The Sandhills Summary

It was a short trip to the sandhills but a great time. I had to edit out some of the notes taken by Suz, but felt her email to us explained the trip well.

Suz wrote:

I believe about this time last week-end we were exercising in the truck with Nick if my memory serves me correctly...what a wonderful time we had!

Here's my notes from our visit:

The Corner Bar in Valentine has a questionable reputation but the people were really nice to us.

Slim has a calf named Jethro, a duck named Brownie and a dog that has to be tied up...darn!

Slim demonstrated why he got those great ribbons on his speeches - Abraham Lincoln and Barbwire. I am so proud of him!

Nick knows ranching! He knows how to do his job and he is appreciated by his bosses. We are not sure how he keeps it all straight and without any notes!

Angel is Angie's best friend and we quickly understood why. We left feeling we have known Angel all our lives. She is a terrific best friend and we are so glad she is there for Angie!

Angel's cucumber salad is excellent - a few cucumbers, onion, chives, philly cream cheese and garlic salt.

Angel had the fire a few years ago and got us all to think about safety and what are safety plan is and where are shoes, coats, flash lights, etc. should be hidden in case of a fire.

We did not get to meet Sally Jo who was busy potty training her 2 month old baby girl.

We had prune cake from Ree Drummond's Pioneer Women cookbook and it was excellent!

Janette spilled the beans on Dave's barbeque secret...it can be found at HyVee and is called Kyle's Sugar Rub and oh...it is at the meat counter.

Someone didn't understand why Nick couldn't light the grill.

We all understood a "no thank you" bite.

Angie's prayer on our final day came from her daily devotional book - Living Faith.

What a great week-end and just the right amount of time!

And then Theresa summed up our feelings.  Theresa wrote:

I can't stop laughing..... You nailed it Suz! It was truly an awesome time and I am looking forward to next year already!! The only thing I would have to add is through thick and thin we are there for each other..thanks for the laughs, the hugs, the tears, an open heart and ears that hear!! Only God knows what the upcoming year will bring, though we know we will be heading west next year...for another great adventure... Love you guys! Theresa

The trip left us knowing that Angie is in a place that she can truly call HOME!



Ang feeding Slims calf Jethro after the storm.
The rainbow proves Ang is home!



The Ranch in the Sandhills

We decided that Cow Country is Gods Country. The land and life are so much more simple than what any of us has ever known. I suppose for me the word simple should be the word complicated since the nearest grocery store is an hour away. I would need to plan a little better.

We had fun catching up on things and were treated to watching the young kids practice roping calves to prepare for the rodeo. Our friends husband took us for a tour of the ranch and how he keeps all those meadows straight is beyond me. You could hear the pride in his voice as he pointed out things and very patiently answered our questions.

I have no doubt in my mind that the next time I am near a cow giving birth, I will be able to reach up inside her and by feeling the calves hooves, know if it is trying to come out facing the right direction.  

Wait..... Let me re-word that.

 I have no doubt that I can instruct someone else to reach up in that cow butt and know that the hooves should be facing a certian direction.

Ranching may not be for me, but I did appreciate everything I saw.

We bounced all over that ranch for a good hour and loved every bit of it. How her son hung on in the bed of the truck I will never know, but he did a great job.

Even the heat of the morning was so much more better that the heat with the humidity that we are used to.We got to visit the 2 room school house that our friends son goes to. We also went to visit other families from the ranch (or the neighboring ranch) I get all that land a little mixed up. Our friend drove us up and down the one lane county road while honking at people she knew as they waved at her.

It is definitely a whole different way of life and perhaps not a life for everyone, but for our friend it is the perfect life.

The sandhills

Recently I went on a weekend trip with my friends, Theresa and Suz, to the Sand hills of Nebraska. We drove there in order to spend time with another friend, Ang, who lives there. 

 An interesting trip.

The drive began as a typical trip with good friends. We discussed everything from current events, small town gossip, family and faith. We were to meet our friend in Valentine Nebraska at Auntie D's Coffee Shop. Once we get there we make a b-line for the restrooms, only to find that we would need to walk down the street to a western wear shop. We pretended to be shopping for saddles and ropes, but I am sure they knew we were just there to use the facilities. Back at the coffee shop we walk around and wait. It is a really cute place, but clearly our friend was running late.  Suz found out that the owner of the shop knew our friend and asked that she tell Ang that we are across the street at the Corner Bar. Although the owner got a funny look on her face, she said she would pass along the message. Guess she was hoping to make a coffee sale.

There were a handful of people sitting inside the dark and dingy bar. Although it was a mutual decision that we would not use the restroom there (or put our hands on the table) the beer was cold. We were there long enough to get into a discussion with everyone there and found them all to be entertaining. When Ang finally makes her entrance to meet us, she was met with all of the patrons greeting her with shouts of "Here she is!!"

Ang accepts her drink from the waitress, leans her head low and very quietly says "this place does not have a good reputation" at which point Suz very loudly exclaims "But everyone is so nice here!!!!"

Turns out we were sitting in a strip joint!
Well....that explains the posters on the wall!

I for one would have paid top dollar to see Ang holding her head low and looking to see if anyone from her church was around to see her walk into the Corner Bar. We laughed, but every time Ang repeated this story to family and friends, they all looked shocked.  

And so the weekend began.......