Striped Grain Fields, Almost In Canada - Near Shelby, Montana

Happy Canada Day!

Today's photo was taken on a recent trip north, about a half hour before we crossed into the Motherland (i.e. Canada, at least for me; The Best Husband Ever exploits this for wisecrackery - and still manages to keep his TBHE title!).

Some people seer flat-and-boring when they travel through the farmlands of northern Montana and southern Alberta. (You can imagine the backseat chatter: "Are we there yet?"; "What do you mean, 'there's not another rest stop for an hour-&-a-half'?!") 

But I see miles upon gently rolling miles of serenity - all the way to the far, big-skied horizon - especially later in the summer when the sunlight catches the tops of wind-waved tall grain. It's the same calm I feel looking out in ocean waves, or at a wide stretch of river or lake.  Interestingly, neuroscience supports this effect - read more here. And then get outdoors this weekend to find a serenity scene of your very own! 
(Or even a serenity hammock will do.)

Forgetful Friday, Polson, Montana

Well, since I apparently can't keep tabs on what day it is, I found myself without a post ready for today. So, I've decided to re-post a favourite photo of Flathead Lake, taken last spring.

I've always been calmed and comforted by views of vast water, so was thrilled to read recently that neuroscience has found a beneficial connection between the brain calm and expansive views, such as the ocean or wide grasslands.  So, eat your kelp and go to the beach, for your own good.