CDA, Idaho — I met my first “Karen” today and I was shaking for 30 minutes afterward. No need to go into all the details. I may have shared in the complicity of the encounter taking a wrong turn, but if so, it was not intentional. And I apologized several times. She wouldn’t hear of […]
Met my first Karen today Read More »
We’re about a month away from the official beginning of summer here in eastern Montana. The weather today is beautiful — blue sky, no wind, moderate temperatures in the 60s and 70s. There is hope in the air throughout the community. When I came home from Idaho several weeks ago, it was a quite different
Building restoration and roof repairs – fortune or folly? Read More »
“The ‘Old Tudor House’, Warwick” by Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, UofT is licensed under CC BY 2.0 I have always dreamed of big, old houses. Not the newer huge suburban cookie-cutter houses or the ostentatious McMansions that inconsiderately replace perfectly livable modest single-story dwellings in low-profile neighborhoods. Mid-century ranchers? I have lived in a
In Search of Memories, Mysteries, Magic Read More »
(EASTERN MONTANA) It’s mid-July and the critters are out. And in. Everywhere, spiders. Big ones, and really big ones, monstrously big ones, medium ones, and tiny ones. I know they eat bugs, but I like it better when they dine outdoors. In the past week, I’ve also encountered two snakes, dozens of millers (brown moths
Critters love crannies Read More »
(EASTERN MONTANA) – City living has its perks, in normal times at least. The constant pace and ever-changing street scenes feed my imagination. Los Angeles was my home for many years, and it still calls to me. I can’t quite give it up, and I miss it now that non-essential air travel is ill-advised, temporarily
Marvelous Low Tech Contraptions – Clotheslines Read More »
The real secret to survival in an old house is to find an old-timer or two willing to help out and share their wisdom. YouTube is good, but watching an experienced DIY’er in action is gold.
How to survive in an old rural house Read More »
Every journey of 1,000 steps begins with the first one, right? Fixing up the real Flashback Garage is going to be a many-step process. Major stuff to start with: electricity, water, heat, windows, ceilings, doors. Lots of doors.There are more than a dozen doors on the property. I did not get one single key when
Old padlock, no key Read More »
Why you should play nice with dandelions (and not spray them) Here in eastern Montana, the signs of springtime were evident until April 10, when a wintry storm blew in. I noticed a couple of cheery yellow dandelions in my yard just before they were covered by a thick blanket of snow, and they made
The truth about dandelions Read More »
Whether you are venturing out to go to actual grocery stores, or ordering ahead for pickup, many of us have been wondering about possible contamination on bags, boxes, packaging, and the items inside. Household and other items besides groceries are also potentially worrisome. We all know by now to wash our hands for 20 seconds
Melstone, MT — Even if Victory Gardens from World War I and II were before your time, you’ve likely heard about those homefront gardens, unless you’ve been living under a rock. (No blame if that’s you; there are valid reasons to shut out the outside world!) The concept has been rebooted in recent years, now
Start a Victory Garden wherever you are Read More »