Wedding at Ladder Ranch
Chris, Bridget and family, in front of the horse barn
photo by Todd Skalberg
Well, we did it! On September 2nd, our youngest daughter Bridget married Chris Abel in a ceremony held at our ranch, in the same spot where Pat and I wed in 1975, and our daughter Meghan and her husband Brian were married in 2002. We were blessed with a truly lovely day, and the love and good wishes of many friends, relatives, in-laws and out-laws.
This explains why this blog has been silent for awhile. We are now in the “wedding recovery” mode. Just yesterday, I picked up a plastic wine glass from the lawn. I think the puppies had carried it off! We have shifted from major painting, fencing, etc. into our full fall work load of moving livestock about, talking to calf and lamb buyers, counting the bales in the haystack, and praying for rain.
One of the very nicest gifts Bridget and Chris received was from an old family friend (not that she’s that old—just that we’ve been friends for a long time!). I want to share Karen Billings Buchanan’s poem with you. She grew up with my sister, was one of my Mom’s 4-H sewing girls, served as local postmaster for a number of years, and knows our family well. Her husband, Mike, is the head of the wild horse program at the Wyoming Honor Farm, and is also a great friend.
The Battle Creek Beauties
By Karen Billings Buchanan
The Salisbury Ranch is known far and wide—
Its cattle, its horses, sheep and hay raised with pride,
Of all things produced though, one can contend
The Salisbury women are the best—no end.
At the base of Squaw Mountain where aspen trees grow
Battle Creek runs into Little Snake River’s flow,
Where Battle Mountain, in its cool early dawn,
Holds its Indian history and its first ranch matron.
Anna Marie, now she’s a mystery to me,
Sweet on Albert, she waited patiently
At Woodstock till he made his big dollar
Then off for Snake River with a whoop and a holler.
A son George, married Emma, a sweet young thing
From the John Terrill family—they had such a fling.
She was “Gram” to me and admired so much,
She made you feel welcome with only a touch.
Her son George married Laura, full of generous love,
The Queen of 4-H, looks down from above,
So many hours she spent with we girls,
Seam rippers and cookies, soft hugs and blond curls.
Charlotte, cute little “Stubby”, my childhood friend,
On JoJo and Black Beauty, we rode the ranch end to end,
I think of her often in our mid age today
And look for her visits when she comes back this way.
Sharon, lil sis, matured with great talent,
Abundant energy, it became quite evident
She would put the ranch into the 21st Century
And raise three children, today one ready to marry.
Cousin Sherry, pretty Sherry, with such a great smile,
Destined for Canada, she traveled the long mile.
She knows that no matter how far you roam
To the Ladder Ranch, she can always come home.
Meghan, dear sis, and mom of Siobhan,
She’ll work on the ranch from dusk to dawn.
Somewhat like Sharon, somewhat like Pat—
A “Salisbury” woman knows where she’s at.
Bridget and Chris, if your hearts so desire,
A daughter would soon come
Then I would need not inquire
She’s a Salisbury woman and filled with fire.
A quote from Churchill I could easily tweak—
“Good people like good horses have good mothers,”
Then I’d be happy to speak
Of another beauty of Battle Creek.
ONE FAMILY ONE DREAM
September 2nd, 2006
