Wednesday, May 20, 2009

A few animals and flora around our home on the high plains of Wyoming.


This calf, Walter II, is here at the ranch, which is part of the mission ranch property. He was orphaned and is being raised by the Cove missionaries and the ranch missionaries.



This mother owl is nesting in the trees here at Missionary Village, or Ranch 66. The baby is trying out his wings and we hope to get a photo before he flies away.



Saw a couple of snakes yesterday. This is a blow snake, like a king snake in that they will kill rattlesnakes. Haven't seen rattlers yet, but many have and they are out now that the weather is warm.



Here in the Village we have antelope roaming. Fences don't keep them out.




The wildflowers are coming out.




And, just so you don't think old missionaries can't act like kids, here we are climbing up Independence Rock, about 5 miles north of the Visitors Center. You can see that we made it!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

May Has Come to the High Plains of Wyoming


This the entrance to Martin's Cove at Devil's Gate. It's in the middle of nowhere, but we hope some of you will try to visit here this summer. It will prove to be a spiritual feast for anyone who visits.

This is our home for the next five months. We hope the weather improves.




It snowed around the first of May, and we hear it can snow well into June, so we won't put away the winter gear. The furnace has been running most of the time in the 5th wheel; thank goodness we run off of the propane at Missionary Village. The pansies had been planted the day before it snowed and this one peeked out in the morning when we were at the Visitors Center.


This is Oscar the Trekking Dog. He belongs to a local rancher about 5 miles from here. We learned today that when Oscar shows up, it is a sign trek season will soon be here. Oscar follows the trekkers around and protects them from rattlesnakes. If he sees one he will warn the trekkers and if there is one in their tent, he won't let them in. I hear there will be a story about him in the Friend sometime this summer.