*The reason our state is called "Big Sky Montana" is immediately evident. Visible jet streams, every kind of cloud formation, entire storm fronts, beautiful sunsets every evening - are all seen here.
*It keeps one in perspective. We know that the world doesn't revolve around us. It is simply too huge, too wild, too majestic.
*The rolling hills, gullies, valleys, sandstone formations, wheat fields, plains, the breaks, slews, rough terrain, slopes, cliffs, rock piles, rock formations from American Indians, pastureland, crags, vistas...there's always something different over the next hill and around the bend.
*'Where the deer and the antelope play.' Fox, coyotes, bald eagles, hawks, meadowlarks, Canadian Geese, ring necked pheasants, Hungarian Pheasants, seagulls, elk, badgers, gophers, prairie dogs, and an occasional moose, wildcat, blue heron, passing through.
*It keeps one in perspective. We know that the world doesn't revolve around us. It is simply too huge, too wild, too majestic.
*The rolling hills, gullies, valleys, sandstone formations, wheat fields, plains, the breaks, slews, rough terrain, slopes, cliffs, rock piles, rock formations from American Indians, pastureland, crags, vistas...there's always something different over the next hill and around the bend.
*'Where the deer and the antelope play.' Fox, coyotes, bald eagles, hawks, meadowlarks, Canadian Geese, ring necked pheasants, Hungarian Pheasants, seagulls, elk, badgers, gophers, prairie dogs, and an occasional moose, wildcat, blue heron, passing through.
* Faith in God for the timely rain shower and inch of snow.
*Farmers and ranchers - the true environmentalists in every sense of the word.
*The wind isn't so bad. It keeps the mosquitoes away!
*Not just anybody can live here. The tough, resilient, self-reliant do.
*One can drive for miles on the main highway and never pass a car. And yet, every time I had a flat tire, someone always stopped and fixed it for me.
*The wind isn't so bad. It keeps the mosquitoes away!
*Not just anybody can live here. The tough, resilient, self-reliant do.
*One can drive for miles on the main highway and never pass a car. And yet, every time I had a flat tire, someone always stopped and fixed it for me.
*And if it looks like someone is having car problems, we stop to ask if they need help.
*Not just anybody can drive in gumbo. It's challenging, it takes experience and is fun as a passenger - watching the driver expertly rocking the steering wheel one way and then quickly and methodically the far opposite way over and over. Taking to the prairie on an old wagon path for the extra bad places, or simply to take a break. And how rewarding to make it to the highway and watch the muddy tire marks left behind and mud flying in the acceleration.
*Roller coaster rides on dirt roads. Blind hills, slanted turns, bridges and certain hills to get a little air off of, a quick, deep valley, lose gravel. Now that's really fun if you trust the driver.
*Meadowlarks on a fencepost.
*The ability to see for miles and miles in every direction.
*One land owner can easily have 10,000 acres.
*It's the largest part of the state. The Rocky Mountains seem to divide the east from the west.
*Many, many 'Class C' sized towns. Bringing a fierce hometown pride and local support. Kremlin-Gildford consolidated, but nobody else even wanted to follow their example. Yes, it makes a lot of sense to do it, but it ends up not even being an option.
*Some kids can say they go to a country school and have even ridden their horse there - just like kids 100 years ago.
*At public school, one student can be involved in basketball, volleyball, track, Key Club, 4-H, FHA, a member of the elected student body, band, choir, take piano lessons and make the principal's honor roll. There's not many cliques here.
*A day that is -19 degrees below zero with a windchill of -40. That just takes some explaining for those who have never experienced it. One must have a certain amount of wisdom and experience to get around in that. And a lot of good stories after years of accomplishing it.
*Country kids have been known to learn how to drive a pickup by the age of 7 years old.
*100 degrees in the shade and how much in the sun? Our summers can be the extreme opposite. There are some bragging rights for locals.
*The people. Our land. The family history. That's why we live here.
No comments:
Post a Comment