T is for Three Forks

In 1805 the Corps of Discovery stopped in what is now Three Forks. Three tributaries – the Jefferson, the Madison, and the Gallatin – form the headwaters of the Missouri.  The rivers were named for President Jefferson, Secretary of State James Madison, and Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin.  Sacajawea recognized the area as where she was captured by the Hidatsas as a child.  Three Forks was traditional land of the Shoshone.

John Colter, one member of the Corps of Discovery came back to Three Forks to trap.  It was in this area that he had his encounter with the Blackfeet and he made his “naked” run in 1808.  Jack Gladstone has a song about Colter’s Run told from the Blackfeet point of view that I really enjoy.  John Colter was also the first white man to travel through what is now Yellowstone National Park.

Just outside of Three Forks is the Wheat Montana Bakery and Deli.  It is located at the intersection of I-90 and Highway 287 (Exit 274).  The flour that they use to make their baked goods comes from the wheat that grows on their family farm.  On their website they tell about holding the Guinness Record for taking standing wheat and turning it into bread in 8 minutes and 13 seconds.

One of their advertisements states that they are the 21^st century equivalent to a stagecoach stop where people can refresh themselves.  So TRUE.  I always stop there if it is at all possible when I travel through the area.  They have good sandwiches; in my opinion their claim to fame is their pastries. 

My favorite is the caramel rolls.  The rolls are larger than a softball – about 4 inches across.  I love having them hot with butter drizzling down the side.  I savor each bite – a taste of ecstasy.  The caramel slides down your tongue teasing you until you have eaten the whole thing. 

Wheat Montana Bakery and Deli should have a sign posted outside – “Sin Sold Within”.

 http://www.threeforksmontana.com

http://www.wheatmontana.com/

http://www.jackgladstone.com/Lyrics__Buffalo_Cafe.html

http://www.visitmt.com/categories/moreinfo.asp?IDRRecordID=12672&siteid=1

Q is for Quilt

Quilters have pieced together the history of the state.  Their hands stitched their hopes and dreams into functional pieces of art.  The quilts were sewn with courage, love and sometimes despair but always with an artist’s eye.

When the immigrants, homesteaders, soldiers and missionaries came to Montana they brought with them their quilts and quilting traditions.  There are many types of quilting.  Each quilter brought with them their own history and traditions.  Quilting is both a solitary craft as well as a social one.  They learned from each other.  Together they exchanged news, patterns, and techniques.  

The Northern Plains women found this new art form intriguing.  Geometric patterns had long been traditions in their own functional artwork (moccasins, teepees, clothing.)  The morning star is an important part of Native American culture.  Native women learned how to make star quilts and brought and interwove their own traditions into their quilts.

Star quilts are given at powwows and giveaways to honor and recognize people for their accomplishments. Graduations, weddings, the birth of a child are all reasons to celebrate and recognize the individual with a gift of a star quilt.  The quilt is wrapped around the recipient to honor and protect the person on their journey through life.  It is a great honor to be given a star quilt. 

In 2008 I won two tickets to a Jack Gladstone concert in Helena.  Jack Gladstone is one of my favorite musical artists.  Sometimes he is called “Montana’s Blackfeet Troubadour”.  Many of his songs tell the stories of the Blackfeet people.

The concert was a fundraiser for the Montana United Indian Association, and was held at the Myrna Loy Center in Helena, Montana.   A star quilt was being raffled off.  The star tips were eagle heads, in the middle is a buffalo, at the center of the quilt are the four sacred colors:  yellow, black, white, red.  I bought several tickets and was ecstatic when I held the winning number.