BOBBY

​There was a big black cloud hanging over Bobby’s house.  It grew darker on the days when the unspeakable things
happened.  ​He hadn’t been outside for some time now and he didn’t know exactly where he lived but he guessed it was states away from the home he remembered.  

THIS LONELY RANCH

As the sun ducks below the treelined horizon, I dig my hands deeper into my coat pockets to ward off the evening chill. The trees dropped their foliage weeks ago and now all that remain are the barren branches protruding into the sky in all sorts of shapes and sizes...

COUDY PASS

“No roads lead to Holden,” I know this to be true, I have been their many times.  For as long as I can remember I’ve dreamt of someday trekking the Pacific Crest Trail to complete the pilgrimage on foot but all my arrivals to date, have begun with hours of dark overnight driving,  a magical morning ferry ride meandering 16 miles up the enchanting Lake Chelan and sometimes, at least as I remember, a near death 11 mile climb in a questionable semi-retired school bus up the famous (or infamous)  Wenatchee Forest Switchbacks.  

RANCH LESSONS

​There is no shortage of activities to choose from at the ranch: Learning the joys of fresh veggies and fruits in the garden; cuddling with sheep and mini donkeys; hand feeding grass to chickens; canoeing or fishing on the river; chasing frogs or bugs; or one of our most favored activities of spending time with the horses, be it grooming, riding, bathing, or just simply  being in the presence of such great animals.

OUTSIDE

​Sticks, mud, gardens, hens, horses and butterflies!  At the heart of the Stable Days programming is the philosophy that we all, children and childlike, flourish when given the time and space to play in the God-designed, sensory-rich, experiential-learning, nature-based environment that is found on the other side of inside.  
 

The Art of Burden Bearing...
ANECHOMAI & COLOSSIANS 3:13

Each year the Stable Days Share Garden has rows and rows and rows of tomatoes.  We have Big Boys, and Cherrys, Yellows and Romas, Black Beauties and Brandywines.  
 

April Showers Bring
May Super Powers

​Out here at the lovely Stable Days Youth Ranch, we have the very best garden this side of the Mississippi. We plant a hodgepodge of fruits, veggies, and herbs (and weeds) every year with a growing desire to expand our skills and knowledge of the greens. 

Simply Momentous

Kylie was one of the early participants at the ranch, and I had the joy of meeting her as part of a girls’ Bible study and session group. The following season I worked one-on-one with her, and was able to truly get to know this blossoming young woman. 

Ewe are so Beautiful to Me

​Penelope, our beautiful, amazing, sweet, cheerful, hilarious, cripple-legged, one-eared ewe landed at Stable Days in the spring of 2015 as an orphaned lamb...

Spitting Image

As a mother, it’s a funny thing to be carrying around a sweet child that I grew in my womb and be told time and time again, “Gee, that boy looks EXACTLY like his father!”...

Lean into Love

​I live in a special place, a place where respite is not hard to find; the pastures, the river, the trees, and the animals. It is a 
beautiful place, but today this beloved ranch feels demanding and obnoxious...  

A Better Plan

​Prompted by faith to trust and obey... Ben and I started a youth ranch.
No land, no horses, no tack, no experience, we didn’t even have a “pail to pee in” as my grandfather used to say. But we had passion that was fueled with a confidence that God was with us, and He would lead us...

Why Now?
​As I pulled my pickup into the drive, I felt myself drawing a long, deep breath.  “Lord, please lead us in Your will.”  This brief plea escaped my lips even before I had time to think about it.  I eased my Dodge up the driveway and around the paved turnaround just past the dilapidated front doors of the vacant Riverbend Supper Club entrance and shut down the rumbling engine (“Yeah, it’s got a Hemi!”)...  

An Early Storm


We’ve been working hard since the day we purchased the ranch to bring it to a point of beauty and function.  So much to do every day, summer came and left in a blink, leaving all of us hoping for a long warm fall... 

Covered

Having the privilege of renovating the old River Bend property has had its share of  challenges.  One of the biggest has been the removal of the old, very gross and very heavy, commercial equipment...

Fireside

It was the end of the day, my body tired and sore from the laborious chores, hauling water, wood and hay, shoveling snow and manure, and trudging through the thick cumbersome snow drifts.  As I warmed myself by the fire I thought over the events of the day...

Charlie Needs Me

We headed out early in morning  Kurt, Wendi, Ben and I. We were going to Oregon to participate in a training seminar designed to help and support similar ranches.  The weather was ideal and the time with our friends was enjoyable...

The Herd Herald
Taz Claims Victory in Herd Election
,​Election a Hoax, claims the Northern Herd
​The Fall Update

I'll Be Your Neighbor

​A small framed boy with long legs and soft eyes sat slumped against the  brick wall near the back entry of his school. He’d be tardy again but it was worth it. Every one at school knew, and everyone looked at him different.   “Life isn’t fair” was a cliché that often failed to hold the weight of its truth...

Precious Meets Tiffani

​Precious, she was nervous, but sweet, and although we were told that she was trained to ride, we knew as soon as we tried to put her saddle on, that we were in for an adventure...

WEEDS…
​To Pull or Not to Pull

​Weeds can be deceiving.  Some take on the appearance of what could be a future flower.  Their leaves can be attractive and to the naïve, inexperienced but hopeful gardener, the question “to pull or not to pull” looms...

You've Got a Friend In Me

​Gideon, an 18 year old gelding had been donated to the ranch.  We drove several hours to his home for the pick up and although we knew he was blind in one eye, we hadn't  anticipated that he would be covered with sores. Bite marks scattered all across his back, on his face and cuts on his legs gave him a contagious looking appearance...

Remembering Merida

Merida, along with her foal and another pregnant mare, were tied up in the backyard of a rundown house.  Having no access to food or water, they pushed and pulled against their ropes in an effort to get away. Instead of breaking free, the ropes became tighter cutting into the flesh on their necks and legs...

My Horse Brother

​ Jordan arrived at the ranch for his first session.  He and his dad were early and their excitement was evident.   Hellos and welcomes were exchanged. I introduced myself and threw out the basic information needed to get Jordan started.  Jordan translated my words into American Sign Language for his dad and after we confirmed Jordan’s pick up time, his dad headed off to run some errands and the rest of us dug into our chore for the day...

Finding Confidence

​Somewhere between exhaustion and enthusiasm, Ben and I turned into our driveway.  Finally back home, at Stable Days Youth Ranch.  We were returning from an amazing leadership conference that was located at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch in central Oregon. 
​The conference was a great balance of encouragement and education.  The 26-hour drive back to Minnesota was, well taxing, and we were both ready to be home...

Growing Old

..​​​ Madelyn and her sisters Sofia and Greta arrived at the ranch for their first session as participants in our 2013 Horsemanship program.  Their visit began with the regular greetings and information.  Sessions always start with a chore and today they would be working in the Share Garden. Grabbing their tools the girls and their mentors headed to the vegetable garden...

What!!?

​ For nearly a month the temperatures had been below normal, bringing an unwelcome blizzard, along with eight inches of snow, in May!
 Today’s forecast was dismal, another record low. I sank my chin deep into by scarf, and stuffed my gloved hands into my coat pockets. Despite my efforts the damp chill set quickly into my bones leaving my attitude as grey as the morning...