Winter Stream Song, Softly - Grant Creek, Missoula, Montana

“The stream sings a subdued music, a scarcely audible lilt, faint and fluid syllables not quite said....” — John Daniel, Oregon Rivers

Ice Sparkle - Grant Creek, Missoula, Montana

One rare sunny day during our latest bitter cold spell, I bravely bundled for a lunch walk and was rewarded with literal sparkling views along Grant Creek, which intersects the industrial neighborhood behind our offices. 

The crystalline intricacy is somewhat mesmerizing...next few posts will be of broader shore views, so y'all come back now, y'hear?

Winter Garden Dreaming - Missoula, Montana

A brisk 2 degrees F driving to work this morning, and even colder with windchill...some southern somebody pretty please enjoy some sunshine for me!

“Anyone who thinks that gardening begins in the Spring and ends in the Fall is missing the best part of the whole year; for gardening begins in January with the dream.”

 - Josephine Nuese

Tree And Sky - Missoula, Montana

"Why waste your money looking up your family tree? 

Just go into politics & your opponents will do it for you." 

- Mark Twain (1835-1910 aka Samuel Clemens, who BTW was a dear friend of Helen Keller)

Still Winter - Missoula, Montana

The marmot has spoken (er, observed?): Six more weeks of winter for us on this side of the world. And the snow keeps coming....!

 (Full disclosure: This pic was during our October snowfall, hence the fresh leaves and plump berries...)

Toward Clarity - East Missoula, Montana

 “Old habit of mind is one of the toughest things to get away from in the world.”  

-Mark Twain (aka Samuel Clemens (1835-1910), in A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur’s Court, Ch. 22: The Holy Fountain

Uncluttered - Near Bozeman, Montana

A couple weeks ago, I added the following focus tip as an 8:15 AM Calendar entry. I read it to start every workday, then move it to the next weekday morning. (Same bat time, same bat channel!) So far, so good - I find it helps clarify my one-thing-at-a-time striving.

#17: "Keep your desk and workspace bare. Treat every object as an imposition upon your attention, because it is. A workspace is not a place for storing things. It is a place for accomplishing things." 

Many thanks to my fave life-hacker Tim Ferriss for sharing the link to 100 Tips for a Better Life by by Ideopunk.

Isolated Eavesdropping - On Hwy 200, Montana

“I'm learning to surrender both to the grueling work and to the isolation. When I need centering, I sing a favourite hymn, "Spirit of God descend upon my heart," which also allows me to eavesdrop on my spirit and pick up on its mumblings.”

-Joan Anderson, in A Year By The Sea, p.131