I Wonder....

Sunday evening before Memorial day we drove out to the cemetary to put flowers, pinecones, Moose, and Winter Fat in a rusty tin can on Grandpas grave. Things like that can't help but cause you to think about the Plan of Salvation and reflect upon the Good Shepherd.

As we were driving home from the cemetary we took the long way home past the creek and Big Rocks. But, before we got to Big Rocks Roger saw an old ewe down by the creek. He slowed down and asked the boy's if they could tell who she belonged to.(I think he already new she was ours) They couldn't tell so he stopped the pick up and they piled out and walked down closer to the creek to see if they could see her brand. Unfortuneately she got spooked and tried to jump the creek and got stuck in the mud. The boy's climbed back into the pick up. while Roger was cussing the boy's for spooking her one of the kids asked why she would jump the creek any way. Roger's response: " Because she's stupid" Luckily we had a piece of rope in the tool box that wasn't a lariat, but would work to try to rope her and pull her out. So he threw once, then again, then again......
Then again, then again, then again

Then Both Braden and Caib tried throwing it. The dang rope just wasn't a lariat.

So Braden walked down to where he could jump the creek and walked back up and put the rope around her.

Roger pulls her out.

moves her to higher ground and ties her up so he can come back and haul her home.

O.K. back to reflections, and the reason the old ewe wasn't with the rest of the herd. They took the sheep out a few days ago and this old ewe just couldn't stay with the herd so they left her on the trail with the plan to come back and haul her out later. when they got back to where they'd left her she was gone. Knowing she'd show up they didn't worry to much about her.

Do you ever get the feeling that the "Good shepherd" knew what he was talking about when he referred to us as sheep? And I wonder if His comments are ever, after someone asks "Why did she do that", because she's stupid.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to be negative or anything. But, reflectively, I really have done some pretty stupid things over the years. I'm just hoping that I keep getting roped out, pulled to higher ground, and tied up so that I can be brought back to the herd and safety no matter how much it might seem to hurt or however "stupid" I might have been.

luckily I had my camera with me for a, almost, play by play story.

I was going to be the perfect mother untill.......

It was Caib's fifth grade talent show today. We had been sitting in the, slightly, too warm gym for almost an hour and a half. Caib was the second to last kid on the program. We had been ....., well I had been enjoying an array of amusing to serious talents. Singing, piano playing, skits, musical instrument pieces, art work and Cowboy poetry (Caib). Chance had been enjoying anything but all the talent that had been so painstakingly practiced for weeks.
Not two minutes before Caib is supposed to perform and I, the perfect mother, am supposed to record it on my fancy digital camera. Chance comes back in to the gym for the, oh, say 20th time from getting a drink. Only this time his shirt is soaking wet. Fine no big deal, until Chance decides he doesn't want to wear a wet shirt. Off comes his shirt and me, in my attempt to be the perfect mother, try to get him to put it back on with out anyone noticing my half stripped child. Unlike his other brothers he has very little sense of modesty, or understanding of dress code.(what do you expect, He's three?) It didn't work so in my further attempt to be a perfect mother I ignored him as I recorded Caib's Talent, meanwhile Chance takes off again, on parade, to the drinking fountain. (sigh) No matter how I tried Chance would not put on a wet shirt. So, the talent show ends, the house lights come on and luckily all I got was amused dads and understanding looks from mothers.

I have concluded, Chance is not on this earth to enjoy others experiences. He's here to experience life for himself. And so he shall. Meanwhile, I will continue to remember that I was going to be the perfect mother.

The day the Cows go out.

There's excitement in the morning and kids are up at 6:00 AM This is one of the best days of the year. You can see it in the grin.

He get's to ride his colt

Saddling up aint always pleasant.

Loading up the horses

Tending to last minute items

T
To young to go first thing in the morning

Is unbearable.

Don't worry we'll go out a little later and he'll get to ride "his Duke" and help dad like the big boys.


The Day The Cows Go Out
　
The morning air is damp, and there is dew upon the ground,
But I can still see dust and I can hear a pleasing sound.
My cowboys woke up early they got dressed and rushed away,
While they grabbed their spurs and saddles and lunches for the day.
And somewhere in the scurry from their beds and out the door,
They still had time to thank me like they’ve always done before.
The pleasing sound is of cowboys as they begin the day
A whooping and a shoutin’ contrasting mothers as they pray,
That their cowboys won’t be trampled, that their horses stay serene.
It’s a comfort to the mothers, their prayers are just routine.
Before the morning sun begins to raise his dazzling head,
Over the hills and mountains getting dudes out of their bed,
My boys are on their horses and the cows are raising dust.
They’re causing such a ruckus you’d think the fences just might bust.
But they finally get ‘em gathered and out an open gate
And are heading to the mountain ‘s where the cows congregate.
The cows will settle down some as they hit the open trail,
And it seems that’s when the cowboys can finally exhale.
It’s something to look forward to, the day the cows go out.
And the sound of working cowboys in the distance as they shout.

This is the poem I wrote last year on the day the cow went out. I posted it then but I thought it was definately appropriate again.

Aubree's Birthday

This is the extent of fun when you plan a spur of the moment party. Aubree came in Friday afternoon and asked me if she could go and invite her friend from next door to her Birthday party. "Um, sure.......I guess." I hadn't been planning on doing a party at all, so we quicly planned a party for Saturday afternoon and invited 4 people. They all came but one.

I'll tell ya what, that's the way to do parties, Low stress, little mess quick sweet and the kids had a blast.

Happy birthday Aubree!

So This is What It's Like Raising Cowboys.

How do you move a herd of sheep from one pasture to another when all your help is in school and you don't have time to wait until school is out? Well........ You take this three year old

And this three year old(they're cousins)

And explain to them what needs to be done


Individually, of course.

Then you turn them loose.

After giving them a noise maker(Old jug full of rocks)

And a stick.

They take off.

And herd those Sheep

And get 'em

to where they need to be.


That is how you herd sheep when you are, literally, SHORT handed.