For some unknown reason while thinking about a memory article, the McCord family kept coming to mind. Their family lived close to our family on the south side of Ekalaka during my grade and high school years. I would like to go back many years and...

This is the time of year when cattle producers are busy marketing their cattle. Although technology has opened up many more options for marketing cattle such as internet live auctions, internet static auctions, drone film, etc., it is kind of tragic... Full story

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, chatting with friends can be rather interesting. ‘J. E’. shared about her dad’s horses, mentioning that they, among other animals, are herd animals. One horse they had was a jumper and another horse...

Since I am about to retire from my County Superintendent of Schools position at the end of December, I am constantly receiving job offers from people who are concerned that I am going to be bored at home eating bon bons and watching daytime...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, scenery is beautiful almost any time of the day or season. Just the other day, the clouds were stunningly beautiful. Chatting with several friends that day, we wait for You to call us home, Lord, so we can...

When the bull elk starts to bugle and there is a chill in the morning air, I get really homesick for the smell of wood smoke coming from the cook tent. I spent most of two decades cooking in a hunting camp in the Scapegoat Wilderness for the Todd's...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, one really never understands some things in life until they experience it themselves. Like that old saying, “One has to walk a mile in another’s shoes” to know the feeling – to get it! Take for inst...

Loyd and Phyllis Townsend reached their 74th wedding anniversary on August 30th! They were married in Miles City on August 30th, 1948. Loyd, age 92, was born in Camp Crook, South Dakota and “Phyl,” 91, was born in Ekalaka. Both graduated from...

Everyone can remember where they were and what they were doing on September 11, 2001. I was ironing my shirt to wear to school that morning and feeding the kids their breakfast when on the radio it said that a plane had crashed into one of the...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, sometimes our thinking gets mixed up, we think the quality of our life is based on what happens to us, but - we’re forgetting that the quality of our life is how we respond. We probably know someone -...

For many years, my husband has been saying that he was not going to own a cow when he was 65 years old. His sixty-fifth birthday is looming up, and yet I have heard nothing about dispersing our cow herd. Of course, there are a couple auctions this...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, occasionally humorous ‘things’ have a bit of logic; since some months have a few wacky holidays about food, this one seemed appropriate for August. Author unknown, titled: To a friend: “How come you...

I have written a number of things in the past about my history in or near Ekalaka and the editor was gracious enough to publish them. I have kind of run out of things that will make a good story. So today I will attempt to write a story consisting...

With the downturn in the economy, it is suddenly fashionable to be frugal. I grew up frugal, because my parents were 40 years old when they got around to having me, so they were children during the Great Depression. I think the definition of...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, encouragement is like oxygen – we can’t live without it. It was lovely watching two little kids the other day. They were probably both about 3 years old. Little Ricky was trying hard to get the wrapper...

This week, I will go back to school for the fifty-eighth first day of school of my life, and it is bitter sweet that it will be my last first day of school. I am retiring this year after seventeen first days as a student, twenty-five first days as a...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, sometimes we need to have some encouragement and tips on how to enjoy life. Found this to share: TIPS ON ENJOYING LIFE: “Say something positive as early in the day as possible. Believe in miracles, but do...

You know, Lord, years ago, Selma Robinson wrote a poem named “Summer Shower,” beginning it by saying that a poem used words like colors from a paintbox. Ahead of the poem she wrote: “Your eyes see color, and your ears hear music.” Then she...

Over my years of writing this column, many people have told me that they have learned about ranching through reading my column. I laugh and explain that would likely be the equivalent of feeling that one could break a colt because he/she has watched...

My best horse, Tinkerbelle, died the other day, and my heart is broken. I sat down to write a tribute poem to her, but it was still too soon, so I started horse shopping instead. I have bought many great horses for $500 to $1000 so it is really hard...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, sometimes ‘things’ come in bunches like good things, bad things, happy things, sad things – even hurtful things. It’s the hurtful things that are hardest to deal with. We don’t want the attitude...

The 4-H Fair is this week in our county. I hope all moms and dads remember there is a fine line between extremely supportive and downright crazy! Having been a 4-H mom, I can tell you it is much less stressful to be a 4-H grandma! 4-H and FFA Fairs...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, sometimes Charity does not involve money/cash. More or less, it helps if a person is in a giving mood to give many different things, maybe like clothes, blankets, even art, a stove, maybe even an...

When there is work to be done there is work to be done. The tasks that farmers and ranchers are faced with are pressing, time-sensitive, and rarely can be done from inside a climate-controlled room. Add in unpredictable weather and already challengin...

Sorry it has been some time since my last article, but I will continue with old businesses and individuals who owned and operated them. The last article was about Pickards Market, later Main Street Market. The building is still there but vacant. Next...