Wee Beautiful Snail - Flathead River below SKQ Dam, Polson Montana

“To do the useful thing, to say the courageous thing, to contemplate the beautiful thing: that is enough for one man’s life.”​
― T.S. Eliot, The Use of Poetry and the Use of Criticism​  (Thanks to the ever-actively-curious Tim Ferris for this great quote share.)

Flathead River below SKQ Dam - Polson, Montana

Last weekend’s stunning end-of-summer Montana days were perfect for the short hike above Se¿lis¿ Ksanka Ql¿ispe¿  fka Kerr Dam. (…to offset scrumptious waffles at Good Coffee Roasting Co / Whistle Bake Shop in Polson, MT - yummm!)

Full Moon - at Se¿lis¿ Ksanka Ql¿ispe¿ fka Kerr Dam, Montana

A little Montana-style entrepreneurial humour  courtesy of this Ronan, Montana, company ….couldn’t resist the share…!

(Seen on a recent visit to Se¿lis¿ Ksanka Ql¿ispe¿  fka Kerr Dam.)

Off-Season Reflections - Polson, Montana

 “... And I'm just a reflection of the love that I've been given 
Everybody wants to be somebody, I wanna be somebody too

If I'm gonna be known for something, I wanna be known for You...”

- from “Be The Moon” by Chris Tomlin

While Walking With A Friend - Polson, Montana

 “It was William Penn who, centuries ago, described the seven features of deep-hearted friendship in this way:
   "A true friend unbosoms freely,
   Advises justly,
   Assists readily,
   Adventures boldly,
   Takes all patiently,
   Defends courageously, and
   Continues a friend unchangeably." “
- Herbert Lockyer (1886-1984) in a summary regarding Epaphroditus

Stormy Sunlight - Mission Mountains, Polson, Montana

Stormy sunlight highlights the Mission Mountains - mm-mmmmm! (And a double dose over Polson Bay!)

Stormy Weather - Flathead Lake, Polson, Montana

Stormy skies in the weekend forecast - but Flathead Lake is a boon to the soul in any weather. Add to the horizon stretching view a sumptuous, scrumptious patio dinner at Mrs Wonderful’s Cafe and you have the recipe for a perfect Friday night in western Montana. 

Spring Ice Break Up - Flathead Lake, Polson, Montana

On dealing rightly with those who depend on us:
" ...you do not understand - trust is like a broken mirror, you may still see yourself, but you can never dismiss the crack."

-From Depth of Winter, A Longmire Mystery, by Craig Johnson, page 69

Still Life - Frozen Finley Point Sunset, Flathead Lake, Polson, Montana

"...There had been no stillness in himself either, with Hamish rampant in his mind. He was never truly alone.

But here it was palpable - the quiet -
He stood there, looking up at the empty blue sky, his head tilted back, his arms out from his sides, his fists unwittingly clenched. And drank in the stillness....

Stillness.
It seemed to spread through him, it seemed to wrap him about, it seemed to fill him full."

- From Legacy of the Dead,  An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery by Charles Todd, page 40

Moving On - Spring Ice on Flathead Lake, Polson, Montana

"If there were ever two words that had no meaning they were moving on.
Sorrow isn't a place you can leave behind.
It's part of you.
It changes the way you see, feel, and think,
 and every once in a while, the pain isn't remembered, it's relived;
 the anguish as real and heartbreaking
 as if it was happening all over again."
-From Righteous by Joe Ide, p. 4

Waiting Winter Dock - Polson, Montana

“If the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship, he would keep it in port forever.” 

-Thomas Aquinas (1225 - 1274)

(Unless he lived in snowy climes....but let's stick with the bigger idea & imagine a sunny and romantic southern port!)

Bolt And Bricks - Polson, Montana

"If I could only remember that the days were, not bricks to be laid row on row, to be built into a solid house, where one might dwell in safety and peace, but only food for the fires of the heart."

- Edmund Wilson (1895-1972)

Wind-Tossed Sky Over Flathead Lake- Polson, Montana

"And yet these flying fountains of all the rivers of earth, these armed and thundering legions of the storm, that beat down the forests with hail and bury the mountains in snow, and flood the plains with water, go floating over us at vast heights with all their mighty magazines when all our philosophy would require them to sink to the earth."

- Daniel March (1816-1909), "The Balancings of the Clouds," Our Father's House, or the Unwritten Word, 1869

Perfect Little Cherry Pie - Polson, Montana

The perfect end to a lovely day at Polson's Main Street Flathead Cherry Festival: four people ahead of me in line did NOT buy the last two perfect little cherry pies! 

I was eyeing these little pies for much more than a tasty snack; they are my redemption plan for forgetting to buy Mrs.Wonderful's cinnamon rolls to take home to The Best Husband Ever and Darling Daughter. In my defense, Mrs. Wonderful's cinnamon rolls are rather distracting, especially hot out of the oven and the first thing you eat for the day. But I feel pretty confident in the peace-keeping power of these little pies - flaky crust, not-too-sweet filling, just-right size - what's not to love?!

And Mrs. Wonderful Marmalade Cafe  will be seeing us again on another morning.

Hand-picked Flathead Cherries - Polson, Montana

"...Every fairy child may keep 

Two ponies and ten sheep; 
All have houses, each his own, 
Built of brick or granite stone; 
They live on cherries, they run wild-- 
I'd love to be a Fairy's child."

- From "I'd Love To Be A Fairy's Child" by Robert Graves (1896-1985)

(FYI for the meanderers: Polson hosts their annual Main Street Flathead Cherry Festival on Saturday July 16 from 9 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday July 17 from 10 AM to 4 PM.
There's a cherry pit-spitting trophy just waiting to have your name engraved on it!)

Apple Not Far From Tree - Polson, Montana

With our northernmost sister delayed and re-routed over Going To The Sun Road due to an unexpected fire closure of Hwy. 2 below Glacier National Park, we three traveling from the southern route enjoyed a bit of evening time along Flathead Lake's shore. The song keeps running through my head, "Smoky Mountain rain...keeps on calling...". Slightly different haze on these western mountains, but still has a (hopefully transient) beauty all its own.

Siren’s Shore, Polson, Montana

"...I grow old ... I grow old ...

I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.

Shall I part my hair behind?   Do I dare to eat a peach?

I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.

I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.

I do not think that they will sing to me. 

 

I have seen them riding seaward on the waves
Combing the white hair of the waves blown back
When the wind blows the water white and black...."
  - From The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock By T. S. Eliot (1888–1965)

Dock - Flathead Lake, Polson, Montana

In case you wonder, “Why would anyone label their dock?”, the full inscription actually reads “PRIVATE DOCK”.
(Hmmmm... I hear the murmur - especially if you know I don't have a boat, or a dock, or convenient acquaintances who share such - wondering, how then did this photo come about?)
But given the lack of hangers-about, and the lure of this perfect, weathered pier, I ran with that golden maxim, “Sometimes it’s better to ask for forgiveness, not permission.”
And - lucky me ! - there was no need to request either! 
Untroubled, I sat down where the seagulls had not left their brand of graffiti and savoured the luscious lake and mountain view, to a soundtrack of lappy-lappy waves backed by a sighing wind section. 
Livin' a version of the Montana good life!

Fall-en: Flathead Lake, Polson, Montana

"Float down
Like autumn leaves
Hush now
Close your eyes before the sleep
And you're miles away
And yesterday you were here with me..."
- Ed Sheeran, from lyrics to "Autumn Leaves"

Bloom With A View - Flathead Lake, Polson, Montana

“Hope always blooms.”
― Amy Neftzger, The Orchard of Hope