Final Days

 

We are leaving soon and must post “branding” pictures and description.  The ranch hires local cowboys and some that go on a circuit around to which ever ranch is branding.  We cook for fifteen cowboys, but cook enough for leftovers for their supper too, and ours.  We have learned that there is no need to make any fluffy salads or strawberry jam.  We are sure that if they would try it, they would like it, but they all look and go on down the line.  Only meat and potatoes for these cowboys.  Today we told them that their mother’s called and told them they liked pink-the salad was the yogurt, strawberry one.  Not many takers still, except Coley who came back for seconds.  

I was happy to see that all cowboys don’t wear Wranglers.  Several wore Levis, just like my cowboy daddy.  They are all very kind and a little shy.  “Yes Ma’am” and “No Ma’am” is about all the say, except “Thank you’all”.

 

 

 

The Cooks-Sister Christiansen, Sister Pyper, and Sister me.

 

We didn’t go out and watch the branding.  Been there, done that.  There is at least one more week, possibly two of branding.  Sister Pyper, the white haired lady will be on her own after the 1st.  The secretary and Miguel’s wife will help her.  Miguel’s wife speaks no English.  Hopefully all will go well.

Spring??

 

 

I wish I had pictures of the really bad roads.  We just cannot explain how bad they can get.  The pickup and trailer are the grubber’s transportation and fuel/service trailer.  Keith tries to have the fuel delivery truck fill the tank rather than having to fill it himself out of the big tank here at headquarters.  It takes forever.  The tank will last four days.

We had our last day at school today.  It was a little sad.  The kids are so great.  And, of course, so are the teachers.  One teacher bought us lunch.  We took the kids fruit treats, but need to do something for the teachers. 

The best news though is Kameron’s mission call to Alaska!  Couldn’t be more excited for him.  Kurtis said that is will be a long time before they would see each other again, which it will be.  We are trying to figure out our schedule for leaving here, going to Arizona, then home and then to the temple with Kameron on April 11th, which is Kam’s birthday.  What a great day to be endowed!

We did have a quick visit from Washington friends, Vard and Verdene Jenks.  They were on the way to their daughter’s near Houston and took the time to stop.  I met them at the gate and we went in the 7L where Keith and the other missionaries have been grubbing.  It was fun, except the rains started and we slipped and slid to get back out to the highway.  We appreciated their stopping on their long trip to see us. Wish I had pictures.

There is no way I can resist attaching this picture, agreed?  This is Rett, Mijken’s four year old.  Do you think she still made cookies with Rett’s “dirt”?

And now it is March and another brother’s birthday, and sister too!

 

Happy birthday to a brother, Don and sister, Kay.

We are doing good.  The mud from the melted snow kept the men from grubbing today so two helped with building construction, one grubbed with the new bobcat because he was able to drive it out to a close pasture when pickups couldn’t make it,  and Keith learned how to feed so he can do that while the cowboys are in SLC for annual meeting.  Keith says he will need all day just to find where the cows are.  He feeds half on Wed. and the other half on Thu.

We Sisters did meet and plan food for branding.  When my husband saw the menu, he said that it will never do, not enough meat and potatoes.  Yikes!  Guess we will see, and hopefully the cowboys won’t starve.

We did slip and slide to the temple on Saturday.  We were blessed to make the trip safely.  There were five sister temple workers there because of the bad roads.  We didn’t complete the work we hoped to accomplish, but will go again, maybe to Gila Valley Temple!

This is a picture of a little wild piglet who is freezing in the snow.  His mama ran away, but he stayed, shivering and saying “this little piggy wants to go home”.