5/29/05 Sunday

I was up early and on the road by 6am, not wanting to take part in the girl’s day of thrift store shopping. I had to go the long way through Reserve since the roads were muddy from all the rain. I didn’t complain one bit.

I got home about 11am and there was still hail all over the place, it was just amazing. Lyndsey reported that Blue was on his way back. I had suggested that he come and help us build a cabin rather than going on his planned tour of Colorado. So he went to Albq. and headed south in his rental car instead of north.

It will be good to have the extra help. He does construction work back at his home in Kentucky.

My afternoon was spent in the office doing all the stuff that piled up while I was gone having fun last week.

We had a foal born last night. Tom’s Mom had another Dun colored colt. She always gives us Dun or Grulla colored colts. Both are doing fine.

5/30/05 Monday

Maggie's real birthday. She spent her morning riding the new bike she got for her birthday. Just a big kid.

We then loaded up the horses and the five of us went to move the cattle out of Snow Lake trap. Blue is riding his new favorite horse Preacher, they get along well. Maggie of course was on Chili, Mary was riding Jesus, I was on Gambler and Lyndsey was riding Cooleye.

It was a great day, fresh from the rains you could feel he grass growing. Blue sky, puffy clouds, the Ponderosa trees smelling of vanilla. Couldn’t get any better. We gathered the trap in a couple hours and put them through the gate into School House Canyon. We had five bulls mixed in that we eased out as we went through the gate. It was a slick job. Then we pushed the cattle up the canyon for about two hours till they were way up in some country a cow hadn’t seen in years. Halfway there we came across a bull in the trees. He thought it was the luckiest day he’s had in his life. Sitting under a tree all alone and here come fifty women. We tried to get him out and moved back to the gate but he was not leaving.

It was a great day, just the right amount of time riding, about four hours, and a job getting done in the prettiest place on a beautiful day.

Hi was 72 sunny with a low of 37.

6/1/05 Tuesday

Nate and Leasha got back from a family weekend then went to Arizona and got a load of lumber for our building project. They got back late in the day.

Maggie and Mary rode in the morning then helped us a bit as we loaded tools and supplies for the week. We got everything loaded, all the trailers hooked up but not until it was too late to leave so we decided to wait till morning and head to Canyon Creek. It’s only 22 miles but takes over an hour to get there.

Sunny and warm hi was 74 low was 38

6/2/05 Wednesday

We were all set this morning headed out in a big caravan. Lyndsey driving the F350 with a load of block and roofing. Maggie had her F250 hooked to a camp trailer, Blue had the dodge with a heavy load of lumber, Nate and Leasha had the F550 with a load of lumber and I had the “Turtle” our 1964 Airsteam built on a 1969 International one ton truck.

Just as we were pulling out Maggie had to run get me some water in a jug. She answered the phone while in the house and it was the hospital calling for Leasha. Her son Trent was there with a burst appendix. Needless to say she and Nate headed off to Silver City in a hurry as the rest of us went our way.

The afternoon was spent building block piers for the cabin to sit on. It was exhausting work and took till just about sunset to get done. Maggie and Mary headed back to the ranch to do chores while the Lyndsey, Blue and I settled in for the night.

Hi was 76 lo was 40, sunny just a few clouds.

6/2/05 Thursday.

The three of us worked our butts off all day. We got all the floor system built and ready for decking. Blue knows his stuff. He may seem like a kinda slow old country boy but that guy is smart. This will be the best-built building in N Bar history.

Hi was 70 after a chilly overnight low of 28!

6/3/05 Friday

Another long day sawing and hammering. Today we got all the decking done and three walls set. This cabin is pretty big. 20x40 and it’s a dogtrot style meaning it’s two 20x20 rooms with a covered 8-foot breezeway or dogtrot between them. We worked from 7am till 7:30pm with a 30 min. lunch.

Maggie and Mary came out and brought us lunch and news that they got to watch Pretty Face foal this morning as they did chores.

They said that she just lay down while feeding was going on and all the other horses stopped and watched quietly for ten minuets as she had her baby, then after the foal stood and started nursing they all went back to hollering for food and eating.

Lyndsey and Blue went back to the ranch with Maggie and Mary so Blue could call his airline and see about changing flights. He wants to see this cabin through to the end now. I don’t think he trusts my carpentry skills to continue the way he would like. Like I said he’s a pretty smart guy.

Hi was 69 overnight was 29, Sunny no clouds but windy.

6/4/05 Saturday

Burr it was cold last night, down to 26!

I had a hard time getting out of my sleeping bag. Lyndsey showed up about 8am and I was pleased to see Blue get out of the truck. We got right at it and stayed at it all day till we wore down. We got all eight walls up and this frame is perfect. Level and straight. We are building with dripping green lumber so it’s a wonder it has come out so nice. We spend a lot of time picking through to find just the right board for a certain spot.

It was sunny all-day and windy a high of 73.

Blue stayed another week and helped us get the cabin 90% finished. It has come out just great.

Maggie went and picked up Cassady this weekend, sure is dang good to have him home.

On the 12 th of June we had a crew of veterans arrive for a veterans only Posse week, which we filmed. A crew from Texas came out and did the filming for us.

The veterans we had out were the best! Dave and Seth from Mass.

Dianna from Colorado. Lew from Pa. Mike and Deshiel from Ohio. Tom from K.C. Lia from Pa. Michelle from Tenn. Jay from Mass. Peg from Mass. and Russ and Andrea from Ohio of course who never miss a Posse Week. Charley from Del. also came out to tend the trading post and bar out at the new cabin.

It was a lot of fun…unlike any Posse we have ever had. I didn’t play and at times it was just killing me not to. We couldn’t have picked a better bunch a folks to help us out on this project. Thanks so much to you all!

As soon as we got done with that week we fell into another Posse Week.

We had a big crew, Richard, James, Mark and Gary all came out together from Ca. Shelly and Jeff came from Ohio. Buddy, Adrian, Brooke and Kate made their way from Ky. Tyler and his dad Doug made it from Fla. Michelle came by herself from Mn. Jay was still here as were Russ and Andrea. I need to thank these three for their much-needed help in getting everything ready for the week and their great leadership during the week.

The teams were split up between the riders and the fighters. The outlaws rode a whole lot of miles this week collecting loot bags and staying out of the Posse’s reach. They camped out for four nights with the barest of supplies at different places each night. A heavy thunderstorm soaked the teams the first night out but after that they enjoyed fine weather and warm nights. Warm for us…40.This while the Posse lived in a comfortable camp and hunted the Outlaws but never getting close to that hard riding bunch.

It was a close game with the Posse coming out ahead by one kill after an early week engagement.

Lyndsey and Nate went along as guides with both teams while Cassady and I supported the fun hauling water and supplies.

Then we went into a workweek.