FIRST RIDES...
Rachel, Caleb and Robin putting some of the first rides on a couple of colts. Lot of ground work gone into them... makes those first rides much easier.
THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE....
Photos by Robin Reinhold
A beautiful autumn afternoon on the ranch. No quaking aspen rustling in the breeze... but there is still much to enjoy. Danny rode up in the breaks to check a water tank just below the peak (Castello Point). The girls were out scoping out the antelope (pronghorn) and Caleb was finishing up on a couple of young horses that he has started.
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This the day the Lord has made... we will rejoice...
Rachel, Caleb and Robin putting some of the first rides on a couple of colts. Lot of ground work gone into them... makes those first rides much easier.
OCTOBER 3, 2013 - EVENING BEFORE THE STORM (ATLAS)
It is such a joy sharing this traditional "chore" with our family. I remember as a boy the bittersweet feeling of picking all the pumpkins, squash and whatever else the night before frost. Tonight is different as it seems we have skipped frost and moved right into a blizzard. We are to get 15" of snow with wind gusts up to 70 MPH. It is raining now and we just enjoyed a bowl of autumn chowder for supper and then we had a cup of hot chocolate to "celebrate". Thanks God for the blessings.
Rachel picking the buttercup squash. They will be mighty good with butter and plenty of brown sugar.
Hey Molly...I think this would be a great Senior Picture.
"Isn't this exciting, Caleb?"
Everyone gets in on the Annual Autumn Garden Harvest. Way to build those biceps Kiersten and Julia.
Memory Maker...The evening before the blizzard...
Can you imagine? One last attempt by the zucchini.
These are some of the "fall colors" that I encountered as I got out of the tractor to unhook the drill. This one would not move. When we picked it up with a pitchfork it's tail was really vibrating...but making no noise. Moisture and cold??? Maybe it was shivering.
Would Rather be Ashes than Dust
Jack London wrote...
"I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time."
Jack London's Tales of Adventure
US adventurer, author, & sailor (1876 - 1916)
ABC's
Pretty well known fact that our daughter, Kiersten, spends a lot of time with the animals... So she took the camera to present the ABC's of life on ranch...
A wesome
B arnyard
C ritters
Heading to "Greener Pasture" Day #2
Photo by Robin Reinhold
Heading to "Greener Pasture" Day #1
Well...we spent the last several days working cattle and getting them ready to spend the winter at Mendel Farms of Doland, South Dakota. We are grateful that their area has received some much needed moisture over the last month. The Reinhold crew and good horses helped make the process easier and then when it came time to load out... we certainly appreciated the more than competent help. From brand inspection to loading and hauling. Thanks for making the process go smoothly.
Photos by Robin Reinhold
WHEN THE JOURNEY....
When the journey is hard... when some rail against you... when the burden gets heavy...
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Pray...
Focus in God's Word..
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And going for a ride is good...
Our daughter, Molly, sent this Scripture passage yesterday...
“Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn the sword And have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay those who are of upright conduct. Their sword shall enter their own heart, And their bows shall be broken. A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, But the Lord upholds the righteous. The Lord knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the Lord, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away. The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives. For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, But those cursed by Him shall be cut off. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed. Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore. For the Lord loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever. The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice. The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide. The wicked watches the righteous, And seeks to slay him. The Lord will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged. Wait on the Lord, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree. Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found. Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him.”
Psalms 37:1-40
AND TO TOP IT OFF...
Late yesterday afternoon, we headed west and started gathering heifers and cows/calves.
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Why?
The decision has been made to take all the cattle back to our friends in Northeastern South Dakota. We have some grass... but most of the place is grazed down pretty short. Hopefully we can keep the horses going here on the ranch. Hay is not available in our area and what one hauls in is right at cost prohibitive. Our stock dams are either dry or despicable mud holes. We will ride tomorrow toward the peak and bring those cows down.
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We got most of the cows in the West Pasture and then without much reason, the horse I was riding (Hoss) hit a rock wrong and began to limp. I rode him just a little further and decided that I had better just lead him home... It was only around a mile... "We could limp home together,"
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Walking across the plains at dusk with no sounds except cows and and occasional voice of a family member in the far off distance allows one to really think. I am sad that we have to to take the cows off the ranch. I have only made that decision one other time and that was to SE Montana in 2006. I know how much my family enjoy the cows. I am thankful that we have friends that are willing to assist feeding the cattle during this extreme drought. I was blessed by the fact that even though I was walking now... I had been riding with the family. Yes... Molly we missed you. I was grateful that most of the cows and calves look pretty good considering the dry conditions and the heat of the past couple of years. Some of the first calf heifer's calves are pretty light. I was grateful that I have a wonderful wife that came riding up behind me as I was walking through the dry prairie and she offered me her horse. I told her she could just take my horse and then I would not "slow" them down. We all made it home after dark... enjoying the coolness that came with sunset. Much to ponder... Much to do...Much to be thankful for... And to top it off...
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I found a shed... an antler that had survived the summer lying on the buffalo sod. Danny found a piece of petrified wood... Rachel found fossils... Caleb and Julia found an arrow...a broadhead out on the far side of the Little Johnson Pasture... And we enjoyed a beautiful evening on the Lonetree Ranch together as a family. Thank you Lord.
WHAT OTHERS HAD TO SAY….
“it was really dry here in Kennebec. grain fields suffered and the crop will be poor. recent rains over the past 2 weeks have given an unbelievable burst of green grass in the pastures. an answer to many prayers. I am praying that God will give your area similar rains that will restore your pastures and refresh your soul. with God, all things are possible. I also want to thank Rainbow Bilbe Ranch for the many blessings that you have given to all those that have visited and attended your camps over the many years. Your pastures may be short of green grass for feed but you have given the Bread of Life to countless people, including members of my family. God bless you and all that you do (including move the cattle, if need be.)”
“Shipping your cows east is more work and expense that a lot of people don’t comprehend. But that shows that you and your family are good stewards of the land and your livestock. Prayers for your family and for rain to renew and sustain ranches all across western SD and drought effected areas. God Bless Larry Robin and family.”
“Larry, I don’t no you but you sure have a lot of good content in your writing. Going to be a lot of changes in this country in the next month or two.”
“Prayers and admiration for your family.
You are one of many examples of an American Family that finds solutions to their problem and continues to “push forward” to the future.
Your ancestors are proud of you.
You hold strong to your ideals and faith in the Lord.”
“I’m so sorry to hear this. How sad for all of you out there and your livestock.”
WE ARE STILL HERE...
We were hoping to get some good rain this past week. We were somewhat disheartened as we only received .13". The country is pretty dry. Still amazing how under the right sunlight the golden hue of these plains shine through.
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The family was sitting at the dining room table this morning following breakfast. We were discussing some hard decisions that had to be made due to drought and heat of the past two years. Robin recalled that we had one of the hottest summers on record since 1936. I then pointed out that my dad as a boy sat in the same dining room with his parents discussing what they were going to do as well. They were in the midst of the Great Depression... The Dust Bowl... and the Nazis were already making inroads in much of Europe.
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And here we were today... drought... uncertain economy... unrest around the world... and for certain pandemics... health and fear.
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And that is the point... "We are still here today..." The Reinhold family has been eating and discussing and living in this same dining room of this old house on the Lonetree Ranch for nearly a century.
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A testimony to God's faithfulness and provision...
And we will continue to trust Him as long as "we are still here" and "we will still be here as long as the Lord leads and we continue in His ways".
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The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentation 3:22-23
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For we walk by faith, not by sight. II Corinthians 5:17
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For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13
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“I have been young, and am now old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. ”
"MORNING HAS BROKEN"
"MORNING HAS BROKEN"
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I recall the first time that I heard this song. It was at a sad time in my life. However, I do sing the words occasionally... and yes... mostly around the dawning of a new day.
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Welcome Morning... in all your glory.
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Oh yes, the photo is of Robin's Morning Glories that are not only winding its way up the clothe line pole but also into our hearts during this season of drought.
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Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world
Sweet the rains new fall, sunlit from Heaven
Like the first dewfall on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day
Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world
Isaiah 55:8-9
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9).
GOOD & GODLY DAY
"Have a good and Godly day. For of what value is a good day if it is not also a Godly day?"
Woodrow Kroll would finish his radio broadcast with this statement.
THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE COWBOY
"THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE COWBOY"
"The best teamwork comes from men who are working independently toward one goal in unison." ~ J. C. Penney
THE JOHNSON PLACE
Rachel captured these scenes in the "Johnson Pasture" over west on the Lonetree Ranch. The pasture was named for an early homesteading family that left Dakota in the 1940's. We stayed in touch with Victor, one of the sons, until his death about five years ago. A wonderful Christian man with a great heart. He lived most of his life as an agriculture teacher in Wisconsin. He continued to farm there as well. He was a writer for his local newspaper and he penned a couple books of memories of life on the Dakota Plains.
COLORS
Lot of talk about "colors".... Around this place... The Rainbow is significant of God's promises and the American flag is significant of our duty as Americans.
AMBER WAVES...
The wheat is nearly ready to harvest. Harney Peak in the background... notice the mule deer ?
A MULE????
A first for sure...
The first mule born on the LONETREE RANCH
"Really kind of cute"
