http-equiv='refresh'/> Tin TeePee/Log Cabin: Rain, The Birds Came Back And We Lose An Old Friend

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Rain, The Birds Came Back And We Lose An Old Friend

IMG_6928Michael and I were scurrying around, moving the motorhome, unhooking the trailer, re-hooking it to the truck and pulling the trailer up into the pasture on top of our hill—trying to beat this coming storm.  It has now been raining for over a hour—welcome, blessed rain!!! 

Today I attended the funeral for a East Boulder matriarch—Maxine, she was 86 years old and had been in the nursing home for several years.  She and her husband Barney moved to the East Boulder in the late 50’s, early 60’s and ranched for years on a place up Elk Creek about 2 miles from us.  There were six couples living on the East Boulder during those years who never had children—Maxine and Barney were one of those couples.  They had nieces and nephews plus lots of neighbors and good friends. 

Barney was a frugal man—Maxine could only go to town once a month or so—I can’t imagine living all the way up here and not being able to go to town when I wanted to!!  Maxine was also frugal—she never bought milk, always making their milk from powdered milk.  She told me she would remove her soaking wet, heavy clothes from the rinse water in the washing machine and reuse that water to wash the next load!!! 

Maxine drove the school bus when Michael was attending high school and she also delivered the mail in McLeod.  Michael said the school bus was an old Ford station wagon which was also used as a driver’s education car!! Smile

When Michael and I first married I was asked by a company for whom I had previously worked to do an interim director of nursing job at the hospital in Hardin, MT.  Maxine had a brother living in Hardin, MT at the time and she would ride over with me on Monday morning and we would both stay until Thursday evening before coming home.  I learned so much about the people living in our valley on those drives and I sure heard a lot about my husband’s early years too!!!  Winking smile

Maxine and Barney sold the ranch in 1997 moving to Big Timber—Barney died a few years ago.  Rest in peace Maxine—you will be missed.

And last but not least—the lazuli buntings came back today—my beautiful little blue birds.  For many years I could set the clock by their arrival—May 13—but now the birds usually arrive sometime around the middle of May. 

7 comments:

  1. I'm sorry you lost such a dear friend.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sounds like she was quite a lady. Always hard to lose those kind of folks. It seems most of those generations which experienced the great depression had that frugal streak. I had a great aunt that passed away last year at the age of 93. She lived in a ramshackle house and supported herself on a small Social Security check. She had plenty of assets, but didn't want to use them.

    ReplyDelete
  4. So sorry to hear of losing another member of the Greatest Generation. We can and should learn a great deal about life from listening to them tell of their lives. Maxine sounds like a wonderful person.
    I'm sure glad to hear you made it safely back home and all is well up there. If you would, please send us some RAIN!! It was 101 deg. today and dry and windy.
    Take care.
    Don in Okla.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sorry for your lose. So glad to hear you had those years to travel together and spend quality time.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Interesting story about your friend, Maxine, sorry for your loss. That's pretty frugal stuff alright. I can just imagine if I tried to tell Paulette she could only go to town once a month!!

    ReplyDelete

Comments to this blog have been closed. Please visit us at RestorationCowboyStyle.com

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.