On Sunday, August 17, 2003, we drove 2 1/2 hours (about 240 km) and visited a ranch Southwest of Moose Jaw. It is almost on the Montana border. After we turned off the Trans Canada we saw only two cars going the other way. We waved to both and they waved back. The wife turned to her husband and said, "They must be going to visit Glenn and Wendy." As we got farther SW the country turned from flat land to beautiful rolling hills. Because of the drought they were brown but in Spring they must be as green as the background of this page.

Wendy is the granddaughter of Arnie's long-time friend and pseudo-sister, May, who lives in Mission, B.C. We were invited out for the day and supper. We had not been that far away from concrete for many years.

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On the way we stopped to look at the scenic marker, "Old Wives Massacre." Quite a story. It would make a good Kevin Costner movie. The Borderland Ranch is a little over 10 sections (10 square miles to you city-folk). They raise purebred Charolais cattle which are the white ones as opposed to the Black Angus which are the black ones. I wonder if they were bred would they look like Oreo cookies? Their home is nestled in a little valley along with their corrals, equipment, and sheds. They had just combined 200 acres of mustard and are waiting for the Durum wheat to be ready. It's a busy time to visit farmer/ranchers but we were lucky to come between crops. They also grow oats and barley to feed their large herd. The BSE crisis is hopefully over and they can sell the 200 calves they have. After visiting and getting a Wyatt tour of all the equipment, Glenn put on some great T-bone steaks.

Wyatt immediately took over our orientation. We started our tour in his bedroom with his presentation of all the things John Deere makes. He then took us outside and told us the names of all the equipment. He said he could drive them all (he's 5-years old!) and we believe him. I took a picture of the Versatile tractor -- 4 double wheels, 8 tires, each of which cost more than our Toyota. Then we went around the back and Wyatt told us the thing attached to the tractor was a cultivator. I said, "Okay, you stand over there and I'll take another picture." Now the cultivator when it is in use must be 40 feet wide but it was all folded up for transporting. Wyatt said,"No, don't go near it or one of the wings may come lose and fall on your head." Five years old! I then said, "Take a picture of me." "I don't know how." I showed him and he took the picture of me. He caught on better than most adults do. Later he took the close-up of June. I think a great present for kids would be a digital camera.

"What kind of horses do you have here?" "Can you ride them?" "Not very well, but I do have a bike," and he ran off to show me his bike. Inside his tour continued with his farm scenes. Taking a picture of his pasture, his feet were in the way so I said, "I can't see pasture your feet." He chuckled.

More bike tricks and then into the house where he took the picture of his equipment and did his "Show and Tell" from kindergarten. Great kid and we can see, in a couple of years, that he will be taking over the whole operation. Wendy and Glenn, you can retire then.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, Wendy is making the fixin's for a delicious dinner: home-grown steaks, corn, and potatoes

Thank you Wendy & Glenn & Wyatt for a wonderful day. Now if we can only get your Grandmother May and your Cousin Teresa to come out we can do it all over again! Revised: September 13, 2003