Cupola Rising, Missoula, Montana

The crisp whiteness set in brilliantly drifty clouds and blue sky brings to mind Greek vacation adverts. 

Come to think of it, the real deal probably inspired Acura’s paint colour 'Aegean Blue'.

Downtown Glow, Missoula, Montana

Ambling through the soft golden pool cast by this elegant business entrance lantern, my imagination conjured earlier gaslight glow and graciously garbed patrons of historical Missoula’s downtown.
The practical working folk of early Missoula often rubbed shoulders with wealthy, world-traveled neighbors; this confluence is reflected architecturally in the downtown’s building mix of the general Mercantile just across and down the block from the Wilma theater and opera house, host to the era’s world-renowned entertainers. Missoula is still an economically and culturally diverse town. Today’s sold-out concert line snaking around the block to the Wilma’s front entry will include self-supporting college students standing next to well-heeled corporate executives.
What’s the axion? “The more things change, the more they remain the same.”

Side Doorway, Helena, Montana

Side Doorways
No glorious glass glow
Nor grandeur of saints watching
Just entering in
With work-calloused hands
Raised to practical praise
- c.hull

Knapweed Invitation, Missoula, Montana

the wind wafts
and swirls
beckoning petals
invite the honey bee

- c.hull

Stairway To, Missoula, Montana

Mother to Son by Langston Hughes

Well, son, I’ll tell you:

Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.

It’s had tacks in it,

And splinters,

And boards torn up,

And places with no carpet on the floor—

Bare.

But all the time

I’se been a-climbin’ on,

And reachin’ landin’s,

And turnin’ corners,

And sometimes goin’ in the dark

Where there ain’t been no light.

So boy, don’t you turn back.

Don’t you set down on the steps

’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.

Don’t you fall now—

For I’se still goin’, honey,

I’se still climbin’,

And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.

Rainbow Apology, Central Montana

“Rainbows apologize for angry skies.”
― Sylvia Voirol

Potentilla Blooming, Missoula, Montana

The humble potentilla blooms relentlessly in countless home and parking lot landscapes. While use in medicine sparked its medieval Latin name root meaning "powerful little (plant)", its persistent flowers are a forceful reminder toward cheer and resilience. Hurrah for the strength of the small
!