Big Sky

Granny waited for a break in the warm August rain before taking a stroll down the driveway past the purple blooming alfalfa to get the mail. The United States Postal Service solemnly promised to forward Granny’s mail from the Golden State to the Big Sky. And they haven’t done it! Granny has been in her new state for almost a month and still very few envelopes with bright yellow stickers on them have shown up! There was nothing in that box but a lonely, local advertisement for snow blowers, something Granny isn’t ready to face. Surely now that Canada is securely locked down their snow can’t reach her! 

Granny’s walk down the lane was not in vain, however. As the storm blew over, clouds racing away to the south over her head, she thought for the 100th time since she moved that the sky here is painted like a tapestry. And there is so much of it! Each horizon is outlined in different hues, jet black in the west, blue sky to the east, puffy white in the north and silvery rain south by Flathead Lake. The hills may be alive in Granny’s new home, but Big Sky rules supreme. The name often given to the state of Montana isn’t just a Hollywood title conjured up for the spirit music of the Wild West.  Maybe it’s the latitude or frequent storms over the Rockies but in Granny’s valley the heavens declare the glory of God every day and you’d best watch the sky when making plans.

Northern Flickers, sparrows, meadowlarks and chickadees suddenly got very busy in Granny Hat’s yard this week, September is here. The geese are busy banking over the grain fields in formation, training just in case winter comes early. Deer in Granny’s field are very fat but just keep snacking on that alfalfa. She thinks the herd is so lovely, poetic somehow but just wait until next summer when they break into her garden to sample some tomatoes and pumpkins; the sylvan romance will be over! 

It is wise to pay attention to the wildlife in this neck of the woods. When they migrate from the Swan Range to valley meadows or commence frantically to hunt and gather Granny is reminded to get that house snug and cozy for winter. She has been unpacking every day trying to find her quilts, sweaters and wool socks. But no matter how many boxes she hauls indoors, there are still plenty more out in the shop.  Her readers who have recently moved know only too well that boxes left in an outbuilding or an attic will breed. You have to nip that in the bud! 

Every heavy box gives Granny Hat pause to reflect on the weight of her belongings. Her readers know how she purged and feng shuied her way through the last two years trying to go ultra light. Apparently she failed. 

A few things that Granny has noticed about her new country:

1. The people are friendly and very practical. Their words may be few but they say exactly what they think, even if it’s a little more than candid. And they aren’t shy about calling out their neighbors!

1. Kids work here at a young age. There are many family owned businesses, cottage industries and farms so it’s all hands on deck.
2. The area is growing fast, remember the America song 🎶Everyone I Meet is From California🎶?  Yep! And from Oregon, Washington, New Jersey and even Texas! 
3. It takes double the time for Amazon Prime to find Granny’s front porch. Hardly something to complain about, instead of 1-2 days of waiting, maybe 3-4. Granny is learning again to think ahead and be patient. And to STOP buying more stuff!
4. “Traffic” is more than five cars piled up at a stoplight and the locals loudly complain about it. The “traffic” is blamed on CA, OR, WA, NJ and TX.
5. All the salad greens and berries come from back home! (Granny’s nephew, Zachary, who just moved Down Under, says one should refrain from using the phrase “back home”, time to embrace the home you have, be present and grateful!) But back to the salad and berries, they get shipped mighty far and are the same price as back home, er……….where Granny came from! What a country!

A few things she misses:

1. Family and friends.
2. The smell of fresh cilantro just harvested.
3. The cooling breezes that whisper the ocean is nearby.
4. Her boysenberry patch.

Clouds are piling up around the valley, maybe some rain is around the corner. The afternoon is very warm but that Big Sky is telling Granny to find the box her fleecy boots are in and dig out the Dutch oven, fall soups will be on the menu soon.

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Sent from my iPad