Posts from the ‘Montana’ category

Summer weekend

Montana does not usually jump the gun on Summer. May is typically nice with some warm-hot days and then June is cool and rainy, before it warms up for real in mid-July.

But this year, although June started cool and rainy, it did not last long and we’ve had several days in the 80’s with today hitting 88!

Saturday was a chore day which included setting up sprinklers as those few days of rain were not going to last through the forecast heat – we are to be in the 80’s through this coming Friday.

I started on weed abatement going through 4 gallons of white vinegar. This will be ongoing, but a first attack has occurred!

Wild Thing is home after a short stint at Billy Bob’s RV for normal maintenance plus new brakes all around. There is more to do, but all safety and engine stuff is done. I spent some time cleaning inside, flushing the fresh water tank/plumbing and organizing the basement storage. She’s ship shape!

I was beat by early Saturday evening, but the good news is Sunday was a “do whatever I want day”.

Bear and I hopped in the Jeep and headed to town for a few items. Several weeks ago, my neighbor told me about a back road to town. We took it. It is beautiful and bonus: a nice place to stop for a walk with Bear along the river:

There is another fishing area on the other side of the road with a pond. This river spot only has access to the river, which is running high and fast so all of the fishing activity has been on the other side the 2 times we’ve stopped…

We had this little spot all to ourselves.

Plenty of shade, great view and a nice breeze off the river – perfect!

A new kitchen acquisition: ice cream maker. And this week’s flavor is Key Lime!

For a summer treat, I used graham crackers to make key lime ice cream sandwiches. Yum and so refreshing … like frozen key lime pie.

And the first sweet corn of the season rounded out the weekend’s summer eating.

I’m tired – the chores and the first real heat of the year…but still, a great Summer weekend.

Easter Sunday morning

There is light in the sky, i.e. dawn at just after 6:15 a.m. with sunrise just after 7:00 a.m.

This morning, Bear and I were out for our first walk about 6:30. There was a bit of fog but the sky above the mountains was clear. As we strolled around I noticed the moon low in the sky to the west. The moon was full yesterday so although technically it is now waning, it still looked full. And it looked like it would be close to setting in another 30-45 minutes… so at 7:00, Bear and I got in the Jeep and headed down the road home to see what things looked like on an Easter Sunday morning with a nearly full moon and some fog on the ground with clear skies overhead … and…it was 27F so it was freezing fog…

To the west as we headed down the road home…

The road home.

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

May the Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious unto you.

May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you His peace.

A prayer from Numbers 6:24-26 and the Benediction that I grew up with

Happy Easter Sunday morning.

Officially Spring!

What is this???

Jars of herbs…hydroponic herbs.

So pretty!

Even if the herbies don’t grow, I will have a rainbow of jars for my window.

I decided to start with just one jar as the instructions have temperature and “hours of sunlight” guidance…

I started with Greek Oregano in the yellow jar.

We have sun!

Auggie is very into bug hunting!

The Bear-boy… and a request.

Bear had a recent checkup and bloodwork and the scary thing in blood work is back. We are headed to Missoula (100 miles south) on Monday. Bear, me, Auggie…in Wild Thing…will go to Missoula leaving Monday noonish. Bear has a late afternoon appointment with a Veterinary Internist. I didn’t want to drive home late and/or need to be staying for follow-up appointments, hence the Wild Thing trip as well as my request for prayer and/or good thoughts for the Bear-boy. He is a sweet boy and I hope and pray that this is just an “ageing” thing.

Montana Color

Montana does not have the blazing reds of the East-North Eastern Fall. That is ok with me. I love the Western gold-orange Fall…the birch, the Aspen and the Larch.

Color is on its way to peak here.

Bear and I headed to town this morning for some errands and a tiny bit of supply gathering.

On the way home…

Montana color.

When thunder roars…go indoors

NOAA says “When thunder roars, go indoors”

I think that is good advice.

Bear and I took a lunch hour trip to Bigfork.

Going and returning, the clouds were building up over the mountains to the east and to the west.

Smoke in the air and afternoon clouds building…on the road home.

A bit of virga (rain not reaching the ground) and the clouds darkening…

But vivid blue sky and building thunderheads to the west…

Just as I parked the Jeep in the garage, the first bit of thunder rumbled.

We headed in…

When thunder roars…go indoors. Thunder, a whoosh of wind and heavy rain. Twice.