“See this little bud here, don’t break it off when you pick, it’s next year’s cherries.” Oh my gosh, what responsibility! One false move and my family and I could be responsible for the ruination of next year’s cherry crop! What if I accidentally pick off a bud – or two – or three? Would […]
Glacier Country
Adventure on the edge of the wilderness
July in Review – Bean Harvest and Cherry Picking
In July, I seemed to be preoccupied with fruits, vegetables, and flowers. The garden had taken off and we had a decent crop of green beans for the first time since living in Montana. I pickled 6 quarts of beans and would later process a number of pint jars, as well as stock the […]
June in Review – Cycling, Columbia Mountain, Mom Died
June was a flurry of outdoor activity. David and I cycled the Going to the Sun Road from Avalanche to the Loop, and our family hiking jaunts began in regularity. Mallory and Eileen took their first “real” day hike without their parents, and seeing them off was reminiscent of the Big Kids’ first day of […]
Eating Jake
Jake was shot to death on Mother’s Day. It came as a surprise even though I had been mentally prepared for it for some time. I didn’t know when or where it would happen, but I did know “how”. It would be at the hands of my husband who had been hunting for a tom […]
Showy Beargrass Popping Up all Over Montana
Beargrass is popping up all over Northwest Montana. It is a beautiful plant to see in nature and also to photograph. However, beargrass has very little to do with bears and isn’t actually a grass. Beargrass is part of the lily family. When not in bloom its slender leaves make grassy clumps that […]
May in Review – Community Garden, Bison Range, and Black Powder Shoot
When I first looked at the month of May, I thought it rather uneventful. On second look, I realized just how special it was. We started preparing our plot at the Community Garden and planted some tomato plants, even though I thought it still a bit too early. A late spring snowfall blanketed the garden […]
Gimme a Break! Don’t Give me a Break
Gimme a Break! Don’t give me a break. How do you learn to be good at something? Is it by being given advantages based on your present inability to execute the task at the same level as more experienced people? I’m constantly perplexed by people’s immediate desire to give unfair advantages to those […]
Thanks, Jake
For weeks, I’ve known that murder was on the horizon. My father had purchased a turkey tag and he was going to use it. Toms, jakes, and hens have been frequenting the yard all spring. They hardly stood a chance against a man in his pajamas with a mask and a gun. Jake’s […]
The Red Sleep Drive
The Red Sleep Drive of the National Bison Range opened May 11th, the Saturday before Mother’s Day. As a rule, we visit the range in May and this year was no exception. After spending approximately an hour at the Ninepipes Museum in Pablo, where we learned about the history of the area, we arrived at […]
Hiking Season Begins with Avalanche Lake!
Glacier National Park has many facets, one of them being the lush rainforest-like environment on the west side of the park. Easily accessed from the Going to the Sun Road, the Trail of the Cedars boasts huge red cedar, hemlock, and cottonwood trees. Spongy moss and cold clear water cascades over colorful boulders enticing […]