Solitude - Missoula, Montana

“I remember my grandfather telling me how each of us must live with a full measure of loneliness that is inescapable, and we must not destroy ourselves with our passion to escape the aloneness.”
— Jim Harrison (1937-2016)

Rainy Daisy - Hamilton, Montana

"The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain."

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

World Without End - Missoula, Montana

"As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen."- From The Book of Common Prayer

Liquid Sunshine At Rest, Hamilton, Montana

Liquid sunshine - before today, I don’t think I’d heard rain so aptly described.

For those of us who hope for rainbows and silver linings on any rainy day, this says it perfectly.

April Showers Hope, Hamilton, Montana

Ah, the hope of April showers!

These classic lines from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “The Rainy Day” phrase it well:

“…Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.”

Transition, Alberton, Montana

Drip
Dropping down
Held
To pool and glimmer
Momentarily
Catch the eye
Toward 
This sometime resting place
Small wonder

- CH

Neither Rain Nor Sleet, W. Fish Creek, Alberton, Montana

Sunday was surprisingly rainy, thanks to an unexpected warm before the storms blow down from Canada. 

But a wee bit of precipitation didn’t keep my friend, J., and me from our photo outing to West Fish Creek, near Alberton, Montana. 

As my sainted mother would say, with a smile, “You’re not made of sugar, are you?”

Planting Hope, Hamilton, Montana

Hot tip for any plant-loving procrastinators - er, rather, busy people putting the last minute to effective use: Lowe’s still has spring bulbs for sale. 
Even better: they’re ON sale at fifty percent off.
 
I bought six bags - after putting back three bags, thanks to a wee self-chat about realistic expectations.
 
I’m a little excited. 

Come Saturday - after coffee, of course- , you'll find me bundled up and tenderly placing papery-swathed bulbs of promise: grape hyacinths, alliums, daffodils, fragrant hyacinths, and tulips. 
These will stand out nicely amidst the foliage of the later-blooming lilies and fritillaria I tucked in last weekend. 

Only 124 days until spring!

Shelter, Missoula, Montana

I adore my husband - and rightly so. Tuesday morning, I went to start my car ten minutes prior to my typical pedal-to-the-metal departure for work. And what to my wondering eyes should appear but: a car, parked - I kid you not - right in front of our driveway, blocking in both our vehicles. Unbelievable, right? So, I stand there in the living room with my wet hair, flailing my arms and ranting: who would do such a thing, especially when there’s an empty full parking length along the curb RIGHT BEHIND THAT CAR, and what if they’re still there when I have to leave in 10 minutes because you know how I am - when it’s time to go, let’s go! Yes, he calmly says, I know how you are; they'll prob'ly be gone in a few minutes. And I rant some more - all this drama encapsulated within a minute, please understand. In my miniscule pause for breathe, TBHE interjects, If they’re still there when you have to leave, I’ll just move their car, since it’s running. 
Oh. Well, that was simple. 
Instant calm, perfect solution. Am I a fortunate one, or what?
We could clone him and be rich.