“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 […]
Mom, the Bear, and Leo the Lion
It was the morning after my mother died that I saw the bear. It was early and I was lying in bed looking out of my second story bedroom window. I often look out of the window in the mornings to start the day while also hoping to get a glimpse of wildlife starting […]
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 […]
Hidden Lake Trail, Glacier National Park
For the first time, we hiked all the way down to Hidden Lake – so glad that we did! The hike was amazing but the switchbacks on the way back were terribly steep! Glacier’s ever-changing landscape never fails to please. Snow and colorful wildflowers came together for a beautiful mix of breathtaking scenery. In this […]
Cats Get the Blame for Bird Deaths
Why is it that if a feline is in the same vicinity of a dead bird, it almost always gets accused of murder? Don’t domesticated cats born and raised in the United States have rights like any other American? Aren’t we considered innocent until proven guilty? Or has that basic fundamental right changed somewhere along […]
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 […]
Happy Birthday to Me!
It’s been a long time since I’ve posted and I’m not going to give you a lot of excuses why I haven’t, other than to say that I haven’t felt like it. It’s spring and I’ve been too busy to concern myself with a silly blog. So what have I been doing since “Mewing and […]
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 […]