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. 

Center Up on Christ

Lent is about returning to God with our whole heart!

           https://youtu.be/344hsiD37UY         

Temptation

Done right, makes us stronger. 

           https://youtu.be/J31XqvKnWLc         

Faith seeking Wisdom

Faith precedes authentic wisdom.

           https://youtu.be/UoGZ3BtnfAE         

Catholic Cowboy Pizza

I'm all about expanding my culinary horizons. To aid in this, some of the laddies from Church hooked me up with a homemade, personal pan pizza kit. By the third go, I had it pretty well dialed in. 

Premade dough/crust, pizza sauce, pepperoni, and shredded cheese. 

I like to first baste a bit of olive oil on the crust-to-be. Really enhances the Italian flavor. 

Then spread a liberal amount of pizza sauce. 

I find putting the pepperoni on before the cheese to be the best bet. Put plenty of them on there. 

Then scatter the cheese. 

Finally, place the pie directly on the oven rack and cook at 400 for 12 minutes or so. 

While you're waiting, enjoy a little Catholic Cowboy appetizer. 

I like to cook until the crust is browned, the cheese is melted, and the sauce is bubbling. 

Cut it in quarters. 

And enjoy. 

Fun and simple. Tastes good, too. Sure, you can pop in an already made frozen pizza. But where's the love in that? The laddies who gave me this kit wanted to make sure I was not only well fed, but also well loved. Thanks moms. I can taste the goodness. Ranching with class. 

Intentional

Let your yes be yes and your no be no.

             https://youtu.be/1pB06itOLMo