The lazuli buntings came back. In our first house on this ranch, the one down by the road, we had dozens of the little colorful buntings. When we moved to this house we didn’t have as many–maybe the birds liked the open space around the feeders at the other house. The buntings arrived about May 6th last year, usually they hit our feeders about May 13th–this year they were late and making me worry I had offended them or they didn’t like our seed!
If you have to clean ditches it helps to have a view such as this–
Can you spot the Cowboy in the excavator? He was cleaning a section of our irrigation ditch that runs through the neighbor’s property.
Monday the wheels turned again–I joined Jill and Jeane for coffee in town then the Cowboy and I made a wild goose chase to the small Montana community of Amsterdam. We went to look at a Country Coach motorhome. We’ve missed our Country Coach motorhome and on one hand wish we had never sold it. This Country Coach was white (John Brown) and four feet shorter than our original one. It was in reasonable shape for its age and was classic Country Coach–real wood cabinets, good carpet, all the bells and whistles. But we talked ourselves out of owning another motorhome that large and came home without the RV.
Tuesday it was the Cowboy’s turn to socialize and he had lunch with a gang of guys from high school days. He didn’t get home until almost 4pm–I thought maybe someone had absconded with him but no, he was enjoying himself. I worked myself to the bone on Tuesday with him gone–I weeded the backyard flower bed, sprayed weeds, mowed the grass, blew the leaves off the decks, and did laundry. I was exhausted!
Our telephone and internet is provided by a local co-op, Triangle Telephone. We live remote and have the best internet–and it’s about to get even better! They are installing fiber optic lines in our neck of the woods!! Lots of huge equipment and people! Lots of activity!
Thursday was another Billings day. We shopped for a washer and dryer finding a washer in stock at Lowe’s and the dryer should be delivered in 10 days or less–fingers crossed. We enjoyed a good lunch and made a small Costco run. Late in the afternoon found us in the medical center area where I endured a MRI on my cranky hip. No results until next Thursday when I see the surgeon again. I’m claustrophobic and unlike when I had the knee MRI, this time my head was almost all the way inside the machine. I had to talk to myself to remain calm–that was a long, long 20 minutes!
Friday was a weather day–a patch of sun at times, rain/sleet/snow/wind and stinking cold temps. Saturday we woke to a temperature of 25 degrees but at least the sun was shining–for a while.
Sunday we traveled to Billings again for a graduation party for our youngest granddaughter Kristen who now has her associates degree in nursing, has a job at Billings Clinic and will continue her education to obtain a BSN. The greats were in attendance with their Mom and Dad as was Lonn. It was a very pleasant afternoon with good company and good food.
Saturday evening the Cowboy saw some western art prints for sale on Craigslist located in Billings. We made arrangements to see the prints before the party today. The woman of the house had a distinct accent–
Can you tell me where she was from looking at these two flags?? She has a daughter, son in law and two grandchildren in Ukraine, in Kyiv. They are OK at present and are trying to make their way to the United States. The woman and I were in tears as she was talking about her family. She has other relatives still in Ukraine also. This woman and her American husband spoke of the strength of the Ukrainian people–may their strength prevail and Putin be sent back to Russia in disgrace!