LOVE the birds......HOWEVER......

Last night we were in White River for the Alcohol Recovery Group.  Had a good meeting..... young Rajon - (spoken like Rashawn) he's 5 years old...was there once more with his ?? Uncle Shawn.  We read out of the Story Bible and sang Jesus Loves me ( he's starting to get the words) and This little light of mine...... we made a finger puppet and then colored a page.

 We knew that there were severe weather warnings....and by the time the meeting was half over the clouds were navy blue!!!!!  Looked nasty.  As we headed for home at about 9:00 there was a light show behind us to the north and another light show to the west.  White River is about 45 miles north of us -- but the lightning was still to the south of us when we got home.....huge system of bad weather!!!.  We went to bed at about 10:45 and then the hail started....mostly small stuff and the whole storm didn't last very long.  However,  I was wide awake for quite some time.    About 1:30 I heard the strangest sound ever!!!!  It was WHOMP ....... WHOMP....whomp.   Really loud.  What ever in the world was THAT?!?!?!?  Of course, Gary was sound asleep......I poked him ...... "huh?".....told him what I had heard....and "oh" and back to  sleep!!!!   SO now....I was REALLY wide awake!!!  ALSO --- the electricity just went off..... what in the world?????  The storm had passed a while ago........

At 7:00 in the morning I called in to Cherry Todd (Electric) that we were without power...."Yes, Lee Logterman had just called in ---- apparently there was an owl that landed on the transformer......"

OH YEAH!!  Dead as a door nail!!!  It took until about 10:30 ----- Cherry Todd went to the wrong Logterman place.....but then it was a matter of minutes and we had power once again.

Yes - owls  have there place but they can also be problems in more ways than one!!

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On the happy side......I did figure out how to get the photos off my new camera and onto the computer...... I have to put the memory card into my old camera and then I can download them.   SO --- here are some of the photos I had been wanting to share with you......
These three are from that pasture that we moved the pairs into for Dan Tinant.  On that ridge that you see on the 1st photo....on the far left....is a cemetery.  The former owners are buried up there along with a grandson.  The next is a sweet little creek that was flowing strong.   Such a peaceful little spot - way off the road ---- no one in sight and no trees either.

The next is just the reminder of God's love that we always look for after a storm.  He never fails us.

........then for a few of the birds that we LOVE.

Then one of Gary's  different projects.    A beer can collection.  Turned out great!!!  and it was another happy customer......

....Vern and Marlys.

I have to tell the story......... Marlys was getting sick of storing these cans in garbage  bags so she decided to do something about it and came and asked Gary if he was game for the project.  She really kind of wanted to keep it a surprise for Vern - who had been collecting these cans since their honeymoon (another story).   Anyway --- Gary put it together......Marlys came and painted it......and then when Vern was out planting one Saturday afternoon.....we went to put it up.  Marlys told us the story the next morning after church.   Vern apparently walked right past this huge display -- at least 4 times and never saw it.   She thought "he must not like it"......  He had even gotten into her car which was parked about 2 feet from it.....could have bumped into it with his head!!! ......and he never saw it.   The next morning - Vern stepped out of their kitchen into the garage and WOW when did they put that in here.....must have come during the night!.    :)  :)    We laughed and laughed.

We have company stopping in on their way west ------ Don and Lynn Becksford (cousin)......we are afraid that they will probably camp at Fishberry campground  north of Valentine--- simply because our roads are a mess from all the rain.  We will meet up with them on Friday and hopefully show them around a little bit before they head for Mt. Rushmore.

We have had a couple of beautiful days (in between the storms) and have gotten several of our own projects finished.   Things like cleaning out the chicken coop......weeding the fence around the garden..... cutting down some low hanging branches.........   And then Gary will look into his next project. I will leave that for another post.   It could be a project -- or it could be a hopeless case.

More later........
Blessings to all of you.
Gary and Barb

VERY VERY FRUSTRATED......

.....with this computer!!!!  I know some of you enjoy this blog....and I really do enjoy putting things on it.   But it IS nice to have pictures on it  - along with the story.   WELL --- I have this awesome new camera and it takes real nice pictures.   However,  for some reason my computer suddenly stopped accepting them....or whatever terms you want.   It DON'T work.    And I get anywhere from frustrated to down right MAD!!!!

So this past week we went out to help our neighbor Dan Tinant move his pairs.   He trucked them about 15 miles to the pasture he was leasing......and then he asked if Gary and I would move the pairs (cow and calf) once they got them paired back up.  He said --- "when we're done we'll take a tour of the country".   This was like WOW country!!!  2400 acres to this pasture and we drove (on our 4 wheelers) for miles and miles and didn't see any buildings --- just the wide open spaces.   There is a cemetery out there - up on a butte -- where the origin owners are buried and a grandson.  There are about 3 cedar trees in the cemetery fenced in area --- those are the only trees in the whole pasture that we were in.   As we were going over to view the cemetery -- Gary was in the lead and then me.   His wheel flipped over a BIG antler shed......6 point.   And Dan stopped --- he was behind me and pointed out the matching one just 8 feet away.  In all those acres --- we just happened to drive over this find.  It was a fun day!!!!

On Friday -- we helped another neighbor with their branding..... the VanderWeys.  We did our usual job --- nasal spray.......  Rick and Kitty have about 500 head -- so that's a lot of bending over to do each calf.   But you're right in the action and we truly enjoy it.  Our Pastor Mark and his wife Dawn and kids - Michaela and Evan came too.  Mark watched for a while and then Gary gave him  his job.  After we moved to the next pasture Mark said he was going to wrestle some calves.  He  did real good for a green horn!!!   And I gave Dawn my job -- the nasal spray.   First she was only going to do a few --- but she continued on til we were done.  They are really getting into this country life and seem to be enjoying it a lot.   I was left with nothing to do so was standing watching....... and decided I really needed to try to hold one of those calves........................   I let Sadie (VanderWey) and the guy she was helping get the calf to the ground and then I asked Sadie if I could hold the head end.   "Oh sure after I wrestle it you want to hold it down".  YUP..... I can see if you have a big calf it could really be a hard thing to do.  I did hold the calf down......so felt like ---- I was successful this time....better leave it at that and not have a big mess up.   Another busy day.....but no accidents ........so a fun day too!!!!

I've been taking photos of all our birds in the back yard.......sorry -- I can't show them.   Have a couple of awesome sunsets......can't show them.  Maybe one of these days this blankety blank blank computer will do it's job again...... until then just know that we are doing well.  Loving our quiet little spot on God's green earth and still enjoying all of our Ministry Opportunities.  Release Time will be finished next week.   We are giving out Bibles to all of the kids this year.  Decided that it's time for a more advanced version for our 4th graders.    Yamni is still reading his Beginner Story Bible that we gave him when he was in the 1st grade.   All of the groups are getting a Bible --- so it will be a nice end to the year for them.

Thank you for your interest.
Gary and Barb

An Adventure????

Well --- if it's not considered an adventure --- it certainly was something new for me.

I made the meals at Lakeview School today.  The Cook --- Janet Kady  -- needs one day off every other week.  Her husband has some medical needs and she would like to be able to go with him on that day --- on his trip to the hospital.    She called me the other day to ask if I would consider subing for her.  The gal who has been helping out isn't always available........so I said I would give it a try.

It meant that I had to go to Mission to the school Administration Building for a drug test and have my fingerprints taken.  Nothing real difficult....however, I did have to have proof that I graduated from High School.  I did NOT have anything like that in my possession.  One call to Zeeland High School and it was taken car of.  WOW they keep records for a good long time.... :)

I went to "observe" the other day........it had been raining and then it turned to snow.....and that meant the roads were MUD!!!  So - would you believe --- they sent the kids home early --- 10:00 ---- on the day I had come to watch how things went.   So that meant I would go again to "observe".

Janet promised me an easy day.     And today was a pretty easy day.   Breakfast couldn't have been any easier.......packaged cold cereal, a granola bar, a juice box and applesauce.  All I had to do was put it on the counter and get the milk out.      Lunch was a little more involved -- but proved to be pretty easy also.  It was creamed chicken on mashed potatoes, green beans, dinner roll and applesauce (again).   I NEVER make instant mashed potatoes --- but they turned out as good as those things can.

I think I did OK --- anyway all  the food disappeared and those who came for seconds were all satisfied........wiped the pans as clean as we could to get the last drops of food.   It's nice to see kids eating and wanting more.

Then it was clean up time and at 2:30 I delivered the bananas to the rooms for a snack and headed home.

I might be asked one more time this year and then school will be finished.   It was fun to see the Release Time kids and some who have stopped coming (for whatever reason)  in the school setting.   And it was fun to see the surprise on their faces when it was me behind the counter rather than Janet.

We've had a week of raining weather but today was a gorgeous spring day and they are promising that for the remainder of the week.  Tonight is the Alcohol Recovery Meeting in Mission,   tomorrow night will be at the Detention Center, Thursday we will have the 3rd and 4th graders for Release Time and then Friday is branding at the VanderWeys.   A busy week but looking forward to all of it.
Gary and Barb

In my opinion........

......this is the most loved bird on the prairies!!!   The Chickadee is another favorite......the Blue Jay is special to me because I remember hearing it's song whenever we went to  Beads Dam fishing......

but .....THE MEADOWLARK .......  their song is so special.  When driving past them in a vehicle.....walking along the wayside.......even sitting in the house.   God blessed them with a loud voice and what a special song it is.  This morning as I walked out to the garden --- this one was busy singing and singing. So I hurried to the house for my camera --- wishing it was hooked permanently to my body!!!! ......and went back out hoping he wasn't done singing yet.    He/she was still busy singing his praises to God.   I got a couple of shots and then tried from a different angle......finally he flew away.

Perhaps he was announcing the rain that was on it's way......it is lightly raining as I type.  Prediction is for a LOT more...so we shall see.

Oh yeah.....another happening this morning.......  I walked up to Grandpas house where Lee lives ----to bring him his mail.....   And I saw what looked like a baby calf in the alfalfa north of the house.  It could only be one of VanderWeys'     ...... so I called and told them about him.  Then I went for my walk down the driveway......  Lee (works for VanderWeys)  drove down to look for the calf........ when he came back past me with it in the back of his truck --- he told me the calf was "a newborn -  -  blind as a bat".   HHhhhhmmm  now I am wondering about that poor little thing......

Anyway ------enjoy the springtime......in whatever shape or form it comes.
Gary and Barb

Fun time with Holly, Clayton and Sawyer.....

Our daughter, Holly, and their two boys, Clayton and Sawyer came out for their "annual spring break visit".  They come via Amtrak - while daddy, Dennis, stayed home with the critters.  We think there are other people who could take care of the 5 steers!!!!!

The boys are both in Cadets and wanted to get their Hiking Badge.   So two hiking trips were planned.  Of course, they came on a WINDY week.  However......Monday was supposed to be nice and so an overnight campout and hike was planned. At 4:00 in the afternoon they started out at the "old Newenhuis" place (and I'm sure I spelled that one wrong.)   Gary had the co-ordinances on his GPS.......and so they would travel across country to the well that is straight north of Bud Pavelka.  Approximately 3 miles as the crow flies ---- but with all the "country" they found it was certainly more than that.  They jumped 2 coyotes, and 3 mule deer......

......found an old pickup  (that Uncle Dave would probably like)....also ...a question for Duke or Robbi or Dwight.   Could this possibly be out by the "old Beck place"??  That's the area they were hiking in......

...a pond out in the middle of no-where........and finally made it to the well where Holly and I met them with the rest of their camping gear.

And off they went to find their spot for the night.  The coyotes howled ....and it rained a little......and some of the breakfast got spilled on the ground......which meant Sawyer had to do the dishes......not a happy boy.....but maybe a lesson there.

Holly and I again met them -- picked up all their gear and they hiked the remaining 2 plus miles that they needed to complete the requirements for the hike.

This spot - for those of you who know this country...is 1/2 mile north of Wyonne Walkling.....which is also 1 mile approx. south of where I (Barb) went to school...up there by the  trees.

Then on Friday morning the boys went on their final hike with Grandpa.  This would be south of us in a pasture that my cousin Dwight owns.....  Another spot with some fun surprises.

 They  (actually Grandpa found it )......found a shed - an antler......

and some fun places to run and mess around in.   This was an "exploring hike" so the boys had to come back and make a map of where they had walked and what they had seen. They put on about 5 miles.......

While they were out doing all this hiking.....Holly was back at our home making curtains for their camper.  She had never sewn before so this was a fun learning time for her.   The curtains turned out great.  Somewhere on this @#$%^&  computer (excuse my language) there is a picture of her sewing.....but I can't find it and I can't get it off my camera again because it isn't "new".

We ended their vacation with a swim at the pool in McCook --- Chief Motel.  The train came in 1/2 hour late ---- 12:34 a.m.  But it DID come -- so they are now on their way back to Michigan --- and should arrive this evening at 10:30 p.m. ----- a LONG trip but one that works for a mom with 2 young boys.

A fun time was had by all !!!!!!!

Gary and Barb --- Gramma and Grampa

Release Time -- Easter Story

We had our group this week for Release Time.  We have been doing the story of King Saul and King David --- but it's Easter and what a wonderful story to tell.   Our group is the 3rd and 4th graders and we have had these kids since the 1st grade.  We have told the Easter Story each year -----so this was a story they knew well.  As Gary told the story - a hand would go up and they would have to say what they remembered --- or sometimes they went ahead in the story and Gary would say "yes !! that's coming".  It's a LONG story if you try to tell it all --- but it's all so important.......the kids did great ---- a little disruptive with all the hands going up but at least it was always about the story.

We also made a nice cross out of red cedar with the kids.  They started out with 6 pieces  - 3 long and 3 short.  They had to pick how they wanted their cross to look and then we glued them together.

The pictures show the crosses before we put a sealant on them.........that always brings out the bright color of the cedar.  We sprayed the crosses after we brought the kids back to school and then delivered them when they were dry (same day).  They will have them at home for Easter.

May your Easter be special as we all celebrate and remember what Jesus did for each one of us and that he lives and reigns forever.
Gary and Barb

AUGH!! Winter is back --- in full force.

Spring was short and summer even shorter (yes, we felt like we had a touch of them both already)..... Today, winter reared it's ugly cold head again.  We don't have a terrible lot of snow -- but the wind is fierce and schools are closed.  Stores and businesses in Valentine are closing.  One report on the radio was that at times he couldn't see the truck parked across the street from the radio station.   I am afraid that this is NOT good for the baby calves that are being born in this weather.  Hopefully, the ranchers can get them inside and out of the wet, cold, snowy weather.

Gary came into the house and said, "get your camera".   So I grabbed it and asked, "what you got"?
Well, there was a robin sitting in the cedar tree right by our garden spot.  I certainly figured it would be long gone by the time we got back out there.   But there she sat........

                                             
....looked to me like she was all puffed up trying hard to stay warm.  After I snapped a couple of pictures she ducked back into the inside of the tree.  Must have been checking so see if things were improving but decided they weren't.

When it's nice out we've had the red winged blackbirds...........

                                           

........ sitting in the tree tops singing their "song".  The only reason I like their "noise" is that they DO announce that spring is right around the corner.  So we are just thankful for the moisture that came in the form of this snow and we know that spring is still just right around the corner.

We had JDC this evening and had 2 groups ---- 10 in the first and 8 in the second.  There is a group that they call "BIA".....they are from other reservations.  The groups were all attentive and it was an enjoyable evening.  We went from 3 youth - to 18.  Tomorrow is a court date for some of them so a  few might be gone...but there are 4 in "booking".....so this number will be with us for a while. This is a wonderful time --- to talk about the great sacrifice Jesus gave by dying for us - taking our punishment and then rising again from the dead.   We will also be doing a service on Sunday (Easter) evening-----another chance to share this wonderful message.

May God bless you as we remember His Grace at this time.
Gary and Barb