“The day” finally arrived – the day Jim and Charlie decided they’d test the wheat’s moisture. That was yesterday.

Jim left before lunch and said that it would probably work out for Taylor to bring me to the field at lunch and then I would just stay. I was in the process of getting everything out to make hamburgers when Jim called and said he’d be in for lunch. That could only mean one thing. It was too wet. He said the combine’s moisture tester was showing anything from 14% – 20%.

The night before, Denim stopped by the trailer house to see how busy we were. Since we already had a plan in place to do Charlie’s wheat and then move to Denton, we told Denim we didn’t know if we’d be able to help him out or not before having to head west. The higher moisture in Charlie’s field determined that we should go with Plan B. Jim made the call and we got the ok to head to Denim’s field to help him. We’d just let Charlie’s wheat dry for a couple more days.

Late yesterday afternoon, Jim and I made the move. We began on the hard surfaced highway, turned on the gravel and eventually took a “cow path” the rest of the way. There are a lot of these “cow paths” in the Jordan area. Our friend, Charlie (plane crash), used to tease Jim because he knew how much Jim hated beating his pickup up and down these paths. It’s just the way it is around here. Eventually, we end up getting used to them (sorta). Coming from Eastern NE, these “cow paths” are nonexistent (unless it’s a low maintenance road).

Most of the time, these “cow path” roads lead right through gumbo areas. We’ve been around these parts enough to know that if it rains, you best get off the gumbo roads. These roads can turn from bumpy, dusty roads to winter like roads – slick as ice – instantly! I’ve been in a pickup when trying to get off a gumbo road.  Most people would pay big money for an adventure like that! I’ve also seen what dried gumbo on a vehicle does…it turns to concrete. I remember one year while in Jordan, we headed to the Fort Peck Reservoir and it rained. The road turned to ice and the gumbo road sucked our pickup in the ditch. We eventually got out but the dually was a mess! Jim literally had to scrape the gumbo concrete off the underbelly of the pickup with his pocket knife.

A Gumbo hill

The field that we headed to was one we had been to a long time ago. Jim’s dad was with us that summer so I’m going to guess it had to have been in 1994. After we had been here the previous summer, Lloyd (Jim’s dad) happened to find an obituary in the family bible for a relative of his – Pete Osborne. Pete and his brother moved to the Jordan area and had a freight wagon (pulled by a team of horses) from Jordan to Miles City. Pete and his family lived on Frazier Creek. It just so happened the field we were near was close to Pete’s old homestead. I’d been there before but it was at least 17 years ago. While Jim was going round and round in the field, I was trying to find that old homestead again. I could see the fields which Pete farmed (they’re still being farmed) but I didn’t find his homestead. I did, however, find someone else’s homestead. I LOVE poking around these old places (even though you have to be careful of where you step – rattlesnakes). I find it interesting that there are still pieces of the past that are visible and touchable. When we started coming to this area 30 years ago, the old log cabins were still standing. Some of them still had furniture inside. If you looked through the window, it appeared the residents had left for the day and never came back. Things were in place as though the home was waiting for everyone to return. Before we leave this year, I’m going to visit Pete’s homestead again. We had no idea when coming to Jordan, Montana that Jim’s genealogy included this area. Evidence of just how small our world really is!

This momma cow did not like me in her territory. She was bellering to her calf – surely telling him to come closer to her.

Eastern Montana wheat field. The wheat is beautiful! It will be interesting to see what it’s making. Jim was going fairly slow through the field. When I told him it looked like he was barely moving he replied, “it’s darn good wheat”.

Poking around the old homestead

Sagebrush growing through the old rock foundation of a building

Jamie – this one’s for you. All that’s left of an old iron bed.

Denim’s combine