Office

With the remodeling of the parish office space, we were able to designate a new area for the pastor's office. Office work isn't my favorite task, but it comes with being a parish priest. So I might as well do it in a space that's functional and efficient. 

In small parish life you have to work with what you got. Nothing here is new, only reimagined. 

Originally this area was used for anything involved in parish administration. Once we set up our wall defining parish office and living quarters, we were able to move this desk into old dining room. This enabled us to move the pastor's office into this space, making parish operations much more congruent. 

After I got my desk in position I adorned it with Sleeping St. Joe and my painted portrait of Chief. 

Next we hung up my credentials next to our Blessed Mother, who’s intercession got me through school. 

Should work.

Do drop in. I don't mind pushing a pen when duty calls. What I do enjoy is visiting with people. This is why we are ordained priests, to help our brothers and sisters walk through the good, bad, and ugly moments in life. If you got something on your mind, swing by. We'll have coffee. 

Lectionary

The book of Jeremiah not Jerome. 

           https://youtu.be/n-0hrL4gvSE         

Tug of War

Better to not get sucked in to the tug of war of who's right and who's wrong, and better to curtail sin.

           https://youtu.be/QJ3_9Nabjp8         

Paradise Ranch

I love being a parish priest. It gets you into the lives of so many cool people. Like Clay and Leah Miller, the owner and operators of the Paradise Guest Ranch next to the Big Horn National Forest west of Buffalo. I've known about their operation for a while, and today they invited me out to take a look see. 

Fall is one of the most beautiful times of year in Wyoming. Especially in the Big Horns, where the turning quaking aspen trees are breathtaking. 

Leah has been part of the ownership of the Paradise Ranch since 1984. The ranch itself was homesteaded as a cow camp operation back in 1905. But by 1907, it was already being ran as a dude ranch. Over the years, the 160 acres of deeded land surrounded by national forest service ground, has gone through many different owners and phases. Today, Leah and Clay do their best to preserve the integrity of the ranch that has been placed in their hands for caretaking. 40 years of ownership makes them the longest standing proprietors in the ranch's history.

Nestled among the ponderosa pine trees are all cabins and outbuildings necessary to make the guest ranch run. Including two buildings from the original homestead. 

Horses and pack trips are one of the main ranch attractions. In full swing, they'll have about 150 horses roaming around. 

As part of the week long adventure package is a rodeo that the guests are able to participate in, minus the rough stock. 

Aside from the horses and trail rides, there is much to do on the ranch itself. This pavilion is a popular hang out on the long summer evenings. 

This wagon wheel style cook stove is often grand central station once the sun goes down. 

The Millers are in the process of closing up for the winter months. Here is the dining room where stories are told and laughter is heard. 

It takes a work force to keep an operation of this magnitude on track. There are full time employees, some of which live up here year round. And summer help, many on college break and others who just like the mountain experience. 

Like Michelle, Leah's sister, and her two golden retrievers. Michelle has been a Godsend to the ranch's operation this summer. 

Over the river and through the woods is Clay and Leah's home. 

Recently completed, this little oasis allows the Catholic cowboy couple to retreat from the wildness of guest ranch living, while still being able to enjoy the beauty of the Big Horns. 

The magnificent stone fireplace was made from rock unearthed in the building of the house.

The personal touchstones around the home are many and varied. Like this rug tapestry made by Michelle for Leah. Lovely. 

The view off the front porch is amazing. This rock formation is what they call Fan Rock. 

Up on the hill is one of the hidden gems of the ranch. This chapel was built in memory of a young man who worked on the ranch, but was tragically killed on a visit back home. May his memory be perpetual. 

A beautiful view of Fan Rock out the front. 

And room for many faithful guests in the pews. 

What a gift from God the Paradise Ranch is. Both for Clay and Leah, and the many guests they are able to share it with. Stewardship is a most honorable virtue. It comes from the knowledge that everything we have has been given to us by God, and the responsibility to ensure that those gifts can be enjoyed by God's people for generations to come. Leah and Clay Miller, and all those involved in the Paradise Ranch, embody the virtue of stewardship. Keep up the Good work, y’all. You make America proud. 

Water Works

It's best to not wait until winter weather hits to get ready for winter. You want to stay ahead of the game. Having an evening free back home, Dad and I decided to work on some of the waterers. 

The first hydrant to tackle was in the work pen. It's worked good, but it faces the wrong direction. 

So we decided to spin the faucet and handle 180 degrees. 

The last thing you want to do on a job like this, is spin the pipe in the ground. Though it is probably six feet deep, you take a chance of braking the tee that it mounts to. Then the afternoon project turns into an all day scramble. A back up pipe wrench is always the answer. 

Muy bien. 

Next was getting the heated waterer going. She's been down for a good three years. In all the work we've been doing, we needed to hook up to the new power line. 

Then turn the curb valve on to bring pressured water back to the surface. 

Just like it never quit. 

Bring it. 

In bronc world, you know you have a seat on a bucker if you beat the horse to the ground. Same with life, it’s best to stay one step ahead of the tasks to be done. Then, you are in control of life rather than it in control of you. Winters in Wyoming can be fun, but only if you’re prepared for them. No sense in waiting until it’s cold to try out your water heaters. Best to check them now. Let’s ranch. 

Curiosity

Seek the Lord in faith.

           https://youtu.be/SVVSANt1NJM         

Adventure

The word of God is a gateway to ADVENTURE!

           https://youtu.be/TjxtENU1UvE         

Roll with the Lord

Listening is putting hearing into action. 

           https://youtu.be/Nx-7xUCClmQ         

Shipping Calves

Fall is calf shipping season in the Rocky Mountain ranch world. I got my first call to lend a hand at the Borgialli Ranch about 25 miles east of Buffalo. Good time. 

I was assigned Ol' Blue. I'm not really a Dodge guy, but this Cummins diesel really pulled! 

Indian Creek, is the exact area. Dry and dusty, yet beautiful. 

Jim Borgialli is the head honcho of this outfit. He caught me at church one day and asked if I'd like to lend a hand. Sure would!

First order of business was weaning the calves from the cows. Clayton Borgialli made light work of it. 

They stuck me in the alleyway to keep the critters moving once separated. 

After the cows were cut out, we were able to bunch up the calves.

And jump them in the trailers. 

We hauled them to the sale barn to weigh and load them on the truck. 

Nice even bunch of black Angus calves. 

The next job was to separate the heifer calves from the steer calves. The buyer rep did the sorting, while the brand inspector inspected the calves' brand. 

Then we ran the steers in the barn and got an average weight on them. 

All 80 steers averaged about 592 lbs, about 12 pounds heavier than they were contracted for. Bonus. 

Then we jumped them on the truck. So long kids. 

After all that, we headed back to the ranch to do some fall conditioning to the cows. 

Fred Carr gave the vaccine. 

While I poured them. Should be free from Covid for a while. 

We just loaded the alleyway and Fred gave the shots. 

While I deloused their backs. 

Done. 

This is the day most ranchers are looking for. Around Montana and Wyoming, cattle producers mainly raise calves through the spring and summer, and sell them to buyers in the fall who will feed them up to 1200 lbs or so before they land in the steak house. After all is said and done, it's nice to take a breath and thank God for the year. But don't get too comfortable, there's always more work to be done. We’re on to the next one.