Sweet Corn

I'm a corn guy! Growing up, my favorite food was always corn on the cob. If fact, the toughest summer of my life was when I lost my two front teeth. Traumatic! I always enjoyed eating sweet corn, but was never good at cooking it. Until now!

Speedy's, from Hardin MT, comes down once a week or so and sells Buffalo some sweet corn. Thanks pal.

For a single man of God, one ear will do. Boiling a pot of water or trying it on the grill is too much trouble. But the microwave!? Can do. Just throw it in there, husk and all, for 4 min. No more, no less. For multiple ears, the time has to be adjusted. 

Giddy up! The corn is beautiful and cooked just right. Hot to the touch, though! 

While she's still plenty warm, get it buttered. Probably the most common trick is the roll method. Growing up this was forbidden, though since we have left home I see Mom and Dad have relaxed the rules. The rolling works good but it does do damage to the cube of butter.  

My buddy, John, showed me the upside down fork trick the other day. Works good, the curvature fits the cob well. 

Once buttered, add a liberal amount of salt. 

Complement it with some elk steaks and a Coors Light, and you have yourself a Catholic cowboy cuisine!

Enough said.

One of my favorite summer memories was the API (American Petroleum Institute) picnic at Sanders Park that Dad would take us to each summer growing up. That was usually my first corn of the year. I think they had a bucket of melted butter that they would dunk a half a cob into before dropping it on your plate. Didn't get much better than that, in my five year old mind. The smell and taste of sweet corn brings back those memories and many more each time I enjoy a well cooked corn on the cob. Boiling it works, for sure. But if you're thinking efficiency, try the microwave.  Ranch on.

Holy Cross

On which hung the Savior of the world!

           https://youtu.be/r6KPv3s3S_s         

Forgiving from the Heart

Three steps. 

           https://youtu.be/ajtwpYwR2gk         

Powder River

The Powder River runs deep in cowboy history and right through Johnson County. I've crossed it's paths for years, but have never dipped my horse's hooves in its current. Until now. 

The Powder runs through the Powder River Basin. Along these breaks, oil and gas flow freely and the ranching is plentiful. Today I got to help roundup in this great basin. 

Mollie was my steed of choice. After we celebrated Mass and the sun broke, we saddled up and headed east. 

James Iberlin was rounding-up this pasture today. Needing another rider, he gave me a call. 

This has to be the driest year on the books. In Sheridan County, the Powder River stoped flowing at one point. Not far from it here, but still chugging along. 

Ole Powder River, you're muddy and you're wide. 

Back to work. Time to push cows south. 

Pairs were lining this river up and down. 

About this time, Hank jumped in the fun. 

I got sent on a side quest to pick up critters in the hills. "Just head them down the country road," were my marching orders. 

As we peaked over the hill, the valley below was lined with cattle. 

Back in the day of the coal-bed methane boom, the gas company erected some pivot sprinklers on this place to help distribute the water. What once ran 24/7 has now sat still for 15+ years. 

About this time, James and I met back up. More cows to push. 

The grass is short as stubble, but the cactus around here is big and bold.

Once all was gathered, we headed for the corrals. 

A good 300 pairs we pushed over the hill. 

Then down to the ranch house that lies below. 

The other guys helped roundup and push on bikes. Stay out of the bulls' way! 

At last, the gate we were all looking for.

Fun stuff. An unfortunately dry year for ranchers around here. You can't throw in your hat, though. Ranchers have to roll with the punches and improvise as they go. James and company are shipping calves a month early to give the ground all the breaks they can. It was great to ride along this river and spend time in this basin. This is a tough year. But it's not the first dry year. All it takes is rain at the right time to get this grass back on its feet. We'll see what God gives us next spring. In the meantime, cowboys along the Powder River continue to ranch on. 

Riding Around

To give Fr. Brandon the full Wyoming experience, we had to saddle up. Clear Creek was our area of choice, and Mollie and Chief were the horses to help us explore it.

The best thing for the inside of a man is the outside of a horse.

After a few laps around the riding arena at the VO, Brandon and Chief were ready to ranch. 

Instead of going up the creek, this time we went down the creek. 

Eventually we hit the water and had to cross. 

Giddy up, pardner! 

It was the hills to the south that we wanted to explore.

First you got to get across the fence. Been a while since this gate has been opened, looks like.

Funny stuff. Looks like the sagebrush is blooming on a super dry year. 

Only one way to get to the top.

Beautiful view of the valley from up here. 

You sit a saddle well, bud. 

More miles to go.

Got a little western. 

Beer for my horses. 

After finding a watering hole and checking out the land scape, we headed back down the hill. 

Look like petrified trees to me.

Sure enough. 

Back to the water.

Clear Creek comes by its name honestly. 

On the way home we let the ponies run, just to give Fr. Brandon the feel. Did good and looks good. 

Then back to the barn. 

First up is Chief. 

Then Mollie took her turn. 

Good friends. 

Fun stuff. Great to have Fr. Brandon Guenther in town to hang out. It was fun to ride around today. Such a gift. Praise God for the opportunities we've been given. Praise Him even more for the gift of the priesthood. Keep on ranchin' in a free world, Fr. Brandon. You are always welcome in Wyoming.