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Wed, May 14, 2025

8:20am EDT

Members: 659

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PORCH PONDERINGS

by QueenNormaJean Mayflowers

Rated: 13+ · Book · Biographical · #2198921

Norma's Wanderings around a small section of Montana

Well, hey there!
Welcome to Roundup, Montana! If it's a nice day, we'll sit a spell on my porch and talk awhile.

A poem captured my attention the other day.

Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget 
Falls drop by drop upon the heart, 
Until, in our own despair,
 Against our will,
 Comes wisdom 
Through the awful grace of God.

Aeschylus

What's on your mind today?

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Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

QueenNormaJean Mayflowers

about 21 hours ago
In response to "Dump it"

Thanks for all the comments. Tonight is the night folks. A meeting at 7 PM is public, we've called for a deputy sheriff to be there, along with the county attorney. A member of the board who accused me of being dishonest is not going to attend, he's out of town. But he may do a Zoom call. Another member of the board is also out of town. So we'll see if we get a quorum.

Backstabbing, gossip, and slander. Small town politics reflecting the general mood of the people right now and I am trying not to get myself all worked up about this.

I did find my recorder, so I will take that from now on. I don't know how long it can record, since I don't seem to be able to find the instruction booklet.

I'll try to update tomorrow.

QueenNormaJean Mayflowers

May 8, 2025 at 7:52pm
In response to "Dump it"

We could actually do the mulch thing and we talked about it. But we'd have to buy a chipper. Have to hire another person. Then have to bag and sell the product. Not happening.
We pay $50k a month for garbage disposal. We don't have a landfill. It's a transfer station. so all trash has to be hauled away.
NJ

1 Like

SandraLynn

May 8, 2025 at 10:54am
In response to "Dump it"

It sounds like the ol' rumour mill is not in danger of closing down any time soon. Too bad those particular wild fires could not burn all the debris refusing to cooperate.

Cubby

May 8, 2025 at 5:46am
In response to "Dump it"

People seem to have a lot more anger these days. I've noticed it the past few years. And perhaps it's just that they show it more in public more than they used to.

1 Like

Wordsmitty ✍️

May 7, 2025 at 11:01pm
In response to "Dump it"

Maybe you should start writing screenplays and sell 'em to TV. This definitely sounds better than most of the stuff on the tube.

Here's an idea: get a giant mulcher for the dump and then give away (or sell) the mulch to residents to use on the gardens and the town & county to have for parks and stuff. They do that here so they can say they are green and not polluting or increasing the carbon in the air.

2 Like

Jeff

May 7, 2025 at 10:59pm
In response to "Dump it"

The Information Age has definitely accelerated people's ability to get outraged and air their grievances, that's for sure! I definitely miss the days where people would give one another the benefit of the doubt, and discuss their concerns rationally before getting offended and gossipy.

1 Like

THANKFUL SONALI 18 WDC Years!

May 5, 2025 at 2:27am
In response to "Big News"

Wow about the breakfast.
My friend hosted a big lunch yesterday, so it's a coincidence of sorts to read of another such event here in your blog!

Sigh about criminals who do horrible stuff. What must be happening in their heads, to make them be that way? Glad this one is off the streets.

Cubby

Apr 27, 2025 at 7:39am
In response to "Fire Day"

I should back-in more. I have--a few times--and loved getting into my car the next time and just pulling out.

I have a high respect for those volunteer firemen.

Kåre เลียม Enga

Apr 26, 2025 at 7:57pm
In response to "Fire Day"

Backing-in is common in Thailand. Don't know why folks here don't do it more... except... it takes a minute and everyone is rushed.

One clap of thunder and some rain here today.

1 Like

AmyJo-Spring's finally here!

Apr 26, 2025 at 7:01pm
In response to "Fire Day"

Must have been an interesting day. Sorry the jeep's reverse was acting up. Growing up in rural Michigan, my dad was a volunteer fireman, and there were times that our weekends were disrupted due to an alarm going off. Back then, we had a scanner and also CB's. (did I just "date" myself...LOL).

Hope you are doing well. Thanks for the blog news.

2 Like

June 23, 2023 at 12:23pm

#1051488

Cheep! Cheep! Cheep!

So, I went to the Post Office today. I needed to mail some information to Billings. The gentleman in front of me was there to claim a package.

The clerk came back with his package. 'cheep, cheep, cheep' Inside were baby chicks.

Did you know you can get baby chicks through the mail? People here do it all the time. Lots of farms have lots of hens and roosters. In town, you can have up to 3 hens, no roosters.

It brought a smile to my face. And I needed that because at 5 AM this morning, we were woken by the sound of a large shelf falling to the floor. It jumped off the wall, missed my antique dresser and the items on it. But all the antique mugs and other items were crushed in the fall. Egads.

What a way to start a day...

Comment • View 4 comments

June 21, 2023 at 6:05pm

#1051426

Fire up the Furnace - It's the First Day of Summer!

First day of summer and our rainy spell continues. And we have the heat on. No lie the heat just came on at 4 PM. Well, at least it's not snow.

Things are still dicey here. Still no word on my missing grandson. Such a mystery. Now people say he's been spotted here, there, everywhere. No one is talking about what really happened. Very annoying and disturbing, to say the least.

We did get a new vehicle, but it is back in VA, waiting for hubby's son to work his magic on it. We are getting new tires, new fenders. It's an older Jeep, so we know it will be at least partly made of steel, not plastic and styrofoam. We'll put up with lower gas mileage to gain better odds with animal collisions. So we continue to impinge on the good graces of a friend who is lending us her older pickup.

On a brighter note, the garden is not needing irrigation this year and we have a tomato starting to grow on one of the plants.

Comment • View 1 comment

June 18, 2023 at 2:24pm

#1051251

Photo Shoot as 'Senior Models' Ha!

Last week we went on a photo shoot for Southeast Montana Tourism. What a fun excursion that was!

Here's what happened:
Day 1 - we toured the Little Bighorn Battlefield with a native American guide. She gave us a tailed guide to the battles, from the tribes' perspective. Amazing guide she was. I was in awe. Then we went to a little cafe nearby for another shoot, for a burger meal. This was to be for the 'Burger Trail' that we developed for SE Montana. Fun little road trip you can take to eat hamburgers at little restaurants.

After that we went to the Big Horn County museum, which is wonderful by the way. More photo ops. By this time, we were done for the day, and went to our motel to get ready for the next day.

Tuesday we went to the Tongue River reservoir for a day on the water. We took out a pontoon boat, motored on the water for a time, had a picnic on an island, motored around some more. Hubby's goal was to catch a fish, which, providentially, he did! A small sauger was filmed for posterity. After that trip, we booked it down the highway to our next venue, Broadus, MT.

Broadus is a tiny town, 451 population, but a fun little place. We booked a room at a motel. So when we go to check-in, no front desk. Hmm. But there is a phone to call someone. So hubby calls. The person on the other end says "Hello? Hello?" and this happens at least for three times we tried this phone. I remembered another motel a few blocks over, so we go there. Remember, we don't use a cell phone. So this very nice man calls the cell number for our lodging. The woman says to me, "Did you try to the phone?" Mercy me, I was at wits end by this time. We got it straightened out, got the code to the room, push button lock, and room #. Nice enough room but no phone or clock. Is this a current trend? What if we had an emergency? How do you set an alarm to get up?

Any way, the next day we had a few photos taken at an antique store before my board meeting for SE Montana. Then the photographer and hubby went their merry way for more photos. We went after the meeting for a museum visit, fun shot of me in front of a pristine Ford Fairlane convertible whose color just happened to match the boots and top I was wearing. After that, we motored a few blocks to a local clothing store that does a booming business with tourism from SD. The photographer got shots of myself and two other women oohing and ahhing over clothing and shoes. But no, I didn't get to buy anything.

We parted ways for the final time with our now good friend, the photographer, at this point. Our final night was in Miles City, an hour's drive north. Exhausted, we spent the night there before driving home the next day.

So - a photo shoot. Stand here, do this. Wait - don't eat that yet, but pretend to take a bite. Smile - act like this is the most wonderful day of your life! Put that fish in the net, take it out of the net. Hold the fish up. Smile! Walk slowly as I film.

I am still trying to recover.

Comment • View 1 comment

June 9, 2023 at 10:31am

#1050852

Rain!

The rain continues. Mercy sakes - it's like God is opening the heavens here. We've had so much precipitation in the last few weeks. You can almost see the grass grow while sitting on the porch. We're mowing every chance we get, in between rain showers and whenever the sun dries the grass.

We did have more sad news. It just keeps on coming. Our neighbor's dog isn't doing well. This dog is my friend, comes to the fence daily several time to say hello. Well, it seems Lil now is sick, either a virus or cancer. They're not sure what is going on. But poor Lil is just not the same. If I have to say goodbye to this dog forever, oh my.

There are flash flood warnings for all the small streams here, and for the Musselshell River that is just a few blocks north of town. We're pretty high on my street. It would take an epic flood to affect us. But there are people living lower, so I pray they will not be affected.

News about my grandson who's been missing just gets more and more curious. Now people are accusing my daughter of making up the entire story. Accusing her of making up this person. ???? I can testify to the fact that Justin is a real person. I saw his mother when she was pregnant at 38 weeks with twins. I saw the birth of those two babies. I saw them as toddlers. I walked with Justin among the redwoods in California. I saw him graduate from basic training in San Diego. Social media is evil sometimes.

But there is now news that Justin was seen at a hotel in Washington. So we can hold onto the fact he is still alive, until it's proven otherwise. We now have to establish the reason(s) this young man chose to leave his duty, his job. What in the world?

I am just heartsick about it all.

But a fun thing is going to happen. Hubby and I were chosen to be part of a photo shoot for SE Montana Tourism. Seems they want some 'Senior models' for their advertising. I had to laugh at that moniker. But we are willing, and its a four day, all expenses paid little vacay. So sure. Road trip! Starting Sunday, we're to travel over to Hardin, MT, south of Billings. Then we'll visit the Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument. You remember General George M. Custer, I'm sure. After that, the next day over to the Tongue River Reservoir out in the middle of nowhere Montana. Then the next day to Broadus, MT for a SE Montana Tourism board meeting. After the meeting, more photo ops in that little town. That night we'll drive to Miles City, MT instead of trying to drive home in the dark.

Whew, I am tired now just thinking of it all. But I can smile and be polite. Pray for us as we travel. We're in a borrowed vehicle. Please no accidents this time.

Comment • View 2 comments

June 2, 2023 at 12:47pm

#1050428

A Big Storm

Holy Cow - 5 years to the day people - what are the chances. We had another big storm last night. But luckily, this one did not destroy the town with hail like that one in 2018.

We got 2 inches of rain at our house. And that has to be a record for rain for us. Usually we get a 1/4 inch or less. We didn't get 2 inches all last summer, I think.

The storm was a good lightning and thunder show. One lightning was I swear right over the museum across the street. Mercy sakes - you see the flash you hear the crash.

So we are in a wet spell. Rain every day or so for the past week. What a blessing. And a curse. Flash flooding here and there. But rain!
Love it.

What I don't love is all the stress lately. We don't have a car, we are borrowing a truck from a friend. My grandson is still missing, A friend's son died of heart problems. A neighbor's wife had a bad car accident and is now having to go to rehab for awhile. She had a fractured pelvis. I had that same injury in my 20's from a car accident. I spent 6 weeks in the hospital. Bad memories come back from that.

So I had an appointment with my doctor. We came to the agreement with the idea of medication, which I already had. So I'm starting some medication to help with my anxiety, and hoping it helps. Having all this stress has overwhelmed me. God is on my side, that I know. And He is still in control, that I know.

Perhaps soon I will feel more settled and get back into writing. Right now, no. This is about all I can manage. This storm will not pass like the one last night. This storm in my life is going to be here for a time yet.

Comment • View 1 comment

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