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Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, dear Lord, on Mother’s Day, we all have ‘thoughts’ of Moms. As we grew up, we’d ask advice, she’d help us through our qualms. On this fine day, we’re thinking back when we were kids back home; for us young girls, how fun it was when our long hair she’d comb. The ranch was home when we were small; its comfort soothed our soul. Our Mama sang the Sun awake, then shook the grates, and added coal. Our bedroom was two rooms away; Mom’s song caused us to stir. We’d hear milk pails, Daddy set do...
I was looking at a memory on Facebook this morning where I had promised to write a story for the Eagle about people I had known in Carter County and those that I had met since then on Facebook. I have never written that story and really don't remember exactly what tack that I was going to take in it but I will try. Spending my whole twelve years of school in Ekalaka, of course I knew the kids that I went to school with. It would be boring to just go from one to another, saying something about them, so I will just hit a few...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, everyone knows that You answer prayers, but few realize that You are apt to give one of three answers. We all expect Your answer to be a resounding “Yes!” – and preferable answered yesterday. We take You for granted, merrily going on with our lives, thinking things will forever go our way. We sometimes chose not to hear Your “No.” Then we sulk and pout instead of searching out where we asked awry. We fail to discover Your perfect will for us. When Your answer is “Wait,” we...
I was released from the Army in March, 1959. I worked around town, Miles City, for several months in various jobs. After working several months in these less than memorable jobs, I went to work for Jim and Bettylou Thulesen on their ranch out by Powderville. I think that I went to work for them just after Christmas in 1960. Jim had a project that he wanted my help on. He had a hay stacker called a Farmhand. To use it you had to tie up a tractor. So he bought a truck frame, turned the gears around and mounted this hay stacker...
I am pretty sure that everyone has grown weary of trying to find humor in a pandemic. However, since the whole world is in a state of virus-induced depression, I think we need good belly laughs now more than ever. One of the best laughs I have had begs the question: "Why did the chicken cross the road?" Its original author has long since been lost in cyberspace, but I chose to abridge it in order to alienate people of all political persuasions while inducing some chuckles. Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road? -author unknown:...
These are the times that try our souls. Isolation, face masks, drugs and diseases that are difficult to pronounce, let alone understand. Take heart. There's a world out there that proceeds without us. A place where winter stubbornly exits stage left, while spring occasionally lifts its head but seems too shy to take command. A place of beauty we should try to visit. As the calendar approaches May, red-winged blackbirds and Western meadowlarks are staking out their breeding...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, old stories might be ancient, but – this still happens every so often. This is how it was told: One day, a man went to visit a church; he got there early so he parked his car and got out. Then another car pulled up near him and that guy got out and said, “I always park there! You took my place!” This actually happened: a visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, “That’s my seat! You took my pla...
In my search for another article I came upon a couple of interesting families in “Shifting Scenes,” and after reading some of these family histories, I have decided to share. This couple each has their own article with information about their parents, origin, families and ranch life. Upon reading, I realized how activities and life have changed from that time until now. The couple was Harold “Bud” Asbury and his wife Edna Asbury. I will introduce Bud to you with information about his life mostly here in Carter County....
As we head into our sixth week of Covid-19 school closure, I am pretty sure a lot of parents are praying that schools will reopen sooner rather than later. Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up the first week of May, and I have a hunch there is a whole lot more appreciation for teachers now than there has been in the recent past. Here in our home school as the weather warms up, we are shifting a bit from home crisis schooling to trade schooling. Last week, we took field trips to the barn to clean calving pens, and we did a l...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, it was interesting when a friend shared that the dictionary defines Easter as a Christian festival which celebrates the resurrection of Christ. Easter, Sunday brought to mind a myriad of images, one of which was the singing of lovely Easter anthems. A book on Hymns elucidates the following pertaining to one favorite hymn: “In the Garden” (written March 1912 by C. Austin Miles) allows the singer to share the experience of Mary Magdalene, as she met Jesus outside the tomb on Easter morn...
Here in our calving commune on Lower Deer Creek, we are going into our fifth week of social distancing or sheltering in place. 102 years ago, the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918, the deadliest in history, infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide (about one-third of the planet’s population) and killed an estimated 20 million to 50 million victims, including over 675,000 Americans. It primarily infected young, healthy adults. My husband's Grandpa, Hoell, contracted the Spanish flu, which kept him from going to World W...
My memories article this time will be a little different as I will write about several individuals who I knew, played sports with, or who brought back memories of years ago. The past articles in the Eagle about "Carter County Greats" was great, informative and I agree. Those people triggered names of individuals that I would like to share with you, including the Eagle article about George Yelloweyes. I remember when I was a basketball referee and he came with the Miles City...
No one alive now will ever forget the Covid-19 Pandemic of 2020 when we all stayed home to fight an invisible enemy. As I write this, we are not sure whether we are effectively flattening the curve, but most people seem to be trying to follow the CDC guidelines. As an educator of 39 years, I find myself struggling with the part of sheltering I am supposedly professionally prepared for, which is homeschooling. There is a reason for public school, and it is that home schooling is too hard. I am tasked with homeschooling my...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: On a hillside near the city, a grove of olives grew, Gethsemane means ‘oil press’ – its nuance Jesus knew. This Garden Grove, a place of prayer – a happening there one night, near the press for oil – the press of sin, OUR sins on Christ, not light. So – what happened in that garden – where heavy weights press oil? Affliction and anxiety, to us they are a foil. The first man, Adam, by his choice disjoined[1] God by his sin. The second Adam, Jesus Christ, forgives us from within. He knew He was the...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, lots of folks have heaps of thoughts and ideas about the secret of how to have happiness. How about Christmas gifts – just think of all the items, all these special gifts are given because of the happiness and love we share. With Easter coming up, here is a good thought to embrace, in a poem by Sper: “Because of love God sent His Son From heaven’s throne to earth To rescue us from sin and death – a Gift of priceless worth!” An unknown author wrote: “The secret of happiness is...
Even though Covid-19 is a very serious topic, I feel that my job description as a cooking/humor columnist is an essential service in coping with this crisis. I think since everyone is sheltered in place in Montana and much of the nation, we need good recipes and a chuckle now more than ever. Since most of the workforce is working from home or not working, I know there are a lot of people who have their grown children and grandchildren moving home to be with them during this crisis. If there is a windfall to this, it is...
I was sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee on the morning of March 5, 2020 when the cruise ship The Grand Princess came across the screen. Somehow I knew that was the ship my friends, Judy Vidack and Theresa Hopkins were on. The report said that a passenger on the ship on a cruise to Mexico prior to their Hawaii cruise had tested positive for Coronavirus so they were going to do testing on the ship. By noon that day, the passengers were sequestered in their rooms and a Coast Guard helicopter was delivering testing sup...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, recently, we ran across some interesting truths. When a friend stated that You, Lord, are like an ‘eyelid’, we were like “What? What are you talking about?” Amazingly, we discovered some interesting and surprising pictures in the Bible, things like You, Lord God, as a laboring mother (ISA 42:14) or as a beekeeper (7:18); now that surely was all news to those of us listening! We read in Deuteronomy 32 where Moses praises the way You took care of Your people, and in verse 10 how You s...
Depression and anxiety are the two most common mental health disorders, and every person will experience one or both at some point in their life. Some people experience depression or anxiety over a short period, while others have a lifelong diagnosis. Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. We all experience anxiety at some point, like before a big test, a job interview, or before making a big decision. However, anxiety disorders involve more than temporary fear. Those with anxiety disorders experience anxiety lifelong,...
A virus is an infectious microscopic organism which invades a living organism, such as humans, animals, bacteria, and plants, and uses those host to replicate. There are a multitude of different viruses. Many viruses cause diseases in humans, such as influenza, the common cold, chicken pox, AIDS, and rabies. Fortunately, for many common viruses there are vaccines available that humans can get to prevent infections. However, there are not vaccines available for all viruses, especially new ones, like the one that causes the...
I would like to end my articles about the family of Joe and Marj Schallenberger this week - they brought back many memories to me and hopefully to you readers. I will share a few statistics and information on the family and then I would like to share some of my recollections of this couple. Marjorie Opal Powell was born 11-20-1916 in Ekalaka to James and Effie Oberlin Powell and had a brother, Harry and a sister, Maxine Lilletvedt. At an early age, Marj lost her father and her...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, having just visited with a couple of near neighbors who are Moms of small kids, sharing some nighttime incidents, it brought back memories from long ago – but – things like ‘back then’ probably still transpire today. Back then when we were little kids, we’d go to bed and all would be hushed in our house, except for some normal night noises; one of which might awaken one of us from first sleep. Pusillanimously or nervously, we’d call out, “Mommy.” If there was no answer, we’d call...
For those of you who are stuck at home self quarantining, I have a bit of reading material for you this week. This tale by Mark Silverstein, who ranches north of Big Timber, Montana came to my inbox with the following comment, "Your Dr. Seuss tribute poem (loved that Seussan Metcalf) inspired me to write a "Fairy Tale" of my own with similar subject matter." Thanks for submitting this fairy tale, Mark! It takes our mind off of Covid-19 for a few minutes! A FAIRY TALE --by Mark Silverstein Once upon a time, millions of...
Hello God, it’s me, Mara: A while back we had the privilege to read a grade school kid’s speech on STAYING ACTIVE/FIT. That brought back some childhood memories. As a farm/ranch kid, whoever thought about anorexia or obesity? We didn’t have time for that and we certainly never heard of all the electronics that folks have at their fingertips today. Most of those items weren’t even invented, way back then. We had chores to do outside in the fresh air – all four seasons: winter COLD, summer HEAT and delightful days of spring an...
My County School Superintendent's office is in the Sweet Grass County Annex, which used to be the old county hospital and medical clinic. Many of my colleagues are sure the Annex is haunted, but in all my years there, I have never seen a ghost. However, recently I did have two disconcerting experiences with my garbage can that have me wondering about the possibility of paranormal activity. My garbage can sits right beside my desk, but one day a few weeks back, I returned from the copy room to find my garbage can sitting right...
