Mall on the Mountain

I've returned home from a quick trip to my brother's in Ideeho. It had been a long time since I had gotten to see my nephews, their wives, and little ones, so off I flew.
Flying is one of my favorite things, preferably via Heli, but a fixed wing will do in a pinch. Airports, lines, strange seatmates, not so much.
After getting to spend an afternoon and dinner with the kids, we drove up the mountains to my brother's home. Getting in after dark is always kind of disorienting, and this time was no different.
I was given the run of the house & town the next day, as both brother & wife had to go down the mountain to their jobs. I took a few pictures, walked all around town, and chatted up the locals that I happened onto. When my brother got home he asked what the plan was for the next day. "Haven't made any," I said. He said he was going to the Mall on the Mountain, and I could go along if I wanted. Well I'm not big on shopping or malls but I said I would go just to spend the time in his company. He said he usually finds a little something to his liking when he goes, so the plan was made.
Early the next morning after a huge breakfast, my sister-in-law is one of those fantastic cooks, we jumped in the ol suburban and headed off. He drove up the mountain, past the high school, past the large forest service complex, and onto a nice road. There were a fair number of others going up the mountain as well. When we got to the Mall on the Mountain parking was an adventure. We finally found a good parking place and started our shopping. After scouting the goods for a bargain, I found a gem of a heavy duty fire pit complete with footrest and spark screen. The price was right, so we loaded it up and away we went.
On the way home we scouted for elk, checked out the progress on the reforestation of a recent burn, and told each other how much we wished we lived closer, and other things.
When we got back to the house, we proudly showed my bargain to my sis-in-law. Who promptly said that she would have the guys at work crate it up and she would ship it to my home. She didn't really seem overly impressed with my shopping skills. My brother said it was a gem and every time he built a fire in it he would be reminded of me. How sweet is that!

Mudd Pie sigh...

It is too hot, 100+ today. In another time, on another day, when I was expecting the second baby and living on the home ranch, it was a very hot day.
 After packing a lunch for the Cowman and I, we headed to one of the ranch's large reservoirs. Bumping along in the old ranch pickup, over hill and draw, did nothing to make me feel better. Getting to the water seemed to take longer than usual. My feet where swollen, my back ached, and my mood was just plain cranky.
The Cowman decided to right the little boat and paddle out to the middle of the spring fed reservoir. After dispatching a little rattler that had thought to shade up under the boat, he pushed off and away he went. More to escape my crankiness than anything, I think.
As I was spreading the old blanket and sorting out the lunch, I noticed that a dozen or so cows had come down to drink. They took no notice of me, as I must have looked just like another member of the cow herd with that huge belly. They proceeded to wade out into the water and slowly drink. Then they seemed to just stand there and sigh. As I listened to their soft sighs, they seemed so at peace with their world. Getting up, removing my boots, and walking down to where they were was an effort. That first step into the cool water was heaven, the next couple steps brought me even with the rest of the girls.
Cool water and mudd on my swollen feet, heaven. I stood there and sighed...

I'm waiting...

My mother-in-love was a wonderful lady. She had so many interesting adventures. Like raising seven children, being a rancher's wife, a nurse, a talented crafter, a mother-in-love and much more.
There was the time she went on a rigorous mountain hiking trip with three of her best friends. As they went along the ridge top they admired the view, and listened to the gurgle of the stream far below. Chatting and gossiping like a happy flock of crows on they trekked. After some distance they decide to take a break and sat down to have a cool drink from their canteens. Each in turn took a big swig, and gasping, swallowed. It was then they discovered, not a one of them had brought water. Each and everyone of them had filled her canteen with vodka.
Then there was the time she was concerned about a friend drinking and driving so she chained the friend's car to one of the trees beside her house. As time went by that evening we kind of forgot about the chained car. When the friend left we heard this terrible thunk, screech! Upon rushing to the windows we viewed the friend making a great effort to leave, repeatedly she took a run at leaving with her car hitting the end of that chain, thunk, tires spinning, screech, thunk, screech.
There was the time I had a bad chest cold. Being the nurse she was she took charge. Slathered stuff on my chest, threw a towel over it, and told me to get some rest. She would take care of everything. When the burning sensation started I screamed, she rushed in and said it would be fine, then lifted the towel. "Oh My God" she said, "I've burned your chest." I healed but never again did I get her famous mustard plaster.
There was the time on the houseboat at the lake, there was the time at the cattleman's dinner, there was the time at the home ranch BBQ, there were a lot of times.
So when her final mass had been said, and we had all gathered out front to await her final journey, it was fitting that my slip would fall to the ground at my feet in front of half the town and all the family. Stepping out of the slip, and stuffing it in my purse, I started to laugh. She could always do me one better, I'm waiting.

Altered Mantra

I have been trying of late to think in a very positive manner. This so that I can get through my classes and on to a new job. A much needed new job. "I can do this" has been my mantra. It has served me well until: late last night after a three hour class, I went and filled the ol' suv with gas, deposited a check in the bank's drive up window and decided to stop by the drugstore to pickup a few necessaries. Parking right at the front door, I went inside, cruised the store for a while, got a few things, and checked out. Returning to the ol'suv, I noticed that the door was locked. Now the windows were down, as it was a warm night, so the door lock being down was odd. That's when I noticed that my briefcase was missing from the front seat. Damn and Blast, some lowlife scumbag stole my briefcase. I'm sure they probably thought there was a computer inside, which thank goodness there wasn't. But still it did contain two VERY expensive textbooks, CD's for texts, a flash drive, a binder with class notes, tests, flash cards, new highlighters, and my very favorite new mechanical pencil. Damn and Blast. My new mantra may have to be altered.

"Your Not Stella"

Living with Himself these many years has been an adventure.
You see Himself is a type A diabetic. He's lived with it since he was 10, against the odds. Often he has a low blood sugar reaction, and that usually at night.
One night, kids tucked in, ranch chores done, he went off to bed, and proceeded to have a bad reaction. 
Now we lived outside a small rural town, everyone pretty much knew everyone else. So, when I called 911, three of the four volunteer firemen that came, worked with me at the school district. The two EMT's that came knew Himself from past encounters. The two county mounties that showed up were having a slow night and knew us, when they heard the call on the radio. 
Now you've got eight guys, our kids, myself and Himself all in our bedroom. I'm in the middle of the bed trying to get glucose gel down Himself, while our audience is considering the best course of action. 
 When suddenly Himself opens his eyes, gives me a startled look and loudly says "Where's Stella?", "right here babe" cause I'd agree to most anything to keep him alive, where upon Himself glares a me and says, "Your Not Stella". 
 I look around in the total silence that follows his proclamation, to find ten faces staring back at me. Because you see they all know I'm Not Stella, too.