First Campout of the year ---- Cow Creek

We sure had a fun time at Cow Creek.   This is a State Rec. area north of Pierre on the Oahe Dam.  We were there last year also but that time it was real windy.  This time it was a calm peaceful couple of days.

We left on Sunday after we had visited with one of the girls at the Detention Center.   It's only 2 hours up to Pierre so we were there around 4:30.  One other camper in the whole campground so we had our pick of sites.  We should have gone to the north part but the wind can be so bad coming off the water  so we stay behind the tree line.   But it was calm the whole time we were there.

We went fishing right off shore.  Toby enjoyed being by the water even if he couldn't go jumping in after sticks.  His leg really isn't healing like we had hoped and the vet said to hold off on the exercises.   We are seeing improvement and haven't cut down a whole lot on his walks but we didn't let him do nearly as much as Toby would have liked to.

He looks kind of dejected here.   But he was watching the bobber!!   Good dog!!

Gary went out early in the morning on Tuesday (we slept in on Monday)......I stayed in bed and enjoyed some more sleep!!!    Then after thinking he would have been back  -- I went looking but couldn't find any sign of him........ I did finally find him.  He had a pail with 3 catfish in it.  Said they really hit hard right away but when I got there (no pole -- just waiting on breakfast) they had quit.   When I walked back to get the fillet knife and a pan, the one other camper and her husband asked if I had some fish.   I told her Gary had some catfish and she got real excited.   I asked if she knew how to clean them (she was Oriental)...and she did.   She came along and filleted  the first one for Gary and then he did the rest.   She obviously knew what she was doing.

We also caught 3 bass, and 2 northern pike ---- oh and then that stupid carp! So it was a fun time. 

 We did some bird watching .....sure wish I knew what these big birds are.   They  were maybe a little bigger than a robin.

 Gorgeous sunset.....I should have been out on that point the night before because the colors were awesome and I missed it.

 My big bass......

 We could barely see these geese with the naked eye ---- they were across the water from us.   My camera is a nice one -- and I caught these shots.  They sure were noisy!!!  They must have been close to 1/2 mile away.

I searched and searched for that bobber -- in my camera view finder........ I finally found it.   Isn't that a cool shot!!!   Applause.....Applause       😊

There was a down side to our campout.......TICKS!!  Gary must have picked 20 of the buggers off!!  He'd have one crawling on his hand......then in his neck.....then his hand.   I had one --- but goodness.   We were on our way home and Gar says  "here!! under my finger .......you got it?!?!  You have to be fast --- cause they're faster!!  But I did get it and then YUCK --- you have to use your fingernails and break them in half in order to kill them.

We left Skip home alone.   No - he wasn't alone --- Lee was here to take care of him.   He was pretty happy to see us.   But then he's a puppy so he's just happy and dingy all the time anyway.

Well, it's been a big day and the camper is back in the barn .....and I am going to bed.

Love to one and all.
Gary and Barb

SKIP --- Bad dog!!! AND the Detention Center

We took Skip to the vet on Wednesday to be neutered.   The instructions for Skip were as follows:  no running, jumping, or playing.  Keep him dry and warm and quiet.        YEAH RIGHT!    Today is wet and misty and Skip never felt better.  Just now I could hear him strangling a chicken AGAIN.  The other day I heard him  -- anyway I was pretty sure I heard him messing with the chicken.    Oh -- I have to tell you first that we had let our chickens out the other day and this one Rhode Island Red - one of our best layers-- didn't come back to the coop that night.   She has been out ever since --- roaming the trees and happy as a lark!  I finally KNEW that he was messing with the chicken when I watched him come to the house carrying the chicken by it's head!!   I ran outside, Skip let go and the chicken ran away.

Well --- as I said - just now I heard the squawking (muffled squawking) again.   Right outside the trailer.   I ran out just to see the chicken get away from Skip and run under the deck.  She was pretty wet and ruffled looking but very much alive.   She came a little too close to me and I grabbed her legs. 

She is now back in the coop with the other chickens.   I watched to see if they would think she was a stranger and attack her.....but no --- she went right in to eating and they just followed suit.  So I guess all is well and hopefully we have our good layer back.   Kind of wonder if there are a batch of eggs out there that she might have been sitting on.   Oh well!

Skip lucked out pretty good ---- had he killed the chicken he would have been beaten with the dead thing.   Toby could tell him all about that!!!  Toby leaves the chickens alone!!!

On another note......  I have graduated from therapy and no longer go.  I still do the exercises at home plus our Tia Bo in the morning.    I am walking pretty good now (not so much of the penguin walk anymore).

Guess that's about it for now....... Release Time has finished, but we still go to the Detention Center.  We had 3 girls and about 6 boys after that.  A couple of the girls need our prayers!!!   One wrote on her prayer request that she was considering ending her life.   We let the Officers know ---- they already knew and someone had come in to talk with her.   They do have a group come in (anyway they have had) that addresses just that issue.

The boys enjoyed singing, but we need to discuss that with them a little bit.  One was singing the words ahead of me and getting everyone mixed up.  I think it was for show/attention. 

FRIENDLINESS!!!! ----- just gotta tell you.

Monday we were in North Platte for my check up with my surgeon.  As we stood at the counter waiting to get an appointment there was a man at the next gal --- getting his appointment.  I (we) paid no attention to him ---- none of our business what his appointment was.......   And I had to pay attention to my date this coming July.

When we got outside -- this man came over to us and apologized for not saying HI to us.........he had recognized us and felt bad that he hadn't acknowledged us.     He put out his hand and introduced himself --- "Daniel Cox".   Well, we know some Cox in Valentine area and so I asked if he was related to Bobbi Cox.    No, different family.      This man was from Mullen Nebraska.    We have NEVER been to Mullen and unless I look at a Nebr. map I only know that it is southwest of us.    And now after looking at the map ------ I see that it is an hour south of Valentine and then 1/2 hour west.

All we could figure out was that he recognized us from visits to Valentine.   I told him we weren't ranchers --- just ma and pa........   Then I told him I was related to Dwight Logterman and he knew Dwight. 

ANYWAY ---- It really hit us......so friendly --- apologizing to us for not saying HI !!!    People in this area are just so friendly and always have time for each other.   It seems like the rest of the world is just on overload and rushing around........   We all need to slow down and say HI more often to those we recognize.

And as for my checkup ----- the doc. is very pleased with everything.   New bone growth again.  I told him I did have an issue by my knee.   So he kind of pinched the area and I straightened my leg for him.   OH YEAH!   He really made it "ripple".    Yes it's those screws that are too long.   I have no pain when it does that ripple ---- it just feels nasty.     So we are going to see what 3 months brings and if it's really bugging me --- the screws will come out.    It's an outpatient thing....."takes longer to get you sleepy and on the bed than it does to take the screws out........ and you can walk on it right away".     I was good with that.

Beautiful day today --- yesterday it drizzled the whole day and was cold and windy.  What a turn around.   I am going to get out right now and take a walk!!  This afternoon I have a little gal - Lilly - coming over so we can have some fun together.

Love to All,
Barb

THE ROADS after the blizzard of April 13 --- Friday the 13th !!!!

OH BOY!!! The roads are a mess.   Well, the Lakeview / Crookston road is fine....but some of the other ones...... nasty!!!!   We did get out for my therapy session this morning but it was an "adventure".    We have our driveway -- full of ruts and getting muddy!! and then we have that mile east to the intersection of the Lakeview road.   We got like within a 1/4 of a mile and there was a car stuck right in the middle of the road and NO way around it.   The banks along that mile are up to 8 feet (at least) high.

 The stuck car was a bit further --- down the hill.......

This is going to the west of our driveway.   It took them a long time to get through that big drift.  There were two machines working together. 

We did get them to go down our driveway (NO that picture is not of our driveway)------ we could already get out because our neighbor Don had plowed us out with his tractor.   But Gary talked with the plow driver and told him (after he had asked if there was any place to turn around)...to just go on down to the barn and he could turn around there.   Maybe --- next winter --- we will have better luck with getting them to do our drive ---but I'm not holding my breath!!!!

It's just amazing what an amount of snow we received --- from 14 to 20 inches.  And then all that wind.   We have more snow predicted for this weekend but I think it's only a couple of inches. 

But back to this morning.     We had to back up the hill --- quite the feat in itself ........!!! and then go around the 4 miles -- past the school.  That road was a mess also and now Dan T. said it was worse than ours.     So anyway --- we  got to town ...took the pup (Skip) to the vet and me to therapy.....and then out for a late breakfast.    Good ole' Bunkhouse has the best breakfast............     Then we came back toward home and checked if the car was out.     Yes, it was sitting at the end of the road.   The trip in was bad --- so much snow left from the plow job and then more snow during the night had blown in.........and now it was thawing.   If this video works it will give you a taste of the bumpy road.....   and that was yesterday.....today was MUCH MUCH worse.   The road on this video looks pretty decent.......deceiving.....it's not that way today!!!  

This afternoon I was sitting in my easy chair --- figuring on going to JDC ---- supper would be early.....and Dan Tinant stopped in.  He asked "are you going to JDC'   Yes.....     He had just come that way and he said that if we stayed on top of the snow/ice that was left from all the coming and going -- we'd be OK --- but if we dropped off--into the rut --- we were gonna be stuck.    "But feel free to call me if you need to be pulled out".  Typical Dan!!!    He wouldn't even bad mouth us...."stupid people!!! after I told them......."  

We decided it wasn't worth it.   We had previously thought that with only one kid - Sage - we'd have his full attention --- No distractions...  Oh Well --- another time.  

So I guess with the extra time this evening I should do my exercises again.  I'm still working on getting rid of the "penguin walk".....  it is getting better but not completely gone yet. I have an appointment with the surgeon on Monday...... I have a few questions about things.   It's hard to explain but it's like the muscles on the inside of my leg by my knee have to go over marbles......ripple ripple ripple.....it's a real weird feeling.   It doesn't really hurt -- but he had said the two screws there were really too long and might have to come out. He'd like them to stay for a year .....but......  So I am wondering if they are the cause of the weird ripple.

Toby still limps  but he does use his leg and leaves prints in the mud when he gets to go for a walk.    He has accepted his crate as his new home and during the blizzard he stayed tucked inside.  Gary wrapped a tarp around it so the snow couldn't blow in too badly.

Well that's about it.  We are thankful for the moisture -- it will make for a lovely spring when the grasses in the pastures are green.....and the wild flowers come out.  We know Spring is out there --- just wish it would hurry up and get here!!!

Love to all

Gary and Barb

New pictures -- gives a better idea

Here are a couple of better pictures.....Gary and Skip  -- give you an idea of the size of the drifts. This is at noon on Saturday.

Hard enough to walk on top of the drifts.  And as I look out the window....the wind is still blowing across this drift -- making it even bigger.  Back to working on my quilt.....no reason to go out into the cold!!!

Barb and Gary

Blizzard of April 13-14, 2018

YES -- that (this) is quite the blizzard.  We have snow drifts on our yard that have not been seen before.   Thursday was a beautiful day and we could be in shirt sleeves.....sitting on the deck enjoying the sun shine!!  Friday at noon the blizzard got a slow start -- but by 3:30 it was nasty!!!  By evening it was hard to see Grandpas house!!

We wanted to put a 2nd layer of plastic (greenhouse type plastic) in our greenhouse.  Gary says " nice day to work in the greenhouse --- it will be nice and pleasant in there".  Well, yes it was and we got a lot done .....but after he had gone out to the big barn for something he came back and said "let's get out of here, it just got about 10 times worse."   We had to walk into the wind and it was wet snow -- so by the time we got back to the trailer we were wet!!!   A person couldn't survive in something like that for long at all especially if not dressed properly -- which I wasn't!!

The wind blew all night long and  in the morning we woke up to look out at some huge drifts.  Pictures never do things justice ......But with the nose of the truck in there -- you do get an idea.

 These are lilac bushes next to Grandpas house so this isn't a solid drift but  I'm afraid the lilacs might have some broken branches when this snow finally gives way.

 

In the back portion of this picture you see a big drift.   That one has to be at least 6 feet deep.  When Clayton and Sawyer were out for a visit -- they went through there to go into the corrals -- driving the Honda and the Mitsubishi.  Good thing this storm came the week after they were here.  If they had been here this week ---- we wouldn't have gotten them back to McCook to catch the train!!! .....or if we did -- we wouldn't have gotten back home!!!

The wind is still blowing and it's still snowing.   We know the snow plow won't be seen for a few days.....perhaps by Monday or Tuesday if we're lucky.   That means we won't get out to church tomorrow.....cabin fever will be setting in.  I'll have to come up with a good project for Gary.   He pulled a face when I said we could clean cupboards. 

Guess we'll enjoy spring all the more when it finally comes to stay!!!

We are thankful that we still have electricity --- the lights have blinked a couple of times but so far we are warm and comfy!

God Bless!!

Gary and Barb

Spring Break.....Holly, Clayton and Sawyer come for a visit

We took a road trip down to McCook on Friday ---took Toby along in his box on the back of the truck......  and picked up our visitors --- the train was actually early this time. 

We've been having fun outside when the weather is good and fun inside when the weather is nasty......and yes we have had both!!

 We made our usual Sunday evening meal of pizza......  the boys did a great job and it tasted really good!

 Clayton had to try out Toby's box.  It fit him pretty good but we decided he didn't have to sleep in it unless he acted up.  Would be a COLD night out!!!  Poor Toby...we can close it off pretty good and one night Gary found him snuggled up under the quilt we threw in there.

 The boys gathered all my blankets and made a fort over top the bunk beds.  Great fun!

I got Holly to clean the DUST off my bedroom and living room fan.  Wow do they look nice!!!  Thanks Holly!!  I think I would be in big trouble if someone found me on that step ladder!!

We went to see Don and Jeannie's new twin lambs.  Cute Cute!

 Sawyer learned how to drive the Honda and went for lots and lots of rides.

 OOPS!!   Got stuck in the snow.  Mom and Clayton went to the rescue ----- but it finally took getting Grandpa with the other 4 wheeler to pull him out.

Clayton graduated to the Mitsubishi..... what fun to learn to drive a shift.  He took everyone for a ride. 

The boys also took down our inner layer of plastic that we had in the greenhouse.   It made for a much cooler greenhouse ---- but it was the wrong type of plastic so it fell apart.  We have the new stuff----- but that will probably be my job to help with putting that up.   They boys were out there with power drills and just having a ball!!

We've played lots of Dominos and Rummikub and Spoons.  Sawyer didn't care for the Spoons game --- he concentrated so much on getting the 4 cards that he never saw the spoons disappear.

Gary even had time to work on the hay rake......he is - right now - putting the two pieces together........(You might have to go back a couple of blogs to see the rake when it was delivered).  Skip is trying to help but is basically a pain in the butt.

Today I have therapy so we will be going to Valentine for the afternoon.  I will do my exercises and I think Holly and the boys will go to the sale barn --- to watch --- not to buy --- keep your hands down Holly!!   And then on Friday afternoon we will head back down to McCook.  We have a motel with a pool so the boys can show off their swimming skills.  I suppose Toby will be going along again.  Skip gets to stay home alone with the chickens. 

Love having company!
Gary and Barb