New Year Blessing - West of Helena, Montana

"May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back. 

May the sun shine warm upon your face, 

the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, 

may God hold you in the palm of His hand." - Traditional Irish blessing

Summer Throwback - Kayaker Duo - Placid Lake, Montana

Another summer shot I didn't post at the time....Lingering wildfire haze delineates mountain layers and adds an other-world-liness to Montana lake outings.

Summer Throwback - Paddleboard Pup - Placid Lake, Montana

A peaceful Placid Lake, Montana, moment from this summer. Kind of a nice winter reprieve when longing for sunnier skies. (Also totally vicarious, by the way...not my people, OR our pup...just serendiptous strangers drifted into the hazy view i was sizing up!) 

True Fans - Washington Grizzly Stadium, Missoula, Montana

“Neither snow, nor rain... nor gloom of night..." -Herodotus (500 BC). 

True fans braved slushy skies to cheer the University of Montana Griz to yesterday's FCS Playoff Round 2 win, leading to Round 3 in Washington-Grizzly Stadium!

First Snow, Red Fall Foliage - Missoula, Montana

First snow down in Missoula town yesterday - already melted for a sunny US Thanksgiving! Wishing you many grateful remembrances on this day of thanks. 

Bitterroot Mountains from Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge - Stevensville, Montana

Perfect pockets of sun and shadow - plus a lovely side of laughter among friends! -  made for a gorgeous fall ramble at the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge. 

(I THINK that may be St. Mary's Peak in the background...  not as simple as I'd hoped to logic 

our this peak's location on a map.... please comment if you can confirm or deny.) 

Fall Game Day Besties - University of Montana, Missoula, Montana

Crisp fall views on a sunny University game day  - life is just better in Montana. 

Sound of Music Trail View - East Missoula, Montana

My advance apologies for the catchy ditty about to be stuck in your head, but this photo view point really IS called The Sound of Music Trail.... 

(And the surrounding Missoula hills were, indeed, alive with the sound of music as hundreds of people of many area churches united to pray and praise over our city at summer's end!)