Silent Friday

Mission Falls

Missouri Headwaters: Happy in Montana

Bleu Horses

Last weekend took me to Billings and some good social time . On the way back I headed to Helena for a test . I took the back roads after leaving I 90 and headed north on Highway 287 .  There is a whole hillside full of metal sculptures of horses. It is really quite striking . There is more about these lively four    leggeds at distinctly montana : Bleu Horses . There are 39 steel horses designed by sculptor Jim Dolan .  This display is about 3 miles north of Three Forks.

Ever present clouds 

 I happen to enjoy the open spaces and big sky in this area. This area being pretty much all of the West but Montana in particular. I would suppose the lack of people and the endless miles of highway might make some nervous. It is a sheer delight .

Heading across the tracks to the York Island area on the Missouri

 Heading up the highway I see another sign about the Lewis and Clark route. I decide to check it out but just barely missed getting across the tracks before one of the BNSF trains came chugging north . A five minute wait and then I am up across the tracks heading for the York Island camp ground and fishing access. The York Islands are named after one of the members of the Lewis and Clark expedition.  He was referred to only "York" in the journals and was a skilled black slave who contributed much to the success of the expedition by hunting and fishing . He was also able to win the respect of the native peoples they encountered with his unusual appearance . Many of the Native American people had not ever seen an African American. He asked for his freedom upon  finishing the trip however it took 5 years for this to come about . You can read more about York's life here .

Missouri Head waters 

 There is something magnetic about water. Moving water is particularly attractive. Many folks consider the confluence of the Jefferson, Gallatin and Madison rivers at Three Forks to be the beginning of the Missouri but others argue for the Brower's Spring area that feeds the Jefferson River . An interesting topic to research with more information at the Montana FWP Missouri source article .

Train bridge across the Missouri River 

 One of the great things about Mountana in May is the greening of the pastures. I saw more than one happy cow and frolicking calf along the way . I took a 5 mile detour down a dirt road to get another close up of the river .

Happy cows

More Missouri River views 

A gorgeous valley is  tucked away by the river with the Mountains keeping close watch . Rushing rivers and a couple of osprey nests are spotted along the way . Down by the river there were snow geese winging above the beach. It was a nice drive all around.

Nearing Home on the Swan

After a 3 hour drive from Helena I reach the Swan Lake . Not too far to home now. There has been mostly sunny skies and it has been a safe trip . You can't ask for more.

Silent Thursday : Happy in Montana

Spring

Bigger Heads : Happy in Montana

The causeway

A quick jaunt to the lake . Sunset is not too far off. It is said that living in a cold climate or high latitude causes the brain to work harder for survival . It makes you a bit more clever as your life does depend upon your ingenuity with the changing seasons. Shelter , food , clothing all need to be more proactive and prepared for versus hanging on the tropical beach. There is actually quite a bit of interesting research on this from adaptive skills to cranial and brain size. What kind of person goes around measuring brain sizes  ?

Foot path through the marsh

So a trip to Echo an hour before sunset .  I was looking for the Otters. The lake is quite frozen except for a small patch of open water up at the northern end of the marsh where the foot path winds across a culvert . I would suppose they are hanging out there now instead of down by the main Causeway.

Frozen Echo Lake and the Swans

 Below is a perfect Mouse House in the form of an old stump . It looks like the kind of house that some little critter would like  to have as home base.

A mouse house 

Pete's Ridge in the setting sun light 

 As we take a walk along the lake the sun starts to set lighting the surrounding peaks with some rosy twilight colors.

Heading home 

 After our hike we head back to the car and up the road to the house . The Swan Mountains are glowing . Sunset is an especially nice time here in the Northern latitudes. There are a few moments each day when the sky transforms to magic .

Jewel Basin

Goodnight for now to the Jewel Basin. Aptly named for it's gorgeous peaks and views.

Pocketstone Cafe

 Saturday is errand day . Time to wander to the local "big " city . Pick up the mail , grocery shop and stop by my favorite cafe. Good food and friendly people every time you walk through the door.  Paulette, the Pocketstone Barista, always has a welcoming smile on her face as you come through the door. The Pocketstone Cafe talking points are good, plentiful food , breakfast all day and their baked goods are fabulous. I can bake but as a single person this is a deadly habit. My solution to this dilemma is a once a week treat from the local cafe.

Downtown Bigfork MT

 We have had plentiful snow this year . Perhaps not the heaviest year but enough to satisfy the winter yearnings. Bigfork is not a large town but has just about everything you could need or want . My needs are simple so I am quite content to be here.

The best cupcakes in the world!

Perched in my snow bank outside the house are three of the Pocketstone's home made treats. The ever favorite chocolate cuppy cake. The Raspberry scone and last but not least the pumpkin bar with cream cheese frosting . Another fabulous favorite is the coconut cupcake. To die for. Just buy one . They are hard to resist.

Happy in Montana: Too many critters in the yard

 A bit of a traffic jam this morning in the early light . The twin fawns were nibbling the grasses with their mother. Not too long after they came through , the turkeys were cruising. About 10 or so . It is hard to count a moving target.

 The baby turkeys have taken on their adult feathers and are no longer quite as cute as when they have their lighter brown fluffy feathers. They are destined to be somewhat ugly adults. The forest floor is alive with motion as they pick through the leaf litter.

Finally the crowd moves along and it is safe to go outside. Needless to say this was fun entertainment for the 4 dogs. Lots of whistling and wagging at the french doors as the wild life parade went by .

Hot day turns cool ......

Horse Pasture in white, and it is winter again ....

 While  I was out watering the plants in the mid 90s heat , a storm moved slowly my way with 'Jaggedy' lightning. This is a special type of lightning that kills you dead. So when you see the clouds and hear the thunder you head indoors. About the time I was getting comfy with a cup of decaf , there was a major noise on the roof. Hail started tentatively at first then came crashing down.

potted plants hugging the wall for protection

 I ran to the deck and put the potted flowers and other plants on the west side of the house up against the wall hoping they wouldn't be shredded

Hail on the porch steps

 Back in the front on the porch the wind is whipping and throwing ice at me as I tippy toe in my bare feet ( it was hot previously ) on the porch.

Live streaming weather

It wouldn't be a good storm with out the sun shining during part of it. And incidentally this is why it is good to have a garage to park in if you live in Montana. 

Just flowers

Purple and white iris with rainbow

Short and sweet . Late spring is full of flowers this year . After the winter slumber the earth gives us her gifts of floral beauty. It is worth the wait. Some area delights that can be found blooming this time of year !

Purple and white iris back lit with morning sun

Mystery bud

Lupinus Perinnus

Yellow Lilly

Quartet of Bear Grass

Bleeding Hearts

Wild flower along Bowman Creek wild geranium perhaps?

More Bowman Lake wild flowers

Rhododendron

Rhododendron buds

columbine up close

Purple iris bud

Purple iris unfurled

arnica

wild pansie

Lupine with a bee friend

Lupine

Columbine

Purple iris

Columbine

Purple and white iris bud

Coming Home

 Traveling West into the sunset so to speak after a trip back East . Eastern Montana slips into the gold of the horizon. Perhaps you prefer the hustle and bustle of the city but this is my space, my peace where the imagination roams free as does the deer, fox and fowl.

 Marias Pass and the Continental Divide. The sun has kissed the Divide and back lights it as dusk deepens. Marias Pass is on the Southern border of Glacier National Park. Closer to home the evening sun turns to Alpine glow for few brief minutes.

 The elk herd has made it's way towards the Foothills. As the snow melts they will ascend the mountain for the summer to graze and rest amongst the protection of the trees.

 With spring comes the greening of the pastures. Tasty spring grasses to nourish the winter hungry elk.

 Although we are moving towards late April we are still having snow now and then , like today. A gentle snow swirling in circular patterns to the ground . No fierceness in this weather .No window rattling wind. Just lazy frozen flakes reminding us that winter has not had it's last say.

 The low hanging clouds shroud the tops of the Foothills today. Hiding their peaks huddled under yet many feet of snow. We are lucky that the snow pack is about average. Water for spring and summer when the skies wax blue and dry. Glad to be home to the wide open spaces.