Valentine Nebraska

We posted most of the pictures from Valentine earlier, but these were interesting. Uncle Greg, whose son Brogan got married, runs the livestock auction. Dad took me there before the auction actually happened the day after the wedding. It was my first chance to see horses. In addition I went to a western store, where Dad got some shoes and cousin Hannah got some boots.



http://www.discountwesternwear.com/

Dad was particularly interested to see that they sell lasso. Felix thought one of the saddles felt good on his gums. We could not have had a better time on our trip. We were thrilled to get to visit family and see, for the first time for me and Dad, the area Mama grew up in.

The Ellsworth Ranch

We loved visiting Aunt Kathy and Uncle Bobby on the ranch. The live on the Crow Creek reservation near Fort Thompson. My parents have always enjoyed seeing their pivots on Google earth but we really loved seeing it. They took us on a long tour around the ranch, where they have 1000 head on some 7000 acres. The first picture is some of their cows. The second is the largest field of sunflowers Dad has ever seen - this may not actually be on the ranch but on the way to it. The third is pronghorn antelope. Technically Dad saw both deer and antelope play. Mama and Aunt Kathy enjoyed talking in the kitchen. The second to last is a prairie dog town. We were particularly excited to see burrowing owls who live with the dogs. The last is the Ellsworth brand on an orphan cow. It is an E with an arrow on the bottom bar. Dad helped move this cow almost 5 yards and now claims to have helped rounded up cattle. We were thrilled to visit them and see cousins Hannah and Augie. We will have to see more of Jim and Hattie next trip.

Highmore

After picking up Grandma, we went to Mama's hometown - Highmore, SD, population 675. We saw the cemetery, Mama's house where she grew up, Mama's church where she was baptized and confirmed, and around Highmore. The rock in the church is a local granite. The Vlcek's store is downtown Highmore. Mama went to school with Shauna Vlcek and we met Jerry and Janice Vlcek on our visit.

Felix Goes to South Dakota

We put the pictures up from the wedding first but Dad wanted to put up all of the pictures so his family could see South Dakota. The first place we went was to see Grandmama Arendt, which is the first picture above. The other three pictures were from Uncle Al's and Aunt Cabrini's house. They live right on the Missouri River, which is Dad's new favorite river. The view is spectacular. Grandma, Uncle Al, Aunt Cabrini, and cousin James live in Pierre, a town of 17000. Al and Cabrini were kind enough to feed Felix and Dad our first pheasant, which renewed Dad's long latent interest in hunting...

First Visit with Grandma Louise

Fort Thompson Rodeo

Felix riding his cousin.

Felix Goes to the Fort

Sweet Hannah!

Felix finds comfort with Aunt Kathy.

Playing with Bobby and his hat.

Wedding Reception

Cousin Emilie and Myer Rath!

The Hostess with the mostest, Aunt Kathy

Felix, Mom and Cousin Michael

Aunt Cabrini, Cousin James, Felix, Mom and Uncle Al

Mertz sisters

Dinner Before the Wedding

Grandma Louise, Uncle Peter and Aunt Kathy

Keys

Favorite Cousin Hannah

Brogan and Shelly's Wedding

Brogan and Shelly had a really lovely wedding. The bride looked wonderful.

Happy Mama

Felix as Hat

Felix visits folks in Maxton

Felix got the chance to see so many folks in Maxton when he was there in July. We were thrilled he was able to visit everyone.

Rose Driggers came to visit one night and Felix's dad was overjoyed. Rose worked in Wagram helping take care of Felix's Great Grandmother Annie Parker.

Felix's cousins came to visit while he was in Maxton too. Here he is with Grandmama, Margaret, and her kids Drew and Holly. They live outside of Charlotte.






Finally here is Felix with Daddy and his Great aunt Anne Winborne, Grandmama's sister. We were so thrilled that everyone took time to come and see us in Maxton!