River’s Influence - Yellowstone River, Livingston, Montana

“Who looks upon a river in a meditative hour, and is not reminded of the flux of all things? Throw a stone into the stream, and the circles that propagate themselves are the beautiful type of all influence.”  — Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), Nature

Morning Sunshine - Yellowstone River, Livingston, Montana

“Rivers are the primal highways of life. From the crack of time, they had borne men's dreams, and in their lovely rush to elsewhere, fed our wanderlust, mimicked our arteries, and charmed our imaginations in a way the static pond or vast and savage ocean never could. “ — Tom Robbins, Fierce Invalids from Hot Climates

Source: https://www.rivers.gov/quotations.phpa

Long Winter Shadows, Yellowstone River, Livingston, Montana

Land of Long Shadows
by Ruth Hill 

Lingering, lengthening, lavender shadows
softly sadden the snow.
Rowdy clouds and swirling flurries:
shadows slide ’cross slithering drifts…

Deep trails flood and fill
with violet blue.
Sunny valley bottoms
are squeezed up into the starry sky,
until all the shadows touch,
and the world is still.  

Luxuriate in the full text of Ruth Hill's lilting poem here, where you can also explore the insider perspective of a dedicated bicyclist.

Rooted, Livingston, Montana

“To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least recognized need of the human soul.”
-Simone Weil
(1909-1943)

Riverbend, Yellowstone River, Livingston, Montana

With temps now in the 40s F, Montana is now officially on the melt. All that snow will have to go someplace; good thing there are a few rivers in the region. 
If this keeps up, we just might have spring on schedule!

Rocky Parallels, Livingston, Montana

Yes, these rocky parallels are just as I found them, with no staging on my part. 
Hmmmm, that has the ring of a little life parallel. Sometimes the “why is this happening to me?” incidences  enter carefully into a conversation, and we find the redemption factor in these rough experiences: being able to encourage another sojourner with empathy along lines of, “I know a little bit of what you are going through - just hang on through this dark time.“

Winter Selah On The Yellowstone River, Livingston, Montana

Sacajawea Park’s riverside trail includes several strategically placed benches from which to pause and ponder the lovely views, as demonstrated here by my lovely sibling. 
(Given the light beaming portentously upon her, this photo could be subtitled “My Sainted Sister”.)

Shore to Shore, Livingston, Montana

The walking path in Livingston’s Sacajawea Park meanders parallel with the Yellowstone River. However, to view this shore-level perspective, you have to clamber down a safe spot along the bank. And while you are out of view, it is advisable to sing a loud, happy song to ensure your big sister knows you haven’t come to some dreadful end, lest she start loudly calling your name after the fashion of a champion hogcaller. Sisters - gotta love ‘em, gotta humour them.

Bumping Clouds Above the Yellowstone River, Livingston, Montana

“Oh, how the clouds stumbled in and assembled stupidly in the sky.
Great obese clouds.
Dark and plump.
Bumping into each other. Apologizing. Moving on and finding room.“ 
- Markus Zusak, from The Book Thief, p. 79