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Rouge That Doesn’t Rub Off and Serving Dinner in a Dress Every time I travel back to Lonesome Prairie, I am so acutely aware of its appropriate name. Growing up there didn’t seem all that lonely, as it was what we knew, and of course, school and activities made a difference. I respect the women who live in these remote areas and I think of their unique challenges when it comes to healthcare, childcare, connections, and the multitude of tasks on their plates. It makes me grateful for the farm and ranch women who paved the way. My mom told me...
When the Quiet Season Doesn’t Feel Quiet As I continue to plod my way through winter, I’ve been mindful in trying to follow my own recommendations when it comes to managing mental health. In my opinion, the current “open” winter creates a sense of restlessness, as this is supposed to be the quiet time of the year, with sounds, energy, and activity hushed by blankets of snow. In my last column I wrote about how the wind challenges our mental health, and it’s been windy here in Montana this winter. I live a few miles away from a feedlot....
The wind REALLY does stress us out. This winter, the wind is a huge discussion topic. In many places across the country, it’s been intensely windy and lasting for days at a time. Here in Montana, much of the state, to date, has had an “open” winter, meaning very little to no snow cover or moisture of any significance. This weighs heavily on the minds of farmers and ranchers as they ponder the health of their fall planted crops and are relying on ample snowpack and generous spring rains to ready the soil for spring crops. If you are feeli...
The Fifty-Nine Days of January I think it was the winter of 1977-1978, one of the coldest and snowiest winters on record. I still remember the “treat” of being snowed in on a Thursday and Friday, so we kids had a 4-day weekend. I believe it was this winter when I heard my mom repeatedly say that “January has 59 days.” As an adult, I now understand what she was saying. Many of us struggle during this month with fatigue, sadness, low energy, irritability, emotional flatness, and isolation. Let’s take a closer look as to why we may have these fee...
The Necessity of Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread A favorite childhood photo is one of my dad and I washing carrots. I was about four years old. My mom had me dressed like an Arctic air front was likely to come blasting through at any moment—red overboots, hooded jacket zipped all the way up to my neck, hat, and mittens. Our row of freshly washed produce lined the cement divider between the lawn and garden. From an early age, I knew that when it came to chores, my dad had definite ideas of how things should be done. It was time to work; play and r...
Kicking the tires while considering change I was fortunate enough to take a short vacation and escape the cold of Montana and enjoy a few sunny and warm clear sky days in Phoenix. No schedules, delicious food, and a professional football game made for a wonderfully relaxing and fun respite. A bonus to this experience was my first ride in a Waymo. If you’re not familiar with Waymo, it is a self-driving car, using artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, and custom software. They’re currently in operation in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Ang...
Forecasting and reflecting I just checked the weather forecast. At this next time week, the day’s high temperature is supposed to be 45 degrees cooler than today. That’s not a bad thing. It’s late November, and it’s time to actually have some winter weather. It’s an opportunity to be grateful for the upcoming change and reflect upon our recent journeys. Here in Montana, during this time of year, we’re given the gift of incredible sunsets. An especially magnificent one provided an exquisite backdrop for last night’s run. I snapped a few picture...
It’s pretty safe to say that we Americans are obsessed with dogs. Our comic strips and cartoons are full of them—Snoopy, Scooby Doo, and the Paw Patrol, to mention a few. Favorite television shows and movies feature dogs as the stars—Rin Tin Tin, 101 Dalmatians, Lassie, and many more. Retailers are well aware of our love for our four-legged friends. For example, every coffee drive-through offers some version of the Pup Cup, and our furry friends know that, too! We dog owners take pride in giving them a good life. Our best efforts to treat...
alue each day before the killing frost We lose minutes of daylight every evening. We gardeners hastily pick our remaining produce, watch the weather reports, and wonder how many more days we can eek out until the killing frost. Some people are geared up for fall, ready to enjoy the cooler weather, hunting, and breaking out the crock pot for soups and stews, while others loathe it. Some rejoice in the winter months, as it’s a chance to bake favorite holiday treats, or be outside ice fishing, snowmobiling, or skiing. Others despise winter and s...
The Necessity of Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread A favorite childhood photo is one of my dad and I washing carrots. I was about four years old. My mom had me dressed like an Artic air front was likely to come blasting through at any moment—red overboots, hooded jacket zipped all the way up to my neck, hat, and mittens. Our row of freshly washed produce lined the cement divider between the lawn and garden. From an early age, I knew that when it came to chores, my dad had definite ideas of how things should be done. It was time to work; play and r...
Watching the Clouds, No Matter Where You Farm Sitting in the grain truck waiting for my brother to offload the next combine tank of winter wheat, I looked up at the cotton ball cumulus clouds that dotted the Lonesome Prairie sky. I think of them as “summer clouds”, reminiscing back to being a little girl and enjoying the quietness of a simple summer day, kept company by my dolls and stuffed animals under the Russian olive trees planted by my grandparents. In the warm, no-breeze truck, I realized if I took a cat nap and woke to see them, I cou...
Chopping Ice As winter is drawing to a close (at least it appears to be) I think back on some of my farm life wintertime memories. As a young girl, I remember the sound of the furnace blower kicking in, and if it was the weekend, the sweet realization that there was no need to get up for school. Instead, it was a chance to snuggle down deeper under the blankets and drift back to sleep. I also remember my dad coming into the house with fogged up glasses after milking the cow. I paid attention to when he came in because my job was to get the...
Sitting in the grain truck waiting for my brother to offload the next combine tank of winter wheat, I looked up at the cotton ball cumulus clouds that dotted the Lonesome Prairie sky. I think of them as “summer clouds”, reminiscing back to being a little girl and enjoying the quietness of a simple summer day, kept company by my dolls and stuffed animals under the Russian olive trees planted by my grandparents. In the warm, no-breeze truck, I realized if I took a cat nap and woke to see them, I could groggily believe I was elsewhere…like on th...