I Might Have to Move to Australia...

...just so I can meet the people who put together and are featured in this magazine.

I was packing my "bag of wonders" as the kids call it for the trip to Billings and was just about to put these magazines in when I thought, "OH! I haven't blogged about THESE!" So everything came to a skidding halt so I could tell you about this incredible publication that my friends Myron and Ada subscribed to for me...

I know.

Focus.

But this is really, really special.  You'll be glad I'm a flake when you look a little closer...

The periodical is called "graziher" and it's about/for/of women in Australian agriculture and LIFE. It's independently published and is one of the most gorgeous things I've ever seen. The paper is thick and sturdy, good quality, so it can bounce around in a farm truck or have a pie set on it to cool and you'll still have a good read. The photographs...oh, it's like they took my camera and captured the images I would have, except probably more professionally. Either that or they have amazing photo editors who spiff up the scenes.  

I love the fonts.  Yes. Even the typography is well done!

It shows women making a difference in their communities and branching out to impact world culture...

It portrays the tricky beauty in ranching. Not everyone appreciates a good cow picture, but I do! (And I think you all are starting to as well, as much as I inundate you with them.) Even the sheep in this magazine look good. I'm not a sheep person at all, so that's saying something big here.

There are recipes, too, but only a couple and they're really practical and fresh. Nothing with frou-frou ingredients that would be hard to get your hands on or keep in the pantry. (I'm going to do this tart, but I need to convert the measurements!)

Poetry (and book reviews)...

FASHION! But just a little. It's almost an afterthought....as though the editor said, "Well, we'd probably better have SOMETHING fashion-y..."

This particular ensemble is one that i'm going to try to copy, somehow, for this fall/winter.

There's art, too....not just photographic art, but watercolor and pottery and metal and screen printing art! 

One of my favorite features is the article they include in each issue (so far...all two that I have) about the "pioneers"; the women who preceded them in Australia, those who you look up to and say, "Someday, I want to be like HER." 

I wish a magazine such as this existed for women in Montana. 

Nothing political or with an agenda, but a good strong read that encourages and motivates us, that portrays us as we really are. 

If you'd like to look at graziher in person, you're welcome to drop by and have coffee (and perhaps the tart), look through and have a visit! 

Due to the fact that they're from Australia and basically irreplaceable, I'm not going to lean them out but I WILL share them here. 

(Yep. That's the way to get company!)

Myron and Ada, thank you so very much. 

When I opened the first issue and leafed through about 10 pages, I got tears in my eyes because I thought, "Finally. Someone 'gets' it. Someone made a magazine for us..." 

And then "But I'm not AUSTRALIAN!!!!"

Even so, I love it and it DOES encourage and inspire me here.

Okay, NOW I'll finish packing...

But not to move to Australia. 

I'm just going to Billings.

(Grandma came through surgery fine, as of noon today and now we can tease her about being into heavy metal because she's got a plate in her hip and a rod in her arm.)

I Think You Need to Know...

Today's assignment is to write about something I feel strongly about.
I thought a long time about this one, because this year it seems everyone feels strongly about EVERYTHING. No matter what I thought to write, it seemed heavy and controversial, and I don't know about you but I'm quite weary of that.

And then it came to me.

I believe that if you love someone, you should tell them.
Don't assume they'll be able to figure it out or that they already know or that you'll get to it someday or that it's too scary so it's best to avoid the matter.
Tell them.
Just say it.

In the family I was raised in, we always have and continue to do so.  When my grandpas each died, I was sad of course, but there was no doubt that the last words we spoke to each other were "Love you, Gramps" and "I love you, child".

(Yes, I'm crying, here. So many people I love and miss...)

It's good to back up the words with action, of course. Words can be empty without action, meaningless without the follow-up (or perhaps precedent). But I feel very, very strongly that if you love someone....friend or family or even pet....that you should tell them.

Some people are scary to say those words to. And there are those who are scared to hear them, or don't know what to do if someone has the nerve to speak of love to them.  That's okay. The older I get, the more I think "What's the very worst that could happen? An awkward moment? Is that worth the regret?".  It'll be okay. Tell them, anyway.

I have to go, now.  My grandma broke her hip and wrist yesterday and is having surgery today, so I'm going to try to get things squared away here, then head to Billings in the morning. I just had to get this blog post out, because it's too important to me to be packing it around in my head and heart.

For what it's worth, I also want you all, the readers of the Chronicles, to know that I so appreciate your faithfulness through the years. I've made some of the best friends of my life, and learned so much, laughed and cried and exclaimed. You really saved me in so many ways because when I started writing this, I felt very alone. Thank you. I do love you, too.

Bye, now!

A Word to the Wise

I was supposed to write this blog post yesterday.

In my planner, it just says "Words of Wisdom", so I'm not certain if I'm supposed to share my wisdom, or words of wisdom given to me along life's path...

I don't know.  Neither option is good, really. 

Most of the words of wisdom I got from my elders ran along the lines of practical knowledge, meant to keep me safe and help me along in the world. Besides the golden "treat others as you would want to be treated", I got things like this:

"Don't put your tongue on cold metal; it'll rip the hide right off it." (Standard wisdom that kids nearly always test, only to find out that it is indeed true.)

"If the fish aren't biting, use a chartreuse lure." (Grandpa Dutton)

"Use real butter and real vanilla, always." (Aunt Bert)

"Cut away from you. Remember Miles Phalen's missing eye? You don't want to end up like that." (A good threatening example that I never forgot.)

"When you're cooking, make enough for the group you have plus a couple extra. You never know when someone might drop by." (This happened fairly often, actually, and I still cook for six even when there's only four of us.)

"When someone asks you to dance, never turn them down. You don't know how much courage a guy has to get up to ask a girl to dance." (Dad)

"Don't go anywhere without a jug of water." (Everyone in Eastern Montana.)

"Dress in layers. You can always peel clothes off to get comfortable, but it's rough if you don't have any to put back on when it gets cold." (Again, everyone in Eastern Montana)

"Wait for the man to open your door and pull your chair out." (Both parents.)

"Be early for everything, at least 15 minutes." (Cardinal rule)

"File most recent to the top" (Mom)

And so forth...

I can tell you that I have no real wisdom myself, but have been carried through many years on the wisdom of others who were generous enough to share it with me.  There's a lot of nonsense floating around, false fronts and empty platitudes that my kids are going to bump into. I hope I remember enough of these for them to hang on to as well!

It's HARD

Happy September!

I was going to do other posts here before the blog challenge week hit again, but our computer monitor (that has faithfully served us for 17 years) died and we only just got the new one.  It seems so BIG and bright!

The topic on the challenge today is for me to write about something that's hard for me, something I struggle with.  That particular topic could be its very own blog!

Here's the biggest struggle I have, day to day:
FOCUS

Oh, my stars....

When the movie "Finding Nemo" came out, I immediately identified with Dory, the little blue tang fish, who (as she regretfully but truthfully admits) suffers from "short term memory loss".

It's not that I forget things immediately, but that I'm easily distracted from something which leads to distracted from THAT, which leads to.....what are we having for supper? 

The only thing I've found that works is to write every, every, EVERYTHING down.  I have a planner that I use daily, two calendars, highlighted reminders, lists for groceries/town errands/daily to-dos.  This blog challenge is in my planner with a little check box to it because if I don't have it there, I'll completely forget.  I can hide things from myself, like a chocolate bar, and if I don't see it, I don't remember it....isn't that awful?! On Sundays, I line out my week with a menu for all the meals and a review of "what's happening".

It really throws me when school schedules change or the day gets scrambled around, because my total daily plan flies out the window, and there it goes. It may SEEM as though I'm organized, but it's just the opposite.  I think truly organized people carry a mental checklist around in their heads and can adjust it on the fly.  

The good thing about this, though, is that I'm going to transfer seamlessly into senility.  No one will be able to tell when I lose my marbles because it will just be an extension of my day to day distraction and forgetfulness.  

**POSTSCRIPT**

Another thing I struggle with was highlighted this morning and I feel compelled to share it with you...

Backing up a trailer...horse trailer, camper trailer, little bitty lawnmower hauling trailer, LEGO trailer...I can DO it, but Lordamercy it's painful for anyone to watch because it takes a ridiculous amount of time and salty vocabulary.  

That's all the confessions for today, folks! 

Bigfork Summer 2016

Actually, it's Ferndale.

(For those detail people, you know...)

We flee the prairie in July every year and head to the mountains where it's cool and damp. You've already seen Glacier, but this is how we spent the majority of our time in Western Montana...

We build on to the ever-evolving magical tree house.

This trip, a lookout ledge was added! 

(It looks like a good spot for mommies to take cocktails up and stare at the stars while talking of big dreams to one another, too....)

Every project needs a supervisor who has no idea what's going on.

Mud pie pastries are concocted.

(The really do look like the fancy chocolate confections in nice restaurants!)

Hummingbirds are admired.

This is quite possibly the best representation of my daughter that I have...

She'd been clumping around in Grandma's heels, so we found her some glittery Dolly Parton ones of her own in which to practice graceful walking.

A troll hunt was postponed for the next series of pictures...

A handsome escort was procured...

(Reluctant, but not out-and-out rebelling at the idea of it all.)

Some instruction given on those tricky turns...

 One of the best moments of our visit, in my opinion.  

 Let the wild rumpus begin!!!

We have built-in, next-door "cousins".  Talk about HANDY!

They're not going to be next-door in a week or so, so I'm glad we had this relaxed time in July.

Houdini, patrolling the grounds...

 More "cousin" time, with different pals.

We're so blessed to have lots of loved ones in all corners of Montana!

Quinnie had his first loose tooth while we were there! 

I just want to squeeze him, every time I see him...

He usually lets me.

I love that kid.

Beethoven, killin' it in his cowboy hat! 

This is a chronicling of the Best Day of The Troll Hunters.

All I know is that trolls are repelled by soap, which is why everyone needs to take a bath before bed!

The hummingbird got TIRED.

It's crazy, to see them resting!

Sara 

My soul sister.

And then there's bike games! 

We LOVE the lions! 

One day, I happened by to see that one of the kids had carefully placed a bouquet on one of the lion's paws. I think the other one was laughing at him, but I can't swear to it....

In the lookout ledge!

Here's the playhouse kitchen, all tidied up.

They made peasant-style open shelves cool way before the trend hit HGTV.

As we leave, the kids say goodbye to every, every, EVERYTHING...

the mountains, the playhouse, the trees, the signs, the old guy walking his dog.

We leave a little benediction and prayer of gratitude behind every time we drive away, always conscious of the gift of love and joy in a blessed place of retreat.

Postcards From the Prairie

I was looking through the photos I'd taken in June. June is when Montana puts on her finery and rewards us for living with her in January. Truly, I think the people who settled here probably got to the area in June, decided they'd found paradise, changed their minds in January, and by the time they got packed up to leave, it was June again and they forgot about January.

My Grandma roses! I don't think I've ever seen them bloom like they did this year.

The bush was weighed down from the blossoms and when you drove in the yard and got out of your car, the rose smell was just amazing. 

The road up to our house.

My Jodi roses! 

(My dad used to name his horses after the guy he bought them from. The "kid" horse I learned to ride on happened to be bought from a guy with the last name "Gross", if you can imagine. It was fairly rough when someone asked me what my horse's name was...

Anyway, I've taken to naming some of my plants after the people who gave them to me. This rose was from Jodi Pierson and neither of us have any idea what variety it is, so I just call it the Jodi rose.)

This was right before she took a huge hail pounding...

On the way home from Miles City, close to Angela and looking south at a storm blowing into Miles. We'd just finished a baseball game when things started getting stormy so we were glad to be out of there. If you look very carefully at the center of the picture, you'll see a slight ghost of a rainbow!

 Maggie and I love our antelope.

They're difficult to photograph, though, so anytime I get some image that's reasonably decent, I feel triumphant.  Kind of like taking pictures of a toddler.

Montana skies will wreck you for any place else...

The trees in our shelterbelt look to me as though they're always telling each other secrets. 

And when the wind blows, their "tummies" shake with laughter!

I wish I knew what was so funny.

There's no way to do a full moon justice in a photograph.

This one was particularly lovely in its flamingo pink tone!

(Okay, they call it a strawberry moon, but I like the flamingo pink idea better.)

Heartwarming

The blog challenge assignment today is to write about five ways to win my heart.

I'm changing it to five things that warm my heart.

It's my blog. I'll do what I want! 

1. There's something very dear to me about children's hands being held by old people's hands, or vice-versa. Actually, now that I'm typing this and getting it out of my head, I think ALL hands warm my heart! So much of your life story and personality is right there at the end of your arms.

2. Genuine, happy laughter!

It's just the best!

3. Special songs from good times in my life warm my heart. Especially if they show up from out of the blue.  Yesterday I got in the car to head over to Vern's to work cows and a song from Grease was on the radio...it was like a gift, and it made my heart happy! Here it is, so your heart can be happy, too: (click here)  (Go ahead and dance...no one's looking.)

4. Baby calves. Baby anything, but baby calves have big, curious eyes with 2 inch eyelashes, sweet little noses covered with feeler whiskers, knobby knees, big stick-y out-ie ears....little heart warmers, right there.

5. Oh, man...I can't decide between a fish on the line or homemade bread, here.