Oklahoma Agritourism Rolling Bus Tour 2011 OK Horizons Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=82ux6Rh2Pic

And Lately We've Been...



Lately we've been to the movies to see...The Chipmunks and to eat popcorn & hot dogs!

We've moved the cows to the "Russell Ranch" (that makes me laugh everytime) it is their last farm with grass.  Upon arrival they thought they had died and gone to heaven, there was grass to be eaten, it has been a very long time since they've had adequate forage. 

And I've been BAKING for my darling sister's school.  Blonde Brownies, some kind of good!
Merry Christmas Ya'll! 

AFR Speech

Jr. was 3rd in State at the American Farmers and Rancher's speech contest today.
Tonight he's attending MFE for FFA. His speech uses a quote from Jason Aldean's song, Amarillo Sky, (you know "underneath that Amarillo sky") well one of his questions after the speech was "What does 'take the tractor another round' mean???  I hope they were just seeing if he knew what he was talking about and weren't really asking what it meant!!

Sally May Brings Home the Bacon...I Mean the Beef!

This was just a second or two after he'd been chosen Champion Hereford Heifer at the Wichita Mountians Classic, his expression was priceless.  What a blessing!

Ring #2 Champion Hereford Heifer again.
Gotta love a stockshow with two rings!

This was Sally May's the first time to town, she was mildly ok with the concept.  She was much happier to be back at home in her cozy and comfortable pen surrounded by her bovine sisters. 

Martha Yon's Thanksgiving Meal



Our Thanksgiving meal consisted of ham, dressing, asparagus and brocolli/cheese casserole.  Most of it was wonderful....the b/c casserole...not so wonderful. 

Our youngest pilgrim made four pumpkin pies which were pretty good and which were shared...mostly shared.   We also made jalapeno poppers, blonde brownies and peach cobbler, the cobbler didn't quite turn out as it usually does.  But we still had a very good Thanksgiving!  Ho, ho, ho....here we go!  Thanksgiving #3 on Sunday.

Resourceful Raingear

A beet pulp sack makes for excellent rain gear--pockets and all.

Jr. found himself an emergency poncho, I thought it was a bag from the cleaners.

Thankful for the rain and for two pretty good boys. 

FIFTEEN....

Happy Birthday Calebob!

Enjoying some gravy pizza!

Then off to a speech contest in Caney Valley, Kansas.

Thankful for These

We went to the Ranch Rodeo Finals in Amarillo, it was a great event.  Nobody we knew was participating, but we enjoyed it just the same.  There was a poet from Cyril and a saddle/chap maker from Cement there sharing and selling their wares.  There were more spurs and bridle reins than you could count.  Big cowboy hats, short brimmed "Herbert Weedn" hats and everything in between, Jr. came home with a "Stormy Kromer" hat...it's a "cool cowboy" version of Elmer Fudd's hunting hat. Little Jr. came home with a new felt hat, of which has brought forth the nickname "Thumbtack".  There were little cowboys selling Australian Sheppard puppies, old cowboys selling squeeze chutes and a chick from Alva, Wyoming selling Giant Rubber Water Tanks....we've got one or two of her tanks. Can't break'em.  Anyway, it is a good trip, only four hours from home with plenty to see and do.  Our hotel was nice on top of all that!


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Rocking my babies....who were PAST full after eating at the Big Texan...and no we didn't try the 72 ounce steak.
The waitress chick told us that someone tries it daily during the summer....I can't imagine...it is the size of a huge roast.
Must comment on the Quarter Horse Museum....AMAZING even on our second trip to see it. 



Oklahoma State...Hurting One More Time

Please pray for the families that are hurting now, and the families that are hurting again 10 years later.  Thankful that I am a COWBOY!  

Thankful that I'm an OKLAHOMAN!

FFA Interscholastics @ Panhandle State

At the Tulsa State Fair, Cale won the showmanship for the Simmental breed.  Afterwards Ruth was wanting a bite of the award, she had tired to lick it several times.  No telling what Jerry said just before this picture was taken.  Cale won the FFA creed at Panhandle State's Interscholastic Meet on Tuesday and was second with his speech.  No pictures of the event,but Very Cool!

OSU vs. K State

We attended the OSU/KState Football game and of course we all needed appropriate attire so after a "quick" shopping trip to the Student Union we had our picture taken (in our new duds) by some very nice ladies from Snyder, Oklahoma.   I am thankful that Jr. Jr. wasn't giving them the "dorky" boy expression which plagues most of his recent photos---note his Daddy's hand--positioned on the "straighten up" button. 

Jr. Jr. enjoyed the game, but the ending was great fun, he was "KING of the Cup Gatherers"
OSU won the game and is now #2!  Missed the earthquake, we must have been in the car, but made it home by 2am or 3am...depending on your view of daylight savings time.  Off to church the next morning, my Daddy always said, "You can't stay out all night and sleep all day".  No sleeping today, not even in church.   

Camping, 5 Boys, 6 Horses & a Bunch of Stuff

Since the boys were little they've been camping.  The started out in the backyard, progressed down to the pasture and have now gone down the road.  Thanks to their friend with a draft horse or two they were able to travel a bit more efficiently-able to take more stuff. Sure beats the days of loading up Freckles and the little red wagon for an expedition down into the pasture.

They took coffee, biscuit dough, bbq sauce and tons of other necessary items.  The also forgot many necessary items, but their concierge was just a jingle away. 

Mort the dog even tagged along.  You can see why we have so many dog funerals....the middle of the road is their favorite place in which to travel. 

 They had a good time and not one of them froze to death nor was eaten by a wild hog.
They are great boys, we'd keep every one of them!

Drought Beauty



I missed the "peak" of pretty on these flowers.  One morning I noticed them all worshiping the sun, they were amazing in color. Beauty, even in a drought!

So, is it worshipping or worshiping???
Where is my Mudder when I need her!!

Saving Some Soil

My Daddy would be pleased as punch!
Thanks to Snider Construction!

Team Fitting Champs



The boys along with Ms. Plumb won the TSF's Jr. FFA Cattle Fitting Contest.  They were awarded oodles and gobs of goodies of which they promptly traded for a different lot of goodies!  Three kids just can't use one blower.   It was a fun night.  The boys will donate their pink winner caps to their little girl cousins.  Jerry McPeak organized and emceed the event which was good fun for all!

Popper's Last Dance

Popper & Jr. Jr.
Last Dance
Tulsa State Fair
Big Girl Hereford Class 5th Place
Hereford Showmanship 4th in their heat
His 3rd Show Heifer

Depressing Drought Details

Gary McManus of the Oklahoma Climatological Survey told the webinar that west of I-35, we have had the driest past 365 days of any period ever- since records have been kept- and that goes back to 1895.   From: Ron Hayes, Oklahoma Agrinet   

Drought Likely to Continue to Sit Right on Top of Oklahoma for the Balance of 2011

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 20:27:37 CDT
Persistent Drought will likely stay right on top of Oklahoma for the balance of this calendar year. According to the Climate Prediction Center of the National Weather Service, there seems to be little evidence of the drought that is mostly in the D4 stage- or Exceptional Drought stage- will be mitigated anytime soon.
    
PRAY FOR RAIN....IT'S OUR ONLY HOPE!

My Favorite Billboard



I didn't. 

 

Grass

One year ago we had grass and thought there'd never be another dry day.  Boy were we wrong!  Pray for rain, we are past dry.  By the way, this mott heifer weaned the biggest calf of our first calf heifers.  The "tiny tim" of the bunch was "unavailable" for photographing.

Blessings

Every day blessings are in front of us, most days we don't take the time to notice them.  Since last Sunday morning when Bud "went for a drive" we've been blessed daily.  One was the comment of an older cowboy gentleman who was filling up his pickup with fuel, horse in tow.  When Jerry approached him to show him Bud's picture and ask that he look for him, he stated, "Well, that is Mr. Wolfe, I've been looking for him, saw it on tv".  He was gracious and encouraging.  He was from Walters, we didn't know him.  Another was Rhonda who dropped everything she had to do on Tuesday and took over for me.  She jumped in quite willingly to care for the boys that day.  Our friends and neighbors are amazing, they really didn't know Bud, but they came and brought great food and they prayed.  Yet another was Sam Horse, a preacher from Anadarko who told a story about the journey of life and how parents are to nurture, guide, teach and then allow their children to grow and go on in life, well equipped to do so.  There are many I could write about, some larger blessings than others but all heartfelt just the same.  God puts good people in our path....sometimes we stumble right over them oblivious to the blessing.....be aware of blessings, don't overlook them.  Thank you to those of you who went out of your way to look for Bud, to feed us and to encourage us. Thank You for your love, support and your prayers. 

Bud's Funeral

Bud's funeral proceedings are as follows:  Prayer service at Smith's in Anadarko on Friday at 7pm, Graveside at the Anadarko Cemetery 10am on Saturday.

Bud is Found

The Texas Rangers found Bud and his pickup this morning southeast of Wichita Falls.  He had pulled over on the edge of the road and turned off his motor and died there.  The funeral will be Friday or Monday as an autopsy must be conducted.  Thank you for your prayers, your help and your concern. 

LOOKING FOR BUD...MON EVE

YESTERDAY MORNING BUD WAS DRIVING ON THE GRASS NEXT TO THE BUILDING AT THE WELCOME CENTER AT WALTERS, OK THEY HAVE HIM ON VIDEO AT 9:26 AM ....YOU CAN SEE WHERE HE DROVE ACROSS THE GRASS ONTO THE ASPHALT!  ....DIDN'T CALL THE OHP, THE GIRL WHO SAW HIM HEARD IT ON THE NEWS THIS AM AND CALLED IN.  SO WE HAVE DRIVEN THROUGH WALTERS, RANDLETT, DEVOL, CHATTY, GRANDFIED AND PUT OUT FLYERS IN THE CONV STORES & COOP'S.  HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE FAMILY WHO FARMS HIS LAND NEXT TO THE RED RIVER, DROVE TO IT, NO BUD.......THIS IS HIS PICKUP, HE HAS BEEN GONE SINCE SUNDAY MORNING VERY EARLY. 

LOOK FOR BUD

Jerry's step-dad Bud went for a "drive" on Saturday morning very early, he has dementia and is diabetic.  Look for his pickup pictured below. Time as always is of the essence in these cases. He could be anywhere.  Thank you and please forward this post to your friends. 
.

NO PUMPKIN PATCHING THIS FALL...TOO DRY!  SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!
THE JAHN'S

Ruth in Reserve



A Reserve Grand Champion Heifer and an "almost" Showmanship winner.  The intermediate beef showmanship was tough, lots of kids and a judge who worked them.  It was fun to watch. 

Warmish Fence Building

"I'm sure Sponge Bob is on at home, wonder if Mom left the A/C on?
Do weaned calves really need a new pen?"

"Why oh why didn't I start this project when it was winter time?"

102 at SIX pm!

"After seven stitches in my finger they made me wear gloves when building fence"...Imagine that!

HB...BOYFRIEND

Happy 40th Birthday JerryBeth!!
We love you!
MC&S

Glen Rose

We went to the tracks, the dinosoaur tracks that is. in Glen Rose, Texas.

We examined them, easy to do in a drought.

They begged to go back to Dinosaur World.

A sign all good cowpokes appreciate.  Problem was they had no grass, not too many cows left in their country either.

Nothing like a little brotherly"peenchy weenchy" on the cheek.

Good fun in 105+ degree weather...they golfed afterwards, I did not. 
We really didn't see Dinosuar World...not quite our thing.  But the tracks were cool!