The Christmas Duck Hunt

Christmas Present

Chip and I are enjoying a snowy, windy Christmas Day. This is our first Christmas spent alone. In the ten years of our marriage, we have picked Mom, Dad and Chip’s mom up and taken them to my brother’s family and celebrated with them. With my parents passing away in 2005 & 2006 and with Chip’s mom passing away this past April, we are not quite as willing to brave the wintry weather this year especially as the forecast is only for the weather to get worse.

One week of vacation is about over for me. We have managed to get all the hay into the hay yards, brought the sheep into the shelter belt and have fed the cows and calves. We truly are in a Winter Wonderland at the moment. That can all change with a Chinook wind, which is not in the immediate weather forecast.

We opened our Christmas presents from my sister on Christmas Eve. We had a great time opening John Deere Christmas Stockings full of candy, birdseed and dollar bills of which is translated to electric outlet covers in The New Shed. We saved as much of the birdseed as possible for our Hungarian Partridges.

Jake was so much fun to watch as I opened his present from Bandit and Chi Chi. He acted like he knew that was his gift. He was thrilled with his treat. I gave him another one this morning. He threw it in the air a couple of times and then ate it. He watched intently as I opened my gifts.

The phone has been ringing with Christmas cheer. We are thankful for family, and friends. We are also thankful for S.E. Electric for keeping our power going even when the weather has been very cold and poles have gone down. We also lost phone service for a while, but Range Telephone was quick to get it fixed.

Chip and I opened our gifts this morning. Chip decided that if I was going to put up a tree, he was going to put presents under it. One of these gifts is an indoor/outdoor flying duck hunt game. Sounds like my husband! We will have to try it later today.

My big gift to Chip this year is an all expense paid bear hunt to Minnesota provided he does draw a tag. My nephew Tim will be Chip’s guide this coming year. I am not sure what I am going to do with the bear after Chip shoots it, but guess we’ll have to put an addition on the house.

Just like our Christmas Past, our Christmas Present is truly enjoyed because of our family and friends and knowing that Jesus’ birth, led to His death and resurrection, which provides the way of Salvation. Knowing that He has been and is in control of all that is happening in our lives today makes for a peaceful Christmas.
　
　

Christmas Past

When I was a child, we celebrated the best Christmases in the whole wide world. No, we weren’t rich and in fact we were considered poor. I didn’t know it, then and am not sure that I really believe it now. Regardless of being rich or poor, all of our Christmases were wonderful.

We lived in a very small "town" called Terraville. Terraville had gravel roads above all the underground gold. The town isn’t there anymore because the gold was mined. It is now a big hole in the ground and will be until all of the gold is taken out of it.

I remember the times that I went with my brothers to cut down our Christmas tree. I am sure that isn’t permitted anymore, but considering the fact that they were all cut down to mine for gold, I don’t think that anyone will mind. We always had a great time decorating the tree with blue lights. One year we made cookies, frosted them and hung them on the tree for decorations. That was cool because we got to eat the cookies. Now that I think about it, they did get a little crunchy toward the end of the season.

I remember one year that the only thing I wanted for Christmas was a blue ski jacket. My older brother had one and I was envious. I was willing to have a hand me down just to own a ski jacket. We always drew names for Christmas and that year the ski jacket brother had my name. His jacket disappeared one day and there was a present under the tree for me. I couldn’t wait! Christmas morning (really early morning) came and I had to wait forever before I could open my present. The moment finally came and I tore off the wrapping paper and opened the box only to find another wrapped box. This went on until; I finally opened a very small box with a note in it. Then the scavenger hunt began. Yes, I did finally get a very nice ski jacket. I did wear it so much that I wore it out.

I also remember the Christmas when I was in 7th grade. That was the year that I got my Black Hills Gold ring. I also wore that a lot and the gold is now smoothed down, but the ring is still very special to me.

My older brothers are twins. They are not identical in any way except that they are Petersons. My dad had the rule that we could not open our presents until Christmas morning. One Christmas (I was too young to remember) my parents heard a noise out under the Christmas tree. It wasn’t Santa; it was the younger (by 20 minutes) of the twins. He was looking at all of the Christmas presents. That began a tradition that last for years. We would always get up sometime after midnight and open our presents.

There did come a year when the job of awakening everyone was delegated to me. The younger twin decided that he was too old to do it. I really had a big responsibility now. I remember lying in bed watching the clock. I remember seeing 11:50 and then I was asleep. It was several hours before I woke up, jumped out of bed and awoke the family. The older twin said something like, "The younger twin was throwing verbal pillow at you from our bedroom trying to wake you."

What is Christmas? Christmas does not need to be a time of spending a lot of money, but it is a time of getting together with family or friends. It is a time to remember the good times we have had. Most of all this Holiday Season is a time to remember the birth of Jesus Christ and that without Jesus’ birth; there would be no crucifixion, no resurrection and no salvation from our sins. So although many have chosen to say Happy Holiday opposed to Merry Christmas, let us remember without the birth of Christ there would be no Christmas, thus we wouldn’t be having a holiday from work.

Merry Christmas and please keep Christ in Christmas.

Christmas

We are experiencing a winter wonderland today. The ground is white and the thermometer is at a cold, cold ZERO. At the moment we are sitting in a warm house, listening to Dr. Jeremiah, petting Jake and enjoying Dan's company.

I am not looking forward to the trip back to Lame Deer but the roads shouldn't be too bad, I hope.

Dr. Jeremiah is speaking on "Why There Must Be Christmas." http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/television.aspx

My Christmas tree is up. A few years ago, I bought all blue lights, ornaments and matching tinsel. The tree looks nice and brings back memories of childhood trees. The fiber optic angel is a little heavy for the top of the tree, but it goes well with the rest of the tree. Jake enjoys sleeping under the tree.

On Friday, I was walking back to school after lunch. My right foot tripped on a stone, my left foot got locked in with my right foot and I started heading face down on the ground. Thankfully, my hands were free after throwing my water bottle. My hands hit the ground and slid forward. I pulled rocks out of my hand and doctored the holes. Almost 48 hours later, my hands are still very sore and my body feels like it hit solid ground. Not quite as bad as was hitting a truck! I still remember how that feels.

As I looked at my hands last night, Chip and I talked about how much pain Jesus had when the nails were put in his hands. Putting Him on the cross happened after he was beaten beyond recognition. To think that Jesus suffered for me so that my sins could be forgiven.

Chip has been busy working cows and shipping what needs to go to the salebarn.

The weather shows that winter is here. Not sure that I am ready for it, but we will make it through.

Thanksgiving Vacation

A week off from work feels like a week of Saturdays.

I went to town on Monday thinking that it was a Saturday. (Stores close early on Saturday in Belle Fourche.) I stopped at the Belle Inn for Breakfast (there were only men in there at 7:00 A.M.) only to go out to my car and find ANOTHER flat tire. The new gravel on Hwy 323 is messing around with tires. Mike had two on his pilot car and one on another vehicle. I looked at that flat tire, looked at my watch, thought about changing the tire and then thought about my back and how I didn't want to go through the pain. Then a great idea occurred to me, I went back into the Belle Inn and offered to buy breakfast for any one that would change my tire. Finally Don Linch (he moved our cows to Gillette and back home in his trucks) after a look of "Please" came out and helped me. He wouldn't let me buy him breakfast though, so I told Chip he owes Don a breakfast or lunch or supper! I did make it to my brake appointment on time after dropping off my tire at West Tire and a picture frame at Dakota Lumber. The tire had an inch long cut in it and I ended up buying a new one. Since the tire was only 9 months old, they gave it to me for 50% off. I am not sure how I got to town with whatever was in it or if I picked it up at the Belle Inn.

What a guy! Chip and I took off Tuesday morning for a hunting trip to White Sulphur Springs and Lewistown. He was supposed to hunt and I was going to work on my book. Wednesday morning Chip asked me to ride around with him, so we drove up to the Belt Mountains where there was at least a foot of snow and the roads were icy. The wind was blowing 30 MPH and it looked like a great day to stay inside. We spent some time in the warm spring pool at the motel and ate at three different restaurants in town for breakfast, lunch and supper. When I asked Chip about hunting he said, "I am enjoying the time alone with you!" Ahhhhh! We did have a great time and headed home on Thanksgiving.

I knew that hunting wasn't out of his system yet, since he still had Friday, Saturday and Sunday to fill his bull and cow tag. He said that he didn't care as he only had three days left to get his elk. Friday morning I asked him about unpacking his suitcase after noticing his hunting clothes in the dryer. He wasn't sure as he was still toying with the idea of hunting.

I finally asked him, "Do you want to go hunting?

He said, "Well, there are three whole days left in the season, and once it is over, it is behind me!"

So I replied, "Would you rather go hunting or spend time home alone with me -----and help me get some work done?" (Did I say something wrong there?)

He was pretty serious until I laughed. I guess I shouldn't have added the last part to that sentence. I told him to go and he was gone within 30 minutes. I hope he gets a huge bull and the cow as well.

What a dog! Jake went with us on our trip. The pickup ride got pretty old to him and he was not happy with the motel room. He wanted to run, and we wouldn't let him out of our sight. In the motel, he would be sitting on Chip's feet or would jump up on the bed to be with him. He slept by the door so he knew where we were at all times. Jake was thrilled to be home on Thursday! He was outside all day on Friday except when he went to town with me. He was a little unhappy with Chip for not coming home last night. He didn't understand that one, but once again he is now outside doing what little Corgis do.

School starts up again on Monday for three weeks before the next break.

I must get busy on all that work to do. All of the road crew are gone and now I can finally get The Shed organized and cleaned.

Hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving.

The Hunt

The hunt was truly an answer to prayer. The verse the Lord gave to me on Friday morning was? "Delight thyself also in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart." Was getting an elk really a desire of my heart and one that the Lord would give? Remember in the last Life on the Ranch I asked if it was O.K. to ask God to tie an elk to a tree? Well----

I met Chip in Miles City at 3:30 and we headed north to Jordan, then Brusett and then what looked like wide open spaces. We were hunting in an area that was burned about 4 years ago so the majority of the trees were dead.

As we were getting closer to our campsite, Chip spotted a bull elk looking at us and then a smaller one up on the hill. My hunt was already successful. I was with Chip in beautiful country and I had seen an elk.

We got to our campsite and got the camper set up. Chip cooked supper and then it decided to rain. I am a tad bit claustrophobic and knew that the rain meant mud and that we weren't going anywhere. I didn't sleep much that night and woke Chip up to talk to me at 3 A.M.

Saturday was a beautiful day. We hiked and then we were going to take the four wheeler out as the ground had dried up. We realized that we had a flat tire and ran the four wheeler into town to get it fixed. I needed that to get my bearings straight and to realized that we really were in civilization. When we got back to camp we rode all over but didn't see any elk.

Saturday night it didn't just rain, it poured and the wind blew. But I slept through most of it. Chip woke up at 3 A.M. and started praying about this elk hunt. He really wanted me to get one and he was concerned.

Sunday was the big day. We got up and walked around a bit and then took the four wheeler out scouting. We went about a mile when Chip stopped and we walked up on a hill so that Chip could check out the area. He spotted a herd of elk a couple of miles away. He said that a couple of them were huge! (My dream come true!) As we started to work our way around the hills to stay out of sight of those elk, we crossed a set of elk tracks. We followed those tracks and saw the two elk bedded down about 300 yards away. At the same time we heard a four wheeler to the right of us a few miles away and we saw three hunters on the skyline on horseback. Chip knew that we wouldn't have a chance getting to the herd of elk before the rest of them did so we decided on the biggest of the two that were bedded down.

I crawled to the edge of the hill and scoped the elk, found the biggest of the two and shot. He stood up and then laid down but his head was still up. I shot again and then he got up and headed up the hill. I made a shot at him while he was running and hit him. The three hunters turned him around and he headed down into the trees. That is where he got stuck. The hunters sat on a hill and pointed to where the elk was. I made the last shot. The three hunters were there and helped Chip pull him to a flat piece of ground where the work began. We had him back to camp by 5 P.M.

Chip is as proud as he can be! He has shown the horns and pictures to everyone.

Every step we took on those days could have been considered coincidence, but having prayed as we did, we knew that it was God answering our prayer and telling us that He does love us.

It is time!

After years of applying for a bull elk tag in the Missouri Breaks, I finally received it in the mail a few months ago. Chip is packing the camper with everything that I will need to get the big bull. I am praying a lot that this will be an easy hunt. A miracle to me would be a huge bull elk with his head stuck in a tree begging me to put him out of his misery. Then again, just getting an elk would be a miracle for me.

So until I return with or without the big one, keep us in your thoughts and prayers. This is a new adventure for me and I am just a tad bit nervous. I have always said that camping out is taking my pillow and sleeping at a Holiday Inn. This time I am doing the real thing. Thankfully, Chip knows what he is doing.

Rounding up the cows

We received a call Saturday evening that our cows were mixed up with the neighbor's yearlings. We won't talk about how that happened, except that they have probably been sharing pastures most of the summer.

Chip got on the phone and gave Kelly a call. She rounded up a friend with a horse and was in Alzada by 11 A.M.

The video (if I get it to post) is after the work was finished. Thanks for the help.

Waiting for the sun to shine

Fall has arrived bringing very cool temperatures and a lot of moisture. The road crew working on Hwy 323 has not worked very much in the last couple of weeks. The road has been closed on a couple of occasions to keep big trucks from mudding down and getting stuck in the unpacked dirt.

We are experiencing below normal temperatures. Like 40 degrees below normal.

We were saddened this week when we had to put Puppy down. She grew up in a loving family that kept her in a fenced yard, in the house or riding down the road in a vehicle. She had no fears and didn't know danger. She loved the ranch and enjoyed running and playing with Jake. She ran toward a pick up, veered to the right and somehow connected with a tire. We were given two choices. One was to put her down or the second was to take her to the other vet in town. She would be in intensive care for days, go through surgery and who knows what all. She would have been 9 in January and was showing signs of arthritis. The practical and human thing to do was to put her out of her misery.

Since Puppy was Swan's dog, we did let him make the final decision. Putting Puppy to sleep was a hard call for Swan, but he new that it was the right choice.

She always met me at the door when I came home for lunch and would sit beside my chair at night to be petted. She is missed.

Chip buried her on the hill where his childhood dogs are buried.