Posts from the ‘Montana’ category

Karl goes shopping

I had to take an unexpected run into town this morning…got to thinking that I should do all the stuff I normally save for the weekend – both to save on fuel (50 mile round trip!) and to save myself from Memorial Day crowds…well “crowds” being relative here in the MT state (MT…empty…get it??). It is not like I have to “fight” for a parking space or stand in long lines…but weekdays, it is REALLY quiet and relaxed – just the way I like it!

Karl shopping

One stop was Murdoch Home and Ranch Supply. Critters of all types are allowed and welcome at Murdochs. Karl is a regular – I always take him in with me when we stop on a weekday and are just getting pet stuff – which was the case today.

Karl shopping

Karl knows the drill – he heads straight for the pet aisles…

Karl shopping

But first we stop to see one of the girls…Karl likes the girls…

Karl shopping

“Hi Sweetie – how about a kiss?” All the girls get kisses!

My hands and arms were full when we got to the counter to pay – full of bags of treats and the pigs ear that Karl chose from the bin of pig’s ears. He always picks his own and it takes awhile. He sniffs for just the right one.

Karl shopping

Back in the Jeep – snacktime!

Karl shopping

A successful trip and home we go.

Things in the woods

There are all kinds of interesting things in the woods…my 8 acres of woods as well as the woods at the park on Flathead Lake where Karl and I walk…

In the Woods

Bob is in the woods…

In the Woods

…and Karl

In the Woods

…and lupins. You’ll have to take my word that there are a bunch of lupins along the path.

In the Woods

In the Woods

See…lupins, really! In my 8 acres of woods…

In the Woods

And in the park by Flathead Lake where Karl and I walked yesterday morning…and they as well as the other wildflowers are a bit ahead of the things in my woods.

In the Woods

Lupins in the woods.

In the Woods

Deer in the woods – LOTS and LOTS of deer…but for as many as there are and as often as I see them, I still love seeing them. I am always awed by their grace and the power they have to bound over obstacles…except for cars. They seem to have some sort of deer dyslexia when it comes to moving objects. I had one run into my car from behind as I was going about 25 mph. That is a different story -YIKES! Karl and I startled the deer above and she lept up the cliff-like slope above the trail and then obligingly struck a pose long enough for me to get this photo.

Bob, Karl, lupins, deer, trees, sunlight, mountain and lake vistas…just a few of the things in the woods.

Visiting a friend

A week ago Sunday, just one night in my own house, I went tired – exhausted actually – from travel, emotion, getting settled… and sore from chronic back stuff that is slowly coming around – to visit my friend Kris. She and her husband, Hal, have been building their current home over the last several years while living with Kris’ mother so as to allow her to remain in her own home. Kris’s mother has since passed on and that house is for sale – Kris and Hal are now in their new home on a secluded and beautiful piece of land with gorgeous larch and aspen, magnificent views of the mountains and ravens…

I don’t remember my back hurting after I stepped out of the Jeep, smelled the pine, felt the soft breeze and looked at the mountains through the trees. We took a walk around with the dogs, Arrow and Karl, before even going in the house….then sat in the light filled living room that looks to those same mountain views and talked…another walk with the dogs in a different direction. I drove home refreshed after visiting with my friend.

Visit

Visit

Visit

Visit

Visit

Visit

Visit

Visit

Sky Blue and Grass Green

I don’t know what they are calling the Crayola crayon colors for the blue of a clear blue sky or the bright green of new spring grass, but I can picture the box of crayons…you know that big box of 64 with the sharpener on the back of the box. And I can smell that new crayon smell…

Yesterday afternoon the vivid blue of the sky and the bright green of the new grass (hay and alfalfa) – with the mountains and trees and houses – this sea of blue and green on my road home – it reminded me of those bright, clear colors and a brand new box of crayons.

Road Home

Road Home

Road Home

Road Home

Road Home

Heat Wave

I’m writing this on Saturday evening just after 8 p.m. and it is 75 degrees fahrenheit – a bit above normal by 10-15 degrees! This is the third and warmest day in our Montana Spring heat wave – tomorrow is to be cooler and by mid-week we are forecast to be 10-15 degrees below normal.

But today and yesterday – like summer and Karl and I walked early. Friday we walked at the State Park by Flathead Lake.

Karl at Flathead Lake

Karl is on a rocky area that will soon – maybe tomorrow (Monday) be covered. The sudden warm temperatures are melting the mountain snow pack and filling the rivers and streams that feed Flathead Lake.

Karl at Flathead Lake

The rocky shore above will be under water soon also.

Yesterday morning we walked at the Historic “Trails to Rails” walk in Somers, Montana – a walk/bike trail starts in Somers and ends miles away west of Kalispell. We walk a short bit of this asphalt trail that has view of the mountains and on a clear day, when the lake is at normal height – Flathead Lake.

Somers

I love this little “barn”? – the color of the wood, it’s narrow tall shape against the background – it is a pretty structure to my eye.

Somers

I think it is funny that Karl gets so excited when we make the turn that leads to this trailhead. It is an asphalt path and is fenced in – much more citified than our typical walking places. It is a walk, though, and maybe just the variety is intriguing…

Somers

Somers

Headed back now, the “hill” is the village of Somers.

On the drive back home I stopped to take some photos. The foothills had that shadowy look that I love and I hoped to capture it. This implement barn caught my eye also.

My favorite…

Skywatch Friday … Northern Light

Skywatch Friday which is hosted by Tom Wigley on his blog Wiggers World

Northern Light…not “lights” – I would LOVE to get a photo worthy of posting of the Aurora Borealis, which I have seen only once…but this post is about Northern Light which at my latitude of 48 North means sunrise at 5:50 and sunset at 9:11 and another month to go until the Summer Equinox so sunrise is ever earlier and sunset ever later until at the equinox there is light in the sky as late as 11 p.m. and as early as 4 a.m. … really, we have no need for Daylight Saving Time here – enough of the daylight already!!!

**added Note on 5/17 Northern Lights are the Aurora Borealis…I am using “Northern Light” to refer to the extended daylight we have in the north during the summer… sorry for any misunderstanding, I probably shouldn’t have capitalized it either…

But, yesterday morning very early and me, too impatient to get a tripod, but looking at a beautiful dawn about to happen, well, see for yourself…

North Light

North Light

North Light

North Light

North Light

North Light

North Light

And much later yesterday – 8:45 p.m. U.S. Mountain Daylight time – the setting sun with no clouds to block its rays, shines on the top of the trees casting them in gold…

North Light

North Light

North Light

And a bit of follow up… Mental Pause Mama and my friend Kris identified the bird in the Pond Post as a Yellow Headed Blackbird. See the original post for more….