2022 December Blizzard "Relentless"

DECEMBER 15, 2022 WEATHER UPDATE

Thursday December 15, 2022 9:30 PM

Update from the Lonetree Ranch..

Wind started blowing Monday nite...

Started snowing early Tuesday morning...

Wednesday was tough... 30-50 mph winds with lots of drifting...

Today... Thursday was the toughest day so far.. Winds gusting to mid fifties... lots more snow... whiteout conditions most of the day.... Drifts are building... two feet plus of snow... but who knows... wind has been more than constant.

Blizzard warning continues into tomorrow and more snow... Temps next week dropping to minus 20... It is winter folks.

Current Temp Officially 15 degrees... winds presently 36 mph gusting to 44 mph Wind chill at -6... and still snowing

"Up on the Hill"

Fifty-five acres on a ridge above Lonetree Creek. We just call it " up on the hill". As I was cutting hay today, so many stories, experiences and memories came to mind. Over a hundred years ago, Emanuel Reinhold, (my grandfather) broke this piece of ground with a team of horses. He recalled those days as slow steady work, but since this was on the edge of an ancient prairie dog town, there were some unique challenges. Along with huge mounds and deep holes, there were countless rattlesnakes. He told how his team responded not in fear at the sight and sound of a rattler, but how they would methodically stop at each one without command and Grandpa would go kill the snake. He filled an entire cigar box with rattles from all the snakes.

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I remember my Dad telling of building fence on the east side with his brother Paul "Brownie". Again, this was accomplished using a team of horses and hayrack to haul supplies. He would tell about stopping to eat and sitting under the hayrack in the shade. The pronghorn antelope were so curious that they would come right up to them. I always thought that was amazing. In those days, most of the country was nearly open range except for the small plots of homesteaders that had come and gone on the prairie.

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I recalled the time when our neighbor, Robert Brechtal was combining wheat and when he had breakdown on his machine, I was helping him. I was probably only about twelve or thirteen and I don't even remember really what the problem was except we dropped a tool and it fell into crack in the gumbo. Since it was dry year and the crack was deep and wide... we were never able to retrieve that tool.

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I recalled when my brother had the unfortunate incident on this very field of going off the back of a moving tractor and being run over by a tandem disc. The seat on the Case Tractor that he was farming with broke and and he literally fell over backward. A freak deal, no doubt. But there was no cab to hold him in on that old tractor and it happened. He broke his pelvis, bruised his body, nearly cut off an ear but survived to walk the half mile home... with a broken pelvis. Amazing to say the least. He spent weeks in the hospital, but was able to walk across the platform at his graduation from high school.

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I recalled driving the Massey Ferguson tractor in mid September trying to rake the sudan that was on the ground and snow was pelting me in the face. Yes, weather and the extremes thereof worked its way into my memories.

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And I could not forget how forty years plus years ago, I was planting wheat. No big deal, but this was about fourteen feet per round and I had a very sore neck and body. Dad and I had a wreck with a runaway team of horses one Labor Day. Yes, we still enjoyed teams of horses even just for fun. But something went wrong and team took off just like in the old westerns. We stayed with it for about a quarter of a mile until on a turn, the wagon tipped. I flew through the air and landed on my head and shoulder. (I have joked that since I landed on my head... I didn't get hurt as bad as my dad) However, Dad was holding the reins and was pulled hard into the ground. He broke eleven ribs and a collar bone... and oh yes... a punctured lung as well. That is why I planted the winter wheat that year with a very stiff body.

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Yes... over a hundred years of farming and haying this piece of ground. Today, was uneventful. It was nice to have hay on this field for the first time in three years. Made some pretty nice windrows. Did the work with family. Danny took the drone up to take this photo. The generations before him would be amazed. And thanks to the next generations for adding to the stories, experiences and memories on the Lonetree Ranch

Lonetree Ranch Branding 2022

Around the Ranch

AROUND THE RANCH...

PIC #1 "Mule Deer near Castello Point"

PIC #2 "The Amazing Delicate Gumbo Lily"

PIC #3 " SunnyView Field is ready for Campers"

PIC #4 "Out in the Breaks"

PIC #5 "Vantage Point"

Wonder of Lilacs

Are you overcome with the aroma?

We have three different locations of lilacs on the ranch. One group will blossom later than this beautiful lineup. These are a little later this year than sometimes is the case. Probably for good reason... our thermometer hit 27 degrees last nite. All said and done... "Who doesn't like lilacs?" I remember as a boy... my brothers and I bought Mom perfume that had the fragrance of lilac. I think she liked it... I know I sure did.

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A little history on this long row south of RBR... They were transplanted in the early eighties. We dug these up as "suckers" from some other lilac bushes on the ranch. The row was nearly destroyed in a series of blizzards around 2009 -2011. With alot of pruning and time... they are again a delight to the senses.

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Photos by Robin Lee Reinhold

Planting Potatoes

We enjoy gardening together, especially on evenings such as tonight and since we have been receiving some rain. The soil was perfect for the potatoes that we planted. Yes we missed the Good Friday date... but we had a full moon last night.... so if that helps...

2022 Air Show at EAFB

Recent Rains

We are so grateful for the recent rain... it seems the weather pattern is changing...nearly on a rampage in some instances... However, there are parts of our region that remain impacted by the multiyear drought. Notice the stock dam in the one photo. We are riding regularly to ensure that cows or calves are not stuck in the mud due to the low water level. We need some runoff. Our grass is growing, but range conditions have been compromised over the last couple of years. We continue to trust God... weather has a way to demonstrate how finite we are in and of ourselves.

Thoughts to ponder...

Thoughts to ponder...
Picasso reportedly stated, "Every child is an artist. The difficulty comes when they grow up, and they must still be artists." Will they become disheartened?

Proverbs 22:6 states, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

God in His providence has a purpose, parents are raising prospects, children are packed with potential, so much is possible...consider your children a privilege.

So... What is Happening on the Ranch

"So...what has been happening at the Ranch?"

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We have been building a garage/barn at "Lakeside". For many years we still referred to "Dad's House" or Grandpa and Grandma's House"... but we are ready to transition the home and location into a new "season". The house is needing some upgrade but overall it is not far from being set to go. Watch for further development.

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And then today we planted trees. As you can see...the water level is still extremely low in our ponds. The planting today consisted of Cottonwood cuttings. We generally aim for shallow water, but since there is little of that at the present time, we are planting by faith. It is what we do.

From Jacob and Molly Reinhold Fisher

Jacob and I would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of love that we have received over the last five months, since Emanuel passed. The many many prayers, gifts, meals, cards, messages, comments and overwhelming kindness has blessed us greatly. Thank you for bearing our burden with us, we are so thankful. I know I got behind on some messages, so please forgive me if responses were delayed. Just know that it has meant the world to us to be so loved as we walk the road of grief.

We are thankful for the sustaining grace of Jesus. We are not alone, and although this road has not been easy, God is with us. We are ever so thankful for the continued prayers as we continue on this difficult journey

Morning on the Lonetree

Lonetree Road
Photo by Robin Lee Reinhold

Thank you Lord.
Morning on the Lonetree Ranch.

Photo by Robin Lee Reinhold

Any songs come to mind?
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"Oh what a beautiful morning...
"Oh give me a home...
"Morning has broken..."

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Feel free to add to the list... and remember... "It's a good day to be alive".

Photo by Robin Lee Reinhold

“The Alkali Breaks... The Black Hills...
Lonetree Ranch Herefords... and Pronghorn antelope..
A treasure indeed.
A treasure not to hoard or harm,
but rather to be a steward of.”

Danny's Birthday

"Happy Birthday Son!"

Yes... Danny... Mom and I count it a privilege to have you as our son... and partner in ministry and business. Thank you. It is interesting to note... How much we learn from you now in this stage of life. Let's keep doing it... Godspeed.

Who really is the winner...

I have admired the races more than the racers. Perhaps because it draws so much out people of different capabilities and backgrounds. Some with more natural talent... some with just raw courage... some... who knows? I liked to run, but asthma has been an issue nearly all my life and then a major head injury when I was six years old did not help me any. But I learned lessons in the races that I was in, even though I never won. One of my greatest memories was at a Meade County Rally Day at Woodle Field in Sturgis. I do not know how many of us boys were entered, but I remember well who placed first and who placed last. I was somewhere in the middle. First place went to one of two brothers that was entered in the race. He did so quite handily.

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But that was not the highlight of my memory of that spring day. The individual that placed last was the other brother. Yes, the brother of the boy that won first. Irony...perhaps? But what stands out to me, to this day, is the excitement of the brother that place last. The last 30 yards of the race, all I could hear was shouts of excitement from behind me. The "last place brother" was shouting, "Mom, he won, he won. Yahoo, he won, he won!"

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The lesson... Who was the real winner that day in may so many years ago...

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A man that that I adime has been Eric Liddel (Olympic athlete and missionary) - Main character in "Chariots of Fire"

"The secret of my success over the 400 meters is that I run the first 200 meters as fast as I can. Then, for the second 200 meters, with God's help, I run faster."

The Race

I have admired the races more than the racers. Perhaps because it draws so much out of people of different capabilities and backgrounds. Some with more natural talent... some with just raw courage... some... who knows? I liked to run, but asthma has been an issue nearly all my life and then a major head injury when I was six years old did not help me any. But I learned lessons in the races that I was in, even though I never won. One of my greatest memories was at a Meade County Rally Day at Woodle Field in Sturgis. I do not know how many of us boys were entered, but I remember well who placed first and who placed last. I was somewhere in the middle. First place went to one of two brothers that was entered in the race. He did so quite handily.

***

But that was not the highlight of my memory of that spring day. The individual that placed last was the other brother. Yes, the brother of the boy that won first. Irony...perhaps? But what stands out to me, to this day, is the excitement of the brother that place last. The last 30 yards of the race, all I could hear were shouts of excitement from behind me. The "last place brother" was shouting, "Mom, he won, he won. Yahoo, he won, he won!"

***

The lesson... Who was the real winner that day in May so many years ago...

***

A man that that I adime has been Eric Liddel (Olympic athlete and missionary) - Main character in "Chariots of Fire"

"The secret of my success over the 400 meters is that I run the first 200 meters as fast as I can. Then, for the second 200 meters, with God's help, I run faster."

A Pie that tell the greatest story.

This peach pie that Robin made was more than dessert. It really tells the story of the weekend. The cross has become to many a piece of jewelry... an emblem... or just a marker by a grave. It is the empty tomb where the stone is rolled away and the body was no longer there. The resurrection is the proof. Yes Christ died for me... He was raised from the dead and He lives... Yes... I will live for Him.

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Robin... Nice job on the pie.

A Song on the Heart

I love the mornings when I wake up and I am nearly singing. Yes, the moment my eyes open, words and music are instantaneous... just not quite out loud. This morning was one such morning. And this is the song... so appropriate for the weekend.

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Crown him with many crowns,

the Lamb upon his throne.

Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns

all music but its own.

Awake, my soul, and sing

of him who died for thee,

and hail him as thy matchless king

through all eternity.

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Crown him the Lord of life,

who triumphed o'er the grave,

and rose victorious in the strife

for those he came to save;

his glories now we sing

who died and rose on high,

who died eternal life to bring,

and lives that death may die.

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Crown him the Lord of love;

behold his hands and side,

rich wounds, yet visible above,

in beauty glorified;

no angels in the sky

can fully bear that sight,

but downward bends their burning eye

at mysteries so bright.

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Crown him the Lord of years,

the potentate of time,

creator of the rolling spheres,

ineffably sublime.

All hail, Redeemer, hail!

for thou hast died for me;

thy praise shall never, never fail

throughout eternity.

We Called her "Grandma Henricks"

We just called her "Grandma Henricks". I am not sure when I learned her name was Vesper. She was a very proper lady married to a Norwegian man named Hans. I never knew Hans. He died in his fifties... a hard working man in a tired worn body.

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Grandma Henricks lived over six decades a mile north of our place on the Henricks Ranch. When I was a boy...my brothers and I were allowed to ride over to her house on occasion just for a visit. A few years later, our sister Lana would join us. I don't remember much of what we talked about. It seemed that her house was very quiet. Kind of what you would assume for a grandma that had lived a true pioneer life on the Dakota plains. I really didn't know her children, except for Cecil who had such cool nickname...Not everyone could be called "Buck".

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One time us kids rode over to see Grandma Henricks and we were greeted by a lady that was sunbathing in a black swimsuit. She was very friendly... but us kids knew that this was not Grandma Henricks. Turned out to Cecil's new wife. He had been a longtime bachelor, but had married a classy lady named Marge. She was very nice.

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This photo is special in that it was taken at Rainbow Bible Ranch's dedication program on Memorial Day 1980. She would have been 92 years old at this time. It was special to have Grandma Henricks... a neighbor... a lady that would have known my brothers in a unique way... lend her support to the beginning of this new ministry of the Reinhold family.

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Grandma Vesper Henricks wrote these words when she was nearing 80 years of age...

"And now..., I thank my Heavenly Father for all the help He has given me. Without it I never could have endured all the trials of my life: sickness, accidents, death of loved ones, hard times. And thanks to our four fine children for their help in all ways, and their loving care. Without them we never would have been able to achieve our goal--a good home on the South Dakota prairies in sight of the Black Hills and Bear Butte. There's one request I've made of the Good Lord, just let me end my days here on the homestead, where all my most precious memories are.

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That request nearly came true... And on an interesting note... The Henricks Ranch Headquarters and Vesper's Home are now a part of the Lonetree Ranch. For I was privileged to purchase that land around 1986.

Lonetree Ranch
14666 Lonetree Road
Sturgis, South Dakota 57785

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