July 31, 2006 - Billings, MT - Well, we have sat here this month mostly healing.  Kathy went back to the Dr. a couple of times and is doing just fine.  We will go back on Aug. 7 and maybe she can start putting some weight on it.

July 5, 2006 - Billings, MT - We started the day by going over to Kurt and Mary's to visit.  They took us for a drive up to the top of the Beartooth Mountains.  Later we went to one of the most interesting places we have been this year.  Kurt took us to a friends farm.  This was a Hutterite Colony.   Our friends here in Billings, have written a database program for this particular Hutterite colony and we were able to visit this colony as a result of being with them. 

The Hutterites are a religious sect similar to the Mennonites and Amish who live is communal colonies.  These colonies can be quite large as far as land holdings and livestock such as chickens, pigs and cows. We were visiting Abe who is in charge of all the laying hens (approx. 12,000) and the feed blending for all the different animals that they raise.  We were privileged to visit his home and meet his wife and children as well as his mother and father.  

The Hutterite women make all the clothes which are still 16^th century in style, do all the cooking for the colony, watch and teach the children, make wine and all other activities generally associated with women.  The men take care of the livestock, maintenance of the buildings and machinery and duties generally associated with men. 

 We found them to be warm, welcoming people who have just chosen to isolate themselves from modern society.  The do embrace modern technology only to the extent that it makes the colony’s farming and livestock endeavors more efficient and profitable. The colony is usually quite wealthy in terms of land holdings and livestock but everything else is communal.  Many times they will barter eggs, meat, etc for services from outside entities.

These are really fascinating people whose origin was Russia in the 15^th century. Please feel free to read more about them at  www.hutterites.org.

We were going to look at some of the operations about 10:00 pm and walking out of Abe's father's home, Kathy slipped on the steps and broke her ankle (leg).  We splinted the leg and foot, put her in the car and drove to Billings (1.5 hours away).  We arrived at the hospital at 12:00 and they took her in immediately.  Very good emergency room service.  The x-rayed the leg and said "Yes,  you broke it in several places.".  They called an Orthopedic Doctor's office and left a message that we would call the next day for an appointment.  They wrapped the foot, put her in a boot and sent us home.  Getting into the motorhome at 4:00 am was something to behold.  We got in and went to  sleep.

We managed to get up around 9:00 and call the doctor.  They said to come on in and they would work us in.  We got to the doctors office and was not there very long and they called us back.  A few x-rays later the surgeon told me to wheel her around the block to the clinic and he would be there shortly to do the surgery.  At 2:00pm Kathy was sound asleep having a plate with six screws put on one bone in her leg, 2 screws in another bone and they said the third bone would heal on it's on. 

We will be in Billings until she can walk on the leg.  6-8 weeks???

July 4, 2006 - Billings, MT - We left Gallatin this morning and headed for Bozeman to dump the tanks and head east.  We originally were  going to stop before Billings but decided to go on to Billings and stay there for a couple of days.

July 1, 2006 - Gallatin National Forest -  We are camped in a very beautiful national forest about 60 miles north of Yellowstone National Park.  The park offers campsites that can accommodate large RV's.  It has electricity and water to the RV sites.  They also have primitive campsites.  The Gallatin River flows through the campground.  We met several people there and had a wonderful time talking to Dennis and Bonnie.  They were the volunteer camp host.  The down-side of this campground is the closest dump station is in Bozeman, MT.  (40 miles north)   Photos Gallantin National Forest

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