A Remote Western Christmas

Christmas here is a community deal. The Christmas party is a big event during the month of December. Santa visits, the stores stay open late (and serve food and beverage to entice shoppers), the Visitor's center throws a wine and cheese party (with beautiful cocktail shrimp!), the County Commissioners hold hands with local kids as they throw the light switch on the Christmas Tree at the County courthouse, and locals mingle on the streets as the Christmas parade comes through.

The air is filled with excitement as lit trucks, horse drawn wagons, walking teams and even goats with chicken riders march down the Pine Street. This year was extra special for us, as the temperatures were above 0, and it snowed lightly! We also got a treat as both kids were in the parade- one on the 4H float, and the other with the Wrestling Club.

At home, the quiet spread around us like the heavenly white blanket outside. As we approached the house, nearly all that was visible through the snow and darkness was the lit Christmas tree in the amazing place we call home. We wouldn't trade this Remote Western Christmas for anything in the world.

Oh Snap!

A cold spell has recently hit the US. Here, at 7400 feet elevation, we didn't get missed.

Don't you love digital evidence? It doesn't tell the time, nor the wind chill, nor if the sun was shining... and each of these factors does play in how cold it "feels". Regardless, understand that -12 feels COLD. Your nose hairs stick together, as do your eyelashes. You can't breathe too deeply without coughing. Your outdoor animals look like they're crusted in ice, but you've still got to remind your Remote Western children to bring a coat to school.

It's too cold to snow, though the snow that's already here isn't melting.

I worked cows with a friend one day, when the weather was this cold. Regardless of the temperatures, ranch chores must be done. As luck would have it, I fell in the (I believe, anyway) only non frozen solid stream and froze the lower half of my pants solid. We're talking about crunchy, flick-ice-off-with-your-cow-poker-stick, pants-can't-move-or-they-break solid kind of freeze. The upper portions steamed off some in the sun, but please believe me when I say "I FROZE MY @$$ OFF!!!" We worked cows some more, bringing in the heifers for vaccinations, getting them in the chutes and vaccinating them. It's a lot physical, hard, dirty work, but great when the sun is shining and the wind isn't blowing! (Helps if a person is also dry.)

The kids took the school bus out to the ranch, where we loaded up and drove off to hunt the elusive Christmas Tree! Success! We found one that would make Charlie Brown proud. Our settling was most likely spurred by the fact that the sun went down and all three of us had had enough of being cold (Remote Western Children didn't bring their snow boots, one was missing a coat, and neither had gloves. When will they learn???)

Another beautiful day in paradise.

Sabbatical over, I'm baaaaack!

Ever find yourself suddenly realizing that you're not nearly as funny or clever as you once thought you were? Did you then decide, with a heavy dose of humility to go crawl into a corner and assess the situation for a while? Maybe it's just me.

But thanks to the gentle goading of friends (love you Ken!), I'm back on line with my western wit and wisdom. For whatever that's worth. I'm happy to be back, and will keep whomever wants to know in the know on the "goings on" in our Remote Western Town.