Salute our nation, our flag and our veterans
It is July. One half of this 2026 year is behind us. For some reason I have felt behind since last winter, behind on what the calendar says that is. My biological clock seems to think it is still spring or should be. Any way you want to spell it, the first half of the year went faster than my keeper-upper did. That is a new term I feel ought to be added to dictionaries, basically meaning a persons’ git up and go, got up late and got left behind.
July fourth may already be upon you or it already happened, But this year is a big one. The good old USA turned 250 years old on the Fourth of July. Two-and-one-half centuries old. Now that is awesome and super cool. Not nearly the oldest in comparison to some other civilizations and/or cultures but still a long time.
Meanwhile back here at the ranch, we have received some rains and so we are at least green and trying to grow some grass. It is difficult to keep moisture in the top soil long enough to grow grass when the mercury soars into the mid to high 90s, with a wind blowing. The result is very much like trying to grow grass in a wind tunnel with the air supplied from a super-heated blast furnace. With that kind of hot, dry wind, when we do get a rain, within a couple of days the pastures are blowing dust again. I am fairly certain I spotted a coyote the other day and he was carrying a canteen. Regardless, we are thankful for the moisture we have received which is better than what many regions have gotten. The cows are doing well so far and the calves are really growing. Our thoughts and best wishes go out to those who have been struck by devastating wildfires.
Enjoy July, a month that is fully summer all month long. Crank up the bar-b if fire restrictions allow, cook up your choice of meat steaks, burgers, bratts or dogs. Celebrate July the Fourth, Independence Day 2026. Put a candle on your favorite cake, blow that candle out and sing Happy Birthday USA. Make it a party. If you do fireworks, enjoy them but be careful. Exploding or even quietly burning gunpowder or a variation thereof like the exploding powder in fireworks can be risky and needs to be treated with respect. If you get a chance, invite a veteran to party with you as a thank you for their service. Come ride along with me now as we salute our nation, our flag and our veterans.
Our Flag
Gentle in the morning breeze,
Old Glory caught the light.
As gently it unfurled,
For liberty and freedom it took flight.
Representing all through the years,
250 years for all did wave.
And strong into the future,
Strengthened by our veterans brave.
It flies for the oldest one among us,
It flies for the babe newborn.
It flies for every race and color,
The strong and proud, the lost and forlorn.
For every soldier who ever served it,
Because of them it proudly flies.
For each one who served with valor,
For all of those who gave their lives.
Our thanks we give to every veteran,
With thankful heart want them to know.
Our salute we give in their honor.
Our rights and freedoms to them we owe.
Veterans thank you for your service,
Standing strong for liberty.
Defending our nation, flag and honor, The home of the brave and land of the free.
