I recently met up with a dear friend for a quick trip through some of Oregon’s coastline and wineries. She and I have been friends ever since kindergarten, when we rode the bus together and giggled and laughed about things that girls giggle and laugh about, talked about boys and classes and …
- Marie Hoyer
As gardeners, we want to get into the garden when the weather is nice, but night freezes still occur. Something that can be planted earlier are leafy greens, as they can handle frosts. There is a wide range of types, which can be used in so many ways and not just in a salad.
- By DARLA TYLER-MCSHERRY
Over the weekend, a storm blew across Montana that brought several inches of heavy, wet snow to many areas. It should help with incredibly dry conditions that much of the state is suffering from. We endured terrible winds for two days prior to the storm, so for about four days we had dark, h…
- Marie Hoyer
Although I do not have access to the large gardens I planted for so many years, I am still planting. No longer do I can, freeze, dry or pickle hundreds of quarts of this and that, but plots and containers are available to me and they are empty! So, I fill them up!
- By DARLA TYLER-MCSHERRY
Every time I travel back to Lonesome Prairie, I am so acutely aware of its appropriate name. Growing up there didn’t seem all that lonely, as it was what we knew, and of course, school and activities made a difference. I respect the women who live in these remote areas and I think of their u…
- Marie Hoyer
Throughout the years, women have been an integral part of agriculture, yet their services have not been notably acknowledged. 2026 has been designated as the “International Year of the Woman Farmer.” There are many roles for women in agriculture. They are not all on the seat of a tractor or …
- By DARLA TYLER-MCHSERRY
As I continue to plod my way through winter, I’ve been mindful in trying to follow my own recommendations when it comes to managing mental health. In my opinion, the current “open” winter creates a sense of restlessness, as this is supposed to be the quiet time of the year, with sounds, ener…
- Marie Hoyer
Milk is one of nature’s most complete foods and begins to feed humans and mammals at birth. The contents support life with an abundance of essential nutrients. Commercially, milk technically comes from dairy cattle, sheep, and goats.
- By DARLA TYLER-MCSHERRY
This winter, the wind is a huge discussion topic. In many places across the country, it’s been intensely windy and lasting for days at a time. Here in Montana, much of the state, to date, has had an “open” winter, meaning very little to no snow cover or moisture of any significance. This wei…
- Marie Hoyer
There are some foods we take for granted as they are so common. One of those are beans, whether they are fresh, canned or dried. Ancient Egypt, Thailand, and South American people were eating them 6,000 years ago, as well as including them in burial tombs. They were also a staple of the Roma…
- By DARLA TYLER-MCSHERRY
I think it was the winter of 1977-78, one of the coldest and snowiest winters on record. I still remember the “treat” of being snowed in on a Thursday and Friday, so we kids had a four-day weekend. I believe it was this winter when I heard my mom repeatedly say that “January has 59 days.” As…
- Marie Hoyer
Do you ever have to think about what to have for breakfast, lunch, or a quick meal? How about a griddle cake or flapjack? A hot cake, a pancake or a crepe? Despite all the various names, they all mean “pancake.” Pancakes were initially mostly round, cooked batter of flour, milk, and oil. It …
- By DARLA TYLER-MCSHERRY
As I was driving into Billings on a chilly morning in early January, I saw a rancher chopping the ice at his roadside pond for his cows. Seeing that made me smile, as it reminded me of my dad. In the wintertime, it was the first and the last chore of his day. He didn’t have a large herd. He …
- Marie Hoyer
Another new year, another budget made out, and another unexpected increase in bills. These are pretty much the facts of life now. What is a family to do? The prices of the foods we used to purchase may prevent us from doing so now.
- By DARLA TYLER-MCSHERRY
Today is the winter solstice (Dec. 22). Upon wakening, Rudi, my German Shepherd, and I went outside and were treated to a spectacular eastern sky backlit with delicious orange cream, pink, and lilac colors. It was an intense visual treat. Partnered with the stillness of a Sunday morning and …
- Marie Hoyer
Now that the holidays are over, things may be settling down a bit. One might have the time to pursue a new hobby or explore new interests. The kitchen may be one place to start by experimenting with growing seed sprouts for eating. I do not mean garden seeds, but those organically labeled fo…
- By DARLA TYLER-MCSHERRY
I was fortunate enough to take a short vacation and escape the cold of Montana and enjoy a few sunny and warm clear sky days in Phoenix. No schedules, delicious food, and a professional football game made for a wonderfully relaxing and fun respite. A bonus to this experience was my first rid…
- Marie Hoyer
Not everyone will eat the same foods over New Year’s Day. Through the years, we have been going about the world to find out what foods people have eaten in their country. This year we shall stop in Greenland.
- By DARLA TYLER-MCSHERRY
I just checked the weather forecast. At this next time week, the day’s high temperature is supposed to be 45 degrees cooler than today. That’s not a bad thing. It’s late November (at the time of writing this column), and it’s time to actually have some winter weather. It’s an opportunity to …
- Marie Hoyer
Christmas is thought of as a time of Santa Claus, beautifully decorated trees, and gifts, but there is a much deeper-rooted history around the celebration. It originally began over 4,000 years ago in a little town of Bethlehem where a child was born. Jesus Christ came as a redemption for peo…
- By DARLA TYLER-MCHSERRY
It’s pretty safe to say that we Americans are obsessed with dogs. Our comic strips and cartoons are full of them – Snoopy, Scooby Doo, and the Paw Patrol, to mention a few. Favorite television shows and movies feature dogs as the stars – Rin Tin Tin, 101 Dalmatians, Lassie, and many more. Re…
- Marie Hoyer
Christmas may be a little different this year for some of us. Budgets may be overstretched. Types of gifts, either asked for or expected, are not only expensive but also have a financial cost attached. Christmas items on the store shelf or in craft shows are tempting, but mom and dads have h…
- By DARLA TYLER-MCSHERRY
It’s an enjoyable moment listening to the “honk” and wing flaps of Canada geese (also called Canadian geese – sorry, birders) in their V-shaped formations flying overhead. They are amazing creatures. They fly around 40 miles per hour, and with a good tailwind, they can reach speeds of 70 mil…
- Marie Hoyer
November and December are months in which one usually entertains more with holiday parties, company dinners, or just different seasonal get-togethers. Multiple recipes abound for making almost any type of dish. However, there are various tricks that help make things easier that is not found …
- By DARLA TYLER-MCSHERRY
We lose minutes of daylight every evening. We gardeners hastily pick our remaining produce, watch the weather reports, and wonder how many more days we can eek out until the killing frost. Some people are geared up for fall, ready to enjoy the cooler weather, hunting, and breaking out the cr…
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