Posts from the ‘Montana’ category

Back to Montana Spring

There is nothing wrong with my camera. That white stuff blurring the trees, it is snow. There were a few flurries late morning. That is not unusual and rain/snow mix was forecast with the cold front that dropped down from Canada this morning. But the wind picked up, the snow picked up and it came down fairly heavy. The wind was so loud in the trees that Karl would not go outside. I opened the door, he laid his ears back and refused to budge.

Just for the record, this morning was the first day that all the snow was gone from the front yard…

One of my lilac bushes. The white blotches are spider’s webs that today, caught snow. There were ground webs in the woods catching snow as well. I’ve never seen that before and we are prone to the occasional flurry in April, May and last year as late as June 10. June snow is a bit rare – last year was the second time since I moved here in 1994. It almost always snows, at least in the mountains, on Memorial Day weekend. But, this time of year, except for the possible damage to new plants and eventually the cherries, I don’t mind the occasional “winter” day knowing it will be short-lived and we’ll get back to spring.

It was a good day to fire up the woodstove and enjoy a day of crackling warmth. I need to get the front porch wood carrier empty so I can prep and paint…someday.

The sun is back out, it is still much colder than it has been, but is nearly 40 at 5:30 p.m. If the weather people are right, the worst of the snow will be in southwest Montana, the high elevation areas: Bozeman, Butte, Anaconda – along the Continental Divide. We are to be cold, mostly cloudy and hopefully at least a bit of rain until late next week and cooler than normal through the first week of May.

Our premature summer is over and we are back to Montana Spring.

Wayfarer’s on a Spring day

Looking from the west end of the “beach”, the location of the boat ramp, back towards Bigfork Bay (under the Bridge).

No snow, no ice, low water, beautiful day.

Handy to have a lake for a warm dog to get a drink.

I so missed my chance. This eagle was sitting quietly in a tree near where I was standing. I had been watching as I see a young eagle here fairly often and have a photo from last year: On Eagle’s Wings

I happened to look up. But I didn’t have my camera out. I tried for the in-flight but I was hurried. You can tell it is a Bald Eagle and it is in the process of maturing – more white than last year, though.

Gear down!

Flathead Lake, Wayfarer’s State Park – April 22, 2009.

Back on the Mountain Loop

Our part time neighbors have gone back to their full time home so Karl and I walked our mountain loop this evening. The snow is gone, the larch are preparing to burst forth with new spring green needles, the floor of the path is gradually greening up.

It was good to see the familiar views back on the mountain loop.

Somers from a different direction

Parking – all 3 spots ! – were full at our usual Somers walk spot (Rails to Trails) so Plan B – a small area just south of Somers. It is actually a public swimming area but there is a connection to a bike/walk trail as well as a bit of beach away from the swimming area.

I didn’t realize, though, that the winter lake level meant that this area was also high and dry.

I thought Karl would be ready to run out on the exposed sand and planned on walking to the island…

But he stuck to the “shore”.

While hazy, it was nearly 50 and he got warm and stuck to the partially shady beach area.

Summers in Somers shows a bit of what this area looks like in the summer.

The road to Somers

The mountain view part of Karl and my walk is off limits for the time being. The only home in the large acre sub-division that comprises our loop is occupied by its owners for Spring Break. Karl and I have their permission to be on the property when they are not there.

So…we dawdle on our own 8 acres and the 40 acres of state land with peeks at the mountains from the edges.

Yesterday, on a run to Kalispell we headed for the Somers walk en route. As we rounded the bend in Somers Rd., Mr. Hay Farmer on board his John Deere was ahead…

These two Osprey were working on their nest in the bird sanctuary adjacent to the walking trail. The male left for a hunt verifying the pair as Osprey with the characteristic white under-wing – majestic!

Always something interesting and beautiful on the road to Somers, Montana.