Roots - The Teller Trail, Corvallis, Montana

Roots exposed

the essence of life

holding firm 

when all else is washed away. 

-Pat R

Pat (aka Big Sis #3) journeys hither and yon, but always circles back to Montana. (Sadly, annual visits seem to coincide with forest fire season...but, as you can see, her eye for beauty connected to our inner life is undeterred by rampant smoke.) 

Read more on Pat's purpose-filled travels at JourneysWithGod.com .

Smoky Skating - Stevensville, Montana

After the long haul toward their skatepark dream, Stevensville skaters are undeterred by the smoky air.

August Weather - Up Kootenai Creek Rd., Stevensville, Montana

"August is apt to bring us fine weather. The meadows are sultry, but there is a wind in the sky and the clouds are great and dignified as they march against the mountains."

-from "Courtship Of My Cousin Doone", ch. 3, by Walter D. Edmonds (1903-1998)

Day's End - Creamery Picnic, Stevensville, Montana

Wildfire smoke makes for a dramatic backdrop to last call for award-winning BBQ at the Creamery Picnic's cookoff.

Summer Whites - Missoula, Montana

"I used to be Snow White, 
but I drifted."

- Mae West (1893-1980)

Better Than Bacon - Missoula, Montana

"Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon."

- Doug Larson 

Forward Mobility - Missoula, Montana

"Tithing is like training wheels when it comes to giving. It's intended to help you get started, but not recommended for the Tour de France"

-John Ortberg

Fire Formations - Missoula, Montana

Smoke plumes from a couple peripheral fires burning on national forest land blended with high cloud formations above the Missoula valley. Fire season presents a strange dichotomy which we in the western mountain regions have become used to: it makes for spectacular sunsets and provokes good-paying jobs, but we'd all prefer some rain.