Last Week

What an eventful week!! We left Sunday morning for our annual get together at Rainbow Lake west of Buena Vista, Co. with Dad and Lois, Dick and Jo and missed Larry and Galena due to Larry's eye surgery. Ann and Jo and Dick and I journeyed over Cottonwood Pass Monday Morning to do some fly fishing in Taylor Park. We were amazed at the top of Cottonwood to see Taylor Park covered with a fog bank and we were above the fogbank. (bottom picture).

Middle picture is myself posing as a flyfisherman. Dick and I enjoyed considerable success Monday after Dick was kind enough to share his wisdom of using nymphs on the bottom. I had done some good on top with small elk hair caddis' but Dick was doing much better. We caught enough 9-10" browns and brooks to make a meal and had lots of fun. The girls enjoyed time of fellowship and gossiping (?) on the river bank. Taylor Park was very busy with motorbikes, 4-wheelers and suv's going up and down the road. Lots of noise, fumes and dust. Still a beautiful place. Dad and Lois helped with the fish for supper by catching 3 out of Rainbow Lake while we were gone. By the way, Sunday nights score was Men 1, ladies 0. Monday night the ladies did better and we men made a real comeback but fell 2 points short on the last hand.

Tuesday, Dick and I went back to Taylor River and did not do well at all so went on over to Spring Creek below Mosca Lake. That creek and area holds many memories of family camping trips when our children were little and Mom was still with us. The fishing was slow-I think I caught 1 10" brown on a dry fly-couldn't get nymphs to work at all. Dick caught a couple. We drove above the Lake a short distance then returned to "our spot" on the Taylor River. Struck out completely so I grabbed a short nap on the river bank while Dick worked hard. We left and drove back over Cottonwood in late evening. Saw a very nice muley buck as well as several doe. We found out the it had been raining and hailing off and on at Rainbow all day. Dick and I enjoyed absolutely beautiful weather on the west side. Score Tuesday evening,men 1, ladies 0. 2 out of 3 made for a successful romp by the men!

a side benefit at Rainbow was the hummingbird show at the feeders. I actually had hummingbirds light on my finger and in my hand at their haste to get to the feeders. I think Jo has pictures to prove it, also.

First picture is of our visitors for the Wichita County Fair and Carnival Wednesday through Sunday morning. We had a great time with Ronney, Karen, Chase and Rylee. How fast they are growing. Of course, our grandkids and girls were around also. The Leoti Fair is a special event.

Needless to say, last week was not a productive week on the ranch. We are rebuilding some feedlot pens, moving manure and doing some fieldwork and spraying. Rain during the middle of the week helped keep some of the pressure of fieldwork away but this week needs to be more productive. I will let Ann add some thoughts to this same blog. Thanks for you being our family.

One final note on the fair, our church float handed out 2000 packs of chewing gum with the theme of "Don't let Satan gum up your life-stick with Jesus" Our prayers are that at least one individual will take that message to heart! Bob

Joann and I had a great time talking Monday - several hours. Bob & Dick came back and asked us what we talked about all that time. We looked at each other and came up with one or two things. We just talked. We hadn't seen each other for a while. Ladies, you know how that goes. We enjoyed the mountains, the river and sitting (for a while).

The fog bank above Tayor Park was beautiful. When we got down to the lake, it wasn't foggy as I expected - the clouds were above us then. The hummingbirds were entertaining. While walking around Rainbow Lake, Joann and I saw a beaver lodge but no beavers. It was a relaxing few days.

We really enjoyed having the Slugas visit us. They are interested in doing whatever is suggested. Gwen, Paige and Lane came out Friday afternoon. Lane, Chase and Riley had no trouble entertaining themselves. Joann, Dick and Dad came out also. We women visited. Ronney did some electrical checking for us - thank you. Dad & Lois were co-Grand Marshals at the parade - what an honor for them. They and another couple got to ride in a Cindrella looking white carriage with a white horse pulling it. Ann

New Experience

Our two dogs had a new experience last night. Bob went out the door this morning and was back about 20 seconds later calling me to come right out. I wondered what Hoover had torn up this time. Hurrying outside I saw Hoover. She had met a porcupine! Bob said he had never seen porcupines around here. She had about 15 quills in her nose and mouth. Bob tried pulling some out with pliers. One came out and one or two broke off. You could tell it hurt. Then we looked for Nessa. She had quills in her nose and mouth also. I thought the quills might have barbs on the end. Calling the vet, I found that one just pulls the quills out - no barbs - but the vet puts the dog out. He said if they break off and part stays in it could become infected. I took both dogs to the vet. They put the dogs out, pulled out the quills, then gave another shot to wake the dogs up so I could take them home right away. The dogs were alert and ready to go when they came out the door from the vet's. We hoped the dogs would be smart enough to stay away from porcupines from now on, but the vet said he gets dogs back a third and fourth time with quills. We hope they stay away from porcupines from now on. I really, really felt sorry for Nessa and Hoover.

More Harvest pics

Just more pictures from harvest. We daily Thank God for our family!

No comment needed.

More of the crew-just realized we didn't have one of Jennifer. Lane is being his goofy self somewhere. Have a neat one of him and Jack in the combine tire.

Top photo is Luke driving the combine. He did well and allowed me to nap to catch up a little at times. On Wednesday, he was with me from 9:00Am until 11:00 pm. durability? Next year is already on his mind. We enjoyed all of them and had fun at the evening meal in the field. More later. Bob

This past week

We had great visitors this past week. Jennifer and kids came for a harvest visit. Gwen and Lane came out to see them when they got here. Before the Bernings got here, Gwen helped me go through books and get rid of a bunch. The boys went to ride in the combine with Bob. Gwen, Jennifer and Aubrey helped me clean out the garage from having kittens in there. It was pretty yucky in places. While we were at it we cleaned pretty good - more than I had thought we would do. Tuesday evening we went in to watch Lane's baseball game (after supper in the field)
Luke spent a whole day in the combine with Bob. Lane got to come out again. He and Jackson had a great time together. Jennifer, Gwen and Aubrey helped with odd jobs. Thursday Luke, Jackson, Lane and Aubrey got to go swimming. We had supper in the field each evening with very few flies. The Bernings left Friday morning. The kids are sure growing and fun to have around and helpful too. Paige was working in the field for her other Grandpa; so we didn't see her.
Bob has the wheat all cut now. Things really went smoothly this year - no breakdowns. We were pleased with the harvest.
I have some good pictures of the combine and of a sunset, but figuring out how to get the pictures on a blog is worse then Greek to me; so you'll have to look at Jennifer's blog for pictures. Ann