When temperatures became a carnival ride

When temperatures became a carnival ride. 

Does anyone remember a carnival ride from our childhood, I think it was called “The Hammer?” I am not really sure of the name, but it traveled in a circle and climbed a ramp. Up, up, up in went and then it would drop to the bottom, like WHAM!!! Then it would start climbing up again. A ten-minute ride on it would leave one’s back about an inch shorter and rattle all of one’s teeth. I can remember when the drop came how my stomach would jump right up into my throat. 

I was never one for carnival rides, so I think I was only talked into riding it once, but it left an impression on me. This spring is kind of shaping up the same way. 

The temperatures start out with highs in the 40º range and slowly climb up to the 80’s then the wind changes and WHAM the next day the temperature is in the 50’s. Just like that carnival ride, it climbs the ramp and boom, down it goes. Of course, the wind goes along with it. Coming from the east-southeast while the temperature is climbing and then switching to the north-northwest when the cold front passes that drops the temperature back down to normal ranges.  

I know it is spring, and a lot of springs are like this, but frankly I don’t like it. I really feel for my friends that have sheep and goats, weather like this wreaks havoc on the immune system of them, it doesn’t seem to bother cows or horses as badly, but the smaller ruminants tend to end up with pneumonia when the weather is doing this. 

This wind brings another thing to my mind. I have always hated wind. It just affects my mood, and my whole sense of well being. Well, one year while we were still living in Missoula, we went hunting in the Harlowtown, Mont. area. A vast ranching area, with lots of coulees and draws, and breaks, and cattle, lots and lots of cattle. 

While we were there, Rick was offered a job on one of the ranches. It was a good job, with good pay and benefits, wonderful benefits, in fact. He told me about it and right away I told him to take it. He said no. I ask him why and he explained to me that the wind never stops blowing in that area. I tried to convince him that I would adjust and get used to it. He assured me that I wouldn’t. After the winds this spring we were talking about that offer and I conceded that he was right; I would never have gotten used to the wind, it would have driven me totally mad. I was surprised when he didn’t say what most people say about that, “Short trip!” 

15-Minute Chicken and Rice Dinner

(From a Campbell’s soup advertisement)

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

4 chicken breast halves

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 ½ cups water

¼ teaspoon each paprika and pepper

1 ½ cups uncooked minute rice. 

2 cups fresh or frozen broccoli flowerets

Heat oil in skillet, add chicken and brown on both sides, remove chicken and set aside. Add soup, water, paprika and pepper to skillet and bring to a boil, stir in rice and broccoli season top with chicken breasts and season with additional paprika and pepper. Cover and cook over low heat 5-10 minutes or until rice and broccoli is done.