Our Dear Friend Harry...
When my brothers and I were quite young and the lights would go out in our bedroom at night, we would play an imaginary game that we called "The Everything Man". The players could only include three since it was just Lyle, Lee and myself.
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"Let's Play the Everything Man!"
"OK... I will be Tige." Of course our Dad would play a major role.
"I will be the Everything Man!" The Everything Man was just that ... He was sort of like the Amazoncom... however, we were on a first name basis with the Everything Man. He was quite agriculturally based... since we could order cows or hay or nearly everything and anything that we needed or wanted.
"OK... I will be Harry!" , one of us would proclaim. Harry was a dear family friend that we all admired. Seldom was anyone else ever named. Harry was just right character to round out our after dark play acting.
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The conversation would continue in this fashion...
"Ring... Ring"... (We were on a party line)
"Hello Everything Man... this is Tige. I would like to order two loads of cows, Three loads of alfalfa hay... perhaps we should fill the fuel tanks as well."
The Everything Man would always respond, "Can do... When do you want this delivered?" We never had to wait for the Everything Man to come through.
"And Oh... Mr. Everything Man... bring a truck load of pop." You see in real life during the day time, our dad would imagine with us that the hayloft in the barn would be a great place to store pop. A dream for boys under the age of ten that seldom enjoyed a bottle of pop except on special occasions.
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Then Harry would make his order. The game would continue on until one of us three boys no longer answered the phone or took delivery, but had drifted off to sleep. No one would ever be awakened since we were in bed... were to be quiet and we were suppose to be going to sleep.
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That was many years ago and my story has a final page for that chapter of the book. You see... Today, we will be going to the funeral of our friend Harry Keeney. A Godly man... A good man... A family man... One to not only imitate as a child but an example to many throughout his life. All the characters that played "The Everything Man" so many years ago are now in heaven but me. Yes, there are tears in my eyes as I finish this story. I know I have been blessed by the lives of many over the years. Thank you Lord for bringing so many fine folks into my life. Thank you Lord for our friend Harry.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACOB
This is a first....
I have never sent birthday greetings to a son-in-law before. However, what a privilege to wish Happy Birthday to Jacob Fisher and extend blessings to him today.
Jacob... wish you didn't live so far away. We would certainly grill up a steak for you and enjoy the evening. I know Robin and I are so grateful for your desire to seek God's way and follow Christ. Take good care of Molly Anne which we are confident you will and we are glad to have you as part of the family.
BUILDING WINDBREAK ... ON A VERY NICE DAY
Selling Steers
Sorting the steers off today. The temperature got up to 74 degrees. It was crazy nice.
What a great place for portraits. One would say we were in our element.
Loading calves is bittersweet. We prayed this morning that the cattle would work well, for safety and that the calves would go on and do well for the buyers. Our friends at Fawcett's Elm Creek Ranch purchased the steers. They ranch near Ree Heights, South Dakota. Good cattle and good cattle country.
IN OUR ELEMENT
What a great place for portraits. One would say we were in our element.
LOADING CALVES
Loading calves...
Emylee Hencey came and did the brand inspection. I told her, "Not every family in the country has a brand inspector that is so easy to love and appreciate." Emylee, Rachel Reinhold, and Molly Reinhold Fisher pretty much grew up together..
Loading calves is bittersweet. We prayed this morning that the cattle would work well, for safety and that the calves would go on and do well for the buyers. Our friends at Fawcett's Elm Creek Ranch purchased the steers. They ranch near Ree Heights, South Dakota. Good cattle and good cattle country.
Kiersten figures a little hay for the road is OK.
The Reinhold Sisters… Part of really good crew.
SORTING STEERS
Sorting the steers off today. The temperature got up to 74 degrees. It was crazy nice.
WORKING CATTLE MOON
What a beautiful day to gather cows and calves on the Lonetree Ranch. Shipping and weaning tomorrow. The bright nearly full moon is known as the "Hunter's Moon". I think it may be better named this month as "Working Cattle Moon".
HUNTING GEESE
We are so grateful for the nice weather... Our ice and snow all melted and for us boys of the Western South Dakota Plains.. that means the the ducks and geese may land on our stock dams. This morning there were over fifty Canada Geese on Reinhold Lake. Danny and Caleb were able to bag three Canada Geese and one duck. They were pretty pleased. Dad was quite proud to say the least.
The First Day of November
What a beautiful day to gather cows and calves on the Lonetree Ranch. Shipping and weaning tomorrow. The bright nearly full moon is known as the "Hunter's Moon". I think it may be better named this month as "Working Cattle Moon"
We are so grateful for the nice weather... Our ice and snow all melted and for us boys of the Western South Dakota Plains.. that means the the ducks and geese may land on our stock dams. This morning there were over fifty Canada Geese on Reinhold Lake. Danny and Caleb were able to bag three Canada Geese and one duck. They were pretty pleased. Dad was quite proud to say the least.
THE JOY OF HUNTING... A DAD'S PERSPECTIVE
The Joy of Hunting... A Dad's Perspective
Yesterday I went duck hunting with Danny and Caleb. A week before I saw Rachel and Julia head out to hunt pronghorn antelope. Our girls had a very successful hunt.
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I remember years ago observing my Dad, Tige, an avid hunter and a very capable one at that... transition to being willing to watch and drive. We thought something was wrong with him. Was he getting old?
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Yesterday as I watched Danny and Caleb walking through the falling snow toward the water's edge... I felt a tinge of pride... an element of gratefulness... a sense of awe. I was pleased that the boys downed four ducks.
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I love the hunt... I very much enjoy the outdoors... We sure enjoy wildlife on the ranch... However, I don't pull the trigger very often anymore. You know... I think I am starting to understand my Dad.
Celery...
Even though it is snowing outside,I wanted to post this pic of Robin harvesting her celery last week from the garden. She started it last spring from seed and then cared for it through a difficult growing season. It did quite well and after she trimmed it up... she packaged it in foil where it will keep for quite some time. It is not as "watery" as store bought celery and it tastes quite good. Well done Dear.
A Dad's Perspective
The Joy of Hunting... A Dad's Perspective
Yesterday I went duck hunting with Danny and Caleb. A week before I saw Rachel and Julia head out to hunt pronghorn antelope. Our girls had a very successful hunt.
***
I remember years ago observing my Dad, Tige, an avid hunter and a very capable one at that... transition to being willing to watch and drive. We thought something was wrong with him. Was he getting old?
***
Yesterday as I watched Danny and Caleb walking through the falling snow toward the water's edge... I felt a tinge of pride... an element of gratefulness... a sense of awe. I was pleased that the boys downed four ducks.
***
I love the hunt... I very much enjoy the outdoors... We sure enjoy wildlife on the ranch... However, I don't pull the trigger very often anymore. You know... I think I am starting to understand my Dad.
Nice View
This is the view from Danny and Caleb's room in the A.M.. Today was a pleasant sort of day. The wind hardly blew. Danny and Dean worked on the Cabin at Misty Meadows and we even got some boards nailed up on a windbreak. Kiersten got another outside ride in on Apache. The boys even got a little hunting in this morning and evening. Now we are on getting ready to call it a day. Rachel is making Swedish Pancakes, Mom put some Reinhold Brother's Pork Sausage on to cook. Starting to smell mighty fine at the Reinhold residence on the Lonetree Ranch of Western Dakota.
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In case you were wondering... Tally for duck hunting so far on the ranch. Three blue wing teal, One green wing teal, One Bufflehead, and One mallard.
There Can be Peace
There can be peace...
Blustery may not only describe the weather on the outside as of late, but perhaps it describe the inner turmoil you may be experiencing these days. The words and message of the following song may be the prayer and thoughts that we should adhere to today.
Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I'm tired, I’m weak, I’m lone
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home
When my way grows drear precious Lord linger near
When my light is almost gone
Hear my cry, hear my call
Hold my hand lest I fall
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home
When the darkness appears and the night draws near
And the day is past and gone
At the river I stand
Guide my feet, hold my hand
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home
Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I'm tired, I’m weak, I’m lone
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home
"Rangey"
Robin said, "Do you really want to put them on FB?" We have several geldings that were not halter broke as babies and have been run quite "rangey". Danny and Caleb put halters on them today. Good job boys.
What others had to say…
“Memories. When we lived in Montana I occasionally worked horses for other people. A neighbor call one day and said he has some geldings that needed work. He had seven four year olds that had been weaned and cut then turned loose on the prairies of southern Alberta, and had had very little human contact. They were from through bred stock all 16 plus hands and stout! I really had my hands full! It was fun(?) when I was younger. You and your crew will make good horses of them.”
“Those boys are ready to throw a saddle on’em. Reinhold ranch life. Western and traditional with great Christian values. Way to go Danny and Caleb.”
“All in the life of the Reinhold family. Wow. Thanks for sharing those pics”
“Good Cowboys!”
Kiersten and Apache
Well, Kiersten took Apache out of the arena for the first time today and they both did a fantastic job. Kiersten's steadfast determination does more that please me as her Dad. Kiersten is twelve years old and she has more than stepped up to the challenge.
A Good Day to Work
Certainly a beautiful autumn day to work horses. Dr. Lynn Stadheim and Delyssa are a very capable team. Our crew sure likes working with them. After the work was done, it was time to saddle up and train on a few.
We are building some additional windbreak. Derek, Danny and Caleb and myself made pretty good progress today even though we only had a few hours to work on it this afternoon.
