Saturday, October 30, 2010
Halloween ~ A Preview
It's Finally Here ~ The BBR ~ The Badlands Buffalo Roundup
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Coming Soon. . . The BBR
Stay tuned. You won't want to miss this one.
Buffalo. Badlands Buffalo. More to come. . . |
kathleen
the handy girl
Look What We Found!
And, well, we didn't really find them. They were just kind of on loan. Yea, like a library book - Take it, use it for a while, then return it. Nice, huh?
Their mother lets us check out, er, ah, well have them, when she has to go off and do her coaching job. Win or lose, regardless of how her team does, for us it is a "win-win" situation. You see, Patrick gets to have that brother and sister he has always wanted, and the Senator gets to change poopy diapers. Perfect!
They are little cherubs. They love track-toes, ap-poes, and cows. Oh, and they love that new show on the "Green Planet" channel called "The Last American Cowboys." They love it because we can sit and eat ap-poes, while they watch for track-toes and cows.
Then we all fall alsleep in the living room until Mom comes to pick them up.
Her hair. It is soft and smooth, just like a newborn baby. I want to touch it everyday. |
You know, I think 'ol Hillary Clinton was right on this one, sometimes it does "take a village to raise a child." And we're happy to help.
from the range, peace,
kathleen
the handy girl
Monday, October 18, 2010
Fall on the Range
This is fall on the range. There is still a lot of green, a whole lotta brown, and little smatterings of yellow. I like it. It's not Owen Lake colors, but it will do.
Here are some pix for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy the colors of the range.
range leaves |
Here are some pix for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy the colors of the range.
Click on the picture to enlarge it. Then jump right into the picture and experience it all! |
Gobble, Gobble. This is PERFECT turkey hunting territory. |
Can you see them hiding under the trees? Look very carefully. |
Usually there are about a dozen turkeys out sunning themselves in the tall grass. |
leaves and needles and twigs |
golden leaves and green pines |
yellow on the forest floor |
There was frost on the pumpkin this mornin'. I had to scrape the windows on "The Duke." I guess it's time to get the skis down and start waxin' 'em up.
from the range, peace,
kathleen
the handy girl
Sunday, October 17, 2010
A Church Festival, A Silent Auction, and Halftime Snacks
The Fruits of THEIR Labor |
Being the "Silent Auction Queen," I couldn't resist a couple of the items. Two bikes were donated by Ruby and Lennie. Ruby had informed me earlier in the week, "Those bikes have only been ridden about ten minutes." So, I was hot on the trail to get those bikes. After the Senator took a look at them, he said, "Go for it." BINGO! That was all I needed.
With five minutes left in the auction, and I put in my final bid. Five, four, three, two, one. . . SOLD! I got the bikes, along with two jars of Barbara's Russian pickles. I knew I had those pickles locked in, so the level of excitement for those wasn't that high.
ready to hit the trail |
At the end of Mass, Father Bryan says, "Go in peace to serve the Lord." Patrick looks at me and quietly says, "Mom, I hope it's OK, but I prayed that the Vikings would win today." I think Brett would have needed that prayer, so I told him it was OK, just this ONE time.
So we headed home and fast-forwarded through the game and caught up to "real time." Though our stomachs were pretty full of turkey, I just had to make snacks. Little Smokies and Barbara's Russian pickles finally got to the living room in the 4th quarter. Eat, Yell, Eat, Oh, Eat, Nooooooo, Eat, Ahhh, Eat, Yessss! Game over. Vikes win. Whew! The power of prayer, huh?
Brett, Tony, would you like a Little Smokie? |
How 'bout one of Barbara's pickles? |
Right now, Patrick and the Senator are out in the back forty tossing the ball around, using the last five minutes of daylight. They're reliving some of the great plays from the game.
from the range, peace,
kathleen
the handy girl
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
PASS, PUNT, and PISS
"Pass, Punt, and Piss" - Seriously, that is what the dear Mr. Announcer said at the football game, under the Friday Night Lights. . . "At half-time, we'll be awarding trophies to the winners of the PASS, PUNT, and PISS competition." Oh dear, he was just mortified. Can you stand it?
It was Homecoming, and after the noontime parade down Main Street, the Pass, Punt and Kick competition was held at our amazing "Sports Complex." It really is amazing. (Dad, I know you'd "just love it!")
The Senator and Patrick headed out to the field for a little practice, before it all got started. It wasn't long before a whole group of boys and girls were gathered around practicing with them.
I learned my lesson at last year's track meet, where I was a bit overly excited, so I sat with my friend, the postmaster bartending candy-maker, and watched QUIETLY from the bleachers.
The competition began, and I remained quiet. (Really. I did. Ask the postmaster bartending candy-maker. Even she was amazed!) Patrick had some pretty tough competition. You know the type:
WELL, lo and behold, our son, who I will remind you was a mere four pounds at birth, got second place! The local street kid/natural athlete got first, and the really nice, tall, Native kid got third. Both boys are Patrick's good friends, so we were so glad for all of them.
That evening, at the game, during halftime, the boys got to go down on the field to get their ribbons and trophies. The announcer was still a bit wrangled about his goof, so they asked me to announce the winners.
It was so fun to say, "Second place, The Pooksta (wait, no, I mean Patrick Brown)." It just gave me the tingles.
I know the Senator was really proud, too. He made Patrick stay up until midnight the night before to practice place kicking and punting. . . in the rain, I might add! Oh, where is Gino Cappelletti when we need him?
So another year of Pass, Punt, and Piss, ah, I mean Kick, has passed. We will hope for another winning effort next year. (Uncle Bobby, please send your PPK jacket.)
from the range, peace,
Kathleen
The Handy Girl
"The Sports Complex" |
"Pass, Punt, and Piss" - Seriously, that is what the dear Mr. Announcer said at the football game, under the Friday Night Lights. . . "At half-time, we'll be awarding trophies to the winners of the PASS, PUNT, and PISS competition." Oh dear, he was just mortified. Can you stand it?
It was Homecoming, and after the noontime parade down Main Street, the Pass, Punt and Kick competition was held at our amazing "Sports Complex." It really is amazing. (Dad, I know you'd "just love it!")
The Senator and Patrick headed out to the field for a little practice, before it all got started. It wasn't long before a whole group of boys and girls were gathered around practicing with them.
I learned my lesson at last year's track meet, where I was a bit overly excited, so I sat with my friend, the postmaster bartending candy-maker, and watched QUIETLY from the bleachers.
The competition began, and I remained quiet. (Really. I did. Ask the postmaster bartending candy-maker. Even she was amazed!) Patrick had some pretty tough competition. You know the type:
- the smartest kid in class and EVERYTHING is easy for him
- the local street kid who is a natural athlete
- the nice, big Native American kid who is one head taller than the rest of the group
- the coach's kid
- the high school football star's son
- the kid who won last year and thinks he'll just automatically win again
- the Catholic kid who goes to Mass every Sunday
- the kid who is running around like a chicken with his head cut off and doesn't even know he is at the "Sports Complex"
WELL, lo and behold, our son, who I will remind you was a mere four pounds at birth, got second place! The local street kid/natural athlete got first, and the really nice, tall, Native kid got third. Both boys are Patrick's good friends, so we were so glad for all of them.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd |
That evening, at the game, during halftime, the boys got to go down on the field to get their ribbons and trophies. The announcer was still a bit wrangled about his goof, so they asked me to announce the winners.
It was so fun to say, "Second place, The Pooksta (wait, no, I mean Patrick Brown)." It just gave me the tingles.
Patrick got to wear Sam Pretty Bear's jersey to the game. We love Sam Pretty Bear! |
I know the Senator was really proud, too. He made Patrick stay up until midnight the night before to practice place kicking and punting. . . in the rain, I might add! Oh, where is Gino Cappelletti when we need him?
So another year of Pass, Punt, and Piss, ah, I mean Kick, has passed. We will hope for another winning effort next year. (Uncle Bobby, please send your PPK jacket.)
from the range, peace,
Kathleen
The Handy Girl
Monday, October 11, 2010
This Is "The Duke"
I confess - I LOVE THE DUKE! The Duke is my new ride. I got him late this summer.
This past weekend, while staying at The Pines, small girl, Rosie, rode in the "Sa-zoooook."
She would hear the Senator say to me, "Are you going to take the Sa-zoooook?"
Early on Monday, she headed outside, preparing to head to town with me. I was still in the cabin when she came back in and said, "Are we gonna take "The Duke?"
"The Duke?" I looked at Ma Carlson with a look of wonder.
It then hit both of us. . . of course. . . The Duke IS the Sa-zooook!
My dear 1987 Suzuki will forever be named "The Duke."
You will definitely hear more about him.
But in the meantime, here are some shots taken of "The Duke" on a recent trip to the River Rock Ranch, along the White River. We crossed the river and did some serious four-wheelin'.
Oh, why not? Here are a couple of pictures of the son, too. He's cleaning up in the White River at the River Rock Ranch.
The Duke, ready to cross the White River |
- He is fun.
- His is NOT fast.
- His top comes off.
- He rattles and rolls.
- He is black and green.
- His lights don't always work.
- He has a mind of his own.
- He is a Suzuki.
- AND I love him.
This past weekend, while staying at The Pines, small girl, Rosie, rode in the "Sa-zoooook."
She would hear the Senator say to me, "Are you going to take the Sa-zoooook?"
Early on Monday, she headed outside, preparing to head to town with me. I was still in the cabin when she came back in and said, "Are we gonna take "The Duke?"
"The Duke?" I looked at Ma Carlson with a look of wonder.
It then hit both of us. . . of course. . . The Duke IS the Sa-zooook!
My dear 1987 Suzuki will forever be named "The Duke."
You will definitely hear more about him.
But in the meantime, here are some shots taken of "The Duke" on a recent trip to the River Rock Ranch, along the White River. We crossed the river and did some serious four-wheelin'.
Oh, why not? Here are a couple of pictures of the son, too. He's cleaning up in the White River at the River Rock Ranch.
The sun was just setting. Look at how it is shining on the Badlands in the distance. . . Oh, look at the cute boy, too. The Duke. . . more to come. . . From the range, peace, Kathleen The Handy Girl |
"THE PINES"
This is The Pines. It was sunny and clear the day I took this picture. We spent the long weekend at The Pines. It was not always sunny and clear.
Ma and Pa Carlson live at the Pines with their small girls, Rosie and Miss America. Pa is a rancher and chases cows and rides horses. Ma cooks and takes care of the little ones. They all live in a cabin, nestled in the woods, thus the name, The Pines. They love living at The Pines, however they are not particularly fond of the darkness at night, bats and mice. In that order, I might add.
We spent the weekend at The Pines because the boys had some "gathering" to do, and we had Monday off, due to it being "Native American Day." For those of you living "East River," that would be Columbus Day. . . go figure, huh?
We gathered at The Pines on Friday evening, then headed to bed early, as the boys and little Rosie had to rise at five a.m. to get to work. The morning started out drizzly and a bit nippy, but the crew headed down the road. About eight a.m., a call came to Ma. Little Rosie was wet and cold and wanted no part of the gathering. So Ma, Miss America, and I headed down the trail in old "duke." We found Rosie wet and a little worse-for-the-wear, and loaded her into the warm vehicle. Ma had to ride the horse to the neighbor's house, but that is a whole different story in itself!
Pa, the Senator, and Patrick, along with a bunch of other ranchers and their "hands," continued on the trail, in the chilly, constant rain.
"Gathering" |
Heading toward the White River |
Crossing the White River |
"The Boys" (That's my little boy, third from the left. The Senator is in the yellow slicker. That's Pa Carlson third from the right. ) |
Almost the End of the Trail |
"My Carol" served the boys her homemade chili and apple crisp when they were finished with their work. Then the boys made their way back down to The Pines.
The road was wet and wild. You see, this land gets just plain "gummy" when it rains. Gummy is not good. It is slick. It is slimey. It is like glue. It is not fun. It is not fair.
Gum. Mud. Boots. |
Because of the "gum," we ended up at staying at The Pines until Monday afternoon. We were stranded. It was like a good ol' fashioned snowstorm, without the snow. We were saved by a dozen eggs, a pound of butter, three zucchini the size of small pigs, a freezer full of cow, a couple of bags of chips and one big, round hunk of fresh mozzarella cheese. Ma Carlson and I got pretty creative with the goods on hand.
Ma Carlson and I headed up the Badlands with the girls late Sunday afternoon. This is a view of the cabin, nestled in the pines. It's down there somewhere, trust me. |
By late afternoon on Sunday, the sun started to peak out. Pa Carlson had to go do some ranch work. The Senator and Patrick decided to stay back to site-in Patrick's new 22 Henry rifle. I want to be sure to emphasize it is a "Henry" rifle. To some of you out there, that means something. To me it means nothing. I just know Patrick loves it. That means something to me. Ma Carlson and I headed up the Badlands with the little girls and sat a spell.
We were able to head down the road by mid-morning on Monday. Ma and the small girls needed a ride into town, so I took them in "the duke." The Senator and Patrick loaded the horses in the trailer and headed out first. They were going to stop along the way to maybe take in some "shootin."
I arrived home before they did, and when they got home quite a while later, they told me they shot a small bird, but missed a turkey.
I asked, "What kind of small bird?"
They both replied, "A small bird. We don't know what kind."
Hmmmmm. . . Sounds like we'll be heading to the library for a "Birds of the Badlands" book this week.
All I know is Patrick got to shoot "Henry."
AND I'm still trying to figure out how he missed the BIG turkey and got the small bird?
On to the Vikings vs. the Jets. This is serious stuff at our house.
From the range, peace,
Kathleen
The Handy Girl
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