Memorial Weekend

I've been in a whirl the last few days trying to get caught up with all the work that didn't get done while we were in Montana over the weekend. It was so nice to get away and not think about everything waiting here at home. I love going to Montana. Every time I visit the ranch I feel like I've come home again. Funny, huh? Well, it's true. We had such a nice visit with my grandparents, I came home scheming about how to get back up there this summer. We'll have to see...

Our weekend was spent reveling in grandma's cooking (I think I gained 5 lbs!), sunshine and

dandelions (I think they're taking over the world!!!). Field after field was covered in little yellow blossoms. I wonder if cows like dandelions? Grandma suggested we have dandelion green salad for lunch one day (she was kidding, of course). Grandpa wondered aloud how many blossoms it took to make a quart of dandlion wine. Lida, for one, was not afraid to try them. She made a funny face, but it didn't stop her from putting the blossom back in her mouth.

On Sunday afternoon we took a drive up in the hills looking for wild flowers to put on the sheepherders graves. Grandma drove and Grandpa road along up front convinced he was in danger of losing his life any second, the rest of us bumped along in the back. It was a nice ride if you don't count being trampled by the dog who couldn't settle on just one lookout spot. Near the top of the mountain we finally found some wild flowers.

These little yellow flowers are called Curlycups by the natives (the wildflower guide calls them Yellow Fawn Lilies). We only found a few (literally) Johnny-jump-ups (also known as Shooting Stars), so the bouquets were very yellow, but pretty.

Our greatest adventure came on the drive back down the mountain. We hadn't gone very far (maybe a third of the way down) when we were caught in a downpour of freezing rain. (Some of the drops were more slush than water.) Luckily Grandma was smart and brought along an old quilt - just in case. Tyler and I did our best to cover the kids (especially Lida, who was -oddly - sleeping), and ended up with our heads and shoulders exposed to the wind and rain. It was kind of fun, actually, if a little - okay, a lot - cold. Andrew and Katherine, of course, didn't appreciate our efforts to keep them warm. They kept pulling back the blanket to stick their faces and hands out in the rain. This meant that our legs also got very wet. We were one cold, wet family when we finally arrived at the house. The hot chocolate with marshmallows Grandma fixed for us was very welcome.

On Monday morning we all drove up to the Valley Cemetery there above Hall to visit the graves of various relatives. Great-great Grandpa and Grandma Wight, great Grandma and Grandpa Wight, Uncle Bill, Dwaine, and several others are all buried up there. We enjoyed walking through the cemetery and placing bouquets on the headstones. Grandma also leaves wildflower bouquets with a couple of sheepherders that worked for her dad and died without any family. Who will remember them when Grandma is gone?

So, it was a great weekend and we're looking forward to going back. Andrew and Katherine got to watch the new calves being branded and even got to ride a horse. As always, the Philipsburg branch was happy to have visitors, and we made our usual stop at the Sweet Palace in town for salt water taffy before coming home. The only black cloud on the trip was the car trouble we had on the way home. We made it home okay (several hours later than planned, however) and the van is now in the shop having the transmission rebuilt. There is always one pit in the pie, isn't there?