I have some smoked hides in the living room and shop, then there are a few whips and saddles, tack in the back room. Carries the reminders of many good times outside right into my home. Some sage and sweetgrass bundled along with tied up bunches of drying flowers hanging in the windows, catching the the soft cool breeze this morning. Wafing their fragrances thruout my house, tickling my senses, teasing me with the possiblity of a walk in the woods.

Won't be long before the soft cool brisk mornings of fall or Indian summer will call my soul to the moutains and draws.

To be still in the softness of the moment, allowing your senses to be taunted with sweet memories of times past. Teasing with times yet to come!

Brings a crooked grin and a slight tilt to my head, listening for the sounds of magic ~~

Now a person can take most anything for a while without change and I am one of the most patient when it comes to eventual change so long as I know there 'will' be a change in the future sometime and I am working toward that change. Now this can pertain to anything. Facts a fact and that's a fact.

So when we had the most days over a 100 degrees anyone could remember and the hottest, driest wind blowing, blasting the mountains and the prairie without prejudice for mother nature's children. When the springs shrivel up and recourse their lifesource downward and not up and out for the forest babies to quench their much parched throats with, when their mother's milk is disappearing faster, without the moisture to make more, than the babies can survive with. Then the forest creatures fear of all that is man starts to fade with each ragged breath.

My troughs become the new springs where hope cools eternal. I leave a drip on the frosttfree.

When the ga'hoppers become the main meal for my pups and a meal they love to eat, how do you limit the number they inhale like a gourmet meal. My rottie is huge, ga'hopper round. When the hummers flight brings them close to death from heat exhaustion just trying to forage for a few bugs and some sweet nectar to wash them down with. Then, its just a little toasty in the prairie.

When its too dadburned HOT for so consistently long that I even consider the snake laden river, then its time for a change and to steel up. So steel up I did, without the kids.

My CPN slid over to jump in the pool for a moments relief from the incinerating heat today, got her calves in the water, her personal leg calves not her 4 legged black calves that go mooo, then I was desperate to dare the 'ice' water from just filling the pool. The mini tornado lifted the pool with roughly 12 inches of water in it and tossed it upside down twisting and bending a 'few' metal poles. So with enough help to right it and scrub it down, we were just filling it up.

I was trying sooo hard to get in and cool off. It was now deep enough and the babies had headed home with their mom and the other 'splashers' were in the house warming up and watching a movie. They had been splashing, dripping and climbing in my lap all day. So here I go into the pool! Not enough sun long enough to take the 'cicles' off the edges much less warm it up a might. Then add 100 plus body heat from working in the heat of the day. Well in others words the rattlers' seemed a little less threatening.

So with the mere mention of the river with its snow fed water shed from ages ago, sounded like a less shocking to the system option, off we went likity split.

After thankfully not seeing nary a snake on the way we pulled up and jumped out. Half of the prairie was already swimming and soaking up the sweet refreshing invigorating 'cool' moisture Mother Nature has been providing for eons and the other half was scarfing up and picking out the beginnings of 'dinner' offered up, before they could fly away!

Dadgum rottie just up and beelines it down the dirt side trail, hell bent for leather, with nary a care as to how I will make it safely thru the snake laden, snake booby trapped side hill hmmm what a 'bud'!

So brave I be without my 'steel rattler gators' on. Down the steep, slippery, to dusty to see a dadgum rattler, hillside I tip-toe! That river water was the sweetest reward for my bravery one could imagine. Now why oh why have we suffered so long?!

All summer, with my fear keeping us from relief. Shhh never reveal the simple relief to my kids and dogs this river could have provided all summer, please. Even remembering that scene in that western I love. Where that nice Irish kid gets swallowed 'up' by the 'shudder' slithering ball of water moccasins 'cotton mouths', when trying to cross a river on horseback.

Ohhhh ya, did influence my entire life with one scene. Uhgg just couldn't make myself not think of that scene. Still I braved all my fears and down to the river and well not quite jumpin in but close! Oh man, today was the sweetest reward for my bravery in a long time!! So if tomorrow is the hottest day predicted 'yet', I hope my courage resurfaces with a vengence and I load up all the puppies and kids and off and jumping in we go!!

So much closer than the lake, they can swim and my lures will drift down without a thought of hooking a kid. Got a current tho so gotta watch careful on the kids, rivers high enough to be a danger. Without ac at the house this river is a blatant blessing I've avoided like a fool.

Dang, the more I write about the 'dangers' of rattlers. Or my foolish fear! The more I talk myself out of braving Mother Nature's creatures offered abundantly for my viewing pleasure only and appreciating the blessings flowing for our blessed relief from Mother Nature's heat.

I mean really, is 'one' bite worth it!

Look where 'one' bite got the entire world !

with feathers .... we used to have wild turkeys come into the bird yard where my turkeys were 'talking' or 'booming' ... they would sit on top of the pen or strut their stuff around the pen ... soo talkative .... and so coollll ... well now that my turkeys are gone they are confused and keep 'booming' on the north side!

They look like a bronze with just a inkling of extra white feather throw in for interest or to stand out just the tiniest bit more in the woods ... my son makes turkey fans to hang on the wall from their wings .. so cool ... He uses their beards for decoration and a leather backing. I like the ones he fans out and down a bit more than the feathers that are straight across.

There have been flocks of 20 wild turkeys for years now we have flocks of 40 or a hundred, dodging thru the woods, darting in and out between the pine trees. They seem to love to travel thru the thorny bushes and the service berry thickets. Now and again I'll get a flock traveling thru the yard. Now that really surprises me what with three big dogs outside. I imagine my hounds have been so used to my birds that a flock of wild ones just seems 'run of the mill' to them.

I loved to hear the booming of my Tom's enticing a hen to sit and stay a few. There's just the wild ones now. I raised those or rather my peahen hatched them out last year for me so I hated to loose em' but that's country life. My peacocks have always run loose here in the hillside. So one day my hen decided to nest in the haystack. Took a bit to find her and when I did I circled her with chicken wire and placed a food dish and water inside for her. Then I slipped a few turkey eggs under her. She was wonderful and hatched them out and loved em just as her own.

So many years ago a white peacock sallied in and strutted across the front yard as if she had been raised here. We were sitting out on the front porch when she just showed up!! No one ever claimed her and for several years she thought she was a guinea hen. She would glide above her buddies on the ground all fluffed up warning whatever predator from the sky was near that she was indeed on guard duty. They would have to get thru her first!! And she must have looked intimidating, nary an attack on her flock. The guineas would fly circled around a threat with their claws outstretched and their wings buzzing like a helicopter.. How they could fly like that was amazing.

All the birds in my menagerie. You would think they wouldn't have lasted for so long in the wilds where I live. Those dadgum turkeys would walk right up to anything and say hello! I had to keep them penned to keep them safe and that was not an easy thing for me to do. So I was trying really hard to hatch a few with my peacocks so they could teach them to be wild and safe!

We turned a tom loose one day where there were a number of wild hens calling in the spring. Wasn't too many days before I was traveling on the back logging roads to town and lo and behold!! There he be in the middle of the road! As I drove by he tried to follow the burban. Poor buddy knew my rig and wasn't about to be left another night in the deep dark woods all alone abandoned by his harem. So the boys collected him up and homeward bound he went!

So now in the woods we have dark legged and red legged wild turkeys!! Booming their way to my house to walk on the wild side next to my slider and parade around their chicks!!

Living in the county, Wild Turkey just not the kind that comes served in a glass on ice!!

Ahh, it was a beautiful day in the woods !!

The smell of fall's crisp clean air and the depth of colors washed clean from the recent rains. Makes a person wonder why they live inside. Tiny chipmunks chattering and slapping there tails in the middle of the road. Warning us away. Even a big diesel pickup couldn't intimidate their tiny frames. Tall and firmly planted they slapped the road again and again, warning all in the forest some immense creature was approaching.

Run be free!!

The mighty hawks were out to find their prey before the hunting turns to slim pickins'. Great horned owls hooting in the trees behind us and the ruusshh of a falcon's wings. Tons of magpies flitting from branch to branch. So many forest creatures and the prairie's blend of such magical essence. All out to see if we were friend or foe!

Prairie dogs never make sense! They run from one safe haven to the other side of the old logging roads, just to stand on end and chatter their stories incessantly, then back to the other side, if they are lucky! More evidence of the lions abounding.

My friend's dog was bitten by a lion and they are amazingly fortunate to have her home. She took more than a few stitches and has the most gorgeous necklace I have ever seen on a puppy! Basic duct tape grey with the muted tones of a plastic cone. Now that is not only stylish its a necessity. She's already managed to remove a few of her stitches!! uh oh !! Some puppy's in trouble now!

I love the cooler air that surrounds me in the woods. Sharpens my senses and makes me appreciate the warmth of the wood I am bringing home. The coyotes are yipping and giving the sense of the wild all around us now and the bear scat is full with the dried berries left on the trees. Won't be long before we'll not see anymore. Their dens will be full and my beehives will be safe once again. Unless a boar who didn't plan as well awakens and comes a looking in the dead of winter for a meal or two!

Such a different fall without the colors and fragrances which usually accompany this time of year. A warning to hurry for change is near. Nope change is here and the hurrying will be a bit late this year. A few good days will have us prepared much like the squirrels that have prepared for so many a season.

Life is good and ever changing here on the prairie much as with the rest of the world season to season. We evermore get a chance to revise and make aknew that which was to that which will be.

How fortunate are we!!

To be able to share ones thoughts and feelings is wonderful and to share the life experiences I've been blessed with, the good, the bad and the ugly and of course the silly and the strange !! To be able to share all of these and have someone giggle, chuckle or downright laugh their head off is a wonder in itself.

I have so many stories of my many littluns to share and so many dreams of the day and night to tap out. What a wonderful experience this has been.

Thank you all that read and reread. Thank you to those who are touched from one heart to another. There's always been a light on even when no ones been home. Now the rooms always warm and full. There might be snow outside yet there is just a jazillion tiny diamonds all around brightening up the room inside.

Thank you all for reading and so long as my puter keeps me online I'll keep my stories filling up the net'

May the Blessings Be

My kids would watch newer scary stuff and it would really be an issue with me and they made me feel so unreal not allowing them. This was many many years ago. Now I've seen many of their shows and many more I can't and won't watch!!

So one very dark Halloween night right and I do mean right after the younger ones had left for an evening of Trick or Treating. I relented and told one of my older sons, the only one who wanted to stay home with mom, its ok pick a movie. Less than my smartest move ever.

So he grins and I should have know better with that dadgum grin of his and his 'really?'. We lived many miles out of town around corners and bends in the road. With trees and bushes hovering next to and over the road. So dark it be and the moon was indeed only peeking from the darkened sky. Great night to be inside not out Trick or Treating. At least inside one is safe! Right?!!

The popcorn is popping, I love fresh popcorn with lots of real butter and salt. Our house is long, ranch style and faces sideways to the road so that the back end of the house which is the living area reaches deep into the darkened woods. The darkened woods that have hidden many a bear and grizzlies at that. Built on a slab of concrete with sliders almost level with the ground. Painted a shade of spruce green with a brown roof. Makes the windows resemble a cave to a sleepy bear..

So more that once I am nervous at what may be 'out there' looking inside. I have seen some amazing wildlife while I was sipping my morning coffee seated on my couch and have imagined many more types of 'wildlife' than one should seated on their couch. We've always had big dogs so worry not so much I was more nervous with the darkened night and the spooky movie starting up. I knew we didn't have any too scary movies in the house, famous last words or thoughts..

Of course I hadn't taken into account the cable we had installed only a few months ago. My son of course was really aware of all the benefits to multiple channels and all they have to offer on a night such as all Hallows Eve. Dadgum rotten kid knew all along he would be able to con mom into watching a scary movie once the littluns were out for the night. Their father at the last minute decided to take them with the neighbor's dad. The neighbors who live a bit down the lane, were also out for the night. So all alone were we on that darkened, tense, foolish night I decided to turn the reins over to a 14 years old boy, with a crooked one sided grin!! Not the bravest kid I had nor the biggest!!

So on goes the tube, with the taste of butter on my fingers we start to watch. We never get many Trick or Treaters that find their way out here on such a dark and lonely lane. So kisses and hugs and one last adjustment before the littluns are off to town with dad. Just barely out the door and the movie begins.

Werewolf in London, I believe it was. See I told you how foolish I had been. We were just at the moment where he begins to morph into the dreaded werewolf and it seemed like only moments my beloved family had left me here scared outta my wits. Only moments of dreaded music I remembered from the older black and whites that deepened my fears before a single scary moment took place. I swear you can make or break a scary movie by the music building the moment they make or break you and break is more of what they intend to do!!

That pitched moment in time when the crescendo of what my eyes are seeing my brain is perceiving and my ears are trying to block out yet at the same time straining to hear even the slightest of change in pitch or moments hesitation when I know, when we all know that something is 'now' going to happen... BOOM!! it always does.. right then at that moment man meta-morphing into the dark dreaded beast. His clothes shredding from his twisted frame his screams and howls blending into one language. His piercing blood tinged eyes bulging from his/it's skull. The head pivoting and both eyes starring thru the TV screen into my eyes as if he could really see me and his blood curdling howl at the full London moon and my tears frozen still trapped inside my eyelids unable to stream down my cheeks. For if they do he will rip thru the screen and devour my very soul!

Ding, Dong, KNOCK KNOCK AT THE DOOR!!!!!!!!!! dang, there was a ringing of my doorbell and a knocking at my door right at that moment, right at that very second. Damn, my son and I grabbed each other and said foolishly ' did you hear that?' Yes, its just Trick or Treaters, riightt?? Of course it is. Lets just sit here. The outside lights are off, all the lights in the house are turned off, for the proper atmosphere, for our scary movie. The big dogs are not barking we sent them to town with the kids so they wouldn't scare the little Trick or Treaters, we might get way out here!

Knock,knock just barely a tap at the door now. Surely they think we are gone? The front door is down the hallway and around the corner into the foyer. They can't see the light from the TV altho they might have heard the movie as of course the volume was up to the max. Curses for the beauty of surround sound! Why did I ever let him pick the scary movie and why did I not take my littluns way far away to town and leave this evening's adventures or more so intensities to my mountain man of a husband! Why foolish woman are you here now shaking and barely breathing with your fingertips embedded into the biceps of your 14 year old son. DAng!

We must answer,that's just all there is to it, we must. First we have been sneaking peeks at all those dark windows with so little moonlight outside. Hiding whatever so chooses to be hidden on such a darkened, woods filled night! Could be right next to the windows we would never know was there, anything that wanted to be there. Hiding, smirking, taking great pleasure in the bulging of my eyes almost identical to those eyes of that poor man just as he was morphing into the werewolf! How it hurts to have your eyes bulge soo!!

One step, be brave I am MOM yeppers I am MOM and I will set the example of parental bravery. DAng not now maybe later, we wrap our hands around each other arms and trudge as heavy footed as we can moving as tho frozen in time the blaring of the TV in that glorious surround sound continuing with the howling and screams of the werewolf then fading into that low leveled music that prepares you for the storm and terror yet to come. We shuffle into the foyer and glimpse the shadow of a something big. Not a littlun after treats me thinks.

Bumping against the door frame tapping more lightly with it's head cocked to the side. From what we can see in the shallow lights reflected from the nervous terror in our eyes. Clarity is not a part of my brain function at this point much less the common sense of 'turn the lights on fool!'. So I trudge to the door and flip the outside lights on and in their glow is a man or something such. His hoody is drawn up around his face to cover all but the tip of his nose and just a glimmer of moistened lips. His body is twisted sideways with but one hand banging slowly on the door. His other hand deeply planted into his pocket. Oh sure just swing that door open and say welcome my time here on earth has been great and I'm ready to leave this planet this Halloween!!

DAng kids.. a mother must find some courage in the presence of her child. By this time the yapping of, oh yes I forgot to mention, my mighty rat dog. All of 8 lbs maybe? Yappers that's all she's good for and right now she is yapping like crazy adding her fears to the lull of the surround sound. So I pick her up and take her warmly into my arms then go to open the door to see what I will see. She yaps up a storm so I hand her to my son to hold so both my arms and hands are free for the need may be great.

I open the door and try to talk thru the screen door. He I believe it is a he, is mumbling and I just can't quite make out his words. So I must open the screen door, my last defense between us and all that might be traveling thru the darkened night. He takes a step inside. Not my intent, my intent was to open the door to ask him what was needed. He took the liberty of stepping inside, must not be a vampire. Wasn't asked to step inside my home. See what foolish nonsense can cross a tortured mind at a moment like this.

He mutters something and little Wookie our only defense at this time is growling and making a quite muffled 'almost needing comfort' growling sound. That in itself is frightening as she is always way to aggressive. So much like her namesake.. dang rat dog.

My son and I are standing on each side watching the intruder closely for any moves that might betray his true intent. Not much movement as he is still standing sideways with is head partly turned away his hood covering up most of his face and his words once again so very muffled. I ask again what he needs? By now not only wary but calming a bit, just on edge. I say again 'I am sorry I can't quite hear you, what do you need?'. He shuffles his feet and muffles 'a phone, to make a call'. OK, as I move my hand showing him the way to the phone I wisely allow him to lead us so that we can keep a guarded eye on this hooded being that just might be human flesh and blood. Just not the nicest kind.

As he walks thru the living room the movie is screaming and howling away, with someone being ripped apart. Such a wonderful moment to reaffirm my confidence I have indeed done the appropriate thing to allow this individual into my home.

My son and I are warily following this shrouded creature into the sanctum of our home. Into the very bowels of all that may be the horror my dreams will be made of, if there are dreams where I may yet be headed. How foolish of me to let him in. He reaches the phone in the kitchen and my son and I have him flanked between us the constant growling of my rat dog and the now turned down screams of the movie, only a faint crescendo of constant reminders of what may lay ahead. We are ready..

He mutters something on the phone, nods his head and hangs up. I expect him to say something besides a muttered 'thank you' or to have glimpsed his eyes to see they are not bloodshot or mocking my false bravado!! Nary a glimpse, alto I did offer to help him further trying to draw him out to see what may be going on or being set up?

He starts to 'shuffle' towards the foyer and I am even more nervous than before. The whole episode has left me more than shaken and I wonder what and who may have slithered into my home while we were sidetracked with this hooded, muffled, hunched over being. Which at this moment headed out the front door! Only moments had past and I am sure whatever snow white hairs I had earned by that time, had fallen to the floor never to be noticed again.

Out the door it goes and I lock us up tightly within our sanctuary.. My son says did you catch what was going on? I said it sounded as if he was getting someone to pick him up? My son says, I think I know him from school and can't imagine what he would be doing so may miles from town out our way.. So we were huddling trying to fathom what had just happened and there comes loud noises up the walkway!! Loud aggressive noises, not shuffling this time! We haven't even left the foyer and are even less prepared for another onslaught especially now!! DAng it all what the hell is going on ?? Tears of fears are welling up, the unspent ones from so long ago are being pushed onto my cheeks from fresh ones torn from new fears and tears that burn so hot must surely be from my soul thawing out from the terror of the night yet to come!!

My husband appears in the window's light and all my littluns with all their bags brimming full of treats from town are tumbling into the foyer not even able to stumble further into the living room or kitchen to show what treasures they have claimed this night!

I am soo relieved and my husband looks at me with a twinkle disappearing from his eyes as he says 'You know you can't watch scary movies'. I am in his arms hovering over the littluns taking what comfort I can and trembling like a leave just before it's fallen to the ground.

Later after the candy was properly counted and devoured with enough coffee. Of course by me the littluns had plenty prior and had divided their treasures into bags to be stored in the freezer. Off to bed they go what a delightful evening they had. When all had been kissed and tucked to sleep my hubby and the older ones, now they also had returned. Now we talked of our evening's adventure.

I asked him if he recognized my hooded guest? He must have passed him on the walkway. It is the only way off the porch into the yard and driveway. The outside porch light was on and they were less than seconds from the door when our hooded visitor closed it behind him. Nothing not even a glimmer was there he says. The big dogs were glad to be out of the truck and took nary a notice of anyone or anything amiss. How could the dogs not know there had been a stranger here but moments before and walking down the steps in front of them?

I know he was real, even my little rat dog rumbled and whined deeply within her mighty frame.

They hadn't seen a thing and out he goes with the flashlights to check for footprints around the house. The mist had settled in and there was a crispness to everything, not quite a deep freeze just a frost. Enough to show more than the nothing he found. His and the kids' footprints all over the porch nary a strange one amongst them. Nothing in the yard, except the footprints of happy dogs finally out from the confines of the truck!

Apparition or fellow human being in need? Moments of terror or moments of helping? Never so foolish shall I be again!! The dogs began howling with the moon and all the hairy things shuffling thru the forest began singing their songs as the shivers ran deep down thru my spine.

All Hallow's Eve took on new meaning for me that night!!

When he was so very small I would put him upon my shoulders and off we would go across the fields. Tucked warmly inside my fur hood. I would tie the drawstrings and held securely he would bubble and drool. We would stop at the old apple tree across the fence and the horses would come a running and thundering to us. Barely able to slide to a stop as his screeches of such pleasure and delight exploded from his baby lips. He so loved the horses. He always loved animals of any kind. From creepy crawly things to thundering hooves of horses. He was destined to be an animal take care of’er.

I loved to hear my father read to me in his booming voice from Louie' L'Amour, Jack London to Zane Grey. My Dad had a knack for taking the words on a page in any story making them real and exciting. His ocean blue eyes would light up the room with expression. He'd pause and slap his knee, take a deep breath, open those ocean blue eyes as wide as he could get them and say 'Shall we stop here and give it a rest?" Well of course we'd clamor for more!! Then he carried the tradition to his grandson who developed a deep love of reading.

My father was a wonderful example of all a man should be and I couldn’t have asked for a better man to fill the empty slot in my son’s life. So much I was not grateful enough for way back then. So much to thank ‘GOD’s graces for now. Never to again take for granted those who give so much to us. When we are so young and everything seems to have so little value. It will always be here! Won’t it?!!

The laughter that has abounded in my home for so many years from the joy such as my son has delivered to me. He always loved aquariums and we had a huge one given to us just before we moved to Montana and I hated to leave it behind. It took forever to get all the ‘goodies’ inside it that he wanted and the fish! Oh my so many and the baby guppies !! So of course here in Montana we had to have an aquarium and it just had to have a pirate ship and brightly colored fishes. I think we had three at one time. Parakeets in cages and out. He loved them free as much as I did.

Puppies and African geese!! Dang not just a goose oh no!! African geese!! Baby bunnies in the snow to warm up and breathe life back into.. baby mink that were hissing at me on the topseat edge of my car that were not the tame ones he had taken with us!! dang

The eggs that hatched on the ledge of his bedroom window and we never did figure out what exactly hatched from them!! He had pet turtles and injured birds we found a long the roadways. Always something to care for and release. I would get so frustrated at my inability to heal or help and say never again and then one would come along magically by him and off I’d be a doctoring and relishing in his delight if I was able to help heal the little thing.

Always when I think of my son, I see a bright smile that tipped the corner of his lips and then reached up to his eyes and a twinkle in those eyes that forewarned of some mischief at hand. From a frog in my bed to a lizard in the pillowcase or maybe baby bunnies in the veggie crisper. ‘They were hungry mommy’. So they were and off they go!!

Tagging bats in Mexico, counting bears in Alaska, dang there still isn't a whoa in his go!! My son I love him so~~

Was supposed to ride thru Ferry Basin, gathering up a head or two when all I could see was dust a flying and that coupla high tailing wretched witches headed up the western mountain side thru the timber.. Dang em' all to a dry circuit !! Then that sweet lad of mine decided to toss me a come hither look and a whinny as to what the heck? aren't you a coming along? Sure I'll just beat your pretty bay butt straight away right up thru the timber in my laceups!! dang em' all to knarly hay a lots of knapweed for a treat !!

Anyways the chili I made seared a few nose hairs outta a few hairy cowboys at gathering! Warmed em' right up tho' OOOOO I'm bad!!
Don't wanna listen and just had to drink a few cold beers after tasting my chili , not the best idea a man could have. And you dang sure don't wanna ever take a deep breath in between mouthfuls !! Ya kinda want it to find its way down just a tad bit before you decide you need a little air! Dang that was the best ever in a long long while !!

Smart woman and wise cook. Stayed away a coupla days before I picked up my Dutch oven.. No way was I gonna be around yesterday in the catch pens when they were vaccinating and tagging. DAng and only one 'SUNSHINE'. uh oh !!

Life is good and kinda interesting here in the belly of Ferry Basin !