In Search of a Square Hole ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

   Like the proverbial square peg, many intellectually disabled adults cannot fit into the "round hole" of society.  The state system does its best to help those with cognitive challenges find their place, but there will always be some who will never fit and may be harmed in the process of trying.

In answer to this challenge, Triangle Cross Ranch was founded by a group of parents who wanted a better life for their disabled family members.  Rather than subject them to the rigors of rounding off their square corners, they set out to design a place that would celebrate their individuality and allow them to grow at their own pace and in their own way.  These families designed a residence in the heart of Colorado farm country; effectively creating a protective community that would accommodate the individual's identified disability, teach and train in the issues of life and shield the residents from life issues that are beyond their ability to bear.  Triangle Cross Ranch is the square hole for the square peg

The Ranch is Christ-centered and relational in its approach to long term care.  We strive to reflect Christ in our communication, our daily activities, our expectations and relationships.  We don't always succeed, but thankfully, God provides a new start every hour and every day.  Our residents, called Ranchers, live in a community that is fully their own and where they can learn to operate as a contributing member on their own terms.  It's a safe haven, an artificial environment if you prefer, where a Rancher can function as the God-pleasing individual he or she was created to be.
 

Green House at Work ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  

 

Our brand new green house, dedicated in October, went to work in earnest this month.  The Ranchers are starting bedding plants and herbs from seed. They will move on to more exotic plants like Japanese indigo after some success with the easier to grow varieties.  In addition, they are starting most of the vegetables in the greenhouse to give us a jump on the growing season and to save us money by starting from seed rather than purchasing plants to transplant.  Our garden plot is being expanded significantly this year, so that jump will be important to increase our yield.  Look for us at the local farmer's markets if all goes well. 

Focus products this year will include cooking herbs, dye plants and aromatic herbs.  Some of our favorites are tarragon, mint, basil, dill, sage, garlic chives, oregano and lavender.

Our heartfelt thanks go out to Group Publishing, the Tointon Family foundation, Marcum Midstream Business Trust, WM Moore Jewelers, Myra Brooks, Clair Orr, Robert and Rosalie Littlefield, Travis and Jennifer Gillmore, Michael Ziegler, and Neil and Karen Pelzer for contributing to make this a reality.

Coming in June!  Prader-Willi Respite Weekends ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Triangle Cross Ranch is happy to announce that we will be hosting PWS respite weekends beginning in June this year.  We will be running one respite weekend per month between June and September.  The cost will be $400 for a weekend packed with outdoor activity, interaction with animals, games, crafts and making new friends.  Reserve your weekend right away, because we can't run a weekend session with less than 3 Ranchers. 

 

The dates are:  June 26-28, July 24-26, August 28-30, and our week-long folk camp September 25 - Ocober 2.  Information on the folk camp is forthcoming.

 

All of the preadmission forms and preassessments must be filled out and turned in along with a $100 deposit in order to reserve your weekend, so go to www.trianglecrossranch.net to download the forms and the respite handbook that has all of the necessary information in it.