Ref Barn Blue Sky Calm - Near Avon, Montana

“Calm and inner peace…Yes, calm and inner peace were undoubtedly important, but did you need to practise yoga to achieve such things? Or was it enough just to be here….to walk along one of those paths…with the sky above you so wide and so understanding of all it witnessed? …Surely there was enough calm amd peace in this land to bring quiet and healing to every heart that was open to it?? Surely.”

- - The Joy & Light Bus Company by Alexander McCall Smith, p. 57

Winter Fenceline Shadows - Missoula, Montana

“He closed the missal, looked out the window at what was left of the day. Not too far back, it was the shortest day of the year. He was some farther north here, the shadows seemed longer, the blue in them colder.”

-from Coyote Wind, A Gabriel Du Pré Mystery by Peter Bowen (1945-2020), page 135

Green Light, Missoula, Montana

This spring, sunlight has serendipitously found me beneath varied green canopies. The light filtered through these poplar leaves is so vibrantly green, and for some reason provokes feelings of peace. Green light - move past the caution; go with it.

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.

Subtle Shift, Somewhere Along I-90, Montana

"...they touch heaven, tabour on it; how their talons sweep
The smouldering enormous winter welkin!..."
- from Ash-boughs by Gerard Manley Hopkins

On another winter note, if you haven't yet Googled today, you should - right now! be spontaneous! I'll make it easy - click here. In honour of inventor Frank Zamboni's 112th birthday, today's Google doodle is an interactive Zamboni game. Finally, you can drive the Zamboni, just like you always wanted to when you were a kid at the skating rink, watching, mesmerized, as the driver made his rounds - or, rather, ovals - to create a new smooth surface for everyone waiting to rush back on to the ice. Once you've conquered the ice rink, treat yourself to a nostalgic round of Pacman.