Fires & the 4th

Sorry it has taken me this long to update the blog, again, but we've been dealing with Fires, fires, fires…that’s what’s been going on for the past week in our lives, and that’s why there’s been a delay in updating on the blog (I apologize for that).  First, let me start where I left off from the last blog post.  June 24^th there was a Wrangler Team Roping in Miles City that David and Wesley entered. Wesley did very well heading, but could not get any of the heelers he drew to catch for him.  That’s the way it goes sometimes, but I was so proud of him & Reno…they did amazing.  David ended up winning the #3 incentive roping (and got a nice new buckle!!) and came back as 3^rd in the finals!  We were so pumped to see him and his partner rope in the finals, and I think I was more nervous than him!  His partner ended up missing the head (David was heeling) so they  didn’t win anything in the finals, but they did win their roping so that was fantastic for him!

Monday afternoon when I came home from work we had to finish the last of our A.I. cows & heifers, and off in the distance about 15-20 miles we could see a small fire burning on the Cheyenne Indian Reservation.  Let me preface this story by saying that there tend to be a few fires on the reservation, and they are all managed & under control.  So, we didn’t really think too much of it.  Tuesday afternoon, after work, I went to get my hair cut in town and in the beauty shop a few of our neighbors (way) up the creek were asking me if I knew where the fire was & if it was close to the ranch (our ranch).  I told them that I didn’t think I was anywhere near us & that all was fine.  At this point I hadn’t been home, nor heard the news about the fire.  As I exited the interstate and turned the corner onto Rosebud Creek I saw the biggest plume of smoke I’d ever seen.  It was then I realized just what they were talking about, and just how severe this fire had become.  I got home as fast as I could so I could talk to Wesley & figure out what was going on.  At this point we had no idea what was happening, but we knew the fire was close, and getting closer to us.  Moo Moo called our house at about 7 that evening to tell us that our neighbors Scott & Audrey had been evacuated from their home (they live about 7 miles from us).  At 8:30 Tuesday evening we lost electricity, and were without it for 5+ hours.  It was at this point that we packed a bag in case we had to be evacuated too.  Since we had no electricity, we decided to take a drive to the closest, highest point on the ranch to get a better view of the fire & to see how close it was.  Wesley and I went high up on a ridge to look down at the fires and started to realize how big it was becoming.  At the time we thought we were about 4 miles from the fire (our far south pasture is where we were overlooking the fire).   Going back to the same spot a few days later we realized that we were really on about a mile and a half from the flames that evening.  One good gust of south wind and our back pasture would have been on fire.   Tuesday evening Wesley and I talked about our fire plan, just in case we needed to have one – move the cattle as far away as we could & open all the gates, load the horses & dogs in the trailers, get his parents, and get the hell out.  Thank God we did not need to have one. 

Wednesday you could see the smoke from miles away again, and you could see the land burned & black from the ranch.  Wesley and his Dad went up the road to our neighbors house that was evacuated, and although the firefighters were able to save their house, they lost every piece of grass they had.  Their cattle have nothing left to eat.  It’s a blessing and a curse…you have your home but the hundreds of cattle you have on the ranch have nothing to eat anymore.  It burned about 15,000 acres of their ranch.  Then our other neighbors on the opposite side of the road also lost about 10,000 acres as well, and a few head of cattle. 

Thursday evening when I got home Wesley and I took a tour of the torched land (we actually cut straight thru where it burned) and it took us 2 hours to get around it.  At that time the fire had burned 100,000 acres.  I have some really good pictures of the burned land.  It is unimaginable to think that much land burned.  You really don’t have a grasp on exactly how big that is until you see it in person, and even then it is very hard to imagine. 

As of today, the fire was up to 245,000 acres burned, and about 55% contained.  This thing is a raging monster and taking everything in its path.  If anyone is interested in reading about it you can go to www.ktvq.com or www.kulr8.com.  Both of those are news stations in Billings, Montana.  I believe its made national news, although it took a while to do so. 

On a lighter note – the 4^th was yesterday!!!  Wesley and I started our 4^th of July by going to a roping in Forsyth on the 3^rd.  Wesley took 1^st place in the draw pot, and 3^rd in the pick & draw!  I was so proud of him!!!  He and Champ did amazing Tuesday night!  Wednesday we went to Miles City to Rib & Chop for lunch, then headed to Wal-Mart to pick up some fishing tackle and bait and we raced home to go fishing in the creek.  We had the best time!  We took Jiggs with us, and him & Wesley went swimming in the creek for a bit.  We didn’t catch anything, and I lost a lure, but we sure had fun trying.  We are going to try our best to make that a Sunday afternoon ritual because we had so much fun together.

Last Friday, the 29^th, Wesley and I got our engagement pictures taken.  Our photographer did a phenomenal job, and we are SO excited for her to photograph our wedding.  You should check her out – www.brittanyputnamphotography.com.  She is so great to work with and made things so fun for Wesley & me!!  I don’t have all of the pictures back yet, but here’s a preview!  I hope you like them…we sure did!!!  I should have a few more to share soon!  Let us know what you think! 

We hope everyone had a safe & Happy 4^th of July!!!