Silent Saturday

Watching the fire from a few miles south at the lake.

Fire season

Smoke a half mile or so away.

Tireless Helicopter ferrying water from the Lake to the Fire

so white smoke is good?

Heading North with a Load of Water

Fire from the rental house where I used to live.

It is official . Fire season is late but here at last. We had lightning a few nights ago and now after smouldering we have a fire burning. The brave helicopter is ferrying water from the lake to the fire. Let us hope for success and rain with the storm next time .

connectedness

I was thinking today about what defines life. Part of it is being connected to other things. Part of life is the experience from day to day that delineates who we are. If we quit experiencing things does that mean we are no longer connected to that life around us? From time to time I care for elderly folks. I often marvel how long the human body will continue with the mind absent. I often wonder what these people are connected to at this point. Certainly even now my own connection to life is so different from what it was 20 years ago. Life then was so consumed with caring for small ones. Helpless ones that needed the mother bear. Now that time has passed and I have time to consider the clouds, the sunset and the moon stealthily  slipping up to the zenith of the sky. What is it that we do that keeps us connected to life and others? Is it something that we can consider automatic or must we struggle to preserve it? Must we hold tight fearing an unknown surrender ? Or do we open our fingers with an accepting intention and allow the flowers to fall quietly to the ground?

Of Clouds and Thistles

 After a hot day in the 90s , clouds build in the East over the Foothills. Promising a light show soon, the Foothills seem to beckon the lightning . The attraction is irresistible.

 In the Evening light these wonderful white bells enjoy the last of the light focused on their magnificence.

 One of my favorites the thistle seems to represent life. Beautiful but often thorny . I will harvest the blooms and save them to feed the birds this winter. yea yea I know they are a weed.

sunset in the West with a gentle breeze scented with lavender and petunias. Yes I said petunias. They are hanging and the deer can't reach them . Imagine the frustration.

bambi

Mom and Bambi

One of the nice things about being in the country is the wild life. This little guy has tripled in size in the last couple of months. His mom keeps him close as he skitters about and leaps into the air for no apparent reason. It is nice to see them out at dawn and dusk . I know there are those who smack their lips when they see these graceful creatures. I have a hard time thinking of eating them. I think I will stick to beans for now .

Silent Saturday

the moon a few days ago approaching full

The visitation

Dramatic evening sky

 The night before the visitation. So you think I am going to discuss aliens? Sorry more likely it is my daughter. She has taken off time to come for the weekend and we are going to have some adventures .

Lobelia

 A quick walk around the yard , watering and weeding and hoping the deer ignore the pretty flowers. So my daughter has agreed to be the little gnome that you place in all your pictures. She is more fun as she can scurry on her own steam where as the real gnome would have to be carried. Below the gorge at Avalanche Creek.

sitting a little too close to the edge

 We did a bit of hiking in the low country enjoying the water and shade. Hot day out but the sun was worth it. Then into the car and up the Going to the Sun Road. These triple arches always fascinate me . The stone work is meticulous and of course we always pray that the road stays where it was intended. Much of the road clings to the edge with a wish and prayer. The engineering that went into this venture is truly marvelous.

Triple arches

Looking West

 As we climb towards 6000 feet the higher peaks are still covered in last winter's snow pack.
We started the day with plenty of sun but now the clouds are moving in with thunderstorms to the north.

 One of the things that the gnome I mean er my daughter wanted to see were the mountain goats. Well we were in luck with goats pretty much everywhere. A big horn sheep crashed through the parking lot at the visitor center at Logan Pass . That was pretty fun to watch. Luckily no one collided with the sheep.

 Up behind the visitor's center at Logan Pass the snow is still in abundance . Here the gnome is inappropriately dressed posing as a tourist.

More Mountain goats

 The Goats are shedding and look a bit scruffy this time of year . But one of my favorites is the Pika below. A nice furry smaller animal that is almost always cute when you see them in the high mountain meadows.

A pika in the fore ground near the tree roots . He blends in well with his surroundings

8 PM and time to head down the mountain and find some dinner. My little Gnome is hungry. I am grateful for this time and the beautiful scenery. The feast that Nature dishes up for us is always awe inspiring .