Dreadlocks~Wyoming Style

The itch of springtime allows only bovine hide the ability to leave incredible hair balls on the barbed wire fences. Wyoming is a long way from Jamaica;however,the above photo is our version of dreadlocks!

Calving 2012

Polled Hereford bulls and Angus cows have delivered a splash of color. The following photos were taken on a rare 70 degree day in...March!

Usually calving brings wet, driving snows. Although they are hard on young livestock, they are much needed to sustain the growth of pastures and crops. We find ourselves hopeful when the Weather Channel predicts a 70% chance of moisture, only to be dashed by 70 mph winds and no precipitation. We remain faithful in prayer.

Wrestling 2011-2012

The season runs mid November to the end of February.

The culminating event is the State Championships in Casper, WY.

Levi wrestled at 120 lbs. There were three other guys on his team at this weight and it was quite an honor to earn the number two spot to go to Regionals through wrestle offs. At Regionals only the top four placed, however the top eight guys get to compete at State. He was in the top eight. If my tally is correct, he ended the season with a 25-13 record.

East High came home with 3 State Champions, 7 State Placers and 2nd Place in the team rankings. Levi is really excited to be part of a great program and we are very confident in another trip to State next year!

The following are a "few" of my photo favorites.

~ Champion of the Dogger Invite~

Levi's epic match at Regionals. He really wrestled well against this Senior-but lost 5-6. The gym was a hollering mess the entire three periods!

Now we find ourselves lost this weekend--no tournaments!

Levi is home after school before dark.

Our energies are shifting. By the end of the month we will be calving.

Border (Collie) War

~Mayhem~

A.K.A. Cowboy and Roscoe

(No, we do not raise and fight Border Collies!)

These two brothers had a lot of steam to blow off on a Wyoming winter day.

On The Road Again

East T-Bird Wrestling:

A new school

A new level of competition

The transition to East High has been a positive one both academically and athletically. Mike has found it odd, however, not sitting at the edge of the mat coaching. There is a great coalition of Dads (and Moms) who attend the competitions so we are making new friends and becoming part of this wrestling "family". I still get to sit mat side, snapping photos of a new set of wrestlers.

A Whoop Button!

October 30, 2011

Denver, CO

We were excited that the Lions would be playing the Broncos so that we could see our favorite Lions Special Teams/Safety #29!! It was a beautiful, 70 degree day--rare for this late in October.

~David and Levi~

~Some of the 52 John Wendling fans in attendance~

Our seats were more than a "mile high"!

~Pre-game entertainment~

These parachuters literally whirled into the stadium at phenomenal speed.

~More pre-game~

John in action on our end of the field.

The final score was Lions 45-Denver 10. Leaving the stadium was easy since most of the Broncos fans had evacuated in the third quarter!

Lions, Deer, T-birds, Cats and Dogs

~The Showdown in Motown~

Mike and Levi flew to Detroit to take in the Lions Monday Night football game against the Bears. It was an awesome adventure and a great game as John started on defense...and the Lions won! Thanks, Angie and John for your hospitality and for these great pictures. I'm enjoying the conversations of all they saw and experienced!

Mike and Levi with John at the "walk through" on Sunday.

Game night with Angie

While they were gone, we got our first snow....it was 85 in Detroit!

~Hi-ho, Hi-ho a hunting he does go~

Levi shot this nice 3x3 buck on opening day!

~First Day of School~

Just couldn't resist that "mom, making the kid squint into the sun, first day of school" photo opp! Levi is a Freshman and is going to East High in Cheyenne this year. He'll be wrestling as a Thunderbird.

~Parting shots~

The nuisances of the back door.

Cowboy: aka- Chewy Louie, one of our two new puppies.

Wheat Harvest 2011

July 22- August 1

~A season we very much look forward to...

~ A season we are very much relieved when accomplished.

~Part of the crew:

Cody Jones-aka "Ponchito de St. Cloud, MN", Lukas and our cousin David. Howard, Mary Kay, Mike, Levi and myself complete the workforce for this family farm operation.

This year's cool, wet Spring found us putting up second cutting of alfalfa during the last few days of wheat harvest. It was a bit crazy!

~Zippidee~Do~Dah~

Man, oh man...how time flies!

For example, 18 years were just a blink. Why, it was "just the other day" Lukas started Kindergarten and I cried mixed tears of excitement/worry...hoping we were sending him to school with the knowledge of ABC's and tools of scissors and glue.

And...now he's graduated from High School!

And...again I cry tears of excitement/worry..hoping he's equipped with the tools of faith, character and work ethic to tackle all that life might present.

Where did the time go?

Levi and David (a cousin who is like a brother) were his escorts at graduation.

After a year of waiting......

A Cheyenne business was hired (and paid well) to install a gas log fireplace. I believe many take advantage of our proximity by providing shoddy (was tempted to use a different word here) customer service. I'm still waiting for them to come out "next week" to finish the grout job and install a mantel. However, despite my irritation, I believe I ended up with something better thanks to Lukas's Woodshop teacher, Chris Cooper!

I just love how it turned out!!! and I can do the grout work myself. Let's see..February, March, April, May, June and now July...perhaps they meant next week??

Summer's Drumbeat....

~fences fixed, calves branded, turned out on pasture..

~stubble plowed, summer fallow x 2, first cutting of hay...

~wheat's turning, Combines readied, harvest next week....

Next week!!!

Summer is flying by

~Parting Shots~

~Prairie flowers from all our wonderful rains~


~The swallows of Romsa Farms~


~"Tuffy's" woodpile kittens~

~Our newest additions--"Cowboy" and "Roscoe"~

~My garden--so far just lettuce and radishes~

~Some evenings I get to indulge in one of my favorite pastimes~