Fragile Overcoming - Missoula, Montana

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it."

-Helen Keller (1880-1968)

Celery And Snoring - Missoula, Montana

"Your mother complains about my snoring,
Father said, but she forgets to mention
the times I was awakened in the middle
of the night by the sound celery makes
when you bite into it. At first I thought it was a tree falling
on the house...
but when I saw her munching on celery
I knew I was safe...
My snoring is a form of self-defense—
it drowns out the other noises."

- from “The Sound of a Tree Falling” by Hal Sirowitz from Father Said.

Treat yourself to the entire poem as read by Garrison Keillor by clicking here and then jumping ahead in the audio track to 3:18.

Peony 3, Full Bloom - Missoula, Montana

"...and all day

under the shifty wind,
as in a dance to the great wedding,

the flowers bend their bright bodies,
and tip their fragrance to the air,
and rise,
...stems holding

all that dampness and recklessness
gladly and lightly,
and there it is again—
beauty the brave, the exemplary,

blazing open.
Do you cherish your humble and silky life?..."

-from Peonies by Mary Oliver (b.1935)

Peony 2 - Missoula, Montana

"...they open—

pools of lace,

white and pink—

and all day the black ants climb over them,

boring their deep and mysterious holes
into the curls,
craving the sweet sap,
taking it away

to their dark, underground cities..."

-from Peonies by Mary Oliver (b.1935)

Puppy Love - Thompson Falls, Montana

A Big Sky welcome to Emma, the mellowest 3-month-old pup I've ever met. 

And a big thank you to the kind folks at Thompson River Animal Care Shelter (TRACS) in Thompson Falls, Montana.

Emma journeyed with her mum and siblings from California to TRACS in hopes of finding her very own human. 

Niece A, in search of a sweet little buddy, journeyed to Thompson Falls from southern Alberta, via Livingston, Montana, with a stop to pick me up in Missoula, Montana. 

Mission accomplished for both parties, thanks to the devoted matchmakers at TRACS. 

In chatting with the staff at TRACS, we learned that, in addition to networking and receiving animals from other states, animal adoption shelters south of the US-Canada border see a lot of Canadian visitors. Who knew?!

But we're certainly glad for all the wonderful work by TRACS that resulted in a happy California-Alberta combination.

P.S. If you are looking for your very own sweet dog (or cat - yes, dear cynic, there is such a thing as a sweet feline),  Thompson River Animal Care Shelter (TRACS)  updates their roster frequently (click the text link in their name). 

And if you wish for a pup as darling as Emma, her sister, Eadie, (pictured in both photos below)  made for a tough choice between sweet puppies. Eadie is still available, as is their mum, Eileen, and a varied selection of other dogs.

Peony 1 - Missoula, Montana

"This morning the green fists of the peonies are getting ready
to break my heart
as the sun rises,
as the sun strokes them with his old, buttery fingers..."

- from Peonies by Mary Oliver (b.1935)

Inside The Open Door - Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone National Park

"Maybe there is more of the magical

in the idea of a door than in the door
itself. It’s always a matter of going
through into something else. But

while some doors lead to cathedrals
arching up overhead like stormy skies
and some to sumptuous auditoriums
and some to caves of nuclear monsters

most just yield a bathroom or a closet.
Still, the image of a door is liminal..."

- from Doors opening, closing on us by Marge Piercy, b.1936

(Read the full poem here.)

Open Sesame - Front Door, Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone National Park

As I moved in for a close up of this spy hole, Larry from Arkansas offered to close Old Faithful Inn's front doors to allow us a full shot of the notable entry. The doors are red on the outside to syhmbolize hospitality, but the interior is a natural wood finish.

Larry is a Park volunteer who charmed and instructed us in the history of this  welcoming and hospitable historical masterpiece. He was a font of interesting information, including that a full-time crew of men was dedicated to selecting the seemingly endless and varied pieces of naturally curved wood used in multiple stories of hand-crafted stair railings and balusters. In the 1950s, Larry and his late wife met in the Park; they were happily married for over 50 years. While he winters back home to be near his family, Larry now spends the summer season enlightening Yellowstone's tourists, and is keen to acquire his 10-year volunteer pin. He added another layer of memorable to our Park meander, and we sincerely appreciate his insight and kindness.