LT PRIDE AND JOY


Danny Reinhold is shown bringing in a couple of stragglers on the good big horse, "Rooster" this morning. The forecast calls for 12"-24" of snow with strong winds. We have the livestock pretty much where we want them, but we realize that this is shaping up to be a dangerous storm. We are pleased to receive the moisture. Snow brings nitrogen into the soil. We sure can use the runoff...however on days such as this, one's memory bank is certainly tapped. I recall another Mother's Day Blizzard in, I believe, 1967. There was significant livestock loss. I do remember riding with Dad after the storm accounting for loss and as well the living. As Dad and I rode then, near where Danny is in this photo, we came across a pretty Hereford heifer calf. Dad smiled big and said, "Well you rascal...you made it." This heifer was out of the 67 cow and when it came time to register this little heifer, Dad named her "LT (Lonetree) Pride and Joy. A good memory indeed!

"QUITE A STORY"

This picture here holds a story.... As I was riding out in the rain this morning to get some cows in before it started snowing. I was overwhelmed with a flood of memories from "the storm" (a.k.a The Atlas Blizzard of 2013) The weather today reminds me SO much of what it was like before Atlas. I also rode to get cows the night it started raining in October. As I was thinking of so many memories, I rode by three cows that had died in Atlas. 
Just another reminder of one of the hardest weeks of my life. It's easy to worry about will happen in a storm. But we must remember that we serve a BIG God and He will take care of us through whatever happens! But we must JUST TRUST! Please pray for safety for the livestock and all those that are in the path of this weather. And we must remember to thank God for the moisture!

THANKS MRS. WIEBE


Last evening Mrs. Wiebe shared with me that she so enjoyed listening to our daughter, KIersten, say her bible verses. Of course she had a big smile and "I did as well". Anyone that knows Mrs. Wiebe, knows how dedicated she is in encouraging and reaching out an touching people's lives. To add interest to this post,we found the second photo of Mrs. Weibe holding Kiersten as a baby just days after she was born. :)

What is so cool...In the first photo above the door is a quote that was often stated by the Mrs. Wiebe's late husband, Pastor Waldo Wiebe, who is now with the Lord. Simply stated and continued to be lived out by Pastor and Mrs. Wiebe..."You are now entering your mission field".

Remuda Ridge

We use to refer to this field as the Hillsview Field...but we find ourselves calling it Remuda Ridge now. For it was across this flat and for another half a mile beyond,that our Rainbow Bible Ranch camp string of horses perished after the wind and snow pushed them up out of the breaks during the Storm Atlas in October 2014. Now in the course of sowing this field we are force to go around a huge mound of soil, a mass grave of over thirty of the finest saddle horses that a kid could ever want. However, life continues on.

SEEDING HILLSVIEW "REMUDA RIDGE"


We have this one little field of 49 acres up on top of the breaks. It lies next to the ruts of the winter route of the Old Ft. Pierre Deadwood Freight Trail that ran its course in the 1800's. The views are amazing. And when it came time to top off the drill for the last remaining rounds, everyone pitches in. Thanks to my family and crew for working so hard.

Another view from our field on top of the breaks. That is the peak (Costello Point) and the cow camp in the background. Rachel and Danny are in the tractor racing the sun to finish up.
One can see Fox Ridge on the far distant horizon on a clear day. When we take people up to top and they see all the big country...one word describes their response..."overwhelmed".

We use to refer to this field as the Hillsview Field...but we find ourselves calling it Remuda Ridge now. For it was across this flat and for another half a mile that our Rainbow Bible Ranch camp string of horses perished after the wind and snow pushed them up out of the breaks during the Storm Atlas in October 2014. Now in the course of sowing this field we are forced to go around a huge mound of soil, a mass grave of over thirty of the finest saddle horses that a kid could ever want. However, life continues on.

Looking west one can enjoy the vista of the Black Hills with Harney Peak on the south end to Crook Mountain on the north. Sometimes it is a little difficult keeping your mind on the farming end of things.

Of course Bear Butte holds it demanding presence.


And yes we were treated to another grand sunset. We did not eat supper until 10:00 PM, but as we sat around the table enjoying each other's company, eating good food and laughing at the recollections of the day, deep down inside, we realized that we held nothing back and the tiredness was replaced by peace. It has been a good day. Thank You Lord.

RUNAWAY DRAW


Years ago I found a piece of a single tree which is part of the buckboard wagon's tongue that the horse's harness connected to. I showed to my Dad and he told me that his brother, my Uncle Tom, had a runaway that ended up going down into this draw. It is nearly 200' deep and very steep over the edge. We planted some trees in the upper end of what I have thus called Run Away Draw ever since that story that my Dad told me of Uncle Tom

"POTSHOTS"

Robin visited with her Mom yesterday and they discussed the prescribed burn that has begun to burn out of control in Wind Cave National Park just north of where they live. "Yes Grandma had an opinion!"

I will share mine... the Tatanka Hotshots have been called in to fight the fire. But how did it start? The NPS "Potshots". Potshot is defined as "a shot fired in a careless way!" Oh yes the Potshots work for various institutions, but I am amazed at how many work within the halls of our government.

I am well aware of the trials that come with stewardship of the land. We fight pestilence and fire as well. I am not here to "Cast the first stone". I am just calling for these government institutions to be called into responsibility just as we in the private sector.

My carelessness with my property may cost me money and resources from the onset. My carelessness may even cost others eventually. Without a doubt the mismanagement of our public resources costs us all. Let us not be tolerant of the actions of the "Potshots"

GETTING THINGS DONE

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It has been a beehive of activity across the western USA in many agricultural operations. The dry warm weather has certainly allowed the family and crew on the Lonetree Ranch to kick things into high gear. Jason Morris and Danny Reinhold have worked over the disc and it has been in operation for the last day or so. Some of the kids are going to a branding this morning and the rest of the crew will try and finish up a major fencing project at the old Hans Henricks Place. Looking good.


Hans and Vesper Henricks homesteaded just north of the Reinhold family at about the same time over 100 years ago. They had four children...Homer, Howard, Cecil (Buck) and Alice. We now own their old homestead. Another couple of days and the fences and building will be really nice. This past winter we started working over the old house. It has been good.

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Learning to work to together as a team is a huge part of the "education process" within our family as well as many other farm and ranch families. Good job Kids.


Learning to work to together as a team is a huge part of the "education process" within our family as well as many other farm and ranch families. Good job Kids.

SOME NEW FRIENDS FROM ACROSS THE POND


After the October Blizzard of 2013, we met so many new friends. Anna Jones and Sybil Ruscoe came from Great Britain and spent the good portion of a day with us and then produced a half hour radio segment for the British Broadcssting Company (BBC). As a result of that broadcast we met friends from Europe as well. Alan Hewitt is one of those new friends and he has become a dear friend as well. He messaged this to our family and I would like to share it with you...

ALAN HEWITT

Hi Larry and Robin,.... A short time ago I commented that the weather can come back and bite you. This it did last weekend, very cold winds from North made driving rain and hail. You wrote of your Alberta Clipper recently, we didn't have that so I called it Greenland Clipper, with wind chill it was not fit to be outside. I love your photos of your new life on the farm with calves being born, we cannot have that but we are looking forward to blossom buds on the apples and pears this is our hope for the season.
I have often said that being a farmer or grower creates thankfulness, hopefulness, patience and appreciation of life, good Christian values.
We looking forward to this Easter with family and Church in village, so we wish you all a happy Easter and trust in the risen Lord.
Every blessing to you all, Alan and Carolyn

Thanks Alan and Carolyn… May you have a blessed Easter.

Loaded to Protect

As the father of four daughters, I hear often of my protective role. I am also the father of two fine sons... and "boys are not the enemy". We do no service when we continually convey these negative connotations. As the father of six wonderful children, I will strive, guided by Godly wisdom, that each one will partner with a Godly individual. So let it be known...The "proverbial shotgun" is loaded to protect my girls and my boys... because they are worth it and it is my God-given task. And it is no problem whatsoever to pull the "proverbial trigger".

PROVERBIAL SHOTGUN

As the father of four daughters, I hear often of my protective role. I am also the father of two fine sons... and "boys are not the enemy". We do no service when we continually convey these negative connotations. As the father of six wonderful children, I will strive, guided by Godly wisdom, that each one will partner with a Godly individual. So let it be known...The "proverbial shotgun" is loaded to protect my girls and my boys... because they are worth it and it is my God-given task. And it is no problem whatsoever to pull the "proverbial trigger"

TAKE TIME TO READ PROVERBS 4-7

The Threshing Grove

The drought of the early 2000's and the October 2013 Blizzard wreaked havoc upon the trees around our homestead. The summer of 2014 proved to be a great year to plant trees. We planted over 2300 trees, seedlings and many larger trees as well. This is the "Threshing Grove". Mostly new trees planted last year consisting of a row of apples, three rows of "Triumph" elms, Three rows of Colorado Blue Spruce and a row of Ponderosa Pine. It appears that nearly all trees will make it, except one that a big steer walked over and a couple that the jack rabbits damaged.

Why the name "Threshing"? Perhaps you have noticed the old threshing machines in the background? This was a traditional threshing site on the ranch years ago. In fact, I can remember the last time they threshed there vaguely in the early 60's. As kids we enjoyed playing in the mammoth sized "straw piles". I am not so sure my mother did, however as our clothes would be filled with straw and chaff when we would come in from playing.

The Real Treasure

Robin is in the spirit of the holiday. Dessert is starting to look quite delicious. Guess, I will just ask Kiersten.

Robin made Irish Soda Bread for our supper. Almost time to eat.

Yes we have a good time celebrating our Irish heritage on St. Patrick's Day...But here is the real treasure at the end of the rainbow.

Lonetree Ranch
14666 Lonetree Road
Sturgis, South Dakota 57785

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