Family Mellmann

As I returned home this afternoon, after a visit with Katherine in Livingston, I had to stop to capture the mountains and the clouds.  It has been weeks since the mountains were visible as they were obscured by the smoke wafting in from wildfires to our north and west.  A weather front came through bringing some wind and rain which seems to have cleared the air for us. Then, just before I started dinner, the thunder and lightning turned to rain and wind.  We didn't get a lot of rain, but it was enough that I didn't have to run the sprinklers on the grass seed.  At the end of the video, you can see my erosion control mats holding firm against the wind...a job that the "tackified straw" could not manage!

First thing Monday morning, before it could get too hot - and since the Rosebud Cafe is closed on Monday so we couldn't go out for breakfast - I went out to seed the next roll. The second roll went faster.  Now that I know what I'm doing, I can do larger patches of raking and seeding.  This time, the five+ hours of work included setting up the irrigation.  Now I get a "day off" to let my blisters heal over and my achy muscles to relax before starting the next roll. Is it just me, or does this look a little like a...runway?  Well, except for the little obstacles running down the middle. :)

A few weeks ago, we attempted to put down grass seed on our post-construction property.  I researched what landscapers use for new construction lawns - besides pre-grown sod or must-mow-every-week (and water all summer) lawns.  I ordered native prairie grass seed.  I bought "tackified" straw, purported to create a woven "glued together" mat once wetted which would hold down seed against seed-eating birds and wind.  Oh.  You noticed that I said "purported".  It didn't work.  Once the tackified straw dried, the first breeze blew it away (a Montana "breeze" is more like a strong wind to my New Englander friends). Anyway, back to the drawing board I went to find a better option...one that could be nailed down. I ordered more native prairie grass - to replace what blew away.  I ordered 112 foot rolls of erosion control mat.  AND, to make sure this round stays put, I bought a case of wood spikes! As every project goes, the first one of whatever you...

In an effort to get acquainted with our new home state, Joerg and I went to the 107th annual Crow Festival in Crow Agency, Montana.  It is a week-long festival attended by indigenous people from across the country.  It is hosted by the Apsáalooke (Crow) Nation. Apsáalooke is the Crow word for "Crow" and from which we get the name of our town - Absarokee - where the Crow once lived.  Our subdivision continues this theme by being called Crow Chief Meadows and having several Crow-related road names. Anyway, the festival is closed to the public except for the weekend during which they open it up for non-natives to observe.  This is also a good time for their food trucks to sell lots of goodies and their vendors to enjoy a little tourist ba'laa (Crow for money).  Like any good festival, there are competitions and pageants, and of course, a parade.  They have indian-style horse races (bareback) and a native-style rodeo.  There are dance competitions, drummin...