Where Am I?

I am beginning to wonder where I live....is this REALLY the 21st century? do I actually live in the United States?

Allow me to explain:

A few weeks ago Chaney and I drove up to Wiliston and Watford City, ND, where all the big oil boom is happening. And let me tell you, it is like a 3rd world country in some aspects. There were way too many moments when we were there that I thought of Uganda. It also makes me think about what life was like 100+ years ago during gold rushes....the way people live is like a modern day gold rush, maybe that's why they call oil "black gold".

 Chaney and his truck (it's not running yet because it is too wet up there--

hauling gravel, dirt roads and rain don't make for very good trucking conditions)

At least it looks good right??

this is where the truck will someday haul gravel into. 

I think it's kinda pretty ;)

LOTS of RV's.

LOTS! And not all of them are nicely parked in an area like this...

they will park WHEREVER and HOWEVER they can fit.

Watford City

used to be a small town. now it is overrun with oil workers, trucks etc.

But it's still cute (apparently I am really into looks right now ha)

These little "cabins" are for sale, rent, etc all over. They are basically one room duplexes...

I am thinking an RV is a better bet than these, but I thought they looked neat.

 (Okay I thought they were cute!)

More RV's. More Trucks.

Mobile homes are also very popular. There are so many of them in these 

undeveloped mobile home areas. I just can't explain how crazy it is up there.

Seeing this "food truck" was definitely a Uganda moment for me. Especially because just before 

we saw this we had pulled up to a "cafe" that looked like a small hut type thing and it ended

up being one of these trucks with a "sitting area" (more like a wind break) built in front of it.

This one is parked by a bunch of warehouses and mobile homes in red dirt (there is 

a specific name for this dirt that I do not remember. All I know is it 

is red like Uganda.)

 This is an actual drill rig. 

These run 24 hours a day. And are kind of a big deal I guess....?

The guys that work on these live right here on site. 

Well I wish I knew more about all this oil stuff and was better at explaining everything we saw while we there but hopefully the pictures give you somewhat of an idea of the kind of chaos that is happening in these towns.

Back to the question of, "where do I live?" 

The water out here is not very good. It has a rotten-egg smell and metallic taste, so most people out here buy water. We have been buying water at the store but recently learned that at the state park (just 2 miles away) there is a spring where lots of people drive 20+ miles to come fill up their water. So we have decided that water 2 miles away and free sure beats $1.30 and 20 some miles away. 

SO this is the "spring" where we now get good drinking water.

A little bit old school don't ya think? 

Lastly, here are a few pictures I took the other day while out at the ranch.....

Oakley discovered the joys a simple hose can bring...

the spraying of the head was not so fun though.

This is more her style. Out and away.

Trying to prove that I have made friends...apparently Torey doesn't want anyone 

to know that we are friends :(

awe! See. She likes me.

It was very bright!

"hi baby" 

Oakley never misses an opportunity to wave and say "hi"

The boys after a very long day. 

Waiting for burgers to finish cooking.

(Oakley has red eyes because she was eating jalepeno chips)

They are such happy men! (HA)

I think this was at 20 weeks. I will be 22 weeks on Monday.

Well I think that is all folks...baby is doing good, it's very active...wiggles lots and lots!

 I love it!

just a little brandin' and rain

a couple days ago the ranch branded a few of the calves...there was about 50 of them this time.

I've been to many brandings throughout my lifetime, none in Montana, but I've never been to one quite like this.

Instead of roping the calves and dragging them over to the "fire" to get vaccinated and branded the boys (Chaney and Kelly -- ranch hired hands, and two teens from Ekalaka) worked in pairs to grab them with their hands and drag them out of the pen. Also known as "wrestling". And wrestling it was!

Some of these calves were about the size of some the men. But they got them all done and there were no big wrecks or anything. Just a few bumps and bruises and some very hungry tired men!!

In other news, yesterday was SUPER windy and everyone south of Baker lost power for the day. So I spent the day at the ranch with Torey since she had some power thanks to the generator.

Today finally rained, so far ALL day!!! What a blessing. We needed it pretty bad and I love the rain! Our little cow dog also loves the rain and her fluffy hair looks pretty funny! The bird dog however, hates the rain or any weather that isn't sunshine...

quick update

Seems like all I ever post on here is little updates. So here is the update as of late:

The weather has been GORGEOUS lately! I LOVE it! I have been spending my afternoons sun tanning in the back of my dad's flatbed (I don't have a yard so it works haha) Gotta get this baby belly brown :)

Baby is growing. Finally starting to look prego at 19 weeks hehe! And I can feel baby move now so that is really fun!!

Chaney has been working super hard! Sun up til sundown almost everyday. But he just informed me that if he keeps this up he'll have a six pack. ;)

This past weekend we looked at a ranch to possibly lease after this job is done. Chaney really likes it, looks like a good opportunity. The house needs a lot of work though, so with a baby on the way I am a little concerned about that. But God is in control and has always taken care of us so we are trusting. As my mom and sister put it, my first house was huge. Now I live in a mansion. So next I need a castle! haha. (I would be happy with something a bit smaller as long as it is in good condition)

I had a doctor appointment last week and that was fun. I love my doctor and love hearing my little baby's heart beat! :)

Other than that, things have finally settled into a routine and we are just enjoying our time here. It's difficult to invest in friendships and a community when we know that in about a month and a half we are leaving, but I have been fortunate enough to make a few friends, even though it'll be harder to leave it's worth it to spend my time getting to know them.

OH! I almost forgot, I have been milking the milk cow at the ranch with the other wife, Torey, and it is so much fun! I am not drinking the milk, but everyone else is. I am learning what I can about raw milk and making butter and all that fun stuff. Someday I want my own milk cow so I thought this would be good practice. We can't milk Trudy (the cow) for ten days though because they are giving her some medicine for her bad quarter. That is okay though. It is usually a race between us and the calf to see who can get to Trudy first (the boys keep them separated during the day and turn them in together at night however they don't always tell us when they are putting her in and the calf will suck her dry before we get to the barn) so the calf is probably pretty happy these days!

Also, our truck in ND is finally legal and has, what looks like, long-term work. This trucking stuff has been a long process and frustrating but hopefully now it will start to go more like we planned. It has been a major learning experience. We are thankful for the opportunity to try something new though.

Lastly, yesterday Chaney felt like he was getting really burned while he was working and without any sunscreen handy he decided the best option was to put mud on his arms. Yes, he used mud as sunscreen. So I HAD to take a picture to share.

Easter...17weeks....Life....

Okay so my Aunties (mainly Marlece) and my Mommy have been telling me I need to blog more...

So here is a general update and some pictures....

Chaney and Kole shaved their heads, BALD! So we did it over skype
with my family.

Chaney's new look.

 This was Chaney and my first Easter as a married couple.

It was also my first Easter without any family :(

My first Easter being pregnant.

and my first Easter having to be the hostess...

We ended up having the other hired couple from the ranch join us and one of the owners.

Chaney made tri-tip and some other steak. 

We also had mashed potatoes.

French bread.

Plain jane salad ha!

and my favorite! FRUIT PIZZA!

Doesn't it look delicious...good because it was!

(the other two women brought some food too, so we stuffed ourselves!)

This is Oakley...the other couples baby! She is my buddy!

Isn't she cute?!

Chaney just kept eating and eating :)

Chaney and Charlene (the ranch owner)

Oakley hunting for eggs...she didn't like putting them in the basket.
Also in the pic is her mom and dad (the other couple ;))

*notice egg behind her*

Today I am 17 weeks....so here is my "belly".

Other than Easter and a growing baby...Chaney has been working a ton. Close to 12 hour days 6-6 1/2 days a week. It has been good. He enjoys the work. Likes the bosses and the other hired guy. It is such a blessing to have my man working somewhere he enjoys :)

As for me, I have made a couple friends...one I actually knew before we moved here. One that is the sister-in-law of a friend I've known for awhile, her name is Sadie; she is also preggo with her first and our due dates are only days apart. The other girl that I have befriended is Torey, Oakley's mom. It has been so great getting to know these gals and spend time with other women. BLESSING INDEED!

We've also been attending a church in Baker (about 20 min away) it's a good fit for us for now and everyone is kind and welcoming. :) 

I've also been trying to walk several times a week down my long driveway. It's been wonderful to be able to get outside. For the most part the weather has been GORGEOUS and for that I am extremely thankful. this week is a little more on the chilly side but I am not complaining. 

I think that is about all that's been going on out here. But it's been good and we are loving life! :)

pictures

that, up on the hill, is our new home...

Chaney, Kate and Mable

(In case you can't tell that hole the dogs

 are in is shaped like a heart.)

It was really nice here the other day

so we went exploring :)

First attempt at a belly picture. 12 weeks. Not much there. 
And Chaney with a bird on his shoulder. (hehe)                                     

And last but certainly not 

least...Baby Bowen!

(10 weeks)

Change change change

Life on the ranch has been....full of CHANGE.

In the last two months, Chaney and I found out that we are going to be a mommy and daddy come September!! We bought a semi and a belly-dump trailer to send to North Dakota to work in the oil fields. Chaney quit his job in Lincoln. He found a new job in Ekalaka, MT (it's way east, almost North Dakota and not far from Wyoming.) We moved, a 9 hour journey. (and it took several trips, with cows, a boat and the house stuff. lots of stops.) Our first doctors appointment was on our 7 month anniversary and we were able to see our baby!!! (so sweet. so cute. so wiggly!) And our truck finally made it to North Dakota. It also had quite the journey to make, from Missoula, back to Oregon to get the trailer and then on to ND. plus the driver is from Oregon...

But now we are finally here. Starting to settle down. Our new house is 3 stories and sleeps over 20 people....it's actually a hunting lodge. So for the next 3 months we will be living here, in what I like to call "our mansion".

As some of you are probably wondering....what is Chaney's new job? Well he is here at the Medicine Rocks ranch to help with calving and AIing. Then in 3 months they won't need him and we will probably be on this moving adventure again...thankfully lots of our stuff will stay packed due to the fact this house has everything we need basically.

Well I think that about sums up our crazy life in the last 2 months. Sorry I don't have pictures. My camera is dead and the charger is packed somewhere...but Chaney's phone has a few I will try to post when he gets home.