Movie Magic

Having seen the movie...

But never visited...

The Devils Tower Monument

Somehow looks very different without the

Mothership hanging overhead.

And some of the local scenery...

Was stunning in it's color brilliance. 

80 Years Young and Gettin' Better With Age

A DAY IN THE LIFE

There comes a time in all of our lives, that we begin to realize (or, at least we should) that we can't do what we used to do.

Not quite as well, as fast or efficient as we used to.

Growing up can be a real pain- getting old is a downright bugger at times.

And it has happened, again. The 'ol Rancher has seen life sneak up on him, suddenly.

Funny how that happens.

So last Saturday, we helped the 'Ol Rancher celebrate his 80th birthday

HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY, NICK

And,of course, birthday boy gets the first slice of cake and scoop of ice cream

Even better, is knowing that we were able to leave Nick speechless.

Not being used to the center of attention, he was left having to 

be in the limelight as,

His friends showed up and showed their appreciation for all he's done

for the community and the church

Nick is the essence of the praying cowboy.

Every cowboy needs another belt buckle

and a good  set of spurs.

(Just remember, Never Squat with your spurs on)

Nick has told me many "Cowboy Wisdom's" 

Here are just a few:

There are some who learn by watching, some by doing,

Some by a combination of both-

The rest of us just have to pee on the electric fence

Never approach a bull from the front

A Horse from the rear

Or a fool from any direction

Never look down on a man, unless

You're willing to give him a hand up

And lastly:

You can go cry in the truck or

COWBOY UP!!

Why can't we all just get along!

Given recent and current political events the world over, it makes me wonder:

 If there is anything we can learn from our pets, it's this:

 Anja and Mouser do not speak the same language

Barks and Meows simply do not translate

 Mouser is a cat that runs around, room to room 

for no apparent reason

Anja is a barely year old mutt mix that prefers to

relax on the living room rug

And yet, Black or Brown

Big or Small

Dog or Cat

They still find a way to get along

and actually make a cute couple

I think we can learn a thing or two from our pets!

Spring is all the Rage!

Sometimes, to real get the good shots,

You have to get up earlier than usual.

Sometimes, in spite off all the planning,

What you get is more than you could have

ever hoped for.

 There is a time between Winter and Spring, in Montana,

a micro season, called Mud!

After spending several months in the deep freeze of Winter,

Snow up to your wazoo, and bitter cold that freezes the snot in your nose.

Finally, the first hints of Spring begin to show themselves.

And, with that, we have the micro season of "Mud"

 It's time to get out for those "Day Trips" that you've planned 

all winter long, as cabin fever set in deeper by the day.

 Past fields of livestock feeding and the early calving season, 

for hope, and new life spring eternal, every Spring.

Mixed in with all of this new, is a glimpse into the past.

Old barns, in near collapse...

Old hay stacking racks, revolutionary in it's day

Leaving behind Haystacks,

not bales or rolls of hay,

but haystacks.

A sign of the past but still in use today in the far reaches

of the Montana prairie

Caught in the Polar Vortex

The End of Global Warming!

So after a week of a nice warming trend, just as things were beginning

to turn green-

We bring You.....

Fence post Snowmen!!

That's a lot of bull!

And then there's the time...

As a young lad, our Ol' Rancher was as curious 

as any youth his age.

So one day, as his Dad was about to fire up his 

Model T truck (you know the one's with the hand 

crank in front)

Well, our young lad had been really interested in 

what the results would be if the tailpipe of Dad's

Model T, would become plugged.

Lacking anything to try his experiment but some

fresh "cow patties" in the driveway, he want about

his plan.

His Dad cranked harder and harder, but the Model T

just would not fire over.

(Granted they weren't the easiest beast to start to begin with,

 but this was getting old, quickly)

Finally, the old truck fires up, and in the very same instant

The young man's father wonders why it was so hard to start,

and why his young son was standing behind it, 

COVERED IN COW MANURE!

Oh, The Days of Our Youth

Long before the Ol' Rancher worked with

prize Herfords...

Long before he rode many a trail

on  his faithful steed, "Smokey"...

And, long before he decided to
take this greenhorn on a
cattle drive to his summer pasture...

The Ol' Rancher was a kid,
a youngster, just a "tadpole"

And because he was a young boy once,

he had wild and crazy, young boy thoughts and

idea's.

"So one day, my older brother and I were riding on the back of the neighbors

truck.

Going at a fairly good clip, down what served for roads, back then.

My older brother makes the pronouncement that he needed to relieve himself.

Now, mind you, our neighbor was not going to stop and the truck was not "self-contained"

So lacking any other options, my brother decides that the only option was to "hang it all out 

over the back of the truck. (Seemed like a reasonable idea at the time)

While my brother was focused on the immediate need, I was focused on the upcoming bump

in the road!

Not wanting to bother my brother in his time of need, I decided to keep my peace (just to see what might happen)

Well, we hit that bump full on and my brother, in mid stream, flailed about with much drama. (Did mention he was wearing glasses at the time?)

Gathering himself, finally, he turns around to me, wiping his glasses and says, "Guess ya need windshield wipers on this ride"

Of course, I 'bout wet myself, laughin' so hard"