2010 Comes to an End

As I sit at our computer, looking out the window at a beautiful white day--a day of snow on the ground, snow coming down and blowing snow--- I thought I would write my last Life on the Ranch for 2010.


I had a dentist appointment scheduled for today, but after looking at the weather forecast I decided to move it to Tuesday. Thankfully, there was an opening and my teeth are now perfectly cleaned for another six months.

Although there isn't much snow coming down at the moment, the wind is causing drifts across our driveway. It definitely is a perfect day to take a nap and enjoy the peace and quiet of ranch life. I went down stairs to harass Chip, only to find him asleep with Jake sleeping on the floor beside him. I think that I will follow their example.

Want to wish you all a very Happy New Year. I am looking forward to what 2011 holds for us.

December 27, 2010

I was writing "Life on the Ranch" last night when the whole house went dark. We found our battery operated lamps and went on with life. Poor Jake did not like the darkness. He was always with us and it was the first time in a very long time that he slept in our bedroom. We looked out the windows and could see the beautiful stars and a glow to the south. Chip said that the glow was from Gillette! I was so thankful to see lights from somewhere lighting up the sky and making my life a little brighter. Nice to have it come from the new hometown of my niece and her husband.


It has been almost a week since I came home for Christmas vacation. A lot has happened in that time.

We spent Wednesday and Thursday running to Ekalaka and Belle Fourche. Chip's birthday/Christmas present for the next five years is a 3/4 ton, two door, four-wheel drive, standard transmission, Silverado with 36,000 miles on it. Since it was the last year that the stick shift was made and when we inquired about a 3/4 ton, it had just been traded in, we saw God's perfect timing once again. I did tell Chip that it will probably be the last stick shift we will be able to buy, so in about ten years we should think about retirement. We did need a "new" 3/4 ton so we can get the livestock to town. New Blue, which is 11 years old now is getting very old with over 300,000 miles on it.

I convinced Chip that my Christmas present was the Tempur Pedic bed we bought back in May. It is a wonderful mattress to sleep on for a person with back problems.

We spent Christmas Day with my brother's family. So much fun to visit, eat and laugh. We had a great time. They always allow us to bring Jake. Jake loves playing with Scout and Jabez. Chip did mention that there is a little tension between Jake and Jabez. So when Jake yipped and barked angrily at Jabez, Chip put Jake in "time out!" I laughed and said, "You what!" "I made Jake come sit beside me for awhile."

We spent Sunday in Belle Fourche going to church and then making a quick stop at Pamida for after Christmas sales. Plan was to be home by 1:30---until Chip met some friends that had moved up north. They talked for over an hour. I finally came along and opened a can of popcorn--thought we should make it into a party.

We have had some beautiful frosty days--so frosty that the power lines were stretched to their limit and we were without power for several hours last night. They came on a couple of times---just enough to let me know that the S.E. Electric line men were trying to do their jobs.

Time to wish you all a Happy New Year!

This has been a very exciting week. Actually, I can't believe everything happened in only one week's time.

Monday started out as a very snowy day. The Colstrip teachers were late due to about a foot of snow. The rest of us held down the fort until they could arrive.

Tuesday, I mailed out about 30 books to fill my preorders. The post office lady was getting a little skeptical so on Wednesday, I brought a book along to show her that I really was mailing books and that I was legit.

Thursday was a bad day, I was tired and quite emotional. I did make it through the day and came home to the ranch to find out that The Black was dead! (The Black is a longhorn steer that we have had for about 8 years.) Although, we have never really trusted him and always kept a watchful eye on him, it was like losing a piece of the ranch to know that he would no longer roam the fields.

I didn't sleep well Thursday night. (I need to stay off of pop.) So with lack of sleep, I was again emotional on Friday. We stopped at Hersruds where I sold one book, (we have paid for that book many times over the last 11 years.) then we headed to Black Hills Optical where Chip got his glasses and I had mine straightened. (That lasted until we got back home and the screendoor blew back and hit them.)

I haven't been able to place my books at Lynn's Dakota Mart yet as the manager was at a funeral all afternoon. There is a boxful of books setting at A and A Stieg's in Ekalaka, MT.

I just got back from trying to read the electric meter over at Carl's ranch. When I saw that the tracks stopped about 100 feet into the driveway, I decided it would take a braver soul than me to try it at 4:00 P.M. An educated guess might work just as well this time.

Next week will be spent processing The Black. He is one big piece of meat! Saturday, I will be at the flea market in Belle Fourche, primarily selling my book, Pat Anderson's book, Tears in the Bug Juice, and also a bunch of brand new Christmas stuff. For those of you who are into Matchbox cars, I will be selling them for a church in Florida.

So with that I will start wishing you a wonderful Christmas.