. Thanks man,

Anytime you are framing up a rectangle, it's always good to pull a diagonal. Helps insure everything stays square. 

Didn't know for sure what to put in the middle. Was thinking sucker rod, but we don't have enough around the farm. God provides. This old 1" pipe came off of Grandpa's round pen. He had cable running through it. These gates are a great place to use this pipe. 

That pipe was pretty bent up. But we just put the bend running side to side and you'd never know. Gives it a bit of character too. 

The hinges were the biggest uncertainty. Because our mounting posts were 4 1/2" o.d., we couldn't find any pipe to fit over it. So we just got some 4" i.d. black pipe, halved it, and pounded it over the 4 1/2". Then took a smaller sledge and pinged it all round making sure the stretch would stay. 

Worked slick. I was concerned about what 14' of leverage would do to a free standing mounting post. But we used drill stem and set it in concrete. Didn't budge. 

Once she was all closed in, we hauled out our stash of 2 7/8" and back drug the pen. 

Looking good. Now the ranch is back to being able to hold a critter. 

Life is good. 

I never feel more at home then when I am home. I love the priesthood and my ministry at the parish. But it stems from the fact that I'm first a son. To be a good father you have to be a good son, which means spending time with God the Father on a natural level. By staying renewed in this relationship, we are able to serve well in our vocations. Sonship is the secret of life. Live out of it and you'll never have a bad day. On to the next one.

Gateway

This fall, my dream project finally came true. We had been planning all the while to make a large gateway into the new corrals. After gathering material and spending a few different days back home, we got it done. 

This project was not for the faint of heart. Either a hard hat or a hard head was required. 

Finding the pipe was the hardest part. Pipe of any size is scarce these days. Eventually, I called Pat Hladky with Cyclone Drilling in Gillette who hooked us up with this 4 1/2” drill stem. Thanks Pat. 

So we loaded it up on our gooseneck and headed for Worland. 

Getting a flat at Hells Half Acre in August just added to the adventure. 

Once delivered, we went to digging. Work smarter not harder. 

Uncle Chris’ post hole digger did a good job. 

But we still enlarged the holes. 

Then we picked the stem up with the trusty 4010. 

Once set, we leveled them and braced them by welding on fence posts and got ready for concrete. 

Sack-crete is handy, but it takes work. We mixed it with gravel to take up some room. An old farmer trick. 

Once firmed up, we got to work up top. Safety first.

These saddle templates are the only way to roll. 

Even though they make the mark you still have to dress them up a bit. 

That’ll work. 

Then came the big day. We borrowed Uncle Chris’ new tractor for this job. 

It wasn’t easy, but Dad and I got it set. 

Then welded it up. 

Then the final step of caping the ends.

The metal for this cap came off an old project that Grandpa Lloyd supplied the material for. 

Buzzed it in place and we were done. 

Giddy up. 

So fun. This was a big day on the ranch. Finishing up this robust entryway into the corrals marks the peak of the mountain. Everything from here on out will be down hill in comparison to the work of the last two years. Plan your work and work your plan, pays off once again. Now, let us ranch!

State of Grace

Grace is what everyone is looking for in life. 

           https://youtu.be/ECGHaCNVCIk         

Hat Retirement

There comes a time in every hat's life to be hung up. I've had many good hats over the years, but my Carmelite hat has probably brought me the most joy. Thanks partner for all the good memories. 

Atwood, Hereford, cattleman crease, low crown, 4" brim, 5x, Palm leaf hat. 

We first found each other in the spring of 2020. I was coming off a revitalizing Ignatian eight-day retreat and I realized I needed a new hat for the new man. For needs like this, I turn to my grandma in Heaven and ask for her prayers. Suddenly, I remembered that the truck stop in Moorcroft carried the kind of straw hats I like. I passed by this one at first. But after not finding any others that fit, I tried it on. It fit nice, but kicker was the trucker in the candy bar isle that gave me a nod of the head and a big thumbs up. Since then, we were inseparable. 

We tackled a lot of projects around the ranch together.

Got it broke in with some cow manure. 

Drug calves together at brandings.

Wrestled many calves. 

Ran around with my rodeo cronies. 

Bronc busted together. 

Mountain surfed with one another. 

Played golf with good friends. 

Did a little blacksmithing. 

Bought and branded my first cows together.

Celebrated Mass.

Visited some good ole friends. 

And some country music stars. 

Killed our first cow together. 

And many others after that. 

Hauled plenty of hay with each other. 

Checked fence with one another. 

Started colts together. 

Helped clear the highway of turkeys. 

Visited our favorite Lady in France. 

And the Mediterranean in Spain. 

Farmed a bit with one another. 

And revisited some old childhood stomping grounds together. 

But now it's time to hang it up. 

Cowboy hats don't last for ever, but the memories made in them do. For two years I wore this hat. It has been a good friend and we have covered many miles together. I wouldn't be the man or the priest I am today without this hat. It has taught me to always to stay in the saddle of sonship. In this childlike relationship with the Father, nothing can get us down. Hats come and go, but being a beloved son of God lasts forever. Thank you Grandma for my hat. But more importantly, thank you Lord for the lessons learned in it. 

Divide and Conquer

Don't listen to any spirit that bears the fruit of division. 

           https://youtu.be/CQEMQ86I9W8         

Rain Day

Rain days on the prairie are few and far between. So when they come around, you better take advantage of them.

After Mass, Mike and I headed to Mona's for a cup of coffee. The parking lot was full of ranchers who came to town to chew the fat. 

It's no cinnamon roll, but french toast will do.

I'm pretty good at drinking coffee and talking about the good ole day's. That's what rain days are for. They are a little break from day-to-day life to thank God for providing for us. An inch of rain before going into winter will sure do the countryside some good. Thank you Lord!

Ask, Knock, Seek

Resist hesitation with persistence. 

           https://youtu.be/lI3rhWvmLKY