Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Memorable Places and Faces

Take a look outside today and all you will see is snow.  The snow and cold really limit what we can do this time of year, so I doze on my dog bed while Dangerous reads.  I dream about our past adventures while Ole Dangerous begins planning new ones.  I have already heard him talking about a backpacking trip in early May on the Escalante River.  I'm sure this trip will be only one of many we take when the weather warms up a bit. While we patiently wait for spring, Dangerous sits at his desk looking at pictures from our past adventures and eagerly anticipating a break in the weather.  I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the places and faces from our previous trips.

Utah and Iowa -- Dubois, Wyoming
Trip to Pickup "Gennie"
 Definite Signs of Spring
Baby Quail in the Pasture

Cow Elk with Their Babies
Boulder Mountain
May Riding
Zion National Park
Summer Thunder Storm
Boulder Mountain
Lunch Break
Yellowstone National Park
"Grover Boyz'" Picnic
Wildcat Guard Station
Nesting Osprey
Grand Tetons National Park
Anasazai Indian Ruin
Southeastern Utah
Big Buck
Capitol Reef National Park
Bill's Cabin
 Kolob Mountain
Flat Top Mountain
Wind Rivers
A complete review of the past year isn't practical in the space available.  However, I thought you might enjoy seeing in one place some of the many places we visited.  As you can see, all these places are remote and beautiful, and usually can only be reached on foot or by horse.  Here's looking forward to another great year, and many more outdoor adventures.  Happy New Year!!!!!

 

 

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

The Dog Who Saved Christmas

Pick up any newspaper and you will read about a brave dog performing a heroic act.  In almost every issue, there is a story about some family's faithful dog waking them before everyone is consumed in a raging house fire.  Most of you are familiar with movie stars like Lassie who saves Timmy after he falls down a well, or who can watch the movie Old Yeller without shedding a few tears.  There isn't a dry eye in the theater when Old Yeller is shot after his savage fight with a rabid wolf that threatened his family.  Well, I'm here to tell you that you should celebrate me along with those other famous dogs because I'm the pooch who saved Christmas!

The Grinch
You might think that the "Grinch Who Stole Christmas" is a fairy tale, but I'm here to tell you that around the Parasite Ranch it's a historical fact and not a children's story.  Everyone knows how difficult Ole Dangerous can be on a good day, well, you ought to try dealing with him during the Christmas season.  His ill temper shines through like no other time of year.  Wish him a Merry Christmas, and you will get "I hate Christmas!"  Ask him to help decorate the Christmas tree, and he will tell you "I'm not interested!"  Request help putting up outside lights, and you will probably hear "Do it yourself!"  That attitude wouldn't be so bad if he lived alone, but his wife of 43 years loves Christmas.

Rudolph, Trea, and Unidentified Reindeer
A quick look around our humble home will give you an idea about what sparks the annual conflict between Trea and Dangerous.  Wrapped and unwrapped gifts cover every inch of available space.  Christmas decorations are scattered everywhere, and Christmas music is constantly playing in the background.  Max and I have to suffer the indignity of wearing Christmas costumes.  If you can't tell for sure, Max is dressed as Rudolph, and I am suppose to be one of Santa's other reindeer which one I'm not sure.  As you can see, Trea really loves Christmas.

Happy Solstice and Merry Christmas!!
Without my help, open conflict might completely ruin the holiday season for us.  To restore peace and good will, I used an interesting strategy this year.  First, I reminded Dangerous that it's me and not him that have to wear the silly set of reindeer antlers which usually gets him to crack a slight smile.  Next, I tell him that December is actually his favorite holiday season.  December 21 is the Winter Solstice which means the days are getting longer and spring isn't that far off.  Finally, if all else fails, I tell him that the Mayan's might have been right and the world will end four days before Christmas.  That one really puts a smile on his face, and you think dogs are stupid!



This year I decided to give a few lucky readers a gift from me.  With the help of Dangerous' son Ben, a graphic artist, I designed a High Plateau tee shirt which is free to anyone interested while the supply lasts.  Drop me a comment or contact Dangerous, and I will see that you get one, but you have to act fast before they are all gone.  Merry Christmas!!!!








Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Big Sky, Big Water, and Big Mountains

For years, I have listened to Dangerous tell stories about the interesting cast of characters who appear regularly in my blog.  You're familiar with most of them Utah Jack, Fremont Bob, Walking Horse Bill, Mississippi Max, Nature Dan, Iowa Holm, and many others.  While they all live in the present maybe with the exception of Fremont Bob, there is another fictional group of characters who constantly haunts Dangerous' thoughts and who always accompany us on our wilderness adventures.

I spend my time during the cold winter months listening to Dangerous recite the travels and adventures of Dick Summers, Jim Deakins, and Boone Caudill.  They arrived in the west during the early 19th Century, traveling up the Missouri River on a keel boat.  Their lives are chronicled in three volumes The Big Sky, The Way West, and Fair Land Fair Land that Guthrie wrote in the 40's, 50's, and 70's.  While waiting for the grass to green up, Dangerous and I spend our time rehashing our past adventures and A.B. Guthrie's excellent fictional accounts of the early west.  If Dangerous could pick a time and place to live eternally, it would be as a character in one of Guthrie's novels.  Short of living in a fictional work, he travels back in time each riding season when he horse packs in the Teton Valley to experience big sky, big water, and big mountains.

Tetons
The Tetons are probably one of the most photographed places on earth.  Show this picture to just about anyone and they will instantly recognize it as one of the Tetons towering above Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  While a beautiful view from the highway, few get to experience directly what it was like to travel this remote back country 175 years ago.  You get some sense of what Dick, Jim, and Boone experienced if you load up a pack horse and ride 30 miles up Pacific Creek away from any oiled road.

Big Sky and Big Mountains
I suspect this might have been one of the views that Dangerous' three heroes saw as they hunted beaver in what is now the Bridger-Teton Wilderness area.  I doubt that the view has changed much since 1840, and the place names create a strong connection with the past.  You can almost sense the presence of Dick, Jim, and Boone when you ride up Pacific Creek to Two Ocean Pass.  Watch closely as you cross the Continental Divide and you can almost see the three of them riding their small Indian ponies out in front of you as you start down Atlantic Creek.  The one thing that definitely has not changed is the absence of people.  According to Dangerous, you can ride for days without seeing another human being other than ghosts from the past if you are a romantic like him.

Crossing the Yellowstone River
The same big water that A.B. Guthrie's protagonists faced is still there.  Even today, crossing the Yellowstone River on a horse is an adventure.  Dangerous tells me that his heart was pounding when he and Dottie waded into what was supposed to be a shallow ford.  Bill and Rich were off just a bit and the water washed over the backs of their horses in places.  The pack horse, Blue, decided he wasn't interested and broke loose and returned to the near bank causing all the riders to cross twice.  I suspect that Dick, Jim, and Boone had their problems with Yellowstone Country's big water as well.
Mariposa Lake
The horses and equipment have changed some over the years, but not the views.  I doubt that our 19th Century travelers had ever seen a Walking Horse, but they probably used something similar to the sawbuck packsaddle seen on Blue to haul all their goods.  Dangerous likes to believe that his three heroes probably stopped right here to admire Mariposa Lake and all the green grass for their horses.  Hopefully, all the beautiful wildflowers helped to brighten their mood like they did for our weary, contemporary wilderness travelers.
More Water
Even though Dangerous likes to dream about Big Sky Country, our real home is on the High Plateau.  What passes for a river in Canyon Country probably wouldn't be found on the map in the Teton Valley.  I have enough trouble crossing the Escalante River during the dry season, so I am not really interested in trying to follow Dangerous across the Yellowstone River without a boat or life jacket.  I prefer to stay home when he visits the big water country surrounding Yellowstone National Park.  Love to hear from you!
  

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Grover Gets Indoor Plumbing

You've heard the old saying that "love can move mountains."  Well, I am here to tell you that love can also build an indoor bathroom.  For years, Grover has had an outhouse, but no more.  After almost 27 years, the well beaten path to the privy will only be trod in winter or during an emergency.
Rosie Surveys the New Sewer Line
 
As the "Grover Boyz" age, they have discussed putting in a septic system to avoid the treacherous walk to the outhouse.  Negotiating the rocky path in the dark or winter has never been easy, and some visitors are really fearful of making the trip in the dark.  Mountain lions, bears, or other wild critters are imagined behind every pinion or juniper lining the path waiting to pounce on the unsuspecting visitor with a full bladder or bowel.  Dangerous wanted to do something about the hazardous trek a year ago, but Utah Jack who you know is quite frugal (CHEAP!!) wasn't interested.  Well, all that changed when someone more important than Dangerous in Utah's life decided she wanted an indoor facility.
Septic Tank and Future Parking Area
 
To satisfy his pressing demand, Utah immediately came up with an inexpensive (CHEAP!!) solution.  He proposed hand digging a septic system with a 55 gallon, perforated drum for the tank.  Understanding the pressure Utah was under, Dangerous was willing to go along with an indoor bathroom, but not one that violated county health codes and rules.  The Grover architectural committee met and finally agreed to have the sewer line, septic tank, and drain fields professionally installed according to code.  However, the water supply system and actual bathroom were left to Utah's creative (CHEAP!!) design.
 
Water Supply System and Attached Bathroom
 
Because I'm a sheep dog, I don't know much about toilets and indoor plumbing, but I do know that water is needed to make them work.  I just use the great outdoors when nature calls, and Dangerous goes around and picks up after me from time to time before someone steps in it.  Even as ignorant as I am about plumbing, I have to admit that Utah Jack's solution to supply water to the new indoor bathroom is quite ingenious.  Choosing the least expensive alternative he could devise (CHEAP!!), Utah Jack built a scaffold of sorts from stuff he had on hand and placed two 55 gallon, plastic barrels on top.  Gravity flow from the barrels fills the toilet and supplies running water for the first time in 27 years to the kitchen.  You have to remember that the system only works in warm weather and a shower anytime of year will be a little bit nippy.  Also, the barrels only hold 110 gallons and have to be refilled from the well when empty.  While 110 gallons sounds like a lot of water, it isn't if you shower and flush the toilet too frequently.  I am watching with interest what happens when someone finds them self short of water after using the new facilities.  Not being able to flush might be worse than running out of toilet paper, and knowing Utah Jack, everyone will be limited to four squares of paper per visit.

Utah Works on the New Addition
 
I always watch with interest when Utah and Dangerous work on these construction projects together.  Utah can build just about anything and Dangerous doesn't really care as long as the finished project keeps the rain and snow out.  Utah always consults Dangerous about the design, but not seriously.  Asking is his diplomatic attempt to make Dangerous think he actually has some input.  I think Dangerous knows that Utah is only humoring him, but I really don't think he cares.

New Entrance
 
It might look like a doggy door, but actually, this is the entrance to the new bathroom  As you can see, Utah Jack barely fits, and I really think his tummy would rub if he tried to slide through sideways.  While the project won't be finished until spring, you ought to stop by when it's done.  If the facilities are working, I am sure Dangerous will make sure the barrels are full, and Utah will issue you four squares of toilet paper and limit you to one flush.  Hope to see you!



   

Monday, November 26, 2012

A Tale of Two Toes

Warning!  This post may not be appropriate for young children or the faint of heart.  While not sexually oriented, unless you like toes, the pictures I have included describe what happens when you regularly wear cowboy boots and pound your toes into the end of hiking boots backpacking hundreds of miles on the High Plateau.
Sheep dogs are fortunate in that we aren't vain like people.  Since we don't wear shoes, we don't spend time trying to match our foot wear with our current outfit or activity.  If you haven't noticed, my outfit is pretty much the same all the time except, maybe, after I have been groomed.  Even an old man like Dangerous suffers from the vanity found among many young women as he tries to find the perfect footwear to match his not so stylish western outfits.  At least he gave up the ridiculous looking cowboy hat that a man without a neck should never wear.  No dog in her right mind would wear cowboy boots which pinch your toes into grotesque shapes and are almost impossible to walk in.  The picture below shows Dangerous' decline from his high fashion, handmade Wilson cowboy boots to a surgical shoe.

Cowboy Foot Wear for the Vain
 
It's well known that Old Dangerous has a high pain threshold; however, our September Escalante River hike finally convinced him that surgery was necessary.  I am not sure I could have walked 20 miles carrying a pack on those toes.  At least he had the good sense to visit a qualified medical professional rather than having Utah Jack, Fremont Bob, or Walking Horse Bill try and fix his foot.  They all had their preferred procedures from amputation to flattening and straightening his toes with an anvil and hammer.
Before Surgery
 
This time, Dangerous had the good sense to plan his surgery after the hiking season ended and horse riding slowed down.  In May, he had prostate surgery that kept him sidelined for six weeks, and you can imagine how that affected his cheery personality.  He scheduled his surgery about right this time, but he couldn't keep his big mouth shut at the hospital which almost cost him more than his toes.  The surgery occurred the day after the Presidential election which, as you know, didn't go as desired for predominantly Mormon Utah.  Well, as you probably guessed, Dangerous couldn't help himself and had to bait all the Republican doctors operating on his foot.  If I have the story right, the anesthesiologist told him to "shut up if he knew what was good for him."  It might have been Dangerous' comment that the losing candidate could still be President of Utah that set the doctor off.  Dangerous always scratches his head in puzzlement when he gets these reactions, and mutters something about those humorless SOB's who don't understand or appreciate satire.  Even a sheep dog like me knows the difference between satire and sarcasm, and I didn't attend college for 14 years like those doctors.
Redneck Bandage
 
I suspect to take a little revenge the doctors and nurses decided to wrap his foot in a camouflage bandage suggesting that he really has right wing tendencies.  But little did they know that Dangerous has deep roots in the redneck community which he tries to keep secret from his few left leaning, intellectual friends.  Most of his buddies know that he fits in better with the crowd at the Cross Roads of the West gun show rather than with a liberal group attending an academic symposium.  Just ask him and he will freely tell you he is just a redneck kid who went to college who prefers reading books to fixing his own pickup truck.
 
    After Surgery
 
By the looks of his foot, I think those doctors got their revenge.  They told him that by summer he will be able to run barefoot on the beach.  I suspect that they are putting him on due to his "satire" before surgery.  By summer, young children will still run shrieking to their mother's at the sight of his bare feet.  But, I doubt that he really cares as long as he can get his cowboy and hiking boots back on and hit the High Plateau trails without nagging pain.  I will let you know how it all turns out.  Love to hear from you!


Saturday, November 17, 2012

Rogue's Gallery

As you well know, Australian Shepherds are frequently recognized as being very intelligent dogs.  Some say Standard Poodles top the list, but how can anyone accept as intelligent a dog with one of those outlandish haircuts.  Others will tell you that border collies are the most intelligent canines, but unbridled activity does not necessarily equate with brains.  How many poodles or border collies do you know who write their own internationally read blog?

While Aussie's are bright, I have to confess to a slight intellectual imperfection.  I can't keep track of all the horses that come and go through my life.  I have to admit that from ground level they all look and smell the same.  My reason for concern is that I might follow the wrong horse one day and lose my happy home.  A bigger concern is that we might meet on the trail, and you won't recognize me.  So, to solve my problem I have created what I call a Rogue's Gallery of horses that are currently involved in my life.  These pictures and brief biographical sketches may help you recognize me on the trail.  You never know when I might need directions or even worse, I might miss greeting one of my loyal readers.  So, with your indulgence sit back and enjoy my equine friends.  They are not listed in any particular order.

Gennie

You met Gen is a previous blog, so I won't say much other than she is probably Dangerous' favorite.  Gen is big, tall, pretty, and sweet.  Her only fault is that she hates dogs, and I mean with the intent to kill.  Unlike most of the other horses, she was bred and raised in Wyoming rather than Utah or California.  Maybe that explains her bad behavior towards me and all other dogs.

Thunder

Thunder belongs to Walking Horse Bill, and is a regular in his riding rotation.  Getting along in years, he still lives up to his name.  When you climb on, you better have a tight hold on his reins.  Even at his age, this very traditional, black Walking Horse knows only one speed -- fast.
Zephyr
Another of Bill's horses, Zephyr has fathered some members of the current gallery including Dottie and Bug.  He rarely leaves his stall because like most males he has only one thing on his mind, but Zephyr is an unusually quiet and cooperative stallion.
Balthazar
At first glance, you might think Balthazar, Bill's favorite mount, belongs on the Serengeti out distancing a lion.  He is the tallest and leanest horse I know, but don't let those protruding hips fool you.  Balthazar can really step out, and refuses to follow any other horse.  You might not notice me on the trail, but this big boy never goes unnoticed, and is always seen in the lead.
Misty
Humble Misty is Bill's guest horse that anyone can ride.  She is usually found in the middle of the pack with the most inexperienced rider on board.  Misty has the unusual talent of convincing novice riders that they are actually riding rather than sitting.  However, she understands instantly when a more experienced rider climbs on and perks right up stepping out in a beautiful four-beat lateral gait.
Rose
According to Dangerous, Rose is by far his best riding horse.  She will climb a tree if the bark will hold, swim the deepest rivers without prodding, and dive off a steep bank without hesitation.  Her only fault; she doesn't like other horses.  Sullen and independent, Rose can't be bothered with the social niceties of herd etiquette.  Most anyone can ride her, but don't put her in a enclosure with other horses she doesn't know, or she will try to eat them alive.  Her aggressive behavior is especially pronounced around males of her species.  Smart girl don't you think?

Bug
Next to Gennie, Bug is the youngest and sweetest in this gallery.  She was bred, born, and raised in St. George.  Bug is very refined with a pretty head, delicate legs and excellent Walking Horse gait.  Like some of the other St. George horses, she doesn't especially like water.  Maybe she and the others raised in the desert get their water phobia from having only seen it spurting from a hose or in a horse trough.
Dottie
Until Gen showed up, Dottie was Dangerous' main ride.  She is Bug's sister and her father is Zephyr.  Dottie has a sweet temperament that extends to sheep dogs, but is afraid of everything that blows in the wind.  On occasion she can be a challenge to ride, but Dangerous loves her dearly.  Because of her color and not so perfect head, she has occasionally been mistaken for a mule which really offends Dangerous.
Sweetie
Sweetie is a stunningly beautiful Walking Horse who is a bit lame.  Like Gen she comes from the Box Hanging Three Ranch in Dubois, Wyoming.  She is in semi-retirement, but Bill hopes to raise another foal from her with the same great bloodlines and Walking Horse traits.
Chief
Chief is the only horse I know not from California, Wyoming, or Utah.  How he got here from Mississippi is a mystery to me and his owner Kent as well.  While a bit herd bound, Chief is a mellow-mannered fellow who Dangerous borrows occasionally when guests visit from out-of-state to ride.  According to his owner, Chief is eight, but all of Kent's horses are eight because he can't remember when he got them or how long he has had them.  Dangerous and Kent were riding together long before I was born, and Chief was around before that.

Blue
Blue is an aging senior who suffers from navicular disease.  Don't worry the disease isn't contagious, but a hoof aliment that limits his use a bit.  While hobbled some, Bill still uses Blue as a pack horse for his annual Yellowstone trip.  Blue is a tough old boy who carries a heavy load while walking on thick hoof pads.

Scottie
Scottie has the unique distinction of being the only Quarter Horse in the gallery, and is by far the oldest.  Utah Jack retired him from active riding a few years ago due to navicular disease and age.  He now hangs out in the pasture with Dottie keeping her company and munching grass.  By 26, most horses have usually moved on to greener pastures; but Dangerous and Utah give him the best of care, and he may live to 30 or more.  Even at his advanced age, Scottie is still the dominant horse in any pasture.  During his prime, he was possibly the best saddle horse at the Parasite Ranch.
According to the dictionary, a Rogue's Gallery is a collection of portraits of criminals and suspects kept by law enforcement for identification purposes.  Well, I don't want you to think of my equine buddies as criminals except maybe for Gen who has sheep dog murder in her heart, but to view these portraits and descriptions as a way to identify my traveling companions.  If you meet a horse on the trail that matches one of these descriptions, take a close look around and you might see me with my tongue hanging out from trying to keep pace.  Dangerous never passes up an opportunity to stop and talk, so when you see me, I am more than willing to chat.  I usually need the rest, and even though I am an intelligent sheep dog, I don't mind having my tummy rubbed while we converse. 


 
 

 

Friday, November 9, 2012

Parasite Ranch Expands

All big ranching operations include thousands of acres scattered among many locations.  Well, the Parasite Ranch might be small by comparison (approximately five acres total), but like the big spreads, it is now located in three different places each hundreds of miles apart --  American Fork, 1.08 acres; Grover, 3.33 acres; and St. George .79 acre. 

Little Valley -- St. George
 
The St. George locations doesn't look like much right now, but Ole Dangerous has plans.  Try and picture a barn and corrals next to the two trees on the sandy lot he and Trea recently bought.  I know it's hard but with a little imagination, you can picture Rose, Dot, and Gen wandering around eagerly waiting for Dangerous to load one of them in his horse trailer to ride on the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve.  It was the opportunity to ride year round that prompted Dangerous to move all of us almost 300 miles south for the winter.  Trea agreed to move because she gets a new house.
New Retaining Wall
 
While the house isn't under construction yet, Dangerous has already started fencing the property.  He and Walking Horse Bill are standing next to the recently completed retaining wall at the back of the lot.  Once Bill completes Trea's house plan, construction will get under way.  In the mean time, Dangerous and Utah Jack have planned the barn and stock fencing which they will build once the house is sited and the foundation dug.  Hopefully, construction will get underway in the next few months.
Street View
 
I know it's hard to believe, but our new southern Utah location is in a very nice neighborhood.  Dangerous looked for almost five years to find a place where he can keep his horses, and Trea can be close to town.  Unfortunately for Bill, Dangerous is within walking distance of his place, but he can't complain too much about having us as neighbors because he actually found the lot.  Since we are just four blocks north of Bill's horse operation, I suspect he and Dangerous will be trading horse tending duties when one of them is out of town.

Planned Pool
 
Dangerous might be building the cheapest house in a very nice neighborhood, but it won't be without important amenities that other neighbors have.  If you fly over the area using Google Earth, you will see a lot of swimming pools in various backyards.  In fact, Dangerous had a six foot high wall built at the back of the property to screen out the neighbor's pool directly behind us.  He thought his daughter-in-law might prefer the neighbor's pool to the one he has planned for our new place, or maybe he was concerned that the neighbor's guests and family might not want Rose, Dot, and Gen staring at them over the fence while they swim.  I suspect he will need to hide all the ladders around the place to keep his daughter-in-law and her children from climbing the wall to join the neighbors because I doubt the pool he has in mind will be heated.
As construction moves along, I will keep you updated about progress and misadventures.  Once the place is completed, you have a standing invitation to visit.  Supposedly, Dangerous is constructing two downstairs guest rooms with an indoor bathroom where visitors can stay.  So, let me know if you are interested, and I will try to get you a reservation.  I am now booking for the 2013 season.


Monday, October 29, 2012

Change of Seasons and Locations

In the past, fall has always been a sad time of year at the Parasite Ranch.  October brings out an army of semi-sober hunters packing high-powered rifles that discourages even Dangerous from entering the back country.  Who can blame him when he rides a Walking Horse that might be mistaken for an elk or deer by one of the trigger happy bunch who prowls the edges of the woods on their ATVs?
Every year before we are pushed off the High Plateau for a month, we take full advantage of the beautiful fall weather.  Most people only see the change of seasons from the black top, but not us.  We ride or in my case walk out into the middle of the forest's blazing yellow, orange, and red colors that most people only experience from the windows of their cars.  For us, fall is our favorite season, but we also know that the High Plateau riding season is over, and we will soon move south to the desert.

Gen and Dangerous

As you well know, Dangerous is very possessive of the back country where he rides and hikes.  Ask any public land manager that he regularly harangues with unending complaints and suggestions, and they will tell you that he believes he personally owns the entire High Plateau and surrounding canyon country.  However, he doesn't mind sharing sometimes.  Two of his regular companions this year have been Kent and Dennis who are willing to put up with his unending editorializing about protecting the places he rides to see the beautiful fall foliage from the back of a good Walking Horse. 

Kent and Chief -- Dennis and Rose
Rather than boring you with ongoing commentary, I thought you might enjoy just looking at some of the places we visited this fall.  Who knows?  If you approach Dangerous carefully, he might take you along for a ride.  My sheep dog view is a bit different from what you get to see from the back of a tall horse.
Favorite Lunch Spot
October Ferns
Mt. Timpanogos
The Burning Bush
Fall Maples
 Desert Sunrise
These days October doesn't announce the end of the riding season.  A few weeks ago Dangerous and Utah Jack moved the sheep camp to St. George where we will stay periodically until Trea's house is built.  Once completed, the whole family will spend winters in St. George, expanding the Parasite Ranch to three locations.  Depending on where we are (Grover, American Fork, or Little Valley), you are invited to visit.  Drop me a note and I will get you a reservation.