Textures: Tactile adventures for the eyes in the big empty

North Eastern WY

WY

The Swan

Waterfowl production area 

Hissing reeds 

Souther Swan Lake Marsh area 

Northern  Swan Lake 

Northern Swan Lake looking to the south to the waterfowl areas 

Textures

A quick journey to Wyoming. Twelve hours of driving from North West Montana to North East Wyoming. A drive through the Big Empty. I like to drive the "back way" . Of course most people would find I 90 to be the back way compared to many highways in the US . However there is a more quiet byway from my cozy cabin to Billings. North East WY is quite the place to contemplate life. Just you and the antelope and the empty highway. No signs other than the blizzard gates that warn to go back to the last exit if closed. Lucky for me it has been warm and no blizzard in site although they had 5 inches of snow a week before .

Coming home through the Swan , I stop at the waterfowl production area . You have to imagine the wind blowing through a millions wetland reeds. A soft 'hissing ' sound in addition to the sound of the wind. The south end of the lake is a vast wetland . For some reason these environments fascinate me. It is the domain of the water bird. Humans can not walk through these areas. The ducks and geese are protected by the marshes. The colors are vivid even in the subdued light of early evening. I am grateful for a safe journey and being so close to home. The day has been full of textures for the eyes , beauty beyond description in the big empty.

Last day of summer: Happy in Montana

St Mary's Lake 

Last Day of summer I wax philosophical. Should I continue to work on the fencing ? or perhaps drive the Going to the Sun Road before it closes for the winter ? Well not too hard of a choice in the end. A perfectly warm and sunny day in the 70s that belies the harsh winter weather that will settle into the Crown of the Continent in a few weeks. For now the trees are golden , the water is clear, and the sun is warm on my face.

Savoring the Summer's End : Happy in Montana

Snow berries 

Wayfarer's Park

Some pretty nice water 

Saucey girl at the ready

The last blue berries 

dried up False solomon's seal and the single berry

Apple picking time . 

A savory end to summer . Bright blue sky and water , Happy dogs, and time to harvest the Apples . Doesn't get much better .

Beyond puppy love : Happy in Montana

Friend Sadie

come on mom !

On the Way Home 

Fading days of the Butterfly 

There is nothing like some time in the woods. MacGuyver had a nice walk with his new friend Sadie . Sadie being a lab loves the water and wanted to share this love with Mac. However MacGuyver seems to have missed the water gene for now . He did enjoy watching Sadie race through the shallow lake and get muddy. Since I needed to load him in the car later I didn't mind too much that he didn't plunge into the mud . This is the  best place in the world to leave your cares as you tread lightly on the soft forest floor .

Stewardship : The winds of change

A turkey offering 

End of garlic bloom

Thistle

Asters

Spotted Knapweed

Blueberries

Blueberries

Yarrow

The winds of change are upon us. The summer season is drawing to a close. The days are shortening and the nights are cooling. Time to think about winter and firewood. Crunching through the woods surrounding the cozy cabin in the woods , I think about stewardship . What does that mean to you ? Especially when you think of the land that supports us ? In grazing states there are noxious weed laws. Needless to say much of the summer was spent in the yoga position of "Down Dog". On my piece of heaven I have decided to pull and mow instead of poison the weeds. After three years of avoiding chemicals I finally have honey bees visiting the yard. This is great news. Life returns . I have been pondering the the fenced in Jungle . This is my garden that grows 3 foot high grasses that rival the high plains . Tilling the soil encourages weeds to grow as the weed seeds can lie dormant for years in the top inches of the soil. So I have decided to use the mulch technique . This will involve perhaps 20 to 30 bales of straw to create a mulch mat that prevents weeds and grasses from growing . It sounds appealing. We will see. My version of stewardship is to create a habitat that encourages the insects and birds to thrive. Herbicides by definition prevent thriving . I understand why they are used especially when you see the vast expanses of pasture land here. It is a hard sell to encourage hundreds of people to stand on their heads for hours pulling weeds in the middle of no where.However I am only in charge of a few acres and for now will tread gently on this soil and continue the physical removal and spare the chemical warfare.

4 years and counting : Happy in Montana

 Ah  summer ! We dream of you in Mid January when the snow is deep and the wind rattles the windows . But such a quick visit . Already if feels like we will be busy stacking fire wood and placing the snow shovels strategically at each door. So many summer chores remain although many have been completed. It is hard to believe that I have weathered 4 years in Montana . The time has slipped by quickly with so much to do .

A quick jaunt to the Northern shore of  Flathead Lake with Saucey . It is 82 out and sunny with haze from the Idaho and Washington fires . I would like less smoke but it is a given that we will have some haze this time of year . Many fires are sparked by lightning however many more are human carelessness. That is one thing I can not understand.  How can people go into the woods and not following simple rules to preserve our wildness and air quality ?

The North shore is a waterfowl production area and full of wet lands either side of the road to the shore . Even though we are inland there are many ocean shore birds that make their home here as they do on the Missouri River on the East side. Interesting. Plump little guys . It looks like they have had plenty of food this summer. The beach is rocky but full of drift wood that has been pummeled for eons. There is a 2 foot layer of peat like material that makes you feel like you are walking on a dried peat bog. I saw my first snake in Montana and as fate would have it I had on Chaco sandals and a fully exposed toes . The snake was wanting to get away not knowing that I had no taste for snake snack and I as well hastened in the opposite  direction with Saucey in tow. A very nice afternoon all in all . Thinking of going back tomorrow . …. Summer's delicious long golden sunsets will be at an end soon. Enjoy them while they are present .

Happy in Montana: Peaceful pasture

Bleu Horses