Still-green Autumn Vines - East Missoula, Montana

Marvel-worthy vine curlicues stand out against Missoula’s mountains and a first-fall-day stormy sky.

Full Moon - at Se¿lis¿ Ksanka Ql¿ispe¿ fka Kerr Dam, Montana

A little Montana-style entrepreneurial humour  courtesy of this Ronan, Montana, company ….couldn’t resist the share…!

(Seen on a recent visit to Se¿lis¿ Ksanka Ql¿ispe¿  fka Kerr Dam.)

Big Sky, Wide River, High Mountains - Clark Fork River, near Alberton, Montana

Perfect road trip weather on this flawless end-of-summer day in  Big Sky country.

Urban Wildlife - Watchful Doe and Fawns - Missoula, Montana

Urban wildlife - on one hand, a beautiful grace note to living in Missoula, Montana. On the other hand, definitely a problem of increasing deer population that is not afraid of humans. These lovelies were un-alarmed by yakking Griz fans within twenty feet, walking from side-street parking near the University of Montana on Saturday, 9/2/2023.  (Even more alarming  are the two well-antlered bucks roving our neighborhood!)

Dream Gateway - Near Kalispell, Montana (Guest Post!)

Named for Spring Creek that runs - above AND below ground - through its 100 acres, this ranch north of Kalispell, Montana, was deeded into a conservation trust. Future generations (human, furry, fishy, fern-y, all and sundry...) benefit by protection from development that allows native wildlife and habitat to flourish. (The gateway fascinated…a portal for hopeful dreams…. )

Many thanks to Pat Richards for today’s view and musing fodder. Read more of her tales of true adventure here AND hard copy/Kindle compiled stories here.

Big Sky Glory - Sunset Over Missoula, Montana

Sunday evening’s sky awash with glory…

Setting Sun-filled (Flower) Smile - Missoula, Montana

“It was a transporting thing, that smile, as it had probably been all her long life, and I felt its power to fix you where you stood (or sat, or fell); it lifted her beyond age, in a way that the other women present, with their more effortful looks, were not lifted.” -The Poet’s House by Jean Thompson, p. 35

Corker Upcycle - Missoula, Montana

New life for old wine corks - a clever upcycle feature in this herb container garden Horticulture entry at Missoula’s Western Montana Fair. (Still plenty to see and do - and eat! - through Sunday 8/13!)

(Bonus material: Clean Cork jokes I found looking for cork puns - totally irrelevant to this post but they’re funny so who cares? Enjoy!)