Busco's Joy....Final Day and I Find My Word

 Sunday, September 16, 2012

There were a few things I wanted to make sure I got to do before leaving the Ranch.  One was riding horses up to the "Chisum Tree", those of you who are familiar with the John Wayne movie called Chisum will completely understand this.  I also insisted on being able to see Sandra and Tag's chicken coop since the lovely chicks were right across from our Room #7.  I wanted to see how Montana Chickies lived.  And, lastly, I had to come up with my word that would describe the pure joy and contentment I was experiencing through the entire trip.

First was the coop.  Sandra took me over early in the morning before the chicks had even been let out, so I was able to take some pictures of them and then let them out of their coop.  Again, my flash wasn't working so these aren't great, but I kind of like how they were silhouetted in these shots.  Above is the rooster who oddly enough, looks so very much like my handsome Maxwell's daddy.  Pretty neat huh?

I loved the rustic feel to the coop, which is actually in the back of the horse barn.  I think I will be able to adjust quite well to how Montana Chicks live when the day comes for me to have chicks in Montana. 

Our final ride for the trip was one that Anne and I had been begging for.  On the property, there is a lone tree.  Both my husband and Anne's husband are HUGE fans of John Wayne, it's the country boy in them.  One of the all time best John Wayne movies is called Chisum.

 

 

 This is the closing scene in the movie.  John Wayne is under a lone tree overlooking his land which is down in a valley from the tree.  When Anne and David had been to the Ranch a few years ago, they fell in love with Blacktail's version of what we call the Chisum Tree and Anne really wanted me to see it and get a chance to take the beautiful ride up to the tree.  So, Dan promised to take us the morning of our last day and anyone else who wanted to ride along was more than welcome.  It was a gorgeous morning and all of the lovely ladies joined in the ride.

 
The ride was our most challenging of the entire weekend, and I LOVED it.  I was given a different horse to ride, which ironically was Anne's husband's favorite horse at the Ranch.  The views were amazing as we rode.  Eventually, our destination came into view. 

It was so cool to be able to see where we were headed and how far away it was. We pointed it out to the other girls that were riding with us, but I am not sure any of them had ever seen the movie, so they didn't quite get it, at first. 

Then, as we got up to it, the wind picked up, and the views were amazing and they all GOT IT.  This tree seems to just be growing out of rock and is all alone.  We don't know how old it is or anything else about it.  But I am sure if John Wayne could go to Blacktail and see it, he too would say it looks just like the tree in Chisum.  Once you are at the top, the view down below is breath taking.  I just sat on my horse and stared out into the openness in complete disbelief that places like this existed.

I took a picutre of Anne that resembled John Wayne's closing scene. She thought David would like this a lot.

 



Now that dog in the picture up there, that is Busco.  The sweet amazing dog who belongs to one of our wranglers, McKenzie.  Busco is without a doubt the happiest dog I have ever seen.  Every morning he greeted us with a stick for us to throw for him, and when we went riding, Busco was right there with us, running his sweet little heart out.  He would run from the front of the riders where Dan was, all the way to the back of the riders where his master, McKenzie, was.  Back and forth the whole 2-3  hours we would be riding.  And when we got back to the stables, he would find a stick and bring it to us so we could play with him some more.  This dog had more energy than any living thing I have ever seen.  I mentioned to McKenzie on our final ride that morning that Busco had such an amazing life and was such a great dog.  McKenzie said that she had just said that morning that if she could just bottle up Busco's happiness and sell it to people, she would be a millionaire.  It was right there and then that I knew what my level of happiness and contentment in Montana was called......Busco's Joy.
I told everyone in the group that I finally had my word, or two words as it turned out.  Everyone there understood because they had seen how much Busco loved life and enjoyed being in the wide open spaces and the freedom of Montana.  I knew I wouldn't find my word until my trip was almost over and I was right.  But Busco's Joy is not something I wish to only have while in Montana.  That amount of joy and happiness is something I am trying to attain in my everyday life.  No matter how big or small my days are, I want to wake up that happy everyday and live each moment the best I can. 

On our way back to the Ranch at the end of our ride, we rode past a small pond.  I saw something peering through the tall grasses on the other side of the pond and pointed it out to the other riders.  I stopped my horse and realized it was a Moose, drinking water from the pond.  I struggled to get my camera out, but my horse didn't want to stand still and I lost my opportunity.  But others saw it too and I was okay with that.  It was so awesome though to end my trip with actually seeing a Moose up close.  On our rides I had seen cattle, bear, deer and now a moose.  Pretty cool.

Once we were back at the Ranch, it was time to pack up our things, say our good byes and head on down the road.  We had to go back to Helena so that we could catch our plane Monday morning.  We were going to take the scenic route back and go through Augusta.  I went outside and sat on the bench in front of the Ranch to have a few minutes to myself.  I was beginning to get a little weepy at the thought of having to leave and telling my new friends good bye.  I am SO AWFUL at good-byes.  While I was sitting on that bench, I felt my mom leave me again.  I knew she had been with me through the whole trip.  It was a trip my mom would never ever have wanted to go on when she was alive, but i guess in the after life, she has become a little more brave.  I felt her presence when we arrived in Helena, I felt her in the Hogan when we were doing yoga, she was holding me in her arms in the cave, knowing how terrified I am of the dark, and she was with me on my last ride.  Heck, she may have even been with me at the 7R when I was dancing with that sweet little man, which is why I never stepped on his feet.  But when it was all over and I was sitting on that bench, I could tell she was ready to go back, and share her adventures with her loved ones and an emptiness I hadn't felt the whole 5 days, washed over me again.  I shed a few tears, collected myself and thanked her for being with me and remembered Busco's Joy. 

Anne and I packed up the car and off we went.  The drive to Augusta was beautiful.  I don't think I will ever get use to the "highways" of Monatana.  Being able to stop in the middle of the highway to take pictures like these is unheard of where I live.  These last few pictures are a few of the beautiful things I saw and our final shopping destination, Latigo and Lace.  It was here that I bought Robby his birthday present for his upcoming birthday this month.  But I can't show you what it is because he just may be nosey enough to read this and find out.

 

 



Anne and I made it back to Helena, checked into a hotel across the street from the airport and then went out to dinner at a wonderful restaurant called Silver Star.  We had yummy blood orange martinis, elk medallions and chicken sesame wraps.  It was a perfect ending to a perfect day and we were both ready to climb into bed and be ready to fly home early the next morning.  As much as I was loving Montana, I was missing my sweet husband so very much and could not wait to get home and share everything with him. 

 

This trip had a huge impact on me.  I knew it would probably affect me in some ways, but was not expecting all the different ways.  I will be eternally grateful to Anne for getting me to go on this trip with her.  The timing was perfect.  With the 1st anniversary of my mom's death coming up in two weeks, I try to remember the trip and how it felt knowing she was with me and remembering that whenever I need her, she is still here with me.  I play back that day last year over and over again in my head and it still seems unreal.  I look at my mom's picture that I clung too all day long on that day, and I still can't believe she is gone.  She lived her life to the fullest every single day including her very last morning.  That is what Montana reminded me to do, live each day to it's fullest.  Be present and in the moment, even if it is at work with a bunch of two year olds who are grumpy and tired and not riding horses through amazing country side.  Each moment, each day, is a gift and we never know when it is our last.  I look at the mountains that surround me with a different perspective now.  They are so beautiful yet so different than the mountains in Montana.  We have so much green and lush vegetation growing on our mountains.  I didn't look at them closely enough before, or at least once I got use to them being there.  Now every morning, I make sure when I am driving to work that I notice them and the way the sun shines on the trees and casts shadows across the valley.  I am so lucky to be living where I live.

 

I hope you have enjoyed following my trip to Montana.  I am glad I have this memoir to come back to and re-live each day I was there. 

 

Busco's Joy......Spelunker by day, Country Line Dancer by night

Saturday, September 15, 2012

After another peaceful, restful night, it was time to start another day's worth of adventures.  Today's agenda would include the usual morning Yoga, breakfast and trail riding, lunch and then a wonderful trip to the on site cave.  The evening would wind up the day with dinner and then, a Gal's Night Out in the wild and crazy town of Wolf Creek.  I had to make sure I ate well at all 3 of my meals so that my energy level would stay up for such an action packed day. Not difficult to do when you have an amazing kitchen staff preparing fabulous meals for you all day.

This lifestyle was certainly something I could get use to.  Waking up early, walking to a beautiful location as the sun rises to do an hour of yoga, returning for a nourishing breakfast and then spending a few hours on horseback looking at Mother Nature's incredible creations is pretty much a perfect life.  Being able to do this all in the presence of 15 or so amazing women, who all had their own stories to tell, their full lives waiting back home for them, their hearts open to what they would discover about themselves and others on this trip was far greater of an experience than even I could have dreamt it would be.  Everyday of this trip was making me feel so much better and thankful for my life that I have been given.  And that includes all the ugliness that my life has had in it, the sorrow, the hard learned lessons and the setbacks, but most of all, for all the blessings I have had and continue to have every single day.  I had told Anne early in the trip that I was no longer looking inward anymore.  I have spent years looking inside of me to see what needed fixing and changing, but I am done doing that.  I finally realized that when all you are ever doing is looking inward, you forget to ever look up and see all that is right in front of you.  You start to get sucked into yourself and after a while, you forget how to LIVE your life, but are only looking back on what could  have, should have, would have been.  That is such a downer.  I am over that.  I want to experience and be present for everything my life has to offer and not miss a drop of it.  And this is why, every time Anne asked how I was doing, I could still not really answer with a word, just a huge, crow's feet inducing SMILE. 

Okay, now back to my adventures. 

 

This morning I was given a horse to ride by the name of Lucy.  She was a sweet gal, even though around the Ranch she was known as a Plug.  I found out that meant she liked to take her time and would never dream of giving me a hard time.  Well, she may have been a "plug" but she was perfect for me and she had some pep in her step after all.  It was a gorgeous morning once again and we headed out and up.  The view were amazing. (shocking, I know)

 

 

 

Along the way, we past Tag's "art gallery", a little garden of his sculptures.  It was really just to cute seeing all these little creations hanging out together.  I just loved them, he is so talented.

 

 

 

 

After we returned and had lunch.  It was time to go Spelunking.  At the ranch, there is a cave known as the Blacktail Cave.  It has been the site of many archaeological digs and has had amazing artifacts found inside.  The remains of a Saber Tooth Tiger, a Musk Ox and Buffalo just to name a few.  Plus the walls have pictographs from the ancient Indians inside.  An alter was also discovered that had a buffalo skull at it's base.  This was clearly a place of great importance at one time and I felt honored to be able to go inside and be a part of it.  There are lights for 5 miles inside of the cave that Tag had put in, we did not go 5 miles into the cave, but we did turn all the lights off and sat in complete and total darkness for a good bit.  It was the most peaceful and serene feeling and a time of un-natural clarity for me.  This coming from a person who is totally and completely terrified of the dark.  It was an experience I will never forget for as long as I live.  My flash was not working on my camera, so I have no pictures of the inside of the cave, but I do have this one of me cheesing it up before I went inside.  If you look closely, you can see one of the pictographs to the right of me, on the inside of the cave.

 

 

On our way back to the ranch, we asked Dan to take us to the Sun Wheel so that we could see it.  A sun wheel was made by the Indians to mark the seasons and used to mark both the rising and the setting of the sun on the summer solstice.  Although we were not up high, looking down on the wheel, it was clear where it was and many of the stones are still in alignment.  The cave, the sun wheel, and the Buffalo Woman's grave, are all aligned in a straight line if you were to view them from above.  AMAZING how the Indians were able to do all of this.

 

Not sure if you can see it, but there is a little chipmunk sitting on one of the stones above. 

 

Me standing on the perimeter of the Sun Wheel.  I wish I could have taken an aerial view somehow to show you the wheel.

 

Dan also stopped and asked us if we had ever heard of Fan Wheat before.  None of us in the truck with him had, so he got out, picked some and let us taste it.  It is the seed head to a plant known as Fan Wheat.  They taste a lot like poppy seeds but have a bit of a kick to them.  I really liked them and could totally see them on top of a muffin or baked in bread.

 



The plant has a red flower on it in the summer and then the little seed heads above are left behind.  When you open them up, you get the "wheat". 

 

Our day was coming to an end, and it was time to get some dinner and then get cleaned up for our Gal's Night Out.  It was Tag's 83rd birthday but we had given him his cake the night before, so his wife Sandy was taking us out for a "girls only" night out on the town.  I am sure Tag would have much preferred to come with us instead of being left behind, but........

 

We had no idea what we were in store for.  We had all driven through the bustling town of Wolf Creek when we came to the Ranch, so we were perfectly aware of all the places there were to go hang out at on a Saturday night.  There are none.  But, our clever hostess Sandy, she knows this man who just happens to own a little bar down a long dirt road that just happens to also have Karaoke.  WHO KNEW!!!!!    With a farewell and a kiss goodbye to Tag, we all piled into a few cars and headed on down the road to Wolf Creek.  Next thing we knew, a bar with a neon sign saying OPEN, appeared out of nowhere.  We had arrived at the 7R's.  I can't tell you much about what went on inside because that would be breaking "girl code".  But let's just say, we chased every local person out of that place, except the employees.  There was an adorable older couple there, guessing in their 70's, that could dance like no other couple I have ever seen.  They were so adorable and I was lucky enough that the sweet gentleman of that couple, took me for a spin on the dance floor.  He and his partner were two stepping and doing all kinds of other wonderful dances and I told him I was not good at dancing with a partner, I am strictly a one man show.  But he promised me he could lead me and I would be just fine.  And you know what, he was right!!!!  I can't remember what he called the dance we were doing, but he said, all I had to was remember to rock, rock, step, and I would be fine.  Next thing I knew, we were doing spins and all kinds of wonderful dance moves.  I had so much fun and was so thankful I didn't turn him down.  They stayed until about 9:30 and then they went home.  We had the joint to ourselves from then on.

 

 

It only seemed fitting that the beer I would drink would be called Moose Drool.  Where else but in the West would you find a beer like that?  And, it is brewed right in Missoula.

 

 

And don't forget that the best cure for a hangover after drinking Moose Drool, is a good hearty breakfast complete with Local Ranch Eggs that you pick up at the exact bar that made you hungover in the first place!!!!  Gotta love a bar that looks after the well being of their customers like that.

 

 

And no Karaoke bar is worth it's weight in gold, unless you have accompanying guitar players.  The owner of the 7R's is on the left.  I think he was really, really happy to see 4 car loads of women pull up to his establishment that night.  After he listened to us sang for 3 hours, I am not so sure he was so happy though. 

One thing I have always wanted to do was dance on top of a bar, like in the movie Coyote Ugly.  Well, something about this place just made me and my friend Carolyn want to get on the bar and dance.  So.........we did.  We did ask permission first because Sandy is friends with the owner and we didn't want to get her in trouble.  Our sweet little owner said he just didn't want us to fall off and hurt ourselves, but we were more than welcome to dance on the bar.

These pictures aren't so good because we were in constant motion and the person that took the photos had been constantly drinking since arriving at the 7 R's.  But, you get the idea at least.

 

 

Carolyn and I had so much fun.  We danced to Alan Jackson's song Itty Bitty.  Yeah, we looked pretty stupid, of that I am sure, but hey, we can check that one off of our bucket list and move on now!!!

 

It was getting late and we had a big ride the next morning, our final day.  So we gathered our things, told our lovely servers goodbye and headed back for the Ranch.  But on the way out, we noticed that the 7R's was already planning for the Holiday season.  So for all of you locals in Montana, don't forget to call early to make your Christmas Celebration plans at the 7R's Bar.  Yall come back now ya hear?

 

 





Busco's Joy......The Search For My Word

Sunrise as we were walking to the Hogan for yoga.

6:45am  9-14-12

Friday,  September 14, 2012

WOMEN IN THE WILD

I have decided for the this first full day of the retreat, I will just write exactly what I jotted down in my "book" that I am never without from this day.  I will also include pictures that were taken that day and let my simple thoughts and pictures do all the talking.  This will be a short, sweet and to the point post. 

Anne asked that we have Room #7 in the main lodge.  In her opinion it was the best room, though the smallest room.  She was 100% right.  We had the best views and could see all of the comings and goings right outside of our 3 windows.

Yoga- Friday Morning 7:00
-beautiful, slightly chilly morning.  beautiful walk to the HOGAN, sun rising as we walked, stop to take pictures.

-very easy practice with hip openers and gentle stretches to prepare us for our first ride.
 

 View looking out from inside of the Hogan.

The outhouses.

Another view from inside the Hogan, looking out.

Not a bad view from any position.

 

 

-walked back to ranch and cleaned up for breakfast....oatmeal, granola & yogurt, blueberry bread,

 fresh fruit and orange juice.

 

-changed into jeans and boots for 2 hour trail ride with Sandra and Dan.  Rode a lovely horse named

 2 Dots.  Beautiful ride although much smoke was blowing over mountains for the Bob Marshall

 fires.  Took many pictures.  Cool morning with winds.  Talked with Kathi from Orange County

 about death and losing mom.  She too lost someone she was very close to and we talked about

 healing processes and letting go. 

 

 The stables.

 An old pair of boots,

retired for now.

 Horses saddled up and ready to go.

 One of our wranglers, Dan.

The hardest working 23 year old I know.

His trusty friend, Annie Oakley looking on.

 2 Dots and I ready to ride.

 Even though it was smokey, the views were amazing.

Horseback is indeed the way to see land as gorgeous as this.

 Annie Oakley taking a little break.

Nothing makes her happier than running alongside

on a trail ride.

 Anne on Sunny and our wonderful host, Sandra, in the background.

 

 

-returned from our ride at 11:30 and cleaned up for lunch...egg salad, greens, pasta salad, chips,

 cookies and lemonade.

 

-at 1:00, Tag gave us a tour of his museum and told us the story of his life and family. 

 

 The museum is made up of the one room house that Tag's grandfather bought in the 1800's.

The exact house that Tag's father was born in.

All of the objects in the museum are from the ranch and Tag's family.

Some are family items, photos, jewelry, etc.

Others are artifacts and ancient ruins that have been found

during archaeological digs on the property.

Tag Rittel.

One of the most gracious gentlemen I have ever met.

A true legend in my mind.

 

 

-Montana has proven to be everything I had thought it would be.  The beautiful open spaces, the

 glorious mountains, the quietness, the closeness to heaven and the awareness of God's beauty and

 almightyness all around.

 

-occasional episodes of tears, but feel that they are not out of sadness, but out of pure joy and the

 amazement at what my life is like at this moment and feeling the presence of my mom with me.

 

 

Friday night we celebrated Tag's 83rd birthday.  His actual birthday would be on Saturday, but do to other plans the ladies had for Saturday night, Sandra gave him his cake Friday night.  It was the most delicious Carrot Cake I have ever eaten.  During dinner, I had the opportunity to share Robby's and my dream of one day moving to Montana and continuing our desire for a self sustainable lifestyle.  My new friends were so encouraging and moved by what I had to say and really made me feel as if it was something that Robby and I would one day make happen.

 

  Setting up inside the Hogan for evening yoga before dinner.

 

 

 Never wanting to be late for a meal,

Tag and Dan waiting outside for the dinner bell to ring.

Sandra presenting her wonderful husband Tag with his birthday cake.

This one was not the Carrot cake,

but a Doughnut Cake from the

Donut Hole in Helena.

 

 Anne and I before our evening ride after dinner.

 Our trusty companions on all of our rides,

Busco in the front and Annie Oakley in the back.

Riding past the Hogan on horseback in the evening.

 

 

-our ride this evening was wonderful.  Sandra got us a little bit lost, but it was so much fun.  Steeper hills than the morning ride, a little trickier terrain, saw about 6 deer, rode back to the stables in the dark.  Perfect ending to the day followed by a glass of wine in the hot tub then off to bed, with the Montana air blowing in the windows once again.



     
One last thing.  The whole time Anne and I were out riding, walking, doing yoga, exploring, she would ask me how I was doing.  I kept telling her that I could not come up with the word that could describe exactly how at peace and happy I was.  I told her it was along the lines of the great word from one of Mary Poppins's old songs....supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, but that still wasn't even it.
I would be sure to let her know as soon as I came up with it.  But I was pretty sure it was not going to be until the end of my stay at Blacktail, that the word would come to me.