I've mentioned my friend, Cowboy Del, here a few times and how he lives. He lives in a cabin up north, with no electric and none of the convenices that most of us could not do without. He does have a phone now, at his friends insistance. Del raises horses for extra money and lives off a milatary disablity. He also moves buildings (cabins, house trailers, sheds) in the summer months. Del was a sheep hearder in MO for many years and before that worked at various ranches in the west.

I spoke with him the other day to find out how he is. He has frost bite on his toes from this harsh winter and has to have 3 of them removed. I asked how he thought he'd make it at his home after they removed his toes. He said he has no intention of leaving his place (he's 76 years old now) because he's happy where he is. But he is thinking about buying a generator so that he doesn't have to pump water for his horses and goats anymore. When I mentioned maybe moving into one of the government apartments in Baudette, he said he could never do that because he couldn't have his garden or animals anymore. Del's a pretty independant person, he lives a life that many of us talk about but never do.

I thought I'd post a picture of Del with his horses here for you.
http://img17.photobucket.com/albums/v50/SusieJD/Happy/Family%20Photos/17639873qjZsPHidEG_ph1.jpg

He's a good friend.

Susie in MN

Susie, I'd love to meet this guy. He sounds very special. Hopefully he'll do well with surgery and not have to leave his home.

Del's going through kind of a tough time right now. He had been dating a women from Roosevelt, MN for over 2 years. She had been living with a man prior to this for over 26 years. Now, she has broken up with Del and has taken back her previous boyfriend. I tried to be friendly with this women for Del's sake, but I really never concidered her a friend. We invited them to our first Thanksgiving dinner at our home here in Boy River and she barely lifted a hand to help during the 3 days they were here.

But Del's not alone. He has many friends around him (he was raised on the land he lives on now), and they keep him busy. Del has one friend that goes on trail rides with him several times each summer. They camp out with their horses and ride the woods around northern MN. His friend lives very simular to Del, but has electric and works at the resorts up there.

Susie in MN

What a great man. He sounds like a tough old coot and good on him for staying in his home. That's what I'll do when I'm that age. When you're independent like this wonderful person it would be so difficult to live anywhere else and allow others to organise your life. I hope he adjusts well to having his toes removed. I'm sure he will. And I LOVE the photo! Are those horses called painted ponies? Horses are amoung my favourite animals, they are huge and yet delicate and gentle. Please give Del my best wishes and tell him I hope he's back home and fighting fit after his operation.

I know a couple of people like Del, Susie. They are truly special and give the rest of us motivation to cope with just about anything. I hope he does ok after his surgery.
Loved the pic of the horses.

Yes these are "Painted Ponys" or "Pintos". He loves the varied colored horses. Once, when we lived in Williams, Del brought his pictures over to me so that I could make a "Calander" of all his horse pictures for his friend "Donny" for Christmas. That's how I got this photo.

I'll be checking in on his this week to find out when he'll have his surgery.
Thanks for all the good thoughts, and I'll let him know as well.

Susie in MN

Susie, Cowboy Del sounds like the sort of character my DH would love to meet and spend hours chatting with. He just loves the wonderful stories that those old guys can tell. I showed DH your pic of Del and he reminded me that Little Joe in "Bonanza" rode a Painted Pony. I guess Del would know that?
I am interested to know what is the little "house" behind Del in the pic?
I hope he has an early date for his surgery, if it is not already completed. Please wish him all the best from NZ.
Our neighbour had an old timer (75 years) like your Del come to shear their 15 sheep recently. He did an expert job. He asked only $10 which is quite ridiculous, but he just enjoys the hands-on work with the sheep. I guess you could say "it's in his blood". Our neighbour paid him more than he asked as that would not even have covered his travel!
Somehow the world is a better place because of old timers like Del and that Kiwi shearer. :)

Thanks everyone for asking after him. I haven't been able to get in touch with Del for the past several weeks. I imagine he's in the VA hospital in Fargo, ND. I'll post as soon as I can find out how he is.

Del doesn't have a TV, but he might know who "Little Joe" is. He reads for entertainment, I've given him lots of our old books. Needless to say, he prefers western stories.

Susie in MN