Charles Conrad only lived in the beautifully appointed Conrad Mansion for the final seven years of his life. Anyone associated with the Conrads or who descended from the family will attest that those seven years were the most joyous years in the Mansion. One aspect of that brief, happy time was the annual […]
Month: November 2012
Oh,That Smell
Two nights ago, while getting logs from the woodpile, a scent was noticed in the air. It was reminiscent of a combination of wet dog, dung, and dirt. We determined that the smell had come either from a creature lurking in the forest below or one who had just passed through the side yard. […]
A Tale of Turkey – the Last Pet My Dad Gave to Us
It is my father’s 85th birthday and the eve of Thanksgiving; I think it fitting to tell the following tale: Once upon a time, my family and I had a turkey. She was given to us by my dad who is a country boy and believes that everyone, especially children, should have pets. Turkey […]
Sniffing Around
The past few days have been so cold and wet that I haven’t gotten much time to explore my new yard at all. However, the sun came out yesterday and I was happy to take a walk around my new territory. First I walked down the hill to check out the pile of logs […]
Deer Having Breakfast
The Pleasure of Raking Leaves, a New Snow Blower, Breadsticks
Adventure on the edge of the wilderness can take on many forms… It was a nuisance changing the chainsaw blade. After we accomplished that, the girls bucked more wood for the woodpile and I took to the task of raking the last of the maple leaves. The leaves were pretty, but I […]
Renewable Resources – For Cats
The members of my human family have adopted a more self-sufficient lifestyle since transitioning from city life to their forest home. This got me to thinking. Perhaps I could be more self-sufficient too. I considered this – if my feral friends can sustain themselves on squirrels and birds, I could at least try my […]
The Spirit of the West: Unchanged
It was once mused that the character of a city is formed by the character of its founders; this rings true especially when we discuss the towns of the Flathead Valley. Late in the 19th century, the city of Kalispell was brought to life by settlers hailing from all across the country. They all shared […]
Visiting the Shay in Columbia Falls
Adventure on the edge of the wilderness can take on many forms… We crossed the railroad tracks and were heading into town when I made the decision to stop at Depot Park. My family and I had passed the park going to and from town since moving to Columbia Falls; the park is small […]