Progressive Power

Getting the meat locker set up has been a work in progress. Slowly we have been getting her powered up in case the opportunity arises to charitably offer our butchering services. 

Our biggest dilemma has been power. We set it here because 3 phase power was available, as is noticed by the three transformers in the background. Turns out, that that is 480 3 phase, when we need 240! Cowboys don't quit, they improvise. There is a single phase transformer down the line. So we installed a phase converter and today we ran cable down to the pole. 

Northeast on Clear Creek is where we can be found. Beautiful shot of the Bighorns out here. 

Jim Borgialli hooked us up with this 4/0 power cable, leftover from the oilfield. Going 300' and drawing 100 amps or so, we have to go big.

So I hitched Josh to the line and kicked him into gear. 

Wanting to leave it on surface, Jim also hooked us up with this old fiberglass tubing that we planed to use as a protective conduit.

Thankfully, it sleeved in real smoothly.

This cable is four strands when we only need three, but it's all good.

The length was going to be tight so we took a straight shot through some piled up culverts. 

Once we had all the joints from the one end on, we threaded them together. 

Then hitched the string to White Horse and pulled it into position. 

Which landed us at the front of the trailer.

After we sleeved a couple more joints on from the other end, we barred it over into position. 

Perfecto!

Good stuff! This was a big step closer in getting our cooler powered up. We still have the uphill battle of wiring in the phase converter and hoping our 100 amp supply will run our big compressors. Only one way to find out! It'd be fun to cut meat again. But in the meantime, it has been real fun getting it set up. Special thanks Josh Meier for sacrificing his clean shoes to help Feed America. Bravo. Next step, get an electrician over here. Ranch on.

Round 2

One final trip, to take advantage of the winter snow. This time my buddy Josh Meier from my seminary days tagged along. 

Beautiful drive westward up the mountains. 

Dad was waiting for at the cabin. 

Where he had a fire going. 

And burgers on the grill. 

Can't beat it with a stick. 

Before we headed out the next morning, we had to siphon some gas into Josh's sled. My bad. 

Good stuff. Some new powder. Josh picked it up quick. 

A few open meadows.

That we had to leave our mark on. 

Our destination was Battle Park. 

Top of the world.

Then rode back.

To some grilled cheese and tomato soup.

Thanks Dad. Funs stuff. Such a great way to experience the mountains. Great to have Josh back around. We'll see what else we can drum up before he leaves. Ranch on. 

Communal

We pray and do penance for everyone!

           https://youtu.be/DIgGQ6qDTyA         

Jonah

Lent is about repentance of the heart.

           https://youtu.be/VT6vXJZbCUk         

Lake DeSmet

Johnson County is about 75 miles, north to south. I've spent a good amount of time in every direction from Buffalo except North. Sure, I've been here and there, but not too far off the Interstate. It's time that changes. 

Not far out of town is Lake DeSmet. It is a mysterious body of water to me, as no creeks really flow through it. Geologically, it is an old coal bed that the earth above it sunk in after the coal seam burnt out. Two creeks feed into it, Piney Cr. and Boxelder Cr., but it is not necessarily by them being backed up that it is full. Anyway, more to learn. 

My main interest for coming out was to see the monument to Fr. Peter John DeSmet S.J., who may have been the first European to lay eyes on this lake in 1851. 

The monument faces the foot hills of the Bighorn Mountains. Spectacular country. 

Tom Hart, and his furry friend, gave me a tour of this neck of the woods. Our local Knights of Columbus Council is looking to do some repair to this stone monument. 

Fr. DeSmet came through Wyoming in 1840, and celebrated the first Mass in Daniel, Wyoming. Though this sign says 1840, it wasn't actually until 1851 that he celebrated the first Mass in, what is now, Johnson County. 

Good stuff. 1851 is 175 years ago from 2026. Sounds like a reason to celebrate, to me. We'll see what we dream up. For now, the guys want to clean up DeSmet's monument. Fr. Peter John DeSmet S.J. has been called the Apostle of the Rocky Mountains. That's a cool handle. I look forward to getting to know this guy more in this significant year for our Nation and our County. Let's ranch. 

Thy Will be Done

Peace is in conforming our will to reality.

             https://youtu.be/wX3jM5g-mO0           

Wholeness

The spiritual and corporal works of mercy are good ways of putting flesh on our Lord's command. 

           https://youtu.be/gmQTXoDmhts         

Lent Program

Here's a few helps.

           https://youtu.be/-5aNPAExKRc         

Delouse

Lice and other parasites are not uncommon of four legged critters. Ranchers have been pouring (delousing with a pour-on method) cattle for decades. Recently, they have backed off a bit, not wanting kill every bug, including the good ones. That being said, there comes a time when cattle need to be deloused. 

The bare rear-end of blackie is a telltale that she's got some invasive bugs that aren't good. When you start to see bare spots on cattle from rubbing, like on their neck, they need attention. Traditionally, you'd pour cattle twice a year, at branding and shipping. Maybe guys still do. In a feedlot, everything gets poured once it gets off the truck. 

Ivermectin is the delouse of choice. Only having two and not 200, we didn't want a big jug. Dad found this little guy and figured out the right dose for our 600-700lbs calves. 

So we walked them in the pen. 

With no choice, they took the turn into the tub.

Once they hit the dead end of the squeeze chute gate, we poured the goods on them. 

Mission accomplished. 

Most problems on the ranch are easily solved if caught early. These two will continue to do fine. Probably worth getting on an annual delousing routine. Spring and fall sounds like a reasonable approach. Ranch and learn. 

Burn Day

Dad and I have been waiting for a little snow so we could set ablaze our burn piles. Well today, the Lord provided.

We put together a collection of old lumber and trees this summer with the intent of burning them this winter. Such a great way to dispose of old wood. 

We've had next to no snow all year. But last night, thanks be to God, we got a good 3". 

So we planned our work. With snow on the ground there was no danger of the fire getting out of hand. A dozer on site, though, would be handy to push the piles up. So we fired up Dad's little 350. 

Three piles awaited us. Fence posts, cottonwood trees, power poles and cedar shakes. 

Diesel fuel is a good starter, along with gasoline on top to really make it ignite.

Then we put a little gas on a shovel full of dirt.

Light it.

And let it buck. 

Uncle Phil came over when he saw the smoke. We touched all three off and once. 

Those fence post really wanted to burn. 

We had a bunch of junk in the tree pile. Once it got burning, Dad piled it up tighter. 

Didn't take long for the cedar shakes and power poles to melt down. 

As things burned, we continued to push the piles up. 

Not bad. Tree trunks are hard to burn completely. She'll probably smolder for a day or two. 

Poles and shakes went up nice.

Nothing but ashes from the fence posts.

Good stuff. We were ready. Once the snow hit, we went to work. There'll be a bit of clean up after the smoldering is done. But that will be worth it for as much rubbish as we got rid of. Fire is an amazing force. Used in controlled circumstances, it can do great good. Turned loose to run wild, it can do a lot of damage. We're thankful for the snow. It removed all fear the fire getting away. Ranching with patience.