Life in Montana

Karyn & Andre are working on making sustainable living in their new home.
They have chickens, pigs, sheep, three large gardens, gray water recycling, and a new home being built on the mill property.

They are the owners and operators of Montana Flour and Grains which deals in large portions of organic wheat and kamut flours. Yummy. They are always helping the entire family be ready with food storage and bring flour with them wherever they go. I don't know as I know more generous business owners.
We love visiting them, playing hard and working hard--that is how they do it.


My sister Charity is living up to her name. She is kind, temperate, long suffering, patient, etc. She is also a miracle worker.


I wear hard contacts--the tiny blue ones that pop out of your eyes and sting terribly if you get any dirt in your eyes. Well, as you can see in the picture I lost my right contact and we looked--4 grown ups and 3 kids, for a good half hour combing through rocks by the river where it fell out. We said a few prayers. Still no contact. I had given up--as you can see in the picture. I tried to call Spence at home to see if he could order another one for me.
Meanwhile, Charity and the rest of the earlier canoe group comes back, asks how things are. She hears about the contact, walks into a pile of rocks and says, "is this it?"
I kissed her! "Are you kidding me?, How did you do that?"
I really don't believe she could have seen it without some divine help. They are smaller than the toenails on your second toe and it was a pile of rocks that we were digging through for at least a half hour that could cover a penalty box.
Another blessing and more answered prayers.


We canoed the Missouri where Lewis and Clark came into Fort Benton.
Emma loved being that close to the water. I think she made Grampa a little nervous but he laughed at Elina and Emma's excitement anyway.



Thane loved getting rides in the dump truck from his cousins.

Andy in the pig pen.
The smell reminds me of Dave, my brother, who
used to "ride" the pigs at Karyn's house as a kid.
Even the worst dirty diapers don't compare to the stench of little boys in
pig pens in the summer heat.


We toured the construction of the house and the gardens. Keeping kids involved in the work, and learning new skills, really inspires me for when some day we have a home to work in. We are so happy for the Giles! Can't wait to come back to help paint!