Christmas Day

  Our Christmas didn't start out that great. The dogs got us up at 2 am to go potty. Then they got into a fight in the pasture. They came back to the house bloody and covered in snow and ice. Cord the Corgi was the one is  hurt. He has a bite mark on his chest and limping pretty bad on his left front leg. It was 3:30am before we got back to bed. So we have been playing nurse maid to Cord all day. He seems to be better but we will call the vet tomorrow and probaly get him checked out.
  Other than the dog issue we had agreat Christmas. We opened presents with my In-laws over Skype. Its how we do Christmas with them since we live so far away.
  Our front yard this morning.

  My In-laws got this really cool cantle silver for my saddle. Guess they kinda like me.

My bride and I in front of the tree tonight. Sharon knitted the sweater Im wearing. She also knited a pair of wool socks for me. I tell you what she is a keeper for sure!! She is 26 weeks pregnant now.

Other than the dog deal we had agreat day. We just relaxed and snacked, read and just enjoyed the great life we have with each other. Hope everyone had a safe and happy Christmas.
Until next time take care

Todays fun

   I went and helped a friend ride through his cows and then we moved some yearlings. I know it's my day off but I love being horseback and working cows.

   Here's where things got a touch interesting. Crossing the frozen creek. I tried leading Gato acrossed but he was really wasn't into it. It took a bit of convincing but with Brian's help Gato came across a much better horse.

 If I don't post before Christmas, Please have a Merry Christmas. Be safe.
Until next time take care.

Good Day

  Went and help a neighbor sort and ship calves today. We sorted them horseback so much fun that way. When we sort ours we do it afoot cause we just arent set up to use horses that way. I really liked doing it horseback. He had  some calves in that needed DR'ing so we roped and DR'd them. Trotted out and checked his yearlings. I really like my horse El Gato. He is just awesome.
    Sharon entered a sweater she knitted in the Make it with Wool competition. She won the state!!!! I am so proud of her!! There is no national competition for her category.
   The baby is now at 24 weeks. Sharon is now calling the Jelly Bean, Wiggles. The Bean is now the size of a cantalope.
 Untill next time take care

Christmas Parade

   We took the team of Halflingers to Torrington for the Christmas parade. My boss and I outrode for the team. I rode El Gato he did really good. There were acouple time's he got tight but nothing bad. Stuff like parades and and getting out in the public is really good for him. Just makes him into a better horse. The wagon.

 Going down the parade route.

A bunch of cows coming to cake. They get kinda excited.

I got some new neckrags when we went to town the other day. OK I got fabric for Sharon to make them. Haha. I'll let you all in on a secret I got Sharon a serger sewing machine for Christmas. It will be nice for her to make baby clothes.

It's snowing here today. Glad I have the day off to spend with Sharon. I think I might try to get into my room and build a couple split ear bridles. I have a bit that needs one and I ordered a spade bit the other day so I'll need one for that as well.
  Until next time take care

Chariot races

       I went and outrode for the chariot races this weekend. Our friends from Dubois was racing in Glendo so I went over and helped out. Lots of fun and really cool to watch. It really is something to hear the horse's hoove's thunder down the track. Four horse's at a dead run is awesome. Thats why they have outriders in case the driver can't get they horses shut down. We ride along side to the gates and at the end of the track. John warming up his wife's team here.

   Heres a shot of the teams going to the gates.

I took my horse El Gato. We took the teams up to the gates. I didnt want to race him along side the chariots. Im still learning Gato and I want to make sure I can do the job of shutting teams. He did great. I put him in the low pressure places. He really wanted to run when the gates banged open though. I love riding and using horse's.

John horse's ready to go home. There are four horses there gotta look close.
Clicking on pics make bigger.
Until next time take care

Keepin up

Here's our Christmas tree in the wild. We go every year and cut our own. We are making it into our family tradition. We had a great day getting this tree. We went and feed some cows.    I showed Sharon a little more of the ranch.
  My boss and his Dad bought a team of Halflinger mares. So we have been feeding with the team. It's fun learning how to harness and drive. Im doing this posting from my new phoneso I hope works.
Until next time take care.

20 weeks

      I got the day off yesterday to go with Sharon to the Doctor's. It was the big ultra-sound day. We could have found out the sex of the baby but I really dont want to know until the baby is born. I think that it is the biggest suprise and present a person can have . We have a very active baby. He/She was doing a lot of swimming and moving. The Bean gave us a couple thumbs up in the pictures. It really is just amazing to see our baby in the womb. Sharon has a beautiful glow about her.
     After the Doctor appointment we went to the AT&T store in Douglas. We didnt know there was an AT&T store there. We decided to upgrade our phones. The store was busy so we went to the pawn shop but the car wouldn't start. So we went to O'Reilly Auto to see if they could help us test the battery. They were really helpful they sent a guy to help us. When we were looking for the problem a guy came out of the AT&T store and helped us find the problem. The starter went bad. 178,000 miles on my wifes Jeep. John said he lived just up the street and if I wanted he would tow us up there to change out the starter. We towed it up and he helped me change it out. It sure was nice to have tools and a jack and lights to work on the Jeep. Sharon and his son watched tv in the warm house. Im so glad I has there with Sharon when her Jeep broke down.
     Today we preg checked cows about 350 of them ol'grouchy rips.
Until next time take care

My Wife

Here's a link to my bride's blog. Check it out. I'm really proud of her. She has done a couple really cool posts in the last couple days. Enjoy http://aprairiesunrise.blogspot.com/
Until next time take care

19 weeks

   Here's my bride at 19 weeks. Sharon looks amazing carrying our baby!!

Yesterday the horse club I belong to had a demo put on by a clinician. Its always interresting to watch how someone works their horse's. We had our club meeting and some how I got elected Vice Prez. I've never held an office or done something like this. So I don't what I'm getting into. But I think it will be good for me.
   Until next time take care

Water work

   Friday we worked on a water project. We needed to add a rubber tire tank for storage.

 

Finished Tank.

 

Here's the pasture we were working in. Not a bad view huh?

 

We worked in the shop yesterday it was snowing and cold. Just puttered around with some projects.

 

   We are on week 19 of the pregnancy. Everything is going great. Sharon has a Doctor appointment next week. Just a check up and ultra-sound. We are very excited to be parents!! Prettty scary also.

 

  Until next time take care

click on pics makes them bigger





Shipping

   We did our last shipping yesterday. Shipped about about 260ish calves. Then in the afternoon we poured on and gave shots to the heifer calves we held back as replacements for next year.
   One of the guys who works for the ranch wanted to start a mens Bible study. So we started last week. We will meet once a week till we get really busy again then sounds like we will met when we can. Its nice to get together and visit and for me to learn more about the Bible.
   We went to set a rubber tire tank this afternoon. The tractor is making a funny noise in the rear end. So we brought it back to the ranch and I'll take the other tractor over so we can finish doing the dirt work and set the tank.
   Looks like we are gonna get some cold weather this weekend with snow, 1-3 inches.  
until next time take care

Birthday

   Monday was my brides brithday.... We celebrated by going to Cheyenne and just hanging out and doing what Sharon wanted to do. We met up with a friend of Sharon's and were gonna have lunch but she had to leave earlier than planned. So Sharon and I just wondered through the mall. We got Sharon a new wedding band. It's a nice little Black Hills gold band. Sharons fingers are starting to swell form the baby. Sharon loves wearing a wedding ring so................. We got her a pretty ring for her Birthday. We  are 18 1/2 weeks along now with the baby. So almost half way!! I can't wait to hold the baby.
    We went into a fabric store... I know imagine that being married to a quilter. Sharon got a bunch supplies she needs for making stuff for the Christmas Bazaar in town. But we got my some silky polyester so Sharon will make a neck rag or wild rag for me. Pretty nice huh?

We went to the AT&T store and looked at new phones. We are up for new one's. Mine is starting to piss me off. The screen is just to small and I have a hard time reading stuff. Sharon want's to just upgrade. We use our phone for lots of stuff. We did upgrade our aircard it's how we get internet here. The new deal is called a Hotspot and we can now run both computers at the same time. Pretty nice once we got the bump's ironed out. The tec who sold us the Hotspot didn't change our plan so it didn't work until this afternoon. When Sharon finaly got it going. Love my wife!!
   We were gonna go shopping at Wal-mart but we just were having to nice of a day to go there and do the monthly shopping. We are really glad we did. Sharon will go to Scottsbluff later this week and do that shopping. We wandered around Barns and Nobles. Looking at books. Man I saw bunch of books I wanted.
   Here's my new horse El Gato after a day of work. He's looking for his grain and to get the saddle off his back.

We are shipping cows tomorrow. I'm gonna ride my horse G. My other bay mustang horse. Haha.
Until next time take care

Working G horse

  Here's Wyoming weather. Gotta love it. I took these pictures with my cell phone and just figured out how to get them on here.The snow was 2 weeks ago. I'm riding my G horse the mustang. If you look at the neck you can see the BLM brand.

Here's the view from my office. Looking for cows.

This picture was taken acouple days before the snow. We were riding in shirts.

 I was hauling hay today and it felt like a spring day.
Until next time take care

Halloween 'little late'

  We went and got some pumpkins when Sharons parents were here. It was a good time getting them. Picking out the 'one'.

  Goofing around. My Father in Law launching tomato's.

Here's the carved pumpkins. Sharon did this one. I really like it.

And here's mine.

Until next time take care

New Horse

Just picked up  a new horse today. He's a dandy! He's 14'3 hands so he's kinda small but I think he has a ton of heart. He's in the 2rein. He moves off alot of body cues. He is really soft in the face and body. Here he is at home getting grain.

 Me and my boy, El Gato.

Until next time take care

Rough month

    When I was guiding I lost the starter on my truck. I put a new one in the dark so I could use my truck the next day.Then 2 days later the front wheel bearing burned up. Got my truck towed and fixed. When I picked it up my battery's were dead so I got to buy 2 new batterys.
   Our pastor from Crowheart WY past away last week of a massive heart attack. His service was today. We really wanted to go but we shipped cows today. So I couldn't get the time to go. That and we had a really good snow come in last night.
  My horse Roller twisted a gut and died on me today when I was gathering cows. Its a bummer he was my friend. I learned alot from him. Never forget you buddy.

 Now for some good news. My Mom came up and baby sat the dogs when I was guiding and Sharon was in Salt Lake City at the Quilting Summit. I got to spend a little time with Mom and enjoyed it very much. Sharons parents are here now we are having a great visit. We went a got a pumkins the other day. We didn't do the corn maze but we had a good time. Then went to Ft. Laramie and looked at history. It was a good day.
  We got some snow today!!! And we have enough to measure.
  Until next time take care

Hunting

Im home for the night visiting with my Mom. She came all the way from California just to watch the dogs for us. Yeah MOM!!!!! Thank you so much!
  I'm back guding tomorrow afternoon then season ends in acouple days. Guiding is long days and short nights....
  Here's a some of the animals we harvested.

 

Here's a Father and Son hunt.

 

 

And here's the Dad's Goat.

 





My first Combo hunt with Stan. We were hunting Antelope and Deer. Lots of pressure on these hunts. Leave at 5am and not get back to the lodge til almost 8pm. The hard work paid off!!

24 1/2" 4x4 Buck. We think it weighed close to 250pounds. Big boy.

I'm guiding some coyote hunters tomorrow then Antelope on Monday.
Thats what I have for now hoping to have more pictures......Click on them make em bigger.
Until next time take care

Hunting camp

  Off to hunt camp tomorrow. I'll be guiding for antelope and acouple deer this year. Its really not a "camp" its a lodge. Here's the link http://www.rockin7ranch.com/ So this my last night with my bride for about two and a half weeks.
   Sharon is off to Salt Lake City of the Sewing Summit for acouple days. Sharon is pretty shy around people and she was nervous going last year. Now its all she thinks about. She has made lots of friends online and she get to meet alot of them there. Its pretty cool. She is picking up a friend that lives in the UK. I guess you could call it a girls weekend get away. Quilters and Knitters gone wild!!
  Still no rain here. Its scaring dry. Its cooling down we have been in the low 80's days low 40's at nights. Here's a picture I found. Kinda cool formation.

Until next time take care

Bathroom floor

 We had a carpeted bathroom. We just aren't big fans of a carpeted bathroom.

Here's the floor with out carpet.

And now the finished floor. My boss pick up the tile for the floor. We really like it. It makes the room have alot more light. Really looks good, Huh?

 until next time take care

Big News

  Here's a picture of my bride. She knitted the sweater she is wearing. Pretty dang cool huh?

The really cool part is that she is just starting the second trimester. You know we are gonna have a baby!!!! We are super excited about this. Here's Jelly Bean two weeks ago.

We are calling the baby Jelly Bean because the first ulta-sound looked just like a jelly bean. Until next time take care.

A Date

      My bride talked me into working today insted of yesterday so I could go with her to the Fiber Fair in Scottsbluff NE. It was nice to just spend time wondering around and looking at stuff. We didn't have any time pressure, THAT was so nice! We took my truck and I had a new radio put in. The old one died. The new radio plays an iPod. Sharon gave me her old one so I've been putting music on it. We stopped at the radio store and the guy there said it would about a 30 minute to put it in. So we went next door and had lunch. He was done when we got back.
    Went to the Fiber fair. They had tons of fiber aka wool. It was cool seeing Sharon in her element. She had fun looking and talking to vendors. She is kinda shy so me being there helps her. Sharon has been spinning wool on a drop spindle and wants to get a spinning wheel. There was a vendor that rents wheels. We came home with a wheel to try out. It doesn't look like the old classic wheels. It's a fold up travel model. Sharon has played on the classic models and really liked them.This one will give her the chance to spin up a bunch of wool into thread and see if she likes spinning. I think we will be getting a wheel in the future. They are kinda expensive but whats not. The craftmanship on the classic type wheels in just awesome. Here's the wheel folded up.

The wheel set up and ready to use. The front view.

Well until next time take care.

Water tanks

  Last couple days I have been working on putting in new water tanks at my house. The big old metal one rusted out so I put in this rubber tire tank.

Here's a shot of it with dirt in it. I will top it off with concrete then set the float valve in it.

I had really cool old concrete tank but it was leaking so I tore it out as well. When I was setting the tank this morning everything was going great til I accidentally moved the tire and broke the riser pipe. So Im digging through the old concrete. Got to find the joint its probaly 5-6 feet down below frost line.
  Thats what Ive been doing. Until next time take care.

Wedding

  Here's some of my sister-in-laws wedding. I know it was a couple weeks ago but better later than never right? Here's the family.

The Wedding party.

Dancing with my mother-in-law. Lots of fun! I love this picture just wish our hands were lower.

My bride and myself.

The woman that I am lucky enough to spend the rest of my life with.

Until next time take care