Jake

When a person has a sweet, loving and smart dog, one needs to brag about him once in awhile.

Today Chip and I were headed to church.  I take my car to Alzada and Chip follows in the pickup.  He picks me up in Alzada and we head to town.  That way after church I can leave from Alzada and head to Lame Deer.

This morning as I was driving out of the driveway, Chip called to me  and asked if I had Jake with me.  I replied "No! Where is Jake?"  All of a sudden I saw him run up to us and stop about 4 feet from my car.  He looked at me as if to say, "Here I am, Mom!  What do you want me to do?"  I looked at him and pointed at Chip as I said, "Go with Chip!"  He didn't waste any time as he ran under the fence and jumped in the pickup with Chip.

As we travelled together in the pickup, Jake laid between us with his head touching Chip and his back touching me.  Sometimes he would turn around and face the opposite direction, but he was getting all of the petting that he wanted.  Well at least he was between the two people he loves the most.

What a dog!

Happy Thanksgiving

Since it is Thanksgiving and since a friend asked me the question, "When did you begin to hunt?", I think that I will do a little reminiscing this time.


Sometime in Junior high, we met a couple of friends, Swan Loften and Harold Parke. I don't remember all of the details, but I do remember that I became the "spotter" for them. I was getting pretty good at seeing the deer in the forest, but what I really enjoyed was seeing different areas of the Black Hills.

I remember one time that Dad and I went hunting with Swan in his Volkswagen Bug. I was sitting in the back and could only see out of the side windows. Dad or Swan spotted a deer on the hill in front of them. I remember the difficulty of them crawling out of the car and getting their guns out and that the deer didn't run. Dad shot the deer and we loaded it on the back of the Volkswagen and headed home.

One year my brothers came home from college and went deer hunting. I believe that they were both successful. Then came the year that Swan brought out his 22-250 for me to practice shooting. I remember Dad and Swan saying that I was a good enough shot to hit a deer, but when deer season opened we didn't go hunting. Dad was concerned that I would get hurt. I accepted it and went on with life.

In 1992, I moved to Alzada to teach in a country school. I met Chip in March of 94 after breaking my wrist. The first time I went out to his ranch was after I had the last cast taken off. We went fishing in his trout dam. I remember that every time I made a cast with the fishing pole, my wrist hurt. I did catch my fish for lunch and then had to quit. I pretty much kept Chip a secret from everyone until after the 4th of July, when I told my family (who had all been home) that I had met a pretty special guy.

That fall, I was talking to Chip in church and told him that I had always wanted to go hunting. He told me to go get a tag. At that time we could get them over the counter so while I was in the "store", I bought an antelope tag as well. The day of opening antelope season, I asked Chip when he was going to take me hunting. He told me that it was two weeks away. I told him that I had an antelope tag. We went hunting that day. I got my antelope!

Chip had a couple of people a head of me to help get a deer for that year. One night he called and told me to come up right after school. I had a parent stop by and was late getting out. I drove home and was changing clothes when there was a knock on the door. Casey C told me to hurry up and get my deer because he couldn't go hunting until I had shot mine. I told him that I was trying but someone was keeping me from going. That evening I shot my first 5 X 5 symmetrical buck. I really wanted to take a picture of it first, but didn't think that was what a hunter was supposed to do.

I called Dad and Mom and told them that I was bringing their Christmas present to them that night. Mom was waiting for a phone call when Chip and I arrived. Mom asked Dad, "What should I do about the phone call? I want to be in on this too." Those of you who knew Mom and Dad will understand the dilemma when Dad said, "Let the phone ring. They will call back!" This was the first time that Dad and Mom had met Chip. Chip said that he wasn't sure if Dad was studying him or the deer more.

Several years later, Chip came to Belle and stopped by Mom and Dad's where I was living. Dad heard the pick up door shut and heard Chip's cowboy boots on the porch. Dad "jumped" out of his chair, walked quickly to the door and opened it. He said, "Well, come on in you ole bum!" I sat on the couch and knew with all of my heart that Dad approved of Chip. Mom later apologized and I told her that wasn't necessary. I knew that they approved of Chip.

Thanksgiving of 2004 (Wow! Ten years later!) I went into town and picked Mom and Dad up and brought them out to the ranch. Dad was getting pretty weak, but I didn't really give it much thought. Chip had to give me the heads up on that one. Chip, Dad and I went hunting that day. Dad had a hard time getting into the pick up, but he crawled in the best that he could. I did shoot at a deer, but didn't hit it as I was shooting down hill. I remember Dad laughing! He had had a good time hunting with his daughter. March of 2005, Dad passed away.

I have many good memories of all of my hunting trips.

As you spend Thanksgiving this year, think of all the memories that makes your heart thankful. I know that someday, I will even be able to look back at this school year and be thankful.

Beautiful Snowfall

We received about 5 inches of snow from Friday to Saturday.  Everything is is white and beautiful.  Next week the temperatures are to be in the 40s and possibly the 50s again. 

Thankfully the roads are starting to clear off and traffic is back to normal.

Memories of Danny Oliver

I would like to share a few memories that I have of Danny. After I heard that he had passed away, I tried to remember where I first met him. After a couple of days, I remembered seeing him in the Alzada post office talking with Helen Spiedel in 1992. I didn’t get to know him very well until after I met Chip in 1994. I/we would meet him on Hwy 323 at his mailbox or Chip’s. He always had a smile and was very quick with a humorous comment.


After hunting mule deer on Chip’s for a few years, I wanted to try my hand at a white tail. Chip didn’t have any at that time, so he suggested that I ask Danny. Every one knows that Danny wouldn’t allow hunting on his mule deer or his antelope, but that he would allow an occasional hunter to hunt white tail. That November I went with Chip to watch him and Wade work cows at Danny’s. After a little bit, Danny had to give me a hard time and asked me what brought me down to the ranch as it was evident that I wasn’t working very hard. I replied, “Danny, I came down to collect birthday presents!” He grinned, paused a second and asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I told him that I wanted to hunt for white tail. He gave me permission. On the day that I was to hunt we picked up the key to the locks on his gates and went hunting. White tail deer don’t stand around waiting to get shot, so I went home empty handed. When I returned the key he asked how I did. When I told him that all of his deer were still alive, he smiled and said, “Good!”

After Chip and I were married in 99, I once again asked Danny if I could hunt on him. Once again he gave me permission. The day before I was to go hunting, I saw him at his mailbox and stopped to talk to him. He told me that he wanted me to leave Chip at home when I went hunting. I was in a panic and said, “But Chip is my guide, I can’t hunt without him.” He said, “Why not?” I said, “Danny, I still get lost on our place, I will never find my way out of your place with out him.” He smiled and said, “Tell Chip to leave his rifle home.” I said, “I can do that.” Once again all of his deer lived for another day.

As I think about it, his deer were better off with me hunting them than driving a car. It was a few years after that, that a doe ran out from under the Little Missouri Bridge and hit my car. She died quickly. Danny then gave me a hard time about being hard on his deer population.

My last deer story happened a few years ago. The white tail finally moved up to the Dye ranch so I could hunt on our own property. Chip took me out hunting one after noon up by our hay yard that is next to Danny. There was a very nice 5 X 5 white tail buck peeking out at us from Danny’s. The temptation was great, but I valued Danny’s friendship too much to kill a deer on him without asking his permission first. Wouldn’t you know it, the very next day Danny was at our mailbox turning around. We visited for a bit and then I said, “Danny, I have a question.” He knew something was coming, so I started with “Danny, If we are hunting on our property and we see a neat white tail on your property, may I shoot it?” He looked at me and said, “What?” so more slowly I said, “I am standing on our property, the white tail is across the fence on your property, do you mind if I shoot it?” He repeated what I said, laughed and said, “Go ahead!” I shot a very nice 5 X 5 white tail that Chip had mounted.

One time we were at some Carter County gathering. I know it wasn’t a wedding as Danny didn’t go to weddings. He said that between Chip and me, he received four invitations to our wedding and he still didn’t come. I told him the number of invitations meant that we wanted him at our wedding. Any way Danny was giving someone a hard time about drinking. He finally said, “Well, I have always said that a little bit of alcohol doesn’t hurt anyone.” I smiled at him and said, “Danny, a little bit of church doesn’t hurt anyone either.” He chuckled and changed the subject.

One year Chip helped Danny ship his yearlings. It just so happened that one of the heifers had just calved and they couldn’t turn her back to her calf. Chip told me about it and I just couldn’t handle letting the poor calf die. I asked Danny if we could go look for it and he said yes, but with the grass as tall as it was, it would be very hard to find. Chip and I looked for 2-3 hours and couldn't find it. I prayed all Sunday morning that God would help Danny to find this poor calf. That afternoon Danny came driving into the yard. I gave him a hard time and asked him if we had cattle on him. He said that he brought me something. When I saw the calf, I said, “Danny, you are an answer to prayer.” He said that was the first time anyone had said that about him. He let the calf out and I fed her. This was a cute black baldy calf that thought Danny’s pick up was her mom. I called her Alpha as she was the first of my cattle herd. I still have her.

Danny and I talked about many things other than hunting and livestock. Danny was a very intelligent man and read a lot. He had read several different versions of the Bible of which he shared his opinion. I loaned him one of my favorite books called Why I Believe by James Kennedy. This book tells how we can know there is a Heaven, Hell and the Return of Christ. Because of the prophecy fulfilled in our Bible we know that it is true. After my dad passed away, I began to wonder what Heaven is really like. I found a book by Randy Alcorn called Heaven. The book changed my view. I, like many people, thought that Heaven was a time that we would sit around and sing and praise God. As good and right as that is, I am the type of person who needs to be doing something. Randy uses scripture to show how beautiful Heaven is and the fact that we will be doing something that we love to do there. This book also explains that Hell isn’t like most people think. It is not a place to socialize and party; it is a place of utter darkness and isolation. Danny spent some time reading this 500-page book.

My last memory of Danny is in the Billings Hospital. I had gone to Rapid City to see Danny but he had been transferred that very day to Billings. I was quite disappointed until I remembered that I had to be in Billings the following week for Math training for school. Monday night I got out our GPS and plugged in the address. I finally found where he was. I visited with him for about a half-hour, filling him in on the neighborhood. As I got ready to leave I asked him if I could pray for him and he quietly said yes.

Just as I thought that my dad was invincible and would live forever, so I thought Danny was invincible. Just as Dad was blessed to have a nurse pray with him while in the hospital, so I wanted Danny to have that as well while he was in the hospital. Even though I visualized him coming back to the ranch and once again having many talks with him at the mail box ---his or ours --- As I look back on that day, I think that Danny knew that he wasn’t going to make it back home.

Danny was a special neighbor and friend and will be missed. Today I want to extend my sympathy to Phyllis and each of his nieces and nephews. My prayers are with each of you.

My Heart Goes Out to the Rapid City Police Department

Today the RCPD laid to rest one of their officers.  Today the second officer that was shot passed away.  Although it has been a long time since I have lived in the Black Hills area, the death of these two young men has hurt me deeply.  I can only imagine how deeply the community has been hurt.  A special thanks to these two men, to their families who will grieve for a long time, and to the Rapid City Police Department for doing their job well.

A Special Thanks to Nurses, EMTs and Doctors

A lot of thoughts have gone through my mind this week due to the three police officers in Rapid City being shot;  one officer died, one is in critical condition and one is stable.  The suspect died as well. 

I thought about my home area and how I have always thought that everyone was honest, kind and fair.  While working at Campbell's Supply, a childhood neighbor returned a pair of jeans that she had altered.  I trusted her and didn't even look at them to see what she had done.  I somehow feel that the three officers had the same kinds of thoughts going through their mind.  They live and work in the small city of Rapid City where people are honest and trustworthy.  They looked at this event as a routine traffic stop, never thinking that it would turn into a shoot out that killed one officer.

My thoughts then turned to the men being taken to the hospital.  I remember the day that Dad died; one nurse told me that another nurse had prayed with Dad that morning.  I thought that was very special.  I pray that each hospitalized patient is honored in the same way.

I thought about how the medical staff from the EMTs to the doctors have to stay calm and take care of each patient and in this case the three police officers and the man that shot them.  I would find it hard to be impartial with their medical needs, yet the medical staff has to do what is best for each patient.

So I would like to take this opportunity to say Thank You for the job that you do.  

Birthday Party



Jake's Birthday snack



Jake celebrated his fourth birthday on July 28th.  It seemed only "natural" to throw him a small party.   He enjoyed a pork chop and ice cream. 





Chip and Jake



Jesus Really Loves the Children

I have started reading the book Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo.  The book is about his four-year-old son Colton that almost died.  According to the book Colton spent three minutes in Heaven.  After his release from the hospital, he started sharing with his parents little tidbits about Heaven.  I was reading chapter nineteen "Jesus Really Loves the Children" on the day that Norway experienced a tragedy.  In this chapter, Colton repeatedly told his parents that Jesus really loves children.

As a teacher and an adult that was not blessed with children in our home, I can not understand how any adult can not love a child.   Every child that I have ever taught has had a specialness about them that has grabbed my heart.

 Anders Berhing Breivik will someday face Jesus and as the Bible says "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, to me every knee shall bow, And every tongue shall confess to God." Romans 14:11  Whatever punishment he receives here on earth is nothing compared to the punishment he will receive from God.

My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Norway as they mourn the death of so many young people.

The Testimony of David Dye

Having been raised here, I have had lots of fun memories of the ranch and of this reservoir.


I remember riding horses in the water with no saddles, chasing turtles, fishing, evening campfires with marshmallows, and cutting blocks of ice in the wintertime for storage in the icehouse for the summer.

Around 15 years ago while swimming in this reservoir, I found myself halfway across, started to get short of breath and realized I didn’t have a 21-year-old set of lungs anymore. I had to make a quick decision of going back or to try for the other side. I made the decision to keep on swimming. I was yelling out for help and thought to myself, so this is how it all ends, done in by drowning? I actually saw my obituary in the Ekalaka Eagle. After going under 3 times, I finally reached shore having never been more thankful to land on solid ground. I remember how small I felt in this vast expanse of water.

Over the years I have thought a lot about some of the decisions I have made and wondered how, or why I made those decisions.

I finally realized through trial and error that I was allowing the devil too much play time in my life and decided there had to be a better way. The devil likes to start out the relationship with fun and every time, somewhere, somehow along the line he finally slams the hammer down and sits back and laughs at you and says ha, ha, (got you again) 100% of the time. I could go to Las Vegas and have better odds.

I have heard that the average person makes three thousand decisions per day or 90,000 decisions per month or around a million decisions per year. If I live 75 years at a million decisions per year that’s more zeros than I can put on paper and I started to wonder why haven’t I taken the time to make the right decision for Jesus and give Him my heart and soul. Of all the decisions I have made in my lifetime, this is the only decision that will last for all eternity.

I know that in my life for too long I have been stirring this bowl of soup called procrastination. I decided that I had procrastinated long enough and that it was time to make a decision.

With all the problems in this world we are having, the warning signs are becoming more and more concerning & I think time is very short.

Jesus promises that if you believe in him & repent he will give you eternal life. I heard Pastor John Hagee say that when a person dies someone will get that person’s soul, Satan or God. For years I have believed in God, It scares me to death the thought of having had the chance to give him my soul and never doing anything about it. Jesus wanted me to make that break from the devil, finally repent, and accept Christ as my Savior. I made that decision about a month ago with a smile, knowing that I had made the right choice. Heaven is forever and Hell is forever. The choice was mine to make and I have chosen God’s free gift of Salvation and eternity in Heaven.

Life here on earth is all about choices and decisions. This is why I’m here today at this baptism. Today we are gathered here at my baptism as I have finally made the decision to be obedient to the Word of God and be baptized publicly.

There are many thoughts on how to describe success or being successful. What does it take to be a successful person? Is it nice cars, big ranches, college education lots of money? Personally my idea of success is standing before Jesus and having him tell me, “Job well done soldier, Job well done, you may now enter the gates of Heaven.

I want to thank a friend of mine, Perry Elliot who is not here today, for working on me for so many years as we worked together on the railroad. For years he questioned me on where I stood in life on my thoughts about the Lord. Finally thanks to Chip and Dru for all the conversations about God that we have had here on the ranch as well as the many phone calls .

Busy Week

We have been busy getting ready for branding and docking this weekend.  Our annual event will bring about 30 people from the states of Minnesota, Iowa, Wyoming and South Dakota.

The first guest arrives on Wednesday and the rest will be here by Friday morning.  We are looking forward to seeing everyone again.

God's Best

 

 

 

God’s Best

God has His best things for the few

That dare to stand the test;

God has His second choice for those

Who will not have His best.

It is not always open ill

That risk the promised rest;

The Better often is the foe

That keeps us from the Best.

And others make the highest choice,

But when by trials pressed,

They shrink, they yield, they shun the cross,

And so they lose the best.

I want in this short life of mine,

As much as can be pressed

Of service true for God and man;

Help me to be my best.

Give me O Lord thy highest choice’

Let others take the rest,

Their good things have no charm for me,

For I have got thy Best.

Author Unknown

 



Willing To Be Wounded

I would like to share a devotional by Dr. David Jeremiah.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend.  Proverbs 27:6

When George Whitefield, the eighteenth- century British evangelist, first sailed to America, he wrote in his journal that the ship's cook had a drinking problem.  When he was reproved about his sins, the cook boasted that he planned to reform his life two years before he died, but not before. Whitefield noted that the cook died six hours later.

No one likes to be reproved about sin, but a wise person listens and repents.  Indeed, Solomon said, "Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed (Proverbs 27:5). Not surprisingly, most of us love to give reproof more than we like to receive it.  But Solomon also said that the person who receives correction is considered wise (Proverbs 15:5).

As a Christian, humility is perhaps the top priority in being open to reproof.  God says He gives grace to the humble but resists the proud (James 4:6). That doesn't mean we have to be a doormat, but it means we are willing to receive godly reproof without becoming defensive and resentful.  If you were lost on a journey, wouldn't you appreciate the person who pointed you in the right direction?

Receiving reproof could be the first step in reaching the goals you've set for your life. 


I am so thankful for parents and siblings that love me.  Many comments made by them stayed with me and kept me on the right path.  Today I am married to a man that has the same dreams as I have.  Together and with God's help we will reach those dreams.

The Flood of 2011

We have just experienced the wettest spring that we can remember.  Highway 323 was closed for several days due to water running over the road.  Ranches and houses have been flooded.  Even so, we haven't been hit as hard as some of the other places in Montana where businesses are under water.

Summer Vacation

Time flies when one is having fun or working hard.  With only 8 1/2 days left, summer vacation is beginning to look like a reality.  I am impatiently waiting for the time that I can be home on the ranch with my husband for a whole three months.  I am sure that my posts will be more interesting when I can take pictures of our livestock and wild animals.  Until then, have a good two weeks.

Spring

We did receive about four inches of snow this week.  Chip and I were in Belle Fourche on Sunday; when we stepped outside after church, the biggest snowflakes that I have ever seen were falling.  Thankfully they melted as soon as they hit the ground.  (Will post a picture later.)

Another reason that I know that spring has arrived is that I picked a tick off of my clothes last night.  Ticks usually don't like me and so I am hoping that he was trying to get away from me, but I did throw him down the garbage disposal so that I won't see it again.  I hope!

Vacation is six hours away!

Spring Has Arrived

Spring has finally arrived in Montana which can be proven in several ways. It has been a long time in coming, but I believe that the birds are a sure sign of it. I arrived home Friday evening to the sounds of birds singing. There were at least a dozen Robins in our yard. Sunday, Chip and I went to Ekalaka and saw several flocks of cranes trying to fly north. The wind was sure messing with their flight. They were doing the wrap around thing. I told Chip that there are days that it might be faster to walk. This morning as I walked to school, I once again heard birds singing. A beautiful sound of spring!


Another sign of spring are the many calves that are showing up in pastures along the way. We have a couple dozen on the ground running around or napping in the beautiful sunshine. One mother cow was seen baby (calf) sitting at least a dozen calves. A cute sign of spring!

The last sign of spring that we have seen is all the work to do. Chip will soon be in the fields planting oats, and then there will be all the yard work to do such as mowing the lawn and watering the trees, and this year it will include putting log siding on the house. The tough sign of spring!

A sign of spring that we haven’t seen and very thankful that we haven’t is a spring blizzard. The past few years we have been hit hard with spring snowstorms. These are deadly on livestock, wildlife and people. We have had deer die in our hay yards. So far, the storms have gone north of us. We have received wind and rain. At this point it looks like I will make it home for Easter vacation. April 20th has been known to bring in a storm, but so far only rain is in the forecast.

Jake, Our Welsh Corgi

  I am once again sitting quietly and inactively at home with our Welsh Corgi.  Jake is such an amazing dog, that I am led to believe that every nursing home needs to own several.

A couple of years ago when we were visiting Chip's mom in the nursing home, Jake would go with us.  He would quietly and slowly walk around chairs and wheel chairs.  If the person would reach down to pet him, he would make himself available to be petted.  If the person wanted nothing to do with a pet, he would move on to the next person.  The staff loved him and many people truly enjoyed him.

I find that Jake is very understanding.    He comes to greet me in the morning and gives me his attention.  The other day, I was frustrated with being sick and not able to do anything.  I started to cry.  He jumped up from one of his many soft beds and came over to me.  He had to let me know in his own way that he understood.  (I guess he should as he was laid up for several weeks with a broken back a few years ago.)

This morning Jake was a little hurt because Chip once again left him home to "take care of me."  He jumped up beside me on the couch, had me talk to him and then he tried to talk back. I finally asked him if he wanted to go outside and he immediately jumped down and ran to the door.  He sat on the doorstep for a few hours before he came back in. (He really misses Chip.)

So here is hoping that the pneumonia will soon be gone with the help of the anitbiotics and Jake.

We truly have a very special dog!

                                   Nurse Chip and Nurse Jake

The Joys of Winter

Although most of us in Montana are ready for some warm weather, sunshine and no snow anywhere, this picture shows that one can enjoy a beautiful sunset even in winter.

Pneumonia

A very unpleasant but new experience in my life this past month was pneumonia. I developed the chills on January 30th and things went downhill from there. I was coughing hard and at times uncontrollably, but the hardest symptom of all was the lack of appetite. I didn’t even have a desire for my favorite meal of steak, potatoes and corn. There wasn’t anything that looked or tasted good. My uncle once said, “The hardest part about getting old was the lack of appetite.” I began to wonder if I was getting old at an early age.

I finally was convinced that I needed to see a doctor and was told that I was really sick. I was given two options: 1) I could go to a hospital where I didn’t know anyone. 2) Chip could come get me and take care of me. I opted for #2.

It is now February 16th and my appetite is almost normal and I am feeling pretty much alive again.

The lesson I learned this month is don’t mess with Pneumonia. It is a doctor thing and needs to be treated with antibiotics. Being under the care of a doctor during this time relieved a lot of anxiety. They also gave me a medical excuse for work.

During this time the temps have been in the 40-60 range. Although we still have snow on the ground, we truly enjoyed seeing the sun shining brightly.

Winter Weather Advisory

This is one of the strangest winter weather advisories that I have ever seen.  We have a temperature of close to 40 degrees and the day has changed from cloudy skies to sunny skies.  We have had a few flurries but they all melt when they hit the puddles on the road.

Maybe spring is really just around the corner.

The Blessings

When I wrote the book Life on the Ranch: Life Lessons I Learned on the Ranch, I have to admit that I was somewhat nervous of what people would think of the book and of me. In the last couple of weeks, I have been truly blessed with what I have heard.


First: My niece emailed me and shared how her youngest son after hearing the story about the little five year old boy being hit with a car and my concern whether or not this child was in Heaven, decided that he wanted to make sure that if he were to die, he would go to Heaven. He closed his eyes and asked Jesus to save him.

Secondly: A friend of ours bought two books. His comment was, “If I like it, I will buy more.” He called me and ordered ten more books. He gave one to his mom and dad. His mom’s comment was that she really liked it and wished that she would be able to read the second one. She passed away a couple of weeks ago. At the funeral, our friend gave away all of the books.

Thirdly: My oldest brother shared the two chapters about our mom and dad with a friend who had recently lost his young uncle. The Lord used those two chapters to help him through his difficult time.

Fourthly: Chip and I made a quick trip to town today to beat the snowstorm that was coming our way. We decided to have breakfast at the local restaurant. We had just sat down when a lady mentioned my book. We had sold her the book just before Christmas while she was eating lunch with a bunch of church friends. The book had been passed around to four different people and she had finally gotten it back. Several of these people want to buy their own copy just to use for reference and to have on hand. This lady’s husband is a brother-in-law to Pastor Salem who worked with Chip’s granddad to build the First Baptist Church in Belle Fourche. (They are looking for a pastor as their pastor has resigned.)

Fifthly: I work with a young teacher who sent the book to her parents. After reading the book she was informed that her aunt and uncle went to the same college as I had attended and that her dad had spoken in chapel. After thinking about that I bit, I decided that I had probably seen this person when she was a baby. (I did think that she looked familiar!)

Lastly: I have been very surprised with the people in Belle Fourche who have asked me to put my book in their stores or businesses. A special thanks to these people.

I have many more books to sell so if anyone would like a copy, please send a letter with $12.95 plus $2.50 to Drusilla Dye, 81 Finger Buttes Trail, Alzada, MT 59311. If you are in another country, send me an email at Drusillajd@gmail.com and we will figure out postage and a way to make the transaction.

What a winter!

This month is slowly coming to a close.  Every weekend has had some form of snow or wintry mix.  This weekend looked like it was going to be a good weekend for travel and a visit to the ranch, but today the meterologist threw us a winter weather watch for Saturday.  I may have to stay in Lame Deer once again.  That isn't all bad since I have all of my sewing projects here, 13 boxes of my book Life on the Ranch:Life Lessons I Learned on the Ranch, and my laptop so that I can continue to work on the second book Life on the Ranch: Life Lessons I Learned from Hunting.  But even with all that work available, I would rather be home on the ranch with my husband.

My short walk from school housing to the school is paved with a sheet of ice several inches thick, layer of sand and then several inches of snow over it.  I put my "chains" on my shoes and head down the hill.  Thankfully, I havent fallen yet although I did do the splits the other day! 

The ranch has its usual visitors of two owls in the tree, 8-12 grouse, some partridges, jackrabbits and deer. 

Chip keeps busy feeding the livestock.  They are usually ready for the hay when it comes. They and most all Montanans are ready for a beautiful, warm, sunny day.  Hope that your's is full of sunshine.

Happy New Year

2011 has come in with sunshine and warm weather, only to have plenty of snow and cold weather to follow.  The snow falling was beautiful as the big flakes floated to the ground.  With 35 degree weather most of it melted this afternoon, but I am sure that with night setting in, the ground or water is freezing.  Those roads will be plenty slick tonight.

The cows and sheep are definitely enjoying the hay that is placed before them. 
Hoping all are enjoying the New Year