Cowboys and Indians

The cowboys off to round up cows with the sunrise

Sorry - it’s a really late week getting this out.   Hopefully the title this week has intrigued you.   We have to admit being a senior missionary couple in this part of Wyoming is adventurous, even when doing missionary work.  

Monday was get things done kind of day - preparing lessons, scripture study, laundry, bills, etc.  I guess that is one thing the young elders are relieved of - is finances.  They aren’t quite in the stage of life with bills and financial responsibilities to keep up with on their mission.  Thank goodness for the internet and on-line bill paying.  We also had plans to spend the night at the Bishop’s ranch so we would be there already when the early day started.  It’s time to get the calves ready for shipping.  Tuesday would be the start of weaning the calves and getting their approximate weight on record.   In the end, we decided to just stay in our own bed and get up at 4:30 a.m. and drive that morning to the ranch.  It was only 1 hour earlier than getting up for seminary and we had the ability to go to bed very early on Monday night.

So Tuesday started early as mentioned above.  We got there about 6 am, and were ready to go.  Walt got to help with the round up on horse back.  Becky (wife) also needed to go on her horse, so I had the privilege of running the kitchen.  There were 22 people helping with this and they get hungry.  Becky gave me plenty to keep me busy until they had brought all the cows in.  Then I got to help out with the cows.  At least I feel comfortable in the kitchen, much more than helping with the cattle.  Walt is a natural.   He really makes a pretty good cowboy.  Maybe in his next life.   I have to say getting up that early has the benefit of seeing the sun rise.  It’s always a good view at the ranch - lots and lots of open sky.  I took some good pictures.

Sunrise on Tuesday from the Bishop's house at the ranch

I will explain a little about the process that we did on Tuesday.  Once all the cows (moms and babies) are all gathered, small groups are brought into the “alley”.  Then small groups are sent in to be sorted.  It’s amazing to watch these guys and their skill.  The moms (heifers) are sent on to the big pasture, while the calves are sorted by sex.  These guys work fast and never get it wrong.  The girls in one corral and the boys in the other.  The steers are then sent to be weighed once they are about 20 in that corral.  They are herded onto the scale and then the fence is shut.  On the other side of the huge scale is the weighing shed.  Several people run that,  it’s not a digital scale; more one that is done by sliding the weight till it’s balanced.  A total weight is registered (usually between 10,000 and 12, 000 lbs).  As the steer are set free to another corral, they are counted.  Then the total weight divided by the number of steers.  My job was to help count the steers.  It’s best to have more than one counter for better accuracy.  The Bishop’s dad and I were the counters.  I would climb up a few rungs on the fence so I could see better.  Lots of exercise.  Walt was in charge of preventing any loose calves from getting into the pasture with the heifers.  Like I mentioned before, we had 22 people working this ordeal.  

The "alley" is in the back where all the black (cows) are.  To the right are the Elders, counting steer to then forward to be weighed.  The guys closest to the from sort the heifer, steers and moms.  The guys the left back bring in small groups to be sorted.

Walt - the gate keeper - to keep calves from getting in with the moms

A closer look at the sorters.  The Bishop is the one in the light colored flatter hat.

The moms were treated to so fresh hay.  I was sitting on the fence right beside these ladies.

This was the first time I have seen all 1,300 - 1,400 cows all together (mom and their babies).  They ended up putting the calves in the corral right beside the moms, so massive amounts of cows.  Talk about noisy!!!  After a huge lunch, everyone went on their way.  Walt and I stayed to help get burs out of the horses tails, give the horses some kind of preventive medicine and move 6 bails of hay in the pen for the calves.  We also got to round up one stray calf that got away.  I did up all the dishes for Becky.  I found out how many roasts it takes to feed 22 ranchers - 5!.  That’s a lot of meat - but “Men like meat.”  Just ask Becky!!   

 We had quite a day and left quite exhausted.  That day was very windy but quite gorgeous.  It was in the 70’s and pure sunshine.  The wind wasn’t so pleasant once we were helping out in the dusty corral.  We ended up with dirt and grit in places I didn’t know it would collect - like inside my nose and ears.  It’s all part of the adventure.  We are so grateful for our seminary sub who made it all possible.

Walt with Sunny.  He's Tal's horse and he let Walt ride him for the day

Getting the spurs out of the horses' tails.  The many many cows in the back ground

Wednesday’s weather was a whole different ball game.  Within 24 hours, it was 50 degrees cooler.  A winter storm was on it’s way!!!  Wyoming weather just never ceases to amaze me in how drastically it change and quickly as well.  At the Senior Center it was basically Thanksgiving for lunch.   Turkey, dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce, green beans, and pumpkin cake.  For once, I just enjoyed it all!   I ended up giving my cake to a sister we visit in the Manor.  She thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Temperature on Tuesday

 We visited the Smith’s and Gary after lunch.  Gary was first.  He is so excited about my birthday!  I left with 5 gifts and the party isn’t until the 29th.  He is making a birthday cake for me and we’ll have a celebration with the Elders.  He has the biggest heart.  Renee was asleep when we got there, so we mostly visited with Richard and Nic.  Nic wanted me to read with him, and Walt talked with Richard while he prepared dinner.  Just before we were going to leave, Renee woke up and we visited with her a bit.  The snow was supposed to start about 5 pm, but thankfully it was late arriving by a couple of hours.  Just as unpredictable as the weather is the accuracy of snow forecasts.  Depending on who or where you got your information from, we were supposed to get anywhere from 1 - 10 inches.  I was kinda of hoping for a big snow and have a “snow day.”  Walt was hoping too since it was his turn to teach Seminary.

Thursday, we woke up to only 2 inches.  Just enough to be bothersome.  It sure didn’t feel like October!!  We had about half our students show up for seminary.  Everyone that made it was rewarded with candy.  I did text the students and ask them to let me know that morning if they weren’t coming.  I didn’t want to worry if someone was on their way and didn’t make it.  They were good about it.  We did have a meeting in Gillette at 10:30 that morning.  We checked road conditions (511) and felt it would be doable safely.  There were a few spots that were slick, but pretty good in general.  We made our usual Walmart run.   It wasn’t really snowing more until we got to Newcastle.  While we ate dinner, it was snowing in what I call “Charlie Brown snow.”  So to enjoy it even more, we listened to Charlie Brown Christmas music.  Thank you Alexa.  It made me want to just skip to Christmas and start decorating.  This is the one time I could get by with it and no one would give me a hard time.  No one really visits our house. That evening was Bingo, and then home to bed.

Our car on Thursday morning

Snow covered cows on the way to Gillette

The road at times to Gillette

Our front yard

Thursday, we were done with snow, but the bitter cold was still here.  The high was 18 degrees with a real feel of 4 degrees.  We’re not ready for this!!!!   What happened to Fall?!  We were both very tired that day.  Usually by the end of the week, we are running on fumes from getting up early and usually not enough sleep.  The students are in the same boat.  It gets fun trying to get them to participate sometimes.  Today, two of them actually laid their heads on the table and fell asleep.  Must have been a late night for them.  

Seminary is going pretty well in general.  Some lessons are a success and some just bomb.  That’s just the nature of teaching teenagers at 6:45 a.m.  I keep reminding them that we are in the same boat - we’re not really morning people either.  I do better than Walt.  I get up first and shower and then get him up.  While he’s showering, I come alive by listening to Disney!  It’s just cheerful stuff.  Today, Walt was actually singing along when he was dressing.  Love it!!

Saturday, was the one of my favorite!  On my bucket list for our mission, once I found out where we were going, was to go to a Pow Wow.  I started noticing adds this summer, but most were 3 hours away or more.  A pow wow requires being near a Reservation.  I found one for October in Rapid City (only 1 1/2 hours from here).  We visit with the Willadsons pretty regularly, and invited them to go with us.  They were up for it.  Twila and I were the most excited.  Jim and Walt just went because they are married to us.  Bless them anyway.  It was held in the convention center; which I was grateful for since it was in the 20’s for a high that day.  I was worried about not getting seats where we would have a good view.  I just wasn’t sure what to expect.  It all worked out fine, we got there about an hour early.  Most people entering at that time had suitcases, all performers.  After seeing all they put on, it’s no wonder they have big suitcases.  

Warrior dancer

It was a pretty amazing things to witness.  They start off with the entry into the arena with the royalty - all the Native American princess representing their individual tribes.  A new queen would be crowned during that week-end.  The “Grand Entry” starts with war Veterans, then the princesses, and then each category is introduced and enters the arena.  For the women (females) there are traditional dancers, fancy shawl dancers, and jingle dancers (they have cone shaped metal or bells on their dresses).  For men, there are traditional, grass, war, and another one I can’t remember.  There are different age categories as well.  There is even a tiny tot group. So by the time that Grand Entry is over, ALL dancers are in the arena.  

 

The line up of the Princesses.  Each representing their tribe

All the dancers on the floor of the arena

The drummer/singers.  Usually about 8 in a group (crew)

After that, there are individual competitions in each category.  There are also “crews” of drummers and singers (Native American style) that compete as well.  They are the ones who provided the music for the dancing.  It was very loud, colorful, and fascinating.  After a while the drum beat does start to work on your head.  It lasted about 4 hours.  We took lots of pictures and videos.  When Walt was looking at the local news about it yesterday, one of the pictures that was taken had our little group in it.  Afterwards, we went to dinner at Olive Garden.  Walt was in heaven!!  Then a few stops at stores, (Rapid City is a real town) and back home.  It was about a 12 hour day.  So glad we got to go and experience it.  I’m grateful for a husband who does things to make me happy!  We do for each other really.

   

Love the moccasins the girls wore.  This girl was sitting right in front of us

The jingle dancers

Traditional male dancer

One of my favorite outfits. 

This guy was a good dancer and very good with shaking his head

This 18 month old was just too cute!! Not every Native American dancer has a pinky

Sunday was a bit busy.  The weather wasn’t bad that day, but the heat wasn’t working in the chapel.  Brrr!  One lady went home after the sacrament was passed because she was too cold.  Thank goodness the rest of the building was warm.  Gary came to church and we had him and the Elders over for lunch afterwards.  Gary said he will even come again next week - wow - two weeks in a row.  It’s a journey to get him there but grateful he will come.  He lives in Upton - 30 minutes away.  So it’s lots of driving.

I won’t cover the past two days.  I’ve written enough for one week.  We feel like our mission changes often.  We’re here to do what ever our Bishop needs our help with.  Another family to teach was added to our list this week.  We’ll be teaching them weekly.  We just do our best and asks the Lord to bless us.  He always does.

We miss our family a lot.  Ace had his birthday yesterday and it made me sad to think of all the birthdays we are missing.  Colton was baptized last month.  For their birthday, we call them and send a card with money, but it’s not quite the same as being there.  At least we can FaceTime them.  As the holidays approach, I think we will miss you guys even more.  It’s only for one set of holidays, so we’ll be fine.  We love you all!!

This was a snowman at a member's house.  It is only about 12 inches tall.