2nd Day

I have such original titles!

I think we just made the Old Timer's Club:

Old Timers Cocktails tonight at Brookside. I think I'll take my copy of Saddlestrings and have it autographed. Why not?

I'm thinking Margie has no idea The China Wall Gang is always out protecting this ranch - we never fail in our duty. The Gang came about in the 80's when MC, Steb, Philip and I were late coming back from a ride. We were cutting thru a pasture - where we weren't supposed to be - right behind Margie's house. We were sneaking along (or as well as 4 people can on horse back) when we ran into a herd of sheep. The sheep were startled, immediately took off running & bleating; ruining our cover of silence. We rode on a little further & those damn sheep appeared again - by now we're practically at Margie's doorstep & once again those stupid animals take off running and bleating. We're starting to laugh & laughter became contagious - soon we're roaring and can hardly sit on our horses and we still have to get out of the damn pasture, past Margie's house and onto the lane to the corral. Philip, a great lover of the movie Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid - started referring to the sheep as Federalies. By the time we get to the corral Philip is Sundance, Steb is Butch, MC is China Lil and me ... I'm surprised they let me in the gang.

Later during the week; we rode to Ginger's Meadow - there's a spot near the top where everyone stops to look out at the snow covered Cloud Peak. It's a place to blow the horses before descending to the creek. I took the Chandor Christmas Card pic; with Cloud Peak in the background.  To my dismay; discovered I only had one pic left on the camera ... thus my gang name Last Frame.

The next gang member to join was Steb II - Pyro. Once again we were at Ginger's Meadow. This is a day ride and we usually had a picnic lunch with us - always bacon just in case anyone caught fish. Discovered we had no matches to light the cook fire - MC & I, being very resourceful tried lighting pine straw, using our glasses as heat magnifier's. I was trying the old indian trick of rubbing sticks together - nothing was happening.  Then about 10 mins later; here comes Steb II; with matches. Wandering down the creek; he came across a hunting camp and there were some matches. Bacon never tasted so good!

Charlotte became Preacher Lady on another trip to Ginger Meadow - we were almost to Red Grade when we realized a saddlebag was missing - the saddlebag with the frying pan for the bacon. Charlotte had a fast horse and she galloped back to the corral and back to Red Grade - saving the bacon.

Pam became Time Piece- always looking at her watch and Michael was named Gate Man as the gang probably couldn't ride without his help.

As the kids grew and started riding - they too were named... Brooke - Background (a name she hated & was later changed to SakeBomb); Trip - EagleEye; Michael James - Wrong Side; Pauline - Swivel.

The dudes at the HF Bar have no idea the lengths to which we go to protect this ranch. Why last year we had to have a cocktail meeting to determine whether or not Black Angus cattle should be considered Federalis. We voted - they are.