Spring Greens - Near St. Regis, Montana

Such gorgeous greeny greens all along today’s drive route to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho ! I don’t know how I’ve never seen this before, but the new needles on tamarack pines (that turn vibrant yellow and lose their needles in fall) spring out in electric bright green. Grateful to be out under the big sky on such a zesty day!

Simple Focus - Missoula, Montana

“A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention.”
— Herbert Simon (1916-2001)

Winter Contrasts - Grant Creek, Missoula, Montana

Being sick is NOT my cup of tea! But these past 5 days, I've been thankful for tasty tea while fighting off some annoying bleh-ness with sleep, homeopathy, and herbal concoctions (Throat Coat and Gypsy Cold Care teas - yum and good!). 
My main reading in between naps has been the fine print quotes on the tea bag tags, so that's what you get for deep pondering the rest of this week. That and some winter photos that need to get posted before they expire due to lovely sunshine melting every crusted snowflake in sight! 

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished."
 - Lao Tzu (6th century BC)

Poplars On Ice - Clark Fork River, Missoula, Montana

Amazing how the smallest unexpected graces can bring such delight and refocus thoughts in a positive way - the sparkle of light revealing hidden colours in a winter creek bed, a chatty gathering of glossy green-head ducks, or another driver actually signalling into the traffic circle. 

Be still my heart - hope springs eternal!

Inspired Path - Grant Creek, Missoula, Montana

"I see my path, but I don't know where it leads. 

 Not knowing where I'm going is what inspires me to travel it."

-Rosalia de Castro

From Map of the Heart by Susan Wiggs, Part 6 intro page

Perhaps the Lewis and Clark exploration team felt what this quote expresses....and even looked down a similar water-path! I'm extremely impressed anytime I ponder the tenacity of previous generations who forged ahead in the face of varied physical hindrances - and without all our modern "must-haves". There's something to be said for making your own way - and there are plenty of modern-day pioneers still to admire. For inspiration (or maybe more at "whew, glad that's not me!"), check out the latest posts from the Canadian Renegade(s).

Gorgeous Autumn Gold - Grant Creek, Missoula, Montana

In case I didn't mention this recently, we've been having the best kind of gorgeous autumn, as you can plainly see in this sun-gilded shot of Grant Creek right in the middle of Missoula's industrial north-end segement.

Tree Wanderers - Up Grant Creek, Missoula, Montana

"Trees go wandering forth in all directions with every wind, going and coming like ourselves, traveling with us around the sun two million miles a day, and through space heaven knows how fast and far!"

-John Muir (1838-1914)

Storm Detritus Along Grant Creek - Missoula, Montana

"A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. 
But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease." - John Muir (1838-1914)

Fall Meadow, Corvallis, Montana

“Words are only painted fire; a look is the fire itself.” -Mark Twain

Shadow and Light Reflections, Missoula, Montana

"My aspens dear, whose airy cages quelled,
Quelled or quenched in leaves the leaping sun..."
 from "Binsey Poplars" by Gerard Manley Hopkins

Old Trees Basking in the Sun

It seems as if the ancient poplars are reaching to be swept up by the same breeze that raked fingertips through the clouds.