Winter Fenceline Shadows - Missoula, Montana

“He closed the missal, looked out the window at what was left of the day. Not too far back, it was the shortest day of the year. He was some farther north here, the shadows seemed longer, the blue in them colder.”

-from Coyote Wind, A Gabriel Du Pré Mystery by Peter Bowen (1945-2020), page 135

Simple Focus - Missoula, Montana

“A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention.”
— Herbert Simon (1916-2001)

Neighbourly Encouragement- East Missoula, Montana

Spotted this neighbourly advice during a pre-church ramble out in East Missoula, Montana. An inspiring example of imagination finding limitless ways to express kindness! (And we’ll just float free of the light/moth analogy before any frying occurs...)

Big Sky Hunting- Missoula, Montana

“...A rodless Walton of the brooks
A bloodless sportsman, I - 
I hunt for the thoughts that throng the woods,
The dreams that haunt the sky...”
- Sam Walter Foss (1858-1911), from The Bloodless Sportsman

Looking Forward - Grant Creek, Missoula, Montana

"The water you touch in a river

 is the last of that which has passed,
 and the first of that which is coming;

 thus it is with time."
- Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)

Tree Shadows and Winter Ornamentation - Grant Creek, Missoula, Montana

“Indeed the river is a perpetual gala,
 and boasts each month a new ornament.“  -Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), Nature

(Many thanks to the folks at the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System  for repurposing and corralling  a broadly inspiring selection of quotes ...and more!)

Winter Stream Song, Softly - Grant Creek, Missoula, Montana

“The stream sings a subdued music, a scarcely audible lilt, faint and fluid syllables not quite said....” — John Daniel, Oregon Rivers

Ice Sparkle - Grant Creek, Missoula, Montana

One rare sunny day during our latest bitter cold spell, I bravely bundled for a lunch walk and was rewarded with literal sparkling views along Grant Creek, which intersects the industrial neighborhood behind our offices. 

The crystalline intricacy is somewhat mesmerizing...next few posts will be of broader shore views, so y'all come back now, y'hear?