Finn

Finn has been here for more than a week.  Each day is a new adventure... he seems to be taking more control every day.

Grandpa Ted and Grandma Sylvia

 Grandpa Ted was born on Nov. 17, 1893. Grandma Sylvia was born February 23, 1905. 

Below is the farm he spent his entire life on.  I was maybe 5 years old the last time I remember being there.  The big old barn was full of kittens and big draft horses.  The farm has changed hands several times over the years and all the buildings and home are now gone.

Grandpa Ted married Sylvia Rasmussen on October 11, 1922.   

On their wedding day.  

Their first two kids.

Their family grew to two daughters (youngest daughter not born yet in the above photo) and two sons.

At the time of their death Grandpa Ted and Grandma Sylvia had 17 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Sadly they were both killed in an auto accident in 1969.  Age 75 and 64

Puppy and the Dog Biscuit

Puppy hasn't had the most perfect weather since he's been here.  It started raining a couple hours after he arrived and I don't think it's really stopped for more than a few hours at a time since.  Thursday night was one storm after another and over 1-1/2" of rain.  Here is puppy trying to figure out the best way to eat his big dog biscuit.

Puppy News---He's Home!

Our day started on the road by 6:30 a.m.

April Fool's Day... Surprise Sunrise Beauty!

It was a three and a half hour drive to get our new little fellow..

He took the long ride like a trooper, sleeping most of the way.  There was a little crying and howling at first, but he settled down as soon as we got onto the highway.

 Meeting on of his ladies for the first time..I have picked out my sweetest older ladies to put in the pen with him.  His training will start tomorrow morning.

He is spending his first night in a 12 x 12 horse stall with a "dog house" next to Trance.  He seems to be happy and tired.

Puppy News

He'll be here soon!!

Puppy--Breaking News

Looks like if everything goes okay, this little guy will become part of Black Rock Ranch within the next 2-3 weeks.  He is only 6 weeks old in this picture...

Grandpa Ted

A few years ago my sister was going through some old photo albums and found these pictures.  Below are her memories of Grandpa Ted.

A few nights ago, after I had everything done for the evening, I decided to get my Grandfathers album out, and look at the pictures. This was his album from when he was a young man; before he married. Most of the dates on the pictures range from approximately 1915 to 1922. When I was young (grade school years), Grandpa would occasionally get his album out, and tell me about the pictures. I found it fascinating because each picture was like a story. Many years passed, & I'd forgot about the album, until I brought it home from Mom's house. That was a busy time, so I looked at it briefly, and then put it in a place that was safe so it wouldn't get damaged; until a few evenings ago. I knew Grandpa "broke" horses, and trained them, & people in S. Minnesota knew they got a good horse if it was one of "Ted's" horses. I noticed some horse pictures in the album that fascinated me, so I took them out of the album very carefully to see if there was any writing on the back. The back's of the pictures were filled with writing in Grandpa's hand-writing. I'll embed the picture, and after it I'll put Grandpa's statements.

I am mounting "Outlaw Dick". This horse is known all over these parts as very bad. He is standing very quietly, but he has cause to do so. My herder is nearly twisting his ear off, and besides he is blind-folded. This horse bucked so hard and quick that the photographer was unable to catch a picture of him in action. I finally broke him.

This is "Outlaw Dick" stampeding with me. I was unable to control him. I only had a halter and saddle on him. I finally stopped him by leaning forward and biting his ear which stopped him. This picture was just after he quit bucking.

The mare on which I am riding is named "Quail". This being the 4th time she was ever rode. I still have this animal, and would never part with her. she understands cow work to perfection, and is also a fine buggy animal.