Baby chicks AND baby calves........

Dwight had mentioned to us that he was feeding 3 calves by hand.  He had 3 sets of twins and the mama's only have enough milk for one of them.....so he was feeding them by hand and getting tired of it --- well I think he enjoyed it - but it took time  - something he can be short on.   "Do you want the job?"  he asked.   I said a loud "YES"!!  So today (this evening) we had these three cute little Hereford calves delivered for us to take on the feeding chores.  They weren't sure about getting out of that trailer.....that's a BIG step for a little guy.   So I stuck my finger out and they latched on (thinking it meant milk) and followed me in to the barn .  :)  We sure hope all goes well -- would hate it if they got sick or something.  Also --- we really don't know for sure what the plan is - they need a mama to go out to pasture.  So we wonder what will happen to them.....guess we better ask the boss.

Our blog set up has changed....really don't even know how to explain it....but Google has changed the format and I CAN'T figure it out.   Can't type where I want to .....can't get to the bottom of the page - below the last picture.  So I will have to end this one in the middle of the page.  I really hate "progress" of this type --- why can't they leave good enough alone.!?!?!?

Maybe I'll get if figured out......if anyone has some clues --- let me know!!!

Gary and Barb

Not sure if we mentioned that we have chicks --- 10 for meat and 5 layers.  The layers are - hopefully - going to be allowed to roam the yard and eat bugs.  The HOPEFULLY part is --- IF Toby can leave them alone.   This little guy perched on the box made us laugh.  He still has a lot of fuzz --- but his wings are developed enough to allow him to fly that far already.  He stayed there....probably still up there - for the night.

Trailer is done gone....and.....Puppets

The trailer is finally done and going home --- 1 1/2 miles away. What a winter project!!! --- I think Gary would say it was a learning experience and a lot of fun too. Don seems to be very happy with it. He is taking it home to park it by their "Guest House".....his wife has been battling cancer for 5-6 years (+ -) and she is losing that battle..... but really wants to see this trailer. They have been staying in their hunting lodge because it has lots of room......room for family to come and stay and room for those who want to come and share a cup of coffee and visit a bit.



Those last minute checks..... things look good!!












I hope these videos come through for you OK ----- We had Release Time today with the older two groups. The 5-6th graders had painted this stage and made their puppets (- expect for the clothes) --- it's been almost a (school) year long project. Today we let them practice with their puppets. They really had a lot of fun. We hope to get the stage to school and let them show off for the rest of the school.....should be a lot of fun. The 3-4th graders also made puppets ---- we just need to take some pictures. They too will show off their work at school.



This past weekend we received over 2 inches of rain...it came down nice and slow. It was much needed and everyone is very thankful. And then --- out came the lawn mower. It was fun to mow --- but I'm sure the fun will be short lived as the summer goes on.

Well that's it for now.....I'm anxious to see if the videos work. So more later......
Gary and Barb

April 2012 update

March 31 we went down to McCook, NE to pick up Holly, Clayton and Sawyer. They arrived around 4:00 a.m. Sunday morning via Amtrak. The train ride went great for them all and what a wonderful way for mama and the kids ---- no stress of driving a car and being strapped in a car seat. Too bad that Dennis couldn't come along.....electrical classes.......and exams coming up.





We were somewhat worried about how it would go with our dog Toby --- he is SUCH a big dog and gets VERY excited when there is anyone around to play with him. But the boys LOVED Toby and he loved them. They had a lot of fun and were best buddies.








Of course, you can't come to South Dakota without getting to ride a horse!!! And Sawyer was "love'n it". He rode up there all by himself for almost a mile. Gramma needed a break because she had been on that horse moving a couple of herds for almost 3 hours. Clayton finally decided he would give it a try and enjoyed it also.






We put the boys to work cracking corn for our chickens. They thought it was fun and we got a good amount cracked. Yes, we still do things in a rather primitive way but we happen to like it that way.









We went out every morning to help our neighbor, Dan Tinant, move pairs and Holly and the boys went along everytime. Then one afternoon we got to move a herd of about 100 pairs. That was a very exciting day. Dan called it a rodeo.....but we won and the whole herd including those little calves who lost their mommy were contained.







Sawyer found this one little calf who was just too tired to be scared. He got a lot of petting time in on that one -- but then had to go in search of another one. Didn't find any - so came back to this one.









We've been slowly working on our greenhouse. Today we decided the wind had quieted down enough to put the plastic on. And this is the final product. Looks pretty good and it gets steamy in there. It's somewhat of an experiment -- seeing as how we have never done this before. Hope to get some onion sets, radish, lettuce, spinach, beans, peppers.......in there.....things that the grasshoppers destroy. The tomatoes, corn, watermelon, muskmelon, zucchini, butternut squash and whatever else will go on the outside in our old garden plot.


We even have a small windbreak on the south side --- trees on the west and north.....

Guess we will say --- we will let you know how it pans out.









Things have been going good with our "ministry". We have moved JDC to Wednesday evenings. That way we don't have to worry about Court --- and they have showers on Thursday evening so that was always a busy night for the officers. We hope this will end problems that we've had recently. They (JDC) have finally decided to enforce the "background check".....so until that is finished we have been unable to go on Sunday afternoons to visit with the kids - one on one. We are disappointed that that had to happen but hopefully it will come to an end soon and we will be able to go again. The kids ask for us and it hurts to have to tell them we can't come.

We would also ask for prayer...... We are looking into starting a Youth Group with the Native kids. It is just in the planning / talking about it stages. But some things are falling into place and we have others who would be willing to help us. In fact, we got a call from a man that we've come to know through the Alcohol Treatment Center......he is the one who contacted us --- asking if we would consider a Youth Group.

This is actually an answer to prayer. We see such a need for follow up with the kids that are released from the JDC....and these are the ones that would be targeted......it would be on personal invitation. There will be several things that have to be worked out.....so if you would pray for us as we work thru ideas and consider what we need to do.....we would appreciate it.

Thanks ---- Gary and Barb