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With this column, I have completed my 27th year of writing a weekly humor/recipe column. Back when Linda Grosskopf hired me to take over writing "Cooking in the West" for the Agri-News, the only job description she gave me was," Just run some great recipes, write some funny stuff about your life, and have it in my email inbox every Monday morning." That sounded easy enough, so 324 columns later, I am sitting here on my laptop on a Sunday night trying to cheer up enough to write something funny to share this week. I should sto...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, the melody of that old hymn, “For The Beauty Of The Earth,” brought to mind “Care of the Earth” and “Stewardship” and Psalms 24:1: “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” If we go to checking out the hymn itself, which was written by Folliott S, Pierpoint (1835-1917), one finds that there are two additional verses seldom printed in any hymnals – probably no wonder, as which song leader ever leads to sing all four – or for that matter, all seven verses of anything!! More is the...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, most of us believe that the Bible is Your inspired word and the foundation of our life and faith, but our behavior sometimes denies this. We have traditionally devalued history into ‘back then’ which has nothing to do with today. Somehow the point is missing that it is false to think that each person can decide what is true for themselves. The Bible is neither fiction nor textbook fact; it is a story that is true – it tells us who we are and who You are, God. In general, the Bible i...
submitted by Carter County Public Health Free shot clinic for kindergarten and seventh grade vaccinations. Don’t miss out! Call us at 406-775-6332 to pre-register or if you have questions. Here are more details. When: Friday, July 22, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., pre-registration required. Where: Carter County Museum. The Carter County Health Department and the BCBS Care Van have teamed up to offer kindergarten and seventh grade vaccinations for no out-of-pocket cost. Carter County Museum also plans to host an event afterwards. C...
Some days are long and for some reason I have been thinking of past businesses, their location and owners. Let’s begin with the old post office building where I started to work on April 1, 1950 under Postmaster E.E. Sykes. The north side of the building was occupied as a Western store and operated by Albert and Roberta Phelps, later by Claire Whitney. The post office was transferred to the north side later and a grocery store owned by Clarence and Ina Crystal was located in the old post office side. Today, the senior c...
As an English teacher, I love to read. The problem is that I never have time to finish a book. In fact, since the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial celebration back in 2004, I have been trying to read “Undaunted Courage”. My copy is dog-eared only from being drug around in my car for 18 summers. I spend the summer driving back and forth between our places near Bozeman, Big Timber, and Musselshell, Montana, and I vow every summer that I am going to actually finish the book, but I never do. I use it for weights in my suitcase, but...
Smiles Across Montana (SAM) Coming back this month to Ekalaka! Final days to sign up your kiddo! To parents of students in Ekalaka Public School districts (K-12). Deadline to submit your form of interest is May 20. SAM will be here for their return visit on May 24. Forms available at the Health Department or call us to request one sent by email. Don’t let the concern of costs deter you. SAM submits for insurance reimbursement and also provides scholarships. A few of the dental care services that Smiles Across Montana can p...
The Melstone High School All-School Reunion is looming up this June, and I find it quite amazing that I have been out of high school for 45 years. Where did all that time go? The last All School Reunion I attended coincided with my thirty year reunion, which was an event that inspired me to come home and make a bucket list. At that time (fifteen years ago) I did not feel old, but I couldn't help but notice that all of my peers were looking a little more trailworn than I remembered them. In my memories they were forever 18....
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know Lord, when we were kids back home on the ranch; we loved watching the full moon rise over the Cherry Ridges. We learned that many cultures have given names to the full moons throughout the year, each culture giving the full moon a unique name, and generally the names identify the entire month during which each full moon occurred. Crust Moon is one name for the March full moon. As kids, we knew about the formation of crusts on the snow from repeated thawing and freezing. Another name for t...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: April showers bring May flowers, a bit of snow helps too. There’s Daffodils and red Tulips and some Flax turning Blue. Shy violets hide ‘neath dewy grass, ‘resting’ at “Violet Springs.” Birds atwitter, feeding, nesting. “MAY’S Spring Time!” my heart sings. We’ll start this month with fragrant crabs, or May Pole Dance will do. Say! Mickey Mouse was born this month and Frank Sinatra, too! We smell rain storm – taste a rain drop, rebirth still in the air. We watch the rain, then hear thunder – this sce...
Teacher Appreciation Week is this week, and there are not enough words in the English language for me to express my appreciation for not only teachers, but the paraprofessionals, administrators, school staff members, janitors, bus drivers, and lunch ladies who have survived Covid and now face another pandemic--lack of respect for educators. Just a couple years ago, we were in Covid lockdown and suddenly parents developed a new respect for teachers. Two years later, educators find themselves under seige because of national...
I received a message from Linda Story, Chance Story's grandmother, regarding the outpouring of love and support that readers have shown to Chance and the Story family following the rodeo accident that broke all of the bones in Chance's face except his lower jaw. She wrote, "Thanks so much to you and all the generous readers who have sent prayers, cards, and donations to Chance. He is recovering as well as can be hoped. It has been an unbelievably humbling experience. The notes have been a great reminder that there are a lot o...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know Lord, curious things happen, now and then. A friend said that she and her hubby had started a Gratitude Book: every day they would/could write one thing for which they were thankful for. She gave a few examples as we just looked at her, Like really? She smiled and said, “How about you - just look out your window –and thank God for the gifts He has given you/us.” Then she named: her shed, butterflies, streaks of lightning – we laughed then thought – why not? Once home, - what did we see out...
This last week of moisture came as a blessing and a curse. There were undoubtedly large death losses of young livestock in the areas that were hit by days of blizzard conditions, but in some areas like here in our neck of the woods, the moisture was such a blessing that it outweighed the curse part. With this moisture boost, many ranchers will be trying to slip some farming in instead of sleep and between calving, feeding, branding, fencing, and all the other spring work. Farming is often a high-speed, high-stress form of div...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know Lord, we hunger for sacred space and yearn for quiet time. We know that You are always ready and willing to meet us in that space. We must study, meditate, praise, and pray so that divine space becomes the highlight of our daily journey so that we can experience pure peace in Your loving presence. A friend shared this poem, credit was given to the American Presbyterian Clergywomen in 2001 entitled: “Quiet time with the Lord: I have often stopped to wonder, why am I always in a hurry? Can...
Snow is deep — the days long, maybe do an article for you readers. In going through the Shifting Scenes Vol. III, I found two families I had been thinking about for some time. Those two were Chris and Gerda Bentz and Damian (Curly) Culver. “Christian and Gerda Bentz By William Kevin Armstrong Christian C. Bentz, was born December 20, 1891, at Artas, Campbell County, South Dakota, the son of Jacob and Margaret Bentz, of German extraction, one of four sons and three daughters. He attended Northern State College in Abe...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, William D. Longstaff (in 1882) paraphrasing Hebrews 12:14 wrote the song, “Take Time to Be Holy.” In those four verses he tells us to make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak, spending time with the Lord, and lead by His Spirit, our friends, in our conduct, Your likeness they shall see. That is an Easter message that is just as powerful and significant today as it was when it was written. Here is a poem that emphasizes those thoughts: WHAT IS THE GOSPEL ACCORDI...
Many readers know the Story family and might remember that Chance Story, from Martinsdale, Montana (formerly of Big Timber and Ennis, Montana) won a $3000 Academic All-around rodeo scholarship last spring in part for his essay that I ran in this column last spring. Chance, who is a freshman rodeoing for the MSU Northern Rodeo Team in Havre realized a rodeo family's worst fear when he was kicked in the face by a bucking horse on April 1, 2022 at the Bigger Better Barn in...
submitted by Carter County Public Health We have partnered again with Smiles Across Montana to make a return visit to our community in the later part of May. This is a dental care opportunity for parents of students in Ekalaka Public School districts (K-12). Keep an eye out for more information and by visiting our Facebook page - CarterCountyPublicHealth. Smiles Across Montana (SAM) mission is to improve the oral health outcomes of Montanans and believe that everyone deserves access to equitable preventive services. SAM has...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know Lord, another friend slipped off to You, and then this ‘piece’ showed up, author unknown. Just sharing as we grieve, knowing our dear one has gone on ahead: “Grief like a mantel covers me. We kissed goodbye – then astonishment and shock. Who knew you’d soon fly away? Sorrow like the sky – over everything. Tears engulf me – their release is healing. You, dear one, breathed in, breathed out - then breathed no more. Grief like a black hole paralyzes – loneliness and depression attend...
One of the advantages of writing a weekly column for 27 years is that I have a scrapbook of my life saved on my computer. This week, my grandson Alex turned 12, so I thought I would type "Alex" in the search bar to see what stories came up about Alex in columns. The first one that came up was this one that I wrote right after he was born, and twelve years later I can still remember how it felt to become a grandmother for the first time. . . I have crossed another threshold in my life's journey by becoming a grandmother, and...
I was very happy to see the article in the Eagle about the meat processing plant near Belltower called OCC Legacy Cuts. Probably nobody remembers but I wrote an article for the Eagle a few years ago suggesting this very thing. It is a little surprising to me it would be located in Belltower and not closer to Ekalaka, but that is probably closer to the center of the county. It is also surprising that they would be located in such a sparsely populated place. I really wish them all the best. A number of years ago, I was...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, dear Lord, Red Velvet cake is colorful to make. Mix white frosting to spread on top, once cake’s put in to bake. Friends love to share their recipes, then share with neighbors, too. Some soup, biscuits and cookies, too; sharing is fun to do. When the weather’s cold, turn the oven on, let’s make Biscuits today! Make large or small – they’re all yummy; we’ll share with neighbor Kay. ‘Sue’ made some soup – so colorful- she’d wanted to stop in. Soup tasted good, so we asked its name; ‘Clean out...
Spring is officially here, and that signals a shift in my world. I have to shift from physical fitness activities like power walking to the break room for a snack and lifting paperclips to doing things like lugging newborn calves into a sled from the snowbank they were born in or crawling through brush behind cows or in some cases in front of cows--depending upon their prenatal or postpartum moods. Calving season can be a painful transition into fitness that requires a lot of sweat and, therefore, deodorant. The worst part...
There is a health care crisis in America that has nothing to do with Covid. My personal health care crisis involves trying not to put myself in the position of requiring health care despite my husband's ideas. I have health insurance, but I hate to use it--especially for a case of chronic stupidity. Chronic stupidity is a malady that many people who work around cattle and horses suffer--especially during calving season. As I have grown older, I have grown more cautious. If we are driving on bad roads, I will dig my medical in...
