Moon-ish Rainbow - Missoula, Montana

"...the moon with 
its rainbow crown 
smiles down ..."

- from Rainbow Around The Moon by David Harris

River Reflections - Missoula, Montana

"Rivers are magnets for the imagination, for conscious pondering 

and subconscious dreams, thrills, fears.  People stare into... captivated, as they are 
when gazing into a fire. 
What is it that draws and holds us? 

The rivers' reflections of 
our lives and experiences are endless ..."-   From Lifelines, by Tim Palmer

This week, western Montana vacillates betwixt freeze and slightly less so, hence this lovely reflective sheen of water atop the brooding, moody ice.

Long Shadows - Missoula, Montana

"To contemplate is to look at shadows." - Victor Hugo (1802-1885)

Phantom Winter Trees - Corvallis, Montana

“Are ye the ghosts of fallen leaves, 

O flakes of snow, 

For which, through naked trees, the winds 

A-mourning go?”  

- from Phantoms by Father John Bannister Tabb (1845-1908)

Key Lime Pie Fix-All - Missoula, Montana

" 'Flappers,' Mrs. Morse said. 'Our mother would have fainted dead away to see all the leg they're showing.'

Mrs. Styles said, 'Mother would have taken a stick to them. Things were better back then.'

Mrs. Morse said she thought some things were better nowadays, but Mrs. Styles didn't see it...

Mrs. Morse said, 'Well, there's nothing you can do about it so why don't I cut you a nice piece of chocolate cake?' She could fix almost anything with a piece of cake - or pie." - from p.167 of The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant

Today's pictured key-lime cure-all was recently self-administered - strictly as a preventative, immunity-building measure, with no dire scenarios in sight - at Iza Restaurant in downtown Missoula. Verdict: a hands-down recommendation for all that ails you - or doesn't!

Secret Country - Missoula, Montana

"Most of us, I suppose, have a secret country but for most of us it is only an imaginary country. Edmund and Lucy were luckier than other people in that respect." - from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis

Further Up - East Missoula, Montana

"A long valley opened ahead and great snow-mountains, now much nearer, stood up against the sky.

"Further up and further in," cried Jewel and instantly they were off again." - from The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis (1898-1963)

Today is C.S. Lewis's birthday; the world is a much more intelligent place thanks to his thoughtful and entertaining contributions to literature, radio, and scholarship. When I remembered (a bit belatedly) that November is his birth and death month, I thought it fitting to use quotes from his works for the remainder of the month. Coincidentally, I've been listening to several of his audio books in recent months, so timing was perfect, as I had a little mental quote stash ready to go. Whether Narnia or otherwise focused, Lewis's books are engaging AND consistently  provoke me to question and stretch my thoughts toward the best ends. For your pondering pleasure, a list of his books available via The Gutenberg Project can be found here. Bon appetit!