Wild Horse Roundup

By Curtis Schrimp

October 17, 2003

I was thinking about when anyone writes about Colorado in the fall it is about the beautiful Aspen trees in the mountains and they really are. A few mornings ago it was real foggy and I went down to Marty’s ranch which is a mile and when I got about there the sun broke through and you will never see a more beautiful sight than the cottonwood trees with all their color. So we don’t have to drive to the mountains to see beautiful trees.

What a weekend with Steve and his family, it made a houseful just like we like it: our three kids plus their families, grandkids and four great grandkids. With Steve and Nathan cutting some trees plus Marty, LeeAnn and Debbie helping and I even used our extra chain saw to cut them into lengths to load and then Nathan took it away. We have a large pile and quite a lot of stove length. Enough of that, we enjoyed watching the little ones play and Marty took them all to the ranch to ride Mickey her 27 year old mare. Steve finished some bathroom door trim and some roof repair. Best of all, was just being together again.

Thursday was Lee’s turn to serve club, which she did with LeeAnn and Marty doing the heavy end. LeeAnn roasted a 20 pound turkey on Wednesday and sliced it Thursday morning and then Marty got here. There was a nice crowd with visitors from Security and Illinois, John and Ruth Sinnes and Diana Myers. It shows how small this world is when Ernie Hammer said he went to school with Marge Morrell who is Ruth’s sister.

Friday there was a big prairie fire south of here. I was told it was started by a spark from a high line and Richard Morgan’s feed lot, right north of Rush Creek. Smoke could be seen as far as Limon, I was told. The smoke came into Wild Horse and I was told it came about five miles south and a little west of here. I guess there were fire departments from far and wide.

Amy Johnson told me she took part in a marathon race in Fort Collins. If I understood right, she finished about half way back in the pack. I think 145 in a field of 270. We saw her running past here in training.

It is nice to hear the kind words some people say. Betty Watts wrote a letter to the editor of the Kiowa County Press saying how she enjoyed the columns written by Ida Lessenden and myself. It helps make it worthwhile.

Suzie Paintin told me her daughter, Leeza, who is going to school in New Mexico, got to take a balloon ride over Albuquerque. It was a first and it lasted quite a while and she really enjoyed it.

Our window washers and house cleaners from Norway sure are appreciated.

Marty, LeeAnn and girls went out to Hammer’s this Monday morning so the girls could go horseback riding.