Holding Up The Winter Sky - Lolo, Montana

“I prefer winter and fall,

 when you can feel the bone structure

 in the landscape---the loneliness of it---the dead

 feeling of winter.

Something waits beneath it---the whole story doesn't show.”

- Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009)

Clear Skies Over Montana - Missoula, Montana

Omigosh, clear skies in western Montana - I almost don't know how to process this!

Weekend winds cleared the air in the Missoula valley to astonishing clean, but the view toward Lolo, Montana, (centre of photo) still shows thick smoke fug lingering further south. 

After so many weeks, the clear air was almost unbelievably bewildering, even while we were thankful to breathe deep and get active outside. 

(Sadly, pessimism lurks with thoughts of "Better enjoy it while it lasts!")

Smoky Golfing - Toward Lolo, Montana

Please pray for the fire situation in the West, which is affecting much more important daily aspects of life than the local golf games. 

(I think I heard a shocked gasp somewhere in cyberspace: More important than golf?) 

Nighttime photos posted by others illustrate more dramatically that this is a dire situation and we crave rain.

Looking Beyond The Window - Lolo, Montana

"A German theologian once said that any number of things can serve as a window to God, to what he called 'the ultimate.' 

Humans, of ccourse, tend to be pane worshipers; we just stare at the window instead of the view. 

But anything that lets you look beyond the window to the divine—a kind act, a surprise, a coincidence—is a way of communicating with something bigger than we are."

 — Kate Braestrup, Minister and Author of Beginner's Grace 

Driving Light Returns - Lolo, Montana

Oh, the simple joy of driving in strengthening morning light!

Looking Upward - Lolo, Montana

"I try to avoid looking forward or backward, and try to keep looking upward."

- Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855)

Alive And Needed - Lolo, Montana

"Don’t ask what the world needs. 
Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. 
Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

- Howard Thurman (1899-1981)

New Growth - Lolo, Montana

After turning onto Highway 12 out of Lolo, Montana, you'll travel through winding miles of standing burned timber set in an understory of scrubby but bright green new growth. I remember a too-long stretch of summer evenings three years ago when we stood on our porch in Missoula looking at the other side of these same mountains backlit with flames coming up from the Lolo side. Night after night, we prayed for rain. And we added to collective prayers for firefighting crews, and for friends of friends who worried about the homes they had to evacuate. 

Montana is an awe-inspiring place, but this butting up against the wilderness engenders a unique variety of concerns.  Getting close to nature is one thing; nature reciprocating can sometimes get a little too close for comfort.

Daisies At The Jack Saloon - Lolo, Montana

"Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I'd have more of them.  In fact, I'd try to have nothing else...If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds 

and I would pick more daisies." - Nadine Stair (allegedly)

(While we didn't pick any daisies yesterday, we certainly enjoyed their bright-eyed abundance on the gorgeous grounds of The Jack Saloon, up Highway 12 from Lolo, Montana.)

Daisies Reaching, Lolo, Montana

It’s almost as if the daisies - precocious dreamers, all - are reaching, aspiring to the lofty cloud example.

Beehives, Lolo, Montana

Montana’s honey varies widely in taste and texture, depending on the bees‘ foraging grounds. Knapweed honey has a particular zing and a coarser texture. Clover and alfalfa honeys tend to be milder and smooth. Whatever the flower source, it’s all the bees knees!

Celtic Cruiser Cross, Lolo, Montana

We happened to be at the Lumberjack Saloon listening to a friend’s band when the Bikers Against Bullies showed up for lunch at the end of a late-June awareness ride. I had an entertaining chat with Leprechaun, who built this custom Celtic bike from the ground up during spring of this year. He graciously directed us to his gorgeous creation in the bike lineup and gave permission to take photos.
Wishing you fair skies and many smooth miles to come, Leprechaun.

Rosy, Lolo, Montana

This wild rose was blooming last week in Montana’s mountains- a fitting farewell to Wild Rose Country, as I cross the southern border after a lovely week in Alberta.

River Rising, Lolo, Montana

Just when I was wondering why the river was still so low for spring, it seemed to rise high almost overnight. (Well, at least it seemed sudden to me, but then I’m still caught unawares by the morning light arriving long before 7:30.) As we walked across the foot bridge, my husband pointed out: 1) there is a direct correlation between the current river depth, a sudden absence of snow on the mountain tops, and four consecutive and very warm days we had recently, and 2) don’t drop your phone over the railing while taking a video of the rushing, woozy-making river below because your office prob‘ly won‘t appreciate it. Seriously love that guy. He keeps me grounded in all the best things and makes laugh.

Mountains In Your Eyes, Lolo, Montana

More thoughts from Colleen Hull-Gray, today's guest post author.

I grew up on the Alberta prairies with an occasional trip that gave me a glimpse and deep love of the Rocky Mountains. After moving to Montana, I gorged on the beauty of various mountain ranges - Bitterroots, Sapphires, the ranges around Lewistown and the Rocky Mountains near Livingston. Eons ago Marie Osmond and Dan Seals sang, "Won't you meet me in Montana; I wanna see the mountains in your eyes." No thanks. I don't want to see reflected mountains. Even in beautiful eyes. Just let me see the mountains.

Bale-ful Glance, Lolo, Montana

After moving to Montana, my middle sister and I would exclaim, "Shredded wheat!", whenever we'd see round hay bales like these south of Lolo, Montana. If you make the correlation, you've dated your range of experience, shall we say. For the unknowing, shredded wheat cereal used to be shaped in round biscuits, also referred to as muffets.

Where the Buffalo Roam, Lolo, Montana

Sing it with me, now: "Hoooome, home on the range!...."This Lolo, Montana, bison herd is one of the sights to be seen any day of the week. 
One Friday evening, coincidentally just as I was coming around the curve where this herd is pastured, I heard this Groaner Friday joke on SOS Radio:
Q: What did the daddy buffalo say to his calf who was leaving for school?
A: Bi-son!
(Grooooan!)

Well Worn Rail Crossing, Lolo, Montana

The flotsam & jetsam & well-worn nails are an interesting bug's-view landscape.

Green Green Grass of Home, Lolo, Montana

Here's a little reminder that spring is coming.(It's kinda like being in a Microsoft photo...but we know bliss is better in Montana. )