Authentic Happiness Via Bitterroot Winter Sunrise - Corvallis, Montana

Another glorious Bitterroot Valley view from Big Brother 3, that ponders well with this quote: 

 “Happiness does not lead to gratitude.
  Gratitude leads to happiness.”

- Benedictine monk David Steindl-Rast 
(found in A.J. Jacobs’ book, Thanks a Thousand!)

Winter Bitterroot Range - Corvallis, Montana

Big Brother 3 (BB3) is working above some amazing Bitterroot Valley views lately, and kindly shared today's post pic.
Would that we all had such an inspiring and calming office view!  But for the rest of us, there's always the desktop background consolation prize....
 
BTW, if you've never seen in person the "purple mountain majesty above the fruited plain", Western Montana is always a great vacation destination.

Spring Cleaning Project - 1968 Yamaha YJ60 - Missoula, Montana

This week's vintage chrome photos are courtesy of the combined enthusiasms of The Best Husband Ever, Big Brother #3, and Neighbor Dan. 

Spring cleaning has propelled Neighbor Dan into a fervent offloading of excess possessions, including a 1968 Yamaha Y2J that had belonged to his dad but sat unused long enough to sink into the dirt a fair bit. It needed a new home and a little TLC - and it is one of the grooviest little motorcycles ever to roll off a production line. 

Although admiring, The Best Husband Ever begs off - he has already employed tools and elbow grease and chrome polish and old toothbrushes and endless hours in refurbishing a 1970s vintagey motorcycle - also redeemed from unification with a patch of dirt in Neighbor Dan's side yard.

Enter Big Brother #3, lured by talk of motorcycles and the afternoon sunshine glinting off a (potentially) shiny object. He is charmed by the wee, stylish motorcycle, and succumbs to a strain of spring fever different from that affecting Neighbor  Dan. If BB3 buys motorcycle needing TLC from ND, will TBHE work his obsessive cleaning magic? A deal is struck and grown men grin the optimistic, goofy grins only a motorcycle project can elicit. (Or maybe in your neighborgood it's snowmobiles, model trains, elusive golf scores, motorboats, ham radio, fishing gear, or ______?) 

The camaraderie was a beautiful sight to see - maybe a similar scenario prompted King David to point out, '"Behold , how good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell in unity...". Once the bike was finally cleaned up and running well enough, the lads certainly had a good and pleasant time buzzing up and down the (paved) back alley, while Neighbor Dan smiled from the garage door of his simplified life. And I was delighted at new, shiny photo prospects. 
Can anyone say 'win-win situation'?