Gleeful Spring - Missoula, Montana

Word to the office-wise: Gleeful skipping may emancipate a few hairpins into the wild springing air.  Budget part of lunchtime to reconvene your French twist.

Big Sky Jet Streams - Missoula, Montana

"The smell of summer greenery

blue-sky sun layered upon bird-

song, watching the planes jet-

stream to paradise..."

-from 'Paradise' by Adrian Fox, Irish Poet

Mission Mountain Majesty - St. Ignatius, Montana

Each and every trip north toward Flathead Lake, I wait for it. Anticipation builds through the ascending curve that is the last hill south of St. Ignatius, Montana. And I am ever rewarded with another 'first' breath-stealing sighting - the Mission Mountains launch themselves skyward, instantly, incessantly demanding awed attention over every other surrounding scenic view. 

This February's warmer weather shows them in full winter glory, contrasting against a  bare and tentatively greening valley floor.

Quietly Mossy - Missoula, Montana

"The rolling stone rolls echoing from rock to rock; but the rolling stone is dead. The moss is silent because the moss is alive."-Gilbert Keith Chesterton 

Climbers' Sky - Ravalli, Montana

“It's wonderful to climb the liquid mountains of the sky. 

Behind me and before me is God and I have no fears.” - Helen Keller

Moss Centred Heart - Missoula, Montana

"We spend this life looking for a centre, a place where we can suspend without a wobble. The specific coordinates are elusive, scalable only by the heart." - Michael Perry, Population:485, p. 202 

And that wraps up this week's serendipitous nature hearts series!

Pebble Heart Under Ice - Missoula, Montana

“…behind the mask of ice that people wear, there beats a heart of fire.” -  Paulo Coelho, Warrior of the Light

May your Valentine's Day be happy - because it's simpler just to be happy.

Lichen Love - Missoula, Montana

"...lichen (tiny but relentless!)..."
Quote from A Walk In The Woods by Bill Bryson
 
Another wee nature heart, this one found with a lacey collar.
 
In case you didn't notice, I've got a theme going towards Valentine's Day.  Tune in tomorrow for the next installation!