Fall is that time of year when neighbors help neighbors with gathering, shipping, weaning, and preg testing. It is a concept right out of a Hallmark card... as long as it is a nice, balmy autumn day. However, when the weatherman plays a cruel joke and the thermometer dips below zero and everything is frozen solid on the morning of the gathering, it is either true friends or non creative friends who couldn't craft an excuse to show up to ride!

I am not sure which category we fell under several years back when we found ourselves headed up the creek to the EOB Ranch to gather on a crisp 2.73 degree morning. I hate that National Weather Service fancy-schmancy thermometer and pretty much everything else when it gets below freezing, but I decided to fake cheerfulness and talk about what a beautiful winter wonderland day it was. In retrospect, perhaps that was a bad decision, because I think Josh Fjare mistook that facade for enthusiasm.

As we rode up the creek, he kept assigning riders to peel off, circle up a draw, and push everything they found down the creek. Finally I was the last rider left. I felt sort of like the last kid picked in a pick-up game on the playground, especially when he said, "Looks like you and I will do the long circle."

I contemplated my choices. I could either correct his grammatical misuse of an objective pronoun and hope to get sent up a draw, or I could fake an injury like a herniated disk or a brain aneurysm and get sent home, or I could just nod cheerfully and ride on, which like a darn fool I chose. Up until now, the creek crossings had just involved dismounting and leading our horses across the solidly frozen ice. Other than the struggle to remount in those clumsy packs and six layers of clothes, the crossings weren't too bad. Then we came to a crossing that was not frozen in the middle.

Josh got off and started across a frozen riffle. He was rewarded by an exhilarating bath in ice water. Proving that chivalry is not dead, he shook himself off, waded back across, and took my reins. He suggested that I could cross on a log downstream.

I am quite sure that God has a sense of physical humor, because the first step I took on the snow crusted cottonwood log resulted in both legs shooting out from under me. Fortunately, I did the splits and landed across the log and not in the creek. To Josh's credit, he did not even crack a smile. He suggested that maybe I should crawl across. I have two leg bolts in my right knee, so crawling did not appeal to me. I decided to imitate an inchworm and bounce/drag myself up the snow-covered log, which of course was on a steep uphill slope. Josh said, "I won't watch in case you fall in the creek," but I suspect he turned back to the horses so he could enjoy a belly laugh without irritating me.

It is a long way across Lower Deer Creek when you are inch worming yourself across a log in your winter woolies. Finally I reached the other side, slid off the log, clawed my way up the bank, and drug myself back on my horse. Josh subtly checked his watch, and judging by the pace he set, I surmised I should have inched faster. After a while, we turned out of the bottom and headed up a trail that was steeper than a cow's face. The going was tough, so we had to keep letting the horses puff. When we could finally see the crest of the hill, Josh dismounted and led his tired horse.

My horse turned around and looked at me. I told her, "Do you think I'm nuts?" She didn't respond to my urgings, so I said, "Oh, all right, you big baby," dismounted, and promptly slid under her. Breathlessly, I eventually arrived at the crest where Josh was patiently waiting. I looked across the valley, and I swear we were on the level with Crazy Peak. Josh had been utilizing his spare time by calling back to the corral where everyone else was waiting with what they had picked up. We were still a few pairs short, so we set off looking for them. I kept thinking that only a Norwegian cow would stay out here under these conditions, but eventually Josh heard one bawl and spotted them. I think we were almost to Roscoe or perhaps Red Lodge, but I hated to ask.

By the time we got back with four pairs that we had definitely earned, the rest of the crew had gathered the big bunch down the creek. It turns out that the day ended on a bright note, because we got back just in time to shove everything in the corral and head to Arlene Pile's house for lunch. To prove what a good neighbor he is, Josh didn't even recount the story of my creek crossing nor mountain climbing. It would have been our little secret if I could have thought of something else to write about this week!

The holidays are sneaking up on us, so how about some easy holiday treat recipes?

Christmas Tree Cookies:

2 C. butter

2 C. sugar

3 eggs

1 T. grated lemon peel

2 t. vanilla

6 C. flour

1 t. baking soda

Frosting:

3 C. powdered sugar

3 T. melted butter

1/4 C. milk

green food coloring

red hots

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Beat in lemon and vanilla. Combine flour and soda and add to the creamed mixture. Shape into three 10-inch rolls. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 4 hours. Unwrap and slice into 1/4-inch slices. Bake at 350 for 10 to 15 minutes until the edges are lightly browned. When cooled, combine frosting ingredients and put frosting in a Ziploc bag. Cut a small hole in the corner and drizzle frosting in a zigzag artsy Christmas tree shape on the cookies. Put a red hot at the top of the tree. Yields 9 dozen.

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies:

1 C. peanut butter

1 C. sugar

1 egg

1 t. vanilla

24 Hershey's kisses, unwrapped

Cream peanut butter and sugar. Add egg and vanilla. Beat until blended. Roll into 1 1/4-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes or until the tops are slightly cracked. Immediately press a kiss into the center of each cookie. Cool five minutes before removing from the pan.

Holiday Decadence:

1 1/4 C. water

1/4 C. butter

1 C. packed brown sugar

1 C. flaked coconut

12 oz. semisweet chocolate chips

1 C. chopped pecans

2 C. miniature marshmallows

1 pkg. German chocolate cake mix

Heat water and butter until butter is melted. Stir in brown sugar and mix well. Pour into a greased 9 x 13 pan. Sprinkle coconut, chips, pecans, and marshmallows. Prepare cake batter according to package directions and carefully pour over the marshmallows. Bake at 325 for 55 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick comes clean. Cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate.