Posts from the ‘Montana’ category

A Calm day

Friday afternoon Beardog Consulting shut down early and all members boarded Wild Thing for an excursion to Kila, MT. Kila is about 15 miles west of Kalispell in a beautiful small valley – still part of the larger Flathead Valley – and home to Smith Lake. We received permission to park for the few hours needed in a field bordering the school parking lot. Wild Thing was shaded, on level ground and had wonderful views.

There is a continuation of the “Rails to Trails” walk way in Kila. “Rails to Trails” is a National conservancy that uses old railroad beds for the creation of walk/bike trails. The spot we walk in Somers is also part of “Rails to Trails”. Additionally, here in Kila, the trail bordered a public waterfowl hunting area. Visibility was great and no hunters so we were able to walk a bit of that as well.

Our primary destination, though, was Calm Veterinary Clinic to see Dr. Barbara Calm…one of those interesting things where a name befits the occupation. Dr. Calm is not only a DVM practicing normal veterinary procedures but she also does herbal and nutrional treatments as well as acupuncture and chiropractic. We went to see her to get her ideas on additional options for Karl.

The clinic is tucked up against a hill and overlooks the valley. We ended our walk in the front yard and it was so “calm” that Karl wanted to lounge in the shade – but I convinced him to go in and at least say hello :)!

We were established in Dr. Calm’s office for this consult… Windows all around let the afternoon light in – and they opened so we had fresh air as well. A beautiful foam dog bed went unused except by me…imagine that…

Karl was treated like royalty and we came away with good information. We returned to Wild Thing to check on Bob, have a snack and for me to check email…Beardog Consulting never really shuts down… Another walk and then we were on our way back home – a Calm day in a beautiful spot!

It’s that time of year, again

This is the third hunting season for this particular garment and Karl didn’t bat an eye when I brought it out…maybe a small sigh…. :)!

Regardless of how he feels about having to wear it, it does signal walk time – always a good thing!

And the weather! – the weather continues to be perfect in our opinion – cool, clear, sunny with a soft breeze that makes the walk a pleasure. We often sit on that ridge to the left and just watch together. Karl decides. If he picks a spot and sits – he’ll look at me over his shoulder until I join him. I get a kiss and then we just watch for awhile…listening, enjoying the clear, soft air.

***There should not be hunters where we walk – it is all posted no hunting, but I error on the side of safety, especially as Karl tends to look very much like a black bear :)! I wear an orange vest that makes me look a little like the great pumpkin – so no photos of me!

It suddenly dawned on me.

Hee..okay, I’m feeling a bit silly…it is a GORGEOUS day!!!! – Clear, sunny, 50 something, perfect Autumn day and I’m just in from lunch on the front porch and a beautiful after lunch walk with Karl.

This sunrise started it all.

I ran out this morning as I saw the sky changing from morning’s deep blue to pink-violet and then gold…it suddenly dawned on me :)!

This year’s gold

Work has been fast and furious getting in hay, alfalfa and wheat – wheat is what they are cutting now…the hay and alfalfa has been baled in the fields for a bit.

The gold of the aspens and birch have been particularly bright this year. There is more red every year as people plant maples (maples are not indigenous) – and this year’s low plants which provide some red have been colorful as well. It has been a spectacular Autumn so far and we still have the larch to go. You can see them turning gold on the higher mountain sides. They should turn and peak in the coming weeks.

But in the fields and the valley: this year’s gold in trees and crops.

Polebridge, Montana…and the “Merc”

So…we left off yesterday at a stop along the North Fork of the Flathead River. But back to the beginning of the day for a moment…

Sandy took this photo as we were headed down “the road home”…I love it! My little red Jeep, with Karl and I aboard, headed for adventure :)! We took 2 vehicles because I am a tourist wimp and they are energizer bunnies in comparison… I needed to be able to come home when it was my nap time…

Off we go!

Breakfast at The Whistle Stop Cafe in Columbia Falls – where we added the word “terrifical” to our vocabulary…courtesy of our waitress – then north with the stop at the river and on another 40 minutes of dusty road along rivers and creeks, to Polebridge, Montana…home of Polebridge Mercantile…

aka the “Merc”.

The Polebridge Mercantile is famous for its bakery – bread, sweet rolls, sandwiches. We partook! And ate all on their front porch…

…while we took in the local color – and not just the leaves on the trees, but I cannot bring myself to point my camera at strangers so you’ll have to take my word for it.

However, while Sandy was inside getting another Huckleberry Bear Claw, Jerry and I were kibbutzing and noting that the “color” in this kind of very remote place tends to be the same from remote spot to remote spot. And then, a car with people who reeked high class pulled in and asked Jerry if he was from here… Hee… In Jerry’s defense, although he was wearing a cap that said “Paddle Faster, I hear banjo music”, he was dressed in jeans, a freshly pressed oxford shirt, with a belt and shirt tucked in! – AND his hat was on right side forward. He didn’t really look like a Polebridge local…but it was funny.

After that, I was done…Karl and I headed for home leaving Sandy and Jerry on their own for further exploring…they have a Garmin, I knew they’d find their way back to the house..eventually and they did…and it was still light :)!

Meanwhile, Karl and I stopped at another river access. Polebridge local dogs are out and about so visitor dogs have to be on leash…I left Karl in the Jeep while in Polebridge, so this stop was for him.

Beautiful creekside break…and then we went home.