My city of Missoula is surrounded by mountains on every side and I can't see any of them at the moment. Air quality is B A D. Fires of this magnitude in May for pete's sake!!



The planet is mad. We're not even into summer yet.

https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/air-quality-poor-in-edmonton-as-wildfires-burn-across-alberta-1.6402209

It’s been a big week at our house. Owen turned 18 this week, took his first solo flight in a tiny Cessna 152 this morning and tonight he’s off to the prom with a posse of friends. I didn’t expect to be emotional today but when Owen landed and his instructor hopped out of the plane and the child took off on his own, I just sobbed. He did great. No complications and it was a stunning Montana day. O will continue to take lessons throughout the summer until he has enough flight hours to get his pilot’s certificate. He hopes to have that completed before he starts college this fall.

I don’t know where the last 18 years went…it feels like life is going a million miles an hour. Everyone tells me that I’ll be ready when Owen leaves the nest…that kids make it easier on their parents by being difficult but I have to tell you that this will be so hard. I like Owen so much, I mean, I love him of course…but I just LIKE him. He’s so smart, responsible and kind. He thinks about things before acting and he’s measured and thoughtful when he decides to do or say something….unless someone is being an asshole then he most definitely will call it out. He’s got a wicked sense of humor and makes me laugh every single day. He doesn’t put up with drama from anyone. He’s a talented pianist and guitarist and a really good student. I never have to remind him to do his homework…ever. Being his mom has been the most important thing I’ve ever done.

Thanks for reading.

https://www.kpax.com/news/missoula-county/missoulas-compass-barbershop-offers-free-gender-affirming-haircuts

I'm a proud resident of blue Missoula! I am grateful for businesses like this who care for all of our citizens.

David Gianforte has told his father the bills will harm the LGBTQ+ community he’s a part of...

https://www.ktvq.com/news/montana-news/gianfortes-son-one-of-many-lobbying-governor-against-trans-bills

On a side note - I have mentioned this on a couple related threads that my 17 year old son, Owen, was in the house chamber when the anti trans legislation was being proposed. Owen said that Zooey Zephyr's statement was measured in tone...she never raised her voice. In response, rethugs yelled at her, misgendered her and were terribly disrespectful. Kids came home from that field trip shell shocked.

David Gianforte's father, our thug governor, sent the bill back to rethuglicans and asked them to "make the bill stronger" because with him and the rest of republicans, cruelty is the point. It is not a bug it is a feature and this is proof of it. Gov Gianforte asked for stronger anti-trans legislation knowing it would hurt his own child. THIS is who these people are.

Locally beloved Iris the Osprey has returned to her nest at the mouth of Hellgate Canyon. Experts believe Iris to be over 25 years old. I can tell you that spring must finally be coming to Missoula if Iris has made her way home. Lots of us have been patiently waiting for her. Her return takes place just one day after her most common return date, April 7. She's spent the past few days sprucing up her nest and battling some annoying starlings.

Hellgate Osprey live-cam:

Back story… for many many years there has been a meat manager at a locally owned grocery store who would corn 400-500 pounds of beef per year, using his Irish born grandmother‘s recipe. People stand in line for his corn beef. It’s just that good. I would buy three of his roasts every year…One for St. Patrick’s Day, one for September to welcome the first frost and one for December just because.

Fast forward… The meat manager retired in 2022 and word was out that there would be no more Butte America corn beef! The end of an era for sure. I decided to try my hand at corning/brining my own this year. I bought grass fed beef roast from a friend who has a local cattle ranch and corned a second one…and elk roast from the elk my husband got last fall. I used a recipe that included allspice berries, juniper berries, cloves, mustard seeds, cinnamon stick and whole red chiles.

Turns out that the meat manager came out of retirement to make his corned beef again because the demand was so high. I found out too late and had already bought the ingredients to make my own. Oh well.

Here’s a pic of the roast going into the instant pot…it’s nestled in Cold Smoke Scotch ale. My hopes are high!

Owen and his instructor flew a Cessna 152 on a freezing cold blue bird Montana day. He had a blast. He wouldn’t let me take his photo but I snuck one as he was getting into the aircraft. They flew over the snow filled Bitterroot Mountains. I watched with binoculars until they flew out of sight. He’s made all the arrangements for his lessons. He’s taking them from a local aviation company that used to let me walk the child around the hangar when he was a toddler to look at planes and helicopters when we had cabin fever in the winter. I’m just thrilled for him.

Trying to spend a few minutes each day snuggling the chicks….telling them what good girls they are and using their names so they learn them. Nugget and Polly were especially cuddly this afternoon. This is my process with chickens…it’s not for everybody. My mother in law thinks I’m nuts…she might be right. Even if she’s right, I’ll don’t regret doing it.

I have four adult hens that are four years old...they're slowing down in terms of egg laying so it was time to pull the pin on an additional flock.

Meet Peep Team 2023! This is so much fun.

Scarlett:


Polly


Kitty:


Nugget:


Roxanne:


Fig:

This is our nation’s first ever youth climate lawsuit. I don’t know what will happen…but I am hopeful. I have a 17 year old kiddo…I work every single day to model hope for him. Our kids are losing hope for their future and I lose sleep over this fact.

More at link:
https://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/montana-youths-take-climate-case-to-trial-in-historical-first/article_590dced2-ef5c-5305-a413-ffb2a27bf188.html#tracking-source=home-top-story