Tag Archives: montana

Facing the inevitable

by nebraskawheatie

I took the above picture because the thunderhead was so large and so beautiful. It missed the town of Denton and I think it probably kept moving east and north. It made me think of the large thunderheads we see in the southern states which usually means severe storms and/or tornadoes and hail. I don’t think this cloud had any of that. And, a cloud like that usually puts on a tremenous light show – this one did not. It was good to see a reminder of the summer storms, though.

Now, the pictures I’m showing you next are the trees that I mentioned in an earlier posting. These are the 100 year old trees that the town of Denton is tearing down for progress…new sidewalks, curbs and highway.  When they’re gone, it will give the town a whole different look!


Along main street, there is an old bank. Jim’s been inside and told me I should go back in when they’re open and take a good picture of what it looks like. For now, I took a picture through the window:

Our trailer sits on the west edge of town. We walked to the farthest east edge of town to the football field. I’m guessing that’s a little more than a mile. The geese are flying-heading south. I think they must be stopping in the fields around here for something to eat. When we got to the football field, an older gentleman was outside of his home with his dog. We stood there for quite some time visiting with him and listening to his life story. Very interesting! We figured he was probably about 80 after thinking about dates he talked about. This town is full of the nicest people! Jim just says it over and over again how nice everyone is. By the time we got back to the trailer it was getting pretty dark.

This morning, we decided that we’d better take a trip to Geraldine. A friend of ours had suggested we go there and talk to a person about whether or not it looked like we could find more acres there to cut before heading home. So, we loaded up in the dually and set out. Geraldine is near Square Butte and the scenery was gorgeous. The next two pictures reminded me of the badlands of South Dakota (you can click on the pictures if you’d like to look at a larger photo):

When we arrived in Geraldine, it took all of five minutes to scope out the town. I happened to see the Geraldine Train Depot but didn’t say anything. We found the place we needed to go ask about wheat acres. Jim found out there wasn’t much going on and what little spring wheat there was, was still a ways off from being ripe. Didn’t sound like the news we were hoping for. I asked Jim if he’d take me by the depot so I could get a couple of pictures:

After leaving Geraldine, we got back on the highway and headed south again. When we got to the “town” of Square Butte, I wanted to read the historical sign that was along the highway. After reading it, we decided to see if we could get closer to this jail the sign was talking about – which we did:

After looking at the jailhouse, we opted to take a tour of Square Butte, population of less than 100. We drove by the school house and I could just hear the chaos of the kids and the fun they would have had in that yard. The date above the door is 1918. It looks like it has been turned into a place you could stay. Possibly for hunters? I tried the door but it was locked.

The white building looked like it could have been a business at one time. The town of Square Butte sits at the base of the landform also named Square Butte. Square Butte (the landform) juts 2,400 feet above the surrounding plains and can be seen 70-80 miles away.

After our tour of the big town of Square Butte, we got back on the highway and headed south again. Now, these next couple of pictures were the source of a little spat between me and Jim – which NEVER happens…yeah, right 🙂 I wanted to take a picture of the railroad bridge with Square Butte  in the background. Ok, so he didn’t stop when I said for him to stop. Since there was absolutely no one on the highway, I figured he’d back up and let me get the picture I wanted. Instead, he went forward. Ok…forget it, I said, just go on. Nope, he was going to make sure I got the picture I wanted so he turned around. This is the result of the spat: Now, off to the right of the above picture, you can see a rock that sort of looks like it’s sticking up off the track. Jim was intrigued with this rock formation so we got off the highway and took a few pictures of it:

“Now what?”, I ask. Jim says, “Now I’m going to take you to Lewistown”. Well, I’ve been married long enough to him to know if he does something, it’s usually because HE wants to do it. So, I said, “Ok, but what are we going to do in Lewistown?” If you know Jim well enough, food is something that’s on his mind quite often…AND…it was nearly lunch time. So, he says, “we’ll have lunch and whatever else we want to do”. Well, I figured if he wanted to go to Lewistown, that was ok with me cuz we’d been in the trailer house for the past two days hoping someone would call wanting us to cut more wheat. Guess what else we got to do while in Lewistown – we went to Don’s Sporting Goods and checked out their line of guns and then to the pawn shop across the street. Went to Pamida, got gas and ice and headed north towards Denton. I figured that was the end of our excursion, but I was wrong. Since we were here last year, I had heard that driving to the top of Judith Peak was something we should do. So, he decided today was the day he was going to take me there. I knew it was something he probably really didn’t want to do because he doesn’t like to drive on gravel roads any more than he has to, but he did it. It WAS worth the trip:

There were several places where the road had washed away from the flooding they experienced this spring. In one spot the road was completely gone – nothing but a hole where there must have been a bridge or culvert.

The view from the top of the peak which has an elevation of 6,400 ft.

In the 1950’s and 1960’s the U.S. Air Force operated a radar station on top of Judith Peak. We also went by the buildings that would have once been a military area. Seems a shame they’re all sitting there empty now.

A fun fact…the Judith River was named by William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. He named it after his distant cousin, Julia (Judith) Hancock, whom he had met years before the expedition. He married her 16 months after they returned. I am related to Julia on my dad’s side of the family. I’m assuming the Judith Mountains were named after the river which flows near here.

The final picture I have is the red dog house that sits at the corner of the intersection of the highway south of Hilger, MT (which goes into Lewistown) and the road that goes east to the Judith Peak. I don’t know if I’m going to tell the story exactly right but I’ll try. According to the story, someone dumped a dog off at this intersection. It stayed there waiting for its owner to come back and get it. There is a home near this intersection. The people who live in this home fed and watered the dog and eventually built the dog house so he would have a place to go. After the dog died – probably of a broken heart – the landowners left the dog house on the corner. I think Paul Harvey did a story about this but I couldn’t find it on the internet.

Now, to explain the title of this post. We will not be cutting any more wheat this summer and I must face the inevitable – going home. Jim said he had some minor repairs to do on trucks, some servicing and he wants to clean everything up at a leisurely pace. So, the feelings I explained in my previous posting will begin and will continue until we’ve got everything “home home” and the new “normal” begins.

My silly dream

by nebraskawheatie

I remembered a dream I had last night – a silly dream to most of you, I’m sure.

I dreamed that winter was already over and the girls and I were starting to pack our trailer house – preparing for the summer wheat harvest. That time of year is such an anticipated time in our lives. We live by events rather than months. First, it’s the end of summer harvest, Thanksgiving, Christmas, USCHI convention and then harvest is just around the corner. There’s birthdays and anniversaries to celebrate too, but above all it’s the summer harvest that motivates us to get through that winter mode.

So, last night when I dreamed that we were getting ready for harvest, I remember being happy that winter was already over and  it was time to get ready to go again. I wish I could explain to you what it means to be home in the fall – out of our little home on wheels and back in “real” life. Harvest is stressful and does tend to wear on a person’s nerves at times but overall it’s us, it’s our life, it’s what we enjoy, it’s an addiction!

I sit here in the trailer house beginning to realize that the end of being on the road is coming much faster than I want it to. The girls are already home and that gives me a reason to want to go home. But, the end of what we look forward to all year long is about to become a reality. I know the girls can relate to what it is I’m TRYING to explain to you and can’t. Words just  can’t effectively explain what it is that I go through every year when it’s time to think about heading for home. Maybe it’s the time we, as a family, spend together that I’ll miss. Maybe it’s working together towards that final end result (a job well done and it took all of us to do). Maybe it’s not knowing what day it is or what’s happening in the news. Maybe it’s the simpler way of life. Maybe…hmmm…I just can’t pinpoint what it is that I’m trying to say. I’m saddened by the fact that the past 100 days has already come and gone.

No more of the excitement of being on road and reaching our destination with a job to do. The last time I “take down” the stuff in the trailer house and the last time we load that combine and the last time I see a wheat field will break my heart. It’s the let down I experience every summer when wheat harvest is over that I don’t look forward to. Going home means being involved in a different world. When I think about the world we are about to immerse ourselves back into, it makes me appreciate the time I’ve had with my family these past 100 days. We are truly blessed because we live in a trailer house for 100 days following the ripening wheat north. We are fortunate to have been a part of so many different people’s lives, places and events. But most of all, we’re blessed to have been a part of the segment of agriculture that has become the cornerstone in the foundation of our family. Only those of you who live our life understand what it is I’m trying to explain.

And the hunt begins…

by nebraskawheatie

On the hunt…for more acres to cut, that is. It always sounds like such an easy plan – make some phone calls, talk to the locals, drive from town to town, etc. Sometimes, though, it’s easier said than done. When the wheat’s cut, it’s cut! The Denton area is looking pretty bleak for finding more acres. So, the decision would be now to move to a different area or get your mind geared towards the fact that the summer wheat harvest may be over. We still have plenty of time to be out here cutting more wheat before fall harvest is ready but would we have enough time after moving equipment to another destination? I know all these things are swirling around the inside of Captain Combine’s (Jim) head. It will take us two trips to get everything home and we’re already close to 1,000 miles away. Yesterday afternoon, we created some flyers to hang up in stores, elevators and gas stations. We took a drive to surrounding communities and placed them where we hoped the right person might see it. So far, we haven’t received any calls.  Unfortunately, the weather’s too good. Maybe if there was rain in the forecast things would be different. I took just a few pictures of the elevators we stopped at: Denton, MT elevator

Moccasin, MT elevator

Oh, geez, Jim…did you REALLY need another cap??

 Moore, MT elevator

We were invited for supper at Terry and Coke’s house – if we made it back in time. We weren’t gone that long so we headed north of Denton for supper. On the way to their house, I convinced Jim to stop and let me get out to look at the old school house that was near our destination. I love looking at these old buildings but it gives me a sense of sadness to think how alive they used to be at one time. These buildings once meant so much to someone. When I visited with Coke about the school, she said one of the teacher’s that taught there was planning to come visit the building one day very soon – she’s 93. Oh…the stories she would tell. I wish I was there when she walked into that building again after so many years have passed! Supper was really yummy but the visit with friends was outstanding!

And the heat begins…again

by nebraskawheatie

Today was a reminder that it is still summer – even in Montana! I’m not sure how hot it got today and it certainly wasn’t anything we experienced in OK or KS this summer BUT it was hot in the sun. There was no wind so the dirt just swirled around the back of the truck while I unloaded it. Needless to say, the mixture of the wheat dirt and sweat really makes for an itchy day. A shower is next in order!

Today was a little different simply because we were visited by a familiar face! Mark Rathe with the New Holland Harvest Support was able to fly to Lewistown from Bismarck and deliver some  parts that were needed for us and for another NH customer. He visited us first, we had lunch with him and his pilot and they were on their way to the next stop. I got a call from him late afternoon and he was already back to Bismarck. Thank you, New Holland and Mark for the outstanding support you provide!!!

We’re just shy a few acres from being done with the winter wheat. The spring wheat is still just a little green and could certainly use the heat the next few days intend on delivering. My only hope is that if we have to deal with the heat, a little wind would be helpful. The Canadian geese are flying over the camper this evening. I think they probably know the heat we’re going to experience is temporary and they’re headed for their winter home. Already? Why must summer go so dog gone fast?

The girls started school on Thursday. I really miss them and it will be good to be all together again when we’re finished.  It’s the school schedule and the time being set by someone else that I don’t like about the end of summer. I love how our days are determined by something other than the clock on the wall and a schedule. If it’s sunny, we cut wheat. If it’s raining or green, we have time off to do what we can’t do when the sun is shining. Most days, I don’t even know what day of the week it is – let alone what time it is. I bet the girls are missing this schedule, as well. But, once we get home and back into the routine of “home, home”,  summer wheat harvest will feel like a dream. Unfortunately!

I got a new camera so the pictures can continue. I used it a little bit today but the battery didn’t last long so not many pictures to share with you today. The battery is on the charger getting ready for another day.

Ed, our farmer, servicing his combine and getting ready for the day.

Jim had to back down into the field today because of the gate and the field entrance.

img_0008This is the grain bin that I climbed yesterday and told you about.

Crossing a brand new bridge. The old one was washed away this spring from the flooding they experienced. The bridge didn’t give us problems, it was the marking posts. They were exactly lined up with the guide wheels on the header. I had to help Jim maneuver through the maze.