Digging deep for an article

I spent a couple of weeks in Ohio this fall to spend time with my family, and to do a considerable amount of research in my family’s history for an article I’m writing. One reason I love my vocation is it’s a very hands-on profession. Last year when I wrote a piece on a solar [...]

Shifting gears with the season

I’ve come to realize there really is no slow season anymore. I know a lot of people look forward to autumn because garden chores and life in general starts to moderate. Not here. I don’t know how I’m going to freeze and can everything that’s ripening. I’m even freezing berries to turn into jams and [...]

Weeding, watering and snakes

Now that the summer planting is finally done, and the late season round hasn’t started in anticipation of fall harvests, it’s time to weed, water and enjoy the gardens. I’m one of those crazies who actually likes weeding, particularly when it’s in my home garden and everything pulls up nicely. On the other hand, using the hoe in [...]

The wonders of MSU Extension

I often am enthusiatic about the stories I write, but this week my information gathering went a little out of control. I thought I would do a nice, easy article on what Montana State University Extension agency does for Cascade county and Montana. Boy, was I wrong. After talking to several agents and a specialist, [...]

‘Tis the season

Christmas is less than a month away, and I’m about to hit the panic button. I just have to remind myself that I’m not that far behind when I have heart palpitations. The Christmas letter is finished, although I still have to print and mail it. Plus, unlike most years, I actually went into a [...]

Heat wave heading into October

   We had a warning shot that the season was coming to an end on September 18 when the temperature dropped from 39 degrees to 34 and it started to snow. In my panic, since I didn’t hold much faith in the forecast, I harvested 85 lbs of tomatoes and a whole mess of peppers [...]