Fireworks,the Bulls the Bees and the Wind

The Fourth of July kind of changed our schedule around, so Monday we did port a jons and Tuesday we took for our preparation day.  Some of the missionaries took a handcart to Woodruff to march in their small town parade.  Bob and I played our harmonicas "Come, Come Ye Saints"  as we covered the three block route down their main street (which is also the main highway through town).  We missed our third harmonica as my brother, Steve, was not there this year.  We then turned around in the church parking lot and walked back the same way dodging horse apples (as Daddy would say) The Call's grand kids threw out candy and the little ones rode in the handcart.  That night we went up on the hills over Evanston to watch fireworks.  They start before dark and go for 3 hours, 360 degrees all around the city.  Fireworks are legal in Wyoming and you can tell by the show.  A fun memory for sure!

Woodruff Fourth of July Parade 2017

With Elder and Sister McDowell in front of "Mater"  from the movie Cars

We trekked with Elder and Sister Anderson from the Heber Valley with the Somerset Ward from Farmington, Utah on trail 7.  It was way fun with only 55 people and 5 handcarts.  Small treks are so fun because you get to now the kids and leaders better.  I only wish my mind could remember all of them, but I know that one day we will be able to recall those names.  More important, however, is that we will always remember the people and the experiences we had together even if the names slip our minds.

The lead handcart of the Somerset Ward

They fed us so well!  One of their three doctors loves to cook and we ate like you would in a five star restaurant!  We had smoked brisket with yummy baked beans and real macaroni and cheese.  The next night we had garlic crusted pork loin with raspberry chipolte sauce, dutch oven potatoes, and real green beans.  The last night we had teriyaki chicken, rice, and green salad.  He also made the best biscuits and gravy I have ever tasted.......YUMMMMMM!  As you can tell we enjoyed the food.

On Thursday night we brought in Richard Benedict to do a fireside for them.  He played the part of the older Ephraim Hanks in the movies, 17 Miracles and Ephraim's Rescue.  He has also done lots of work for the church in their productions.  He did a great job and the kids were hanging on his every word.

Richard Benedict aka Ephraim Hanks

Friday we had one of the scariest things that I can remember when a freaky wind, micro burst, tornado, whatever you want to call it, hit our camp.  There are no trees on this part of the ranch so wards and stakes bring EZ up shade canopies to sit under .  We do get lots of wind bursts but this was like no other.  We know to grab the legs when one hits but this was unbelievable.  They had 7 or 8 set up and were fixing dinner and just visiting and sitting in the makeshift shade.  When it hit I yelled "grab a leg"......well I, Debra, did.  I know what Dorthy in the Wizard of Oz felt like.  It literally picked me up out of my chair, and poles, broken and intact, kitchen knives and utensils, chairs, hats, everything tied down or not went flying.  I landed on my back some 5-6 feet after flying through the air hanging onto the EZ ups.  There was so much destruction in a matter of seconds it was unbelievable.  It was so focused on just that one spot.  There was no dust, and most of the tents did not even move.  My first thought was to see who had been hit with all the flying debris.  When I got up there was one of the young ladies crying with blood all over her face.  She had been hit in the mouth and required 8 stitches to close it up.  Another young lady was hit by a flying pole on the leg and had ice on it all night.  One of the Ma's also got hit by a flying pole but was OK.  I have quite a few bruises on my right arm and elbow but the amazing thing was I didn't feel them too much till things settled down a bit.  I did feel the jars and sore muscles the next day and still do, but it is getting better.  This is the miracle!  It is unbelievable that more people were not injured badly and very fortunate that their main Doctor, not the cook, was able to take care of every thing right there in camp..  Debra called the hoedown and the kids had a great time.  Their testimony meeting was amazing that night.

left is Sophie our injured leg and right is Hannah with her sore swollen face.

The Bulls are now out with the cows and we had to walk right through one of the herds.  The bulls were doing what bulls do and I overheard one of the "Pa's" say to their trek family, "if any of you have questions, talk to your real Ma and Pa"  I just had to giggle.

full moon rising in Wyoming sky

We have been watching a Killdeer nest just behind our trailer.  Their nests are on the ground and if you get too close they really set up a fuss.  Well the eggs hatched this week so we got to see the little ones running around.  One egg took a few more days to hatch, but hatch it did and now they are gone. I don't know if it is a mother-father thing but two birds took turns sitting on the nest and watching over the little ones as they ran around the ground before they took off.

Our two killdeer birds guarding their nest

the last egg, it is black spotted and looks just like a rock

one of the four baby killdeer birds.  It's easy to loose them in the rocks!

A bluebird built her nest on one of the trailer hitches and the little one was so fun to watch as he learned to fly.  The blue is just beginning to show on the ends of his feathers.

our bluebird checking out his wings

We are now under burn restrictions on the ranch and it has really dried out.  I can't believe what a few weeks without rain does!  There is still a lot of water and mud around that was never there till this year.  We will experience that next week as we take to trail 28.

Top of the World on Trail 29

This week we trekked on trail 29.  It is the highest and farthest trail from missionary village so at the end of the day we drove 30-45 minutes to get to our trailer, a shower, and a warm bed.  The weather was perfect for trekking....70's in the day and high 30- low 40's at night.  Elder and Sister Clark from Midway Utah were the lead couple.  We trekked with 64 from the Pleasant View 12th Ward.  They live north of Ogden and were an amazing group.  We had 5 handcarts so it was very easy to get to know the youth and the leaders.  They brought 12-18 years old kids.  At first I was a bit concerned about 12 year old's but they did very well.

Elder and Sister Clark our lead couple June 28-July 1 with the Pleasant View 12 ward. They are from Midway, UT 

One of the steepest parts of trail 29 passing by two old graves.  Pleasant View 12 ward.  They go down one cart at a time to minimize run away carts.  We have never had one yet!

Trail 29 is on the east side of the ranch and away from the other trails.  It has a lot of very steep up hills and down hills which really challenge the youth and show them very quickly how they can do very hard things.  It also humbles us missionaries and lets us know we are not teenagers.  With the Lords help we can do it.  We have this trail one more time the end of July so we shall see how it goes then.  You know you have trekked when you finish this trail!

Cassandra, one of the young ladies doing Sis Barton's hair

Finished braid.  I wish I could do this.  She was braiding all the girls hair and it was amazing!

They had the best cooks and an amazing trailer that their former bishop had built for their ward.  It was lovingly named "Grillzilla"  It had a huge grill and places for 4 huge dutch ovens and a 40 gallon propane tank and a wash station.  He had sown canvas awnings for shade and believe me shade is very much needed here.  The one to three foot sage brush give very little shade.

The amazing cook trailer "Grillzilla"

Grillzilla

The biggest spatula I have ever seen made special for Jay's 16 inch pancakes  Just right of my head.  It took both of us to hold it!

I had never seen a sego lily till this year and they are everywhere on the ranch.  Lots of beautiful wild flowers that are quickly disappearing as the heat increases and this place dries out.  It is unbelievable what two weeks without rain and increased heat can do.  Many of our muddy crossings are now dry which makes trekking much easier on the feet.

Two baby prairie dogs peeking out of their home

The Seagulls always come in to sweep the camp after meals.  They usually don't find much but they come with high hopes.

Bob did the pony express again for this trek and did a great job.  The kids and adults really get a kick out of BOB and his sidekick horse "Splinter"  His mother is "Piney" and his father is "Twobafore" They are all fine "Thoroughboards"

Bob and "Splinter" with kids anxiously awaiting letters from home.

Leadership Change, Music, and Family Fun

We had a special meeting on Monday June 26 with Elder Durham and Elder Raymond Cutler.  Elder Durham was given a new assignment in the church and Elder Cutler is now our Seventy over Deseret Land and Livestock.  We will miss the Durham's but know that we will grow to love Elder Cutler and he in turn will love this beautiful and spiritual place.

Elder Durham and his last day at DL&L

Elder Raymond Cutler first day at DL&L

For FHE on Monday night we had Michael McLean come and sing and play his songs, tell his stories and talk about his book M 2 B Happy (Mission to be Happy)  I made Dinah Shore Rice pudding and snicker-doodles and we also had yummy chocolate cake for Sis Clarks birthday.  The Stake Presidency from Evanston and their wives also came.

Michael McLean with Bob and Debra

The skies and sunset here on the ranch are so amazing!  Arizona and this ranch has to have the best skies I have ever seen.  The thing here is, the night skies are so clear and the stars are unbelievable! The Sego Lilies are in full bloom.  I can honestly say I had never seen them before in my life.  They are plentiful this year and so beautiful.

A beautiful Sego Lili blooming in a rough climate

Just another gorgeous sunset!

Unbelievable sunset!

They moved the cows this week and now we are not mooed to sleep each night.

Cows on the mooooove

We manned the gate the first 2 days of trek this week.  It was fun getting to stop and talk to each vehicle as they came onto the ranch.  We have to make sure they stop at the railroad tracks as this is a very busy and fast crossing.

One of the railroad trucks being loaded onto the tracks.

 We meet the nicest people on trek.  We also water and take care of the grounds and Debra painted the furnace room upstairs in the trek center. On Friday and Saturday we helped on trail 6 with the St. George North Stake.  We worked with the Ekins whose daughter was on that trek.  On Friday night we picked up Elder Kukuchi, an emeritus 70, at the gate and attended his fireside for the St. George Stake.  He told about his conversion in Japan and the pioneers in that country.  It was a very cool and great night.

Elder Kukuchi speaking to the St George North Stake on trail 6. Notice Sis Kukuchi bundled in a warm blanket.

We left for Salt Lake on Saturday as soon as we got our group into staging.  We were meeting up with Heidi, Wynn, Alea and Weston at the Tabernacle for an amazing concert of the combined MCO (Millennial Choirs and Orchestras) called, "Be Still, My Soul".  They had several standing ovations and with good cause.  You could not stay in your seat it was so good.  On Sunday we attended Music and the Spoken Word at the conference center and I believe the Mormon Tabernacle Choir has met it's match!  It was so fun to run into our dear friends Tom and Connie Larsen from Mesa. He and his daughter Mandy also sing with the choir.

Heidi and Alea with the Millennial Choirs singing in the Tabernacle in Salt Lake

Music and the Spoken Word June 25, 2017

The Christensen family then came to the Ranch for a couple of days and we had more fun than any family aught to.  We hiked to the arches on the ranch, rode trail 29 (soooo dusty!), played pickle ball. rode a bicycle built for two, threw axes at a wooden target, and played games.  It was so great to have them here with us.  They left us with a fun surprise as the TP'ed our trailer and left fun notes for us. This has been a great week.

Grandpa and Christensen playing pickle ball in the trek center

Pickle Ball amidst the handcarts

Weston and Heidi on the bicycle for two at the ranch June 26, 2017

Christensen's farewell TP our trailer.  Loved the notes they left us!

Grandma, Heidi, Weston, and Wynn climbing to the arch on the ranch

A dusty trail ride on 29

A crazy game we played.  We laughed so hard!

Alea at the piano, ever playing.  We are so proud of her.

Winter? Trek two, Fathers Day

Monday started out with one of the coldest days yet!  This is Spring almost summer in Wyoming! The blizzard and wind was so cold I was very grateful it was not 1856.  We pretty much hunkered down in our warm trailers while we rocked with the wind.  The snow packed onto the windows so deep you could not see out of them!  This was our preparation day, but we did manage to run to town before the snow hit.

June 12, 2017 Blizzard

The sisters made pull ropes for the carts a couple of weeks ago.  They are 18 feet long after we bend over the loops, braid and tape them. I have learned such skill here at Deseret Land and Livestock trek mission.

Debra in a pile of ropes

Tuesday was our usual "toilet tuesday"  The Sisters spray out the inside of the jons with a simple green concoction and wipe them down in preparation for the trekkers coming in on Wednesday.  This week was an especially cold Tuesday, but we had no snow.  We were just grateful the trekkers were not here on Monday or Tuesday.  The Elders move carts and port-a-jons to where they are needed for the trekkers coming in.

Sisters Theler, Call, Barton. McDowell on Toilet Tuesday.  Sis. Ekins is taking the picture.

This week we Trekked with Elder Jack and Sister Carolyn Theler on trail 6.  It is one of my favorite trails and the only one that actually gets into some trees.  It was perfect trekking weather in the low to mid 60's, but they had some pretty cold nights.  Their first night they woke up to ice on their stuff. We trekked with the Creekside, Layton Utah Stake.  They had 250 people and 19 hand carts.  There is still a lot of water on the ranch so we had several water crossings.  Unlike last week I was determined to keep my feet dry.  In large it worked.  Walking and wet feet tend to cause a lot of blisters.  This weeks group was much better because they took off their shoes and walked across and then dried their feet before going on.

Debra, Bob, Carolyn, and Jack Theler June 14-17

They played some of the funnest games I have ever seen.  They played an A frame game that looked so fun. I want Bob to build us one.  Save the baby, blindfold soccer, team tag, and the usual stick pulls, tug of wars, sack races, cross saw cuts, hatchet and knife throw, and relay races.  These are all meant to build unity and team work. It is so great to see these youth interacting with each other and having so much fun.  I just can't help but think that if they were home they would be on their electronic devises and not with real people.

Walking the A frame game

Save the Baby game

Trail 6 has a 10 mile, 4 mile, 10 mile, and final 4 miles. day. so it is a lot of walking.  It was great to see our "Valley Bays"  (That is what the Martin company called the boys and men from Salt Lake that rescued them) role up their pants and take all the handcarts across the water to keep the others dry. Chivalry is not dead, especially on trek!

Our " Valley Boys"  Layton Creekside Stake

On Saturday they left for home, Layton, at 1:00 and then the work of putting away, cleaning up trucks and side by sides goes into full gear.  We finished up, showered, and crashed.  Today we attended the Almay ward where two of our missionary couples spoke for Fathers Day.  The Calls and Thelers did a great job of talking about Fatherhood and the Priesthood.  

We have a killdeer bird outside our trailer.  She is sitting on 4 eggs and is very protective.  They build their nests in the rocks and they just seem to disappear until you walk up to them and then they puff up and come after you.  Their eggs are black and white spotted and look just like the rocks.

mama killdeer protecting her nest!

Happy Fathers Day to all the great Fathers in both of our lives.  We owe much to Fathers! 

Muddy, Trek and Birthday

We flew into Salt Lake from Austin after Brenan's (grandson) high school graduation.  We got back on the ranch late, and hit the bed exhausted.  Tuesday was "Toilet Tuesday"  The sister missionaries put water, toilet paper, garbage can liners, and prepared them for the trekkers coming in on Wednesday. We also checked the handcarts to make sure they each had two pull ropes and a pull bar.  Elder Barton, along with some other Elders, moved the port a jons into the staging areas for the various treks.
Wednesday morning we welcomed our first trek of the season.  The Magna Utah stake and 200 trekkers arrived at 9:00.  Elder and Sister McDowell were the other missionary couple with us this week.  This stake was very prepared and a joy to walk with and serve.  We did trail 14 which still has a lot of water and mud, as do most of the trails.  Debra wore her rubber boots through the first 5.3 miles hoping to keep her feet dry.  It did not work.  Her boots filled with water and lead to sore feet and blisters.  Bob also got blisters but we know that our feet will toughen up over the next 8 weeks.  That night after their 9.1 mile trek, Debra called a hoe down (she really enjoys that).  It never ceases to amaze us how the energy returns when the music and dancing begins.  Bob and the McDowell's were out dancing and helping to teach the dances.

Elder John and Jeanene McDowell and us going on first trek of 2017

Thursday after 8.2 miles, Bob did his pony express routine and delivered the letters from home to the trekkers.  He does such a great job and had them in stitches.  I think he has found a new outlet.....comedian!

Bob the Pony Express rider

Friday about 1 mile out of camp, they started dropping of the Bishops.  It was a very windy day and the kids were glad to get to camp and to set up their tents after 7.9 miles.  They unloaded their carts and began battling the wind to set up their tents. The Stake President called the kids together and asked, "where are your Bishops?  They are out there on the plains who will go and find them?"  Almost every young man and some of the young women grabbed their empty handcarts and took off up the hill running.  (they are not suppose to run, but there was no stopping them)  About 15 minutes latter the toped the hill and we could see them coming back into camp with the Bishops on their handcarts.  It was an amazing feeling to know that even though they were tired and hungry they would heed the call to the rescue!  There are amazing youth in the church!

Wind blown tents with trekkers trying to hold them down!

High on the mountain top their banners were unfurled!

Saturday was Debra's birthday.  Medicare---- here she comes!  The missionaries sang to her in the morning and Sister Call decorated our trailer.  When we got out to our group they sang happy birthday at least 10 times as we walked the final 4 miles back to staging.  Staging is where the trekkers start and stop their trek. Their buses did not come for 2 hours, and it was so fun to see them gathering in groups and playing all kinds of games.  I could not help but think that if they were home they would all be alone on their electronic devices.  This truly is an opportunity to leave "the world" and find joy in real people relationships.  Of course some were so tired they just crawled under a cart and went to sleep.  We sent them home and proceeded to clean side by side, truck, water buffalo, and port-a-jons.

Sister Gaylene Call and Debra on June 10

Exhausted sleeping trekkers waiting for their buses

Handcarts for a shady nap

Sunday after church and our missionary pot luck dinner we had a fireside with David Wolverton aka David Farland.  He is a famous writer and has over 50 published books.  He teaches writers and has taught Stephanie Meyer (Twilight), Brandon Mull (Fablehaven), James Dashner (The Maze Runner).  He wrote "In the Company of Angels" a story about the Willie handcart company.  We get the best guests and I am always learning more and more about our ancestors.

David and Mary Wolverton (Farland) Author of In the Company of Angels and 50 other books

Our internet continues to be challenging.  I will try to add pictures but if not they will be added later.