Humor
My grandmother, Harriet “Hattie” Byer was a woman of small stature…she stood just 5 feet…in her “tall” days…more like 4 feet 10 inches or less in her later years. While she was definitely short, Grandma was, nevertheless, feisty!! Every one of her children knew that their mom could take them to the floor in one fail swoop if the crossed her. She was the family boss, and they needed to toe the mark. It wasn’t that Grandma was mean, because she was one of the most loving moms you could have ever known. Her children knew that she loved them unconditionally, but they also knew that she expected them to mind her and be well behaved.
That carried on to her grandchildren as well, which is where I came into the story. I was one of her many grandchildren. While some of her grandchildren…especially the boys, crossed her a number of times, I can only remember one spanking…and one was enough. I knew that I didn’t 
want to sass Grandma again. Some of the boys…I was the only girl in the group of four grandchildren who were around my age, so I got to hear about some of the antics of the boys and the repercussions of my grandmother. They told me about the broom that somehow reached around the corner and got you as you ran away. The way she could somehow see through the floor to the basement. The bar of soap conveniently placed in their mouths for saying “bad” words. While the antics of the boys made me feel like “amateur night” because I wouldn’t have dared to pull the things they would, I must say that I got a kick out of the stories they told. I couldn’t believe the nerve of them, but I guess that is boys. They pushed her buttons quite a bit further than I would have. These days, I think it’s just funny, but as a kid, and one of five daughters of my parents, the 
antics of boys were not in my wheelhouse. These days as the grandmother and great grandmother of boys and only two girls, I understand boys much better than I used to. In fact, I can see my grandsons and even the great grandsons pulling some of the stunts my cousins used to. None of them were really “bad” boys, just mischievous boys. And these days, it makes me laugh to see the similarities to my cousins. They probably drove Grandma half crazy. Nevertheless, she loved each and every one of them. Today is the 117th anniversary of my grandmother’s birth. Happy birthday in Heaven, Grandma Byer!! We love and miss you very much!!
As unusual holidays go, I would say that “Cow Milked While Flying in an Airplane Day” is the most unusual I have ever heard of. Nevertheless, “Cow Milked While Flying in an Airplane Day” is a real thin. Observed on February 18th each year, this lighthearted holiday commemorates a unique moment in aviation and agricultural history when a cow named Elm Farm Ollie took to the skies. The event happened on February 18, 1930, when the Guernsey cow became the first of her kind to fly in a fixed-wing aircraft. During the 72-mile trip from Bismarck to Saint Louis, Missouri, she was also milked mid-flight, marking a second historical first for both animals and aviation. Why, you might ask, was this important. Well, it really wasn’t, except to show that it could be done.
As part of the International Air Exposition in Saint Louis, organizers chose Elm Farm Ollie, also known as Nellie Jay, for her calm nature and impressive milk production. She was loaded onto a Ford Trimotor, a sturdy aircraft nicknamed the “Tin Goose,” piloted by Claude Sterling. The flight aimed to promote the air show and showcase the stability and potential of modern planes for transporting livestock. I would hate to have been the poor maintenance guy who was given the unpleasant task of cleaning up after this crazy event.
Although the mission was largely a publicity stunt, it also had a quirky scientific angle. Researchers were 
curious about how high altitudes and the vibrations of flight might impact a cow’s behavior and milk production. During the trip, Wisconsin dairyman Elsworth W Bunce did the milking, and Ollie yielded 24 quarts of milk. The milk was sealed in paper cartons, tied to tiny parachutes, and dropped from the plane to the crowd waiting below at the exposition. Of course, these days, such an event would be very unlikely, because the milk couldn’t be pasteurized or homogenized.
Nevertheless, this day celebrates the creativity and quirkiness that marked the early days of flight. In the 1930s, aviation was still new, and daring stunts like Ollie’s flight showed people that airplanes could be more than just risky machines…they could be reliable, adaptable tools. If a 1,000-pound cow could fly safely and calmly at high altitudes, then air travel was clearly dependable for almost any cargo or passenger. That success played a role in making air logistics a normal part of life.
The holiday is also a nod to the dairy industry and the resilience of farm animals. Elm Farm Ollie shot to national fame after her flight, earning the nickname “Sky Queen.” Thanks to the dedication of Wisconsin dairy fans, her story lives on, turning the anniversary into a day of celebration and historical appreciation. It’s a reminder that progress can stem from the most unusual experiments and that even the quirkiest ideas can change how people see the world. Elm Farm Ollie was a Guernsey cow known for producing rich, high-fat milk.
Famed aviator Charles Lindbergh was said to be among those who tasted the “air milk.” The Ford Trimotor used for the flight was considered one of the most dependable planes of its day. Ollie the cow lived another eight years on her farm after her brief brush with fame. To celebrate “Cow Milked While Flying in an Airplane Day,” one might enjoy a tall glass of milk or a milkshake in honor of the “Sky Queen.” Those near a dairy farm or aviation museum can take a more hands-on approach to the holiday, and some fans even throw small parties to share the tale of Ollie and her 24 quarts of milk dropped by parachute. For those who enjoy the creative side of the holiday, writing a poem or sketching a flying cow is a fun tradition. It’s a day for sharing laughs over one of history’s quirkiest milestones.
As a girl, I loved hanging out with my uncle, Bill Spencer. We always just clicked. He was a favorite of all my sisters too. Uncle Bill was my dad, Allen Spencer’s older brother…older by two years. The brothers did everything together. Uncle Bill was always protective of his little brother, keeping an eye on him and teaching him all the things boys of the Great Depression era needed to know to get along in life. They were close, and they were “partners in crime” or at least in the antics of little boys. Being farm boys, they played with and in the things of a farm, one of them being the wood pile. The thought of the boys playing there makes me cringe a little, but they survived, so I wonder in the wood pile was smaller than I imagined or solidly stacked. Uncle Bill told me once about a time they were playing on that wood pile. When he looked over to check on his brother, who was 3 or so, my dad was sound asleep…standing up but leaning against the wood pile. The story might seem incredulous, but I’ve seen my great grandson, Axel Petersen asleep standing up, leaning over my coffee table. It still makes me laugh, so I can imagine what Uncle Bill did. 
Being farm kids, my aunts, Laura Fredrick and Ruth Wolfe, as well as my uncle and my dad knew how to work the hay, gardens, wood piles, and how to remove stumps…with dynamite!! These were just boys, but they had been trained since they were little. So, by the time they were old enough to stay home alone while their mom, Grandma Anna Spencer went to town for supplies, they were also old enough to get into mischief, and so they did. They decided one day to see what would happen if dynamite was set off on the top of a gatepost. Well, they found out alright. When that dynamite went off, that gatepost sunk several inches into the ground. Now, they had a dilemma. The gate wouldn’t close, and their mom would know. So, the boys got busy repositioning that gatepost so the gate would close before her arrival…and then to act like nothing happened. It was a typical antic the brothers pulled off, with their mother none the wiser…or if she was, she never let on. I suspect my grandmother knew more that the brothers thought, but they were good boys, so she gave them some latitude.
My Uncle Bill and my dad always had a little bit of the mischievous boy in them. It was a permanent part of who they were, and probably one of the things that endeared them to us the most. They really were the little 
boys who would never fully grow up, and that was ok with all of us. I think that if they had been too serious, we would not have had so much fun when we were around them. These days, they live in Heaven with their parents, siblings, and even their spouses. Uncle Bill had been divorced for many years, but as neither he nor Aunt Doris had ever remarried, I believe they always loved each other, and I believe they are good friends in Heaven too. I look forward to seeing all of them in the future. Today would have been my Uncle Bill’s 104th birthday. Happy birthday in Heaven, Uncle Bill. We love and miss you very much.
While my uncle, Wayne Byer was the younger of the two sons of my grandparents, George and Hattie Byer, he was also the taller of the two boys. That became a bit of a competition between the brothers. It wasn’t that Uncle Larry Byer could do anything about it, but that didn’t stop him from trying. The difference in their height was not huge, probably an inch or two. I don’t know for sure, but I do know that if Uncle Larry stood on his tip toes, he could be pretty close to Uncle Wayne’s height. To add to the situation, the boys were quite humorous. In fact, they were very much tricksters.
Never was that more evident that at one particular Christmas party held in the late 70s. For that particular party, a photographer had been hired to take some family pictures. The pictures turned out great, but there 
was something going on in one of the pictures that most of us didn’t know about. I suppose that the siblings knew about it when they saw the pictures, but the cousins probably did not. In fact, I didn’t know anything about it until recently when my Aunt Sandy Pattan told me why her older brothers seemed to be sharing a secret amusement. It seems that Uncle Larry was standing with his heels on the edge of a piece of molding, probably the mopboard. In the picture, the effect was that the two brothers appear to be close to the same height, if not exactly the same height. The only hint that something is “off” is that the brothers couldn’t keep a straight face. Both of them had a sheepish grin on their face, that told you that something funny was going on. For years, I thought that they must have saif something funny, but that wasn’t it at all. Uncle Larry was standing there, as tall as he could, and Uncle Wayne caught it out of the corner of his eye, knowing that even on tip toe, his brother couldn’t quite make it to his height.
It’s funny how two known comics, like my uncles, even as adult men, couldn’t resist goofing off…even during a 
photo shoot. We wonder why kids like to make funny faces or jokes when pictures are being taken, and we’ve even come to expect it from them, but somehow we figure that adults can keep their composure and “behave themselves” for the camera, but it isn’t always so, especially when two of the siblings are the comics of the crew. And my uncles were definitely the comics of the crew. Today is Uncle Wayne’s 88th birthday. Happy birthday Uncle Wayne!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My uncle, Bill Beadle, spent much of his working life in the pipe yards before running his own rathole drilling business alongside his sons, Forrest and Steve. While he was a skilled machinist and all-around mechanic, his real passion was fishing and bird hunting in the Worland area with Steve. I think that’s why, in his later years, he was happy living with Steve, his wife, Wanda, and their family. I can picture them sharing stories about fishing trips and walking the fields in search of pheasants and chukars. Bill loved the thrill of hunting them…the sudden burst of a bird flying up out of nowhere, giving the hunter just seconds to react, with success only coming to those who were truly skilled.
Uncle Bill always felt it was his duty to keep the nephews on the right track, and if they 
ran into trouble or seemed headed the wrong way, he’d sit down with them, talk things through, and have them back in line in no time. Uncle Bill knew that boys can get…competitive and might not always think things through. If they seemed to be hanging out with the wrong crowd or doing things he didn’t think they should, he would sit them down for “the talk” before things got out of hand. This trait made him especially dear to my cousin Elmer. Uncle Bill did have a few vices, one of which was his enjoyment of his pipe and his chew. Because kids are impressionable, Forrest and Elmer thought chewing tobacco was pretty cool, so as kids, they once got into a big block of chew, not realizing they shouldn’t swallow it. They did, and both turned about three shades 
of green. Though the memory still makes Elmer cringe, when he thinks of chewing tobacco.
Uncle Bill was a guy with a great sense of humor and a knack for making kids laugh. There was always a mischievous sparkle in his eye and plenty of good-natured trouble behind his smile. He loved to tease, and the kids loved every bit of it. His infectious laugh would fill the room, and we’d all have a great time together. He wasn’t often serious, at least not with most kids, unless someone was headed for trouble. Then, his tone shifted…never mean, just straightforward…and by the end, the kid knew the right path to take. Uncle Bill was truly one of a kind, and we adored him. Today would have been Uncle Bill’s 97th birthday. Happy birthday in Heaven, Uncle Bill. We love and miss you very much.
It seems like with every weather report, it is just as likely that the weather reporter will get it wrong as often as they get it right…maybe more often. It’s not that we think that they are lying or careless. Most of us just think that it’s impossible to really predict the weather accurately. Nevertheless, there are lots of times that they get the weather report pretty close to right on.
When we really understand all that goes into predicting the weather, we might find it easier to forgive the little errors. For example, a one-day weather forecast requires about 10 billion math calculations. Yes, a one-day weather forecast takes around 10 billion math calculations to produce. And that’s just for one day. So, tomorrow the same process repeats itself again. This huge number comes from the complex algorithms and data analysis meteorologists use to predict weather patterns with accuracy. The process involves millions of data points, like temperature, humidity, air pressure, and wind speed, all crunched by powerful supercomputers to create the forecast. Without those supercomputers, we would have hurricanes and tornadoes showing up with little warning, unless we knew very well how to read the sky. The weather reporter often gets it wrong because the atmosphere is complex and constantly changing. Meteorologists use advanced tools and models to predict the weather, but things like temperature changes, shifts in air pressure, and varying moisture levels can throw off their forecasts. Even with satellites, radar, and computer models, the ever-changing nature of the atmosphere makes long-term predictions less reliable.
For those who love a good laugh, plenty of videos and channels poke fun at the weather reporter’s blunders. They often showcase the humor in meteorologists trying to predict the unpredictable, offering a playful twist on the science of forecasting. Still, maybe we’re a bit too hard on them. While it’s easy to gripe when our weather app gets it wrong, forecasting has come a long way in recent decades. Today’s five-day forecasts are about as accurate as three-day forecasts were in the 1990s…little comfort when you’re caught in a surprise storm. The lingering stereotype of unreliable forecasts comes partly from the fact that accuracy varies. Five-day predictions are right roughly 90% of the time, but 10-day forecast accuracy drops to about 50%, and anything beyond that is basically a shot in the dark.
So, why is nailing the weather still so tricky? Well, meteorologists rely on those very sophisticated computer models that use data from satellites and other sources. These models work fairly well for short-term forecasts, especially for predicting temperature. Nevertheless, when it comes to pinpointing exactly when or where it will rain, it’s anyone’s guess. Accuracy drops for longer-term forecasts, because there isn’t enough data and the atmosphere is too unpredictable for the models to keep up. Right now, billions are being invested to improve weather predictions. One startup is using artificial intelligence to boost model accuracy. While AI seems to be a 
source of intelligence, we have also seen where it can be manipulated, so do we believe it or not. Another information source is sending sailboat drones to gather critical data from remote ocean areas. Something like that might be more plausible, but until these technologies improve, those 90-day forecasts are best taken with a grain of salt…and maybe a good sense of humor too, for those little weather mishaps.
When I think of my husband’s aunt, Esther Hein, I am reminded of the relationship she had with my mother-in-law, her sister-in-law, Joan Schulenberg. These days they are both in Heaven, and I can just imagine them reminiscing about the old days. When Esther was a young girl, her family lived on a ranch in Montana. By that time, her brother, Walt Schulenberg (my father-in-law) was married and living in town. Montana winters can be harsh, making it tough for kids from rural areas to get to school. To solve that problem, from time to time, Esther stayed with her brother and his wife, my mother-in-law, Joann Schulenberg. As kids often are, she could be a bit rowdy and mischievous…not a bad child, just a kid. My mother-in-law, being a mom herself, had to maintain order, so 
whenever Esther did something she didn’t like, she’d say, “Don’t, Esther!” She might spank her own kids, but dealing with a sister-in-law was different, so her go-to discipline was just that phrase.
When my mother-in-law was older, she was afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease, and eventually, it all clicked. I’d always known who she meant but never understood the connection to me. Esther and I had a good laugh about it, and I told Esther it was better for her to take the blame…after all, she was far away and didn’t have to deal with Mom actually being mad. As for me, I decided that if I ever did something my mother-in-law disapproved of, I’d just say, “Esther did it!” It figured it would be sure to keep me out of trouble…sorry about that Esther!!
I think Esther forgave me for my little fib when putting the blame on her. In fact, when I told her about it, she 
thought it was really funny. When you are dealing with an Alzheimer’s patient, each day is a new story, and you have to learn to “roll with the punches,” so to speak. When my mother-in-law said, “Don’t Esther,” it gave me an out, and as her main caregiver, sometimes I needed a way out of taking the blame of “bossing” her around. Alzheimer’s patients often need to be told when to go to bed, get up, when to eat, and most other activities as time goes by. Blaming Esther gave me “a way out” of being the bad guy.
My great grandniece, Izabella Harman is ten today, and that just shocks me. My first thought is that she is getting so big…so grown up, and she is, but when I saw the picture of Izabella with her Great Dane-Lab mix dog, Samson, who is one of four family dogs, well, it was obvious that while she is growing up, she isn’t exactly big. Izabella, whom I normally call Belle, although I don’t know if she still likes that name or not, is her mother, Melanie’s mini-me. Maybe it was just me, but I didn’t realize that when she was little. Nevertheless, the older she gets, the more obvious it becomes.
Aside from looking just like her mom, Belle is very much her own person. She is always so sweet and helpful with everything! Known, at least in her own family, for her “sass” one might say that it has definitely become more noticeable as she’s gotten older. She and her sister, Alice and 
brother, Jaxx share a great bond, even though they might fight like siblings do. They’re always together playing some strange game. They have great imaginations. From the bedroom, their parents can hear their laughter, and Belle’s is always the loudest. She has a great sense of humor, but if anyone gets hurt, she’s the first to help, and the first to tell if someone does something they shouldn’t. I’m sure her siblings would say that can be good or bad, depending on who ends up in trouble.
Belle is very much a princess, but she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty when helping Dad work on cars or 
pitching in wherever needed. She’s a “girly girl” with attitude. She loves trying to prank people and every now and then pulls it off pretty well!! She’s super funny, always calling out others when they mess up their words, and laughing just as hard when she’s the one who slips up. Part of laughing at others is being able to take it when the joke is on you, and Belle does that very well. She very expressive. Every time she leaves her mom or dad, she says, “I love you, you’re my best friend,” though, according to her mom, her dad is truly her best friend. Nevertheless, she’s so sweet she makes sure to tell her mom the same. That’s the mark of a real sweetie. Today is Izabella’s 10th birthday…that most important double-digit birthday. Happy birthday Belle!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My nephew, Ryan Hadlock and his dad, Chris Hadlock have always been very close. They both like the same things, and if Chris needs help with a project, you can be sure that Ryan will be there to help any time Chris asks, whether the project is big or small. This year the two Hadlock families went camping in the Black Hills. Ryan, his wife, Chelsea and daughter, Aurora, minus their son Ethan, who had to work, unfortunately. Ryan’s family, as well as his dad and mom, Allyn Hadlock rode the 1880 train and also made time to go golfing at Rocky Knoll golf course in Custer, South Dakota. It was a great opportunity for them to do some relaxing together instead of all the work over the past couple of years! They had been working very hard on his parents’ place, and Ryan was a big help in all that work.
Ryan was an usher in his sister, Kellie’s wedding to new brother-in-law, Tim Thompson and was also a big help doing extra things for us during the busyness of the wedding day, always adding a funny brotherly comment!
Chris has made it a tradition to take Ryan to a Bronco game for his birthday each year, but since it was on a 
Monday this year, Allyn and Chelsea went too. The sporting events they have attended this year have been a great source of enjoyment for the whole family, because in addition to the Broncos games, they attend the home games of the Wyoming Cowboys too. Partly because Ryan’s brother-in-law, Shannon Moore is coach and so they get to see his sister Lindsay and niece, Mackenzie, but because they love football too, and so every opportunity to go is a must.
His wife, Chelsea says, “Ryan is the most amazing man! He’s a great father to the kids, always there to help and give advice. He’s a great husband, kind, loving and encouraging. He’s a wonderful boss, treating all his employees fairly and encouraging them. He is great man of the Lord, and a good example to everyone who knows him. He has been enjoying practicing guitar with Aurora, helping Ethan with his truck, and going to a ton of sporting events.” His mom, Allyn adds, He is thriving at work as a foreman and all his employees really enjoy working for and with him. He is the type of boss who is very knowledgeable and yet doesn’t mind jumping in to help when needed. The Lord has blessed him with the ability to be a great asset to the company!! He loves his family and loves the Lord! Bringing them to church and being a great example of a true man of God!!”
His sister, Lindsay says, That’s the question of the day! The only brother is a world of women. He is funny, sarcastic and kind. We love getting to spend time with Ryan while we camp, during football season and when we go to Casper. He’s grown in His walk with the Lord, and I love to see it! He is a great uncle…not like a great-uncle, but a “great” uncle. And he loves our dog, Brinkley the most of all the dogs!” Ryan is truly a blessing to all his family. Today is Ryan’s birthday!! Happy birthday Ryan!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My niece, Jessi Sawdon and her daughter, Adelaide, consider themselves two of the most blessed woman and girl on the planet. They tell me, “We can’t say enough about our love for Jason and Daddy!! Traits that everyone sees everyday ring true at home too. He’s kind, selfless, caring, and such a helper. But dang he is a hard worker! He goes to work and works hard to support his team and troopers around the state, then comes home and gives all his attention to Adelaide, Riley (the dog) and me (Jessi). He always gives 100% to everything he does and is so good at so much.” Jason is a great family man, and from the moment he and Jessi met, you could tell that he was going to make her happy. He is totally devoted to her and now to Adelaide too.
The Sawdon family is very active…always on the go, but Jason won’t miss a chance to hook up the camper and take them away for a weekend of fun in the mountains or at the lake. That is something that doesn’t surprise anyone who knows Jason. He is always ready for a good time and is funny and fun. Jessi reminded me that 
Jason is “never one to shy away from being silly,” and anyone who knows him can attest to that. Off the top of my head, I can recall several events where Jason boisterously made his feelings for Jessi known is a way that might have shocked the average person…who didn’t know him, like bidding up her cake at a cake auction. Not that Jessi isn’t a great cook and baker, but Jason wanted everyone at the church to know it. It was an endearingly funny moment, for sure.
Jason always makes sure Adelaide has fun wherever they are. Jessi tells me, “He is a girl dad through and through and does the best job! He and Adelaide have the best bond, and he loves to teach her new things. He’s a patient and effective teacher because he wants everyone to be successful and understand why something is done. He is such a blessing to our entire family and I’m so thankful the Lord had him in mind for me. Our lives are so blessed, rich, and fun with him in them.” Jason fit into our family from the moment he and Jessi got together. They were perfect for each other, and everyone could see it. Before long, we couldn’t imagine Jessi 
with anyone else. Theirs was a match made in Heaven. While their marriage thus far has been amazing, I know that the future will just get better and better. Nothing can stand in their way. They will weather the years like the great couple they are, and someday, I can picture them on their front porch in their rocking chairs, just enjoying growing old together. Today is Jason’s birthday. Happy birthday Jason!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
