Ship Shape Clouds - Victor, Montana

"...Only for the turning of the earth in her holy

Heart! Slyly, slowly, hearing the wound in her side go 

Round the sun, he comes to my love like the designed snow, 

And truly he 

Flows to the strand of flowers like the dew's ruly sea, 

And surely he sails like the ship shape clouds. 

Oh he 

Comes designed to my love to steal not her tide raking 

Wound, nor her riding high, nor her eyes, nor kindled hair, 

But her faith that each vast night and the saga of prayer 

He comes to take...

Ever and ever by all your vows believe and fear 

My dear this night he comes and night without end my dear                                          

Since you were born: 

And you shall wake, from country sleep, this dawn and each first dawn, 

Your faith as deathless as the outcry of the ruled sun."

- From In country sleep II, by Dylan Thomas (1914-1953), 

published in the volume Collected Poems, 1934-1952

Read the full text of this poem and more from Dylan Thomas here,

 thanks to Project Gutenberg of Australia. (And be sure to read his collection's introductory Note.

Hidden gems abound in Author notes and acknowledgements!)

Poplars Under Stormy Spring Sky - Victor, Montana

"...The people pass through the dust
On bicycles, in carts, in motor-cars;
The waggoners go by at dawn;
The lovers walk on the grass path at night.

Stir from your roots, walk, poplar!
You are more beautiful than they are..."

- from The Poplar by Richard Aldington (1892-1962)

Happy early Spring! Click here to be charmed by the full read of this winsome poem, and satisfy your minds-eye yearning for spring imagery.

Morning Glory - Victor, Montana

"...for here a gentle soul has cast its glow upon us,
and like the glory of an autumn sun,
has lit the world with kindness through its day…"
- Dr. Robert Terry Weston (1898-1988)

Bear Creek Overlook - Victor, Montana

A big thanks to a hiking sis-in-law for sending this gorgeous view yesterday, from Bear Creek Overlook, near Victor, Montana. The continuing balmy weather makes for perfect afternoons to head out and appreciate the golden tamaracks ranged along the mountainsides. Just don't forget the bear spray.

Nostalgic Eight - Victor, Montana

"Aching familiar in a way that made me wish I was still eight. Eight was before death or divorce or heartbreak. Eight was just eight. Hot dogs and peanut butter, mosquito bites and splinters, bikes and boogie boards. Tangled hair, sunburned shoulders, Judy Blume, in bed by nine thirty." - Jenny Han, It's Not Summer Without You

Special Chrome - Victor, Montana

The Best Husband Ever spent literal hours over Labour Day weekend shining up the chrome wheels - outer AND inner surfaces - on a spiffy used car we just bought.  Good thing for his obsessive self that our rig doesn't sport the abundance of chrome featured on this classic Buick Eight Special, or he'd still be polishing away. From a practical standpoint, sometimes it's okay that they don't make 'em like they used to.

We espied this Buick beauty yesterday on an open haul trailer spanning several parking lot spaces  at Cowboy Troy's in Victor, Montana. Regretfully, I do not have details or a story on this car - our usually chatty group was very hungry and didn't even think of talking with the car's owner until half a pizza had disappeared - and also the car. (Obviously, it was really good pizza.)

So, if you have any insight on what year Buick Special sported these particularly delightful hooded cherry-on-top* headlights, please enlighten us in a comment below - and then you can update the Wikipedia entry.

(*Sorry, in this angled view you can just see the chrome housing of  little round red topper light on the far headlight.)

GroundWater Rising - Near Victor, Montana

"The work an unknown good man has done is like a vein of water flowing hidden underground, secretly making the ground green." - Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881)

Big Sky Beauty, Victor, Montana

"A horse is a thing of beauty... none will tire of looking at him as long as he displays himself in his splendor." - Xenophon

Weekend Essentials, Victor, Montana

Juicy worms - what more do you need for a hot time in the big town tonight?

But perhaps your plans are not so much local street dance, but more at wilderness camping and fishing. 
Enter the small luxury of “Juicy Worms“. 

I love how Montana’s convenience stores cover all the bases - a welcome of homey flowers and anticipation of what varied customers might need. 
At Casey's store - just outside of Victor, Montana, on the constantly scenic Eastside Highway - you'll find fresh cinnamon rolls and locally created tamales, and everything in between - including juicy worms.
Entrepreneurship is alive and well in the Big Sky state.

Last Cutting, Victor, Montana

I'm no agricultural expert, but given the recent snowstorm on the Divide, probability is high that this is the last cutting of hay in the Bitterroot Valley. 
But the weather won’t stop the flow of tasty tamales, cinnamon buns, ethanol-free gasoline, and more, right across the highway at Casey’s Store.

Praying For Rain, Victor, Montana

August is fire season in western Montana. Smoke blows into the valleys not only from area fires, but also from ones in neighboring states.
Consider a visit later in September, and enjoy clear skies and cool nights.

Sandy Spot, Victor, Montana

I'm not sure how deep this creek is, but that little sandy spot looks so inviting - a perfect spot to while away the afternoon on a checkered picnic blanket with a good book.
Of course, since there are fences between me & the miniature beach, tromping over there would probably constitute trespassing.
Or fences could mean there is a huge bull living in the pasture.
Hmmm....either scenario could end badly.
So I'll just be content with a lawn chair in the back yard, reading my next book - which happens to be set on the South African ocean shore!

Fishing Hope, Victor, Montana

My two oldest nephews visited every summer of their growing up years, always with unflagging hope to acquire a grand fishing story. They were out in the daylight as early & late as allowed, tromping miles of river and stream bank paths - and often un-paths. Sporting scratched shins, multiple mosquito bites, and irrepressible grins, they’d arrive home to tell their tales over dinner, then crash hard for a solid night’s sleep - waking ready to continue the quest for a perfect fishing hole.

Farm With A View, Victor, Montana

Spring means yard work - raking, mowing, tidying planting beds - also known as “a great exercise opportunity”. I actually prefer exercise with a built in purpose: a walk that includes conversation with a friend or a useful destination like the library or post office, yard work that yields a visibly completed task, weight lifting while listening to an informative ebook. An extra objective makes for stronger motivation to put down my current book and get moving.

Streaming View, Victor, Montana

Sunday found me driving down the Bitterroot Valley to work at our little house before showing it to a potential buyer. The roadside views were gloriously distracting; thankfully, I had time to stop and capture some of what caught my attention.

Campfire, Victor, Montana

Despite the pall of smoke hanging about the valleys, early fall is still perfect weather for a little backyard campfire. We have a little house, but taking the visiting outdoors enabled us to host about 20 family members for ice cream and a campfire. My big sis was most excited about the campfire, and I totally see why - the visual warmth of the flames inspires cozy conversation, laughter, good storytelling.... all the best parts of happy end-of-summer get-togethers.

p.s. Sorry for the post delays - Blogger has an outstanding issue, but I finally figured out a work-around, which enabled the photos I thought had published the last 5 days to populate to this blog.

Corn Rows, Victor, Montana

Several weeks ago, a neighbor treated us to some ultra-tender new corn - yum! - from Benson's Farm in Missoula, Montana. When my family visited in early September, we enjoyed several varieties of bigger ears;  my favourite was BoJangles.

Smoky Sunset Mountains, Victor, Montana

While we hope for rain to dampen the fires, in the meantime, the sunsets are gorgeous.

Red Barn, White Snow, Blue Sky, Victor, Montana

Here’s my visual Red, White, and Blue Montana homage to the Fourth of July.
(Hats off, hands to hearts, please, and sing the Anthem with feeling.)

Pied Beauties, Victor, Montana

Pied Beauty - Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889)
Glory be to God for dappled things
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches' wings;
Landscapes plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough;
And all trades, their gear and tackle and trim.

All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:
Praise Him.

(Big thanks to a lovely niece for this poem, sent in response to my call for quotes that I will try to fit to a photo. Other offerings, anyone?)