The guy I am building this saddle for is a cranky ol’ SOB. so I want to do a good job so he ain’t crabby cuz’ when he’s crabby, ain’t nobody happy around here! Here’s the stirrup leather laying on the sweat fender.
Windy and cool
But still got up to 30 today. I worked on leather and did chores. this afternoon when I was waiting on leather to dry so I could carve and stamp, I drove down south to check on water for them cows. There had been a strong two inches of ice on the tank, but not the float. By the tracks I could see that some of them wise old cows had got up in the tank with their front feet and broken the ice so they could drink. Smart cows! Guess they got tired of waiting for me…..
More normal
The weather, that is. Got just a little bit of rain last night that quickly turned to snow. Not much, but the wind started picking up and it’s supposed to howl pretty good for the next couple days or so.
Fr Tyler came out yesterday afternoon. He had his new rifle and a bow. First he shot the rifle a bit, trying to get the feel of it and then I set out a large bale for him to use as a back drop for his target. He’s pretty good with the bow, but he used to shoot them as a child. It was real nice in the late afternoon, so he had good weather for his target practice. then his mother and he made ravioli from scratch. Or maybe it was itch? They started out with flour and other ingredients and ended up with something really good to eat anyway!
I woke up early and have been setting and waiting for a phone call from Cindy to tell me she had made it in to town alright. She did call and say that the roads didn’t seem too bad, but she drove in a lot slower than normal. She was almost to town and the roads were getting worse for slippery. Which figures, as they have more traffic to mash it down and probably got a bit more rain and snow.
Guess I will do my chores and find things to do in the house today!
Another nice day
A bit windy, but for this time of the year, I will take it. Up in the 40’s. supposed to get in the 50’s later this week.
We didn’t have a huge turnout for the gig, but the ones who did come sure said they enjoyed it. I know all the performers had a great time. it’s always fun to work with good people. Looks like the four of us will get together again at Hot Springs this fall. along with Yvonne Hollenbeck. Ought to be a great show.
When we got home yesterday I ran the horses in and caught up Mijo. Delbert and Dean showed up a bit later and we all went over to Casey’s and ranch roped. Both of his sons, Kyle and Callen and Tyson Hewitt were there also. Paige even came and roped with the boys. None of us did any thing real outstanding, but then none of have thrown any ranch loops for quite a spell. Sure had fun.
I got my chores done today and Cindy came along. Then I putted around in the shop and got started on my saddle again, that I have been putting off. I have a pair of old time chaps on order but am waiting for the info and measurements from the guy.
Found an old calender from 2003 and it was fun to look back and see what I wrote as that is how I keep track of cattle coming in and going out. chance was evidently riding some colts as he had days marked down for each time he worked one. Amazing how time has flown by!
Some pictures from the past week or so
70 degrees on January 5th! Wow!
Tired
Setting here typing this on Hopes laptop. I am helping Chance with some cattle work. Made a pretty big circle today for an old fat man on a fat horse! More later…..
Another year rolled around
Hope all had a wonderful time over the New Years celebration. We had 3 grandsons here for the night and on New Years day I got them up and fed them pancakes and then we went to Hope and Chances for the day. all the kids and grand kids were there. Cindy and Fr Tyler joined us after they got off work.
Today Cindy and I drove down to Wall, where she exchanged some slippers she had gotten for Kass for Christmas, that didn’t fit. Also bought herself a set. I found a heavy work scarf in bright blue. as the kids say, I am stylin’!
We got some visiting in with folks we don’t see very often any more and had a nice trip down and back and a nice lunch at the Drug Store.
Weather has been a little on the windy side but not terribly cold. Supposed to get up over 50 this week. What a great start to the new year!
Happy New Years!
New Year
Two thousand eleven is in the books
We can look back now at it’s dips and crooks
Like a winding road we’ve traveled on
We can see real clear just where we’ve gone
We can look ahead at where we’re goin’
Maybe help ourselves to keep on growin’
Learn from past mistakes we made
Maybe this year we’ll make a better trade
Take all this time that we’ve been givin’
and swap it for some better livin’
Cuz’ we each only get so many days
Maybe it’s time some change their ways
I’ve taken a vow to do my best
To do a better job upon this quest
To live life better each and every day
Treat folks with kindness along the way
Learn from the mistakes I made last year
So lets raise us a cup and have a cheer
May the cold wind always be at your back
Your horse always traveling on the right track
May your calves get fat and sell real high
May the rains come right and you ain’t never dry
May your loop always fit and good luck at your side
May your horse never buck more than you can ride
Robert Dennis 12/2011
Photo’s from lately
A baby’s hug
Just got this in an email and thought I ought to share. Hope you get as much from it as I did. Thanks, Twyla.
May the Spirit of Christmas inhabit your heart and your life every day is my prayer.
Joyfully,
~ A Baby’s Hug ~
We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a
high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking.
Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, ‘Hi.’ He pounded his fat baby
hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his
mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with
merriment.
high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking.
Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, ‘Hi.’ He pounded his fat baby
hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his
mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with
merriment.
I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose
pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of
would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and
unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose
was so varicose it looked like a road map.
pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of
would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and
unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose
was so varicose it looked like a road map.
We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled.. His hands
waved and flapped on loose wrists. ‘Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy.. I
see ya, buster,’ the man said to Erik.
waved and flapped on loose wrists. ‘Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy.. I
see ya, buster,’ the man said to Erik.
My husband and I exchanged looks,
‘What do we do?’
‘What do we do?’
Erik continued to laugh and answer, ‘Hi.’
Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man.
The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal
came and the man began shouting from across the room, ‘Do ya patty cake?
Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek- a-boo.’
The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal
came and the man began shouting from across the room, ‘Do ya patty cake?
Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek- a-boo.’
Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk.
My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for
Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row
bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.
Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row
bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.
We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went
to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man
sat poised between me and the door. ‘Lord, just let me out of here before
he speaks to me or Erik,’ I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned
my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing.
As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby’s
‘pick-me-up’ position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled
himself from my arms to the man.
Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their
love and kinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission
laid his tiny head upon the man’s ragged shoulder. The man’s eyes closed,
and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime,
pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby’s bottom and stroked his back. No
two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time.
to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man
sat poised between me and the door. ‘Lord, just let me out of here before
he speaks to me or Erik,’ I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned
my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing.
As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby’s
‘pick-me-up’ position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled
himself from my arms to the man.
Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their
love and kinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission
laid his tiny head upon the man’s ragged shoulder. The man’s eyes closed,
and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime,
pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby’s bottom and stroked his back. No
two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time.
I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and
his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding
voice, ‘You take care of this baby.’
his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding
voice, ‘You take care of this baby.’
Somehow I managed, ‘I will,’ from a throat that contained a stone.
He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were
in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, ‘God bless you, ma’am,
you’ve given me my Christmas gift.’
I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran
for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik
so tightly, and why I was saying, ‘My God, my God, forgive me.’
I had just witnessed Christ’s love shown through the innocence of a tiny
child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a
mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind,
holding a child who was not. I felt it was God asking, ‘Are you willing
to share your son for a moment?’ when He shared His for all eternity.
in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, ‘God bless you, ma’am,
you’ve given me my Christmas gift.’
I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran
for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik
so tightly, and why I was saying, ‘My God, my God, forgive me.’
I had just witnessed Christ’s love shown through the innocence of a tiny
child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a
mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind,
holding a child who was not. I felt it was God asking, ‘Are you willing
to share your son for a moment?’ when He shared His for all eternity.
How did God feel when he put his baby in our arms 2000 years ago.
The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, ‘To enter the Kingdom
of God , we must become as little children.’
of God , we must become as little children.’
If this has blessed you, please bless others by sending it on. Sometimes,
it takes a child to remind us of what is really important. We must always
remember who we are, where we came from and, most importantly, how we
feel about others. The clothes on your back or the car that you drive or
the house that you live in does not define you at all; it is how you
treat your fellow man that identifies who you are.
it takes a child to remind us of what is really important. We must always
remember who we are, where we came from and, most importantly, how we
feel about others. The clothes on your back or the car that you drive or
the house that you live in does not define you at all; it is how you
treat your fellow man that identifies who you are.
This one is a keeper.
‘It is better to be liked for the true you, than to be loved for who
people think you are……’
people think you are……’
Dennisranch 