Garden Rain - Missoula, Montana

“The river and the garden have been the foundations of my economy here. Of the two I have liked the river best. It is wonderful to have the duty of being on the river the first and last thing every day. I have loved it even in the rain. Sometimes I have loved it most in the rain.” - Wendell Berry, Jayber Crow

Reminiscing Donkey - Missoula, Montana

“When fishes flew and forests walked

And figs grew upon thorn,

Some moment when the moon was blood

Then surely I was born….

…For I also had my hour;

One far fierce hour and sweet:

There was a shout about my ears,

And palms before my feet.”

- From the poem The Donkey by G.K. Chesterton (1874–1936)

Honest Equine Face - Missoula, Montana

""Look!" said Jill suddenly. Someone was coming, rather timidly, to meet them; a graceful creature on four feet, all silvery-grey. And they stared at him for a whole ten seconds before five or six voices said all at once, "Why, it's old Puzzle!" ... He was himself now: a beautiful donkey with such a soft, grey coat and such a gentle, honest face that if you had seen him you would have done just what Jill and Lucy did - rushed forward and put your arms round his neck and kissed his nose and stroked his ears." - from The Last Battle, The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis

Clean Slate - Vaughn, Montana

“Life is grace. Sleep is forgiveness. The night absolves. Darkness wipes the slate clean, not spotless to be sure, but clean enough for another day's chalking.”
― Frederick Buechner, The Alphabet of Grace

Mule Maneuvers - Missoula, Montana

"There's nothing like a pack of mules to give one a sense of entourage." - Tahir Shah, In Search Of King Solomon's Mines

And there's nothing like a mule-powered wagon ride to undergird a rich appreciation of being in the thick of autumn's crisp, golden glory. At the behest of their well-seasoned driver (sporting weathered fringed chaps, no less!), this team gladly showed off some fancy and tight turning footwork. 

A cup of hot cocoa at ride's end capped off a pretty perfect fall afternoon.

Pumpkin Parlour - Missoula, Montana

“I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.” - Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

View From The Riverbank - Vaughn, Montana

“Beyond the Wild Wood comes the wild world,"said the Rat."And that's something that doesn't matter, either to you or to me. I've never been there, and I'm never going' nor you either, if you've got any sense at all.” 

- Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932), The Wind in the Willows

(If it's been a while since you've read this delightful classic, or you've never savoured Grahame's delightful world, brew a cuppa tea or cocoa then click the title link above to access the book via Project Gutenberg and enjoy!)

Remote - Livingston, Montana

"This sudden remote bowl of pasture is called the Tierny Basin - or would be , if any human voice were there to say it's name." - Ivan Doig (1939-2015), This House of Sky, p 23

(Note: This is not a photo of the actual Tierney Basin, which is near the small town of Maudlow, Montana, north of Bozeman.)