Who are we?

 It has been 3.5 years since the last post . A lot of water under the bridge so to speak . Especially in the last year when we have had our lives altered beyond imagination. 

Take home points. 

Family matters especially if they see the real person that you are and celebrate and nourish that person. Embrace those who love you, give hugs. This last year punctuates the need to let go of toxic relationships.

Community matters. Especially important are  your friends , your work place, your place of spirituality and the general health of your community . We have people who are elderly who have lived in a prison environment and young people who have lost a year of school and normal interaction . Be kind to everyone it has been a year full of abnormal stress. 

Celebrate the wisdom of your body. When you give your body the tools for health you will thrive. We need a low stress life, we need healthy food ( thank you organic farmers ! ) and we need restorative sleep as well as exercise . We as humans cannot live lives filled with artificial xenoestrogens, plastics and GMO foods . Talk to your body everyday in appreciation . Let go of fear .

Enjoy the messages from the sun . Early morning sun speaks to your body's functioning . Enjoy 20 minutes of strong sun at noon. Remember the infrared spectrum from the sun is nourishing your insides. Greet the sunrise , place your feet on the Earth . Allow life to love you . 

Passage in Time

Time has passed since the last post . The last two years have welcomed new lives . At the same time we have had to say good bye to some cherished family members as well. Celebrating the new is always easy. I don't have any advice on contemplating loss. This last summer and fall has seen too much loss for us all , personally and as a nation . As we slip towards winter perhaps an answer will present itself .

Getting Lost in Montana

A quick jaunt to Billings to see two of my children and their spouses . A mere 450 miles give or take and 6 to 7 hours depending on side trips and stops. I like to go the back way . You can drive to Missoula and take I90 but I like the empty 2 lane highways that cross MacDonald Pass to Helena. Then the beautiful drive though the headwaters of the Missouri River to Townsend and Three Forks . Plenty of deer and antelope , bald eagles , osprey and the highlight of the trip a large flock of trumpeter Swans . I wish I had been able to take a picture but I was driving about 80 mph . I am all for getting lost in Montana.

Bleu Horses by Jim Dolan

Driving to Three Forks and the Continental Divide 

Late Spring in the Wetlands

Beautiful summer days in the Wetlands south of Swan Lake. Driving home a quick stop to enjoy the
birdsong in this vast meadow. It is peace on earth and you can feel the intent of original creation. I can imagine if all people had access to a quiet beautiful place there would be a lot less pills popping on a daily basis .

" The Earth Laughs in Flowers ."

 "The Earth Laughs in Flowers" .  A wonderful quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson . Truly spring is a time for the natural world to inhale sunshine and exhale color. After a long winter there is nothing like a yard full of rainbow colors .

MacGuyver enjoying the warm weather. He has begun to shed for the season and leaves patches of white fur everywhere . That is ok because he is the brave dog and protector of the cozy cabin in the woods .

Nourishing the Feminine

Spring in the Northern Rockies is a particular rebirth after so many months of of cold and snow . The seasons are very distinct . There is no mistaking the slide from Winter to Spring here. That is one of the allures for me, the seasonal definition of the passing time . A hike close by on some state land had treasures in the form of yellow and while blossoms. The arnica and western service berry are blooming . There is plenty of choke cherry and wild lily of the Valley, and Hooker's fairy bells. I was actually excited to find a fairly large Serviceberry blooming in the front forest . One of my projects is to bring in more diverse species on my modest tract of land. Often logging culls the valuable timber and leaves the less valuable trees. I have a lot of Western Larch seedlings and will replant them around the area as they mature . The Honey bees are plentiful this year. The meadows had been decimated by chemical spraying due to the weed laws here . Four years of mowing and avoiding chemicals has seen a return of the bees and their wonderful presence. We have an obligation to live on the land with joy , gratitude and consideration. Is it really worth poisoning ourselves, our children and the animal and insect kingdom to have a perfect green lawn ? 

Aspen Green

The aspens are leafing .Spring is here with warming weather . The last frost is expected in a couple of weeks and summer planting season will be full on. These are the glory days with the sun up at 5 AM and dusk at 10 PM . That is a lot of daytime . What would you do with it ?