F is For Forsyth, MT

Have you ever tried to push a “Scout” off the side of the road?  Not only did I push the “Scout” off the road but, it started to roll down the hill into a fence.  I ran and grabbed the steering wheel to change its trajectory.  Finally it came to a stop.  I was very annoyed with myself, and the Scout.  In my peripheral vision I watched a highway patrolman coming down the interstate.  He crossed the meridian and parked near the edge of the road. 

I could tell that he had watched the whole episode, because he was trying to keep from laughing out loud.  I could also tell that he wasn’t succeeding completely. 

“Is everything ok?”

“Yes, the Scout stalled.  I tried to get it off the side of the road.  But I pushed to hard.”

Eyes laughing – “I see you got it stopped.”

“ It will start in an hour or so.  I had another car that would do the same thing.”

Trying hard to contain his mirth, “ We have to put a sticker on cars left by the road.  You have 48 hours after the sticker is put on it to get it moved.  I won’t put a sticker on it until tomorrow.”

“That’s ok I’ll have it running again before that.”

“Sure.  Do you need a ride into Forsyth to call a tow truck?”

“No, my mom is driving the Hyundai over there.  I’m taking the Scout to Busby and then I’m returning to Miles City.

“Ok ,  you sure everything is ok?”

“Yah.  We’ll leave the Scout for a while and visit some friends in Forsyth and then drive the Scout to Busby.  It’ll be ok.” 

As he drove off I could see him shaking his head. I knew he was laughing big belly laughs as he drove away.   I’ve often wondered how often he has chuckled over this memory.

I left the Scout to rest for a couple of hours.  Then we came back collected the Scout and continued on our journey.  I always thought that vehicle was just happy to be going down the road.

Wherever you are officer, I wish I could have heard you tell this story.  Just so you know I would have laughed out loud if I had been you.

Happy Trails.

E is for Ekalaka

Ekalaka (ee-ka-la-kha) is in the southeastern part of the state.  We used to joke that it wasn't at the end of the world but close.  It was however where the pavement ended.  In the last couple of years pavement has finally connected Ekalaka, MT to the nearest community to the south Alzada, MT.

Eureka, MT is in the far northwestern part of the state.  The distance between Eureka and Ekalaka is about 721 miles one way.  Distance plays a big part in living in Montana.  The upside is the rugged beauty.  We live in a state that has two diverse regions.  The western region is mountainous and the other region is the plains of eastern Montana.

The Medicine Rocks State Park is just outside of Ekalaka.  The sandstone has been sculpted by the wind.  There are similar outcroppings in the Badlands.

My first year of teaching was in Ekalaka, MT and I would drive back to Miles City on the weekends. When you turn off the main road and head into the Medicine Rocks there is a hand pump right by the dirt road.     I would stop at Medicine Rocks on my way home to Miles City and fill jugs with the freshly pumped water.  The water was cold and delicious. Definitely worth all the effort of pumping it and hauling it to town.

I loved the Medicine Rocks and enjoyed hiking among the outcroppings.  Listening to the wind whistle its mournful song, as I contemplated the future.

Digging Up Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs are abundant in Montana.  Paleontologists are still recovering them, and learning about them.   Jack Horner is one of the worlds foremost authorities on dinosaurs.  He was born in Shelby, MT and works closely with the folks at the "Museum of the Rockies". The Bozeman museum has recently opened the "Hall of Giants".

Walt Disney said," When you're curious, you find lots of interesting things to do."  "Montana Dinosaur Trail" is a map showing 15 museums that have their own paleontology section.  Many of the artifacts have been found in Montana.  Perhaps it will spark your curiosity.

There are also a few living creatures whose direct ancestors lived during the dinosaur age.  There are about 26 species of sturgeon in the world today, some are found in Montana rivers. Fossil records of sturgeon date back 200 million years.  They can live to be over 100 years old.  The Pallid Sturgeon can weigh 60 pounds and is very rare.  Sturgeons are classified as at risk of extinction.

Montana is one of 23 states that are home to another interesting creature that time forgot - the "Paddlefish".  They have looked the same for over 60 million years, only two species have survived. They are Montana's largest fish and are related to the Sturgeon.



Dinosaur Resources

Judith River Dinosaur Institute  http://www.montanadinosaurdigs.com

Makoshika Dinosaur Museum  http://www.makoshika.com    http://www.paleokids.com

Museum of the Rockies http://www.montana.edu/wwwmor

Timescale Adventures  http://www.timescale.org

C is for Carousels

There are three carousels in Montana -  "Great Northern Carousel", Helena, MT, "A Carousel for Missoula", Missoula, MT; "Dream Maker Carousel", Somers, MT.

Great Northern Carousel is a menagerie-style carousel.  They were hand carved by Ed Roth from Long Beach, CA.  Hand painted by Bette Largent of Spokane, WA.  On the top of the carousel are magnificent stained glass artwork created by Mary Harris.

The artwork features important landmarks around and in Helena, MT - the state capital.  The 37 carousel pieces depict animals that are native to Montana from the now extinct dinosaurs to the energetic Jack Rabbit.

"Dream Maker Carousel" Somers, MT - is in the private gardens of the Cherot family.  It is open to the public

"A Carousel for Missoula"  is really about a community that made magic.

A Carousel for Missoula

Relevant Links

http://libearycorner.blogspot.com/2010/10/carousel-magic.html

Billings, MT

Billings MT is my current hometown.  Tonight the megaloads come through town and will go to the refinery to be set up.  It is always interesting to track journeys, even that of inanimate objects.

Billings is the biggest city in Montana.  It has a population of about 106,000 people - about 1/10th of Montana's population.

In the city we have the Alberta Bair Theatre, Yellowstone Art Museum, Western Heritage Center, Rocky Mountain College, Montana State University-Billings, the Moss Mansion, and Metra Park.  We were also the site of the Father's Day Tornado, June 2010.  We made the news because we rarely have tornadoes.  The Barstow Collection is housed at MSU-Billings.   Parts of the collection can be seen online.  Billings, MT is definitely a place of great attractions.

Alberta Bair Theatre

The Alberta Bair Theatre was  built on the original Charles Bair homestead.  It was originally called the Fox Theatre.  It opened its doors November 13, 1931.   The theatre began a renovation project in 1987.  Alberta Bair gave the lead gift for the project.  The theatre was named in her honor.

 "The Fox Theater had the distinction of being the last Art Deco style theater in the United States built by the 20th Century Fox Corporation and designed by Robert C. Reamer." Alberta Bair Theatre/History


Today the Alberta Theatre is home to great theatre and educational opportunities for students, teachers, and community.  I had the good fortune to attend a class there on Visual Thinking Strategies.  There are three basic questions to ask students as they look at a piece of art.


Basic VTS

1. What's going on in this picture?
2. What do you see that makes you say that?
3. What else can you find?

I have used this technique with picture books.  My students love the opportunity to really look at the art work and share their thoughts.  My three favorite books to use this with is "Rosie's Walk" by Pat Hutchins and two books by David Weisner "Flotsam" and "Tuesday".  The kids love these stories, and it is great to see the stories the illustrators tell.

Reflections on Slicing My Life in March

I have enjoyed the writing challenge this year.  I have "met" some great people, and enjoyed their writing.  The slice a day has been "challenging"  so often I didn't know what to write or where to start.  From reading the many posts of others I have gleamed ideas for class, read recommendations for new books, learned new idioms "before the sparrow farts".  I have learned about the lives and concerns of many great people.  I am sad it has come to an end.

In our district it has been a long standing practice to move teachers to new schools every 12 years.  This is my twelfth year.  The idea of starting in a new school feels daunting, yet exciting.  I have become so attached to the children, families, and staff where I work that it makes me sad that I am leaving.  It hurts to know I am leaving this teaching community.

Daily writing has helped me examine many of my thoughts that were fluttering around my brain.  I even took risks and shared my writing with several of my classes.  Quickly realizing that my writing did not pass my student delighted screening.

I think what I valued the most was the comments.  It was proof that someone out there was listening.  That what I wrote made a connection, a chuckle, or was thought provoking.  Those comments gave me encouragement.  They made me feel connected.  They made me feel that I was part of a community.  The year I participated in the NWP I felt that community, and I have missed that type of daily connection.

This was my second year participating.  Last year I only made it a few times.  This year I wrote 30 out of 31 days.  I feel exhilarated with that accomplishment.  What I feel the most is thankfulness.  I have learned so much reading "Two Writing Teachers" and the many other blogs.  I have found many that I decided to follow.  I hope they keep posting on a regular basis.  Here is to the future - Tuesday slicing and to the wonderful friendships we are building.