(otherwise know as: it seems like we just moved to Fredonia and now we're looking to move again)
Ok, we're not moving far... in fact, we're staying in the Fredonia area. Just looking to move out into the country. The house we're renting is for sale and they are constantly showing it to potential buyers. As you may imagine this is getting slightly stressful as we have no idea when or if it may sell.
Anyhow, there are a couple of really nice places we have looked at and will probably make a decision this week. I'll keep y'all posted with what we decide to do, and if anyone wants to help us move (lol)...
God is constantly blessing us and I know He'll continue to do so. It is all in His hands and with that in mind I have complete faith we will end up in the best possible place for us to be!!!
Well, gotta run... have a blessed day, y'all! :)
~David
1 John 3:16 (not to be confused with John 3:16)
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Back in Kansas!
Well folks... I'm home from Dale Moore's Montana Horseman Saddle Building School! Now it's time to hit the floor running :) It's great to be home. I arrived in time to spend Valentine's Day with Jess, and even have a date night (childcare provided at the church) on Saturday. I'm glad I'm back with my wife and kids!
Things are moving along with setting up the saddle shop. Lots of happenings... just are few are:
Adios for now... God Bless and Happy Trails!
~ David
Psalm 32:1-5
Things are moving along with setting up the saddle shop. Lots of happenings... just are few are:
- new website - www.twinmountainsaddlery.com
- possible storefront (trust in the Lord and He will provide what we need)
- a couple of small orders
- blessings from the Lord!!!
Adios for now... God Bless and Happy Trails!
~ David
Psalm 32:1-5
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
There and back again...
...otherwise known as "it's the last few days of Saddle School and I'm heading home on Saturday"! I should be arriving in Fredonia on the 13th of February, just in time for Valentine's Day. Anyhow, back to the present. Saddle School with Dale Moore has been fantastic. I am almost 100% done with my very first saddle flying solo. I'll put up some pictures sometime this weekend. I hope to put together a step-by-step in the next few weeks to walk all of y'all thru how a custom saddle is built. Very interesting stuff!
I do feel extremely blessed to have been able to spend the past 5 weeks in Belgrade, MT. I got to visit a friend I hadn't seen in nearly 12 years (great seeing ya, Ryan... next time dinner is on me), I've made some new friends (Dale, Norma, Doug, Stuart and Shawn), and somewhere along the way I learned a new trade. God has been very good to me and my family!
I guess that's about all for this very condensed post. Lots to do and a short time to do it! Adios for now...
God Bless and Happy Trails!
David
Phil 4:13
I do feel extremely blessed to have been able to spend the past 5 weeks in Belgrade, MT. I got to visit a friend I hadn't seen in nearly 12 years (great seeing ya, Ryan... next time dinner is on me), I've made some new friends (Dale, Norma, Doug, Stuart and Shawn), and somewhere along the way I learned a new trade. God has been very good to me and my family!
I guess that's about all for this very condensed post. Lots to do and a short time to do it! Adios for now...
God Bless and Happy Trails!
David
Phil 4:13
Monday, January 27, 2014
I promised pics...
...and here they are! My first saddle, one made under the watchful eye of master saddle maker Dale Moore, was on a 15 1/2 inch Association tree. It features a 3/4 padded seat, Cheyenne roll, and an arrow-basket stamp design throughout the saddle. "Lambert" (named for the customer who ordered it) took just over a week and a half to build. I am definitely excited to be a saddle-maker!
I also helped build a Wade tree saddle that is waiting in Dale's saddle shop for someone to buy it. It has a rough-out seat with a beautiful padded inlay!
Anyhow, I'd better hit the hay so I can get back to work bright and early in the morning. I'm already working on my next saddle, so expect new pics sometime soon.
Adios and happy trails...
David
Hebrews 12:2
 | |
| Me and "Lambert" |
 |
| "Cliff" and "Lambert" |
I also helped build a Wade tree saddle that is waiting in Dale's saddle shop for someone to buy it. It has a rough-out seat with a beautiful padded inlay!
Anyhow, I'd better hit the hay so I can get back to work bright and early in the morning. I'm already working on my next saddle, so expect new pics sometime soon.
Adios and happy trails...
David
Hebrews 12:2
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Saddle School Week 2
Howdy Y'all!
Ok, so I haven't posted as much as I thought I would. Class runs from 8-4 every day, and then I end up working here in the shop with the other guys in class until it's time to go to bed. No complaints though... on the contrary, I'm really having a great time and learning more than I thought possible in the short amount of time I've been here.
Dale Moore, our instructor, is a retired teacher and principal. He is a great guy! He is super knowledgeable about saddles, horses, packing & outfitting, as he grew up with horses and has been riding all of his life. I couldn't imagine learning from a better person.
We are in two teams to two working on "demo" saddle for Dale's shop. The saddle Stu and I are working on... well, perhaps I should introduce my classmates first: Stu is our resident Canadian. He was on the ark with Noah (really he's in his 50's). Doug is the closest to being a local-yokal. He lives in Idaho just a couple of hours away. Shawn came the furthest to be here. He is from Mississippi. Both Doug and Shawn are military... Doug is recently retired and Shawn just got out.
Anyhow, our saddle is already sold so it's been a bit stressful at times knowing we are making a product someone has already partially paid for! So far so good. We should be done by Saturday, and then I'll post some pics. On Monday we start our own saddles and tack!
Anyhow, God Bless to all of y'all. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers, and if any of you want a custom hand-made saddle I'll be up and running sometime next month! Adios for now...
David
Col 1:1-12
Ok, so I haven't posted as much as I thought I would. Class runs from 8-4 every day, and then I end up working here in the shop with the other guys in class until it's time to go to bed. No complaints though... on the contrary, I'm really having a great time and learning more than I thought possible in the short amount of time I've been here.
Dale Moore, our instructor, is a retired teacher and principal. He is a great guy! He is super knowledgeable about saddles, horses, packing & outfitting, as he grew up with horses and has been riding all of his life. I couldn't imagine learning from a better person.
We are in two teams to two working on "demo" saddle for Dale's shop. The saddle Stu and I are working on... well, perhaps I should introduce my classmates first: Stu is our resident Canadian. He was on the ark with Noah (really he's in his 50's). Doug is the closest to being a local-yokal. He lives in Idaho just a couple of hours away. Shawn came the furthest to be here. He is from Mississippi. Both Doug and Shawn are military... Doug is recently retired and Shawn just got out.
Anyhow, our saddle is already sold so it's been a bit stressful at times knowing we are making a product someone has already partially paid for! So far so good. We should be done by Saturday, and then I'll post some pics. On Monday we start our own saddles and tack!
Anyhow, God Bless to all of y'all. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers, and if any of you want a custom hand-made saddle I'll be up and running sometime next month! Adios for now...
David
Col 1:1-12
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Welcom to the New Year
Wow... time really does fly. I can't believe it's been a month since my last post. I didn't even get around to doing a Merry Christmas post. Soooo.... Merry Christmas! May the blessings of Jesus Christ abound with you and yours this coming year and for all eternity :)
Christmas really was a busy time at our household. We went to Colorado to spend 10 days with my family in the San Luis Valley. It was a lot of fun. The boys got to go on their first sledding excursion! On Christmas day we were back in Kansas and spent time with Jess's folks. It was a wonderful time with family.
The holiday season was a whirlwind, but it was a lot of fun and very rewarding. God has been so good to us, and now He has enabled me to embark on a new and exciting adventure. I am currently in a motel room in Sheridan, WY (where it is -5 outside) getting ready to start up the truck and head on to Belgrade, MT. I know you are wondering why in the world I would be going to Belgrade, MT... without my family... for 5 weeks... in the middle of winter (that's a whole lot of wondering, by the way).
It just so happens that I am attending Dale Moore's Montana Horseman Saddle Building School. Some of you know that I have been into leather working for quite a while now, and it just seemed like the time was right to take it a step further and get into the business. When I return I will be opening a saddle shop in Fredonia, KS. Jess and I are both excited for this awesome opportunity. Actually, JP may be more excited than both of us. I have already been instructed to send pictures of my teachers, new friends, and all the saddles. He also says that when I get home he will be going to his very own saddle school. :) I am so lucky to have such a great family to love and cherish.
In the coming days (I have evenings free) I will update y'all on what's going on with the school, as well as future plans that the Lord has blessed me and my family with. I know I will post at least once a week, and perhaps more depending on the time...
For now, Merry Christmas (again... can't say it enough) and Happy New Year. May your days be filled with blessing and the hope of Jesus Christ!
Adios and Happy Trails...
~David
Ephesians 1:3-12
Christmas really was a busy time at our household. We went to Colorado to spend 10 days with my family in the San Luis Valley. It was a lot of fun. The boys got to go on their first sledding excursion! On Christmas day we were back in Kansas and spent time with Jess's folks. It was a wonderful time with family.
The holiday season was a whirlwind, but it was a lot of fun and very rewarding. God has been so good to us, and now He has enabled me to embark on a new and exciting adventure. I am currently in a motel room in Sheridan, WY (where it is -5 outside) getting ready to start up the truck and head on to Belgrade, MT. I know you are wondering why in the world I would be going to Belgrade, MT... without my family... for 5 weeks... in the middle of winter (that's a whole lot of wondering, by the way).
It just so happens that I am attending Dale Moore's Montana Horseman Saddle Building School. Some of you know that I have been into leather working for quite a while now, and it just seemed like the time was right to take it a step further and get into the business. When I return I will be opening a saddle shop in Fredonia, KS. Jess and I are both excited for this awesome opportunity. Actually, JP may be more excited than both of us. I have already been instructed to send pictures of my teachers, new friends, and all the saddles. He also says that when I get home he will be going to his very own saddle school. :) I am so lucky to have such a great family to love and cherish.
In the coming days (I have evenings free) I will update y'all on what's going on with the school, as well as future plans that the Lord has blessed me and my family with. I know I will post at least once a week, and perhaps more depending on the time...
For now, Merry Christmas (again... can't say it enough) and Happy New Year. May your days be filled with blessing and the hope of Jesus Christ!
Adios and Happy Trails...
~David
Ephesians 1:3-12
Monday, December 2, 2013
Post #3... Clear Creek Ranch (there and back again)
Last Tuesday was my third week to work the sale barn here in Fredonia. I've been stepped on and smashed by angry heifers, slammed in between gates, and hooked in the leg with a horn... and that was just the first two sales. Tuesday was uneventful. It was cold and we only ran about 400 head thru the auction. I suppose if two months ago you would have told me that I would go from being Barn Manager at a prestigious dude ranch to part-time help at a local sale barn, I wouldn't have really jumped with joy at the idea. But God works in mysterious ways...
Three years ago we took a chance on Clear Creek Ranch, and they took a chance on us. It worked out better than I could have ever hoped. It really shows that no matter how crazy something sounds, if God is opening the door it's always going to work out how He wants it to!
We met some amazing people at CCR. Rex and Aileen, the owners, were very good to us and the boys. I know we'll keep in touch and see them again down the road. From wranglers to workampers, we made some special friends while we were in NC. And there were also some very special guests of the ranch that will always be in our hearts. It would take pages to acknowledge everyone that I should, so I'll just say thank you for everything. I love each each and every one of you, and consider myself blessed for knowing you. :)
God moved us to NC and now He has moved us to KS. From the very moment I decided we were going to make the move it just felt like God was opening the door... and now more than ever I know that is the case! We are following God's plan, and that road only leads to greener pastures. I am really looking forward to what next year brings for me and my family.
And speaking of the family, please check out the new "all about the Batzers" page!
As always, God Bless and Happy Trails!
~David
John 10:27 - 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
Last Tuesday was my third week to work the sale barn here in Fredonia. I've been stepped on and smashed by angry heifers, slammed in between gates, and hooked in the leg with a horn... and that was just the first two sales. Tuesday was uneventful. It was cold and we only ran about 400 head thru the auction. I suppose if two months ago you would have told me that I would go from being Barn Manager at a prestigious dude ranch to part-time help at a local sale barn, I wouldn't have really jumped with joy at the idea. But God works in mysterious ways...
Three years ago we took a chance on Clear Creek Ranch, and they took a chance on us. It worked out better than I could have ever hoped. It really shows that no matter how crazy something sounds, if God is opening the door it's always going to work out how He wants it to!
We met some amazing people at CCR. Rex and Aileen, the owners, were very good to us and the boys. I know we'll keep in touch and see them again down the road. From wranglers to workampers, we made some special friends while we were in NC. And there were also some very special guests of the ranch that will always be in our hearts. It would take pages to acknowledge everyone that I should, so I'll just say thank you for everything. I love each each and every one of you, and consider myself blessed for knowing you. :)
God moved us to NC and now He has moved us to KS. From the very moment I decided we were going to make the move it just felt like God was opening the door... and now more than ever I know that is the case! We are following God's plan, and that road only leads to greener pastures. I am really looking forward to what next year brings for me and my family.
And speaking of the family, please check out the new "all about the Batzers" page!
As always, God Bless and Happy Trails!
~David
John 10:27 - 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
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