Everything Old Is New Again: Pasture Proceedings

The frost crunched under my tennis shoes as we arrived at the Ninnescah pasture. The air seemed to shimmer, too, with the particles of frost almost hanging there to touch.

It was time to round up cows and their calves from their summer vacation spot. As Randy unloaded the 4-wheelers, I looked at the sky and contemplated life's questions: Is the sky bluer on a cold morning?

Once upon a time when I was in charge of state fair coverage for The Hutchinson News, I was stopped by an encyclopedia salesman as I walked through the Commercial Building. He was the quintessential salesman. At the time, Jill was a toddler. He asked the question, "If you don't have a set of encyclopedias at your fingertips in your home, how will you answer when your daughter asks, 'Why is the sky blue?' "

His question wasn't motivating enough to have me fork over my salary from all those overtime hours at the fair, but I've thought of that question many times in the 30 years since. Who would have thought I could eventually type a question like that in a search engine on a computer and come up with an answer more quickly than I could walk to a bookshelf and open a book?

For the record: Yes, the sky can be bluer in the colder temperatures of the fall and winter. And here's the long Google explanation as to why:

Back in the 19th century, John William Strutt (also known as Lord Rayleigh) discovered the equations governing the scattering of light by the molecules of oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere. To simplify his very technical equation, the intensity of Rayleigh scattering is inversely related to the wavelength. The shorter the wavelength, the more it’s scattered. And the more its scattered, the more it reaches our eyes from different directions, dictating what color we perceive the sky to be. In the autumn, the sun is no longer directly overhead and more of the sky is significantly angled away from the sun. The Rayleigh scattering directs more blue light towards your eyes while the indirect sunlight decreases the incoming levels of red and green. So the sky does appear bluer.

From https://wildcardweather.com

With the drying grasses, the cattle seemed ready for a change of scenery, too. We had brought three 4-wheelers (and three people) to gather the cattle from the 320 acres they can roam on during the summer. However, the cattle came running as Randy started to throw out bales of hay.

Randy says we probably could have accomplished the round-up part with only one 4-wheeler this time. It was  the easiest gathering I've ever experienced. I'm not complaining, even if I didn't get a scenic ride to the Ninnescah river.

Once we had the cows and calves corralled, Randy and our neighbor who was helping walked back to get the other two pickups and trailers. And I took photos. Big surprise, right?

We don't use this old loading chute any longer, but it still stands as a testament to decades of rounding up cattle on these lands. (We do still use the attached corrals.)

Even as the sun burned off the frost, the sky and the unusual clouds made for a pleasant "office."

It was a picture postcard fall scene with the leaves starting to turn and the fall colors contrasting with the bright, blue sky.

Even with three pickups and trailers, it took several trips to transport all 66 cows, 65 calves and two bulls back to the farmstead.

Those old cottonwoods at the pasture gate have witnessed a lot of cattle round-ups.

On Wednesday, we'll round up cattle at the Rattlesnake pasture - what Randy has always called "the big pasture." It's been in his family since 1900 and is owned today by Randy and his cousin Don. The ground was purchased for $4 an acre by a great-great-uncle, August Brinkman. Originally in a tract of 1,040 acres, today 560 acres of it remain in the Fritzemeier family.

It is a Farm Bureau Century Farm. Back when Randy was a child, the pasture located along the Rattlesnake Creek was owned by his grandpa Clarence, Don's dad Ed and their two brothers. Today, Randy and Don are the remaining owners.

L to R: Clarence Fritzemeier (Randy's Grandpa) Milton Giedinghagen, Ben Fritzemeyer, Melvin Fritzemeier (my father-in-law) & Harve Fritzemeier. Yes there are two different spellings on Fritzemeier - it's not a typo!

Years ago, the extended family would gather in the spring to take the cattle to pasture and then round them up in the fall. I think this undated photo would have been taken in the 1950s.

While the guys were rounding up and sorting the cattle, the women got together to make a big meal.

My mother-in-law Marie, Jean Newell Fritzemeyer & Marjorie Giedinghagen on a cattle working day back in the 1950s.

For the first time ever, there will be a woman helping with the cattle tasks on Wednesday. So if the earth stops rotating on Wednesday, you'll know it's our fault. (I think I'm just kidding.) Randy says the round-up never goes as planned "or the same way twice" at the big pasture. That's not exactly a ringing endorsement, is it?

I've been a part of round-ups at other locations for many years, so I don't know why I'm so nervous about it. (Maybe it's little tidbits from Randy like, "Oh, something always gets by someone." I just don't want it to be me!)

But I will endeavor to do my best. I suppose that's all anyone can ask. This time, the meal will have to be ham sandwiches and fixings in a cooler. (And the woman will still have to make it - just sayin'.)

Definitely a Treat!

Note the UNICEF tag beside the Jesus print. Photo taken June 26, 2011, at the closing of Byers UMC.

To some, it may seem sacrilegious to mention Halloween and church in the same breath. But at the little country church of my childhood, Halloween meant a time to trick or treat for UNICEF.

Byers United Methodist Church, Byers, Kansas

We ghosts and goblins at Byers United Methodist Church had school-lunch-sized milk cartons decorated with the UNICEF logo. As we collected our sweet treats, people would drop coins for UNICEF through the crudely-cut slots at the top of the carton.

Some of us would stay in Byers and go door-to-door. I always wanted to go on the northwesterly country route by car so I could have one of my Grandma Neelly's homemade popcorn balls in my goodie sack.

Unlike today, our parents (and grandparents) didn't have cell phones with cameras to document the festivities, so I couldn't find a photo from one of my childhood October 31 forays. There are still some churches that trick or treat for UNICEF. (A former pastor posted a photo last weekend of she and her two boys dressed and ready to trick or treat for UNICEF at their Nebraska church.)

But many more churches today now sponsor Truck and Treat events. This past Friday, Randy and I got to join Kinley and Brooke at Susanna Wesley UMC's version. And, of course, Grandma pulled out the cell phone camera to take a photo before we departed.

Before we arrived, I wasn't sure what to expect when Kinley said she was going to be a raccoon. The raccoons around here are more often on the "naughty" list than not. Grandpa Randy would say they are into tricks, not treats. But I could see the appeal after I saw Kinley's version. My mental photo of Brooke's princess unicorn was much easier to conjure up before the big day.

Jill and Eric decorated their trunk with an under the sea theme. They were told they needed to plan for 1,000 trick or treaters! I haven't had that many ghosts and goblins visit my rural door step in my lifetime!

Pinterest for the win! It turned out really cute.

The girls had quite the entourage, too. We were there. And so were Eric's parents.

 

Grandma Christy helped us get in the spirit of the event by providing ears. She had the kitty ears. I had the bunny ears. The minister surmised that both Randy and Alan were dressed up as Bill Snyder for Halloween.

The girls fixed my ears, and we took off through the maze of car trunks.

I thought it was fun to see Kinley's tail in this shot.

Then it was time for some games.

 Afterwards, Brooke joined Mommy to hand out the treats, while Kinley played with her cousins.

Brooke had to hide behind Mommy when there was a creature with a scary mask.

The next day was definitely a treat when our K-State Wildcats pulled out an upset over No. 5-ranked Oklahoma ... and we were there to see it. (Brent was, too: I just didn't get a photo of him.)

After the game, it was on to the Little Munchkin Pumpkin Patch near Alma for some more Halloween fun. Like Goldilocks says: It was just right!

There were slides ...

... and photo stops.

Jill says Kinley has been talking about a corn maze all fall. Even though it wasn't corn, Kinley was satisfied with her adventure through the maze. (And we didn't lose anyone.)

There were plenty of opportunities for sliding, bouncing, running and playing.

Grandpa bought some do-it-yourself s'more kits. He originally bought them for the girls, but then he "claimed" he'd never had a s'more himself. So he bought another kit. For the record, he says he's roasted plenty of marshmallows: He's just never put them inside a graham cracker and chocolate sandwich. He has evidently led a sheltered life. Now he knows what he's been missing.

The girls tolerated Grandma's desire to take lots of photos.

And Grandma even relinquished the camera for a shot with Brooke.

Even though we don't get to witness the girls' trick-or-treat festivities tonight, we were thrilled to get in on the fall fun this past weekend.
All the ghosts and goblins in our neighborhood have grown up. It doesn't seem so long ago that our two were making the rounds to Grandpa Melvin's and Grandma Marie's - where they were surprised by a couple of spooks.

I hope our raccoon and princess unicorn have as much frivolity tonight as these two did - once upon a time.

No Tricks! These Are Tasty Treats

It's "H" week in Pre-K. Brooke told me that's because it's Halloween week.

Brooke and her sister will have more reasons to celebrate the spooktacular holiday this week, since their Mommy got creative and has several spooky suppers on the meal plan. Randy and I got in on one of them for Sunday lunch after church.

As with most Pinterest creations, the "real" version wasn't quite like the air-brushed and "fluffed" photo:

Photo from Pocket Change Gourmet

For one thing, Jill knew that her diners would prefer their salad in a separate bowl. Brooke still ate her fair share of the green stuff, but it stayed separate from the spider's "web." Jill also knew that the leftovers for her and Eric's lunch would be less soggy without the lettuce touching the bread. Jill also served homemade guacamole and salsa with chips. (And the girls - and Daddy - might have had one piece of candy from their stash after their church's Trunk and Treat.)

Even if it didn't look exactly like the photo, the girls seemed to like the results of Mommy's nod to the upcoming holiday.

Also on the menu plan this week are these Candy Corn Quesadillas. (Eric wanted to make sure it didn't involve melted down candy corn. It does not: It's a savory "candy" corn.)

For the recipe, go to Taste of Home's website. (Click on this link.)

And if you want to "spin" your own excitement for supper this week, here's the recipe Jill used:

Spider Taco Ring

1 lb. ground beef, cooked and drained

1 small onion (about ½ cup) chopped finely

½ cup green pepper, chopped finely

1 package taco seasoning

¾ cup of water

2 tubes refrigerated crescent rolls

1 tube refrigerated bread sticks (you will only need 4)

2 tablespoons butter, melted

Shredded lettuce

2 large pitted black olives

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown ground beef with onion and green pepper until cooked through and the vegetables are tender; drain well. Return to pan; add taco seasoning and water. Simmer until liquid is gone, about 15 minutes.

On a round pan or cookie sheet, lay out the crescent rolls in an overlapping circle with the small point facing out. Add ground beef mixture around the ring. Flip the crescent dough rolls into the center.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 20-30 minutes or until golden brown.

Spider Legs

Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. Divide each breadstick in half, then form a "V" and place on cookie sheet. Bake for about 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.

Assemble

Add lettuce to the center of the taco ring, then add olives for eyes. Add legs. Serve salsa and cheddar cheese on the side, if desired to make the dish a little more filling.

Jill has also made this mummified Cheeseburger Roll-Up during other Halloween seasons.

Mummified Cheeseburger Roll-Up

And here are some treats with a Halloween or fall theme. (Click on the links under the photos for the recipes. They are definitely treats - not tricks!)

Fall Harvest Snack Mix

Scarecrow Bars

 Oreo Blondies 

 Brown Sugar Toffee Bars
Homemade Twix Bars 

Pumpkin Pie Crunch Mix