Intimate Presence

God wants to have an intimate relationship with us through the Holy Eucharist.

           https://youtu.be/WQ_5z-1CII8         

Trailing Yearlings

I'm always up for something new, like trailing yearlings. I've been around them plenty, but never to this degree. No better way to learn than from those who run yearlings for a living. 

Bridget and Nathan Williams invited me down to help drive their herd of heifers to the other side of the interstate. 

Riding time was 6:15. So, Chief and I had to be saddled and on the road by 5:00. 

Reno Road, north of Kaycee, was our starting point.  

It was a family affair. Seven riders.

Ike and I headed to the bowl to look for grazing critters. 

Found some.

I pushed them to Ike and we both got them heading out of this tough country. 

Of course, we had a few on the wrong side of the fence. Ike used some cowboy ninja moves and got them back on the right side. 

Down the other side we went to meet the other girls. 1200 total we were gathering! 

I've never found an arrowhead, but I have a good eye for antlers. 

Nice little whitetail. Probably a couple years old. 

It's easier to pull yearlings than to push them, is the old saying. They are curious and will follow almost anything, even a horse in the right circumstances. 

The final push. The other riders and been trickling the herd through the underpass while we were gathering the back corner. Their crossing really went without a hitch, thanks be to God! 

Good work. But we weren't done. 

Once we got them off of the county road, we had to trial them to next pasture. 

As we were gathering, a few lame ones surfaced. 

So we pushed them into the corral to be doctored later. Then we regrouped and headed south. 

Nice cows. This is about 1/3 of them. 

Cool old homesteads around here. This is the old Myer place. 

A big bunch looks cool, but lined out moves a lot better. 

End of the line. This'll be their grazing home for a couple weeks or so, before they move them to greener pastures. Outfits like this move their cattle on a pretty regular basis. 

Well deserved back scratch. 

Good ride. Fun time. Trailing yearlings is like herding teenagers. It's hard to predict what they are going to do next. It's best if you make the right thing easy and the wrong thing hard for them. Worked out good today. I was back to the church by noon. Yearlings keep you on your toes. I bet if you ran only yearlings, like the Williams' do, you'd get pretty good at cowboying by the time the summer was over. I was thankful to be a part of this move. Taught me a trick or two and saw some cool country. Couldn't ask for much more. Just another day in the life of a cowboy priest.

For the Father

Giving draws us closer to the Father's providence.

           https://youtu.be/1h8sdkSYoVc         

Prescription for Freedom

Jesus' lessons teach us freedom.

           https://youtu.be/tMNcF6X6zPY         

Christian Contradiction

Read Matthew chapters 5-7.

           https://youtu.be/e5IUmSg8u7U         

God the Father

Is the source and summit of the Trinity. 

           https://youtu.be/0vtnHKKj3aI         

Chris LeDoux Days

Since Chris LeDoux's passing 20 years ago, his family has been putting on a memorial event in his honor. In typical Wyoming fashion, this has basically consisted of a rodeo and street dance. Well, this year they decided to make it their final go round.

I think this is fitting. It's been a great event for the community, but it doesn't have to last forever. In fact, going out with a bang is consistent with the man's legacy we celebrate. What's Chris say, "When you ride your last one, make sure he’s the best one. Jump while he's moving, tip your hat boys and walk away."

After Saturday night Mass, some Florida friends of mine, Bob and Fran Fiorentino, headed south to Kaycee. The western skies weren't looking so friendly. 

That didn't stop the crowd from gathering after the rodeo. Once the sun set, Ned LeDoux was going to play followed by Sawyer Brown. 

After we arrived, the skies opened up. Good ole Wyoming down pour. Definitely determined who was tougher than the rest. 

Thankful there was no hail, to speak of. Fran and Bob found cover under Papa Bino's cooking tent. Didn't slow the cooks down. Thanks for your generosity. 

Street tacos delight. 

Good ride, cowboy. Good ride. 

Fun stuff. Great occasion, none the less. But even better with my good friends, Fran and Bob. Sit tall in the saddle folks, and don't be riding for a fall. Just remember, when she starts to twist, be more like Chris. Pull your hat down low and just LeDoux it!

Herman the Bull

If we want to calve before next summer, we better get a bull in with the girls. The original plan was to AI the yearling heifers. But with a couple of pairs now part of the bunch, we decided to go with a bull. Fortunately, Bobby and Jordan Herman were able to fix us up. 

This guy is pretty young, but comes from some solid stock. With our small cows, he'll be a good size. Hopefully he'll throw small calves for our first calf heifers. 

So we ran him in and tagged him.

As well as branded him.

Welcome to the herd.

Then we saddled up the ole cow horse.

And rounded up the girls to introduce Herman.

He was pretty excited to met all these young laddies.

The grass in the field has really taken off, thanks be to God. Dad swathed and baled it a week or two ago. Really cleaned it up. 

So we got behind the bunch and kicked them out.

Happy campers.

Good stuff. This is a bit of a milestone.With the corrals done and the pasture planted, there's not much to do except sit back and watch the cattle graze. Bovine have a 283 day gustation period. By turning Herman out today, we should start calving about March 20th next year. Let the good times roll!

Salt and Light

Let it all point to the Father.

           https://youtu.be/A8rYpQpIhsU         

Mother of Success

Mary helps us accomplish our missions.

             https://youtu.be/_eb2NOTVGvE           

Pentecost

Is about growing in relationship with the Holy Spirit.

           https://youtu.be/cnKi3aELGXY         

Deadwood

We just finished up our annual priest retreat in Rapid City, South Dakota. So on the way back, I picked up a wedding in Deadwood.

St. Ambrose parish has been around since 1877. 

Because this is a mission parish served out of Lead, just down the road, I was able to stay in the old rectory. Good stuff. 

Deadwood is definitely historic, among other things. 

So I took time to stroll down town. 

Saloon No. 10 is where Wild Bill Hickok was gunned down by Jack McCall in 1876. Shot in the back while playing poker. His last hand of two 8's and two Aces is now known as the deadman's hand.

Saturday, Pentecost Vigil was the big wedding day. 

Trey Wright is my buddy from back home, who married Shania Miller from Moorcroft. Go get 'em kids!

Fun stuff. We had a good retreat week and a wedding to top it off was a nice touch. Time away always pays off. I look forward to hitting the ground running now that I'm back home. Let's ranch!