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Diamond Springs Ranch: Where the Cowboy Way of Life Comes Alive

By
Guest Columnist
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What happened to gunman James Riley after the Newton shootout in 1871? [Courtesy/Diamond Springs Ranch]

In a world that moves at breakneck speed, one place offers a chance to slow down and reconnect with the cowboy way of life. Welcome to Diamond Springs Ranch, where the clock turns back to a simpler time, and adventure is just a heartbeat away.
Since 2013, Diamond Springs Ranch has been a sanctuary for those seeking respite from the hustle and bustle. Nestled just 15 minutes north of Wichita, this ranch offers a unique blend of rustic charm and modern amenities that set it apart from the rest.
The Cowboy Experience After Dark Diamond Springs Ranch is delighted to announce the latest addition to its offerings, the “Cowboy Experience After Dark.” A moonlit walking adventure for the whole family, this event invites you to unearth the secrets of James Riley, a mysterious figure from history. Venture along starlit trails, and discover the secrets hidden in  the shadows of the past. The ranch will offer a “Cowboy Experience After Dark,” on Oct. 20, 21, 27 and 28.
“The Cowboy Experience After Dark” is a journey into the unknown, where the past and present converge in a delightful blend of thrills, chills, and laughter. It’s a chance to bond with family and friends under the enchanting Kansas night sky while experiencing the charm of the cowboy lifestyle.
Unveil the Unseen: Explore the Ranch’s Unique Offerings
Diamond Springs Ranch offers an array of unique experiences, including horseback trail rides, the iconic treehouse rental, and picturesque spaces for corporate events and weddings. What sets this ranch apart is the perfect harmony it strikes between rustic allure and modern comfort.
The three-story lodge, with its Colorado lodge-inspired design, offers a cozy retreat that will transport you to a different era. It’s a place where wood meets beams, and 30-foot ceilings meet your sense of wonder.
The treehouse, a true gem of Diamond Springs Ranch, is not your typical Airbnb stay. Perched among the trees, it embodies luxury and rustic charm, a unique escape where adventure meets relaxation.
For corporate events and weddings, Diamond Springs Ranch is the ideal venue. It caters to those who seek a departure from the ordinary, offering high-end experiences and picturesque settings that are second to none.
The Heart of Diamond Springs Ranch: Mission and Values
At the heart of Diamond Springs Ranch lies a deep mission: to help people rediscover the cowboy lifestyle, slow down, and evaluate their path in life. It’s a place where the relentless pace of the modern world takes a backseat to the serenity of nature and the wisdom of history.
Diamond Springs Ranch is not just a place; it’s a philosophy. It’s a belief that life’s best moments happen when we pause to appreciate them, and when we do, we can find our purpose.
Diamond Springs Ranch welcomes all adventurers, young and old, to embrace the cowboy spirit and embark on a journey of discovery. With each passing day, more people are finding their way to this hidden gem through word of mouth, social media, and online searches.
This ranch is not just a destination; it’s an experience waiting to be lived. So, saddle up and join the adventure. Unveil the unseen, explore the unknown, and relive the cowboy way of life at Diamond Springs Ranch.
Diamond Springs Ranch, located 15 minutes north of Wichita, offers a unique blend of rustic charm and modern comfort. Founded in 2013, the ranch provides an escape from the fast pace of life, allowing visitors to reconnect with the cowboy lifestyle. With horseback trail rides, an iconic treehouse, and stunning event spaces, Diamond Springs Ranch offers a retreat like no other. Visit Cowboyexperienceks.com for more information and to book your adventure.

What happened to gunman James Riley after the Newton shootout in 1871? [Courtesy/Diamond Springs Ranch]

Near Record Water Shortage

By
Frank Buchman
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“Water supplies are the shortest in memories of more than seven decades.”
Land has been extremely parched several times in that period, but not severe as now.
Wells, springs, ponds, creeks, and many other water sources are waterless. Those who remember the “Dirty 30s,” and the intense drought conditions, claim now is approaching that dangerous level.
Several ponds went dry or had very low water levels a few years ago, so many owners had them rebuilt. Now, some of those ponds are short of water and more have gone completely dry.
Farm and ranch owners are planning to redo the previous pond cleaning jobs and doing considerable renovation of other ponds.
Shortness of rain has made wells with limited water supplies go dry and the best wells have inadequate water.
Those who promote “witching wells” to locate ground water are in demand but have little or no success. No use digging a new well if the water isn’t available.
Rural water districts have been developed to provide water when there are no other sources. Underground rural water district lines were established when water became in short supply.
Now, additional rural water lines are being considered. It is not an easy process as costly underground pipelines must be created with added charge for the water.
When water is piped to the necessary location, a pumping system must be put in place for use year around.
Livestock must have water, and it is the owner’s obligation to provide that regardless of expense.
Water can be hauled to livestock in portable tanks available commercially. Certain cattlemen have been hauling water daily to their herds and it is a major chore.
First, there must be a water source, either the farm headquarters’ water, a community well, or public water resources. That puts stress on supplies, plus there’s a cost for the water.
Driving from a water source to the livestock tank is often many miles with major time and travel expense. Running water into the hauling tank and then out into the stock tank also requires a lot of time.
Abundant rainfall is the best solution to drought. It will rain, but God is the only one with the power to turn it on.
Reminded of First Kings 17:14: “God sends rain on the land and ends this drought.”
+++ALLELUIA+++
XVII–42–10-15-2023

 

Powerless

By
Lee Pitts
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I know a thing or two about living without electricity because our formerly bankrupt electric company has had a hard time keeping the juice flowing. We frequently suffer through rolling blackouts because the electric company wants everyone to suffer “going green” equally. Our area has a knack for going dark during the last scenes of a good movie, in the 4th quarter of great games or in the midst of cooking supper.
I bring this up because I live in Communist California whose leaders have announced that all gas powered yard equipment will be outlawed in 2024 and all cars sold after 2035 must be of the electric variety. They say the future is in “green energy” but I think it should more accurately be called “black energy” because when the lights go out it’s blacker than being inside a casket buried six feet deep. The state has already asked citizens to stop charging their electric cars after four on hot days and this is when only 10% of the cars on the road are electrified. Can you imagine how powerless we’ll be when you multiply that by ten?
It was during all these outages that I used the remaining power in my laptop computer to write The Blackout Diaries.
Day 1: We played cards by candlelight and I actually had a conversation with my wife who seems like a very nice person. After shaving with cold water and boiling our bath water using an oxy-acetylene torch we spent 30 minutes in the garage trying to free our car from the clutches of our electrified garage door opener. We drove into town in our fossil fuel driven car to see if any restaurants were open where we might get a hot meal. We had no luck, went home and had a dinner of popsicles and ice cream because we knew they’d melt first. We read with coal-miner-lamps strapped to our foreheads. I’m just glad that toilets don’t operate on electricity.
Day 2: Surviving a blackout is all about refrigerator/freezer maintenance and using up those foodstuffs that will go bad first. We had butter sandwiches and the last of the ice cream for lunch, threw the spoiled milk down the drain and ate the last of the Oreos and Triscuits. We had plenty of canned dog food and I admit I looked upon the dog with envy as she ate her normal fare. We ran out of chips, crackers, Cheerios and even the fruitcake we got for Christmas five years ago. Yuck! Next time I think I’d rather starve.
Day 3: I don’t know what we’ll die from first, the lack of food or heat. I’m wearing two pairs of long underwear and making a mental list of which furniture to burn first. I can’t even sleep at night because the cocky neighbor runs his extremely loud generator 24 hours a day. I tried to syphon gas from the tank of his motor home but accidentally on purpose gulped some gasoline. It tasted better than the homemade hooch we’d been drinking.
In an attempt to light a furniture fire I tried to do it the way the mountain men did using dried grass and a flint but no one knew what, or where, a flint was.
Day 4: We stole the batteries from all the drills and grinders in the shop and robbed all the clocks of their batteries so we never knew what time it was. For dinner we had ten year old marshmallows roasted by candlelight that smelled like propane and in the process started the curtains on fire. But t couldn’t call the fire department because our “smart phone” land line required electricity to operate.
The sexperts say that the number one way to pass the time during a blackout is to have sex, but as country music star Darius Rucker sings, “Fires don’t start themselves.” I bet the sexperts never tried it with a smelly, frozen, grouchy and irritable partner who has just taken his or her third cold shower in as many days, doesn’t have the energy for strenuous exercise and is showing all the early symptoms  of starvation.
My wife was startled when our bankrupt electrical company called to say the power was back on. She’d been so used to living without modern electrical conveniences that when the phone rang she asked, “What’s that sound?”

Apple Pudding

By
Debbie Dance Uhrig
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As memories go, this is probably the recipe of all recipes for my mother, Betty. When dad sees the title of this column, he too will choke up all over again. In the fall season, all the way up through early November, this dessert was served at my home. I ‘think’ mother told me she got it from a radio program, back in the day, but I’m not 100% sure. This week, Ervin, my husband, came home with a gallon of fresh apple cider. Well, that means one thing for me, a batch of Apple pudding with warm apple cider sauce over the top. Mom would bake the cake late in the day and have all the sauce ingredients ready to cook, at the close of our evening meal. Like many of you I’d like to be back there once again. It held so many good memories for me.

When I went to work for Silver Dollar City, as the Master Craftsman of Culinary, I remember thinking how I couldn’t wait to share this recipe during a fall session. One of the great attractions of this pudding/cake with sauce is the simplicity. I’m coming to learn that as we mature, we like things simpler, and we love sharing the wonderful memories from our mother’s kitchen. The recipe is relatively inexpensive, and it’s so different, guests & family will want you to prepare it every year. But the best quality it carries is how low-cal it can be. You’ll also have all the ingredients on hand, except maybe the apple cider.

This past week was the close of a 4-week whirlwind for me. Friday night our OACAC (Ozark Area Community Action Corporation, since 1965) office & board of directors held the annual ‘Chilingo’ fundraiser, here in Stone County. This is a combination of limitless chili and bingo, with wonderful prizes. Usually this means about 5-6 roasters of chili and lots of fun for the attendees. (Yes, I am the chili maker.) One board member does make a roaster of chicken chili which is very well received. This year our numbers were lower, leaving us with lots and I do mean lots of chili!!! We handed out take-home carriers to many that attended!
Following this fun event I spent a great deal of the weekend in my house-robe trying to relax and de-stress. I will say it’s worked pretty well, even though a great many of my projects were not accomplished. I also got to attend a portion of the Grapefest in Hollister, MO.

What’s next, you may be asking? Prepping for the holidays. I need to get the carpet cleaner here in about 3 weeks, make homemade noodles for the freezer, prepare a batch of apple butter, and ‘hopefully’ re-start my sour-dough bread. Then there’s the garage that needs to be cleaned and finishing up on some sewing projects. Never enough time I say!

Grab a batch of fall apples and make up this unique fall dessert. I have a feeling we will have a portion by the close of the week. Or not…it’s Ervin’s birthday this week and I’ll need to do a pineapple upside-down cake first!!

Reach out to those around you, whether it’s a kind word or action, a container of homemade soup, or your time spent enjoying a good cup of coffee. It will warm your heart and your blessings will be multi-fold.

Apple Pudding Cake

2 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
Beat these two together

1 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup raisins tossed in 1 tablespoon flour
3 cups apples, peeled and finely diced

Sauce
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons instant tapioca, smallest size
1 tablespoon butter
Dash of salt
1 1/2 cups cider

Mix the sugar and eggs together with the dry ingredients. The batter will be very stiff, lastly stir in the apples and raisins. Bake in an 8 x 8 greased baking pan at 350 degrees until a toothpick comes out clean and cake springs back. With an 8 x 8 pan begin monitoring cake at 25 minutes. Our family usually doubles this recipe and makes it in a 9 x 13 pan. Of course, spray the pan with nonstick spray.

For the sauce, combine everything and cook until it comes to a rolling boil, and the tapioca has made the sauce thick. Serve warm for best outcome over the cake.

The Bizarre and Strange Nature of our World

By
Guest Columnist
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Last article we talked specifically about the spooky parts of Kansas and the haunting histories within, and I think it’s safe to say that I probably won’t be visiting certain areas of our sunflower state anymore. This week, we’re not focusing on such things. Rather, I thought it would be intriguing to put a wacky spin on this spooky season by looking into some oddball and oddments stories throughout our world. After all, what is this crazy life other than a series of bizarre stories strung together into a coherent timeline we call our lifespan? With that being said, allow me to add a little more chaos to your understanding of the world.
Starting with an animal that is quite familiar to many people across the Great Plains. The Buffalo, or American Bison, is an animal that doesn’t get enough attention from people in general. If you’ve never had a Bison Burger, you sure are missing out! But possibly more unfamiliar is the Bison’s newest offspring in its generational lineage. The Beefalo. Yes, you read that right, and no it was not a typo. Beefalo are a domestic breed of cattle that was created as a hybrid between a Bison and your everyday cow. The goal behind this? To supposedly create a superior cattle that combines the hardiness of bison meat and allows combined milking ability of cattle. You can only find this stuff in America folks!
In another part of the world, but a somewhat similar topic, scientists have recently discovered rapid plant growth on the continent of Antarctica. As one of the latest products of Climate Change, plants and changes in biodiversity have been observed across the great south pole tundra. Perhaps one day in the future, we’ll see farmers setting up shop on the ice desert land. Who knows? It honestly wouldn’t be the craziest thing I’ve heard of.
Speaking of events that have an impact on the climate, a well-fortified NASA spacecraft recently flew directly through an explosion from the Sun and survived. The well-supported heat shield that the spacecraft is equipped with allows the spacecraft to capture and retain footage from its exploit. While the Sun itself isn’t visible in the footage, it’s crazy to think that we have technology that allows us to pass materials directly through the sheer explosions of the sun.
NASA has also been up to several other shenanigans as of late. Their most recent launch, the Psyche mission, launches with NASA’s first trip to an asteroid made out of metal. The idea behind the mission is to attempt to capture information about the rocky giant to find out whether it contains a core of an early planetary building block as well as to simply discover what secrets it may hold. It is humanity’s first time venturing to a world that has a metal surface, who knows what we’ll find for sure? The mission is planned to send the spacecraft around the orbit of Mars and use the gravitational pull to slingshot to the asteroid itself. According to their estimates, the trip should take roughly 6 years to arrive on the asteroid itself. I guess we have a long time to look forward to the results!
With all these things being said, we’ve barely scratched the surface of crazy stories this week. If you ever want a break from the squabbling of politics, I’d recommend a deep dive into the bizarre, the spooky, or perhaps a little bit of both in this pumpkin season!

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