What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope
What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope
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One of the simpler digressions in faith building in recent years has been to ask, “What would Jesus do?” While emulating Christ is generally a safe bet, the concept runs deeper and is more complex than a few blithe questions regarding the modeling of behaviors. The normal course of events in today’s arena of max-critical politics, is to build oneself up by tearing others down. Such behavior should be accompanied by deep shame at our failure to respect one another. It is not impossible to do, b...
Trees and shrubs still require water during fall and winter. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, soil that stays most stays warmer in the fall and winter. If the trees and shrubs have cells filled with water, then this helps protect them from winter damage. This condition is called turgid. The best practice for watering is to let the water soak in the soil slowly. Trees uptake soil better with that type of condition. Be sure to soak the top 12 inches. Keep watering on a regular basis until the ground freezes. Once the ground freezes, if ther...
Once again, winter looms ahead. That means it’s time to switch from straw to felt hats, “T” shirts to long sleeves and jackets and for a cowboy, the most difficult change of all. Fall means it’s time to start staying home on weekends. The local rodeos, fairs and jackpots are winding down. In short, the fun is over. Not having exciting weekends to look forward to any longer is just part of the problem. The big problem is what you have to start doing now that you are home. Every crummy task yo...
The word “gnarly” has undergone a renaissance of sorts in recent decades from a rather uncomplimentary adjective to something celebrating a unique accomplishment or particular look that is in vogue in the moment. What escapes attention from time-to-time is the beauty that often accompanies like descriptions. The fall vegetable treasure hunt for many gardeners includes discovering decorative gourds, desired for their embellishments, that qualify as both gnarly and amazing in design. Their flu...
Letter to the Editor, We would like to thank Ron Carpenter, former Mayor Brandon Biesemeier, soon to be Mayor Mike Ensminger and the Haxtun Town Council for pursuing the street project and allowing the community to vote on and approve the project. The short-term inconveniences we endured throughout the project has been well worth it. The revitalized streets add value to our community and we appreciate your efforts to make this town better for all of us! A huge thank you also goes out to the Haxtun Community for your yes vote — thank you for i...
Letter to the Editor, This letter is addressed to those who live in or have property in the Frenchman Groundwater Management District. The November Election Ballot includes ballot measure 7B. We are asking voters to allow the Frenchman Groundwater Management Board to seek and retain moneys, or in other words, to “DeBruce.” The Frenchman Groundwater Management District has never had a lot of cash in reserves for emergencies and has never intended on keeping large sums of money in reserve. However, with dwindling aquifer levels, State reg...
I have been blessed to have my parents live with me since December 2021. On nights when I do not have a game, meeting or school event to attend I enjoy sitting with my mom and dad as they watch the news. Over the past few months, I have listened to a consistent narrative play nightly during the newscast. It is a concept related to “schools brainwashing children” and the “harm of public schools.” During this same period of time, I have observed the growth of negative public opinions and distrus...
The shiny new four wheel drive pickup rolled into the yard. As Rancher Smith walked up to the driver’s side window he was greeted by a big jovial smiling face. “Howdy, I’m your new neighbor across the road and I just wanted to stop in and say Hello,” the obviously happy fellow beamed. “The Misses and I have wanted to move out here in the country for years and we’re just tickled pink we finally got to do it,” he went on. As he got out of the pickup it was obvious that if he was tickled pink or an...
After only a few months of operation, the James Webb Space Telescope is arguable the most important research tool ever launched into space. Its primary mandate, to observe the early universe in the infrared spectrum, has been remarkably successful thus far. Webb followers diligently track each new released image with a sense of discovery, awe and what-if-ness. The world has grown a little smaller and the universe much larger since the telescope’s launch last Christmas. Should that unsettle us or...
This past week my grandma passed away. She was 91, so it really was a blessing that she was able to leave her earthly body, as she had suffered multiple strokes in her last several years of life. When I was a sophomore in high school she had her first major one — that was almost 17 years ago. It’s been over half of my life that she had been dealing with the after effects and sadly I feel like I mourned the grandma I knew as a child a long time ago. I spent so many Sundays at their house after ch...
Letter to the Editor, This letter is addressed to those who live in or have property in the Frenchman Groundwater Management District. The November Election Ballot includes ballot measure 7B. We are asking voters to allow the Frenchman Groundwater Management Board to seek and retain moneys, or in other words, to “DeBruce.” The Frenchman Groundwater Management District has never had a lot of cash in reserves for emergencies and has never intended on keeping large sums of money in reserve. However, with dwindling aquifer levels, State reg...
I have never considered myself a superstitious person, in fact I have made fun of friends who believed in any type of that behavior. I will admit, however, if it is genetically heritable, I may have the gene. My grandfather with whom I was able to spend lots of wonderful time, would hardly leave the ranch house on Friday the 13th. I do always try to carry a “lucky coin” in my jean pocket. Usually lose it in a few days. These coins come from a variety of origins. Sue gave me an Irish coin onc...
Aussie dogs are amazingly bright and loyal. In the quest to protect from all manner of threat, their instinct sometimes results in moving them to guard other objects as well … water bottles, sweat shirts, shoes of all kinds, and jackets when hung on a fence post. One dog in particular knows who those items belong to and takes her work quite seriously. Though a little extreme on occasion, her loyalty is touching and unmatched. She is rewarded in her mind by being allowed inside and commandeering...
Here’s my plain-and-simple explanation of and recommendation for statewide issues on the Colorado ballot for 2022: Amendment D, New 23rd Judicial District Judges. In 2020, the legislature created the new 23rd Judicial District by removing Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties from the 18th Judicial District. This amendment makes it easier to assign some judges from the 18th to the 23rd Judicial District. I will vote yes. Amendment E, Property Tax Exemption for Gold-Star Spouses. The existing p...
Proposition FF – another tax is not a free lunch Once again voters are asked to approve a new tax for another program. This time for Healthy School Meals for All Public School Students which sounds like a good idea. Who doesn’t want healthy food for all children — whoops this is just for some public school kids. Over 30 percent of public school children already get free lunches and wouldn’t qualify for this Colorado program. Neither would home school or private school children in Colorado qualify. Currently, 31 percent of public student...
Garden-wise, early fall sometimes takes short shrift when it comes to impressing people. It is a time when things begin to look fairly tough in the stalk and dry on the edges. The flowers that gave their all through the summer months are yet game although it takes a little more intensive care to keep them at their best. The coleus is a slightly darker shade, the petunias less determined to offer up more blooms, and the garden produce a little less plump than a just a few days ago. There are...
Growing up in Eastern Colorado there were two things I had little, if no, experience with and never developed a like for. Deep water and high places. In a region with about 12 inches of annual precipitation, I grew up without seeing much deep water. We had the Poudre River which ran too fast to get in when it was deep enough to swim in. Then the water was 34 degree snow melt, not many opportunities for swim lessons. Later I moved farther east to South Platte River country, often described as a m...
I have lost track of how many columns I’ve written about my dislike of computers. Well, here is one more. Everywhere I turn there is a story about A.I. No, not the kind of AI we livestock people are familiar with which involves a squeeze chute, long plastic glove and well, you know. Nope, this A.I. means Artificial Intelligence. Personally, my definition of this is all the annoying people walking around talking about things they know nothing about, but hey, enough about politics. The other, m...
A sure sign when someone adamantly disagrees with another person is to hear them acknowledge that one or both of the parties are on different wavelengths, not on the same page but in another place altogether. It sometimes takes a whole lot of courage to fess up to reality. Any time there are relationships worth tending, however, it generally pays to be aware of just what those various wavelengths encompass. Are they helpful and favorable or does the emotional barometer bottom out in short...
Ips pini, or the Engraver Beetles are insects that develop in pines and spruces. Ips are everywhere in the United States. They are attracted to pines and spruces under stress from drought, root injury, disease or defoliation. These insects are not necessarily lethal to the pines and spruces. Attacks can be limited to the tops of trees and large branches. However, Ips can show a uniform needle discoloration and death like the Dendroctonous bark beetles with the blue stain fungi. This can happen but not always. The adults of this insect are...
It’s been a trying summer for gardening. Between the drought, a thriving crop of tomato worms, the dogs playing in the raised beds and a few hungry bunnies, things still turned out rather well in terms of produce. The neighbors are refusing to answer their door as we drop off even more cucumbers and zucchini squash. The peppers did remarkably well thinly sliced and dried to be placed in their corresponding jars. The canning tomatoes came as a bit of a shock. A hundred pounds or more remain on t...
A few weeks ago I wrote an “Under The Wire” in which I complained about my on going battle with weeds here on the Hodgson Rancho. It included descriptions of moving, spraying, chopping with a shovel, grazing with cattle and horses, anything to discourage their growth. Nothing seemed to work. My list of problem weeds read like the Who’s Who of bad plants of the world. In spite of my efforts, they flourished nearly everywhere. Then, one day something mysterious happened. It was one of those sunny...
Fall is a wonderful time of the year. Trees turn wonderful colors, night begin to become longer and cooler, days are shortened a few seconds every day and best of all the frosts that accompany fall kill flies, mosquitoes and weeds. Fall also is very expensive. Folks with kids in school get hammered with fees for everything from lockers to cheerleading uniforms. For me personally, that part of fall is long behind me but I hear getting them born is nothing compared to the cost of sending them off...
There are lots of ways to hide behind faith when it suits our purpose. The reasons are varied and broad, but the bottom line is that whipping out the Christian label sometimes becomes a way to deflect arguments rather than taking responsibility for actions. After all, who dares to argue when we summon Christianity as sole arbiter of our behaviors, no matter how egregious they might be? A 2020 census by the Public Religion Research Institute regarding religious affiliation notes that...
My late father often reprimanded my loquacious tendencies by quoting Proverbs 10:19: “In the multitude of words, sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” The passing of Queen Elizabeth II reminds me of that wisdom because her 70 years as ceremonial monarch of England shows the power of silence. If my parents were still here, they would rightfully remind me that I could learn from her example. In Great Britain, the Prime Minister — somewhat like our President — is “head o...
