Mom's Gate

Last but not least, is Mom's Gate. We have built more gates around this ranch than I can recall, and most of them have a name of some sort. From the Trinity Gate to Grandpa's Gate, all of the gates we have built have a specific function and usually made with the particular person in mind. The thing with Mom's Gate is that it's not a gate. That's because Mom's home is always open. No one is a stranger on the Neiber Ranch. From the UPS driver, to a wide span of family and friends, to some random buddy that I drag home, Mom welcomes them all. 

There is a cattle guard at Mom's gate, which is fitting as well. Moms are a safe haven. What should stay at home stays. And what shouldn't come home, doesn't. This summer we put a picture frame around Mom's Gate to tell her, thank you. 

The first right off of Gooseberry Road is our place. The highway department owns and maintains the fence and the cattle guard. Anything on the other side of their right of way, we are free to play with. 

With a game plan in mind, we drilled some holes last spring. 

I had picked up some 5 1/2" casing on an auction. Wanting to extend one of the uprights, we cut a 3' piece off of one joint and threaded it onto the other. This was my first experience with chain tongs. Dad gave me a lesson in wrenching pipe. 

Once ready, we lifted up the 20' vertical posts and set them in the 3' holes.

Having the cattle guard there made for a good place to brace the posts after we leveled them up.

Then we concerted them in. About 12 bags of sack-crete for each hole.

To get a level across the top, we took a laser transit and marked a level line on each upright at about 6'. Then we could measure from there to get our level up high on each pipe. 

On my next trip back home, we saddled the tops of the pipe posts. This jig came in super handy. 

Should work.

Putting this 3' section on there allowed Dad to see from the ground if we were heading in the right direction with the other post. Now was the time to tweak it verses while we were setting the big pipe. 

Before the sun set, we hauled the 40' joint down that would span the two posts and beyond. 

Bright and early the next day we got ready to set the top pipe. Not wanting to press our limits, our neighbor Rob Stuckey, brought his telehandler over. 

No problem getting high enough. 

He nailed it first shot.

Perfect. 

First thing up, weld the saddles into place. Our Blessed Mother in the background is digging it all. 

Then to cut and cap the overhang. With the largeness of this gateway, we over hung the top pipe 5' past the uprights. No sense in cutting it short when you have the pipe.

Pretty heavy duty caps. Thick plate is easier to weld on think pipe.

I get away with quite a bit. Not having a bench grinder or vise in the field, I just left the slag on the cut cap and welded the good side to the pipe.

Then just ground everything off at once. Like my cousin says, Bryce is a good grinder. 

Then the fun part, the sign. We built this sign last winter and gave it to Mom. After building two other signs with black letters that just don't show up well, we tried blue. On the front it reads, NEIBER RANCH. 

On the back it says, GO IN PEACE. 

Looking good! 

This was a big day on the ranch. In fact, I'd say this gateway project is the crowning jewell. I actually think all the heavy lifting might be done. Now just play in the barn and put some final touches on some fencing. There is always more to do, but the completion of Mom's Gate signifies a lot.

It's fun to call our place the Neiber Ranch. Bernard Neiber was Mom's great-grandfather who homesteaded this place before the turn of the 20th century. He and his wife, Mom's great-grandmother Mary Della Neiber, are buried on the hill just above the shrine of our Blessed Mother. 

From my understanding, Neiber is variant of the German word meaning Neighbor. Makes sense to me. Makes even more sense as Mom and Dad are so neighborly. From their perch on the hill, they are the watchmen of the neighborhood. When they see someone in need, help is on its way. When someone wants to visit, they come on up.

May all who enter this ranch experience the providential love of God the Father, the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. May the Mother of God (Luke 1:43) behold us as we behold her (John 19:26-27). And when we leave this ranch, may we always go in peace.