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Sun, Oct 26, 2025

12:29pm EDT

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PORCH PONDERINGS

by NormaJean AKA CHEER QUEEN

Rated: 13+ · Book · Biographical · #2198921

Norma's Wanderings around a small section of Montana

Well, hey there!
Welcome to Roundup, Montana! If it's a nice day, we'll sit a spell on my porch and talk awhile.

A poem captured my attention the other day.

Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget 
Falls drop by drop upon the heart, 
Until, in our own despair,
 Against our will,
 Comes wisdom 
Through the awful grace of God.

Aeschylus

What's on your mind today?

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Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

Maid of the Mist Most Macabre

Oct 14, 2025 at 10:40am
In response to "Session 1 of Writing Class"

Sigh, far too far for me to participate. I laughed at the poem you shared and the title of the other one. Workshops should be fun and informal.

Jeff-o'-lantern 🎃

Oct 13, 2025 at 11:50pm
In response to "Session 1 of Writing Class"

Sounds like a great activity!

🐱 panther pwheeler

Oct 2, 2025 at 10:50pm
In response to "Busy Time"

Happy autumn!

NormaJean AKA CHEER QUEEN

Sep 23, 2025 at 10:53am
In response to "3 things"

Thanks for the comments, friends. The facilitator at the writing event also liked that last line of the poem. He thought of a snare drum - the sound it makes - a sharp snap.

Being at that location, being in nature, away from stimuli other than wind and sun and bugs, it makes your mind relax, in my opinion. Then you can catch those thoughts as they race past. Before they are lost.

1 Like

Maid of the Mist Most Macabre

Sep 22, 2025 at 11:04am
In response to "3 things"

I too like that image of "our minds snare." What can our brains capture? It reminds me of that old line used to defend one's aging brain. My mind is like a steel trap. Ah, a writing retreat. Sounds productive.

1 Like

Kåre เลียม Enga

Sep 22, 2025 at 12:40am
In response to "3 things"

... into our minds snare... lovely line.

I need to get out more.

1 Like

🐱 panther pwheeler

Sep 21, 2025 at 10:59pm
In response to "3 things"

Sounds like a great day!

1 Like

NormaJean AKA CHEER QUEEN

Sep 9, 2025 at 7:44pm
In response to "YIKES!!! "

Thanks for the kind words, friends. The thought of me being a 'speed bump' is humorous and sad at the same time. It usually does take someone getting hurt, or killed, to get any kind of reform. They won't even put in a stop light at the busiest corner, where State rt 12 east and US Hwy 87 N meet.

Roundup is a main road for the state. And as such, gets over a 1,000 vehicles a day. Probaly more like 2,000. More soon since they are redoing the Sentinel missile sites north of us near Lewistown. Right now they are redoing all the bridges up that way.

And then there is talk of a big wind farm and maybe a data center going in north, but of course, with the current administration that wind project may be halted.

The street does go to three lanes in the winter when the state, in their infinite wisdom, plows to the middle of the road. Now that's fun to get around when you walk across 4 lanes.

I say a prayer each time I cross, wish me luck.

1 Like

Wordsmitty ✍️

Sep 6, 2025 at 7:50pm
In response to "YIKES!!! "

Speed Humps. They're like a raised crosswalk. Anything designated 30 MPH or less can use them. Of course, as a state highway, I'm not sure how interested the state would be to put one in. Maybe if you let them hit you and a few others, it might give them some impetus.

Kåre เลียม Enga

Sep 6, 2025 at 6:38pm
In response to "YIKES!!! "

4 lanes through a small town... you're a speedbump?

One solution that will have little support is narrowing the road to 2 or 3 lanes. It's been done in Missoula with lots of squawking.

October 13, 2025 at 11:43pm

#1099267

Session 1 of Writing Class

Tonight I had the pleasure of attending the first of five writing seminars in Billings. These will cover poetry and prose. They are happening at a wonderful little independent bookstore not too far from a motel where I am tonight.

So as I walked to and from, about 3 blocks, in the largest city in Montana, I wondered at the peace and calm there was. No problems, just a little light snow/sleet at times. A few pedestrians on the sidewalks, but no crowds.

A lady from Roundup will join me for the next one come Sunday. She is another published writer I met at the meeting at Pictograph Cave state park. We feel fortunate to have met one another. She is also the kind heart that gave me flowers at the play a few weeks ago.

We read aloud some selected poems from the instructor.
I really enjoyed this one:

The Bat
By day the bat is a cousin to the mouse.
He likes the attic of an aging house.

His fingers make a hat about his head.
His pulse beat is so slow we think him dead.

He loops in crazy figures half the night
Among the trees that face the corner light.

But when he brushes up against a screen,
We are afraid of what our eyes have seen:

For something is amiss or out of place
When mice with wings can wear a human face.

But then there was 'Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take The Garbage Out'
That was a page and a half long. Hilarious.

From the reading we were to write our thoughts from several prompts. I chose my favorite hiding spot - the basement of our home growing up. And also my first memory which was evidently my bedroom as a toddler.

So the memory story I read, and it went from that bedroom to walking into a tree to always being clumsy to having a brain tumor. Really, it does tie together and I may rewrite that soon.

These sessions are about 2 hours in length and only cost me $15 for each. Oh, and the motel so I don't have to dodge deer at night.

Money well spent to spend time writing and thinking and remembering.

Comment • View 2 comments

October 2, 2025 at 11:31am

#1098469

Busy Time

The community theater production is over for this year. I was in two theater groups, one in Roundup and one in Musselshell. I had small parts in both plays, but that's okay. Less pressure to remember hundreds of words. More of a chance to make an impression on stage. And it seems I did.

In one show, I was on stage the entire time, but had virtually no lines. I was just a customer in a coffee shop. So, I thought, what could I do? So I read books, I fiddled with flowers, I pet a stuffed cat, drank imaginary coffee. And it added to the drama but didnt' detract from the action. And someone mentioned that fact.

In the other show I was a 'winsome' maid. Well, I had to look up the definition of winsome. I am NOT winsome. But nevertheless, I was memorable. I again was not on stage much. But when I was, by golly, I thought, the audience would remember me. And they did. I even got a bouquet from a friend. My first ever for a show! Wondrous.

As I often tell people, there are no small parts, only small actors. You make the best of what you are assigned.

We had a good time traveling to Musselshell for practice. A group of 5 carpooled each time. So we had diverse conversations between us, included the 16 year old of the group, and loved every minute. As well as kept an eye on the road for deer, elk, raccoons, even an owl in the middle of the road one night. The stretch of road, 20 miles, is considered by me an 'animal suicide' highway. A cast member's parents were rammed by an elk on their way home after one of the shows.

But I am glad it's over. The time involved, the stress of performing, the worrying about scheduling. Now we are into OctoPrep here on the site. Busy month for that. I have also scheduled some classes in Billings for writing. The same person who held the free seminar earlier that I went to is having 5 classes over October and November at a bookstore. I will pay a nominal fee to attend his classes. He was wonderful.

Fall is upon us here in Montana. Days are shorter, cooler. Soon it will snow. Yep. Soon.

Comment • View 1 comment

September 21, 2025 at 9:07pm

#1097818

3 things

I spent the last few days in Billings. There was a writing workshop at Pictograph Cave, a state park. Alas, all the ancient writings have disappeared, but the wonderful natural caves and the views of the surround countryside remain. I needed to take a break from my home, my town, my routine. And it worked, I pray.

Then tonight when walking back and forth from the post office, I see a trio of reaffirming images.
1. An Amish buggy pulled by a tan horse, two passengers, trotting down Main Street. A hearty wave from the 'driver' and from me.
2. The most wonderful yard in town. Planted yearly with geraniums, hydrangeas and the most glorious dracaena in planters. The yard is immaculately manicured.
3. A sign by a front door - 'Ring the bell. Win a dog.' I had to laugh at that one. We have a door mat from our previous dog. 'Ring the bell and let me sing you the song of my people.' And her name at the bottom. Bonnie. I cannot bear to throw it away.

Here is the poem I created at the park. Perhaps it will appear in my portfolio. It celebrates a nearby natural area, the equinox coming in a few days, and the wonder of nature.

Poem written at a writer’s workshop at Pictograph Cave state park on 9-20-25

Four Dances

N - S - E - W

Winds gather

Winds off stones of Yellow river

Converge at rims of rocks

Swirling - whirling - sometimes twirling

Taking air from top to bottom

Pushing rats from their lair

Into a ghost cave

Into a picture cave

Into our mind’s snare

Celebrating the atmosphere - the aero-sphere - that is all around us
Celebrating the equinox - the equal day and night
Celebrating the rest of summer’s abundance

Comment • View 4 comments

September 6, 2025 at 5:54pm

#1096802

YIKES!!!

I try to walk as much as possible. On Saturdays I usually walk to church. 4 blocks, not hard. I like the ease of going on foot. My one bug-a-boo is crossing Main Street.

The Main Street in Roundup is actually a State Highway, Rt 87, North and South. In my neck of the woods, from Billings S to Lewistown N. About an hour in either direction. So traffic is getting to be quite heavy. The speed limit is 25. Yeah, whatever. Weekends are usually quiet.

Today I went to the corner of 6th Ave and Main Street. Catholic Church on my right, house on the left. Across Main Street is the Baptist church and their youth center, taking both sides of the avenue. I wait, see nothing but a little red car coming up Main Street from the right. 'I have enough time to cross' I think. So I take off across 4 lanes of highway.

Then suddenly here comes this red car - straight at me - I start waving my hands - shouting 'STOP' - and the twit in that car barrels on by me. No acknowledgment of me, the fact that she almost hit me. No stopping at all.

SO, a big prayer to Jesus as I got to the other side. Two men at the Baptist church yelled to me. "Did you know that person?" I walked over to them and complain, tell them how I feel so blessed to be alive. Then I continue on a few more blocks to church. My word. You just never know.

Watch for people crossing streets at CROSSWALKS.

for pedestrians. Drive the SPEED LIMIT. And always thank the Lord you make it safely back home.

Comment • View 5 comments

August 31, 2025 at 10:55pm

#1096258

OSU Marching Band

I watch YouTube videos a lot, probably too much. Well tonight somehow I got onto one about The Ohio State University and its marching band. We Ohioans, and I am a transplant, call it The Best Damn Band In The Land - TBDBITL - and mercy. And they have a drum major. The section when they enter the stadium - check out the drum major. The person, could be male or female, bends back far enough to touch the grass with the top of that hat. Check out the video.

I used to live within walking distance of the stadium- the historic horseshoe at OSU. I could hear the cheers on a home game day. Once I saw a blimp overhead.

I was in marching band in high school, oh those many years ago. This is hard work. It stated on the video I watched that the students, and they are all students, practice 4 hours every day. And each home game they learn a new routine.

I was never able to go to a game. Tickets are impossible to get. But watched many a game on TV.

Gotta say, brought tears to my eyes watching this again. Script Ohio is amazing. And the honor to dot the i !!!

Comment • View 4 comments

August 25, 2025 at 12:48pm

#1095915

Letter Battle

The ice cream event was fun. Quite a few came, some kids, some older, some families. We made enough to cover expenses, perhaps a little more. It was a nice day - 80° and blue sky.

Today about 50° to start. Again, nice blue skies.

There is now a letter battle going on between the mayor of Roundup and the county commissioners about the coal mine. I think I mentioned something about the mine and mineral rights and the Crow revenue act and the Hope family in a BLOG post.

So the mayor wrote a letter to the paper criticizing the commissioners. And I have to say, not well written. Last Friday I reread it in the commissioner's meeting and corrected it. She needs to have someone do this before she sends it off for publication, but whatever. Perhaps I'm being petty. But as a writer, it hurts one to see errors in print.

Then the commissioners compose a very well-written response to the mayor's letter that is published in the next edition of the paper. It was succinct, informative, and stated exactly the case of the county's tax dilemmas.

The county and the city just do not get along. The city says the county is always taking their money. The county is not sure why the city states this always. The sheriff is always mad at the city. Note - no city police - law enforcement is by the county sheriff's office. The city has an agreement with the county to provide law enforcement in the city limits - and they are always at odds with each other.

Again, drama in a small town.

Comment • View 2 comments

August 24, 2025 at 11:22am

#1095863

Ice Cream Today

Cooler morning here today. It was 52° when I checked the weather station this morning. The weather is starting to change to fall here. The sun is setting earlier each week.

Sunset last night was 8:08 in Roundup, next week it will be 7:52. Why do I know this? Well, we keep track for church. Sundown Friday to sundown Saturday is the Sabbath. So I need to know the times. That is almost a full hour jump.

When the sun is up until almost 10 PM in the height of summer, to 8 PM now, it really gets your attention. Sooner than we like, we'll be having the 4 PM darkness in December.

What else is happening? Today we are having an 'ice cream social' at the museum. Somehow a few years ago I got the responsibility for this. So, posters, decorating, getting the ice cream. setting up an outdoor space. But the ice cream we decided to go with are individual bars and sandwiches. No muss, no fuss with scooping and cones and such. We use Wilcoxson's , a local Montana brand. Everyone likes it, they do a great huckleberry ice cream. as well as vanilla. This is a fundraiser for the museum. We don't get any money from the city, the county or the state. And have never for 50 years.

Last night at 9 PM I took a chance and ran to Family Dollar - they were still open. That store opened here in Roundup a few years ago. I found some items for the ice cream event today. And lo and behold, they had party napkins with Dinos on them! What? Our museum is now now on the Montana Dino Trail, so of course I had to pick them up. And just might go out later and get the rest they have. I mean, paper keeps on a shelf and who knows when and where one might find such an item again.

I had an online meeting for the state church organization that is changing from a print newsletter to all members to an email newsletter. I was one of the original contributors to this newsletter. And now with a change in administration, they want to eliminate the print option. Sad. So we have to decide how to proceed. I really am sorry to hear this, and always want to include people who don't use computers, or cell phones, or perhaps don't have that option in our rural state.

So I've been making random notes before another meeting tomorrow about story ideas. I had been doing puzzles in print. But somehow puzzles online are a bit more complicated. I now have to rethink my contributions and how to proceed.

And then there is the challenge this year of OctoPrep. As most everyone knows, the entity of NaNoWriMo is no more. But WDC is doing something, not sure what, to take its place. But OctoPrep is still a go, everyone. Get ready to write!

Comment • View 4 comments

August 18, 2025 at 10:55am

#1095499

The BBB comes to Signal Peak

Last Thursday I was part of a press event for Senator Steve Daines at Signal Peak Energy. Signal Peak is a coal mine here in Musselshell County. It employs 250 people. Pretty impressive operation that mines good quality coal, high BTU, low sulfur coal. But it is all shipped by rail to Vancouver, BC then to Japan. Hmm.

Here is my copy for the paper:

Senator Steve Daines visited the Signal Peak mine on Thursday, August 14. Senator Daines spoke to a gathered group of mine workers, guests and the press in the mine’s wash bay. The Senator explained how the passage of Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill was able to insure that Signal Peak mine will continue its operations. Our Senator assured the mine workers that Signal Peak Energy and the coal mining would be open for most of the next decade.

Daines explained that rural Montana is not understood by the East coast population of the nation. There is now a fight for coal and a fight for jobs. 250 employees at the mine are vital to the fabric of Roundup, Musselshell and Yellowstone counties, as well as Montana. Daines also pointed out that coal is vital to the United States. Without coal, the country does not have a base load source of power for the country.

As energy demand increases in our current world, coal will be a critical part of the equation.
Signal Peak Energy and its coal mining is the most efficient in the United States.

After the short visit with employees, Senator Daines and Montana State Senator Barry Usher, along with Roundup Mayor, Sandra Jones, and Parker Phipps, the Signal Peak Energy’s CEO and president, traveled underground to observe the mine.

The press took a surface tour of the mine. They were able to observe the loading process of coal to railroad cars. The process is controlled by computers as workers constantly monitor the moving cars, as well as the precise measuring of coal tonnage loaded. Most of this coal is shipped to Japan through Vancouver, B.C. All the power companies in Japan currently use Signal Peak coal.

There is a bright future, per Daines. We have more recoverable fuel in Montana. This is why we need to keep Signal Peak Energy viable and open, and keep these jobs in Montana.

I selected a few pictures as well. The usual, Senator speaking. Senator getting ready to go underground. The Signal Peak mine entrance. The press wasn't allowed underground. We could only stay on top. But that's alright. I got to see the loading in rail cars. That was impressive.

Seems they have to constantly spot the rail cars, as people occasionally climb into them. And if they see someone, which at times they do, they have to stop the train, get them out, and send them on their way. No one is allowed on the grounds of the mine without permission. To stay in a car with tons of coal loaded on top of you, well, you are dead in a few moments.

I also didn't get a picture of Trump's signature on some kind of executive action. Oh well. I can live without seeing that up close and personal.

When it came my turn to ask a question, and I was allowed just two, I stated, "Well, thank you Senator, you've answered all the questions I have. I am from Roundup and represent the Roundup Record-Tribune, a paper that has been continuously published since 1908. We have many subscribers still, locally and all over the country. Thank you for keeping the mine open. " Or something to that effect. Word salad. He stated I was a good advertisement for the paper. I could have asked about wind farms and data centers and environmental problems, but it wasn't the time or place to get controversial. I didn't have facts to back up any arguments.

Comment • View 1 comment

August 10, 2025 at 8:37pm

#1095052

A Great Weekend

I had the great pleasure this past weekend to spend time with Kåre เลียม Enga

. Some time ago, I found out there was another WDC writer close to me. Well, in the same state that is.

So finally, with a few days to spare in the week, we made arrangements to meet in Missoula, Montana. Distance in MT is measured in time, most often by people. It takes about 5 hours to get to Mizou from Roundup. Now you people in other parts of the country/world, that may seem excessive. But, not really. I traveled the B route on I-90. Billings to Big Timber to Bozeman to Butte and then Missoula.

I traveled from the edge of the Eastern Montana prairie to the mountains of Western Montana. I watched the Yellowstone River come and go. I saw the Clark Fork before it went into the city of Missoula. Then finally, with good directions, I found my friend.

There stood Kåre เลียม Enga

at the Big Dipper. Anxiously waiting for me, as I was a bit tardy. Even driving 80 MPH, I was still later than I wanted to be. But there was this person dressed in purple and orange, as promised. Strange, but I wore an orangish jacket and a purplish top. Perhaps people thought we were twins. LOL

After saying hello and how are you and wow, we made our way around the city of Missoula. Missoula is the home of the University of Montana. There is a long and proud history of that school. It is also the site of many architectural treasures- as I was made aware of. Kåre เลียม Enga

really should lead 'underground' tours of the downtown. Sites and places and people were explained. We sat in a little coffee shop and solved all the world's problems, with the help of a poet friend. We also walked from booth to booth in the large outdoor markets. Such diversity, such color, and mercy me, the flowers for sale! And vegetables - so much fresh food for sale.

We visited some gift shops, a shoe store specializing in leather shoes - my favorite. Don't buy fabric shoes, people. Buy leather. They last for years and years. (I have some Birkenstocks that are over 20 years old.) We also stopped at a new shop that specializes in romance novels. Really. I didn't know there was such a need for a specialty item like that.

But the most fun was the carousel. A real carousel with hand carved horses and wagons and even a dragon. You pay $1 per ride, but if you pull the ring, you may get lucky and get a free ticket. Now if I was a child, I would be there every day if I could. They were selling little folders with all the names of the characters you could ride. So, ride until you were on them all. What a deal...

Recently CNN did a piece on Missoula. They touted the fact that you could kayak and surf in the middle of town. The Clark Fork river runs through town and yes indeed, you can use that waterway to surf or kayak or wade or just sit and enjoy the views.

After about 5, or was it 6? hours, it was time to part. I found my way back to the motel, with again, good directions. Then today I made my way back home. Again, the trip down I- 90 in reverse order. I found my home the way I left it. That's always good news.

I will always cherish that time spent with a friend. It was worth every moment. My only regret was having to leave, and watch the mountains and rivers disappear as I neared Roundup.

Comment • View 3 comments

July 30, 2025 at 10:34pm

#1094412

Hail? Yeah...

On Monday night I was traveling back from Musselshell, 20 miles east of Roundup. Musselshell used to be a little burg, a stop on the train line that went through this part of Montana. It had a hotel, churches. a school. a post office. Everything you need for a little tiny town. Now it's just a gathering of folks. But it still has a post office. About 40 serviced out of there. But some are ranches and farms 30 miles away. And the school is still there. And there is one little church still holding on.

I go to Musselshell for the Illustrious Musselshell Players - a community theater group. I've had the pleasure of acting with them for 6 years now. Once a year we produce a play, usually a comedy, for the county. Musselshell School is now maintained, lovingly, as a gathering spot. It has a real theater, a gymnasium and a kitchen worthy of a restaurant.

Anyway, Monday, we were on the way back to Roundup after play practice. The clouds gathered as we ran lines, did our blocking on stage. The sky in the west was a black as I've ever seen it. Then the electricity kept going on and off. So we decided, okay, time to go. I carpool to practice with 3 others. We headed down the road. About 15 miles from Roundup we got hit with a horrendous hail storm. Melissa, the driver of this big Lincoln Navigator, decided to pull off the road. Good decision. We sat for about a half hour as the hail rained down on us. Hail and rain. Buckets of both. Mercy sakes. But finally it eased up.

As we drove home, the water was amazing. On the road, on the fields, waterfalls from the hills into the fields, overflowing creeks. Even with that big heavy vehicle we hydroplaned all the way. Water had receded by the time we made it to Roundup proper.

But today I saw a photo from a friend. This is Main Street - near Rt 12 (where we traveled) , Conoco gas station and the IGA grocery store. Click on the image to get the full effect. We got 2 inches of rain in about 45 minutes.

IMAGE

Water in Roundup - Main Street

(E)
July 28, 2025
#2344456 by NormaJean AKA CHEER QUEEN

What a storm. It's been a crazy summer. The hills are still green on July 30. Unreal.

Comment • View 2 comments

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