The same day that a neighbor planted our mailbox at the Wooden Shoe Ranch, someone knocked it over with their car/truck. They probably were not used to it being there and hit it with a mirror or something. Anyway, that broke a hinge on the door. And, while it had limped along working well for a long while, the other day it broke. 

Of course, I used duct tape to provide a temporary fix, but realized I needed to get and install a new mailbox. Lynne suggested we get a larger box so it can hold small parcels. That made sense to me, so we bought a larger (but not the largest available) mail box at the ACE hardware in Laramie the other day.

The duct-taped mail box

Yesterday, I decided to install the new box. It is about a 25 minute drive from the cabin to the row of rural mailboxes. So, I wanted to make sure I had everything I needed. I charged the battery powered drill. I had studied the old mailbox enough to know how to remove it. I needed a hex driver for the drill. Then, I knew I needed to remove the old mounting board, and not knowing exactly how it was attached, I took an assortment of tools. I took several kinds and lengths of wood screws. And, since the new box is longer than the old box, I figured I might need to move the post, so I took my trusty post hole digger. Hammers, saws, drills, bits, screws...I was ready.

Lynne went with me. I got the old box off easily. The mounting plank also came off using a phillips head bit on the drill. I screwed some long wood-to-wood screws into the post here and there to tighten it up some. Then, I installed the new mounting board. 

It was clear that I would need to move the post back about 8". I don't want my box sticking out in front of everyone else's. It makes it harder on the mail delivery person, and increases the risk of it getting hit again. So, I took the post hole digger and began to chop away at the ground. It was as hard as a rock. Maybe it was a rock. I gave up quickly and decided to go ahead and mount the mailbox, even though it would stick out too far, and then come back with additional tools to dig a new hole.

I asked Lynne to hand me the new mailbox from the back of the truck. "What mailbox?" she says. Oh crap. All that preparation and I'd forgotten the damned mailbox.

So, I mounted the old one back on the new mounting board with a couple of screws hoping it would last another day.

Then, today, I borrowed a gasoline powered post hole digger from a neighbor. Equipped with that, I got a new hole started easily and then was able to finish digging the 2 foot deep hole with the manual post hole digger.

Various hole-digging tools

Luckily, I was able to simply pull the post from the old hole and drop it back into the new one. I filled and packed dirt around it, and am pretty happy with my job. I even "future proofed" the new post location, placing it further back than absolutely necessary so if we move to an even bigger mailbox in the future, I won't need to dig another hole.

So, it does definitely take a PhD (post hole digger) to move a mailbox.

The snow drifts are melting day by day and the aspens are starting to leaf out. The grasses still aren't coming in a lot yet so the space around the cabin looks like a blast zone with all the tramped down dead grass from last year, like it always does when the snow has not been gone long.

We've been busy busy busy. Saturday found us taking up the whole day in Ft. Collins running errands. We bought a new TV at Best Buy since our cabin TV was an old tube-style with a built-in DVD/VHS and a teeny screen. Of course, our satellite dish is not equipped for HD (which we knew) so we are watching standard definition on an HD TV at this point. The Dish guy was supposed to come yesterday but he had a family emergency or something and now isn't coming until June 4th. Bummer. At least it will be time to watch the new season of UnReal on June 6th.

Sunday found us driving to Kiowa, Colorado (south and east of Denver) to pick up the newest member of our family, and one of the reasons I haven't had time to blog. Meet Destin, our new Berner boy! (Registered name: Summit's We Were Made for This v Joyful)

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Altough the moose did not grace us with his presence today, we have no doubt he will be back many times. It has alway been our habit to name the creatures that share our space. In New Jersey we named the bears.

First came Doris who was living under the deck of neighbor Kim's house when they moved in. She named her Doris because that was the name of the previous owner. Then came Ursa with her 3 cubs, named Ursa after the dog star because she tolerated the dogs when they happened to be in the back yard at the same time she was. She came around all the time for the space of one summer. The most memorable bear I named Fertile Myrtle because she had 5 cubs which is pretty much unheard of. They were fun to watch grow up. There were others too, but those were our favorites.

So, with that in mind we have collected a few names that we think would be fitting for moose. Yes indeed, fellow readers, it's POLL TIME! Please vote for your favorite. (Please Note: We left "Bullwinkle" off because it really is too obvious and common.)

My Dad died today. 

Lynne and I went into Laramie to do a whole long list of chores: meet with UPS to see how we might get delivery to (or close to) the cabin, likewise with FedEx. We went to the local ACE hardware store, which I'm likely to discuss more in the future--what a great place (and great people). We got the dogs some buffalo bones, which they love. And, arranged to get puppy food ordered for delivery next Tuesday. (More on that soon, too.) We went to Murdoch's to get some mineral licks for the deer, moose and elk that visit us. We had lunch at Taco Johns, which was great. We went to Frontier Cycles and arranged to purchase a Polaris ATV on which we will put tracks for winter--our emergency egress plan.

We were going to go to the storage facility and pick up some more boxes, but I forgot the keys.

Lynne did laundry while I washed the truck. Finally, we went to Safeway to stock up for the next week.

When we got back to the cabin, I had an email from my Mom. My Dad had died during our trip back from town.

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One of the first flowers to appear right after the snow recedes is the beautiful Pasque Flower. It grows in clumps and would brighten anyone's day with its cheery yellow center. When they go to seed they equally as magical, and I will show you when they are done blooming. (Side Note: in the Dutch language "pasque" means Easter.)

Photos taken with my new macro lens! Woohoo!

Also out and about right now is the Sagebrush Buttercup with its very waxy petals. Both are blooming in and amongst the sage.