Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, some incidences happen at a most appropriate time! A friend recently shared a ‘story’ about how she and her friend ‘visited’ a favorite spot; after climbing a windswept hill, they crossed a field of...

Memorial Day, which originated as Decoration Day, originally honored only those lost while fighting in the Civil War. During World War I, the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars and expanded into a day of...

Another Mother’s Day has come and gone, and for those of us who have lost our mothers, it has become a day of remembrance. Losing my mother made me realize how time spent with her was more valuable than any other gift I could give or be given. My...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, interesting ‘things’ happen, when a friend and her friend stop over, wanting to share a visit and some tea’; like fun, right?! J.C. began: “Hey, I just wanted to tell you about my guy. He’s one...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, A DAY to remember our Mothers is Sunday. One chap wished to share a few thoughts: “I am made by God! And kiddo, you are made by God. Just as surely as ANY one, actually, every one of us, has been made by...

After my last week’s column about branding ran, several people contacted me to ask me to run my branding etiquette column again...so here it is once more. An emergency room nurse once said to me, “Branding must be really dangerous, because we...

Exciting News! CCPH has three $500 scholarships open to Carter County seniors graduating with the class of 2023. This scholarship is open to all graduates from public schools or students following a home school curriculum. The deadline to apply is...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, sometimes one might ‘learn’ a few things from ‘teeny tots.’ That was pretty cute when ‘D.G.’ shared about a great grandchild of her ‘d-i-l’s’ grandmother. She said that the two of them...

It is branding season, which is the season when it is fun to go to another ranch's brandings but not nearly as fun to host your own branding. As a veteran of many years of branding, I offer the following tips--especially for aging ranchers: #1. As...

In these times of crazy inflation, everyone is looking to save a few bucks or find more efficient ways to do things. I love household hints, so I have compiled a few that tickled my funny bone even if they are not legitimate. (Disclaimer: Do not...

You know, Lord, sometimes we need to stop and take a breath – like, WHOA; MAY is almost upon us –WOW! What do we expect with MAY? Well, a friend decided to share some thoughts about MAY - like about how their wild crabapple blossoms are about to...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, sometimes unexpected ‘things’ come together in surprising ways. ‘Miss Emy’ was delighted about Easter and how her family really liked John 8:12, a verse Jesus told his followers, before the...

There are a lot of sleep deprived ranch families trying to function at this time of year, because calving happens 24/7. I loved this story written by Tucker Luthan about his wife Andrea. The Luthans run a cow/calf and farming operation in Idalia,...

My mother had an old medical reference book that we called “The Doctor Book.” Any time we or anyone in the neighborhood for that matter were ailing, she would get it out and disseminate remedies. I think I have become my mother--except that I...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, we read the note Ms. Rosie wrote the day after Easter, mentioning how fun Easter had been at her place with her kids and grandkids. Then, the day after Easter, how they had all set aside their Easter...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, an Easter Baskets is easy and fun to make. A small paper basket (3” X 1 ½ inches) with a little bunny pasted on the front, and across him is written ”Some bunny’s been pray‘in for you.” A while...

These last ten days have been among the toughest 10 days of calving that I have seen, and I am old! Most of south central Montana received two to four feet of heavy wet snow during a three day storm. Much of it came down horizontally, but it piled...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, ‘D.S.’ shared about both Palm Sunday and Easter! She said, “Thinking back some years ago about Easter time, we remember that we stood in church on Palm Sunday watching the children parade through the...

A couple weeks ago at the Sweet Grass County Chamber of Commerce Banquet, rancher, Chuck Rein was named Ag Person of the Year. Chuck ranches and runs an outfitting business with his wife Pam and his son Charlie and his family on one of the most...

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, it’s fun to hear how some families prepare for Holidays. ‘Tillie’ shared that one day she mentioned to her son and grandson that it was time to put up the Easter decorations! Her son offered to run...

Now that Saint Patrick’s Day is over, my Easter decorations are calling me from the closet, but I am trying to ignore their call. It doesn’t seem worth it to drag out all of those tubs of decorations if they are only going up for a couple weeks,...

Because of my eyesight and health problems my articles have been slow coming. I would like to write about some businesses, owners and employees of past years. Let’s begin with those on the west end of Main Street and on the south side. First, C.M....

Hello God, it’s me, Mara: You know, Lord, it’s interesting when a friend shares a motivating article or a feeling she may have about what she’s dealing with in life - so here goes. She mentioned the distressed disciples over the predominant...