Nostalgic moments from the past

Here are a few glimpses of the profound, perfect, horrifying, and humorous times of Big Horn County Fair parade from years ago. 

I mentioned last week of the struggles of my very first pig show. I think it was that year or maybe the year after that I had a bummer pig that I broke to walk on a leash like a dog. So I entered that pig in the parade. I walked that whole parade route with my little buddy. He was enjoying all of the attention and would wander close to the people to get pets and scratches. It was pretty hot, though and he got tired, so I ended up packing him the last couple of blocks. 

Then came the first time I rode a horse in the parade. My mare Sam was only about 3 or so, hadn’t been to town much and the sounds and noises of a parade had her pretty excited. She was never out of control but managed to walk most of the parade route on her tippy-toes. I felt like it made me look wonderful. I think part of her being prancy had to do with the fact that there was an old tractor not too far behind us that backfired with a loud “BOOM” about once every block. 

After we moved back from Missoula a friend asked me if I would ride her Arabian mare in the parade in full costume. I jumped at the chance. The mare was really gentle. We met at the parade line up area and got every one into costume. The mare was the perfect mount for a parade, just enough alertness to look good but not so much as to be scary. The funny part came at the end of the parade. Her owner and I had agreed to meet at the south end of town. But the horse had a different idea. She headed back to when she left the trailer and there was nothing I could do to talk her out of it. When we got there and the trailer was nowhere in sight, she then let me do the guiding and we went back across town to where her mom was waiting with the trailer. When I explained what happened, the owner laughed and agreed that she should have just waited for us there. I guess it known that she would always go back to the trailer. 

Then when I was driving tractors in the parade, we got the tractors into town, shut them all down while I got the numbers and such. When I went to start my tractor, it wouldn’t start. So our friend Dan towed me clear through the parade. When lunch was over and we got ready to head home, that tractor started right up and ran like a champ all the way home. Go figure. 

Mediterranean Bean Salad

15 ounce can cannellini beans

15 ounce can garbanzo beans

1 cup cherry tomato halves

2 small cucumbers chopped

¼ red onion thinly sliced or chopped

½ cup pepperocini peppers rough chopped

½ cup pitted black olives

½ cup pimento stuffed green olives, halved

1 cup assorted colorful bell peppers, diced

½ cup crumbled feta cheese or mozzarella pearls

¼ cup olive oil

4 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs

1 clove garlic, minced

salt and pepper to taste. 

Rinse beans and drain well, Whisk dressing ingredients together well. Combine salad ingredients in a large salad bowl and toss with dressing. 

Notes: I would use black beans instead of cannellini beans, and maybe throw some chopped cooked chicken breast in to make it a main dish salad. I would probably add a touch of maple syrup to the dressing for just a touch of sweetness.